Alan Lodge's Blog

Pride yesterday afternoon, then, on into town for a bit of dinner, then on to the pubs and clubs ….

All was going quite well, until someone said – Absinthe.

Oh my god!! Isn’t it wonderful :-)))))

Being still in party mode, but safely back at jims, we didn’t think it was really worth taking care and being cautious, so, all thought we’d get of to a flying start and each took 4 shots very quickly after each other.

After that i think i counted to 7, or 8, but i just don’t know. Who cares.

Was off with the fairies. More specifically, the Green Fairy!!

We all just dissolved into each other……………………..

FotoBlog entry at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=5478

I’ve put up a gallery of pictures from the day on my PhotoBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=5440

past gay event piccys at:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/gayintro1.htm

were I’ve included piccys from past manchester, leicester, and nottingham dos.

and more sets at:

http://tash.dns2go.com/projects_gallery/Gay_Colour/index.htm

http://tash.dns2go.com/projects_gallery/Gay_BW/index.htm

http://www.nottinghampride.com

is official website of Nottingham Pride 2003, This is the one-stop place to find out everything thats going on from pre-pride to post-pride!

This is the *ONLY* place on the web with up to the minute details of everything to do with the all new, all singing and all dancing 2003 Pride!

Thats right everyone Nottingham IS having a pride this year, it is to be held at:

the Arboretum on the 30th August,

and weather permitting it will be a great success.

Manchester Gay Pride today. Check out photos from camphone, posted live from my P800 mobile phone.

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=4762

A Gay day out in Manchester. As in past years, I covered the event in black and white, and colour slide. This year, I borrowed a friends digital camera, juggling with that and used my cam phone also. All a bit complicated, but i managed.

In a bit, I’ll get round to photo-process and then scan them to make a better quality gallery / set. Check back in a bit, for the link.

More photos, from past event on my main site at:

http://tash.gn.apc.org/gayintro1.htm

Manchester EuroPride 2003: http://www.europridemanchester2003.com

Manchester EuroPride 2003. OutUK: http://www.outuk.com/content/features/europride/index.html

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=4690

Two nights in a tent at Garth Farm, Capel Currig. (Sheet 115 SH702570). Have now checked into Bryn Dinas Bunk House for the next couple of nights. (sheet 115 SH 622502).

Bryn Dinas is situated in the village of Nant Gwynant, on the A498, located on the south side near the foot of Snowdon in the Snowdonia National Park to the east of Beddgelert.

Map

Thursday

Haven’t been able to post for a couple of days, because of the lack of mobile phone signal.

On thursday, climbed Snowdon itself. 1085metres. (sheet115 SH612543)

Lousy weather, much cloud and wet. so i think it was Snowdon, but i couldnt see. oh, I fell and nearly didn’t get to post this.

The weather looked cloudy, when I set off. Half way up the mountain, cloud completely enveloped and the rain in the wind, was horizontal. I pressed on. The Watkin Path is obvious from the start, but runs out after a bit.

The last slopes of the mountain, is quite steep to the summit. Had a good map, and compass to get the general direction together, to go back. Is is quite possible to go down and end up in completely different valley, miles from where-ever.

Another fear, is that when climbing up, you can gauge your abbility. On the way down, you can end up with cliffs below, and have to keep climbing back up again …..

I had done this for a few goes, when some slate scree, gave way under my boots, and i slide 20 or so feet towards the edge. Wet rocks, and nothing to grip, I want over the edge. Had the scamble that you might expect me to do, when the momentum of the camera in my rucksack, pulled me over the edge.

I quite remember my thoughts now.

“Oh crumbs, this is it!!” perhaps this lot lasted about three seconds i guess, and i fell. about 5 feet.

For fucks sake, this was soooo close, for a a few feet further, ’tis a 300 foot shear face drop.

Several hours of wet and soggy slog down the rest of the slopes and back to the bunk house for a little lie down …… Today was an adventure, matched by a little adrenaline.

Map

Bryn Dinas Bunk House

Nant Gwynant,

Beddgelert,

Caernarfon,

Gwynedd

LL55 4NH

Phone/Fax : 01766 890234

e-mail : vince@bryndinasbunkhouse.co. uk

Vince & Annette Webb

Friday.

Left Beddgelert for some walking, climbing, photoing, north of Betwys-Y-coed.

Map

Weather remained a bit grim.

Now at B and B, between Ruthin and Mold, The Clwyd Gate.

Map

On to Manchester tommorow, for The Gay Pride Parade.

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=4690

South slops of Snowdon.

