Yet Another Information Blunder
September 30, 2008
Random Storm security expert has bought access to a council’s internal network off Ebay for 99p. It was only when he switched on the device that he found it automatically connected to the Kirklees Council internal network in West Yorkshire.
The 99p investment bought by Mr. Mason was a VPN server that gives remote access to a network. Kirklees Council have said that this is ‘concerning’ but that their data had not been compromised. Under the circumstances they have been very lucky as this device in the wrong hands could have caused a lot of damage and much private data could have been taken.
There are clear guidelines on how to reset and dispose of council hardware though clearly this time the device went unnoticed. If it fell into the hands of hackers the whole Council system in that area could have been brought down.
Where knowledge is power and information is everything, the powers that be should really get a grip on the security situation as they do in fact hold lots of power. Most council’s are incompetent, time wasters and jobsworths at the best of times, but unfortunately they do have a lot of power and hold lots of information about us. They really need to get a grip of the situation!
Banker Attacked In Norwich
September 30, 2008
A top banking executive has died after head wounds from trying to break up a street fight. The 45 year old, Frank McGarahan a top banking executive for Barclays Wealth intervened a fight in Norwich on Sunday morning.
Mr McGarahan had attended a family christening before a “quiet evening out” Norfolk Police said. He later died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge due to his injuries.
A spokesman for Norfolk Police said:
“The investigation into the incident continues and officers are reviewing closed circuit television footage from around the city centre area and following up a number of lines of inquiry,”
Mr McGarahan held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Barclays Wealth, employing 7,700 employees in 20 countries and he managed assets worth £133 billion.
Norfolk Police have said:
“We are very keen to hear from anyone who may have seen something or has any information.”
More Economic Trouble
September 30, 2008
Here in the UK; Brown, King and Darling have said they will:
“take whatever action is necessary to ensure the continued stability of the system.”
The American House of Representatives has voted against a $700 billion financial bailout. Gordon Brown has said that this news is very disappointing as the collapse of the US economy will impact on the UK’s. The failure of the plan that was to help the financial industry has pushed global markets significantly downwards.
On Monday this week the government nationalised Bradford & Bingley, which is now the second UK bank to be put under public ownership throughout the deepening financial crisis.
After the announcement regarding the bail out, the Stock Market fell by $3 Trillion, the biggest drop in four years.
It is not yet clear how the powers that be will sort the situation but a solution is needed to stabilise the global economy. The financial future is looking very grey indeed.
No Time To Clean!
September 23, 2008
It appears to have become some kind of trend that people no longer clean their houses. In saying that I do not mean that people wallow in their own filth, just that they now employ people to do this for them.
To make matters worse, instead of doing cleaning people now watch programs on it instead. How Clean Is Your House was a big hit on Channel 4, though in all honesty, I though it the most grotesque program ever.
House cleaning in London is big business. Yell.com alone lists 120 businesses in the area. It is official; we live in a fast paced country; with no time to look after our homes, having to invite strangers in to deal with our mess. It is not even a luxury, but a necessity in the city. Gone are the days of the wife staying at home and keeping the house… now we working women have to do it all. How on earth I am to keep house, work and then bare and rear children is beyond me?! They say it will come to you when the time comes but I honestly just can’t see it! I know (or at least hope) that I will have a cleaner at some point in the future, so I should really get off my high horse.
With less time to spend with family and friends, the work/life culture (swaying heavily to the work side of things) is what we now are used to in Britain… The Rat Race! I want to live on the continent, with a shorter working week and a brilliant concept called ‘siestas’, it is definitely the way forward! The British always moan about other Europeans, but let’s face it, we’re all completely jealous!
Hard Times
September 19, 2008
Times are hard and everybody is feeling the pinch. It seems that we cannot turn on the television or radio without hearing about companies in decline, jobs being cut and people having to curb their spending. 
I think by reflecting on my social circle I can see the affect that the credit crunch has had. This time last year my friends and I would go out every weekend; shopping and partying. Now, nobody is going out to bars and restaurants, even on payday the bars are not full. It was not long ago that there were queues to get into many bars.
It seems that our habits are changing and spending behaviour in general has taken a ‘u’ turn. A recent social with my friends included a night at Mecca Bingo. It was cheap and cheery, and frankly a good night out. This really is not something that I would have thought I would have found myself doing. In all fairness, it wasn’t too minging either. Since the smoking ban, the air in the hall was bearable. Granted, everything was a little bit brown from smoking years past. But I got involved and overall it was fun.
When the smoking ban came in Bingo halls lost 50% of their custom. This is now beginning to turn around, with people tightening their purse strings, many low cost businesses are flourishing amongst the economic turmoil. The likes of Aldi are seeing their profits soar, while Marks and Spenser continue to plummet.
I think we will see far more of this behaviour over the next year or two. However, it leaves me and many others wondering; how long the recession will last and how hard things will get until we finally get through the other side?!
Over-Populated England
September 16, 2008
England is now the second most densely populated country in Europe reports today have said. The Office for National Statistics released figures today that indicate there’s an average of 395 people for every square kilometre in England. This is an increase of 5 for each square kilometre over the last two years. The figure is expected to rise to 464 people for the same area by 2031. 
