Alan Lodge's Blog

A Nottingham ‘Landscape’

Took these from the top of St Marys church tower, in the middle of the city of Nottingham.

A ‘Free Art Space’

Since Im interested in graffitti, thought I would include this snap, for the jolley

Bloody Hell!

Since the last post, telling you of the collapse of the ‘archive links’ in this blog. I have been seeking advice and knowledge on how to fix it!

So many shot in the dark and different ‘routines’.

Anyway, suddenly, this morning. all’s well again. Have learned nothing from the fault and the excersice at all. I just works now, ’till the next time ……..

temp fault: i hope!

You may have noticed the archives links [on the left] from the previous weeks, have disappeared !!

Oh no!. This it’s a glitch and has got to do with the archive rebuilding.

Until it all back on, you can still view any previous enrties you want, by this link to the index. cheers.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tash.lodge/Blog/Blog_Links.htm

British Soldiers on Acid

Found this short MPG video clip of LSD experiments on Britsh Soldiers. Good for the jolley ……. !

http://hes.iki.fi/video/LSD_Being_Tested_on_Brtish_Troops.mpg

Santa Delayed: News just in …. !

Just been sent the following snap which explains why santa might be delayed, for some this year.

Splendid .. !!!

Happy Solstice

Happy Solstice one and all ……

For a full sized version of this, it’s worth it for a desktop! check out, and download here:

http://tash.dns2go.com/XTRA/Solsticecard_2002.jpg

size: 279Kb

Webserver ‘thread’ started on Urban75

Have announced my webserver back up again, and also, plugged the Orgiva work in Spain ….

http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27934

Done more webwork recently, so there is yet more to see ….. >

In addition to the work on my main website [ http://tash.gn.apc.org], have made a collection of Streaming Media work, presented in Windows .WMV & Real Media – .RM format

Have made different sizes of files available. Select the largest that you think your modem should handle.

http://tash.dns2go.com

Contained within are, 23 slideshows, presented with soundtracks at sizes 320×240, 640X480 & 800X600. 10x one hour shows of a selection of festival and party pictures in black and white and colour. Have also included several shed-loads of video, documentaries, soundtrack etc. In fact 2.6Gb of encoded video, slide shows and generally ‘big stuff’

Well gosh! I’ve had a ‘webserver’ running on my own machine for a few years now. However, recently, it had all broken down, and didn’t work!

But have checked and all seems well, again. So, if interested, do take a peek. A while since I’ve been able to show you this work ……!

Spy cameras catch burglars: BBC item

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2582495.stm

Homes in the West Midlands are being fitted with secret cameras in an attempt to catch burglars in the act.

The scheme has already been successfully piloted in Coventry and is now being extended across the whole of the West Midlands Police area.

It involves a tiny, infrared camera being installed in the homes of serial burglary victims.

Home Office research shows many offenders return to the original target within a short time because only makeshift repairs have been carried out or the householder has replaced all of the stolen goods.

The cameras can be easily hidden inside objects so they are undetectable to burglars. The cameras can be placed in everyday objects

Four burglars have already been caught and convicted as a result of the cameras during the scheme’s pilot phase.

Superintendent Peter Goodman said: “The cameras are so small they are almost invisible to the naked eye.

“Hopefully, by installing these cameras in the most vulnerable properties, we will be able to catch thieves ‘in the act’.

“The most susceptible homes and those most likely to be subject of repeat break-ins are those which are exposed and have little evidence of home security.”

The spy-camera is the latest initiative from Operation Safe Homes, a force-wide operation set up to reduce burglary.

* * * * * *

PRESS RELEASE

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk

Police To Use Tiny Undercover Hi-Tech Cameras To Catch Burglars ‘In The Act’

West Midlands Police Posted on: Tuesday 17 December 2002 at 10am

THE homes of vulnerable victims of burglary are to be installed with special undercover high-tech cameras aimed at catching thieves literally ‘in the act’.

The ‘House Trap’ cameras are being installed at homes across the West Midlands identified as being particularly vulnerable to being burgled – most have been victims on more than one occasion.

