New federal guidelines issued this year ask any woman capable of conceiving to treat themselves – and to be treated by their health-care provider – as “pre-pregnant” at all times. Women between their first menstrual period and the menopause are told to take folic acid supplements, stop smoking, stop drinking regularly, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control; not primarily for their own health but to protect any baby that they may or may not be planning to have.

What am I? A baby farm?

As it happens, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink a lot, I don’t take drugs, I do take folic acid (amongst other supplements) and I don’t have any chronic health problems – but the idea that I might be required to “look after myself” because I am capable of conception is, quite frankly, scary.

Putting John Prescott in charge of a committee looking at electoral reform is like putting Herod in charge of a maternity ward, said [Leader of the Liberal Democrats] Charles Kennedy.

I must say, I love the quote – it’s a fantastic image. Although I’d argue that putting any Labour MP in charge of electoral reform won’t get anywhere, as the current system is working in their favour at the moment…

BBC NEWS | Politics | Kennedy attacks ‘Herod’ Prescott

Concerns about identity theft are beginning to put people off shopping and banking online.

In a survey commissioned by software firm Intervoice, 17% of people said they had stopped banking online while 13% had abandoned web shopping.

Concerns about how secure identity is online have risen following high-profile phishing attacks.

The term [phishing] refers to the practise of creating look-alike websites, often of banks and other financial institutions, and duping people into visiting them and giving out personal information such as pin numbers and passwords.

Fifty seven percent saw ID cards as the best way to protect themselves against identity theft.

Stealing identities is often a piecemeal affair, as thieves garner small bits of information bit by bit and gradually create a persona.

There’s a couple of things in the results of this survey that worry me…

Concerns about how secure identity is online have risen following high-profile phishing attacks.

The real life equivalent of this is stating that “Bogus Doorstop traders gaining access to your home and stealing all your valuables is causing people to lock their front doors when they go out”. The problem with phishing is that it’s a confidence trick rather than a security breach…While it’s great that people are becoming aware of phishing, it worries me how little understanding of it there appears to be of the actual problem.

Fifty seven percent saw ID cards as the best way to protect themselves against identity theft.

Let me get this straight… having a card on you, at all times, which contains large amounts of personal data, about you, which can be read by anyone with the correct equipment, is the best way to protect your identity…? Oh, and all that data is also stored centrally, and you have no idea who has access to it. The logic of the British Public is staggering!!

By the way, anyone else think that 57% stat is going to end up being used by the government as an approval rating…

BBC NEWS | Technology | Public worried by online ID theft

• Expedition to the Polling Station- Simon W, Meri, Nat, Husey and Simon H prove students aren’t all apathetic
• List of Parties and Abbreviations – Who said we were had a 2 party system?
• The Party Leaders cast their votes – Wonder who they all voted for…
• Choose Labour – or not….
• Ben on Election Day
• Nick Barlow on Elections
• Andy on elections and other things
• Clagnut on Party Tactics
• BBC Election Night Schedule – Night of Fun!!
• BBC Election Night Party Pack – Things to do while waiting for the results.
• Who Should you Vote For? – In case you haven’t made up your mind yet
• Spoil your Vote – The Campaign for Greater Choice

So that’ll be London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, the M4 and the M1 then.

References

• BBC NEWS | Technology | Broadband reveals digital divide
• Point Topic Guide to the Election
• Google Map of the UK

Up to 20 Greenpeace campaigners climbed on to the roof of the deputy prime minister’s home in Hull on Tuesday and tried to install solar panels….A Greenpeace spokesman said the panels were being left as a present, along with roof insulation and low-energy light bulbs.

Update – Later on the day of posting
BBC NEWS | Prescott roof activists arrested

[Prescott] called the protest a “deplorable” publicity stunt and said the protesters had terrorised his wife….[The Protesters] were then handcuffed and taken to a waiting police van where they were arrested for “harrassment of a person in a dwelling”.Supt Gavin Collinson said they would be interviewed at a nearby police station. He said “It’s not pleasant to be invaded in the privacy of your own home and it is being treated seriously….She’s very distressed but she’s pleased with the happy outcome.”