Happy St Patrick's Day to the Irish or those of Irish descent. Here in Scotland, our national day is November 30th. The weather today is quite acceptable, fairly bright with some chinks in the clouds. The webcam shows that quite well.
The US has now got its own Northern Rock - it's called Bear Stearns. This bank was taken over for a fraction of its recent value by competitor JP Morgan on the back of the mortgage crisis. I specifically omit the word "sub-prime", because in a recent commentary, I heard that the problems with defaults on payments were spreading into the normal mortgage market.
Plugging one hole with another does not work in the long run. When you run out of holes, you're in one hell of a hole. And if you keep digging, it just gets worse. I'm not being even half funny saying this. It is what lies at the bottom of this debacle.
Monday, 17 March 2008
Sunday, 16 March 2008
New Journal
Jan highlighted a new journal, and I feel it deserves a further relay. Pop along to Helen's World. Helen was badly burned at age 2, and has grown up to enjoy life very much - in the face of adversity.
Introspection
It seems to be introspection time in J-land, as I have come across three people who are opening up about matters in life that trouble them deeply. One writes a private journal, but Gina and Regina are public journalers. Neither entry is easy reading. I have highlighted both journals in Call for Support.
Palm Sunday
It's Easter next week, so an Easter greeting has found its way into my sidebar. Found a handful of other things, which I'll pop in here as the week goes on.
12 March 1938
The year 1938 was one of the black years of the 1930s, but as nothing in comparison to the following decade. On 12 March 1938, Nazi forces marched from Germany into Austria without opposition. It heralded the amalgamation of Austria into Germany, referred to historically as the Anschluss (the joining). Once more, a violation of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, went unpunished. Austria ceased to exist as a fully independent nation until 1955. Later in 1938, on September 30th, Neville Chamberlain went to a summit meeting with Adolf Hitler at Munich, (in)famously returning to Great Britain "peace for our time".
Six weeks later, on November 9th, the infamous Kristallnacht saw Jewish property across Germany being vandalised and destroyed, and Jews molested and killed in an orchestrated campaign of terror.
The Sudetenland area of Czecho-Slovakia was invaded early in 1939 by Nazi forces, to continue Hitler's campaign to join all German speaking territories to the Fatherland. The British government stood by, swallowing the German excuse that it was defending a German minority.
The Nazi invasion of Poland in September 1939 finally did evoke a response from the British Government, in the shape of a declaration of war. World War II had begun.
I occasionally highlight key dates from World War II and preceding years, lest we forget the atrocities that occurred between 1933 and 1945.
125 years ago
Join the army in the Crimean war, mid 19th century. What did you get? Well, paragraph 1123 from the Napier Commission inquiry into the conditions of the poor of the Highlands and Islands gives a flavour:
But when you were in [the army]?—Well, for one time I had two years and four months without ever stripping or going to bed. From the time I left Portsmouth till I returned, I never stripped. I was in clothes all the time, and it was hard enough work for all I got.
Shannon Matthews
The police have asked for extra time to interrogate Shannon's uncle, aged 39, who is being held on suspicion of abduction. The usual recriminations are flying today, which state that "if the police had done this, and if the police had done that, she would have been found faster". The police refute those suggestions. I have not found reliable corroboration for the allegation that Shannon was abused by her stepfather's uncle. This will undoubtedly surface if and when the police decide to charge the man - or not.
In recent days, reception on Sky TV (satellite) has deteriorated somewhat (the dish is rusting), and it's affecting BBC News 24 :-(. As a result, I've reverted to watching Sky News, which is not half as cautious as the BBC in its reporting.
In recent days, reception on Sky TV (satellite) has deteriorated somewhat (the dish is rusting), and it's affecting BBC News 24 :-(. As a result, I've reverted to watching Sky News, which is not half as cautious as the BBC in its reporting.
Sunday 16 March
Fairly bright day, with some sunny intervals, much like yesterday. Tonight, we can expect a frost. Over on the mainland, the mercury will plummet to -7C / 20F.
Organise a party and get your house trashed. Particularly when BBC Radio 1 (the popular music channel) gives it a "shout". A girl had organised a fancy-dress party at Bovey Tracey, Devon, for 100 invited guests, to celebrate her 18th. Someone had passed on the information to the BBC, which broadcast the event - resulting in a throng of 400 uninvited guests, who proceeded to rampage through the property. The girl's parents blame the BBC and have declared they are considering their options. Methinks the BBC should stop advertising private parties, or at least check them out before broadcasting. It is well known that "home alone" parties by teenagers tend to get out of hand, and it doesn't need the tender ministrations of the country's public service broadcaster to add to that.
