Two Gentlemen

It has been said that one definition of a gentleman is "someone who can play the bagpipes but doesn't."

I have no information concerning the two gentlemen I am writing about today in this regard, and my awarding them the accolade - and indeed writing about the matter - is my whim of course; I should mention perhaps a third (but fictional) gentleman in this connexion since his family motto was "As my whimsy takes me."*

So, to my two real-life gentlemen.

The first earned his spurs (that is in my own experience) in 1982, when he resigned as British Foreign Secretary. This was following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina. The Rt Hon Lord Carrington, for it was he, took full responsibility for the complacency that resulted in the withdrawal of the minimal naval force in the area allowing the disgusting General Galtieri to proceed with the invasion which he hoped would distract the Argentinian population from his appalling regime. It is my understanding that Lord Carrington resigned on a matter of principle (as the Secretary of State responsible) and that it was in reality his underlings (the Ministers of State at the Foreign Office) who should have gone.

Lord Carrington. Picture Source: NATO

The Rt Hon. Lord Carrington. Picture source: NATO

I have mentioned this 26-year old event because it was brought to mind today by another gentlemanly act (at least in the light of the information I have): the resignation of the President of the French Bank Caisse d'Epargne, M. Charles Milhaud.

M. Milhaud resigned following the loss last week of €600,000,000 owing to "unauthorised derivatives trading" by a team at the Bank. In his statement, M. Milhaud pointed out that these trades were made despite specific instructions to the contrary, issued by Milhaud himself and some of his co-directors. The bank is in no danger whatever of collapse, by all accounts unlike certain others not so far from France - that is until their government bailed them out (or effectively nationalised them).

However M. Milhaud after a 45-year career** at the Caisse d'Epargne opted to take responsibility; two of his fellow directors have also resigned.

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It is true that we are living in exceptional times, but M. Milhaud's behaviour in this affair reminded me of Lord Carrington and contrasts pleasantly with some of the rather unattractive characters in certain banking communities that have cropped up in the news recently.

It would be depressing to discover that M. Milhaud was obliged by pressure from the French government to fall on his sword. I hope I don't.

Until the next time.

*Lord Peter Wimsey of course.

** Just imagine: a career banker in charge of a bank these days - I prefer this idea to some of those spivs running other institutions!

BLOODY HTML! The link to the picture source under Lord Carrington's picture does not appear. I have been obliged to place it above the picture. Apologies, but not my fault.

Mrs Sixpack for Veep?

Early in September, I had occasion to refer to Mrs Todd Palin, still the Republican nominee for Vice-President of the U.S.A.

I have been quite relaxed about her since that time, because she spouts mostly either platitudes or nonsense and although this is far from rare in any politician, she is rather an extreme example; in consequence, I doubt she has added to Mr McCain's election chances, which appear slim at present.

I was disturbed today though to read in an IHT article that she has strong support amongst certain sections of the American population:

All the while, Palin's stoutest defenders are often the Joe Sixpacks in her crowds, who shrug off her critics, ridiculers and perceived adversaries in the news media. They say they appreciate Palin for, above all else, how "real" and "like us" she is.

Image source: Here

Great. Mrs Joe Sixpack: as they say, a "heartbeat away from the presidency."

How very reassuring.

Meanwhile it has been reported that former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell has endorsed Mr Barack Obama's candidature. He gives a number of reasons for his endorsement of Mr Obama, amongst which, referring to Mrs Palin, he said "I don't believe that she is ready to be President of the United States."

That then is something that General Powell and I have in common, although I would add that I doubt that she will ever be ready.

Until the next time

Data Theft - Again

This one's an absolute cracker!

Imagine: the credit card machine at your local supermarket has a little added "extra"...

This little "extra" is jolly clever: it records your card details and your PIN and then obligingly makes a discreet phone call to Lahore in Pakistan, where the data are uploaded and the frauds can begin.

It's even more sophisticated: it can be programmed to pick certain types of card or even to "lie low" to avoid detection.

Apparently over 40 shops have been targeted in the UK alone - the likes of Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

As if money isn't going to be difficult enough! Read all about it in the Wall Street Journal (I assume that there is still a Wall Street!) or at Timesonline.

Until the next time

And yet another one!

And this time with impeccable timing.

In the UK it is "National Identity Fraud Prevention Week" a worthy cause without doubt in a country that certainly needs to do something as anyone who reads this blog at least will know.

Unfortunately, once again, those in charge of data have been caught with their trousers down. This time it appears that the culprits are contractors to the Ministry of Defence, EDS who have "lost track of a portable hard drive."

There is a report in the International Herald Tribune, from which the following extract is taken:

The military confirmed a report in The Sun newspaper that contractor EDS lost track of a portable hard drive, but said it could not comment on the claim that it contains names, addresses, passport numbers and driver's license information of service personnel along with data on 600,000 potential recruits

The IHT continues:

The British government has struggled to get a handle on data losses even as it rolls out an ambitious national identification card program. Last year's loss of computer disks containing information — including banking records — on nearly half the U.K. population caught international attention. A steady stream of data blunders since then has kept the spotlight on the way the government handles — or mishandles — its citizens' information..

I read that following the world-wide financial crisis, sales of safes have soared. Perhaps in future someone might just have the idea that a safe is a good place to keep confidential records too?

Until the next time

P.S. HTM 'ell is up to its tricks again - sorry, I am utterly powerless to control this Frankenstein's monster

HTM 'ell Again

Sorry for the appearance of the last post here.

Once again the HTM 'ell spontaneously decided to fuck up the appearance about which I can do nothing.

Until the next time

A Technical Wonder

Kutztown University. Source: Wired

On 6th September, the Geoeye 1 satellite was launched; now the first image captured (yesterday) has been posted on the web and on seeing it, I was very impressed with the quality. Apparently the resolution provided to the public is limited by law to 50cm although the satellite can provide resolution of 41 or 43cm depending upon which report you read. The latter higher-quality images will be supplied to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency - a US government agency, whilst Google, 50% partner in the satellite will use images for the Google Maps programme.

In reading the Wired Report where I discovered the news, I had to smile at Geoeye's Mark Brender's "spin" on the phrase "spy satellite":

"This is the opposite of a spy satellite," Brender said in a phone interview. "Spies don't put info on the Internet and sell imagery. We're an Earth-imaging satellite, and we can sell our imagery to customers around the world who have a need to map and measure and monitor things on the ground."

Mr Brender's understanding of the word "spy" seems to be a little limited and his response a little defensive!

The Wired article states that US Intelligence agencies have had since the 1970s, spy satellites that "can read newspaper headlines in Red Square." This suggests very high resolution indeed; I wonder what they can read today?

Until the next time