A must-read post from Heather’s Homilies:
For the fifth time this year, I’ve woken to news that another person associated with the tiny atheist community in Bangladesh has been brutally murdered via machete. In February it was…
Month: October 2015
Website Launched!!
Just a very quick post to annouce that:
www.londontu.be
is now up and running (As you will see I still have a few gremlins to deal with in terms of their being an unwanted section of the home page, but if you click on the tabs at the top, you will see that it is shaping up quite well.
Musical Keys
INTRODUCTION
This is an account of a Musical Keys session for autistic people that took place between 4:30 and 6PM on Monday. The photos I shall be sharing include some pictures of myself and the other people at the group. Everyone was aware that these pictures were being taken and that they were going to be made public.
GETTING THERE
I reversed my normal sequence of travel, going out by way of the Walks, which provided a few decent pictures…
I arrived at the venue, the scout hut on Beaulah Street, a few minutes early, and the youngsters were still finishing their session, so I waited near the front door, and bagged a few more pictures…
THE EVENT ITSELF
Before we got underway with the music making (don’t worry I was not playing a real instrument – as with the story of Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Rat of Sumatra there are some things for which humanity is not yet ready!) we were required to record introductions giving our name and one other fact about ourselves and select a special effect to go with our words. I decided that the other fact would be my enthusiasm for photography, and in a nod to my love of photographing nature selected the jungle effect so that it sounded like an opening to a wildlife documentary.
On to the music, and I was doing the strings by way of more software on the i-pad…
We had a short break in the middle of the session, and then resumed. Near the end we did the…
GROUP PHOTOS
I took the first photograph, and then handed the camera over to another member of the group, provided some basic instruction, and of course did the preparing/ editing of the pictures myself…
A MAP LOVERS FEAST
We were in the ground floor room at the scout hut, and my attention was drawn to the maps (three in total with varfious adjuncts) on the walls. Naturally this was not an opportunity to be missed…
HOMEWARD BOUND
Having thoroughly enjoyed the Musical Keys session, and added to my photo collection, it was time to head home, and by then since the clocks went back the previous day it was full dark – still I did some photos on the way home, and I also include one from yesterday…
@aspitweets One Year On – and Other Stuff
Marking my first year on twitter, also mentioning autism advocated Robyn Steward and Kevin Healey and livened up with plenty of pictures.
INTRODUCTION
As well as marking one year since I set up my personal twitter account I have a few other things to cover, and of course have some pictures to liven things up.
TWITTER ONE YEAR ON
A year ago (plus half an hour for the seriously pedantic among you) I set up a personal twitter account, @aspitweets. Here is a link to the first tweet I posted back then:
It has been an amazing year, as I am closing on 3,000 followers. It has also been very beneficial to this blog, reaching people that I would never have reached without twitter.
TWO AUTISM RELATED THINGS
On Thursday Robyn Steward, an internationally renowned autism advocate gave a talk at Churchill Park Complex Needs School, half a mile from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn which I was lucky enough to attend, having been invited by West Norfolk National Autistic Society branch chair Karan MacKerrow. The talk was exceedingly interesting, but rather than regurgitate it here I direct you to Robyn’s website so you can see it in her own words. Although one has to be careful about taking pictures in a school, I have some photos from the evening…
My second Autism related piece is less happy. Kevin Healey recently contacted his MP, Paul Farrelly, about the bullying he was suffering. Unfortunately, rather than helping or offering any sort of support all this MuPpet came up with was a suggestion that Kevin should get off twitter, failing to note that for Kevin twitter is a vital communication tool. Kevin has responded by launching another petition, directed specifically at Mr Farrelly, which I urge to you to sign and share.
A BRIEF UPDATE FROM JAMES AND SONS
Yesterday was devoted to imaging for our sale on November 25th at Fakenham Racecourse. The last lots will be catalogued and ready for imaging by November 8th, and the plan is for the catalogue to be available by the 15th (i.e ten days before the auction). Assuming that the lotting is done promptly the imaging will be no problem…
A FEW FINAL PICTURES
Photographica Now Catalogued
Details of the photographica section of James and Sons November 25th auction, with a full picture gallery.
