The National Archives
This is my favorite resource when I am doing research.
The National Archives, the official archive for England, Wales, and also for central UK government, contains 900 years of history with digital files of parchment and paper scrolls being put on websites, along with audio files
It is more than capable of meeting the demands of a student, a teacher, or doing private research into such areas as Family History, with online tutorials and an extensive variety of guides all designed to help you locate, interpret and understand the records you need for your area of research.
There is even a kids section. 
Friday, 21 December 2007
Do You have The Knowledge? The National Archives Do!
Divinyl does Bob Harris Shocker!! LOL
Once again, Divinyl has triggered a long cherished but forgotten memory today.
Checking out her feed in Netvibes and her post of Sam Baker being interviewed by Bob Harris from the BBC brought back watching Bob introduce some fantastic music to this young teenager, staying up way past his bedtime.
So now old Bob is back on the menu boys!
Thanks Divinyl, and now back to Bob in the studio...
Bob Harris
Monday, 17 December 2007
What's the Most Important Thing to You?
Here is an exercise in stripping away what we think we believe to be what we think as important to reveal something else.
Just pose the question to yourself and write whatever comes into your mind.
What's the Most Important Thing to You?
See! I am not just a bit paranoid ! The Raw Story | AT&T engineer says Bush Admin sought to implement domestic spying within 2 weeks of taking office
See! I am not just a bit paranoid!!!
Extract from forth coming novel by Paul Dice......
'I would draw m'Lud's attention to the previous article placed by my client on the Helium site recalling his account of being hacked by a foreign power's security agency, and has provided his computer records showing the software devices used to gain control of his machine.'
The Raw Story | AT&T engineer says Bush Administration sought to implement domestic spying within two weeks of takingPublish Post office
Friday, 14 December 2007
Do You Zoom? - BloggingZoom Review | PureBlogging
Another great post on the subject of BloggingZoom, this time by Sharon Hurley Hall, a freelance writer.
Do You Zoom? - BloggingZoom Review | PureBlogging
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Incoming Yahoo !!!!..Take Cover!!!!
Well I finally got round to importing my latest Blogger entries and the whole of my Yahoo blog into Multiply.
Not too keen on the way Multiply has laid it out, from the oldest to the latest, but maybe it is configurable.
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
RSS? what's RSS Precious?
RSS? what's RSS Precious?
Nice article, in fact a great blog, from New York Comedienne LucyDee.
Consider yourself RSS (ed) Lucy!!
Not only funny, but clever.
Get paid to blog! | Rich Mudkip
Came across this site on BloggingZoom..just the info I was looking for!!
Share and Enjoy!
Get paid to blog! | Rich Mudkip
Sorting out the emails and giving feedback
It's nice when people stay in touch..you know..your just sat there ..thinking of them.. as you do... when either the phone rings and it is them or an email lands on your cybermat...then after chasing your cyberdogbot to get the email out of it's virtual grip, you can see who has sent you love, scams and downright chicanery.
Out of all the social networking, blog promotion type things I have joined, Blogcatalog has some of the more active members. I regularly receive and give out these broadcast messages and they a jolly good way of letting everyone know what is happening.
Well Hello Molly...Nice of you to drop by..help yourself to some food and drink, I'm sure the others will be along in a short while...emmm?....
Anyone up for this?
It is nice to share and play with your friends....
and then I can move on to the next email account and do it all over again..what fun!!!
Monday, 10 December 2007
How Viral Linking Taught Me To Be Patient at Planet Saedel | PlanetSaedel | PlanetSaedel.com | Saedel Pensoy
Came across this as an up and coming blog entry on the BloggingZoom site on Viral Linking and it reminded me of that retched Meme Divinyl got me involved with. LOL.
How Viral Linking Taught Me To Be Patient at Planet Saedel | PlanetSaedel | PlanetSaedel.com | Saedel Pensoy
Memoirs: Childhood memories - Memoirs - Helium - by Paul Dice
I found myself thinking over the past lately.
I guess that what being an adult is really all about, working out what happened in the past.
Yesterday would have been my twentieth wedding anniversary to my first wife, so the day was a reflective one, thinking of who I was and what I was embarking on all those years ago.