Headed SW from the Pass Of Lanberis. Now on mountain, opposite to the one i went up yesterday. Now overlooking Glyder Fawr. Sheet 115 SH625563

am now about height 800m

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=4447

Map

Gosh, 5 hours to get up here by the long route round, looking for picture angles. Now on summit of Glyder Fawr sheet 115 SH6442580, weather uncertain 999 metres. Bloody high!

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=4385

Map

Now arrived at the foot of Snowdon range. Camping at Garth Farm. 3 miles west of Capel Curig. (Sheet115 SH702570)

Bit tired after drive. Spliff and bed, me thinks.

More pictures just gone from my phone to FOTOpages

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=4285

Map

Good weather predicted for this week. So, travelling out today, for a few days in the hills. Walking and taking photographs.

Will post to some piccys from my phone to my CamBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com

Strangely enough, there is a webcam up there. you can check the weather, but it’s no good, it’ll be raining by the time you get there.

http://www.fhc.co.uk/weather/live

Hard Rock, The Edge, Q Bar, on to the Gay Bars The Central, @d2. Lads night out, Thought I’d try and use my P800, and share the evenin with ya. Soooooooo bolloxed on Bacardi Rum {again}

http://www.fotopages.com/cgi-bin/view_log.pl?entry=4090

Will be maintaining regular photo updates from my phone to this blog:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com

The ‘Naked Walk’, Steve Gough is doing, is described on his website, as a frequently updated message boad.

Steve Gough Naked Walk: Dialogue

http://www.nakedwalk.alivewww.co.uk/disc20_frm.htm

I thought I would bang in an entry,

My post on ‘Naked Rambling on Cubar Edge 15 Aug 2003’

http://www.nakedwalk.alivewww.co.uk/_disc20/0000029c.htm

Good luck to you Steve …

Photos on my PhotoBlog at:

http://www.fotopages.com/cgi-bin/view_log.pl?entry=3990

Dramatic outcrops of rock, defining the edge of the high ground there.

Oh, I engaged in a little naked rambling there,!! It was such a very nice day. I could thus work on my ‘all over’ tan.

——————————————————————————

Naked walk from Lands End to John O’Groats

A guy is doing a naked walk from Lands End to John O’Groats in an attempt to get Brits to have a more continental attitude to the human body. He has recently changed his route to traverse the Pennine Way .

See – http://www.nakedwalk.alivewww.co.uk . See the bottom of his dialogue page for a daily update of his progress. Please support him and tell others

http://www.nakedwalk.alivewww.co.uk

Naked rambler’s ‘freedom of expression’ – BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3064233.stm

——————————————————————————

I very much support the activites of these folks. check them out.

and my blog at:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_07_13_tash_lodge_archive.html#105836751897354247

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=3869

Day out at Milldale, Peak District, Derbyshire, UK

So much computing of late, so, with the good weather, thought I’d get some altitude, out in the hills, and wander about a bit!

I thought the ducks were a bit ‘forward’, in nicking a large bit of my cheese sarny while i wasn’t looking, but hey, we all gotta live.

These are some of the views that my Sony Ericcson P800 and me, saw, as we so wandered about.

Take a look, and i think you’ll agree, it’s nice there init.

Well dear reader, many of you will know about the Criminal Justices Act 1994 and it’s effects on my communities. Because many english travellers and party-persons, got pushout of this country, and went to Europe. French Government then enacted their own anti-Rave laws, to deal with their own ‘problem’ and to make the counrty ‘less attractive’ to these sorts of folk. Anyway, now the US is going to do the same.

PROTEST AND TEACH IN ABOUT THE RAVE ACT (The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act)

http://www.deciblast.org/intouch

Sunday August 10, 2003 – Stand Up! Shout Out! San Francisco, CA, Civic Center Courtyard (Noon – 8:00 PM) Organized by the In Touch Collective as a day of music, protest, and education about the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act and other legislation that threatens the electronic dance community. This free gathering will feature speakers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), San Francisco Late Night Coalition (SFLNC), Sister SF, National Lawyers Guild (NLG), and EM:DEF – plus four stages of DJs and performers.

“The RAVE Act” is back – Senate Bill S 226

http://www.sflnc.com/index/readthis/news/rave_act

Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003 (S.226) :: The RAVE Act Renamed

Became Law April 30, 2003, as part of the PROTECT Act (S.151)

http://emdef.org/s226/index.html

Have just added a photoset, of my work from the Nottingham Caribbean Carnival, over the weekend. Do take a look.

