The French yacht "Actuel", en route from St Pierre & Miquelon (Canada) to Le Havre (France) is overdue. The yacht left Canada on May 21st, and has not been heard of since May 24th. Its crew was contemplating a stop over in Scotland or Ireland along the way. An international search effort is underway in the middle of the Atlantic, where the yacht was last known to be.
If you have any information on or communication with this vessel, please advise the Coastguard as soon as possible.
Please relay
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Thursday 18 June
Breezy day today, with plenty of beefy showers about. The ferry just came in, pretty much on time, but with a bit of a green haze about it. Can't be a pleasant crossing.
Here in Stornoway, Woolworths are making a come-back with a store named Wee W [Wee = Scots for small, little]. I have to stop myself calling them Wee Wees, because Woolies is actually sorely missed by shoppers and shopkeepers alike. Although we have a backstreet shop called Alladin's Cave, which stocks all sorts of knick-knacks that Woolies used to keep, it has nowhere near the capacity of the larger store. Woolworths went bankrupt in December, and it left a large void in Stornoway's Cromwell Street, the main shopping area in town. The below picture was taken in April 2005.
Here in Stornoway, Woolworths are making a come-back with a store named Wee W [Wee = Scots for small, little]. I have to stop myself calling them Wee Wees, because Woolies is actually sorely missed by shoppers and shopkeepers alike. Although we have a backstreet shop called Alladin's Cave, which stocks all sorts of knick-knacks that Woolies used to keep, it has nowhere near the capacity of the larger store. Woolworths went bankrupt in December, and it left a large void in Stornoway's Cromwell Street, the main shopping area in town. The below picture was taken in April 2005.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Wednesday 17 June
Showery weather today, and in the last half hour or so there were two rainbows. One ended over the lighthouse, so the lady that lives in the Keeper's Cottage should have had a very good evening. The sun is currently out (else no rainbow).
Very bad news for the Western Isles economy, particularly for the Uists (60 miles south of here). The rocket range at South Uist and Benbecula will shed 125 jobs, which is a harsh blow to the community of 5,000. Efforts are underway to minimise the impact, but savings of £50m appear to be the driving force behind the economies.
As I type, the rainbow is back, slowly moving towards the Fabrication Yard. They could do with a crock of gold. They're forever going bust.
Very bad news for the Western Isles economy, particularly for the Uists (60 miles south of here). The rocket range at South Uist and Benbecula will shed 125 jobs, which is a harsh blow to the community of 5,000. Efforts are underway to minimise the impact, but savings of £50m appear to be the driving force behind the economies.
As I type, the rainbow is back, slowly moving towards the Fabrication Yard. They could do with a crock of gold. They're forever going bust.
Parliament in disrepute
SING A SONG OF PARLIAMENT,
POCKETS FULL OF CASH,
FRAUDULENTLY CLAIMING
AND ADDING TO THEIR STASH;
WITH THEIR PLOY DISCOVERED
THEY SAID THEY'LL GIVE IT BACK.
IF YOU OR I HAD DONE THE SAME
WE'D PROMPTLY GET THE SACK.
SING A SONG OF FREEBIES,
SNOUTS ALL IN THE TROUGH.
GIVING BACK THEIR ILL- GOT GAINS
IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
SPONGING OFF OUR EARNINGS
WITH A LIKELY TALE,
IF WORKING FOLK HAD DONE
THE SAME
THEY'D SOON END UP IN JAIL.
SING A SONG OF FRAUDSTERS
COUNTING OUT THEIR MONEY.
THEY SMILE AND LOOK QUITE
UNASHAMED,
AS THOUGH THEY THINK ITS FUNNY;
SITTNG IN A SECRET PLACE,
COUNTING OUT THEIR DOSH,
ON PLUGS FOR BATHS AND
CLEANING MOATS,
FOR CRISPS AND ORANGE SQUASH.
SING A SONG OF MP's
WHO TOOK US FOR A RIDE.
IT'S UP TO US ELECTION TIME
THEIR FUTURE TO DECIDE.
IT'S GONE TOO FAR TO BRING BACK TRUST
OF ANYONE IN POWER.
TO MOST OF US THEY'LL ALWAYS BE
A SHIFTY, CROOKED SHOWER.
POCKETS FULL OF CASH,
FRAUDULENTLY CLAIMING
AND ADDING TO THEIR STASH;
WITH THEIR PLOY DISCOVERED
THEY SAID THEY'LL GIVE IT BACK.
