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Thursday September 14, 2006

Off to pastures new!

Well folks!

Been a bit lax on my blog for a while, but there is a good reason. I'm off! I'll soon be ex-sun, sun-alumni, a dead parrot, I will have passed on....this employee will be no more...

I'm off to KPMG. Thus this blog will also cease to be, it will be... (insert badly plagarised monty pythonige)

Thanks for reading this blog over the years. Not sure if I'll be allowed one at KPMG, but if not you can follow the new blog I've started on my home page.

Here > http://www.wagar.org.uk

Look forward to seeing you there and thanks, you're great! You knew that didn't you!

Cheers, Drew.

( Sep 14 2006, 06:52:57 PM BST / Sep 14 2006, 06:52:36 PM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/off_to_pastures_new

Tuesday June 27, 2006

Stupidest piece of tat with football branding on...?

I appreciate I'm only supposed to whinge about something once a week, but this football malarky is just getting out of hand.

I was in B&Q the other day (national hardware supplier for you colonials out there) to buy a piece of dowling. I discovered, to my horror, you could now buy a set of 'Patriotic England Red and White striped screwdrivers'.

Can anyone beat that for the most idiotic piece of trash daubed up to flog at double the price to undiscerning punters by simply sticking an england flag on it?

Answers below!

( Jun 27 2006, 08:33:29 AM BST / Jun 27 2006, 08:33:29 AM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/stupidest_piece_of_tat_with

Wednesday June 21, 2006

Football

How I hate football!

I don't know if I'm the only person in the whole of Europe who hasn't got the slightest interest in this overhyped and pointless game, but it seems like it. Work stops, traffic stops, people get stupidly drunk and all the decent pubs are ruined for the duration.

Not that I've watched it, but apparently England haven't been playing very well so far. Big question then, what do they actually do that makes them worth their utterly stupid salaries?

Worse than this though are the stupid flags people are sticking on their cars. I bet they are popular with bikers as they are ripped off at highspeed on the motorway. Duh. I saw one car with its wing mirrors painted with an England flag, enough is enough!

I expressed my opinion that I hoped we got knocked out soon and was told I was being unpatriotic! (Well, I'm not english anyway so I didn't care).

I listened to our rubbish entry in the Eurovision song contest, how much more patriotic can I be? ;-)

( Jun 21 2006, 11:20:46 AM BST / Jun 21 2006, 11:20:46 AM BST ) Permalink Comments [3]
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/football

Karate update...

Just managed to get my Orange belt, so that makes me "Mostly Harmless" I think!

( Jun 21 2006, 11:15:13 AM BST / Jun 21 2006, 11:15:13 AM BST ) Permalink Comments [1]
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/karate_update

Nerina Pallot's new album

Fantastic album and well worth getting, I'd sum her up as a modern day Suzanne Vega with a bit more zing, not that I am a very qualified popular music buff or anything. Worth getting though.

Quite surprised by the advertising for the album though. The tagline at the bottom is a quote from the Sunday Times which describes the main track "Everybody's going to war." as "A record of optimism and hope." which leads me to wonder whether or not they actually listened to any of the lyrics...

I found the song as a the cry of a melancholy, disheartened generation voicing their damning critique of the Blair/Bush "War on Terror". Can't quote the lyrics obviously, but check it out and see what you think. It's a great album and the "War" song is brilliant.

( Jun 21 2006, 11:11:35 AM BST / Jun 21 2006, 11:08:52 AM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/nerina_pallots_new_album

Friday April 28, 2006

When I rule the world...

Ok, whinge time!

Most of you will probably have read the 'If I were an Evil Overlord' stuff. It's great. If you haven't it's here.