The latest initiative is part of Operation Safer Homes, a forcewide operation to tackle burglary and the handlers of stolen property.

“Every operational command unit has been asked to identify their local ‘hot properties’ – those which are most vulnerable to being broken into or have suffered previous burglaries,” said Superintendent Peter Goodman, who is co-ordinating the campaign.

“A tiny, infra red camera will be installed in these premises in an attempt to capture anyone who breaks in. The cameras are so small they are almost invisible to the naked eye.”

The devices can be easily hidden in objects around the house, making them virtually undetectable to burglars.

The cameras have been trialled in Coventry and, to-date, four burglars have been convicted after they were clearly shown raiding homes (see note overleaf).

“The aim of using these cameras is to protect vulnerable homes and to act as a deterrent to would-be burglars,” said Supt Goodman.

“The most susceptible homes, and those most likely to be subject of repeat break-ins, are those which are exposed and have little evidence of security such as alarms, good locks or solid doors.

“Home Office research shows many offenders return to the original target within a short time because only makeshift repairs have been carried out to the property or the householder has replaced all of the stolen property with new items,” said Supt Goodman.

“Therefore, where a home is burgled it’s important the householder takes immediate action. They should not only repair the damage caused but look at how and why they were a victim in the first place. By doing this they can identify the vulnerable points of their security and take action to address this.

“Hopefully, by installing these cameras in the most vulnerable properties, we will be able to catch thieves ‘in the act’. But we would rather prevent a break-in taking place in the first place,” said Supt Goodman.

Since being launched in October, Operation Safer Homes has seen a reduction in offences of more than 25 per cent compared to October and November last year. Year-to-date figures (from April to November) show a forcewide reduction of 13.6 per cent (17,696 offences compared to 20,542) – resulting in 2,846 fewer victims of burglary.

Superintendent Mark Sheasby, from Chace Avenue operational command unit in Coventry, was responsible for piloting the hidden cameras, which were funded by Coventry City Council’s Action Against Crime group.

He said: “The quality of images captured using these devices is excellent and should send out a clear warning to offenders. By using these devices, we are turning the table on burglars.

“The technology we are using is evolving all the time and since these cameras were originally piloted we have been developing even more sophisticated techniques. In this operational command unit alone we are seeing over 80 fewer victims of burglary a week as a result of our tactics.

“It is also important to stress that we are not just targeting burglars but also the handlers of stolen goods. In one of the examples captured on camera we carried out surveillance which resulted in the arrest of a network of burglars and thieves after the property was sold on.

“We have had some excellent results in Coventry and all of the feedback we have received from members of the public show they really welcome this initiative.”

Members of the public who are interested in learning more about the hidden cameras initiative are asked to contact their local police station.

Desert Storm New Year Party

Ciro Tenda, Portugal.

More info on the Tekno Circus collective based around The Web and the Tent http://www.network23.org/teknocircus

Guilfin ‘Festival Stories’ Competition

This was a piece, I submitted to the Guilfin ‘Festival Stories’ Competition. I won a CD!

http://www.guilfin.net/stories/?sy_id=syINET16

This story is ancient history now. It’s from the last century! Nothing to do with now at all. Except, for thousands of us, the oppression continues.

And hasn’t stopped since then. Its not just that the no fun brigade, wont let us gather to rave / festival / or just, gather. This is only part of a life. The rest of existence is about making your way, simple survival. The ALTERNATIVES that the festivals and travellers in this country have represented for thirty years now, have enable thousands to support themselvesand families with there own economy. When the main-stream of the country, couldn’t give a fuck about young peoples prospects, beyond ‘slave-labour’ schemes. It was a point of pride once, not to take the dole from them. Travelling did provide a viable alternative for many.

After the action I describe here, our economy collapsed. The knock-on effect of this, to the rest of our tribe was devastating, and resulted in mass migration all over Europe. (or the housing estates). Some by choice, some not.

