tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76270184346964946682024-03-06T19:34:29.726-08:00Thick Creamy DischargeThis blog is an end unto itself - not merely a means to an endChris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.comBlogger1353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-31138592804410744552019-08-21T04:24:00.001-07:002022-05-24T08:33:52.147-07:00How far is too far to drive to a recycling centre?Over on the Sustainability Stack Exchange the following question has been asked:-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://sustainability.stackexchange.com/questions/8429/how-far-is-too-far-to-drive-to-a-recycling-centre">How far is too far to drive to a recycling centre?</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Where we live the council collects recycling, however the quantity you can recycle each fortnight is sadly limited. When I get big cardboard boxes I keep them in the garage until I have. a pretty sizeable pile which I can take to recycle. However, the household recycling centre is a 30 minute round trip in a car (sadly not electric!) </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
My concern is that the net impact of this trip might be negative! Is there any rule-of-thumb I could apply to determine the benefit of recycling versus the impact of driving? </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(I do of course try not to make a dedicated trip for this purpose, combining with other nearby activities)</blockquote>
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<br />
My answer was as follows<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A 30 minute drive would be approximately 15 miles, an average small car produces 200 grams of CO2 per mile, so you are emitting about 3 Kg of CO2. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The CO2 footprint of new plastic manufacture is about 6 Kg CO2 per 1 Kg of plastic.<br />
For recycled plastic manufacture its about 3.5 Kg CO2 per Kg of plastic. So the nett difference is 2.5 Kg CO2. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Supposing that world needs plastic its going to churn it out whether or not you go to the recycling centre, but your decision to go will save 2.5Kg of CO2 for each Kg of plastic you take. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Thus, to cancel out your petrol car's CO2 emissions from driving as long as you are recycling more than 1.2 Kg of plastic per trip to the recycling centre then there is a net reduction in the amount of CO2 potentially emitted in the future manufacture of plastic.</blockquote>
<br />
However, after further consideration perhaps considering the financial cost is more appropriate than merely looking at CO2 emissions.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You have to pay for the petrol but the money might be better spent on buying products with card packaging instead plastic packaging, or just offsetting the CO2 and putting it in the general trash. Also the cost of producing virgin plastic is about six times the cost of recycled plastic (£1,200 per tonne versus £200). Is it worth spending £2 of petrol to save £1 worth of plastic and £0.10 of CO2? Maybe.</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've had more of a think about it and whilst the matter is somewhat closed over on StackExchange, I feel I need to continue, so here goes...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fifteen miles of travel in my Peugeot 208 consumes about £2.10 of petrol, or 1.68 litres of petrol and emits about 2.25 Kg of CO2.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
East Hertfordshire Council have fortnightly refuse collections for recyclable waste, and receive an income of £1.86 million from the sale of recycles materials and credits for diverting stuff from landfill. With East Herts' population of 147,080 this averages out to an income of £12.65 per person per year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, the cost of refuse collection and recycling in East Herts is £3.8million, or £25.84 per person. I guess they'd be doing the collection anyway even if they weren't recycling, it might be cheaper not to recycle, but they'd still need the lorries and the staff.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If the recycled material was all plastic, then at £200 per tonne, we could estimate that 9,300 tons of plastic is recycled / sold on. Which is equivalent to 63.2Kg per person or for 100% paper 840 Kg.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm not sure what a car load of plastic is. For stuff like hard core or manure, then I'd estimate that I could put between half a ton and a ton in my little car, but plastic, I dunno. If I were loading up a car by hand, then maybe 100Kg feels right, that 63.2Kg is about half a car load of plastic.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, here is where I mis-read the original question, OP wasn't asking about plastic. They had in mind mostly cardboard, and I just went off on one. I hereby revise my earlier calculations...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, the first source I found on google gives a price for cardboard of $100 per ton, the second source gives around £40 per ton for cardboard, but for mixed papers its down to £15 per ton.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now to find the CO2 footprint of cardboard, I've found a great report called <a href="http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:839864/FULLTEXT03.pdf">The Climate Benefits of Material Recycling</a> which actually has more authoritative figures for both car and plastic.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Virgin plastic emits on average 2.1 Kg CO2e per Kg<br />
Recycled plastic emits 1.3 Kg CO2e per Kg<br />
Virgin paper/card 1.1 Kg CO2e per Kg<br />
Recycled paper/card 0.7 Kg CO2e per Kg</blockquote>
<div>
So with this information, if I were shipping only plastic to the recycling centre, the break even quantity would be 2.8 Kg. If I were shipping only paper the break even quantity would be 5.6 Kg</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now to plug costs in there.</div>
<div>
2.8 Kg of recyclable plastic is about £0.56</div>
<div>
5.6 Kg of recyclable mixed paper is about £0.01</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
OP and myself don't explicitly get paid for freely giving our recyclable materials to the local recycling centre, its possible that our local taxes are slightly cheaper because the the income stream to the local authority, we might be generous and pretend that it does so that money comes back to us in a round about sort of way.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So in order for the trip to the recycling centre to pay for its own fuel, the break even quantity would be 10.5 Kg of plastic or 180 Kg of mixed paper.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Back on Sustainability Stack Exchange a chap called Chris H points out...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
converting to money is handy but given the large effective subsidies for fossil fuels it can significantly distort the calculation</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
I broadly agree, but its not clear how this should feature in the calculations. If petrol is underpriced because of fossil fuel subsidies, we could double the petrol cost, so all the break evens double. We'd need to transport 21 Kg of plastic or 360 Kg of mixed paper in order to justify the journey. in this respect fossil fuel subsidies help to incentivise recycling, making it easier and cheaper to do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If fuel were completely free and there was no financial incentive for recycling then the break even quantities are just a few Kg. As fuel costs become greater and we pretend there is a financial incentive to recycling, then there is less incentive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In East Hertfordshire, where in a roundabout sort of way we receive £12.65 each year from recycling, this currently pays for the fuel for about six trips to the recycling centre. In each trip we would drop off either 10 Kg of plastic or 140 Kg of mixed paper and card, or some mixture of the two.<br />
<br />
This article in The Guardian states that the UK government subsidises fossil fuels to the tune of £10.8 billion per year, which I guess is funded by about £150 per person per year. These subsidies are mostly in the lower VAT rate on domestic electricity ad heating gas. But if you categorised the freeze on the fuel duty escalator as a subsidy, then the figures are £16.2 billion per year, or £231 per person.<br />
<br />
The UK consumes around 35,000,000 tonnes of petrol and diesel a year, which is 47,475,651,773 litres. If the entire subsidy was on transport fuel, it would be £0.34 per litre<br /><br />My annual petrol bill is about £1,500 for about 11,000 miles, if about 65% of the price of fuel is tax and duties, around £0.75 pr litre, then I'm handing the government £975 per year. If the subsidies ceased to exist, and fuel duty was lowered by the same amount, and then the cost of the fuel from the oil companies rose to compensate, I'm not sure I'd notice.<br />
<br />
If the government subsidising the fossil fuels by a greater amount than what I was paying, then maybe I'd notice. But those subsidies aren't halving the price. The best they could possibly doing it making fuel 15% cheaper, but since I'm paying far more than that as tax, its all pointless.<br />
<br />
Right, six trips to the recycling centre make up 90 miles, which is 0.8% of my annual motor distance. If the fossil fuel subsidies were entirely in transport fuel (which they aren't), then the 0.8% is subsidised to the tune of £1.89. This is about a seventh of the fuel cost.<br />
<br />
But due to the way the subsidy is calculated, its all a brain teaser.<br />
<br />
The subsidy isn't money given to the fuel companies, it is the government having a fuel duty escalator a decade ago, and then deciding not to raise fuel duty. It's completely independent of the fossil fuel companies, and purely about the government deciding tax levels.<br />
<br />
So the distortion caused by the subsidy is this <b>petrol would cost about £1.60 per litre</b> instead of the current level of £1.249<br />
<br />
So we can now increase or decrease the break even quantities to see how we feel, that's around 13 Kg of plastic or around 210 Kg of paper, per trip.</div>
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-49617170255474936732017-10-06T05:43:00.001-07:002017-10-06T05:43:47.534-07:00UK Housebuilders Completions and ProductivityIn this blogpost I hope to provide evidence and data to show that the UK's top housebuilders as churning out houses as fast as they can, rather than holding back to preserve profit margins.<br />
<br />
<b>The Biggest Housebuilders</b><br />
<br />
The UK's largest housebuilders in terms of completions, that is houses built in the years ending March 2016 and March 2017 are as follows:-<br />
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<tr><th></th><th>2016</th><th>2017</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Barratt Development Plc</td><td>17,319 </td><td>17,395 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Persimmon Plc</td><td>15,171 </td><td>15,588 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Taylor Wimpey Plc</td><td>13,808 </td><td>14,112 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Bellway Plc</td><td>8,721 </td><td>9,644 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Redrow Plc</td><td>4,716 </td><td>4,918 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Bovis Home Group Plc</td><td>3,977 </td><td>3,755 </td></tr>
<tr><td>The Berkeley Group Holdings Plc</td><td>3,776 </td><td>3,905 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Galliford Try Plc (Linden)</td><td>3,078 </td><td>3,296 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Crest Nicholson Plc</td><td>2,870 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Countryside</td><td>2,657 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Quadrant Construction</td><td>2,510 </td><td>2,552 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Bloor Homes Limited</td><td>2,443 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Keepmoat</td><td>2,416 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Miller</td><td>2,380 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Avant</td><td>1,210 </td><td>1,636 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Nottinghill Housing</td><td>1,170 </td><td>1,151 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Morris</td><td>1,165 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>CALA</td><td>1,151 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>PfP</td><td>1,119 </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Guinness Partnership</td><td>908 </td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
These figures are taken from the Annual Reports of each of the companies. The government's Department of Communities and Local Authorities records that the total number of home completions for 2016 was 139,840 and for 2017 it was approximately 153,000.<br />
<br />
Therefore the top 20 largest housebuilders account for between 50% and 70% of all completions in the UK.<br />
<br />
<b>Past Decade Performance</b><br />
<br />
By looking at previous Annual Reports we can build up a picture of year on year performance, since 2004, including the 2008 credit crunch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkXx-rCrP5z-wFm1mcRWrnjzdTAMPEQiCnGG_LtO52hMubCYU-gcMKw6ccEmQ4ADsNMKg3VL8gg6gjiNHAPa83h4OoXnvloHmEplVKv_uG3FJjKIpKP7nNVATgiyC7dbAuy9Xo7AzolQ/s1600/UKHouseBuilder.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="753" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkXx-rCrP5z-wFm1mcRWrnjzdTAMPEQiCnGG_LtO52hMubCYU-gcMKw6ccEmQ4ADsNMKg3VL8gg6gjiNHAPa83h4OoXnvloHmEplVKv_uG3FJjKIpKP7nNVATgiyC7dbAuy9Xo7AzolQ/s320/UKHouseBuilder.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The data is sparser the further back we go because I am lazy and cannot spend so much time looking for historic company reports.<br />
<br />
A few observations:-<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>We can see that most of the companies have returned to approximately the 2008 levels.</li>
<li>2007 and 2008 seem to be exceptional years rather than the result of steady year on year increases.</li>
</ul>
<br />
The year on year increase since 2008 is on average for all the companies 10% each year, however, there is some degree of bumpiness<br />
<br />
<b>Cost of Building</b><br />
<br />
From studying the Annual Reports we can estimate the cost of building a house. If the total revenue for a company is X and the operational profit is Y, then X minus Y is the total cost of all the labour and materials and equipment. This ignores any admin expenses, back office overheads and interest on loans. By dividing total costs by the number of completions, we get an approximate cost per house.<br />
<br />
For the top 14 companies the cost per house is as follows (using most recent data)<br />
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<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th></th><th>Cost per House</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td>Barratt Development Plc</td><td>£221,385.46 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Persimmon Plc</td><td>£155,902.71 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Taylor Wimpey Plc</td><td>£210,884.99 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Bellway Plc</td><td>£181,325.18 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Redrow Plc</td><td>£248,338.26 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Bovis Home Group Plc</td><td>£226,326.38 </td></tr>