IF YOU OR I HAD DONE THE SAME
WE'D PROMPTLY GET THE SACK.
SING A SONG OF FREEBIES,
SNOUTS ALL IN THE TROUGH.
GIVING BACK THEIR ILL- GOT GAINS
IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
SPONGING OFF OUR EARNINGS
WITH A LIKELY TALE,
IF WORKING FOLK HAD DONE
THE SAME
THEY'D SOON END UP IN JAIL.
SING A SONG OF FRAUDSTERS
COUNTING OUT THEIR MONEY.
THEY SMILE AND LOOK QUITE
UNASHAMED,
AS THOUGH THEY THINK ITS FUNNY;
SITTNG IN A SECRET PLACE,
COUNTING OUT THEIR DOSH,
ON PLUGS FOR BATHS AND
CLEANING MOATS,
FOR CRISPS AND ORANGE SQUASH.
SING A SONG OF MP's
WHO TOOK US FOR A RIDE.
IT'S UP TO US ELECTION TIME
THEIR FUTURE TO DECIDE.
IT'S GONE TOO FAR TO BRING BACK TRUST
OF ANYONE IN POWER.
TO MOST OF US THEY'LL ALWAYS BE
A SHIFTY, CROOKED SHOWER.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Evening notes
It's gone 10pm and it's gone quite dark. Darker than it has been for days at this hour. Why? Well, it's started to rain at half past nine. The lighthouse is on - and the sun isn't setting for another twenty minutes.
Yes, I'm a twitteroholic and as the site is down for maintenance I'm having withdrawal symptoms (lol). I have to be careful not to comment on blogs using too many @ signs or RT symbols. Twitter.com timed their downtime to make it the dead of night in Iran, where the opposition heavily relies on Twitter to get its info out. At the moment, it's 1.30 a.m. in Tehran.
Yes, I'm a twitteroholic and as the site is down for maintenance I'm having withdrawal symptoms (lol). I have to be careful not to comment on blogs using too many @ signs or RT symbols. Twitter.com timed their downtime to make it the dead of night in Iran, where the opposition heavily relies on Twitter to get its info out. At the moment, it's 1.30 a.m. in Tehran.
Tuesday 16 June
Bright day, but with a lot of high cloud about. Getting warm (by our standards), with the mercury up to 15C at midday. A cruiseliner has come and gone; the MV Island Sky entered port at 7 in the morning, and left about an hour ago. It was due to visit North Rona (70 miles northeast of here) at 7 am, but the weather appears to have been unfavourable at the time. A Twitter contact in North Lewis reported lashing rain at the time.
Anyone on Twitter who wishes to express solidarity with those in Iran who oppose the allegedly rigged election of president Ahmadinajad should adopt a green icon. My icon is green, showing the cat on a grassy backdrop.
Anyone on Twitter who wishes to express solidarity with those in Iran who oppose the allegedly rigged election of president Ahmadinajad should adopt a green icon. My icon is green, showing the cat on a grassy backdrop.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Double tragedy
The family who lost 38-year old Jacqueline Fleming to swineflu yesterday now also have to come to terms with the loss of her child. Jack, who was born 11 weeks premature on June 1st, died in the special care baby unit at the same hospital in Paisley where his mother passed away on Sunday.
MSC Napoli
Those who have followed me here from Northern Trip may remember my report on the sinking of the container carrier MSC Napoli off Branscombe Bay in Devon in January 2007. The image above shows her on 21 January 2007. This was followed by widespread looting of its cargo when the containers washed up ashore. The Napoli has been cut into pieces and the last bit will be lifted off the seabed in the next few weeks.
Recently, 1100 metres of chain have been lain on the seabed, under the wreck of the Napoli - 90 metres of chain weigh 12 tons - and these will be used to hoist bits of the wreck up. Read more on the MCGA website.
Hurricane update - 15 June
The Atlantic hurricane season has been underway for 2 weeks now, and the East Pacific season for a month. Only the Atlantic has seen a formal tropical depression form, and that one never gained sufficient strength to be given a name. In the East Pacific, neither has happened at all. It's still very quiet on the hurricane front, not abnormal for June. If you're in Hurricane Alley, don't drop your guard.
Monday 15 June
Swineflu last night claimed its first victim in the UK: 38-year old Jacqueline Fleming from Glasgow died in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, near the city. She had recently given birth to a premature baby. Meanwhile, here in the Western Isles, four people are kept under observation for suspected swineflu, which would be the first cases of the disease in the islands.
