Field Marshall Slim, Army Commander South East Asia WWIIOnly the second private soldier ever to gain the highest army rank
10 July 2006
Slim
Field Marshall Slim, Army Commander South East Asia WWIIOnly the second private soldier ever to gain the highest army rank
09 July 2006
Swearing for Britain
Friday’s Metro (the paper that has done more to litter London’s public transport system than McDonalds, Burger King and KFC combined) carried a story about a hapless tube traveller who, after swearing, was pounced on by six police officers and fined £80.
The man, identified only as Phil, was walking through a metal detector at Highbury and Islington station, North London, when he murmured that it was 'a piece of shit that wouldn't stop anyone'. He was then grabbed by police who detained him for about 20 minutes before giving him an £80 fine.
I would like to salute Phil for his civic duty, no his PATRIOTISM. In the full knowledge that the Government is facing a significant budget deficit he selflessly helped reduce the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement. He is nothing short of a hero in my view.
As a good citizen and in solidarity with Phil I would like also to do my bit for Britain:
Arse, Wank, Bollocks, Tits, Fuck, Shit and Bastard..
Feel free to do likewise even if overseas. I am sure the Inland Revenue takes Paypal.....
The man, identified only as Phil, was walking through a metal detector at Highbury and Islington station, North London, when he murmured that it was 'a piece of shit that wouldn't stop anyone'. He was then grabbed by police who detained him for about 20 minutes before giving him an £80 fine.
I would like to salute Phil for his civic duty, no his PATRIOTISM. In the full knowledge that the Government is facing a significant budget deficit he selflessly helped reduce the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement. He is nothing short of a hero in my view.
As a good citizen and in solidarity with Phil I would like also to do my bit for Britain:
Arse, Wank, Bollocks, Tits, Fuck, Shit and Bastard..
Feel free to do likewise even if overseas. I am sure the Inland Revenue takes Paypal.....
08 July 2006
Squaring the Sphere
This post was a comment on a shite Stalinst apologist site regarding the virtues of the Peters Map over the older Mercator Projection. The comment, shown below:
“Peter’s World Map is only one that represents countries, continents, and seas accurately according to their surface areas…..We have been duped into believing false facts about the Earth and for self serving political reason. Traditional Mercator maps show countries incorrectly in proportion or relative size to one another, to the advantage of the European colonial powers who drew the maps as they dominated and exploited the world, while the southern continents (Africa, South America, Australia) are shown far too small. “
I am neither a cartographer nor geographer but I have always loved maps. The comment struck reminded me of arguments years back over this issue, one where Mercator was portrayed as a cartographical demon and Peters as an angel.
The Demon
The Mercator projection was devised by Flemish mathematician Gerhard Kremer (= merchant in English or Mercator in Latin) in 1569 as a tool for navigation. Its layout is such that a navigator can simply draw a line between two points and he will know the correct compass bearing.
As a navigational aid the Mercator projection is excellent but it was never intended for use in world maps as it increasingly inflates the size of land masses, the further they are away from the equator: as a result Greenland appears to be as big as Africa. Sadly that did not stop its use by non geographers in wall maps, atlases and just about anywhere else. This would appear to give some credence to the argument that its flaws - making Western Europe appear much larger than it is reality - suited the colonial powers and thus ensured its longevity. In reality the most likely reason for its continued use outside the world of navigation is inertia rather than racism.
Geographers have criticised the use of the Mercator Projection for over 100 years. For example, in 1902, a cartographer warned, "People's ideas of geography are not founded on actual facts but on Mercator's map." In 1953 Arthur Robinson in the fist edition of Elements of Cartography textbook, called the Mercator projection "of little use for purposes other than navigation.”
The Angel
Peters Projection
In 1973 historian and journalist Arno Peters announced a new map projection that that treated countries fairly by representing area accurately. Peters claimed that his projection more fairly displayed third world countries than the Mercator projection because of its distortion of Eurasia and North America. When announced it was also claimed in some quarters that the Peters Projection was the only "area-correct" map, it had no “extreme distortions of form" and was "totally distance-factual.
