vivweb01

  We’re all guilty of it…and most of the time we get away with it…but sooner or later disaster will strike….. I’m of course referring to our forgetfulness about taking regular backups of the data stored in the multitude of digital devices we rely on nowadays ...and how we assume backups are either not necessary at all, or that someone else is looking after them for us. Nowadays, most things are stored in ‘the cloud’, and we assume that anything that lives there is properly protected. This might seem a reasonable assumption, but recent experiences within 'big tech' have cast doubt on the confidentiality of our data, and potentially its integrity. We tend to store far less on our desktop devices than we once did, although all manner of  key data gets stored within our phones, on which we depend daily. Very few phone users take the trouble to back this up on a regula basis. We should be asking ourselves the question: Is this reliance on cloud suppliers really a sensible mov...

  As someone with a lifelong interest in ‘The Beautiful Game’, I must confess to being somewhat alarmed at a recent rumour emanating from the US concerning possible changes to its rules….particularly since FIFA will be keen to 'keep Trump on side'...while the current tournament is in progress, at least. The problem, as I understand it, is this. Fresh from his 'triumph' in getting the Iranians to agree a deal ‘The Donald’ seems to have found time in his busy schedule to address the subject of sport reform. He appears to have decided to adopt a flagship campaign to ‘Make Soccer Great Again’ (already christened as MSGA) as a first step in this important aspect of his legacy. According to recent reports, high level discussions last week within the administration concerning promoting the MAGA agenda have apparently spawned a 'Grand Plan' for sports reform, both in the US and worldwide. The start of his campaign was designed to coincide with the US’s hosting of the fo...

  The new occupant of No 11 (whoever he or she may turn out to be!) has a thorny problem on their hands…it's a significant one, and not one they can ignore.... We’re all starting to feel the pinch as a result of the most recent economic shock – Trump’s ill-advised Iran War.  We all knew the economic pain the hostilities would cause; even before they started, a large slice of our population, on low wages but not entitled to benefits were really not able to make ends meet without taking out additional high-interest loans or cutting their outgoings to the bone. For some of them, yet another economic shock may well bring them to the brink of bankruptcy. The excessive electricity and gas price rises imposed by the supplier ‘cartel’ to maintain their profit margins, and sanctioned by a compliant OFGEM, have been particularly injurious. This trend was apparent well before the start of the Iran war, so cannot be blamed on higher world prices as the suppliers claim. Many cons...