".......And this next one goes out to you our brave war veterans...
It is one! two, three, four what the hell are we fight for...."
From the Mirror
The pictures of police brutality that will shock all of Britain.
Police beat handcuffed war veteran Mark Aspinall
These shameful and inexcusable scenes show a war hero who served his country in Iraq and Afghanistan fearing for his life amid a violent and unprovoked assault by police.
Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall – highly praised by his commanding officer for bravery against the Taliban in Afghanistan – was set upon by three uniformed officers on his home town High Street.
The sickening attack – caught in forensic detail on CCTV – led a crown court judge to label it one of the worst examples of police aggression he had ever seen. Yet, in a travesty of justice, it was Mark who was at first convicted by magistrates of attacking the policemen... despite the video footage clearly showing he was the victim.
Last night, Mark, 24, who had 14 head and face injuries, said: “I was scared for my life. I was being battered and my head was being pushed into the ground.
“I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to die here. I can’t believe I’ve survived Afghanistan and Iraq and now I’m going to die on this main road in my home town at the hands of the police’.
“Yet I was the one who ended up in the dock, not the officers.”
Mark was convicted by magistrates of two counts of police assault – and his ordeal only ended when Crown Court judge John Phipps watched the damning footage and quashed the verdict on appeal.
Who are these magistrates? And are they still in their positions? I sincerely hope not!
He said: “I am shocked and appalled at the level of police violence shown here”, adding that he had “great concerns” about the footage and effectively branding the policemen liars by saying: “I would go as far as to say the statements (by the officers) contain untruths.”
The nine-minute video shows PC Peter Lightfoot punching Mark eight times.
Mark had been out for drinks with friends in Wigan, Lancs, and left the town’s Walkabout bar at 2.40am on Sunday July 27. Police had been called to deal with a man said to be causing a nuisance to paramedics.
Special constable Lightfoot, 39 – a volunteer officer whose main job is as a van driver – and his two colleagues wrongly believed Mark was their man. He explained he had done nothing wrong, but they chased him and threw him to the floor.
“They asked me what I was doing and I told them I was just standing around. They came up and pushed me and I said ‘Don’t f***ing touch me’.
“I had been drinking, I was pretty leathered, I know that... but I was NOT being violent.”
The footage opens with an unsteady Mark drunkenly standing in the street and calling out to the officers.
As can be clearly seen, he stands 10ft from them in the middle of the road as they stand on the pavement.
Suddenly, the three officers move as one and start running across the road towards Mark.
Startled, he falls over and as he gets to his feet one officer rugby-tackles him, while the other two help bundle him to the ground. Then the vicious assault begins.
PC Lightfoot, who weighs more than 20st, bangs Mark’s head on the road twice before leaning over and shouting into his ear, while his two colleagues kneel on Mark’s legs.
Mark, in pain, tries to kick out and bites one of the officer’s legs in self-defence.
His punishment is fierce and immediate. The officer pushes his booted foot in Mark’s face while PC Lightfoot grabs his hair and repeatedly scrapes his face on the tarmac.
Even though Mark is lying unmoving on the ground, PC Lightfoot punches him twice, checks to see who is watching, then punches him another six times on the back and shoulders.
The eight pump-action blows come in eight seconds. PC Lightfoot stops the beating only as people driving past slow down to watch. The footage shows Mark pinned to the floor for a total of five minutes and 16 seconds. The most brutal section lasts for one minute 35 seconds.
Eventually, Mark was bundled into a police van in handcuffs, taken to Wigan police station and kept in custody for 20 hours.
He was charged with two counts of police assault and a public order offence – swearing at the officers. On September 22, at Wigan magistrates court, the three officers read statements to the court that Mark had been “behaving violently” and “issued challenges”.
Three JPs found Mark guilty of the two assaults – despite viewing the footage. In a final insult, he was ordered to pay PC Lightfoot £100 in compensation and one of the other officers £150.
He was also ordered to serve 200 hours community service and given a three-month suspended prison sentence. Mark, who returned from Afghanistan in February and was working his notice in the Army at the time of attack, said: “I went in to the Army thinking this country was worth fighting for.
“I put my life on the line every day in Afghanistan, so to come back and be treated like this for no reason was just so depressing. My plan was to join the fire service when I came out of the Army – but I was rejected because of my conviction. It meant I was unemployable for anything I wanted to do.”
Determined to clear his name, Mark lodged an appeal. And at Liverpool crown court on November 13, Judge Phipps saw the footage and asked incredulously: “Where is this man of violence?”
Mark said: “In court the police said I was out of control, but you can see I was just lying there. I was drunk, I’ll admit that, but I wasn’t causing trouble. I swore at the officers after they pushed me, but I was not challenging them or threatening them. At no point in the CCTV can you see me being violent.
“It was awful. I had come back from fighting in Afghanistan and now, on community service, I was painting a school as a convict, standing next to men who were drug dealers and robbers.”
Yesterday Mark received the £250 compensation back from the officers.
Brought up in Wigan by supermarket assistant mum Kathleen, 59, and his factory engineer dad John, 61, Mark revealed: “My grandad had been in the Army and when I joined my parents were so proud of me.
“I lost two friends – one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan – and although I loved the Army I wanted to come out and try something else.”
He added: “I’m delighted to have cleared my name, but it is scandalous that I was treated like this.”
At his home in Orrell, Wigan, PC Lightfoot, a Special Constable for 19 years, refused to discuss his attack on Mark saying: “Go away. You are not welcome.”
Special constables have the same power of arrest as regular full-time officers and are subject to the same rules, but are not paid.
