Archived homepage (11/3/2)
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Last updated: 11/03/02
Bravenet services mostly restored - just discussion forum with problems
11/3/2
Islam and 'demons', Strange, high res humidity data lookup table
Small Islamic market in the Forum on Saturday, so had a chat with them about demons. Was rather surprised to discover that Islam, too, admits them, although they may be slightly different from Christian demons. Hadn't heard the word 'Djinn' (hence anglicised word 'genie') since reading Arabian Nights, and was slightly surprised that they should be known as such. Told that they live among us, but that we can't see them. They can see us, though. Some are mischievous, but most (I think) are not. Djinn possession is possible. Chap I was speaking to immediately said a distinction was drawn between Djinn possession and mental illness. However, as the conversation progressed, I think the man became less and less clear on precisely how he saw things. Asked whether there was a formal Islamic position on it, but the question wasn't answered (at least, not by saying 'yes, you can read xyz book/decree on it) - not so much because of obfuscation or deliberate avoidance (as was definitely the case with the Christians I spoke to) but because the conversation was roving in quite an enjoyable manner.
Anyone see 'Strange' over the weekend? Can't say I've seen any charred corpses in or around St Peter Mancroft (or any local hospitals). Not at all sure what the source of the power via the electricity was supposed to be. And, rather curious about the Faraday cage idea, especially as the chap seemed to be getting his power via the mains, which clearly passed through the walls of the lift to the occupants, but there you go. I suppose it's fun to have a little science added to the mix.
This week is Science Week. Here is my contribution! Happened on another person selling hygrometers for £1 on Saturday, and figured, again, that it was probably more fun for £1 than I was likely to find elsewhere. So bought one. Hung it and then rapidly concluded I couldn't be doing with interpolation calculations every time I wanted to work things out to a higher resolution than on the standard graph (and you're welcome to argue the toss on reading to better than one division!). So, have produced interpolated chart for 0.25 degree resolution instead of 0.5/1 degree. Available as table only (0-50 degrees) (258KB), or with graphs (0-50, Winter, Summer) (331KB). Not sure whether they're available at this bargain price elsewhere, but will be happy to buy and forward orders for hygrometers (assuming I can still get them) - £1 + p&p.
Crowthorne Where I lived my early years - you can call me Professor Crowthorne! Try zooming out a little. To about 25,000. I'm told you could hear the siren from there, but was too young to remember.
9/3/2
Data Protection Act 'important' shock
Social Services promises data. Team leader writes.
Am attempting to learn how to interpret allegorical paintings. Examples kindly supplied by Mum (BA, OU). Expect devastating insights into old masters. :)
7/3/2
Stats to date (as Bravenet is down, at present):
Unique visitors: 511.
Total hits: 962.
I seem to be a lot more popular, all of a sudden! No idea why. Still don't seem to have made it onto the search engines, so must be word of mouth!
Well, that about wraps it up for God!
Engaged in longish debate about demonic possession with a couple of Christians, after asking about freemasonry at St Peter Mancroft Church. I am still yet to be offered an official position on this. Was pointed to SPCK bookshop, which claimed to have had one book on 'deliverance' but that it was not in. In the absence of an official postion, I shall concluded that one can, pretty much, believe what one likes regarding demons, in the Christian church. The unfortunate corollary to this is that I can see absolutely no point at all in choosing the Christian faith if it is just 'up to you'. Or, at a lower level, absolutely no need for a priest, either. It'll be writing off the Devil, next! Heaven for all! Super! Everyone's a winner! I wonder how the Synod stands on this. Or the Archbishop. Not sure I can be bothered to ask, frankly.
SPCK also sells vicars' shirts, in various colours, a number of dog-collar options. Apparently you just pick whatever colour you like. Sounds familiar. There was me thinking it might indicate some kind of allegiance, or the time of the year, or function.
1/3/2
Specially for Angus, who can't get a really hot curry Down Under!
28/2/2
Following Mind's letter re: keys, have asked for clarification of what happened from P/G Ct resident. They say that Mind doesn't have clients in P/G Ct, but does have them in Murrell's Court, which is 30-50 yards away, a Cotman property, could easily be considered to share the same car parking spaces, and also falls within the remit of the same residents' association. Quite frankly, I think Mind has been splitting hairs. I have emailed Mind for clarification of its postion. The term 'smart alec' comes to mind.
Also told me Julian Housing had asked for pass, but was unsure of status of request, and that some CPNs had asked for and got keys to P/G Ct, but that this was 'under review' pending consultation with the resident(s) concerned, following protests from PCRA. The case continues, as they say!
