Re: You just bought a kettle...
Thanks. That's a great read and explains a lot.
35 publicly visible posts • joined 19 May 2020
Many years ago, when I was working for the British Met Office, I had to go to the top of the tower to fix the wind measuring system. On top of the tower was a mast with the anemometer on top and I had to go up the mast to fix it. I later found out that at the top of the mast I was at the highest point in London as that was above the height of the NatWest Tower. The views were amazing but I was grateful for the safety harness and hard hat that I was wearing. These days I just sit and program computers all day. Not quite so exciting.
"It is the *Post Office*, who bought a faulty system from ICL,"
While I agree to a certain extent, it was Fujitsu that developed a not fit for purpose system for PO and PO accepted it knowing full well that it didn't work properly. PO then went on to unjustifiably victimise their employees while Fujitsu just covered their own arses. This was not an off the shelf product. It was specifically built for a task that it didn't do properly.
Equally to blame IMHO.
War crime? Ok, let's go and illegally invade another country, kill loads of their people but hey chaps, make sure that you stick to the rules eh? Wouldn't want anyone to think we were cheating.
This is not a game. The whole "special military operation" is a crime. Maybe 500 years ago it was acceptable. Not now.
Had an experience in Greece this year when I had rented a scooter. Stopped at a zebra crossing and was rear ended by a truck. Called the police as instructed by the rental company and their response was that if I wasn't hurt then they were not interested. Told the truck driver and he said we had to wait for his boss. When the boss arrived his first question was whether the police were coming. I told him no and that everything was OK. He then thanked me, gave me his phone number and said that if I needed anything when I was on the island I should call him directly. I often wonder what was in the back of the truck that made him so keen that the police weren't involved. I guess his offer of help was the cheapest insurance policy I have ever had though.
A Magnus beer for the boss of the idiot who drove into me =>
I actually thought about a similar idea. Walk up into the Scottish Highlands with a case full of empty bottles, take the lids off, leave them for 5 minutes and then put the lids back on. With a nice label on them I'm sure they'd sell on certain well known auction sites as "Fresh Air from the Highlands". Then I thought why go to all that trouble? Just sell empty bottles with labels and a disclaimer saying that opening the bottle may compromise the quality of the product (so that no-one can smell that you didn't wash the fizzy drink residue out of the bottle before they bought it). I'm sure they would have sold.
It seems some people have more money than sense and it would also appear that they don't have a lot of money, at least not now...
So sad that they are basing their decisions on what Twatter and Instagram (aka Farcebook) users want instead of asking real people. "Oh, yes, let's have a new icon that we can send to all of our imaginary friends who are only our friends because they are as stupid as we are!". I genuinely dispair for the future of humanity unless "social media" is banned from influencing important matters like the abomination that was Clippy. Let her (or him) RIP.
I genuinely sympathise with your friends who have skin cancer. It's no joke. If Suckerbergs stunt had been a real attempt to encourage followers (Facebook sheep) to wear suncream then I would be all for it. Sadly he says "it wasn't thought through". Is he implying that he was wrong to wear suncream? If so then expect an army of Facebook droids to die of a preventable disease.
With great power comes great responsibility...
Absolutely agree. We are living in an "App for Everything" culture. Just another thing for people to stare at on their mobile phone screens.
In addition I would guess that many of the affected users are already sharing the video of their little cherubs throwing a tantrum at the nursery on Facebook or Twitter (other antisocial media networks are available) in order to gain more followers and become influencers.
Seems to be the way the world is going. I despair for the next generation or even this one in a few years time.
It was October 1996 and I was flying to Hong Kong with BA. I arrived at Heathrow airport suited and booted and clutching by business class Ticket. Presenting it at the checkin desk I was told that unfortunately business class was overbooked and would I be prepared to travel economy for a refund of the price difference and £100 compensation. Yes I said (£100 was worth having in those days!) as long as I could still use the business class lounge. No problem.
Shortly before boarding I was called to the gate. "Sorry sir, we still haven't managed to find a business class seat. Would you like to go first class?". I ended up flying into the old Kai Tak airport upstairs on a 747 drinking a rather agreeable red wine and enjoying the view out of the starboard window. A one off experience never to be repeated. Fond memories of the 747.