News Stories of the week..........

It has been a quiet week, here at Chez Smudger, this week, so I have trawled the stories I have found via my Newzcrawler connection. And, apart from having to struggle on with a trapped nerve in my neck that is causing my right fingers to loss their feeling

( OUCCCCHHHH )

I have updated my favourite browser (which I would recommend to anyone - especially if your a real Explorer hater) - Firefox , which has now gone into version 1, and also, seemingly, gone fully under the "control" of the Mozilla Organisation.

60th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden

Massive air drop to mark Arnhem Veterans of the Battle of Arnhem re-enact the famous air drop to mark its 60th anniversary.

[via BBC News UK UK Edition]

I have always had an interest in history, and the last two World Wars in particular. And, over the last few days, there have been many news stories reporting on the Arnhem memorial events. I was particularly moved by the Air drop that took place earlier today. Although I could spend a few lines re telling the story, fellow Blogger and Xanga member EnglishJuls has done several postings on the same story, and a dammed fine job she has done too.

The House Of Commons

Commons raider's 'easy' scheme The protesters who stormed the House of Commons describe the operation as "frighteningly simple". [via BBC News UK UK Edition]

'No-go' jibe as Michael pulls out Pro-hunters say Alun Michael's decision to drop out of a march shows the countryside is a Labour no-go area. [via BBC News UK UK Edition]

These two stories are indicative of the "ideals" of some people, and that some of their tactics stink.

Over the last few days, The UK hunting fraternity have, after an 80+ year debate, lost the argument on the banning of Fox Hunting. But , over the last few days, there have been several things that have, in my mind, threatened the very fabric of British Society.

The first story just showed how easy it would have been to assassinate any member of Parliament, when the five protesters broke through on to the debating floor of the House of Commons. The finger pointed at the Rural Affairs Minister could have easier;y been a gun. Where was the security?. ( And then that being followed up by a Sun Reporter smuggling a "pretend bomb into the House of Commons - what did the Sun think it was doing?) And now, the Countryside Alliance (and I apologise to those who demonstrate in a fair minded manner - which is, of course most of them) have effectively made the countryside a no go area for Ministers. OK, they have the right to be mardy. They have the right to protest their dismay. What they don't have is the right to block who goes where and when.

Microsoft - OH OH

Major Windows XP SP2 bug reveals documents worldwide

Direct and Related Links for 'Major Windows XP SP2 bug reveals documents worldwide'Following is text from the German site PC Welt about a bug they discovered in Windows XP SP-2

[via Lockergnome's Tech News Watch]Windows XP SP2 Security Center Spoof

Direct and Related Links for 'Windows XP SP2 Security Center Spoof' - This is almost sad. According to PC Magazine, the new Microsoft â??securityâ?? features can in fact be spoofed thanks to a big oops and a little know how.

[via Lockergnome's Tech News Watch]

Isn't it sad. Microsoft issue a major patch for Windows XP, and, almost immediately they are back in trouble. Both the above stories just seem to show how, whatever the people due in Richmond, they take one step forward, and then three steps back. What a pig.

Weather in Space?

Hurricanes could delay shuttle return to flight The effects of two major hurricanes in recent weeks could eventually delay the space shuttle'...

[via spacetoday.net]

This is just one of the by products of what seems to have been a rather "excessive" Summer of weather on both sides of the pond. The US and its neighbours have suffered several major storms in succession, whilst over here we have had little Sun and lots, and lots, and lots, and lots, AND LOTS of rain. What is going on with the weather?

Blogging and Fiddling

flip flopping blog software - After a short time away from Movable Type and a somewhat less that satisfactory run with WordPress we are now paying customers of Six Apart and running on MT 3.11. [via Unsanity.org]

I know that this is quite the thing that I do, but what i do do is jump from one web based system to another. If you have read any of my posting before, I have commented on the fact that several times I have rationalised the number of Weblogs I actually post too, only to, within a few months, weeks or even , in the case of the last "sort out", within a few days - what a wally -

God Bless

The Smudger