S.I.T.E. (Midlands Chapter): Location Re-Port 1.5 (M) - Case Closed

 

All Original Images: West Leicester, April 2025

In the light of the transformations documented in this bulletin, we have concluded that this particular site no longer remains viable as a potential portal. It appears that any hopes of meaningful egress here are now negligible at best.  

As a result, the case is now officially closed.

N.B: The whereabouts and current status of the field agent originally assigned to this case remain unknown. Unfortunately, the organisation lacks the resources to carry out a proper investigation into the matter. We therefore appeal for any relevant information which may emerge in the future. Anyone able to shed light on the disappearance should contact the organisation via the usual channels. Thank you.

All Photo-Manipulations: April 2025

https://hughmarwood.blogspot.com/2021/01/location-re-port-11.html

https://hughmarwood.blogspot.com/2021/08/site-midlands-chapter-location-re-port.html

https://hughmarwood.blogspot.com/2021/09/site-midlands-chapter-location-re-port.html

https://hughmarwood.blogspot.com/2022/09/site-midlands-chapter-location-re-port.html

https://hughmarwood.blogspot.com/2022/10/site-midlands-chapter-location-re-port.html

Ex_ist 1 [Sartreian Spring]

 

All Images: South Leicester, March 2024

“…I started laughing because I suddenly thought of the wonderful springtimes described in books, full of cracking, bursting gigantic blossomings. There were fools who talked  to you about willpower and the struggle for life Hadn’t they ever looked at an animal or a tree? That plane with its scaling bark, that half-rotten oak - they would’ve wanted me to take them for vigorous youthful forces thrusting towards the sky. And that root? I would probably have had to see it as a greedy claw, tearing the earth, snatching its food from it.

‘Impossible to see things that way. Weaknesses, frailties, yes. The trees were floating. Thrusting towards the sky? Collapsing rather: at any moment I expected to see the trunks shrivel like weary pricks, curl up and fall to the ground in a soft, black, crumpled heap. They did not want to exist, only they could not help it; that was the point. So they performed all their little functions, quietly, unenthusiastically, the sap rose slowly and reluctantly in the canals, and the roots penetrated slowly into the earth. But at every moment they seemed on the verge of dropping everything and obliterating themselves. Tired and old, they went on existing, unwillingly and ungraciously, simply because they were too weak to die, because death could come to them only from the outside: melodies alone can proudly carry their own death within them like an internal necessity,; only they don’t exist. Every existent is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance. I leaned back ands I closed my eyes. But pictures, promptly informed, sprang forward and filled my closed eyes with existences: existence is a repletion which man can never abandon.” [1.]

“Did I dream it up, that huge presence? It was there, installed on the park, tumbled into the trees, all soft, gumming everything up, all thick, a jelly. And I was inside with the whole of the park? I was frightened, but above all I was furious, I thought it was so stupid, so out of place, I hated that ignoble jelly. A there was so much of it, so much! It went up as high as the sky, it flowed away everywhere, it filled everything with gelatinous subsidence and I could see it going deeper and deeper, far beyond the limits of the park and the houses and Bouville, I was no longer at Bouville or anywhere, I was floating. I was not surprised. I knew perfectly well that it was the World, the World in all its nakedness which was suddenly revealing itself, and I choked with fury at that huge absurd being. You couldn’t even wonder where it all came from, or how it was that a world should exist rather than nothing. It didn’t make sense, the world was present everywhere, in front, behind. There had been nothing before it. Nothing. There had been no moment at which it might not have existed. It was that which irritated me: naturally there was no reason for it to exist, that flowing larva. But it was not possible for it not to exist. That was unthinkable: In order to imagine nothingness, you had to be there already, right in the world, with your eyes wide open and alive; nothingness was just an idea in my head, an existing idea floating in that immensity: this nothingness hadn’t come before existence, it was an existence like any other and one which had appeared after a great many others. I shouted: ‘What filth! What filth!’ And I shook myself to get rid of that sticky dirt, but it held fast and there was so much of it, tons and tons of existence, indefinitely: I was suffocating at the bottom of that huge boredom. Then, all of a sudden, the park emptied as if through a big hole, the world disappeared in the same way it had come, or else I woke up - in any case I could not see it any more; there remained some yellow earth around me, out of which dead branches stuck up into the air.” [2.]

