Data and Privacy

The front page of today's The Independent had the roaring headline "Storm over Big Brother database, although Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, has just been on the radio saying "it is not a database of calls, emails..."

The BBC has more information.

Given the UK government's - and their contractor - rather clumsy habit of losing data with frightening frequency , this is very worrying.

Coupled with the continuing Government pressure for ID cards, I can imagine every conman and fraud rushing to find jobs in the Civil Service.

Data and Privacy

The front page of today's The Independent had the roaring headline "Storm over Big Brother database, although Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, has just been on the radio saying "it is not a database of calls, emails..."

The BBC has more information.

Given the UK government's - and their contractor - rather clumsy habit of losing data with frightening frequency , this is very worrying.

Coupled with the continuing Government pressure for ID cards, I can imagine every conman and fraud rushing to find jobs in the Civil Service.

Sing Whilst You're Swimming

My local swimming baths, Glenogle – named after one of my favourite highland glens, the narrow pass between Loch Earn and Glen Dochart - is closing down for a refurbishment.

There are rumours that it is closing down, period; but the public body that runs the pools is adamant that after eighteen months of work, they will re-open.

I hope so: it is only a short walk from my flat (though God knows where I might be in eighteen months’ time!), and for the last three months I have been trying to go there three times a week. (Being out of town a lot in the last four weeks has made that a little difficult, of course!)

Today was my last visit to the pool, at least until 2010.

It is a fine Victorian building: light, airy, and rather unbusy. (Hence my suspicion it might not re-open…)

Photo from Lesley Hind’s blog

There are several old men – older than me, at least – who always seem to be there, including one called Jimmy, who often sings whilst he is in the pool; indeed, he sings out of the pool, too; perhaps he sings all the time.

Today, as he swam, he was singing…

We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again, some sunny day.
Keep smiling through, just like you always do,
'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

So will you please say hello to the folks that I know,
Tell them I won't be long.
They'll be happy to know that as you saw me go,
I was singing this song.

It seemed kind of appropriate, and made me smile, and made me sad, as I ploughed up and down in the water.

Sing Whilst You're Swimming

My local swimming baths, Glenogle – named after one of my favourite highland glens, the narrow pass between Loch Earn and Glen Dochart - is closing down for a refurbishment.

There are rumours that it is closing down, period; but the public body that runs the pools is adamant that after eighteen months of work, they will re-open.

I hope so: it is only a short walk from my flat (though God knows where I might be in eighteen months’ time!), and for the last three months I have been trying to go there three times a week. (Being out of town a lot in the last four weeks has made that a little difficult, of course!)

Today was my last visit to the pool, at least until 2010.

It is a fine Victorian building: light, airy, and rather unbusy. (Hence my suspicion it might not re-open…)

Photo from Lesley Hind’s blog

There are several old men – older than me, at least – who always seem to be there, including one called Jimmy, who often sings whilst he is in the pool; indeed, he sings out of the pool, too; perhaps he sings all the time.

Today, as he swam, he was singing…

We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again, some sunny day.
Keep smiling through, just like you always do,
'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

So will you please say hello to the folks that I know,
Tell them I won't be long.
They'll be happy to know that as you saw me go,
I was singing this song.

It seemed kind of appropriate, and made me smile, and made me sad, as I ploughed up and down in the water.

Academic Snobbery

I was talking to my friend A. last week, and she mentioned that she was now attached to All Souls College, rather than Catz, where she used to be based.

Catz is a comparatively new institution, founded in 1962; All Souls is over five hundred years older, and occupies an esteemed position in British academia.

When A. told me this, I couldn’t help thinking, and saying, “You know, this may sound snobby, but being a fellow of All Souls sounds a lot better than being a fellow of Catz.”

And she replied, “That’s because it is!”

It was only afterwards that I realised I wasn’t sure if she meant All Souls or my snobbery.

And two other thoughts: if the fellows of All Souls are so smart, how come they forgot to use an apostrophe?

And whilst Catz may not be as good, it did seem appropriate for A.: her cat has had another litter of kittens, and she seemed surrounded by the animals!

Academic Snobbery

I was talking to my friend A. last week, and she mentioned that she was now attached to All Souls College, rather than Catz, where she used to be based.

Catz is a comparatively new institution, founded in 1962; All Souls is over five hundred years older, and occupies an esteemed position in British academia.

When A. told me this, I couldn’t help thinking, and saying, “You know, this may sound snobby, but being a fellow of All Souls sounds a lot better than being a fellow of Catz.”

And she replied, “That’s because it is!”

It was only afterwards that I realised I wasn’t sure if she meant All Souls or my snobbery.

And two other thoughts: if the fellows of All Souls are so smart, how come they forgot to use an apostrophe?

And whilst Catz may not be as good, it did seem appropriate for A.: her cat has had another litter of kittens, and she seemed surrounded by the animals!

The Funeral

My mother’s funeral was more than a week ago; there were lots of things I wanted to say about it, but I am not sure if I can remember them all. It might still be too soon.
( Read more... )

The Funeral

My mother’s funeral was more than a week ago; there were lots of things I wanted to say about it, but I am not sure if I can remember them all. It might still be too soon.
( Read more... )