There is now increasing concern that this growth is not sustainable. With much recent immigration from Eastern Europe concentrated in the South. Last week, Conservative MP Nicholas Soames and Labour MP Frank Field called for a “balanced” approach to immigration, so the numbers entering the country are equal to those leaving.
Chairman of Migration Watch UK, Sir Andrew Green agreed, suggesting;
“These figures are a milestone and a wakeup call. We simply can’t go on as we are. The government’s own forecasts show that England alone will add nearly 10 million to its population in the next 25 years and 70% of that is down to immigration. That’s the equivalent to seven times the city of Birmingham in the next quarter of a century. Clearly that’s not acceptable.”
Some have said that the level of immigration is likely to drop as the UK economy continues to weaken and unemployment levels rise. The government are to introduce a “points based” migration system Read the rest of this entry »
Another US Bank Hit By Credit Crunch!
September 15, 2008
In the news today, American investment bank Lehman Brothers has filed for bankruptcy protection. The fourth largest investment bank has made the announcement amid their growing financial crisis.
The bank has incurred billions of dollars in losses in the American mortgage market. This news will deliver a further blow to the global financial system as many other banks are involved with Lehman business.
It is unlikely that Lehman will receive help from the US Federal Reserve like Bear Stearns had been seen. This is because Lehman is an investment bank rather than a consumer institution with people owning checking accounts.
European and Asian stock markets have seen a sharp drop and the euro has grown in strength against the dollar. The fall of yet another financial institution has increased fears over the strength of the global financial system.
Both Barclays and the Bank of America were in talks to rescue the Lehman bank. Though, since both institutions pulled out over the weekend, Lehman Bros is looking even more likely to collapse.
Lehman Brothers employ around 25,000 staff around the world, including 5,000 in Britain. The file for bankruptcy protection will give the company time to reorganise and devise how they will pay off creditors.
This is now three of the top five American investment banks that have been struck hard by the credit crunch. It is not only financial institutions that are feeling the strain, AIG; the largest global insurer also has problems mounting. With exposure to the property market crisis, AIG have asked for 40 billion dollars from the US Federal Reserve to stay afloat.
So, it is not only the UK that is struggling financially. America was first hit by the credit crunch and it appears that the UK is following their trend. Our government keep trying to instil an opinion within voters that the UK economy will be OK. Looking at the market, I think that any simpleton can see that this is not the case. It looks more and more likely that the UK will sink far deeper into the financial crisis that we are currently seeing globally.
It is likely that the situation will get far worse before it gets better. I just hope that Britain is prepared for the financial turmoil on the horizon, rather than hiding in denial!
Child Killer Huntley Gets Free Nintendo Wii?!?!?!?!
September 11, 2008
Ian Huntley, child killer and all around sick animal has not only been moved to a cushy mental institute likened to Butlins. But has now been given a free Nintendo Wii, paid for by… yes us the tax payer?!?!? Not only this, but prison wardens have been ordered to play with him?! It’s not like entering a competition in the newspaper; he’s killed two children for Christ’s sake!!!
The Soham child killer was given the console after threatening to kill himself. Not only do we have to pay for his food and board for the next couple of decades (if our pitiful legal system keeps him in that long?!?!?) but also apparently we have to pay for his luxuries too!!!! I can’t afford a Nintendo Wii, yet inadvertently pay for that sick bastard to get one free?!?!?!?
As I tell you this I can feel myself getting more and more irate!!! How on earth must the poor parents of those unfortunate girls feel at hearing such atrocities??!?
At what point are we going to get a grip in Britain?!? I find it completely barmy?!?!
He’s no better than an animal! So what if he kills himself?! The cost of keeping a criminal in prison is estimated at around £25,000 per year. Yet Huntley is in the lap of luxury compared to most prisons in the UK.
I honestly wish that the complete nut bars that do not think he deserves to rot in hell would do one!!! I cannot imagine how those poor girls family must feel?!
Who is running this country? Are they devoid of all normal feelings??? Do they not understand how things should go? It’s not like I’m saying bring back the death penalty, but punishment should actually be punishment!
Noel Gallagher Attacked During Gig
September 9, 2008
In the news this week Noel Gallagher has been viciously pushed off stage during a gig in Canada. The attacker, Daniel Sullivan (47) has now been charged with assault by Toronto police.
Noel (41) was admitted to hospital after being pushed while playing his guitar on stage at the festival.
A statement has been made by the band, saying that Noel:
“Fell heavily on to his monitor speakers”
After visiting the hospital, sources said that he had sustained ligament damage and may have a fractured rib. Read the rest of this entry »
London Stock Exchange Suspended
September 8, 2008
Trading was suspended this week after a technical problem prevented the trading system operating at The London Stock Exchange. 
The problem was “connectivity issues” a spokesman said, so traders were not able to connect to the LSE trading platform. Though the problem is being rectified as quickly as possible, no share trading has been done today with no orders at all.
The American based Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) was also halted temporarily on Monday.
Though both markets were suspended, connectivity was resumed again after a few hours in both cases.
However, the LSE market is still not fully functioning, trades can be entered and deleted, but no trades can actually be implemented. This has meant because no trades have been finalised the trade prices are not accurate.
Continuous trading is where the buy and sell orders match on the system and this automatically executes the trades. It won’t be until the system is fully up and running that prices will be restored.