“Dusk is falling, the first lights are going on in the town. Good Lord, how natural the town looks in spite of all its geometric patterns, how crushed by the evening it seems. It’s so …obvious from here; is it possible that I should be the only one to see it? Is there nowhere another Cassandra on top of a hill, looking down at a town engulfed in the depths of Nature? But what does it matter to me? What could I possibly tell her?

“My body turns very gently towards the east, wobbles slightly and starts walking.” [3.]

[1, 2, 3]:  Excerpts From: Jean-Paul Sartre, ‘Nausea’ (Trans. Robert Baldick), London/NYC, Penguin, 1963 (1938).

Has The Cycling Industry Lost Its Way? [trans_scribe]

 

Photo-Manipulation: March 2024

[Adjusted Video Transcription]:

Elite professional cyclists are often held up on a metaphorical and literal pedestal as an example of what all cyclists should do basically if the pros do it so should you however I'm gonna go counter that flow and give you three reasons why you shouldn't do what the pros do why are you tearing the bike community apart why and to be clear this isn't a knock against pro-cyclists or people that light that kind of writing I'm just simply staying that one particular style of writing shouldn't be the default lens through which we look at all of cycling the first reason you shouldn't do what a pro-cyclist does is they basically have different goals theirs is to compete in when races and bring home a pay cheque and make their sponsors happy and if that isn't your goal then you should probably take what they do with a grain of salt if your goal is to drop your kids off at school pick up some groceries go on a long and lazy meandering tour then it goes without saying you don't need to emulate what they're doing you don't need a carbon fibre bike you don't need to wear some crazy arrow helmet or a skin suit a lot of that is an unnecessary expense that's not going to benefit most cyclists and if anything it just acts as a barrier furthermore advice in training videos that information is great if you want to race and want to participate in that kind of writing but it shouldn't be the received wisdom for all people on the bike if your goal is to just ride around riding a bike shouldn't be like school where you work your way up to some kind of vague ideal and you graduate to a real cyclist and they give you an arrow helmet and clipless pedals just like how everyone who drives a car doesn't aspire to be an F1 racer to be a real driver some people just drive to get around to move their kids to do daily tasks this dovetails into another reason why you shouldn't do what the pros do in particular using the same equipment pro cyclists are train athletes that way like next to nothing they’re super flexible and what suits them so they can accomplish their goals doesn't make sense for a lot of people so don't feel that pressure to slam that stem right on super narrow high pressure tires unfortunately today you know most road bikes are actually road racing bikes or pretend racing bikes again to use the car analogy a lot of people are looking for an event or that affordable you know bare bones pickup truck to do tasks but most bike shops when you walk in there they're basically selling you know the equivalent of Formula One cars or Formula One car light give me a bike with a comfortable ride with tyres that aren't optimised just to go around a closed circuit track and whatever the bike equivalent of cupholders is that might be brazen for adventure nipples more cup holders and more better and the last reason why you shouldn't do what the pros do is because it's their job and it's not yours you don't want to turn something fun into a job do you just like any job cycling has a uniform and tools to accomplish that very specific task aero clothing and funny hats make sense in that context but if it's not your job and your pay cheque doesn't rely on your your cycling performance then don't worry about it again not knocking anyone that does this kind of writing or enjoys this kind of writing or wants to do this kind of writing but there is a big wide world of people that ride their bikes or want to get into cycling that are just kind of put-off and intimidated by this constant messaging it's a way we're able to keep the lights on quite literally you know we're not sponsored by any big cycling brands if you appreciate this independent voice.

Original Images: West Leicester, March 2024

Quicksilver Communication [trans_late/re_configure]

 

All Original Images: Central Leicester, August 2023. Photo Manipulations: October 2023

[Appropriated/Translated/Reconfigured Texts]:

Because the planet is so close to the Sun, daytime temperatures can reach highs of 800°F (430°C). Without an atmosphere to retain that heat at night, temperatures can dip as low as -290°F (-180°C). At such temperatures the tenacity value obtained for the metals of low melting point is affected by the duration of the test (due to ‘the creep’). Supercomputers (such as those at the Met. Office) solve complex mathematical equations based on well-established physical laws to model the behaviour of the weather and climate. However, outcomes that are not measured cannot be counted, evaluated or upheld, and it’s little wonder if you struggle to know who or what to trust. The consequences are real: democracy is threatened and, in some extreme cases, civil unrest and even armed conflict erupt. The concept of spirit is far less familiar to most and the sense of isolation in a fragmented world pervades all corners of the community. We all yearn for connection. Many people use the words 'soul' and 'spirit' interchangeably. Some use the word ‘spirit’ as a synonym for ‘ghost’, but neither is applicable in this context.

