More on the ATP Photofinder:
We bought ours from easydevices.co.uk for about £80, together with a card reader which you need if you want to tag images on Compact Flash cards. The USB socket on the ATP reader is mini-USB2, so you need to use the included dongle in order to connect most USB card readers.

The ATP does the job, but there are shortcomings:

1. the battery life can be pretty dire. I managed to record about an hour's track with a pair of new alkaline AAAs from Superdrug, but there wasn't enough juice when I got back to geotag the files. I thoroughly recommend the use of top-brand batteries, like Duracell, or get yourself some high capacity NiMHs from the likes of play.com

2. the display is extremely difficult to see. In order to save power, the backlight goes off about about five seconds. If you've taken a lot of photos, the geotagging process can take a long time and without the display on, you have no idea that its still working.

3. time for GPS acquisition from cold is very long - you have to wait a good five minutes before the device will start logging your position.

4. the KML track files that the device creates are not correctly date-stamped. Given the device has such a large storage capacity, you can end up with a lot of track files in the device (which you can then copy to your SD card), but they are all datestamped 1st Jan 2007.

I think the GPS accuracy issue is common to all small, portable GPS devices - they've never going to work that well in built-up environments since the receivers all require a clear view of the sky to operate properly.

So, although it might be a clever product, I'm afraid the "user experience" leaves a bit to be desired.

Here's a gallery of photos I geotagged using the ATP Photofinder. Picasa does a much better job of handling geotagged photos than Flickr, helped by the use of Google Maps, of course.

Technorati tags: GPS ATP Photofinder review opinion geotagging

Trevor with the ATP Photofinder,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

This clever little device performs two functions. Firstly it records a track of GPS locations, saved every 5 seconds to a KML-format file.

Secondly, and much more clever, is that you can take an SD card from a digital camera, and it will geotag (correctly, in the EXIF header) with the location the photo was taken at the time it was taken.

Like the little Garmin units, it runs off two AAA batteries with an expected life of about 8 hours. Takes quite a while to acquire the GPS signal.

Its quite well built, feels robust, the SD slot and mini-USB2 slot are behind a little rubber flap and the battery cover is a tight fit. Controls are minimal (just three buttons) and there is a tiny LCD display - but this is extremely difficult to read in bright light.

Overall, its an excellent idea and very useful for doing site surveys and the like.

Blacklisted

"Workers accused of theft or damage could soon find themselves blacklisted on a register to be shared among employers. It will be good for profits but campaigners say innocent people could find it impossible to get another job."

How can this be legal? Blacklisted even if an accusation is never proved? This must rate as one of the most serious abuses of civil liberties I've ever read about. Get yourself on this list and you might never work again.

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Bust-up with the boss?

Mirror Blog

Have installed the Facebook application Mirror Blog to see if/how it can share postings between my Facebook account and my Blogger blog. I tend to post stuff to Facebook more than my blog these days, which is why my Blogger postings have gotten a bit thin on the ground.

The T189 course team, plus myself (not officially on the course team), pose with their OU Teaching Award.

Sunday's motocross at Long Buckby. Damp and misty, but at least it didn't rain. Click for a full gallery.

OU Reserves did very well to beat Loughton Reserves 4-1 in their Supplementary Cup game today. Lougton's keeper, at least until the end of regular time, had a cracking game. I have switched back to my Canon 1D as Fixation's service on my 1D Mk.IIn hasn't helped a jot. Click the thumbnail for a full gallery.

This morning's snow is in contrast to the weather I've just come from in Italy.

Late rise on my last day. Bit of rushing around town with Lorenzo before shops close, then back to the seafront cafe (the one with the waitresses - remember?) for lunch before grabbing the Genoa to Nice coach for the airport. Long wait for the outgoing easyjet flight, then we're off. However, just a few minutes into the flight and we hit some severe turbulence, which one of the cabin staff described as "the worse I've experience in nine years with easyjet". And you'll remember that I don't like flying.

Lounging and reading until afternoon, then got down to some web page construction for Lorenzo's new range of ethical trekking holidays in the Himalayas. More of a challenge without a tabbed plain text editor and no Photoshop. Late dinner at the excellent seafront restaurant near the Poggi road that serves wonderful, thin cheese-filled pizza (sorry - can't remember its name), followed by a tiramisu so good it should be illegal.

Visited the Olio Carli bottling plant and museum in Imperia. Very detailed, plus a guide book and audio guide available in English (handy for me being so crap at Italian). Thence to Villa Grock, which is still closed undergoing restoration. Lunch at another seafront cafe. Siesta and reading in the afternoon. Then a visit to our friend Titziana, who runs an Agritourismo in Poggi. Dinner at Lorenzo's; received email relief that I haven't upset aforementioned beautiful girl with my Facebook invite.

Lots of reading and generally lounging about today. Dinner at Lorenzo's Mum's in Diano Marina: aubergines, artichokes and asparagus.

Early rise to join an Italian Alpine Club walk up in the hills, although Lorenzo and I actually took a slightly different route. Lots of brilliant sunshine and I think this is when I managed to get sunburned. Eventually met at the summit with dozens of other walkers taking part in some regional "get out and enjoy the countryside" thing. Back to Imperia (temperature has now risen to about 22C in town) for lunch at the nice little seafront cafe near the road up to Poggi to indulge in some first class people - or rather waitress - watching. Read in the afternoon, then snack dinner for a change. Later spent a good few hours uploading a few images to Flickr, then fiddling with Facebook, where I accidentally asked a very beautiful friend of mine out on a date - you do have to be careful what you click!

Builders arrived at 07:40 this morning. Set off around 11:00 to the Giardino Esotioco Pallanca (Pallance Exotic Gardens) near Bordighera - a massive cacti collection arranged on a steep hill looking down onto the Med. Took over 100 photos, mostly with my new Canon 100mm macro lens (glad I took it). Pizza slice lunch at a seafront cafe to the North of Imperia, reading and rest in the afternoon, then dinner at Lorenzo's.

