If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It!
Formula One has just proven the title of this post, with their new qualifying system.
The qualifying yesterday was a joke, as it didn’t build up to the crescendo like it used to do.
Why do people have this desire to tinker with formats and rules?
If you change something in a system, you must make sure you don’t alienate your users or audience.
When I updated Artemis, I made sure that nothing was ever deleted, as I didn’t know how every one of our thousands of customers used the system.
So many versions of updated software is a retrograde step to many people.
For instance, I would be like to buy a new computer with Windows Vista and Office 2003.
That may be a bit unusual, but then if I find something that suits my lifestyle, I don’t change it!
- I was with my wife for forty years.
- I had my last car; a Lotus Elan for, twenty-five years.
- My briefcase is well over thirty-five years old.
- My smart jacket is nearly thirty and still smart.
- I first saw Ipswich play in 1961.
Why change?
Sadly, as in the case of my wife, you have to occasionally.
Do I Have The Worst Broadband In Central London?
I doubt it, but I’ve decided to keep a proper log of all the problems.
March 15th, 2016 – 06:00 – I woke up to no broadband and only now at 07:15 can I write this.
March 16th, 2016 – 07:00 – Broadband dropped out for an hour.
March 18th, 2016 – 16:30– Broadband dropped out for an hour.
March 21st, 2016 – 16:30– Broadband dropped out for an hour.
March 22nd, 2016 – 19:30 – Broadband dropped out for a period.
March 23rd, 2016 – 08:00 – Intermittent service
March 23rd, 2016 – 13:30 – Intermittent service
March 23rd, 2016 – 16:00 – Intermittent service
March 23rd, 2016 – 17:00 – Intermittent service
March 24th, 2016 – 06:00 – Intermittent service
March 24th, 2016 – 11:00 – Broadband dropped out for an hour.
April 1st, 2016 – 17:30 – Broadband dropped out for an hour.
April 7th, 2016 – 19:30 – Intermittent service
What I would like is fibre-optic, but BT have said, that I’m too close to the exchange.
Stopping Your Computer Upgrading To Windows 10
I never upgrade my computers to the new version of an operating system, unless it is absolutely necessary.
No-one has convinced me of a valid reason yet! And I doubt anyone will!
They are my computers, so I decide when to upgrade, not some idiot who might vote for Donald Trump and believes in the right to bare arms and the death penalty. Not you Bill, but can you vouch for all your employees?
But I have been pointed to this little program entitled GWX Control Panel, that immunises your computer against unwanted junk from Micros**t!
A Curious Problem With My Credit Cards
A few months ago, I tried to order some goods from IKEA for my kitchen. They weren’t delivered and my credit card wasn’t debited, so the only harm done was I waited in for a whole day for a non-delivery.
Over the next couple of months, I tried several times to repeat the order, but in no cases was it ever completed. Immediately, When I entered the details of either of my credit cards, the order disappeared.
To solve the problem, I took a bus to IKEA in Tottenham and placed the order personally, paying with my American Express card at the check-out. I also got the direct e-mail address of the Kitchen Department and sent them a couple of e-mails to assure them, that if they didn’t deliver, they’d be deep in the doodah.
The goods were eventually delivered on the day, but the driver’s sat-nav got him lost in the mews at the back of my house.
I put it down to some form of problem with the delivery system, that checks the credit rating of the purchaser. But as Experian have confirmed, my credit rating is good and the only problem, is that I’m not correctly on the Electoral Roll. And that’s not for dint of trying, but for some reason they seem incapable to get it right!
However, today I needed to buy a coach ticket from National Express for the Ipswich-QPR match on Boxing Day.
So I entered my details to buy the ticket and tried to pay by credit czrds. Both were rejected.
I phoned both credit card suppliers and there was no problem with either card.
As a last resort, I phoned National Express direct and bought the ticket traditionally from the Call Centre at the cost of a long phone call and a booking fee.
But it wasn’t without trouble.
Both my credit cards were rejected by the system used by the very patient Colin in the Call Centre, as was my debit card.
Their system knew about me from my previous four failed attempts to buy tickets on-line and I wondered if it was rejecting them because of my address, which was on some sort of blacklist.
I’ve often thought this, as my house was tenanted for several years before I bought it and the tenants did runners leaving piles of debts to several companies.
In the end, Colin and I felt this was all rather silly, so I thought about trying an alternative e-mail address, as this was probably the key used to access my address on their computer.
It worked and I got my ticket.
Intriguingly in both cases, I got my goods or tickets, when I broke the link between debit/credit card address and the address for the card.
In IKEA, this was by putting the AMEX card through a till and with National Express, it was by giving them an e-mail address for which they had no physical address details.