A police spokesman said: “Greater Manchester Police’s professional standards branch is investigating the conduct of officers on the Wigan division.
“One officer has had his duties restricted and another two are being investigated.
“The matter has been voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, but an independent complaint has also been made.”
So, is this the sort of Britain that this young man signed up to protect? No I don't think so.
Nothing will happen to either these police officers nor to the magistrates, though a fitting punishment would be a six month tour of Hellman Province, would do them all a world of good.
Exclusive: Three police officers beat up handcuffed Iraq war veteran - mirror.co.uk
Sunday 30 November 2008
..And this next one goes out to you, our brave war veterans..
Friday 28 November 2008
So how do you Twitter? Ah! well Yoono....
I started using Yoono, a Firefox extension about 2 or 3 weeks ago and I am gradually finding that it is an excellent vehicle to communicate across many IM and social networking platforms.
It integrates well with Firefox and runs as you can see, as a left hand side bar, (no option to switch to the right as yet).
One of the more potentially exciting features is the ability to post directly to your blog.
I say potentially because I haven't actually been successful in doing this.
Yoono appears to have sent the posting, but when I have checked the actual blog, it is nowhere to be seen.
So if anyone has any ideas on how I can solve this, please leave a comment!
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=047aec0d-74e5-4b87-972a-73e411dcbdb5)
And so, it begins.......
And so, it begins... (Ambassador Kosh of The Vorlon Empire)
From the BBC
Senior Tory angered by his arrest
Mr Green said politicians have a duty to hold the government to account
A senior Conservative MP has reacted angrily to his arrest by police investigating the alleged leaking of Home Office information.
Damian Green denied any wrongdoing and said: "I was astonished to have spent more than nine hours today under arrest for doing my job."
BBC NEWS | Politics | Senior Tory angered by his arrest
Police say Mr Green was held on Thursday on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office".
He was questioned, but has not been charged and was bailed until February.
This is rich when you consider the actions of this government from almost day one of their Stewardship.
What? Clarify? Ok.
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone
The rebellion of 47 backbenchers who were against the plans to cut benefits to single parents.
In the October of 1998 the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, the only country in Latin America not to support Argentina in the Falkland Islands Conflict, was arrested at the request of Spanish judges, seeking to extradite him to face charges related to more than 4000 political killings alleged to have taken place in Chile. He was in the UK to undergo surgery.
Home Secretary Jack Straw ordered he was too ill to extradite and allowed him to return to Chile.
In 2008 however, if you are Ghanaian, you are more likely to be removed from your sickbed and deported back to Africa to die.
At the end of October 1998, in an out of season, moment of madness, Welsh Secretary Ron Davies became the first member of Tony Blair's Cabinet to resign citing a "serious lapse of judgement" after he forgot all about the dangers of talking to strangers on Clapham Common and was later robbed at knifepoint.
He had been the bookies favourite to become the First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly after winning a ballot earlier in the year by a head.
In the middle of December 1998, under the cover of British Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Mandelson resigning for failing to disclose a pre-election winning, £373000 home loan from Paymaster General Geoffrey Robinson, Saddam Hussain decided, with all that distraction, that he might get away with failing to comply with weapons inspections.
However, the ever-vigilant US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair responded to this with air strikes on Iraq.
6th March 2000
Ken Livingstone announces his intention to stand as an independent candidate for London Mayor.
One month later the MP for Brent East received a letter telling him he had been expelled from the Labour Party for at least five years for failing to back the official Labour candidate Frank Dobson. Mr Livingstone shrugged off the move as a "trial separation" and went on to win the mayoral election in May 2000.
7th June 2000
Blair is heckled and slow hand-clapped as he delivers a speech to the Women’s Institute.
After what Mr Blair had hoped would be a speech to win back the initiative from the Tories he received poor applause and drew criticism from some audience members who said his speech was too political. Some women began to heckle and slow clap the PM before the WI chairman appealed to them to stop.
29th June 2000
Blair announces that police will be able to charge on-the-spot fines for public drunkenness.
5th July 2000
PMs eldest son Euan reprimanded by police for being drunk and incapable in a post-exams celebration.
Euan was found drunk and vomiting in Leicester Square and was taken to a police station. The incident came just a few days after Tony Blair suggested on-the-spot fines for drunkenness. Mr Blair reacted the next day saying being a father was sometimes more difficult than being prime minister.
5th September 2000
Fuel protests over rise in petrol prices begin. Crisis Cabinet meetings in what was seen as the greatest test of Blair’s premiership.
24th January 2001
Peter Mandelson resigns over Hinduja passports affair. He is later cleared of wrongdoing.
16th July 2001
More than 100 backbencher’s rebel over a bid to remove two independently minded MPs as chairmen of two committees
28th May 2002
Transport Secretary Stephen Byers resigns after a long running row over good day to bury bad news email sent by his adviser.
The scandal revolved around Mr Byers' special adviser or spin doctor Jo Moore who sent an email on 911 suggesting that news from the department was unlikely to receive the usual press scrutiny on that day. Mr Byers was not involved in that email but became embroiled in a wider row about the influence of non-accountable special advisers.
10th December 2002
Cherie Blair apologises for embarrassment caused by buying flats with the help of convicted fraudster Peter Foster.
15th February 2003
An estimated million people’s march through London to protest against war with Iraq.
17th March 2003
Robin Cook quits as leader of the Commons because of his opposition to attacking Iraq.
18th March 2003
139 Labour MPs vote against the government’s decision to go to war with Iraq.
20th March 2003
War on Iraq begins as US forces launch first air strikes on Baghdad.
