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I know this is a bit of an odd one. A walk-by snap shot really and a bit of a messy one full of details and distractions. There's the girl with the blue dot in her face. There's the 'ziehen' sign on the door. There are funny reflections everywhere. And then there's what's going on. The crew of a Airbus 380 having a pre-flight briefing, that's hardly exciting, is it? I put the picture into Photoshop and it didn't even look cool in black & white. And still, there's something about it that I like. Maybe you can tell me?
“The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.”
~ Wendell Berry
Happy Earth Day, 2010.
I'll be making my way back to your streams next week.
Still a little out of it these days.
Thanks very much for all the kind thoughts and condolences.
Peace,
erinnoel
Islamic State claimed responsibility for attacks on Brussels airport and a rush-hour metro train in the Belgian capital on Tuesday which killed at least 34 people, a news agency affiliated with the group said.
The Amaq agency said suicide bombers from the group, strapped into explosive belts, had staged both attacks. Belgian media said police were mounting a manhunt for the one attacker who had survived.
www.hiiraan.ca/news4/2016/Mar/104684/islamic_state_claims...
... geriatric chillin with a big smile and a good cigar. Along with the good cigar, a little sunlight is required and diversion away from any other responsibility other than the act of chillin itself.
....female homosapiens chillin is done much the same as male homo sapiens chillin, but without the cigar. Chocolate may be substituted.
... in both the male and female the big smile is invisible to the causal observer. Age and gravity tend to pull the fleshy tissue, which itself increases with age, downward along the skeleton, which is gradually shrinking also. Usually the individual homo sapiens is well aware of the big smile.
Dictionary:
homo sapiens
Main Entry: Ho·mo sa·pi·ens
Pronunciation: \ˌhō-(ˌ)mō-ˈsā-pē-ˌenz, -ənz, especially British -ˈsa-pē-ənz\
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, species name, from Homo, genus name + sapiens, specific epithet, from Latin, wise, intelligent — more at homo, sapient
Date: 1802
: humankind
Urban Dictionary:
Chillin
To be in a state of prolonged satisfactory boredom. A positive phase of being, not regarded as being bored but not in the process of doing anything worth elaborating upon.
1- Hey man wutz goin on.
2- Nuthin juz " Chillin ".
Another anomaly differing the male from the female homo sapiens is the concentration aspect of chillin. The male will usually concentrate on one specific thought ... usually sex. The female homo sapiens will in most cases be absorbing the sunshine, eating the chocolate, listening to a radio, every few seconds turning slightly and watching the TV and after each bite of the chocolate will put the bar down and do a few stitches on something she is sewing for a daughter, son, granddaughter, grandson, niece, nephew or for an older relative.
Here's the link to Jill and Jason's original Brooklyn photograph ...
www.flickr.com/photos/jillandjason/4238175950/?addedcomme...
This is a photo of my friend Emily Hernandez (on the left) at a Communication convention. A big part of what makes Latinx millennials and GenZ's unique is that the mixing of culture has become more prevalent. My friend Emily is both Caucasian and Hispanic. She proudly identifies with both cultures and embraces her Latin heritage. She also feels that it is her duty to communicate to the world the struggles people of her race and generation are enduring. She is on the writing team for both the Daily Texan and the Statesman and regularly writes stories covering Hispanic representation at UT and in Austin.
"The responsibility is mine". Situation where something really is up to you, and you can be fairly praised or blamed for your act or choice.
Vietnamese tourist boat captain. Ha Long Bay.
I wonder if the captain of the Costa Concordia looked like this at 21:46?
On 13 January 2012, at 21:45 local time (UTC+1), Costa Concordia hit a rock off Isola del Giglio
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia
El peso de la responsabilidad
"La responsabilidad es mía". Situación en la que algo realmente depende de usted, y usted puede ser justamente alabado o condenado por su acción u opción.
Turista vietnamita capitán del barco. Ha Long Bay.
Me pregunto si el capitán del Costa Concordia se veía así a las 21:46?
El 13 de enero de 2012, a las 21:45 hora local (UTC +1), Costa Concordia golpeó una roca de Isola del Giglio
2020-03-05
David Rawlings have a brief first look video at a pair of production ProGauntlets and tested initial fit with various training weapons. His experience and responsibilities as an instructor carries a great deal more weight than what's written here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1syBicDHXfI
2017-03-20
Youval Kuipers of CrossGuard with a ProGauntlet prototype gives Lonin a thumbs up. He suggested posing with a federschwert so obviously I had to give him mine. Thanks goes to Youval Kuipers for flying out to Seattle and to Neil and others for making the demo possible.
2018-10-03
“'Four hundred foot-pound.” I pointed out to a Lonin club member. “'It can crush every bone in your hand.'” This modern armored gauntlet was however not made for Robocop but for us Historical European Martial Arts practitioners by CrossGuard, a small Dutch company.
It's been over a year and a half since Youval Kuipers visited and the production sample that he showed was drastically refined from the prototypes and I will be comparing them with each other. I'm calling the most recent gloves I wore production samples which may or may not technically be the case, but it's based on Youval telling me that production is in... what, next year? “November.” This year? “This year.” Holy crap, production sample it is then.
Originally I published not a review obviously but personal notes about the prototype but it wasn't the right time so I respectfully took it down and I do apologize for that. I have no financial stake in this project and don't know anyone from the company. There was a random announcement that a demo was planned and since it was conveniently taking place during a training night it didn't make sense not to attend. I haven't followed the project in over a year prior to the first demo I attended in 2017. Along with starting a business some things take a long time to gestate especially for safety gear which is why I haven't really looked at any recent comments or reviews since then to keep an open mind.
My background with Historical European Martial Arts is almost two years of Italian longsword with instructions in other weapons-based systems as well as a two other longsword-based systems. I spar when I can and have only participated in one tournament so far which means I'm very much an intermediate. This is just one random person on the internets' opinion and first impressions between the prototype and production sample.
I'm currently using SPES Heavy Gloves for the more intensive drills and sparring. It's probably the most protective glove for an affordable price and is excellent for what it is and occupies a different niche. It's used only as a reference here since it's the only tournament-rated glove I have the most experience with although I have used others. To get it out of the way hockey, lacrosse, and motorcycle gloves will award wearers with broken bones when sparring with steel or synthetics.
The prototype and production sample gloves were sized to Youval's hands but my fingers were slightly shorter so most issues I had tend to start from there. I think a full review requires use from beginner classes to full adrenaline tournaments and even destructive testing so this is more of a first impression on protective gear that will get changes from feedback.
ProGauntlet Demo
The ProGauntlet claims to protect the hands from fast moving blunt steel blades while allowing a large degree of movement, reduce injury, and reduce artifacts created by wearing protective gear in what is simulated fencing using unarmored techniques. This was designed for practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts in mind and the longsword was used as a benchmark because of its popularity and the forces involved compared to many other weapons.
Like many other engineering problems there are competing issues that pull and push potential solutions as they develop. Basically more protection tends to be paid with less dexterity, an issue when doing half-swording, blade grabs, grappling, and even some of the less-used reverse grips that requires a hand to momentarily disengage from the grip for a successful execution.
More dexterity tends to be paid with less protection and injures. Not to pick on anyone but there is a tournament glove that offers independent digit movements that I won't wear because of weak protection for the sides of fingers.
