Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Ironside]

Because they were good for ratings

[MereNovice]

I have just noticed that "maryhadalamb" is a username on Blonde.
It reminds me of part of my early training in computer science.

The lesson to be learnt was the inexactitude of the English language (even when expressed well) as opposed to the precision required in computational languages (as expressed in Automata and Formal Languages and in pioneering work by Alan Turing). You might be surprised how many different ways a simple sentence like "Mary had a little lamb" can be interpreted by perverse scientists trying to stretch a point. Similarly, the different "values" that can be assigned to the noun sex extend far beyond "male" and "female". As I mull over these issues now, I begin to realise why I get so irritated by people who are unable to construct correctly a sentence to express even the simplest of thoughts.

Grumpy? You bet!

Where did you learn computer Science, & what exactly is it? I know you are an IT geeka, but beyond that, I'm not sure.

I formally started learning "Computer Science" at University. Arguably, the understanding of logic which many students learn at school could be described as the founding for this. It's a "broad church" that reaches from the almost philosophical arguments relating to languages to the technical aspects of computer and communications hardware. It's rarely discussed in public because the "geeka" like to live in the shadows and to not be exposed to public scrutiny. I'm not aware of any secret rituals of indoctrination but that may just be a consequence of the particular sect that I belong to.

Which Uni? Notts?

What use did you plan to put it to, & what did you actually put it to?

I'm curious where your knowledge of word roots stems from (pardon the pun), too.

Birmingham.

I had no real plans at university, it was just an educational pursuit. On leaving university, I joined British Rail's IT department.

My knowledge of word roots (and probably my pedantry) stems from studying Latin at school.

Puns are good.

[wormster]

The Gray / Keys story is brilliant & they got their just deserts. I doubt anyone in TV will be feeling sorry for them as they are 2 of the most dreadful people you could ever work with. I've witnessed first hand how they bully Assistant Producers & technical staff, talk loudly in the studio about who they shagged over the weekend etc. That was over 10 years ago for me & it seems nothing has changed.
From the news that has been "leaked" I wonder if Sky were looking to get rid of them. Someone told me a while back that Gray & Keys weren't liked by the new management & they didn't help their cause by demanding a pay rise (I heard Gray gets £1.7 MILLION - to tell us what a great goal we've just seen!).  Now to have 2 recordings of their behaviour "leaked" to the press, were the Sky management team aware of how Gray / Keys were behaving and took steps to get evidence against them?

Sky certainly saves a few bob with them 2 now gone

Why do you think Sky allowed this open bullying and sexist behaviour to exist within their business for over a decade before they did something about it?

When I worked at Sky (graphics 1996-2000), the majority of the Exec / Senior producers were also sexist bullies, especially on Premier League Football. When I joined Sky, the Exec Producer had only just relented to allow women to work on PL, they might get pregnant half way through the season was the thinking!

To be honest, I don't think Grays/Keys gate is about sexism or bullying. I think the new management wanted them out & found a way to get rid of them. It's the way TV sometimes works unfortunately, the bosses always know that a popular presenter / star isn't quite right but they keep quiet until the whistle is blown or it's time to find an excuse to get rid. eg, TV Bosses knew all about John Leslie and his behaviour towards women, plus the Ulrika Johnson rape, but were happy for him to present Morning Line until the story broke.

For a little insight to Gray's / Key's behaviour, here is what a friend of a friend posted on Facebook the day the story first broke;

"Ladies you've no idea!!!! Keys is on atomically thin ice too!!! I know at least one of my mates was not so much propositioned as almost ordered to turn up at their hotel for... suffice to say she told the bastards to get fooked!!! Only wish she'd kept the voicemail."

I wonder if Soccer AM will still have the "Soccerette" feature this week and will their Ant & Dec in the Jungle spoof still have jokes about "rummaging around in Georgie Thompson's box"? And will Sky Sports News start employing female presenters who aren't the best looking in the world but are very knowledgeable about sport?

Sexism in the TV industry - whoda thunk it?

[the sicilian]

".......But here's the thing. If I'm not prepared to risk my own money, is it right to (try to) sell some of my action using other people's money? (Friends, mainly).

Somehow it does not feel right......"
[/b][/size][/size][/size]
Well before I've been able to resolve that, I've had several pledges, on Thread, & as many again by PM & Text.

Thank you very much to all of you.

For now, I will, as usual, dither a bit, then dither some more.

Is this how you feel about people who ask for staking?.....

Anyway...you only live once just do it....I'm gonna have a good shot at qualifying this year...

if it eases your conscience why not pledge 10% of any winnings out of your end to charity...say little Rees ?