US President George W Bush delivered a live television address shortly after explosions rocked the capital at 05:34 local time 02:34 GMT signalling the start of the US led campaign to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The following day the US and British launched a massive aerial assault on Baghdad in what the US called its "shock and awe" strategy. Mr Bush declared an end to major combat operations on 1 May 2003.
12th May 2003
Clare Short quits over Iraq saying Tony Blair had broken promises over the country’s future.
29th May 2003
On the Today programme Andrew Gilligan reports allegations that the government enhanced its dossier on Iraq’s WMD.
Want me to go on? OK.
28th January 2004
Lord Hutton’s report absolves government of almost any blame in Kelly affair and points finger at BBC reporting.
Key allegations about the government's Iraq dossier reported by the BBC's Andrew Gilligan were "unfounded" and the BBC's editorial procedures were "defective" Lord Hutton said. He concluded that there was no underhand government strategy to name Dr Kelly. The report caused massive upheaval at the BBC with the resignations of Chairman Gavyn Davies and Director General Greg Dyke.
26th February 2004
Speaking on Today Clare Short alleges UN Secretary General Kofi Annans office was bugged by MI6.
20th April 2004
Blair confirms there will be a referendum on the EU constitution a U turn on his previous position.
For months the prime minister had denied the need for a vote but with clamour over Europe issues growing louder he said that he would "let the people have a final say". Conservative leader Michael Howard asked him "Who will ever trust you again"
And we all know what happened there don't we?
14th July 2004
Butler report finds that some intelligence on Iraq’s WMDs had turned out to be unreliable but Blair had acted in good faith.
16th March 2006
Labours treasurer Jack Dromey reveals he and other officials did not know the party had secretly borrowed millions of £s.
Mr Dromey told BBC News that neither he nor Labour's elected chairman knew about the loans from businessmen despite being regularly consulted about bank loans. He said the Electoral Commission should investigate the issue of loans to political parties from non-commercial sources. Home Secretary Charles Clarke said it was reasonable for an internal inquiry to take place but denied "cash for honours" claims.
25th April 2006
The Home Office admits 1023 foreign criminals were released without being considered for deportation.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke refused to step down but conceded he did not know where most of the released prisoners were. Among them were three murderers and nine rapists. Opposition leaders accused him of failing to protect the public.
10th July 2006
John Prescott comes under pressure to quit after it emerges a US tycoon gave him a cowboy outfit during a visit to his ranch.
(LOL 'I wanna be Sherriff')
12th July 2006
Lord Levy is arrested and bailed by police over the cash for honours probe.
Tony Blair's chief fundraiser denied any wrongdoing and accused the police of using their arrest powers "totally unnecessarily". The peer was one of several key figures in securing multimillion pound loans to the Labour Party in 2005. Police are examining whether honours were ever given as reward for financial help to the three main parties.
14th December 2006
Police interview Blair about cash for honours affair.
Mr Blair became the first prime minister to be questioned by police in the course of an investigation. He was interviewed twice in December and January 2007 but not under caution so he was being treated as a witness rather than a suspect. Mr Blair's chief fundraiser Lord Levy and Downing Street political adviser Ruth Turner were arrested on separate occasions in January 2007 and released after questioning. the Crown Prosecution Service announced on the 20th of July 2007, that Lord Levy was not to be prosecuted.
History it would seem, like a rather fat-laden meal, repeats......
Back to the BBC....
Speaking outside the House of Commons, Mr Green said: "I emphatically deny I have done anything wrong.
"I have many times made public information that the government wanted to keep secret - information that the public has a right to know.
"In a democracy, opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account.
This is Shamocracy mate, didn't anyone tell you?
"I was elected to the House of Commons precisely to do that and I certainly intend to continue doing so."
Mr Green's arrest is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistle-blower.
It follows a series of leaks, including:
* The November 2007 revelation that the home secretary knew the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers, but decided not to publicise it.
* The February 2008 news that an illegal immigrant had been employed as a cleaner in the House of Commons.
* A whips' list of potential Labour rebels in the vote on plans to increase the pre-charge terror detention limit to 42 days.
* A letter from the home secretary warning that a recession could lead to a rise in crime.
The BBC understands Tory leader David Cameron is angry about what has happened and stands by Mr Green.
Speaking on BBC One's Question Time on Thursday, shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "I think it's absolutely extraordinary that the police have taken that decision.
"It has long been the case in our democracy that MPs have received information from civil servants - I think to hide information from the public is wrong.
"It is early days, it's an extraordinary case. I think there are going to be some very, very big questions asked of the police."
A spokesman for the Conservative Party said Mr Green had "on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information which the Home Office chose not to make public.
"Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest."
Conservative sources said a police investigation into a high-ranking politician would have to have been cleared at "the very top" and have described the actions as "Stalinesque".
But a Downing Street spokesman said: "This is a matter for the police. The prime minister had no prior knowledge of the arrest of Mr Green and was only informed after the event."
Strange how David Cameron knew, and Boris. Bit odd, don't you think?
Why should GB have to know? After all, that is the point of pogrom isn't it, to permit the use of plausible deniability?
And now we go live over to Stalin's Tomb, where a séance is being conducted to gain the late Soviet Leaders opinion....
...Keep building upon my evil works Mr Prime Minister, and those of your predecessors. Serve your masters well and you will descend to my left hand....Now I must go, I have a meeting with comrade Pol Pot...
Well it would seem that the current UK government tactics are being warmly received by the former Soviet Leader, wherever he is... now back to the studio...
