Uncle Tom Cobbleigh...

Apparently, your humble Devil is now an uncle, with my brother's wife giving birth to a baby girl at about ten past eight this evening. Mother and baby doing fine, and little brother ridiculously excited.

I'm putting this here so that I have some way of remembering the child's birthday.

Remember, remember, the second of January...

Anyway, back to the office tomorrow for another couple of months of frenzied work...

A bit of a surprise, to be honest

I am very happy—given my relative lack of original output this year—to have appear at all in Total Politics 2011 Top Blogs lists.

Your humble Devil has been voted in at number 9 for both Libertarian Blog and Libertarian Blogger.

I have to confess that, in previous years, I bloody well expected to be pretty high. This year, however, I was anticipating not being in there at all and so, ironically, this is the first year that I am really happy to be featured.

As is traditional, I would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to everyone who voted for me and The Kitchen; and, as always, a bigger "thank you" to everyone who continues to read, write and comment here.

I shall endeavour to carry on entertaining you all...

Regards,

DK

Hoping...

... that the North Carolina in-laws are not getting too badly battered by Hurricane Irene.

Good luck!

He's more machine now, than man...

... twisted and evil...

Well, ish.

Thanks for all of the sympathy, o loyal readers: in the end, my dentist—who is very good—managed to fill my front tooth and managed to sort out the right molar with deft use of filling and a titanium pin.

It's back on Monday to sort out the left molar which will be dealt with in similar vein...

Anyway, whilst I am in meandering mode, I would like to bit farewell to two of my favourite and most long-standing blog-reads.

The first actually shut down in April, but I still very much miss that Irish bastard, Twenty Major.

Real life means I’ve got no time to do the blog the way I want to do it anymore and I think it’s better to announce it than let it fade away.

Thank you to all the readers and contributors. I know there’s a nice little community here but maybe it’ll re-emerge somewhere else. If it does, let me know. Thank you to all the interesting, intelligent and decent people who have spent time on here down the years. I’ll miss the chat and the laughs but that’s life.
...

Take it easy, I wish those of you who aren’t total cunts all the very best.

One can only hope that he is, somewhere, still smoking in Irish bars.

The second blog riding off into the sunset—though perhaps not terminally—is that of my friend and all-round good egg, The Englishman.

It has been a busy seven days; I became a Grandfather, resigned from my job, turned fifty and have just been offered a new job that I hadn't applied for. It is only part time and for three months, I turned down the chance of full time as I still have other irons in the fire. But I think it will be really interesting and the workplace is wonderful and fascinating. And there is every chance the contract will be extended.

However I will be a small speck on the cogwheels of State, with Her Majesty and Her Ministers as my ultimate employers and being a loyal and humble servant it is probably only fitting I am no longer rude about their infinite wisdom.

This isn't a "I will never blog again" post because this blog and you, the readers, have given me so much fun and education over the last seven years that it would be hard to draw it to a close. It just marks that there may be changes and unexplained haituses.

Let us hope that he does, indeed, return.

And in any case, o Englishman, I shall see you at the chilli cook-off: that will have to be compensation for not reading your pellets of wisdom every morning...!

Happy Birthday to the Devil...

Yes, the Kitchen has stumbled on and your humble Devil today celebrates the sixth anniversary of using Tekkon-style combo-swearwords to slag off politicians, rent-seekers and other assorted scum—over a total of 5,724 bile-filled posts.

Thanks to all the contributors, commenters and readers who have made this place what it is today...

UPDATE: thanks for all your kind words!

I've no time to post until this evening—when official thief Eric Illsley will be in the spotlight—but in the meantime, I thought that I'd point you to another post on The Liberty Cabal which says more or less everything that I wanted to say about prisoners and voting (plus, he mentions this blog's mascot).

Is it in their Nature to lie?

In his real life, your humble Devil is a Product Manager for a small software company. Given that it is a small software company, your humble Devil actually delves into the methods and programming of said software.

As such, I know a little about how software programming works, and what is considered acceptable and what is not—both by the programmers themselves, and by those performing the "acceptance tests".

Having established some vague credentials, I would like to draw your attention to this article in Nature—as highlighted by His Ecclesiastical Eminence—regarding the ClimateGate data releases last year.