<tr><td>The Berkeley Group Holdings Plc</td><td>£456,773.37 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Galliford Try Plc (Linden)</td><td>£232,736.65 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Crest Nicholson Plc</td><td>£276,376.31 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Countryside</td><td>£254,001.39 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Quadrant Construction</td><td>£126,895.77 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Bloor Homes Limited</td><td>£249,662.71 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Keepmoat</td><td>£441,556.29 </td></tr>
<tr><td>Miller</td><td>£194,117.65 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We can see that the range is from £126,000 for Quadrant Construction to £456,000 for Berkeley. However, the average cost per home is around £222,800 (this is for 61% of the homes built).<br />
<br />
We can speculate that these companies aren't trying to get build as efficiently as possible because their profit margins will easily cover expenses, and so it would be possible to build houses by far cheaper means, but this is literally the majority of the market accounted for.</div>
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-52644262663783298172017-07-07T03:09:00.003-07:002017-07-07T03:19:39.722-07:00Social Housing Renovation Simulator<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP61Tyyoya-0vThLrrRRFHGlH2cPXDnTMNkO1SdUGT3_IU-7TFrqw_CjChYV-5LHZq4NZOATIo0CmsS9ckvw2TKGPQHAeP3tYJM5n0jjCzmyRKPgw88T5YR_1DBf1TYxP72JYJdC8I8Q/s1600/TowerSimulator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An image of the javascript website" border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="668" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP61Tyyoya-0vThLrrRRFHGlH2cPXDnTMNkO1SdUGT3_IU-7TFrqw_CjChYV-5LHZq4NZOATIo0CmsS9ckvw2TKGPQHAeP3tYJM5n0jjCzmyRKPgw88T5YR_1DBf1TYxP72JYJdC8I8Q/s320/TowerSimulator.jpg" title="Social Housing Renovation Simulator" width="304" /></a>In the UK there was a big fire in a residential tower block which had been renovated only a year ago. Many people were asking why sprinkler systems hadn't been installed, or why flammable materials were used instead of more expensive flame resistant materials.<br />
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In order to understand how these decisions could be made, I thought I'd try to build a model or a simulator.<br />
<br />
The first couple of versions just randomised the chance of a fire and how many people would die, based on known data. Then later iterations added the different renovations that could affect the chances. Then I added a nice uft-8 box drawing, because I'm old school, and feel that this art form has been neglected.<br />
<br />
To answer the question of why wouldn't you prioritise fire safety, I added factors such as how easy it is insulate tower blocks or keep them dry. If you renovate a cold, damp and mouldy tower block and it remains cold, damp and mouldy, then the renovation work was pointless.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, it is <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/Tower000021.html">here</a><br />
<br />
I feel at this point it is stable and does what I kind of envisioned it to do. But my mind is boggling, new features bubbling to the surface. Whilst I accept that it is very crap, its no Sim City '86, neither is it as sophisticated as anything written this century and will probably never be.<br />
<br />
However, further features would be as follows:-<br />
<ul>
<li>Add windows as something to buy</li>
<li>Add draftiness as an attribute</li>
<li>Add landscaping as something to buy</li>
<li>Add aesthetics as an attribute</li>
<li>Select which UK region the tower block is located in</li>
<li>Make the residents pay rent each month</li>
<li>Somehow calculate the possible rental income from the renovations</li>
<li>Tidy up the weightings for each attribute sum so that things like sprinklers quash all chance of a fire going out of control.</li>
<li>In the event of a fire, assign blame and points of failure, such as illegal cladding over certain heights</li>
<li>Generate a list of names of the dead, which doesn't go away</li>
<li>Collect data from users about what they have chosen</li>
<li>Set challenges for renovation budgets</li>
<li>Option of doing things on the cheap, which causes danger or incorrectly installed features</li>
<li>Add gas risers in stairwells</li>
<li>Add additional fire escapes</li>
<li>Calculate deaths based on residents of flats on each floor</li>
<li>Deal with running costs and fire inspections such as combustible material in hallways</li>
<li>Use css</li>
<li>Make it look pretty on mobile devices</li>
</ul>
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-11413698449181987162017-03-31T03:15:00.000-07:002017-03-31T03:15:57.914-07:00Karen Bradley's Internet History<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.357143em; margin-top: 0.357143em; padding: 1px 0px;">
<a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/browser_history_of_the_secretary#incoming-958203" style="color: #0079d3; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">The Department of Culture, Media and Sport do not hold any information regarding browsing data of Karen Bradley</a>, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.</div>
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You may be asking why this is relevant, please allow an exposition...</div>
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A few years back in the wake of the 'Snooper's Charter' I put out a Freedom of Information request to get <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/theresa_mays_recent_internet_his?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link&utm_source=whatdotheyknow" style="color: #0079d3; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">then Home Secretary's 'internet history' including internet telephony, browsing data and email meta data</a>. This was knocked back as being too all encompassing. So I <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/theresa_mays_internet_history_fo?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link" style="color: #0079d3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-decoration: none;">sent out another FOI for just the browsing data</a>, and this was knocked back as being "a fishing trip" and "vexatious", which could be described as hypocritical, but was kind of accurate, I was trolling.</div>
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That Home Secretary then became Prime Minister, and a new Home Secretary, Amber Rudd was promoted, so I sent a new FOI, this time, I was less trollish, and requested the <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/amber_rudds_browser_history?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link&utm_source=whatdotheyknow" style="color: #0079d3; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">browser history for just one day</a> to "gain a feel for the sort of websites that the Home Secretary visits during their day to day work".</div>
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Despite confirming that "the Home Office holds the information that you have requested" this request was knocked back because the browsing history was <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/373167/response/938125/attach/html/3/42648%20Gilmour%20Final%20Response.pdf.html" style="color: #0079d3; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">"personal information"</a>. This could be seen as progress from the Home Office, an awareness of people's concerns about privacy.</div>
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Still, Internet Service Providers have to keep their customer's "Internet History". You may be wondering in the context of Cabinet ministers, who their ISPs are. I wondered this too, and after the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt suggested that ISPs could monitor bad language or something on the internet, I put in a <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/jeremy_hunts_internet_service_pr?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link&utm_source=whatdotheyknow" style="color: #0079d3; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">FOI to find out who the Health Secretary's ISPs were</a>.</div>
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As a private citizen he could have any ISP but for government work, the Department for Health is it's own ISP, and hosts a Departmental secured network.</div>
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So, the other month, it was announced that Karen Bradley, Culture Secretary, would be <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/karen-bradleys-uk-digital-strategy-speech" style="color: #0079d3; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">leading the government's Digital Strategy</a>. To what extent does Karen Bradley understand and use the internet?</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.357143em; margin-top: 0.357143em; padding: 1px 0px;">
Her own <a href="https://www.karenbradley.co.uk/parliament" style="color: #0079d3; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">MP website is out of date</a>, saying that she is still a Home Office Minister, despite moving to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in July last year, and her twitter feed is just supermarket opening and schoolkids smiling, rather an a genuine attempt to engage with people. I put in a <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/browser_history_of_the_secretary#incoming-958203" style="color: #0079d3; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-decoration: none;">FOI for her browser data</a> for the day before the news about <a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/article/uk-digital-strategy-karen-bradley" style="color: #0079d3; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-decoration: none;">her Digital Strategy role</a>.</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.357143em; margin-top: 0.357143em; padding: 1px 0px;">
The response was:-</div>
<blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(197, 193, 173); color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.357143em 0px 0.357143em 5px; padding: 0px 8px;">
<div style="font-family: Verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.3em; padding: 1px 0px;">
I can confirm the Department does not hold any information in scope of your request.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.357143em; margin-top: 0.357143em; padding: 1px 0px;">
Does that mean the Department doesn't have a Departmental network, or it does and it doesn't keep Internet History Records, or that Karen Bradley didn't use the Departmental History that day?</div>
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-79997590178623187252016-01-15T05:16:00.002-08:002016-01-15T05:57:39.796-08:00Trolling Theresa May<br />
The term 'trolling' on the internet was originally derived from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolling_(fishing)">fishing term</a>:-
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Trolling_drawing.jpg/300px-Trolling_drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A drawing of a fishing boat using outriggers to tow multiple trolling lines" border="0" class="thumbimage" data-file-height="1355" data-file-width="1913" height="212" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Trolling_drawing.jpg/300px-Trolling_drawing.jpg" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Trolling_drawing.jpg/450px-Trolling_drawing.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Trolling_drawing.jpg/600px-Trolling_drawing.jpg 2x" title="Trolling" width="300" /></a>a method of fishing where one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, are drawn through the water. This may be behind a moving boat, or by slowly winding the line in when fishing from a static position, or even sweeping the line from side-to-side, e.g. when fishing from a jetty.</blockquote>
In response to the 'Snooper's Charter' that is currently being steered through the House of Commons at the moment, I thought I'd have a go at trolling the Home Secretary Theresa May using Freedom of Information requests.<br />
<br />
My first was <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/theresa_mays_recent_internet_his">this one</a> on 4th November, on the WhatDoTheyKnow.com website, asking for:-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1) The date, time, and recipient of every email sent by the Home Secretary during October 2015.<br />
2) The date, time, and sender of every email received by the Home Secretary during October 2015.<br />
3) The date, time, and recipient of every internet telephony call (e.g. "Skype" call) made by the Home Secretary during October 2015.<br />
4) The date, time, and sender of every internet telephony call (e.g. "Skype" call) received by the Home Secretary during October 2015.<br />
5) The date, time, and domain address of every website visited by the Home Secretary during October 2015.</blockquote>
This was simply a re-write of <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/theresa_mays_internet_history">an earlier request from a Matt Dodd</a> in April 2012 which had asked for 12 months worth of metadata. It had been refused, quite rightly, because it would have cost over £600 to process. I figured asking for one month would have been a little more doable. Although in researching this write-up I note that <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/internet_history_for_rt_hon_tere">a request for one day's worth of similar metadata</a> was refused because of the cost back in 2012.<br />
<br />
A few days later, on 7th November, <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/theresa_mays_recent_internet_bro">a Ryan Elger made a similar request</a> to my own, asking for the same metadata and additionally internet chat metadata.<br />
<br />
Time passes, and except for a few boilerplate notifications that the FoI had been recieved, all was quiet. Come 15th December <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/theresa_mays_internet_history_fo">I submitted a new FoI </a> seeking just the email and web browsing metadata for November.<br />
<br />
The very next day, 16th December a response to both of my FoI's was received refusing my requests:-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We have considered your requests and we believe them to be vexatious. Section 14(1) of the Act provides that the Home Office is not obliged to comply with a request for information of this nature. We have decided that your request is vexatious because it places an unreasonable burden on the department, because it has adopted a scattergun approach and seems solely designed for the purpose of ‘fishing’ for information without any idea of what might be revealed.<br />
<br />
The requests are similar in nature to a request the Home Office received in 2014 that the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) agreed was vexatious. The decision notice in question can be found at this link:<br />
https://search.ico.org.uk/ico/search/decisionnotice?keywords=FS50544833</blockquote>
<div>
So of course, I hooted and hollered, and tweeted a few journos, and received a few retweets.<br />
<br />