This occasionally gets me to thinking... (when I'm in a bad mood) What kind of people would I totally irradicate from the world if I was in charge and having one of my Evil Overlord tempers? A quick blast from a star trek style phaser, no mess, no hassle... ;-)

My list goes thusly so far, please make appropriate suggestions! Let's tidy up this planet! Bwah ha ha ha ;-)

People who pierce bits of their body (exceptions for women with earrings, but only one set allowed)
People with tattoes
People who swear (exceptions for people who almost get run over by a truck or similar near death event or appropriate reason)
People who say "Nufink" instead of Nothing
People who don't understand what is wrong with "I didn't do nothing."
People who don't understand what is wrong with "I could of been there."
People who drive SUVS/4x4s to take their kids to school
People who wear anything from FCUK
People who don't laugh at my jokes (forced laughter not accepted, must be the genuine article)
People who use mobile phones on trains (in fact anywhere near me when I'm in a bad mood)
People who answer their phones when talking to me
People who are late for meetings
People who sit next to me on trains when there is a seat available somewhere else
People who take too damn long using ATMs/Electronic Ticketing Machines
People who are ahead of me in the queue at the supermarket
People who snore on trains/planes/buses etc...

That'll do for starters. Who would you remove? Doesn't have to be fair, equitable or even justifiable, remember, us Evil Overlords have carte blanche!

*** For the humour impaired. THIS ISN'T TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY OK?!! ***

( Apr 28 2006, 05:48:40 PM BST / Apr 28 2006, 05:34:37 PM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/when_i_rule_the_world

Last bit from Infosec 2006

Well, my fingers are back and healed now on my trusty laptop. Thought I'd share a few pics I took on my mobile at the show. Just wilt at the stunning quality of the built in camera. (I use the word camera in a very loose fashion...)

It was madness on the 24th (day before), this pic shows the state of the place during the afternoon before the show. Utter chaos, cables everywhere, bits of debris, paint, nails, screws, hinges, you name it, miraculously transformed for the following day...

Sun didn't have it's own stand (yes I know, we ask the same question), so we were fortunate to be able to piggy back on our bon amies 'ActivIdentity'... Naturally, our EntireID proposition was on display (which contains some ActivIdentity stuff)

It was a big show, virtually all the famous names were about and a bunch of folks I hadn't come across before. Stuff on display included a lot on anti-virus, firewall, VOIP, ethical hacking, server security, card management, encryption, but nothing really new and funky. Looks like a year on consolidate to me..

Coolest piece of technology? Well, nothing really jumped out at me, but these two fellows were quite amusing. Walking around in a moody fashion with dark glasses, struting around like the management, but never saying a word. They had backpacks with big speakers and modified laptops fitted. The screens were on a big pole that came out of the top of the backpack to an LCD panel above their heads... thus they advertised around the halls.

There were also some fluffy bunny girls, but damn, the mobile camera was too slow at reloading! ;-)

( Apr 28 2006, 05:21:44 PM BST / Apr 28 2006, 05:19:29 PM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/last_bit_from_infosec_2006

Thursday April 27, 2006

Report from Infosec 2006

Well I promised you a report from the show if they had wireless access and guess what, they don't - unless you have a credit card.

So, I'm typing this on a kiosk terminal which is about as user friendly as a ZX81. Hence, this will be short. I'm having to jab the space bar so hard my fingers will soon start to bleed...

Some major themes running through the show from an Identity perspective...

Compliance! - Everyone and their dog can help you with this. Nobody can tell you exactly what they're complying with...

Auditing! - See above.

Risk Mitigation - See above.

Too many products and not enough thinking. Everyone agrees there is a big opportunity/problem, but no one can say exactly what it is. Could be worse though, at least I'm not at a labour party conference right now...

( Apr 27 2006, 02:37:46 PM BST / Apr 27 2006, 02:37:46 PM BST ) Permalink Comments [1]
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/report_from_infosec_2006

Monday April 24, 2006

Infosec 2006

Will be off to this shortly as it runs from Tuesday to Thursday this week (25-27 April). Should be quite interesting this year as they've got everyone from hackers to vendors and everyone in between coming along to speak.

