Earth Hour 2010_click image to see it fade!

Thanks The Big Picture keep post so many amazing pictures over the work and events to remember and learn to see....


very good reference to see the light in city....

Sky Software Update (March 2010)

Standard Sky receivers have recently receive a new software version.

Version 3.8.8 has been deployed in the last week of March 2010.

This replaces the previous version of 3.7.6.

At the moment it is unknown what has changed between these two versions.

The latest operating system version is 1.2S4FM and EPG software version is 3.8.8.ns (March 2010). This firmware version is for a Pace Digibox, (

小米記趣～『新光三越A8館』

這幾天阿母聽朋友說三越A8館有一個戶外空間適合小朋友去晃晃，就趁天好心情佳的日子去那邊初體驗，的確是不賴，但是如果裡面所有的遊樂設施都坐一遍的話，阿母的荷包恐怕是會大失血，因此就每一款給他站上去拍拍照當做是走過的痕跡，等他在大一點的時候，好讓阿母可以當小米的面拿出來跟他說嘴說：他很幸福，因為每一款都坐過！哈～

這一張有否一副很搖擺的欠扁樣！


騎著小蜜蜂到處飛的囉～


阿姆：陳小米
陳小米：舉手答有


搭軍機，很威風的勒～

小米記趣～『忙阿！』

忙著換帽子趕場的模樣，背後服侍他的保母除了要手上要抓著他的雞絲，又要扶著他，且還得要上下都是條紋的衣著來當背景凸顯他！

ITV HD on Sky and Freesat

Further to my previous post

ITV HD on Sky

It currently looks like that there will be at least 2 versions of ITV1HD

One ITVHD version will be for freesat, and will be available on satellite frequency on 10832 H, on Astra 2d, and available without a Sky card, but with some reception limitiations (reception will be similar to BBC2 on the Costa Blanca))

One version will be for Sky and available

Adobe CS5 is coming.....

San Jose (U.S.A. - California)	Monday, 12 April 2010, 08:00:00
Taipei (Taiwan)	Monday, 12 April 2010, 23:00:00

UK's Seed Cathedral in Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

just WoW!

pftrack geometry FOV vs. Focal length

FOV8 ==> 100mm focal length
FOV10 ==> 85mm focal length
FOV17 ==> 50mm focal length
FOV24 ==> 35mm focal length
FOV33 ==> 25mm focal length
Field Of View (measured in
degrees)
Red One Camera film back info!

Quantum Film? whoa?

Here is an article from EETimes.com

Quantum film threatens to replace CMOS image chips

PORTLAND, Ore. — Just as photographic film was mostly replaced by silicon image chips, now quantum film threats to replace the conventional CMOS image sensors in digital cameras. Made from materials similar to conventional film—a polymer with embedded particles—instead of silver grains like photographic film the embedded particles are quantum dots. Quantum films can image scenes with more pixel resolution, according to their inventors, InVisage Inc., offering four-times better sensitivity for ultra-high resolution sensors that are cheaper to manufacture.


to read the rest of the article go here!

HDR Aquisition - Pano Head Setup

Before we begin.  Sorry this post has taken so long to finish.  Life gets in the way!  Enjoy!

Part of the art and science of taking good panoramic imagery is stitching together multiple images with as little parallax shift as possible.  This means you need to align the nodal point/entrance pupil around the center of your rotation axis of the panoramic head.

Most everyone I know refers to this "no-parallax" point of the lens as the "nodal point" but while writing this entry I have found that this is actually called the Entrance Pupil.   Here's a little bit of a cut and paste from that wikipedia entry.

The geometric location of the entrance pupil is the vertex of the camera's angle of view^[1] and consequently its center of perspective, perspective point, view point, projection centre^[2] or no-parallax point^[3]. When the optical system is physically rotated about its entrance pupil, the perspective geometry of its image does not change. In panoramic photography, for example, it is important to rotate or pivot the camera about its entrance pupil in order to avoid parallax errors in the final, stitched panorama^[4][5]. Depending on the lens design, the entrance pupil location on the optical axis may be behind, within or in front of the lens system; and even at infinite distance from the lens in the case of telecentric systems.

Ok now you know what then entrance pupil is what next.  Lets calibrate our Nodal Ninja.  The Nodal Ninja like most panoramic rigs operate in a similar manner.  You have to align your camera in 2 different axis in order to have your camera in the proper position on the pano head.

A. Align the center of your lens with the center rotation axis of your panoramic head.

We'll call this adjustment the left-right adjustment.  First mount the camera on the Horizontal arm.  Rotate the horizontal arm until the camera is pointed directly down at the center rotational point of the pano head.  Now adjust the "left-right" of the vertical arm until the lens is directly over the center rotational point.  It is sometimes easier to put a longer lens on the camera so you can see the center of the rig a big better.  Once you have this properly adjusted for your camera this setting will never change no matter what lens you have on the camera.

If this isn't correctly aligned you will get a broken image at the nadir point of a stitched panoramic.

John Houghton explains this very well.

