Why The West Should Overtly Leave Syria Alone

I was saddened to read that the only debate we now seem to be having on Syria is whether or not to bomb Assad’s regime, following the dreadful chemical attacks his regime has reported to have inflicted on his own people.

Right now we need to forget the rhetoric of war with its “lines in the sand” and “steps too far”. The West - UK and US specifically -  needs to think logically and coolly. Regrettably there are no votes in thinking it through, though there are some in being cool. It's holidays cut short, it's  Parliament recalled, it's decisions need to made with seemingly little or no time to think things through.

Some politicians seem keen to make the big bombing decision in the face of public opinion and in many cases (sadly) public indifference. In the UK 2:1 against bombing or believe Syria is of no concern to the West.

I argue that the thinking decision is to do nothing. Look at history: in the 1990s Algeria over 100,000 died in a bloody civil war as Islamist fought the Army for power , in Turkey its Islamic state was overthrown by in a peaceful coup by ‘Young Turks’ leading a secular army to create an equally secular state. Similar  - sometimes peaceful , sometimes violent - things appear to be happening in Egypt and Syria today in the overt struggle between Islamism and Secularism.

I would ask politicians to look at the legacy of Tony Blair and George Bush that  must make some of them think twice. 

If politicians believe they must become involved in Syria then I urge them to puruse a covert electronic war with Assad. The hidden, some say dirty,  war -  the one that goes unpublicised, behind closed doors – a few key strokes on a computer on one side of  world causing  problems the other side of the world.  Internet war , virus spreading and the like can be very effective  eg the Stuxnet virus used against Iran’s nuclear capability.

There are no plaudits or Nobel Peace prizes in a covert war to constrain Assad, no votes to be won. But I would argue this is the most effective solution using the  Internet, to make electronic strikes on Assad and his infrastructure.

If the US or UK do not have a hidden handle or kill switch on Assad's technology I would be surprised, after all they sold Syria a lot of it, so they know how it works, so surely, they know  how to stop it working.

I urge US and UK governments to bring together their covert internet technologists in order to contain Assad's regime – switch off their iPhones, their smartphones, their Kindles, their Blackberrys , switch off their power transformers,  restrain Assad's regime electronically.

Leave Syria alone. Let Syria work out its own destiny - secular or Islamic state - like Egypt is doing now as Algeria and Turkey did in the past, in doing so let history take its course.

Bombing Syria will not work. Bombing a country into a submission has never  worked, except for the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. The West would not do that - would it ?  

The Kindness of Strangers

Wednesday  19th December will be a day I will always remember – it was the day me and our Martha moved me Mum  into permanent care  at a specialist  dementia  care unit.

For me the day was only made possible by the support of friends and family and the kindness of strangers.

My sister and I had to make my Mum’s room as homely as possible which meant two things . First,  putting up pictures of me Dad,  her 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren -  Mum has difficulty knowing  who we all are nervertheless the pictures' presence comforts Mum so, they needed to be in her room.

The second was having  her African Grey  parrot – Jacko – in the room. Jacko was brought in 2004 as replacement for Joey the family African Grey  who had  been in the family since I can remember and sadly died in 2004.

Jacko’s move  presented a number of challenges. He needed a new, smaller  cage as Mum’s new home  was much smaller and he and his new cage needed taking to the home on the day in time for Mum’s arrival at 3pm- all this when my Sister and I only had permission for Jacko from the home on the morning of Mum’s transfer day.

I rung around the pet shops of Liverpool eventually  found a cage at Lister Drive Pets .We drove over there. Drove past it twice as it doesn’t look like any  pet stuff warehouse I know or expected – as it’s a converted public baths.  One of the two pools is still used to stock fish. Most times I would have enjoyed the building but ‘time wasn’t my friend’ as old friend of mine says.


We almost immediately found the cage we wanted. The problem was how to get it and Jacko into the room before Mum. Phil the manager at Lister Drive Pets was simply brilliant. As I explained  what  I needed  to be done and  why :

My Mum’s moving from a temporary assessment care home to a permanent home Mum needs to take her parrot with her but I need to buy a new parrot cage as the current cage is too big for Mum’s new home I need the cage to be delivered to Mum’s old home the parrot transferred to the new cage then the parrot with its new cage to be delivered to Mum’s new home .this all needs to be done now before me Mum arrives in her new home this afternoon....

