Posts by Steve Cragg

Health emails from US voters overload fed website

@OmniCitadel

To answer your question is rather difficult, as it's all based on taxes and therefore a percentage of your earnings. So it could be $50 or $500 - at least for the UK system. Though over the recent governments it's become more and more blurred (as in where the taxes actually go to). However, removing that issue, going to see a doctor under the UK healthcare system would cost you no money "upfront". Going to the hospital for a broken leg would cost you no money "upfront" - as in you have already paid for it.

There is also one thing which isn't talked about allot lately and that is with the NHS you simply turn up, get your treatment and leave. There is no paperwork to fill out, no justification either. You need it, you get it. Though there are some situations (mainly with regards to new drugs) where you don't always get what you want. Want being the operative word.

Also remember that we (UK) don't get the medical adverts like the US. We get Over the Counter adverts, but anything which needs a prescription is never advertised to the general public - so we are reliant on the doctors and not advertisers.

There's also that peace of mind that if we need health care urgently, it's there. People complain about waiting times, and it's probably true, but for anything serious you get the support you need.

You asked about breaking your leg etc.... Well, here's my experience with the NHS.

Mother wakes up one morning, walks down the stairs, promptly collapses in a heap. Step-father calls emergency services (999). Ambulance arrives in less than 10 minutes time. She's at the hospital in less than 20 minutes time. It's determined that she has just suffered a burst brain aneurysm and given drugs for treatment. She is placed in a high intensity unit and watched over for two weeks.

She gets worse and is transferred to a specialised hospital for treatment. She lapses and goes into a coma and is placed into a unit where there are 4 patients and four (always in the room) nurses and two doctors. She exits the coma - of sorts. She is then in surgery for an operation (coil placed at the point of the burst) which is carried out by the surgeon who invented this procedure.

She remains in the same unit for another 2 weeks and then placed in a general unit for another month for observation. She is released afterwards but given 6 months care support for rehabilitation.

Cost? Nothing (except obviously for the taxes paid).

Paperwork? None.

Peace of mind? Definitely.

Saved her life? Absolutely.

The NHS ain't perfect - no-one is saying it is. But having that safety net, no matter what situation you are in (either rich or poor) is something i would never want to have without.

Daily Mail launches McKinnon campaign

Excuse me but...

You are completely missing the point.

Are the damages incurred accurate? Or are they simply the US government having to realise that they have to do their job and properly secure their systems - but to save face are pinning this act on their rogue hacker?

And more importantly, where are the news announcements of the people in charge of these IT systems also being put on trial? due to their incompetence?

I'm all for McKinnon going to trial in the States, as long as the very people in charge of securing these systems are also put on trial.

Nokia N97

RE: awww diddums

So, you're happy with a market being dominated by a single company with strict rules and regs (theirs) on the software of said application / platform? Therefore creating a "effective" monopoly and destroying innovation / creation and bascially moving forward.

Wonderful - an Apple fanboy who says it like it is "We don't care what happens to the future of the market, as long as Apple controls it".

Texting peer released from prison

One rule..

... for them, one rule for us.

Brillant.

Home Office plans to force CCTV on shops and pubs

So, lets count this all up.

1) DNA Database of convicted and innocent parties.

2) Travel Database of all UK and none-UK citizens.

3) Child Database of every child.

4) ID Cards - I.E. Database of all personal information.

5) Communications Database of all Phone calls, Emails, SMS's.

6) Ability for any government (including local councils) to obtain any information about any citizens.

7) Huge outdoors CCTV system.

8) Now "soon" to be indoors CCTV system.

9) Offence to photograph a member of the police force.

10) Stop and searchs on a whim.

11) Huge medical Database of every UK citizen.

Have i missed anything? And someone explain to me what else needs to be done before we reach 1984.

McKinnon UK trial decision delayed

@AC 15:47

Here's another analogy since you like them so much.

Person X was placed as head of security for the main national security of a countries Main Intelligence base. Head of security says to his superiors (which would most likely include the head of national security and head of state) that the security he has put in place is top notch, no-one can get in or break in (as it's guarding such an important asset to said country).

Monday morning, people arrive at the base to work, only to find that there's been a break in. Nothing appears to be stolen, but all files have been accessed.