Builders arrived outside my flat at 08:00 so no lie-in for me. Lorenzo getting hassles by the Italian equivalent of the DLVA with his old Alpha Romeo Spider. Lunch on his roof in brilliant sunshine - temperature must be at least 17C. We then went for a strenuous (for me) walk up from Cervezo in the hills. Dinner with a couple of Lorenzo's friends (the girl being the spitting image of actress Clare Danes) in a very nice restaurant - I had gnocchini (which I can just about pronounce properly now) with mushrooms in a white sauce - superb!

Start of my fifth holiday to Liguria, Italy. easyjet flight out mostly OK (I don't like flying), but quite turbulent flying into Nice. The #99 bus from airport to Nice Ville train station (4 Euros) very straightforward and convenient. Got a train ticket (I asked in French) direct to Imperia, but had to wait for over an hour as most trains stop at Ventimiglia on the way. Rush hour in Nice does seem to involve much of a rush! Had dinner at Primo Piano pizza restaurant in Imperia.

Mashups workshop,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

Following Tony's demonstrations with Yahoo Pipes (which I had briefly looked at before but got nowhere with) I had another play this evening and produced http://tinyurl.com/2axs6y which puts all places mentioned in the last 50 news stories from my department's website onto a Yahoo Map. I wanted to go a bit further and use Google Maps instead, but its just too slow loading in all the data.

Bush speech hails Iraq 'victory'

"Bush speech hails Iraq 'victory'
Overthrowing Saddam Hussein was 'the right decision', US President George W Bush said in a speech to mark the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. He said the world was a safer place because the US had acted. Mr Bush spoke as anti-war protests were held in several US cities amid mounting opposition to the war and its costs.

In his speech, Mr Bush dismissed what he called 'exaggerated estimates' of the war's price tag. 'The costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq,' he said."

Costs? Is that the extent of the 'cost' of this conflict to you? How many billions of US Dollars you've wasted?

How many sons and daughters have been sacrificed to give you your 'victory'?

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Bush speech hails Iraq 'victory'

UK consumer inflation hits 2.5%

"UK consumer inflation hits 2.5%
UK consumer inflation reached its highest level in nine months last month, due to a new method for calculating energy bills. The Office for National Statistics said the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) hit 2.5% on an annual basis in February, up from 2.2% in January."

I really don't know where they get figures like this. The petrol I buy has gone up by more than this in two days. Our Council Tax has gone up by 4.3%.

BBC NEWS | Business | UK consumer inflation hits 2.5%

Build, delivered and installed a new PC for my Brother yesterday. Opted for XP Home as I didn't fancy supporting Vista. He'd been out and bought a Lexmark X3470 all-in-one inkjet printer from Tesco. Plugged the printer into one of the rear USB ports, started the machine up, but it got stuck during the boot process and wouldn't even start the memory test. Considered it just a fluke, perhaps because I hadn't installed the software yet, so I unplugged it (which immediately allowed the machine to boot OK), went into Windows and installed the drivers. That's a long process being an all-in-one device since it comes with some imaging software. Plugged the printer in again and all seemed to be fine - printed a photo from and tested its scan function and all worked.

I shut the machine down and left them to it, but they rang me a bit later to say that again the machine wouldn't boot. On removing the USB cable, all was fine. So just what's going on here? How is the printer stopping the computer from booting? The only instances I've known issues like this is USB-powered devices, like webcams, taking too much power from a USB port. But the printer is mains powered, so that shouldn't be the case here.

The computer is built around a Gigabyte GA-8IK1100 motherboard housing an Intel 3GHz Prescott processor and 1Gb RAM in two sticks running Windows XP Home.

EU leaders meet on CO2

"EU leaders meeting for their spring summit in Brussels are poised to agree on a timetable for cutting greenhouse gas emissions."

And HM the Queen is opening Heathrow's new Terminal 5 today - just to underline our government's obvious commitment to reducing CO2 emissions...

"But a UK proposal to cut sales tax on 'green' goods is unlikely to succeed. The idea put forward by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown would cover such products as low-energy light bulbs.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said some countries did not agree with the idea which he described as 'a very sensitive issue'. He said the question was whether or not lowering VAT was the best solution for promoting environmentally friendly goods. 'We have some doubts,' he added.

Mr Barroso went on to say that he did not want to dismiss the importance of positive discrimination for such products, but alternatives such as rebates might be more suitable."

So instead of taking the easy solution - just lowering the price - you prefer a complicated and no doubt expensive rebate system, almost certainly open to abuse? How typical of the European Parliament - simple or obvious is never the answer.

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | EU set to agree emission cut plan

Safety camera?

Safety camera?,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

Bedfordshire Police "safety" camera positioned 20 yards from a national speed limit sign, on the exit from a village, with no houses - or people - for the next 1/2 mile. Tell me this isn't just for raising revenue.

HTML over Flash

Ever been in the situation where you want to put some HTML on top of Flash movie? You’ve cursed the designers for using Flash, and stated that it is impossible? If that’s the case, I’ll advise you to reconsider.

The solution to the problem is actually very easy...

Easy - and it works, too.

How to put an HTML element on top of a Flash movie - Robert’s talk - Web development and Internet trends

Blind rocker Healey dies aged 41

"Blind rocker Healey dies aged 41
Blind Canadian rock musician Jeff Healey has died in a Toronto hospital aged 41 from a rare form of cancer, his publicist has said. Healey, famed for playing his electric guitar flat on his lap, died of retinoblastoma which claimed his sight when he was a one-year-old-child."

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Blind rocker Healey dies aged 41

This has come as quite a shock. I was privileged to have met Jeff and the band in London whilst I was in the biz. Despite loosing his sight so early in life, he was a demon axe-man, playing with a unique style as you'll see if you watch the Patrick Swayze movie 'Roadhouse'. Their version of the George Harrison/Beatles track 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' is truly superb.

Bought yet another domain today - chrisvalentine.name - hadn't even heard of the top level domain .name before this morning but apparently it became available in January 2002. So I was quite surprised that my name was still available. I've got it pointing at this blog at the moment - doubt I'll do anything clever with it.

No, I'm not going nuts - that really was an earthquake I felt at about 00:58 this morning.