A place with a strong sense of community spirit is somewhere with high levels of interaction, trust and shared standards of behaviour that enable people to build communities and to knit-together the social fabric. Generally speaking, when someone doesn't stick to the terms of a contract, or a guy shows up two hours late - or forgets to pay his phone bill on time, we don't brutally kill that person in the town square. These rules reduce handling and transportation requirements for wastes that otherwise would need to be managed as ‘dumps’ - but greenhouse gases produced by human activity are altering this cycle beyond natural variation. One of the biggest challenges for local economies is not the lack of attractions, but a lack of vision. Right now the mood is the lowest I have ever known it, and even the humble thermometer is gradually being phased out in favour of a digital instrument or a thermistor-based gadget.

 

The problematic identification of some substances, and their dubious experimental role, led us to wonder whether the choices of ingredients were not only based on technical factors but also influenced by cultural aspects. From the contractual history (and in the associated images), we can see that a wide variety of alchemical goals were pursued. The problem is that the number of cases of mining digital currency remains hidden. We all lead busy lives, and inevitably tend to live in silos, so the only assumption made is that of the form of the distribution function for the velocities in the electron swarm. Ancient alchemical procedures have been transmitted over centuries as written instructions (and copied onto manuscripts hundreds of times by scribes), but they can still predict large-scale changes in global climate in the future. Machine shackles are fitted with low-conductive ebonite cone seatings, which will enforce a code of conduct for Big Tech to ensure advertising deals are struck on fairer terms.

IMPORTANT: Following exposure to any chemical, the adverse health impacts you may encounter depend on several factors. Crucial details can easily pass unnoticed, or may even be misinterpreted when recipes are considered only in their textual dimension. It is increasingly recognised that cultural and community participation can act as an important health asset, and that the spirit is a sort of medium for transmission and communication. Put-on disposable gloves IMMEDIATELY before cleaning spills. Each piece of broken glass should be carefully removed and double-bagged.

Bristol Derive 4: Umbridge [re_configure]

All Photo-Manipulations: May 2023

[Reconfigured Appropriated Texts]:

Our vision is for bus services people can depend on, are quick and reliable, combine to form a simple to understand and easy to use network, are accessible for everyone, are safe and comfortable - and I know a transport plan should be about rather more than just personal aesthetics. Last time I looked at it there were rust holes in the structure that you could put your arm through! (arm sizes can go up and down, also it was a while back so it may have been sorted by now). The objective within each of these corridors is not simply to improve public transport journey times, service frequency and reliability - but things change. Whatever the past use, that bridge is now a magical little spot, especially at dusk. Our proposals will deliver immediate and longer-term benefits to residents and visitors by making it easier to travel in and around the region. Come and collect leaflets to give to your friends and family.

All Original Images: South Bristol, February & April 2023

You should refrain from assuming that I don’t know what I’m talking about, just because I disagree with you.The corridors were selected and prioritised according to: existing highway congestion, connecting households with employment and education, current and future patronage, supporting areas of deprivation, and deliverability. I suspect the H&SE may ask for more than that and a coat of paint when you’ve got holes in the structures. We have a unique opportunity to further enhance our productive economy, ensuring everyone across society reaps the benefits and does so sustainably. You see a new doughnut place, you get off the road, go back to said doughnut place, eat a doughnut, get back on your way, no worries. I see transport as being integral to capitalising on that opportunity. Make a little time for improvements to the operational efficiency of ticketing on Wednesday. A photo with masses of objectors will speak more loudly than interchanges between journey nodes and modes.