A crane has collapsed in New York, crushing an apartment block in its path. Four have died, dozens are injured, and the emergency services are still scouring the wreckage for survivors.
Organise a party and get your house trashed. Particularly when BBC Radio 1 (the popular music channel) gives it a "shout". A girl had organised a fancy-dress party at Bovey Tracey, Devon, for 100 invited guests, to celebrate her 18th. Someone had passed on the information to the BBC, which broadcast the event - resulting in a throng of 400 uninvited guests, who proceeded to rampage through the property. The girl's parents blame the BBC and have declared they are considering their options. Methinks the BBC should stop advertising private parties, or at least check them out before broadcasting. It is well known that "home alone" parties by teenagers tend to get out of hand, and it doesn't need the tender ministrations of the country's public service broadcaster to add to that.
A crane has collapsed in New York, crushing an apartment block in its path. Four have died, dozens are injured, and the emergency services are still scouring the wreckage for survivors.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
125 years ago
On 8 May 1883, Lord Napier visited the Isle of Skye and other areas in the Highlands and Islands. He had been charged by Queen Victoria to investigate the grievances of crofters and cottars against the prevailing system of land ownership, security of tenure (or lack thereof) and living conditions. I have a transcript of the report, and it makes for deeply depressing reading. However, if anyone wants to understand the recent history of the north of Scotland, this is compulsory reading.
I copy the first 21 paragraphs, which gives a flavour of society in those days.
For reference: the man interviewed, Angus Stewart, lives in an area called the Braes, 8 miles southeast of Skye's main town, Portree. When the landowner found that the local cottars were not paying the rent, he sent in the constabulary. The police were met with a fully fledged riot, and retreated bloodied to Portree. A Royal Navy ship was sent to the area, by which time the uprising had come to the attention of the authorities in London.
I copy the first 21 paragraphs, which gives a flavour of society in those days.
For reference: the man interviewed, Angus Stewart, lives in an area called the Braes, 8 miles southeast of Skye's main town, Portree. When the landowner found that the local cottars were not paying the rent, he sent in the constabulary. The police were met with a fully fledged riot, and retreated bloodied to Portree. A Royal Navy ship was sent to the area, by which time the uprising had come to the attention of the authorities in London.
1. -The Chairman.—Would you have the goodness to state what is your occupation ?—A crofter.
2. Have you also been engaged in fishing ?—Yes.
3. Were you born here, at the Braes?—Born at the Braes.
4. Have you lived here all your life?—Not all my life. I have been away, but not very far off.
5. From time to time?—From time to time.
6. But you are thoroughly acquainted with the feelings and interests of the people here?—Yes.
7. Have you been freely elected by the people to be their delegate!— Yes.
8. Now, will you have the goodness to state to me what are the hardships or grievances of which the people complain who have elected you ?— Yes; but it is in Gaelic that I prefer to speak.
9. You desire to be examined in Gaelic?—Yes. [From this point the examination of the witness and of subsequent witnesses in Skye was conducted through Mr Dugald McLachlan, sheriff-clerk depute, as interpreter.]
10. Then you wit! have the goodness to state what are the hardships and grievances, if any, of which the people whom you represent at this place complain?—I would wish that I should have an opportunity of saying a few words before I tell that, and that is that I should have the assurance that I will not be evicted from my holding by the landlord or factor, as I have seen done already. I would not have a fire in my house at Whitsunday I want the assurance that I will not be evicted, for I cannot bear evidence to the distress of my people without bearing evidence to the oppression and high-handedness of the landlord and his factor.
11. Have you anything more to add to your preparatory statement?— No.
12. It is impossible for the Commission to give you any absolute security of the kind which you desire. The Commission cannot interfere between you and your landlord, or between you and the law, but we trust that no act of oppression or severity would ever be exercised towards you or any one else by the landlord in consequence of your courage and goodness in telling the absolute truth.
Mr ALEXANDER MACDONALD, Factor for Lord Macdonald—examined.13. The Chairman.—You are at liberty to speak if you desire to make Macdonald, any observations?—In the first place, I may say that I am surprised at this man's statement, because he is not one of our crofters at all. He is a crofter's son; he is not a crofter. That is the first thing. In the next place, I do not think that he has any reason whatever, or that any person has any reason whatever, if he tells the truth, and nothing but the truth, to fear anything. In fact, we consider it rather insulting to us to insinuate anything of the sort. We despise to do anything of the sort. We expect and trust that the men will tell the truth and nothing but the truth, and the whole truth.
