X : Are maps used in security?
Me : Yes. What are you after?
X : Single sign-on.
Me : Just use Amazon, Google or Twitter for this.
X : No, how we build one.
Me : You don't. This is 2020 not 2003.
X : What if we don't trust those companies?
Me : Who cares? Users do.
X : We can't rely on other companies.
Me : You do already unless you've been building your own powerplants, water supply, sewage works, farms, automotive factory ... long list.
X : What about Microsoft?
Me : Azure AD? Sure.
X : Any reason why Microsoft wasn't top of your list.
Me : I've tended to find Amazon, Google or Twitter are pretty friendly and I trust them. In fact, Amazon and Twitter are my top two. Nowt wrong with AzureAD especially compared to building / maintaining your own.
X : Do people custom build their own SSO?
Me : Oh, for sure ... in 2003. Can't think of a good reason to do so today beyond masochism.
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X : Can you help me understand digital sovereignty?
Me : Sure. It's a fascinating area. First, we have to start with culture. Do you know my culture map?
X : I've seen it but I don't quite understand.
Me : Not a problem. Ok ...
... the only thing you really need to understand about the culture map is there are lots of components involved - values, behaviours, memory - along with relationships between those components ...
... included in this are feedback loops which can be both negative (destabilising) and positive (stabilising) i.e. our collective, our success, our values and our sense of belonging. Don't worry about the mechanics, as I said not important ...
X : Have you taught mapping at Microsoft?
Me : A couple of times over the years. Why?
X : Who did you meet?
Me : Lots of people. Here's me talking mapping, cloud, open source and all that good stuff. Long conversation, many hours, long ago. Why?
X : Is that ...
Me : Yes. Why?
X : I met this person at Microsoft who said they knew your mapping.
Me : Oh. It's a big company. Mapping has spread quite far. Is it really that surprising?
X : How common is mapping?
Me : No idea.
X : You're not a fan of Microsoft?
Me : I was, then I wasn't then I was again. Microsoft is doing fine, no.2 in serverless, no.2 in cloud. A lot of good friends work there. They've certainly changed as a company. All good stuff.
In what sort of bizarre thought process do the words children, poverty, pandemic, hunger and compassion lead to a concluson of "ever-extending freebies" ... Benjamin Disraeli must be spinning in his grave ->
Williamson .... "to make sure that children do not go hungry. We will do everything we can to support families and help them to do well and to succeed, and to provide them with a world-class education system" ... for interest, future promises are not a recognised food group.
Brendan Clarke-Smith - "That means less celebrity virtue signalling on Twitter by proxy and more action to tackle the real causes of child poverty" ... just to help, the UN identified a major cause as "ideological" cuts to public services since 2010 - undocs.org/A/HRC/41/39/Ad…
X: Do you think UK Gov is doing a poor job over COVID?
Me : No. I think the civil service and frontline staff have been exceptional. There are some questionable decisions made by this Gov and lessons to learn but do not forget the horror that would have been "herd immunity" ...
... I also have concerns, particularly around aspects of dogma and the level of challenge on contracts given in a climate where some seem to have chosen to profit from the crisis. This reinforces the need for spend control even in a crisis ...
... I am also disappointed by the lack of "One Nation" Tory ideal, the self inflicted breakdown of trust etc. But a poor job? ... no. Inadequate or sufficient failings to warrant an inquiry would be more my view.
That painful slide from the ridiculous to the surreal ... we will need a committment from future governments for a full investigation into all matters. Lessons need to be learned ->
Of course, I don't take lightly the implied accusations but then I take even less lightly the misuse or exploitation of the public purse. For justice to operate and for trust to be maintained then it must not only be done but seen to be done. Dogma is not an excuse.
Fortunately, as the old phrase goes ... “The profiteering that cannot be got at by the restraints of conscience and love of country can be got at by taxation." US President Wilson.
We will need a reckoning, a great rebalancing for any abuse that might have occurred.
Gosh, this getting out of control. If we need to raise funds then use a least harm principle across society. A rough calculation says that a 60% wealth tax on wealth over £200m would give Gov around £340 billion whilst impacting only 600 odd families. They would survive ->
Of course, a huge amount of wealth is hidden in offshore trusts and other vehicles. Whilst the global GDP is around $80Tn, I understand that the actual amount is believed to be north of $130Tn.
The good news is that the majority of offshore trusts run through ... the city of London. Ok, obviously we want to keep the industry but I'm sure that Gov can be a bit creative here.