While the Peters map does more or less show the attribute the correct area to land masses, to say that it is the only “area correct” map is simply not true. Equal area maps have been around for centuries. The Peters Projection itself is identical to one described in 1855 by Scotsman James Gall. In turn the Gall Orthographic Projection was a modification of the Lambert Cylindrical Equal-Area Projection, published in 1772. It would appear that Peters arrived at his projection independently and there is no suggestion of plagiarism on his behalf.
Many of the other claims are also false. The Peters projection still has extreme distortion in the polar regions and significant distortion along the equator. Surprisingly the minimum distortion actually occurs at 45 degrees of latitude (where Germany sits). This in itself partly undermines any assertion that it treats the Third World more justly, for it significantly changes the shape of both Africa and South America.. Where it does work, is to challenge our perceptions of the planet
Squaring the sphere
Presenting Cartography as a straight fight between Mercator and Peters ignores the hundred of projections developed over the centuries. However, because any projection tries to render a globe onto a cylinder there is not a world map in existence that does not distort distance, shape, area, or direction in some way shape or form. Neither the Peters nor the Mercator projection gives a good indication of what the earth really looks like.
Winkel Tripel Projection
Other projections do give a rather better representation of the Earth than either Mercator or Peters. For example The National Geographic Society uses the Winkel Tripel projection, It is still flawed in many ways but it does presents the world in a more globe-like manner. At the end of the day, however, if you want to see the world as it really is, get a globe
Further Reading
Peters v Mercator
Diversophy An explanation and Guide to the Peters Map
Social Consciousness and World Maps by John P Snyder
Winkel Triple Projection
Wikipedia article on Gall-Peters Projection
Wikipedia article on the Mercator Projection
Mercator
Peters
Maps
“Peter’s World Map is only one that represents countries, continents, and seas accurately according to their surface areas…..We have been duped into believing false facts about the Earth and for self serving political reason. Traditional Mercator maps show countries incorrectly in proportion or relative size to one another, to the advantage of the European colonial powers who drew the maps as they dominated and exploited the world, while the southern continents (Africa, South America, Australia) are shown far too small. “
I am neither a cartographer nor geographer but I have always loved maps. The comment struck reminded me of arguments years back over this issue, one where Mercator was portrayed as a cartographical demon and Peters as an angel.
The Demon
Mercator Projection
The Mercator projection was devised by Flemish mathematician Gerhard Kremer (= merchant in English or Mercator in Latin) in 1569 as a tool for navigation. Its layout is such that a navigator can simply draw a line between two points and he will know the correct compass bearing.
As a navigational aid the Mercator projection is excellent but it was never intended for use in world maps as it increasingly inflates the size of land masses, the further they are away from the equator: as a result Greenland appears to be as big as Africa. Sadly that did not stop its use by non geographers in wall maps, atlases and just about anywhere else. This would appear to give some credence to the argument that its flaws - making Western Europe appear much larger than it is reality - suited the colonial powers and thus ensured its longevity. In reality the most likely reason for its continued use outside the world of navigation is inertia rather than racism.
Geographers have criticised the use of the Mercator Projection for over 100 years. For example, in 1902, a cartographer warned, "People's ideas of geography are not founded on actual facts but on Mercator's map." In 1953 Arthur Robinson in the fist edition of Elements of Cartography textbook, called the Mercator projection "of little use for purposes other than navigation.”
The Angel
Peters ProjectionIn 1973 historian and journalist Arno Peters announced a new map projection that that treated countries fairly by representing area accurately. Peters claimed that his projection more fairly displayed third world countries than the Mercator projection because of its distortion of Eurasia and North America. When announced it was also claimed in some quarters that the Peters Projection was the only "area-correct" map, it had no “extreme distortions of form" and was "totally distance-factual.
Gall Orthographic Projection
While the Peters map does more or less show the attribute the correct area to land masses, to say that it is the only “area correct” map is simply not true. Equal area maps have been around for centuries. The Peters Projection itself is identical to one described in 1855 by Scotsman James Gall. In turn the Gall Orthographic Projection was a modification of the Lambert Cylindrical Equal-Area Projection, published in 1772. It would appear that Peters arrived at his projection independently and there is no suggestion of plagiarism on his behalf.
