Happy New Year

Well, 2010 has to be better than 2009 in oh so many ways as far as I am concerned. TO say this last year has been tough is like saying one of my favourite things is to sit down with a good book and some nice music in the background - an understatement if ever there was one.

On a professional and personal level, I let a lot of things slip, and I am sorry that happened. I need to work now to ensure that I make up for my mistakes - and I guess this blog is going to play a part in that. So, if I post here and I sound depressed or down, it's because I am and I need to sound off somewhere. This is probably as good a place as any.

So, some random thoughts...



The incident in Detroit with the attempt to blow up a plane on Christmas Day should teach is an important lesson. Well, several actually, but here's the big one - no system, however watertight it seems, can cope with the human factor, and in particular our inborn ability to screw up big time.

When I first started working with computers back in the early Eighties (and how scary a thought it is that was nearly thirty years ago is not a factor here) one fact was drummed into my head. When it comes to computers, remember GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out. If a mistake is made and it is not caught, then don't blame the messenger when things go wrong. The other appropriate analogy here is from one of my favourite fictional characters, George Montgomery Scott - "The more complex the system, the easier it is to throw a spanner in the works."

It was human error that led to that bomber boarding the plane, and no matter how sophisticated the security screening errors will happen.

By the bye - Gordon Brown announced on the Radio here on Sunday full body X-ray scanners would be introduced at all UK airports. There's a report today that migth already be an issue with pornography laws in the UK - I'll let you read about that here.




Talking of Gordie - we are now officially in a protracted Phony War prior to the expected election. Under the parliamentary system in the UK, the latest that election can be held is technically June 7th (I think) but more likely Thursday June 3rd. Brown has already made it clear he will not call an early election, which suggests May as the best time. So we now have five months of Brown declaring the Conservatives are creating a two-tier society with their plans, and David Cameron declaring the Labour party have ruined the UK.

Oh Goodie.

Want to know why so many people in the UK despair of politics? It's simple - they're fed up with the name calling and arguments which ignore their needs. I won;t ignore the issues that arise, but I have to confess now neither party interest me - but under our system of "First past the Post" for each area and whoever gets most seats wins the election, we really have very little choice.

It's going to be long, occasionally boring, but potentially interesting.



It's cold here in London - but at least we don't have snow.

Yet.

What amazes me is, because such weather as we are having is "rare", nobody has the foresight to say "Spend some money now just in case". TO me, it's a no-brainer. But then, I'm not a politician.

Is that a good or a bad thing? You decide...