Without going too theological, nor very accurately metaphorical, this period is sort of about the benefits of 're'. And a few things have happened of late to get me re-thinking and moving on a bit of re-jigging to re-store what we should be achieving.
From a recent event where there were more funded quango personnel in the room than creators, deciding if the few with tangible ideas they were there to assess should get 'support', to today's BBC News pleading with 'us' to 'give our thoughts' to provide lazy source material for legions of commentators on the issue of military persons whose main achievement was to get captured being allowed to sell their stories, I have decided I've about had it with those who do nothing and, worse, those who talk about it all endlessly and to such little effect. I was about to reach for my keyboard to pitch in when I realised these parasites are not the ones that matter, nor will they make any difference.
So while I am not going to stop blogging, I'm going to cut down a lot. And devote my time to making Junkk.com work better and harder with and for those who wish to engage in all we are trying to do with it.
There are some major, and I hope productive changes afoot on the site design, and I'll also be pushing these more with a return to PR (I still need to get the message out, which means some lying in bed with the Devil) and the newsletter.
Hope it works.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Friday, April 06, 2007
Beans there. Heard that. Ad nauseam.
Beans are bad for Greens...
Not too terribly sure what the point of this commentary is.
It's a done deal, so may as well give up? We're doomed, so let's go out with a bang... in Benidorm rather than Bali (or vice versa, as advocated)?
Just a wild guess, but I'm guessing the job would not be too much fun, or the paper getting to sell too many more issues, if you restricted your function to cycling around your home and work base reporting on low [mode of transport here]-miles camp sites around London.
It all rather smacks of the regular self-flagellation and rather hypocritical pontification that the media engages upon to show it's up there on the concern front with green issues, but 'please would everyone else change their ways first as we have jobs.... very nice ones, too... to do.'
Will you not be trying out the largesse that follows these press releases? And sharing it? 'As I savoured my first real lamb kebab, courtesy of Tikka Air and Hotel Payola, I could only reflect on how cheap it was...'.
Only yesterday I watched BBC news solemnly advise the latest from the IPCC, with correspondents in Brussels, Mexico and even Antarctica specially flown there to share the anguish of those who are losing tourists... because of the tourists and media going there.
The whole thing would be ironic if it were not slightly more tragic, and an indictment of those who talk a lot, but do very little, especially as whacking a fir in the firmament in compo is now accepted as pretty pointless.
Have a nice Easter . That was something to do with a guy who suffered so others would not, right?
Not too terribly sure what the point of this commentary is.
It's a done deal, so may as well give up? We're doomed, so let's go out with a bang... in Benidorm rather than Bali (or vice versa, as advocated)?
Just a wild guess, but I'm guessing the job would not be too much fun, or the paper getting to sell too many more issues, if you restricted your function to cycling around your home and work base reporting on low [mode of transport here]-miles camp sites around London.
It all rather smacks of the regular self-flagellation and rather hypocritical pontification that the media engages upon to show it's up there on the concern front with green issues, but 'please would everyone else change their ways first as we have jobs.... very nice ones, too... to do.'
Will you not be trying out the largesse that follows these press releases? And sharing it? 'As I savoured my first real lamb kebab, courtesy of Tikka Air and Hotel Payola, I could only reflect on how cheap it was...'.
Only yesterday I watched BBC news solemnly advise the latest from the IPCC, with correspondents in Brussels, Mexico and even Antarctica specially flown there to share the anguish of those who are losing tourists... because of the tourists and media going there.
The whole thing would be ironic if it were not slightly more tragic, and an indictment of those who talk a lot, but do very little, especially as whacking a fir in the firmament in compo is now accepted as pretty pointless.
Have a nice Easter . That was something to do with a guy who suffered so others would not, right?
In an ideal world.
What about me, me, me?
'Perhaps it is time we start dealing with...'
Would make a good inscription on the headstone of modern society. It takes seconds to undo something that has taken millennia to build. And often it is almost impossible to realistically consider effective reconstruction. Any more than you can unhire 750,000 unproductive new Brown-beholden, vote-enabled civil servants our pensions are being raided to fund, no matter how sensible or how much one would wish the next administration would do so.
But it does seem to offer some measure of gainful employ and/or fruitful remuneration to those who create the mess and those who write about it all.
'Perhaps it is time we start dealing with...'
Would make a good inscription on the headstone of modern society. It takes seconds to undo something that has taken millennia to build. And often it is almost impossible to realistically consider effective reconstruction. Any more than you can unhire 750,000 unproductive new Brown-beholden, vote-enabled civil servants our pensions are being raided to fund, no matter how sensible or how much one would wish the next administration would do so.
But it does seem to offer some measure of gainful employ and/or fruitful remuneration to those who create the mess and those who write about it all.
A question too sad to answer. Almost.
Are Blair's e-petitions useless?