News is now reaching us that the licence for next years Glastonbury festival has had many objections. This is stage one. The argument is about numbers and control. So many want to go. So there is going to have

to be some selection on who gets in. Travellers are first up for exclusion. We have help make this event since 1971. Some started out with utopian eyes. You know, alternative. However, yet another event is about

to be denied to us. Glastonbury next then? It all goes round again.

…………. >> cont

http://www.guilfin.net/stories/?sy_id=syINET16

Treetop Blogging Protests Logging

By Amit Asaravala, Wired, 02:00 AM Dec. 12, 2002

EUREKA, California-Unlike most people her age, 27-year-old “Remedy” hasn’t checked her e-mail in over eight months. That’s because she’s been living in a 200-foot-tall redwood since March 21, when she climbed the tree to protest timber harvesting by Pacific Lumber Company.

Now, thanks to an anonymous group of tech activists, Remedy’s Spartan lifestyle-she perches 130 feet up on a 4-by-8-foot platform with just

a

few blankets, cooking utensils and personal items-is about to change.

For the past four weeks, the group of self-described geeks has been work ing on a plan to provide tree-sitters in the Headwaters Forest region of Nort hern California with access to an 802.11b wireless network.

“It’s awesome,” said Remedy, who, like the other activists trespassing on Pacific Lumber property, declined to give her full name. “I miss being on the Internet. But, of course, e-mail is just a fringe benefit. I want to use the Internet to spread the word about what’s going on out here.”

Headwaters has been the scene of numerous clashes between Earth First environmentalists and Pacific Lumber ever since the company was acquired by Maxxam Corporation in a 1986 hostile takeover. Over the past year, more t han 15 protestors at a time have occupied various trees on Pacific Lumber property, preventing loggers from completing their work.

While some tree-sitters, like the now-famous Julia Butterfly Hill , have attracted the attention of major media outlets, the tech activists hope t heir wireless network will encourage sitters to post independent weblogs.

“This is partially to make a personal stand in protection of the earth,” said “Rabble,” one of the project’s organizers who also declined to give his f ull name. “And it’s partially about having the story personalized in a way th e media can spin a story around.”

The group of five young activists, from the San Francisco Bay Area’s Independent Media Center and regional wireless user groups, has already provided Remedy with a Linux-based laptop and a panel antenna. A car batt ery recharger powers the equipment, which will connect to an 802.11b access p oint 5.5 miles away in Eureka.

The activists have also set up a weblog for Remedy. Her first two message s were posted to the site with the help of supporters on the ground who car ried disks from the tree to a computer in the city. She looks forward to being online soon so she can publish on her own.

“It’s going to be overwhelming to be online again,” said Remedy. “People tell me my inbox is full. I’m not even sure if I remember all my account information anymore.”

Setting up the network hasn’t been easy. Because the Headwaters tree-sits take place on private property, many supporters are wary of being pressed with felony conspiracy charges or named in strategic lawsuits.

Mary Bullwinkle, a Pacific Lumber representative, acknowledged that the company had filed such a suit in 2001. “These protestors are on private property,” she said. “We believe they are breaking the law.”

The activists also face a problem in Eureka: A tree behind the house wher e they have mounted their 802.11b access point threatens to block the neces sary line of sight to Remedy’s antenna if it shifts in the wind or grows more leaves.

“We should just cut the tree down,” joked one member before getting serio us about the tree’s water content and how much of the signal it might block.

The group may decide it needs to move the access point to a different loc ation on the property, or find another house.

“We’ll go door-to-door if we have to,” said Rabble. “Getting the tree-sit s online will not only be cool, it will be a way to use recycled technology and free software to empower people fighting to save the planet.”

Link Experiment!

This picture, resides on my webserver. just checking to see if the link, works ok.

oh, and it’s a lovely picture ……

and, to see if this works, have added an .mp3 file of a Radio 4 show, to see if i can access the XTRA folder on the webserver.

Battle of the Beanfield: In Living Memory series – BBC Radio 4 [ .mp3 ]

New BBS and Guestbook

Thought I would mention ……..