Nottingham Caribbean Carnival :: Day 1 http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=3593

Nottingham Caribbean Carnival :: Day 2 http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=3659

More ‘immediate’ photo-additions, can be viewed on my photo-blog at: http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com

 The Nottingham Caribbean Carnival this weekend is one of the largest outdoor events in the East Midlands. The carnival is a celebration of African/Caribbean cultural heritage as well as celebrating the cultural diversity of Nottingham City life.

It brings you two days of family entertainment, fairground rides, an array of local and regional talents, a wide variety of food stalls, arts and craft stalls, three music tents, a ’Black Arts’ tent presenting various art forms, fun and games and international acts.

On Sunday, August 10, at 2pm, the Big Parade starts from the Forest Recreation Ground and continues along Mansfield Road, Gregory Boulevard, Radford Boulevard, Ilkeston Road, Highhurst Street, Alfreton Road, Bentinck Road, arriving back at the Forest at around 5.30pm. The event takes place from 12noon to 10pm on both days and entry is free

Have been adding to my new photoblog, sending pictures from my phone, to the internet. Here is my ‘immediate’ gallery of the day.

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=3593

Reclaim the Street, Circle Line Parties, now ‘Smart Mob’. Wicked!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3134559.stm

In London, they gathered at a sofa store :: The flash mob phenomenon has hit London.

Since June spontaneous crowds summoned up via the internet have been assembling in cities around the world and taking part in a form of performance art.

The idea began in New York and last night London’s flash mobsters got their first chance to meet. About 200 people brought confusion and a small slice of net culture to a corner of the capital.

The crowd got its instructions of where to meet via the mailing list of the London flash mob website.

The mobsters met up in one of three Soho pubs and awaited instructions about where the final mob was to rally and what it was to do.

Final instructions involved descending on the Sofa UK store on Tottenham Court Road, appreciating the furniture on show and then ringing a friend on a mobile phone and talking about it without using the letter “o”.

Disaster almost struck as Sofa UK had closed early but its owner Derrick Robinson returned to open up when he saw a crowd forming outside his store.

“My first reaction was I thought there was a fight. Then I thought it was a celebrity,” Mr Robinson said once the mob had disappeared.

“It works because there is no ideological point behind it,” said Zee, the 40-year-old Londoner behind the capital crowd-puller.

“You just chill out and have fun. It’s too hot for anything else.”

As an outgrowth of internet culture, the event was captured and dissected on many web logs, or blogs. Writer Warren Ellis posted photos from the event on his blog as the mob happened.

Europe’s first mob took place in Rome when mobbers gathered in a book shop and asked staff about books that did not exist.

The latest New York flash mob caused consternation in the Toys R Us store where flash mobsters gathered for their sixth outing.

Participants were told to stare fixedly at the store’s giant animatronic dinosaur for three minutes then fall to their knees and react to its roars by moaning and cowering for another four minutes.

But panicked staff quickly shut off the dinosaur and called the police barely a minute into the mass-moaning.

Since June flash mobs have sprung up in around 30-40 locations and one seems to be taking place somewhere in the world every few days.

But some fear the craze could die out as soon as it started thanks to the over-interested media and over-reaction by the police.

A mob in Toronto had to be cancelled because there was a danger that mobsters could be outnumbered by law enforcement and the media.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,1012593,00.html

Reel politik

Activist film-makers share a tradition with 21st-century bloggers and camcorder-carrying marchers.

Maureen Paton on a tribute to their moving images

Wednesday 6 August, 2003 Society Guardian

Rewind to the beginning of the second world war, when teenager Stanley Forman was filming peace marches through London while trying to avoid getting mown down by the mounted police. Having absorbed the Lenin dictum that “the most important of all the arts is cinema”, the East End tailor’s son and his Young Communist League comrades were recording their street protests for posterity.

Horses’ hooves were the least of his problems. As he recalls: “My little Yiddisher momma was terrified that I was going to be put in prison, because she had a visit from MI5, who said: ‘You realise your son is going around with Communists?'”

Now fast forward to the demonstrations against the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001, when sports photographer-turned-activist Paul O’Connor put his camera bag on his head for safety before running through a phalanx of baton-wielding Italian police. “My equipment got bashed, but at least I saved my head,” says O’Connor, a member of the alternative news service Undercurrents, which provides practical support to activists – rather like a video-making equivalent of flying pickets.

One of O’Connor’s colleagues had managed to climb up on a roof to film the police brutality that killed demonstrator Carlo Guiliani and injured thousands of others; last month, the video was finally used as evidence in court against the Italian police.