Ans: Depends on who you ask
Like so much these days, there is what you are seen to be doing, what you actually do, what it is meant to achieve... and actually does by way of anything tangible.
I got quite excited by the potential of e-petitions as it seemed to offer the individual an opportunity of access to the political process, and a voice to the national population, that was relatively free of gatekeepers in the former at minion level, and the latter free of those in the media who are jealous of their role in shaping our lives.
Hence I posted my own, which was a proposed solution to the issues of IHT (which the Express simply wants to kill off, which I deem unlikely) and climate change (about which a lot of 'debate' on money 'in' and where it goes in the name of green taxes still rages).
Sadly, I posted it just before the success of the road petition prompted a shower of rather frivolous efforts, that diluted the impact of any but those managed by those who have the political muscle to move the necessary masses, or the media to do likewise.
Hence the gatekeepers of power and communication have successfully regained their positions in what we get to know about, care about and act upon.
So I'd say that yes, they are now useless, and those with a vested interest in keeping the people out of the process of government worked pretty hard, and successfully, to make them so.
Well played. Sadly.
Ans: Depends on who you ask
Like so much these days, there is what you are seen to be doing, what you actually do, what it is meant to achieve... and actually does by way of anything tangible.
I got quite excited by the potential of e-petitions as it seemed to offer the individual an opportunity of access to the political process, and a voice to the national population, that was relatively free of gatekeepers in the former at minion level, and the latter free of those in the media who are jealous of their role in shaping our lives.
Hence I posted my own, which was a proposed solution to the issues of IHT (which the Express simply wants to kill off, which I deem unlikely) and climate change (about which a lot of 'debate' on money 'in' and where it goes in the name of green taxes still rages).
Sadly, I posted it just before the success of the road petition prompted a shower of rather frivolous efforts, that diluted the impact of any but those managed by those who have the political muscle to move the necessary masses, or the media to do likewise.
Hence the gatekeepers of power and communication have successfully regained their positions in what we get to know about, care about and act upon.
So I'd say that yes, they are now useless, and those with a vested interest in keeping the people out of the process of government worked pretty hard, and successfully, to make them so.
Well played. Sadly.
Poor coral reef spoils diving. Meanwhile, in other news, the planet collapses
An interesting twist on IPCC 2, the sequel.
I haven't quite figured out yet how or why this drib is drabbing out, but we have another doom & gloom from 'them', whoever 'they' are.
But this time it seems to have been designed on another tack. Rather than talk about the totality of it all and how it affects every one of us, the move seems to now be from fear to guilt.
So 'we' are now being told that 'our' behaviour is going to hurt 'them'.
As I say... interesting. If we can't be motivated by threats to our personal situation, I wonder how effective it will be to play it that the Easter holiday flight is hurting a herdsman in Africa.
BBC - Billions face climate change risk
LATimes - Dire warming report too soft, scientists say
Reuters - Stark climate change warning
ADDENDUM - Kids bear brunt of climate warming - report - What next... or the bunny gets it? This seems to be a slight sledgehammer approach where I would advise more caution. Still, what's done is done. Hope it works.
I haven't quite figured out yet how or why this drib is drabbing out, but we have another doom & gloom from 'them', whoever 'they' are.
But this time it seems to have been designed on another tack. Rather than talk about the totality of it all and how it affects every one of us, the move seems to now be from fear to guilt.
So 'we' are now being told that 'our' behaviour is going to hurt 'them'.
As I say... interesting. If we can't be motivated by threats to our personal situation, I wonder how effective it will be to play it that the Easter holiday flight is hurting a herdsman in Africa.
BBC - Billions face climate change risk
LATimes - Dire warming report too soft, scientists say
Reuters - Stark climate change warning
ADDENDUM - Kids bear brunt of climate warming - report - What next... or the bunny gets it? This seems to be a slight sledgehammer approach where I would advise more caution. Still, what's done is done. Hope it works.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Irony is in short supply, too
It is great to be back at home, in a well, naturally-lit room (or, preferably, outdoors) with my kids around me. However, some aspects of this job I really dread.
High on the list is watching the BBC 'News'.
This lunchtime there was yet another piece on climate change. One reporter sent to Brussels to cover the latest conference (apparently, something needs to be done). One reporter sent to Mexico where some lake is receding and the locals want something done as they are losing the tourist visitors (is there such a thing as double irony?), and one course another sent to Antarctica to talk on a video phone about why all this travelling we're doing (presumably going to report from a blizzard some decent CGI could knock up... or even a nice backdrop, is not an option) is not helping.
Still, it was nice all the folk interviewed at Heathrow were really thinking of not going to Florida again this year, and maybe would just cut down to Europe or the Med.
And speaking of Heathrow, wasn't it nice to see those two helicopters taking the captive sailors off to Devon?