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said he was informed in advance of the Met's plan to arrest Mr Green, and expressed "trenchant" concerns about the move.
Mr Green, the MP for Ashford in Kent, who has been the Conservatives' immigration spokesman since December 2005, was arrested shortly before 1400 GMT at his constituency home.
The Tories say they understand counter-terrorism officers were involved in searches of his home and offices.
So, instead of utilising the skills and expertise of our highly trained and motivated counter-terrorism officers (LOL), to protect the citizens of the UK, we find that they have been poking around the properties of one of the Queen's loyal opposition. Does this seem a useful and cost effective use of their time? And what nasty little false flag have they not seen, fluttering?
Is it just a case of constructing a sentence out of the following, news, day, bury, good, to, bad.
In a statement, the Met said the arrest was made without any ministerial influence.
Right, so this was not a political act then?
They said: "The investigation into the alleged leak of confidential government material followed the receipt by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) of a complaint from the Cabinet Office.
So, the office which is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom, (would that be the drugs cabinet?), complained to the police, then informed David Cameron and Boris Johnson but failed to inform their boss?
If we take what the PM said to be accurate, who took the decision not to inform him, why they took that decision and did they have the authority to take such a decision? Are these not reasonable questions to ask?
If you did something similar, in your job would you expect to keep it?
"The decision to make today's arrest was taken solely by the MPS without any ministerial knowledge or approval."
It said search warrants had been carried out at a home in Kent, a home in west London, business premises in Kent and in central London
"The search at the residential address in west London has concluded, the other searches continue," it added.
So much for the pledge about protecting whistle-blowers, more like payback and a warning to anyone leaking information that BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!.
This story will no doubt develop further throughout the next few days and is one which could be an indicator of things to come.
Unfortunately, the people of this land are quite use to 'doffing the forelock to their betters', plus a few decades to jerk around with the education system to create an uncritical, low brow populous, without the faculties to see beyond the immediate, which has no comprehension of the events of history and understands little how it has shaped their lives. Nor do they care.
As long John Sargeant gets through, we'll be alright.
Ah! yes! the spirit of the Blitz!
See also here, here, and this little story here.
But one should go here for checking the pulse, heart and respiration.
and here.
Thursday 27 November 2008
Netvibes v iGoogle v Pageflakes
Over the past couple of days I have embarked on trying to not only get to grips with several new applications which I have installed, but also with Twitter and it's many tools.
I decided to do a few searches on some of my pet subjects, and one in particular, Netvibes, provided some interesting responses.
Opinion was mainly divided into three camps. The Netvibes Camp, staffed mainly by staunch, long term advocates of Netvibes.
There are also some new adoptees from the iGoogle Camp, who have not liked the recent changes which have happened, and a similar tale from those who have just left Pageflakes over the advertising debacle.
Mind you, there a a lot of iGoogle and Pageflakes fans out there who don't like Netvibes at all! And a few ex-Netvibes users who didn't like the changes when Netvibes released 'Ginger'!
I personally like and favour Netvibes, but that doesn't mean that I automatically discount the others as I have included them in my Netvibes universe under their own tabs.
Monday 24 November 2008
A Montage of Time
I was up far too early this morning, doing the usual, tea, toilet, smoke, de-flea the dog, and in the midst of all that at five am, I was on the net, sorting out emails, reading a few comments made over night.
I am not sure what led me to do this post..oh yes, sorting out my Netvibes Tabs. Occasionally, in my haste to place a new feed or a new website to my Netvibes page, I seldom care on which Tab they end up, so it was with my Blogcatlog Tab.
It was full of websites I had grabbed and they were little to do with Blogcatalog. and one of them was my Flicker account which I hadn't done anything with for ages. So as I was I put it in it's relevant Tab, I remembered about Blogger and it's use of Picasa, so I decided to make create a slideshow of the images I uploaded since starting The Tao of Blog.
Most of the images made articles but some did not, but what is kind of interesting, well from my perspective, is not just the changes in the blogs development, what stayed and what didn't, what worked and what didn't, but the content, the snapshots of moments in time, both personal and public, what was in the news, comments being made from websites and blogs, a montage of time.
I placed a small slideshow in the margin and created this below for the posting. A larger slideshow can be viewed of the Netvibes version of this blog.
Sunday 23 November 2008
Greorge Orwell's Diaries online at THE ORWELL PRIZE
What can I add to what has already been said regarding George Orwell?
Nothing, but this site can...
THE ORWELL PRIZE
See also here
Saturday 22 November 2008
Blears sounds warning about BNP
I just love the net....
Blears sounds warning about BNP
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has said white working-class voters turn to the British National Party because they feel ignored by mainstream parties.
Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Ms Blears accuses the BNP of playing on people's apprehensions and peddling "pernicious but plausible lies".
She says other parties had to work to win back voters on "ignored" estates.
The minister made similar comments in 2006 after the far-right party made gains in the local elections.
BBC NEWS | UK | Blears sounds warning about BNP
These two things made me laugh but on two seperate levels.
Friday 21 November 2008
How to Blog, and How to Get Traffic.
How to Blog is a really great site for the novice blogger with easy to comprehend tips on how we as bloggers can maximise of chances of increasing our visitors.
These tips are laid out in a simple, but progressive and logical format, without the veil of jargon which surrounds most aspects of computing, and with an air of positive optimism without the hype.
The latest post is covering the subject of increasing your blogs RSS Subscribers which I must admit, is one area that I have been patchy in my own approach, so I will be applying these methods myself!
