A short note to say I'm off: Vulture taps claws on Reg keyboard for last time

After five years at Vulture Central, mainly covering government technology and telecoms, I'm off. I'll be starting a new role at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, looking into the use of algorithms and big data in governments' decision making. What can I say other than working here has been an absolute blast. El Reg …

[steviebuk]

Good luck

In the new job

[Zippy´s Sausage Factory]

Re: Good luck

Seconded!

[tiggity]

What was the leaving gift?

A bowl of petunias would have been apt given the Adams references snuck in

[Dazed and Confused]

Re: What was the leaving gift?

It's a pity we can't upvote Kat for the Douglas Adams quote in sub title.

[Alister]

Re: What was the leaving gift?

That's what this is for...

[TRT]

Re: What was the leaving gift?

Well all I can say is that if the good Lord had meant her to walk, he would have given her sneakers.

And I have some advice for Kat on taking up her new job. When you land, swing your knees round. Try and roll with it!

[Sgt_Oddball]

Re: What was the leaving gift?

Bah, no-one ever doubles down on the reference stakes (steaks?) with 'Ghoti'...

And now I'm hungry... Pi and pint anyone?

[Kane]

Re: What was the leaving gift?

Actually came here just for that!

So long, and thanks for all the Ghoti!

[Alister]

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Sounds like a great job, all the very best with it.

[macjules]

Re: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Prime Minister: "Do we really use algorithms and big data in our decision making?"

Sir Humphrey: "No, Prime Minister: we just say that we do so that we do not lose the funding for GDS from the Cabinet Office"

Good luck Kat! I for one will certainly miss your headlines.

[Chris G]

Re: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Good luck with the new job, the BIJ does some really excellent and important work that no one else does

[TRT]

Re: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Of course the job of a journalist will be replaced by AI soon...

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

"Of course the job of a journalist will be replaced by AI soon..."

More likely the copy will be produced from a buzzword generator mandated by HM Government - whoever gets to be PM.

[TRT]

Re: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

I quite like the idea of an AI researching other AIs... It's got a Blade Runner quality to it!

Who watches the watchers? Who Bytes the Byters?

[The Oncoming Scorn]

Re: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

The MCP from TRON springs to mind.

[big_D]

Re: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Yes, and the investigation she should be doing is probably one of the most important discussions we should be having, coming out of this decade and going into the next.

[Anonymous Coward]

Good luck for the future though I'm not sure what a former vice president of America playing the drums has to do with big data.

[Alexander J. Martin]

A brilliant journalist and great colleague

I loved working with Kat (or Kitty as she prefers to be known by her friends) during my time at The Register. She is genuinely one of the best reporters I've ever worked with and I am sure she is going to continue doing great work at the Bureau. She is a fantastic hire for them.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: A brilliant journalist and great colleague

Do you think she would say that about you Alex?

[chivo243]

See Body

See Icon

[Circadian]

Loved your reporting - hope your next gig allows the freedom of El Reg to, uh, express yourself.

[Mage]

Greener fields?

Always greener near the septic tank.

Good Luck & Best Wishes.

[Inventor of the Marmite Laser]

Re: Greener fields?

Upvoted just for that one-liner

[lafnlab]

Au revoir

Good luck in the new job.

[Captain Hogwash]

You shall be missed

Your articles usually struck exactly the right tone of cynicism.

[onemark03]

Vulture taps claws on Reg keyboard for last time

If working at El Reg. was such a blast, I'd be interested to know why she's going.

For the record: I seriously wish her all the best.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Vulture taps claws on Reg keyboard for last time

If it were me, it'd first be for the money.. And secondly because I jump sinking ships... (there's only 2 companies out 5 that I've worked for still in existence and one of those is only a brand now...).

Finally it might to escape my past.. (I mean digestive thins? Really?)

All the best in the new spot Kat, ye shall be missed (if only because we can't aim well).

Anon because I still work for one of them and leave to the reader to figure out which....

[defiler]

Re: Vulture taps claws on Reg keyboard for last time

Atari. Is it Atari?

[Dabooka]

All the best in the new role

And if you've learned nothing else, it's full fat biscuits all the way.

[genghis_uk]

Bye Kat

All the best for the future.

It may be a step up but you wont get to research stories about blokes shagging bollards anywhere other than EL Reg :)

[colinb]

Good Luck

Sounds like worthy work @ The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Algos in government hands is just the newest wave of kafkaism to be unleashed on public.

