Just read through the comic that announced Google Chrome. Comic? Google Chrome? Google Chrome is the name of the long rumoured browser that Google has been developing. The comic was sent out via mail today and describes the main features of the browser really well. Seeing as I’m hacking web based app’s more and more, Chrome seems to be ideal. In fact if it had bookmark syncing I’d give it a serious trial instead of Firefox. But then again, it’s not out yet and for all I know it could be rubbish. Doubt it though - could be another step forward for browsers, our most used app. *Update - official announcement on the Google Blog and admission that info leaked early. Beta available tomorrow. For Windows only initially, Mac and Linux to come.
So…data. Often the biggest problem in putting together mashup’s and web app’s is finding good reliable data sources. I’d posted before on where to find data sources and the good news is there is some movement in the UK. From the rather excellent Katy Lindemann is a post on freeing our data and how Show Us a Better Way is fronting a government initiative to free up data, mashup the data and has already made gigabytes of data available. The site also links to many web data sources, many that I hadn’t seen before. Time to get the thinking cap back on…and maybe download the iPhone dev kit again.
So the government has just lost the personal details for 25 million UK citizens who are claiming child benefit. Unbelievable.
“The missing information contains details of all Child Benefit recipients: records for 25 million individuals and 7.25 million families. “
That quote was from Alistair Darling and it’s the first time I’ve heard gasps from the House of Commons. Grand theatre or genuine shock it matters not - this was an amazing statement to be making from a government who are hell bent on forcing through an ID card system that is costly, hard to justify and one wonders just how secure it will be. Type of data missing…only:
- National insurance number
- Name, address and birth date
- Partner’s details
- Names, sex and age of children
- Bank/savings account details
Enough to rip off your identity, have a good old stab at you security details on many online accounts and websites and generally ruin a lot of peoples life’s if the details fall into the wrong hands. Biggest shock of all is that this data was sent via TNT on a couple of password protected disks. What?!? It was sent on the 18th of October but senior management didn’t know it was missing until November 8th and the Chancellor on November 10th. Why has it taken so long for this to become public? That is an absolute disgrace.
It’s for the delay and also the Northern Rock fiasco which could cost taxpayers a lot of money that Darling really should step down. He’s a lame duck chancellor and he looks defeated every time he speaks in parliament now. In some ways it’s a shame as I thought he was fairly competent but not now. In fact when I hear his name I just think Blackadder.
Darling: Good luck, Blackadder.
Blackadder: Why, thank you, Darling. And what’s your big job here today? Straightening chairs?
The inquiry has its own website. For those interested all the material from the inquiry is online so that we can make our own informed opinion for a change. I don’t know if other inquiries are as open but it seems refreshing if all rather distasteful and tragically avoidable.
Gordon Jackson is the MSP for Govan and also a QC. It was revealed today that he earned £163k via legal aid last year - more can be read here. This is on top of his �50k he earns as an MSP. I really cannot understand how he can be committed to both jobs, or give enough time to his local constituents. It is no wonder the majority of the public have been turned off by the Scottish parliament when you have part time MSP’s earning million dollar salaries.
Its time to allow only full time MP’s and MSP’s. They should not be allowed to hold other roles, especially considering the salaries they pull in and they also should be banned from sitting on the boards of companies - surely that is compromising their position as an MP?