An indication that the lateral position is not quite right is a broken, sawtooth edge to the head at the nadir in a stitched panorama (an unpatched nadir, of course).  The example on the right is a typical example:

The top of the head looks somewhat like a circular saw. In this case, the "teeth" are set for cutting with a clockwise rotation of the saw.  This indicates that the entrance pupil is offset to the left of the pano head axis, as viewed from the back of the camera, so the camera needs to be shifted a little to the right. If the saw is set for cutting with a counter-clockwise rotation, then the camera needs to be shifted to the left. (image to the right is from John's site) 

B. Align the entrance pupil of your lens with the center rotation axis of your panoramic head.
Next we will align the front back position of the camera on the horizontal arm.  A simple way to do this is to line up two vertical items.  Place one close to camera and the second item further way.  From a center framed position these two items should appear to be stacked on top of each other.  Rotate the camera to the left and right about 20-30 degrees.  When rotated the two items will be in exactly the same position if the camera is aligned.  If the two items do not appear to be "stacked" on top of each other, then simply adjust the forward or back position camera until the items are aligned.

Fisheye Considerations

John Houghton also notes that you need to be aware the entrance pupil for a fisheye is not centered on a single point.  Basically he says that you want to adjust your entrance pupil to correspond with the angle your stitch.  He also notes that this will compromise the accuracy of your zenith and nadir points, but stitching software is usually good enough to fix it.  Check out his site for the full explanation.

Now your probably wondering why bother with both axis when shooting with a fisheye?  You could easily use a simpler rig like the Nodal Ninja 180.  With the NN180 you only align the entrance pupil on one axis and not two.  Wouldn't this be easier on set?

This is true.  But using a panoramic head designed specifically a fisheye limits you to just using a fisheye.  The NN5 allows you do use any lens.  And depending on the lens used you get a significantly higher resolution final panoramic than one created using a fisheye lens.  If you need to capture a high resolution sky or cityscape your in trouble if you only have a fisheye rig.  End of the day if you have the extra coin to buy multiple rigs... go for it!  They happily sell you more than one, but for me one rig that can do both is a bit more cost effective.

Taking your time at this step will result in panoramas that take minutes to stitch together.  And the team back at the office will love you for it!  In fact they may pick you up on their shoulders and parade you around the office, like the hero that you are!

Next time, lets shoot some pictures!

Here is a quick resource list that I came across in my research for this entry.  These guys have put together some very good sites which inspired me while writing this blog entry.

Michel Toby's website
johnpanos.com - Finding the No-Parallax Point
The Nodal Point (This has a very cool laser plotted graph of a sigma 8mm lens's entrance pupil)
Nodal Ninja website
Digital Grin (nodal point tutorial)
The Really Right Stuff
Big Ben's Panoramic Tutorials 
vrphotography.com
The "Grid" tutorial

2010 Football World Cup On UK TV and Satellite

The first batch of 2010 Football world cup matches to be shown on BBC and ITV have been announced.....

ITV1 will screen England's first two World Cup group games, against the USA and Algeria, when the tournament begins in South Africa in June

England's second game, against Algeria, who finished fourth in this year's African Cup of Nations, will also be shown in a primetime evening slot on ITV1

Cairo Airport New Terminal 3 - Meet and Greet Area - A Few Tips

The new flagship of Egypt - Airport Terminal 3 - we waited in anticipation.

BUT.........

Well no place to park, so I went and left car in Terminal  2 parking. (easy to find and easy to park). No problem - huge. No buses say Terminal 3, so asked driver which bus to 3 - he said all. Got on one with sign Terminal 2, but could see he was not going to Terminal 3. I stopped him  at parking area of Terminal 3 and walked across parking lot to stairs.

Now here is the shock  - I could see there was no entry to airport so one must stand on sidewalk outside!!!!!!!!!!!!. Yet at Terminal 1, Hall 3 (new build) one can entrance and sit in comfort, even have a drink and sandwhich to meet and greet.Noticed a few people entered the glassed in  jail but all seemed to have some sort of pass or ticket?? Next day found out you can buy a ticket to go inside for 5 LE at a Kiosk in middle of the two roadways.


Daughter arrived from Hurghada, after waiting 40 minutes for luggage for a  50 minute flight. Finally exited the glassed in mosaleum, Next challenge was to return to Terminal 2 parking area. Well that was dead easy as Bus marked Terminal 1 was parked down near international arrivals chaos area. Climbed on board and onto Terminal 2 parking no problem. So guess one takes Terminal 1 bus to go to Terminal 3 - makes all the sense in the world to me.

Think moral of story is, have your friends, or family, choose and airline that arrives at Terminal 1 Hall 3- easy parking near Air Mall and wait in comfort having a drink and bite to eat. Can even have a smoke if you like behind the serving area.

Or, if they must land at Terminal 3 tell then to go to Cairo Airport Shuttle Bus  Desk and have them drive you (great service) while you wait in the comfort of your home. BTW you can phone them to pick you up at home for trip to airport - call 19970 (forget booking on line)

Egypt Bans Skype on Mobile VoIP

See Reuters article after my comments:
 
To be clear, the mobile operators are banning those using their sloppy GPRS and pricey USB modems.  I am really wondering if the NTRA was driving force or the Mobile operators who act as a group of thieves in my way of thinking. At same time I noticed Vodafone offering "call world wide for 1.99 LE per minute". Fine print is call a number and follow instructions for 0.30 LE per call -- coincidence with timing?