These two events occurred in different centuries, with a 60-year gap between them, but the film- makers faced the same ideals and dangers. Alternative documentary- making has been going on for a lot longer than the average 21st- century blogger (web-logger diarist) or camcorder-carrying marcher against the Iraq war might imagine. And, to prove it, a British Film Industry (BFI) season at the National Film Theatre (NFT) in September is showcasing for the first time 73 years of screen activism, ranging from the home movies made by Rhondda miners during the Depression in the 30s and the anti-poll tax rebellions in the 80s to the anarchic exhilaration of the Guerrillavision video Crowd Bites Wolf that was filmed during the mass anti- capitalist demonstrations in Prague in 2000.

Self-help is the key to all of the films being screened at the NFT, most made by amateurs with the help of professionals. As Forman remarks, there was an obvious collectivity about the collaborative nature of film-making that tended to bring people together.

“Whereas blogging is an individual thing, the whole history of film and video activism is about community – local, industrial, racial and political,” says Jez Stewart, acquisitions assistant in the BFI national film and television archive’s non-fiction section, who has programmed the season at the NFT.

Taking their inspiration from Soviet pioneers, the first alternative newsreels in Britain in the 1920s and 30s became channels for dissenting voices fighting against issues such as unemployment, poverty and fascism. When light, 16mm cameras became available in the 60s, a network of politically motivated film workshops and cooperatives sprang up to capture the radical spirit of the time. The introduction of video in the 70s and 80s further encouraged a new breed of guerrilla film-makers who recorded Vietnam protests, civil rights marches, environmental disputes, women’s rights and gay rights rallies. And with the arrival of the camcorder and the development of the internet in the 90s and the dawning of the digital age, the possibilities now seem endless.

Yet veteran activist Chris Reeves recalls that it was much easier to raise money in the 80s for video activism. “Trade unions are worried about being political now – it’s a meaner environment, more dog-eat-dog,” says Reeves, who worked with mobile news service Cinema Action – now defunct – on The Miners’ Campaign Tapes. These six newsreels were shot largely by miners themselves during the 1984-85 strike. Reeves remains “reasonably optimistic”, however, about the future, having just finished editing some dramatic footage shot by some of the human shields who went to Iraq.

Two years ago, Reeves was involved in making the Not in Our Name video. Screened all around the world, it is now recognised as having played a key part in mobilising the mass demonstrations against the Iraq war.

“It’s all about empowerment,” says O’Connor. “People are desperate to find out what’s going on beyond the mainstream media, and a perfect example of that was September 11. We got loads of emails and phone calls saying: ‘How do we find out more? Does this affect me?'”

Forman’s own radical influence had been Ivor Montagu, the British aristocrat’s son whose Communist party election film, Peace And Plenty, named and shamed corrupt British politicians as the enemies of slum-dwellers and featured a satirical puppet of Neville Chamberlain.

As well as directing 12 films himself, Forman distributed thousands of Soviet documentaries throughout Britain during the 50s and 60s – no easy task during the Cold War – and only stopped work on film production last year at the age of 81 when he handed over his massive film archive to the BFI.

Senior citizens with long memories are still at the forefront of direct action alongside all the young warriors, it seems. Genoa may have been O’Connor’s hairiest moment to date, but his proudest came in 1998 when Undercurrents helped two pensioners to film their campaign against a polluting Wrexham aluminium factory. They took their protest all the way to its owner in New York and were thrown out on to Fifth Avenue by security, all of which was captured on camera.

O’Connor recalls: “The BBC got involved, all the New York cable channels showed the film, the protesters got every single demand they wanted, and the factory was fined £20,000. Perfect result.”

Although he insists that he was no hero, Forman likes to think that the powerful images he and others helped to bring to the screen had some kind of effect on public consciousness. He is delighted that communities are still coming together to train a leftwing lens on the world.

* Six programmes charting the history of British film and video activism from 1930-2003 will be shown at NFT2 from September 1- 30. For further details visit www.bfi.org.uk or contact 020-7928 3232

http://www.idmu.co.uk

The Independent Drug Monitoring Unit (I.D.M.U. LTD) is an independent research consultancy conducting original research, including large-scale surveys of drug users, and providing expert evidence to the courts in criminal cases involving controlled drugs. We seek to provide accurate up to date and impartial advice and information on issues surrounding illegal drugs to all parties within the debate on drugs policy.

The main service provided by I.D.M.U. is expert evidence to the criminal courts on most aspects of drug misuse, including comment on consumption patterns, valuations, effects, paraphernalia and yields of cannabis cultivation systems. This is based on existing published studies and our own independent research projects.