NationStates Jolt Archive

Two computer discs holding the personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16 have gone missing.
The Child Benefit data on them includes name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number and, where relevant, bank details of 25m people.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7103566.stm



lolz funnyness!

Two computer discs holding the personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16 have gone missing.
The Child Benefit data on them includes name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number and, where relevant, bank details of 25m people.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7103566.stm



lolz funnyness!
Absolute bloody sham. I hope someone hangs for this. (figuratively, of course)

That's dreadful, really dreadful...

What this? Oh! I found them!

Wait a second, this isn't the records, this is a recipe for Pyscadelic Marshmallows.

I'm sure they'll turn up somewhere though. Maybe behind the sofa?

Remind me not to send anything by TNT.

funniest thing is they didn't even bother with recorded delivery :D

It's yet another example of just how hideously incompetent large sections of our Government are. I wish I could say I was shocked but, to be brutally honest, I'm not.

That the blame is being placed on "junior officials" who "ignored security procedures" misses the point. It shouldn't even be possible to dump data like this on to unencrypted CDs (and no, "password protection just doesn't cut it). Much as I'd love to go on (and on, and on) words fail me.

The powers-that-be simply do not comprehend modern communications technology. They suppose that simply having "computers" means that they are cutting edge. It's embarrassing. While we're pondering it, bear in mind that this is the same Government that thinks they can successfully computerise all of our medical records, and who hope to set up a national I.D card system and DNA database. How secure do you reckon they will turn out to be?

Pfft.

It's yet another example of just how hideously incompetent large sections of our Government are. I wish I could say I was shocked but, to be brutally honest, I'm not.

That the blame is being placed on "junior officials" who "ignored security procedures" misses the point. It shouldn't even be possible to dump data like this on to unencrypted CDs (and no, "password protection just doesn't cut it). Much as I'd love to go on (and on, and on) words fail me.

The powers-that-be simply do not comprehend modern communications technology. They suppose that simply having "computers" means that they are cutting edge. It's embarrassing. While we're pondering it, bear in mind that this is the same Government that thinks they can successfully computerise all of our medical records, and who hope to set up a national I.D card system and DNA database. How secure do you reckon they will turn out to be?

Pfft.
To be fair, they're no less or more incompetent than most large businesses. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them, it was a balls up of the highest order (they should've sent it recorded delivery) but it just seems strange that no-ones thought of asking TNT where it is. It shouldn't be that hard to find. It's an "internal" transfer so will have House of Commons or HM Revenue and Customs emblazoned all over it.

To be fair, they're no less or more incompetent than most large businesses. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them, it was a balls up of the highest order (they should've sent it recorded delivery) but it just seems strange that no-ones thought of asking TNT where it is. It shouldn't be that hard to find. It's an "internal" transfer so will have House of Commons or HM Revenue and Customs emblazoned all over it.
You may be right, although there is at least the possibility of going out of business to encourage the efficiency of a company... a motivator that governmental 'organisations' seem to lack.

As for TNT, I'm sure that they've been asked about it repeatedly by now and, let's face it, it doesn't exactly reflect well on them. The first few times this story passed by me on the news loop today I actually missed that it was a private courier firm involved. I'd just assumed it was the Royal Mail, since they're another large organisation who continually screw it up.

does this mean all the tax records are all screwed up and struggling family's get a miracle over the Christmas period?

who's up for blowing up credit card companies? :)

You may be right, although there is at least the possibility of going out of business to encourage the efficiency of a company... a motivator that governmental 'organisations' seem to lack.

As for TNT, I'm sure that they've been asked about it repeatedly by now and, let's face it, it doesn't exactly reflect well on them. The first few times this story passed by me on the news loop today I actually missed that it was a private courier firm involved. I'd just assumed it was the Royal Mail, since they're another large organisation who continually screw it up.
RM are quite good in terms of getting mail on time, at the right place, despite claims otherwise.

TNT are not, despite advertising suggesting otherwise. They're bloody awful.

Anyway - ah well.

And here I sit thinking that if any government branch knew what they were doing and were efficient, it would be this branch :eek:

RM are quite good in terms of getting mail on time, at the right place, despite claims otherwise.

TNT are not, despite advertising suggesting otherwise. They're bloody awful.

If the Royal Mail have indeed improved the woeful statistics that were being publicised a decade ago then you can consider me to be standing corrected. My comment was based solely on those (probably long-outdated) claims, and my personal experiences of using their service, which has not always been good.

TNT, on the other hand, are a company I knew very little about before this latest story broke. Having done a bit of research on them I think I have to agree with your "bloody awful" assessment :p

That's dreadful, really dreadful...

What this? Oh! I found them!

Wait a second, this isn't the records, this is a recipe for Pyscadelic Marshmallows.

I'm sure they'll turn up somewhere though. Maybe behind the sofa?

** doesn't give a rats ass about information people probally didn't even know they had on them - the folks will all have to pay the posatge thru taxes to notify them -- reaaaalllly wants receipe for Pyscadelic Marshmallows!!!****

too much work, i'll just stick a couple tabs in my smore...awesomeeeee

wants receipe for Pyscadelic Marshmallows!!!
Not sure how I come to be answering this random interloper of a post, but here you go...

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
as much lysergic acid diethylamide as you fancy (or any other psychedelic drug of your choice (but not mushrooms... mushrooms and mallows together just sound awful))
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
Icing sugar for dusting


Method:
1) Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in an electric mixer with whisk attachment (you can whisk by hand if you do not have the attachment). Let stand 30 minutes.

2) Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small, heavy,saucepan; place over low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

3) Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high. Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches the firm-ball stage (244 degrees). Immediately remove pan from heat.

4) With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup and LSD into the softened gelatin. Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.

5) Generously dust an 8 by12 inch glass baking pan with icing sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Dust top with icing sugar; wet hands and pat it smooth. Dust with icing sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out. Turn out onto board and cut marshmallows with a dry hot knife into 1 1/2 inch squares, and dust with more sugar.


Enjoy, sensibly.

Not sure how I come to be answering this random interloper of a post, but here you go...

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
as much lysergic acid diethylamide as you fancy (or any other psychedelic drug of your choice (but not mushrooms... mushrooms and mallows together just sound awful))
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
Icing sugar for dusting


Method:
1) Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in an electric mixer with whisk attachment (you can whisk by hand if you do not have the attachment). Let stand 30 minutes.

2) Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small, heavy,saucepan; place over low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

3) Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high. Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches the firm-ball stage (244 degrees). Immediately remove pan from heat.

4) With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup and LSD into the softened gelatin. Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.

5) Generously dust an 8 by12 inch glass baking pan with icing sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Dust top with icing sugar; wet hands and pat it smooth. Dust with icing sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out. Turn out onto board and cut marshmallows with a dry hot knife into 1 1/2 inch squares, and dust with more sugar.


Enjoy, sensibly.

Okay, now that's just worrying. How the \emph{hell} did you know that?

*Files the recipe*

Okay, now that's just worrying. How the \emph{hell} did you know that?

*Files the recipe*
Well, it might be because I had a recipe for marshmallows anyway, and that stage of the process just looked like the best time to add a liquid narcotic, since it wasn't undergoing any further heating and there was a liquid (the syrup) being mixed thorough anyway.

On the other hand, maybe I have a long history of dabbling with powerful psychoactive synthetics.

On the third hand (and there is a mental image in keeping with the subject) perhaps you're all figments of my imagination... it's ok, I'll stop... I'm even annoying myself now.;)