Quantum Computing

Interesting article on Quantum Computing research at Microsoft.

http://www.technologyreview.com/photoessay/531606/microsofts-quantum-mechanics/

Book read: The Blunders of our Governments by Anthony King and Ivor Crewe

A really interesting book covering the last 30 years of British government and the wastage in public expenditure.  The front cover hints at the scale of things with the "revised and updated" sticker.

The book is an analysis of "the blunder" and does some reasonably in depth analysis of various policies over the years, what they intended to do, what they failed to do, and how much it all cost the taxpayer.

The early part of the book concentrates on the case studies, or the "Horror Stories".  There are just too many to mention, the poll tax, the ERM stand out.  Also the complete over confidence in any government IT project.

There are also some good examples from the last Labour government.  Individual learning accounts, the financing of the London underground metronet, and the completely over complicated tax credit system.

Gordon Brown is often cited as a deeply flawed character, vindictive of those who would oppose his ideas, developing policy in isolation in the treasury.   His policies such as tax credit probably cost the country untold millions.  Also it is claimed he would ensure someone who has opposed him career would suffer if he could.

But he is not alone in the long list of government failure.  The book goes on to analyse the human aspects of failure and then the system aspects of government.  Predictably consultancies come in for heavy criticism, with so much government expertise being removed or downsized, these firms effectively get to write their own cheque for fees and ongoing work.

A really good read, and in places simply staggering.

Film: The Reader directed by Stephen Daldry

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051/

A really thought provoking film with some superb acting from Kate Winslet.  The story is difficult material about a war crimes trial.  The story is very engaging, and is full of sub plot to go alongside the main theme.