However, to now no affect on ADSL users. So you should be able to use your Skype enabled smart phone with any hotspot wifi connection?

I wonder why they don't work with Skype, and other similar services, instead of fighting them. Shades of Napster shutdown only to see rise of Kazza, Limewire etc., and of course Itunes the legal music gateway.

I use Skype but mostly to call mobiles and landlines overseas. Seems when I need to contact family etc. they are not on line or I send SMS as hate to type on cell phone. Of course I have a Skype account. Now here is some strange anomalies within the Skype prices. Call to Canada is $0.021 / minute but a SMS is $0.112 per minute (any short SMS is 1 minute min). For instance called my sister in Canada and talked for 9.5 minutes for cost of $0.25 or 25 cents. Call within Egypt (no reason to do this) price is 10X call per minute to Canada. One thing I have not determined with Skype is if she got charged for incoming call like damn mobile phone companies do. Charge me for long distance call and person receiving as well. Like I said "bloody thieves".

Let's say they block Skype on ADSL net - well be sure there are work around's.


Another point regarding net security in Egypt. Some months back a decree was issued to ban all porn sites. This has not happened but take care as "big brother" is watching and monitoring site activity and you. How do you think they caught the couple into swinging parties some time back. From their emails that's how. Obviously doing key word searches and intercepts on local net traffic. So take care.




According to Reuters:

"The ban will apply to the three mobile operators in Egypt -- Mobinil, Etisalat Egypt and Vodafone Egypt -- who offer internet access for computers via USB and other mobile modems, as well as via mobile phone."

"The ban is on Skype on mobile internet, not on fixed, and this is due to the fact it is against the law since it bypasses the legal gateway," said Amr Badawy, the executive president of the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA).

Under Egyptian law, international calls must pass through a network controlled by majority state-owned Telecom Egypt, which this week reported disappointing earnings.

While only mentioning Skype by name, Badawy did not rule out extending the ban to other services in the future.

"We are targeting any illegal voice traffic on the mobile (internet)," Badawy said, adding that the ban was communicated to the three mobile operators earlier this week. "Any traffic outside the international gateway is against the law."

What's interesting is that according to the article, the NTRA had "tolerated" mobile internet telephony until they recently saw a drop in international call volumes. They then pushed them to tell Egypt's operators to enforce the ban. apparently, the United Arab Emirates said on Monday it would not yet give VoIP licenses to international companies like Skype. Is there any free market competition in the Middle East?

Hmmm...

Five HD coming to Sky HD this summer...?

Looks like Freesat TV is losing out again!!!!!

After having its Freeview HD slot pinched by the BBC for failing to measure up to Ofcom's standards for a Freeview HD channel, Five has announced that their new hi-def channel will instead be launched on Sky this summer.

Ofcom rejected Five's bid for an HD channel on the grounds that they had failed to find another broadcaster to fill the channel

Cairo - Move Over, More Cars on the Roads

Grid lock - no place to Park - mindless accidents causing chaos yet some are happy: car dealers, new car owners, and especially car body repair shops!
 

After a year of slow sales, the Egyptian automotive market bounced back in the beginning of 2010. The total number of automobiles sold in January increased by 63 percent compared with the same period the previous year-from 10,765 to 17,551 units. Passenger car sales saw the biggest increase, nearly doubling in the first month of 2010 the number of sales for the same period last year-from 7105 to 13,951, an increase of 96.4 percent. Statistics indicate that consumers are showing a preference for mid-size automobiles. Passenger cars in the 1.5-1.6 liter range skyrocketed by 183.5 percent to 9681 sales....more.

Problem is not new - some snippets of history below with closing article published in 1930.


Jun 6, 1966 - Traffic Is Unnerving For many visitors the first experience with Cairo traffic is unnerving. Cars dart unpredictably from the right lane into left turns as a matter of course; people race through the streets to catch buses on the run; donkey carts lumber slowly through an intersection ...

Aug 10, 1976 - Luxury and prosperity have blossomed in many forms in and around Cairo under the tolerant rule of Egypt's President, Anwar el-Sadat, ... The new and cars have clogged Cairo's avenues with unprecedented traffic jams. and pedestrians and drivers exchange insults that seem hot_ heated ...