There were several pauses for deep breaths and tears held back as I explained. Phil listened. Said "Give me 15 minute and I’ll do it." More tears.

Phil and his young assistant were just great they did exactly what I wanted – there and then – and all in the price of the cage no extra!

Mum’s initial reaction to the home – "It smells nice here." equally Mum's response to  her  room , her pictures and Jacko  were all positive and accepting, as we have feared the worse that Mum might reject and react to everything, but that wasn’t the case. She even managed to smile a couple of times.

All in all a very difficult day for all concerned but with a very comforting outcome, only made possible for me thru the support of friends and family and the kindness of strangers

Especially Phil and his young assistant at Lister Drive Pets they helped with such good grace and helpfulness, extraordinary  customer service and the kindness of strangers made manifest.

Respect to Microsoft

I was delighted to have received a tweeted apology from a product manager at Microsoft  in response to my blog post about  Microsoft closing my SkyDrive account,  behaving like the Parisian police did in 1917.

I also received a personal email outlining Microsoft’s policy and how they had mistakenly applied it in my case.

I had further  correspondence with the product manager  on the subject of what Microsoft calls ‘established’ works of art. In which he described the ‘delicate balance’ Microsoft needs to take in dealing with 140+ countries on exactly what is and what is not obscene content – they are ‘constantly learning’ and, in  my case they had ‘made a mistake.’

I do have some empathy as I recall when providing SMS subscription services for a UK mobile operator, in 2000.  I was castigated by the operator’s  product manager for allowing a joke to go out to several thousand subscribers which  had the word 'school' spelt as 'skool'. Corporate monoliths such as Microsoft, mobile operators and others have to maintain ‘standards’, however these standards must reflect the times, if they are not to lose touch with their users.

What’s so refreshing with my case is the speed and candor with which Microsoft handled the situation, the tweet and subsequent correspondence clearly indicate that a monolith can have a human face, so respect to Microsoft they evidently want to keep in touch with the times and their users.

BTW My SkyDrive is open now and I am using it freely. At the risk of being accused of being a sycophant it is great value: 25GB on line  plus 5GB sync making 30GB  for free.  With Google you ‘only’ have 9GB  free – I have to pay  5$/yr for my extra 20GB 

Further Google’s memory usage calculation across its services Gmail, Docs, and Picasa is complex,  Microsoft's approach is much simpler so, for me Microsoft's SkyDrive tops Google’s Docs

Microsoft (2012) , The Parisian Police (1917) and A Nude: Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

Having only just begun to enjoy the many features of Microsoft's SkyDrive has over Google Docs I was shocked, confused and latterly angry to find Microsoft  had unilaterally and without notice closed my SkyDrive account.

I was invited to re-apply to have my  SkyDrive  reactivated, which I did immediately. There followed an anxious wait for their response which came 24 hours later from  “Kyla” at Windows Live SkyDrive Customer Support.

Kyla gave me 48hours to remove all images which violate Microsoft’s SkyDrive Code of Conduct ,  Helpfully telling me:

Here’s an example of what needs to be removed :
LiveFolders/Trip2London/From the iPhone/IMG_0311.JPG

Reclining Nude, 1917, Amedeo Modigliani , Oil on canvas

On My SkyDrive as LiveFolders/Trip2London/From the iPhone/IMG_0311.JPG

My shock  turned to  confusion  as this reply was of no help at all in understanding exactly what images Kyla wanted me to remove. It was an 'example' indicating there were others that violated the Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct is so openly worded I was left to consider each and every picture of myself, partner  and friends on a Greek beach in swimming costumes –  were they partial nudity as defined in Microsoft's Code of Conduct?

You will not upload, post, transmit, transfer, distribute or facilitate distribution of any content (including text, images, sound, video, data, information or software) or otherwise use the service in a way that:

• depicts nudity of any sort including full or partial human nudity or nudity in non-human forms such as cartoons, fantasy art or manga.

