Saturday 23 June 2007

Why does software have to be "helpful?"

I copied some html into the Seamonkey mail editor.

This code

<ul type="square">
<li>Email: <a href="mailto:alan@clifford.ac">alan@clifford.ac</a></li>
<li>MSN instant messaging: msn@clifford.ac</li>
<li>Google Talk instant messaging: alanclifford@gmail.com</li>
<li>VoIP telephone on my laptop: sip:alan@clifford.ac</li>
<li>POTS to VoIP at a Guildford number: +44 1483 604719</li>
<li>Voicemail: on the VoIP address/number</li>
<li>Fax: +44 871 5042804</li>
<li>Mobile 'phone: +44 7980 418683 but in all probability it will either be switched off or will be using a local sim
with a yet unknown number</li>
</ul>


that should display as


  • Email: alan@clifford.ac

  • MSN instant messaging: msn@clifford.ac

  • Google Talk instant messaging: alanclifford@gmail.com

  • VoIP telephone on my laptop: sip:alan@clifford.ac

  • POTS to VoIP at a Guildford number: +44 1483 604719

  • Voicemail: on the VoIP address/number

  • Fax: +44 871 5042804

  • Mobile 'phone: +44 7980 418683 but in all probability it will either be switched off or will be using a local sim
    with a yet unknown number



(well almost like that as Blogger seems to be putting in extra blank lines)

became

<ul type="square">
<li>Email: <a href="mailto:alan@clifford.ac">alan@clifford.ac</a></li>
<li>MSN instant messaging: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:msn@clifford.ac">msn@clifford.ac</a></li>
<li>Google Talk instant messaging: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:alanclifford@gmail.com">alanclifford@gmail.com</a></li>
<li>VoIP telephone on my laptop: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:sip:alan@clifford.ac">sip:alan@clifford.ac</a></li>
<li>POTS to VoIP at a Guildford number: +44 1483 604719</li>
<li>Voicemail: on the VoIP address/number</li>
<li>Fax: +44 871 5042804</li>
<li>Mobile 'phone: +44 7980 418683 but in all probability it will
either be switched off or will be using a local sim
with a yet unknown number</li>
</ul>


which displays as


  • Email: alan@clifford.ac

  • MSN instant messaging: msn@clifford.ac

  • Google Talk instant messaging: alanclifford@gmail.com

  • VoIP telephone on my laptop: sip:alan@clifford.ac

  • POTS to VoIP at a Guildford number: +44 1483 604719

  • Voicemail: on the VoIP address/number

  • Fax: +44 871 5042804

  • Mobile 'phone: +44 7980 418683 but in all probability it will
    either be switched off or will be using a local sim
    with a yet unknown number




Those are not email addresses.

The html also contained a link to a photograph on my server at home. This was changed to an in-line link and the photograph itself included in the email.

Saturday 2 June 2007

Viewing child pornography versus killing babies

There was a very odd Any Questions program on BBC radio 4 today.

The first question was about looking at pictures of child pornography - not actually abusing children but looking at pictures on the internet. The second question was about abortion - the killing of unborn, human babies.

The conclusion regarding the first question was that people who look at pictures of child pornography, ie people who are not actually abusing children, should be sent to jail. The conclusion about abortion, ie murdering unborn children, seemed to be, although the panel prevaricated, that preventing abortion would infringe upon the rights of women.

It does seem very odd that the same panel and audience could come to these conclusions.