"Computer says no, and don't ask us why"

[Mark192]

Shitsticks

I've only just discovered this place and now you're leaving?

Particularly enjoyed reading your articles - your replacement has some big boots to fill.

Good luck in the new job.

[C. P. Cosgrove]

Best wishes for your future career !

Chris Cosgrove

[Anonymous Coward]

Good luck!

So when's the expose coming about which villainous soul thought milk in the teapot was a good idea? Heresy! Hang 'em high! Nearly gave me a heart attack reading that!

All the best Kate - BOIJ's gain is very much our loss!

[W.S.Gosset]

Heresy?

Well, you didn't actually hear it yourself, first-hand.

So technically it's just Heresay.

[William Towle]

Re: Good luck!

> which villainous soul thought milk in the teapot was a good idea?

You were lucky. One of ours made tea *in the kettle*!

[ICPurvis47]

Tea Kettle, was Good luck!

At one place I worked, the shop floor complained that the tea they made from the tea urn tasted funny, so it was replaced. A few days later, the complaint was made again, so some samples were taken and analysed in the Chemistry lab. It was found that there was a high concentration of animal fat coating the inside of the boiler, so someone from security was tasked with finding out how it got there. On the next night shift, one of our ethnic workers was observed wrapping a fresh chicken in a pair of lady's tights and suspending it in the top of the boiler to cook it. The solution was to add a metal strap and a padlock to prevent the lid from being removed.

[DanceMan]

Re: Tea Kettle

I have an even better story. At one of our local arenas, they discovered that one of the cleaners had been cleaning the pots in the crew room coffee maker with the same brush he used to clean the toilets!

[Danny 2]

Re: Tea Kettle

I can top that. My mum attended a self-catered civil service union meeting in London. Nobody had a big enough pot for the event meal except serial killer Dennis Nilsen. He had a huge pot.

[Captain Scarlet]

Re: Good luck!

Well its probably better than putting milk in the Kettle.

[Blackjack]

Goodbye Kat

I am quite sure you must be tired of the cat puns by now. I hope you do well in your next job.

[Admiral Grace Hopper]

Fare well!

I know from personal experience that you have the knack of asking the right questions, something that serves a journalist well. You'll be missed on these pages but I am sure appreciated in your new role.

All the best!

[JerseyDaveC]

Farewell, Kat. Don't be a stranger. Or any stranger.

[batfink]

Thanks Kat

Thanks for the journalism here Kat. All the best in the BIJ - fighting the fight of the just!

Batfink.

[A K Stiles]

So long Kat

Thanks for your good work here, apologies on behalf of most of the commentarderatti for the terrible attempts at humo[u]r, and hope your new role is at least as fulfilling and rewarding as this one has been.

[Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse]

I'm a bit upset about the view of Zooey Deschanels legs in the picture. I'm now struggling to get any work done.

And yes, I do have a brain the size of a planet.

[imanidiot]

Good luck and goodbye

[D Moss Esq]

Keep on tapping ...

... those talons.

[Doctor Syntax]

Snake oil-sodden is a pretty good phrase to go out on.

[I Am Spartacus]

Congratulations

Thank you for all the articles.

Our loss is the The Bureau of Investigative Journalism gain.

[Brewster's Angle Grinder]

As much as I'll miss your reports, the BIJ sounds like a real step up. Just keep pressing the lying bastards' feet against the fire!

[Albie36]

Bravo - loved reading your eviscerations of serial government incompetence. All best in your new job.

[TwistedPsycho]

Surely....

..... you can retain a vaguely freelance position to add a notary column every now and then....

[The Mole]

You've delivered a lot more more than even a full serco contract though

Well done and a great place you are going to.

[Kiwi]

Thanks,

Thanks.

Enjoy the new job, and if ya don't, well, I'm sure Simon can tell you where to find bulk quicklime, old carpet, and a few hiding places that'll help you 'dispense with some of your own workplace hostility' :)

(Then again, any places Simon suggests may well be compromised and he's just waiting for a handy scape ghoat)

[earl grey]

"I'm off"

Yes, you are; but we love you anyway.

Very best to you in your new plane of existence.

Have a few of these to carry you on your way.

[Danny 2]

Note to Self

Bookmark the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

[John Gamble]

Re: Note to Self

Likewise. Good luck with your new job!

[Kevin McMurtrie]

Good luck!

Hopefully it's not one of those government agencies where "big data" means "crashes my Excel."