Woman Dreams of Bomb ...

... so hundreds of people are evacuated from a North Sea Oil Platform. The woman, guilty of dreaming about a bomb, has been flown to Aberdeen Police Station for questioning. Apparently her dream caused the biggest security incident ever in the North Sea.

The full story from the Guardian can be found here.

If, as a nation, we continue with these over-reactions then we give the terrorists what they want. If their goal is to cause disruption and chaos within Western society - then they are winning, or have already won.

"The cruelest lies are often told in silence." - Robert Louis Stevenson

Online Tax Returns ... Too Risky ?

From October anybody in the UK wishing to file a Self Assessment Tax Return will have to do so online, otherwise they risk ‘severe financial penalties’.

Unless you are rich or famous.

In which case the system is not secure enough and you will be treated differently.

Are we not all entitled to the same level of protection and security regardless of our wealth or fame ?

For the full story see the Daily Telegraph

This kind of thing *really* annoys me ...

"The only difference between a rut and a grave... is in their dimensions." - Ellen Glasglow

Would You Trust ...

Would you trust the UK Government to run a National ID Card Database ?

The recent loss of a disk containing 25 Million Child Benefit details is incredible. Not only did they lose the disk but they neglected to encrypt the information on it. It is quite possible to, very simply and cheaply, encrypt information in such a way that would make that disk worthless to anyone who gained access to it.

Instead, Bank Account details, Dates of Birth, National Insurance Numbers for millions of people are out in the wild. This should *never* happen. Ever. There is absolutely, categorically no excuse for this.

Pathetic.

"The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed." - Gordon Parks

Applying for an EHIC

The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is a replacement for the old E111. It allows you to receive medical cover, free of charge when traveling abroad in most parts of Europe, similar to what you are likely to receive in the UK. Applying for the EHIC is easy - but can be expensive.

A web search for EHIC gives a website which gives you a telephone number (0871 050 0508), and advises you that this will cost 10p a minute. This telephone number gives you a second telephone number (0906 120 2345) which costs £1.50 per minute ....

After £12 worth of phone call you are finally given a web address where you can apply - WWW.EHIC.ORG.UK. £12 to be told that ... the card may be free but when it costs £12 to find out how to apply ...

The website takes all of two minutes to complete, your name, address, date of birth and national insurance number is all that is required. Your card should then be received in 7 working days.

So, save yourself the expense and hassle and go straight to www.ehic.org.uk. You know it makes sense ☺

"Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends." - Czech Proverb

Computer Crime, UK Laws

Here in the UK computer crime is covered by The Computer Misuse Act of 1990. You can read the details here.

As of November 2006 an update to this law has been passed that makes it illegal to launch a DOS (Denial of Service) attack within the UK. Details of the update can be found here.

Further interesting details on UK Computer Law can be found by following this link.

The Data Protection Act of 1998 and the Regulation of Investigative Powers Act 2000 may also be of interest.

"It is not giving children more that spoils them; it is giving them more to avoid confrontation." - John Gray

Thought of the Day ...

We know exactly where any untaxed car is located amongst the millions of cars in Britain ... Be we have not got a clue as to where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located.

Maybe we should put the DVLA in charge of immigration ...


Barney: Hello, my name is Barney Gumble, and I’m an alcoholic.
Lisa: Mr Gumble, this is a girl scouts meeting.
Barney: Is it, or is it you girls can’t admit that you have a problem?