BBC - Europe diary: Cars and lobbyists - Not sure, but I do belive a different reporter to the Brussels one above
Just watched BBC Lunchtime News and one of the main features was this latest climate change fest. I was just wondering if Mr. Mardell was the UK reporter from this venue, as opposed to the one in Mexico by the lake that's getting no more tourists because of global warming (double irony?) or the one who flew to the Arctic to 'report' live on how flying to the Arctic is causing a problem (triple irony?).
High on the list is watching the BBC 'News'.
This lunchtime there was yet another piece on climate change. One reporter sent to Brussels to cover the latest conference (apparently, something needs to be done). One reporter sent to Mexico where some lake is receding and the locals want something done as they are losing the tourist visitors (is there such a thing as double irony?), and one course another sent to Antarctica to talk on a video phone about why all this travelling we're doing (presumably going to report from a blizzard some decent CGI could knock up... or even a nice backdrop, is not an option) is not helping.
Still, it was nice all the folk interviewed at Heathrow were really thinking of not going to Florida again this year, and maybe would just cut down to Europe or the Med.
And speaking of Heathrow, wasn't it nice to see those two helicopters taking the captive sailors off to Devon?
BBC - Europe diary: Cars and lobbyists - Not sure, but I do belive a different reporter to the Brussels one above
Just watched BBC Lunchtime News and one of the main features was this latest climate change fest. I was just wondering if Mr. Mardell was the UK reporter from this venue, as opposed to the one in Mexico by the lake that's getting no more tourists because of global warming (double irony?) or the one who flew to the Arctic to 'report' live on how flying to the Arctic is causing a problem (triple irony?).
Nice Surprise
As will be shared in some surrounding blogs (I have not quite figured out how to make the 'Drafts' and 'Publish' dates synchronise in the intended sequence here), I really need some help to make more of the opportunities of social sites such as MySpace and YouTube, etc.
Speaking of the former, I arrived back (see, I think you will find out where I have been later) to find out that a "Michael Meacher" wanted me/Junkk.com to be his MySpace (nifty music!) chum. So imagine my surprise to fin out that he was in fact 'the' MM, who is one of the few Labour pols to have walked his talk on the environment a long time, and consistently. I may have disagreed with him a few times in the past on some issues, but I do not doubt his sincerity and desire to make my kids' future better. So I am flattered and encouraged that he (or, more likely, his team), found out about us and was sufficiently interested to get in touch. Maybe we can help each other. Who knows?
Anyway, I have written to him as you don't often get a direct line to a senior pol in this way, which will also acta a prequel to my next blog:
Dear Michael,
Wonderful to have someone of your calibre and obvious commitment to the environment swing by. I must do a lot more to make this site (and other socials) work a bit harder for Junkk.com and its cause. I really need to get someone who knows about it all to sort this out asap (sadly my sons are a tad young still).
Just back from London after a very frustrating and expensive (mostly time) trip thanks to one of the myriad funded entities that seem to exist to consume money and hit targets before getting round to actually making the future any better on a genuine enviROI basis.
So I have a few pithy bits of feedback for your colleague Mr. Miliband; not just on the environment, but also Third Sector issues and how social enterprise and entrepreneurship is actually being supported and could be to much greater effect.
That is, if you think he may be interested:)
Telegraph - How to lose money - As always, you have to weigh green with... less green
Speaking of the former, I arrived back (see, I think you will find out where I have been later) to find out that a "Michael Meacher" wanted me/Junkk.com to be his MySpace (nifty music!) chum. So imagine my surprise to fin out that he was in fact 'the' MM, who is one of the few Labour pols to have walked his talk on the environment a long time, and consistently. I may have disagreed with him a few times in the past on some issues, but I do not doubt his sincerity and desire to make my kids' future better. So I am flattered and encouraged that he (or, more likely, his team), found out about us and was sufficiently interested to get in touch. Maybe we can help each other. Who knows?
Anyway, I have written to him as you don't often get a direct line to a senior pol in this way, which will also acta a prequel to my next blog:
Dear Michael,
Wonderful to have someone of your calibre and obvious commitment to the environment swing by. I must do a lot more to make this site (and other socials) work a bit harder for Junkk.com and its cause. I really need to get someone who knows about it all to sort this out asap (sadly my sons are a tad young still).
Just back from London after a very frustrating and expensive (mostly time) trip thanks to one of the myriad funded entities that seem to exist to consume money and hit targets before getting round to actually making the future any better on a genuine enviROI basis.
So I have a few pithy bits of feedback for your colleague Mr. Miliband; not just on the environment, but also Third Sector issues and how social enterprise and entrepreneurship is actually being supported and could be to much greater effect.
That is, if you think he may be interested:)
Telegraph - How to lose money - As always, you have to weigh green with... less green
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Some are obviously more etiquette-enhanced than others
London's street theatre etiquette - a metaphor in life?
'...where between themselves they drew up a rota of who would perform and when'.
'...the square was not a public space'
'...due to the very public nature of their work'
'Some folks just don't understand the rules'
I'm sorry, but I don't understand a few things here. It's public entertainment but not in a public space. And if there are rules, if not set by those, one presumes, in control of the area, what are they and administered and policed by whom?
