One of the most extraordinary stories in ages hit the news this morning. ActionAid is going to patent a ready-salted chip, which means that it could technically levy a royalty fee on any chip shop selling regular chips but adding salt to them. There are 9,000 chip shops in the UK, so that’s a lot of money.

Of course, it’s very unlikely they will do it. They are just making a point, and it’s a good one. They were discussing it on Radio 4 this morning and someone or other on the phone, presumably from ActionAid, told the story of an American who went to Mexico and brought back some yellow beans with him (so much for agricultural customs controls). He then patented them in America, even though the Mexicans had been eating them for centuries, and now every kilo of the beans that is imported from Mexico into America is subject to a tax of 15 cents.

I’m counting the spam to my personal email address this week. This morning’s first download harvested 48 pieces.

I finally got to speak to the new (book) publisher today. Having sent three emails, left six messages on his voicemail and even sent a letter, none of which have elicited a response, I was very surprised to get through, but less surprised to hear that the project had been put ‘on hold’.

I’d been expecting that, which I guess is why he’s been so evasive. He even commented on the fact that it’s been ‘a while since we spoke’. I told him we had never spoken. Ever. Then I asked about the contact, upon which payment hinges. He reiterated the ‘on hold’ message, but I reminded him that I had done all that was requested of me, and he promised an answer by the end of the week.

I told him I’d look forward to speaking to him before Friday.

Gymmed on the way home but it was so horribly busy I ended up in the pool and reminded myself how difficult swimming is. Fortunately I bumped into Kate, Phil’s other half, who I’ve not seen in ages. I’m glad she recognised me, because I certainly wouldn’t have recognised her with my skill for faces. We chatted for ten minutes while I got my breath back then I went and sat in the steam room.

While sitting there, the steam dripping off the end of my nose, I decided it was time to have a change around at home, so came back to move the bedroom around. It was a bigger job than I had anticipated, as I realised that the pile of four years’ worth of software that was under there ought to be sorted out, too. So, the current releases retained their boxes and rightful places, while anything that had been superceded lost its box and was rearranged into a smaller space.

It was definately too late to start. It’s half midnight now.

1. 90,000+
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