UK Government Right! or Wrong! ??????

The UK Government is planing to make a huge! database for storage of every single persons Telephone conversations, Web browsing habits and emails. This Huge database will hold Millions if not Trillions of the general public's PRIVATE! Phone calls.

As for the Email and Web Browsing, I have no problem with that but Private Conversations I do!

Am I the only one who thinks we are supposed to be living in a free Country, free to Express and Free to say what we want as long as it is not racist in any way?

Don't get me wrong I am all for catching the terrorists,Pedophiles,murders and such like and this does sound like a fantastic way of achieving this, but at the expense of our so called freedom.

How on earth will they fund this large database? who will end up paying for the fact that the criminal is getting away with murder again? us the Tax payer that's who.

I for one do think it is a brilliant idea but the phone calls I have a problem with,that's like putting a camera in every ones home "Smile while talking,Smile while getting a shower" Big Brother is watching you.

And what happens when all this "PRIVATE" Data is stored in one place, will the so called criminals not try to gain access to this information for reasons I don't even care to understand. What will happen then??After all the Government has not been to careful with our Data lately have they? Finding it sprawled all over the streets for the local Gangster to sell on to some NON law abiding thug.

And what will then happen to the police force, will some lose their jobs because they are no longer needed "only to arrest the bad guys they have managed to catch through this database" will we no longer need so many police? as ALL! criminals should be under lock and key, And all!! prisons will be overrun to the extent that we will need to build even more "one on every street corner maybe"

The huge amount of storage required would be off the scale in my opinion anyway.

Maybe it's back to the old pen and paper,we may even keep the local post office from closing.

Is The Economy in Crisis!

Not my usual Blog entry but important all the same, are we in the UK nearing a recession? Are our pounds buying less and less? I for one as a full time Student and single parent off three,am feeling the crunch,from Oil prices spiralling out of control and on an equal lever food prices all so.Will it get any better and how long will it take? some say one year others believe two years. Winter is here. The little squirrels look to their hoard of nuts to see them through the cold times. But what’s this? The sorry squirrels of North America hunt around…where are the nuts? Uh oh…they forgot to put any away!

Families have been warned that the prices of basic foods will rise steeply again because of acute shortages in commodity markets.Experts said yesterday that prices of rice, wheat and vegetable oil would rise further. They also forecast that high prices and shortages — which have caused riots in developing countries such as Bangladesh and Haiti — were here to stay, and that the days of cheap produce would not return. Food-price inflation has already pushed up a typical family’s weekly shopping bill by 15 per cent in a year. Rises in Oil,Food,Gas,Electricity are here to stay for the foreseeable future at least. How will a typical Family cope will we survive this global yes global crisis.

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrats’ Treasury spokesman, said: “Rising food bills will hit families already struggling to keep their heads above water following big rises to many utility bills.
“The Government must show more urgency in ensuring the current world talks on agricultural trade no longer drift hopelessly because of a lack of political will.”
The United Nations Food Agency said that rising food prices threatened to plunge 100 million people across the world into hunger.
Josette Sheeran, head of the UN’s World Food Programme, said before yesterday’s meeting: “This is the new face of hunger — the millions of people who were not in the urgent hunger category six months ago but now are.”

Me and my Children

This is to Celebrate my three Children's up and coming Birthdays. (All the pictures were taken by myself and my Children) Barry who will soon be 21, Natasha who will soon be 20 and Sarah who will soon be 14. Happy Birthdays Guys I Love you all. Sorry if the pics embarrass you,no I'm not really Ha. I am so so proud of you all.xxx Love mum xxx

The Mature Student!

Well Guys I've started College at last (Professional Qualifications in Computing) been there about two weeks now, my first day was a bit stressful as it was like starting school all over again and it's been a long time since I've been there i can tell you, I was more than nervous to say the least, The first day I was going to the different lessons but not really taking anything in as my nerves where so bad,the second day was a lot better.

I thought the majority of other students would have been marginally younger,but this wasn't the case the ages ranged from about 20 a couple of people at 30,there are five other students on my course all men which i thought would bother me but far from it,they seem to be a nice bunch of guys,there are some women part timers who attend the Cisco classes on a Wednesday and another that attends the MSDTS on a Friday,so it's not like i am totally the only female.

