§ Squirrel
§ Press cuttings
§ Academic publications
§ Cat flap
§ Software patents
§ Model Transformation Tools (MTT)
§ Cuba (2003)
§ Vegetarian beer
§ Other photo galleries
§ Spitting stones
§ Chilling reading
§ Guantanamo Bay
§ Universal declaration of human rights
§ Finished reading?
§ Contact
I have written letters to the press on numerous occasions; often about ID cards or intrusions of privacy and security risks related to governmental databases. I have gathered together some letters that have been published on a page of press cuttings
This file was generated by bibtex2html 1.98 with the following command: /usr/bin/bibtex2html --revkeys --nodoc -dl publications.bib
My citations at Google Scholar.
Institutional repository at Glasgow Caledonian University Research Online, including links to full texts where available.
Links to publications at Scopus.
There are not nearly enough images and videos of cats on the internet. I hope to remedy this to some small extent with a camera trained on Bruce and Charley's cat flap.
My views on software patents are reflected in my response to the UK Patent Office consultation in 2000.
Similar views are also expressed (more briefly) in my letter to New Scientist which was written in response to an article about the European Parliament's amendments to the directive on the "patentability of computer-implemented inventions". The letter elicited this response from a patent attorney. It is noticeable in the debate on software patents that those most in favour of software patents are the European Patent Office (who are paid per patent processed), patent attorneys (who are paid per patent processed) and very large US firms such as Microsoft who wish to stifle competition from the hotbeds of innovation in the IT industry, small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and free and open-source sofware developers, who are almost unanimously united in their opposition.
There is a lot of misinformation spread about the current law regarding software patents. Article 52(2) of the European Patent Convention explicitly precludes software from being patented:
|
(1) European patents shall be granted for any inventions which are susceptible of industrial application, which are new and which involve an inventive step. (2) The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions within the meaning of paragraph 1: (a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods; (b) aesthetic creations; (c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers; (d) presentations of information. (3) The provisions of paragraph 2 shall exclude patentability of the subject-matter or activities referred to in that provision only to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to such subject-matter or activities as such. (4) Methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body shall not be regarded as inventions which are susceptible of industrial application within the meaning of paragraph 1. This provision shall not apply to products, in particular substances or compositions, for use in any of these methods. |
| Article 52 of the European Patent Convention |
Paragraph 3 contains the notorious "as such" clause. It is evident, to me at least, that this is intended to ensure that patents may be granted for inventions despite the fact that software may be used in them somewhere, but that the patent may not cover the software portion itself. For example, a new method of welding metals using some novel tool would be patentable even if the tool contains a microprocessor executing a set of instructions. Clearly, however, the patent could not extend to preventing others from using the same algorithms in other tools.
Unfortunately, this "as such" clause has been used as a loophole for allowing software patents. Many patents for software have been granted using this loophole, some of the more readable ones are listed at the European Software Patent Horror Gallery. compiled by the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure.
MTT (Model Transformation Tools) version 5.0 .deb and .rpm packages[?] are available at Sourceforge. More frequently updated packages for testing are also available.
A very big thank you to Aylen and her family for taking the time to show the real Cuba!
In 2003 I started creating a Vegetarian beer list.
The list has more suitable beers than non-suitable ones, so any vegetarians who
have until now decided that "ignorance is bliss" when it comes to beer
might want to have a look ...
(and some have even been confirmed as suitable for vegans too!)
I no longer maintain this list. The excellent www.barnivore.com now has a larger database maintained by more people and is far more up to date. I use it. You should too if you care about what you drink.
Belize
Brazil
Costa Rica
A question in New Scientist magazine asked:
The answer is somewhere in the middle:
The results were plotted using GNU Octave.
The script can be downloaded from here.
Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
Source: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Want to read something else? There are many good books on-line at Project Gutenburg. For some lighter reading, I highly recommend the short story "Flatland" by Edwin Abbot. Alternatively if you have had enough of reading, how about looking at a Lego Orrery?
My work contact details are available from the Glasgow Caledonian University website. My public key is also available if you want to contact me securely or verify a digital signature (fingerprint: 3085 D1DD B2A8 15ED 492F E75D 7175 7737 9D10 98D3)
e-mail: geraint @ enchant.me.uk
I am on Mastodon as @drgeraint@glasgow.social
This page is Bobby Approved.
Last updated at least as recently as 2017-05-18. Parts might be a little out of date now!
orcid.org/0000-0002-3214-1161