As Evening Falls

Sorry James I am in a photo mood ;-)

Drop thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease,
Take from our souls the strain of stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.

J. G Whittier

Private Eye on Defence

You may recall my recent article regarding Gordon Brown's statement on ridding the world of cluster bombs. This weeks edition of Private Eye has a 'Defence Special' and they have this to say on the matter:

"The British prime minister didn't just sign up to the treaty, however: his diplomats added their own legalistic clauses. The first said: "Cluster munition means a munition which contains more than 10 conventional sub-munitions." And why the magic number 10? Er, because one of the Americans' favourite weapons, the CBU-97, contains just 10 "sub-munitions" and so squeaks through the amended treaty.

Everyone knows it is a cluster bomb - CBU stands for Cluster Bomb Unit - but thanks to Gordon's representatives, it is still free to cause unintended damage and fatalities."

So it seems like it is business as usual and nothing has changed!

In addition to this Private Eye reports that the Defence Training Review contract that which was won by the Metrix consortium may cause a serious threat to the front line.

"Documents produced following a recent meeting of the “defence training review executive board” reveal that the project, under which training will be handed to the Metrix consortium through a 30-year PFI contract worth around £11bn, poses catastrophic risks on the front line. A confidential “post meeting read out” of deliberations led by deputy chief of defence staff (personnel) Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson exposes “major affordability issues” requiring a “realistic contingency plan” for the deal to privatise training on everything from tanks to fighter jets. Hinting at serious difficulties on the deal, the “affordability gap” could not be disclosed even to the project board as it was “too sensitive”."

The article goes on to explain that there was a list of 15 significant risks to the project. One of these being “Trained output fails to meet requirement of operational commands”. Another risk to the project is the loss of the existing trainers who are unwilling or unable to move to the new defence academy in St Athan.

Click on the image below to view the full article:

Greg Lewis wondered amongst other things if the MoD would ban any nations from training at the academy. He contacted the MoD under the Freedom of Information act and the response plus an article he wrote for The Big Issue can be found here.

PhotoHunt - Bright

This is one of the water features in the Serpent Garden which are one of the many gardens within Alnwick Garden. The gardens are a work in progress, the garden plan gives you an overview of what you can expect to see. The poison garden is well worth a visit, you get a guided tour of some expected and unexpected poisonous plants.

A previous post explains the design philosophy behind the garden.

If you look really closely you will be able to see me ;-)

For more PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.

A Couple of Incidents

For Sky Watch Friday.

Taken on sunny Brighton Beach when I was at the PCS conference last month. I think that was our one little bit of summer, now it is windy and rainy (very Autumnal) which brings me onto one of yesterdays incidents!

I had to nip out of work to get some petrol, lunch and a few other odds and ends. When I got to the supermarket it started to rain. By the time I got inside it was pouring down. I thought never mind, I will buy a brolly. By the time I had finished shopping and got outside the rain had stopped, only to start again when I pulled up outside work. Could I get the brolly to stay up? NO! I felt a bit of a fool and ran inside hoping no one was watching, which I know they do when they are bored. I felt much less of a fool when no one else could get it to work either. But it meant another trip back to the supermarket and you've guessed it... It was raining again & I don't much like frizzy hair!

Then there was the incident of the disappearing contact lens. As I took it out last night it vanished and I didn't know whether it was floating around in my eye somewhere or on the floor. I couldn't find it anywhere. This morning there it was shining up at me from the bathroom floor!!!

My Day!

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Lewis Carroll

CherryPie in the Magic Garden

Nunyaa was right, I love this :-) I have added some special magic for Luisa too ;-)

Freedom of Speech & Zimbabwe

A couple of days ago Jams posted that Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had pulled out of the presidential run off leaving Mugabe to stand unopposed.

