Includes GU10, MR16, GU5.3, E14, E27.
GU10 is a typical spotlight bulb size, but do check which size and voltage you need. LED bulbs use a lot less power and last a lot longer than other types.
Monday, 18 August 2008
LED bulbs
Budget supermarket Lidl has LED bulbs at what looks like a good price, £3.99. Some mains voltage and some 12v
Includes GU10, MR16, GU5.3, E14, E27.
GU10 is a typical spotlight bulb size, but do check which size and voltage you need. LED bulbs use a lot less power and last a lot longer than other types.
Includes GU10, MR16, GU5.3, E14, E27.
GU10 is a typical spotlight bulb size, but do check which size and voltage you need. LED bulbs use a lot less power and last a lot longer than other types.
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Orange bags
What can go into B&D council's orange re-cycling bags? It can be a bit confusing.
1) Here's what it says on the bags (same on old and new, stronger, type):
Cans/Tins (Food, pet food, drinks)
Foil
Plastic bottles (drink, milk, detergent, shampoo) *
Plastic bags
Newspapers
Magazines
Junkmail
Flyers
Brochures
Directories
Cardboard packaging (cereal, detergent and other similar). Flattened.
* bag says remove the lids and flatten the bottles. It doesn't say not to put the lids in the bag loose.
It also says no glass.
2) Here's what it says on the council's website:
http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/8-leisure-envir/refuse/recycling-orange.html
"You can recycle all types of paper, food and drinks cans and plastic bottles in the Orange sacks."
Can we put in the orange bags what also goes in the bring site containers? Not glass obviously, but what about fruit juice (and similar) cartons? The council website hasn't been updated for this new recyclable even for the bring sites and the orange bag information on the website is limited (as can be seen above). As Shanks takes most, if not all of the stuff away, I don't think it mkes any difference.
1) Here's what it says on the bags (same on old and new, stronger, type):
Cans/Tins (Food, pet food, drinks)
Foil
Plastic bottles (drink, milk, detergent, shampoo) *
Plastic bags
Newspapers
Magazines
Junkmail
Flyers
Brochures
Directories
Cardboard packaging (cereal, detergent and other similar). Flattened.
* bag says remove the lids and flatten the bottles. It doesn't say not to put the lids in the bag loose.
It also says no glass.
2) Here's what it says on the council's website:
http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/8-leisure-envir/refuse/recycling-orange.html
"You can recycle all types of paper, food and drinks cans and plastic bottles in the Orange sacks."
Can we put in the orange bags what also goes in the bring site containers? Not glass obviously, but what about fruit juice (and similar) cartons? The council website hasn't been updated for this new recyclable even for the bring sites and the orange bag information on the website is limited (as can be seen above). As Shanks takes most, if not all of the stuff away, I don't think it mkes any difference.
Road to nowhere
http://stibasa.blogspot.com/2008/06/road-to-nowhere.html
The gate is still across, but the RTN now has a footway down one side and a kissing gate barrier on to the path that goes up onto the riverside (former paint factory). The (very overgrown) path down the East Ham side of the A406 emerges on this road and you are faced with a shared unsegregated path sign - though as yet there is no evidence of where his is.
Annoyingly, the Jenkins Lane end of the RTN has a new "no entry except buses" sign to match the one further up, facing the other way. I have put in a complaint to Newham Council about this - see below.
The gate across the RTN is quite high off the ground and it is possible to slide a bicycle underneath and then slip under oneself (if one is not wearing best clothes).
Here's the text of my complaint which I submitted on line at https://forms.newham.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=EJ38CHTG6Mf.
'Details of the complaint
The new road from Jenkins Lane to Barking Town Quay has a "no entry except buses" sign at the Jenkins Lane end, and another facing the other way further towards Barking. This is unfair on cyclists. Jenkins Lane was cut off by the S Woodford to Barking Relief Road many years ago and we have waited and waited for access to be restored, only to find that you have allowed buses only. This would be a useful route to the cinema etc. If cyclists ignore the restriction they will be criticised for breaking the law, so why should Newham Council get away with this blatant anti-cycling measure?
What would you like the council to do?
Remove the restriction on cycles, perhaps by replacing the signs with the blue "buses and cycles only" signs or "no motor vehicles except buses" signs, or get permission and have "no entry except buses and cycles"'
The gate is still across, but the RTN now has a footway down one side and a kissing gate barrier on to the path that goes up onto the riverside (former paint factory). The (very overgrown) path down the East Ham side of the A406 emerges on this road and you are faced with a shared unsegregated path sign - though as yet there is no evidence of where his is.
Annoyingly, the Jenkins Lane end of the RTN has a new "no entry except buses" sign to match the one further up, facing the other way. I have put in a complaint to Newham Council about this - see below.
The gate across the RTN is quite high off the ground and it is possible to slide a bicycle underneath and then slip under oneself (if one is not wearing best clothes).
Here's the text of my complaint which I submitted on line at https://forms.newham.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=EJ38CHTG6Mf.
'Details of the complaint
The new road from Jenkins Lane to Barking Town Quay has a "no entry except buses" sign at the Jenkins Lane end, and another facing the other way further towards Barking. This is unfair on cyclists. Jenkins Lane was cut off by the S Woodford to Barking Relief Road many years ago and we have waited and waited for access to be restored, only to find that you have allowed buses only. This would be a useful route to the cinema etc. If cyclists ignore the restriction they will be criticised for breaking the law, so why should Newham Council get away with this blatant anti-cycling measure?