As most people will know, most of the forensic fury was focused upon the emails exchanged between the key players in this fraud, but a few people started delving into the data that was released alongside those communications.

In fact, your humble Devil highlighted a large part of this in my collation of comments around the HARRY_READ_ME.txt file (a post that resulted in over 24,000 absolute unique visitors in one day).

What this file displayed was not what Nature dismisses as "wonky code", but an utter failure of any kind of systematic programming ability, plus a total lack of verification and testing.

As far as I—and, I am sure, most programmers—are concerned, the construction of models based upon such obviously inaccurate software is tantamount to fraud. Regardless, Nature does not agree...

When hackers leaked thousands of e-mails from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK, last year, global-warming sceptics pored over the documents for signs that researchers had manipulated data. No such evidence emerged...

Where to start? The fact that there was far more data than the HARRY_READ_ME.txt file to examine, and I hadn't the time to collate the results—if anyone can donate links to those who did, please leave them in the comments.

But the HARRY_READ_ME.txt is enough: it details the lack of raw data, the rough estimates, the use of rainfall as a substitute for temperature, the use of synthetic data (i.e. "data" that was made up to fit the climatologists' prejudices) and any number of other really poor practices.

Are they fraudulent? Maybe not.

But the fact that the software programme created by Harry was used to construct the next lot of models—despite the fact that the file existed and that it is inconceivable that Harry didn't tell his employers what a fucking massive pile of shit it was—most certainly is.

These people knew that the software did not operate according to specification, but they used it anyway. FAIL.

These people knew that much of the original data was missing, corrupted or faked, but they used it anyway. FAIL.

These people knew that, together, these factors would produce results that were incorrect. FAIL.

These people knew that, regardless, the software would produce the result that they wanted. FRAUD.

But the killer comment is made by Bishop Hill...

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but none of the inquiries actually looked at the computer code, apart from there being a brief word from Tim Osborn in evidence to Muir Russell, denying that the bodges he'd mentioned affected published results. I'm pretty sure the Harry Readme was not looked at by any of the inquiries.

You are not wrong. None of the "independent" enquiries looked at the code, and this was for the same reason that none of the media rebuttals mentioned the code.

The reason that it was only the emails that were mentioned was that they had some kind of plausible deniability. Excuses were wheeled out, along the following lines...

"Oh, don't worry! Scientists are always having little spats. These were personal emails, not intended for release."

Well, we know that they weren't intended for release because the scientists in question were all urged to delete data and emails to prevent them being released under FoI.

This was to ignore the fact that the data had been examined—the code had been examined too. And from looking at those files, there were only two conclusions to draw:

1. the climatologists were deliberately defrauding the community about their results (very likely), or


2. the climatologists were so fucking incompetent that their data and results mean nothing at all (even more likely), or


3. both.

Either way, there is simply no way that we should be restructuring the world economy—and, by the by, killing fuck-loads of poor people—on this evidence.

Of course, facts, logic and science are seriously unlikely to trouble the idiots at Nature—they might lose some of their share of "the money flood"...

Speech as navigation

As readers may know, your humble Devil works as a product manager for a small web software and services company. One of the specialisms of this company—and thus, one of the concepts that I was introduced to when I joined—was that of Web Accessibility.

I had heard a wee bit about it in my freelancing days, but I had never paid much attention to it, but I am now reasonably expert in the various rules and guidelines (although, I must admit that, in my personal projects, I am not always entirely consistent in its application)—some glimpses of which can be seen, for those that are interested, in my critique of the Labour Party website last year.

I have worked with a couple of blind computer users—in organising our company's seminars and so forth—and they have used either JAWS or SuperNova screen-readers on Windows machines. There are a few free or cheap (or temporary) screenreaders out there, but nothing as high-powered.

The internet is a wonderful innovation, enabling the disabled to do things for themselves that they could only have done with assistance before. The addition of a screen-reader can set the blind free but many disabled people do not have a high income—and, tragically, screen-readers are expensive—SuperNova is nearly £1,000.

Given all of this, I really should have investigated Apple's built-in VoiceOver screen-reading software before: to be honest, however, I thought that it was a cheap, knock-down version that would never replace "proper" screen-readers. It appears that I was wrong.