Cost is also a valid engineering requirement. I'm not sure whether it's because post-internet HEMA is still young or it's something the community has grudgingly accepted but maintenance such as repairs and cleanliness should also be major factors once a concept has been validated through years of use.
Currently the five-fingered version of the Sparring Glove and the St. Mark Koning Glove are examples of some of the exceptions that offer independent digit manipulations. Mostly though gloves for tournaments and hard free sparring tend to be lobster style like the SPES Heavy and hoofed based such as the standard hoof Sparring Glove.
Last year's half-hour long prototype demo began after the end of the Lonin's Italian longsword beginners class followed by Youval participating in the intermediate class unarmed plays. A hands-on test-wear was offered afterward and all of us who have heard of the ProGauntlet accepted of course.
This year's production sample demo started in the middle of the first class and I spent five minutes wearing a ProGauantlet on my right hand doing sword-like stuff with it.
Protection
We've all seen the demo of a bone-breaking downward strike by a steel longsword is performed on the gloves and Youval wiggles his fingers afterwards with not a drop of sweat. Wearing the prototype I was given what would normally be a strong bruise-inducing pommel thump on the plastic-like backhand surface while wearing it. The discomfort of being hit was felt and yet there was absolutely no pain. This may be ideal for those that want protection but not so much that it can't be felt. With just the shell and very thin strips of cushions inside I was surprised by how well it was able to protect.
The production sample gloves have grown a noticeably substantial protection of the back of the hand and I felt less impact than the prototypes. Openings were covered and the sleek look reminds me of the same concept as angled armor on modern to deflect strikes. It really does make Boba Fett look like he's wearing gardening gloves.
Additional protection as promised have have been added for the pinky and bottom hand. There were also additional thrust guards present on the glove to protect the gaps between fingers as well as a stylish green triangular cloth at the front of the fist as an additional thrust protection and to add some color to the imaginative HEMA black that dominates.
There are relatively thick layers of cloth and plastic material that goes around the wrists forming a cuff that reminded me of Destroyer Modz's Roughneck throat protector. It is currently held in place by two velcro straps pulled toward opposite directions layered on after the other protected by the plastic cover. I haven't tested it with grappling but I'm fairly confident that this glove won't accidentally fling off the hand. This also means that strapping and unstrapping is a ritual that requires the wearer to slow down. This impacts on fun although the velcro solution is better than a leather strap because it offers better self-sufficiency.
This is a personal preference but I would wear arm guards with this during drills. I have been hit a few inches higher than the wrist a number of times and I was glad that my SPES Heavy came with flared extended cuff openings in addition to my arm guards. Everyone has their own safety comfort level of course. More on this in the “Other” section.
One thing I would have liked to test was upward false edge strikes from low such as dente di zhengiro, porta di ferro mezza, or alber. It happens even with very experienced people, I've seen it in tournaments with energy drained fighters.
Dexterity
The SPES Heavy's protective lip that extends past the finger tips which is good for protection. Combined with the three-hooved inner liner design it makes picking up a longsword resting flat on the ground like Mr. Bean trying to play a HEMA version of a claw crane game. Sure, whenever I need to adjust my mask or gorget the sword's grip can be placed on the top of my foot. I can easily lift the feder up with my foot saving my back and looking cool while the further I'm away from the sides of the training area the potential increases for someone tripping or stomping on it with muddy boots.
I asked Youval about this and while he couldn't help me with Rick James barging into the loft and treating my feder like a couch, he promptly placed a Tinker Pearce bastard sword on the ground and picked it up with no fumbling. There was a noticeable click from the finger tip protectors hitting each other as the hand closed around the grip but that is expected. The downside to doing this was that the legs were not getting gains from lifting which I guess works well for Broscience followers.
My fingers were slightly short for the prototype – my pinky tip just reached past the ProGuntlet's most distal pinky joint – I couldn't make a fully closed fist like other people. It was more than enough to hold a pencil though. What I can articulate shows a high degree of effortless movement and superficially the joints look like miniaturized versions from a modern atmospheric diving suit. What's interesting is that Youval mentioned they were working on reducing joint lock ups and over rotation, issues that also occurred with atmospheric diving suits and space suits using similar spherical joints.
Other club members whose hands fitted reasonably well confirmed the articulation was phenomenal. Fingering the guard, thumbing the guard, half-swording, reverse grip, and other grip techniques were no problem at all. I've also noticed wearing it that the wrist protectors flared out enough to give an excellent range of movement while still low-profile enough to allow additional wrist and forearm protection to be worn, but again more on that later in the “Other” section.
The production sample was the same size as last year's prototype so the same anatomical issues apply. This year's gloves were not quite as dexterous mostly because of the increased protection in comparison and changes to the design. I didn't ask but I'm going to guess that some of the mobility limitations help reduce odd angle strikes to vulnerable areas and greatly reduce joint friction that may cause locking, something that affects the aforementioned ADS articulated joints which often have a layer of oil to prevent physical contact between the moving surfaces. I'm speculating here but I wouldn't be surprise if there is some sort of self-lubricating material used but regardless for the production version I've experience no locks at all.
The finger wiggle test require more effort than before from the extra mass and rigidity and the result is the same in that I can't imagine needing any extra dexterity except it being nice for maybe grappling which I didn't test.
Finger movement was still very good so I did a totally unfair test using my Panasonic G9 camera. It was slippy and I didn't have confidence holding it with one handed. But. If the finger tip covers were modified so that the fingertip bottoms were more exposed and the liner was grippier I could totally use the camera in manual mode with no issues except for manipulating the flip screen from its molded cradle that requires a fingernail. The mobility it offers is very impressive.
So for the sword stuff I used a tire suspended on a chain doing plays and devices from various longsword systems. The standard cuts and thrust is very much like using a SPES Heavy liner so no problems with handle slip there. Pommel palming and reverse gripping was also similar to the SPES Heavy.
Weight
One of the things I like to say to people who have worries about strength is that if they can fight using SPES Heavy gloves with a longsword they can transition to drilling with the montante greatsword wearing light leather gloves. Ok, there's a balance issue but the point is that protective gear is heavy and will only get heavier still as drills and bouts continue.
The prototype looked light from the videos and after putting it on it was even lighter than I thought and lighter than my light padded leather gloves, as if nothing was there. That alone was very impressive. Just for fun I asked Youval about a glove for montante sparring and he gave a good laugh, basically saying one thing at a time.
The production sample is noticeably heavier, like holding a beanbag of lead in comparison. It conforms to the hand so the weight is distributed and rotating the hand from supine to pronate and back seem quicker and easier compared to a SPES Heavy. The closest feel I can describe is the differences between Blackfencer nylon longsword or montante trainers and their steel counterparts that are made to feel close to sharps or actually are sharps. Like steel blades there's certainly mass with the production sample but it's distributed well and while that mass can be felt at rest and during acceleration, once moving the momentum makes it feel light.
So the good news is it's lighter and at least psychologically it's faster than the SPES Heavy. The bad news is, the wearer won't get the same gain and will need to pick up a montante to make it up for it, hopefully in the US where more montante classes are needed.
