Aberdour volunteers to be given speed guns to crack down on speeding

Volunteers in Aberdour are to be given speed guns by the police to record vehicles driving through the village.

The initiative, dubbed ‘Community Speedwatch’, is a collaboration between Aberdour Community Council and Fife Constabulary, that will see members of the public going out armed with police radar equipment and high visibility vests.

photo: undiscoveredscotland.co.uk

However, those participating in the plans will not possess the authority to stop any drivers, or have them charged with an offence.

John Burrell, secretary of Aberdour Community Council, hopes the scheme will persuade drivers to reduce their speed when travelling through the village.

 “It will be high visibility, so cars coming into the village will know there’s a speed check and it will give them a chance to slow down. If they don’t slow down and they go over a certain speed, then the police will send them letters.”

 “(Volunteers) won’t possess any powers at all, except that the information that they record on the speed guns will be passed on to the police. They have no powers to do anything outside of that.”

“It’s not about prosecuting people, it’s not about catching people; it’s about getting traffic to slow down going through the village.”

Volunteers will be trained by the police to use the equipment, then positioned strategically throughout Aberdour in groups of three. Mr Burrell explained how this routine is to be carried out, and is expected to happen two to four times a month.

 “You go out for an hour at a time and record the speed of the traffic coming into the village. You only record people doing over a certain limit. The limit is actually quite high; it’s 27 or more on a 20mph zone and 37 or more in a 30mph zone. So with all the warning signs, high-vis jackets and all the rest of it, if people are still doing 37 going through the village, they deserve to be recorded.”

The Speedwatch initiative has had some success in Cupar, where the average speed of vehicles was reduced by up to 2% in some areas.

Sergeant Jonathan Peebles, supervisor for South West Fife area, believes that similar results can be achieved in Aberdour.

“Our intention is to introduce (Speedwatch) to Aberdour and hopefully reduce the average speed of vehicles travelling through the village, because it has been particularly highlighted to us by the residents.”

Not all residents are in favour of the proposals though; a video has surfaced on YouTube accusing the Council of tarnishing the public image of Aberdour.

‘El Mano’, star of the video who wishes to remain anonymous says, “There’s much less offensive ways of slowing drivers down... traffic-calming measures, flashing lights, passively asking drivers to slow down... That’s the best for the image of Aberdour rather than pointing something in their face by people who aren’t even policemen.”

The video has had over 6,600 views, and has received vocal support from members of the community.

Mr. Callum Scott of Hawkcraig Road says, “Giving members of the public calibrated equipment and then restricting their effectiveness under the guise of “this is an educational approach to speeding rather than enforcement” is a total waste of time.”

Mr. John Clark of Main Street is a bit more optimistic. “The best this stunt can do is raise awareness in peoples minds and hope that they will change their behaviour voluntarily.”

Steve Jobs: “Think Different”

It’s April 1, 1976. A blustery spring breeze buffets the neighbourhood of Palo Alto, California, a booming technological breeding ground for like-minded computer wizards to share and express cutting-edge ideas. Two such wizards, 21-year-old Steve Jobs and 27-year-old Steve Wozniak, Homestead High schoolmates and business associates, are just signing the partnership agreement to an outfit that will one day become the most valuable company in the world. Apple Inc. is born.

photo: Yalibnan

Steven Paul Jobs, the man behind the black turtleneck sweater, sadly died on October 5, 2011, but his reign as ‘supreme-commanding officer’ at Apple is a fascinating story of ethereal highs and quivering lows. His unyielding will to achieve the impossible, dubbed his ‘reality distortion field’ by his employees, allowed Jobs to push the boundaries of creativity and modern technology, and breathe life into a company that revolutionised the entire digital-age industry.

After being adopted by his working-class parents, Jobs quickly came to realise that his superior intellect was in stark contrast to his mechanic father’s and bookkeeper mother’s. Nevertheless he adored them, and resented anyone referring to them as his “adopted parents”. In fact, it could be argued that Jobs owes his colossal success to his father, who was the first to introduce him to electronics.

“My dad did not have a deep understanding of electronics, but he’d encountered it a lot in automobiles and other things he would fix. He showed me the rudiments of electronics, and I got very interested in that.”

It was from here, in their Palo Alto home garage that Jobs, by now a Reed College dropout, coined his company’s name ‘Apple’, deeming it a warm and friendly alternative to the inauspicious imagery implemented by his competitors. He then began selling the first of his and Steve Wozniak’s creation, ‘Apple I’.

Trips to India, and experimenting with psychedelic drugs helped Jobs to gain a broader sense of the world. He once famously quipped that his rival, Bill Gates would be “a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off on an ashram when he was younger.” This eastern influence became a large contributing factor in Jobs’ work and was a major part of his life; he remained a Buddhist until his death.