Chuffed to bits to finally find a web reference to a movie that's been at the back of my mind for a while. I could only remember that it starred Charles Dance and had something to do with the London Underground or some kind of air raid shelter. Via wikipedia, I managed to find this page on the movie, which was called Hidden City, was the directorial debut of Stephen Poliakoff, was made by Channel 4 TV and released in 1998 (which did surprise me as I thought it was about 10 years before that). It appears that it may have only even been shown once on TV and has never been made available on either VHS or DVD in the UK.

KMi and Greensand Trust

KMi and Greensand Trust,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

A small group from my office did some voluntary environmental work for the Greensand Trust yesterday, moving and assembling a boardwalk (or rather part of, since its probably a week's work to do the whole thing).

Regulations flatten pancake race

"Regulations flatten pancake race
A traditional pancake race has fallen flat after it was cancelled due to health and safety regulations. Every year, children and choristers take part in the Shrove Tuesday race in Ripon, North Yorkshire. The event was revived 10 years ago and is usually started by the ringing of Ripon Cathedral's ancient Pancake Bell. But this year's event has been shelved, with organisers blaming the mountain of risk assessments that must be carried out before children can take part."

We have got to stop all this health-and-safety, nanny-state, political-correctness crap that is ruining the traditions of this country.

BBC NEWS | England | North Yorkshire | Regulations flatten pancake race

"EU 'should ban inefficient cars'

The EU should ban the sale of cars that do under 35 miles to the gallon, the ex-chairman of oil giant Shell says. Sir Mark Moody-Stuart told BBC News the motor industry would adapt to cope with stricter environmental rules.

The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders opposes the idea, saying drivers of the most polluting cars pay extra through road tax and petrol duty. But Sir Mark said this simply let rich people avoid taking responsibility for tackling climate change."

I agree with this proposal entirely. The motor industry has gotten fat off the freedom to pollute and its about time they woke up and smelt the smog. The continuing trend for bigger cars with bigger engines, more power and absurd top speeds has got to stop.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | EU 'should ban inefficient cars'

...and went on to cover a Northampton Motocycle Club enduro event at Whaddon in the afternoon.

Braved a bone-chilling wind to cover OU Vets' 5-0 defeat of Lee Transport at Leon School this morning.

Took some photos at an Aikido training and grading session this evening in a church. Light levels pretty low but flash was just too harsh so I took most without on ISO 1600. Lots of motion blur, as you'd expect, but some decent shots at least.

Sky News demonstrates it cutting edge research abilities this evening, announcing the death of TV presenter and British 'institution' Jeremy Beadle by showing The Sun's web page. Nice to know they really pull out all the stops when it comes to finding the facts behind a story...

OU Firsts won through to the semi finals of the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup with a 1-0 win against 9-man Belmont today.

Built a new computer this week. Couldn't find a machine with a close enough spec so I bought a bunch of parts from overclockers.co.uk who I have used in the past (and recommend).

I went for:

• Antec NSK 6580 Super Midi Tower case with 430W Earth Watts power supply
  
• Abit IP35 motherboard
  
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.40GHz processor
  
• 2GB of Corsair XMS2-6400C4 DDR2 RAM
  
  ...and most importantly, since this was to be a machine specifically for gaming:
  
• Leadtek GeForce 8800 GT 256MB GDDR3
  

Together with a 250Gb SATA HD and SATA DVD writer, the total was just under £640 - saving I reckon only about £40 over a pre-built machine.

It took about an hour to put the hardware together, an hour to format the HD, an hour to install Windows XP Home, then another hour to do about 96 Windows updates.

"Japan PM forces navy bill through
The Japanese government has invoked a rarely-used power to force through a controversial naval bill. The ruling party used its lower house majority to override opposition lawmakers, who had voted down the bill in the upper house hours earlier. It was the first such move in more than 50 years, and followed months of deadlock over the proposed legislation.

The bill will allow Japanese ships to resume a refuelling mission supporting US-led operations in Afghanistan. The deployment, which Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda says is vital to Japan's standing in the international community, could now be resumed as early as next month. But the opposition argues it violates the post-war pacifist constitution and lacks a mandate from the United Nations."

Sad, isn't it, that Japan feels it has to suck up to the Bush administration, and show tacit support for its illegal war in Iraq, in order to improve its "standing in the international community". I would suggest that not supporting them would do exactly that.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Japan PM forces navy bill through

Krispy Kreme boss to step down

"Krispy Kreme boss to step down
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts boss Daryl Brewster has resigned for personal reasons after less than two years on the job. His decision to step down comes as efforts to turn around the struggling snack food chain have stalled".

Perhaps the fact their doughnuts are ten times more expensive than supermarket brand doughnuts sold in the same stores is the reason no one is buying them?

BBC NEWS | Business | Krispy Kreme boss to step down

Darling 'seeks energy cost talks'
Chancellor Alistair Darling has asked to meet with energy regulator Ofgem to discuss last week's gas and electricity price rises by Npower, a report says. In a letter to Ofgem, obtained by the Times, Mr Darling is said to want to review the reasons behind the price hikes and their implications. Npower, which has increased average gas prices by 17.2% and electricity by 12.7%, expects rivals to follow suit.

Perhaps he's concerned because such big rises draw attention to what a load of tosh the Government's official inflation figure is?

BBC NEWS | Business | Darling 'seeks energy cost talks'

OU Reserves team gave Fenny Lock a 7-1 pasting in an away game at Rickly Park in Bletchley today.

The Berkhamptstead trials club held their annual 'Frostbite Trial' today in the woods near Great Brickhill - although,as at Blisworth, there wasn't any frost - the weather was very mild. Good turnout. Full gallery - click the thumbnail to see it.

The 82nd Wild and Woolly (the longest-runnings motocross event in the world) went very well today, with a massive attendance probably due to the mild weather. Click the thumbnail to see a complete gallery.

"Norwich Union fined on £3m fraud
Insurance firm Norwich Union has been fined £1.26m by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) after customers lost £3.3m through identity fraud.

