Speaking clock gets Disneyfied

At least its not Mickey

or that bloody Donald Duck.

Who calls that number any way these days?

Where do I sign up to complain?

I need to compose a "disappointed" letter

Angry of Middle England

. . .at the third stroke . . .

Many years ago as a rookie techie at Broadcasting House, during a time when TIM was reportedly giving some trouble, I was given the task of monitoring it _all night_ on a pair of headphones. How I survived even the "dulcet tones" without going completely mad I'll never know. Maybe I did go completely mad. Pat Simmons never dropped a millisecond, but I learnt to recite TIM off line with astonishing accuracy.

Tinker Bell? What have we come to . . . .?

Paris 'cos she's got the time for anyone.

Huh?

This isn't April, is it? Could BT be like the computerised Holly and be unable to wait the necessary months with a red hot jape like this under their belt?

people still call the speaking clock?

</tpost>

Oh FFS.

Bloody Disney.

That is all.

Is it April 1st already?

I thought Christmas came next, then more chocolate in the shape of eggs.

Oh well..

ttfn

I happened to dial 123 the other day

I needed to reset my clocks after a power outage, so phoned 123 and thought how nice the voice was, even with 'Accurest' attached to every 10 second call. I suppose Disney is just another form of advertising, but one wonders if anybody at BT takes any pride in their work any more, or if everything us up for sale.

Paris, because, next to BT, even she has her standards.

Personally I preferred...

... Kenny Everett's version which had Cleo Rocos in Dominatrix gear doing the "At the third stroke" voice, then lashing KE three times to make him say "Bip, bip, bip!"

Costs?

Now that the speaking clock is sponsored, does that mean the 30p cost will be reduced?

Didn't think so...

I have an idea

If we all say, together "I don't believe in Faries, I don't believe in Faries" over and over, will Tinker Bell fuck off and die?

Just a thought

It does get used!

Actually use it at least once a month. The last voice change I called it literally minutes after it had been switched, unaware there was any plan to.

Gets used to set physical clocks, or as an easy to dial line test number. Also to wind up coworkers by forwarding it on.

Antiques Roadshow

I was watching it last week - what on earth is all this fuss about Fiona Bruce anyway? - and they had some horologist chappie on with the old speaking clock which he claimed stopped on the day Pat Simmons died. Completely irrlevant I know but still almost interesting.

Anyway, Disney eh? Tsk, So let me get this straight. We have a cartoon fairy that we have to pay to listen to, and they expect us to believe every word they are saying.

Reminds me of Peter Mandelson.

One small detail

Tinkerbell has spoken before - I distictly remember Julia roberts as Tinkerbell in Hook talking and trying to seduce Peter. I quick search on wikipedia suggests that she has spoken in several different film adaptations - just not in the original book.

You can guess why I'm posting this anonymously though. :)

Sweet voice?

Far from not speaking, Tinkerbell in the book is noted for her rudeness and foul language. Her first words are "You silly ass" and she doesn't get any politer. I salute any company bringing sweary fairies to the nation's telephones.

Paris, obviously, because she is the Tinkerbell of today!

George Speller

I suspect your new colleagues got you good and proper on that one.

Scene: The Pub, somewhere close to Broadcasting House

Two experienced techies are on their third pints

Bob: Ere, you'll never guess what I've got that new kid doing.

Terry: What's that, then?

Bob: I've only got him listening to the speaking clock all night long.

Terry: Heh, heh...how'd you manage that then?

Bob: Told him it was giving "periodic, untraceable problems", didn't I?

Terry: One born every minute, innit? Another round?

Bob: Don't mind if I do...

And on topic - truly, the glories of privatization are many and wondrous.

Swearing Fairies!

Is there a website I can look at?

Sara Mendes da Costa?

With that typically Brazilian name, she'd better be careful when taking the tube in London. Or something.

Ever tried the website?

www.accurist123.com seems to be voiced by Catherine Tate.

"At ve fird stroke, ve time wiw be, yeah, innit, like..."