That was pretty much the end of the matter, until a few days back when I noted an article in <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/13/theresa-may-faces-scrutiny-over-snoopers-charter-implications">Teh Guardian which was essentially all about my FoI requests</a>, without giving me any credit:-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It also follows the rejection of a Freedom of Information Act request to see the date, time and recipient of every email the home secretary sent, every Skype call she made and every website she visited during October and November last year on the grounds that it was “vexatious”. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said the rejection showed that the while the government wanted to push through powers in the bill to give the police and security services’ access to everyone’s weblogs, they were not prepared to release the home secretary’s records.</blockquote>
and whilst Alan Travis didn't mention me in his Guardian article, over on <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jamieross/home-office-rejects-theresa-may-foi">Buzzfeed Jamie Ross did a whole article about me</a> back in December, which I've only just found, a month later:-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In response to the bill, Chris Gilmour submitted an FOI request for May’s internet history but, in a letter from the Home Office this week, was told the “vexatious” request has been rejected because it would put an “unreasonable burden” on the department.</blockquote>
Yeah, we get it, I'm being vexatious.<br />
<br />
Over on Reddit in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/40r3m8/theresa_may_faces_scrutiny_over_snoopers_charter/">the discussion thread</a> about Teh Guardian, my trolling was <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/40r3m8/theresa_may_faces_scrutiny_over_snoopers_charter/cywje5q">quickly seen through</a>:-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[–]p7rLabour🌹 2 points 2 days ago<br />
I presume you expected the FoI requests to be knocked back, and that was in fact the outcome you wanted? My understanding was that ministers were protected from this kind of request by the FoIA so even if they had the data they wouldn't provide it, but I like the point it made: one rule for them, another rule for everybody else.</blockquote>
My response was that it was a win:win situation, either the Home Office knock back the request and we get this story about hypocrisy and double standards, or get get to laugh at what sort of websites the Home Secretary looks at, and have a heap of interesting metadata to do fun datamining experiments on.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, in today's news Private Eye went to town on the Snooper's Charter:-<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/GBVLNGQ.png" height="215" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="400" /><br />
<br />
The piece points out that its not just web-browsers that connect to the internet, its everything on your wifi network, your iKettle, Smart TV, even children's dolls. Imagine, hypothetically, a terrorist plot, where the plotters communicated by messages left on children's dolls, how that could work, could you even just use them to arrange to meet friends?<br />
<br />
So at the start of January, I soldiered on with another <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/internet_browsing_devices_used_b">FoI in a similar vein to before</a>, asking for:-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1) How many different devices with web-browsing functionality the<br />
Home Secretary uses, for example desktop PC, laptop PC, tablets,<br />
smartphones, games consoles.<br />
<br />
2) Which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide the internet<br />
connection to the devices enumerated in answer to 1) above.<br />
<br />
3) The date, time, and domain address of every website visited by<br />
the Home Secretary during December 2015.</blockquote>
Asking for December's web browser metadata was just to give the Home Office / Theresa May the chance to stop digging, to stop appearing as hypocrites. But I thought the first two questions were a bit more innocent, more practical. If it was going to be a case of the office intern doing a Ctrl+H on all of Theresa's devices, how long would it take? And if they did just whip round the office, would that only harvest the metadata on the House of Common's IP address, or were there several other ISPs involved?<br />
<br />
Presumably the Home Secretary is issued a government smartphone which may or may not have the same ISP to the House of Commons estate. Forgive my ignorance but of the Home Office is a separate institution to the House of Commons do they use the same ISP. Theresa's constituency office, would possibly have again a different ISP, Also her Maidenhead home would have an internet connection, again, a different ISP, and if she has a flat in London, would that have again a different ISP.<br />
<br />
I dunno.<br />
<br />
But the <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/308976/response/755171/attach/3/FOI%2037985%20Response.pdf">Home Office has again refused</a> to let me know.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We have considered your request and we believe it to be vexatious. Section 14(1) of the Act provides that the Home Office is not obliged to comply with a request for information of this nature. <b>We have decided that your request is vexatious because on three previous occasions you have requested similar information for which you have received responses.</b></blockquote>
The emboldened text is a little interesting. my request was vexatious because previous requests were vexatious. I'm minded to seek clarification as to whether its just the web browsing metadata question is vexatious or all the questions. But frankly it chills me a little that GCHQ are going to be looking at my own browsing metadata if I push too much.<br />
<br />
Is this too much?<br />
<br />
So anyhoo, having a blog called Thick Creamy Discharge should be off-putting enough. But last night I had this great idea, registering urls where the address is just a randomly generated number, for example 530360.com that would be pretty awesome.<br />
<br />
Say the snooper's charter becomes law, and it become's standard to have trivial browser plugin that sends out requests to millions of random webpages every time you look at a normal page, thus generating petabytes of incomprehensible metadata.<br />
<br />
*******<br />
<br />
As an addendum, from <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/please_disclose_the_top_500_webs">this FoI response</a> from the House of Commons in 2013, it seems that the web browsing data is both anonymous and isn't retained by the House of Commons IT department.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
4 Please confirm all data collected: for example<br />
- Website URL<br />
- Time/Date accessed<br />
- IP address (sender & recipient)<br />
- individual network user ID & status e.g. staff or MP<br />
- the length of time the above information is retained</blockquote>
The website URL and time/date are held within the system managed by third party on our behalf.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
5 Please confirm which individuals and departments were accessing these top 500 websites from within the HOC.</blockquote>
The data held covers both Houses of Parliament. It is not possible to break the data down by House or user type. As the data is anonymous the House of Commons does not hold the information you require.</blockquote>
<div>
Other than by having the office intern do Ctrl+H on all of Theresa's computers and tablets and phones and games consoles, they simply don't have the infrastructure to provide the web-browsing data. Maybe one day they will, but I think I'll refrain from making any more FoI requests to find out.</div>
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-53919284860251236092015-10-23T03:37:00.000-07:002015-10-25T04:36:12.297-07:00The crushing inevitability of MiDataYesterday there were <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34592764">news stories</a> about how the average UK consumer could save up £70 a year by changing bank accounts. Unbeknownst to me, the government had launched an initiative months ago, urging banks to allow customers to download their bank account transaction history in a standard format, namely <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-midata-vision-of-consumer-empowerment">MiData</a>.<br />
<br />
MiData is a comma separated value text file, you can open it in NotePad or Excel.<br />
<br />
At the moment pretty much the only two things you can do with MiData is faff about with it in a spreadsheet, or upload it to <a href="http://www.gocompare.com/ps/current-accounts-ps/midata/">GoCompare</a> who will somehow process it and tell you which bank to change to.<br />
<br />
I think GoCompare just looks how far into your overdraft you go and what the average account balance is, they then look at which bank accounts charge and pay what interest and other goodies and make recommendations. Their best recommendation for me was some Yorkshire bank who charge higher interest, but give you a £150 switching bonus, so less of a saving, more like a one-off free gift.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, there's so much more potential and risks involved with MiData.<br />
<br />
Years ago I read online, possibly from <a href="http://www.timworstall.com/">Worstall</a>, of an idea for banks (with the user's permission) to mine your data and automatically save you money by changing various service providers. For example say your current energy provider charges £30 a month, but other people in your area with the same household size are only paying £20 with a different provider, then the bank would change you over, saving you £10 a month. Presumably the bank would pocket half your saving for a limited period, but since you're paying less, who cares. No bank has done this, probably because of privacy laws.<br />
<br />
With MiData, the ability to minedata is outwith your bank. But at the moment, there are no tools, no services. The main risk is that the MiData is just too personal.<br />
<br />
When your bank lets you download the MiData, it is "anonymised" which by the looks of things means they remove any account numbers, and anything that look like an account number, just replacing it with asterisks. This only makes it anonymous in that you don't know personal account details, but that's not enough.<br />
<br />
As an aside, I understand that some car insurers fit a black box that records your car's speed and time, so that they can insure you appropriately for how safely you drive. I read that <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/black-box-car-data-can-reveal-routes/">some researchers</a> can use this speed data alone to figure out where you are going each day. It takes a bit of datamunging, but presumably if you know the start point and the junction one way is 30 seconds drive and the junction the other way is 50 seconds drive. Any nefarious criminal can map your life just from speed measurements.<br />
<br />
Similarly, from MiData, even without account details, it would be trivial to identify a person from their transactions.<br />
<br />
For example, looking at petrol stations and supermarkets you can get a feel of where in the UK a person lives and works, they'd do their weekly shop within one or two miles of their house, their regular petrol fill up will be somewhere between their home and their place of work. Or even better their local train station or work train station will be within less than a mile. Occasionally they will be travel or petrol transactions further away, these would be holidays or visiting family members, traditionally some family members stay in the same place where they grew up. Likewise gift purchases will coincide with birthdays. An investigator can get themselves to Linkedin and Facebook and look for people who live in this area, work in another area and grew up some other specific place, and who's partner / parents have birthdays at whatever time of year.<br />
<br />
There aren't many people who live in Chingford and work in Hertford, even fewer who grew up in Manchester.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, the cat is out of the bag. Like in the book <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Light_of_Other_Days">The Light of Other Days</a> by Stephen Baxter and Arthur C. Clarke, the post-millenial generation aren't going to give a crap about privacy, compared to the "benefits" of datamining. I imagine that security expert Bruce Schneier would be doing his nut in.<br />
<br />
So, having identified a gap in the market, I have an awesome idea for a business that will turn me into the millionaire I've always dreamed of being.<br />
<br />
First we create an app or website where people upload their MiData to and the site gives you a neat pie chart showing how you spend your money in categories like supermarket, petrol, Entertainment, etc, and histograms showing how much you spend on each category each month. Just like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicken">Quicken</a> used to do before they discontinued the UK version.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp-w_nvxwT-KqZ26ZUibpWj1V5Fi0cBQcTMW9_dcO5bD2Ga37qm1TtQxl8RzYEWLt8driADIM9Hij0iEYoiH4I8JJoZukXiXtuWC8hyNJEcHxfIPvCxV8NTJU_ZL4uvRvTtmDcIVFVqQ/s1600/petrol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp-w_nvxwT-KqZ26ZUibpWj1V5Fi0cBQcTMW9_dcO5bD2Ga37qm1TtQxl8RzYEWLt8driADIM9Hij0iEYoiH4I8JJoZukXiXtuWC8hyNJEcHxfIPvCxV8NTJU_ZL4uvRvTtmDcIVFVqQ/s320/petrol.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4gHYbV6BoVvrDZNjpWaJuAirDXijsH5PRFYNYsHL9CWHTGnd7fU8Pr1ZxbW1kTIzPkpU0Sk3Ywhg1-LIYyrPWqTiE_DIuSAuUA00PIrncAShqwmuM4j-3-9EhQfrvYmBZ7LMUZkV3Zc/s1600/pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4gHYbV6BoVvrDZNjpWaJuAirDXijsH5PRFYNYsHL9CWHTGnd7fU8Pr1ZxbW1kTIzPkpU0Sk3Ywhg1-LIYyrPWqTiE_DIuSAuUA00PIrncAShqwmuM4j-3-9EhQfrvYmBZ7LMUZkV3Zc/s320/pie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Don't worry, your data has already been anonymised by the bank, the government said so.<br />
<br />
Then once we have enough people's "anonymised" data, we add some data, like geographic locations for each supermarket, train station and petrol station and cafe, then we offer website users a fancy map showing where they spend. People will think its ace, and Bruce Schneier will start getting worried.<br />
<br />
Then we do some more analysis showing how much people in different areas are spending on things, like the aforementioned energy providers, and we can start charging users for recommendations for where to switch to.<br />
<br />
Then we can start telling people how many kids we think they have based on their data, and how many bedrooms their house has, recommendations of which car they should buy next, which phone and whether they are engaged in illegal activity, or what things they do that are abnormal.<br />
<br />
The problem is that I don't have time to do this, neither have I the skills. Someone else will.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/business_idea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/business_idea.png" height="170" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The government will at the same time as encouraging it and providing grants to organisations who can take advantage of the MiData, will also have very legitimate concerns about privacy.<br />
<br />
There is a very faint trend on social media for young people, teenagers who have just received their first ever credit card, to post photos of said card and unwittingly give away the security number, so that nefarious people will use their details. Young people can be stupid. Lots of people are stupid and will do stupid things.<br />
<br />
The government, and parents too, have a difficult job in weighing up the benefits of things like MiData and credit cards, with the risks. What protective measures will they put in place that are just as much of a ballache as the EU Cookie Directive, that makes you have to click on disclaimers on websites.<br />
