I don't know what all the fuss is about?
I mean we all know that our data and information is safe in these official hands, not likely to be lost, sold or stolen, so why should I mind if they know my opinions, beliefs, sexual preferences and relationship or financial problems?
All of these measures are what my grandfather gave his life for during WW2 aren't they?
There he was, off fighting the fascist dictatorship of Hitler, to help built a free, fairer, and more caring future for those who would rapidly forget the sacrifice that he, and millions like him made.
Wait! What's that sound?
It is the sound of my grandfather and the millions like him, spinning in their graves, (if they are 'fortunate' to actually have one), at the realisation that, actually, what he and they were fighting and dying for was the opposite. 
Big Brother tapping our phones and emails 1,000 times a day | the Daily Mail
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Big Brother tapping our phones and emails 1,000 times a day | the Daily Mail
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Old Bitter Balls ...The funniest thing I have read..ever!
Funniest thing I have read..ever!
Thanks to my friend Aurora for the link.
(Warning!!! DO NOT APPROACH THIS SITE IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED)
Old Bitter Balls
Friday, 25 January 2008
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Student killed herself after rape
Another tragic case.
Looking at the Reported Crime Statistics, it seems to me that Wales has a particular preference to this sort of crime.
The support services for victims of sexual crime in Wales are sporadic and underfunded, and the competency and integrity of the law enforcement agencies, questionable.
(Extract)
A 20-year-old woman who killed herself nine months after she was raped blamed herself for the attack, an inquest has heard.
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Student killed herself after rape
'I was dancing when I was twelve I was dancing when I was twelve'
This post is really for Divinyl.
Her site is such a mine of musical memories for me.
Things I had put away and forgotten. Things that are reminders of my place in space and time.
This T.Rex music book has been in my life for over 30 years. I have played around with some of the more familiar ones, busked my way through them, allowed the lyrics to form patterns and images in my mind.
Largely though, I haven't a clue what Marc was singing about on most of them.
The Scenescof Dynasty (Extract)
Meeting behind the iron sling
My brandy-tongue was like a Caterpillar thing
Suzy hung up on Joan of Arc
Cloudily gave me the key to the dark
Scraping the lice from my bed
I sussed we were teleported into his head.
Answers on a postcard to....LOL
Content is King!
1971 eh? Seems like a different century.
Androgyny rule OK
I had a tank-top just like that!
Thursday, 24 January 2008
How to beat the cyberbullies News - PC Advisor
How to beat the cyberbullies. Jonny Evans.
Another informative, six-page article from PC Advisor on the subject of online intimidation and bulling.
(Taken from the article)
Violence among teenagers may be grabbing the headlines, but for many concerned with child protection it's virtual aggression that's the biggest emerging threat.
Cyberbullies use mobile phones or emails to send sexist, homophobic and racist messages, or they attack other differences - from physical and mental disabilities to victims' cultural or religious background, appearance, wealth or class. In some cases, bullies physically assault other children, then post images of fights online or distribute video recordings using text messages. 
How to beat the cyberbullies News - PC Advisor
PC Advisor has been a standard repository of all things PC (ish) for me over several years and I really like getting their emails, as they are usually very helpful.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Police corruption' case arrests
This is something I have been saying for quite a few years now, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Police corruption' case arrests
Monday, 21 January 2008
BBC NEWS | Health | Coffee 'raises miscarriage risk'
Another subject close to my heart.
Having married a woman who was totally addicted to coffee and prone to miscarriage, I have seen and experienced the trauma and pain that successive miscarriages bring.
Coffee is probably one of the most common addictions, causing low blood pressure, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and mineral depletion, and this depletion can lead to nervousness and depression, two problems my ex-wife suffered from.
However, addictions generally like company, such as smoking and drinking which further depletes the body of nutrients, increasing the problems of depression and miscarriage.
So it becomes cyclic in nature.
You get pregnant, miscarry, smoke more and drink more alcohol and coffee because you are depressed, get pregnant, miscarry, get even more depressed, drink and smoke even more.
Repeat until mental health and marriage disintegrates.
Recommended reading about Nutrition and Vitamins.
Nutrition and Vitamin Therapy
The Dietary Treatment of Mental and Emotional Ill Health
Dr Michael Lesser.
Grove/Thorsons Publishers Ltd.
BBC NEWS | Health | Coffee 'raises miscarriage risk'
Friday, 18 January 2008
Mailwasher Spam Filter Software: The Reliable Free Spam Blocker | MailWasher
And finally, since these postings have been about security, let us not forget the old, reliable email spam.
Use this to take care of it.
I do.
