Author Archives: Phil

Facebook in MySQL hell

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Phil

I like MySQL. I like Open Source. But one has to be realistic about their limitations. Blind faith is dangerous in all contexts. And, while I’m not above allowing myself a grim smile when the bad guys end up shooting … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Google | Tagged , | Leave a comment

In the interests of fairness…

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Phil

…I thought I’d just express my deep pissed-offedness at the other two of the ‘big three’ and their recent moves to arbitrarily transition people using ‘free’ services, via variance of T&Cs, into their various (proto-)internet identity authority ‘offerings’. (And if … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Google, Microsoft | Leave a comment

Rank hypocrisy and smoking guns

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Phil

Thanks to David Moss, by way of James Baker, for prompting me to re-read ‘What Price Privacy?’ [1.3 MB PDF] and its follow-up, ‘What Price Privacy Now?’ [988 KB PDF] – two reports on the illegal trade in personal information, … Continue reading →

Posted in privacy | 1 Comment

Don’t forget the big picture!

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Phil

Despite all the outcry about NOTW and the systemic corruption it implies – encompassing not just the Murdoch empire but elements of the police, the press and the political establishment – one should not forget that the ‘phone hacking’ scandal … Continue reading →

Posted in privacy | 1 Comment

Why I refuse Facebook apps access to my data

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Phil

Some context… My real (as opposed to Facebook) friend James Graham posted something on my Wall on Facebook earlier today. All I could see was an intriguing snippet but in order to see more I would have had to allow … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook | Leave a comment