<br />
Imagine, if you will legislation that protects people's MiData privacy by putting in place some hardcore digital rights management, only allowing special government approved organisations and businesses to view and process, thus no small app developer could play with the data, only GoCompare and the banks and probably government departments, HM Revenue & Customs, and the police, probably hospitals too. Some DRM system that's so encrypted and heavyweight that developers often do raw datadumps, and leave hard disks and DVDs on trains.<br />
<br />
This is what happens.Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-2221552392855921302015-05-10T15:23:00.001-07:002015-05-10T15:23:54.502-07:00How many votes to get electedIts been a while since I blogged but there's a tweet going round at the moment that I think needs to be called out.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
This is how many votes it took, on average, to elect an MP:
SNP 25,972
CON 34,244
LAB 40,290
LD 301,986
GRN 1,157,613
UKIP 3,881,129</div>
— amol rajan (@amolrajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/amolrajan/status/596774461619236864">May 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
You see in this country we don't vote for parties, we vote for people, who may or may not belong to a party, and they, in turn, sort out the government and prime minister amongst themselves<br />
<br />
A quick look at the appropriate results page clearly shows that on average approximately* how many votes each winning candidate received:<br />
CON: 24,500<br />
SNP: 23,500<br />
GRN: 22,900<br />
UKIP: 19,600<br />
LAB: 17,700<br />
LD: 17,000<br />
PC: 12,900<br />
<br />
Of course, this is just semantics, but its easy enough to faff about with numbers.<br />
<br />
For example, the various candidates didn't actually need that many votes to win their constituency, all they needed were more votes than the next best candidate, which gives the following approximate numbers:<br />
UKIP: 16,200<br />
GRN: 14,900<br />
SNP: 13,900<br />
LD: 13,800<br />
CON: 10,600<br />
LAB: 9,600<br />
PC: 8,000<br />
<br />
* I didn't mong all the numbers for all the seats, so this is just a representative sample for CONS, LAB and SNPChris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-72924455368034250362013-10-13T15:29:00.000-07:002013-10-13T15:29:00.637-07:00Thick Creamy Podcast 12-10-2013Here's the twenty-third Thick Creamy Podcast, this time featuring nine tracks from four awesome bands recorded live at three great gigs.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/podcasts/ThickCreamyPodcast20131012.mp3">RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
The podcast features tracks from:-<br />
Giant Burger<br />
Council Tax Band<br />
Left Leg<br />
Care<br />
Puffer<br />
Victories at Sea<br />
Vuvuvultures<br />
The Chickenwing Allstars<br />
<br />
So aye, it was weeks and weeks ago, at the start of September that I staggered to Dalston and that lovely venue, <a href="https://www.songkick.com/concerts/17630919-giant-burger-at-power-lunches-arts-cafe">Power Lunches</a> to catch the mighty might <a href="http://giantburger.bandcamp.com/">Giant Burger</a> band. I follow them on twitter, not entirely sure why, but they nice people who make pleasant music.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89IK9VqRlcS-WTaXwwCgPgY7v5a-NuzmArpVUAR07K22bYBZz7ANzUfcuEsVsbpiRKk0TrQuCmmIcuWOYZrDSQW9u5Iooh-J5aMeEz79sa2aMrhMPtmqgrDgv4xxdYc3utXMJwZ1E6o0/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89IK9VqRlcS-WTaXwwCgPgY7v5a-NuzmArpVUAR07K22bYBZz7ANzUfcuEsVsbpiRKk0TrQuCmmIcuWOYZrDSQW9u5Iooh-J5aMeEz79sa2aMrhMPtmqgrDgv4xxdYc3utXMJwZ1E6o0/s320/IMG_0740.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffer at The Shacklewell Arms</td></tr>
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There were a few other bands on the bill that night, the <a href="http://counciltaxband.bandcamp.com/">Council Tax Band</a>, <a href="http://leftleg.tumblr.com/">Left Leg</a> and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/care-7">Care</a>. Of those three, I think Council Tax Band were my favourite.<br />
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Two weeks later I was back in Dalston, this time at <a href="https://www.songkick.com/concerts/17582789-vuvuvultures-at-shacklewell-arms">The Shacklewell Arms</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAbWp47vu5qrEouplo_7JlhjrneL5WJ3UGGTf_Jjf0DWacq42cFYhNiYQ4wgihNgEGJIIA-OL9v09T3te16UUJA5rIvLsnUMjQLCt1hOz5yW49KoMDyMUa18RjIYFbP6MAZCyPUITkuw/s1600/Vuvuvultures.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAbWp47vu5qrEouplo_7JlhjrneL5WJ3UGGTf_Jjf0DWacq42cFYhNiYQ4wgihNgEGJIIA-OL9v09T3te16UUJA5rIvLsnUMjQLCt1hOz5yW49KoMDyMUa18RjIYFbP6MAZCyPUITkuw/s400/Vuvuvultures.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vuvuvultures at The Shacklewell Arms</td></tr>
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It was my first time at the place, it was a little confusing, the chap working the door to the venue seemed to only start letting people in after the first band had started, so there were only five or so people in the audience for <a href="http://puffer.bandcamp.com/">Puffer</a>, a heavy thrashy sort of band.<br />
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After them were a mob down from Birmingham called <a href="http://victoriesatsea.co.uk/">Victories at Sea</a>. They had lots of high tech equipment, keyboards and synths. I liked them, but sometimes I fear that I just get seduced by backing tracks and wibbly effects.<br />
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Headlining the night were the <a href="http://vuvuvultures.com/">Vuvuvultures</a>, who are the most awesome band I've seen in this decade. Last time I'd seen them play live was at <a href="http://thickcreamydischarge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/thick-creamy-podcast-20-05-2012.html">The Lexington</a> in May last year. They were lovely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxANmRNs3yjTr79GXYZvCkucyTfrPIxA_3WLyh9GIIi_B4Rt7oNYdo-ACveZ0m5Y3UGlE7HXTJWGbr4bXENQdaqBIxKW_HAKdMXw48h7pWjM9lgTU9L5o8vqHfEgIbGpYM8j9R7qVYUs8/s1600/ChickenwingAllstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxANmRNs3yjTr79GXYZvCkucyTfrPIxA_3WLyh9GIIi_B4Rt7oNYdo-ACveZ0m5Y3UGlE7HXTJWGbr4bXENQdaqBIxKW_HAKdMXw48h7pWjM9lgTU9L5o8vqHfEgIbGpYM8j9R7qVYUs8/s320/ChickenwingAllstars.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chickenwing Allstars at The Birkbeck Tavern</td></tr>
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And were even kind enough to let me know the set list after the gig so I could markup my bootleg recordings properly.<br />
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Finishing off the podcast is two tracks from a gig I was at last night, the <a href="http://www.chickenwingallstars.com/">Chickenwing Allstars</a> playing at <a href="https://www.songkick.com/concerts/18366549-chickenwing-allstars-at-birkbeck-tavern">The Birkbeck Tavern in Leytonstone</a>.<br />
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I'd last seen them at a festival thing in Brixton. It was nice to see them in a more intimate venue. They play reggae dub jazz soul, and a pleasant cover of The Prodigy's Out of Space.<br />
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Its not often you get to hear trombone with dub reverb.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its possible to subscribe to these Thick Creamy Podcasts on iTunes so they download automagically every time I put up a new one. Simply go into the 'Advanced' menu in iTunes, click 'Subscribe to Podcast' and then paste in this rss feed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThickCreamyPodcast</span></div>
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Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-60516779220559463092013-09-22T14:23:00.001-07:002013-09-22T14:23:23.431-07:00Thick Creamy Podcast 28-09-2013Here's the twenty-second Thick Creamy Podcast, four awesome bands recorded live at the Skins party thing at <a href="https://www.songkick.com/concerts/17327149-cosines-at-proud-camden">Proud Camden</a> in London.<br />
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<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/podcasts/ThickCreamyPodcast20130829.mp3">RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rvm38yLqfZQCv8U14lVF_LZ2wcl9gfY8V6zgiNyROxRcZeMZ3tmbGPNr6-nEl9CgzzQkorKdISSdcRAoK3r3O1Zlfp_dI1XFiR-IrcQl39Z7dfmYO5PGgaEkWmnOtVTi3M-nARv4_Q0/s1600/IMG_0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rvm38yLqfZQCv8U14lVF_LZ2wcl9gfY8V6zgiNyROxRcZeMZ3tmbGPNr6-nEl9CgzzQkorKdISSdcRAoK3r3O1Zlfp_dI1XFiR-IrcQl39Z7dfmYO5PGgaEkWmnOtVTi3M-nARv4_Q0/s320/IMG_0715.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloomer at Proud Galleries in Camden, August 2013</td></tr>
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The podcast features tracks from Fulhast, Bloomer, The Understudies and Cosines<br />
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Sadly I missed most of the first band of the night, <a href="http://fulhast.tumblr.com/">Fulhast</a>, but I've seen him before countless times, he's awesome. It was one of those situations where you know you need to leave the house to get somewhere in time, but there's just one more thing you need to check online, then you can't find your tape recorder, and your camera isn't where you think it is, then when you actually get to the right part of time there's no where to park the car, and you think maybe you should have gotten the tube, but then you'd be even later, so you should have left earlier.<br />
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And that's why I missed most of his set.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC_1XWRcE81JJS-fWWo4xC68Jz8ypmK5u0WwNr1p0sndI1d5BGY9RgL_f5bVBuee40D9NwTPwE3daj_LOHVCAkyc0MCNq9DaJc0_cnDkUTSxgx8EmNKwcdK9QhM4tC4IgoLGGMOu4XQY/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjC_1XWRcE81JJS-fWWo4xC68Jz8ypmK5u0WwNr1p0sndI1d5BGY9RgL_f5bVBuee40D9NwTPwE3daj_LOHVCAkyc0MCNq9DaJc0_cnDkUTSxgx8EmNKwcdK9QhM4tC4IgoLGGMOu4XQY/s320/IMG_0719.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Understudies at Proud Galleries in Camden, August 2013</td></tr>
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If you love lo-fi guitar and Gameboy backing tracks, you'll love Fulhast. I like his songs about getting on with life after breaking up with your girlfriend. There's a time in everyone's life...<br />
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Next up were the mighty <a href="http://bloomerlondon.bandcamp.com/">Bloomer</a>, who were noisy and guitary, which is nice. The first time I saw them, a few days earlier at the Night of the Triffids All-Dayer, I wasn't too convinced, but they're starting to grow on me.<br />
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Also, their latest release 'Back to the shadows' is on purple and lilac cassette.<br />
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Its always good to see <a href="http://theunderstudiesuk.bandcamp.com/">The Understudies</a>, which was lucky as they were playing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Sf9JBdywj3XremJsPaaGqnxp6RE1aH2lYDV5stMXDralvyeCCIOECv3XG2hyh_x0ktlWnD3eMe5DY5Au1NetYNbNYxEHfdhVrV8Ju8Ys0_6CRoOjIXcLssIcVs6uIfGGZBOb28LEyHg/s1600/IMG_0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Sf9JBdywj3XremJsPaaGqnxp6RE1aH2lYDV5stMXDralvyeCCIOECv3XG2hyh_x0ktlWnD3eMe5DY5Au1NetYNbNYxEHfdhVrV8Ju8Ys0_6CRoOjIXcLssIcVs6uIfGGZBOb28LEyHg/s400/IMG_0723.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cosines at Proud Galleries in Camden, August 2013</td></tr>
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Headlining the night were <a href="http://cosines.bandcamp.com/">Cosines</a>, who I've seen play live pretty frequently over the last year or so. It always hard to chose which track of theirs to put on the podcast, the storming one which everyone dances to, the one with amusing lyrics and the video with sailors, the one with a sixties wig-out ending, the one I put on a previous podcast, the latest single?<br />
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This time I've chosen by throwing a dart at iTunes and picking whichever one it hits.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its possible to subscribe to these Thick Creamy Podcasts on iTunes so they download automagically every time I put up a new one. Simply go into the 'Advanced' menu in iTunes, click 'Subscribe to Podcast' and then paste in this rss feed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThickCreamyPodcast</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">and that should give you all the podcasts, forever.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-92069620049368556762013-07-04T15:22:00.003-07:002013-07-04T15:22:41.050-07:00Thick Creamy Podcast 29-06-2013 Here's the twentieth Thick Creamy Podcast, two and a half bands recorded live from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/595788027106842/">Big Pink Cake night at The Betsey Trotwood</a> in London.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/podcasts/ThickCreamyPodcast20130629.mp3">RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS</a></div>
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The podcast features tracks from Fireworks, Flowers and Fever Dream.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj735MsVdvDh8PZqPzSYzNd51BmmTlttXlRuhs_xPoQAz9DdvY_qzQ-A3A26AduqNwURRkThSyGSmXJlGDX_UlMSSgK2HiFApx8qHLlxJc35sTzItt0921D0pg1yq8KXpdlWIJS88WwVl0/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj735MsVdvDh8PZqPzSYzNd51BmmTlttXlRuhs_xPoQAz9DdvY_qzQ-A3A26AduqNwURRkThSyGSmXJlGDX_UlMSSgK2HiFApx8qHLlxJc35sTzItt0921D0pg1yq8KXpdlWIJS88WwVl0/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers at The Betsey Trotwood<br />in a more introspective moment</td></tr>
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Sadly I missed most of the first band of the night, <a href="http://youngromance.bandcamp.com/">Young Romance</a>, I was stuck in traffic around Tottenham Hale and Seven Sisters Road, where there is a Transport for London scheme to improve the road layout. Its quite a big civil engineering job and will take about eighteen months to finish.<br />
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So when we rolled up at The Betsey, <a href="http://thefireworksgopop.bandcamp.com/">The Fireworks</a> were just finishing up, I only caught the last minute of their set. They sounded awesome.<br />
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The thirdish act were were <a href="http://flowersdomusic.bandcamp.com/">Flowers</a>, who were even more awesome than usual.<br />
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The final act of the night were <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FeverDreamBand">Fever Dream</a>, who I'd last seen at the Tipsy Bar eight months ago, and then before that at The Windmill.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its possible to subscribe to these Thick Creamy Podcasts on iTunes so they download automagically every time I put up a new one. Simply go into the 'Advanced' menu in iTunes, click 'Subscribe to Podcast' and then paste in this rss feed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThickCreamyPodcast</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">and that should give you all the podcasts, forever.</span>Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-53602017292085487612013-06-29T12:13:00.000-07:002013-07-04T08:14:39.641-07:00Thick Creamy Podcast 27-06-2013 Here's the nineteenth Thick Creamy Podcast, three bands recorded live from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/2433884530/">Guided Missile night</a> at The Buffalo Bar in London.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/podcasts/ThickCreamyPodcast20130627.mp3">RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS</a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IdrUPxYXhUJfSXVHF6tpQG08tKW1ibcj7nrpNXUwkGnPT5a2gC793IRTbowJhlruAxNn3NueypuqEknmbDEjAdpGSF5OufteiBo-75LslutIQuAdaTY7uxzUR7SinpJe4-x7_wrMjKI/s1600/20130627_212457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IdrUPxYXhUJfSXVHF6tpQG08tKW1ibcj7nrpNXUwkGnPT5a2gC793IRTbowJhlruAxNn3NueypuqEknmbDEjAdpGSF5OufteiBo-75LslutIQuAdaTY7uxzUR7SinpJe4-x7_wrMjKI/s320/20130627_212457.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith Top of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star<br />