I am drawn to the inevitable conclusion, that software checks my address against County Court Judgements. And I think there could be a lot of them, due to the history of the property!
Surely, if I can’t purchase on-line, because of the debts of previous owners or their tenants, who lived here, before I bought the house, then that is illegal!
The only way to lose them, would be the same way to get rid of bindweed from your garden. Move!
Unless of course, someone reading this knows better?
What Development Is Going On Around You?
I found Planning Finder through an on-line advert. I’ve just tried it for my home and it has found some interesting but innocent planning applications.
I would certainly use this web site to check out, where I was buying a house.
HS2’s Interactive Map
For those who are worried, need to know or just plain curious, HS2 have put a very good quality interactive map on their web site on this page.
These are some images, I have captured.
Stations are shown by red dots
Euston, St. Pancras and Kings Cross Stations With HS2
Euston, St. Pancras and Kings Cross Stations With HS2
The map clearly shows the three stations and the route of HS2 into Euston.
Note the following.
- HS2 clearly arrives at Euston on the western side of the station.
- The pedestrian route to St. Pancras could be more difficult than planners think.
- The station would appear to be extended towards Euston Road.
- Whilst the station is built, I suspect, that a good connection to the Metroipolitan/Circle can be created.
I think we’ll see some plans in the next few years, that make the connection between the three stations a lot better.
Old Oak Common Station
Old Oak Common Station
The map shows the myriad of lines in the area.
I believe that for many people using HS2 to and from London, will use this station, as its connectivity is so much more comprehensive than Euston.
Birmingham Interchange Station
Birmingham Interchange Station
Birmingham Curzon Street Station
Birmingham Curzon Street Station
Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham New Street stations are to the south of the new station.
HS2 East Of Birmingham
HS2 East Of Birmingham
This map clearly shows how trains for the North via Birmingham will go into Birmingham and then reverse direction in Birmingham Curzon Street station.
Handsacre And HS2
Handsacre And HS2
This map shows where HS2 joins the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre.
Conclusion
The interactive map is a real credit to modern computing.
Every project that could benefit should have one.
Will we be seeing one for Crossrail 2?
Why I Won’t Use Uber
I don’t use taxis much at all.
I did in Blackburn on Saturday, as one was there, when I came out of Ewood Park and as trains to Preston, are fairly infrequent, I felt it might be quicker than finding a bus and I might catch an earlier train. I didn’t!
Other than that since the first of September, I’ve used taxis perhaps twice to come back home after arriving late at night in a rail station, just to save time. I usually get them off the rank at the station.
I use a mini-cab perhaps twice a year, to get to and from my son’s house on Christmas Day, which I book personally at the office around the corner from where I live.
The reason for this low usage is also because I have a dozen or so bus routes within two hundred metres and four of these are all night routes. And as London buses are ideal for parcels and shopping, when coming home with bags, I rarely need a taxi.
I would also put taxis in that category of wasted money, which is better spent on something more enjoyable like a proper lunch, rather than a drink and a banana.
But the main reason, I don’t use Uber is that it’s an app and I don’t want to put any apps on my smart phone, which I use exclusively for the web and to send and receive text messages.
I also don’t like giving my e-mail address and mobile phone number to companies or individuals willy-nilly, as so many companies like to send me unsolicited messages.
I’m certain, that apps will be the next security hole, that will be targeted by fraudsters.
As Uber has created lots of enemies for itself, I would put the Uber app at the top of the list of innocent trojans to get control of your phone, as fraudsters would like an app used by lots of users in insecure places.
People would also be much more careful with a financial app from their bank, financial advisor or credit card.
I think it is true to say, that in London, I am annoyed by traffic congestion which slows the buses and creates more air pollution.
Uber is helping to make this worse, as there are more and more mini-cabs in London.
Last week, I was on a bus that took an hour to get from Upper Street to Monument at ten in the morning, when the timetable says twenty-three minutes.
So I very much back Boris, who wants to limit the number of mini-cabs.
Does Your Energy Company Say Sorry When Its Web Site Gets Its Knickers In A Twist?
Mine does!
Ovo Says Sorry
I got this, when I clicked a link to view my statement!
I suppose it’s better than leaving me lost in cyberspace!
Is This How To Fight ISIS?
I first read about ISIS-Chan in The Times and I’m surprised that this Japanese character hasn’t spread into more of the media.
I did find this article about the anime in this article on CNN-Money.
The idea is to so fill Google and the other search engines with the harmless stories, that the real hardcore ISIS filth becomes impossible to find.
Let’s hope that the UK and other governments are creating masses of similar material in their fight against the evil madmen of ISIS and other terrorist groups.
Those that choose to spread their perverted material by the Internet should be strangled by the Internet.
The Anonymous Widower 