Apple grew steadily under Jobs’ authority, as did his wealth, which at age 25 had grown to $256 million. But a rift between Jobs and his CEO John Sculley over his treatment of Apple employees led to his ousting from Apple in 1985.

Understandably this hit Jobs hard, but he did not let it deter him. In 1986 he co-founded his hugely successful animated film production studio Pixar, maker of classic blockbuster Toy Story, which was the highest grossing film of 1995 generating $362 million worldwide.

Almost 10 years after his expulsion, Jobs was brought back to Apple as ‘de facto’ chief and instantly took charge. He dramatically changed the face of the company, incorporating his love of minimalist perfection in aesthetics to his most successful products: the iPod, iPhone and iPad, which have all contributed to Apple recently becoming the most valuable company in the world.  Last year, Apple Inc. achieved over $108 billion return in sales and revenue.

Steve Jobs was an innovator unlike any the world has seen; he was a different breed of thinker, as his 1997 ‘Think Different’ campaign illustrates:

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.”

article with primary and secondary research

This is an article I wrote in conjunction with the synopsis that can be found further down the page. It was compiled using primary and secondary sources.

With the economy on the brink of collapse, the government has turned to exploring new alternative sources of revenue – expansion of an enterprise finance guarantee and enhanced capital allowances for new businesses are just some of the investments made by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne’s Budget released last March. But one such issue has failed to rear its ugly head, despite calls for it to be addressed in late 2010.

The legalisation of drugs is a highly contentious topic that has divided experts and analysts. A quick delve into the pages of history exposes the destructive power of both legalisation and prohibition – opium was legalised in China in the 19^th Century after two nasty Opium Wars with the British Empire, resulting in approximately 90 million addicts. Prohibition of alcohol in 1920s America spawned the birth of bootlegging – harnessed by the Mafioso – which laid the foundations of the lucrative Black Market. Most people are aware of the negative aspects of drugs, but what if legalising and taxing them could ignite a new era of a prosperous economy, cleaner streets and friendlier neighbours?

Studies have shown that by implementing and incorporating factors such as taxation, inflation adjustment and savings made due to societal costs, the legalisation of illegal drugs in the UK could potentially bring in revenue of £5bn. That would rank it as one of the highest contributors to the British economy, alongside two other drug giants – tobacco and alcohol. It has been suggested by a comprehensive report that a legalised, regulated market could save the country around £14bn. It takes into account the costs of policing and investigating drugs users and dealers to processing them through the courts and their eventual incarceration, as well as the potential tax revenue. However, medical treatment for drug users in Britain would likely foot a hefty bill.

One of the main arguments against legalisation is the detrimental effects drugs have on our health – there are currently 280,000 people in the UK addicted to Class A drugs and their habit cost the NHS £560m last year. But compare that to the medical costs of alcohol (£2.7bn) and smoking (£5bn), and it would appear that drinking, one of our nation’s favourite pursuits, is costing the taxpayer almost five times as much as the likes of heroin and crack.

If legalisation were to come into force, it is reasonable to suspect that the number of addicts in this country would take a trip skyward, but the rate of drug-related crime would undoubtedly plummet.  Organised crime syndicates acquire billions in profit from the harvesting, exporting and selling of illegal drugs. A government regulated drug trade would sever these ties, forcing them out of business, and cripple this seedy underworld.

Transform Drug Policy Foundation, a charity dedicated to the promotion of drug regulation, believes that the illegality of drugs is the root of a large proportion of crime in the UK. Co-founder Jolene Crawford lost a family member to drugs, and since then has been devoted to lobbying the government through her foundation.

“The price of illegal drugs is determined by a demand-led, unregulated market. Using illegal drugs is very expensive. This means that some dependent users resort to stealing to raise funds (accounting for 50% of UK property crime – estimated at £2bn a year). Most of the violence associated with illegal drug dealing is caused by its illegality.”

She has faith that if legalisation was sanctioned, crime rates would fall, allowing police to get on with more pressing matters.

“Legalisation would enable us to regulate the market, determine a much lower price and remove users’ need to raise funds through crime. Our legal system would be freed up and our prison population dramatically reduced, saving billions.”

Transform also blame the high prices of drugs for the rise in drug-related deaths. These have risen by 19% in the last decade, and could possibly be attributed to the fact that drug-peddlers take to diluting expensive drugs in order to increase productivity and maintain attractive prices to buyers. This does nothing to help eradicate the ever increasing dangers of illegal drugs.

The practice of needle sharing in intravenous drug users also leads to the spread of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Transform would like to see sterile, medically approved needles provided for addicts who need them.

“Prohibition has led to the stigmatisation and marginalisation of drug users. Countries that operate ultra-prohibitionist policies have very high rates of HIV infections amongst injecting users. Hepatitis C rates amongst users in the UK are increasing substantially.

“In the UK in the 80s clean needles for injecting users and safer sex education for young people were made available in response to fears of HIV. Harm reduction policies are in direct opposition to prohibitionist laws.”