INTRODUCTION
I have mentioned a project involving photographica that I have been caryring out as part of my job at James and Sons Auctioneers in two previous posts:
Now that I have officially catalogued everything in the collection and assembled a photo gallery I am producing this post. There will be one more post specifically about this collection when I know what each lot sold for (i.e. post auction, which will be happening on November 25th).
LOTTING UP
Having ultimately catalogued this vast collection into 22 lots on a spreadsheet formatted as the final catalogue listing would be so that I could copy and paste rows into said listing, all I needed to complete the process were lot number stickers, plus some tie on labels for those lots which warranted it to finish the process of getting this stuff ready for auction. I was given lots 75-100 inclusive for photographica, and decided that as 100 as easily the most distinctive of these numbers that the prize item of the collection should get that number. Apart from that use of the magic number 100 I front-loaded the rest of the listing, starting things of with the folding cameras and others that I was selling individually. The bulk lots come in the low 90s, and at the moment lot numbers 96-99 inclusive have not been assigned.
THE END PRODUCT
NAS West Norfolk AGM
An account the AGM of NAS West Norfolk, focussing on changes to the committee and an autism awareness event.
INTRODUCTION
The AGM of the National Autistic Society West Norfolk branch took place last night at the scout hut on Beaulah Street, King’s Lynn. Obviously there are limits on what I can say about the meeting itself as some of the stuff talked about is confidential, but there is enough to say to make it worth posting about.
GETTING THERE
Although it was not very warm (this is an English October folks) I walked both ways, not being willing to fork over a bus fare for a journey of that length. For the walk there I headed across the upper Purfleet, down to the Tuesday Market Place and past St Nicholas Chapel to the town end of Bawsey Drain which I followed as far as Lynn Sport, from where I headed across open fields to the scout hut.
AT THE SCOUT HUT
We were meeting in a small side room off the main meeting area in this building. Once I had taken a suitable place in the meeting room there were a few minutes to kill before things got properly underway, so I bagged a few more photographs.
For reasons I have already given I am only going to a mention afew things from the meeting itself. Two very long-serving committee members were stepping down, and naturally this was marked with a public thank you…
The new committee was chosen. Notable changes to the structure of the committee saw yours truly and Callum Brazzo (both adults who are #actuallyautistic) given roles as adult co-ordinators. As some of you on the other side of the Atlantic have reason to know, not all organisations which claim to be about helping autistic people are so good when it comes to actually involving autistic people in a meaningful way.
In April there will be an Auitism Awareness event taking place at thje Duke’s Head Hotel on the Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn. I will very likely be presenting a display the best of my photographs, probably as a slide show.
HOMEWARD BOUND
I headed back by the path I had not taken on the way there, and although it was of course pitch dark by this point I did get a few more pictures…
Links, Pictures and a Test Match
A mixed bag – a brief account of test match, some very important links, especially regarding disability rights, and some photographs.
INTRODUCTION
The pictures and some brief comments on the Test Match that finished yesterday between England and Pakistan not withstanding, this is mainly a sharing post.
UNRESOLVED IN THE UAE
This is nominally a home series for Pakistan, being staged in the United Arab Emirates because Pakistan is still considered off-limits for security reasons. For four and a half of its allotted five days this match had all the makings of a high scoring bore draw, Shoaib Malik having scored 245 for Pakistan on pitch devoid of life and bounce, and Alastair Cook retaliating with a monumental 263 in 826 minutes for England who ended up leading by 75 on first innings. Then a combination of some horrendous misjudgments by the Pakistan batsmen and some good bowling, especially from leg spinner Adil Rashid (Yorkshire born and bred btw) left England with 99 to win, and they were within 25 of doing so when the light closed n sufficiently for the umpires to call a halt, it being at the same level it was when they had done so the previous evening. This is the second time in only just over two years that the current light rule has been horrendously shown up in a test match involving England – the other being at the Oval in 2013.
LINKS
The links I have for you today come in three sections…
DISABILITY RIGHTS
As some of you will be aware, Britain has recently achieved the unwelcome distinction of becoming the first country to be investigated by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I have three links relating to this very important issue to share with you…
First, this wonderful piece from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) which explains exactly why this investigation is happening.
Next comes this from disabilitynewsservice about the early stages of the investigative process.