I find the lessons very interesting and they cover different things Cisco Networking Academy, ECDL which I've done at DTI but can do the higher level now, Microsoft Desktop Support Technician, Certified Internet Webmaster and BTEC HNC in Computing. At the moment my brain is trying to get around HTML and Binary code but am getting there, more so with the Binary.

I am enjoying the College but finding it a challenge keeping the house running and keeping up with College stuff but I'm sure it will turn out fine.Being a mature Student has it's moments like the first day!but all in it to has it's benefits"life skills"being the top one,being around the same age as the Tutors means unlike school your not as afraid off them as you were all those years ago ha.The College life is very relaxed the tutors are very flexible to the students needs, all round very helpful.

Huge 50ft Spider Attacks Liverpool !!!!

While on a visit to Liverpool I spotted a Giant Spider climbing the buildings off the City of Liverpool,but this was no ordinary spider this was a 50ft contraption that only the arts of Liverpool could come up with, is it a head turner? yes more people were looking and taking pictures of this 2008 art than were shopping in St John's Market, including myself. Commuters arriving at Liverpool's Lime Street station were greeted by a 50ft (15m) high mechanical spider clinging to a nearby redundant office block.
The 37-tonne beast heralds the start of a five-day piece of street theatre as part of the Capital of Culture year.
It has been built by French company La Machine, which in 2006 brought the streets of London to a standstill with the Sultan's Elephant. The spider is believed to be "waking up" on Friday.It will descend from its current position on the side of Concourse House on Thursday to be moved to the city's new arena, before coming to life on Friday.
The creature will then begin exploring the city later that evening.
'Looks interesting'
It will form part of a huge piece of street theatre throughout the city at various landmarks, culminating in what organisers are calling a "spectacular finish" on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Liverpool to get a glimpse of the mechanical beast.
Although an impressive sight, one man told the BBC that it left him somewhat nervous.
"I don't like spiders. It looks interesting, but I really don't like spiders," he said.

It is an unfolding story that takes place in all the public spaces in the city using the great buildings as its stage
Helen Marriage, Artichoke
Stopping to look at the creature, Jean Evans, of Birkenhead, in Wirral, said: "It's something really different, it's something unique and I think it's going to put Liverpool more on the map."
Another onlooker Dorothy Wilson, 82, said: "I wouldn't like to meet it in the dark.
"They say it's going to walk the streets but I hope I'm not down here when it does."
Billed as one of the highlights of the 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations, La Machine has been commissioned by arts company Artichoke.
Helen Marriage, the producer of the show, said: "It is the kind of show you can dip in and out of. She's here until Sunday.
"It has 50 axes of movement so all of it moves as you would expect an insect to move.
"It is an unfolding story that takes place in all the public spaces in the city using the great buildings as its stage."
The spider is made out of steel and poplar wood and will be operated by 12 people strapped to its frame, Ms Marriage said.
The creature was built in Nantes before being shipped to Merseyside to be assembled in a secret location.
In May 2006, the company's Sultan's Elephant drew an estimated one million people to the streets of London.

Also on my Visit I went to Tate modern,the slavery and maritime museum all in one building, it was great,never quit understood some of the sculptures at the Tate,but then again it was modern art and me being old is probably why.

A Trip to Peel Castle where the Moddey Dhoo howls.

The Moddey Dhoo http://photostakenbymoe.slide.com/

On a very cold, wet and windy day I stupidly decided to take a bus to Peel to get some shots of the castle, well after returning wetter than an Otters pocket I went through the pictures and did get some pretty good shots despite the appalling weather.... In the days when Charles II was King in England, and Charles, Earl of Derby, was King in Mann, Peel Castle was always garrisoned by soldiers. The guard room was just inside the great entrance of the castle and a passage used to lead from it, through one of the old churches, to the Captain of the Guard's Room. At the end of the day one of the soldiers would lock the castle gates and carry the key through the dark passage to the Captain. The soldiers used to take turns to do this.

About this time a big black dog with rough curly hair was seen, sometimes in one room, next time in a different room. He did not belong to anyone there and apparently no one knew anything about him. But every night, when the candles were lighted in the guard room and the fire was burning bright, he would come down the dark passage and lay himself down by the hearth. He made no sound, but lay there until the break of day, when he would then get up and disappear into the passage.