The regulator said Norwich Union's controls had been 'particularly poor', leading to a record fine. 'Norwich Union Life let down its customers by not taking reasonable steps to keep their personal and financial information safe and secure,' said the FSA's director of enforcement, Margaret Cole."

I guess it would be too much to expect to be able to sue the government when criminals eventually find the missing CDs containing the records of 25m people that HM Revenue and Customs lost?

BBC NEWS | Business | Norwich Union fined on £3m fraud

Technorati tags: identity theft data protection HM Revenue

Here's another story, with some video, on the proposed cuts to funding that's going to hit the Open University for something like £30m.

"Cutting their funding seems to be at odds with Government Policy - which is for the country to have a flexible workforce."

Channel 4 - News - Open University to lose £100m

"Climate talks near end amid row
World climate talks in Bali have gone into their last scheduled day amid fierce disagreement over targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. EU ministers have warned they will boycott a US-led climate summit next month unless the Bush administration backs firm targets for emissions cuts. The US favours allowing governments to set voluntary targets."

The Bush Administration has recently said that it "has no intention to cut CO2 emissions" (can't find the relevant news story). It doesn't matter what noises he makes, its obvious that he and his cronies still do not believe that Mankind is to blame for the changing climate.

"Indonesia is trying to broker a compromise that would remove firm targets from the final text."

Well, that's worse still. Why not let the rest of the world - the countries without their heads in the sand - set targets and actually do something? Lame Duck Bush won't be in power much longer; it looks like the majority of the American people are waking up to the fact that the planet is facing a very bleak future and the next President I'm sure (I sure hope) will have a vastly different policy.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Climate talks near end amid row

See also:

"Terror, not climate change, on the mind of US
GEORGE Bush may be a lame duck President, but his presence is hanging heavy over negotiations for a climate change road map — not least over Australia's decision not to push for a carbon emissions target to be included in the Bali declaration.

The equation is pretty simple. The world needs the US — the world's worst polluter [well, equal biggest - China is up there too] — included in the post-Kyoto treaty. The US under Bush has no intention of agreeing to a binding target of any kind, let alone the UN's proposed 25-40% cut from the developed world by 2020."

Terror, not climate change, on the mind of US - National - theage.com.au

John Denham MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills wants to cut funding that currently helps mature students carry on their studies, as promoted by the Government's own "Life Long Learning" policy. He visited the OU today to explain his reasoning.


"Removing the second chance
Universities secretary John Denham decided that students with a first degree will not be funded for a course for an equivalent of lower qualification - or ELQ in the jargon."
Removing the second chance | Mortarboard | Guardian Unlimited

"OU's funding cut branded 'short-sighted'
A £31 million hole will be blasted in Open University finances by Government withdrawal of support for part-time students. The OU said it was 'deeply concerned' by a move that could put many graduates off embarking on career-linked courses. City MPs have united to fight the plan to phase out funding for the majority of students in England and Northern Ireland who are studying for a qualification equivalent to – or lower than – one they already hold. The OU said figures from the Higher Education Funding Council showed that for the OU £31.6million of teaching money will be phased out from next year."

OU's funding cut branded 'short-sighted' - Milton Keynes Today

"Ministers accused of burying news on university funding changes
The government was accused of 'sneaking out' £100m a year in cuts in higher education funding earlier this year because they contradicted the Leitch review of skills. The universities' secretary, John Denham, set out new funding arrangements in a letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England late on Friday September 7. The letter called for support for people studying for a second degree to be 'phased out' and reduced by £100m a year over the next four years."

Ministers accused of burying news on university funding changes | Higher | EducationGuardian.co.uk

"David Latchman: Want a second degree? It'll certainly cost you...
A few weeks ago, with no warning, the Government announced its intention to axe the funding for people wanting to take a second degree at the same level in a different subject. Until now, universities were funded for both home and EU students taking a second qualification on the same basis as those taking their first. Now this is to be abandoned. Any student wanting to improve their skills in this way will be faced with prohibitively high annual fees of up to four times what they pay now.

This change will affect part-time students and the institutions that teach them particularly seriously. In future, students wanting to improve their skills will be treated the same way as non-EU overseas students, with universities receiving no government funding for teaching them. Institutions that specialise in part-time education, like Birkbeck and the Open University, have a high concentration of these students so will be the worst hit. However, these changes will affect a large number of universities and the effects will be far reaching. All part-time students will suffer, not just those taking a second qualification."

David Latchman: Want a second degree? It'll certainly cost you... - Independent Online Edition > Higher

de Menezes Top Cop Promoted

"Met choose new anti-terror chief
The man who launched the surveillance operation that led to Jean Charles de Menezes's death has been appointed to the UK's top counter-terrorist role. Cdr John McDowall will take over from Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke as national co-ordinator of terrorist investigations. He will also lead the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit SO15.

Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the £125,000-a-year job 'was one of the most demanding posts in UK policing'."

...so we'll give it to someone who's already made a complete balls-up of one anti-terror operation. Once again - you couldn't make it up, could you?

BBC NEWS | England | London | Met choose new anti-terror chief

Bang goes soldiers' cracker fun

"Bang goes soldiers' cracker fun
Hundreds of crackers due to be sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan had to be defused after it was discovered they were classed as explosives. The British Forces Post Office website defines Christmas cracker snaps as explosives, banned on RAF aircraft. There are no such rules for passenger aeroplanes. Large numbers of Christmas crackers are classified as dangerous air cargo and therefore require special handling.

Major Iain Dalziel-Job of the Scots Guards Association told The Sunday Post newspaper: 'Every cracker has got to have the snap taken out of it because the RAF won't fly them with the bit still in.'"

You couldn't make it up, could you?


BBC NEWS | Scotland | Edinburgh, East and Fife | Bang goes soldiers' cracker fun

A short notice visit from David Willetts MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills at work today.

Clarkson quizzed over gang ordeal

"Clarkson quizzed over gang ordeal
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been interviewed by police after he was accused of being abusive towards a teenager who was harassing him. Mr Clarkson explained in his Sunday Times column how he was pestered by youths outside Xscape sports centre in Milton Keynes, on 23 November."

