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mySociety’s review of Parliament digital: a response

By Harry
May 22nd, 2014 1 minute read

This post has been a long time coming, mostly because I struggled to find the time to respond to the mySociety report in the depth that I’d have liked to. So, in lieu of something longer, I hope this will do. I think it is imperative that the spirit and the substance of mySociety’s recommendations are implemented in full. This is a huge opportunity to bring about lasting, meaningful change to the way that Parliament ...(Read More)

Posted in Thoughts | 2 Comments

“If it’s not save to breathe…”: let us count the ways

By Harry
February 17th, 2013 1 minute read

Inspired by a post on facebook, I thought I’d respond to this image, which is doing the rounds: There are lots of reasons why it might be safe to eat something, but not to breathe it. These are all conjecture, but not fanciful: Some things are safe to ingest, but not safe to inhale. Airborne mould spores might be a good example. (Edit: A better example, suggested by David Edwards, is flour, eg, Bakers’ Asthma) ...(Read More)

Posted in Thoughts | 5 Comments
Tagged in agriculture, farming, green, science

Religious ideas, a tabula rasa and an atheist parent

By Harry
February 12th, 2013 3 minute read

I've been wondering a lot recently about what one should tell children about the world.

Posted in Odds & Ends, Thoughts | 6 Comments

Religion and public policymaking

By Harry
November 14th, 2012 3 minute read

I believe that governments should try to enact policies which will produce the greatest good for the greatest number.

Posted in Odds & Ends | Comments Off on Religion and public policymaking

I get annoyed when Government is pushy, rude and aggressive

By Harry
February 24th, 2012 1 minute read

This is admittedly a fairly minor example, but it genuinely irritates me. And it’s by no means the first letter from HMRC that’s done the same. Click for a bigger version. For the most part, I find that ensuring my business complies with all the Government’s requirements to file and pay things is a huge pain in the arse. I do most of it myself, I try to get it right and mostly succeed, and when ...(Read More)

Posted in Thoughts | 3 Comments
Tagged in customer service, hmrc, letter, rude, tone of voice, vat

www.gov.uk has landed: what’s on it?

By Harry
February 1st, 2012 4 minute read

It’s fantastic to see the gov.uk beta go live. Over the last few months we’ve been fortunate to be able to work with GDS on a different project, and I’ve been given the odd sneaky peak at the beta as it’s been developing. It has been very exciting to watch it grow — it’s come a long way very quickly, which is a real credit to the (awesome) team. I think the site is great, ...(Read More)

Posted in Cool stuff | 7 Comments

Banning photography in traf sq?

By Harry
January 31st, 2012 1 minute read

Photography, film and protest in Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square Gardens

Posted in Odds & Ends | 1 Comment

How government’s SME relationship should smell

By Harry
December 19th, 2011 4 minute read

Since I started dxw a few years ago, surprisingly little has changed in the way that we contract with Government. Now that the Government Digital Service has thoroughly arrived on the scene, I thought it might be a good time to write something about how I think contracting for digital ought to work. Or perhaps more accurately, how it should smell. I’ve never worked as a civil servant, and I’m not a legal expert. The only ...(Read More)

Posted in Thoughts | 17 Comments
Tagged in agile, digital, dxw, procurement

The only decent picture anyone got

By Harry
December 8th, 2011 3 minute read

Museums are the guardians of our cultural heritage, not the owners of it.

Posted in Thoughts | 8 Comments
Tagged in aldwtch, ltm, photography

Is the Public Data Corporation gone for good?

By Harry
November 29th, 2011 2 minute read

Ding, dong, the witch is dead?

Posted in Odds & Ends | Comments Off on Is the Public Data Corporation gone for good?

Redefining privacy

By Harry
November 23rd, 2011 1 minute read

Or: how lots of bits of our private lives are going to get sucked into the public domain whatever we might think about it, so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em

Posted in Thoughts | 1 Comment

Dear police officer…

By Harry
September 22nd, 2011 1 minute read

It's true. Ok? I did it.

Posted in Odds & Ends | 2 Comments

Quick thoughts on the Xoom

By Harry
April 13th, 2011 2 minute read

Mmmmm, shiny...

Posted in Odds & Ends | 4 Comments
Tagged in android, tablet, xoom

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