North Illinois University

With thanks to Kellen for posting this tag, in memory of those who lost their lives at NIU yesterday afternoon, including the deranged soul who perpetrated the massacre. Also to offer condolences to those who lost a loved one, and strength to the families of the injured.

Campus shooting

I was very sad to learn that last night's shooting at the North Illinois University at De Kalb has claimed 5 lives. No motive has been established. It appears the gunman was a former student at the university. Several shootings have taken place at American universities over the past 12 months, with Virginia Tech being the most prominent one last April.

Will anyone have the courage to stand up to the gun lobby in the US and introduce restrictions on guns on a federal level? Any of the presidential candidates? Doubt it.

Hurricane update - 15 February

Down under, Western Australia is bracing itself for the onslaught of Tropical Cyclone Nicholas, which could turn out to be a category 3 hurricane (on the Saffir Simpson scale for those in the know) with winds of 100 knots / 115 mph by the time it makes landfall. People between Port Hedland and Karratha or Mardie should particularly be concerned. Nicholas has behaved in the usual way for a tropical cyclone - totally unpredictable.

Madagascar should also get very worried, with Tropical Cyclone Ivan bearing down on its northern provinces. Ivan will be of comparable strength to Nicholas when it strikes land, i.e. winds of 100 knots or thereabouts. Madagascar is a poor nation, and I have learned in the 18 months I've been hurricane hunting that the dissemination of information on tropical cyclones is very sparse. If anyone has any connections in the region, please spread the word.

Friday 15 February

Quite a bright day, but not the unfettered sunshine of the last few days. High cloud is spilling in, which will apparently thicken to give us drizzle later today. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

On the subject of pictures, it is quite correct that there are not many people in mine. Firstly, it is winter, and if you don't have to be outside, you don't go outside. Even during the sunny spell we've had this week, temperatures were very low, and I had to wrap up warm. Secondly, there are only 20,000 people in Lewis, of whom about 7,500 live in Stornoway. So, when I go out of town, there is not much chance of anybody straying into a picture. Which I try to avoid at any rate.

A climber was rescued from Ben Nevis yesterday afternoon, after he sustained injuries in a fall. A helicopter from Prestwick plucked in off the mountain's Tower Ridge and deposited him at the nearby Belford Hospital in Fort William.

Most popular pictures

My most popular picture on Flickr.com is this one

of a waterlogged path near Stoneyfield Farm, south of Stornoway. 255 people flocked to admire a Lewis bog last month. Don't know why.

I do have a good idea why this unremarkable picture of a cement carrying cargo ship, the Ronez, attracted 211 viewers. It was linked to by Ronez blog, a French blogger, who claims there's nothing to see. His readers didn't agree with that, they liked the ship.

Shared journals

The AOL / AIM journals team is intending to set up a journal, where allin J-land can publicise their shared journals. To be precise, those journals where everybody can make an entry. Entries made on that journal will be moderated for inappropriate content. I do not have details available at present, but will post them when I receive them from Vish [vishy2004].

University shooting

It was reported in the last 15 minutes that a gunman has fired on students on the campus of Northern Illinois University in De Kalb, 65 miles west of Chicago. Eighteen people are reported wounded, some with head injuries, by the gunman, who carried a shotgun and a pistol. Messages on the campus website have now indicated that the culprit has been secured, but all classes have been cancelled for tomorrow. The local hospital website carries updates on the on-going medical situation.

I hope there are no fatalities.

Pictures 13 February

The last lot of pictures of my trip to Bernera yesterday. On reaching the island, fog continued to haunt the coast. We visited the little fishingpier at Kirkibost, where the fog lifted as we had a look round. Next, we crossed the island east to west for Valasay. Only a few houses there, but a very scenic spot. We then went north to Tobson. This has a lovely beach, but this time it was infested with boulders, washed ashore by winterstorms. There was also a large float, belonging to the Two Dukes. On returning from that village, I went to picture the Landraiders' Monument at the start of the village road. Bosta remains as beautiful as ever, in spite of the boulders, also present there. I pictured the Bernera War Memorial on the way south. We stopped at Callanish for tea and scones before returning to Stornoway.

Call for support

Lyn's daughter's dog got run over and killed yesterday. They were very attracted to Ali, and are devastated at their loss. Please call round.

copied from the Call for Support journal

Missing - found

A man from Arnol was reported missing earlier in the week. It was initially thought he had gone to the mainland to look for a job, but then a search was mounted closer to home. A tent was found discarded near Beinn Choinnich, 3 miles south of Bragar in the middle of moors. Other items were identified as that of the missing person. He was later found safe and well at a shieling, a temporary dwelling.

Thursday 14 February

Bright sunny morning, but very cold. Temperature is barely above freezing, after an overnight frost of -3C / 26F. It should stay sunny all day, with another hard frost tonight.

Western Australia is getting prepared for Tropical Cyclone Nicholas, which will be making its way south over the weekend. The point of landfall and its timing are as yet beyond the scope of forecasting, but a strike east of Port Hedland would seem possible. This same mining town was the scene of several deaths a year ago, when TC George rampaged through. On the subject of cyclones, another one (Ivan) is heading west towards Madagascar, although forecasters disagree on its future course. It could also head southwest. It's a case of keeping a close eye on developments.