Profile
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Mark III Iron Man suit's main immersion-breaking design visually was that it was too unrealistically slim compared to War Machine which had more room for padding. After going over the ProGauntlet I'm still not convinced that Tony Stark would survive a drunken fall down the stairs in an armour made with the real-life materials that we have now. But his hands will survive if he wandered into a trap set by a drunk Magneto in a warehouse full of blunt swords and federschwerts.
The prototype's profile was incredibly slim. A very thin liner that's almost sheer is worn over the hand which is then slipped into the glove's hard shell. Small strips of centimeters thin padding are already on the gloves rigid interior to prevent chafing, increase fit, and provide some force damping while the palm and the fingers gripping surface are for now open. The tips of the fingers are hooked into the shaped finger protectors at the tip of the armored digits.
Whenever I get hit in the hands with the SPES Heavy I accept the hits and move on. They are giant targets though and the hit box can increase by about four inches. The slimmer design would make it easier to tell if the hit was valid as well as open up access to swords with shorter grips and other weapons where the hands are mostly exposed.
The production sample version of the ProGauntlet were a bit chunkier but still very slim compared to most other hand protections on the market. I grabbed a buckler and Dave a Lonin member was kind enough to hold the buckler for me. I was interested in the 7th ward long point from I.33 where the buckler lays flat against the hand with the edge punching forward while the buckler hand's palm and fingers are resting on the other hand's wrist so the buckler becomes a temporary complex hilt.
For a moment it looked doable but as we looked down it was clear the ProGauntlet's back hand armor was preventing the buckler from laying flat against the back of the hand. Dave pointed out correctly that the buckler is good enough protection without the glove and barring some odd interaction or specific plays he would be right. I'm lazy though. Think about it, it takes a while to put the gloves on and off so it does get in the way of fun when switching weapons.
That's not seriously a negative as the gloves were designed for longsword in mind but maybe in the future a lighter version can be made for people using cup-like complex hilts and bosses. Experiences will vary depending on the buckler. I didn't test the Cold Steel buckler for example which has a very deep boss and apparently can stop small caliber rounds from Skalligrim's destructive testing. Every little bit of protection helps.
Other
The ProGauntlet has very specific tolerances to work and so they must be custom-made for owners.
Last year the company was still working on a way to have buyers send in their hand measurements. One club member suggested that a smartphone app can be used for this. Sending in imprints are expensive but not unheard of. Bespoke in-ear canal headphones provide wax or some sterile imprinting material to buyers where they send imprints of their ear canals to be laser scanned and printed for a perfect fit.
CrossGuard decided with the simple choice of using printed sheets and placing hands on them and depending on the circumstance the company is exploring other avenues as well.
One of the club members last year asked if there were plans to integrate padding to the armour and to our relief Youval said that they intend to keep them separate to make cleaning easier. That's a major selling point for me and for others although we didn't disassemble the production sample to see how it works. This also opens up the possibility of supporting a modular design where damaged parts can be replaced by the end-user.
One of the reasons for not having an integrated liner is that as things stretch protective coverage will change. Related to this CrossGuard is exploring the feasibility of a low-profile forearm protector. It's more of a research phase although Youval pointed out the technical challenges of having a similar systems for a limb performing rotational movements.
The final cost is still up in the air at the time of writing although Youval mentioned that the company is trying to keep it down. My guess based on nothing from the demo is that these could be the most expensive piece of protective gear for the average fencer. This is purely my speculation and if it does become true I would understand the premium pricing.
The ProGauntlet is still a prototype meaning its design will change. I'm sure anyone that have seen them would agree that it's a guarantee with considerations to be made for manufacturing and a more finished look.
I made an offhand remark about how the ProGauntlet was lighter and cooler than my light padded leather gloves and Youval immediately reminded me that this was a prototype subject to changes. Fair enough, I just somehow doubt that these will become as heavy and hot as my SPES Heavies.
On thing I didn't check was doing push ups which happens when the fight ends on the ground and you're eager to get back into the next fight or there is punishment for doing something wrong during drills. I managed to pop a rivet on one of my SPES Heavy.
Conclusion
I'm not rushing out to buy these gloves just yet. This is because from my perspective as a beginner that priority for more complete protective coverage such as mitten designs should be greater until I learned enough to take advantage of the extra dexterity. I've seen a lot of highly experienced fighters make due with what I'm using so I can't place the blame on failing to execute plays entirely on the SPES Heavy.
The ProGauntlet gloves were designed to be a solution for advanced fencers so at worst compares very favorably to other protective gloves designed for advanced fencers. Personally I think they are probably superior to every other glove design I've read about or come across that skew towards greater mobility for less protection. I will be setting funds aside for these just in case.
The prototypes are seriously impressive pieces of kit and more people from other disciplines in the club would benefit from seeing these in-person. For me the protection, slim form factor, lightness, dexterity, and considerations given to maintenance are all impressive. Less impressive is the time it will take to bring these to market but that is the nature of small businesses providing specialize equipment. Youval said that the ProGauntlet website is the best place to follow their project.
Back in 2017 I had the worst training session so far over the weekend due to being unfocused and this demo helped made things a lot better. Again, thanks goes to Youval Kuipers for flying out to Seattle and to Neil and others for making the demo possible.
So personally for me the conclusion is the same as getting better gear for photography – gear matters only if you can take advantage of it. But if you ache to neck stomp whatever the meta game is infecting the tournament circuits with an esoteric play, if you're Tony Stark, a Mandalorian, or a hand model studying the best of all and the worst of none arts such as Ameri-Do-Te, then ProGuantlets are probably what you'll want to look into.
Shot from the patio/veranda at Standen, this is the gorgeous light that was leaking into the house to make my last few shots possible. Thank you mother nature.
Canon EOS 50e
Canon 40mm f2.8
Fuji Superia Xtra 400
What strikes me again and again here in China is that the elderly care very touching for their grandchildren.
The downside of this is that many children have to grow up without their parents who work as migrant workers somewhere unreachable far away. What it will have for consequences shows only within a couple of years when the children have grown-up and have children themselves.
Lane and I were having a conversation in my office about the balance of freedom and responsibility, and I drew this as an illustration.
School health Project Bangalore india
Comprehensive School Health Program by Trinity Care Foundation for Students in Government Schools in Karnataka State, India.
Visit : www.trinitycarefoundation.com/schoolhealth/ for more info !
Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative in Bangalore India by trinitycarefoundation.com/csr
Join us :- www.facebook.com/trinitycarefoundation
Write to - " support@trinitycarefoundation.org " for more Information on Internship & Volunteer Opportunities
A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative with Ricoh India in Bangalore by www.facebook.com/trinitycarefoundation :-)
If you would like to create impact with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives. Write to us – [ support@trinitycarefoundation.org ] . Partner with Trinity Care Foundation & reach your impact goals : www.trinitycarefoundation.com/csr ||
#CSR #Bangalore #India #CR #Bengaluru #volunteer #RICOH #trinitycarefoundation #impact #schools
A group of Indian rural children are curiously looking at a laptop demonstrated by a school girl. Voluntary groups are working at the grassroots level on transfer of technology for sustainable livelihoods in rural areas. © UN4U/Biswas Prasanta.
ILO staff can use this photo for ILO work (website, presentations, publications, etc.) because we were a partner in the UN4U competition. But they are not available for non-ILO use. They should be credited © UN4U.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGO License. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/deed.en_US.
