Naoko's news, views and shoes thread

[Handley_Page]

Full facts?! Can you send me a link? Without turning the thread crimson with political blood, Brexit makes as much sense as Scexit


Every day Mr Luis

On a happier note, the house martins are back It's summer

See separate message, Jane.
Meanwhile, whilst yesterday was clear & bright, this morning is hazy bright.
Now, where did I put my camera ?

 

[oggbashan]

Our local event was more like a day of mourning. That said, we didn't have anyone to actually vote For, apart from the local 'Crime Commissioner' (Why do we need one of those ? Crime is quite capable of organising itself, surely ?
...

The Crime Commissioner for Kent is a Conservative. Turnout 21%
The Crime Commissioner for Surrey is a Conservative.
The Crime Commissioner for Sussex is a Conservative.

But the UKIP candidate came very close in Kent.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Electoral excitement, or perhaps excrement is raging in America. Between now and November we will be flooded with pandering to perverts and it looks like Hillary will win, unless the DOJ indites her.

You should thank your stars you're in the sane UK.

Different kinds of insanity, Jack. I found the omnipresent surveillance cameras a bit disconcerting, to say the least. I suspect the UK may be taking Orwell's 1984 not as a warning, but as a textbook.

 

[Handley_Page]

Electoral excitement, or perhaps excrement is raging in America. Between now and November we will be flooded with pandering to perverts and it looks like Hillary will win, unless the DOJ indites her.

You should thank your stars you're in the sane UK.

Different kinds of insanity, Jack. I found the omnipresent surveillance cameras a bit disconcerting, to say the least. I suspect the UK may be taking Orwell's 1984 not as a warning, but as a textbook.

There are those over here who feel exactly the same way.
But of course, its the usual excuse: "anti-terrorism measures".

 

[MichaelinChina]

Originally Posted by JackLuis

Electoral excitement, or perhaps excrement is raging in America. Between now and November we will be flooded with pandering to perverts and it looks like Hillary will win, unless the DOJ indites her.

You should thank your stars you're in the sane UK

And Australia's double dissolution election (announced a few days ago) will be run and completed in only 8 weeks time.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yeah, and even that is far too long. We've occasionally got it all done and dusted in five weeks.

This one is going to be close, I think, so there might be a bit of pork thrown around.

And Australia's double dissolution election (announced a few days ago) will be run and completed in only 8 weeks time.

 

[beachbum1958]

There are those over here who feel exactly the same way.
But of course, its the usual excuse: "anti-terrorism measures".

The Data Protection Act 1999 paved the way for the excessive video surveillance the average UK resident is subjected to; as long as the owner of the surveillance camera puts up a notice somewhere outside the premises stating who owns the cameras, their stated purpose, and a phone number, by walking past that sign (and by extension, on the road that building is located) you've given tacit consent to be videotaped and your image stored indefinitely, all in the name of 'crime deterrence and prevention of terrorism' etc. Going on recent and earlier events, it doesn't seem to be that effective a deterrent.

I only found this out in 2013 when I was called to give evidence to a parliamentary sub-committee investigating security strategies, mitigation, and lessons learned, both at home and at British Armed Forces locations overseas (my testimony was mainly background information relating to the difficulties faced by medical trauma units treating locals in places like Helmand, where women had been used several times as mules to bring improvised explosive devices (IED's) into the units concealed beneath burqa's.) I stayed on hand to listen to the committee basically discussing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, and divest themselves of any responsibility, SOP for parliamentary committees, and this is when I learned just how closely we in the UK are scrutinised; I have to say, it shocked me deeply.

According to the then 'tsar' responsible for monitoring security and surveillance under the Investigation of Regulatory Powers Act 2000, there were upwards of 4,000,000 (yes 4 million) video cameras in use in public, private and corporate locations in the UK, making the Britain the most heavily monitored country in the world; in London alone, there are estimated to be 500,000 CCTV cameras in daily use. The average UK resident, walking down the average High Street or shopping strip, can expect to be video recorded, photographed, or observed an average of 300 times every day.

