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like the small one in Gloucester did last year... not only did they lose track of where it was, when they finally restarted it back on the correct path, it cut through a major telephone cable that hadn't been correctly identified on the maps they based the route on... (oh for heck's sake, my google fu is poor this afternoon... it was a major local news topic about it being lost, yet I can't find any of the articles now...)

http://www.jewishnewsdaily.com/jewish-world-news/euro-terror-alert-spotlights-voiceprint-technology/
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/GCHQ-increase-UK-surveillance-spy-drone/story-11857893-detail/story.html names the daily mail, but adds new details.
i.e. RAF Northolt.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8857517/Met-Police-spends-millions-of-pounds-on-secret-aircraft.html
and more details on COMINT at
http://www.secret-bases.co.uk/cia-rendition.htm

A gun only has one purpose, no matter how much fun they might be.

What might that be? Shooting clay pigeons, shooting game, shooting people -- all the same purpose?

Using that logic, a knife has only one purpose. Making people very dead.

Enigma rotors turn up

The link for "this story" from ThisIsGloucestershire doesn't seem to work. This link should work a little better. Here's hoping it doesn't break again.

To me, newspapers are just souvenirs. If something that I think is special happens, I'll buy a newspaper and store it away in my drawers or attic somewhere. Often I won't even bother reading past the front page. I'll have probably read the story a dozen times from a bunch of different sources already.

Even our local newspaper has a website now. I just don't see the point in newspapers as news. Even the classifieds are online. Newspapers are ornaments.

Newspapers are like any original physical media- software, films, albums, whatever- I only buy the originals when I want to celebrate ownership of an original item. For instance, if there's some commercial software I really like (Paint Shop Pro springs to mind), I'll buy the original as an ornament on my shelf (usually I actually install the warez version anyway). I buy original CDs of bands I really, really like, but tend to listen to the MP3s. I'll buy videos of films that really move me (Aliens, Bladerunner etc), even though I might prefer a different foreign/censored/director's cut that I've taped from somebody else.

And then there is the media which is mediocre, which is okay for a while, which does a job that doesn't need repeating. The stuff I wouldn't endorse if I were a celebrity, but hey, it fills a need, until something better comes along. One hit wonder bands. This morning's news on another dull day. Some software which crashes a lot or isn't really as flexible as I want it to be. An okay film that my wife might want to watch later. These are destined to spend their lifetime in my collection of MP3s, websites, warez and VHS tapes.

How to sell more newspapers? See Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age".

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For anyone thinking of applying to GCHQ, here are some more links about the Cheltenham / Cotswolds area.

Cheltenham Borough Council
Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire Tourist Board
Echo and Citizen local newspapers
Cotswolds Hyperguide
Alderton Parish Website

It's quite a nice area. The towns are human in scale but large enough for decent facilities, and the countryside is breathtaking. I like living here. If you need any more info (about the area, not about GCHQ), email me evilandi@cimmerii.demon.co.uk.

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I know this is a US story, but in case anyone is interested, here's a clued-up law firm from Cheltenham, UK:

Christ opher Davidson and Co
2-3 Oriel Terrace, Oriel Road
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1XP
Tel: 01242 256418

They helped me out with my copyright tussle over use of .AU sound samples as part of a review- which was settled out of court in my favour.

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