They later find out, that the new head of security's measures consisted of nothing more than placing a sign on the main gates which read the following:

"All staff and personnel gone home for the weekend, doors are open and alarms disabled, but please don't enter".

- I.E. where's your thirst for blood for the IT security person who allowed McKinnon in?

Judges grant McKinnon extradition review

@Re: Justice delayed is justice denied

Their comment was timed nicely though, as 16:22 would of been approximately the time it would of taken to get home from school, grab a can of pop from the fridge and write that comment.

@a good snapshot of UK vs US justice

I think it's more a case of (in this case):

UK: "Lets look at all the facts, before deciding whether he should punished by sending him to a different country to face a biased trial".

Your version of the US: "Kill, Kill, Kill".

Of course, you're another internet tough guy, sitting behind a wall which makes you invisible.

Having to wonder if you would be desperately trying to stoke your blood lust if it was a member of your own family.... ? No? thought not.

And i'm still trying to find all the same responses from people like you for the "IT Security Expert" probably being paid lots and lots of money which allow a mentally disabled guy to break into one of the most secure networks in the world under his / her watch.... anyone?

McKinnon wins extradition delay

@:Asperger's Syndrome

Except it's not. Maybe you have a PHD in mental illness'ness, or perhaps you are just talking out of your arse instead.... i'm guessing the former to be blunt.

Just google it, or perhaps all those doctors are just plain wrong and you're completely correct?

This government (recently) has had a nice little history of ignoring British citizens, the Thailand riots, the many reports of UK people held on stupid charges in the middle-east and Africa, the guy from Liverpool.... this is just a number of examples.

But it's ok, he broke into one of the most secure networks on this planet and caused billions and billions of dollars worth of damage... how so? Well, they won't tell you, but you better believe it!

Or perhaps he's hitting a sore spot with what he did, with so many "IT security experts" around.

Giving his guy to the US to face years in a PMITA prison for causing no damage, and ultimately making the US Military network even more secure, not including his mental condition is a slap in the face of anything remotely humane.

@Gary Stop Fscking @15:25

Oh stop being such an internet tough guy. It's blatantly obvious that 1) he does have a mental condition and we (i.e. Britian) shouldn't be making a habit of ignoring this when it comes to sending a citizen to another country to faces crimes and 2) the "damages" occured (or at least stated by the Americans) were nothing more than them doing an audit of their security (which would be an asset) and making changes to the obviously wide open systems (another asset).

There were no "damages" involved here, just some red faces, which shouldn't come into the picture.

You making such bullish claims about firing (and prosecuting - since it is matter of national security) the person incharge of their IT security for allowing this to happen in their watch? Or you just targetting the lone, rather sad mentally disabled British guy (who just so happened to break into, what should be one of the most secure networks in the world)?

Online identity card scheme aims to remove password headaches

No thank you.

As the first (and only poster as i type this) states. I would not be happy using such a service as the article mentions. Personally i have no desire to have a credit checking (and now) purchase checking org be combined.

Here's a thought, how about banks etc, come together and devise their own plan for security for online transactions - saves them money in the long run and protects customers...

Of course, that woud mean them actually talking together (well, apart from the obvious meetings they have when determining how to screw over the population, and line their own pockets).

Sky told to hand over footy and film rights

@Steve Kay

No it's not - infact i can't believe that you are even making such a comparision. You have a choice of provider with your mobile phone, and each provider gives you the exact same service (making and receiving phone calls) - the price may vary, the quality of service may vary, but it the same service provided.

Which TV / Broadcasting companies can you choose from to watch the PL and / or the most recent films on TV (without having to £3.99 per film that is)? Or how about 24, Stargate etc.. It's Sky and nothing more. Didn't SKY even want to remove some of their freeview channels onto a pay-to-view package recently?

Why people here are cheering on monoploys is beyond me. More choice, better competition, better for the consumer.

And to be fair, SKY's service has become worse and worse recently. As a poster above stated, before you could watch all of the PL games on SKY sports, then a few (top) games were made into pay-to-view, then more and more and more. Add to their plan of removing freeview channels into a pay-to-view package - their greed is just amazing, and they control so much of the market they can "nearly" get away with it.

More choice please.