Not to excuse the obnoxious and foul-mouthed (I am sure the counter-arguments were purest examples of linguistic and diplomatic rectitude, of which even Mrs. Beckett would have approved) Ozzies, but I do wonder how this does all get sorted out.
It would be sad to discover that some can enjoy more 'etiquette advantage' than others by a cosy arrangement between those who are 'in' and can play the system, to ensure no further others can intrude. One imagines this to be a lucrative patch and attracting new talent regularly so the competition for top slot must be keen.
So what seems to be being achieved here could be seen to be a compromise between potential extremes of hypocritical corruption in the guise of democracy, and outright anarchy.
Bit like ... anything really... today. Assuming satisfactory answers to my few questions, if successful, and barring incidents from foreigners flying (or boating... just ask Mrs B again) into what 'we' think is 'our' territory, it seems a model for future governance.
'...where between themselves they drew up a rota of who would perform and when'.
'...the square was not a public space'
'...due to the very public nature of their work'
'Some folks just don't understand the rules'
I'm sorry, but I don't understand a few things here. It's public entertainment but not in a public space. And if there are rules, if not set by those, one presumes, in control of the area, what are they and administered and policed by whom?
Not to excuse the obnoxious and foul-mouthed (I am sure the counter-arguments were purest examples of linguistic and diplomatic rectitude, of which even Mrs. Beckett would have approved) Ozzies, but I do wonder how this does all get sorted out.
It would be sad to discover that some can enjoy more 'etiquette advantage' than others by a cosy arrangement between those who are 'in' and can play the system, to ensure no further others can intrude. One imagines this to be a lucrative patch and attracting new talent regularly so the competition for top slot must be keen.
So what seems to be being achieved here could be seen to be a compromise between potential extremes of hypocritical corruption in the guise of democracy, and outright anarchy.
Bit like ... anything really... today. Assuming satisfactory answers to my few questions, if successful, and barring incidents from foreigners flying (or boating... just ask Mrs B again) into what 'we' think is 'our' territory, it seems a model for future governance.
Anti Ageing Dream
The anti-ageing cream conundrum
Don't know whether you smoke (in which case you could have stubbed out a ciggie in his eye), but unless your pub-based beverage of choice is non-alcoholic, your search for compensatory measures may be in vain. As with all things, simply doing without seems not to be an option when you can aways buy more.
Actually, I have been more annoyed by the sheer volume of free advertising given this wonder product by the media. But silly paid journos saying silly things will do as well
Don't know whether you smoke (in which case you could have stubbed out a ciggie in his eye), but unless your pub-based beverage of choice is non-alcoholic, your search for compensatory measures may be in vain. As with all things, simply doing without seems not to be an option when you can aways buy more.
Actually, I have been more annoyed by the sheer volume of free advertising given this wonder product by the media. But silly paid journos saying silly things will do as well
Friday, March 30, 2007
Trust Drive.
£15 speeding tax for victims of violence - but REAL criminals pay nothing
Might one ask what the surcharge will be that those who are incorrectly charged with a road-based infraction can impose on the authorities?
I have on two occasions been, eventually, found in the right having been subjected to ever-escalating authoritarian pressure and threats, both financial and legal, most likely by automated system.
The only penalty that the accusers suffered was the cancellation of the original, unjust fine.
This is barking. There is no incentive at all to apply common sense to the imposition of such threats, as simply by pushing a computer key a computer racks it up until the individual caves.
This is government-sanctioned extortion, pure and simple.
I'd suggest it was resisted. By all of us.
Might one ask what the surcharge will be that those who are incorrectly charged with a road-based infraction can impose on the authorities?
I have on two occasions been, eventually, found in the right having been subjected to ever-escalating authoritarian pressure and threats, both financial and legal, most likely by automated system.
The only penalty that the accusers suffered was the cancellation of the original, unjust fine.
This is barking. There is no incentive at all to apply common sense to the imposition of such threats, as simply by pushing a computer key a computer racks it up until the individual caves.
This is government-sanctioned extortion, pure and simple.
I'd suggest it was resisted. By all of us.
Budge it
How ethical is my baby?
'So what I want to know is whether it is ethical to have had little Elsa at all'
Well there's a question. Do you want the 'that's all we have time for' answer, the 'unleash the hounds of blogdom' answer, or maybe the 'let's pussyfoot around a dodgy topic 'til it passes' answer?
There are probably more. I sure as heck don't have it... them. She is well cute, though. Not sure I'd use my two in the same way, but then I'm not in media. Or likely ever to be a celebrity with all the access and accolades that confers.
But you have, indeed, done the maths. As have I.
Finite land area to live on... and off. Expanding population, much of which is hell bent of making stuff to get richer or prove they are, or visit the rest before it gets lost thanks to them visiting it... because they can.