Your future with or without him, he will not abandon you or leave, because he hopes he is the last dependency.
Every business has various design areas to concentrate on such as logo design, branding design, packaging etc. For Creating them attractively and delivering business image innovatively business owners look for graphic design company and graphic designers. With the help of graphic design companies you can deliver your business message easily to the customers and stand out against competitors in the market. To know more about graphic design in detail visit www.liendesign.com/graphic-design
Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.
Sometimes all we can do is drop to our knees, look above, and find the strength to set down the daily burdens we were not meant to carry.
P.S. - All is going well in my life. I wanted to post this in the hopes that someone who needs inspired might see it....
EAST SEA, U.S. 7th Fleet Area Responsibility (Sept. 26, 2022) - Soldiers from B Company, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade conducted deck landings with CH-47F Chinook helicopters on the the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), in the East Sea on September 26, 2022. Deck landing qualifications are conducted to certify air crew members and pilots on landing on a ship. This training was conducted in part with the Maritime Counter Special Operations Exercise (MCSOFEX) to strengthen interoperability with our joint partners. (Photo by Capt. Frank Spatt) 220926-A-TR140-853
** Interested in following U.S. Indo-Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/indopacom | twitter.com/INDOPACOM |
www.instagram.com/indopacom | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/ **
PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 18, 2020) Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Devin Haswell rides in an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, currently embarked with the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are conducting at-sea training in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Seaman Nadia Lund)
As the largest electricity utility in Malaysia, TNB takes our responsibility to protect the environment very seriously. The environment has always been factored into our decision-making processes and business operations, with the ultimate objective of preserving the country’s flora and fauna and protecting the delicate balance of nature. As issues of climate change have become more pressing, we have taken a stronger stand on the environment and have made many internal changes to reflect our commitment to leading nation-wide efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. We had embarked on a 20-year transformation programme beginning in 2005, marking this long journey in four five-year phases. The second phase (for 2011-2015), called Gemilang2015 - Growth,Global,Green, places particular emphasis on green initiatives, which is best summarised by our Green Energy Policy statement:
"TNB is committed to support the national green agenda and by applying sustainable, efficient operations and delivering green energy through the application of appropriate technologies and investments." – Gemilang 2015
How is it that some of the most littered spots along our local shoreline are those visited mostly by anglers?
Shine Tarot # 6 / 22
The Lovers
When appearing upright, this card stands for = Decision making, making choices, higher purpose, responsibility, marriage, honesty, faith, attraction.
When appearing reversed = Indecision, frustration, dishonesty, irresponsibility, infidelity, sex drive, hedonism.
This card features 2 JHeart emblems =D
The Dalai Lama's public talk, ‘Universal Responsibility in the Modern World’, held in the Royal Albert Hall was a sell out and from the moment His Holiness set foot on the stage, the audience was captivated.
Sitting cross-legged in his chair, the Dalai Lama inspired and motivated with his talk that ranged from thanking all supporters of Tibet, commenting: “I have always thought that our supporters are not pro-Tibetan. Rather they are pro-justice”, through to the importance of compassion, justice and personal happiness, noting “A happy life, a peaceful life is very much related, ultimately, with affection.” Looking forward to the century ahead, His Holiness expressed his hope for the future saying: “The 20th Century was one of war and bloodshed. Let us make the 21st Century the century of dialogue ... then there will be a real possibility of peace.”
A full transcript of the talk is now available on our website www.tibetsociety.com
DON'T FORGET TIBET ....
To see what you can do to give Tibet a voice visit www.tibetsociety.com
Bosch India Csr
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has acquired new dimensions in the recent years.
CSR Projects implemented by trinitycarefoundation.org/csrprogrammesindia | : flic.kr/s/aHsk8kEmnC | For CSR partnership, Write to - support@trinitycarefoundation.org |
Economist Milton Friedman, propagated 18th century values in the Post-WWII global economy. Like Adam Smith he preached the gospel of minimal government, laissez-faire. The triad, Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom (1944), Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged (1957), and Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom (1962) pit economic efficiency against social justice.
Footnotes
I compiled this digitized collage, inspired by Deborah Barndt's
Tangled Routes: Women, Work and Globalization on the Tomato Trail on November 16, 2006. I used a Google earth generated globe to situate as a kind of circumtomato globe. I developed the concept of John Elkington's Cannibals with Forks for the image of a world being devoured by those who choose to make decisions based on only one bottom line.
See also oceanflynn.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/friedmansocial-respon...
Barndt, Deborah (2001) Tangled Routes: Women, Work and Globalization on the Tomato Trail, Aurora, ON, Garamond Press.
Davis, Ian. 2005. "The biggest contract: By building social issues into strategy, big business can recast the debate about its role, argues Ian Davis." The Economist. May 28.
"The great, long-running debate about business's role in society is currently caught between two contrasting, and tired, ideological positions. On one side of the current debate are those who argue that (to borrow Milton Friedman's phrase) the “business of business is business”. This belief is most established in Anglo-Saxon economies. On this view, social issues are peripheral to the challenges of corporate management. The sole legitimate purpose of business is to create shareholder value. On the other side are the proponents of “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR), a rapidly growing, rather fuzzy movement encompassing both companies which claim already to practise CSR and sceptical campaign groups arguing they need to go further in mitigating their social impacts. As other regions f the world—parts of continental and central Europe, for example— move towards the Anglo-Saxon shareholder-value model, debate between these sides has increasingly taken on global significance. That is a pity. Both perspectives obscure in different ways the significance of social issues to business success. They also caricature unhelpfully the contribution of business to social welfare. It is time for CEOs of big companies to recast this debate and recapture the intellectual and moral high ground from their critics. Large companies need to build social issues into strategy in a way which reflects their actual business importance. They need to articulate business's social contribution and define its ultimate purpose in a way that has more subtlety than “the business of business is business” worldview and is less defensive than most current CSR approaches. It can help to view the relationship between big business and society in this respect as an implicit “social contract”: Rousseau adapted for the corporate world, you might say. This contract has obligations, opportunities and mutual advantage for both sides." See The Economist premium content.
Elkington, John (1997) Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business, New Society Publishers, Limited.
Elkington, John (2003) Chrysalis Economy: How Citizen CEOs and Corporations Can Fuse Values and Value Creation, Wiley, John and Sons, Incorporated.