Russell Brand, actor, comedian, and former heroin addict, challenged to government’s method of tackling drug addiction last month, appealing to the Home Affairs select committee for more compassion to be shown in relation to drug addiction. He condemned the amount of money spent on “nicking people for possession”, and would rather see that money being spent on drug rehabilitation and education facilities for addicts. Steps have been taken to change the government’s views on drug users by United Nations agencies such as Unicef and the World Health Organisation, who last March issued a joint statement urging member states to ‘close compulsory drug detention and rehabilitation centres and implement voluntary evidence-informed and rights-based health and social services in the community’.

In the grand scheme of things, there is no evidence to show that prohibition works. In the 40 years since President Nixon declared his indomitable ‘War on Drugs’ to be in effect, trillions of dollars have been squandered on failed drug busts, ineffective laws have been passed, police time and resources have been wasted through misdirected activity, human rights have been violated, dangers have increased – the list goes on. The government needs to reject the stigma attached to drugs and instead adopt a policy of educating society in matters pertaining to drugs openly, honestly and truthfully. Legalisation displays an array of possibilities that if they are met with a level of rationale and open-mindedness, might just pave the way to making our country great again.

Who art thou Shakespeare?

An ongoing conspiracy theory has been re-opened with the release of Roland Emmerich’s new film ‘Anonymous’, which addresses the claim that William Shakespeare was not the dominant force of the playwright sphere as history has portrayed him, but was in fact a moniker fabricated to shoulder the credit of someone elses literary genius. It has sparked furious debate amongst ‘Stradfordians’, those in agreement that Shakespeare was indeed ‘The Bard’, and ‘Anti-Stradfordians‘, their cynical counterparts. In the words of Shakespeare himself, he seems to be “in a pickle”.

photo: comingsoon.net

This thespian-addled conspiracy first transpired in the mid-19^th century, when Shakespeare was at the height of his prominence. Rumours began circulating that works of such poetic aptitude and articulation could not possibly have been attributed to William Shakespeare, whose humble background did not fit the reputation his works had built for him.

The film starring Rhys Ifans as Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, the man perputated as being the “real” Shakespeare, has got conspiracy theorists frothing at the mouth, uncovering new ‘evidence’ discrediting Shakespeare, some claiming that the true author of his works is Francis Bacon. 

What’s on in Edinburgh

The frosty chill of winter has done its worst, but even the miserable Scottish weather has failed to dampen the spirits of Edinburgh, with anticipations running high in the few months leading up to our internationally acclaimed festival. If you can’t wait until then, here’s a few of our selections to keep you ticking over.

photo: The Pop Cop

They may look like four emotionally perturbed youngsters with a penchant for awkward silliness, but Bwani Junction have masterfully risen above the fog and have been peaking the interest of the hipster movement across the country. Armed with twin lead guitars, thundering bass, drums, and an endless backlog of inebriated anecdotes, these boys pack a hefty punch. Lead vocalist Rory Fairweather has a dazzling voice, providing a distinctive contour to Bwani’s edge. Spatterings of Orange Juice’s jangly surf-pop echo through their songs, never intruding into the completely original sound they create. The flavour they produce is divine. Go get your fill at the Fauldhouse Cricket Club, Friday 16 March.

If it’s thrills and excitement you’re after, lump your hump over to Cineworld on Dundee Street, to experience the anarchic-fuelled carnage that is Project X. The film tells the tale of three high school seniors who become disenchanted by their humdrum existences, and decide to throw a spectacular house party, destined to resonate throughout history. As word spreads, the party escalates into full-blown reckless abandon, sex drugs and alcohol running rampant throughout. Not one to bring your kids to, so be warned. Showing all this week. Go to cineworld.co.uk for viewing times.

For a more family friendly approach to the Easter festivities, take a stroll along to Traquair House on Sunday 8 April for a day of scavenger hunts, egg painting, workshops and prizes (and, of course, chocolate). With over 5,000 mini eggs hidden in Traquair maze, this day-out promises to fill hours of enjoyment for children and adults alike. There is also an abundance of Easter-themed workshops to be take part in - from making your own musical instrument, to designing an Easter bonnet. The festivities begin at 12pm and are suitable for ages 2-11.

photo: Rotten Tomatoes

If you’re feeling particularly morbid, venture across to the dark side of comedy, and immerse yourself in the savage, unrelenting, but utterly brilliant workings of Doug Stanhope. Heralding from Worcester, Massachusetts, Stanhope’s vitriolic set often tears into social politics, drugs, alcohol, sex and just about every other taboo subject you can think of, turning it into a vile, filthy dudgeon of hilarious consequences. Despite his fondness of a bit of debauchery, Stanhope’s comedy is laced with lucid intelligence. He could be described as the thinker’s comedian, but only if said thinker is completely degenerate. Catch his show at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Tuesday 27 March.