Backing Band in a more introspective moment</td></tr>
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The podcast features tracks from Keith Top of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band, Abdoujaparov and The Indelicates.<br />
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Sadly I missed most of the first band of the night, <a href="http://kitrichardson.bandcamp.com/">Kit Richardson</a>, a piano playing singing girl with big hair, she was very good.<br />
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The second band up were <a href="http://keith-totp.livejournal.com/">Keith Top of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band</a>. There were about fourteen of them on stage, with around five guitarists, making a hell of a racket, but as long as Keith's vocals are on top of the mix, then its all good.<br />
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Next up were <a href="http://www.abdou.co.uk/">Abdoujaparov</a>, who are arguably Les from Carter USM's new band, but in retrospect, Abdoujaparov have been going for longer than Carter USM, and so ought to take precedence. I thought some of the songs sounded a little like a rocked up MJ Hibbett<br />
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Tossing off the night were <a href="http://www.indelicates.com/">The Indelicates</a>. Dramatic and theatrical with hand puppets and lyric books close to hand.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its possible to subscribe to these Thick Creamy Podcasts on iTunes so they download automagically every time I put up a new one. Simply go into the 'Advanced' menu in iTunes, click 'Subscribe to Podcast' and then paste in this rss feed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThickCreamyPodcast</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">and that should give you all the podcasts, forever.</span>Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-49424848346238685102013-05-09T14:40:00.001-07:002013-05-09T14:40:30.121-07:00Londonland rents - a year laterOne of the most popular posts on this site, as you can see from the sidebar, is my post from May 2012 about the <a href="http://thickcreamydischarge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/more-on-londonland-rents.html">average rents in each London borough</a>. Admittedly a lot of traffic comes from google sending people here looking for a map of London boroughs, but anyhoo, its still an interesting topic.<br />
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Yesterday, on twitter Sarah retweeted comment from <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmakJackson/status/332145402612678656">Emma Jackson</a> about how rents in London were crazy and average rents in Newham had shot up 39% the last year. Alas this information came from a press release a year ago, but it got me wondering about what rents were like now that the Olympics is firmly in the past, and how rents have changed from last year.<br />
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So I dug out my old spreadsheet, went through the <a href="http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E93947&insId=36&minPrice=1250&maxPrice=1500&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=2&googleAnalyticsChannel=renting">rightmove.com</a> property website, and counted up how many two bedroom flats there were in each London borough at each price point, weaved some Excel magic and well here's a list of average rents last year and this year, and their percentage change.<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 398px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5266; mso-width-source: userset; width: 108pt;" width="144"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 3474; mso-width-source: userset; width: 71pt;" width="95"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
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<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 108pt;" width="144"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>London Borough</b></span></td>
<td class="xl67" style="text-align: right; width: 71pt;" width="95"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>10 May 2012</b></span></td>
<td class="xl67" style="text-align: right; width: 71pt;" width="95"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>08 May 2013</b></span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Change</b></span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Redbridge</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,080.05 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,193.77 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">110.53%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hillington</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,112.92 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,201.08 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">107.92%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Merton</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,581.29 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,702.12 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">107.64%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bexley</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 858.70 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 914.26 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">106.47%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Enfield</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,135.41 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,201.74 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">105.84%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Croydon</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,014.19 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,063.27 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">104.84%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Greenwich</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,332.97 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,387.40 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">104.08%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Waltham Forest</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,092.00 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,134.49 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">103.89%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Barnet</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,419.80 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,465.49 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">103.22%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Barking and Dagenham</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 967.14 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 994.93 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">102.87%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ealing</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,578.19 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,606.16 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">101.77%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sutton</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,029.41 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,046.86 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">101.70%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Southwark</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,840.94 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,869.72 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">101.56%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hounslow</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,785.18 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,808.97 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">101.33%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lewisham</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,224.56 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,236.24 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">100.95%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kingston Upon Thames</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,402.73 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,412.13 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">100.67%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Brent</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,483.54 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,491.47 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">100.53%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hackney</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,876.80 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,885.32 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">100.45%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Harrow</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,248.56 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,253.38 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">100.39%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bromley</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,127.81 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,131.87 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">100.36%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Havering</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 967.49 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 963.83 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">99.62%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kensington and Chelsea</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,856.73 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,820.08 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">98.72%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lambeth</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,745.46 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,708.09 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">97.86%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Haringey</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,432.51 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,401.14 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">97.81%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Camden</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,359.67 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,307.76 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">97.80%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Newham</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,410.63 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,373.49 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">97.37%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Islington</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,217.82 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,139.80 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">96.48%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Westminster</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,796.06 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,696.96 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">96.46%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wandsworth</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,844.08 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,756.62 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">95.26%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Richmond</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,927.33 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,834.90 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">95.20%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hammersmith and Fulham</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,102.78 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,978.86 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">94.11%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tower Hamlets</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,066.11 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 1,942.07 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">94.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">City of London</span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,817.34 </span></td>
<td class="xl66" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> £ 2,474.32 </span></td>
<td class="xl65" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">87.82%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, nothing too exciting there. From the raw data, it seems the increases and decreases Redbridge, Hillington, Tower Hamlets and City of London are caused mainly by either loads more properties coming onto the market since last year, or fewer properties being available.<br />
<br />
On the whole, property in desirable boroughs is still more expensive than property in less desirable boroughs. Desirability here is mostly proximity to the centre of the capital city of the UK, which isn't really surprising. Kensington, Westminster, and City of London are still most expensive. Havering, Barking and Bexley are still the cheapest boroughs to rent in.<br />
<br />
The average change in average rents for two bedroom flats since this time last year for the whole of London, by my calculations is about half a percent, so within the margin of error for the data.Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-36820765829652617162013-05-05T16:33:00.000-07:002013-05-06T00:33:56.021-07:00Thick Creamy Podcast 30-04-2013 Here's the eighteenth Thick Creamy Podcast, three bands recorded live from the <a href="http://www.fortunapop.com/gig_details.php?id=85">Fortuna Pop night</a> at The Bull and Gate in Kentish Town.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/podcasts/ThickCreamyPodcast20130430.mp3">RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS</a></div>
<br />
The podcast features tracks from The Fireworks, Cosines and The Understudies.<br />
<br />
Sadly I missed most of the first band of the night, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/wearelisteningparty">The Listening Party</a>, they played loud and with great gusto, they certainly sounded like they were having fun.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV-BYpHTE1mPxUnVegmyR0LHKoJmSdfCI8Q2W3RFoHWbeQvgUS2OwMtqubbDRxwKWKfEt7a7ghn7GtoToW2rKADKw8cxstepakuiP-n9Q3WvSuz4odZcuTKz-RqPjon3uAJD1UCrwPs4/s1600/IMG_20130430_213543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV-BYpHTE1mPxUnVegmyR0LHKoJmSdfCI8Q2W3RFoHWbeQvgUS2OwMtqubbDRxwKWKfEt7a7ghn7GtoToW2rKADKw8cxstepakuiP-n9Q3WvSuz4odZcuTKz-RqPjon3uAJD1UCrwPs4/s320/IMG_20130430_213543.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fireworks in a introspective moment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The second band up were <a href="http://thefireworksgopop.bandcamp.com/">The Fireworks</a>, who were wonderful. Its been about a year since I last saw them, a richer tapestry of sounds, fuzz and feedback with more introspective moments.<br />
