So overnight I was planning another entry that would explain further why I don’t think that “tequila slammer girls” are appropriate entertainment for a professional software conference. But this morning I read this and this. Pointing out the offence in what Russ Michaels is doing is one thing, but submitting his web server to denial… Continue reading Sexism in IT
Tag: politics
Indy Front Page
The Independent front page today is wonderful. In fact I really can’t explain why I still bought the Guardian. Old habits die hard I suppose. The related story is online here until the paywall drops in a few days.
The United States of Total Paranoia
You need a permit to do everything in America. You even need a passport to buy a drink. But interestingly you don’t need one if you wish to rent some guns and some bullets. I needed a 50 cal (very big) machinegun. “No problem,” said the man at the shop. “But could you just sign… Continue reading The United States of Total Paranoia
MPs in Digital Downloads Warning
The All Party Internet Group of MPs has been looking at DRM and has now announced it’s results. Their main recommendation is that all digital content should be clearly labelled with details of what you can and can’t do with it. I think this is a great idea. Record companies have been slowly introducing DRM… Continue reading MPs in Digital Downloads Warning
Who Remembers The Big Conversation?
One of the important roles of the media (and one that unfortunately often gets forgotten) is to act as a public memory bank and to remind us of things that politicians would rather we forget. It’s a role that Marina Hyde takes on with much relish in today’s Guardian when she writes about the legacy… Continue reading Who Remembers The Big Conversation?
Linux: A European Threat to Our Computers
The scary thing[1] about the Religious Right is the fact that they are so completely mad that it’s impossible to tell their real beliefs from parodies of them. Take this for example. I honestly can’t tell it it’s real or if it’s a really well-done pisstake. Like most things that are worth owning, Computers are… Continue reading Linux: A European Threat to Our Computers
V For Vendetta
So I should write something about V For Vendetta, if only to say how much I disagree with Peter Bradshaw’s review. The graphic novel that the film is based on is one of my favourites, so I’m probably a bit biased and you should bear that in mind when reading my comments. Having said that,… Continue reading V For Vendetta
Tony Blair – Protector of Liberties
According to Tony Blair writing in yesterday’s Observer he doesn’t destroy liberties, he protects them. The whole article is riddled with half-truths and reinterpretations of history. Luckily enough Blairwatch have produced a point by point deconstruction of what Blair wrote.
BBC Four
The always excellent BBC Four has been excelling itself over the last couple of weeks. First there was the Folk Britannia season which looks at the history of British folk music since the 1950s. Then there was Lefties – a series of three programmes about people involved in left wing politics in the 70s and… Continue reading BBC Four
Disappointing MP
I’m very disappointed in my MP this morning. Not only did he support the government in all of the ID card votes last night, but he also spoke at some length in favour of the scheme. In fact he spoke for longer than I have ever heard him speak in Parliament. His speeches are here,… Continue reading Disappointing MP