David King

[Crusoe]

Well, I have to say I really enjoyed this weeks DIDs: the best one (I thought) for a number of weeks.

Having heard that this week’s castaway was a government advisor, I did not, to be honest, hold out much hope for an interesting programme: here comes a dull programme about his days at public school and Oxford, accompanied by some suitably well thought of but inoffensive pieces of classical music. Also, upon hearing that the guest was a “Cambridge Professor”, I thought it might have been Ms Lawley’s new chum, Lord Broers, author of this years rather disappointing Reith Lectures. I suppose this proves that you should not jump to conclusions.

Anyway, his life story was fascinating: particularly the political activism in South Africa. Although he downplayed his courage, it must have taken immense character for someone from the white community to put their liberty at stake in the cause of equality.

And I really enjoyed the music, too. “A Love Supreme” is, without doubt, one of my favourite records, Miriam Makeba is always wonderful and I really enjoyed the Bartok, too. In fact there wasn’t a tune I didn’t enjoy (even the Norah Jones was listenable). Often selections with a large proportion of pop records include “Imagine”, so thank goodness we didn’t even get that.

And I don’t think I’d mind having a set of oil painting stuff to pass the time on a desert island: it would be nice to try and learn an artistic skill.

And so a scientist has come up trumps on DID. More scientists, then, I say (until we get a dull one ).

[Lawrence]

Yes Crusoe certainly a big improvement after some of the recent dreadful offerings from the DID, with the emphasis on boring and uninteresting Oxbridge graduates. And oh dear, what a let down this year’s Reith Lectures were. You can tell that none of the senior personnel within R4 are actually married/partnered to a practising engineer. What on earth was the point in including Professor Jones and Baroness Warnock in the audience of the last lecture (old boys’/girls’ club?)? R4 has already driven its most ardent listeners away from its message boards. However, it now seems to be doing its best to drive away its listeners!!!!!

I’ve always had a lot of time for Professor Sir David King, especially since he isn’t a government yes man. Excellent article in The Independent recently where he emphasised how the energy mix was going to change drastically in the next 10 years, with the decommissioning of a significant number of nuclear stations. The run down of North Sea gas is also going to affect the energy equation in a most significant manner.

Whilst I understood why Ms. Lawley did feel the need to keep pressing him apropos global warming, I wish she’d pressed the issue of the ‘SUV’ disease in this country. We can’t blame it all on the Americans or Jeremy Clarkson!!!

I loved his description of the blue skies of SA and understand only too well how claustrophobic London must have seemed after that (heard other individuals from SA comment on this experience).

Music was quite interesting – there appears to be a resurgence of interest in the music of Miriam Makeba (heard The Click Song twice recently). My late mother loved Bartok and I know that a former contributor to the BBC board, Ms. Miranda Mulch, was a big Tom Waite’s fan. Incidentally, looking forward to this new Ken Clarke series.

I knew as soon as I heard Professor King’s voice that I’d enjoy listening to him; in the same way that as soon as I hear Nigel Rees’s voice………hee-hee-hee.

Yours aye,

Little Lawrence ;D

P.S. Any chance of including a waving icon? Just in case any nice Californian girls say 'hello' on this board

P.P.S Won't mention the BBC R4 boards again - promise!!!!!

[Crusoe]

What wonderfully long response, thank you, L. I shall endeavour to reply properly in the morhing.


Crusoe

[Luxury Yacht]

I too enjoyed this programme more than any recently. When I saw who it was going to be, in the good old Radio Times, I thought "I know someone who's going to be pleased about that".

The music was (relatively) wonderful. Such a change from the usual.

I enjoyed the Norah Jones - I'd not heard much by her before and the track picked for this programme made me want to investigate further, which is A Good Thing.

I did like the way that Ms Lawley pressed Prof King about global warming, as he seemed so keen to talk about it, and he was able to put his views very concisely.

Unfortunately, as usual my attention wandered a little

[Lawrence]

Crusoe said:

What wonderfully long response, thank you, L. I shall endeavour to reply properly in the morhing.


Crusoe

Hee-hee C,,

We've now got two C's (where on earth is the wonderful Christine with her fab postings?)

Don't worry about delays or missed replies Crusoe - never offended and I'm often guilty of it myself (sorry Greg - but I do think about all your interesting postings!!)

[Lawrence]

Luxury said:

I enjoyed the Norah Jones - I'd not heard much by her before and the track picked for this programme made me want to investigate further, which is A Good Thing.

LY, I've tried and tried to like Norah Jones's music, but it leaves me cold - especially this track. However, I didn't know this song was about getting binned on a blind date, so I can identify with it a little now. ;D

I did like the way that Ms Lawley pressed Prof King about global warming, as he seemed so keen to talk about it, and he was able to put his views very concisely.

