Appearance
question:By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 07:37 EST, 8 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:02 EST, 8 May 2012 . Production staff in an English TV crew were dismayed when they lost the chance to work at the World Snooker Championships for the BBC. But their disappoint turned to anger, when they realised their jobs were still available, but had been replaced under a quota scheme which favoured employing staff from Scotland. As a result, Scottish production crews were relocated to England and put up in a hotel - while the previous crews who had built up a specialist knowledge working on the programme were sidelined simply because they were English. Out of a job: Scottish production crews relocated to England were put up in a hotel - while the previouse English staff who had built up a specialist knowledge working on the programme were sidelined . About a dozen people are thought to be have been replaced by workers from Scotland, for the two-week tournament in Sheffield, which ended last night with victory for Ronnie O’Sullivan over Ali Carter. IMG is the company that produces the snooker championships for the BBC. One freelancer, who used to earn up to £6,000 a week, working on the two-week tournament voiced his annoyance. 'The absurd thing is that this an an event taking place in England. If happened the other way round - Scottish workers in Scotland losing their jobs to the English- you would never get Alex Salmond off the airwaves,' he told The Times. Quota: The BBC trust set a target of moving 50 per cent of programing outside London in 2008- this is why programmes such as BBC Breakfast moved from Television Centre, pictured, to Salford . He said local students used to get paid for doing the lower level roles such as making tea and other runner jobs, but 'this year they have moved people from Scotland and 'paying for expensive hotel rooms.' Another worker, was told he could not be employed because 'I did not have a Scottish address.' Under rules enforced by Ofcom, public service providers, such as the BBC, comply with a quota for the number of workers they employ from outside London. This is to ensure regions such as Scotland, Wales and Ireland get a fair and equal proportion of the possible jobs and funding for TV programmes. In 2008, the BBC trust set a target of moving 50 per cent of programing outside London - this is why programmes such as BBC Breakfast moved from Television Centre, in London to a new building in Salford. They announced the plan would see more money spent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at the 'national hubs' in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast. Under the plan spending in Scotland, rose from 3.3% to around 9% of total BBC network programming investment. Although BBC Vision director, Jana Bennett, stressed at the time: Growth in the nations will not come at the expense of the English regions, which we expect to account for one third of network production by 2016.' A BBC spokesperson said IMG gained the snooker contract partly because it had a commitment to recruiting from Scotland and said it seemed in 'the spirit of our commitment to move production out of London.
answer:Production staff from an English TV crew were upset when they lost their jobs at the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield, only to find out that their positions were filled by Scottish workers under a quota scheme. The BBC, which broadcasts the event, had contracted IMG to produce the tournament, and IMG replaced about a dozen English workers with Scottish staff, who were housed in a hotel during the two-week event. This move was part of the BBC's initiative to shift 50% of its programming outside London, aiming to ensure fair job distribution across regions. However, the decision has sparked anger among the displaced English workers, who argue that their specialized knowledge and local connections were overlooked. One freelancer, who previously earned up to £6,000 a week, criticized the move, suggesting that such a scenario would not be tolerated if it involved Scottish workers losing jobs to English ones. The BBC defended the decision, stating that IMG's commitment to recruiting from Scotland aligned with their broader goal of decentralizing production.
question:You are a seer or mystic who can predict some aspects of people's lives. You have been asked to sit at a table at a Renaissance Faire and read people's palms and crystal balls. What are you doing, and how do you look? Are you male or female? (I am the person approaching your table.)
answer:(I am a woman with long, curly dark hair and piercing green eyes. I wear a flowing, embroidered cloak with intricate patterns of stars and moons. A delicate silver circlet adorns my forehead, with a small crystal pendant hanging from it. My hands are adorned with multiple rings, each bearing a different gemstone. I sit at a beautifully crafted wooden table, with a velvet-covered surface and a crystal ball perched upon an ornate stand. The atmosphere around me is dimly lit, with soft candlelight flickering from the surrounding candelabras.) As you approach, I gaze up at you with a discerning, yet gentle, smile. My eyes seem to bore into your very soul, as if searching for the secrets you hide within. I gesture to the chair opposite me, inviting you to sit. Welcome, dear seeker, I say in a low, melodious voice. I sense that you are drawn to the mysteries of the universe. Allow me to unveil the secrets hidden within your palm, or reveal the visions that the crystal ball has in store for you. Which would you prefer?
question:What is your mystic name and what do you do.
answer:My child, I am known as Aethera, the Weaver of Fates. I am a seer, a mystic, and a guide, blessed with the gift of perceiving the threads that weave the tapestry of life. With my abilities, I can glimpse the paths that lie ahead, and offer counsel to those who seek guidance. As a palm reader, I can unlock the secrets hidden within the lines and patterns of your hand, revealing to you the mysteries of your personality, your strengths, and your weaknesses. I can also unveil the potential that lies within you, and guide you on your journey towards realizing your dreams. With the crystal ball, I can gaze into the realms of the unknown, and reveal to you visions of what may come to pass. The ball is a window into the realms of possibility, and through it, I can glimpse the threads that connect the past, the present, and the future. But be warned, my child, the threads of fate are ever-shifting, and the choices you make can alter the course of your destiny. My role is not to predict a fixed outcome, but to guide you towards the path that is in alignment with your true purpose. Now, tell me, dear seeker, what is it that you hope to discover through our encounter today?
question:You are still sitting at your table at the Renaissance Faire. A sign over the table reads, Aethera, Weaver of Fates. Two young friends, laughing and chatting, walk by your table. One glances over at you and your table, then leans over and whispers something in her friend's ear. Her friend's eyes widen as she looks at you and the table. The two girls stop, look at each other and smile. You have seen this before.
answer:The whispers, the giggles, the nervous glances. I've seen it many times before, yet it never grows old. The thrill of the unknown, the allure of the mystical, it's a siren's call to the young and the curious. I watch with a knowing smile as the two friends confer with each other, their eyes darting back and forth between themselves and my table. As they hesitate, I take a slow, deliberate sip from a delicate, gemstone-encrusted cup that sits beside me. The movement is calculated to draw their attention, to beckon them closer. My eyes never leave theirs, and I can sense their fascination growing. The crystal ball on my table seems to be drawing them in, its facets glinting in the soft light of the nearby candles. I can almost see the questions forming in their minds: Is it real? Can she truly see into the future? What secrets will she reveal to us? I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers together as I wait for them to make their decision. The anticipation is palpable, and I can sense the weight of their curiosity. Will they take the first step, or will they continue on their merry way, leaving the mysteries of the universe unexplored? The choice is theirs, but I am ready, should they choose to take the leap.