I don't personally like Clarkson, but again this appears to be a case of the police siding with the perpetrators and going after the victim.

BBC NEWS | England | Clarkson quizzed over gang ordeal

Smith plans 42-day terror limit

"Smith plans 42-day terror limit
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced plans to extend the period that terrorism suspects can be held without charge for up to 42 days. In an attempt to win over critics, it is planned to give MPs a role in any decision to let police hold suspects for more than the current 28-day limit."

And what puts MPs in any better place decide this? If the police arn't asking for this extension, and neither are the security services, just why is the Government doing so? To continue their climate of fear. This 42-day number has been simply plucked out of the air. I sincerely hope that this latest attempt to increase the limit - the third try, I believe - will once again be thrown out.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Smith plans 42-day terror limit

"Business call for plan on climate
Global businesses have called for a legally binding and comprehensive international deal on climate change. A binding agreement on emissions reductions would encourage business to invest in low-carbon technologies, a statement from 150 businesses said.

The statement - backed by Prince Charles - will be sent to environment ministers and heads of state ahead of talks in Bali on climate change. Nokia, Tesco, Lloyds TSB and Nike are among the 150 firms that made the call. The signatories represent companies from Europe, the US, China and Australia."

This comes as quite a surprise to me - is it all just hot air?

"The signs from America are that the business leaders will be rebuffed while President George W Bush is still in charge. The US head of climate policy has confirmed to the BBC's Environment Analyst that the White House will not agree to binding international emissions cuts during the UN's climate negotiations. James Connaughton said the US favoured national and sectoral policies - not a one-size-fits-all international target. He said the US would continue to increase the carbon efficiency of its economy but he could not foresee the day when America would stop its growth in greenhouse gas emissions."

So the USA, or much more accurately, the Bush administration is playing the same old tune and basically doesn't give a damn about global warming. Now, isn't that a surprise? My advice to industry - at least those who want to do something positive - ignore that lame duck administration and go your own way.

BBC NEWS | Business | Business call for plan on climate

Technorati tags: climate global warming industry Prince Charles Bush administration

One of the founders of my department, and a long-term friend and colleague of mine, Professor Marc Eisenstadt took early retirement today. After relinquishing his role as department co-director, his title became 'chief scientist' - appropriate since he very much liked to push the boundaries of our research. I was very glad to see a good turnout for his retirement do. He will be sorely missed.

Photo shows Marc (left) cutting the cake with our new director Dr.Peter Scott looking on.

Got a shock when I tried to view the Business section of the BBC News website - looks like the page has been hijacked by Conservative leader David Cameron.

An excellent result for the OU Vets football team today in their 4-0 shutout of Hanslope Wanderers. I used my EOS 1D Mk.II for this game and it has definitely still got focus issues - time for a visit to Fixation I think.

T-Mobile to open up iPhone sales

"T-Mobile to open up iPhone sales
The iPhone was launched in Germany in early November iPhone users are still tied to just one network in the US and UK T-Mobile is to start allowing German customers to buy Apple's iPhone without a contract to its network, as it moves to comply with a court injunction. Its announcement comes after rival Vodafone went to a German court to challenge T-Mobile's exclusive tie-up with the iPhone in Germany."

Well done, Vodafone, for breaking this monopoly.

BBC NEWS | Business | T-Mobile to open up iPhone sales

"Qinetiq deal 'cost UK taxpayers'
UK taxpayers could have gained 'more money' from the privatisation of defence research firm Qinetiq, the National Audit Office (NAO) has said. While saying taxpayers could have gained 'tens of millions' more, the NAO also condemned an incentive scheme that netted fortunes for Qinetiq's bosses. Qinetiq's 10 most senior managers gained £107.5m after the move, a return of 19,990% for their total £540,000 investment in shares, a return labelled 'excessive' by the NAO."

BBC NEWS | Business | Qinetiq deal 'cost UK taxpayers'

This all sounds very familiar - remember the sale of BT and British Gas in the 1980s? Where thousands of citizens were made to feel good about themselves and their country by buying the minimum number of shares in these companies (that they already owned as taxpayers), only to see all their profits wiped out when they came to sell them by dealing charges. Proof, if it were needed, that Thatcherism is alive and well in British politics.

A whole world sold on sell-offs | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

Technorati tags: Thatcherism selloff shares profits NAO

"Browne hits back over troops row
Defence Secretary Des Browne has hit back at criticism by former defence chiefs, saying morale among serving soldiers is 'as high as it could be'. Admiral Lord Boyce said Gordon Brown treated UK forces with 'contempt' - and his decision to make Mr Browne Scottish Secretary as well was an 'insult'. Mr Browne said he had not heard those criticisms from serving soldiers and he was happy to be judged on his record."

Must have his fingers in his ears, then.

"But Mr Browne said: 'We have in the United Kingdom the second highest defence budget in the world, in real terms. We are exceeded only by the United States of America.'"

Higher than China? I think not.

"Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox accused the MoD of spending £2bn refitting its Whitehall offices, while there was a lack of battle helicopters in Afghanistan."

£2bn might not buy many helicopters, but I'm sure it would fund a good number of bullet-proof jackets.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Browne hits back over troops row

Technorati tags: MoD military spending budget

"UK's families put on fraud alert
Two computer discs holding the personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16 have gone missing. The Child Benefit data on them includes name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number and, where relevant, bank details of 25 million people."

What a bunch of idiots we have in charge of sensitive data in this country?! It should be illegal to post personal data like this. What's the point of all the security, firewall, etc. put in place in the data centre when some arse copies the data and bungs it in the post, or leaves a laptop in the back of his car - etc, etc, etc?

Just think of the potential for data loss once the Government's hair-brained and immensely wasteful personal ID card scheme gets up and running...

BBC NEWS | Politics | UK's families put on fraud alert

Technorati tags: data loss identity theft CDs home office

OU First team were on the wrong end of a 1-4 score line today against Great Holm Steel. Full gallery now live.

"Targets 'distort crime recording'
Government pressure to meet targets for less serious crimes is forcing detectives off major investigations, a Police Federation report has claimed. In one case an officer stopped hunting a paedophile ring to focus on solving burglaries, it said."