(From the Masters of SEO blog entry)
How to Blog
16 Ways to Increase your RSS Subscribers
Increasing your RSS Subscribers is one of the most important things that a blogger needs to do. Not only is it a way to sell more ads, it also is a big statement about your blog. Typically your RSS subscribers, are frequent visitors, and so the more you have, the more traffic you have coming to your site. However, getting RSS subscribers sounds a lot harder then it actually is. People are surprisingly willing to subscribe, if you go about it the right way. I’ve compiled a list of strategies that I use, and I would highly recommend for you as well.
How to Blog, and How to Get Traffic.
Thursday 20 November 2008
Wednesday 19 November 2008
This would so not happen in the UK.....
This would so not happen in the UK.....
Twitterholic.com
Instead of Barack Obama could you imagine Gorden Brown's name there? No, of course you can't!
Sorry, stupid question.
Whistleblower takes Foreign Office to employment tribunal - Telegraph
(From the Telegraph)
Whistleblower takes Foreign Office to employment tribunal
A Foreign Office official cleared of leaking confidential documents is taking his former employers to an employment tribunal.
By Nick Britten
Last Updated: 7:01PM GMT 19 Nov 2008
Derek Pasquill has accused the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) of unfair dismissal and victimisation.
Mr Pasquill, a 49-year-old diplomat, was suspended for 23 months from the FCO after passing documents to the Observer and New Statesman relating to Government policy in the wake of the 2005 London bombings.
The papers were said to refer to secret CIA flights and the UK's contact with Muslim groups.
Mr Pasquill, from Notting Hill, West London, who worked for the FCO for 24 years, was acquitted in January of six charges of making disclosures damaging to international relations under section 3 of the Official Secrets Act 1989.
His trial collapsed after evidence emerged that the leaks, about the Government's involvement with radical Islamists, were not considered damaging.
Good luck mate!
I took one of my former employers to a tribunal once, they just didn't present any documentation and the case couldn't proceed.
Employment Tribunals........
Window dressing.
Whistleblower takes Foreign Office to employment tribunal - Telegraph
Dick Cheney charged over abuse in private prisons - Telegraph
Anyone really believe that justice, in any shape or form, will be served on those who need it ?
Dick Cheney charged over abuse in private prisons - Telegraph
Blogs of Note and Webs of Wonder
Blogs of Note and Webs of Wonder
TweeterBlog
I have had a Twitter profile for a while but I did not really get it. It is not that I am unfamiliar with 'chat platforms' I have used so many over the years, Tiscali, (Don't hear so much of them these days), Yahoo (before that annoying Boat Theme they embarked on!)...lots!
Twitter, it was just another that I would get round to.
What changed were external factors brought Twitter further to my attention. Some of my other services such as MYBlogLog include links to social media sites via widgets, including Twitter. From media reports about how politicians, reporters, news media are using blogging and Twitter and Installing a few Twitter tools I have begun to understand how useful Twitter is!
As I tend to blog around news issues mainly, with a few blogging tips and stuff thrown in, I initially hunted out media outlets and government statements on Twitter.
I also follow a few, though slowly growing, independent Tweeters such as Jack Bastide (just love that handle!) and he has some great posts on his site including a video introduction to using Twitter.
Yes it's Jack Bastide! who in 2 and a half months has posted over 5000 Tweets!
Amazing, I will be lucky to do that in a year.
Unfortunately it would see I am too late to respond to his offer but I look forward to making some new and much needed contacts through this post.
Twitter Tips and Twitter Techniques - TweeterBlog.com: "Cool Tweeps To Follow - My 5000th Tweet!
Posted by Jack Bastide
at November 17, 2008
So I’ve been on Twitter about 2 1/2 months now and I just came up to Tweet # 5000! I wanted to make the 5000′th Tweet special and give back to all the cool people that are following me. So here was my 5000th tweet …
5000th Tweet - Tell Me About YOU and Why People Should Follow You in 140 Characters - All Replies Will go on My Website As My Gift To You!"
This is a great example of a simple post which elicited a great response.
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Industry and government work together to tackle internet terror
The Home Secretary's statement
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, 'Stopping people becoming or supporting terrorists is the major long-term challenge we face. I want to give parents and guardians the power to decide what content is downloaded on their computers at home, which is why we have worked hard to develop these tools with various software companies.
'Building on the work we have done around child protection on the Internet, this software is a significant step in making the Internet a safer place for vulnerable people and these tools will also offer our schools, colleges and businesses further safety nets.'
As the expression goes, the devil is in the detail, 'Building on the work we have done around child protection on the Internet'
A carefully orchestrated manipulation of the reality of the know risk of children encountering unsavoury types or material over the net, very improbable, to the perceived risk fostered in society, a perceived high risk, used to develop system of control over the web and hence control information, free speech and thought
Further, I can see how these software filtering packages will become mandatory over time..
Email from ISP...
Dear Internet Junkie
We see from our monitoring systems that you are not using the free, government approved filtering software provided for your safety and convenience.
We strongly suggest that you take advantage of the peace of mind that when ever you or those whom you love are not exposed to any form of unofficial indoctrination.
Some time later..
Dear Internet Junkie
We see from our monitoring systems that you are still not using the free, government approved filtering software provided for your safety and convenience.
We strongly suggest that unless you take advantage of the peace of mind that when ever you or those whom you love are not exposed to any form of unofficial indoctrination, we will be forced to terminate our contract and service with you and report your none-compliance with the relevant authorities.
Yours.
capitalists lapdog.com
Industry and government work together to tackle internet terror | Home Office
Monday 17 November 2008
UK Secret GM crops Trials
UK Secret GM crops Trials
From the Telegraph
GM crops 'to be grown in secret'
Genetically-modified crops could be grown by the Government in secret locations in an attempt to prevent trials being attacked by saboteurs, it has been reported.