There is a large risk that a photo with masses of objectors constrains this opportunity to grow and limits our ability to level up across society whilst delivering an environmentally sustainable transport network. Surely if you see a group of people trying to prevent your commute route being turned into a poorly designed bus carbuncle, you at least take an interest. We need to act now to rectify an under-performing network and mitigate this risk. I really do hate being in photos and would prefer to hide behind people, which is difficult when only three people and a stray dog turn up. We need to ensure that our public transport provision is reliable, with improved connectivity and an excellent passenger experience. it always brings to mind film gem ‘The Station Agent’, or perhaps a strangely-rural corner of Brooklyn. Delivering high quality bus services is a crucial part of achieving that vision.

Maximising this opportunity has UK wide benefits such as the development of UK-wide supply chains in innovative sectors and providing the goods and services required to further promote domestic advanced manufacturing, financial services and legal technology, and the creative industries. I like its pleasantly shabby ambience - and the public realm surrounding network access points. it would be a damn shame if it was to be an expensive, poor-value & somewhat unnecessary scheme for people to switch to active modes. I’ve lived here for a decade and have never known a city that actually gets so little done in terms of developing infrastructure. City corridors are where a high level of separation is possible and desired. Interestingly, nobody seemed to stop mid-commute -  lots of cyclists just glared at us or dinged their way through the potential for people’s behaviour to change in response to investment. Basically, they just want to slap down some infrastructure.

FFS! I was getting more relaxed in my old age, but this kind of nonsense might just turn me back… [1.]

[1.]: Includes reconfigured excerpts from:

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bristol-brt2-route-ashton-avenue-bridge/

https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/mass-transit/

Bristol Derives 3: Remembridge [re_configure]

 

All Photo-Manipulations: May 2023

[Reconfigured Appropriated Text]:

Categories of Listed Building

There are three types of listed status for buildings in England and Wales 

• Grade I: Buildings of exceptional interest: 

            [a.]:  Monuments of recognisable/instantaneous poetic resonance [including the 

                    deliciously mundane, as well as the weird and/or eerie]

            [b.]:  Monuments likely to trigger artistic activity [on a sliding scale of 

                    relevance/irrelevance]

             

• Grade II*: Particularly important buildings of more than special interest:

             [a.]:  Key monuments of autobiographical significance [verifiable/documented by                        photographic or other historical evidence]

            [b.]:  Key monuments of autobiographical significance [imagined or subject to false                            memory, and including elements of personal mythology/fake                     

                    narrative, dreams, neurosis or other psychologoclgical disorder]

              

• Grade II: Buildings that are of special interest:

             [a.]:  Monuments suspended in an indeterminate/provisional/unresolved 'present'

            [b.]:  Monuments pointing towards past/future simultaneously [cyclical/vertical-slice 

                    chronology]

            [c.]:  Monuments to lost/imagined futures, failed utopias, misguided strategies, as well as                     those likely to play significant role in proposed future archeologies

            [d.]:  Portals

      

                        

There was formerly a non-statutory Grade III, which was abolished in 1970. This included monuments related to delusion, pharmaceutical intoxication, hallucination, baseless rumour, conspiracy theory, pseudoscience, parochial superstition and excess religiosity.

Listed buildings account for about 2% of English building stock. In March 2010, there were about 374,000 list entries of which 92% were Grade II, 5.5% were Grade II*, and 2.5% were Grade I. 

Statutory Criteria

The criteria for listing include architectural interest, historic interest and close historical associations with significant people or events. Buildings not individually noteworthy may still be listed if they form part of a group that is—for example, all the buildings in a square. This is called 'group value'. Sometimes large areas comprising many buildings may not justify listing but receive the looser protection of designation as a conservation area.

 

The specific criteria include:

• The nocturnal march to some inner venue [the search for connection]
• Short-circuiting an adjacent existence [the south bank of the south bank]
• The most recent incision [a jump onto the Spike] 
• A winding path between the Bonds [the cliff of blank eyes/a thousand cells]
• Corroded mesh and blistering angle-iron [the threaded encroachment/an unwanted seeding]
• Steel plate erosion [river glimpses between an awkward measure]
• The shadow lattice [altitude projectors on quivering stems]
• An abandoned shunt [the decommissioning/the carbon traces]

The state of repair of a building, or degree of applicable on-line outrage, are not deemed to be  relevant considerations for listing. [1.]

[1.]:  Includes excerpts from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listed_building