I have to say that there would look to be a 'point' (doubtless with a nifty name) in there somewhere, and it begs certain questions, the solutions to which mostly dare not speak their name. Lebensraum was an ugly word, if from a while ago.
Oddly, most in the environmental arena seems to work on the notion that Mother Nature has it sorted, and mankind is messing her up.
This is at first hard to reconcile with 'survival of the fittest', at least in a finite space, unless you pop ethics in. Because what you get in nature is a balance, pretty much sorted out by violent death and culling of the weak. Plus a bit of resources-driven restraint at the predator end as well, felis a felis, thanks to competition, famine, etc.
Mano a mano, is... different.
Because what used to happen seems to have been thrown a curve a tad by civilisation and compassion. On top of pollution, waste, etc, etc, regulation of numbers of any kind, much less by self, is not only abhorred, but even when Gaia gets her Gatling out actively countered at every and all opportunities. War, pestilence, disease. Everything she throws at us we have an answer at the UN (well...), a tsunami warning outpost or the CDC.
Your point in offsetting the food fight with carbon-based productivity is well taken.
I am just not so sure this Peter is so optimistic about the petering out. Especially now I have hit 50. Soylent Green anyone?
Life's too short, and sweet, for me to get into the bunfight you'd like some poor courageous soul to institute, so I will do the same and idly pass the time asking... 'what if?'
So let me end with these: 'What if Hugo Drax was real?' and 'What if the Douglas Adams had allowed the telephone sanitisers to join the other ship'?
Passes a Friday and fills a column, eh?
'So what I want to know is whether it is ethical to have had little Elsa at all'
Well there's a question. Do you want the 'that's all we have time for' answer, the 'unleash the hounds of blogdom' answer, or maybe the 'let's pussyfoot around a dodgy topic 'til it passes' answer?
There are probably more. I sure as heck don't have it... them. She is well cute, though. Not sure I'd use my two in the same way, but then I'm not in media. Or likely ever to be a celebrity with all the access and accolades that confers.
But you have, indeed, done the maths. As have I.
Finite land area to live on... and off. Expanding population, much of which is hell bent of making stuff to get richer or prove they are, or visit the rest before it gets lost thanks to them visiting it... because they can.
I have to say that there would look to be a 'point' (doubtless with a nifty name) in there somewhere, and it begs certain questions, the solutions to which mostly dare not speak their name. Lebensraum was an ugly word, if from a while ago.
Oddly, most in the environmental arena seems to work on the notion that Mother Nature has it sorted, and mankind is messing her up.
This is at first hard to reconcile with 'survival of the fittest', at least in a finite space, unless you pop ethics in. Because what you get in nature is a balance, pretty much sorted out by violent death and culling of the weak. Plus a bit of resources-driven restraint at the predator end as well, felis a felis, thanks to competition, famine, etc.
Mano a mano, is... different.
Because what used to happen seems to have been thrown a curve a tad by civilisation and compassion. On top of pollution, waste, etc, etc, regulation of numbers of any kind, much less by self, is not only abhorred, but even when Gaia gets her Gatling out actively countered at every and all opportunities. War, pestilence, disease. Everything she throws at us we have an answer at the UN (well...), a tsunami warning outpost or the CDC.
Your point in offsetting the food fight with carbon-based productivity is well taken.
I am just not so sure this Peter is so optimistic about the petering out. Especially now I have hit 50. Soylent Green anyone?
Life's too short, and sweet, for me to get into the bunfight you'd like some poor courageous soul to institute, so I will do the same and idly pass the time asking... 'what if?'
So let me end with these: 'What if Hugo Drax was real?' and 'What if the Douglas Adams had allowed the telephone sanitisers to join the other ship'?
Passes a Friday and fills a column, eh?
Are you a money-grubbing, career-obsessed coprorate toady?
If you work in marketing, apparently not, at least when it comes to saving the planet:
Marketers switch on to carbon neutral
Sadly it's a paid for sub, by a magazine by and for, well, marketers, so infer away.
I simply ponder out loud that when it comes to recycling, about 90% of people say they do it, and 20% actually do.
And it's not like the Beemer upgrade to full leatherette at next fiscal hinges on it, hmnn?
Marketers switch on to carbon neutral
Sadly it's a paid for sub, by a magazine by and for, well, marketers, so infer away.
I simply ponder out loud that when it comes to recycling, about 90% of people say they do it, and 20% actually do.
And it's not like the Beemer upgrade to full leatherette at next fiscal hinges on it, hmnn?
There is an e-bit in there... honest
Talk about Newsnight
IRAQ
At first I almost joined those in Daily Mail Land wondering why on Earth we had Comical Ali's daft cousin on to waffle for Iran and Islam, but actually I'd say go for it... he did more damage to his cause under Jeremy's more than gentle probing than could have been hoped. For all the good it does knowing that 'we' are 'dealing' with those whose national footy stadium must be the only one with wheeled goalposts.