For some reason, Cotman Housing appears to have failed to provide proof of my tenancy/rent to the City Council for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit purposes, which seems foolish, considering that it's their cash flow that will suffer. And neither they nor Julian have got back to me yet, still.
27/2/2
Mind's Chief Executive writes back, re: keys. Says Norwich Mind has neither requested nor received keys to my flats. Which makes you wonder just who it was asking for keys. Or whether my source was reliable. Or whether my source's source was reliable. Says it doesn't have any clients there, either. Which makes you wonder why Julian Housing and CPNs would have any interest in keys. Cotman, Julian and CPNs still to reply. Curious footnote to the effect that the buck doesn't belong to him. And Mr Brook appears to be one of the few managers I know that is happy to use a digitised signature. Letter from Mind.
Leathes Prior very kindly confirms that I have not got the job as a paralegal! Rejection. Rather amusing, considering how they behaved when I paid them for some work.
26/2/2
Norfolk Fire Service gets back to me, re: NORCI. Hard to tell quite how they see my worries. And they seem unable to note the difference between my first worry and the latest. Granted, both communications concerned additional partioning of the workshops. However, the first related to work already completed, and unaccounted for. The second related to an intent to undertake further work. Further work would, presumably, still constitute a breach of the 'no more alterations' advice orginally given by the Fire Service prior to the first tranche of work. Either that or they've changed their minds. Perhaps they now offer a service along the lines of pollution quotas? The more you pay, the greater the fire risk the Fire Service will stomach. Buying other people's rights to fire hazards. Not sure that I feel like alerting the Fire Service to problems any more, if it's going to grass me up. Think I might feel like buying another stupid joke yellow plastic fire hat, though. Letter. Or perhaps the Fire Service suffers from the three buses at once problem? It never happens.
Called the police the other day, as there was a fight going on in the street outside. Some poor sod with blood on his hand and neck. Two police cars and ambulance turned up. Luckily for the chap getting the worst of it someone had separated the combatants before they got there (actually, the one seemed to be doing little more than attempting to fend off blows). Hope there won't be another fight near me in the next six weeks!
Have just come across a web site at www.norfolk-police.co.uk, about police corruption which was apparently put together by Surrey police. Odd! I was looking for the local police web site, which turns out to be at the completely differently named www.norfolk.police.uk.
Now that I have had a chance to wander round town (being, now, a government employee, on the princely wage of about £53/week) I am concerned to note that there appear to be rather a large number of shops closing down in Norwich. Lots of old empty shells.
Apologies to all for slight local font discrepancy! That's the trouble with HTML - one tag missing and everything goes to pot!
Check out the official guidance from the Department of Health on the Data Protection Act for Social Services. Guidance to Social Services.
25/2/2
Encryption: a beginner's toolkit - build your own simple, but effective, encryption system. Toolkit (837kb).
Consomme Surprise. A delightful recipe for a piquant spinach soup! Recipe (90kb).
Me just outside California! California here I come!
Halfway there. A pic I thought would be rather amusing, just after a particular boxing match (let me see, that would be 1997, I think) at a spot halfway between London and Norwich I had passed going both ways a few times. Referee!
23/2/2
Here's me, now! Last pic dated from before I went into hospital in 1999. This taken today. Tried some weeks ago, but head to shiny! Still too shiny, hence hat! Wretched machine not focusing clearly.
Cheeeeese!
A little local history. Where did the industry in this town go?
Boots and shoes! Boots and shoes! Boots and shoes!
Pages 1 and 2 (Word, 725kb)
Pages 3 and 4 (Word 929kb)
Page 1 (233kb)
Page 2 (467kb)
Page 3 (438kb)
Page 4 (464kb)
My old block of flats was, supposedly, built on the site of a shoe factory (or was it an iron works - depends on who you believe - or is it just timing?). So was the City Hall!
Curiously, a mental health clinic in Norwich, The Norvic Clinic, appears to have been named after a rubber-soled croquet shoe made in Norwich! See leaflet for details!
Info Commissioner got back to me today, to return documents. Also, reply imminent on Social Services. If you read it, I was aware that some of the material I sent them lay outside their remit. Letter
Norwich Area Librarian has repsonded to my letter on the role of a modern library. Letter I suspect she has ignored, slightly, one or two of my comments. Interesting point in it about religion. I suspect reports are not filtering up clearly, in some respects.
Have confidence! A quick guide to libel (If it's true, you're safe!)