The soldiers were at first terrified of him but after some time they were used to the sight of him and lost some of their fear, though they still looked upon him as something more than mortal. Whilst he was in the room the men were quiet and sober, and no bad words were spoken. When the hour came to carry the key to the Captain, two of them would always go together - no man would face the dark passage alone.

One night, however, one foolish fellow had drunk more than was good for him and he began to brag and boast that he was not afraid of the dog. It was not his turn to take the keys, but to show how brave he was, he said that he would take them alone. He dared the dog to follow him.

'Let him come,' he shouted, laughing; 'I'll see whether he be dog or devil!' His friends were terrified and tried to hold him back, but he snatched up the keys and went out into the passage. The Black Dog slowly got up from before the fire and followed him.

There was a deathly silence in the guard room; no sound was heard but the dashing of the waves on the steep rocks of the Castle Islet.

After a few minutes, there came from the dark passage the most unearthly screams and howls, but not a soldier dared to move to see what was going on. They looked at each other in horror.

Presently they heard steps and the rash fellow came back into the room. His face was ghastly pale and twisted with fear. He spoke not a word, then or afterwards. In three days he was dead and nobody ever knew what had happened to him that fearful night. The Black Dog has never been seen again. If you look closely at some of the indoor pictures you can see the Moddey Dhoo's footprints in the base of one of the rooms......

I'm not sure which I prefer photographing, the modern buildings with their clean lines and unusual shapes, or the old with their atmosphere and history, I think i prefer both as both subjects have their own unique properties. http://photostakenbymoe.slide.com/

Another trip to Manchester.

Not long back from another trip to Manchester, took lots of photo's had lots of partying and relaxing. went on a visit to Chester and also The Lowery in Salford Quays took some brilliant shots of the Lowery footbridge, Imperial War Museum and others.

I Really enjoyed taking these photographs my eye for a good picture is getting much better I think.

The Lowry houses the biggest public collection of works by L S Lowry. In 2000 it was transferred from its original home at Salford Art Gallery that had begun collecting his work in the 1930s. The collection now numbers around 350 paintings and drawings, ranging across Lowry's artistic career. Different works from the collection are shown, alongside pictures loaned from other public and private collections, in changing, themed exhibitions. The picture of the old man in black and white was an elderly gentlemen on a train destined for Chester, I Just couldn't resist taking a photo of his prominent facial features, it has the effect of a much older picture,as the picture of the back lane in Chester does. Tip for the day, when taking a photograph, view it as though you are seeing it for the first time, as though you are seeing for the very first time, and you should take one awesome photograph, and if you like it then it is awesome, good luck! .

On another subject, I have after a long thought decided to change my surname by deed poll to my grandfathers name (Tortolano),I can't wait to be Miss Tortolano, I love Italy and am going there next year with my friend Tina, what better way to do it but with my own family's Italian name, brilliant!!.

http://photostakenbymoe.slide.com/

Sharleen Spiteri's New Solo Career

Yes my most favourite singer Sharleen Spiteri has chosen to go it alone no more Texas, and will be bringing out her solo Album on July 14th this year called "Melody", with the single from the new album coming slightly before on July 7th called "All the times I cried". I Was a bit uncertain about the solo career, but after listening to the single WOW!! I have now changed my mind, brilliant, Check it out, Video from youtube on the left.

http://www.sharleenspiteri.co.uk/

Taken from Sharleen Spiteri's my space:

"I'm a firm believer that every time you sit down to write a song you should try and write a hit record." So says Sharleen Spiteri, a singer and songwriter who already knows more than a thing or two about hit records as the frontwoman of Texas. Formed in Glasgow in 1988, Texas were one of the great success stories of '90s pop, selling over one and a half million copies of their 1996 album White On Blonde in the UK alone. In a decade dominated by male guitar bands, Spiteri was a welcome female alternative, blessed with a smooth, soulful voice but unafraid to strap on her black 1967 Telecaster guitar and rock out with the best of them. Sharleen Spiteri x

Songs From the new Album:

