Author: Robert Paterson

Quirky, geeky and charming techie. All thoughts and posts are my own.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b6m9k2

Some of my more avid readers and my close friends, possibly one and the same person, know that I adore John Finnemore’s comedy.

I also like “My teenage diary”, so this combination of those two form favourites was going to be a must listen item.

i was not wrong.

Even at age 19 his sharp wit was in place, though like a lot of us boys only grammar school attendees, he clearly didn’t know when the girls liked him.

i share this because it deserves sharing, and because I think I see more of a shared character, even though he’s clearly better at being funny than me.

Truly a magnificent comedy – and a good review of it

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170817-why-some-like-it-hot-is-the-greatest-comedy-ever-made

Some Like It Hot is just one of the best ever – possibly the best.

I’ve stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado where a lot of the film is filmed and where of course the hotel makes it the “in house” choice film.

Its superbly funny and the review highlights all the great aspects of the film much better than I ever could.

Go watch it – its on Netflix right now…

Another company considering leaving Britain because of Brexit

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44570931

We’re getting closer and closer to a no deal Brexit. I am sure Airbus are not the only ones looking at this situation.

I don’t see that a deal is likely to be struck, which seems to be reinforced by how Government are working on a fall back plan.

Rather than a fall back, why not go back to the EU and ask if they would reconsider our decision?

So much less pain, grief, aggravation and probably most important cost to all whether in lost wages, additional taxes to cover the EU shortfalls and such.

Reverse the Brexit madness.

Do you have a social conscience?

More and more these days it seems people are out for number 1 and blow the rest of the world.

I find this lack of consideration for others to be an abysmal indication of the direction our society is heading. Indeed, was A Clockwork Orange too predictive? It does seem to be going that way.

A counter to that is seeing that there are citizens prepared to do what they can to improve the lots of others.

This site, https://www.mysociety.org/, is just one such example. Fixmystreet is a tool I have used many times. The affected councils don’t always seem to react which is the most disappointing aspect of using the tool, but if everyone was to use the tool, perhaps they might get the message that some things really do need to be fixed.

TheyWorkForYou is equally a good way to monitor what your MP does, and I eventually gave up monitoring mine because all he seemed to be focused on was self aggrandisement and whether he could help his corporate chums. Never a word about constituents in a way that let you believe he truly represents you.

If we all used these tools, we could improve our society – and who knows – may be that would be a bigger step towards the care and consideration that we should all expect?

Has #metoo gone too far?

This is an interesting snippet of commentary from Mariella Frostrup, at one point a person of much interest to many men.

She highlights that as a woman she can make comments about an interesting man, but that if the roles were reversed, a man would be picked on by those highlighting their misogynistic perspective.

I absolutely see her point and perhaps we need to have that balanced perspective.

Thing is, should women still be allowed to lust over the men, or should they be held accountable to the same standards applied to men?

I’d like to think there’s a half way house, but I fear that to be too difficult to achieve.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44287094

60 years of Hursley

I work for IBM and whilst not based at Hursley, have had cause over the many years of working for IBM to visit the site.

Its a great place and I’ve made some friends there and equally have some friends not working for IBM nearby making it a lovely place to go.

Here’s a great video helping as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations for this amazing site:

The dangers of some smart speakers

I will say up front I am not a fan of Amazon as I feel they, like some others, do not have user privacy at the forethought of their operations.

This story from the BBC perhaps reinforces that when you read the sequence of events.

Either they don’t care about privacy or Alexa just isn’t as smart as some think…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44248122

Are the UK government acting like a three year old?

This article from The Independent explains how we’re going to have to pay the £39billion divorce bill.

They had been arguing for ages this would not be needed, and now concede it will.

Is anyone else reminded how a three year old will argue against something and then has to accept the original edict?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-divorce-bill-uk-pay-eu-trade-deal-talks-david-davis-suella-braverman-a8364841.html

John Finnemore’s Flying Visit to High Wycombe

Some of you who read this, or even if you don’t, will know that I am a somewhat big fan of Mr Finnemore of the John variety.

He’s written material for many, but especially Mitchell and Webb, he’s crafted his own Souvenir Program which is a series of sketches, recently started on some Double Acts but best of all, in my opinion, he wrote Cabin Pressure.

Now Cabin Pressure is an all time favourite and one that I have managed to convert friends and colleagues alike to listen and laugh along with. Its a great taster of how well he writes.

His Souvenir Program stars some regular folk, well regular participants. Having seen them in action tonight as part of JF’s entourage, they’re anything but normal – though that’s in the good way.

Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawny Lewin and Carrie Quinlan aid him magnificently in his sketch series which has run for seven series, so far.

Tonight the five of them did magnificently in a variety of guises and, most especially, Carrie reprised her role of Patsy Straightwoman interviewing Arthur, yes that Arthur, Shappey Esq. Hearing what happened to the crew of MJN/OJS Air after the two Zurich episodes was great, and to know that they had just returned from San Salvador and on their way to Trinidad & Tobago will give people in the know hope that perhaps a new run may yet still be possible.

There were a lot of other closet fans at the show as I heard many gave knowing sniggers, grunts or other similar indications that when certain names, phrases or similar keywords were uttered, meant we all knew what would happen next.

And whilst the secret of comedy is sometimes in the timing.

Tonight the secret of comedy was repetition.

Especially the phrases “yellow car”, “the lemon is in play” and utterances involving Pavlov’s dogs.

If you get the chance to see it in its flying visit to a town near you – go and enjoy.

(And don’t forget to keep the secret secret!)