In mid-2019, after a ten year slog to replace outdated computer systems, Greater Manchester Police was supposed to have launched their new Capita-designed computer system, “iOPS” (the “Integrated Operational Policing System”) at an initial cost of some £29 million – quickly rising to well over £80 million. Since mid-2019, there’s been a litany of issues…
Author: Grumpy Chris
Grumpy Cat has a Christmas album
Ugh, it’s expensive.
Brexit – a Very British Shambles
Don’t forget – Brexit has, did, does, will and will always mean Brexit.
Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police, proudly running rings around you since you first called them
Christopher bemoans the lack of joined-up thinking which plagues Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police, and their seeming inability or unwillingness to be honest with the people who fund them as soon as they ask the most basic of questions.
BBC announces Newswipe, fans of sarky comedy rejoice (quietly)
Charlie Brooker, longtime critic of all that is shallow, vapid and ridiculous today, presenter of the BBC show Screenwipe and proprieter of various newspaper, magazine and newspaper columns… Has another show – it’s called Newswipe. (guess what it’s going to be about). There’s going to be an initial run of six 30 minute episodes. Quoteth…
What IS the point of 15% VAT?
Christopher wonders what argument was SO convincing that UK.gov felt compelled to lower the rate of VAT by an almost useless amount – and how much it’s actually cost the country in adapting anyway…
Speed limiters proposed for UK cars; stock price of tinfoil skyrockets
Courtesy of lobbyists and uk.gov… News from the I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-Not-Utter-Bollocks department: over the past week, plans have once again been quietly introduced to the public to implement voluntary speed limiting systems… In peoples’ cars. This idea is so fundamentally flawed it’s just ridiculous, but I’ll break each point down and explain just how stupid an idea…
Classic Grumpy Spotlight: Charlie Brooker on why he hates Macs
Charlie Brooker hates Macs. I hate Macs. But he puts it so much better… A classic bit of Grumpy for you to read and savour.
What IS IT with people and Christmas?
Christmas seems to trigger the Stupid Gene in the majority of our population, even though it’s increasingly becoming less about the sentiment and actual relaxation with your family and friends and more and more about just buying shit. But new stuff in itself isn’t that bad; why do I hate it so much? Let’s investigate.
The Day My Brain Was Still-Born
I saw The Day The Earth Stood Still this evening. I want my bloody money back, and it’s not just because of Keanu Reeves…