Angela Merkel on Greece
Well not really, but someone purporting to be her has tweeted.
I’m glad I’ve solved the Greek crisis and I look forward to solving it again next week.
Very funny! But it may well be true!
Web Programmer At Risk of Execution In Iran
This is from Amnesty International.
Web programmer Saeed Malekpour could be executed at any time in Iran. His death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 17 January 2012 and a court official has indicated that his death sentence may have now been sent for implementation.
Saeed Malekpour, a resident of Canada and Iranian national, aged 36, was again sentenced to death on 19 October 2011 by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, and it was confirmed by Branch 32 of the Supreme Court on 17 January 2012. On 14 February 2012, one of Saeed Malekpour’s lawyers visited both courts to ask about his case, but learned that the file was being held at neither court. Comments from a court official suggested that this is because Saeed Malekpour’s file has been sent to the Office of Implementation of Sentences.
Saeed Malekpour was sentenced to death for “insulting and desecrating Islam” after a program he had developed for uploading photos online had been used to post pornographic images without his knowledge. Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death in October 2010 following a trial that reportedly only lasted 15 minutes. After a June 2011 announcement that the Supreme Court had returned the case for further review, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court imposed again the death sentence as well as prison sentence of seven and a-half years. Amnesty International understands that although he has legal representation now, for much of his detention Saeed Malekpour has had no access to legal counsel.
Saeed Malekpour had been living in Canada since 2005, but was arrested in October 2008 while visiting his family in Iran. He was allegedly tortured while held for over a year in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison. In 2009, Iranian state television repeatedly aired a “confession” by Saeed. In an open letter dated March 2010, Saeed Malekpour stated his “confession” was extracted after prolonged torture following orders by Revolutionary Guard interrogators.
I see many e-mails like this. To the Iranians justice seems to be a word with seven-letters and that is all.
This one touched me, as I’ve written programs to upload pictures and othe files to the Internet. As far as I know no-one has used them for any illicit purposes.
Type Santorum into Google
This idea was broadcast on Fighting Talk this morning. You don’t get what you expect, but the result of a spat between Rick Santorum and someone who disagrees with his views.
It is a masterful illustration of how to use the power of Google.
If you have a nervous disposition, make sure you have a small glass of Scotland’s finest to hand.
Spam in Blogs
Every morning, I empty the spam out of my blog. usually, it’s a dozen or so messages and I’ve commemted about it before.
It seems to have changed since that last comment, in that now a lot seems to be trying to sell me virus protection programs, with a rather verbose script, that only deserves one action; to be trashed.
You’d think people had better things to do with their time.
Especially, as the spam filter used by WordPress seems to be as reliable and accurate as an SAS-trained marksman.
Leaving Facebook
I never use the site and although I had a profile, I was getting a bit fed up with some messages the site was sending me. I should say there was nothing offensive, but I prefer to deal privately with people or through LinkedIn. So I decided to leave,logged in and looked for the Delete Profile button.
There isn’t an obvious one and I had to use Google to search for how to do it. But once I found a page on Yahoo, it was pretty much plain sailing. But one typing mistake would have meant my profile stayed.
All of these networking sites, should be obvious and easy to leave, so that those perhaps having unwanted messages can protect themselves virtually instantly.
I shall report, if I get any more communications from Facebook.
The Americans Don’t Have A Sense of Humour
It’s all here.
I rest my case!
Now we have even more reasons to not visit the Land of the Hi-tech Death Penalty!
Facts About London During Wikipedia Blackout
You don’t need Wikipedia. Just look here.
Wikipedia Goes Black
Wikipedia is off line today and already I have wanted to use it twice and couldn’t. It’s all because of the SOPA and PIPA acts in the US Congress. Read about the reasons here.
I actually don’t see what these Acts have to do with the UK.
HMRC Scams
I am very lucky in that I can afford an accountant to do my tax returns, so I know that if I get an e-mail from HMRC, it’s a scam.
I’ve had three in the last few days.
This page on the HMRC web site gives details on how to recognise them.
i forward all mine to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. This is indicated on this page.
One of the interesting things about these e-mails, is that they were all to an old e-mail address that I don’t use now. I do monitor it, in case one of my old friends hasn’t got my new one.
For financial transactions, I always use a particular e-mail that is not used elsewhere. That means that if I get an e-mail to that address, I check it thoroughly and if say it’s selling me a holiday, I then know that my bank or other financial institution might have been compromised.
The Problem With My Kindle
I was given a Kindle for Christmas and I like it and usually have it in the pocket of my jacket, when I’m travelling.
It does have one serious problem and that is, I tend to be so engrossed in what I’m reading, that I sometimes miss my stop on the bus or train.
The Anonymous Widower 