Category Archives: opinion

I Stop at Red

Posted on by
Reply

Thanks for visiting stopatred.org.

Listening to Nicky Campbells phonein this morning I heard too many cyclists defending themselves for not stopping at traffic lights and too many motorists citing their behaviour as evidence that cyclists are a menace.

There is no excuse. Cyclists should stop at red lights just like any other road user. The campaign Stop at Red is inviting cyclists to sign up on it’s website. On the site they offer a number of simple reasons why it makes sense.

It has two general aims:

  • To encourage cyclists to show courtesy towards other road users and pedestrians.
  • To encourage greater compliance with the laws of the road.

The most convincing argument for me is the one that reminds cyclists that they don’t need to jump the lights because they are already on the fastest mode of transport in town.

Broadband communication | Down the tubes | The Economist

Posted on by
1

Broadband communication | Down the tubes | The Economist.

An interesting article on two fronts. First, just the home useable technology that’s changing the way we all watch television – not just the geeks. Second, the way big US corporations with vested interest in old technology still stand in the way of progress. Hence the rather cynical sub heading to the article Down the Tubes

Google Street View halted by angry villagers – why?

Posted on by
Reply

Google Street View halted by angry villagers – Brand Republic News

I love this comment in response the story about villagers who don’t want their homes on Google Street View. It’s not very gracious or PC but it does convey something valuable about tabloidesque scaremongering ….

Mark Wilson – 03/04/2009

Typical, small-minded, NIMBY, luddite proles with nothing better to do than swallow the nonsensical, fear-mongering that the unimaginative 24-hour news channels and tabloids spew into their pathetic minds. “Oh no – my house is on Google Street View! Google are a search engine. Street View shows pictures of my house. Ipso facto, burglars will actively search for ‘unlocked front door’ on Google and my house will magically appear with information about my security alarm code, the value of the paintings on my wall and my Summer holiday plans…” My question to these buffoons is do you have some kind of hereditary mental health issue or have you actually smacked your forehead against a solid object for the past 6 months to make you this stupid?

Blogging Tweets end

Posted on by
Reply

After a couple of weeks of using Twitter Tools to publish daily posts of my Tweets, I’ve disabled the updates. It works well enough but what value does it add to my blog? Nothing, because the same information is available in the sidebar and on Twitter with a simple search on @barstep.

On the other hand I’m pleased with the delicious updates using Postalicious because I use delicious to write short summaries and responses to sites I have found interesting. So my ‘delicious thoughts” will continue.

Faith, Hope and Love

Posted on by
Reply

Ben’s Blog
Thank you to everyone – too many to name – that has loved us so beautifully – just a few days but so much love, love, love. Thank you God – I love you God and I love your people.

hannahdyke

Hannah Dyke

Hannah Dyke has cancer. She’s a young mum and naturally speaking the outlook is bleak. Hannah and her husband Ben belong a church in York that is supporting them with practical love and prayer. Alongside the chemotherapy this will go a long way to improving her chances of overcoming this dreadful disease. There’s a Facebook group for all those who want to put their faith on the line. It’s called “I’m believing for Hannah’s Healing”. Ben is also writing his blog to keep people up to date or perhaps just to work through his own journey in this traumatic time. 

I have a friend in Belfast – my age – who’s going through treatment for an inoperable brain tumour. He’s called Ian Smith. I’m praying for him too. He’s the Director of Mission for the Church Missionary Society in Ireland. Ian lived in York for many years – his son, Luke, still lives here and is also a very good friend of mine. Like Hannah, Ian is supported by his faith and the prayers of his many Christian friends.

Both of these people deserve to live, so of course I will pray that they survive these illnesses. But I am not God and I don’t know what the outcome will be. Neither am I a doctor and my knowledge of their conditions is limited. But I know the human body naturally heals itself, fights off infection and creates new tissue to repair damage – and that the process is helped by hope, love and support. If prayer brings faith into action then it too on my list of ways to help them.

That’s why I can join the Facebook group for Hannah’s healing. It’s not some blind optimism but the belief that prayer works alongside the natural and medical processes at work in her. If you have faith please join your prayers with ours and bring Hannah and Ian before God. Each one brings a little more grace into their situation.