1.
It Was You
2.
All The Times I Cried
3.
Stop, I Don't Love You Anymore
4.
Melody
5.
I Wonder
6.
I'm Going To Haunt You
7.
Don't Keep Me Waiting
8.
You Let Me Down
9.
Where Did It Go Wrong
10.
Day Tripping
11.
Francoise

Manchester Trip, Sad plus an eye opener

On a slightly sad note within my trip to Manchester I came along a lady who is called Vicki, if you can imagine a lady who looks about 68 but is only 52 years old, no family no loved ones, nothing but a small amount of savings and living on the street,Now this lady wont except any financial help off the government, so how will she survive once her small amount of savings has gone? her legs are so swollen they look so painful, now you need to understand this lady was not an alcoholic like most living on the streets, far from it, she had only been on the streets for a couple of months, wont take any help that is offered, I asked Vicki did she want to earn herself £5, and do you know what she said? she said "what do you want me to do pick up litter" I said no I just want to take some black and white photos of you. But how sad is that this lady thought nothing of her self, thought she was only good enough to pick up litter, a frail lady with no love for herself no self belief no nothing. Your probably thinking well why am I wanting to write about this lady. Well the answer to that is obvious to let you all know that next time you walk passed a homeless person, just stop and ask how they are have a little chat with them because it could so easily be you, and I know if it was me I would want someone to make me smile if only for a few minutes, and Vicki did, she did smile if only for a short while my conversation brought a different expression than the very sad one she had minutes before i spoke to her. Vicki wont take any help she has been offered it by the homeless unit, the social department but she refuses to take it. But what I cant understand is these higher people know that the people who have pride and don't want to except the help offered, that maybe if they did it in such a way as to maybe not give it on a plate, so people like Vicki don't feel like a charity case, why not say something like maybe "well Vicki if you would like to help us out I don't know somewhere maybe in a homeless unit with some cleaning or washing up" just something so Vicki feels like she is doing it for herself, then we will give you a roof over your head and food, then maybe she and others would not feel like nothing but would be doing for themselves via the help full people, I think it is about time these people got the help they need, but more important is to get the help the way they want the help! after all no one wants charity no one wants to think of themselves as useless and in need, not people with pride anyway. I have pride and I know if I to was stuck I wouldn't ask for help because I like Vicki am proud, a lady with pride should not be forgotten. But unfortunately I and others don't think Vicki will be with us this time next year, her legs are so swollen to the extent they are raw with ant bites and look very infected. My heart really goes out to this lady it really does, imagine it just for one minute, No family,no friends no meaning to live, just nothing but you and one bag on a cold street, really how would you feel if you were a person with pride like Vicki, I know what the word is ALONE very alone. why cant something better be done for these people with pride after all pride is not a bad thing to have, or is it? it's not doing Vicki any favours at the moment.
I've seen quite a few homeless people over the years in various places, Liverpool, Manchester, Scotland, London and the Isle of Man, I’ve stopped to talk to a few, but my few minutes with Vicki was different I don’t know why I cant explain it, it just was, my heart went out to this lady but I don’t know why because she was not really any different to other homeless people that I’ve met, except her PRIDE.

Look out on life with amazement, not shock. The variety, the diversity, the manner of every person, the beauty amidst the drudgery, the contrasts, the opportunities, the heroism in the lives of ordinary people, your gifts, your talents, your friends - even just one friend - is all awesome. Live in awe, and entertain wonder, and you will be knocking on the door of true love. Don't kill it with cynicism or criticism, don't sabotage your life with moaning and complaining. Open the eyes in your head and the eye in your intellect and choose to see the stunning, awesome, diverse beauty of life happening around you right now. Meet it with your heart and you will enrich and be enriched in one single moment.

Stated on the Crisis website about homeless women:

http://www.crisis.org.uk/

How do homeless women survive?

• Homeless women are particularly isolated and cut off from services and assistance. • Crisis research shows that whilst 60 per cent of homeless women have slept rough, only 12 per cent had engaged with street outreach teams. 40 per cent of homeless women reported having been excluded from a service and 10 per cent were not using any service. 20 per cent had become homeless to escape violence from someone they knew yet less than a third of woman were accepted for housing by local authorities.