<br />
Then there were <a href="http://cosines.bandcamp.com/">Cosines</a> who were lovely. At this point I find myself asking is an individual member of the band called a Cosine? Who's your favourite Cosine? etc.<br />
<br />
As I become more familiar with their songs favourites bubble to the top, I loved the crazy wigout end to the first song in the set, and third song along 'Commuter Love' is a classic.<br />
<br />
I've just finished reading this book about post-punk music and the music DIY culture of the early 1980's and I wonder, why aren't bands like The Fireworks and Cosines a lot bigger and more successful, I mean, how long should it take?<br />
<br />
And finally were <a href="http://theunderstudiesuk.bandcamp.com/">The Understudies</a> who were great, this was the first time I'd seen them since the lineup change, and you know, I think its a bit of an improvement. Although I've seen them play live countless times (well, six times according to Songkick) this was the first time I've really listened to them and they're better than I previously thought. Now the tunes stick in your mind, and the snapshots of contemporary life, are filled with humour, sadness, pathos, and dreams. <br />
<br />
I think my favourite Understudies track is 'A Girl I Used To Muck About With'. It sounds like snowfall in Worsley Woods in 1996.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I want to chomp a cigar and march up to band and demand the let me out their record out. Then I remember what happened last time, and think perhaps not.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its possible to subscribe to these Thick Creamy Podcasts on iTunes so they download automagically every time I put up a new one. Simply go into the 'Advanced' menu in iTunes, click 'Subscribe to Podcast' and then paste in this rss feed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThickCreamyPodcast</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">and that should give you all the podcasts, forever.</span>Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-56862718568901561202013-04-09T00:01:00.003-07:002013-04-09T13:27:50.561-07:00Thick Creamy Podcast 30-03-2013Here's the seventeenth Thick Creamy Podcast, featuring bands playing live at Stereo in Glasgow at<a href="http://www.theplimptons.co.uk/"> The Plimptons All Day Farewell Party</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/podcasts/ThickCreamyPodcast20130330.mp3">RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS</a></div>
<br />
The cream of Glasgow's music scene had gathered for the end of an era, and the beginning of a new Post-Plimptopolypse epoch of humanity.<br />
<br />
The podcast features tracks from <a href="http://eddyandthetbolts.bandcamp.com/">Eddy and the T-Bolts</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thepingpongbananashow">Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5</a> and of course, <a href="http://theplimptons.bandcamp.com/">The Plimptons</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF6oFlk25l9eITDzJpw3T-pmF3XJT-qcOMzP8MhqrOe-gS_m8DJRLHkho1AWEoC4PjECjkpgOIiqa1tyhee1P0Ew7wqyOjIc_yd9oGkTnso7k8PV9_KUEnTp7fh55QcILS4W4paoAlcc/s1600/IMG_0646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF6oFlk25l9eITDzJpw3T-pmF3XJT-qcOMzP8MhqrOe-gS_m8DJRLHkho1AWEoC4PjECjkpgOIiqa1tyhee1P0Ew7wqyOjIc_yd9oGkTnso7k8PV9_KUEnTp7fh55QcILS4W4paoAlcc/s400/IMG_0646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 and their mighty horn section</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKD0Wix9TsdQ6Bw3OEiFFSJs7uK_Aly6C2UadsH497w8YGk0QuK59KUEObb_UVLmxoJJthyphenhyphenaT8GbqhSB6_HGTIq3cVn13vHHgkiFxuPB2Lsv8JXXegHF-JkpbSwdQ9rf7hs62ZUvKDvY/s1600/IMG_0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKD0Wix9TsdQ6Bw3OEiFFSJs7uK_Aly6C2UadsH497w8YGk0QuK59KUEObb_UVLmxoJJthyphenhyphenaT8GbqhSB6_HGTIq3cVn13vHHgkiFxuPB2Lsv8JXXegHF-JkpbSwdQ9rf7hs62ZUvKDvY/s400/IMG_0645.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 and their feisty backing singers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k3J9Tcu1Cys5Y0a_JyLsinlutRjolVUAhJCOHazTeL0gb7yGHTCQhBzWgdrTKjf993yUko1btWBSaDDfmjZvJGPbNaF6BOd2-r69FruCOLtu-GQPf3dvCwlFbO7LPQsJVjzeZ-EWv3I/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k3J9Tcu1Cys5Y0a_JyLsinlutRjolVUAhJCOHazTeL0gb7yGHTCQhBzWgdrTKjf993yUko1btWBSaDDfmjZvJGPbNaF6BOd2-r69FruCOLtu-GQPf3dvCwlFbO7LPQsJVjzeZ-EWv3I/s400/IMG_0649.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Plimpton - crowd surfer extrordinaire</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EINOy5jKCph3b3jN6pucNJm5Yv1XLhmPx-uKEYO_Si_3vbILBbG42YA-dRQ_CYLwrzsoF83ptjSPLxYPi5dfKLUt-BaOcDEISm7lUf5vl4r-b7zVfvajcp2VZHYZonJkrzVigL0sag4/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EINOy5jKCph3b3jN6pucNJm5Yv1XLhmPx-uKEYO_Si_3vbILBbG42YA-dRQ_CYLwrzsoF83ptjSPLxYPi5dfKLUt-BaOcDEISm7lUf5vl4r-b7zVfvajcp2VZHYZonJkrzVigL0sag4/s400/IMG_0652.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Plimpton riding the crowd away from the stage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its possible to subscribe to these Thick Creamy Podcasts on iTunes so they download automagically every time I put up a new one. Simply go into the 'Advanced' menu in iTunes, click 'Subscribe to Podcast' and then paste in this rss feed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThickCreamyPodcast</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and that should give you all the podcasts, forever.</span>Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-73563118396701021652013-04-07T02:54:00.002-07:002013-04-09T13:28:11.290-07:00Thick Creamy Podcast 29-03-2013Here's the sixteenth Thick Creamy Podcast, bands playing live at the <a href="http://www.soundsxp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17398">Sounds XP Easter alldayer</a> and me talking.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/podcasts/ThickCreamyPodcast20130329.mp3">RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS</a></div>
<br />
The bands were recorded live at the Windmill in Brixton, there were loads of bands playing, but I only taped four of them; <a href="http://simonlove.bandcamp.com/">Simon Love</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/nocarsmusic">No Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.vivalbertine.com/">Viv Albertine</a> and <a href="http://wearebigwave.com/">Big Wave</a>.<br />
<br />
Please enjoy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its possible to subscribe to these Thick Creamy Podcasts on iTunes so they download automagically every time I put up a new one. Simply go into the 'Advanced' menu in iTunes, click 'Subscribe to Podcast' and then paste in this rss feed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThickCreamyPodcast</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and that should give you all the podcasts, forever.</span><br />Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-83729651932618636192013-03-24T10:45:00.002-07:002013-03-24T10:45:44.430-07:00No More Page 3 and the Tabloid Monstering of Lucy MeadowsOh, I used to have a passion for blogging. I used to churn out writings all hours of the day on all topics that bubbled up, from the state of my jobbies, to the vagaries of the UK jobs market. I used to think it all meant something, that it was gently prodding my readers and society in some positive direction.<br />
<br />
But as I've grown older, and faced the trauma of unemployment and just plain getting on with life, its all faded away. I no longer have the passion to write.<br />
<br />
Other people do.<br />
<br />
I still read blogs, I still click on links on twitter, but its all like a sheet of tracing paper has been placed over it all, its all opaque. Its less meaningful. Its just plain wrong.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpbZoCy4neLiQkmuramHxVEyEh_xIunFzDmm4zyqrSaOaKVTsn65xDZ5fIlB6td8kLZ-XxVFH6_IQ_ogADhVjX7dQSiWjRFBq5W4i6vVA5sHokgXznuOPdCyd_Y-TROtAMnd1Hdy1Gp8/s1600/page3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpbZoCy4neLiQkmuramHxVEyEh_xIunFzDmm4zyqrSaOaKVTsn65xDZ5fIlB6td8kLZ-XxVFH6_IQ_ogADhVjX7dQSiWjRFBq5W4i6vVA5sHokgXznuOPdCyd_Y-TROtAMnd1Hdy1Gp8/s320/page3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Moments ago the member of parliament for West Bromwich East, <a href="http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/">Tom Watson</a> re-tweeted a link to the <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/news/one-16-year-olds-story-from-everyday-sexism/">No More Page 3 campaign's blog</a>.<br />
<br />
At this point I should point out that I don't buy The Sun newspaper, and when it is the only newspaper lying around in the canteen at work, I skip past page 3. Although, I fully appreciate that it is<a href="http://allkindsofrandomshit.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/the-political-spectrum-in-uk-newspapers.html"> the most popular newspaper in the UK and that it arguably represents a centrist political viewpoint</a>.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, the thrust of the No More Page 3 campaign blogpost seems to be that if only The Sun newspaper stopped publishing photos of topless women on page three then 13 to 16 year old girls wouldn't have their skirts lifted by teenage boys in the queue at the school canteen.<br />
<br />
I think this is foolish. There's plenty of nudity and objectifying women in every other newspaper and magazine. The are plenty of websites that offer nudity for free.<br />
<br />
Stopping page three will do nothing to stop teenage boys lifting girl's skirts.<br />
<br />
Why are schools tolerating sexual abuse in their canteens? Why aren't teachers and headmasters disciplining teenage boys and educating them in the acceptable ways to behave in polite society.<br />
<br />
What makes a 16 year old girl think that banning a page in a newspaper will change the behaviour of teenage boys? Its just so tenuous that it astounds me.<br />
<br />
Does the member of parliament for West Bromwich East actually agree and believe that if The Sun newspaper stopped printing titties in their newspaper then it would affect the behaviour of teenage boys? Does he actually think this?<br />
Does he really think that cause and effect work like this?<br />
Is this really the sort of belief that the residents of West Bromwich East want in their representative in parliament?<br />
<br />
I spent most of this morning investigating the <a href="http://jackofkent.com/2013/03/the-death-of-lucy-meadows/">tabloid monstering of Lucy Meadows</a>. There's a<a href="http://paulocanning.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-lucy-meadows-bandwagon.html"> variety of petitions</a> out at the moment lobbying for the Daily Mail to sack their columnist Richard LittleJohn.<br />
<br />
At this point I should point out that I don't buy the Daily Mail newspaper, and on the rare occasions where I have the opportunity and inclination to read it, I usually skip past the columnist pages. Although I do appreciate that its the second most popular newspaper in the UK.<br />
<br />
I'm still unclear as to what degree Richard Littlejohn monstered Lucy Meadows. He wrote a column about her, but the press intrusion that she complained about wasn't about opinion pieces, it was closer to home. She wrote a series of emails to a friend as follows (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/22/trans-teacher-lucy-meadows-press">source</a>):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I was lucky to have a supportive head, but I think I’d have done it here regardless as I couldn’t put it off any longer and I have family and financial commitments as well. The guidance I’ve had from the trans community has been generally sound and very much appreciated, and I’d like to be able to say I’ve given something back. I suppose the best way for me to do this would be to educate the people around me and children at school – I am a teacher after all!</i><br />
<i>[...]</i><br />
<i>I know the press offered parents money if they could get a picture of me.</i><i><br /></i><i>[...]</i><i><br /></i><i>I became pretty good at avoiding the press before Christmas. I live about a three-minute walk from school so they were parked outside my house as well as school. I’m just glad they didn’t realise I also have a back door. I was usually in school before the press arrived and stayed until late so I could avoid them going home.</i><i><br /></i><i>[...]</i><i><br /></i><i>[M]any parents have been quite annoyed with the press, too, especially those that were trying to give positive comments but were turned away.</i></blockquote>
Richard Littlejohn isn't a reporter, the sort of intrusion that Lucy was talking about seems to be the work of people like:-<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/10116784._Sir__will_become__Miss__at_Accrington_school/">Lisa Woodhouse from The Lancashire Telegraph</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/local-news/accrington-schools-letter-parents-tells-1273948">Stuart Pike of the Accrington Observer / Manchester Evening News</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2250555/Shock-CofE-school-Mr-Upton-return-Christmas-Miss-Meadows.html">James Tozer and Nazia Parveen </a>the Daily Mail's northwest correspondants.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I see no petitions calling for these people to be sacked.<br />
<br />
Even if Littlejohn's career did meet an untimely demise, then Lisa Woodhouse, Stuart Pike, James Tozer and Nazia Parveen would still camp on people's doorsteps, and wait outside their places of work, and hassle parents for photos and juicy details. At no point in their line of work would they think, "I better not do this, remember what happened to Littlejohn". That isn't going to cross their mind, ever.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGAo4LkFr1kV6_1pWoTHqcn6Nx2RCA24xVfgDhSaJh53DsZMtO_HHWlwtj_Wns5qWrkUTs0TByaawwPG-AM16OAG2RN0SgQ9BrR43NStVWegH5aIqTJkiVVJnpcawJRJ_jZ0EoKN7POQ/s1600/StuartPike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGAo4LkFr1kV6_1pWoTHqcn6Nx2RCA24xVfgDhSaJh53DsZMtO_HHWlwtj_Wns5qWrkUTs0TByaawwPG-AM16OAG2RN0SgQ9BrR43NStVWegH5aIqTJkiVVJnpcawJRJ_jZ0EoKN7POQ/s200/StuartPike.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Here's a picture of Stuart Pike, and presumably his wife Alia Pike, that I grabbed from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/stuart.pike.54/photos_stream">his Facebook</a> page. How much guilt does his feel for the death of Lucy Meadows? Is he wondering if he'd done something different, Lucy would still be alive, the pupils of St Mary Magdalen's School in Accrington wouldn't be mourning the loss of a popular teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_dT8PsruLPKXNvR1UEnW469XOGHcBLc2ClvsWpk7mGkwNQceg9EGEiTUWsFi4QMLNCsIOl3lJMi-QAVEfbXXSU3_nxTzN-tC8P5afC4YPvl989bFUF3eODzEu04Uq-oCJXlETT0Rf64/s1600/LisaWoodhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_dT8PsruLPKXNvR1UEnW469XOGHcBLc2ClvsWpk7mGkwNQceg9EGEiTUWsFi4QMLNCsIOl3lJMi-QAVEfbXXSU3_nxTzN-tC8P5afC4YPvl989bFUF3eODzEu04Uq-oCJXlETT0Rf64/s200/LisaWoodhouse.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
This is Lisa Woodhouse from the Lancashire Telegraph, I ripped her photo from <a href="https://twitter.com/lisawoodhouse8">her twitter account</a>, although for a journalist, she doesn't tweet much. I can't find her on Facebook, so I'm guessing she's got something to hide.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6paMGZQXBfjd_znuq5XG0eTYfLheCqTEcIOczZa6gtDyUKHjulRuVE15SvtSYGJlJiw6CxNJBFxWzu3jqXBRL1zjM9TB4Zt_gzo77dsWTqn_DkAoXoVlqkzn-N2wOvkjyKMbvEwlPuFk/s1600/NaziaParveen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6paMGZQXBfjd_znuq5XG0eTYfLheCqTEcIOczZa6gtDyUKHjulRuVE15SvtSYGJlJiw6CxNJBFxWzu3jqXBRL1zjM9TB4Zt_gzo77dsWTqn_DkAoXoVlqkzn-N2wOvkjyKMbvEwlPuFk/s200/NaziaParveen.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