Sadly, the opposing side of the inevitable Newsnight 'twofer' seemed to be a guy who would have followed Nevile Chamberlain into the gates of hell or, rather, the gas chambers. Usually I am irritated by the dog-fight style of provoking commentary that simply drives ratings and makes the BBC moderator look the only voice of reason, but this issue deserved a lot more.
As it stands, no one is coming out of this well, especially the poor sods seemingly almost forgotten about, at least 14 of them. Plus ca change...
I await with dread the eventual outcome, even, god willing (or should that be 'fingers' crossed'?, their return. Then we will see the pols and the media and their 'experts' at their ... most predictable.
MR. 'I CAN, BUT THEN AGAIN...' MILIBAND
In light of recent comparisons with Communist Russian state behaviours by certain people and administrations, I was amazed to see the staged crowd scenes by Labour's hype & spin department.
As to Mr. Miliband as a leader, you only have to read his Spectator speech, repeated in the Telegraph the other day:
http://junkk.blogspot.com/2007/03/see-what-staying-up-all-night-does-for.html
A shame so many used it as a shop to simply fire insults at each other, but then, that's today's' Parliament. Thank heavens I still have a vote. All I need now is a worthy direction to point it.
That's along with the rest of the electorate, some of which I do hope are still also watching closely. And not just the Westminster Wonderboys and Girls in the lobby, with pens poised to tell us what to think in their 'We know best-fest', flush with exclusive new vigour following the shock and awe victory over Mr. Fawkes the other night, by cleverly choosing a weak foe bobbing about in a big seas (sound familiar?) and using overwhelming force... that was of course available by taxpayers' funding.
COCA... ISN'T IT?
Sadly I these days have to view all such pieces with a cloud of suspicion over the objectivity of the news media, but what I saw made me very sad and very angry.
Like so many cases, a person says dark is milk, and that's it. Maybe JP does get to rebut, but the silky words of the PR blonde distraction effort still register despite her getting to squirm and issue a series of nonsense about 'reviews' and 'talking' and 'stats' any pol would be proud of. And to her 'determination to strive harder' she gets a thank you... 'as that's all we have time for'. This latter is set to be carved into the headstone of accuracy and truth in broadcast news.
In a few nights, for the media and all who watched it, this will be passed. Not for these kids. And how many luvvies in London would see doing without their choccy fix.. as one ethical commitment too far? Do I not buy my kids an Easter Egg? If so whose? I have no idea how to act as consumer. Oh well, the moment has passed. But I'm sure it will win a news award.
ps: Why, if this site is moderated, do we get a post that says 'test blog', yet some I am aware of that do offer interesting commentary do not make it on board?
ADDENDUM - I was 'dissed'... I think. Why does it always come across as a BBC shill?
Mr. Wallace @ 32
'...maybe some posts do not get on here as they may be too long winded or tedious.(Don't take that wrong, it's just an observation)'
None taken! Plus adding to the quality of discussion significantly by offering some possible explanations, thanks. Though as the issue of editorial control and 'moderation' does crop up on these pages, one has to wonder 'who' gets to decide on 'what' is long-winded and/or tedious as a basis for rejection. I don't think 'you are boring' or 'I prefer complex things debated in one sentence' is really legitimate for censorship purposes. There lies the route to a soundbite-driven culture. Worse, the removal of context as a way to ensure accurate communication of thoughts and information. I do agree that brevity is best, if possible. However I think it was Mark Twain who said: 'It takes a long time to craft a worthwhile piece of long copy. Even longer to produce a short one'. Unpaid bloggers sadly do not always enjoy the luxury of time in getting across points as, say, big media commentators. 'You doesn't pays yer money, so's yer takes even more chances'.
And I do still feel the actual answer to my question may still elude us. On reflection, my thought is that the moderator is tolerant of those simply trying to ensure they are posting correctly on a technical basis, though that could possibly make for longer, and less productive, threads.
'ps .what's wrong with the Daily Mail? It's a great paper'
I don't think I wrote that there was anything wrong with it, necessarily. It was just a way of making an observation... in shortwi...handed terms:)
IRAQ
At first I almost joined those in Daily Mail Land wondering why on Earth we had Comical Ali's daft cousin on to waffle for Iran and Islam, but actually I'd say go for it... he did more damage to his cause under Jeremy's more than gentle probing than could have been hoped. For all the good it does knowing that 'we' are 'dealing' with those whose national footy stadium must be the only one with wheeled goalposts.
Sadly, the opposing side of the inevitable Newsnight 'twofer' seemed to be a guy who would have followed Nevile Chamberlain into the gates of hell or, rather, the gas chambers. Usually I am irritated by the dog-fight style of provoking commentary that simply drives ratings and makes the BBC moderator look the only voice of reason, but this issue deserved a lot more.