Lambert Cylindrical Equal Area Projection
Many of the other claims are also false. The Peters projection still has extreme distortion in the polar regions and significant distortion along the equator. Surprisingly the minimum distortion actually occurs at 45 degrees of latitude (where Germany sits). This in itself partly undermines any assertion that it treats the Third World more justly, for it significantly changes the shape of both Africa and South America.. Where it does work, is to challenge our perceptions of the planet
Squaring the sphere
Presenting Cartography as a straight fight between Mercator and Peters ignores the hundred of projections developed over the centuries. However, because any projection tries to render a globe onto a cylinder there is not a world map in existence that does not distort distance, shape, area, or direction in some way shape or form. Neither the Peters nor the Mercator projection gives a good indication of what the earth really looks like.
Winkel Tripel ProjectionOther projections do give a rather better representation of the Earth than either Mercator or Peters. For example The National Geographic Society uses the Winkel Tripel projection, It is still flawed in many ways but it does presents the world in a more globe-like manner. At the end of the day, however, if you want to see the world as it really is, get a globe
Further Reading
Peters v Mercator
Diversophy An explanation and Guide to the Peters Map
Social Consciousness and World Maps by John P Snyder
Winkel Triple Projection
Wikipedia article on Gall-Peters Projection
Wikipedia article on the Mercator Projection
Mercator
Peters
Maps
07 July 2006
One year ago today four suicide bombers took the lives of 52 people in London. They may believed it was some sort of blow a blow for justice against the evils, real or perceived, committed by Britain against fellow Muslims but it was murder, simply muder. The bombers made no attempt to strike against the machinery of state. They chose instead to destroy the lives of ordinary Londoners. As Mayor Ken Livingstone put it:
“I want to say one thing specifically to the world today. This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.
That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved.”
Ken Livingstone’s analysis was utterly correct. It was an evil act commited by deluded people. Nothing can justify what the bombers did one year ago
The BBC still maintains a list of the dead along with brief biographies. Here is just one of them:
Gladys Wundowa
The death of Gladys Wundowa, 50, prompted a visit from the president of her native Ghana at her family home in Chadwell Heath, Essex. The mother-of-two died from injuries sustained on the number 30 bus in Tavistock Square. President John Kufuor, on his way back to Ghana from an official visit to Jamaica, shared his condolences with her husband, Emmanuel, their 16-year-old daughter Azuma, son Zakari, 14, and other relatives and friends.
On 7 July, Mrs Wundowa, who had lived in London for 18 years, finished her cleaning job in the department of civil and environmental engineering at University College London at 0900 BST and was heading towards Hackney on the bus, for a meeting to do with her housing management course.
Her husband, an architect who was working as a security guard, watched the news on television and became concerned when his wife failed to arrive home. After three days of searching, the family received confirmation that she was dead. One year on, Mr Wundowa said the sense of loss was greater than ever. The couple had made plans to move back to Ghana and live in a house they were in the process of building. "She never had a problem with anyone. She would give her last dime to make you comfortable. And cheerful, always smiling." Mrs Wundowa also volunteered at a charity which helped African immigrants to settle in London, and she was heavily involved in Downs Baptist Church in Hackney. She was buried in her home village in Ghana, where 2,000 mourners attended her funeral.
“I want to say one thing specifically to the world today. This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.
That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved.”
Ken Livingstone’s analysis was utterly correct. It was an evil act commited by deluded people. Nothing can justify what the bombers did one year ago
The BBC still maintains a list of the dead along with brief biographies. Here is just one of them:
Gladys Wundowa
The death of Gladys Wundowa, 50, prompted a visit from the president of her native Ghana at her family home in Chadwell Heath, Essex. The mother-of-two died from injuries sustained on the number 30 bus in Tavistock Square. President John Kufuor, on his way back to Ghana from an official visit to Jamaica, shared his condolences with her husband, Emmanuel, their 16-year-old daughter Azuma, son Zakari, 14, and other relatives and friends.