If they are civilised and provide wifi access, I'll give you an update from the showground...

( Apr 24 2006, 09:08:56 AM BST / Apr 24 2006, 09:08:56 AM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/infosec_2006

Wednesday April 19, 2006

Karate!

Took this up as a bit of addition exercise for the new year. My wife and 5 year old son have been doing it a bit longer and have already achieved their orange belts. I recently got my yellow one, so now feel I'm in the club.

In case your interested we're doing a variation of Shotokan and the belts run thusly:

White
Red
Yellow
Orange
Green
Blue
Purple
Brown One Stripe
Brown Two Stripe
Black.

The journey from white to black takes about five years with reasonable commitment, so I've sent myself a target of getting a black belt before I'm 40. Scary thought! It's quite a challenge, as the level of flexibility and fitness is quite a lot higher than most other sports I've attempted. However, I'm pretty fit, and it's fun during the warm up sessions to see all the teenagers collapsing at the side of the Dojo and whinging when old Greybeard is still going... ;-)

I'm under no illusions that I'm going to be a sort of mid life Bruce Lee, more a sort of "Crouching techie, hidden consultant" I suspect.

All I want is to be able to jump into a room and shout "Small Tree!" ;-)

( Jun 21 2006, 11:14:15 AM BST / Apr 19 2006, 05:34:58 PM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/karate

Proud Dad thing...

Big round of applause please!

My 5 year old son Mark has just learnt to cycle without his stabilisers. Very proud of him obviously, cool to see as well as he managed it for the first time, screaming his head off with a curious mix of enthusiasm, excitement, wobbling and downright terror. ;-)

OK, he's still got to master the "starting and stopping without falling off and crashing into passing pedestrians or nearby vegetation" aspects of the task, but significant progress made I feel!

A big milestone in his life!

( Apr 19 2006, 05:18:32 PM BST / Apr 19 2006, 05:17:24 PM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/proud_dad_thing

Thursday April 06, 2006

Office Shenanigans...

Been a bit lax with my whinge of the week (whinge of the last two months!), and the blog in general, but I've been busy, yada yada, excuse, excuse... ;-)

My current pet hate is my wonderful colleagues, can I say that on here? Well, I'm going to. They're not that bad really...

It's just stuff like when you agree to help someone, and you agree to produce a document or similar. Fair enough. Then you read the email summary of the meeting and find that what you agreed has morphed into something much bigger. Grrrr. Solution? Offer to write the minutes. (Evil Grin - Bwah-ha-ha!).

Also the classic non technical evaluation of a technical thing, along the lines of....

"Yes, we can do that!"
"By and large it's straight forward."
"The technical team will be able to give you that immediately."
"Your product has an API does it? Great, no problem then."
"Nothing much has changed, we don't need to retest it."
"How difficult can it be?"

Of course, us techies try to give sensible, intelligible and above all, realistic answers to these questions and attempt to clarify the grey areas, which results in...

"You're being a bit negative aren't you?"
"We all need to be team players."
"I think we're all violently agreeing with each other."
"I don't do detail."

Has anyone got a sure fire way to kill a cliché? I'd love to know!

( Apr 06 2006, 01:37:46 PM BST / Apr 06 2006, 01:37:46 PM BST ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/office_shenanigans

So it's a voluntary ID Card then...

Fascinating to see that the ID Card has finally made it onto the statute books...

More interesting is the government's definition of the word 'Voluntary'. If you were reading this story you wouldn't believe it, truth really is stranger than fiction.

I don't have to have an ID Card though, which is nice, however, if I plan to holiday overseas I'll be signed up for one anyway. Right.

In analysis, then, unless you are a conscientious objector, your info is going on the NIR, regardless. I can't see many of the great British public choosing not to renew their passports. (ID Card brings down Ryanair ;-)

Of course, you could renew your passport before 2008, when the NIR is supposed to be switched on. But they've thought of that. ;-) So, if it's going to happen, what do we have to be concerned about? Are ID Cards really that bad?

