Quantum Cryptography
Seriously - isn't that the coolest sounding concept you've ever heard of? I mean - 'Quantum Cryptography' - it sounds like a bit of Star Trek technobabble, but it's real.
Televiewing
The box set of The West Wing Season Five should be arriving today - I haven't seen a single episode of this one, and it's the first after the departure of series creator Aaron Sorkin, which led to very mixed reviews. So I await viewing it with a mixture of interest and trepidation.
That's assuming I ever get round to watching it - the stack of DVDs we've accumulated and need to get through is just silly - I bought the Angel Season Five box last time I was in SF (late February) and I've watched all of two episodes. I made an attempt to start on The 4400 but it was diabolically bad, so I gave up. I have a chunk of Carnivale season one to get through, and David bought me all of UFO for Christmas and we haven't yet sat down and watched any of it.
And that's setting aside the films that we've not yet seen, nor I'm sure some TV stuff that I'm forgetting about.
Day after the election - that's what i should focus on - get some stuff watched then 
Election Round-Up
I'm going to start a catch-up entry on all things related to the Election and try to get it to a point where it's postable withing the next day or two.
To start with, as I've remarked before, I'm a bit of an election junky, so I'll be up late on the night in question following all the declarations and analysis and probably shouting a lot at the politicians being interviewed. I've taken the day off the following day, so I'll be able to sit through it to the bitter end.
I can't remember the last time I felt so ambivalent about an election though. I'm pretty much at the end of my tether with the leadership of the Labour Party, though still feel it should spiritually be my home, even though it doesn't act like a socialist enough organisation for my taste. The Conservatives under Michael Howard fill me with a dread the like of which I can't recall ever feeling even in the darkest days of Thatcher, though fortunately I don't see any prospect of them sweeping to power. The Liberal Democrats keep saying a lot of stuff that I agree with, but sadly don't stand a chance of forming the official opposition, so they'll just continue to nibble at the heels of the big two for the foreseeable. I suppose my ideal is that Labour get in but with a majority sufficiently reasonable that the other parties can keep them honest; returning to my previously stated position that strong opposition is essential for good government.
Of the 'Fringe' parties, I'm entertained by the UKIP and their suggestion that their tax cuts and higher spending should be covered by an immediate increase in Government borrowing of £30billion. Because that sounds like a good sound fiscal policy. Veritas I simply can't take seriously for very many reasons, but their numbers fail to add up even more spectacularly, because they want more people in prison for longer, more police officers, more money spent on immigration control, and a significant reduction in money into the country from taxes. And they don't even sugest that we put the entire economy in hock to do it. I also love that in their website's summary of their position of on Law and Order they jump straight from Travellers on illegal pitches to Paedophiles - nice sense of perspective there.
The Greens always strike me as very worthy, and of course it's important to support environmental policies, but every time I take a serious look into their policies, there's a feeling of naïvte there that makes me incapable of taking them seriously.
More as I get the chance.
Damn Spam
I've been having a *lot* of trouble recently with comment spammers round here. I've had waves of it before, but just recently it's been getting to the point of seriously annoying. I just had to delete 45 comments that appeared overnight, on top of the 20-odd from Friday and another 20-odd on Thursday, etc, etc.
I use MT Blacklist to try and keep the buggers down, and was starting to think that it was losing its effectiveness until I check the activity log and realised it's just that the spammers are moving slightly faster than the blacklisters. There are hundreds and hundreds of additional spam comments being blocked every single week.
Unreal.
Out Of The Mouths….
During that long silence a couple of weeks ago, I had occasion to call Microsoft for some technical support, and as I was doing so immediately after spending well over an hour on the line to Dell's support people too, I was not in the mood to be handed around five different people in different teams, nor ultimately to have someone 'support' me by so clearly reading from a script to tell me that they can't help me and I need to speak to Dell....
However, the whole saga was *almost* redeemed by one of the Microsoft people in the chain telling me "We don't have any technical knowledge here."
It’s All Go….
Honestly - you wait years for recognition and two stories about it turn up at once.
Spain paves way for gay marriage.
The Vatican is reportedly not happy.
Edit: Told you
Civil Unions
The US State of Connecticut has become the first voluntarily to make civil unions for gay and lesbian couples legal.
The bill which does this contains an amendment which specifically defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, in order to avoid the suggestion that this is actually gay marriage, but now see the dilemma for the opponents.
Various 'defence of marriage' groups are planning action in opposition to the bill, but by extension, they're also going to be in opposition of the very definition that they so rigorously and narrowly fight for.
In the meantime, I hope that Connecticut's residents enjoy this step towards equality to the fullest.
EDIT: I like the way someone else put this in a discussion about it:
"Yeah, see this is the tactic that should be taken. You limit what you define "marriage" as and then create civil unions which are the exact same thing. It sort of takes away the room to manuver.
Antigay person: But marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN!
Legislature: Yeah, that's what we said.
AP: Well...uhh.....darn it!"
Grief! It’s Been Ten Days!
I seriously thought I was getting back on track with this blogging thing, but the last week and a bit has been stupidly busy. I've also been dealing with significant spam comment incursions.
However, I have things to say about the election, taking exercise, family matters and various TV things. I'll try to do a couple of serious catch-ups in the next day or two and then get back onto a regular schedule.
It’s Pronounced ‘ConstanTYNE’….
Finally got round to seeing Constantine on Friday evening, which despite what they say in the film I will continue to pronounce correctly
Drawing significant elements from Garth Ennis' Dangerous Habits storyline in the comic, it's by no means a bad modern horror film. It draws on a variety of other sources, including every 'demonic birth' film there ever was, and so occasionally comes across as a bit of a mishmash, but an enjoyable one for all that.
The one *huge* problem with it is the fact that Keanu Reeves performs about as badly as I've ever seen him in anything. It's dreadful in this, conveying none of the nuances that the character is offered via the script or plot, and in no way convincing as a man who has seen greater horror than can be imagined.
Yes To Labour, No To Blair?
Over on Millarworld Mark Millar is highlighting a useful solution for those who would like to see another Labour Government, but who believe that Tony Blair should not be at the head of the new government because he's a lying, arrogant bastard (who, me? opinionated?).
That solution is to vote Labour locally, but send some money to support the campaign of Reg Keys.
Reg Keys' son was killed in Iraq, as part of a war that his parents clearly believe was based on lies. Mr Keys is therefore standing against Blair in his own constituency. The hope would be that something like Tatton in 97 happens, with the other parties standing aside.
It's an interesting proposition, to say the least.
Mr Keys' Election Letter (in PDF format) is here.