By Jon Swaine
Last Updated: 10:58AM GMT 17 Nov 2008
GM crops 'to be grown in secret'
GM food trials in this country have been affected by vandalism Photo: STEPHEN HIRD
Trials could also be conducted away from the public in the Government's Porton Down military research site in Salisbury, Wiltshire, it is claimed.
However, a review of security arrangements for trials has been ordered by Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary and Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary.
At it again pushing through the GM agenda.
So while you are signing on for your state hand out you can be genetically screened and have your being ID Card sorted out, ( go on! you know you want to! Jacqui say you have been pestering her!) then you will know what body parts of yours they will want when it is your turn to be farmed, and then you can be entertain by the four armed bearded hermaphrodite juggler in the square with all the other genetic mutations.
Conti..
The Independent reported that ministers are preparing to scrap the disclosure rule.
Naturally, like everything else that this UKGov (PLC) wants to keep from the public domain.A Government source told the newspaper: "We need to review the security arrangements. The rules are a charter for people who want to stop the experiments. A lot of information has to be put in the public domain and that makes it very easy for people to trash them."
Lord Mandelson acted to loosen rules on GM licensing in his previous job as EU Trade Commisioner, and it is thought he favours a relaxation of the conditions in Britain.
What are long term strategies for if not for the long term?While the Government has signalled that GM crops hold the potential to prevent future food crises, Gordon Brown has trodden carefully around the issue due to fierce opposition from large sections of the public.
"Plausible deniablity Mr President, sorry Mr Prime Minister..."
GM crops 'to be grown in secret' - Telegraph Sphere: Related Content
Sunday 16 November 2008
Obfuscation is the most dangerous weapon used against all of us...
I came across this comment posted on the Prison Planet site which linked to a story posted on the Register. (Full article here)
The comment so struck me that I copied it to my blog.
I have reformatted the text to make it easier on the eye, but no other alterations have been made.
Saturday 15 November 2008
Bent cops, keep jobs
(From the Telegraph)
Police officers stay in jobs despite serious convictions Police officers convicted of serious violent offences are continuing to serve, it has emerged.
Matthew Moore Last Updated: 2:17AM GMT 15 Nov 2008
Dozens of officers at a single force are patrolling the streets despite convictions for gun crimes, actual bodily harm, theft and other offences.
"Serious questions arise over whether the criminal courts can trust the evidence given by police officers who have committed benefit fraud."
Government rules allow for police officers to keep their jobs – instead receiving lesser punishments such as fines, reprimands or demotions – after being convicted of offences that would cause civilian staff to be sacked.
Mr Huhne told the Daily Mail that this created a "two-tier justice" system within forces, with support staff getting a worse deal than officers.
Paul West of the Association of Chief Police Officers defended the police service's procedures. "Where wrongdoing is alleged police officers are investigated and action taken as appropriate to each case," he said.
"It should be remembered that there are just over 140,000 police officers in the country, the overwhelming majority of whom serve the public with dedication."
Why do we have this belief that our "bobbies" are less corrupt than anywhere else on the planet?See here, here, here and here for examples.
Police officers stay in jobs despite serious convictions - Telegraph Sphere: Related Content
Friday 14 November 2008
Judge feels Probation is best for NI child porn officer
BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Probation for child porn officer
(From the BBC report)
A policeman who downloaded indecent images of children has been given three years probation.
The offence came to light, after William Neil McGonigle, 39, was caught trying to photograph two schoolgirls changing at a leisure centre.
Judge Norman Lockie told a court in Antrim on Thursday that McGonigle should be given the opportunity of a treatment programme for sex offenders.
Judge Lockie stressed "the public can be assured by me this is not an easy option", and nor was it simply "a slap on the wrist".
That is probably not how victims of sex crimes would see it!
See also here and here and here.
Also here too!
Patterns.
Tuesday 11 November 2008
The Independent - UK MP's want media censorship
MPs seek to censor the media - UK Politics, UK - The Independent
Well is it just me or has this issue escalated to the fore in recent days. what with people flocking to the Home Secretary who can't wait for id cards to Communities Secretary Hazel Blears speech on Political Blogging. there may also be a connection to this from WikiLeaks.
Also from WikiLeaks is this which makes for some interesting reading Wikileaks and Internet Censorship - a comparative study
Monday 10 November 2008
Yesterday was Mad Add-on Day!
Yes, I went a bit Add-on crazy yesterday and installed a few Firefox add-ons.
The first being CoolIris 1.8.
This is a lovely looking and performing application which previews any link in pop-up mini browser.
It performs very nicely, quick and effectively. 
Using CoolIris 1.8 to view other potential add-on which I might want to install.
Using CoolIris 1.8 to view BlogRovr, which I also signed up for.
and finally a multi-application shot.......
using TweetWorks via the CoolIris window whilst over my Netvibes 'work' page, on a VMWare virtual PC.
Cool.
Sunday 9 November 2008
Report identifies "some thousands" of extremists are active in the UK
"The document, which was drawn up by the intelligence branch of the Ministry of Defence, MI5 and Special Branch, states that "some thousands" of extremists are active in the UK. They are predominantly UK-born and aged between 18 and 30, and many are believed to have been trained in overseas terrorist camps."
Sound like another load of propaganda to me.
You know, the old, 5th Column or rampant McCarthyism which can grip nations into allowing their liberties to be taken in the name of freedom.
This is an oxymoron.