Yet another example of government meddling making a situation worse. As with doctors and nurses - can't you please leave these people to get on with their jobs?

BBC NEWS | UK | Targets 'distort crime recording'

Technorati tags: police targets statistics Government meddling interference

"UK 'landfill dustbin of Europe'
The UK is officially the "dustbin of Europe", figures have suggested."

What a misleading headling?! It suggests that continental Europe is sending their rubbish to the UK - which it isn't. Instead of all this Government-fuelled tosh about charging on the weight of your wheelie bin - which everyone with an ounce of common sense knows will simply lead to more fly tipping - they should clamp down on the producers of waste - all the excess packaging we are (at least partially) forced to buy, transport and dispose of.

BBC NEWS | UK | UK 'landfill dustbin of Europe'

A big up to OU Reserves who won their cup game 6-2 today. Full gallery of photos now live - just click the image.

A severe case of trench foot to those few locals who think its acceptable to continue celebrating Guy Fawkes on Remembrance Sunday.

"Drivers of big, high emission cars - including family saloons - could be penalised by a £1,000 hike in their motoring costs, it has been reported. Recommendations are likely to include higher excise duties and a purchase tax for larger cars, the Times reports."

BBC NEWS | UK | 'Green' tax could hit family cars

The £1000-a-year tax disc was proposed a while back while smiling Tony was still in office - but in the end, I don't think a dared bring it in. Is Brown going to have more guts, I wonder?

"Mr Livingstone's proposal - which would affect cars that produce 225g of CO2 per kilometre, and vehicles with engines larger than 3 litres that were registered before March 2001 - is now out for public consultation."

Not sure what the year of registration has got to do with anything.

"The Energy Saving Trust points to the fact that carmakers are still struggling to meet voluntary C02 reduction targets agreed with the European Union. 'We welcome industry achievements in reducing overall energy use, as well as the steady reduction in CO2 emissions per vehicle,' says Caroline Watson, transport policy manager at the Energy Saving Trust. 'However, the UK industry still has far to go. We will fail to meet the EU Voluntary Agreement for average new car emissions by 2008/09, and on the current path it will take more than 10 years to meet the proposed 2012 target of 130g per km.'"

BBC NEWS | Business | Carmakers laud emission reductions

And motor manufacturers can bleet all they like about how fuel-efficient their cars have become - while monsters like the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG still exist (less than 20mpg combined, 345 g/km CO2) some of them haven't got a leg to stand on. If the EU can't stop the makers from making them, blatant oil-wasters like this should be taxed out of existence.

"Errors blamed for Menezes death
Police made serious and avoidable errors in the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station, a watchdog says. The Independent Police Complaints Commission report revealed 17 witnesses said they had not heard police shout a clear warning before firing.

The body's chair said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair had tried to prevent its investigation. It also revealed investigators had asked the Crown Prosecution Service to look at possible charges against the two officers who shot Mr de Menezes, and the commander on the day, Cressida Dick."

So did the CPS ever really consider a prosecution? If so, why didn't they? Were they told not to?

"The IPCC said the Met had to rethink policies around deploying firearms officers and critical language governing the manner in which they stopped a suspect. It also called for a public debate over the Operation Kratos policy, which deals with the threat from suicide bombers and details how armed response teams should react. The watchdog said Operation Kratos had not been deployed on the day - but some officers had believed it had been."

The Home Secretary in a TV news interview last night said she expected that none of those calling for the resignation of Sir Ian Blair would ever have to make a split-second decision to end a potential suicide bomber's life. In this case it looks as though no one did. From the actions of the officers concerned, it really does appear that someone higher up had already made the decision to kill de Menezes. Is a "shoot-to-kill" policy actually legal - I don't remember hearing of any law having been passed allowing it. Remember all the furore over the SAS action in Gibraltar in the 1980s?

BBC NEWS | UK | Errors blamed for Menezes death
Blair under pressure after De Menezes report | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited
Blair blamed for delay in shooting investigation - Independent Online Edition - This Britain
ITN - Met Police chief refuses to step down

Technorati tags: Police shooting terrorism suicide bomber de Menezes Sir Ian Blair

Ever get this error when using the Google Maps API, even though you know what it says is wrong? Looks like the API key application is case-sensitive, so if someone visits your website and uses just one letter in a different case, this message will pop up. This happens with my Santiago de Compostela voice and photo blog (created for a Spanish language summer school) if you put the 'S' in upper case - try it.

Technorati tags: Google maps API key error Spanish language blog

Glad to have finally found a Rolling Stones track that's been in my head since it was used in trailers for the (not too successful) Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone 1995 movie Casino:

The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter

Having problems getting the Windows last.fm client to scrobble the tracks you're listening to in iTunes? Keep getting the message saying "Won't scrobble: track is in a directory set to not scrobble" - even when that is patently complete tosh? Apparently the only solution (at least with the current client - 1.3.2.13 as of now) is to repeatedly go into the Options... and check the folder that your music files are in. Just keep doing it. Don't take no for an answer.

Have completed my involvement in a second movie specifically shot for a competition - this time to shoot a 3-minute movie in 24 hours for the britfilms.tv 24 Hour Film Challenge. Actually had to act this time - although (probably fortunately) no talking was necessary. Photo shows our setup for the most complex scene, in a church using four Redhead lights on stands. Unfortunately there was a technical problem with the DVD that was submitted for the competition (the sound didn't work) so we didn't stand a chance of winning.

Greenflame have launched their first album - sample tracks on MySpace

Back from France now and I must say I really enjoyed my short time there. It was only the second time I've really been in France. Chambéry is a very nice, quiet town - probably more so this time of year, just before the skiiing season kicks off. You certainly feel safe and welcome there; I had no qualms about walking around with a camera at night. It was a good test of my very limited knowledge of the French language, picked up from before my 'O'-levels which was when I dropped languages completely. The roads are busy, but the motorists generally very respectful of pedestrians - you don't get bursts of hooting and abusive language like you do in the UK. You don't see fat people, fat kids everywhere. You don't see crowds of pissed-up louts falling about in the street. In fact, everything about France is more civilised than over here - something you soon come to realise when you come home again.