CBC, 2006. “In Depth: Wealth Canada's super-rich,” CBC News, Last Updated December 4, 2006, accessed December 12, 2006. Canadian Business magazine lists 1. the Ken Thomson family (media) $24.4 Billion Cdn or 19.6 Billion US); 2. Galen Weston (groceries) $7.1 $24.4 Billion Cdn; 3. The Irving family (oil) $5.45 Billion Cdn; 4. Ted Rogers Jr. (media) $4.54 Billion Cdn; 5. Paul Desmarais Sr. (Power Corp.) $4.41 Billion Cdn; 6. Jimmy Pattison (entrepreneur) $4.35 Billion Cdn; 7. Jeff Skoll (eBay) $3.93 $4.41 Billion Cdn; 8. Barry Sherman (Apotex drugs) $3.23 Billion Cdn; 9. David Azrieli (real estate) $2.44 Billion Cdn; Fred and Ron Mannix (mining) $2.38 Billion Cdn as ten of the 22 Canadian families who are part of the uber wealthy group of 793 billionaires who control $2.6 trillion US of the world's wealth. Others include Alexander Schnaider (steel) baron, Calvin Ayre (online gambling), John MacBain (classified ads), Guy Laliberté (Cirque du Soleil) 1 Billion Cdn. of this group of 22 billionaires their money came from pharmaceuticals, media, oil and gas, food retailing, printing, money management, construction and the BlackBerry. Five of the 22 are in their forties. Danko, William D. The Millionaire Next Door Danko, William D. Richer Than A Millionaire Drummond, Don, Tulk, David. 2006. “Lifestyles of the Rich and Unequal: an Investigation into Wealth Inequality in Canada.” Special Report. TD Bank Financial Group. December 13, 2006. Accessed December 14, 2006.
Drummond explains how the wealthier quintile of the Canadian population will continue to become wealthier while the middle quintiles will suffer with lower wage gains intensifying wealth disparities. The assets of of the lowest quintile fell by 9. 1% since 1999. This is the group which includes single women, Canada's children who live in poverty and seniors.
What is also interesting is that there is a significant amount of inequality within the highest wealth quintile of Canadians. One can get an appreciation of this fact by noting the pronounced difference between the mean and median asset holdings. While median net worth for the top 20% is $862,900, the average stands at $1,264,200 suggesting a significant skew towards the extremely wealthy. This difference is even more pronounced when holdings of individual assets are compared for those who hold them within the highest quintile. The largest source of the skew towards the wealthy comes from the holdings of bonds which has a mean-median ratio of 7.9 (the larger the ratio, the greater the share of the asset is held by the top segment of the wealthy). The nebulous category of “other non-financial assets” also has a significant concentration in the super-wealthy. Included within this category are such items as the contents of the residence, valuables, collectables, as well as such high value and sparsely-held items as copyrights and patents. [...] Within this category, the share of employer-sponsored pension plans (18.5%) is twice as large as individual pension assets (10.5%) such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs), and Locked-in Retirement Accounts (LIRAs). Holdings of non-pension financial assets (10.4%) and equity in business (10.5%) each represent a comparatively smaller portion of total asset holdings.
Morissette, René, Zhang, Xuelin. 2006. "Revisiting wealth inequality: Perspectives on Wealth and Income," Statistics Canada. http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/75-001-XIE/11206/high-1.htm
Vol. 7, no. 12. December 13, 2006. Accessed December 14, 2006.
"When all families are considered, real average wealth rose 70% from [1999 to 2005] however wealth inequity increased as well. Real average wealth increased between 51% to 70% reflecting large increases for the wealthiest 10% of Canadians who held 58% of the wealth, a percentage that continues to rise as it has since 1984. For fifteen years prior to the deep cuts made in the post-1984 period of deficit panic wealth inequity fell then plateaued. Canadian families will continue to become more at-risk to social exclusion as their debts increase, equities are reduced and they face little or no wage increase.Morissette and Zhang (2006) reveal how challenging it is to estimate the share of total wealth controlled by the upper quintile, particularly the UHNW. See also Davies (1993). While 10% may control 58% of Canadian wealth less than 1% of Canadian families may in effect hold up to 46% of the wealth.While Morissette and Zhang (2006) claim that elderly unattached individuals saw their median wealth double, from roughly $48,000 in 1984 to $100,000 in 2005, they did not qualify that the extremes of wealth and poverty skew the statistics. See the article on the large number of senior Canadians who live below the poverty line.While the wealthiest quintile, particularly the top 1% benefited since 1984, the lowest quintile, mainly female lone-parent families remain as by far the most financially vulnerable. "In all years, more than 40% of persons in these families were in low income and would have stayed in that state even after liquidating their financial assets." This is where Canada's children who live in poverty in a rich country live. Lower quintile included those with median wealth no higher than $7,000, families with no assets at their disposal to lessen the impact of unexpected expenses or earnings disruptions. The average wealth of the most vulnerable families fell to -$1000 between 1999 and 2005 from zero assets/debt ratio through the 1980s to negative (about -$1,000) in both 1999 and 2005. The value of their real estate, for those who did have a modest home, did not rise. "it fell substantially among those in which the major income recipient was aged 25 to 34. In 2005, these families had median wealth of $13,400 (in 2005 dollars), much lower than the $27,000 and $17,400 registered in 1984 and 1999 respectively." While in the middle quintile there was a modest rise of average wealth rose of about $19,000, families in the most wealthy quintile experienced a substantial increase in the value of their real estate. They allocated more of their financial assets to RRSPs and LIRA holdings. They sharply increased their investments in RRSPs between 1986 and 2003.
"Median wealth more than doubled between 1970 and 2005, having grown by c.20-25% since 1984. While the median wealth of young families fell by half between 1984 and 2005, it rose by almost 40% for those in which the major income recipient was a university graduate aged 35 to 54."
Stenner, Thane, Bower, Rod, Currie, John, O.Connor, Rory. 2006. “True Wealth Report: Values and Views of Ultra-Affluent Individuals,” www.truewealthreport.com/downloads/2006_TWR_low.pdf
Researchers for the True Wealth report surveyed 165 Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) individuals, those whose assets are over $10.
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24 March 2009. Westward view along Factory Lane, towards High Road, Tottenham.
_________________________
"If Haringey Council makes a mistake let’s be candid and honest about it; accept responsibility and accountability; apologise with genuine contrition; and correct the error as quickly as possible. In other words, let’s behave like a reputable business instead of someone flogging dodgy DVDs at a car-boot sale."
— My suggestion to Dr Ita O'Donovan, then Haringey's Chief Executive, on 29 March 2009.
_________________________
Lines, Signs and Chasing Fines
On 19 March 2009 Dr Ita O'Donovan emailed me. Listing "Factory Road" as one of the streets in the Tottenham Hale Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). She was mistaken - and not just about the name of the street.
Dr O'Donovan was told that the CPZ in Factory Lane complied with Statutory Regulations and that parking enforcement was taking place. As my photo shows, there weren't any CPZ bays in this street. At its western end Factory Lane was entirely marked with double yellow lines: meaning no parking at any time. And the restriction was not being enforced when I took this photo.
These elementary errors were not the only glaring
mistakes in the information in Dr Ita O'Donovan's
emails to me during March 2009 about the roads
within and just outside the Tottenham Hale CPZ.
I'd written to her as part of my ongoing attempts since June 2008 to establish that Haringey needed to correct many hundreds of mistakes in parking lines across the borough.
I worked closely on this with Ray Dodds, former Labour councillor for Bruce Grove ward. Another councillor, LibDem Martin Newton, was also raising these issues and finding similar reluctance by the Urban Environment Department even to to admit, let alone correct its numerous mistakes.
Of course, as one of the Tottenham Hale ward councillors at that time, I realised that a Chief Executive cannot micro-manage services across a whole Borough. Nor be familiar with parking lines and signs in each back street. Unfortunately Dr Ita O'Donovan chose to rely on information supplied by staff in Haringey Urban Environment Department - the same people who were responsible for the mistakes and who - at that time - were still denying them.