Via Daring Fireball, I have come across a blog written by Austin Seraphin—who is blind—and who has just purchased his first new Mac since the Apple II. And it seems that I was wrong: VoiceOver is a fully functional piece of kit.

This represents the cutting edge of accessible technology for the blind. It cuts! I joyfully look forward to the day when blind people finally catch on and realize that for $700, HALF the cost of JAWS for Windows, the most popular software used or rather pushed on the blind, they can get a fully functional computer that delivers a superior experience and comes with a superior screen reader with superior speech. May the Mac relegate Windows to the recycle bin, where it properly belongs. Don’t worry, they’ll still have their corporate clients. This probably means that we can expect crappier services from these companies, but who cares, WE will have all switched to Macs by then.

Austin's re-conversion has come about—amazingly—because of his purchase of an iPhone a few months ago. VoiceOver on the iPhone, almost incredibly, enables blind users to use a touchscreen device with precision: for Austin, the iPhone has been a life-changing experience.

Last Wednesday, my life changed forever. I got an iPhone. I consider it the greatest thing to happen to the blind for a very long time, possibly ever. It offers unparalleled access to properly made applications, and changed my life in twenty-four hours. The iPhone only has one thing holding it back: iTunes. Nevertheless, I have fallen in love.

When I first heard that Apple would release a touchpad cell phone with VoiceOver, the screen reading software used by Macs, I scoffed. The blind have gotten so used to lofty promises of a dream platform, only to receive some slapped together set of software with a minimally functional screen reader running on overpriced hardware which can’t take a beating. I figured that Apple just wanted to get some good PR – after all, how could a blind person even use a touchpad? I laughed at the trendies, both sighted and blind, buying iPhones and enthusing about them. That changed when another blind friend with similar opinions also founded in long years of experience bought one, and just went nuts about how much she loved it, especially the touchpad interface. I could hardly believe it, and figured that I should reevaluate things.

I went to the AT&T; store with my Mom. It felt like coming full circle, since we went to an Apple store many years ago to get my Apple II/E. To my delight, the salesman knew about VoiceOver and how to activate it, though didn’t know about how to use it. Fortunately, I read up on it before I went. Tap an item to hear it, double tap to activate it, swipe three fingers to scroll. You can also split-tap, where you hold down one location and tap another. This makes for more rapid entry once you understand it. It also has a rotor which you activate by turning your fingers like a dial. You can also double triple-finger tap to toggle speech, and a triple triple-finger tap turns on the awesome screen curtain, which disables the screen and camera.

Many reviews and people said to spend at least a half hour to an hour before passing judgment on using a touchpad interface with speech. I anticipated a weird and slightly arduous journey, especially when it came to using the keyboard. To my great surprise, I picked it up immediately. Within 30 seconds, I checked the weather. Next, I read some stock prices. Amazingly, it even renders stock charts, something the blind have never had access to. Sold.

Austin's issue was that iTunes on other platforms is not Accessible, and this was one of the primary reasons for his purchase of the new iMac—now he has full Access to all of the software that hooks into VoiceOver.

I know that many will see this post as simply another puff piece for Apple (disclosure: I no longer hold shares in the company) but I am seriously excited: now I know that I can start testing the sites and software that I build in a fully-functional screen-reader, I shall make every effort to do so.

Why?

Because I have seen, at first hand, how immensely liberating the digital world is for those who are disabled—especially those who are blind. Since I rarely get out and about to seminars these days, and work less than I used to with our partners, every now and again, I need reminding of how a little effort in software development can, quite literally, change someone's life.

DK Archives

Many people have bemoaned the fact that, with the demise of The Devil's Kitchen, many, many links ceased to work. Not to mention the fact that there was actually some pretty good stuff nestling amongst the 5,500 posts and millions of words.

I am also sensitive to Robert Sharp's argument that...

... deleting a blog feels like a book-burning. Its an unlikely form of self-censorship, and feels very wrong.

As such, I am contemplating following the advice given by a couple of commenters, which is to resurrect The Kitchen—at the devilskitchen.me.uk URL (which this blog is currently using)—but with a warning/disclaimer on the front page. This will ensure that all but the most recent links will work, whilst this blog would move to a new URL—possibly thedevil.org.uk—and would be maintained as my current site.

