Qwiki is a technology company pioneering a new media format that combines the appeal of video with the interactivity of the web. Each "Qwiki" is easily created through a browser - enabling users to combine pictures, videos, infographics and their own voice into a beautiful, interactive presentation describing anything. Here is their video about Eastbourne - and they even gound some interesting facts!
You do need to wait about 30 seconds for the Eastbourne video to load.
House Burglaries - least LIKELY post codes - all the following tied for top spot with 0 burglaries per 1000 enquiries (on home insurance claims)!
LL18
IV80
SR8
PR25
LA9
CF39
BN23 EASTBOURNE
EH22
PO33
TR13
So I shall be expecting my House Insurance to fall - some hope!
Last week the Eastbourne Herald reported:
EASTBOURNE has topped the sunshine league for another year, but with a slight dampener, after a squabble broke out between rival hotspots Jersey and neighbouring East Sussex town Hastings.
The town’s status as the sunniest place in the UK was reaffirmed this week when a weather expert announced Eastbourne had the highest number of sunshine hours for 2011.
Eastbourne has a history of record-breaking sunshine statistics as a popular holiday destination attracting more than 4.9 million visitors a year.
Over the past 12 months, Eastbourne has recorded an average five hours 23 minutes per day with 273.9 hours of sunshine in April 2011, almost 100 hours more than the long-term average.
Having sold off the nation's assets to raise capital (which was wisely spent??), we, the taxpayers, are now experiencing the the pay back:
Re-financing the Banks (RBS, Lloyds TSB, Nothern Rock) with taxpayer money
Gas & Electricity Bills that seem to go up like a rocket but fall like a feather
So why not start a People's Bank run by professionals with no shareholders except the nation. Any profits will reduce our tax bills as a dividend to the nation. We can control the bonuses, and make sure the banks lend to businesses, approve more mortgages and offer a better customer experience. The board would be made up by independent professionals and elected representatives (we would vote for these national reps). Yes, it is a commercial business that needs to be run profitably. It would seem that RBS would be an excellent bank to convert into a People's Bank. The People's Bank would be in competition with LLoyds, Barclays, Santander, HSBC, etc. I wonder which Bank we would chose to patronise?
The same principle could be applied to the Utlity companies! It is very strange that prices fluctuate within a narrow range for all these companies - some collaboration seems likely. Many of these companies do NOT produce any gas or electricity but buy at wholesale prices. A People's Utility Company could buy gas and electricity and sell/market the "products" in the same competitive marketplace. The Public Utility would have to operate commercially against the Private companies. Would their prices be more competitive? Would prices move up and down quicker?
So the People's companies would be owned by the taxpayers only. If you do not pay tax, you would not receive any dividends from the People's Companies. Perhaps an incentive for the great unwashed to work again?
Took a trip to Hastings to look at the regeneration. What regeneration? Travelling along the coast road you immediately spot the burnt out wreck of the pier. Yes, we know they are trying to raise funds to start working on the pier. But take a look at the buildings along the main coast road. They are shabby and in some cases downright dangerous. Marina Court is diabolical and has been for years. Surely the council can take some action.
I am told that the town centre has seen improvements but that is not visible to the casual visitor. The far end of the town (Old Town) near the fishing port is showing signs of regeneration but locals seem to be complaining about the plans. Maybe small shopkeepers fear the new developments but from a visitor's perspective these new developments will be a welcome attraction.
Not sure that Hastings knows what it is trying to achieve - you have some quaint shopping streets, the fishing area and museums and then the gaudy fairs and playgrounds. It is not a mix that sits well together.
Highlights We really enjoyed a welcome coffee and cake in The Old Custom House. This cafe has been beautifully and tastefully renovated and decorated. The food fayre was splendid and the staff delightful. Would recommend a visit. This is what visitors are hoping to find in the Old Town area. Get rid of the amusement arcades and concentrate on Old Hastings. Just a few steps behind all the fish and chip shops are some delightful old houses and streets. See if you can find the house shaped like a wedge of cheese (in yellow of course).
Sorry but we will not be returning to Hastings in a hurry!
Drivers in Eastbourne are getting worse - OK not as bad as London - but catching up fast (fast being the key word).
Biggest culprit: Of course we have to accept white van man just has to get there that little bit faster than the rest of us! But Sovereign Harbour roads have become a race track for the young too. At roundabouts they will not indicate - 4 x 4's too obviously are not equipped with indicators either!
What else gets my goat? There is a roundabout nr Sovereign Harbour going towards Eastbourne which is approached along a dual carriageway. The left lane is clearly marked with a filter for cars taking the first exit. If there is a queue back from the roundabouts - say at rush hour in the morning - drivers just cannot wait. They are more important than everybody else and move into the left lane (often with near misses) and then at the roundabout do not filter left but take the 2nd exit (and even worse the 3rd exit). Oh joy!
Who would believe it? But Lewes hits the news and it is not Norman Baker or Fireworks mishaps this time.
Lewes is in conflict with The Times, well David James Smith at least. The well known (in his own blog) Times columnist and Blogger.
Seems as though Lewes is a racist hotbed of activity. Some comments in a Sunday Times feature have upset the residents of county town Lewes. Yes, this is sleepy old Lewes in the heart of rural Sussex.
So provoked were the residents that they burnt an effigy of him on November 5th.
Don't mess with the people of Lewes! Yeah right on
