Off to see the bloodsuckers today.
I’m going to give my regular blood samples, part of the constant monitoring of my blood pressure. The bloods will tell if my tablets are having an adverse effect in addition to the beneficial ones they are supposed to have.
Just to air the lighter side of my earlier post (04/08/2010) regarding the abuse of my fellow photographers I submit the following link.
Pretty low it seems. Especially in the Portsmouth area judging by this report in The News, Pompeys local paper.
“THIEVES raided an ambulance and stole the crew’s personal belongings while they attended a 999 call.”
Yet another example of the low state of British society.
I used to think that Tom Champagne was my bestest buddy what with all the special winning offers he sent me.
However, poor old Tom has been pushed into second place. My new bestest pal is the Rev. John Obi.
See recently received e-mail below….>
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
ASO ROCK VILLA, ABUJA NIGERIA
OUR REF: PG/FRN/0015/2010
Date: 10/8/2010
Dear: Valued Beneficiary, Re: visitation of contract fund on meeting held with senate committee, contract review panel in the presidency on 26/7/ 2010, also rock villa, Abuja.
With respect to the Federal Government gazette on payment of old, debts especially approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and has been due for payment but delayed. The senate committee confirms their meeting with the presidency as above thus: all due contract values approved directed to this office for immediate payment through diplomatic system.
We therefore inform you that this office has been given approval to pay you part payment (US$10) ten million united states dollars out of your total contract sum, any payment subject to impress account 1 is cancelled.
We hereby confirm to you that based on the meeting/directive above with the presidency, approval has been given to all due value to be paid by cash personally to the beneficiaries or send by special courier services.
However, it is owing to series of irregularities and manipulations noted in the payment of foreign debts in recent time, that our department has decided to pay all her creditors in the most secured and special manner in order to avoid any undue manipulation and distortion.
Also our apex bank has accumulated huge debts during the military era. These owed to the federal government of Nigeria (FGN) affiliated offices or their offshore correspondence overseas was incurred in the course of payments by transfer to foreign creditors. Following this development, this office was warned of the telegraphic transfer or payment by draft especially receiving the transfer procedure that infers to collection of transfer fees, handling fees, etc, from beneficiaries fund before making such payments.
Therefore, we have to pay all due claims through a special courier service (sea and air diplomatic courier service). Your contract sum deposit entitlement is to be packed cash in diplomatic box and send to you as diplomatic luggage. The cost of dispatching this luggage will be subtracted from your contract fund. In fact, the federal government of Nigeria has mapped out zero point four percent (0.4%) from your total contract fund to offset the airfreight bill before the money is sealed in the iron box.
You are required to send the first two pages of your international passport and a confirm address again where the box containing the whole funds will be mailed to you, do also send your private telephone for necessary communications with the courier company on their transit such that there will be no mistake.
Your immediate compliance in sending the needed address and numbers is quite imperative to enable this office complete her prompt obligation.
Yours faithfully,
Rev. John Obi
What a ride …whoohhoo !!!
Not all of it pleasant but such a learning curve and never a dull moment.
Despite all the bad stuff Azoth is basically a good guy.
What heartless people Milton Keynes Council are.
A disabled pensioner, Brenda Coker, is set to celebrate her 80th birthday alone after the council banned its carers from visiting her on their days off. Where as all the community spirit gone ? These carers have been visiting her for fifteen years, so why is there a problem now ?
Its actions like this that make us, as a nation, look stupid and uncaring.
These carers should be congratulated for providing care above and beyond their duty. But no. In our twisted world they are banned and a pensioner is penalised.
The Milton Keynes Council Jobsworths Should Hang Their Heads In Shame
Read more HERE
I am usually the first to support the police who in my view get more than their fair share of bad press.
However in this case I have to say, based on their own video footage, that they were too aggressive and used force out of all proportion with the crime committed and the age of the individual involved.
Because he drove off, albeit under the illusion that he had been dealt with, the police then set off in hot pursuit as if they were the stars Police, Camera, Action. At no time during the pursuit did pensioner Robert Whately exceed the speed limit and he finally stopped when a police office deployed a “stinger”.
So why then was it necessary for police officers to smash the side windows of Mr Whatelys car and for one officer to leap onto the bonnet of his car and start kicking the windscreen. The officers eventually pulled Mr Whately unceremoniously from his car. After viewing the video I have come to the conclusion that there was no valid reason for the bully boy tactics employed by these officers.
When you consider that the police had originally pulled over Mr. Whately for not wearing a seatbelt does anyone else find it interesting that “ Mr Whatley was found guilty of not wearing a seat belt, failing to stop for a police officer and having tinted car windows that did not conform to legal requirements. He was cleared of failing to stop after an accident. He admitted having a registration plate which didn’t adhere to regulations and was fined a total of £235 and ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs.”
This situation sounds very similar to that of a friend of mine after his parked car was damaged by a police vehicle, being driven by a police mechanic. My friend was at work several miles away from his car at the time of the accident. Neighbours described how his car, parked outside his house, was subjected to severe scrutiny by several police officers. These officers looked into all aspects of how his car was parked, checked to see that it had valid MOT, insurance and that the tyres, lights etc. were all legal.
It seems to me that it doesn’t pay to cross / upset the police as what starts out as a minor issue can rapidly become a major one with only one outcome.
One thing I learned recently is that no matter how hard you try, you cannot provide help to someone who doesn’t recognise that there is a problem. That it is painful when someone you love is going off the rails and won’t talk to you. When that person is oblivious to the ripple effect of their actions and the pain that they are causing to their family.
Photographers have erroneously become fair targets for officious police and security personnel under sections 43 and 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000
Once again a photographer has been subjected to harassment purely because he is going about the business of his hobby – taking pictures. Latest fiasco … HERE
It doesn’t seem to matter how much publicity is given to these incidents the message isn’t getting through. In this case Mike Evans was prevented from going about his lawful business under the guise of anti-terrorism laws.
The regulations, under sections 43 and 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 – state there is “no restriction on people taking photographs in public places or of any building other than in very exceptional circumstances”.
I carry a copy of the regulations whenever I am out with my cameras but it is probably a waste of time if Mr Evans experience is anything to go by. He was also carrying a copy of the regulations but found that the jobs-worths at the Liverpool Echo Arena chose to ignore them.
So where does that leave the poor photographer who is rapidly becoming one of societies pariahs ?
Well things have come to a bit of a head, to the point where several hundreds of photographers, both professional and amateur, gathered to protest the misuse of official powers…. (See Here)
It’s not only anti terrorism that is cited as reason to prevent photographers from taking pictures. Every snapper risks being accused of other nefarious crimes.
Take the experience of Betty Robinson who was told she couldn’t take pictures of an empty paddling pool because, according to a Southampton Council Official, she might be a paedophile !!! (Story here)
Well I have a thought. Surely coarse fishermen are much more suspicious. After all they also carry bags packed with all manner of strange objects and they carry long cylindrical bags full of tubes perhaps packed with plastic explosive. Don’t they wear camouflage clothes and creep around hiding in the bushes. I wonder how many anglers have been stopped under anti terrorism laws ?
Should all amateur snappers have to be licenced like the coarse fishermen have to have a rod licence. There really is no point if the so-called authorities then ignore the regs that they claim to be enforcing.
At least your average photographer is standing out in the open, quite blatant. Well except the wild life photographers, twitchers in particular. But then that’s the subject of future post perhaps.
WrAnTz 