Oct 28, 1979 - CAIRO-This teeming capital of 10 million people has the fewest number of cars per inhabitant of any major city, yet it has some of the worst traf- fic jams, and the country as a whole has the highest road death rate in the world. The problems stem both from the reckless Egyptian driver ...  

l-Ahram: A Diwan of contemporary life (477)

Egypt on wheels

More than 30,000 cars were in Egypt by 1930, approximately 50 times the number only 15 years earlier. Egyptians had entered the new world of the automobile but as Professor Yunan Labib Rizk* writes, the new world had plenty of bumps along the road

---

Click to view caption

Tawfiq Rifaat

In October 1931, the Ministry of Transportation revealed statistics on the number of cars using Egyptian roads. Egyptians reading these figures in Al-Ahram would have been astounded at the rapid inroads the new mode of transportation had made into their country. In 1914, there were 656 cars in Egypt, most owned by foreigners and the remaining few by the Egyptian elite. In addition, most of these cars weaved their way over the few paved roads in the capital and Alexandria, although rural denizens were occasionally startled as local pashas and beks rumbled past in those amazing machines that were supplanting the long familiar modes of transportation, from the horse-drawn carriage to the workaday mule. But by 1920, the number of cars in Egypt had reached 1,996, 13,091 five years later and more than 30,000 in 1930. Cars in the country were no longer simply for show but had come to stay and to be useful as was the case with the Americans and West Europeans.
But the new transport was not an easy import as the country was not properly equipped to handle the new arrivals. People had not yet realised the potential danger of the machines, perhaps thinking that they were as tractable as their ordinary beasts of burden. It was not unusual, therefore, for people to stroll idly across the street or remain casually rooted in the road as cars bore down on them with the promise of rapid transport to the afterworld. Nor did the country have suitable roads for the new mode of transportation, whether for personal use or for freight. Inner- city and inner-village transport at that time was still limited to railways and, of course, that ancient artery of communication, the Nile and its tributaries, while the bumpy, narrow agricultural roads remained best suited for carts and pack animals.
Awareness of these realities began to dawn as news of road accidents became increasingly common on the crime and accidents pages of the country's newspapers. The most gruesome was that which nearly claimed the death of Speaker of Parliament Tawfiq Rifaat in July 1931. Details of this incident unfolded over several days in Al- Ahram for which reason the newspaper started to dedicate greater attention to covering this phenomenon and counselling caution.
On 17 July 1931, under the headline "Automobile accidents and the wrong way of crossing the road", Al-Ahram relates the details of a court case involving a pedestrian. The case dated back to November 1928 in the Attarin precinct in Alexandria where Mahmoud Abul-Ela unintentionally ran over and killed Robin Barukh. The family of the deceased filed suit against the driver, demanding LE1,000. Although the court ruled to sentence the defendant to six months prison and the payment of LE300 in compensation, the verdict was overturned on appeal. According to witnesses brought before the appellate court, Barukh had suddenly darted off the pavement to cross the street without looking to see whether a car was coming. The court recorded in its findings, "The victim, who should have been the first to take precautions, had been absentminded and negligent towards his own life, which was corroborated by the fact that he was elderly, was returning home following the purchase of a bottle of medicine and then crossed the street while preoccupied by the illness of members of his family." The same issue carried several incidents in the vicinity of Birkat Al-Sab' under the headline "The dangers of automobiles". Said the story: "a car overturned on a bridge between Shabin and Birkat Al- Sab' injuring four. Two cars collided on the same road, as the result of which many passengers suffered contusions and other injuries requiring hospitalisation." A bus ran over a man called Ali El-Tawwab on the road between Quwaisna and Birkat Al-Sab' killing him instantly. The report added, "The driver jumped out of his car and fled. His whereabouts are as yet unknown."
The courts at that time were just beginning to determine the liability of drivers for the safety of their passengers. Al-Ahram covered one such case. Aziz Effendi Bolus was driving and in the car with him was Dr Fahim Musad. Bolus was speeding down the road when "suddenly, a rear tire burst and the spikes of the front right wheel broke. The car, with its passengers, overturned, causing the death of the physician." Bolus was prosecuted and sentenced to a fine of 1,000 piastres.
Reckless driving incensed many Al-Ahram readers. One, an AUC student called Ibrahim El-Turki, wrote to the newspaper, expressing his surprise at a man he saw driving through the pedestrian-packed Ismailia Square while perusing a newspaper spread open across his steering wheel. "Had that driver been a young man, I would have said that he was trying to impress women with his skill behind the wheel. However, as the driver was well into old age there can be no possible justification." The reason the student wrote to Al-Ahram in particular was because he happened to notice that that was the newspaper the driver was reading. Perhaps the man would come across this letter and take heed.
The proliferation of cars also gave rise to a new type of crime: automobile theft. On 16 October 1931, Al-Ahram reports that Mr Ernest Peach, a British citizen and resident of Heliopolis, had left his car, "bearing licence plate number 12760 and valued at LE240", parked on Ibrahim Street. "He was gone only a short while, and when he returned he could not find it." On 1 September, Monsieur Daniel Cohen, a French national and another Heliopolis resident, had parked his car in front of a cinema. When he returned after the film, he found that his car, worth LE100, had vanished.
