Iraq advice 'should stay secret'

"BBC NEWS | Politics | Iraq advice 'should stay secret'
Releasing records of the cabinet's Iraq war meetings would do 'serious harm' to war planning, says a government lawyer."

You mean, it might make government ministers feel responsible for their actions? Well, we can't have that, can we?

"Addressing the final day of a three-day Information Tribunal hearing in south London, the Cabinet Office's counsel Jonathan Swift appealed for minutes from cabinet meetings on 13 March and 17 March 2003 not to be disclosed to the public. He said 'a general risk of disclosure would do serious harm' to the decision-making process. He argued that if the minutes were published 'cabinets are likely to be more cautious how they approach the matter in the cabinet setting' when it came to 'war and peace decisions'."

Well, all previous enquiries have ended in a whitewash - might as well have another one do the very same. Perhaps cabinets should be more cautious when it comes to sending our soldiers to fight politically-motivated, illegal wars?

BBC NEWS | Politics | Iraq advice 'should stay secret'

My iPod continued

Just remembered that another thing I use the iPod for is keeping a mobile copy of my work calendar - via iTunes it sychronises with iCal - excellent integration and far better than anything Outlook and my Windows Mobile PDA can manage. I also use BusySync to publish free/busy data to Google Calendar, so anyone, anywhere can see something of where I am and what I'm doing.

My iPod Touch

Never thought I'd own an iPod. The few times I'd tried them, I could never get on with that wheel-like interface. But as I'm part of the OU's iTunes U/Podcasting project (I am currently building the website, backend database and XML creation system) I've now become the posessor of an iPod Touch.

"Designed by Apple in California" they proudly state on the iPod's box - but where are they made? And why don't they say?

Apple's iPod now takes about 40% of the world's solid-state music player market and it is by far their biggest money spinner. To cut manufacturing costs, they are of course made in China in factories owned and operated by Foxconn. A bit old now, but here's some links to articles on "iPod City":

Inside Apple's iPod factories - Mac - Macworld UK
Apple responds to iPod factory claims - Mac - Macworld UK
BBC NEWS | Business | iPod 'slave' claims investigated

What of the iPod itself? We'll, its a very impressive bit of kit. The wireless functionality means that its much more than just a music player - I have a Sudoku game on it, plus I use it to read web forums, to keep up with Facebook (although its only partically functional) and to post messages to Twitter. The touch screen is easy to use and the predictive text typing works very well. I'm subscribed to the SkyNext podcast, plus I can play movies on it. Battery life is good and even the standard earpiece headphones do a reasonable job.

But then for £210 (16Gb model) it should be impressive - you can get a fully-functional Windows laptop for that money.

Lexar Launch SD WiFi card

Lexar have now launched an SD card with built-in 802.11 wireless so you can send images directly from any SD-equipped digital camera via a wireless network. How do they get it all in such a tiny package - when it was introduced for Compact Flash, it was surprising enough!

Whether they just took over the company that developed this approach or have simply licensed the technology from them, I don't know. Unfortunately its only available in the USA at the moment, but I'm sure it will be here soon.

Lexar – Shoot-n-Sync Wi-Fi Memory Card

Obama wins historic US election

"BBC NEWS | World | Americas | US Elections 2008 | Obama wins historic US election
Democratic Senator Barack Obama has been elected the first black president of the United States. 'It's been a long time coming, but tonight... change has come to America,' the president-elect told a jubilant crowd at a victory rally in Chicago."

Very surprised that Obama managed to win in Florida - I thought the voting machine there wouldn't allow you to select Democrat...

"But he added: 'Even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.'"

Glad to see mention of planetary issues so soon, but please don't let his concerns end here - this is just the start. I'm sure that over the next few years, we'll hear more about how the Bush administration suppressed evidence on climate change.

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | US Elections 2008 | Obama wins historic US election

UK energy bill rises 'double' EU

"BBC NEWS | UK | UK energy bill rises 'double' EU
Energy prices in the UK have increased twice as fast as the European Union average, according to latest figures. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics showed gas and electricity bills rose 29.7% in the past year compared with 15% in the EU."