Photo of Aix-Les-Bain's lake-side promenade and impressive tree avenue along Lac du Bourget, near Chambéry, on the way back to Geneva airport.

Night photo of the famous Elephant fountain in the middle of Chambéry.

First day of a three-day gathering for a European languages teaching project called webCEF I have become involved, in Chambéry, France. Not that I am a language teacher - I'm just helping out on creating the web tools.

More nanny state nonsense:

"Firefighters face 'ladders ban'
Firefighters have been banned from using their ladders to take down festive bunting because it is deemed a health and safety risk. In previous years, firefighters have helped remove decorations in the centre of Ampthill, Bedfordshire, after the town's Gala Day in July. Three months on, the green and white bunting is still there. The festival committee is now trying to find another way of removing the bunting before the winter."

BBC NEWS | England | Beds/Bucks/Herts | Firefighters face 'ladders ban'

All these bans and extra legislation on "safety" don't say to me "we're doing this to make your lives safer" - instead it says "we no longer think you should be trusted to use your own common sense".

"Looking for a new way to save money on your car insurance?"

There is only one way to save money on anything - pay less.

Mobile phone use backed on planes
Passengers could soon be using their mobile phones on planes flying through European airspace. Plans have been developed across EU countries to introduce technology which permits mobile calls without risk of interference with aircraft systems.

They think they can do it, but have they ever stopped to consider if they should do it? I for one could not hack sitting next to some selfish git yakking away on a mobile phone. This is bound to lead to complaints, annoyed passengers and quite possibly unrest on planes.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Mobile phone use backed on planes

Canon finally cops to the focus issue that many early adopters of the EOS 1D Mk.III digital SLR are finding. Apparently its something to do with the sub-mirror (a little mirror that hangs off the back of the main mirrors) and it requires the camera to be returned to Canon for a hardware fix.

Rob Galbraith | An EOS-1D Mark III autofocus fix is on the way

Couldn't sleep last night so I watched part of the Chinese film "The World" (Shijie), about the lives of a small number of workers at a strange theme park just outside Shanghai, built around scale replicas of famous landmark buildings around the world - so much more ironic for many of the central characters yearn to leave China and see some of these buildings for real. I found it a sad yet compelling movie that accurately portrays the huge culture clash between the China of old and the Western world China now strives to become part of.

Entry in the Internet Movie database
Reviews on Internet Movie database
Another review, admittedly not good but includes a couple of stills

Town Crier

Town Crier,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

Got a bunch of nice shots this morning at this year's Living History Heritage Day in Leighton Buzzard. The Town Council lay this event on every year.

Light Fantastic is a free, family spectacular which celebrates the best of light, special effects, technology and entertainment. State of the art large format projection will be used on buildings to transform their appearance.

Someone obviously feels our buildings need transforming! I presume this is something to do with this year's anniversary of Milton Keynes - but it doesn't say so on the website. But it does say:

Entertainment will include a light parade, a son et lumiere show, and huge gas jet flames choreographed to music.

Not exactly respectful of the environment is it?

Light Fantastic Milton Keynes 2007

Big brother really is here...

"UK ID card service mounts birth, marriage, death landgrab
The UK Identity & Passport Service (IPS) has staged an identity landgrab on birth, marriage and death records. From April 2008 the General Register Office, which is responsible for recording these matters and is currently a directorate of the Office of National Statistics, is to become part of IPS, meaning that IPS will be logging you from the moment you're born until the moment you die."

Why don't they go the whole hog and tatoo a number on your arm?

The Register | UK ID card service mounts landgrab

Photo montage of New Horizons images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io, taken during the spacecraft's Jupiter flyby in early 2007.

New Horizons Web Site | Jupiter-Io Montage
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Pluto-bound probe's Jupiter vista

Have you seen the film 2010? Do you remember the reverence with which Dr. Heywood Floyd talks about Jupiter?

My personal feeling is that our exploration of space should be limited to unmanned probes. It takes so much more effort and expense to put people into space - and when you do, the focus falls on the people, not what they are exploring.

This poor bear nearly bought the farm after being scared off a bridge by passing vehicles. Probably the most amazing animal rescue story ever photographed:

Spectators, officers and advocates save bear from fatal fall

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | Beleaguered bear in bridge rescue

Technorati tags: bear rescue bridge California wildlife

OU First team beat Swan Fenny in today's Milton Keynes Sunday League match, but not because Swan's keeper was rubbish. Actually, he did a brilliant job but had to retire injured in the second half - only to come back on again as a forward and nearly score.

Technorati tags: football soccer action sports photography

What's with the German? Every time I post, Blogger seems to come back with this screen. I did study German at school, but that was a long time ago...

Technorati tags: Blogger German language post

"Bush climate plans spark debate
A plan by US President George W Bush for countries to set their own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions has drawn considerable criticism. Some delegates at a meeting of the world's top 16 polluters saw Mr Bush's comments as a US reluctance to commit to binding action on global warming. Officials at the Washington forum said legally-set international targets were the only way to tackle climate change. Mr Bush stressed that combating climate change should not damage the economy."

Yet again, Bush shows his true colours on climate change - he won't let anything get in the way of making money for himself and his big industry - mostly oil industry - buddies. He's got his head buried so far in the sand, he can't even imagine how research and investment into new technology could actually benefit his country.

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Bush climate plans spark debate

Technorati tags: Bush climate change global warming enviroment pollution Washington

Northampton's motocross event at Long Buckby yesterday - full gallery now live.

Technorati tags: motocross motorcross sports action photography

Apple's iPhone hype reaches the UK

"iPhone wedding gets mixed reception
As Apple's Steve Jobs unveiled the UK deal for the iPhone with his usual showmanship, O2's Matthew Key and Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse looked on like blushing brides. The O2 website crashed soon after the iPhone announcement, apparently gasping under the weight of inquiries from excited customers. They may be a little more cautious once they look more closely at the price - £269 is pretty steep these days for a mobile phone...