Well, IMHO, the card is a bit of a red herring. It's the NIR that's the issue, the so called 'Central Database'. Most of the scare mongering around this has been the idea that there will be a 'Central Database' with all of your info in it. Most people are talking about this as if somebody is going to set up one big database (choose your favourite - SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, etc) on a huge big machine somewhere. This is kind of easy to imagine and get your head around, and it's described as such in the bill, but it's not going to be a technical reality. The 'central' database invisioned in this bill is really going to be a huge collection of separate databases, interlinked in various ways by keys, encryption, hashing and joins. There isn't going to be a www.bigcentraldatabase.gov.uk for the hackers to hit.

Of course, that's not to say that the 'central' database won't be a target, it will. What the next step is is what does the information architecture for what needs to be stored look like? Is it virtualised, how are different systems cross referenced, what divisions of data, management and storage need to be designed? How will information be compartmentalised? Questions, questions.

It might also be handy if somebody could explain exactly what this information will be used for, and how it might benefit Joe Bloggs who is going to asked to stump up £80 or so for it, when a passport or driving licence happily identified most of us quite nicely. This assumes that the ID Card won't be helping with online authentication. As I write this PKIs are not in scope for the card; but this is subject to change without notice... ;-)

It's kinda of inevitable that this system is going to happen now, (though whether it stays once it's implemented is up for debate though), but the design of the NIR is the next big thing. I want to be pretty much convinced the NIR design is a good one, otherwise I'll just have to be 'a fool' as Mr. Clarke would tactfully put it...

( Apr 06 2006, 01:04:18 PM BST / Apr 06 2006, 12:54:58 PM BST ) Permalink Comments [1]
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/so_it_s_a_voluntary

Monday January 30, 2006

Found my car on Google Earth!

I was looking around on Google Earth (as you do) and unfortunately my current location is a bit too far out of range is is in a low res area. :-)

More fun though, my old house is in a high res area and I was able to locate it and zoom in. Even more fun I was able to see both of my cars! Quite unusual to have them both out, they were probably being washed!

You can make out my bright red Mk1 Golf GTI (1983) and my daily driver Audi A4, dark green. Little things please little minds!

( Jan 30 2006, 09:05:54 PM GMT / Jan 30 2006, 09:05:54 PM GMT ) Permalink Comments [2]
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/found_my_car_on_google

Friday January 27, 2006

Narnia : Coming back through the Wardrobe...

Went to see 'The Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' recently, full of the trepidation usually reserved for classic book film adaptions...

It opens with a quite terrifyingly accurate portrayal of the blitz (though the Pevensey's blackout rigour left something to be desired) and proceeds from there at an energetic pace.

The English countryside looked like England for a change. The train stations were correct for the period (yes, most country stations were unmanned) and they even got the right steam train, a 4-6-0 Great Western Castle Class. Top marks!

The fear and worry etched in the mothers faces whilst evacuating their children to an uncertain future was spot on too, this was set when the UK was standing alone against the Germans and we were expecting to be invaded in short order.

The rest of the film was a faithful protrayal of the book, with a few 'action sequences' thrown in. However these didn't detract from the flow. Giving the Beaver an east London accent was a nice touch, and it worked. Some of the dialogue was especially good, my favourite being from the eldest boy 'Peter' as the children are deliberating about whether or not to follow the beaver when he bursts out with "It's a beaver! It's not even supposed to be talking!"

All in all it felt like a junior version of Lord of the Rings, and that's not a criticism. Go, see and enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised. Recommended.

( Jan 27 2006, 11:52:00 AM GMT / Jan 27 2006, 11:42:09 AM GMT ) Permalink
Trackback: http://blogs.sun.com/Drew/entry/narnia_coming_back_through_the

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