More evidence of "rip-off Britain".

BBC NEWS | UK | UK energy bill rises 'double' EU

Fire fear sparks battery recall

"BBC NEWS | Business | Fire fear sparks battery recall
Laptop-makers including Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Toshiba are recalling 100,000 Sony-made batteries due to fears they may overheat or catch fire."

Great article, BBC - no indication of model names/numbers and no link to a website that might tell us.

BBC NEWS | Business | Fire fear sparks battery recall

October snow 2008

October snow 2008,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

First snow at this time of year in this part of the country since 1974. Its mostly gone now though.

Peers throw out 42-day detention

"BBC NEWS | Politics | Peers throw out 42-day detention
The House of Lords has rejected the government's controversial plans to extend the period terrorist suspects can be held without charge to 42 days."

Hurrah!

BBC NEWS | Politics | Peers throw out 42-day detention

Records bureau staff work to rule

"BBC NEWS | UK | Records bureau staff work to rule
Hundreds of staff from the Criminal Records Bureau in England and Wales have started a work to rule in protest at a 0.5% pay rise."

One half of a percent pay rise? That's as insulting as a high street bank's interest rate. So low its not worth the effort. Treated like that, they shouldn't bother with a work-to-rule - just go on strike.

BBC NEWS | UK | Records bureau staff work to rule

Stunning New Google Satellite Imagery

"Sneak Peek: Stunning New Google Satellite Imagery
The Geo-Eye1 is described as the world’s highest-resolution commercial satellite. GeoEye spokesperson Mark Brender tells Wired.com that the satellite can take photos at a resolution of up to 41 centimeters — close enough to zoom in on the home plate of a baseball diamond. Due to federal law, though, Google will 'only' get images that have a 50-centimeter resolution — meaning the imagery will capture details down to about 20 inches."

You'll be able to see if the neighbour's dog is in the garden (hello Barney!).

Sneak Peek: Stunning New Google Satellite Imagery

MoD computer hard drive missing

"BBC NEWS | UK | MoD computer hard drive missing
An investigation is under way into the disappearance of a computer hard drive containing the personal details of about 100,000 of the Armed Forces.

There is also said to be a small amount of information about bank
details. It contains details of passport numbers, addresses, dates of
birth, driving licence details and telephone numbers."

Was it an external - portable - hard drive, by any chance? Lessons still not learned?

BBC NEWS | UK | MoD computer hard drive missing

Gurkhas' joy at court victory

"BBC NEWS | UK | Gurkhas' joy at court victory
Cold London rain could not dampen the spirits of retired Gurkhas as they celebrated winning the right to stay in the UK. Dozens of them milled about outside the High Court, sheltering from the September rain in the portico of the ornate Royal Courts of Justice, as a judge inside was ruling on their two-year legal battle. They successfully challenged immigration rules which said that those who retired from the British Army before 1997 did not have an automatic right to stay."

Congratulations guys - well deserved. The ban was absurd pettyness by the Government.

BBC NEWS | UK | Gurkhas' joy at court victory

Personnel records stolen from MoD

"BBC NEWS | England | Gloucestershire | Personnel records stolen from MoD
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investigating the theft of computer files with the records of thousands of serving and former RAF staff on. The information was stored on computer hard drives at the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency at the RAF Innsworth site near Gloucester. The theft of the files took place on 17 September, within a high-security area on the base.

A spokesman for the MoD police said: 'We can confirm that an investigation is being conducted by MoD police, with the support of Gloucestershire Police into the apparent theft of three USB portable hard disk drives. In view of the ongoing nature of police inquiries, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.'"

Portable - when will people learn? Stop storing personal data on portable devices!. For goodness sake - its not rocket science.

