* Posts by Lord M4x

13 publicly visible posts • joined 22 Aug 2016

CrowdStrike blames a test software bug for that giant global mess it made

Lord M4x

Re: It worked on my machine!

There's an extra machine lurking somewhere..

49%+49%+1% = 99%

Boffins don't give a sh!t, slap Trump's face on a turd in science journal

Lord M4x

Re: Yeah...

No, not jail, because that would be unconstitutional.

However, banned from Whitehouse, disendorsed by POTUS publicly, Boycotted, belittled and investigated? Yes. By Adolf Mussolini Don.

No sense of humour. Or balance.

UK Home Office hands Sopra Steria £91m digital visa contract

Lord M4x

Re: Its just not right

Yes, 'Why not', absolutely correct about the security sensitive aspect.

(However, given that even HM prison system is privatised in the UK, "national security" would be a tough argument to make credible.)

Lord M4x

Re: Its just not right

Well, the contract was awarded to Gemalto because, under EU law, there has to be an open and public procurement process for government contracts. The best 'value for money' / most adequate provider wins.

It may surprise you that the UK is still actually in the EU and therefore must obey its laws.

After Brexit, the UK can have DIY passports etc and queues outside embassies for visas to use the channel tunnel or cross the border into Ireland.

However, these countries may retain their right to refuse admission to economic migrants holding UK passports trying to escape and find a job that pays more than TATA is prepared to offer.

I'll get my coat :)

Sofa-jockeys given crack at virtual Formula 1 world championship

Lord M4x

Funnily enough, yesterday I listened to a radio interview with the Dutch champion of this malarky.

What I recall from his chat:

- Last year's prize money was a meeeeeelion euro!

- The pros (Vettel, Verstappen et al) have also given it a shot and are 'very good' but it doesn't quite work the other way around... due to real G-force and concentration under duress etc..

So there ya go...

French general accused of nicking fast jet for weekend trips to the Sun

Lord M4x

Re: I think it's missing some of the additives needed for a car engine

Jet -A! is mainly kerosene which has additives to lower its freezing point.

It is generally of a *higher* quality than road diesel fuel.

You could safely add it to you r diesel mix in winter to achieve a lower waxing (freezing) point in extreme weather.

That's what I got from 10 years working offshore in petrochemicals, flying to work in all kinds of conditions in helicopters of varying size and power....

Lord M4x

Well, Gen. Richard Reboul was flying from one Military Flight Training Academy to another in a pilot training aircraft.

Salon De Provence is a military pilot training base. So no landing fees and even a possibility of legitimate business.

It's not strange that he owns a house nearby for obvious reasons, since he was the big boss of that base for years before being posted to Bordeaux.

He is also the general-in-chief of the airforce.

And a key participant in the design of the Rafale striker Jet.

Could well be internal politics, someone trying to damage his reputation (like a supplier that failed to have a bribe accepted/contract awarded). If you think that's too fanciful, one of my former bosses entered the private sector 30 years ago after exactly such an experience.

BT will HATE us for this one weird 5G trick

Lord M4x

Correct about the Dutch (lived there for a few years). The cycle lanes are off-limits to motorised traffic and instant death to wandering pedestrian tourists.

Re the sodium lighting : nowhere near as energy efficient as LED, but the main problem is exactly the single spectrum light radiation. This only stimulates the retina at a (more or less) single frequency and contributes to a perceived colour blindness - distinguishing coloured signs is near impossible.

FYI: Amazon's corner stores scan your plates

Lord M4x

Re: No Plate, no Problem

"Look out, it's behind you..."

TalkTalk gets record £400k slap-slap from Brit watchdog

Lord M4x

Re: TalkTalk gets record £400k slap-slap

Irish nationality won't save you. On the 1st of August this year, the amended EU Data Protection act Regulation 2016/679 came into force.

Effectively, there is a legal obligation to disclose data breaches and a possible fine of up to 4% of GLOBAL revenue for failing to protect customer's data.

That's cold: This is how our boss told us our jobs are at risk, staffers claim

Lord M4x
Boffin

Never been fired..

A career over 25 years, 16 of those as a contractor, 8 companies, three countries, never been fired.

I don't believe I'm special, but I usually pick my employers carefully. Usually...

German minister seeks facial recognition at airports, train stations

Lord M4x

Re: Ban my backpack? You don't want my money then.

You may find that the security forces do not sell beer, and don't actually care about a few tourists not coming.

Lord M4x

Re: Wow! In Germany?

German speeding tickets show the face of the driver, to avoid denial of responsibility.

After initial privacy 'issues' with mistresses and other indiscretions on the passenger seat being included, the software pixelises the rest of the contents of the vehicle.

So, I guess yes! In Germany.