Thursday, March 15, 2012

Taking back the Big Society

Taking back the Big Society

Ask people what they think the words Big Society mean and I’m sure a lot will say something along the lines of ‘David Cameron’s plan for people to work for nothing, in libraries for example. Sorry Prime Minister but some of us we’re using the term Big Society well before you jumped on the bandwagon and hijacked the term.

To me Big Society is just a collective term for when people help each other, I think all Open Data falls into the big society. I’m pushing out data which help other people in their lives. I help you, you help him and he helps her and so on. Society as a whole benefits.

I’ve just completed a small project for someone who I hardly know, never met but he wanted something for his website. A website that I use, so I though I’d give something back and help him out.

He had an access database of aircraft movements at Mildenhall and Lakenheath Air Force bases which he wanted to have on his website and for people to search it. He did have a trail with one company which wanted to charge his a lot of money to host one database. More than double what my hosting company charges for all my hosting needs.

So I have written a little script so he can upload his files to my server. I’ve also written a cheap and cheerful search facility and make it look something like his own website so it sort of blends in with it.

Finished it a couple of days ago, sent him an e-mail about it and he replied saying how grateful he was and he thought what I have done was superb.

Mr Cameron for me that is Big Society at work. Not people working somewhere for free but simply someone, i.e. me, helping someone else out, who in turn is trying to do something to help other people out via his website. .

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Thursday, March 08, 2012

Looking at the bigger picture

I was diagnosed with Diabetes back in July 2010, Scroll down and you’ll see the entry. Thought I was coping with it OK until Monday when I went to see the doctor who had my latest test results…

Lets just say it wasn’t good. He did read me the riot act and stress that unless I do something then I will loose my eyesight, have feet problems and all the other nice things can come with diabetes. Huge wake up call.

I brushed off my testing kit, bought some more testing strips. (Before you ask, yes I’m in one of those areas that don’t offer free strips/needles yet someone I know less than 30 miles away does get them for free) and started using them on Tuesday morning.

So this week I’ve made a real effort to check what I eat. I’ve cut out the sugars a lot. It’s the carbohydrates that do me it.

Was so disappointed with my reading last night. 13.0. To put this into context I’m aiming for a reading around the 7-8 mark. So yes that is very high. Back to the books to try and find out where I’m going wrong.

I decided to keep a diary of what I eat and compared it to my readings. To see what sends me over the top. My readings have been from 10.3 to 15.6 depending on the time of day. I’ve been checking myself first this in the morning and then two hours after each meal. I wrote out the diary and saw a pattern emerging. Yes my figures are high, but looking at the bigger picture and comparing readings maybe I am heading in the right direction?

First thing this morning my reading was 10.3, compare this to the 12.8 yesterday.

My morning readings were, today – 11.7, Yesterday – 14.5, day before 15.7

Afternoon readings, Yesterday 11.3, day before 12.0

Evening readings yesterday 13.0, day before 13.5

I really hope this is the sign that my new pills and increase in exercise is paying off. Even though all the figures are on the high to very high side. They are all reducing. Hopefully the salad that I have just had for lunch and the hit on the exercise bike this afternoon will reduce these figures even more. I’ll keep you posted. Remember don't look at one figure in isolation, always look at the bigger picture.

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