 

[stickygirl]

there were upwards of 4,000,000 (yes 4 million) video cameras in use in public, private and corporate locations in the UK, making the Britain the most heavily monitored country in the world; in London alone, there are estimated to be 500,000 CCTV cameras in daily use. The average UK resident, walking down the average High Street or shopping strip, can expect to be video recorded, photographed, or observed an average of 300 times every day.

I know where they all are and it's exhausting having strike-the-pose for each and every one
Seldom do the cameras have a decent resolution to be used in court and - hey - dark glasses and hat and *poof* you disappear.

 

[Handley_Page]

Originally Posted by JackLuis

Electoral excitement, or perhaps excrement is raging in America. Between now and November we will be flooded with pandering to perverts and it looks like Hillary will win, unless the DOJ indites her.

You should thank your stars you're in the sane UK

And Australia's double dissolution election (announced a few days ago) will be run and completed in only 8 weeks time.

In the UK, I think it's three weeks of real 'electioneering' is permitted.
of course, that does not stop the political lack-wits trailing a coat for the preceding month or three.
In these days of high-speed communication, I fail to see quite why the USA drags its feet on the issue; but it's their quarrel.
The snag is, of course, that the rest of the world has News Organisations who seem to think the RoW really needs to know all the rest. <groan>

 

[MichaelinChina]

In the UK, I think it's three weeks of real 'electioneering' is permitted.
of course, that does not stop the political lack-wits trailing a coat for the preceding month or three.
In these days of high-speed communication, I fail to see quite why the USA drags its feet on the issue; but it's their quarrel.
The snag is, of course, that the rest of the world has News Organisations who seem to think the RoW really needs to know all the rest. <groan>

They want to be really really sure they elect the right man...or err woman!

 

[SamScribble]

"Age is kind to things, and unkind to man"

I can see where you are coming from, Michael. But how do you know that my 250-year-old dining table doesn't have the odd ache when it wakes up in the morning?

 

[Handley_Page]

They want to be really really sure they elect the right man...or err woman!

But do the rest of us need to hear ALL the bloody details ?

 

[NaokoSmith]

Congratulations on the campaigning. But what are the Welsh doing electing some UKIP members? Wales must have a flawed electoral system.

Yes! we have democracy.

We hit over 40% turnout in many areas, significantly higher than five years ago. (Probably because it was a gorgeous day )

'Crime Commissioner' (Why do we need one of those ?)

That's hilarious, HP! I hadn't thought of them as people who commission crime until now

Hullo all! I am just popping my head in quickly; I ought to go to bed really as I have to go to Wrexham to teach tomorrow - three hours on the train there and three hours back and I only have four hours battery life on my laptop, grrr.

Today was supposedly my day off, so I got up early, did breakfast and Piglet's packed lunch, marked a late assignment because the student really needs the feedback asap in order to get ready for the final assignment, answered some emails from agitated students, posted useful information on the forum, parceled up some clothes which I ordered online for Piglet and just as I predicted (but she wouldn't listen! ) they were too small, and also parcelled up my nephew's and brother-in-law's birthday presents.

Then it was ten am, so I set off for the swimming pool and I joined in the aqua aerobics class. I am not convinced that these do anything to keep you fit, as the people who go to them are mostly rather tubby elderly ladies. The slimmer younger ones and the posh ones go earlier in the day and do regimented lengths of australian kiss crawl.

Today they had persuaded the Management to book in one of the instructors who does Bhangra Aqua Aerobics. The sight of several elderly British ladies jigging around in a swimming pool, sashaying their hips and waving their arms seductively in Bollywood dance movements is definitely worth going along for. And if you bounce a lot, it probably does form some kind of exercise - as well as making your boobs bob about in the water.

Ciao ciao, bellas and bellos! more soon.