BBC NEWS | England | Gloucestershire | Personnel records stolen from MoD

Large discounts by home sellers

"BBC NEWS | Business | Large discounts by home sellers
Home sellers are being forced to accept offers on average 9% below their asking price, said the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics)."

Or put it another way: home sellers are still asking for prices 9% above what their houses are worth in the current market.

BBC NEWS | Business | Large discounts by home sellers

The philosophy of a cyborg - Pt.1

Watching my Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles DVDs this afternoon, it occurred to me that when we write a cyborg character into our science fiction, we often give it a desire to become Human, or "more human". Why is that? Is it supreme arrogance? Do humans consider themselves so close to perfection that something we created would automatically desire to become a reflection of its creator?

In the first Terminator movie, the Arnold Schwarzenegger character wishes to mirror human characteristics in order to better fit in to its environment, to better achieve its aim of wiping out the Connors. So this is an exception.

In Red Dwarf, as soon as it breaks its core programming (with the help of Lister), the robot Kryten frequently expresses a desire to become Human. In one episode, it actually achieves that aim but discovers its not all that it's cracked up to be. He believes he has "betrayed his kind" and wants to change back.

Surely an intelligence would see the flaws of its creator and therefore not wish to mimic them?

UK opposes green aviation target

"BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | UK opposes green aviation target
The UK government is lobbying for aviation to be excluded from an EU target to increase renewable energy. Documents passed to BBC News reveal that Whitehall wants the industry exempted from a general target of 20% renewable energy by 2020."

Here we have New Labour protecting the airline industry again.

"The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) says it is pointless holding aviation to a legally binding target if there is so much uncertainty over biofuels for planes"

Well, they do have a point here - its apparent that in some instances, the production of biofuels has had a decidedly negative impact on the environment. But that's no reason why curbs on emissions from the airline industry as a whole shouldn't be in place.

"A BERR spokesman said the rules demanding a percentage of renewables on new and refurbished homes were too prescriptive. It should be up to member states to decide on their own strategies for homes, so long as they stayed within the overall target, he added."

Given the current Government's desire to concrete over the entire South East of England with houses, I think this just as serious. It completely trashes their "eco town" ideas.

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | UK opposes green aviation target

BBC NEWS | Hundreds at mass 'eco-town' demo

Technorati Tags: environment, energy, airline industry, BERR, green, pollution

Kelly attacks Thames airport plan

"BBC NEWS | Politics | Kelly attacks Thames airport plan
London mayor Boris Johnson's idea of building a new airport on the Thames estuary is 'irresponsible', Ruth Kelly has told the Labour conference.

The transport secretary said the idea, aimed at easing congestion at Heathrow, was also 'opportunistic' and would prove 'environmentally disastrous'. Ministers are set to decide on a third runway at Heathrow later this year."

Unless the Government drops its plans for Heathrow, I don't see how anyone in their ranks can make comments like "environmentally disastrous".

BBC NEWS | Politics | Kelly attacks Thames airport planTechnorati Tags: politics, green, environment, airport, expansion

Freeserve and ten years of boom and bust

"BBC NEWS | dot.life | A blog about technology from BBC News | Freeserve and ten years of boom and bust
In Bradford today the National Media Museum is holding a little party to celebrate the tenth birthday of an Internet Service Provider. Why is that interesting? Well this particular ISP can lay claim to have brought the web to the mass market in Britain. What's more, in its rapid rise to fame and then back to obscurity, you can read much of the history of boom, bust and technological change in Britain."

Freeserve were my first ISP - via a 28k modem. My first domains were bought from and hosted by them too.

BBC NEWS | dot.life | A blog about technology from BBC News | Freeserve and ten years of boom and bust

Record one-day jump in oil price

"BBC NEWS | Business | Record one-day jump in oil price
The price of oil has jumped by more than $16 to $120.92 a barrel, the biggest one-day gain on record."

So much for petrol prices going down. You just knew, didn't you, that the oil industry wouldn't tolerate any significant reductions.

BBC NEWS | Business | Record one-day jump in oil price