On 7 July, Mrs Wundowa, who had lived in London for 18 years, finished her cleaning job in the department of civil and environmental engineering at University College London at 0900 BST and was heading towards Hackney on the bus, for a meeting to do with her housing management course.
Her husband, an architect who was working as a security guard, watched the news on television and became concerned when his wife failed to arrive home. After three days of searching, the family received confirmation that she was dead. One year on, Mr Wundowa said the sense of loss was greater than ever. The couple had made plans to move back to Ghana and live in a house they were in the process of building. "She never had a problem with anyone. She would give her last dime to make you comfortable. And cheerful, always smiling." Mrs Wundowa also volunteered at a charity which helped African immigrants to settle in London, and she was heavily involved in Downs Baptist Church in Hackney. She was buried in her home village in Ghana, where 2,000 mourners attended her funeral.
06 July 2006
Caedite eos! Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eiu
Al Jazeera television today carried a video featuring London suicide bomber Shehzad Tanweer. Tanweer, 23, killed six people and himself on a tube train near Aldgate station on 7 July last year. "What have you witnessed now is only the beginning of a string of attacks that will continue and become stronger until you pull your forces out of Afghanistan and Iraq and until you stop your financial and military support to America and Israel." He said.
He also referred to the non-Muslims of Britain and saying that because they voted for a government which “continues to oppress… in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya”, then they deserve such actions.
Given the other content, including that from Al Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahri, the video intended to make a link between the London bombers and Al-Qaeda. It was also intended to cause the greatest possible hurt to the families and friends of those who died on 7/7 and the hundreds of people who were injured in the terrorist attacks.
Shehzad Tanweer has been proved wrong so far when he said the attacks would increase – God forbid he will be proved right. His argument that any British person is fair game because they voted for the Government is simply a pathetic attempt to justify their choice of target. It hardly accounts for the Muslims who where killed or wounded at their hands but then again he would probably subscribe to the infamous “Kill them all God will know his own” quote attributed Arnaud Amaury during the Albigensian Crusade is appropriate (the original Latin phrase is the title of this post).
Tanweer is dead but London abides. I left work early today and went to Trafalgar Square with the intention to take a few more photographs of the Alison Lapper statue It was a normal day, very different to this time last year when there were major celebrations to mark the occasion of London being awarded the 2012 Olympics. Today it is was a normal day with tourists from all around the world going about their tourist affairs, dipping their feet in the fountain and generally being happy with the world. It gave me a great sense of well being just to see this. Tanweer failed.
The Tanweer story is available from just about every news source
He also referred to the non-Muslims of Britain and saying that because they voted for a government which “continues to oppress… in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya”, then they deserve such actions.
Given the other content, including that from Al Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahri, the video intended to make a link between the London bombers and Al-Qaeda. It was also intended to cause the greatest possible hurt to the families and friends of those who died on 7/7 and the hundreds of people who were injured in the terrorist attacks.
Shehzad Tanweer has been proved wrong so far when he said the attacks would increase – God forbid he will be proved right. His argument that any British person is fair game because they voted for the Government is simply a pathetic attempt to justify their choice of target. It hardly accounts for the Muslims who where killed or wounded at their hands but then again he would probably subscribe to the infamous “Kill them all God will know his own” quote attributed Arnaud Amaury during the Albigensian Crusade is appropriate (the original Latin phrase is the title of this post).
Tanweer is dead but London abides. I left work early today and went to Trafalgar Square with the intention to take a few more photographs of the Alison Lapper statue It was a normal day, very different to this time last year when there were major celebrations to mark the occasion of London being awarded the 2012 Olympics. Today it is was a normal day with tourists from all around the world going about their tourist affairs, dipping their feet in the fountain and generally being happy with the world. It gave me a great sense of well being just to see this. Tanweer failed.
The Tanweer story is available from just about every news source
04 July 2006
Photos 4th July
Another image from Rodin's Burghers of Calais
Arch at Houses of Parliament
Archbishop Luwum of Uganda who was murdered by Amin in 1977. One of the 10 "Modern Martyr" statues over the main entrance to Westminster AbbeyAll photos were taken today. I will post more of today's photos on Plant Porn and Pussycats shortly
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