14. There is something rather ambiguous in the statement which you have made. Am I to understand that you publicly state that no proceeding will be taken against any tenant or inhabitant of this place in consequence of what they state before the Commission on this occasion?—I believe not.
15. You say you believe not, but do you engage that no proceedings will be taken?—That is all I can state: on my own property certainly there will not be, and, I believe, on no property. In fact, such an idea never entered our heads; but we expect the people will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
16. Mr Cameron.—Would you engage on behalf of the proprietors for whom you act; for all properties with which you are connected?—Most certainly; but this I would say, if we hear any man making a grossly false statement against us, which we can prove to be false, I do not think that in human nature it would be found we should like to continue that man as our tenant. If there is any statement which is made by a man thinking and believing it to be true, even though we ourselves differ from it, we would never dream of using any power that we have, but if the man tells a parcel of unfounded lies—which I do not believe any man here or elsewhere in Skye will do until I hear it—that is a different matter altogether. So far as we are concerned the people have full liberty to tell everything they have to say, without any fear.
17. The Chairman.—If
you are able to do so I would rather that you availed yourself of this occasion
to make a distinct declaration that whatever the people say no proceeding will
ever be taken against them on that account,—that on this particular occasion
whatever they may say, however mistaken you may think them, however erroneous
or false, no proceeding will be attempted?—These are my own personal feelings,
and certainly so far as the properties for which I am factor are concerned they
will never know or hear
anything about it—so far as I, as factor, am concerned.
18. Then I am
authorised by you to assure this gentleman before me that nothing will ever be
done to his prejudice on this occasion?—I expect that he will tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and so far as I am concerned as factor,
I will visit in no way anything upon him, and I believe Lord Macdonald will do
nothing.
19. Mr Cameron.—You have heard what this witness has said, that except under certain conditions he refuses to give us evidence. We have been appointed by the Queen to investigate this subject thoroughly, and it is impossible that we can do so unless we get proper evidence from witnesses such as Mr Angus Stewart. Now, I am sure you would not Macdonald, wish that the evidence should fail to be recorded from any disinclination on your part to give the assurance which has been asked by the chairman — I give him the fullest assurance.
20. And I think all we wish was contained in the observation which I formerly made, namely, that so far as concerns the estates under your management nothing shall happen to any witness in consequence of any statement which he may make, whether you consider it truthful or not, before this Commission. If you give that assurance we may at once proceed ?—Certainly we expect the man to tell the truth.
21. The Chairman.—But let us come to a point on this matter. Will you state yes or no in reply to my question,—will you authorise me to state absolutely to this man that nothing will ever be done prejudicial to his interest or that of his family in consequence of anything he may say on this occasion ?—I believe I am quite at liberty to say so. I believe I am perfectly at liberty to say so, and from the first I could have said so.
Evening notes
As we move towards sunset, the news continues to be dominated by young Shannon Matthews, found, after being missing for 24 days, in Dewsbury. A picture is emerging of complicated family ties. Police are interviewing the young girl to piece together a sequence of events since February 19th.
In Albania, an armaments depot has exploded, leaving widespread devastation, death and injury behind. The Albanian army was disposing of old ammunitions, some dating back to the 1940s, when the blast occurred. This report on the BBC website has actual footage of the detonations as they happened.
I have spent the afternoon uploading images of ships, which have visited Stornoway over the past 6 months, to the shipspotting website. So far, I have put 85 pictures up. In comparison with other ports on the Scottish west coast, Stornoway cannot be described as bustling, making the appearance of strange boats quite an occasion. There is a meeting of shipspotters in Rotterdam next month, with an inevitable session of 4 hours on the water's edge, spotting ships.
I hope any J-landers in Atlanta, GA, were not affected by the storm last night which has left the city centre severely damaged. It appears to have been tornado-like in nature.
Talking of storms, I have no tropical cyclones whatsoever to report upon. The season in the southern oceans is moving towards its closure - which means the Northern Hemisphere hurricane season is nigh. Two months from now, in fact. Be prepared.
In Albania, an armaments depot has exploded, leaving widespread devastation, death and injury behind. The Albanian army was disposing of old ammunitions, some dating back to the 1940s, when the blast occurred. This report on the BBC website has actual footage of the detonations as they happened.