Mailwasher Spam Filter Software: The Reliable Free Spam Blocker | MailWasher
BBC NEWS | Technology | Poisoned websites attack visitors
Ohhh! My heads hurts....last time I buy anymore of those dammed apples and cider of that old crone...
Right, yes. I came across this news report on the BBC.
A case of 'Let the surfer beware.'
BBC NEWS | Technology | Poisoned websites attack visitors
Reasons to go Virtual Part 3
If any of you have been paying attention this term, Smithers! Bring that to me!
Mmm, interesting choice reading material, though not, I fear, on the curriculum. See me after.
Where was I?
Oh yes, paying attention.
Yes! Virtualisation!
If you have been paying attention, you will be aware that, along side Netvibes, one of my other major interests is the use of Virtual PC's.
The interest started way back in my Atari ST days when I use to cram alternative desktops into a ram disc and save the file onto a floppy disc, (pre hard drive stuff this, very gripping!) and then boot from the floppy. A different desktop and applications for different tasks, DTP, game tweaks etc.
Funny enough, that old 8 megehertz system still boots in about a tenth of the time than the Gigahertz monster in front of me.
Now on the PC, I use a similar approach; each Virtual PC has a different task.
It also makes the PC more secure against data loss and from cyber attack, which is the subject of the two-part BBC article below.
With this application, police in Wales are now implementing this forensic method.
If you had not heard of Virtualisation before, you will. It is a growing movement in computing and will probably the way we will all be working in the near future.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Tracking down hi-tech crime
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Police and prosecutors 'failing rape victims' | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited
Huh! Tell me something I don't know.
If you are a regular to The Tao of Blog, you will know that this is a subject which I have very strong views upon, having seen first hand how inept, corrupt and ineffectual a particular police force in the UK deal with these attacks.
This news report mealy echos comments I have been making for the last 3 years.
Police and prosecutors 'failing rape victims' | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited
"Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron, bubble."
Finally! After weeks of saying to myself "must put links up to Victor Franqui, Courtney Tuttle, and Grizzly's sites" I have sorted it.
I know, if I had started paying attention to their extensive knowledge and wisdom sooner, I would have the best blog site in the world, probably.
If you are serious about making a success of your online career, these are the boys. They are knowledgeable, approachable and highly respected in the Tao of Blogging.
Internet Marketing | Strategy & Services
BloggerUnleashed
Make money online for beginners
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
What is the best piece of advice you have gained today?
Treat Your Blog As A Business.
I picked this article up at Bloggingzoom as a new entry. It just stood out from the others even though it was newly hatched, still a bit damp, and hasn't attracted many Zooms just yet.
But far from being an Ugly Ducking, this is a bit of a Swan.
(Taken from the article)
1. You’re already in business. From the moment you held your blog out as deserving money for reviews or a place offering advertisers links you’ve been in business. Think of your blog as a Mom & Pop store: you’re working for yourself, and you’re not trying to fool anyone into thinking you’re Wal-Mart. But what separates you from the guy on the street corner holding out a can and asking strangers for money is that you are seeking to exchange a commodity for the money you earn.
All good , encouraging stuff, what?
Treat Your Blog As A Business
"However, Parkie, I regard this readers comment as a fine example of public opinion on my writing career so far,,,
and thanks for coming out of retirement just to interview me, I feel so humbled."
Parkie: "How do you build that sort of relationship with your readers?"
Me "Yes it can difficult to really discover the type of relationship one is building with the reader through our writings, but via the use of modern technology, the results of our efforts can be evaluated almost immediately."
BloggingZoom The Tao of Blog: Hand Build Hedgehog Scratching Gingerbread Sheep from Flour...
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Grammar Girl ! Quick & Dirty Tips
Ooooooo yer... she's my grammar girl (twangy guitar bit) Ooooooo yer... she's my grammar girl..(twangy guitar) ( repeat to fade)....
I cannot claim to be 'at one with my grammar', as I make loads of errors when I am trying to get my jumble thoughts into some sort of coherent, logical and hopefully informative manner, touched with a slight humorous slant.
(Get off! This turn is rubbish! Send on the dancing girls!)
Ah! but Grammar Girl (aka Mignon Fogarty)..she does it for me..those sultry tones, that sensual pronunciation and attractive accent...
Erhum!...Anyway!
These examples of the ever-changing use of words and how this is interpreted by the grammatical model of language study are audio files which can either be streamed or downloaded as a podcast.
I use my fave RSS reader Netvibes as it has a built-in player, but access is also available on the website, along with a transcript of the cast and comments.
Check out the podcast on young people's use of 'Yo' as a pronoun..you never knew that grammar studies could be so entertaining.
Or so hot!!