Anyway, this led to a small article I have put on the Helium site, not about my wedding or marriage but some of my earliest memories.
Memoirs: Childhood memories - Memoirs - Helium - by Paul Dice
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
Do you always follow your instincts? Do you ‘go with the flow’?
Do you always follow your instincts? Do you ‘go with the flow’?
I didn’t yesterday and I really wished I had.
It all started out when the g/f said she wanted to go out shopping and said 'you don't have to come if you don't want to,' but she really gave me that look which said 'and so do you'. I wasn't really into the idea, and I felt a little harassed into going.
We set off in the car and firstly, it's 'Oh! Let us go and get some tyres for the car’ a task which I said, I would do this week; I thought it was a good idea and off we go, round to a local tyre shop.
Now my g/f is a lovely woman and she likes to be as helpful as she can. One of her habits is to tell me, when we are pulling out a road junction, if it is clear of traffic and is safe to pull out. Now I must admit that this does wind me up a bit.
It is my responsibility as the driver of the car, to look and check that it is safe, but she likes to sit forward and look, obscuring my view. I have tried to mention this to her but she takes it a bit personal so I have learnt to just shut up.
I guess it is a survival technique most men are equipped with.
Anyway, we pulled out and drove down to the local industrial estate, parked up and the guy came out had a look and announced that we needed two new tyres.
Er? Yes? That’s why we are here.
So while he is fitting them we go and have a look round a couple of large furniture and carpeting stores nearby followed by a nice a hot cup of tea a lay-by cafe.
After half an hour, we head back to the tyre fitters. It cost £70 for the tyres and fitting. Not too bad, I guess, but we could have done without the expense just before Christmas, though, having said that, we do have a long journey up to my hometown coming up and it is better to have the car nice and safe.
Next we are off into the town to do some shopping at the local outdoor market and managed to find a good parking spot just near the vegetable stall, just were my g/f wanted to go. Having bought a few items, I took them back to the car, and then, for the next couple of hours we went round the local charity shops to see if we can find a few bargains.
By the end of this, I had had enough. I am not a mass consumer, I don't like wandering around shops much, particularly at this time of year as the shops have their heating on full and I find it just too hot. So I was glad to be making our way back to the car, but, oh no, just one more shop she need to go in.
I decided to wait outside and watched to stall holders dismantling their stalls and packing them into trailers.
A driver pulled out of a parking spot just in front of the store I was outside of and I toyed with the idea of moving the car up and parking it there. I couldn't see my g/f from were I was stood to tell her that is what I was going to do so I didn’t bother walking the short distance to the car. Finally, she emerged and we wandered down and got into the car.
I backed out and drove along the route we had walked to the junction ahead and I stopped. On my left, one of the stallholders I had been watching had pulled his vehicle right across the road to hook up his trailer and had block access from the left so I slowly pulled away over the junction, checking that no vehicles were going to pull out on me from the right. My g/f was chatting like a parrot on speed about going from there to see a friend when bang!
What I hadn't noticed was that at that same instant, the stall holder had backed up his vehicle and trailer back on to the pavement, (side walk to my US friends), and a car had come round and hit the car in my g/f's passenger door.
So we have gone from my g/f's total obsession for checking that things are safe to a situation were she didn't, and I had got used to her telling me that it was clear and keeping my mouth shut to keep the peace and wasn't as cautious as I normally am.
So the police arrive, take statements from all parties involved and passed around the breath analyser to check that it wasn't all due to alcohol consumption, which it wasn't, I NEVER drink and drive.
So, now we have a car with two brand new tyres and one very bent door.
The car isn't worth very much and so the insurance will probably write it off and we have the hassle of sorting out a vehicle before the weekend as her sister is due to arrive and I am the nominated driver to ferry them all around. We also need a vehicle to drive the 250 miles to my family and we cannot do that in a car that the door doesn’t open.
Just wish I had followed my instincts and just said what I wanted to say, no, I don't want to go shopping.
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
BBC NEWS | UK | Teacher speaks of Sudan 'ordeal'
Dum dum dum dum dum
If you go down to Sudan today..don't you take any stuffed toys...
