SMASHING RECORDS

I don't think word has got out yet on my 'new' West Midlands DVD but a reminder anyway.

last night I rattled off the Rotterdam DVD of trucks in 1996. The response from the truck mag advert seems to be good , the number of hits on our web site was an all time high yesterday and we also shifted several of my old railway items on ebay.


Tonight i contunue to work on the Chile / Argentina trip of 1996 with a view to getting the truck one done as well as buses etc, really desperate to increase truck stuff on DVD for new viewers coming to us. Thus Youtube on hold, no time.

Still rattling around with the car for Albert getting docukents and transport etc arranged .


About a third of a million Youtube hits so far and our blog is now getting more traffic , about 22 a day. Wish everyone converted these calls and visits to purchases, 10% would be wonderful!

Next Sunday I'm meeting 'lost' relations from the Liverpool Spencer family at Magull.

Loads more on bus photography and police, I've written to our MP George Osborne on the issue,

herewith more messages


........'''I have just found a feature article from 2000 about the tribulations of press photographers trying to cover the Paddington rail disaster. They found a nearby block of flats and agreed with some residents - probably after the passing of some banknotes - to use their balconies to take pictures.
The fuzz were on the scene sharpish trying to persuade the residents to tell the snappers to leave. No joy - after all they had been paid. As they flats were Council pads, the police then phoned the Council and got a Council official to make the residents expel the photographers.

None of this was remotely within the remit of the police.

A previous General Secretary of the CIoJ quoted a senior policeman from years ago: "Police officers are much like journalists. We drink too much; we work too long hours; we cause upset to our families by neglect. The difference is that journalists want to tell it all while police want to stop it all". It's ironic, of course, that while press and individuals are restrained from taking pictures, the police are taking pictures of us all the time.

The police and officialdom will carry on this assualt on civil liberties under any pretence they can. Modest bus spotters we may be but we all have a duty to plug away and absolutely refuse to be stifled or constrained by the British Gestapo.

Be brave, chaps.

Norman Bartlett
On 18/02/2008, Cliff <cie@ntlworld.com> wrote:
Hi all.
Just a thought.

Because the way the current police force(sorry service) is micro managed by central government , chasing criminals now falls foul of heath and safety and human rights legislation. The Police are becoming virtually unemployed at taxpayers expense(A waste of space). So a little old man(Sorry) taking pictures by the roadside is a possible "terrorist" and an arresttable target that is not likely to react and cause a problem, with the added bonus of spending the rest of your shift back at the station filling in forms and not getting your hands dirty. The more of these "targets" are recorded, more "crimes" are solved, the station superintendents bonus goes up, the statistics are laundered and the police look good on paper.
So, be warned. Street Photographers, bus spotters and the like are becoming a legitimate target. Wear a hood or carry a knife or gun and you look possibly dangerous so they will leave you alone, it seems.
Regards
Cliff