Have just opened a further service to my webwork. Have now added a new Message Board and Guestbook.

Direct links:

BBS http://lol.to/bbs.php?bbs=tash

Guestbook http://lol.to/book.php?book=tash

The service is free: LoL.to – Free Web BBS and Guestbook Service

http://lol.to/

check em out ……….. !

Reminder: new website of the travellers / techno community in Orgiva, Granada Province, Southern Spain

: Hello. For those interested in the way that we ‘do it’ festival / party, here in the south of Spain.

: Check out our website at; http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy

Mobile : 0034 (0)617 903586 & E-mail: samconspiracy@hotmail.com

Just added the following to the new Network23 Bulitin board:

http://lol.to/thr.php?bbs=network23&msg=1039908498&pg=1

‘cos of the anti party / festival measures, in the UK and elsewhere, many travellers, party-persons, squatters etc etc …. have set up in South of Spain.

So, there are festivals, parties and communities were folks from all over have gathered and live all the year round. One such place is ORGIVA. In the Province of Granada, Southern Spain.

It all started in Alex’s garden about 5 years ago, everyone gathering with fire-wood, instruments, records, fire-staffs, booze and masses of enthusiasm. The dragon flag was hoisted above the proceedings and the festival was born.

Fifty or so people from Cigarrones, Tablones and El Morreon celebrating the Equinox, dancing, prancing, howling, stomping, their way into the Spring. From that moment it was set to become a regular event , since then it has under gone a quite colossal metamorphosis, may be only to be expected of a Spring celebration of fertility, new growth and change. Not only the buds and bellies of goats are enchanted into life and multiplication by the lengthening sunny days and sweet whiff of honeysuckle but none other than our own sweet DRAGON.

The festival is developing and drawing immense amounts of creative inspiration out of this community and beginning to reach further, to draw attention to the threats of greedy corporations who see potential in the lush water-filled valleys of the Alpujarras. The water is worth a fortune to them, golf courses and hotels need vast quantities to keep up with the ever increasing tourism on the coast, not to mention the countless hectares of plastic covered genetically modified vegetables. Unbelievably after all the Euro-blar about encouraging sustainable development, grants are being awarded here to strip the area of it’s water supply to a subterranean level, this will completely destroy the ecosystem and the independence of this area interms of water and production of food.

And so what exactly has the Dragon got to do with this impending arrival of the water husslers, backed by the Euro grants legitimised by officaldom and accountable to only themselves? Wasn’t there some lose talk about alternatives lifestyles, not being part of their system because we have better ideas, sure it was more than a more than a quite life in our sleepy Spanish backwater.

Between us here there is an incredible amount of ingenuity, recycling, clean energy, solar, wind, turbine, veggie oil engines/generators, alternative education, sustainability,

What is the Dragon Fest?: is one of the high spots of the year:

News just in: The Dragon event moving ……. to: A l m e r i a

[bit further along the coast …… check the site for further details.]

———————————————————-

http://partyvibe.com/conspiracy

E-mail: samconspiracy@hotmail.com

or Mobile + txt: 0034 (0)617 903586

Earlier Blog entry:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2002_11_03_tash_lodge_archive.html#84245439

New Network23 Message Board

http://lol.to/bbs.php?bbs=network23

last one overloaded with porn. Shame really, so many people shouting, can’t hear discussion ……

Portraits Slideshow

Have made a ‘slideshow’ of a selection of portraits, and have used a soundtrack by Thirdworld. Think it goes together rather well. Here is the 640×480 version.

http://tash.dns2go.com/WVX640X480/Portraits_to_ThirdWorld640X480.wvx

If you like this work, check out the rest, starting from:

http://tash.dns2go.com

Select the work size, most suitable for your modem.

Glastonbury refused licence – Michael Eavis to appeal

http://www.festivals.co.uk/news/021212c.shtml

Back at Mendip District Council for another marathon Glastonbury Public Entertainments Licence (PEL) hearing. It’s becoming like a second home.

