Mogman

A deal has been struck:- http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/2010/March/news/Total%20deal%20agreed.htm Mind you at only £7m per year (on average) it sounds like Total got a great deal.....

Out of interest, several current (Earth-based) astronomical telescopes use digtal cameras which record over 1,000 megapixels per image, and new cameras are being developed which record 3,200 megapixels per image. The generation after that are looking at 100 to 10,000 times that image size, but digital techniques are now pushing the physical lenses' and mirrors' abilities to provide accurate enough images. Two of the major obstacles to the image sizes growing ultra large are the speed of data transfer, and storage of such huge files.

Latest on The Shetland News website;- Whalsay tunnel research goes ahead I remain constantly amazed at how our elected representatives manage to come up with some of the decisions they make, although this is simply a non-decision I expect.... More of their time and OUR money down the drain, yet again.

The local Gin retailers will be raking it in.....

Very well said, and I agree 100% The sooner he is gone the better - the situation is incredibly shameful for Shetland as a whole.

I think it is usually judged on "expectation of privacy", so in the street you cannot expect privacy, inside your house you can.... As far as I am aware, the 'expectation of privacy' is only taken into account when (for example) a potential breach of a court privacy order is being considered. Normally it does not prevent the normal taking of images as I described. This is why, even at up to hundreds of yards away, you will get paparazzi trying to sneak HUGE long distance telephoto images of celebrities, using the same interpretation of the law. Final usage, or not, of any images rests with the editor of the publication in which they may (or my not) appear, and interpretation should be based on what is 'in the interests of the common good' rather than 'what can sell us the most newspapers' (I use the term 'newspaper' VERY loosely in this context, when we are discussing The SUN.....) Sadly selling rags usually takes precedence over moral/ethical/privacy considerations.

I certainly don't approve of such a type of photography, but my understanding of the law is that: If the photograph is taken from a public place then, even if the person photographed is on private property, it is a legally obtainable photograph. In other words if what you are doing (even if you are inside your own house) can be seen from a public place (even a public place hundreds of yards away) then anyone can photograph you and publish what they can see.

Tired

Sometimes people, who feel threatened by the truth, try to prevent the truth being revealed in the public domain.

Without wishing to give anything away, you may like to make your own copies of the following Shetland News stories, just in case they suddenly vanish from the website:- http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/2009/December/news/Call%20for%20police%20probe%20into%20Judane.htm http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/2009/December/news/Complaint%20submitted%20about%20Caroline%20Miller.htm

In my own experience, the vast majority of young folk are decent, nice people, with perhaps a bit of youthful arrogance about them, but mainly just feeling a bit lost and out-of-place, as we all did (to a greater or lesser extent) at that age. Being friendly, but be careful not to be patronising, to teenagers usually results in a laugh and the lighter side showing through, even among some of the hardest looking folk (adults too, for that matter...!!) The trouble usually starts with too much drink, and that is a simple fact of life for many communities, not just Shetland. I say, give them a break, and trust them to find their way in life, just as we had to in our own teenage years. And be friendly when you possibly can - it generates a much better atmosphere than confrontation and a disapproving look.

By using the SN Search afcility and putting in CLARK SHANNON CONSULT UNIONS you will come up with the following:- 10 September 2009 quote:- Last week local unions condemned Mr Clark’s behaviour, saying that he had breached the council’s employment procedure by failing to allow Mr Shannon independent representation or to consult with the unions prior to making the change. end quote The Shetland News reports, without fear or favour, what it is told by those from whom it asks for opinion or comment. You perhaps do not think much of the SN journalistic style, which is your right, but SN work hard to simply give people the facts and let them decide for themselves what they feel about the issue.

I know, for a fact, that The Shetland News was already well aware of the SIC having set up a restriction on visiting Shetlink However, Hans Marter (editor of The Shetland News) would not want to publish such a story without giving both sides the opportunity to respond and comment. That is why the story was only published this afternoon.

Well said, Ghostrider. That sums up my feelings about his position, too, in a nutshell.

What a real hero our Chief Executive is...... I DON'T think!! Now, he is threatening the council(lors) with legal action if people aren't nice to him... http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/2009/December/news/Clark%20asks%20convener%20to%20control%20councillors.htm Respect has to be EARNED Mr Clark! How pathetic that he has to resort to threatening people with such action. I have never heard an employee (for that is all that Mr Clark really is) behaving in such a way. What has he cost us to date, and what good have we seen from him???