Grammar Girl
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Floundering in the Doldrums
Over the past few days I have found myself to be floundering in the doldrums of my thoughts, as though, I have lost my original purpose in starting to publish my writings on the net, and have become more like an automaton, mindlessly clicking for traffic exchanges and less of a writer.
I had also forgotten that Helium is not only a great place to publish and earn for your effort, but it is also a fantastic resource of information, largely born of experience rather than any corporate sales pitch.
It was reading through these Helium articles which provided the initial spark which drove me to start The Tao of Blog.
So, it is back to a bit of reading and to fill in some of the many holes in my cyberdike with all of these spare hands that I seem to have discovered.
Helium - Where Knowledge Rules
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Selfish Pricks Only..Go Away You Nice Person You!
As I mentioned in previous articles, I have been experimenting with Traffic Exchanges in a attempt to increase readership and links.
It is very boring but pays more than Adsense!!
But sometimes it can raise a laugh..like this offering....
Welcome to Green fodder
Nice, easy to read and informative article on the use of Tags in assisting search engines find your content.
Welcome to Green fodder
Copyscape - Website Plagiarism Search - Web Site Content Copyright Protection
Recently Divinyl from Ceci n'est pas un blog chatted to me about finding some copies of her work on the net.
As writers, we spend hours, if not, sometimes weeks in crafting our thoughts into a polished article.
What we don't spend is that time crafting our words for them to be directly copied and used elsewhere without our permission.
Though Copyscape will not stop this practice, it is a useful tool in combating the problem.
Copyscape - Website Plagiarism Search - Web Site Content Copyright Protection
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Rape-convictions - epetition response from PM
Listen...what's that noise?...It is the sound of rapists across the nation..laughing like drains ...it is the sounds of victims being used, abused and then neglected.
I have commented several times upon this type of crime and it's impact and repercussions not only for the victims, but the effects it has upon family, friends and society.
Who do You Trust?
Why Do They Do It?
What Happens if They Get Caught?
These measures which HM government, (a term used in it's most loosest sense), are far too little and far too late.
There is no strong deterrents to dissuade any would be rapist from embarking on this role, and even when there is an unlikely conviction, punishments can be as little as a caution or community service.
Millions of tax payers money are spent on these low impact, insubstantial 'punishments' (again, forgive me for using such loose terminology), and these half arse, cheap, little sticky plaster remedies are not going to make one iota of difference.
All of this genders an attitude that rape and sexual crime can be 'managed', like it is a staff dispute.
Total Crap.
rape-convictions - epetition response
Nanny Knows Best
This is a great site if you are interested in some of the more bizarre decisions and actions of the authorities of this rather small and dysfunctional island just off the European Continent.
If my North American chums are feeling a little marginalised because this is a UK site, I can wholly recommend tuning into Alex Jones, who provides a similar service.
Nanny Knows Best
Sunday, 6 January 2008
How I Received 850 Visitors Without Using Social Media Sites | Guest Blogging, Guest And Ghostwriter Services - PiggyBankPie
You know when you come across an article which makes you think, 'Wow, so that is what I am supposed to be be doing!, I remember now!'
Well this is one such article. Read, digest, apply.
How I Received 850 Visitors Without Using Social Media Sites | Guest Blogging, Guest And Ghostwriter Services - PiggyBankPie
Saturday, 5 January 2008
One Laptop Per Child review by PC Advior
The One Laptop Per Child program is a great way of empowering remote communities with access to technology.
It provides the opportunity for change and growth in education and employment opportunities.
Moreover, I know a couple of kids would love to have a couple!
As PC Advisor points out, it is not perfect and does have a few flaws but by in large the technology and software do what they are supposed to do.
Pity they didn't announce the Give One, Get One Scheme earlier, perhaps they were concerned about being able to met demand, or maybe treading on corporate toes too much..
A great way to bring up your kids on a Microsoft free diet if you ask me!
XO laptop review - PC Advisor
The website has a nice, intuitive feel, very simple icons with sub-menus.
One Laptop index page
Wow! Take a look at those specs!!!
And the targeted end users…
Friday, 4 January 2008
Hello and a very happy 2008 to you all!
Sorry if I have not been around over the holiday season but I decide to extend my break as I seldom see my immediate family,
It has also taken a couple of days to get over the travelling the 500 mile round trip to see them all.
Since getting back, I have spent some time sorting out my pc’s files, putting stuff in folders that sort of thing, the boring maintenance stuff but it has to be done if one is to stay on top of it all.
Now I am keen to get back to blogging in earnest, though I cannot seem to find Earnest on the map, it must be the place!
Well must keep this a short posting as my none-virtual life demands some attention.