Phrase to look up for the day is........False Flag.
Report identifies UK terrorist enclaves - Telegraph
Friday 7 November 2008
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears attacks political bloggers
Hazel Blears attacks political bloggers
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blears attacks political bloggers
(Taken from the BBC article)
According to Communities Secretary Hazel Blears "Political blogs are fuelling a culture of cynicism about politics", and a "spreading corrosive cynicism" in political discussion, accusing them of fuelling disengagement by focusing on "unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy" and of being written by "people with disdain for the political system and politicians".
Yer and?
"The most popular blogs are right-wing...
(Really? well I wouldn't consider myself as right wing, far from it, I lived under the Thatcher Misrule, so I don't hold the current government wholly to blame for the situation the world finds itself in, but then I am not one of the more popular blogs, so my opinions do not amount to much),
...ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes,"
(nihilism)
1. Philosophy
a. An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.
b. A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.
2. Rejection of all distinctions in moral or religious value and a willingness to repudiate all previous theories of morality or religious belief.
3. The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement.
4. also Nihilism A diffuse, revolutionary movement of mid 19th-century Russia that scorned authority and tradition and believed in reason, materialism, and radical change in society and government through terrorism and assassination.
5. Psychiatry A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.)
Nihilism eh? Sounds abit strong that, given the definitions.
But she added: "Unless and until political blogging 'adds value' to our political culture, by allowing new and disparate voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and pessimism."
No, I think it is the actions of our elected representatives which will keep those fires burning and political spin, the Downing Street Memos. the illegal wars, the denial that the NULabour government helped in supporting extraordinary rendition, the Formula 1 Affair, the Saudi Affair as just a few that spring to mind, are more to blame for voters' cynicism than the 1500 or so, (not counting mine obviously) political blogs in the UK.
Guido Fawkes posted in response that spin, "focus-group derived policies" and partisan positioning for the cynicism described by Ms Blears.
He added that she misunderstood the relationship between a free press and politicians.
Methinks that political bloggers must be doing their job right if it has provoked this level of reaction but standby for some Draconian action by the government to stem this tide..oh wait, isn't that scheduled for when they shut the current Internet down and "reboot" it with their own, sanitised and monitored version.
"Take a memo Ms Blears, we are not here to 'add value', or do what politicians want, Guido has his own values and aims to hit back at political hypocrisy and lies. Politicians make laws, so they should be held to account, to a higher standard," he wrote.
Ms Blears told the BBC that politicians not giving straight answers could be an issue, but said a "grown up political discourse" could only happen if people were prepared to listen.
LOL! Would those people prepared to listen include this moribund government by any chance because we see little evidence that they are at the moment.
PPS
LOL !
As a addendum to this blog piece.
A few days after posting I was reading the comments section of the Independents’ article on Blears speech and my partner came in and asked me what I was doing and I told her, and my partner, who is not that political really said "when I heard the name I had this feeling of Doom."
What more needs to be said.
Thursday 6 November 2008
People 'can't wait for ID cards' Home Secretary Jacqui Smith
(Taken from the BBC article)
Jacqui Smith says public demand means people will be able to pre-register for an ID card within the next few months.
The cards will be available for all from 2012 but she said: "I regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long."
Do you Jackie? Sorry, Jacqui!
Well I have chatted to a lot of people, I have read a lot of the BBC Have Your Say discussions on this subject for quite sometime, I have scoured the Internet and as far as I can see there is NO SUPPORT or clamoring to have ID Cards as the Home Sec claims.
Supermarket enrolment
In a speech to the Social Market Foundation Ms Smith said cards would be issued on a voluntary basis to young people from 2010 and for everyone else from 2012.
She added: "But I believe there is a demand, now, for cards - and as I go round the country I regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long.
"I now want to put that to the test and find a way to allow those people who want a card sooner to be able pre-register their interest as early as the first few months of next year." She told the BBC: "We'll see where that interest is, and then we'll see if we can issue some cards to those who've expressed an interest by the end of next year."
("We'll see where that interest is".. mmm... and the opposition areas too!)
People applying for cards and passports from 2012 will have to provide fingerprints, photographs and a signature, which Ms Smith believes will create a market worth about £200m a year.
Which leads to the question, how far will those in rural communities would have to travel to gain these ID cards if their local amenities such as Post Offices are being closed?
I very much doubt there is much grass route support for the National ID Card, given the well publicised record that this government has on data security, nobody trust you with it Jacqui.
But no doubt there will be a media event stage showing lots of happy, shiny faces, submitting themselves to a voluntary ID Cards as a visible demonstration of the Home Secretary's point.
Any retailer considering being involved by the provision of booths, could also be worried that their outlets may run the risk of being boycotted by those who strongly oppose this type of Orwellian scheme.
All of this is nothing to do with keeping us safe, preventing serious crime (because, as we have seen, the really serious crimes are left to the professionals, and police investigations are blocked by the powerful) or preventing terrorism.
Follow the money.
Your ID, well, in particular, your DNA information is extremely valuable to the likes of the pharmaceutical industry, the bio-weapons industry, the security industry, the insurance industry, the list could be endless.
And, they are going to charge us for the privilege.
Still, everybody is pestering the life out of poor Jacqui because she cannot get the ball rolling quick enough.
Really?
BBC NEWS | Politics | People 'can't wait for ID cards'
But, before I get carried away with my own stance on this subject, it is best to leave the final commentary on Jacqie's assertions that we will flock to have ourselves branded as the property of the New World Order to two of the most influential voices.
