The Thanet Star

Thanet Star - actively improving Thanet one idea at a time

Thanet Streetball

Written by Matt B · first published 19/01/2010

Taking a peek about the old youtube to see if anyone has posted anything interesting about the area I found this intriguing video.

It appears to be the highlights from a "game" of Streetball a form of basket ball with very few actual rules where style is as important as anything else. The game took place, by all accounts, in Ramsgate.

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Postal services still hurting TDC

Written by Matt B · first published 19/01/2010

The combination of postal strikes and Christmas have left Thanet District Council with a real headache.

Thousands of letters have failed to be returned and have had to be assumed lost in the postal system.

TDC are required to confirm that those people entitled to the single person's council tax reduction are indeed getting it and that those claiming it are still entitled. To do this they send out a simple form where respondents need only tick a box and sign the bottom.

Not a big deal you might think. However around 2,000 replies have failed to come back leaving TDC with the task of visiting each and every household in person just to collect a signature or post the form "by hand".

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» Continue Reading: Postal services still hurting TDC

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Google leads the way on China

Written by Matt B · first published 13/01/2010

The world awoke this morning to the news that Google has told China "enough is enough".

In an official Google blog post Google has said that they ...have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. It would seem that Google has noticed a Chinese based attack not only on their own servers but on 10 other companies as well.

Google then announced that they would be taking steps against China. We have taken the unusual step of sharing information about these attacks with a broad audience not just because of the security and human rights implications of what we have unearthed, but also because this information goes to the heart of a much bigger global debate about freedom of speech they said.

Google have gone on to say that they will no longer censor their search results for China. This has had the implication of reigniting the debate on human rights abuses in China.

Google made it clear from the outset that they would not trade unconditionally with China and true to their word are shutting down a profitable arm of their operations because ethics must sometimes be more important than profit. Something Thanet District Council would do well to take notes from.

Keep reading to see how the search Giant is unintentionally making Thanet look bad by doing the right thing.

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» Continue Reading: Google leads the way on China

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Snow, Snooooow, Snow-Snow, Snow!

Written by Matt B · first published 07/01/2010

It seems that a good blanket of the white stuff has fallen recently and the whole world has gone mad.

Still, we have faired somewhat better than our other Kentish cousins some of whom are without power this morning. However good luck trying to get anywhere today. The policde are warning people to leave the car at home while the train network is running an "emergency service" only (which seems to mean that regular tickets might be valid on the fast train - best to ask someone first though) and Stage Coach seem to have most of their busses in the shed.

Quite why Stage Coach are unable to field the magority of thier buses when Eastonways were able to get most of their buses out is baffeling. After all they fleace us all twice taking local tax money from TDC and then by hiking their prices any chance they get.

But it's not all doom, gloom and a lack of corporate responsibility as many of us get to stay home and make snow men. What fun!

Send us your snowman pics to the usual address and let's see what Thanet makes of the snowy extra holiday at home. It'll not be here for long.

The address to send stuff in case you don't know it:

Image Credits: stephen_cowbell and debbiehughes27 via FlickR

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Dane Valley Woods practical task day

Written by Matt B · first published 04/01/2010

Had a quick message from Kim via the old facebook which may be of interest to those of you in the Dane Valley or Millmead end of Margate.

Dane Valley Woods is having a practical task day,this Sunday 10th January 2010 from 10 am till mid-day . We are meeting outside the windmill community allotments at 10 am.

Anyone who is interested in coming along is more than welcome. Remember to bring suitable warm weather clothing and that all children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

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