ICT education reform

Not a moment too soon, someone thinks that our ICT education is not really cutting it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15926871 Not that this will come as any surprise. I don't however think that pure Computer Science degrees are the answer. I think a programming education should be a part of any engineering discipline. This article is more focusing at school level and maybe college. How do we have a reasonable exposure to programming at these levels to capture peoples interest. It definitely is not about teaching people packages (again this can be done in subjects that want to use the package), and more about the creative and design process behind making software.

Osborne finds some levers

When they came to power Osborne said it was not as if he had some levers he could pull in his office to get economic growth, it was down to the people of the country and businesses to provide it.

Well he seems to have found some levers now, infrastructure investment, loans to smaller companies. All sounds good in principle, it's a shame governments do not think of doing more of this even in the good times.

The spectre of PFI deals looms over us though, a financial trick that allows outside private firms to earn interest payments off public funded developments - with advisors from private firms working in the treasury sounds like another scandal waiting to break

Film: Syriana Directed by Stephen Gaghan

A well done film about the murky world of oil commerce. The film has a few threads running through it. A US "energy consultant" who gets too close to the middle east countries and ruling families, a haggard CIA agent who becomes a liability, and two oil companies merging to carve up more of the oil resource.

It is a complicated plot and probably benefits from watching twice. It is also very contemporary and tells the US audience a few uncomfortable home truths that probably did not have to be spiced up for the big screen.

Harrier Purchase

The Royal Navy scrapped Harriers have been sold for spares to the US marines. It was always bit short sighted to scrap these aircraft (even if it made sense to cut back on Ark Royal, and keep the aircraft just in case they needed quick deployment). As always Lewis Page sums up the UK government myopia: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/15/harriers_saved/

Mclaren Sports Car

There has been an interesting documentary series showcasing British engineering. In reality showcases the niche areas that we still manage to survive in, as we've never really done mass production (although perversely we seem to do it fine with Japanese management in car factories).

This week it was building of the latest McLaren supercar. In effect McLaren are doing the body work, paint work, and out fitting. Engines are built in the UK by another company.

It was an impressive operation, the programme did give an insight into the over meticulous Ron Dennis - who seemed perturbed by cracked or replaced tiles in his foyer area. But a tribute to perfection on one level, part of me did think "Red Bull have taken you to the cleaners this year, maybe this is the wrong thing to focus on!".

The programme had some interesting people interviewed, a 20 year serving employee now working back at the factory after having worked for the F1 team for most of his time. They also showed just how big and expanding a facility it is, they have sold out the first two years of production already - and the expansion means more car production. All an an "affordable" £160K, not bad for a supercar I suppose.

Paul Darrow

He was probably my all time favourite actor growing up, of course from his association from Blakes 7. His career never really blossomed from that lead role, but I always remembered him. Subsequent research and interviews revealed that he had a lot of say in the Avon character - a bit of an anti-hero in himself. So my memory was jogged recently when none other than Paul was doing the voice overs for Jack FM - a local radio station. I found some good interviews with Paul on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0fuzN3hTQo http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=IlewtItRku8

Ubuntu and Unity

A lot of disquiet over the X replacement Unity. I've only briefly tried it on a netbook, and it probably translated well there with the lack of screen real estate. I think like others I would find it a bit limiting on a more powerful system or with more screen space to use. I think also I really like Ubuntu as it is now, so a big change would probably feel strange. But are Canonical making a mistake - is this all really just a misguided attempt to go after the tablet market. Linux never made it on the desktop, we should not be thinking it's going to anything but flop on the tablet. Even with all the ease of use introduced over the years (and that is mighty impressive), Linux is the preserve of geeks in the desktop space - people who care about what their laptop/PC is running.