I have spent the afternoon uploading images of ships, which have visited Stornoway over the past 6 months, to the shipspotting website. So far, I have put 85 pictures up. In comparison with other ports on the Scottish west coast, Stornoway cannot be described as bustling, making the appearance of strange boats quite an occasion. There is a meeting of shipspotters in Rotterdam next month, with an inevitable session of 4 hours on the water's edge, spotting ships.
I hope any J-landers in Atlanta, GA, were not affected by the storm last night which has left the city centre severely damaged. It appears to have been tornado-like in nature.
Talking of storms, I have no tropical cyclones whatsoever to report upon. The season in the southern oceans is moving towards its closure - which means the Northern Hemisphere hurricane season is nigh. Two months from now, in fact. Be prepared.
Saturday 15 March
A nice bright morning, with good sunny intervals between the clouds. There is a northeasterly wind, which will gain in strength through the day. In other words, it's cold outside.
Did you know toasters are banned in Cuba? Quite a few electronic items will be un-banned in the near future. The problem lies in limited power supplies.
Young Shannon Matthews is safe in police care, but both she and her abductor will be questioned extensively over events of the past 24 days. Neighbours in her area of Dewsbury celebrated her freedom with fireworks last night.
Did you know toasters are banned in Cuba? Quite a few electronic items will be un-banned in the near future. The problem lies in limited power supplies.
Young Shannon Matthews is safe in police care, but both she and her abductor will be questioned extensively over events of the past 24 days. Neighbours in her area of Dewsbury celebrated her freedom with fireworks last night.
Friday, 14 March 2008
Abduction
As I mentioned in my previous post, 9-year old Shannon Matthews has been found alive and well. She was found, hidden in the base of a divan bed, in a house in Batley Carr, Dewsbury, earlier today. A man, aged 39, has been arrested on suspicion of abduction. The girl is currently in the care of West Yorkshire Police.
If you keep checking this link, it will carry further updates as they appear.
If you keep checking this link, it will carry further updates as they appear.
Shannon Matthews
Unconfirmed reports suggest that this 9-year old from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has been found in Batley, near Leeds, 4 miles from her home. She went missing on February 19th. No further details at this stage.
Politician
On 12 March 1941, the SS Politician was making her way from the United Kingdom to America, but was hopelessly lost in fog around the Hebrides. Although the captain thought he was near Skerryvore, he was in fact a good few miles further west, and heading into the narrow channel between the isles of South Uist and Eriskay. With a grinding crunch, the boat ran aground on a reef, just off Eriskay.
The Politician's crew decided she was not going to come off in a hurry, either refloated or sinking, so they rowed ashore at Eriskay and alerted the authorities. The islanders were alerted in the process and they went over to have a look around the wreck. Its cargo consisted of cases of Jamaican banknotes, several grand pianos, bathroom suites and... many thousands of cases of all kinds of whisky.
The story has become legendary, with the islanders helping themselves to unimaginable quantities of uisge bheatha [water of life] and having a high old time. Compton Mackenzie immortalised the story in his book Whisky Galore, changing a few names along the way. Apart from the whisky, the bathroom suites also found a good home. One set is reportedly still sitting outside a house in Eriskay, in daily use.
After a couple of days, the authorities intervened and retrieved part of the cargo. Several islanders were prosecuted for illegally retrieving goods off a wrecked ship. Bottles of 'polly' still turn up every now and again, If they have been in the sea, the spirits will have become undrinkable. But it's a nice story.
Friday 14 March
The pictures buttons are back in normal working order, thanks Vish.
A nice sunny morning - with pretty beefy showers, some with hail. After they fade away later today, a cold night will precede the same conditions on Saturday.
Thirteen months ago, a man of 18 was picking up his friends to go to Inverness one morning, when he approached a level crossing near Invergordon, north of the Highland capital. A train was approaching, but rather than slow down to a stop, he sped up, in an apparent attempt to beat the train to the level crossing. The train won, by 13 metres. He smashed into the undercarriage at speed, killing two of his friends in the process and sustaining serious injury himself. At trial in Edinburgh yesterday, it appeared the man in the dock had been clocked at 108 mph on the nearby A9 road, just two days after he passed his test in December 2006.
Drivers aged between 18 and 24 are most likely to suffer an accident behind the wheel. Nobody is invincible, and in the car vs train stakes, the train always wins.
