[tommytwotone]

Not so much must watch, rather must listen.

Popped my headphones in on Friday night and who should I hear being interviewed on A Good Read on R4 (yes folks, I am that gangsta...) but Ed Douglas and Andy Cave!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006v8jn

I actually fell asleep about 10 mins in so can't comment on the whole thing (more down to how knackered I was from training last week rather than the level of entertainment in the show!)...going to listen again today.

[slackline]

This should be good...Tails you Win: The Science of Chance on BBC4 tonight.

[SpanishJuan]

Does anybody else watch inspector montalbano

its chuffin brilliant

[iain]

If anyone likes a bit of potted history this is quite insightful, or at least seems that way to me as a history dunce, and getting better as it gets nearer to the now. Well worth a look:
History of the World

And a bit of comedy, a bit of science:
Science Club

[SA Chris]

I'm slowly working my way through the Andrew Marr series and really enjoying it.

Also working my way through the Prophets of Science Fiction series that was on a while back and really enjoying it.

http://science.discovery.com/tv/prophets-of-science-fiction/

Looks like some of them are on youtube.

[slackline]

Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild 

Watched Perfect Sense last night, film about a series of epidemics in which people lose their senses (smell, then taste, hearing...).  Enjoyed it, its available two more days (today and tomorrow)...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01ny2yh/Perfect_Sense/

[slackline]

Commons Public Accounts Committee

Hilarious grilling of Starbucks, Amazon and Google representatives.

Starbucks haven't posted a profit in 15 years of business, and yet they promote the guy in charge 'cause of his example!!!  Opening 300 more stores but can't inform share holders what the return on investment will be! 

[rich d]

Commons Public Accounts Committee

Hilarious grilling of Starbucks, Amazon and Google representatives.

Starbucks haven't posted a profit in 15 years of business, and yet they promote the guy in charge 'cause of his example!!!  Opening 300 more stores but can't inform share holders what the return on investment will be! 

I feel slightly uneasy about these enquiries. Firstly they stink of hypocrisy with politicians looking at corruption, back handlers etc, when there still don't seem to have been many prosecutions for expenses, levison etc. secondly have these corporations done anything illegal? If so they should be investigated and prosecuted.
The law seems to be t fault here, if I could pay less/no tax I would.

[slackline]

They might not have done anything illegal, but as is pointed out by one of the committee they're not being asked/accused of that, they're being asked about their immoral behaviour.

And if these companies have no problem with finding every nook and cranny in the tax laws to save them having to cough up to the HMRC why are they so shy to admit so when they are being questioned?  Look at the squirming and waffle they spout to avoid answering what are quite simple and direct questions.  If they've done nothing wrong why can't they give a straight answer and say "Yes, we took advantage of the laws that exist in this country and moved our profits out of the country before paying tax on them"

Obviously they don't wish their position in the public eye to change so that people stop going for a Cuppa Latte Fap-a-whatever, but that horse has already bolted.

The Leveson Inquiry has no relevance to this issue, but I can see your point with regards to the potential hypocrisy of MPs who've been fiddling expenses now trying to hold others to account.  Seven criminal prosecutions and quite a few stepping-downs/resignation/loss of seat at next election resulted.  Obviously not everyone.

But who else do you suggest is to investigate this, review it and then propose changes to the law to close the loopholes?

[andy_e]

I and a lot of my friends are going to struggle this year without Amazon to buy all my Christmas presents off, but I'd prefer to buy stuff from an outlet which pays taxes back into our economy. I hope everyone else boycotts Amazon too...

[rich d]

Inland revenue maybe slackers? Oh wait that's not really viable is it as the MPs have cut the number of staff... We need new tax laws to stop companies taking the piss. Name and shaming does have it's place and it'll be interesting to see for example starbucks sales vs costa since this has broken.

[slackline]

I and a lot of my friends are going to struggle this year without Amazon to buy all my Christmas presents off, but I'd prefer to buy stuff from an outlet which pays taxes back into our economy. I hope everyone else boycotts Amazon too...

Don't worry its not too hard.

Inland revenue maybe slackers? Oh wait that's not really viable is it as the MPs have cut the number of staff... We need new tax laws to stop companies taking the piss. Name and shaming does have it's place and it'll be interesting to see for example starbucks sales vs costa since this has broken.

No Inland Revenue do not make the laws they apply them (as is stated in the above article).  There are notable exceptions where HMRC haven't done their job properly e.g. Vodafone, but in the case of the three being grilled in that video, as you point out, the companies aren't breaking the laws.  In a parallel universe I envisage Parlimentary Committee Reviews area > Finds the systems isn't working/unfair/is pissing off the public > new laws proposed to close loop holes > companies pay the tax they should be.

[Grubes]

sure this won't be everyone cup of tea but I watched Utopia today and thought it was brilliant
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/utopia/4od
its a scifi drama around a comic that was said to be prophecies of the future.

The first episode starts as it means to go on. Brutal murders and confusion.

[Pantontino]

I've really enjoyed the first two episodes of Ricky Gervais's new Channel 4 series, Derek. Both funny and really emotional.

I missed the pilot last year, but I gather it caused some controversy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_%28TV_series%29

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/derek

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Nice piece of work from Mr Pritchard and Andy K. Props to all involved, especially Ella.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qsmh6/My_Life_Series_4_The_Big_Climb/

[Duma]

 

[mark s]

I've really enjoyed the first two episodes of Ricky Gervais's new Channel 4 series, Derek. Both funny and really emotional.

I missed the pilot last year, but I gather it caused some controversy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_%28TV_series%29

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/derek

always liked gervais,but wasnt sure from the adverts about this.
watched it and its genius,the home boss hannah plays the part fantastically and when doug goes off on one its like it is k.p in real life.

[SA Chris]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qsmh6/My_Life_Series_4_The_Big_Climb/

Not seen this, but not often much climbing on CBBC!

[slackline]

You've made my classic mistake! 

[SA Chris]

Which was? Is it a bit shit? I had planned on watching it tonight.

[slackline]

Look at Obi's last post in this thread.

[shurt]

Really intereesting documentary on pirate bay on iplayer at the mo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qxms3/Storyville_20122013_The_Pirate_Bay/
sorry if repost, havent checked back...

[slackline]

Really intereesting documentary on pirate bay on iplayer at the mo

This is basically a rehash of the free to download (although they ask for donations) TPB-AFK (The Pirate Bay - Away From the Keyboard).

Another in the coming up in the series is about Anonymous hackers, I predicted silhouettes and digitised voices.


Oh and I enjoyed AndyK/BenP's film about El Cap, well done to all involved.

[Paul B]

Oh and I enjoyed AndyK/BenP's film about El Cap, well done to all involved.

Me too. Given it had to appeal not only to non-climbers, but a children's audience, I thought it handled itself really well.

I wasn't quite as convinced by the hats on display 

[r-man]

sure this won't be everyone cup of tea but I watched Utopia today and thought it was brilliant
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/utopia/4od
its a scifi drama around a comic that was said to be prophecies of the future.

The first episode starts as it means to go on. Brutal murders and confusion.

I quite enjoyed that series. No more sci-fi than Spooks, but colourful characters, vivid cinematography and an enjoyably twisty plot.