Naturally I made my best efforts to help Dr O'Donovan by supplying her with detailed and accurate information - including the evidence of my photos posted on Flickr. I illustrated that what she had been told was comical gobbledegook.
Am I exaggerating? Judge for yourself
from the email sequence below.
It begins with my Councillor's Enquiry and Freedom of Information Act request on 13 March 2009. It ends with my email to Dr O'Donovan on 29 March 2009. And - after a reminder from me - her polite but minimal acknowledgement on 19 April 2009 that she had received my email.
═══════════════════════════════════
From : Alan Stanton Tottenham Hale ward councillor
Sent : 13 March 2009 13:39
To : Ita O'Donovan, Chief Executive, Haringey Council
Cc : Cllr Claire Kober (Council Leader); Cllr Lorna Reith (Deputy Leader) ; Cllr Ray Dodds
Subject: Tottenham Hale Controlled Parking Zone.
Freedom of Information Act Request & Member Inquiry
Dear Dr O'Donovan,
Could I please ask you to read the [previous] emails. As you'll see, the reply to my email on 4 March ignored my detailed questions and - as is usual in my inquiries about this area of the Council's service - made unhelpful general statements instead.
I therefore wish to restate my questions:
(1) As a Freedom of Information Act Inquiry; as well as
(2) Repeating the questions as a formal Member Inquiry under the Council's Constitution.
Could I please request your help to facilitate my receiving full and proper answers; and if possible to ensure that I am not required to wait a further 28 days for this information.
As you will appreciate, for many months there has been a clear pattern of delays, denial, obfuscation and supplying partial information about Parking and Lines & Signs issues, experienced by me, Cllr Dodds and Cllr Newton.
Therefore can I make an additional request to you: to discover who made the decision to ignore my detailed questions and supply this vague reply; and their reasons for doing so. Though signed by Ms Hancox, I assume the draft reply would have been considered by more senior officers.
As well as the above could I please make the suggestion that urgent arrangements are put in hand for Mr Niall Bolger and his colleagues to receive training on:
• the general issue of the need for transparency and openness as good practice by local authorities.
• the general law and provisions of the Haringey Constitution regarding councillors' Access to Information
I also wish to make it clear that should I encounter any similar difficulties when making reasonable requests from this Service or Department in response to a future Member Inquiry, I intend
(a) Repeating my Member Inquiry as a formal Freedom of Information Request and,
(b) If necessary referring the matter to the Information Commissioner.
I look forward to your reply,
----- Original Message -----
From : Ita O'Donovan
To : Cllr Stanton Alan
Sent : Thursday, March 19, 2009 6:47 PM
Subject : LBH 60583 [not 60474] - Tottenham Hale + FOI Request ref 81000153
Dear Councillor Stanton,
Thank you for your e-mail raising your concerns about the response you received to your enquiry about the enforcement of the Tottenham Hale CPZ. I understand that, unfortunately, there has been a misunderstanding as we were dealing with two inquiries from you on this issue at the same time, one a phone inquiry and one by e-mail.
Your phone inquiry on 2nd March to the Parking Service asked for clarification on whether the streets within the Tottenham Hale CPZ were being enforced. This inquiry, reference LBH60474, was the one responded to by Joan Hancox on the 13th March 2009, and cleared by her manager, Beverley Taylor.
On the 4th March you e-mailed Frontline Members with more specific questions on this topic. This inquiry was allocated the reference LBH60583 and an acknowledgement was sent to you on the 9th March saying that a full response will be sent to you by the 18th March 2009. Unfortunately, due to an administrative error, a connection was not made between the two inquiries. I have raised this with senior managers in the service who have taken steps to make sure that this does not happen in future.
I would like to reassure you that there was no intention by officers to provide you with a less than full response to the issues you raised and these answers are now provided below. I understand that we have provided you with a number of detailed responses on the issue of parking lines and signs in the past, as you mention. If you are dissatisfied with these responses, as you suggest, it would be helpful for me to have specific details.
In response to your enquiry LBH 60583 please find below an answer to each of the questions you raise.
• Is the Tottenham Hale CPZ currently being enforced or not?
Response
Part is being enforced, please see the list of roads below.
• If not, when did enforcement cease?
Response
Enforcement ceased on the roads listed below in the 14th October 2008.
• If it is being enforced, is this on every road within the CPZ? Or only those roads and for cars parked on lines which comply with the law?
Response
Enforcement is taking place on roads where all signs and lines are compliant.
List of streets where enforcement is not taking place in Tottenham Hale CPZ N17
• Holcombe Road • Dawlish Road • Mitchley Road • Junction Road • • Devon close Road • Scales Road • Malvern Road • Park View Road.
List of street where enforcement is taking place in Tottenham Hale CPZ N17
• Dowsett Road • Kimberley Road • Ladysmith Road • Carew Road • Mafeking Road • Buller Road • Circular Road • Factory Road • Reform Row • Reed Road • Stoneleigh Road
• On what dates is it planned to begin correcting non-compliant parking lines and signs within the Tottenham Hale CPZ; and on what date will the work be complete?
Response
We are currently undertaking inventory surveys to identify the extent of works required and envisage that compliance works will be completed by the end of May.
• If it is being enforced, could you please tell me how many PCNs were issued in Tottenham Hale CPZ in January 2009 and in February 2009.
Response
In January we issued 208 PCNs in the Tottenham Hale CPZ, and in February, 87.
I trust that this now answers your inquiry and clarifies any misunderstanding. However, as you have also requested that this enquiry be treated as an FOI, should you have any further queries, or are unhappy with how we have dealt with your request and wish to make a complaint, please contact the Feedback and Information Team as below. [Address and contact details given].
Yours sincerely
Dr Ita O'Donovan
Chief Executive
----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton
To : Ita O'Donovan
Cc: Cllrs Ray Dodds ; Claire Kober ; Lorna Reith
Sent : Friday, March 20, 2009 3:43 PM
Subject : LBH 60583 [not 60474] - Tottenham Hale + FOI Request ref 81000153
Dear Dr O'Donovan,
My thanks for your rapid response.
Reading your email, my initial thought was: 'Welcome to the club'. Plainly, whoever in the Urban Environment Department drafted, authorised and checked this reply approached their task with a similar lack of care and concern as they do with an enquiry from me.
The information you have been supplied is factually incorrect in most respects. Before I go on to explain why, let me add my second thought. 'If that's how they respond to the Chief Executive, heaven help residents who write in'.
Recent Changes
I realise that information about signs-and-lines can quickly become out-of-date as errors are corrected. And, as you will appreciate, I have not had time today to do more than re-check a few roads within Tottenham Hale CPZ.
As far as I can tell from my own observations and a quick limited re-check this morning, the only recent changes have been:
(1) Ladysmith Road N17 was resurfaced last year. The lines and signs were completely repainted and - as far as I am aware - are compliant with the Statutory Regulations. (But see 2.)
(2) Many roads within the CPZ have had traffic calming measures; including entry 'cushions' and corner build-outs. In a few cases these obliterated parking lines or part of the lines. Plainly, inspection of these works should have spotted this problem with minor rectification taking place without delay. Of course, it's possible that such works are already in process. (But were I a betting man, I would not put money on it. Nor, I imagine would you.)