Glad this nonsense is over.
BBC NEWS | UK | Teacher speaks of Sudan 'ordeal'
Saturday, 1 December 2007
Trying to look beyond the Media Face of Sudan
The continuing fiasco regarding 54 year old Gillian Gibbons, a UK teacher from Liverpool, jailed for 15 days in Sudan for insulting Islam by allowing her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad, is still heading the media in the UK with a meeting with two British Muslim peers, Labour's Lord Ahmed and Conservative Baroness Warsi, at a secret location in Sudan's capital, Khartoum.
BBC News
The media coverage in the UK has been dominated by images of Sudanese men, no women, riding on donkeys, horses and carts, shouting and wielding sticks and swords apparently calling for this woman to be put to death for her ignorance.
The question I have running through my mind is who has demonstrated a greater amount of ignorance, the woman for not seeking guidance from those running the school, those running the school for not supporting a member of their staff team or those calling for her to lose her life over a soft toy?
Though I hope that the more extreme elements of the Sudanese's religious and judiciary far right do not success in their reactionary desires.
If harm should befall this mature lady, that the Western powers do all they can to apply diplomatic pressure and punitive economic sanctions.
Having said how I feel, it was gratify to read that not all of the inhabitants of Sudan support these medieval minded zealots.
The Holy Room : The Sudanese Thinker
Thursday, 29 November 2007
I just love Netvibes more each day!
I really do! This is a great feature were I am able to reply to comments made on my blog without having to hunt through my blog. I just work down the list on the left and it opens the page right at the precise comment section I need! Fantastic!
How to boost traffic to your blog - Internet Writing & Blogging - Helium - by Paul Dice
Finally I have managed to find sometime to write a new article for the Helium site.
This article came about by reading a comment left on The reality of working from home - Self-Employment - Helium - by Pablothehat from bluebeaverbeer on the Bloggingzoom site.
I love that sort of small suggestion which can lead to an act of creativity. They always seem to be the best. Thanks bluebeaverbeer !
How to boost traffic to your blog - Internet Writing & Blogging - Helium - by Paul Dice
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
For Bloggers, By Bloggers: Blogging Zoom | Fresh Geeks - Stay Fresh with the Internet, Tech, and Blogging
To compliment my take on Bloggingzoom, Fresh Geeks have produced a most excellent article on Bloggingzoom's site. Read it and weep if you have not signed up to this.
For Bloggers, By Bloggers: Blogging Zoom | Fresh Geeks - Stay Fresh with the Internet, Tech, and Blogging
Monday, 26 November 2007
Al Jazeera English - News - Saudi Defends Rape Victim Verdict
Surely religion and state exist to serve the people, not the other way round?
Al Jazeera English - News - Saudi Defends Rape Victim Verdict
BBC emails on the Saudi Rape Case
It's 4 in the morning and once more the dawnin' has woke up the wanting...
Well it is 4 am and I am wide-awake (again!) My erratic sleeping pattern has haunted me, and those I have lived with, for years.
Even as I small child I would wake up very early and sneak downstairs and play with my toys or get my bike out of the shed and ride round and round my grandmothers backyard until someone woke up and called me in for breakfast.
Now, as a 'grown-up' I get up and switch on the PC and check my visitor stats to see who has had a look at The Tao of Blog and send them a thank you if I have their contact details and drop by their blogs.
If I am still too sleepy to complete anything constructive, I will just settle down with a cup of tea and do some mindless clicking on the two traffic exchange sites I am experimenting.
I still have mixed feelings about using them. On the one hand it can be quite interesting to see where in the world some of my fellow mouse abusers live, (or in my case mouse pen abuser), but on the other hand, is it just a waste of time and energy?
Most of the members from these exchanges don't hang about on The Tao of Blog for long. Like me, I guess they are generally they are too busy trying to amount a pile of credits to have the time or the inclination to delve deeper into the site, but a few do, and that is what give a sense of satisfaction. I could say that it is because of the interesting content, but in reality, they maybe just bored and need a break from clicking, or are distracted from the pc and just leave the window open for a few hours without reading any of it. The visitor stats cannot tell you these things.