I commented that Lovemore Matombo, President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and Wellington Chibebe, General Secretary of ZCTU were due in court yesterday to face charges of spreading falsehoods prejudicial to the state. The TUC report that the trial has been postponed:

"The trial in Zimbabwe has been postponed until 30 July, after prosecutors and the magistrate failed to attend the trial, leaving the defendants to wait over three hours to find out that they would not face trial yet. Bail conditions of no public gatherings have been kept in force until the new trial date, further denying the men their human rights to free expression for another month, in an attempt to keep them quiet about the worsening situation in the country."

In advance of the court appearance a last minute campaign was called asking people to supply a face shot of themselves to be included in a giant mosaic of Lovemore and Wellington. This allowed them to appear in a demonstration that took place in London yesterday even though they have been silenced in their own country.

The campaign calls for:

• trade unionists to be free to organise and speak without being arrested and tortured
• an end to violence and intimidation
• real democracy for Zimbabwe
• justice and rights for Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans
  

From the TUC website.

originally uploaded by dblackadder.

Dreaming of the Magic Garden

I actually remembered to take my 52 week Flickr self portrait challenge photo this week.

The picture on my monitor is another of my 52 weeks photos. It has been given the special Dani treatment. This weekend Ginro gave me a link to some fantastic software that gives a 3D experience for viewing photographs on various websites, which look good on my 22 inch monitor.

The garden view is the one I get if I look away from my computer screen ;-)

Beer or gas?

One of my Flickr friends posted this.

Enjoy ;-)

Beer or gas?, originally uploaded by eyesplash Mikul.

PhotoHunt - Water

These photos are from a recent visit to Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire.

If that isn't enough water for you, you can view a slide show of my "Water Water Everywhere" set of photos on Flickr:



It can be viewed larger here.

For more PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.

Tewkesbury Abbey

For Sky Watch Friday.

On the way back from my recent few days away I stopped off at Tewkesbury Abbey.

"Although the Abbey was founded in 1087 by nobleman Robert FitzHamon, building of the present Abbey did not start until 1102. Built to house Benedictine monks, the Norman Abbey was near completion when consecrated in 1121. Embellishments to the long nave roof and the apsidal chancel were made in the first half of the 14th century in the Decorated style. After the dissolution in 1540 most of the claustral buildings and the Lady Chapel were quarried for their materials but the Abbey Church was sold to the parishioners for £453. Changes made since then to the internal configuration have developed to reflect contemporary styles of devotion, currently of the Anglo-Catholic persuasion."

Click on photos for a larger view.

Reach for the Stars

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman

Click on photo for a larger view.

Active Denial System (ADS)

Or as mentioned in my previous post the Pain Ray.

Nunyaa asked if this equipment was in use yet, so I did a bit of research.

The Active Denial System was developed by Raytheon for the US Airforce research labs and since January 2007 the system has been extensively tested by Air Force's 820th Security Forces Group (SFG) at Moody air force base in Georgia, USA. 820.

Wikipedia gives a summary followed by a more in depth description of what the system is capable of:

"The Active Denial System (ADS) is a non-lethal, directed-energy weapon developed by the U.S. military. It is a strong millimeter-wave transmitter used for crowd control (the "goodbye effect"). Informally, the weapon is also called pain ray. Raytheon is currently marketing a reduced range version of this technology"

In a Daily Mail report Michael Hanlon test out the device:

"Its makers claim this infernal machine is the modern face of warfare. It has a nice, friendly sounding name, Silent Guardian.

I am told not to call it a ray-gun, though that is precisely what it is (the term "pain gun" is maybe better, but I suppose they would like that even less).

And, to be fair, the machine is not designed to vaporise, shred, atomise, dismember or otherwise cause permanent harm.

But it is a horrible device nonetheless, and you are forced to wonder what the world has come to when human ingenuity is pressed into service to make a thing like this.

Silent Guardian is making waves in defence circles. Built by the U.S. firm Raytheon, it is part of its "Directed Energy Solutions" programme.

What it amounts to is a way of making people run away, very fast, without killing or even permanently harming them.

That is what the company says, anyway. The reality may turn out to be more horrific."

The full article makes interesting reading.

Apparently an MoD spokesman said Britain is not planning to buy this weapon...