As it stands, no one is coming out of this well, especially the poor sods seemingly almost forgotten about, at least 14 of them. Plus ca change...
I await with dread the eventual outcome, even, god willing (or should that be 'fingers' crossed'?, their return. Then we will see the pols and the media and their 'experts' at their ... most predictable.
MR. 'I CAN, BUT THEN AGAIN...' MILIBAND
In light of recent comparisons with Communist Russian state behaviours by certain people and administrations, I was amazed to see the staged crowd scenes by Labour's hype & spin department.
As to Mr. Miliband as a leader, you only have to read his Spectator speech, repeated in the Telegraph the other day:
http://junkk.blogspot.com/2007/03/see-what-staying-up-all-night-does-for.html
A shame so many used it as a shop to simply fire insults at each other, but then, that's today's' Parliament. Thank heavens I still have a vote. All I need now is a worthy direction to point it.
That's along with the rest of the electorate, some of which I do hope are still also watching closely. And not just the Westminster Wonderboys and Girls in the lobby, with pens poised to tell us what to think in their 'We know best-fest', flush with exclusive new vigour following the shock and awe victory over Mr. Fawkes the other night, by cleverly choosing a weak foe bobbing about in a big seas (sound familiar?) and using overwhelming force... that was of course available by taxpayers' funding.
COCA... ISN'T IT?
Sadly I these days have to view all such pieces with a cloud of suspicion over the objectivity of the news media, but what I saw made me very sad and very angry.
Like so many cases, a person says dark is milk, and that's it. Maybe JP does get to rebut, but the silky words of the PR blonde distraction effort still register despite her getting to squirm and issue a series of nonsense about 'reviews' and 'talking' and 'stats' any pol would be proud of. And to her 'determination to strive harder' she gets a thank you... 'as that's all we have time for'. This latter is set to be carved into the headstone of accuracy and truth in broadcast news.
In a few nights, for the media and all who watched it, this will be passed. Not for these kids. And how many luvvies in London would see doing without their choccy fix.. as one ethical commitment too far? Do I not buy my kids an Easter Egg? If so whose? I have no idea how to act as consumer. Oh well, the moment has passed. But I'm sure it will win a news award.
ps: Why, if this site is moderated, do we get a post that says 'test blog', yet some I am aware of that do offer interesting commentary do not make it on board?
ADDENDUM - I was 'dissed'... I think. Why does it always come across as a BBC shill?
Mr. Wallace @ 32
'...maybe some posts do not get on here as they may be too long winded or tedious.(Don't take that wrong, it's just an observation)'
None taken! Plus adding to the quality of discussion significantly by offering some possible explanations, thanks. Though as the issue of editorial control and 'moderation' does crop up on these pages, one has to wonder 'who' gets to decide on 'what' is long-winded and/or tedious as a basis for rejection. I don't think 'you are boring' or 'I prefer complex things debated in one sentence' is really legitimate for censorship purposes. There lies the route to a soundbite-driven culture. Worse, the removal of context as a way to ensure accurate communication of thoughts and information. I do agree that brevity is best, if possible. However I think it was Mark Twain who said: 'It takes a long time to craft a worthwhile piece of long copy. Even longer to produce a short one'. Unpaid bloggers sadly do not always enjoy the luxury of time in getting across points as, say, big media commentators. 'You doesn't pays yer money, so's yer takes even more chances'.
And I do still feel the actual answer to my question may still elude us. On reflection, my thought is that the moderator is tolerant of those simply trying to ensure they are posting correctly on a technical basis, though that could possibly make for longer, and less productive, threads.
'ps .what's wrong with the Daily Mail? It's a great paper'
I don't think I wrote that there was anything wrong with it, necessarily. It was just a way of making an observation... in shortwi...handed terms:)
AWARENAFF
It's a new category I have created, for when I question if the awareness is not swamped by the irony of the action's consequences.
Sydney ready to switch off lights
'Are you in Sydney and planning to take part in the event?'
No, put what's the betting some won't see the irony of travelling there to do so. Like news media. If so...
'Send us your photos...'
Don't forget to use a flash. It's meant to be dark, see.
Just wondering, how much CO2 does a candle give off vs. a light? It may well be a whole new eco-romantic movement in waiting.
Sydney ready to switch off lights
'Are you in Sydney and planning to take part in the event?'
No, put what's the betting some won't see the irony of travelling there to do so. Like news media. If so...
'Send us your photos...'
Don't forget to use a flash. It's meant to be dark, see.
Just wondering, how much CO2 does a candle give off vs. a light? It may well be a whole new eco-romantic movement in waiting.
Dilemma Number 2
I like the Eden Project. I don't like some of the senior folk privileged enough to be running it, but hopefully they are just an arrogant green elite minority. But when they dragged me and our then Head of Prose & Comms Anita all the way to Cornwall to tell us how great they were and didn't need to work with us on reuse (oddly, I still see no great efforts on this emanating from there) as they knew a lot better, I was a bit miffed.