When I need a break from all this mindless ad watching, with endless repeats of the same ad on both networks, I catch up with a few of the many blogs I enjoy reading, like the latest from Gina over at Preposterous Ponderings via my feeder on Netvibes. Then over to David Byrne’s Journal to get his latest take on New York and to Don William’s My 2 Cents for the Day to see if he has managed to kick his 'Mac Habit.'
I guess nothing has changed really, 'cept I no longer have a bike and yard to ride around in, just the vastness of cyberspace.
What is Cyberbullying? - Guest Authors - Internet Safety-For Our Children's Sake
I dropped round Rose DesRocsher site this morning and she had put a link to an article on Cyber-bullying written by her son.
If you have looked though the Tao of Blog you will know that this one subject which I have a personal vested interest, having had to not only deal with a cyber attack but the process which surrounds reporting such an attack to the police.
I do not know the age of the author but he has produced a very well researched and written article on a subject which concerns anyone who uses the Internet, particularly if one uses social networking sites or Instant Messenger networks.
What is Cyberbullying? - Guest Authors - Internet Safety-For Our Children's Sake
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Why I Failed To Make Money Online Blogging: A must read article for novice bloggers
I really wished I had come across this posting a few months ago..I would have took that crappy job I was offered.
This is a really great post, with lots for the novice blogger to think about and apply!
Why I Failed To Make Money Online Blogging
Spam, Spam, spam,spam
When I was doing the usually sort through of my email accounts with Mailwasher earlier this morning I came across this email.
My first thoughts were, 'Who's? Yours or mine?'
Flipping spam!!
The El- Meme Effect
The El- Meme Effect
I don’t really go for these chain letter type things. Either the bin or delete in my world.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank Divinyl for roping me into this whole affair. May your stylus go blunt and your LP’s get those awful folds over edges on the inner sleeve.
8 things I am passionate about:
Like DV, all aspects of music, but particularly having a good jam with some great musos.
(The Hat is off to Paul Dowler aka Elv, Paul C for the healing, Johnny Fingers and Beryl, Just play the fucking note!! That note! Just play the fucking note!
Gary Potter, you are far too talented for me mate!
Rodders!!! And even my Ex-wife, you were a great singer and guitarist girl!)
Sci-Fi Films. I remember going to the cinema by my aunt to see loads of sci-fi films when I was a kid, no more than 10. Thanks Av, you are a star! You started my life long love affair with Sci-fi.
The company of intelligent people who work with enlightened self and community interest.
Reading widely.
Writing.
The Truth.
Justice.
(I would also like to work tirelessly to end world hunger and single-handedly stop the deforestation of the planet.)
8 things I want to do before I die:
Keep breathing,
Become a better writer and to earn my way through life from it.
Avoid ending up as a washed out opium addict, shanghaied and sold in to servitude.
To find where I truly belong.
End my life as a Temple Ball roller in Nepal, the hours are bad but you get to lick your hands.
To finish the Course in Miracles.
To remember who I was before I was born.
To die without fear.
I liked Divinyl’s suggestion and will take the liberty of using that.
8 experiences that have changed the way I view the world:
Walking passed the body of my dead dog on my way to school when I was 7.
Surviving several road traffic accidents.
Losing my mind on my 25th birthday.
Finding my mind 3 years later.
Getting married. (see losing my mind again)
Getting through 3 miscarriages.
Getting divorced.
Helping my friend seek justice after she had been gang raped.
8 songs I can listen to over and over again:
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
Bee’s Wing – Richard Thompson
Anything – Moody Blues
Underwater Love – Smoke City
Off shore – Chicane
Weather the Storm – Massive Attack
Gimme a Pigfoot – Bessie Smith
Wild Billy's Circus Story - Bruce Springsteen
8 things that attract me to my friends:
Difficult this as I don’t really have many old friends that I stay in contact with much but I guess….
A well developed sense of humour.
That the passing of time and the distance between us does not diminish the acceptance of each other.
They are able to separate truth from illusion and know the difference.