Across in Iran, the rumpus surrounding the allegedly rigged election of Mahmoud Ahmadinajad as president continues. The country's supreme leader has ordered an investigation, whilst the opposition leader, Mousavi, is warned he will be held responsible for the consequences of an illegal rally that is taking place in Tehran. Twitterers in Iran are seeking proxies to relay their messages through, and the authorities are trying to close those as quickly as possible. The messages do keep coming through on this Twitter Search.
In Stornoway, it is a bright, sunny day but with a cold-feeling easterly wind. Temperature 15C / 60F. Typical spring weather.
Across in Iran, the rumpus surrounding the allegedly rigged election of Mahmoud Ahmadinajad as president continues. The country's supreme leader has ordered an investigation, whilst the opposition leader, Mousavi, is warned he will be held responsible for the consequences of an illegal rally that is taking place in Tehran. Twitterers in Iran are seeking proxies to relay their messages through, and the authorities are trying to close those as quickly as possible. The messages do keep coming through on this Twitter Search.
In Stornoway, it is a bright, sunny day but with a cold-feeling easterly wind. Temperature 15C / 60F. Typical spring weather.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Sunday 14 June
Bright and sunny day, although I can see very distant showerclouds looming to the south. The rainfall radar shows (heavy) showers over Harris and West Lewis. Most of Scotland is under warning for heavy rainfall this afternoon - except for the northwest, where I am.
Regarding the Iranian presidential elections, it is rumoured that the electoral commission there has declared the poll invalid. If confirmed, that would make for an interesting situation. It would appear to be unlikely though for the result to be formally declared null and void. Ahmadinajad's re-election looks for all intents and purposes to be as momentous as the overthrow of the Shah, back in 1978/79.
Regarding the Iranian presidential elections, it is rumoured that the electoral commission there has declared the poll invalid. If confirmed, that would make for an interesting situation. It would appear to be unlikely though for the result to be formally declared null and void. Ahmadinajad's re-election looks for all intents and purposes to be as momentous as the overthrow of the Shah, back in 1978/79.
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Iranian Elections
Twitter once more comes into its own as a means of citizen reporting. This time from Iran, of all places. Rumours (sic) state that the elections were rigged to get current president Ahmadinajad reelected. You can get up to the second updates from people in Tehran and elsewhere in the country by searching for #IranElections on Twitter.com. The election results, as retweeted by @mahdi, were allegedly as follows:
1 Moussavi (45.54%)
2 Karroubi (31.95%)
3 Ahmadinejad (13.60%)
4 Rezaei (8.91%)
There are running battles with riot police in the streets of Tehran, vehicles set alight. Mobile phone and Internet networks are on and off the air.
1 Moussavi (45.54%)
2 Karroubi (31.95%)
3 Ahmadinejad (13.60%)
4 Rezaei (8.91%)
There are running battles with riot police in the streets of Tehran, vehicles set alight. Mobile phone and Internet networks are on and off the air.
Front picture
The new picture fronting Atlantic Lines as of this week shows Loch Suainebhat, which lies in the district of Uig. I took the image on Tuesday of this week near the end of a fairly challenging walk around the hill of Suainebhal which looms up on the left of the picture.
The complete lot of pics can be seen here.
The complete lot of pics can be seen here.
Saturday 13 June
Just watched a few minutes of Trooping the Colour, the Queen's birthday parade in London. Nicely choreographed. Think I prefer the Dutch Queen's birthday, some innocent fun to be had by all. Except for this year :-(
Facebook has introduced usernames, so I duly claimed ADB45. Any Facebook friends out there can now collar me using that acronym - http://www.facebook.com/adb45. Every Facebook user will have had an email with a link to a page to claim a username.
Iranians have voted to keep president Ahmadinajad in office, which does not augur too well for relations with the USA and Europe, which are strained to say the least. The belligerent rhetoric can be expected to continue. Iran has a nuclear capability, which it has always stressed is purely for peaceful means. Looking on the other side of the Asian continent, North Korea has announced it will start to enrich uranium, and use plutonium to make nuclear weapons.
Facebook has introduced usernames, so I duly claimed ADB45. Any Facebook friends out there can now collar me using that acronym - http://www.facebook.com/adb45. Every Facebook user will have had an email with a link to a page to claim a username.
