vivweb01blog

  Smartphone/Tablet Apps – Should they be better documented ? It’s a sad fact that many of the Android and iOS apps that I’ve come across in my travels have been poorly documented and leave the novice user perplexed as to how they work…. I began to wonder why this might be the case quite soon after starting to use smartphones & tablets myself. Having authored quite a bit of software over the years (for pcs rather than mobiles), some of which was produced to support work projects and has been extensively used by professional colleagues, I had some prior knowledge of the coding process - and what goes into validating and documenting an app. This provided some insight into why developers might find it hard work to provide full instructions for their apps. It also provided some clues as to why early releases of some apps have a habit of crashing when used by the unsuspecting. I wanted to explore this a bit further, since these are both important issues to address for any app deve...

 I first published this blog in October 2022. Since then, if anything the political wrangling has worsened, and opinion in the UK became even more polarised in the run up to the July election. Many now argue that the results suggested a voting system at odds with the will of the electorate. Time then, perhaps, for a second look at possible alternative systems.... Introduction The events of the past three years, and in particular the last few months, have shown us that UK politics have entered a state of turmoil that we haven’t seen since the 1970s. As an institution, our post-war political system has never been particularly trouble-free, and the increasingly fractious state of our world is placing ever more strain on both the system and those in charge of it. Can anything be done to improve things, and make our politics more resilient in the face of worldwide changes to come ? Why should we change anything ? Radical change in any system should always be carefully considered...

  Having warned of the dangers of a Momentum ‘coup’ for some months now (see link to previous blog), I was intrigued to see the row developing within Labour ranks this week about Diane Abbott’s candidacy (or lack of it) in the forthcoming election. Starmer has been at great pains over the past 2 years to rid the party of all trace of  Corbynite ‘hard left’ influence, realising its catastrophic effect on the party’s electability after the election debacle of 2019. What little doubt there may have been in the voters' minds that he has singularly failed to achieve his eradication objective will have been removed in the past 24 hours. Far from ‘keeping their powder dry’ until Starmer was safely installed in #10 as many predicted, ‘Abbott’s last stand’ has brought Momentum tumbling out of the woodwork and created an almighty row within Labour’s ranks. Some media reports have even likened it to a civil war. Rayner is already 'on the case' for the left, and has defied Starmer ...

If anyone really needed it, and despite the protestations of some analysts, I think the local election results confirm the verdict of the opinion polls that Labour are likely to win the autumn General Election, and probably with a large majority.  Since Hunt's Budget was probably the 'coup de grace' in the Conservatives loss of popularity, I've updated this article to reflect recent developments. If we needed any confirmation that Hunt is still intent on abolishing NI, the recent 'spat' with Rachel Reeves left us in no doubt. Sunak's decision to go for a July poll will probably have little effect on the predicted result, but should at least kick the idea of abolishing NI into the long grass.... -----------------------------  We’re all painfully aware of the current malaise the UK is suffering in the wake of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis, etc., etc., and things don’t seem to be getting any better. Couple this with an obviously exhausted government...

  Calling All DVD & Blu-Ray Fans.... During the past couple of decades I’ve amassed a sizeable collection of DVDs, and more recently some Blu-Ray discs. I’m unlikely to have time to watch all these now, and rather than go through the hassle of trying to sell them individually on eBay (and making next to nothing after eBay fees are deducted !), I’ve decided to be kind to the Environment and recycle them by offering them for sale for virtually nothing to any interested readers using this blog platform and my website (better than seeing them end up in a skip and adding to our landfill woes !). The discs are in various formats ranging from collections of 12 discs of a certain genre (e.g. Sci-Fi, Action, Drama), through double-sided multi-film discs to conventional single-sided discs. I'm happy to sell them with or without boxes - postage will of course be cheaper without. All discs have been checked and are playable, and many are unused, some are even unopened in their original w...

  I first published this in summer of '22 around the time of the mini-budget and the ensuing financial crisis, when prayer was back in fashion, particularly for those with risky investments...it remains relevant at a time when our uncertainties seem to be increasing, rather than starting to resolve themselves..... Introduction As is often quoted: ‘..there are only two certainties in life – death and taxes…’.   In the UK recently we have all heard quite enough about taxes recently, so I’ll focus on the former in this article, if I may, as a diversion from our economic woes. As we age, our thoughts naturally turn to the prospect of our own deaths – and what might or might not happen to us afterwards. Although death itself is a certainty for all of us, there is a surprising reluctance on the part of society to discuss its practicalities and consequences, both physical and spiritual.  In my view, this enduring taboo makes the subject more painful than it need be,  ...