Why do people become (and stay) homeless?

• People become and stay homeless for a whole range of complex and overlapping reasons and in turn solving homelessness is about much more than putting a roof over people’s heads. Homeless people are amongst the most vulnerable and socially excluded in our society and many homeless people face a number of issues, in addition to but often compounded by, their homelessness. And the isolation and destructive nature of homelessness means that homeless people find it difficult to access the help they need.• The main cause of homelessness is relationship breakdown with family and partners. 1 in 4 ex-homeless people also find themselves unable to sustain a tenancy – loneliness & isolation are main causes, often compounded by lack of choice about where they can live • The lack of work is a major cause and consequence of homelessness, eroding skills and self-esteem and acting as a practical obstacle to finding and keeping a home. Only two per cent of homeless people are in full-time employment and 12 per cent work part-time. Over 50 per cent of homeless people have been unemployed for three years or more. Yet 77 per cent of homeless people would like to work now and most have worked at some point in the past.
Homeless people are 13 times more likely to be a victim of violence – much of it perpetrated by the general public.

The following is in the Isle of Man:

Homeless shelter to open during winter months
HOMELESS SHELTER: The Department of Health and Social Security plan to convert Kingswood House, Harris Terrace, Douglas, the former drug and alcohol day centre and clinic, into a temporary shelter for a maximum of eight beds plus a staff bed for six months has been approved.
Is it really enough??

A TEMPORARY homeless shelter is set to open this winter.
The Department of Health and Social Security applied (07/1920) in October for permission to convert Kingswood House, Harris Terrace, Douglas, the former drug and alcohol day centre and clinic into a temporary shelter for a maximum of eight beds plus a staff bed, for six months. Government planners approved the move but it was delayed after residents appealed.

College ended "Now the next step"

Well guys did the ten week course at the DTI did better than i expected, ended up with five ecdl passes, two other passes level one with distinctions, so as you can imagine i was very pleased, on the last day of the course I showed a video that I had made over the previous few days, of photographs of most of the people on the course, didn't quite catch them all but most of them are on it, it didn't play as well as it should have so I have uploaded below for anyone that didn't get to see it, if anyone wants a copy text me, have arranged to give copies to some already, but if anyone else wants one just get intouch.
Have now applied to the college again this time to do a full time 1 year course on yes you guessed it IT stuff,"Professional Qualifications in Computing" You don't know unless you try.

DTI Crowd Feb to May 2008.

Update

Hi Guys it's been a while since I've posted anything so here's an update.

I started my college course which i am enjoying immensely, have met lots of new people some that will be continued friends after the course. I also past my first exam last week which was a shock to me as well. there are another 6 modules to pass, some i am confident about and others such as excel I'm not so sure,but will give it my best shot as i am determined to gather as many passes as possible so i can have a better life,not that this life is at all bad but you know what i mean after all there is no worries about wanting to better yourself and that's what I'm doing hopefully anyway, you don't know unless you try hey.

Baz is home from uni for 3 weeks he was able to remove his R plates today so he is pleased with that, Tasha is away visiting her fella Sam, and Sarah is off school for the holidays as i am to because the college also has the same holidays as the schools, so I am trying to cram as much studying as possible.

It's over !!

Right Guys no more mince pies,the turkey is well used up and the fruit cake has gone bad, yes it is over Christmas and new year are no longer looming at our doors or our pockets, well it wasn't looming at our pockets, that was until the dreaded sales,

have we not spent enough money, who has any left to go and buy more things we don't need. some one once said to me if we only bought what we really needed and not what we wanted, that our homes would have a lot more space and our pockets would be fuller. Well I for one love a bargain and if it happens to be something i need and it's in the sale, then I'm there. After all a women loves to shop. But i wouldn't go to the lengths some do, like camping out all night just for that bargain, I think that is very sad.

So Yes that is it for another year no more worrying what shall I buy for him, her or them. maybe next year we should consider instead of buying someone a present that they probably already have or don't want, why not consider putting the cash you would have spent on a different kind of gift for someone, make a donation to that persons favourite Charity instead, I'm sure most people adults mostly would agree, it's an idea, there are to many items in every ones home that just don't get used, so instead of it going to waist just donate.