[RED-DOG]

".......But here's the thing. If I'm not prepared to risk my own money, is it right to (try to) sell some of my action using other people's money? (Friends, mainly).

Somehow it does not feel right......"
[/b][/size][/size][/size]
Well before I've been able to resolve that, I've had several pledges, on Thread, & as many again by PM & Text.

Thank you very much to all of you.

For now, I will, as usual, dither a bit, then dither some more.

Is this how you feel about people who ask for staking?.....

Anyway...you only live once just do it....I'm gonna have a good shot at qualifying this year...

if it eases your conscience why not pledge 10% of any winnings out of your end to charity...say little Rees ?

Please don't take this as a dig. It isn't. It's just an observation.

It always makes me uncomfortable when someone suggests that someone else do something philanthropic.

I certainly don't like to be on the receiving end of suggestions like that. I'm sure that most people are fully aware of plenty of needy causes should they wish to donate, and I'm equally sure that a lot of people are already donating, but keeping quiet about it.

[the sicilian]

".......But here's the thing. If I'm not prepared to risk my own money, is it right to (try to) sell some of my action using other people's money? (Friends, mainly).

Somehow it does not feel right......"
[/b][/size][/size][/size]
Well before I've been able to resolve that, I've had several pledges, on Thread, & as many again by PM & Text.

Thank you very much to all of you.

For now, I will, as usual, dither a bit, then dither some more.

Is this how you feel about people who ask for staking?.....

Anyway...you only live once just do it....I'm gonna have a good shot at qualifying this year...

if it eases your conscience why not pledge 10% of any winnings out of your end to charity...say little Rees ?

Please don't take this as a dig. It isn't. It's just an observation.

It always makes me uncomfortable when someone suggests that someone else do something philanthropic.

I certainly don't like to be on the receiving end of suggestions like that. I'm sure that most people are fully aware of plenty of needy causes should they wish to donate, and I'm equally sure that a lot of people are already donating, but keeping quiet about it.

Hi Tom No prob...was just a spur of the moment thought thats all to see if I could give Grandad another good reason to go, just mentioned Reece as it was obv good cause and blonde related.... didn't mean anything by it...

[RED-DOG]

".......But here's the thing. If I'm not prepared to risk my own money, is it right to (try to) sell some of my action using other people's money? (Friends, mainly).

Somehow it does not feel right......"
[/b][/size][/size][/size]
Well before I've been able to resolve that, I've had several pledges, on Thread, & as many again by PM & Text.

Thank you very much to all of you.

For now, I will, as usual, dither a bit, then dither some more.

Is this how you feel about people who ask for staking?.....

Anyway...you only live once just do it....I'm gonna have a good shot at qualifying this year...

if it eases your conscience why not pledge 10% of any winnings out of your end to charity...say little Rees ?

Please don't take this as a dig. It isn't. It's just an observation.

It always makes me uncomfortable when someone suggests that someone else do something philanthropic.

I certainly don't like to be on the receiving end of suggestions like that. I'm sure that most people are fully aware of plenty of needy causes should they wish to donate, and I'm equally sure that a lot of people are already donating, but keeping quiet about it.

Hi Tom No prob...was just a spur of the moment thought thats all to see if I could give Grandad another good reason to go, just mentioned Reece as it was obv good cause and blonde related.... didn't mean anything by it...

I know you didn't. I was just using it as an excuse to get a bee out of my bonnet.

[the sicilian]

".......But here's the thing. If I'm not prepared to risk my own money, is it right to (try to) sell some of my action using other people's money? (Friends, mainly).

Somehow it does not feel right......"
[/b][/size][/size][/size]
Well before I've been able to resolve that, I've had several pledges, on Thread, & as many again by PM & Text.

Thank you very much to all of you.

For now, I will, as usual, dither a bit, then dither some more.

Is this how you feel about people who ask for staking?.....

Anyway...you only live once just do it....I'm gonna have a good shot at qualifying this year...

if it eases your conscience why not pledge 10% of any winnings out of your end to charity...say little Rees ?

Please don't take this as a dig. It isn't. It's just an observation.

It always makes me uncomfortable when someone suggests that someone else do something philanthropic.

I certainly don't like to be on the receiving end of suggestions like that. I'm sure that most people are fully aware of plenty of needy causes should they wish to donate, and I'm equally sure that a lot of people are already donating, but keeping quiet about it.

Hi Tom No prob...was just a spur of the moment thought thats all to see if I could give Grandad another good reason to go, just mentioned Reece as it was obv good cause and blonde related.... didn't mean anything by it...