(3) A number of parking lines are badly fading. So it could be doubtful if they are compliant. In my view, monitoring and refreshing lines and signs should be a priority call on the parking income. Not - as appears in Haringey - an afterthought.
(4) One aspect I've not raised before is the lack of T-bars on single and double-yellow lines. In one case a Parking Adjudicator ruled this was de minimis. However, I am told there is now a Review pending in the High Court which seeks to challenge that ruling. I assume your colleagues in Urban Environment are aware of this.
Inventory Survey
You said that last October officers in Urban Environment ceased enforcement in roads within the Tottenham Hale CPZ. So I find it mystifying that they are only now "undertaking inventory surveys to identify the extent of works required".
I'm surprised that you have not found it equally perplexing that officers compile a list (albeit a grossly inaccurate one) of roads within the CPZ, saying which ones are or are not compliant and which they are currently enforcing; but without having first carried out an accurate survey.
Frankly, Tottenham Hale CPZ does not cover a large area or many streets. It is perfectly feasible for someone with the necessary expertise and of reasonable intelligence to survey it using a camera and a notebook. My guess is that no more than 2-3 days would be needed for walking round and then producing a comprehensive and reliable report.
The fact that corrective works will not be completed until the end of May I regard as maladministration. Unless I can be given some reasonable explanation for this delay, I am considering taking up the matter with the District Auditor (re loss of income to the Council) and the Ombudsman on behalf of residents in my ward who are paying for a service they do not receive.
Roads within Tottenham Hale CPZ
Below is an alphabetical list of roads in Tottenham Hale CPZ. For some reason not all of them are in the list you were given; and there are also roads in your list which are not within the CPZ.
I have added [original] where a road was in the original CPZ area; and [extension] for roads in the extension. Your email sets out the roads "where all signs and lines are compliant" and enforcement is taking place. I've added my comments below each street where I disagree with this list; giving my reasons why.
As officers in Urban Environment are aware, for many months I have posted photos on my Flickr pages for most of the streets in this CPZ; with comments about the compliance (or otherwise) of the lines. These are part of a group of sixty photos - including from other parts of Haringey and elsewhere. You can find them here.
Buller Road [Extension added to the CPZ] My two photos show the bays are non-compliant. Not compliant as listed in your email.
Burbridge Way [Extension] This road was omitted altogether from the list in your email. Two photos posted - bays are non-compliant.
Carew Road [Extension] Three photos - bays are non-compliant. Not as listed in your email.
Chesnut Grove [Original CPZ] This street was omitted from your email. My three photos show bays non-compliant. However, like many roads in the original CPZ, this one had double white lines wrongly painted at the ends of the street with the correct single white lines in the middle. This elegant variation on the Statutory Regulations means those end bays are non-compliant.
Circular Road [Original] Shown as compliant in your email. This street has pavement parking and I don't know whether or not the existing signage is compliant as I am told the regulations changed since these lines and signs were installed.
Dawlish Road [Original] Shown as non-compliant in your email. Three photos posted showing the lines at both ends of the road are wrongly painted with a double white line. Otherwise the bays are compliant.
Devon Close [Original] Shown as non-compliant in your email. Pavement parking allowed. The signs and lines appear to be the same as the adjacent Circular Road - which is shown as compliant.
Dowsett Road [Extension] Shown as compliant in your email. My four photos show specific non-compliant bays. Some of the bays in this road may be compliant.
Factory Lane [including Palm Tree Court]. [Extension] This is wrongly shown in your list as 'Factory Road'. It's also shown as compliant. I haven't checked today, but as I recall, is not actually in the CPZ but marked entirely with yellow lines. Which should of course, be enforced.
Holcombe Road [Original] Shown as non-compliant in your email. My two posted photos show that two bays at the Park View Road end of Holcombe Road are indeed wrongly painted with a double white line. (And no T-bars). But apart from this improvisation, all other bays in this street are compliant and should be enforced.
Junction Road [Original] Shown as non-compliant in your email. However, my one photo shows only the two bays at the Scales Road end of Junction Road are wrongly painted with a double white line. Otherwise the bays are compliant.
Kimberley Road [Extension] Shown as compliant in your email. On the contrary, my seven photos show that every bay in this street was wrongly painted with a double white end line - and therefore entirely non-compliant. The end lines at the Dowsett Road junction have been obliterated by the new build-out.
Last week I re-checked all the lines in this street as I have taken-up the case of a resident who was refused a refund of her PCN. Hopefully, this refund will now be forthcoming; either from Haringey or via a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Ladysmith Road [Extension] This is shown in your email as compliant; with enforcement taking place. As I mentioned, this street was resurfaced and re-lined. Although lines obliterated by a new build-out are now needed. Otherwise I agree with your email.
Malvern Road [Original] Shown as non-compliant in your email. However my two photos show the same pattern as in other roads in the original CPZ. The end lines of both pairs of end bays were wrongly given two white lines and are non-compliant. However, the middle bays are okay.
Mafeking Road [Extension] Shown as compliant in your email and enforcement taking place. However my three photos show that the parking bays are in fact non-compliant.
Mitchley Road [Original] Shown as non-compliant in your email. One photo indicates the same pattern as in Malvern Road above. Apart from the end lines on the end bays, the others are compliant.
Park View Road This was partly in the original CPZ and partly in the extension.
It is shown as non-compliant in your email. My one photo shows a single bay near the corner with Dowsett Road which has double white transverse lines at the north end of the bay. Apart from this bay, other parking bay lines (on the western side of this street) appear correctly marked. The eastern side of Park View Road is a double yellow line and should be enforced.
Reed Road [Extension] Shown as compliant in your email. However my photo shows non-compliant lines.
Scales Road [Original] Shown as non-compliant in your email. My photo shows one end of the end bay wrongly marked - the same pattern as in the adjoining Malvern Road and Mitchley above. Other bays are compliant.
Stoneleigh Road [Original] Shown as compliant in your email. I posted one photo. In my view, all the bays appear to be non-compliant
Wilson's Avenue This street was omitted from your list. I am unclear whether or not this was properly included in the Statutory Order which authorised the CPZ. It has a parking bay which is wrongly marked. This street is also outside the area demarcated by the CPZ signage. I raised this several years ago and was assured it made no difference. But that is not my reading of the Regulations.
Reform Row. This street was included in your list as compliant and being enforced. As far as I am aware Reform Row is not and has never been in the Tottenham Hale CPZ.
Officers' Intentions
We will have to agree to differ on the matter of officers' intentions. When I send an email requesting full and detailed information, I expect a full and detailed answer. However, I am always willing to discuss with officers whether my request is reasonable and constructive; and if it requires an unfeasible amount of work. What I am no longer willing to accept is being fobbed-off.
I very much regret to say that my experience does not lead to me to draw the conclusion that these officers are committed to transparency. (Although I also realise that this may not be entirely within their control.)
Whatever the reasons, I have - as you put it - frequently been dissatisfied with responses I received. If you would like details, could I please invite you to read my public comments posted on my Flickr photoblog. A search for 'tags' such as: CPZ, PCN, parking; yellow box; should take you to the relevant pages.
My thanks for your help.
