Waking the dead

“The adage that dead men tell no tales has long been disproved by archaeology…

So begins a fascinating article in the magazine Science Daily – Teeth Of Columbus’ Crew Flesh Out Tale Of New World Discovery 20th March, 2009

We are all familiar with television cold case programmes, such as Waking the Dead  where Trevor Eve and Sue Johnston dig up and investigate unsolved cases from the past. This article tells of a team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who are extracting the chemical details of life history from the teeth of dead sailors left behind on the island of Hispaniola after Columbus’ second voyage to the Americas in 1493-4.

You may read the article in full if you are interested but I can tell you that the team may have already discovered that there were more people of African origin accompanying Columbus than previously thought, thus raising the possibility that Africans were in the Indies some considerable time before historians had estimated.

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Vox stellarum

The party season is upon us already. Having concluded a week of festivities celebrating my birthday recently and fresh, if that is the right word in the circumstances, from the Millnet 15th birthday party at the top of the Millbank Tower with fireworks courtesy of the Mayor of London (thanks Boris!), my thoughts are increasingly turning to Christmas.

I can well imagine that many of you will groan at the thought of Christmas when it is only early November and I must admit that I agree with you whole heartedly. When I worked in Spain in the 1990s public displays of Christmas decorations and trees were reserved for the two and a half weeks leading up to Christmas Day itself following the double public holiday celebrating Constitution Day and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at the beginning of December. There was no question of Christmas trees displayed in public places in September (I really did see one in a hotel reception in September a few years ago!) nor carols wailing out from tinny sounding speakers at all the weary shoppers in the malls.

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Seventh heaven on cloud nine

What have the following in common?

  • A 1987 album track by George Harrison
  • A song by Bryan Adams
  • A 1969 album by the Temptations
  • Battlestar Galactica
  • A mobile phone company based in the Isle of Man
  • A crime novel by James M Cain
  • A skyscraper and shopping mall in Shanghai

The answer is that all of them use the concept of Cloud Nine in their name or title! Where does this expression come from?  The International Cloud Atlas produced in 1896 defined ten types of cloud. The ninth cloud was the cumulo-nimbus rising to a height of over 10 kilometres which is as high as a cloud can be. Others have suggested the origin lies in sources as diverse as Dante’s Divine Comedy or Buddhist and Christian folklore whereas the American Dictionary of Slang published in 1969 suggests that the term cloud seven was in use rather before the now generally accepted cloud nine was defined as a state of blissful happiness.

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Millnet celebrates 15 years on top

Our roving reporter, Bridie Sheldon, seems to get all the good jobs these days. This time we sent her 30 floors up Millbank Tower to watch the London fireworks and join our other 500 guests in celebrating Millnet’s 15th Anniversary.

High up in the capital’s sky on Bonfire night, Millnet hosted an extravagant party to celebrate 15 years of leading the way in production and processing of paper and electronic documents. It was an evening of dazzling fireworks, sparkling drinks, divine canapés, sexy dancers and high class fashion which,  in true Millnet style, broke the mould of weekday work parties!

It all started with a bang on the top of the Milbank Tower in the chic, stylish and ultra modern venue of Altitude 360˚, which commands stunning panoramic views of London’s skyline. As the 360˚ fireworks began rocketing past the floor to ceiling windows and the drinks and canapés started flowing, guests began to realise they were not just popping in for a quick drink on the way home from work.

Millnet’s Chairman Marcus Craggs welcomed guests and MD  James Moeskops did the honours presenting Rob Rayner, Stuart Rayner and Emma Bolsover each with a carriage clock in recognition of their 10 years dedicated service to Millnet. Marcus also spoke of Millnet’s continuing support of good causes including, most recently, Simon MacKenzie’s participation in the Peking to Paris Rally in aid of DEBRA, which supports people with Epidermolysis Bullosa disease.

The evening started to really warm up as the models began to strut James Lakeland’s effortlessly elegant women’s Autumn/Summer 2010 collection down the catwalk. His 2010 collection consists of chic married with sexy and flattering exciting designs. James Lakeland’s designs are defined by “attitude not age; body shape not size” with all clothes made in Italy.

Once the catwalk had drawn to an end and the toffee apples had been circulated, heads turned as The Girly Show took to the stage. This classy dancing troop who have performed at the most exclusive and lavish parties across the globe, managed to live up to expectations and executed a unforgettable burlesque themed show. We were all mesmerised when the dancers mingled in with the audience, enticing guests towards the dance floor and getting the whole evening crackling.

Towards the end of the night, as guests left Altitude 360˚ they were presented with William Curley chocolates – some of the finest chocolates in town! These delicious sweet treats have unique heritage created by Scottish owner William Curley who was protégé of the famous chef Marco Pierre White. William Curley chocolates have also made guest appearances on the afternoon tea menu at Gordon Ramsey’s Claridges.

Late into the bright night and with a sweet send off, guests left feeling like the ‘sky is the limit’!


More photos: Millnet Facebook page

Data protection

I am occasionally asked about EU data privacy laws and how they impact on the discoverability of European documents in US litigation.

Denise Backhouse, associate in the eData group at US law firm, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, has written an article on this very subject for Guidance Software (who provide EnCase e-discovery software for her firm):  Master European Data Privacy Laws, Guidance Software blog, 18th October 2010.

The piece was also featured in Ernst & Young’s international e-Discovery blog, BONG!

The article is full of useful links to EU directives, opinions and FAQs and even has a plug for our old friend Chris Dale! It is none the worse for that and may prove to be a handy reference point for research on this subject.