This is 30 year old Nazia Parveen from The Daily Mail, I <a href="https://twitter.com/NParveenMail">ripped her photo from twitter</a>. She was named Young Journalist of the year in 2011, when she worked at the Lancashire Telegraph. Her prize for being a young journalist was £500 and a week's work experience at The Daily Mail, presumably they liked her work.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, my point is, that rather than tenuously going for trophy heads on spikes to change behaviour and society, people should be going for the people who commit the offences.<br />
<br />
If 16 year old boys are abusing 16 year old girls, then discipline the specific 16 year old boys rather than signing a petition about a page in a newspaper.<br />
<br />
If tabloid reporters are hassling someone to the point of suicide, then have a go at the tabloid reporters who are doing the hassling, rather than signing a petition about a page in a newspaper.<br />
<br />
*** UPDATE1 *** 24/03/2013 13:44<br />
Just to be sure, I used twitter:-<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pld5xIKLoTTiXKx5lhxSpcwXXiI2Ind5SLTMWPIJ9QKSjWYO0lRyaRCYLd2ede9KALg3s-tl8H5kSV7loOzuk_BULiqZht55B7rdLvTOEo-auXu4vSQ9-dPqK7MFg5P8w2_DSVwcYN8/s1600/monstering.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pld5xIKLoTTiXKx5lhxSpcwXXiI2Ind5SLTMWPIJ9QKSjWYO0lRyaRCYLd2ede9KALg3s-tl8H5kSV7loOzuk_BULiqZht55B7rdLvTOEo-auXu4vSQ9-dPqK7MFg5P8w2_DSVwcYN8/s400/monstering.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Eagerly awaiting a response.<br />
<br />
*** UPDATE2 *** 24/03/2013 15:17<br />
Looking through other tabloids for reporters who may have monstered Lucy Meadows, I find that in <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nathan-upton-sex-change-teacher-found-1777363">The Mirror, reporter Steve White reports Lucy Meadows's death with the headline "Nathan Upton: Sex-change teacher found dead at 32"</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm1SCUQRydAWFkctDfqLTAkHYVfixakn9xoK8XulxrvScE0Ut5ZkkRwJ_5UstWBYgQhdX0Xc1VHFJEIjlCgflxexZ5S2GxX_c6Okjz3IagPrMh0P0OE_lwMR1AJW0ITWRMVziqRglGIA/s1600/STEVE-WHITE.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm1SCUQRydAWFkctDfqLTAkHYVfixakn9xoK8XulxrvScE0Ut5ZkkRwJ_5UstWBYgQhdX0Xc1VHFJEIjlCgflxexZ5S2GxX_c6Okjz3IagPrMh0P0OE_lwMR1AJW0ITWRMVziqRglGIA/s1600/STEVE-WHITE.png" /></a></div>
Its a little unclear why Steve White is referring to Lucy as Nathan, when the main thrust of the story, of both the sex change and the suicide, is that Lucy wished to be referred to as Lucy, not Nathan.<br />
<br />Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-31279358394185804922013-01-07T03:16:00.002-08:002013-01-07T15:08:24.730-08:002012 in numbersJust a tote of various personal numbers and statistics from last year. Could really do with being an infographic, maybe later.<br />
<br />
<br />
Weight change<br />
+6 Kg<br />
<br />
Distance walked or run (exercise)<br />
385 miles<br />
(164 miles in 2011)<br />
<br />
Distance travelled by car<br />
8197 miles (5803 miles approx in 2011)<br />
<br />
Petrol Spend<br />
£1014.85 - 758 litres<br />
(£724.00 in 2011)<br />
<br />
Foot/car ratio<br />
1:21<br />
(1:35 in 2011)<br />
<br />
Distance flown<br />
2876 miles<br />
<br />
CO2 emissions from travel<br />
1587 Kg<br />
(Air - @0.21 Kg/mile; Road - @0.115 Kg/mile; Foot - @0.105 Kg/mile)<br />
<br />
Change in wealth<br />
+£6393.93<br />
(+£5389.49 in 2011)<br />
<br />
Stocks & Shares change<br />
+9.58%<br />
<br />
Gigs attended<br />
20<br />
(15 in 2011)<br />
<br />
Gigs played<br />
1<br />
(nil in 2011)<br />
<br />
Songs recorded<br />
3<br />
<br />
Programming, markup and scripting languages used<br />
8 (Java, Javascript, Python, html, php, SQL, R, CSS)<br />
<br />
Xbox games completed<br />
7<br />
<br />
Websites created<br />
4<br />
<br />
Website unique visitors<br />
13600<br />
<br />
Items knitted or crocheted<br />
5Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-91738014080564194632012-12-06T07:01:00.004-08:002012-12-06T07:01:29.019-08:00Starbucks and lower prices<br />
I had this idea the other day over lunch, a frothing at the mouth libertarian Ayn Rand kind of thought about multinational companies and tax, and the sanction of the victim.<br />
<br />
The idea was that Starbucks, instead of giving the government a voluntary donation of £10 million, should instead reduce their prices by whatever the amount that they are being accused of avoiding. So the money stays in their customers pockets and the HMRC, the taxman is cut out of the equation. I thought it was a fine idea.<br />
<br />
Besides, don't businesses usually expect something in return when they give the government voluntary donations? It seems a bit corrupt if you ask me, there should be no place for it in government.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, a Times journalist called Alexi Mostrous claimed that it was "One Reuters story <a href="http://reut.rs/Xcs29h">reut.rs/Xcs29h</a> yields £10m to UK taxpayer..." somehow equating paying money to the tax man was the same as paying money to the taxpayer. I had a bit of a rant at him, the taxpayer is the complete opposite of the taxman. Alexi has it completely the wrong way round, money that goes to the taxman is explicitly not the taxpayers, it ceases to be the taxpayer's money as soon as it is paid. That's what tax is, money that no longer belongs to the taxpayer.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, cast your mind back to my second paragraph, maybe this is what businesses already do, they keep their prices as low as possible, to keep money in people's pockets as any excess money, profits, would go to the taxman, and thus be of no use to the business.<br />
<br />
Businesses strive for perfect balance between prices, turnover, profits and tax. If any of these things chance then the business becomes unbalanced.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, just to very carefully remove any doubt from the reader's mind, I believe that businesses (and people) should pay the exact amount of tax they owe, and not a penny more, nor a penny less.<br />
<br />
And there hangs a problem.<br />
<br />
For personal banking I don't have an ISA savings account, I just have a regular savings account. So I pay tax on any interest I receive. If I moved my money into an ISA then I could avoid some tax, but that would be morally wrong.<br />
<br />
I have a free choice here, and I choose to pay all the tax that I owe.<br />
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-5368576806587947942012-11-19T09:56:00.000-08:002012-11-21T06:15:28.266-08:00The neverending awesomeness of Indiepop EyespyDays have past, hundreds have died elsewhere in the world, but still I keep on hammering away at my keyboard. I keep on pushing, keep on fighting for something I believe in, something I've fought for for years, and that is Indie Eyespy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt7hUAEmTh2vkAhBK7Ub-I9TL_lPHA9soU4eJd5wWN5bSp94n7dmx1qlYbjMufv7gS9Dt9HX2yGVTSYLtaOcch2ii20ueiY8nlrv12qTXE6Og1Gcgv4Tseb9aZBYGy-GPrEvMG5TTMEU/s1600/indiepop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt7hUAEmTh2vkAhBK7Ub-I9TL_lPHA9soU4eJd5wWN5bSp94n7dmx1qlYbjMufv7gS9Dt9HX2yGVTSYLtaOcch2ii20ueiY8nlrv12qTXE6Og1Gcgv4Tseb9aZBYGy-GPrEvMG5TTMEU/s320/indiepop.jpg" width="201" /></a><br />
Here try this<br />
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/londonindiepopeyespy.php">London Indiepop Eyespy </a><br />
<br />
What you've got there may look pretty basic, but under the hood I've pushed the envelope of my skills. Its got html, JavaScript, php and MySQL.<br />
<br />
It even looks pretty good when you view the source.<br />
<br />
The list of bands and band members comes from a database that's 5 Normal Form, so the same person can be worth more points depending on what band they're in.<br />
<br />
Now I just need to add a few more bands, <strike>and use the magic of CSS3 to make it look pretty</strike>.<br />
<br />
And also do something slightly different for dealing with scenesters, promoters and DJs who aren't necessarily in any bands.<br />
<br />
And then maybe I can work on adding a highscore table, and maybe a page to add new bands and band members, and then a special thing that looks up how many listeners each band has on last.fm <strike>and splits them into divisions based on how popular they are</strike>.Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-63339708036349347382012-11-15T04:07:00.001-08:002012-11-15T04:59:27.061-08:00Order of the day<br />
I've given some thought to what order to have the bands on the London Indiepop Eyespy website, this is another form over function problem.<br />
<br />
Its got to be easy to use, easy to find the scensters that users want to claim points for.<br />
<br />
This suggests alphabetical order for all the bands. This wouldn't be a problem if there were only two pages of bands. But if we're listing band members, that would be less than ten bands in total.<br />
<br />
Besides, from my experience with the <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/checklist.php">Skilmo</a> site, people don't really want to work through a long list of bands, it puts people off using the site, their attention wanders and I've lost a scenester.<br />
<br />
Back in the dusty days of <a href="http://glasgowindieeyespy.blogspot.com/">Glasgow Indie Eyespy</a>, the hundred or so bands of the Glasgow indie scene were split into about half a dozen divisions based on popularity, so in the premiership you'd find Franz Ferdinand, the Belles, the Obscuras, the Mogwai, in the first division you'd find the Felt Tips, The Plimptons, Wake The President etc. Scenesters could intuitively know where to look for the bands.<br />
<br />
Which divisions the bands were in was a carefully calculated algorithm based on last.fm, technorati and MySpace data, but those vectors aren't really appropriate this decade for the twenty or so London Indiepop bands.<br />
<br />
Sure I could work out some kind of popularity rankings, but having bands in divisions doesn't look nice if all the band members are listed. Alternatively, the site could list the bands and then expand to list the members once you've clicked on the name, but that's not very satisfactory.<br />
<br />
I'm having real doubts about the viability of the website at this stage, I can't envisage people using it.<br />
<br />
Doubts aside, if we look at the sort of sites I'm hoping to ape, like Last.fm and Songkick, they don't have alphabetical lists of bands, they intuitively know what band names you want to see, they don't have lists that you have to wade through.<br />
<br />
So, with the tools I have available, what would Phil Cowans and Gideon Bullock do? What would Russ Garrett do?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jsfiddle.net/gjxnc/">Something like this?</a>Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-89956706673163316142012-11-14T05:10:00.000-08:002012-11-14T05:10:02.930-08:00Getting all Fifth Normal Form on your ass<br />
I've been reading up on database normalisation and thinking about how the London Indiepop Eyespy website would work.<br />
<br />
Data normalisation is incredibly interesting, but not quite as important as what the site looks like, form dictates function here.<br />
<br />
In the original pub game of indie eyespy, you'd spot a band member then look up how many point they are worth.<br />
<br />
<i>There's Stuart Murdoch from Belle and Sebastian, four points!</i><br />
<br />
As many of the bands are quite obscure, it would be less likely that you'd know the names of band members, but you could still get points for identifying the person.<br />
<i>There's wassisname the drummer from Camera Obscura</i>, would be worth the same as correctly remembering his name was Lee. Although, if playing indie eyespy competitively with friends, the person who get his name would claim the points.<br />
<br />
So here we have the dilema for a website, what should it list:-<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Check boxes for each band member by name for each band</li>
<li>Check boxes for numbered members for each band</li>
<li>Text box for number of members spotted and leave the rest to banter</li>
</ul>
<br />
With the limitless possibilities of computing power, I'm tempted to go for option one, and make life easier for folk who can't remember names<br />
<br />
As bands evolved and lineups changed so did the way points were allocated, for example spotting Gav from Camera Obscura would get you three points, but if you instead noted it was Gav the bass player from Stabiliser, it would be five points. However, you couldn't then claim eight points for identifying him as playing in both bands. You only get points for one person once.<br />
<br />
So the website would need a way of dealing with the same person in many bands.<br />
<br />
With the Skilmo website, this sort of problem was easily resolved when it processed the <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/checklist.php">checklist page</a>, each skill was only logged once, for example tunisian crochet only counted once if you clicked it in both the textile arts category and the crochet category because the program ignored categories when logging stuff.<br />
<br />
But with indie eyespy, because of the different points values this isn't possible, and rather awesomely, this is precisely in what 5th Normal Form is about in database normalisation theory.<br />
<br />
On the database side of things I'd need three tables:-<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>List of people and their nominal point values</li>
<li>List of bands and their points values</li>
<li>List of which people are in which bands</li>
</ul>
<br />
Then every time the website is accessed a list is constructed by SQL of bands and their members and points values.<br />
<br />
Then with PHP an html page is generated which displays this list, with form checkboxes and also generates so neat JavaScript which greys out people who play in different bands when you select them.<br />
<br />
Then submitting this form should post a list of people and their points values.<br />
<br />
The next page would get a list of the people in the database, and run through the posted data, tote up the score, and log the score.<br />
<br />
That seems to work in my head.<br />
<br />
Of course the list of names will be normalised with id numbers to cover for there being more than one person with the same name, and same with the list of bands.<br />
<br />
The list of bands also needs a status column for whether a band is currently active, on haitus or split up. Cos, of course, active bands are worth more points than bands that are on haitus, but not as much as a band who split up in 1989.<br />
<br />
And the list of which people are in which bands needs a column indicating former band members. Because, as I'm sure you understand, spotting the original guitarist from Pocketbooks is worth more points than the current guitarist.<br />
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-16276546533585875432012-11-13T04:59:00.000-08:002012-11-13T04:59:24.530-08:00The mind-boggling complexity of a London Indiepop Eyespy Website<br />
After the frankly unremarkable failure of my last website, despite our best efforts, I'm unable to persuade people to sign up, I've decided to devote my labours towards creating a dynamic London Indie Eyepsy website.<br />
<br />