In an attempt to explain this phenomenon, Al-Ahram observed that automobile thefts tended to occur in the busiest streets of the capital. In addition, police frequently found stolen cars abandoned on side streets, "with all equipment left intact, indicating that the thieves had no other purpose than to take a brief excursion behind the wheel". One suspects, in fact, that the thieves were young pranksters, especially since there was as of yet no Wakalat Al-Balah area to dispose of purloined spare parts.
As in other countries, rising accident and theft rates gave urgency to the idea of insurance. On 22 November 1931, Al-Ahram comments, "In spite of the current economic crisis, more and more young men are purchasing automobiles, leading to a rise in automobile accidents, a rise in claims for compensation and, consequently, a proliferation in automotive insurance companies. As a result, no sooner does one conclude negotiations over the purchase of a new car than the automobile company agent asks the new owner to take out insurance or a representative from some insurance company calls upon the purchaser at his home.
Such is people's haste to purchase a car and quench their thirst for show that they are frequently unable to keep up with the instalments. Some decide to sell or pawn their car while others wait until the company comes and repossesses it."
Car owners were forced to face the growing intricacies surrounding insurance claims, which prompted Al-Ahram to feature a lengthy report on this issue on 23 October 1931. Among the major causes for disputes between car owners and insurance companies, the newspaper wrote, was the stipulation in insurance contracts that the insurer was not obliged to pay compensation for damages occurring while the car in question was being driven by a person who did not possess a valid driving licence. The courts had recently had to deal with a curious case of this sort. A car owner was involved in an accident on the same day his licence expired. The insurance company maintained that the court should apply the above mentioned stipulation since the driver's licence had expired at sunset and the accident had occurred after that. The court ruled in favour of the car owner, arguing, "The traffic bureau states that to renew one's licence, all one must do is pay the stipulated fee as long as there are no outstanding violations that would prevent renewal. Since the claimant paid the stipulated renewal fee, it cannot be maintained that his licence was invalid, even if its date had elapsed. Carrying on one's person an outdated licence is only punishable by a fine, not by the deprivation of compensation."
If car owners had to deal with insurance companies, the government had other problems to contend with from the automobile boom. For one, Ministry of Transportation authorities began to fear that the increased use of cars would affect the income of the Railways Authority. The authority, at the time, was still a major government breadwinner, to the degree that since the Khedive Ismail its income could be used as collateral to secure foreign loans. Officials, therefore, were keen to safeguard the national railway, especially in the realm of inner-city transport and freight.
A committee was formed "to consider the best solution and to create a system of transportation that will guarantee for the government an income that will cover both the necessary costs of road maintenance and the deficit in income from the railways". The action provoked an outcry among those who believed that such an ordinance would enable foreigners to gain control over the new form of land transport. Al-Ahram dispatched one of its reporters to the minister of transport to get his opinion.
The minister admitted that the income of the Railways Authority had suffered as a result of the rise in the use of buses and trucks for passenger and freight transport. Increased traffic on roads and bridges had also augmented the outlays on maintenance. These realities, he said, "entitle the government to take firm action to defend the country and its inhabitants against such losses". He went on to say that the government had predicted these problems a long time ago and, consequently, in 1925, formed a committee to draw up an ordinance to regulate the traffic of transport vehicles on agricultural roads. The committee moved to institute permits for that purpose and two years later it issued a decision instituting more conditions on the use of automobiles, especially in Cairo, in which "traffic has become intolerable".
Such measures, however, were insufficient to offset the increasing losses of the Railway Authority, which had exceeded LE7 million in 1929-30 and LE6 million the following year. The government, therefore, took a two-pronged course of action. On the one hand, it reduced the number of employees in the railway authority by 10 per cent of full-time staff and 18 per cent of staff members not under contract. On the other, it decided to offer access to certain routes to private bus companies. The tender process would require "each company to submit a bid to the Ministry of Transport indicating the percentage of its income it will offer the government in exchange for the transportation concession for its vehicles, to the exclusion of those of other companies". The proposal added that the ministry reserved the right to set fares.
Defending this step, the minister of transport maintained that the government was doing no more than ensuring that the owners of those vehicles, which reap an enormous profit from freight and passenger fares, share some of the vast expenditures the government must allocate towards road construction and maintenance. He further argued that the system will permit for an element of control over the conformance of public vehicles to standards of comfort and safety. "It will thus help to safeguard public health on the one hand and prevent exposing lives to danger, on the other," he said.
