Patrick's received comments

  • Interestingly for the last 3 years I have left my wireless internet purposely unencrypted, meaning that anyone in range could use my connection. Friends, family, neighbours have all enjoyed this freedom, one example of why i do this a few week back my neighbours router went down and he had to finish and send off a report, so he was able to log in to my connection and get his work done, he even popped over to say thank you and gave me a bottle of wine! ( i think it was an important bit of work!).

    But when i first read about this bill, I have to say I felt I had little choice but to encrypt. This bill, as it stands is terrible, I understand the reasoning behind it – but come on there must be a better solution that this!

    Posted on 3rd March 2010 in response to To the digital barricades

  • The latest amendment going through the Lords to the Digital Bill will see websites who offer infringing copy shutdown/taken offline/banned etc. Which would include sites like Youtube. Read Wired article here: http://is.gd/a7qqZ

    Other countries which ban websites and users on the sort of scale being planned that spring to mind are China and Iran. Although lets not forget Sweden, Italy and Holland banning Piratebay.

    At the end of this month, I’m off to a UKTI forum which will endeavour to advise the goverment on what digital startups and SMEs need to trade and compete internationally.

    Compete internationally with other SMEs. Will this Bill help my business?

    I can’t help but feel that a more supportive and tolerant, digital market at home might help. Or perversely, will this become a reason for leaving these shores completely, to trade elsewhere…

    Posted on 11th March 2010 in response to To the digital barricades

  • More on the Beeb just now ahead of the commons debate later today:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8603285.stm

    Posted on 6th April 2010 in response to To the digital barricades

  • This story got me thinking about apathy, especially British apathy. As a nation we like to grumble a little moan makes us feel better, but then every now and then someone goes just a little too far, and we erupt, we stand up and start shouting and pointing until the rage has dispersed and we are left feeling a little exposed and self conscious.

    It seems to me that generally it is the final straw that drives us over the edge, the focus of our rage is what ever is in front of us, the man who threw is cigarette butt on the floor rather than in the bin that was 3 feet away, the girl with the loud headphones on the tube. But these things by themselves are not enough to make us react, they are the culmination of events.

    Anger can not be time boxed, we don’t schedule a rant for a specific time, however we will support another mans anger provided it is just. We will back up the old man that confronts the teenager that litters, or we will beep in support of a protest that we believe in.

    I wonder as “charity people” do we need to get angry? To show our emotion, it seems that if we want to gain advocates and supports we need to be the one standing, shouting and pointing – not just providing the tools to allow other to do so.

    Posted on 23rd July 2010 in response to The SAS wouldn’t put up with this….

  • What a great read – even if it was only a dream (was it?), it makes for an inspirational story on how tech can aid our political power as consumers (or in this case, travellers), and above all, get stuff done,

    Nice write up. I’ll definitely be sharing this.

    Posted on 27th August 2010 in response to The SAS wouldn’t put up with this….