Sticking to the fax Why Northern rail and Dolly hold on to their old machines
The Guardian|November 02, 2024
There's not much Dolly Parton and Northern rail bosses can claim to have in common. Frustrated commuters from Manchester to Middlesbrough might complain the train service barely works 9 to 5. What does unite the two is that neither can let go of the fax machine.
Robert Booth
Sticking to the fax Why Northern rail and Dolly hold on to their old machines

Banned in the NHS and dropped by the Premier League after one too many player transfers was thwarted by faulty transmissions, the fax machine was this week blamed for commuter misery by the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. With a face like thunder after half an hour hearing Northern's executives explain their service's dismal performance, he said: "I have heard that you're still using fax machines... Can that possibly be true?"

It was, admitted the bosses. A quarter of a century after email took hold and 40 years since fax became ubiquitous, rostering and train crew processing are still done by fax in 2024, they explained. Burnham could barely believe it. There was a time when faxes delivered grand news - Michael Jordan's 1995 return to the NBA ("I'm back," he faxed) or the save-the-date invitations for Prince William and Kate's 2011 wedding. But this was a cause for embarrassment. It was a sign of "disregard for the travelling public", Burnham said.

"It looks like the railway industry will get round to it when it gets round to it, when the faxes arrive," he said.

There are fax machines in the collections of the Science Museum in London and the Smithsonian in Washington but Northern Rail is not alone in keeping its use alive.

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From voting day to the inauguration A complete guide to the US election
The Guardian

From voting day to the inauguration A complete guide to the US election

The 60th US presidential election will decide the 47th president - widely held to be the most powerful job in the world - and 50th vice-president.

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The Guardian

Europe's view: Even far-right voters want a win for Harris

Most western Europeans - and even many who vote for far-right parties would like Kamala Harris to win next week, polling suggests.

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1 min  |
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The Guardian

Time's up for old adage that claims apes could replicate Shakespeare

Mathematicians have called into question the adage that a monkey typing randomly at a keyboard for long enough would produce the complete works of Shakespeare.

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1 min  |
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Thomas Wei Huang named as boy jailed for private school hammer attack
The Guardian

Thomas Wei Huang named as boy jailed for private school hammer attack

A 17-year-old boy sentenced to life for attacking two sleeping pupils and a teacher with hammers at a private school can be named after a judge lifted reporting restrictions.

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1 min  |
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Money hacks How to set up and maintain a happy house-share
The Guardian

Money hacks How to set up and maintain a happy house-share

The main things people disagree on when they share a property are \"cleaning, noise, bills and other people's other halves\", says Matt Hutchinson, a director of the property-sharing website Spareroom.

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4 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Budget checklist What you need to do now to make the most of your cash
The Guardian

Budget checklist What you need to do now to make the most of your cash

Rachel Reeves's changes could make a difference to the tax you pay. Rupert Jones, Hilary Osborne and Shane Hickey report

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5 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Superstar of cuteness Hello Kitty turns 50 and makes $4bn a year
The Guardian

Superstar of cuteness Hello Kitty turns 50 and makes $4bn a year

She sports a signature red bow; her hobbies are travelling, reading and baking, and - despite celebrating her 50th birthday - she stands at only five apples tall.

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2 mins  |
November 02, 2024
The Guardian

House price rises slow but stamp duty move may lead to 'buyer rush'

The growth in UK house prices slowed unexpectedly last month, Nationwide said, as it warned buyers to expect a rush in transactions early next year prompted by changes to stamp duty rules in the budget.

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1 min  |
November 02, 2024
'Everything is expensive' No end to price pressures for your average family
The Guardian

'Everything is expensive' No end to price pressures for your average family

I sort of assumed the cost of living crisis would be temporary and things would go back to how they were before,\" said Jess Daly. \"Maybe I was being naive. Everything is just expensive now.

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4 mins  |
November 02, 2024
The Guardian

US adds only 12,000 jobs in final report before election, as hurricanes and strike bite

The US added only 12,000 jobs last month, less than a tenth of the number economists had forecast, a figure affected by the strike at Boeing and two hurricanes, in a final snapshot of the employment market before the country chooses a new president.

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2 mins  |
November 02, 2024