Nov 8 2008

Goodbye Suffolk, Goodbye io global

Evil Jane Yesterday I left io global and Suffolk to move back to Holmfirth. I’m going to be working for 2ergo just north of Manchester from the 17th November (Happy Birthday Edie!). I’m really looking forward to the move back up, most of my stuff is already there.

This weekend I am in London at a gig at the Bullet Bar in Camden, followed by a short gig at the Music Live event at the NEC. I’m really looking forward to them both, but the band is something I’m going to miss dreadfully. My last gig with them is on December 6th. I’ll post more details when I know them, but for HILDA folks, I think there is a HILDA organised that day potentially.

So goodbye Suffolk and goodbye io global. I’ve got lots of happy memories - like the time that Jane stapled my arm (photo!) I’ve met some great people and I’m sure I’ll keep in touch with a good number of them for a long, long time.


Nov 6 2008

More Adastral Park Pentesting

Exhibit C


Yesterday’s assault on security was accomplished using a flat cap. By ‘eck.


Nov 6 2008

Bad show HMV

Unfortunately 20% of people on the internet won’t be able to view your site.


Nov 4 2008

Pentesting Adastral Park

The site I work on is supposed to fairly secure. I don’t mean “security with machine guns” secure, but I do mean “ID required to get on site” secure. However, on my motorbike I have never had to show ID to get on site. So, now my bike is in Yorkshire and I’m having to use my car, I thought I would see how easy it is to get on site without showing valid site ID.

Monday - Exhibit A

Exhibit A


I waved an old Visa card at the security guard as I drove in. He waved me through.

Tuesday - Exhibit B

Exhibit B

I waved an empty Tropicana Orange Juice bottle at the security guard as I drove in. He waved me through.

More to come…

If anyone has suggestions to other things I could use to get on site, please add a comment!


Oct 16 2008

Useful article on VMware Server Performance

I found this article on tweaks when running VMware Server on a Linux host very useful. Some simple changes that have made a quite a difference to our internal VMware servers.


Oct 14 2008

A word to vehicle insurance companies…

Unless you automatically offer me your very best quote on my renewal, I will take insurance from someone else.

My insurers had the cheek to increase my premiums by twenty quid, even though I now have a year’s no claims bonus more than the previous year. When I check on their website, the quote comes in far lower than the renewal quote.

So now, I’ve changed my insurer.. saved myself £80 and reduced my excess.


Oct 13 2008

Dear Times…

In reference to your article, “Court ruling strengthens patent protection for UK software“, the correct UK English spelling of “program” in the context of Computer Software is “program” and not “programme”. That is all.


Oct 9 2008

Security Hazards

A friend just sent me a link to Birmingham International Airports Reports and Accounts 2007-2008″, in particular Page 11, which discusses “Safety and Security”.

May I present Exhibits A and B

Exhibit A - Page 11


Exhibit B - Enlargement of Page 11 - Coloured red


I wonder if this was intentional!


Oct 9 2008

Made up words

If I say “Om nom nom nom” at work, everyone knows I’m asking “Are you ready for lunch?” (from omnomnomnom.com), but I was wondering if anyone else had weird phrases that they use that other people just don’t understand?


Oct 7 2008

I’m off back oop north

Yesterday I handed my notice in on my flat and my job. I’m moving back up to Yorkshire to start a new job in November. I’m really looking forward to going back up, but I’m going to miss so many people down here in Ipswich