Confusion moved onto anger as the image right next to Reclining Nude was Mattise’s demonic-like naked Dance :

Dance,1910, Henri Matisse, Oil On Canvas

Had Kayla missed this image ? Was this image  approved by The Code of Conduct ? I looked a little harder at the other 400 plus pictures in the same folder – friends, family, art work, net images and so on - to my surprise one image that of the Warren Cup introduced to me by Neil McGregor  as object no 36  in A History of the World in 100 Objects was also not singled out for removal - the Warren Cup depicts two pairs of male lovers in a coital like embrace.

It seems ironic what Kayla and Microsoft have done, today, in 2012 was a almost an exact repetition of what happened when Amedeo Modigliani first exhibited his now acclaimed nudes in 1917, according to  Modigliani's  Wikipedia entry

Then:

On December 3, 1917, Modigliani's first one-man exhibition opened at the Berthe Weill Gallery. The chief of the Paris police was scandalized by Modigliani's nudes and forced him to close the exhibition within a few hours after its opening.

Now,to paraphrase Wikipedia

On January 8, 2012  Modigliani's Reclining Nude, 1917 was uploaded by me to my  SkyDrive. Microsoft was scandalized by Modigliani's nude  and forced me to delete the file within 48  hours.

Microsoft’s Code of Conduct policy confuses naked with nude.  The word nude came into art critic vocabulary in the early 18th Century to differentiate artistic images of the human body from other types of images. Kenneth Clark in the opening of The Nude described the naked as ‘huddled and defenseless’ in contrast to the nude which is ‘balanced, prosperous and confident’. This consideration moved some images of the naked human body into becoming nudes - images of artistic merit and integrity - not to be confused with the exploitation that can be found in many naked images. Microsoft’s Code of Conduct needs to reflect that difference. So rather than prohibiting images which:

Depicts nudity of any sort including full or partial human nudity or nudity in non-human forms such as cartoons, fantasy art or manga.

The Code of Conduct should be more explicit,  prohibiting images which:

Depicts nakedness of any sort including full or partial human nakedness or nakedness in non-human forms as cartoons, fantasy art or manga

 I was torn as to what to do next? Leave the image there and be denied access to SkyDrive ,delete it and continue albeit prudently to use SkyDrive.

I capitulated, gave in and  reluctantly deleted that one image but left all my  other 2,300 plus  images in folders on SkyDrive intact including the Warren Cup and Matisse Dance images . I replaced  Modigliani 's Nude with this image:

Replacement image for LiveFolders/Trip2London/From the iPhone/IMG_0311.JPG

(Reclining Nude, 1917, Amedeo Modigliani , Oil on canvas)

To conclude, I can fully understand Microsoft desire to control what images are uploaded but the image was benign, this was a nude image not a naked image,  it is an acknowledged work of art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the file was private shared only with people I allowed. In 2012 Microsoft behaving just like the Parisian police almost a century earlier is totally outrageous on one hand but on the other plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

BTW all the images for this post are to be found in my Google Docs folder until Google becomes as paranoid aka as Philistine as Microsoft........

No to increasing the speed motorway limit to 80mph

I am gob-smacked that the government wants to raise the speed limit on motorways to 80 miles an hour after years of telling we motorists  speed kills.

This is the most misguided, foolish piece of motoring legislation  I have heard of. The reason for its introduction is so  fickle – most drivers exceed the limit so the 70mph  is unenforceable.  So if enough of us break an law for long enough then the law can be changed – tell that to the recent rioters. Further there is talk of this higher speed limit boosting the economy as we will  reach place  quicker – have they ever  driven on the M25 , M3, M1, M4 at any time. There measures are in place to reduce the speed to increase traffic flow.

No mention is made of the savings that can made for travelling slower – real money being saved. The US limit of 55mph is no arbitrary limit , that speed was chosen as it was on the average  the most fuel efficient speed for most engines. Engine efficiency falls off rapidly after 55 mph falling by a staggering 28%  at 80mph when compared to consumption at 55 mph.

This change does not make sense at any measure – legally: we simply do not change laws when sufficient  people break a law; safety; speed kills: Germany has over twice as many deaths per year on motorways; economically: at 80 mph we are throwing away one third of the money, when compared to 55pmh, we spend on petrol to reach the next traffic jam... faster.


If the Government was really serious about climate change and reducing the nations's carbon footprint transport as it is the second highest,, after industry producer of carbon would seem a sensible place to try to cut back.