Michael EavisMichael Eavis arrived just before the 6pm start, and there was the chance for a quick word. When asked what he felt the chances were the reply was “50-50”.

It’s the Regulatory Board that decides on the granting of the PEL. After the introductions and the obligatory bureaucratic legalese, it was down to business.

For the applicant – Glastonbury Festivals (2003) Ltd (which is Glastonbury Festivals (2002) Ltd after a rename) – Mark Cann ran through the application.

He started by stating the successes of this year: the new management structure; dealing with the New Age Travellers; the marketing plan – getting the “No Ticket – No Festival” message across; the fence and the numbers on site; the safety management; operations control. These were all things demanded at the licence hearing for 2002, and successfully delivered.

There had also been tri-partate agreements made with Avon & Somerset Constabulary (ASC) and the Council, with co-operation creating solutions. To ensure the successes aren’t short lived, they are continuing to work together to solve problems that exist in other areas – the main one being the crime and general annoyance suffered by those living around the Festival site, in particular Pilton.

To ensure the security measures continue to work, there’s to be new and extra security measures on the tickets, as well as a new pass system. The fence is to stay much the same, but security is to have an increase in personnel size of 35%, and there’ll be additional security control, car park security & lighting, as well as more CCTV. For obvious reasons, the details weren’t disclosed.

An area of concern after this year was the campervan fields: they’re to be properly and securely enclosed, but still off the main site. However, a secure route to the site will be made.

The “No Ticket – No Festival” message is to be continued, but with “You’ve helped save the Festival now give it a future” added. It’s important for its continuance that no one comes without a ticket. Mark stated that he believed that the “fence jumper” culture had been broken.

The traffic exit plan is to be improved, to speed up the Monday getaway. To help, the production de-rig is to be delayed until late on Monday, and the traders discouraged from leaving.

Public transport coped well, and the car parks easily accommodated the 26,000 cars. In fact, with a capacity of 40,000, they are spaces to accommodate the increased numbers expected in 2003 – the licence application is for 150,000 (that’s 112,500 weekend tickets for sale, 3,500 Sunday tickets and 34,000 staff/performers, etc. That’s no increase in staff/performers, which isn’t fantastic news I feel). The ticket price has yet to be set.

Noise from the site is a nuisance to those living nearby, but this will be lessened because there’s to be one less venue (which wasn’t disclosed – we presume it’s the Experience Tent), and the cinema is to be moved.

There was a lot of pollution to the water courses around the site – DON’T PISS IN THE HEDGES! To help improve things, they’ll be fencing along streams, a PR campaign, more urinals (although they already exceed industry standards) and the long-drop toilets are to be made watertight. There was a leak this year, and that was the major cause of the pollution. The amazing amount of litter produced (but no more than we’d produce at home – I think one councillor thought we create no rubbish when at home) is to be better managed – including a review of the free on-site newspaper as that causes a litter problem.

The main concern though was what was happening outside the fence. GFL recognise the problems, and are having ongoing discussions with the surrounding villages to come up with the right solutions. GFL have promised to provide 24 hour cover (in 3 shifts) of a police sergeant and 6 PCs to be stationed in Pilton (over and above what the police themselves consider necessary) as well as other extra security measures.

As the meeting progresses, it becomes evident that there is a small group – about 15 – of locals present who are fed up with the problems the Festival causes them. As Mark tries to continue through the extra village measures, their moaning becomes ever louder. As Mark tries to finish off with “it was always a great festival and now it’s a well managed and well planned festival” a voice is clearly heard to say “you don’t give a stuff and you never have”. Mark insists that they “can work together to solve outstanding problems”.

It becomes clear that the villagers present were not happy with the security personel this year, and demand extra police rather than private security.

The Council’s own officer – Chris Malcolmson – now delivers his report. His responsibility is ensuring compliance of any laws as well as any specific PEL conditions. He believes that the “issues of the villagers have been addressed in the application, or will be in the licence”, and sees no reason to refuse the PEL. He believes that the vast majority of non-ticket holders were intent on crime rather than getting inside the site, and says that if the unofficial car parks were stopped then there would be nowhere for the criminals to park. GFL are attempting to come to arrangements with those involved, but there is then some discussion on what measures could be taken against those operators. The words used to explain the Police refusal to comment I understood to mean they believed that those operators could be committing an offence for which they could be prosecuted.