Iranians have voted to keep president Ahmadinajad in office, which does not augur too well for relations with the USA and Europe, which are strained to say the least. The belligerent rhetoric can be expected to continue. Iran has a nuclear capability, which it has always stressed is purely for peaceful means. Looking on the other side of the Asian continent, North Korea has announced it will start to enrich uranium, and use plutonium to make nuclear weapons.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Late light
The above picture was taken at 10pm earlier this week, and shows the television on the BBC News at 10. Newscaster Huw Edwards is at Westminster, which is in complete darkness. The window to the right of the television set shows the broad daylight outside, here in Stornoway. As per usual in June, the sun sets at 10.30pm (9pm in London). And this shows the difference quite nicely.
Friday 12 June
Sunny day but with a cool breeze. Was sitting out for a minute, about an hour ago, but it wasn't very pleasant. Decided to have a lie-in, but it does mean you lose half the day.
Was surprised that only half the people questioned in a survey were able to correctly position certain organs in their bodies. And that means that there has been no improvement in the last 50 years.
I continue to notice a reduction in the number of posts made on the blogs I follow in (formerly) J-land. A lot of folks have migrated on to Facebook and Twitter, myself among them, but I cannot find FB very user-friendly anymore, and you can't write on Twitter what you can on a blog. One of my contacts tried to do that on Twitter, and ended up with about 11 posts, describing a daytrip to St Kilda. I've done a similar thing reporting on the attack on the Dutch Royal family back in April, with about 350 posts in the one day.
Was surprised that only half the people questioned in a survey were able to correctly position certain organs in their bodies. And that means that there has been no improvement in the last 50 years.
I continue to notice a reduction in the number of posts made on the blogs I follow in (formerly) J-land. A lot of folks have migrated on to Facebook and Twitter, myself among them, but I cannot find FB very user-friendly anymore, and you can't write on Twitter what you can on a blog. One of my contacts tried to do that on Twitter, and ended up with about 11 posts, describing a daytrip to St Kilda. I've done a similar thing reporting on the attack on the Dutch Royal family back in April, with about 350 posts in the one day.
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Flu pandemic
The World Health Organisation has declared the current outbreak of swine flu, H1N1 (an electron microscope image shown above), to be a pandemic, i.e. occurring in at least two different areas of the world. At the moment, the pandemic appears to be causing only moderate illness. An extensive article can be read on the BBC website.
Subscriptions by email
It is now possible to subscribe to Atlantic Lines by email, like the alerts we used to get on AOL. There is a widget just underneath the followers block.
Thursday 11 June
Cloudy but with some sunny intervals as well as the odd shower. Not too cold either.
I am disgusted to read that Man United footballer Christiano Ronaldo will be transferred to Spanish side Real Madrid for a trifling £80 million. It's a record breaking amount, and a shocking demonstration of the cattle mart phenomenon that top flight football has become. I mean, here you have 22 men gallivanting over a grassy pitch for 90 minutes once or twice a week and getting 7-figure salaries for their efforts.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's state Governor, has proposed to do away with all printed books in schools and have everybody read their textbooks off the web. What a load of tosh. I know from bitter experience that trying to revise off a computer screen is a total non-starter; I can tell you safely it earned me a big round zero back in 1988. Arnie thinks that not having to continually replace text books in schools and colleges is a good way of saving money. Well, the Terminator forgets that this requires everybody to have an Internet connection - is that the case in CA?
Scientists have formally discovered the chemical element 112. This was made by smashing two atoms together, causing their nucleii to fuse. A rather unstable proposition, so the new nucleus falls apart in milliseconds.
I am disgusted to read that Man United footballer Christiano Ronaldo will be transferred to Spanish side Real Madrid for a trifling £80 million. It's a record breaking amount, and a shocking demonstration of the cattle mart phenomenon that top flight football has become. I mean, here you have 22 men gallivanting over a grassy pitch for 90 minutes once or twice a week and getting 7-figure salaries for their efforts.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's state Governor, has proposed to do away with all printed books in schools and have everybody read their textbooks off the web. What a load of tosh. I know from bitter experience that trying to revise off a computer screen is a total non-starter; I can tell you safely it earned me a big round zero back in 1988. Arnie thinks that not having to continually replace text books in schools and colleges is a good way of saving money. Well, the Terminator forgets that this requires everybody to have an Internet connection - is that the case in CA?
Scientists have formally discovered the chemical element 112. This was made by smashing two atoms together, causing their nucleii to fuse. A rather unstable proposition, so the new nucleus falls apart in milliseconds.
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