A nice sunny morning - with pretty beefy showers, some with hail. After they fade away later today, a cold night will precede the same conditions on Saturday.
Thirteen months ago, a man of 18 was picking up his friends to go to Inverness one morning, when he approached a level crossing near Invergordon, north of the Highland capital. A train was approaching, but rather than slow down to a stop, he sped up, in an apparent attempt to beat the train to the level crossing. The train won, by 13 metres. He smashed into the undercarriage at speed, killing two of his friends in the process and sustaining serious injury himself. At trial in Edinburgh yesterday, it appeared the man in the dock had been clocked at 108 mph on the nearby A9 road, just two days after he passed his test in December 2006.
Drivers aged between 18 and 24 are most likely to suffer an accident behind the wheel. Nobody is invincible, and in the car vs train stakes, the train always wins.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Pictures
Vish, one of the journalseditors, has told me that the problems with the greyed-out graphics buttons are restricted to the UK only. It is being looked into and will be resolved ASAP. It looks something like this - oh, and I had to manually upload the picture, and manually insert the <img src tag.
Learning about weather
As you know, I'm strongly interested in the weather, and I've discovered a very useful website for learning about the weather. It is part of the American National Weather Service, called Jetstream. Have a browse, if you'd like to learn more. At the end of each topic, there is the option of taking a short test, which will give you a certificate.
Evening notes
The death of Greater Manchester police chief Michael Todd remains shrouded in mystery. He was found to be over the drink drive limit, a fact corroborated by the find of a half-empty bottle of spirits by his side. A number of 'disturbing' text messages had been sent in the hours leading up to the find of his dead body. Whatever problems had contributed to Mr Todd's apparent suicide appear to have been wholly of a personal nature.
The lifeboat crew at Barra, 120 miles south of Stornoway, have been honoured with the issue of a series of stamps. The crew, consisting of 26 volunteers and 2 full-time staff, were joined for the occasion by the Stornoway-based Coastguard helicopter. Barra Lifeboat station opened in 1931 and has saved more than 400 lives since.
I have viewed the evidence given yesterday at an inquiry into financial and managerial failure at the Western Isles Health Board between 2003 and 2006. It appears that the Board has one Chief Executive out on secondment, never to return; another suspended on full pay (and has been for more than 6 months) and a third, acting CEO. Although the Board only pays the salary of one (the other two are funded by NHS Scotland) it beggars the belief that a cash-strapped health authority is costing the taxpayer the wages of three CEOs.
The lifeboat crew at Barra, 120 miles south of Stornoway, have been honoured with the issue of a series of stamps. The crew, consisting of 26 volunteers and 2 full-time staff, were joined for the occasion by the Stornoway-based Coastguard helicopter. Barra Lifeboat station opened in 1931 and has saved more than 400 lives since.
I have viewed the evidence given yesterday at an inquiry into financial and managerial failure at the Western Isles Health Board between 2003 and 2006. It appears that the Board has one Chief Executive out on secondment, never to return; another suspended on full pay (and has been for more than 6 months) and a third, acting CEO. Although the Board only pays the salary of one (the other two are funded by NHS Scotland) it beggars the belief that a cash-strapped health authority is costing the taxpayer the wages of three CEOs.
Thursday 13 March
A nicer day than yesterday, with some sunshine between the clouds. Showers are forecast, and winds will increase through the day. Last night, I was taking part in a "ceilidh" (a social event) with plenty of food and drink, as is customary here.
AOL Time Warner is reported to have acquired the social networking site Bebo, at a time when Time Warner is contemplating splitting off its AOL arm. It does send me wondering whether all this uncertainty contributes to the deterioration in service that many people have been complaining about.
Oh, I still haven't got my greyed-out buttons back to normal.
AOL Time Warner is reported to have acquired the social networking site Bebo, at a time when Time Warner is contemplating splitting off its AOL arm. It does send me wondering whether all this uncertainty contributes to the deterioration in service that many people have been complaining about.
Oh, I still haven't got my greyed-out buttons back to normal.
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Last French veteran of WW1 dies
Lazare Ponticelli has died at the age of 110. He was the last surviving French veteran of World War I. He was born in northern Italy in December 1897, but went to Paris to work. In 1914, at the age of 16, he lied about his true age and joined the French legion. He adopted France as his homeland in 1921.
Only a few veterans remain alive, one of the Briton Henry Allingham, aged 111.
Only a few veterans remain alive, one of the Briton Henry Allingham, aged 111.
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