22/2/2
NMHC quizzed by Info Commissioner
'It is unlikely that the processing concerned is being carried out in compliance with the provisions of the Act, in that the Trust [Norfolk Mental Health Care NHS] have failed to respond to your subject access request within the 40 days specified by the Act'. - Compliance Officer, Information Commissioner. Full letter.
DSS apologises for sending so much data. From this letter, it appears they suffer from an IT department that thinks it has a much better idea of what the IT users want than it does.
WIN a dictionary, thesaurus, book of quotations and guide to language with this fabulous precompleted Focus Magazine Crossword! (61kb) Get it to them by 29th March: Focus Xword no. 11, Focus Magazine, Origin Publishing, 14th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol, BS1 3BN; or email it to: focus@originpublishing.co.uk
Just thought I'd upload this email, as I was rather pleased with it. (You may say I'm small-minded). It's a control world!.
:)
:(
21/2/2
What happens if you stick your arm down the workings of a washing machine to find out whether the main drum's driven wheel is grooved for vee-belts without unplugging it? - Answer: Arr (gh) - Pretty stupid behaviour for a graduate engineer, huh? Then again, it was pretty stupid behaviour when I got a belt or tingle from the last two or is it three, now, washing machines, while investigating them with the mains still on. Some people never learn! Have to say that this is the most damage caused to date. Mostly just a buzz or tingle before. Ho hum.
NORCI has returned data under terms of Data Protection Act. 150 pages. No charge requested. Cover letter. NORCI also appears to have a problem with the word 'all' (see dictionary definition, below). Also, curiously, NORCI's files appear to contain the same spelling error for the name of the block of flats in which I live as the Jobcentre made (ie: 'Parmentagate', not 'Parmentergate'). Probabilty freaks might like to calculate the likelihood of this. I shall be making enquiries. NORCI also appears to have limited facilities for dumping out computerised data. And, it appears to have diarised a brief meeting between myself and a member of staff during which I asked for my headphones back. Interestingly, NORCI appears to be unable to report a short meeting accurately. Among the errors of reporting on the discussion contained, the printed note I have been supplied with states that the Woodwork Department at NORCI is actually closing. I was not told this. I merely understood NORCI to be shoe-horning a computer department into it. It also neglects to mention that I suggested that NORCI really did need another navel-gazer (Suzi Heybourne) to help Alan Holland. More after I've read it
INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN STOP HAVE ACQUIRED HIGH QUALITY EAVESDROPPING DEVICE STOP TRIED IT OUT AT JOBCENTRE THIS MORNING STOP STILL NO WORK IN INTELLIGENCE STOP CURSES STOP USED IT WHILE TALKING TO MY QUOTE CONTROLLER QUOTE STOP CRIPES ITS ALMOST LIKE THE PERSON IS SITTING TWO FOOT AWAY STOP WOMAN NEXT TO ME SUGGESTED CIA STOP SOME PEOPLE JUST HAVE NO FEEL FOR THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS IN THIS WORLD STOP MUST DASH STOP PIP PIP STOP JJ STOP
By the way - it's not grooved.
20/2/2
Have made formal request to Data Commission for assessment of NMHC NHS Trust and Norfolk County Council Social Services. Requests for Assessment (189kb)
18/2/2
Have discovered that if you click on the counter image (foot of page) it'll show you graphs of my viewing figures! Try it!
This front page is due for removal, shortly. Expect single-page alphabetised version soon - assuming someone doesn't drop something I can write a long, varied and detailed letter about into my lap!
I've put a web site together for the residents of Parmentergate Court. Just a simple one. Only about two days' work, really. Check it out: parmentergate.0catch.com
16/2/2
Mind has replied to my letter regarding its habit of procuring keys to the houses of people it is 'concerned about' in order to 'remove them without attracting attention'. As it seemed rather inadequate, I have sent a number of other letters out:
Mind's reply to me - It more or less says 'We'll do what we please!'.
Reply to person from Mind who wrote to me - Oh no you won't!
Letter to Chief Exec, Mind - Is this the kind of PR you want?
Letter to Charity Commission - Straighten this out, please!
Letter to Patron of Mind - never written to a princess before!
Letter to MP - I've had enough of the attitude of charities to accountability!
Defn: 'all'. - For those struggling with the meaning of it. The same site also provides 12 more definitions of slightly different uses, including b***** all, which is how much data I've had back from NMHC NHS Trust after requesting it under the terms of the Data Protection Act.