Although Al-Ahram welcomed the idea, it feared the project could fall under the control of foreign capital. It, therefore, urged the government to stipulate that Egyptians would possess a major share of the assets and that most of the workers and administrative staff would be Egyptian.
The newspaper's concern was shared by an Al-Ahram reader who also alerted people to the fact that many companies described themselves as Egyptian whereas, in fact, that was not the case. One such company was Thorncroft, which was officially registered under the name of the Egyptian Public Bus Company. This led the reader to ask a number of questions with the purpose of "enlightening minds and sparking thought", as he put it. First, does a company become Egyptian in reality and not just in the books simply by being officially founded in Egypt and equipped with a royal decree to that effect? Can a company be deemed an Egyptian national enterprise if its shares have not been offered to the Egyptian public for subscription? Can that enterprise be described as Egyptian simply because a single Egyptian, Ahmed Aboud Pasha, was listed in articles of association as possessing half the shares? Can a company be Egyptian if less than half its shares were made available for sale to the Egyptian public? Is a company Egyptian if the majority of its board of directors are British? Egyptians should be on guard, he concluded, and the government should ascertain that a company is truly Egyptian, and not content itself with "a name or two which hides British economic colonialism".
To accommodate inner-city traffic, the government also had to begin construction of roads suitable for automobiles. As was the case with the railroads, it focused firstly on two thoroughfares: the Cairo-Alexandria and Cairo-Suez roads. Locating the first, originally known as the Gianacles Road and later the Desert Road, well to the west, was undoubtedly to safeguard the railway's hold over the agricultural road, which passed through many cities in the Delta. On 1 September 1931, Al-Ahram relates that a committee was selected to survey the desert and select the best route. The committee, consisting of the secretary of the Royal Automobile Club, two specialised road engineers and the chargé d'affaires of the Belgium diplomatic mission, indicated that the route proposed by Mr Gianacles had numerous advantages over other proposals. This route offered the shortest and most direct route via the desert to Alexandria, extending a distance of 168 kilometres between the Mina House Hotel and the Amriya Airport to the west of Alexandria. The engineers also said that their analyses of the ground and terrain indicated that it would be possible to emulate the "modern American method of road construction". The alternatives that were rejected were the 250-kilometre Branley Road that passed through Wadi Al-Natroun and a road leading from Imbaba and joining up with the Gianacles Road, which would necessitate expropriating property as it passed through 25 kilometres of agricultural land.
The Cairo-Suez Road did not present nearly so many problems. For centuries, it had been a caravan route whereas before the construction of the railroad, the chief mode of transport to Alexandria was by boat along the Nile and the Mahmoudiya Canal. All that was required, therefore, was to ready the Cairo-Suez Road for automobile traffic which in fact, was done in the mid-1920s.
Work on the road was completed relatively quickly and transportation on it proved cheaper than rail. Indeed, this perhaps was what inspired the Ministry of Transport to issue a decree in September 1931 prohibiting heavy vehicles, weighing over 2.5 tons, from using the road. "The costs of repairing the damage these vehicles have done to the road are extremely high," the ministry argued. In response to the ministry's decision, the parliamentary deputy from Suez wrote to Al-Ahram to complain that it would rob lorry owners of their income and "paralyse the movement of vehicles that helps promote commerce".
Closing the Cairo-Suez Road to lorry traffic was not the only cause for complaint. The government imposed a LE2.5 annual tax on every passenger seat in buses. "The owner of a vehicle with 20 seats, for example, will have to pay an annual tax of LE50," the newspaper wrote. The government also instituted an annual tax on lorries, whose owners would have to pay LE30 for each vehicle and an additional "LE5 for each ton". It was estimated that the government would receive between LE600,000 and LE700,000 from this tax. Bus and lorry owners lodged an official grievance against the severity of these measures. They complained that they stood to lose LE85 per year per vehicle on top of the expenses of running and maintaining them. "It would be better for us simply to leave the vehicles idle and lay off workers who, under the current circumstances, would cost the government LE100,000 a year, while the Railway Authority would gain nothing," they wrote.
Privately owned automobiles were divided into three categories for tax purposes. Depending on the category, owners would have to pay a LE3, LE6 or LE12 annual tax which, they complained, was unaffordable. The only area the government did not meet resistance in its new tax policy was with taxies. Taxi owners felt that the annual LE5.25 was "very reasonable".
Perhaps having anticipated the outcry, the Ministry of Transport issued a lengthy statement justifying its new tax policy on vehicles. Firstly, it argued, it was compelled to protect the Railway Authority, which employed thousands of workers. Secondly, it sought to forestall illegitimate gains and profits, while "protecting small property owners whose ignorance leads them to sell their property for the purpose of purchasing automobiles". The statement went on to deny claims that train fares were costlier than fares on buses and that the competition the latter presented was due to other factors that were not necessarily financial. But regardless of how much transportation authorities protested, they would prove incapable of preventing the inevitable -- the inexorable tide of cars, buses, taxis and lorries would soon swamp transportation by rail.
* The author is a professor of history and head of Al-Ahram History Studies Centre.