The first is one of the most popular political blogs, with in 100,000 hit per month, Guido Fawkes Blog. which is also followed by, and cringed over by most of our Parliamentary Representatives, with a "what happened next" scoop.....
....and you, my dear viewers.
Woops! slipped into a Dame Edna Moment there!!!
Sphere: Related Content
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Twenty UK MPs want Hacker Gary McKinnon to serve his sentence in UK
BBC NEWS | Technology | MPs want UK jail time for hacker
(Taken from the BBC article)
Mr McKinnon is currently awaiting a decision by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith as to when the extradition process will begin.
In the interim, 20 UK MPs have signed an Early Day Motion which calls for any sentence imposed by a US court to be served in a British jail.
At last, some MP's with something resembling a spine! Sphere: Related ContentTuesday 4 November 2008
More Downing Street memos! The Blair -Murdoch Project -The Guardian
I came across this article on Prison Planet originally.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Colin Powell leak’s the true reason for the use of social security number’s.
“Finding the Russian scientists may be a problem being that Russia does not have a Social Security System, as here in America, that allows us to MONITOR, TRACK DOWN and CAPTURE an American citizen.” 06/17/01 Fox News Sunday Morning. Host: Tony Snow.
Regardless of how the “Amish” feel, they have been intellectually branded, nearly for a century, with a number, which you must possess, that allow’s you to conduct all form’s of business. There are few who can conduct business without said social security number’s; and all who do are considered illegal’s. While they fear RFID, it is not the proverbial “mark of the beast,” that distinction belong’s, wholly, to the social security number. They are much too late to recognize this fact, though it fails me how this fact eludes them, seemingly, to this day. During the inception of the SSN, most felt it was, in fact, the “mark of the beast,” with quite a few people refusing to accept the national policy. Quite funny how they are rebelling against the very same thing nearly all in living memory were born under.
Coincidence has only one definition: Deliberate. A weapon does not fire without human interaction. To quote a famous line, “If it smell’s like an ambush, feel’s like an ambush, and look’s like an ambush, it’s an ambush.” “Friendly-fire isn’t.” “If it can go wrong, it already has.”
Providence notwithstanding, most coincidences aren’t so at all. Sad thing is, it took many year’s of service, for a nominal fee, serving warrant’s to come to this conclusion.
Obfuscation is the most dangerous weapon used against all of us, without fail, and, nearly, without discovery. Unfortunately, this site, and many other’s, together with any and all fair, balanced, and honest reporting does nothing more than serve the very instrument of demise they stand against. We’re looking at this as a complex, intermingled, impossibly tangled web of conspiracies when it couldn’t be further from the truth. But even the thought of such thing’s are fast becoming illegal. We are being oppressed, pure and simple.
We are being driven into a slavery. We are being morally, ethically, and intellectually bastardized. It doesn’t matter “what” the conspiracy is, only that there is one, or more.
We’re writing, protesting, standing against the “gun’s,” in vain, when the only thing we should be doing is avoiding the bullet’s. But we don’t, we stand worrying what type of weapon they are going to use against us, as if that mattered, instead of worrying about how to stop the bullet’s from hitting us.
This isn’t America any longer, though I can’t give the country a name, it’s not America.
Times do change, indeed. We’re repeating the past, which bring’s me some solace, if but for a period. We have slipped into tyranny, and I believe no one living today has lived during a period withouth tyranny. To the future we know they will stand against that which most alive today don’t recognize; it is to them that I envy, when men of like mind come together and, if but for a brief time, bring about something wonderful, something beyound themselves in service to all.
We are afraid of each other, neighbor’s, civil servants, everyone. We are so different that our national loyalties aren’t even comparable. We have no communal history, and that which we should share has been demonized to such a degree as to be taboo. We’ve woken up in a country, that our forefather’s fought, killed, and died for, pauper’s, without home or employment, indebted to other foreign entities, both public and private. At one time, moving was an option, as in imigrating to a foreign country, but I could not even remotely compare any other country to the former United States of America.
Truly, what can we say to each other? Do we continue to discuss the mean’s of our death rather than stopping it?
I was never one who cared much what type of weapon was pointed at me, only that a weapon was being pointed at me. At times, I’ve supported things better left to the past.
We’re all guilty of enabling our own destruction. We each face the horror of the only choice to be made. We also face the horror for it’s the one choice we will not make. Citizen’s are killed by law enforcement, sometimes justified, sometimes not. We are preyed upon by the irregular criminal, read not government sanctioned here. Our families and loved ones are dying; our street’s are painted with blood. Although this is a terrific scene, I can’t imagine the one which galvanizes citizen’s, en masse, to face the tyranny, can you?
My father told me that if you had the capacity and fortitude to protect your community, and you don’t, you are a coward. He also told me that there is no other position that protect’s the criminal more than a government position, whether a LEO or non-LEO position.
I believe in America…I believe we’re lost her, in all her glory. Who was it, James Sparks, who said, “The American flag will fly on younder hill by nightfall or Molly Sparks sleeps a widow this night!”
What courage, what bravery, what determination, of such a small army facing the mightiest nation in the world, and defeating them.
With so many different nationalities within this country, who refused the “melting pot” theorem in favor of the “salad bowel,” just being thrown together without conforming, meshing, and integrating in the least.
For some reason, hate crimes protect all, in this country, except for the majority, as if attacking a particular “race” under federal “protection” is any more worse than attacking anyone, period. “Hate crime,” as opposed to the i really, really don’t like you crime.
Orwell, indeed, Orwell wasn’t prophetic, Orwell DID have a time machine - a history book. Connecting the dot’s wasn’t the hard part, realizing the end result was.