I know you didn't. I was just using it as an excuse to get a bee out of my bonnet.

Beeless bonnet achieved.... you coming down for the stanleys monthly ?

[RED-DOG]

".......But here's the thing. If I'm not prepared to risk my own money, is it right to (try to) sell some of my action using other people's money? (Friends, mainly).

Somehow it does not feel right......"
[/b][/size][/size][/size]
Well before I've been able to resolve that, I've had several pledges, on Thread, & as many again by PM & Text.

Thank you very much to all of you.

For now, I will, as usual, dither a bit, then dither some more.

Is this how you feel about people who ask for staking?.....

Anyway...you only live once just do it....I'm gonna have a good shot at qualifying this year...

if it eases your conscience why not pledge 10% of any winnings out of your end to charity...say little Rees ?

Please don't take this as a dig. It isn't. It's just an observation.

It always makes me uncomfortable when someone suggests that someone else do something philanthropic.

I certainly don't like to be on the receiving end of suggestions like that. I'm sure that most people are fully aware of plenty of needy causes should they wish to donate, and I'm equally sure that a lot of people are already donating, but keeping quiet about it.

Hi Tom No prob...was just a spur of the moment thought thats all to see if I could give Grandad another good reason to go, just mentioned Reece as it was obv good cause and blonde related.... didn't mean anything by it...

I know you didn't. I was just using it as an excuse to get a bee out of my bonnet.

Beeless bonnet achieved.... you coming down for the stanleys monthly ?

No. Wrong time of the month....

[the sicilian]

LOL..... never had a man say that to me before...

[TRIP5]

If you have not traversed Woodhead Pass, you must.

This, sort of, is it's Wiki page......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A628_road

It's one of the most dramatic pieces of road in the UK, right up there with the A6 at Whatstandwell, & the old A55 in North Wales.

Reservoirs by the dozen, then, as you climb higher & higher through the Peak National Park, you can see for absolutely miles in all directions. Not a single building or man-made object (the road excepted) can be seen, everything is just as nature left it.

The grass is more like scrub, just scrub, as far as the eye can see, with little white dots everywhere - sheep. I think Hill-Farming must just be setting a flock of sheep loose.

Eventually, it peaks, & then the steady decline into Lancashire (or is it Gtr Manchester?) through wonderfully named little towns.

I loved every yard of the drive, through a slowly setting sun. The Temp as I exited the M1 was +4c, & at the top of the Pennines, 20 mina later, it was -4c!

It's not a road I like to use in mid-winter at night, though, it scares me to death. Pitch dark, & up there, if you got lost on foot, you'd die of exposure in hours.

I have to agreee...one of the most beautiful routes in England!!
xx

[Acidmouse]

Nik Persaud was on the Show as a Guest, we have quite a few lined up, & I thought he analysed brilliantly.

I watched the show (first time in like 2 years) and enjoyed Nik and when he talked about playing hands and his thinking behind it. Hope he is on more in the future I will have to watch more often.

[kinboshi]

It always makes me uncomfortable when someone suggests that someone else do something philanthropic.

I know exactly what you mean....

http://www.runningsponsorme.org/kinboshi

[Acidmouse]

If you have not traversed Woodhead Pass, you must.

This, sort of, is it's Wiki page......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A628_road

It's one of the most dramatic pieces of road in the UK, right up there with the A6 at Whatstandwell, & the old A55 in North Wales.

Reservoirs by the dozen, then, as you climb higher & higher through the Peak National Park, you can see for absolutely miles in all directions. Not a single building or man-made object (the road excepted) can be seen, everything is just as nature left it.

The grass is more like scrub, just scrub, as far as the eye can see, with little white dots everywhere - sheep. I think Hill-Farming must just be setting a flock of sheep loose.

Eventually, it peaks, & then the steady decline into Lancashire (or is it Gtr Manchester?) through wonderfully named little towns.

I loved every yard of the drive, through a slowly setting sun. The Temp as I exited the M1 was +4c, & at the top of the Pennines, 20 mina later, it was -4c!

It's not a road I like to use in mid-winter at night, though, it scares me to death. Pitch dark, & up there, if you got lost on foot, you'd die of exposure in hours.

It is one of my favorite parts of the countryside to walk around. The number of small reservoirs just off the road is amazing. I went there a few times geocaching with the 'South Yorkshire Massive' geocachers and I asked them where the heck all the tree's were too?!

[celtic]

LOL..... never had a man say that to me before...

I bet you've had lots of women say it to you though