15/2/2
STOP THE WAR! Letter to MP
Data Protection Act Letter to DSS Data Protection Officer
12/2/2
Parmentergate Court Residents' Association meeting last night revealed that Mind, Julian Housing (mental health housing charity) and some CPNs had asked for, and in two cases, received keys to the outer gates and to the car park of Parmentergate Court in order to be able to remove individuals without attracting attention. The housing association gave them the keys. The individuals for whom the organisations expressed concern did were not asked, and neither was the Residents' Association. Rather scandalous, really! Spose it'll be the police wanting keys, next?
If you experience any difficulty downloading these files, try searching my site for a likely key word, eg: residents. The site may have an upper/lower case conflict problem. Have checked function as OK (12/2/2) so shouldn't be any problems, though.
Clrk1222.doc Letter to MP
Cthsgkey.doc Letter to Housing Association
Julikey.doc Letter to Julian Housing
Mindkey.doc Letter to Mind HQ
Wrig1222.doc Letter to Head Norfolk Soc Services
11/2/2
Official ZeroCatch stats today: 685 hits, 323 unique visitors (whatever the counter at the foot may say!).
Received data back from DSS today, as per Data Protection Act request. No less than 445 pages!!! Had to go and pick it up, as postman didn't bother to wait when he rang on Saturday. No charge requested.
Also, went to pick up defunct earphones that I'd left in the hope of repair, some while back, at NORCI. Sadly, irreperable.
NORCI apparently going ahead with plan to install 15-station computer suite in the woodwork department of its workshops. Apparently, the two Karten Centres, with 12 and 10 stations each (unless they've actually got around to making room for the final three and two) are not enough. Naturally, I expect that they have already, in the five working weeks or so that I have not been there had detailed plans drawn up for the modifications to the woodwork department that they intend to make, have submitted them to the Council for Building Plans approval (and, possibly, planning permission), and have also got such plans as have been thus-wise approved approved by the Fire Department (which has, in the past, said that there were to be NO more alterations to the already over-complex building). Suzi Heybourne now, apparently, joins Alan Holland as an official navel-gazer. Just what the organisation needed! Naturally, the rest of the staff expressed complete confidence in the continued funding of their jobs and other operations in the organisation.
9/2/2
If you want to know the time, it'll cost you 50p!
I'll chase the nasty man that took your bag in a moment, but first, a word from our sponsors!
Go to minipoll
Transcribed the more dilemmic part of The Doctor's Dilemma, from the preface (15kb). Try it! You'll love it!
One good appendicitis -
Or a cure for St. Vitus dance
Pays for a Harley Street Surgeon's
Vacation in the South of France.
Spike Milligan, from 'Spike Milligan A Celebration', Virgin Books, (1998?, copyright 1995), ISBN 0-86369-929-4
Saw some bods advertising the Monsters Inc movie, and the lovely lady in the furry blue and purple outfit (Sully) even did the 'Scary feet! Scary feet! Scary feet!' shuffle for me!
Anyone think of any Norwich jokes? You know: 'There was a Lynn man, an Ipswich man and a Norwich man...'.
I say, I say, I say! How do you confuse a man from Norwich?
Show him some police cars and tell him to take his pic!
Just add them to the discussion forum!
Seems rude to have a happy birthday message here without noting the death of Margaret. Not that I expect royalty to view my web site. I believe the word to use is 'condolences'
8/2/2
'Happy birthday!' to anybody having a birthday, today (or about now)!
Am in contact with another solicitor regarding employment law. Have agreed, since he asked, not to post copies of communications. Expect news in a week or so!
7/2/2
HAD TO SIGN ON TODAY STOP WORE SAID DECORATED FBI JACKET STOP ONLY PR JOBS AVAILABLE STOP ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY INTELLIGENCE WORK STOP UNABLE TO PROVIDE EVEN ADDRESS OF MI5 OR MI6 STOP EGAD STOP ITS BAD DOWN HERE STOP EFFECTED EXIT USING ALL AVAILABLE COVER STOP THIS CHANNEL INSECURE STOP MUST GO STOP BYE STOP JJ STOP
Have finally got round to reading the play of 'The Doctor's Dilemma', by Shaw. Am expecting to investigate Fabians , as a result. Had previously only read preamble (this link only very small part of it), which, in itself, was very interesting. See also Fabius Maximus Cunctator Quintus
Here is Moorcroft apology: Moorcroft
What does a huge dose of steroids do to your skin (or is it a key internal organ)? Check out this pic of my right hand, over a year later! My hand (978kb) I may be about to try weaning myself off the (now mild) steroids that I use, again, so compare this with the situation in a week or so! Expect considerable pocking and pitting!