 

[oggbashan]

...

Today they had persuaded the Management to book in one of the instructors who does Bhangra Aqua Aerobics. The sight of several elderly British ladies jigging around in a swimming pool, sashaying their hips and waving their arms seductively in Bollywood dance movements is definitely worth going along for. And if you bounce a lot, it probably does form some kind of exercise - as well as making your boobs bob about in the water.

Ciao ciao, bellas and bellos! more soon.

When I attended a creative writing class many years ago, a substantial minority of the students were also attending belly-dancing classes at the same venue an hour after our class ended.

Those attending the belly-dancing would have been considered unaesthetic and an affront to public decency if they performed anywhere but behind closed solid doors.

However, a decade before that I had booked a Ladies Keep Fit dance class to perform on stage during a weekend Og-organised festival. I was dubious, but I needed anything or anybody on stage for two nine-hour days.

The Ladies Keep Fit were the surprise hit of the weekend. They had never performed on stage before, and the stage was smaller than their rehearsal area. During their first performance several ladies were sent flying, landing on their substantial posteriors. But they laughed, got up, and carried on, and retaliated on those who had knocked them over.

By their second performance, word had got around the town that they were worth watching and the audience had increased from about eighty people to two hundred. They gave their all, so much so that two ladies fell off the front of the stage to be caught by members of the audience and pushed back on. They received a long standing ovation when they finally ended their show.

Twenty years later, that Ladies Keep Fit Dance Class is still remembered.

The Belly Dancing class was best forgotten.

 

[TxRad]

Water aerobics work. That is if you take them seriously. Water has good resistance and is very low impact. Being overweight makes regular aerobics to stressful for most people.

In any case, something is always better than nothing.

Ogg, a lot of the time it is the people more so than the act that makes something entertaining.

 

[stickygirl]

I once ended up in a water aerobics class by mistake, but I stayed for the class and I was quite impressed: you can make it as hard or easy as you want.
Hope the train tracks aren't washed away today - the rain never knows when to stop in the UK

 

[Handley_Page]

I once ended up in a water aerobics class by mistake, but I stayed for the class and I was quite impressed: you can make it as hard or easy as you want.
Hope the train tracks aren't washed away today - the rain never knows when to stop in the UK

I have always maintained that if anything is going to kill me prematurely, it's an excess of water, so I stay well away. Of course, slippery tow-paths don't help and I was given a thorough bath in the local canal. It took two fairly strong blokes to help me out.

As for the rain, Jane, cross your fingers but it seems to have stopped round here for the while.

 

[colddiesel]

The Data Protection Act 1999 paved the way for the excessive video surveillance the average UK resident is subjected to;

the average High Street or shopping strip, can expect to be video recorded, photographed, or observed an average of 300 times every day.

At the other extreme I have a pretty big place in western Queensland on the edge of the desert, dry low rolling hills, some gully country and more rocks and sand than soil, but full of wildlife in the scrub. There wouldn't be a spy camera within 50 miles in any direction.

A few weeks back I took the ute (pickup) and drove about an hour from the homestead to the southern edge of the property intending to camp out for a bit of 'alone' time. I rolled out my swag on the tray of the ute and turned in under a moonless night, but with a zillion stars above me.

Then, as I was about to nod off I noticed in the clear desert sky, a satellite racing over me. The bastards follow you everywhere!

 

[MichaelinChina]

At the other extreme I have a pretty big place in western Queensland on the edge of the desert, dry low rolling hills, some gully country and more rocks and sand than soil, but full of wildlife in the scrub. There wouldn't be a spy camera within 50 miles in any direction.

A few weeks back I took the ute (pickup) and drove about an hour from the homestead to the southern edge of the property intending to camp out for a bit of 'alone' time. I rolled out my swag on the tray of the ute and turned in under a moonless night, but with a zillion stars above me.

Then, as I was about to nod off I noticed in the clear desert sky, a satellite racing over me. The bastards follow you everywhere!

