Barclays bank are doing some really wanky TV ads at the moment for their "10% saving account". The URL they advertise is "barclays.co.uk/10" which says "Not Found. The requested object does not exist on this server. The link you followed is either outdated, inaccurate, or the server has been instructed not to let you have it." It's been like that for weeks (stick www. infront of their URL and it works, by the way). Muppets.

Oh, and their account is a bit of a stitch up too - you *have* to pay into it regularly from a Barclays current account, into which you have to pay £1000 per month or more via a salary mandate. In short, you have to have and use their current account as well. The savings account has limits on what you can deposit, and you're not allowed *any* withdrawals, otherwise you get absolutely no interest at all. Hardly seems worth it to me.. (but maybe that's just me).

JK sent me a link to ColorBlender - For making colour schemes, it's simple to use, gives great results, what else do you need?

There are numerous versions of the famous London Tube Map, but this is a new one on me, and a lot of fun: the Anangram Map. Who'd have thought I'd get on the Rent Horn line at Phantom Larch, perhaps going to A Retard Cottonmouth to do a spot of shopping?

ID Cards got yet another Lords smack down, so now will be voluntary until a whole piece of legislation is passed to make them compulsory (BBC Article). Thus, if ID cards came in tomorrow, they'd have precisely no use what so ever.

Now the government has a two pronged job to do. First, it must try to get the legislation through to make ID cards compulsory. Second, it has to start denying services to people without ID cards. This is the only way they can artifically create 'value' in the cards. They have to take things away from you (that you want or need), so you become coerced into getting an ID card. The 'denial of service' doesn't need parliament's approval - they can pretty much just do it.

This concession is good news, but we're still well and truely lost in the woods.

http://clickcaster.com/ is a beautiful website - an example of really innovative, yet incredibly usable design. It also happens to look like a neat idea too.

For those who've never done this, here's how it works; it's a sort of a waltz:

We cold callers are given a list of people to contact. We send them something in the post, in the hope we'll have something to talk about. Around a week later, we call up and see if the person is interested in what we have to say.

Meanwhile, ordinary folk are trying to avoid us. Some resort to being rude, although they are most definitely in the minority. Some resort to having their receptionist or PA refuse to put the call through. Some have a special voicemail message that explains that they're not really interested. Others have even more cunning ways.

It seems though, to be truely awesome at avoiding callers, you have to collaborate. The CAMs (Call Avoidance Masters) quickly speak to each other at the beginning of the week to formulate their dastardly plans. Some say they do it telepathically, some suggest it's actually a genetic instinct. However it's done, they all agree on a means to avoid the callers.

Two weeks ago, the CAMs decided they'd say "no" at the earliest possible opportunity in the conversation. Last week, they just didn't bother answering the phone. This week, they've all resigned and gone elsewhere.

They're clearly getting more and more desperate. I'll have you yet, you will be mine, oh yes, you will be mine...

I'm wondering what next week will be though...?

Once again, the Home Office is pulling magic tricks to convince us that ID cards are a good idea.

If your bank lets someone use your account and steal your money, that has nothing to do with the government. Even if your bank demands better ID when you open your account, that won't help either. Your bank is at fault, and is legally liable for any loss to you. Banks aren't fixing the problem because it's cheaper to pay people off (or pretend that don't have to pay you) than it is to implement changes.

The government cannot provide any evidence to suggest ID cards will solve anything. They have to resort to deliberate fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD). Just say 'no', kids.

Update: Oh the irony (see the first item in the list): "Your identity and personal information are valuable assets. Keep them secure." (so don't hand over such information to your hapless government)