What would you like the council to do?
Remove the restriction on cycles, perhaps by replacing the signs with the blue "buses and cycles only" signs or "no motor vehicles except buses" signs, or get permission and have "no entry except buses and cycles"'
A sassier shade of green
http://www.idealbite.com/
'We know that you would just love to "do the right thing" for yourself and the planet if it were convenient, fun, inexpensive, and made you feel good. But until now you have lacked a good source of advice for real people leading busy lives.
'We know that you would just love to "do the right thing" for yourself and the planet if it were convenient, fun, inexpensive, and made you feel good. But until now you have lacked a good source of advice for real people leading busy lives.
Congrats. Now you have a free one. Easy eco-living tips are delivered in a short, sassy email each weekday."
Cycle Friendly Engineering Design Checklist
http://www.cyclingengland.co.uk/engineering2e.php
I think this is a very good check list; life would be better for cycling if it were always followed.
"The purpose of this document is to provide short cuts to the most up to date guidance and best practice [or] - printed out ... to serve as a simple checklist to help planners and designers ensure that their projects create cycle friendly infrastructure.
I think this is a very good check list; life would be better for cycling if it were always followed.
"The purpose of this document is to provide short cuts to the most up to date guidance and best practice [or] - printed out ... to serve as a simple checklist to help planners and designers ensure that their projects create cycle friendly infrastructure.
Clicking on the links ... will take you to concise guidance and examples, with further links to the web-available technical documents on which the advice is based. Where web-based information is not available full details of references are included."
Stop Junk Mail
http://www.stopjunkmail.org.uk/
"Stop Junk Mail is a campaign group giving free and independent advice on how to stamp out junk mail. On this site you will find all the information you need to live junk mail free."
"Stop Junk Mail is a campaign group giving free and independent advice on how to stamp out junk mail. On this site you will find all the information you need to live junk mail free."
Oyster PAYG on National Rail
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/london/OysterPAYG.pdf
Oyster PAYG has always been valid on National Rail (NR) on lines where Underground Tickets were historically valid, which are basically lines that double the Underground -eg Barking <--> Fenchurch St and Stratford<--> Liverpool Street. But the NR PAYG network is growing, partly because when franchises are renewed the franchise includes a requirement to accept it, partly because TfL are funding Oyster equipment at NR stations and partly because TfL now runs NR lines -ie the London Overground. Some NR companies have willingly accepted the improvement, and others are reluctant. It is worth keeping an eye on the map for additions.
Oyster PAYG has always been valid on National Rail (NR) on lines where Underground Tickets were historically valid, which are basically lines that double the Underground -eg Barking <--> Fenchurch St and Stratford<--> Liverpool Street. But the NR PAYG network is growing, partly because when franchises are renewed the franchise includes a requirement to accept it, partly because TfL are funding Oyster equipment at NR stations and partly because TfL now runs NR lines -ie the London Overground. Some NR companies have willingly accepted the improvement, and others are reluctant. It is worth keeping an eye on the map for additions.
Stansted to London Cheap Day Returns
The inimitable Barry Doe has pointed out that CDR's from Stansted Airport to "London", including London Liverpool Street cost more than CDRs to stations in the London area - he suggested Clapham Junction. The cost falls from £26 to £21 and the latter includes a Travel Card! I tried Barking as a destination and it was cheaper still.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Green search engine / internet tools
www.greenmaven.com
Quotes from their website:
"Green Maven is your gateway to the Green Web. We're a search engine that focuses on green, conscious, and sustainable websites."
"Finally a website that brings the best of the Green Web together. Designed for Mavens that just can't get enough of all things Green. Use it as a research tool, or keep up to date on the latest trends in the Green Revolution.
Quotes from their website:
"Green Maven is your gateway to the Green Web. We're a search engine that focuses on green, conscious, and sustainable websites."
"Finally a website that brings the best of the Green Web together. Designed for Mavens that just can't get enough of all things Green. Use it as a research tool, or keep up to date on the latest trends in the Green Revolution.
We have a mission to grow the green economy by leveraging the power of the collective internet.
Here are our first three tools:
- Green Search Engine : We've built the world's first comprehensive Green Search Engine based on Google's Coop Search technology. Rather than searching the entire web, your search yields "green" results. Soon we will have the ability for anybody to be a Green Maven and help contribute to the research of mapping the Green Web.
- Green News Reader : We've integrated the best of the green blogs into one, easy to read format. We receive new stories all day long day from channels of the best news on the web. Read all the news channels at once, or switch channels to read any specific news source. Use the "Share It!" feature to send a positive news story to a friend, family, or co-worker. If you have any suggestions for great online news sources, let us know .
- Green Directory : This is the source for our Green Search Engine. If you'd rather browse than search, explore the Green Web using our comprehensive directory."
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Next train out
I only recently realised that the "next train out" indicator at Tower Hill (westbound) has been taken out of service. Tourists always seemed to be oblivious to it but once you knew about it it was very handy for knowing whether to get on the left or right hand train - the right hand train being one that terminated in the "bay road".
The dot matrix displays now show which platform the next train out is on, but I wish TfL would remove the old sign if they aren't going to use it.
It was a very simple, low tech solution, using a strip light behind glass - a signing technology that I think must now have been eradicated.
The dot matrix displays now show which platform the next train out is on, but I wish TfL would remove the old sign if they aren't going to use it.
It was a very simple, low tech solution, using a strip light behind glass - a signing technology that I think must now have been eradicated.
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