That they understand that I will drop them at any time should they contravene any of my principals regardless of how genuine, honest, trustworthy or funny they would like to project themselves.
That they know that I will never lend them money.
That they don’t have to be very intelligent, just malleable
They can be as quirky and individualistic as they like as long as they are not self-obsessed.
That they would fucking answer their email!
Tag a further 3 people mmmm unless I pick someone at random…He! he! he!?
Ok so the folks from MyBlogLog I nominate, are………….. (Drum roll)
Emmy, labyrinth_sofia and House…...
‘Never will I do this again’… (Neil Armstrong)
Friday, 23 November 2007
Nice to get feedback...Ring! ring! Wonder if is that my agent on the phone?
It is great to get some feedback from our readers. 
Working with Children
Yes, yes I know ..the meme..it is in progress!!!
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Any blogging advantages in joining Traffic Exchange sites?
Sorry that I have been neglecting my post for a few days, went a bit absent without leave!
Actually I have been exploring if there are any blogging advantages in joining Traffic Exchange sites in an attempt to get more visitors to my blog.
This has had some mixed results. The first few days were going quite well. I had increased my visitor count and heck, some of you were even sticking around to read this crap.
The last few days though is a different story.. yesterday and today seems to be my worst day for visitors since I started, mmmmm? Is there a connection? Or is it just Turkey Bloat?
That question is relevant on several levels.
By joining these sites in the hope that you may draw new readers and hopefully subscribers, is very time consuming, but the first few days is spent looking round the site, trying to understand the small print. (Thank FireFox for zoom!!)
The first Traffic Exchange I joined was sometime ago with Bravenet.
Bravenet provide you with a piece of code which you insert into you site. This enables Bravenet to send a pop-under window , which is similar to a pop-up window, except rather than being on top, it opens a window below the current one, of another member's web page. Likewise, your web page is sent to someone' else when they open theirs.
It tends to be a very passive type of advertising, generally you hardly notice them there and this leads to speculation of their efficacy.
The only other problems I have encountered have been when poorly coded sites grab your processor time, but this is easily remedied by closing the window. The other problem I have encountered is with their website not allowing me to log in recently. It seems to be having problems with cookies and not being to access my account without a bit of a struggle. As this is a recent development I need to look at and sort.
Apart from those areas, the amount of traffic from Bravenet has been rather steady, if not many, though the level of active involvement with this exchange is minimal, apart when one has to close a troublesome site.
Bravenet also offer several other services such as free web hosting, widget and blogging resources, ftp, affiliate programs and money earning opportunities which I will explore in the coming months.
Along with splitting the Atom, building box girder bridges...nod to Monty Python.
(The Sands of Time eh?..A painful reminder of the brevity of it all in the Japs Eye of Life, no offence meant.)
The second Traffic Exchange I signed up with I briefly reviewed in an earlier post, is TS25 or it's full title of Traffic Syndication 25.
This site is a lot more demanding of your actual time. Once signed up you are give a selection of websites to view with an exchange rate between you and those who see your website or blog.
A very basic outline of how it works.
For viewing blog and web pages on a 15 second timer, you earn credits which can be bought, sold or exchanged for more traffic to your site.
There is a community and affiliate side to Traffic Syndicate 25 as there is to Bravenet and nearly all of the others that I have viewed.
To be honest, it can be totally boring. Most of these ads are for other sites offering all similar services, increase traffic, or amazing health drink promotions to the latest in how to earn a billion by having a cheap and tacky website. blah, blah, blah, blah...
Occasionally an interesting site does come up and you are able to bookmark these in your profile.
I spent a whole two days just about clicking from one site to another, bit like Sky really, and I managed to earn nearly 2000 points, and gaining a star rating, but talk about tedium.
Anyway by the end of the second day my partner exploded. 'You have been sitting on your arse for two days for what exactly?..'
Trying to explain the concept to my partner that points make whatever, did little to appease this neglected Tyrant who demands constant worship.
I had to confess that when trying to convince her, I was starting to have my own doubts.
Can this sort of approach actually yield any any meaningful blogger/visitor relationship?
(Though will I still be living here tomorrow if she doesn't calm down should be my more immediate concern!!)