Alan Stanton
Tottenham Hale ward councillor
----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton
Sent : 26 March 2009 13:46
To : Ita O'Donovan
Cc : Cllr Ray Dodds Ray; Cllr Claire Kober (Leader of the Council); Cllr Lorna Reith
Subject : LBH 60583 [not 60474] - Tottenham Hale + FOI Request ref 81000153
Dear Dr O'Donovan,
A brief update to my email [above].
As I mentioned, in response to your email last Friday I took new photos of a few streets within Tottenham Hale CPZ. This week I checked two other locations: Wilson's Avenue and Factory Lane.
I couldn't spot any corrections to non-compliant CPZ or yellow lines. In some streets the only change was that markings are more faded than before. In others, traffic calming measures had covered over some lines - which had not yet been repainted.
All my CPZ photos are collected in a Flickr 'set' which you can access using this 'guest pass' link.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Alan Stanton
Tottenham Hale ward councillor
----- Original Message -----
From : Ita O'Donovan
To : Cllr Alan Stanton
Cc : Cllr Ray Dodds ; Cllr Claire Kober (Leader of the Council) ; Cllr Lorna Reith
Sent : Saturday, March 28, 2009 1:03 PM
Subject : LBH 60583 [not 60474] - Tottenham Hale + FOI Request ref 81000153
Dear Cllr Stanton,
Thank you for your further detailed email on the enforcement situation in Tottenham Hale CPZ. You obviously have a real concern about these matters.
In essence these concerns focus on two main issues: firstly, the quality of the responses that you are receiving from Urban Environment and the accuracy of the information which is being supplied to you. Secondly, you are concerned about the length of time it is taking to rectify compliance issues in this area and feel that the end of May is not acceptable.
On the first issue, I understand that you feel that the response mainly addressed the questions that you raised but did not go into sufficient detail to satisfy your concerns about the compliance of lines and signs and our reasons for enforcing or not enforcing.
In response to your question “If it is being enforced, is this every road within the CPZ? Or is it only those roads and for cars parked on lines which comply with the law?”, the response should have explained that enforcement is taking place in locations in the listed roads where signs are compliant as well as where restrictions are not CPZ specific, for example, footway parking and double yellow lines.
I would also confirm that the Council has not ceased enforcement due to the double white line bay markings as it is still clear to drivers where there are bays, irrespective of whether the bay end is marked with a single or a double bay marking. These will of course be addressed as part of our compliance work as will any faded or worn lines.
I apologise that there was an error in the roads within the zone. Two roads were included which are just outside as they are on the same parking enforcement beat. I have stressed to Urban Environment officers the need for accuracy in responding to Member Enquiries.
On the second issue, you may be aware that the compliance work that is being carried out in Tottenham Hale CPZ is part of an ongoing programme to improve compliance of lines and signs. This work has started with Finsbury Park CPZ and Seven Sisters CPZ and a great deal of this has already been completed. The work on Tottenham Hale CPZ is part of this ongoing programme. I do not feel that the timescales for completing this work are unreasonable given the scale of all the compliance work being undertaken.
Thank you for the very detailed information you have provided on the compliance issues within the CPZ. I have asked officers to ensure that this is fed into our work and to invite you to accompany them on a walk around the area, once the compliance work has been completed, to make sure that all of your concerns are fully addressed.
Sincerely
Ita O’Donovan
----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton
To: Ita O'Donovan
Cc : Cllr Ray Dodds ; Cllr Claire Kober (Leader of the Council) ; Cllr Lorna Reith
Sent : Sunday, March 29, 2009 1:43 PM
Subject : LBH 60583 [not 60474] - Tottenham Hale + FOI Request ref 81000153
Dear Dr O’Donovan,
Thanks for your email yesterday 28 March.
I assume someone else wrote this comical gobbledegook for you. But I’d really appreciate your reading something before it's sent in your name.
But perhaps you did read it? In which case you've apparently failed to grasp any of the key issues for which – to use your words – I have “a real concern”. Nor, it seems, have you the slightest inkling that whoever advised on yesterday's email put you in the invidious position of writing almost precisely the opposite to what you wrote before.
You are correct of course that I have “concerns” about the accuracy of the information supplied to me by the Urban Environment Department.
It is also correct that I am critical about the length of time it has taken to recognise, acknowledge and correct simple errors.
But it may be helpful if I make clear that my main “concerns” are not:
• About officers responding to councillors.
• Nor about my “feeling” that officers have not given me enough detail.
• Nor is all this some anorak-issue of single or double white lines or whether or not yellow lines on roads have T-bars.
There are far more important public issues involved which are at the heart of the relationship between local councils and their residents. These are issues of trust and confidence; openness and accountability.
I asked simple questions. Do the signs and lines in one CPZ comply with the Law of the Land – the Statutory Regulations? Are they being enforced as such?
In response to my formal enquiry and Freedom of Information Act request and an enquiry from you as the Chief Executive, we get the answers:
"No". "Yes". "Here’s a list." "Well, what we meant to say was not these bays and not these lines." "Oops, sorry, the list is wrong." "It's an ongoing programme." "We are about to do a survey." "We’ll walk round with you at the end of May."
It’s like wading through porridge. And if it wasn’t serious it would be hilarious.
But it is serious. And not just because we're taking people’s money for permits and fines. We are breaking an implied agreement with our residents. They buy permits; they are entitled to expect and trust us to put in legally correct lines and signs. We enforce these; and they are entitled to expect and have confidence in us to follow the legal rules.
If local authorities behave as if they are above the law that is corrosive of the trust and confidence in these councils, in council staff, and in elected councillors.
Openness and Accountability.
Local government is now fond of referring to ‘customers’; and to ‘business units’, ‘business plans’, delivery', and ‘service offers’. So let’s take an example from a real business.
Suppose Waitrose were to overcharge you because their scanning equipment was faulty. You would no doubt be outraged. You would insist they apologised to you and all the other customers; immediately stopped using the faulty equipment and fixed it; and refunded any overcharges. As they are a reputable trader they would do so. And without delay, obfuscation, disinformation; and using weasel-words like “addressing the problem”. I would expect them to be candid and open; because they value the trust and goodwill of their customers.
So if Haringey Council makes a mistake let’s be candid and honest about it; accept responsibility and accountability; apologise with genuine contrition; and correct the error as quickly as possible. In other words, let’s behave like a reputable business instead of someone flogging dodgy DVDs at a car-boot sale.
Sincerely,
Alan Stanton
Councillor Tottenham Hale ward
----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton, Tottenham Hale ward councillor
Sent : 09 April 2009 13:45
To : Ita O'Donovan
Cc : Cllr Claire Kober ; Cllr Lorna Reith; Cllr Ray Dodds
Subject : LBH 60583 [not 60474] - Tottenham Hale + FOI Request ref 81000153
Dear Dr O'Donovan,
I would be grateful if you would let me know if and when I am likely to receive a reply to my email below.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Stanton
----- Original Message -----
From : Ita O'Donovan
To : Cllr Alan Stanton
Cc : Cllr Claire Kober (Leader of the Council); Cllr Lorna Reith ; Cllr Ray Dodds
Sent : Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:37 PM
Subject : RE: LBH 60583 [not 60474] - Tottenham Hale + FOI Request ref 81000153
Dear Cllr Stanton
I am confirming that I received and read your email of the 29th March.
Sincerely,
Ita O’Donovan
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