Chief Superintendent John Buckley (of ASC) wasn’t very supportive of the 2002 application. I remember sitting through about an hour and a half of his concerns at the beginning of the year. The change now is astounding. He is brief, and generally supportive. A very good summary was given: “If we felt these measures were inadequate we would be objecting”. From a man who hates to commit to anything, that’s as strong words of support as he’s ever likely to give.

Of the ticket-less outside, he believes that the majority were intent on crime. He mentions that there are 5 police forces around the country that suffer similarly from criminals at large events, and they are starting to plan joint action to tackle it.

Although there is good support from the Police, the Council’s compliance officer and others such as the Fire Service, during questions and discussions it’s becoming clear that there is stronger and more confident opposition from some members of the Regulatory Board. I’m starting to get worried about which way it will go.

It’s the public’s chance to express their concerns next. They are reminded that each new speaker is not to cover ground raised by previous speakers. They’re aware of this, and all but one speak from pre-prepared notes. This is obviously a concerted campaign.

These people are obviously very unhappy about the problems the Festival cause them, and I’m sure have good reasons for their unhappiness. But for most, I’m not convinced that any measures would be enough – they want shot of the festival, for good, and suggestions are made that it should find another site (where exactly? I don’t think anywhere new would be welcoming of a festival even half its size.)

Here are some quotes (these are VERY typical – not choice selections!): “a war-zone” “a very real threat to public order” “to approve the application would be a mockery … elected members don’t really represent those who elected them” “has the Council considered that the Festival would be offensive to Muslims …” [not some Muslims, all of them, apparently – ed] “… and as such would be the target for a terrorist attack”. [Because of course, all Muslims are terrorists, aren’t they? – ed] “we are not going to remain victims of this Festival – we will fight back” “significant environmental damage”

These are such a lovely bunch of people, I wish I was married to them. One lady in the gallery was heard to say “hippies” with total disgust … but I’m convinced she’d be welcoming of those of a different skin colour.

In the end, the major discussion was about Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. It appeared those against had been doing a LOT of homework. This law places a poorly defined (if the words used in the hearing were accurate) obligation on a council to ensure it doesn’t do things to increase crime in its area. The Council’s own solicitor seemed to think the Council would not be breaking Section 17 by granting a PEL, whilst the objectors did. Although other legal reasons to refuse the PEL were tossed around – such as the fitness of the applicant to run the event (including a rather underhand attempt to have Michael Eavis branded a criminal), and the environmental damage, this was the one used with the fullest force.

When it came to the vote a motion was put to refuse the PEL. It went 5-4 for the motion, and against the Festival. Michael immediately left the room, and missed a second vote, also carried 5-4; that they’d welcome another application from GFL, but for a different site. Quite why they didn’t get on the horse themselves to run Michael out of town I don’t know.

After a few minutes to compose himself, Michael emerged to state that an appeal (which is heard by magistrates – essentially to see if the Regulatory Board had given proper legal reasons for refusal) would be lodged in the morning. The Festival has been refused a licence before, has always appealed, and has always won. (The licence application wasn’t heard in 2001 – it was withdrawn when it became obvious that it would be legitimately refused.)

On speaking to some of those involved – all off the record (but not just those close to GFL) there was a very strong opinion that the Festival has very strong grounds for an appeal. I think it unlikely that a magistrate would believe the Regulatory Board’s grounds that Pilton couldn’t be properly policed when the Police themselves believe it can.

GFL has put in extraordinary efforts over the last year and did everything expected and requested in putting on the 2002 Festival. It feels unfair in the extreme that it is now penalised for aspects reasonably outside of its control – certainly much of it outside the licenced area – while at the same time it is willing to put in the necessary effort – and funds – to resolve those problems this time around.