Despite the hell hath no fury thing, I joined another site, EasyHits4u, which is similar to the TS25 site.
I haven't used this much as yet, nor have I explored this site thoroughly busy sacrificing a few doves on pain of banishment, you know, that sort of thing.
I will keep you all posted on my adventures in Traffic Exchange and my relationship developments.
Hits from Bravenet and Ts25
Absolutely dreadful hits that day!
But this one restored my faith.....
and I do like to know what sort of people have been looking at my blog. Glad to see I am getting a fan base from all sectors of society. Covert? I think not! Moonlighting? LOL
Sunday, 18 November 2007
Blogging Zoom Zooming | Internet Marketing | Strategy & Services
I have just taken a look at Courtney Tuttle's recent posting regarding Bloggingzoom's meteoric rise in popularity.
(Now there's a phrase which defies actuality. Meteors, in their natural habitat of space never rise or fall, no up or down in space.
You may get away with over there and over here, but never up or down.
The only time we humans generally encounter meteors is usually in the down phase by entering the atmosphere. As far as I am aware, no human has ever seen one leave the planet.)
Anyway I digress. (It's my blog and I'll digress if I want to!)
It seems that Bloggingzoom is just what the blogger ordered, even outstripping Courtney's own site!
Blogging Zoom Zooming | Internet Marketing | Strategy & Services
Friday, 16 November 2007
Paul Dice: Helium – Where Knowledge Rules
Paul Dice: Helium – Where Knowledge Rules
Helium recently sent me an email asking if I would consider changing my pen name to something a bit more professional.
At first, I was taken aback. What is wrong with Pablothehat? It is me, my cyber me, it's..
An over attachment to a mental construct which has served its purpose..Yes.
Had I actually been too attached to this persona? Was it time that the child put away childish things?
So, after deciding that it would probably be, for my future writing opportunities, the more logical thing to do, change the old Moniker for something approaching a name more suited.
This was more difficult than I thought. Should I go for taking up one of my Irish or Scottish ancestors names? Should I try combining the two? Should I consider the great writers or thinkers of our world, and look for inspiration amongst those illustrious people?
I was starting to feel like an expectant parent, trying to find a favourable magical name to give their offspring. To endow this fragile persona, a name that will command the very stars, open all the doors and bestow riches and success upon this treasured loved one.
Finally, I decided the simpler the better.
I am not a very complicated person, and I could not have remembered anything so well constructed as to be able to hide within it, an encrypted copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
So looking along the bookshelves at many of the publications that I have amassed over the years. Books that have helped me, influenced me and educated me.
Suddenly a copy of Luke Rhinehart's, The Dice Man winked at me! Seems appropriate.
Pablothehat - AKA - Paul Dice.
Thursday, 15 November 2007
AtomFilms: D.R.A.F.T.
I love animation, have done since I was a kid. Even tried my hand at a bit years ago on my old Atari system, hours of fun and head scratching.
As I have got older I have developed a better appreciation of all the aspects which go into producing this irreverent artform.
This was the first thing I watched on Atom Films, and it still has tears coming from my eyes.
AtomFilms: D.R.A.F.T.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
B-52 Nukes Headed for Iran: Air Force refused to fly weapons to Middle East theater
If there is one thing that I can be accused of is that I am a natural cynic, particularly when it comes to those who class themselves as leader, movers and shakers.
My friend is also a cynic, and he kindly sent me this little snippet, not really explored in the mainstream media to any great depth, which could lead me on to a whole new level of cynicism.
(See! That's why I don't have Sky!)
Best we look to those learned people who have seen, experienced and commentated up the concepts of leadership, power and ego for some insight.
'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' Lord Acton, Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 1887
'It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power. ' David Brin (1950 - )
One of my favorite piccies. Haven't come across a good one of Tony yet, but I have this one of Gordy in his last job, facing difficult decisions which effects the well being of many.
B-52 Nukes Headed for Iran: Air Force refused to fly weapons to Middle East theater
We thought, because we had power, we had wisdom. Stephen Vincent Benet (1898 - 1943), Litany for Dictatorships, 1935
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