OK, so how’s this for an idea. Why don’t we break the entire NHS off from government to form an independent body – state funded but not state controlled?
As I see it, an independent NHS would have the following advantages:
– Less day to day interference from government, more cohesive long-term planning
– Continuity through elections, less chopping and changing of direction and leadership
– Could be run like the BBC, using the techniques of the private sector but as a public service
– Easier for people working in the NHS to rise through the system, they wouldn’t have to be politicians to reach the top and so successful ideas could flourish internally
– Still providing services free at the point of use
– Greater public support, they could see what proportion of their taxes went directly to funding the NHS instead of being ‘lost’ in general government spending.
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YES!
Passed my 70-270 exam today to become an MCP – Microsoft Certified Professional. My score was 873, with 700 needed to pass. Very nerve-wracking doing that kind of exam for the first time – one button click and you discover whether you’ve passed or failed. I’ve spent the past week of my half term training for this so would have been pretty disappointed to have ‘wasted’ that time – but now I know it was all worth it!
At time of writing, there are 644 comments on the announcement of IE7. It was exciting, then, to have Dean send me a note of thanks for my comment. After all – he’s “the guy responsible for IE” – and it just goes to show how much better things are when you glimpse the people behind the bland press releases. Blogs are good for the customer, good for the company and good for the employees. Which is a rare thing.
Anyways, that wasn’t the point of this post. All I wanted to do was lay out my little laundry list of things I want for IE7. You probably have your own, and here’s a fairly long one, but hey. It’s my blog. I doubt they have time to implement all of this, but if you don’t ask – you don’t get.
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Strangely, I couldn’t care less about Prince Charles’ marriage. If we insist on keeping the royals, can’t we at least reform them?
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This is fantastic news. If Microsoft deliver, and that’s a big if, I might even consider moving back from Firefox. I want Windows to have a world class browser built in – let’s hope we finally get one.
Edit – I’m getting more hopeful and excited by the minute… longer post coming soon!
Double Edit – “final version of the Windows Anti-Spyware tool to be made available to all customers of licensed Windows at no charge.” Today is just amazing 
Linda Moffitt on Colombia: “Such a sweet memory of the four of you meeting up in Colombia!” Dec 2, 07:42