Interesting - and depressing - feature on C4 last night in respect of the government's failure during the election campaign to show any interest or concern over environmental issues

[Brian Wilson]

Lawrence said:

P.S. Any chance of including a waving icon? Just in case any nice Californian girls say 'hello' on this board

I wish they all could be california
I wish they all could be california
I wish they all could be california girls

Apart from the ones from the Midlands, of course, who are delightful, as well.

[Crusoe]

Lawrence said:

certainly a big improvement after some of the recent dreadful offerings from the DID, with the emphasis on boring and uninteresting Oxbridge graduates. And oh dear, what a let down this year’s Reith Lectures were …<br>

How right you are about the Reith Lectures this year. It was a real opportunity to hear some interesting thoughts on the cutting edge of technology seemed too much like a history lesson for something that will, according to the very premise of the programme, dictate our future. And the audiences for all of the lectures were clearly chosen for their media profile, rather than any relevant work that they had been involved with. You could well be right about R4 driving away its listeners as well as its messageboarders (incidentally, don’t worry about mentioning them, here, it’s always good to have a bit of a moan;)). Perhaps it’s part of the cost-cutting drive: if you get rid of the listeners, you can make less programmes without anyone noticing.

I have to admit that, although I’d heard occasional statements from Professor Sir David, in his capacity as a Government advisor, I really didn’t know that much about him before this programme and it was one of the rare instances, lately, when I found that I genuinely learnt a lot as a result of listening to DIDs (although I admit that this may say more about my ignorance before the programme than the actual content of the programme:-/).

It was good to hear a little about global warming, particularly since, as you point out, there seems to be little discussion of environmental issues, at the moment. It was noticeable how little influence The Green Party had in the election when, a few years ago, they were achieving quite a prominent position: enough to make the other parties take environmental issues more seriously. You are right that the ‘SUV’ disease can’t be blamed entirely upon Jeremy Clarkson but it is nice to be able to blame him at least a little . To be fair to Professor Sir David, it is a question that is probably quite difficult for a scientist to answer, being a predominantly sociological issue.

And don’t we all love Nigel Rees’s voice “And on the panel Zhermaine Greer…”

Lawrence said:

P.S. Any chance of including a waving icon? Just in case any nice Californian girls say 'hello' on this board

Thanks to Ms Puka, a waving icon has been found, just in case we need to wave to any passing Californian girls.
(Hello, Ms Puka )

Luxury said:

I too enjoyed this programme more than any recently. When I saw who it was going to be, in the good old Radio Times, I thought "I know someone who's going to be pleased about that".

Oh? Who’s that, then. ;D

Luxury said:

The music was (relatively) wonderful. Such a change from the usual.

Very true, Lux.

[Pooka]

Crusoe said:

Thanks to Ms Puka, a waving icon has been found, just in case we need to wave to any passing Californian girls.
(Hello, Ms Puka )

Hello Crusoe!


And thanks to the magical workings of the Beak, I may now send you all back some warm ocean waves...

:-* :-*

[Upsetter]

Dave King the crap comedian, a second string Bernard Manning - whats he doing on there?

you'll have Istyn Istyn on here if you dont watch out!

[Upsetter]

Crusoe said:

What wonderfully long response, thank you, L. I shall endeavour to reply properly in the morhing.


Crusoe

Err..are you absolutely sure you're not talking to yourself, Crusoe.

Desert Islands play strange tricks with the mind. Christ, one day alone and he turns into Ben Gunn!!

[Crusoe]

Upsetter said:

Err..are you absolutely sure you're not talking to yourself, Crusoe.

Eh? Who said that?

Actually rather than Ben Gunn, I’d like to be



Dum, dum, d-dum-dum-dum-dum…<br>

[Lawrence]

Crusoe said:

And don’t we all love Nigel Rees’s voice “And on the panel Zhermaine Greer…”

Grrrrrrrrr.......this has driven me insane. And what about the way he pronounces 'pseud'?

You really can't blame me for getting upset when it comes to discussing Ox*****e (self-censored) graduates.

Did anyone hear the really strange voice that Prof. Greer employed to pronounce 'money' on 'Any Questions' recently? It was a terribly greedy kind of voice.

[Crusoe]

Hee hee, what can I say, Dr Jones. I don’t know who gave Nigel Rees elocution lessons but he should really ask for his money back. ;D

I wouldn’t be too harsh on Prof. Greer, however (on this occasion) since I think she was using that voice for effect to reflect how avaricious her decision to enter “Big Brother” may have been perceived as being.

[Captain Nudnick]

Lawrence said:

- what about the way he pronounces 'pseud'?

How is that?