Michael has caved and got a new microphone, China are back in the news, and we've got a better joke than last time.
- Michael is on the super stouts
- Marie is doing dry "couple-of-days"
- What's a plosion? Michael has over-researched micophones
- Is Feng-Shui a load of nonsense? Or Real?
- Marie rubbishes Mark's new years resolution
- Independent contractor for over 3 decades, currently engaged at BT
- Jira-avoidance wizard
- Graduate of the Youth Training Scheme, proud achiever of 5 O-Levels
- Driving Licence holder
- There will be a quiz at the end!
Quickfire questions
- Inside or Outside IR35?
- Microsoft Project Planner or Jira?
- AI - scared or not scared?
- If you were in charge, what's your RTO policy?
- Do you prefer to consult for public sector, or consult for private sector?
- Sports Car or SUV?
- Most Expensive Dress you've ever worn?
- One fashion tip for Mark?
- Cat person or dog person?
Clean Sheet, or Big Bang?
Marie has a podcast exclusive for us, on the post office scandal. Bloody toffee-crisp eaters!
Big Topics
Contracting
- How has it changed?
- Are the good times behind us?
- How have the big 4 influenced government policy?
- Have you ever had any contracts go bad, mid-way through?
- In the past, you’ve got a contract coming to an end, it’s not getting renewed, you’ve got bills to pay. What’s the game plan for landing you next gig?
Starting a consultancy
- What’s the gameplan for launching a new company?
- What are you gonna sell?
- How will you get clients?
News for the week
- Experts urge caution over use of Chinese AI Deepseek (The Guardian)
- James Howells suing Newport council again, after partner binned bitcoin wallet, and they won't let him dig up landfill (BBC)
- Microsoft to acquire tiktok? (The Guardian)
- Google maps renaming, after Trump renaming (The Register)
- Amazon prime air to launch in Darlington (Tech Crunch)
- AWS & Microsoft CMA investigation (Computer Weekly)
Old news, but relevant:
Recommendations
Music
TV
- Mr McMahon, wrestling documentary
- Traitors: Uncloaked finale, with Claudia Winkleman
- Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action, documentary
- Girl You Know It's True, music movie about Milli Vanilli, who had one of the biggest scandals in music history
- The White Lotus, drama, comedy
- Gangs of London, Crime Drama
Books
Podcasts
- Designated Driver, the podcast for fans of Adam Driver (Podbean)
Jokes
- What do you call a Hippo on One Leg?
- Change your nickname on iOS (YT video)
Next Time:
Chris Hunter joins us talking about coding bootcamps
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Special Guest: Marie Wigmore.