Cluster Bombs & Prison Education

What do these have in common?

You might recall that recently Gordon Brown has made a big fuss about ridding the world of cluster bombs and he even promised to dispose of Britain's stocks.

Private Eye points out that this doesn't quite fit with what the MoD are proposing for defence training. The company that make these bombs is Raytheon who are part of the Metrix consortium who won the bid to deliver defence training to the armed forces. The Instructional Officers (civil servants) who currently undertake this training will be privatised and expected to move to St Athan in South Wales.

A further article in private eye points out that the private firm (AE4) which runs education schemes in more than 30 jails is pulling the plug on all training in Kent prisons claiming that it will make a losses of £892,000 on the contract. A4e took over from the Offenders' Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) in 2006 after winning a 3 year contract. This meant that many of the Prison Instructional Officers were privatised in the process.

Makes you think doesn't it?

PS: More information on the Defence Training Review campaign can be found here.

Royal Fly Past

I think this is an amazing photograph. What a view! It was taken by Corporal Scott Robertson from the cockpit as military planes flew over Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen's official birthday. I found it on the BBC website as photo of the day. The flypast involved 55 aircraft of 14 different types.

View large here.

Take the Pledge...

...And help to set the Guinness World Record for Most Software Downloaded in 24 Hours.

Firefox is launching Firefox 3 tomorrow and hoping to win a world record. As I write this 1,384,949 people have already pledged to download the software tomorrow. Check out the world map to see where the pledges have come from. Sign the pledge to find out to be informed when firefox 3 becomes officially available for download.

PS: Spread the word ;-)

PhotoHunt - Emotions

As you can see there is a great deal of happiness shining out of this photo. There are four generations and thhe little one is my nephew who will be 16 in a couple of months and it only seems like yesterday when he was born. I saw him today when I visited my brother and he has changed so much in the few months since I last saw him (Christmas). If I had passed him in the street I wouldn't have recognised him.

For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.

View from a Garden

This post is for Grendel who is struggling to find good You Tube videos for classical music. Now I am not sure if the video content was good, but the visual quality was excellent before You Tube mangled it...

Seems I am struggling to find good quality option for me on You Tube! So just chill out and enjoy Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik.

It is much better viewed here. You need to click to start the show and then if you right click you get options including full screen view (it might ask you to download some software. It is safe but you do need it to view the show).

Just Got Back...

...from a girls night out.

One of my colleagues organised a trip to the local theatre to watch Les Miserables (schools edition). She billed it as nice music boring story!!! I don't know how she got so many people to go with that rave revue. The production was by the local college and there were some very good performances. Seeing and listening to the orchestra also brought back fond memories of when I used to play in the school concert band. An amazing amount of effort must have gone into the production it was very well done.

I think the general consensus at the end was nice music interesting story and there was the obligatory check to see how many people had been moved to tears. It was a girls night out after all ;-)

I shall leave you with an interesting fact from the back of the programme:

Did You Know?

It takes......
32 Performing Arts Students, 19 Music Students, 17 Technical Students, 19 Members of Staff, 142 Props, 23 Set Changes, 87 Costumes, 40 Hats, 15 Wigs, 12 Radio Mics, 1 Red Flag, 170 Lighting Cues, 500 Programmes, 77 Feet of 3x1 Plywood and 120 Feet of Subway Sandwiches, 5400 Feet of Finger Painting, 9 Pots of Paint, 9 Sewing Machines, 1 Overlocker, 4 Buckets of Wallpaper Paste, 30 Meters of Canvas, 120 Yards of Ribbon, 1 Lecture's Sanity, 21 Maglites, 8 Louvre Doors, 15,000 Staples, 6 Boxes of Tea Bags, 7 Rolls of Gaffa Tape and 7 Gallons of Coffee......

To make this production of Les Miserables (schools edition) possible!

Field of Dreams

'Tis moonlight, summer moonlight
by Emily Jane Brontë

'Tis moonlight, summer moonlight,
All soft and still and fair;
The solemn hour of midnight
Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere,

But most where trees are sending
Their breezy boughs on high,
Or stooping low are lending
A shelter from the sky.