The UK has some of the safest  roads in Europe let us keep it that way; keep the speed limit at 70mph – you and your pocket know it makes sense. 

The BBC Presenter as Celebrity ?

The BBC news has been reduced to casual conversation between mates comparing experiences: what it meant to them then and what it means to them now often with trivial speculation. ‘It ‘ is everything from the Monkees threatened revival to the reactions of Egypt’s rioters . I find it ‘toe curling’. I have absolutely no interest in their likes or dislikes; similarly their personal or family histories. I want to hear the news, the story, without the fog of the presenters personality.

Nor have a desire to see him or her take part , along with other D list celebrities, in one of the many gratuitous, embarrassing , ‘reality’ TV programs. Reality ? Another word for playing to camera, dubious cutting and scene selection.

The presenters need to have dignity , dear I say, gravitas many of the BBC news presenters have none. The BBC has come a long way from the days from when newsreaders were told to wear dinner jackets in the evenings and who could forget Alvar Lidell’s BBC English
when reading the news. I am not arguing for a return to that archaic BBC approach to news but one that reflects the zeitgeist while remaining dignified.

The BBC could learn much from Channel 4’s News Team who remain a respectful distance from their interviewees both on the spot reporters and the eye witness are questioned intelligently. This is in stark contrast to the BBC presenter who always seem to want to put the interviewee at ease or bond with them by sharing a common concern or interest.

Enough , I say to these BBC presenters, yes ask the questions in friendly, informed manner but please do not reduce the news interview to a casual chat between mates in a pub!

My Top Ten Netcasts*

1 This Week In Tech (TWIT)

Leo Laporte brings industry gurus together - different ones each week drawn from all sides and sexes of the Internet : VCs, Bloggers, CEOs, geeks, politicians, developers, lawyers, journalists......any and all (including the odd Brit) who are impacting the Net and how it develops. Although there is inevitably a strong US bias - net neutrality, the poor ATT network , the high cost of Internet access- nevertheless this is not to be missed as it without fail puts the weeks tech news into considered , informed focus.

2 The Fonecast

A review of the week 's mobile news in the UK , not as dynamic as TWIT as it has the same two (well informed and witty) commentators each week but it has British focus so is always relevant. Always down to earth, practical and on the (mobile) money.

3 Windows Weekly

Another Netcast from Leo Laporte , the format is Leo talking to Windows expert, guru, most knowledgeable Windows guy in the world (!) Paul Thurott. A really good listen if only for the rapport between the two but also the deep insight that Paul has as to what 's going on in the world of Microsoft , for nothing else his Tip of The Week is worth listening to this excellent Netcast.

4This Week In Google (TWig)

Leo Laporte talks to a Gina Tripani (developer) and Jeff Jarvis (prof of journalism and commentator) with the odd expert brought in from time to time about not just Google but the Cloud wants going on what going on , what's changing and why in the world of Cloud computing and and in the Googlesphere - listen out for the app and tip of the week always useful.

5 The Pod Delusion

Hard to describe what this show is all about so, can only use it's own description - A podcast of interesting things - never fails to delight and entertain with odd , interesting , revealing views on life, times , science and politics in the UK.

6 Buzz Out Loud (BOL) - Molly Wood

Tech News Today (TNT) - Tom Merritt

If you want to know the hot issues right now on the web and have an informed view on them these are two great podcasts. Hard to pick them apart. Both great shows with informed, knowledgeable, engaging, witty presenters.

8 Out Law Radio

The Law and how it impacts the Web covers things like who owns your email, how to use a brand's name , copyright, privacy......always topical, very relevant.

9 CNET UK

A UK blending of TWIT and BOL formats which works well witty informed entertaining could do with being a bit more controversial and heavyweight.

10 Money Talk From The Motely Fool

If you have any spare money this show tells you how to use it to make more, informed, straight talking with a bit of wit.

*All available for free subscription from iTunes. I call them Netcasts not Podcasts as most are in dual format voice or video format. Podcast is too restrictive as soon many of these shows will be broadcast TV channels in their own right which are accessed via an app 24 by 7. - narrow casting to a specialist audience rather than the broadcasting to the masses. Have a look at the TWIT app on the iStore to see what's possible.