Phones and email tapped 1,381 times a day

"Phones and email tapped 1,381 times a day | UK news | guardian.co.uk
Police and other officials tapped phone calls and emails an average of 1,381 times a day last year, according to a report released today by the interception of communications commissioner, Sir Paul Kennedy.

A total of 504,073 surveillance requests to phone and internet companies were made in 2008, the equivalent of one in 78 adults being targeted. The figure was slightly lower than in 2007, but 60% higher than in 2006, the year covered by Kennedy's first report."

I particularly like this quote:
"'The government forgets that George Orwell's [novel] 1984 was a warning and not a blueprint. We are still a long way from living under the Stasi but it beggars belief that it is necessary to spy on one in every 78 adults.'"

Phones and email tapped 1,381 times a day | UK news | guardian.co.uk

ERA2: with Students near Howick

Students near Howick,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

Our one and only day with real SXR369 students, at the two bays near Howick. Slight variation from the setup we had tested earlier in the week, but essentially the same: cabled link from switch to omni for one site, then a long panel-to-panel hop to the omni for the second. Nearly everything worked to plan, although only half of the students opted to make use of the system.

ERA2: Collingwood College again

ERA2 SXR339 geology field trip,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

Another day of testing, due to the need to demonstrate the setup to the two geologists who would be tutoring the Additional Requirements students tomorrow. Set up the two 17" monitors for the first time, but still problems being able to see the screens in sunlight, so Trevor and Mark went into Durham to buy a small tent and two picnic tables.

ERA2: Whitby

Base of operations,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

A very much tide-dependant site for the students since everything they need to look at is either covered or inaccessible at high tide. Due to the timing, we had to start work after the morning low tide, with the tide coming in, which was a bit worrying and eventually forced us to pack up and scarper. Re-visited the location in the afternoon for some different tests. Weather with a mix of light rain in the morning and hot sun - and thousands of thunder flies - in the afternoon.

ERA2: Scremerston

BGAN,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

Extensive testing at the most northern site that the students visit - Scremerston, just south of Berwick Upon Tweed, which is less than 70 miles from Edinburgh. Ran two very long cables, via the switch, from the BGAN down to the beach. Added extra wireless hops to create the longest link we'd ever done - started to have problems hearing end-to-end with the PMR walkie-talkies. Equipment mostly worked very well.

ERA2: testing at Collingwood College

We stayed at Collingwood College today to do some testing of VoIP and bandwidth uing iPerf. Also tried some backhaul tests with both 3G and the BGAN terminal. Managed to FTP files up to the off-site server. Lewis could see into our machine via the 3 (Three) dongle but not via Vodafone or BGAN.

ERA2: Cullernose Point

near Seaton Sluice,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

More examination of possible sites for future visits, accompanied by a proper geologist. Tried a single omni aerial on the beach on a cable from the switch at the top of the cliff, but couldn't get a proper signal to the Asus. Two locations actually used by students this year: Rumbling Kern and Howick Haven. Tested wireless link to extremes - geologist and laptop moving around rocky outcrops out of site of the omni, yet video and VoIP still working.

ERA2: Seaton Sluice &Hartley Bay

Seaton Sluice,
originally uploaded by hockeyshooter.

First day of in-the-field recon at three possible sites, accompanied by a real geologist, at Seaton Sluice and Hartley Bay. Two very handy pubs nearby!

MoD seeks to cut soldiers' payout

"BBC NEWS | UK | MoD seeks to cut soldiers' payout
The Ministry of Defence will go to the Court of Appeal later to try to significantly reduce the compensation awarded to two injured soldiers. One, who was shot in the leg in Iraq, received £46,000, while the other, injured in training, got £28,750. Both had their payouts increased due to complications, but the MoD is arguing that they should only be compensated for their "original injuries"."

I already knew the MoD was tight, but this really takes the biscuit. Wonder just how many of the tight-arses behind this decision have even been shot at, let alone injured in the line of duty? Will they even remember the names of these soldiers when they retire on fat, civil service pensions?

BBC NEWS | UK | MoD seeks to cut soldiers' payout

Ofwat calls for lower water bills

"BBC NEWS | Business | Ofwat calls for lower water bills
Proposals set out by water regulator Ofwat will see average household water bills fall between 2010 and 2015. Taking out the impact of inflation, the proposals, if accepted, would see the average water bill fall by £14 to £330."

How come Ofwat can control water prices, whereas Ofgen are completely powerless against the money-grabbing electricity and gas suppliers?

BBC NEWS | Business | Ofwat calls for lower water bills

UK has enough helicopters - Brown

"BBC NEWS | Politics | UK has enough helicopters - Brown
Gordon Brown has said the UK has enough helicopters for an offensive in Helmand - and said lives lost during the past month were not due to a shortage."

So says a guy whose probably never been shot at once in his life.

"It comes after Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch Brown rowed back on comments in a newspaper interview that the UK did not have enough helicopters. The PM said the minister had 'corrected any misrepresentation' of his comments."

In other words, he's been told to retract his statement since it contradicts the aforementioned tight-arse.

But its not just helicopters they're short of.