BBC NEWS | Business | iPhone wedding gets mixed reception

Lets do a comparison between this an a Nokia N95 on a Vodafone contract:

	iPhone/O2	Nokia N95/Vodafone
Contact	18 months	18 months
3G	no	yes
Wireless	802.11b/g	no
Camera	2 Mpixel	5 Mpixel
Storage	8Gb	extra memory card
Phone	£269	Free
per Month	£35	£30 (first 3 months half price)
Entire contract cost	£1259	£495

Well, that's quite a difference...
Technorati tags: Apple iPhone O2 contract handset 3G

OU Vets did well in their first competitive game of the season against Milton Vets, having won three out of three of their pre-season challenge games.


OU Firsts, on the other hand, were hammered 1-5 by Wolverton Town.

Technorati tags: football soccer sports action photography

I recently bought the 500Gb Premium version from the Western Digital MyBook series of external hard disk specifically to backup my various machines using Retrospect 7. It seemed to be very flakey, however, taking ages to get going, or simply not working at all. Apparently the problem is common and may be down to Windows System Restore. You can turn this on or off on a per-drive basis:

Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties
Click the System Restore tab
Click once on the target drive and click the Settings... button
Check the box marked Turn off System Restore on this drive

Technorati tags: Western Digital MyBook external hard disk Windows System Restore Retrospect

Lets combine these two news stories and see what we come up with:

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | UK 'must have human space role'
"The UK must play an active and central role in future human space missions to the Moon and Mars, a report concludes. It has proposed a plan in which two British astronauts could go into space by 2015 at a cost of £50-75m."

BBC NEWS | Health | Fears over NHS e-records system
"A key plank of the £6.8bn NHS IT upgrade project in England has come under attack from MPs. The Health Committee said there was a 'worrying lack of progress' and raised concerns about the security of patients' electronic records."

So, we can either have a national computerised medical records system, or we could send approx 272 people into space, for the same money. Perhaps instead we could send all the idiots in Government who want to waste OUR money on these hair-brained projects into space. If we send them one-way, it would be cheaper too...

"Brown welcomes Thatcher to No 10
Former prime minister Baroness Thatcher has left 10 Downing Street after a meeting with Gordon Brown. Lady Thatcher, 81, spent more than two hours at her former home, where she was greeted with a warm handshake from the current prime minister.

Mr Brown recently surprised many by praising Labour's long-time political foe as a 'conviction politician'. The Tories said they were 'relaxed' about the meeting, pointing out that she had previously met Tony Blair. The visit followed an exchange of letters between Mr Brown and Lady Thatcher, who led the country from 1979 to 1990, shortly after he became prime minister in June."

I guess she is so impressed at how Blair and now Brown have continued her policies with New Labour, she wanted to thank him in person.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown welcomes Thatcher to No 10

"PC buyers: 'Vista Capable' machines weren't Vista capable
How misleading was Microsoft's 'Windows Vista Capable' campaign? Misleading enough for a judge to approve a federal trial.

On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that two PC buyers, Dianne Kelley and Kenneth Hansen, can proceed with a lawsuit that accuses Microsoft of deliberately deceiving the public with the 'Window Vista Capable' stickers it slapped on Windows XP machines in the run-up to Vista's January debut, InformationWeek reports. Microsoft had asked for a dismissal, but US District Judge Marsha Pechman of Seattle is happy to oversee an October trial.

With their class action suit, filed in March, Kelley and Hansen claim that Microsoft used 'bait and switch' tactics to move XP systems as the world waited for the long-delayed Windows Vista. They argue that Microsoft's stickers reassured buyers "that they were purchasing Vista-capable machines when, in fact, they could obtain only a stripped down operating system." Some 'Vista Capable' machines, they say, were only capable of running versions of the OS that lack things like Microsoft's new Aero interface and a spruced-up Windows Media Center."

I think they're on dodgy ground here - they're basically arguing that whilst the machines in question can run Vista, they will only take a very cut down version. Well, is it Vista or isn't it?

PC buyers: 'Vista Capable' machines weren't Vista capable | The Register

"Contagious yawn 'sign of empathy'
Yawning may reveal more about a person than their boredom threshold, according to research. A susceptibility to contagious yawning may actually be a sign of a high-level of social empathy. Although many species yawn, only some humans and possibly their close animal relatives find yawning infectious, suggesting the reason is psychological. "

As soon as I read this article, I yawned. No, really.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Contagious yawn 'sign of empathy'

"US B-52 in nuclear cargo blunder
The US Air Force has launched an investigation after a B-52 bomber flew across the US last week mistakenly loaded with nuclear-armed missiles. It follows reports in the Army Times that five missiles were unaccounted for during the three-hour flight from North Dakota to Louisiana. The air force said the cruise missiles were safe at all times. Army Times said the missiles were to be decommissioned but were mistakenly mounted on the bomber's wings."

I guess its just as well they weren't flying over Afghanistan.

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | US B-52 in nuclear cargo blunder

Technorati tags: Nuclear weapons cruise missile USAF B-52

"Amazon tops online retailers list
Amazon remains the UK's most popular online retailer, a study has found. The website has once again come top of the latest quarterly IMRG-Hitwise Hot Shops List of the 50 most used online retailers in the country."

BBC NEWS | Business | Amazon tops online retailers list

I would argue that Amazon are running the risk of loosing this lofty position because of their "Marketplace Sellers" programme. The Amazon website has become almost like eBay - it isn't entirely clear where a product is going to come from and some of their third-party suppliers are less than entirely honest. There appears to be no way of saying to the system "only list products actually supplied by Amazon".

"Thousands of crimes by under-10s Teenagers
Children committed 66 sex offences last year, figures suggest almost 3,000 crimes were committed last year where the suspect was too young to be prosecuted, the BBC has learned. Figures show there were about 1,300 incidents of criminal damage and arson, and over 60 sex offences where suspects were under-10s in England and Wales."

And here we see the result of New Labour's idiotic Nanny State.

BBC NEWS | UK | Thousands of crimes by under-10s

Congratulations to the Open University cricket team on earning promotion to Division 2 in a very hard-fought end-of-season match against Shenley Church End today.