 
 

Google testing TV search

Search giant Google is testing a new television-programming search service in conjunction with the Dish Network Corp. The service runs on television set-top-boxes containing Google designed software and allows users to find specific shows on TV satellite services as well as on Google's YouTube.

The move marks the latest in a series of developments in which companies are attempting to merge broadcast television with Internet provided services. Last week, TiVo Inc. announced new digital video recorders that blend broadcast and online content.

Google's project is being tested by company employees and their families who can enter their enquiries via a keyboard. The service could be discontinued or rolled out to a wider audience at anytime, a source told the Journal. Google refused to issue a statement saying the company does not commment on rumor or speculation. Dish Network has also declined to comment on the reports.

Whether the service rolls out to the general public is unclear. Google often tries out projects in private before allowing a select group to try them. It's colaborative communication tool Google Wave still remains in a development stage and has only been rolled out to around a million users worldwide.

TiVo releases big new DVR

Noted: Pioneering DVR company TiVo has updated its devices but many in the industry are saying Ho Hum.

The new TiVo Premiere adds a wider-screen menu to fit HDTVs better and also offers shortcuts and a powerful search function that hunts down videos on YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand or Blockbuster On Demand. And there’s a nifty remote with a QWERTY keyboard inside.

But other then that, there aren’t too many changes from the last upgrade. Technologizer laments the lack of video-on-demand, access to online TV site Hulu.com, and a TiVo that works with all TV services, including satellite.

While over at Zatz Not Funny, Dave Zatz writes, “The TiVo Premiere isn’t the home run I was hoping for. In it’s current form, and for potential upgraders, the Premiere basically offers the same core features of a TiVo Series 3 or HD.”

Two versions are available beginning April: the TiVo Premiere, with 320 gigabytes for $299.99; and the $499.99 TiVo Premiere XL, with 1 terabyte, a backlit remote and THX-certified audio and video technology. As before, the box supports cable TV and Verizon FiOS users, but not satellite TV or AT&T U-verse.

Other key features: It supports E-SATA technology to users can add an external hard drive if they run out of storage space. It also uses the faster Wireless N Wi-Fi connection.

As more consumers ponder about cutting down their monthly TV bill by looking for cheap TV viewing online, TiVo won’t help much with that. Besides the upfront cost, there’s a monthly $12.95 fee for service even if you opt for basic broadcast TV service. If you want regular cable channels, you’ll need a limited cable TV subscription and a CableCARD. Plus you’ll still need broadband Internet, which can be another $30 to $50 a month. Netflix, Amazon and Blockbuster also charge for online rentals.

ITV HD channel coming to Sky and Freesat - April 2nd

ITV1 HD is to make itself available to both Sky and Virgin households.

ITV1 HD channel will be available on Freesat HD and Sky HD boxes from April 2nd.

According to reports it will be on Freesat EPG 119 and Sky HD EPG 178.

The decision means Freesat will lose its satellite exclusivity on the channel as the commercial channel also extends its presence through the terrestrial Freeview HD.

Dont

ITV1 stronger frequency available for Spain

"ITV1 Central S" and "ITV1 Central E" (ITV Central South and ITV Central East) have been removed from Astra 2D and have reappeared on the Astra 2B South beam.



A Sky viewing card is required for these regions, that used to be free to air - no sky card required.

You can add these ITV1 regions using Other Channels.

The frequency is:
11973 V 27500 2/3

Its on Astra 2B south beam, so very easy

The Traveller Within: Everything that is culturally fucked up about Avatar (And no, not just its politics)

This likely will offend some, if American or White - but that is purpose of social networking. - make people think!!!!

Wish I had the journalistic mind of the author, or that of commentors. This is good read and take the "white" references in stride. Mentioned is "Dances with Wolves" but my favourite as book is "Lost my Heart at Wounded Knee" with a difference - no white hero in this prose.

The Traveller Within: Everything that is culturally fucked up about Avatar (And no, not just its politics)

Editorial Review-Lost My Heart at Wounded Knee
Amazon.com
First published in 1970, this extraordinary book changed the way Americans think about the original inhabitants of their country. Beginning with the Long Walk of the Navajos in 1860 and ending 30 years later with the massacre of Sioux men, women, and children at Wounded Knee in South Dakota, it tells how the American Indians lost their land and lives to a dynamically expanding white society. During these three decades, America's population doubled from 31 million to 62 million. Again and again, promises made to the Indians fell victim to the ruthlessness and greed of settlers pushing westward to make new lives. The Indians were herded off their ancestral lands into ever-shrinking reservations, and were starved and killed if they resisted. It is a truism that "history is written by the victors;" for the first time, this book described the opening of the West from the Indians' viewpoint. Accustomed to stereotypes of Indians as red savages, white Americans were shocked to read the reasoned eloquence of Indian leaders and learn of the bravery with which they and their peoples endured suffering. With meticulous research and in measured language overlaying brutal narrative, Dee Brown focused attention on a national disgrace. Still controversial but with many of its premises now accepted, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee has sold 5 million copies around the world. Thirty years after it first broke onto the national conscience, it has lost none of its importance or emotional impact. --John Stevenson

7D BNC-R,PL mount and Stereo rig from Syndicate

Pretty Interesting stuff!  Looks like it was a one of a kind.... read more and find out

http://www.syndicate.se/Default.aspx?Id=294

Happy Birthday to Remy!

