Nick Jordan

Just before I arrived at work this morning I encountered a burnt-out car upside-down in the middle of the road. There were no other signs of an accident, no damage to street furniture, no glass on the road, so I can only assume that it was put there like that quite deliberately and then set fire to. There are some charming people about.

How ATM fraud nearly brought down British banking.

This is the story of how the UK banking system could have collapsed in the early 1990s, but for the forbearance of a junior barrister who also happened to be an expert in computer law - and who discovered that at that time the computing department of one of the banks issuing ATM cards had “gone rogue”, cracking PINs and taking money from customers’ accounts with abandon.

Scary stuff, but it makes for a fascinating read and highlights just how important it is to check your statements.

One of the few good things about being at home sick, which is the situation I find myself in at present, is the chance to catch up a little on my reading. Yesterday I read Thud! by Terry Pratchett and I loved it. I needed something light and entertaining and it fit the bill perfectly. I’m not sure what to read today, but I’ll find something.

I went to see Serenity yesterday. I’d heard very good things about it and I wasn’t disappointed. The dialogue is up to Joss Whedon’s usual standard, the story is entertaining and interesting, the characters are well played and reasonably believable. It’s not high art but it’s a good way to spend a couple of hours.

Musical breast implants. Dear God, whatever next? I’m stunned into speechlessness.

Granny hands out fivers. What a truly splendid lady. The world needs more people like her.

Update: It was a hoax. I’m disappointed.