Have been protesting, today, about intelligence failure in WTC, and at local police policy on sponsored cars. Have plastered FBI jacket with 'adverts' (Myra's childcare, Ron 'n' Reg Insurance, Biggs Couriers, Penge Housing, AIB (late breaker, here!) Crippen's patent cures, Fly Osama Airways and a note to the effect that you can add your logo here).
Humourless lot, in Norwich!
Get rich quicker! More letters from Leathes Have now approached a new law firm. In addition to asking them to undertake the original work, I am also asking them to action for professional negligence on the part of Leathes Prior. Fun fun fun!
Rather pointless letter back from Benefits Agency regarding the volume of mail they send (!): Excess post
Moorcroft has already written back to me (sadly, copy in letterbox, still!). Say they now have no data on me, as they have deleted it.
Finally got round to beginning to deal with some nuisance mail. MOORCRFT.DOC - (13KB)
Also, thought I'd add a simple temperature conversion chart for those whose thermometers don't read the right scale and who might be suffering from Winter Vomiting disease, or similar. TEMPCNV.XLS
Apologies for not having computerised the washing machine door temperatures, yet! However, I did point out that I would attempt to do this within the next ten months
Am attempting to add free SMS service to this site, but not ready yet. (Operator error, again!).
Some people just don't seem to have confidence in their own work! They also seem to have a very curious outlook on just what constitutes whose property, once sold! Personally, I was under the impression that, for example, cashing a cheque for £200 and handing over some goods (for example, a letter) might, in the eyes of the law, lead many people to think that ownership of the said letter had been established. Perhaps this is a hot topic for debate in the legal world, at present? Or was that one resolved some while ago? Check out the latest from the happeningest law firm in Norwich, Leathes Prior (freedom of speech a speciality) Latest law report. I'm still waiting for them to complete their side of the bargain. More later. (Smiling sweetly :) ).
I await an itemised list of the precise matters of any content I may have 'published' (if that is, indeed, the right term) that might be regarded, by (a large proportion of) the general public (if that happens to be an important factor) as 'prejudicial'. Not too sure what an expert media lawyer might mean by the word 'prejudicial', but am beginning to wonder whether Mr Barlow does.
By the way, I might add another 'picture story' to my web site about companies that use cowboy telephone numbers, as Leathes Prior does, to indicate some greater connection with the police (american or otherwise) than, perhaps, they may truly have. 01603 610 911. Or is it 01603 610 999?
Nee naa nee naa nee naa!
What happens if you send primed caps through the post? Is it a practical joke? (348kb)
What do Sectioning papers look like? And how do they treat caps? Section papers (154kb)
Get out of jail free! What do you have to do if you want to go and buy another patient in a psychiatric hospital some sanitary towels from Asda? Section 17 leave (79kb)
My lawyer's latest response to me See also GO-East for get rich quick schemes. I await letter from senior partner.
LEATHES.DOC - My reply to the lawyer, re: Harry Potter, etc.
CLARK861.DOC Just what happens at a Section 117 (Mental Health Act) aftercare meeting?
Have changed question on minipoll (see immediately below), and added several fun questions to the discussion forum (click on tools etc above to go to end).
Punk rock appears to be completely inaccessible on library PCs, here. I-Gear policing forbids. Bye bye 70s!
Met a man who was in new Norwich hospital over Xmas. What was it like? 'Dirty!'
One Oz viewer says my site is Netscape-unfriendly. It uses spaces in file names. I shall endeavour to correct this!
My lawyer's response to Harry Potter and other issues - what does paying for the best lawyer in town get you?
By the way, I forgot to add, in my footnote, that I also raised the matter of Jemima J, Dr Terrible, Mr Charity and Dangerous D@ta. Small matter, really. Check out Leathes Prior to discover their priorities! - Very 80s feel to it!
Employment Service has sent back data it holds on me including manual data. Computerised data supplied (81kb)
Site search: 0catch doesn't allow hotlinking to non-html files on free sites, so you'll have to note things down. It shows some files as 'not found', even if they are there, and it omits space characters from names. Got it from WhatUSeek.com
I am learning modern Greek.
Spot the police car! - Picture story being assembled
Your logo here!
Check out this wacky Rezillos link!
With apologies to The Rezillos and Supertramp, but none to the FBI and other security services that let it happen.
How many secret service agents does it take to change a lightbulb?Lightbulb? What lightbulb?
Demons latest:
Was Tracy hallucinating? Asimov on LSD, hallucinations and raised serotonin levels
RADNORF.DOC - Radio Norfolk's preview of Everyman prog
daniela.volker@bbc.co.uk - producer of Everyman prog