And there in those wild bowers
A lovely form is laid;
Green grass and dew-steeped flowers
Wave gently round her head.

Cross posted @ Nourishing Obscurity.

Threat of Emergency Powers to be Invoked Against Striking Tanker Drivers

My previous post ended - Day by day we see our civil liberties slowly but surely slipping away.

Maybe slow was the wrong word to use...

From John McDonnell MP:

"But just after the vote on 42 days detention when you thought the assault on people's civil liberties couldn't get worse the Government has briefed the press that it is threatening to invoke emergency powers in the oil tanker drivers' dispute to draft in soldiers to drive the tankers and break the strike."

Vote on 42 Days Detention...

...Narrowly won!

BBC News reports that the Government narrowly won the House of Commons vote on extending the maximum time police can hold terror suspects to 42 days. The vote was won by a mere 9 votes:

"Prime Minister Gordon Brown has narrowly won a House of Commons vote on extending the maximum time police can hold terror suspects to 42 days.

Thirty-six Labour MPs joined forces with Conservatives and Lib Dems to vote against the proposals.

But that was not enough to defeat them - although the government still faces a battle in the House of Lords.

The 42-day proposal was passed by 315 MPs to 306 - with votes by the nine DUP MPs proving crucial."

John McDonnell MP reports about how Gordon Brown offered political bribes in order to gain votes in favor:

"Throughout the last few days Gordon Brown has contacted Labour MPs and offered all sorts of blandishments and political bribes in return for their votes for 42 days. I am pleased that so many have stood firm on principle and have rejected this combination of threats, groveling pleas for support and outright political bribery. However we heard today reported in the media that those MPs representing the Compass group are supporting the Government on 42 days. This will undermine the vote opposing 42 days. Ominously they voted for the Government throughout last night on the proposals to to scrap coroners' juries and on toughening control orders."

Day by day we see our civil liberties slowly but surely slipping away. Lets hope this doesn't get passed in the House of Lords.

PS: I was going to post something nice today, but this annoyed me and it sort of follows on from yesterday's post... Tomorrow is another day ;-)

Taking Liberties

The latest edition of my Trade Union magazine 'PCS View' has an article about the National Identity Scheme. Christine Zaba from NO2ID explains exactly what the scheme means:

"The proposed British ‘identity management scheme’ is the most complex in the world. It’s not just about carrying an ID card, but about a national database: the national identity register.

The register will hold a huge number of details about you under your personal identifying number, including 50 categories of ‘registrable fact’, personal biometrics (fingerprints, iris scan, facial scan), and a constantly updated stream of information as you use your card. The amount of information the government will have on us will effectively be infinite."

The article goes on to explain that the data will be the legal property of the Home Secretary who has the power to share this information with anyone he or she chooses without asking permission. The loss of the identity card will incur a civil penalty of £1000 which is payable immediately.

At the PCS National Conference 4 years ago a motion was passed to oppose the scheme. Now Identity & Passport Service (IPS) staff are finding that their roles are changing from serving the public to enforcing a surveillance system. In addition to that, PCS members who work for British Airports Authority (BAA) may have to register with the scheme as early as 2009 if they wish to keep their jobs. This will effectively make them the guinea pigs for the biggest automated state identity management scheme ever known.

What a surprise that none of this has been subject to public debate!!! Big Brother is watching and waiting... Frightening isn't it?

Full article here.
NO2ID website here.
Key points poster here.

A Precendent for Failure

A friend forwarded this letter to me today. Enjoy ;-)

Cherry Pie & Whisky

Not only were the gardens nice, the food was delicious too ;-)

When this desert arrived it looked so delicious I thought Welshcakes must be hiding in the kitchen. & yes it tasted wonderful!

In addition there was a well stocked bar which on closer inspection seemed to be mostly Whisky. James would have been in his element, six of the nine shelves are devoted to Whisky and Bourbon.

Click on photos for a larger view.