BBC NEWS | Politics | UK has enough helicopters - Brown

Remembering the moon landing 40 years on

"Remembering the moon landing 40 years on - The Daily Record
However, the Americans' progress was dwarfed by the Soviet's Sputnik in 1961, when Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space."

Er, check your facts guys. Sputnik was a series of robotic space craft - none were manned. On 4th October 1957, Sputnik 1 because the first human-made object to orbit the Earth. Gagarin's flight didn't happen until 1961, the first flight of the Vostok programme.

Remembering the moon landing 40 years on - The Daily Record

MPs launch probe of massive net snooping project

"Unrealistic, disproportionate and misleading, experts say
MPs and Lords will launch an investigation into the Home Office's £2bn plan to store details of every online communication, after a critical report by the London School of Economics branded it unrealistic, disproportionate and misleading.
IMP would be unmatched in the world as a communications surveillance mechanism."

MPs launch probe of massive net snooping project • The Register

Pothole go-slow to 'calm traffic'

"BBC NEWS | England | Essex | Pothole go-slow to 'calm traffic'
An Essex parish council wants potholes to be left unfilled for longer to act as a "natural traffic calming" measure. Navestock parish councillors claim repairing potholes is costly and allows motorists to drive faster."

You can bet the dipstick that came up with this has never ridden a motorbike.

BBC NEWS | England | Essex | Pothole go-slow to 'calm traffic'

Police arrest 114 in(?) 'power demo'

"BBC NEWS | England | Nottinghamshire | Police arrest 114 in 'power demo'
More than 100 people have been arrested in Nottingham over a suspected plan to target a power station. Police said 114 men and women were arrested in Sneinton Dale on suspicion of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass and criminal damage. Officers said they believed those arrested were planning to protest at nearby Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station."

One step closer to the Police State - people denied the right to protest.

BBC NEWS | England | Nottinghamshire | Police arrest 114 in 'power demo'

PM heralds 'green economy' Budget

"BBC NEWS | Politics | PM heralds 'green economy' Budget
"Prime Minister Gordon Brown is promising this month's Budget will plot a 'green' route to economic recovery."

So says the man who is doing a great job of propping up the World's airline industry, expanding airports like Heathrow.

"Trials of electric cars, a roadside network of vehicle-charging points and incentives for environmentally-friendly carmakers are among planned measures."

And where's the electricity coming from? Gas, oil and coal-fired power stations, of course. There's no such thing as an environmentally-friendly car.

"He said that moving the UK to a low-carbon economy would create 400,000 new jobs over the next eight years."

Where the hell did that figure come from - sounds like he just plucked it out of the air.

"Green economy budget" - this is just going to be another excuse to increase taxes.

BBC NEWS | Politics | PM heralds 'green economy' Budget

PM curbs top public servants' pay

"BBC NEWS | Politics | PM curbs top public servants' pay
Senior civil servants, top NHS managers and judges will get a lower than recommended pay rise of 1.5% next year, Gordon Brown has announced. Senior public sector staff should lead by showing 'restraint', Mr Brown told MPs, who will get a pay rise of 2.33%"

Nice ironic reporting by the BBC, there.

BBC NEWS | Politics | PM curbs top public servants' pay

Call to scrap 'illegal databases'

"BBC NEWS | UK | Call to scrap 'illegal databases'
A quarter of all government databases are illegal and should be scrapped or redesigned, according to a report. The government spends £16bn a year on databases and plans to spend a further £105bn on projects over five years..."

Telling those of us who are concerned about the creeping intrusion of this Government what we already know, I guess, but perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel.

BBC NEWS | UK | Call to scrap 'illegal databases'

Motoring justice?

Compare these two stories:

A motorcyclist whose bike's mudguard was held on with bootlaces has been jailed for 10 months after reaching speeds of up to 150mph in Devon. Michael Robillard's Suzuki 600 also had a loose seat as he sped along the A380 Exeter to Newton Abbot road. Robillard, 23, of Lymington Road, Torquay, admitted dangerous driving at Exeter Crown Court. He also admitted not having a licence or insurance, and failing to stop for police. He was banned from driving for two years.
BBC News | Bootlaced bike in 150mph chase

A peer who was jailed last month for 12 weeks for sending and receiving text messages while driving on the M1 has been released by the Court of Appeal [after serving 16 days]. On Christmas Day 2007, Lord Ahmed's Jaguar hit a stationary car in the outside lane of the motorway two minutes after he had sent the last of the messages. The driver of the other car, Martyn Gombar, 28, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, died in the crash. The Appeal Court suspended his sentence because of "exceptional" mitigation relating to his community work.
BBC News | Texting peer's road safety pledge

Speeding, no injuries - 10 months jail
Texting, quite possibly leading to a death - 16 days

Call that justice?

Campaigners lose Stansted battle

"BBC NEWS | England | Campaigners lose airport battle
Campaigners have lost their legal battle to block the expansion of Stansted Airport in Essex. Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and outbound flights from 241,000 to 264,000 a year."

Well now - isn't that a surprise. Once again, the environment takes a back seat as the Government ably demonstrates they're in the back pockets of the airline industry.