My batch files for building software releases suddenly stopped working. More specifically, the sequence that updated version numbers across all the source files in the various components (application versioninfo, Wix sources, cab file inf files etc) using Search & Replace from funduc started hanging - the S&R would run but then fail to auto exit.

It took me a while to work out that this was because I was running the last.fm player. I dunno - it scares the life out of me as to what the player might be doing that would stop an entirely different process from exiting. Ho hum.

Long-term pensions plan is vital says PM.  The government will ensure pensioners are provided for in the future, Tony Blair insisted today. [via 10 Downing Street News]

In 1997 people knew there was a pensions crisis looming in the public sector, people were complacent about the private sector. Elected Councillors and their Officers knew of the problem, Westminster MPs knew of the problem; one can only assume that the media was well aware of the problem as well. In 1997 Tony Blair said the country had one day to save the Country's pensions. 8 years on and we're not much further forward. What a waste.

WTL 7.5 has just been released on Sourceforge - The Windows Template Library (WTL) is a C++ library for developing Windows applications and UI components. It extends ATL (Active Template Library) and provides a set of classes for controls, dialogs, frame windows, GDI objects, and more. - Mike [via MSDN Blogs]

For those still playing in the archaic world of C++ - now just waiting for the VS 2005 DVD to arrive.

But then I'm hardly trying!

For Mr Blunkett it must be the end of his front line political career,

No, no, no the processology on this sort of thing is often a place in Europe...

although that was also said about Peter Mandelson.  [via BBC NEWS | Politics | Why Blunkett was under pressure]

Ah yes.

Three labs are being held: one in the North West of England, one in London and one in Yorkshire & Humber.  [via Innovation Labs]

London is a region? And what are the borders of this region I wonder? Looks like a good idea though if you have a nifty idea for "Beyond the browser" as they call it - a strap line that Zeepe started using a little while ago.

Once in a while, I do a project whose long term implications make me want to cry [via Ben Hammersley: Hot BBC Archive Action]

Yeah well, he said a similar sort of thing about the Backstage project (which has recently, and quite rightly, taken some heavy flak for over-hype). So, here he is over-hyping a database. Possibly a moderately interesting database if you are a BBC output geek but read-only access to a database nevertheless. At least COBOL programmers had the excitement of the occasional update record.

Oh, and the screen-shot is seriously sad (in fact, it makes me want to cry).

Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far.  ...

The entire experience was frustrating and irritating. Not only had Sony put software on my system that uses techniques commonly used by malware to mask its presence, the software is poorly written and provides no means for uninstall. Worse, most users that stumble across the cloaked files with a RKR scan will cripple their computer if they attempt the obvious step of deleting the cloaked files.

While I believe in the media industry’s right to use copy protection mechanisms to prevent illegal copying, I don’t think that we’ve found the right balance of fair use and copy protection, yet. This is a clear case of Sony taking DRM too far. [via Mark's Sysinternals Blog]

An informative article - its interesting both what they can do and what you can do to find out what they have done. Its very difficult to have secrets.