Peaceful Garden

Some photographs from a peaceful Wiltshire garden:

Drop thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease,
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.
J.G Whittier

Click on photos for a larger view.

Off On My Travels Again

I won't be around for a couple of days. I don't seem to be able to stay still these days do I?

See you soon xx

Click on photo for a larger view.

Mosaics with Flickr

I saw this over at Anne's blog and thought it sounded a lot of fun :-)

Here is my result:

If you want to have a go too (I am sure Nunyaa will love this), these are the rules:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's Mosaic Maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

Thanks to all the people below for sharing their lovely photos, you can click on them to view a larger version. There are two unexpected ones that came up in the search if you look closely ;-)

1. The famous maple, 2. Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken with Thyme Gremolata, 3. The World's First..., 4. Beauty & the Beasts, 5. Terminator Garage Chase, 6. Why, Yes...I Do Have Shoes To Match, 7. Dominando il lago, 8. Meyer Lemon Tarts, 9. Radiance, 10. Colorful Rainbow Balloons 114/365, 11. Ascending and descending, 12. Kirs... A Fairy Among fairies...

PS: I hope that James doesn't have problems with his eyes again...

Update on the Job Position

You may remember a little while back that I posted about the staff cuts as we move into our new organisation. Today the letters were issued to staff who had requested early release...

When we had our reprieve announcement, we were told that those who wanted to go had the chance to go and those that wanted to would have the chance to stay.

Today there were a lot of disappointed people, their request for early release had been denied or they were put on the reserve list to see what happens after all the recruitment for the higher grades has taken place!!!

On top of that I found out that there is a possibility that we might be issued with special corporate shirts to wear. I saw the ladies version today, it is awful!!! I would feel really frumpy and uncomfortable if I have to wear the proposed shirt. It is a mans shirt and it won't go with any of the skirts I have! I don't mind if I have to wear a badge or a particular colour shirt, but at least make it feminine or give me a choice of styles!!!

I think I need to get onto sorting this in advance don't I? ;-)

To Be Free...

... Louisa posted a You Tube video of this song on her blog which led me to this version which I find it quite moving!

One for the Girls

Kate has tagged me with this meme all about beauty and makeup. Not sure how I will get on with this, but here goes!

My Foundation:
Max Factor lasting performance (colour - 100 Fair)

My Mascara:
I usually use the boots No 7 one for sensitive eyes, because I wear contact lenses. At the moment I am using Max Factor Masterpiece for high volume and definition.

My Day Cream:
Boots No 7 Intelligent Balance Day fluid for oily/combination skin.

My Essential Beauty Product:
Wella lifetex volume shampoo. It strengthens fine hair which stops my hair being fluffy and makes it more manageable.

My Favorite Makeup Product:
I think probably eyeshadow, I love messing with the different colours in contrast to my eyes. Sad aren't I?

My Perfume:
I have no sense of smell so perfume doesn't really have any meaning for me, but a number of years ago the girls I worked with picked out one they thought suited me. When I use perfume which isn't very often I still use the one they chose which is Eden by Cacharel.

My Nails:
I keep them trimmed quite short, but nicely shaped. I used to love wearing nail varnish, but now I just think life is too short to spend time painting and waiting for my nails to dry. There are so many other things I want to be doing.

My Hands:
They are usually soft and smooth, but the Brighton air seems to have dried them out a bit!

Three Products to bring on a deserted island:
1. My shampoo
2. Moisturiser
3. Bubble bath

Women I admire for their beauty:
Beauty shines from within, so any woman with a radiant personality.

Women with the Best Sense of Style:
I don't have anyone particular in mind for this and if I started to think too much the list would be endless ;-)

My Ultimate Dream:
Now that would be telling ;-)

How Do I Define Womanhood:
Womanhood means different things to different people and all are valid.

My Favorite Fashion Publication:
I don't read any girlie magazines they bore me.

I won't tag anyone, but feel free to give it a go if you wish. I have to admit that answering these questions has made me wonder how they manage to think up such odd names for all the products!