Tech Support and the House of Commons

Must Go To Bed. But not before quoting this delightful exchange from a recent debate in Parliament on the new law making it (or intending to make it) illegal to design, use and sell hacking and DDOS tool kits.

"The hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) was right to raise the issue that hacking tools are often used by computer technicians to rectify problems. I have been very stressed since Monday morning, when I switched on my desktop computer in Norman Shaw, North only to get an error message and find that I could not access my programmes, my e-mail or anything else. Fortunately, I have another computer. I phoned extension 2001 and eventually managed to speak to an intelligent life form, although it took a little while, as we know happens with extension 2001.

The Chairman: Order. The hon. Gentleman’s travails are deeply fascinating to the Committee, but we have to get back to the amendment under consideration.

Michael Fabricant: As ever, I accept your guidance, Mr. Conway. Mr. Graham Lugton, who I suspect is in my room this very moment, might be using that [diagnostic tool] software.

Stephen Pound (Ealing, North) (Lab): Wiping your history, I hope."

See http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmstand/d/st060328/am/60328s03.htm & hit Continue.

On last night's The Apprentice..

Well it seems pretty obvious to me by now that Sayid the Arrogant Wanker (as he shall hereafter be known) will win. Sugar seems to translate "business" into nothing but "can sell" - which will give us a Sayid: Ruth* final (with an outside bet on the black guy, Ansell is it? sorry, all the names are really unmemorable somehow.) but I reckon he'll leave a woman to the end to head off criticism and she *can* sell. I heard Sugar rhapsodising about Sayid's selling abilities on Radio 4 as well..

The contestants may indeed be wankers, but what is really coming off badly is the face of modern British business - is business really about nothing except being a grown up barrow boy in a suit? No room for strategy, marketing, management, risk analysis, long term client relationships, creative ideas, anything but sell sell sell?? When did "planner" become a rude word?? If I was considering a career in business, I can't imagine anything that would put me off more.

* just to prove I'm not racisst I got her name wrong too- it's Ruth not Karen..