Might not be the slightest bit interested in you colddiesel. Probably just a comm satellite. However, did you take your cell phone? That's how you can be tracked by 'the bastards'.

 

[Handley_Page]

Might not be the slightest bit interested in you colddiesel. Probably just a comm satellite. However, did you take your cell phone? That's how you can be tracked by 'the bastards'.

You have reminded me I need a new mobile 'phone.
But I do NOT want one of those things with GPS, or zillions of Apps.
Taking the odd picture, sending text, and talking is quite sufficient.

 

[colddiesel]

Might not be the slightest bit interested in you colddiesel. Probably just a comm satellite. However, did you take your cell phone? That's how you can be tracked by 'the bastards'.

Hmm,' I thought that communications satellites were generally geostationary or geosynchronous.

No cell phone - a box of matches and smoke signals might work, but there is no cell phone service out there.

 

[Gorza]

Hey, tutti frutti!

I've been absent awhile. What's the conversation? Mobile phones? It's hard to live without them nowadays. I've got a basic one that'll let me make calls and send SMS, but that's it. I do get people asking if I've got their emails, and I quite like telling them that I don't have a smartphone and that they'll have to wait till I'm back at my desk for me to read it.

Speaking of my desk, most of you will remember that I've taken redundancy after half my job has been cut. I signed the agreement two weeks ago, so it's happening for real now. I had some nice comments from students who were sad I'll not be teaching them next year. I've been applying for a few things. They're all a bit different, so I've had to write quite different applications, rebadging myself as more this than that. Luckily, London isn't bad for opportunities, and I've got applications in or going in for jobs in Oxford (where I used to be), Manchester and Western Australia. The last is just a 'why not', plus the appeal of beach life! At least I travel light in life, apart from books and my cat!

I'm hoping to finish off my sexy spy story now, which I hope you'll all enjoy reading.

 

[Handley_Page]

"Hey, tutti frutti!

I've been absent awhile. What's the conversation? Mobile phones? It's hard to live without them nowadays. I've got a basic one that'll let me make calls and send SMS, but that's it. I do get people asking if I've got their emails, and I quite like telling them that I don't have a smartphone and that they'll have to wait till I'm back at my desk for me to read it.
Speaking of my desk, most of you will remember that I've taken redundancy after half my job has been cut. I signed the agreement two weeks ago, so it's happening for real now. "


Good Luck!

 

[Bramblethorn]

Hmm,' I thought that communications satellites were generally geostationary or geosynchronous.

No cell phone - a box of matches and smoke signals might work, but there is no cell phone service out there.

Depends on the application. Geostationary can be useful for stuff like satellite TV where you have a big dish with plenty of power, and you don't want the hassle of tracking a moving satellite.

But geostationary is a very high orbit. That means a much weaker signal; that's OK when you can afford big heavy receivers/transmitters in the ground, but it's a problem for apps like phones where size and power are limited. For that sort of role you're more likely to have a swarm of satellites in lower orbits (hence, moving relative to the ground).

Also, geostationary satellites sit above the equator, which can limit their usefulness for coverage at extreme latitudes.

 

[MrBennet]

Just when you thought you understood satellites and geosynchronous orbits, someone comes along and explains it better! I was grateful to the US military for the use of their satnav the other week in the Channel because it should us how slowly we were making progress against a stubborn westerly.
I'd appreciate some words of advice from the ladies because tomorrow I am coaching the ladies sailing group. I am not an instructor so I was both flattered and baffled as to why I was asked to step in and fill the boots of their normal lady instructor. My thought for the day is that people learn in different ways and often courses are written by men, who prefer their courses to be structured and by the numbers. I'm not keen on that and am a quiet rebel, making up my own methods if they suit me and if they prove to work. Am I on the right lines ? The main thing is it should be fun!
Also there are always very good home made cakes so if they're rotten to me I can always sulk in the corner with some chocolate sponge cake.