Tomorrow, we will learn whether the proposed Lewis Windfarm is likely to gain planning consent from the Scottish Government. The signals are not favourable. Several influential voices within the business community have spoken out, with the Chambers of Commerce saying that environmental designation from the EU should not stand in the way of economic developments. It is precisely the presence of Special Protected Areas that has led the Scottish Government to say it is minded to reject the application.

Pictures 13 February 2008 - III

Having turned off onto the B8011 at Garynahine, the road leads close to the shore of Loch Roag, hence the fog patches. Otherwise it remains bright and sunny. After once more turning off, this time onto the B8059 to Bernera, the landscape turns increasingly austere. Great Bernera was an island until 1954, when a bridge was built - with great difficulty, owing to the strong currents in Loch Barraglom, which it spans.

Tomorrow, I shall add the remaining 140 pictures.

Pictures 13 February 2008 - II

Driving from Stornoway to Garynahine, the fog appeared to have lifted, although it lingered around hilltops. The stretch between Leurbost and Garynahine, some 9 miles, is a favourite moorland route.

Pictures 13 February 2008 - fog

A sequence of pictures, showing the fog lifting between 10 and 11 am this morning.

Picture problems

I am going through my 80 alerts, and am noticing quite a few journals with "Image not available" errors. Probably another AOHell gripe.

Wednesday notes

Well, the fog did clear quite rapidly after 10 o'clock this morning, so it was off for a tour of Great Bernera, some 25 miles west of Stornoway. I went on a snapping spree, as is my wont, and ended up with more than 170 pictures. In order to avoid taking the picture saturation syndrome (also known as taking the PiSS), I shall break this up into several entries, which I shall do tomorrow.

Seriously, it was a gorgeous afternoon, although still quite cold. A glorious sunset at 5 o'clock capped it all. Yep, we've now gained 1½ hours of light on the sunset side, and the sunrise times are also getting appreciably earlier.

So it's Valentine's Day tomorrow. Well, I have to agree with a post by Indigo yesterday that you can express your feelings towards that special person in your life at any time of the year, not just on February 14th. Too much commercialisation of that.

Hurricane update - 13 February

Tropical cyclone Nicholas is winding up off the coast of Western Australia, and will be heading south in the next day or so. The storm will attain hurricane strength as it makes for the Pilbara coast. No definite information on landfall. I copy information from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology:

A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Bidyadanga to Kuri Bay.
A Cyclone WATCH continues for coastal areas from Pardoo to Bidyadanga.

Gales are not expected in coastal areas overnight, however, it is possible gales could develop in coastal areas between Kuri Bay and Bidyadanga later on Thursday or Friday and may extend further south and west to Pardoo during Friday. Pilbara residents are advised that although the Pilbara coast west of Pardoo is not under threat in the next 48 hours, there is still a risk in that
area over the weekend.

FESA-State Emergency Service advises of the following community alerts:

BLUE ALERT: People in or near the communities between Kuri Bay and Bidyadanga, including Cockatoo Island, Koolan Island, Derby, Cape Leveque, One Arm Point, Djarindjin, Lombadina, Beagle Bay, Broome and Bidyadanga should commence taking precautions.

Australia's Apology

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

Wednesday 13 February

The sun is just in the process of burning away the dense fog that has plagued us this morning. Visibility was down to about 50 yards or less - could hardly see the seawall across the road at one point. However, the familiar view of Goat Island and the Coastguard Station is back. The fog is expected to reform overnight, with temperatures once again down to freezing or below.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has issued a formal apology to the indigenous people of Australia. It does not take away the hurt still felt by the stolen generation, like the man of 70 who spoke to BBC Radio Scotland early this morning. He had been snatched from his mother 60 years ago, and she died before he found her again. She had spent the rest of her days looking for him. I shall copy the apology in a separate entry.

I have to say that Australia is a young nation, in existence for only a little over 200 years. It has a high rate of influx, and those who came there after 1969 may not feel that they have anything to apologise for. However, they are Australians, and as such carry the communal guilt. It was a policy of outright racism, along the lines of Ian Smith's Rhodesia and Henrik Verwoert's South Africa of the apartheid years. The objective was to breed the black skin out of the aboriginals. I hope all Australians have the courage to stand up and be counted for this. I hope that the lives of all indigenous Australians will be improved, with facilities on a par with those available or offered to immigrated Australians. Compensation is a meaningless gesture.

Close of day

People here are much more aware of their ancestry than I have encountered elsewhere in the UK. Partially because there is such a large diaspora - hundreds of thousands were kicked off their land and out of the country during the 18th and 19th centuries. In some quarters it is referred to as ethnic cleansing avant la lettre, and the methods are redolent of those employed by the Nazis in World War II. After all, being rounded up, houses burned over your head, carted off on rickety old boats - the only thing missing was the premeditated mass murder that set the Nazis apart. But murder it was - of a culture, of a way of life.

I would like to remind people to do regular sweeps with anti-malware software like Adaware and Spybot Search and Destroy. These can be downloaded free of charge. Malware is about as bad as viruses, and causes an incredible amount of disruption. Krissy had one heck of a job to shift more than 700 pieces of malware from her computer.

I am going to leave the rest of my 30-odd alerts for tomorrow.