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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 1d

@samebattime.bsky.social Can he get out? Will he get out? Course he will.

Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 2d

I am running the London Parks Half Marathon for SANDS in memory of our first son Olly who died at 9 months in 2012.

www.justgiving.com/page/mark-th...

Less than 5 days to go now!

SANDS has been a wonderful support. Anything you can give is welcome. Thanks.

Mark's fundraiser for Sands

Help Mark Thompson raise money to support Sands

www.justgiving.com

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 2d

There was a time, only a few years ago that a comment like this from any shadow minister, especially the shadow Justice Secretary would have been an immediate resignation offence.

The fact it's tolerated nay encouraged by many in his own "mainstream" party shows how far the Overton window has moved

Jenrick defends comments on not seeing 'another white face' in area of Birmingham
The shadow justice secretary IS accused of racism after saying the Handsworth area was one ofthe "worst-integrated"

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 3d

I am running the London Parks Half Marathon for SANDS in memory of our first son Olly who died at 9 months in 2012.

SANDS has been a wonderful support.

www.justgiving.com/page/mark-th...

Exactly one week today so I'm having one last push. Please RT and anything you can donate is welcome. Thanks.

Mark's fundraiser for Sands

Help Mark Thompson raise money to support Sands

www.justgiving.com

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 4d

Yes. That's the one!

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 4d

Cheers. Frustratingly still can't find it online anywhere but good to have it clarified that my memory was right.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 4d

I'd appreciate it! Also tell him he's doing a fantastic job on the Strike novels. I'm up to the 5th one.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 4d

Does anyone else remember an 80s advert for lager (possibly Harp) where at the end one of the blokes who thinks the other one is a bit stupid looks into his ear and says "Stone me! I can see daylight!" I can't find it anywhere and I'm convinced from memory it was a young Robert Glenister. Anyone?

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 5d

I think that's a bit complacent. I'm not worried for me (I'll be retired before it gets good enough to displace someone as experienced as me) but for the coming generations I think this will be a threat.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 5d

Yes. I've used it in my actual job and you're right. But it's getting better and better all the time.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 5d

I'm pretty sure not looking at the code. The Copilot also talked through what it was doing at each stage and why. This is more than just a copy and paste thing.

Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 5d

It took less than 5 minutes to do this and I've ended up with a basic but playable version of Space Invaders. And I didn't have to write a line of code myself.

This is definitely food for thought for any computer programmers.

Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 5d

I installed GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio and gave it these instructions

Can you help me create the game Space Invaders?
Add invader movement and collision detection.
Handle win/lose conditions.
Add scoring and sound.
Make the invaders look like spiders?
Make the firing sound like an explosion?

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 5d

I installed GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio and gave it these instructions

Can you help me create the game Space Invaders?
Add invader movement and collision detection.
Handle win/lose conditions.
Add scoring and sound.
Make the invaders look like spiders?
Make the firing sound like an explosion?

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 8d

One of the best films of the 1980s. Probably ever. Just finished it. They absolutely nail that neo-noir aesthetic. I think Blade Runner pioneered it but this gets it even better I think.

Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 8d

Having a little rewatch

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 8d

Pretty close

Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 8d

Having a little rewatch

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 8d

I mean the best you can say about those is that she did have Morrissey absolutely nailed.

But it is a bit frustrating that the way the media generally works is that if for example you've got a massive pair of breasts you're qualified to review music.

And Panic is one of the best songs ever written

SINGLES

REVIEWED BY SAMANTHA FOX

THE FALL: Living Too

Late (Beggars
Banquet)
I didn't like this at all- it's
really crappy. And it's got a
Duane Eddy guitar bit - you
know, what's it called? (Peter
Gunn) - ripped off. And he
sounds like he's been having
yodelling lessons. It seems to
me that it's the fashion at the
moment to like The Smiths
and these sorts of groups,
and to me the lyrics are really
depressing. I heard one the
other while I was in
Kensington Market trying on
some jeans and it gave me a
headache. The Smiths, it was.
Singing "oh my God, i can't
get a job, what am I going to
do?" Ås for this song I
listened to the first half and I
had to turn it off.

THE SMITHS: Panic
(Rough Trade)
I'm sorry to say but I find
them very depressing. The
lead singer's yoice sounds like
he's in pain -is that
Morrissey? It says in they song
"hang the D|"- but where
vould they be without them?
If you don't like D|s, you stll
like them because they play
your records and that's what
sells records. don't think
hey'd like to hang Janice
Long or John Peel, would
they? wouldn't play it,
hough-he can't sing and t
gives me a headache. In all his
interviews he's Mister Nasty
too and goes moan moan

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 9d

And I'd forgotten the theme tune to series 1 is totally different to the subsequent ones.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 9d

Started rewatching Peep Show from the start. It's very strong right from the get-go. The inner monologues are sometimes sublime in how they contrast between thought and deed. I think it helps that the writers knew Mitchell and Webb and wrote the parts specifically for them.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 10d

Isn't he one of the antagonists on that famous clip of Cleese and Palin trying to defend Life of Brian on that chat show?

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 10d

I remember reading that post. That goes easy beyond WTF. She's an absolute piece of work when you look into her history.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 10d

I only know of Malcolm Muggeridge because Adrian Mole keeps mentioning him in his diaries.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 10d

Yes. Why did they do that? Mind you airing from 1977 to 1995 is a pretty good run. Had to end some time. I used to love the "spot the difference" round. Right up my street that. IIRC Steve Coogan was in some of them.

Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 10d

Fair points. I'm a bit odd in that I tend to watch a lot of old stuff including old ads and TV continuity from before I was born so I tend to know a lot of stuff most my age don't.

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Mark Thompson @markreckons.bsky.social · 10d

I went to see a recording of TKF in 1995 at Granada Quay Street but they'd changed the format a lot. I think they were trying to compete with The Crystal Maze as they had this weird shit you'd have seen on that. Then it was cancelled. Still Penny Smith co-hosted which made it a nicer experience.

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