I don't need to remind you that the basics of L<a href="http://thickcreamydischarge.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/london-indiepop-eyespy.html">ondon Indiepop Eyespy</a> involve awarding yourself point for spotting well-known Indiepop music scene people at gigs and concerts in London.<br />
<br />
At first I figured it would just be a static list of bands and scenesters with check boxes and I could re-use the old php code from my <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/index.php">skilmo </a>website. I know where I am with php and a nice MySQL table.<br />
<br />
But the more I think about it, the more mind-boggling it gets.<br />
<br />
Part of the joy of the original game was that extra points could be gains using various multipliers, for example you get extra points if the person you've spotted is wearing a hipster stripy top, or if they're shopping in Lidl, or double points if you assault, sleep with or have sex with the spyee. There could be different point value for people depending on which band you identify the spyee with, for example, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocketbooks">Dan Chapman from Pocketbooks</a> may only be worth 2 points, but <a href="http://www.myspace.com/hotbooth">Dan Chapman from Hot Booth</a> would be worth 5 points.<br />
<br />
So, to do a dynamic check-list where extra lines appear for checking off several band members, or with the stripy top and sleeping with multipliers as more check boxes or radio buttons this would use <a href="http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp">JavaScript</a>, which looks straightforward. I've never used JavaScript before, but after a cursory glance at online tutorials it doesn't seem too challenging. A little challenging maybe, but not too much.<br />
<br />
However, my mind boggles when I try to figure out how to create a webpage that behaves correctly with Dan Chapman. How do I make it so if you claim your points for seeing him in stripy top as Pocketbooks bass player, you then can't claim points for him as Knickers bass player, or Hot Booth, One Fathom Down. I'm going to need to use php to generate JavaScript that creates check boxes that behave as radio buttons across almost the entire length of the page.<br />
<br />
Or maybe the check boxes remain as check boxes but become greyed out when you chose one or other of them.<br />
<br />
Then again, maybe starting with a list of bands and scenesters is the wrong start point, and instead the site relies on a list of people, and their band affiliations is on a separate table.<br />
<br />
I'm uncomfortable with this.<br />
<br />
Even back in the pre-London days of Glasgow Indie Eyespy, where the scene was much richer and more diverse, the game was pretty much a stalkers charter, where the proximity of creepiness and fun on the indie eyespy spectrum could be easily laughed off or obscured. In London Indie Eyespy, the scene is different, whilst Dan Chapman is a ubiquitous figure in the scene and a great example a few paragraphs above, actually mapping all the bands that various people called Emma are in so that anyone can stalk them in supermarkets makes me uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
Imagine, if you will, that I recreated Facebook, not all of it, but your Facebook newsfeed and that of most of your friends, and I did without any input from you. Its clearly at the wrong end of the creepy/fun indie eyespy spectrum.<br />
<br />
And so likewise creating a list of people and then mapping with bands they're in, and have previously been in, thats still drifting towards the awkward end of the spectrum. Especially on the lowest levels where playing on stage at The Wilmington Arms is a small step from playing in your bedroom.<br />
<br />
Very easily someone could take it the wrong way and demand their details to be removed from the site. There's no way to take into account people's desire for privacy if you're starting from individuals rather than starting with bands.<br />
<br />
Back in the early days of Last.fm and Songkick, there was correspondence online of bands complaining that they were listed on the sites despite having not signed up themselves, and it had to be patiently explained that if you're in a band with music to be listened to, then the listening experience belongs to the listener, whoever they maybe.<br />
<br />
With Indiepop Eyespy, getting points for spotting Dan from Pocketbooks is one thing, but getting points for spotting Sandy in the supermarket is another matter entirely.<br />
<br />
I was at a gig the other night, at Power Lunches, and I saw Katesby, she's a popular scenester. We go back a long way, about 420 miles and half a dozen years, but being a shy sort of chap, I didn't say hi or anything, I just lurked in a corner listening to the bands on stage and concentraing intently on my Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE. I just didn't feel comfortable saying hi, I don't think she saw me.<br />
<br />
Maybe that makes me anti-social and a little bit creepy, or maybe its an inherent character trait that's made me the man I am today. Its the same thing I referred to the first paragraph of this blogpost, and its the inherent fallacy in constructing a London Indiepop Eyespy website.<br />
<br />
Never the less, I'll have to go and read up and fifth normal form database normalization and see what works.<br />
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-74755430547183734762012-11-10T14:40:00.003-08:002012-11-10T14:40:48.257-08:00Your vote countsSo I've been working hard on my awesome internet startup websitey thing, <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/photoinfo.php?image=36">adding new functionality and cool stuff</a>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/photoinfo.php?image=36" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh_pUOD_JYLh1Q9wwMXlOM7w_9premzlFOQrcXqb4r4NKkMfh0dKbVWLyXqZDt9jY4JGT7ZOgZz7A0JEKtB-PoazjuABVxQ-i63DqJ9oBBmFn5CNZKxcffeTaW6A8B-Q_Q7sXbiTIXtA/s320/skilmopics.jpg" width="320" /></a>I've now got pages for each photo that's been uploaded for each skill and you can upvote and downvote photos just like on Reddit. And its' kind of neat too cos on the left side of each photo it shows the top votes photos from the same person and other top voted photos for that skill.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So say you uploaded a photo of some awesome piece of <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/photoinfo.php?image=37">knitting</a> you'd done, and some awesome photo of an awesome bit of chainsaw carving you'd done, and an awesome photo of you looking awesome playing bass guitar in some band you were in five years ago. Then when folk were looking at your knitting photo, on the right there'd be pictures of other people's knitting and on the left would be photos of your other awesomey things.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The main problem with this cool websitey thing, is that I'm the only person to have uploaded any photos of anything so its just me gurning and things I've knitted out of Sainsburys carrier bags over the last five years.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still, the website is here, anyone can sign up and upload photos, please do, cos I'm not quite sure if it works right.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To register on the site, you'll need to <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/checklist.php">go to this page</a>, check off some of the crafts, hobbies and skills what you can do, then come up with some user name, then from your profile page you'll be able to upload photos and stuff.<br />
<br />
Let me know if you have any problems, if for some reason you get logged out randomly, and if you have a retina display device, let me know what it all looks like.<br />
<br />
Cheers</div>
</div>
Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-24405526810772351972012-11-07T10:17:00.000-08:002012-11-07T10:17:22.089-08:00I am a female Goffin’s cockatooThrilling progress is being made on my awesome internet start-up website thing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/index.php">This is the main page</a>, <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/userinfo.php?user=1">this is my profile page</a> and <a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/checklist.php">this is where you can register all the skills what you can do and open an account</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/11/parrot-in-captivity-manufactures-tools-something-not-seen-in-the-wild/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QifwYLZjfTPk-YzyvEXd2CqCYx2WWZJtH3aOAkxpJS7PUeyqx_YT7ywbNJHqkhEWv6_-VGL-LBhl0wuzeR-7v0tMyDEBxQKKR3Ra2oAWcmag4gH6uQmMqZkV649TXQkLT8m3ms20N9U/s1600/figaro.jpg" /></a>Elsewhere on the internet <a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/11/parrot-in-captivity-manufactures-tools-something-not-seen-in-the-wild/">a parrot in captivity has started to manufacture its own tools</a>. Its pretty awesome as we already knew that crows and jays could fashion tools out of bits of wire, but this is the first time its been seen in a parrot.<br />
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The bit that interests me most in the story is about Heidi, a female cockatoo in the same cage:-<br />
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Heidi, the bird in question, attempted to insert sticks into the enclosure, as she had seen Figaro do. She did not, however, adjust their sizes or attempt to manipulate them once they were on the same side of the wire mesh as the nut. Perhaps if she had been given more time to observe Figaro at work (he chased her off), she might have had a greater sense of how to use the sticks.</blockquote>
Me, I love watching people do things I can't do, and then having a go myself. Its just in my nature to want to try everything.<br />
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The past days and weeks have been fraught with the website. I've been learning how to do stuff in php, then once it works, I show it off to my nearest and dearest who just don't seem very impressed, and I don't understand why not.<br />
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For example, the checklist page was a huge list of all the skills on the database, I could image people slowly working through it checking off everything they could do, bias knitting, chainsaw carving, programming in FORTRAN, getting little stabs of joy when they learn about the existence of a new skill that they've never heard off before, like punch needle embroidery.<br />
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I couldn't understand why no one was registering on the site, why no one was working through the list of 300 or so skills?<br />
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<a href="http://chrisgilmour.co.uk/checklist.php" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2XMCLoq4n2VECr2UJiguesZKuyTP8CranYmHZ2rleVJxcVp4ZAe9FswQKhXTT0yRnMQAM1ilTdmZ8QJyR5nyOBZ1VqYyuFnLgOOTks9Z5A8qHX_kbh4XVMq_yrMkIjkCr0vmTGRhYYQ/s320/checklist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Luckily, thanks to some good constructive feedback, I've changed the checklist page so all the skills are in categories, and you can just pick the one you're interested in. Rather than having to read through dozens of random ones that you're not interested in.<br />
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Its so obvious, but it didn't occur to me the first time round.<br />
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Me, I'm like Heidi, learning new skills. But I'm better than her, with a bit of practise I get better and get it right.<br />
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So, the next bit of the site that I'm working on is how it deals with images that have been uploaded by users. I'll let you know how I get on. Awesomeness all round!Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7627018434696494668.post-18256644439547334532012-11-03T03:18:00.002-07:002012-11-03T03:31:51.630-07:00On National Insurance and Child BenefitThere's recently been coverage in the media of a thing called 'The Living Wage', that is a wage upon which people can live comfortably, a somewhat higher wage than the current minimum wage. By a quirk of statistics, the Living Wage is within a few pence of what the take home amount of the minimum wage if it wasn't taxed. That is, if people on minimum wage didn't pay income tax, they'd be taking home the living wage.
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Fiscally, I'm a big fan of raising the income tax threshold to £16,000 or so, enough to take the minimum wage earners out of the tax system. And then, with feelings of generousity, I'd raise the threshold to the median wage, so the poorest half of the UK paid no income tax, and the rest pay the rest of it, at whatever rate balances the books.
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However, I'm not the chancellor, and I have doubts. There's the whole concept of National Insurance, which I still believe is an insurance scheme and not just a different name for tax. I feel that all earners, no matter what their income, should be paying national insurance, like putting away a little bit each pay day, for when they fall ill, or become unemployed or otherwise fall on hard times.
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And here we land at the problem with Child Benefit. Within twelve months, those earning £50,000 or more will not receive Child Benefit. Whether or not this is fair depends entirely on whether that money comes from taxes or national insurance.
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If its from the National Insurance Fund then it ought to be a universal benefit, paid for all children regardless of their parents' income. Imagine if you paid for insurance on your car or your house, and then when disaster strikes, the insurance company turned round and said, no, you can afford to repair or replace without the insurance money so we're not paying up. In which case, I imagine you would do your damnedest to ensure that the insurance company never received a penny from you.
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But if Child Benefit is paid from tax, then fair enough, deprive the rich of it benefit, as they are paying for everyone else's services anyway, its part of the package, part of the deal you sign up to when choosing how closely you comply with a country's tax regime*. The tax rates vary regularly anyway so any gains or losses are transient rather than long term.
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It appears that Child Benefit is not paid from the National Insurance Fund, and is administered by HM Revenue and Customs and so is paid from tax.
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In order to hold views such as this I try to indulge tax avoidance as little as possible, I don't give money to charity, I don't use GiftAid, and I don't keep my savings in an ISA.
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*<span style="font-size: x-small;">Its widely believed that only the rich can take advantage of tax regimes in different countries to maximise their wealth. I believe this is untrue as I've worked for minimum wage in factories where the vast majority are workers who've travelled thousands of miles from far off lands to work for minimum wage and then send a proportion of their earnings back home to ensure their families have a higher quality of life. This is the same package as Sir Philip Green's wife living in Monaco receiving the benefits of the Arcadia group in the UK.</span>Chris Gilmourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14527672702704849717noreply@blogger.com0