I'm still swithering slightly about this course of action, so please feel free to let me know your opinion in the comments.

The Devil is dead...

Yes, it's true.

Finally, Wiggy has claimed a scalp.

And it isn't that of some thieving politician or some overpaid, jack-booted jobsworth. It's mine. Or, rather, it is that of my ruder sibling, for I am his twin—identical in every respect except that I swear a little less and indulge in fewer violent fantasies.

As many of you will know, I think that it is fair to say that The Daily Politics today was not an unqualified success, with Andrew "Wiggy" Neil concentrating not on the Libertarian Party or its policies (as I had been briefed) but on one single post out of the 5,500 or so on The Kitchen.

But, let's face it, he could have picked any one of about half of those thousands of posts and come up with some pretty damning stuff.

Don't get me wrong—I meant every word of the sentiments expressed. But the way in which I put it was, sometimes, just not... er... politic. In fact, as in real life, I enjoyed conjuring up repulsive and offensive images: anyone who has heard me in the right mood and in full flow that I can be every bit as perverse as on The Kitchen.

But, additionally, my blogging was driven—at least in the early days—by a burning anger and righteous hatred of just about anyone in authority, and this ire was fuelled as much by the real life circumstances that I found myself in at the time as by the unpleasantness of those who rule us.

And so The Devil's Kitchen grew as a cathartic outlet for my anger—and the language and imagery were equally violent.

As long-term readers might have noticed, my language has become, in general, far less vicious and less sweary. This was not, as some implied, because I sold out—it was because I was generally calmer and happier. Don't get me wrong: I am still disgusted by those who rule us, and even more repulsed by the idea that anyone can rule me—but these days it is more of a low, simmering rage. As such, The Devil's Kitchen had already become more mild (bar the occasional outburst) than in earlier years.

In the early days of blogging, most of us guarded our anonymity very carefully and I have always been twitchy about people using my real name. I remember when Shot By Both Sides was removed because its author, John, made some comments that annoyed a particularly powerful lobby—a lobby that found his name and then threatened to damage the business for which he worked.

Whilst not quite the same, something similar happened tonight. My boss was phoned by a very unimpressed friend who had recognised me on The Daily Politics. My boss—who, whilst knowing that I blogged, has never let it concern him—phoned me and expressed some disquiet. I should point out that he did not tell me to do anything and nor has he tried, in any way, to force me to do anything about this situation other than talk it over tomorrow.

However, it took me only a few minutes to make this decision...

The simple fact is that I love my job and I am now in quite a high-profile position: as the company grows, I am going to become yet more exposed. And the fact is, I want to be exposed.

But I want to be exposed because I am part of a company that has created great products and made people's lives better—not because I let my nasty imagination run riot when writing about how a union hypocrite didn't have the courage of her professed convictions. And neither that nasty piece of work nor Wiggy are worth risking my job for.

It is very difficult to delete anything on the internet and I am not going to pretend that I can do so. However, gradually the caches will fade away, and those parts of The Devil's Kitchen that are most damaging—the incredibly violent (though fantastical) demises of various politicos and their grubby little hangers-on—will fade away eventually.

And so, here we are—with The Devil starting with a clean slate. The tone of the blog will not change much—I am still a passionate libertarian and loather of our illegitimate masters—but the language will be much like my latter, less vitriolic posts rather than my more unpleasant death wishes. In time, I may transfer some of my better, more relevant, writing over here too. I hope that some of the authors—especially those, like The Filthy Smoker, who quickly became as much part of the fabric of The Kitchen as myself—will also carry on contributing.

As you will have noticed, the URL is the same and, I hope, the RSS feed will still work. The template is, at present, pretty minimal but I have been meaning to revise the look and feel—as well as making the blog as Accessible as possible—for a little while now.

I hope that all of you—readers, commenters, and contributors—will continue to partake of The Devil. I, for one, am quite sanguine about archiving my old material; nor am I totally surprised—this day has been coming for a little while (it was one of the reasons that I switched to a custom URL some time ago).

The Kitchen is dead: long live The Devil!