GrumpiusMaximus

A resolved grump this morning. Last week, one of my mates found a clear plastic wallet full of medical information that had been left on a London morning train with traceable patient information (names of patients, prescription changes and ward locations) that had been printed from emails sent by a hospital. She didn't want to make a fuss but data protection is one of my pet topics so I called up the hospital trust that was part of the email chain and left a voicemail with their information governance officer. I got a phone call the next day, sent another email with the picture my mate had taken. Only the top page was visible but there were easily 30 pages in there of emails. Got an email yesterday saying that it had been reported to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) but that it was a Boots Pharmacy employee that had been the source of the information leak. In that manner, it's resolved because that's the statuatory legal duty with shit like this. The ICO will decide if further action (including fines for both the organisation and individual) needs to occur. A couple of things here really. Who the fuck prints emails in this day and age? If you need emails on the move, then the business can get you a mobile phone or laptop? Secondly, what kind of system lets people take that kind of information off-site and unsecured in such a manner that it can just be left on a train with indentifiable information clearly visible? I used to work in mental health and at the most basic level, we had to anonymise all of our notes (i.e. initials rather than names in everything) and if there was anything being taken off site other than notebooks, there were locked briefcases provided with combination locks so that it would take a bit of effort to steal the information. Added to all that, everybody has an NHS number that is shared with other providers like pharmacies - so why they couldn't use those rather than full names in the emails is beyond me.

I was with Virgin Mobile for years until they fucked me about (long story to do with call charges to Guernsey) and cut off my number. When I called them on the landline to discuss it, the call operator openly lied to me when I asked if I could be passed up the tree to her manager. When I pointed out that what she was saying was utter bullshit, she said something different and I was able to tie her into complete knots. At which point she relented and I got the promise of a call back. I did actually get a call back and my issue resolved but when that contract expired I fucked right off Virgin Mobile and went to Three, then O2. I'll never go back and this was ten years ago. Different section to Virgin Media but much the same experience. I had a pretty good time with Plusnet when I lived in my old flat. The couple of times I called them they were quick, responsive and courteous. Certainly can't complain.

At least it's not the stereo 'fitting' that I did in my Ford Ka aged about 19. Dodgy stereo from a mate. No wiring loom adapter and no money. All I needed was some time, electrical tape and several spare fuses until I worked out which wire did what (I ended up blowing three). Your installation is clearly of outstanding quality.

The Isle of Sheppey has had their water out for the last three days. Burst main supplying the island. It's getting restored now but it ran dry and it's taken another 24 hours for the pressure to re-build.

Having got stuck behind two 1983-registered lorries for about 35 miles on a single-lane A road a few years back on a hot day I can categorically say that emissions control is definitely a good thing. One tends to forget how bad it could be at times...

I've worked out @jakebullet's address.

I've had a couple of my own but the most amusing one was when I was passenger in a minibus. I used to work in a school and we'd taken the kids on a trip to Canterbury. My manager had a grandfathered minibus licence (I don't) and is an... enthusiastic driver. On the way back is a massive hill. Going down the hill, she just casually mentioned that the brakes had faded somewhat whilst we were doing 65 towards a busy roundabout. I've never been more terrified in my life.

This. I had a chat with my manager a few weeks ago (the firm has six full-time employees including myself) and I pointed out my lack of networking experience. Lo and behold the next day he'd arranged for us to do some work de-commisioning servers from a data centre and re-commisionning (and re-networking) them elsewhere. It's been delayed twice but it was a swift offer to plug a knowledge gap. They've also offered to pay for whatever qualifications I want...

The great thing about the industry is that if you don't get that job, there will be another one in a bit that comes along that's similar. Really informed my attitude towards (mildly) negotiating my salary (during interview) with my current employer. I didn't have anything to lose, so I just... did.

Bad luck! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Worth a go. Next time.

When are you likely to hear back? Rooting for you mate, L2 and beyond is where you ought to be.

That junction is an absolute menace. It's much easier to arrive from the M26. Did it yesterday. Classic example of Ringways not being completed and making the best of what was already there with the M25.

My other half lived in Guernsey for a year. Just before she moved over there, her Ford Ka was due an MOT it was likely to fail so instead she just exported it and sold it on just before she came back to the UK. It was good thinking.

@Rust CollectorYou could have reported the messages to the Police... hare coursing is illegal after all. Just for shits and giggles.

Almost a shame Bumrah didn't get to kick off again. I must admit I was cheering that on at the time. Looks set up for a bit of fun this afternoon, enjoy!

@PhilA In my limited experience of driving in the States, I noticed that highway driving was all about picking a lane and driving in it without any regard for the speed of the other vehicles. We were around DC-Pennsylvania and New York. Do you get that where you are?

Hope you're feeling better mate. I had one like this a few years ago where I gradually lost my vision as I was driving. Usually mine are just fuck-off headaches with a sore neck. I was quite grateful to have something else for a change but it wasn't much fun at the time. I just slept it off in the end. I've had one where my arm tingled before as well. But out of the hundred or so that I've had, those are the only two times it hasn't had the headache.

If the engine gets going without issue, you can have roast spider for tea. I'm sure the cat will help if necessary.

FTFY.

I think @Datsuncog missed a trick not become an author of political or historical satire. Maybe both. 'Flashman' meets 'The Thick of It'. Maybe call it 'Thickflash'.

Get a slightly rusty Pearl double-braced boom stand and stick it slightly out of the passenger window. Works well. There was the time that I'd been playing a show and had so much gear in the car that I could only use 2nd and 4th because of a stand obstructing the gear stick - but that didn't really matter in the Ka...

Grow a beard and wear your hair long. Also, a drum kit in the back helps. I did once overtake a Pagani Zonda in my Ka on the A2 near Dartford. That was the highlight of my driving life.

I never got bullied in my Mk1 Ford Ka. I put this down to the fact that the passenger side was covered in dents...

We've had a 2009 Cooper Clubman D for about six months and got it at about 54K. At 59K the clutch went although the warning signs had been there since we got it (but we didn't know at the time). Ended up needing a DMF and clutch replacement and that was expensive. It also likes to pretend that its bulbs are playing up (sensors) but this comes and goes and the handle for the bonnet release snapped (and has since been fixed). The warning sign on the clutch was that the pedal was heavy and then we couldn't find the torque band. Then it started slipping and gave up the ghost fairly rapidly. Ours has the Ford diesel engine. It's a nice engine and gives decent performance. It handles nicely and it's a pleasant place to be. The ride is a bit hard for my tastes and the seats are a bit small - but I'm 20-odd Stone. It's a really nice car and I like it, although the boot isn't as big as you think it is (even on the estate) but it is good fun to drive. You can get more bagpipes into most other estates and we all know how important that is.

@Supernaut It's only when you look at the gaping armour plate gaps at the back of their T34-85, you realise just how shoddily built those things were. British Leyland had nothing on the Soviet Union.