English City Councils Plan Shutdown on Speed Cameras

Now here’s a magnificent dose of scathing irony to kick off your morning–several city councils (the current list of likely affected includes Bracknell Forest, Gloucestershire, Kent, Devon, Hertfordshire and Plymouth) in Great Britain are moving to shut down theirspeed cameras.  Why? Due to lack of funds.

Where before, the citizenry were decryingthe devices as nothing more than a way to extort funds from them for catching even the most minor of traffic violations, we discover now that they were a bigger money sink than previously indicated. See, they were funded largely by the Road Safety Grant, which following the general elections, took a forty-three percent slash to the guts. Apparently the British government, like a lot of other governments these days, is hemorraging cash and looking to staunch the flow, and the Road Safety Grant looked like a ripe target for savings.

And so, the devices once thought of as a big cash windfall to beleaguered cities is now being shut down because it’s too costly to maintain them. How’s that for morning irony?

English City Councils Plan Shutdown on Speed Cameras

Now here’s a magnificent dose of scathing irony to kick off your morning–several city councils (the current list of likely affected includes Bracknell Forest, Gloucestershire, Kent, Devon, Hertfordshire and Plymouth) in Great Britain are moving to shut down theirspeed cameras.  Why? Due to lack of funds.

Where before, the citizenry were decryingthe devices as nothing more than a way to extort funds from them for catching even the most minor of traffic violations, we discover now that they were a bigger money sink than previously indicated. See, they were funded largely by the Road Safety Grant, which following the general elections, took a forty-three percent slash to the guts. Apparently the British government, like a lot of other governments these days, is hemorraging cash and looking to staunch the flow, and the Road Safety Grant looked like a ripe target for savings.

And so, the devices once thought of as a big cash windfall to beleaguered cities is now being shut down because it’s too costly to maintain them. How’s that for morning irony?

Lower Merion Webcam Lawyer Would Like His Money Now

You’ll remember the whole Lower Merion webcam issue–well, the case has been pretty much settled for now.  No criminal charges were filed against the school system that was alleged to be using the webcams on school-issued computers to spy on students, but that doesn’t preclude a civil trial from going forth.

And before that happens, before even the appeals process kicks in, the lawyer leading the charge against Lower Merion, Mark Haltzman, is demanding payment from the school system for a huge array of services rendered.

There’s plenty of “I-don’t-recall”s going on in here, and this is likely going to make for a really sticky situation should Haltzman be representing the Lower Merion parents in a civil case, which is where we’re likely to go next.  Doubly so since at stake is roughly four hundred grand that Haltzman claims he’s owed, and that’s just for starters.

Lower Merion Webcam Lawyer Would Like His Money Now

You’ll remember the whole Lower Merion webcam issue–well, the case has been pretty much settled for now.  No criminal charges were filed against the school system that was alleged to be using the webcams on school-issued computers to spy on students, but that doesn’t preclude a civil trial from going forth.

And before that happens, before even the appeals process kicks in, the lawyer leading the charge against Lower Merion, Mark Haltzman, is demanding payment from the school system for a huge array of services rendered.

There’s plenty of “I-don’t-recall”s going on in here, and this is likely going to make for a really sticky situation should Haltzman be representing the Lower Merion parents in a civil case, which is where we’re likely to go next.  Doubly so since at stake is roughly four hundred grand that Haltzman claims he’s owed, and that’s just for starters.

New Donut-shaped flash from Brando A Review

Those of you who have take macro shots know the pain of getting the correct lighting on small subjects. Fortunately, Brando has a solution.

Brando, a tech and gadget company who is based in Hong Kong, have created a Circular Macro Half/Full LED Light Source. It is a essentially a donut-shaped flash, and the user can control what half or halves of the flash will be illuminated. It’s enough to get the proper lighting you are looking for when taking a picture of something miniature, and you can get it on the Brando site for about $58.

New Donut-shaped flash from Brando A Review

Those of you who have take macro shots know the pain of getting the correct lighting on small subjects. Fortunately, Brando has a solution.

Brando, a tech and gadget company who is based in Hong Kong, have created a Circular Macro Half/Full LED Light Source. It is a essentially a donut-shaped flash, and the user can control what half or halves of the flash will be illuminated. It’s enough to get the proper lighting you are looking for when taking a picture of something miniature, and you can get it on the Brando site for about $58.

iphone for online commentatore Review

There has been some suggestion from online commentators, in giving your children a Flip Recorder as a gift and learning tool, thus allowing them to create their own inner videographer ability. However, there is another piece of technology, that can be harnessed and works just as well, with great video apps, introducing the iPhone. Prices are similar, for example, you could find a used iPhone 2G for $150 on Craiglist. Of course, it would be age specific and if under 10 years, maybe a temporary loan of it woud suffice. Being an iPhone it can also double as a handy children’s toy or educational equipment. There are no boring bits and it will keep them amused for hours, not to mention the great video footage and commentary by your own kids is so cute and memorable.