TO小米，
這三百多張照片記錄著你這三百六十五天的日記。無法形容這一年我們一家三口"充實"的生活感受，但阿爸阿母要謝謝你讓我們學習到生命的完整是多麼的偉大與不易。

祝 親愛的女兒～
週歲生日快樂！

愛你的阿爸阿母
March/9/2010

for higher resolution: http://www.dvjimmy.com/Remy/RemyBD_Width-2000.jpg (高解析度請點選此連結)



Zoe阿姨與Flora阿姨送給小米的生日禮物！謝謝你們啦～


謝謝Audrey阿姨送的禮物，因為收到時間不同日，所以就各別拍的囉！


Audrey阿姨送的禮物→加拿大手工製作，很精緻！
Bugalug的髮夾是在加拿大一個一個地手工製造的。
http://www.babyim.com.tw/brand/bugalug.html


Audrey阿姨送的乖寶寶貼紙（上面的logo是Audrey阿姨自己設計的唷），雖被小米蹂躪的不平整-_-|，但設計的很棒。


小米很好奇的指著剛點燃閃亮亮的蠟燭。


唱生日快樂歌。（但壽星莫名的結屎臉，難道是奴婢們服侍的不好嘛！阿～還是阿爸阿母歌聲太難聽了）


大快朵頤乳酪起司蛋糕！偶一為之嘛～生日咩～加上偶又是壽星。


意猶未盡！指著蛋糕，還要還要～

Loss of UK TV BBC ITV Astra 2d signals in Spain in the mornings

Well its that time of the year again when you may be experiencing some signal loss on yur Sky UK satellite TV systems.

For about 10 minutes a day, there will be a temporary loss of the UK TV channel frequencies via the Astra 2D satellite for about 10 or 15 minutes a day.

This will normally be happening at around 11 am CET.

This is beacuse the Astra 2D satellite, that carries BBC and ITV channels, is directly in line with the sun. It is assumed that he suns energy swamps the signals from the "weaker beamed" Astra 2D satellite, resulting in a loss of BBC ITV Channel 4 channels in Spain for this short amount of time.

This happens twice a year. There are two times in the year when the sun, Astra 2d and the earth are in alignment and the sun causes this drop out in signal. It happens early March and in October.


For more information please visit:

The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

or the forum

The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

English Satellite TV Costa Blanca Spain

English Satellite TV Costa Blanca Spain

Many of the British TV channels available in the UK are also available in Spain. Many of them like BBC and ITV are available for free with no monthly subscription. And with the likes of Sky digiboxes and Freesat receivers, choosing programmes to watch is simple with their full 7 day programme guides.

Many English satellite TV channels can be received

Loss of UK TV BBC ITV Astra 2d signals in Spain in the mornings

Well its that time of the year again when you may be experiencing some signal loss on yur Sky UK satellite TV systems.

For about 10 minutes a day, there will be a temporary loss of the UK TV channel frequencies via the Astra 2D satellite for about 10 or 15 minutes a day.

This will normally be happening at around 11 am CET.

This is beacuse the Astra 2D satellite, that carries BBC and ITV

小米記趣～『來去碧潭遊玩去』

因為想帶小米過碧潭橋，所以阿爸得連人（10kg）加推車(7kg)一起抬起來往上爬好幾階的樓梯！爬的過程中，時不時聽到小米開心的笑聲以及阿爸喘噓噓的呼吸聲，此起彼落，好不熱鬧！


阿爸慘白的雙唇vs小米笑開懷的表情

小米記趣～『自己吃飯之小米把阿爸搞瘋』

繼《小米記趣～『自我意識逐漸高漲！』 》後，小米一路走來就是個莫名的堅持，所以到目前吃飯都吃的非常不好，這一回除了吃不好以外，連最慘的場景記錄都被日後的某一天的某一餐給取代了。







已經弄成這樣的慘景，還不可取的將雙手把剩餘的飯粒互相戳揉來增加戰況的激烈程度！真不可取～




聽阿爸說，那時小米鼻孔裡面也都有馬鈴薯呢了！

小米記趣～『阿爸在做手工黏合小米撕破的書』

小米這階段因為對於力道的掌握還沒有概念，所以常常會用直接的邏輯跟蠻力來做很多事情，翻書也不例外，所以陸續有書本被他撕破，這一本是最慘的一本，讓阿爸得要趁晚上小米睡覺後，分兩晚好好的修復一番。

辛苦沒有被支薪的阿爸


雞絲還真不少，膠帶、大夾子、白膠…連玻璃奶瓶都出現了，可見陣仗之浩大！

小米記趣～『對面鄰居鄰長伯送給小米的花燈』

那天鄰長伯在電梯裡問媽媽是否要花燈，開玩笑～這一聽之下就是有好康的暗示，媽媽我這家庭主婦一定點頭如搗蒜的應聲說要～要～要～果然，晚上吃飯的時候，門鈴響了，耶～是一張平面需要自己DIY組合的花燈，且揪甘心的是裡面已經附上了三顆扭扣電池跟一個會變化好多顏色的LED燈泡，陳小米當下快速飛爬過去（因為他還不會走路更別說小碎步奔跑了），硬是要用他粗魯的方式拆開，阿爸見狀，就先暫時停止手上的碗筷，組裝好的囉～
之後聽鄰長伯說花燈是去市政府排隊領的，真是不好意思勒！～

組裝好的樣貌！


把玩


認真的把玩


認真的把玩過後就被丟棄的可憐花燈！


為了讓小米過第一個元宵節，北目還真的趕流行的帶她去看市政府前的花燈，媽呀～還真是人山人海呢！（圖裡媽媽身後的那位大哥表情還真是怪）