Finally, comes the text of a question and where you can post it (as I have already done) to ensure that it gets asked at next Prime Minister’s Questions. The question we want to ensure that Mr Corbyn puts is:
The United Kingdom is currently being investigated by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities because of allegations of “grave and systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights. Shamefully we are the First Country ever to face such an inquiry. The Inquiry itself is has been widely reported in the press and DWP have confirmed the inquiry was initiated by the campaign group Disabled People Against Cuts.
Will the Prime Minister now commit to the government publishing in full the findings of the committee when the report is sent to the government next year?
You can put the question on this link: http://www.labour.org.uk/your-PMQS
A COUPLE OF INTERNATIONAL LINKS
The bizarre situation at universities in Texas whereby one can carry a handgun concealed about one’s person with impunity but not a water pistol has provoked one very brave and principled professor to resign his position in protest. The full story has been covered by whyeveolutionistrue in this post. Here for you to view is the resignation letter itself:
My other international link comes courtesy of the wonderful Heather Hastie, whose blog I heartily recommend. This piece, under the heading “Winner of the Week” talks about the sadly endangered pangolin, taking a battering because of the vile superstition that its scales have medicinal qualities (I like to think that even if I was not allergic to woo this piece would have provoked the kind of reaction it did in me).
THE REMAINDER
Vox Political have been pursuing the DWP over claimant deaths for a very long time, and it now looks as though that department have landed themselves in a whole heap of trouble, as explained in this post.
Finally, a link to a piece in the Guardian about Jeremy Hunt (he of rhyming slang fame) and his current target, junior doctors.
PHOTOS
Today’s selection of photo’s also divides into two, starting with some of my usual pics from around King’s Lynn…
My remaining pictures come from Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin, one of the books mentioned in this post which I reblogged from whyevolutionistrue.
Your essential evolution library
A very interesting account of some of the best books about evolution. I was personally gratified to note how many of them I have read!
by Greg Mayer
I frequently teach evolutionary biology in the spring semester, but for various reasons I will not be teaching it this coming spring. A few days ago, a student who wanted to take the course, but now couldn’t, asked what he could read in lieu of taking it. We discussed some suggestions, and then I sent him a copy of a chapter on “The evidence for evolution” that I’d written for The Princeton Guide to Evolution, edited by my friend and colleague Jon Losos. The point was not for him to read the chapter (although there’s nothing wrong with doing that!), but rather to send him the list of “Further Reading” that closed the chapter. The Guide is intended for students, and for scientists reading outside their specialties, so the recommended readings are not at a highly technical level, but can be edifying for any curious and…
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Birds and a Coin
Some photographic highlights from in and around King’s Lynn and a coin used as case study in editing techniques.
INTRODUCTION
This post features some of my recent pictures of King’s Lynn’s thriving bird life, and also some pictures of a coin that I use to demonstrate the different degrees of editing to which a picture might be submitted.
THE BIRDS
The title of this section both refers to its contents and pays tribute to Italian composer Ottorino Respighi one of whose pieces has this title. Every bird you see pictured here was within walking distance of my town centre flat, in some cases very close indeed.
SOME OTHER PHOTOS
Of course it was not only birds that caught the eye while I was out and about on these occasions…
THE COIN
On Tuesday I happened to notice that one of the coins with which I was going to pay my bus fare was one that had been issued to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, so I photographed it while waiting for the bus to arrive. Later while editing the shot I decided to use it to demonstrate various editing techniques…
Banknotes, Bonds and Stamps
Some glimpses into James and Sons next live auction (October 28th, The Maids head Hotel, Norwich).
INTRODUCTION
This post deals with things I have been doing at James and Sons today. Before I go into the main meat of the post, the photographica that I have previously mentioned on a couple of occasions will be going under the hammer on November 25th. This auction on October 28th, which puts us back on shcedule after our previous auction happened six days later than planned is a small auction, but very high quality.
CHINESE BONDS
Lots 1-12 in this auction are old Chinese Government Bonds (I will be putting out an official press release tomorrow) ranging in face value from £100 to £1,000. Imaging these items took a lot of work, particularly lot 12.
BANKNOTES
I only did a couple of banknotes today – producing smarter images of a couple that needed that treatment…
STAMPS
Although I did image some stamp lots day there will be far more about the stamps tomorrow when I have put out a press release about them. For the moment a handful of today’s images…
A full catalogue listing for this auction can be viewed at the-saleroom.com
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