And so again I was struck by today's PR event on BBC Breakfast, with an eco-motor show held there. Now, there are some who may see a certain irony in trying to get people to drive to Cornwall to see a show about how cars pollute and emit, but there you go. It's probably more logical than the NEC or London, apart from the whole majority of the audience base getting there issue. Oh, well. It's the message that is important, see.
Anyway, a lot of car brands got to say their 'all we have time for' sales pitch to the microphone munchkin. Nothing much about bio fuels looking less optimal on food production, etc. At least we were spared the Prius. Maybe explaining how getting it there was worse for the environment in comparison to many other makes was a factor.
And at the end we had Green Guru Dick Strawbridge, who has also to find time in his busy schedule (doubtless why he drove and didn't take the train. Hey, that's why we did, though it was car sharing...ish) to respond to our outreach efforts. Admittedly this may not happen as he was part of my less than positive feedback on the SKY BIG Idea set-up, but we did try and get int touch in several ways way before that.
Nobly, he had driven there in his 20-year old chip-fat powered Land Rover, which promoted me to write and ask:
'What's the tax on Dick Strawbridge's 20 year old Land Rover these days? Are bio 4x4's exempt?'
Sadly, selling new cars is all they had time for. Anyone know? I just thought as an example of joined-up e-government it was a fair question.
And so again I was struck by today's PR event on BBC Breakfast, with an eco-motor show held there. Now, there are some who may see a certain irony in trying to get people to drive to Cornwall to see a show about how cars pollute and emit, but there you go. It's probably more logical than the NEC or London, apart from the whole majority of the audience base getting there issue. Oh, well. It's the message that is important, see.
Anyway, a lot of car brands got to say their 'all we have time for' sales pitch to the microphone munchkin. Nothing much about bio fuels looking less optimal on food production, etc. At least we were spared the Prius. Maybe explaining how getting it there was worse for the environment in comparison to many other makes was a factor.
And at the end we had Green Guru Dick Strawbridge, who has also to find time in his busy schedule (doubtless why he drove and didn't take the train. Hey, that's why we did, though it was car sharing...ish) to respond to our outreach efforts. Admittedly this may not happen as he was part of my less than positive feedback on the SKY BIG Idea set-up, but we did try and get int touch in several ways way before that.
Nobly, he had driven there in his 20-year old chip-fat powered Land Rover, which promoted me to write and ask:
'What's the tax on Dick Strawbridge's 20 year old Land Rover these days? Are bio 4x4's exempt?'
Sadly, selling new cars is all they had time for. Anyone know? I just thought as an example of joined-up e-government it was a fair question.
Hippo-crats
I'm guessing that after several sustained, and apologised for, complaints about mangled on air journalistic/editorial efforts by Breakfast TV, I suspect I am less likely to be featured on air, at least via the BBC, any more. Especially when it is to 'Defensive Declan'.
However, on a morning when our public broadcaster sees fit to publicise a hen and stag night promoter exclusively, in the guise of 'worrying whether we are spending too much money on more and more grandiose wadding-related events', I popped a mild effort in as a result of a piece on water conservation:
'Instead of an additional manufactured item such as a branded product like a Hippo, one alternative to displacing the volume of water in the WC cistern is to locate a second use item of packaging such as bottle or container selected to fit the space.'
Now the Hippo is OK. But it is frankly just a heavy duty plastic bag, and I have a small problem with new things being manufactured in the name of green that are really not helping the overall global enviROI.
However, on a morning when our public broadcaster sees fit to publicise a hen and stag night promoter exclusively, in the guise of 'worrying whether we are spending too much money on more and more grandiose wadding-related events', I popped a mild effort in as a result of a piece on water conservation:
'Instead of an additional manufactured item such as a branded product like a Hippo, one alternative to displacing the volume of water in the WC cistern is to locate a second use item of packaging such as bottle or container selected to fit the space.'
Now the Hippo is OK. But it is frankly just a heavy duty plastic bag, and I have a small problem with new things being manufactured in the name of green that are really not helping the overall global enviROI.
Dilemma
From a paid national paper journalist:
Pretty please can someone comment?
Make that 3.
And if this one is moderated in... four
Dilemma.
Pretty please can someone comment?
Make that 3.
And if this one is moderated in... four
Dilemma.
Part of the problem
My headline says it all, about his:
Lying for Bush gives you cancer
In light of the content, I'd question your headline.
Recently I challenged the BBC on a website headline that stated that the British Military had strayed into Iranian waters, and it was only in the second paragraph that I discovered it was 'according to a source from Iran'.
I would hope that I do not engage in practices such as not practicing what I critique. If I do, slap me down. Quick and hard.
Lying for Bush gives you cancer
In light of the content, I'd question your headline.
Recently I challenged the BBC on a website headline that stated that the British Military had strayed into Iranian waters, and it was only in the second paragraph that I discovered it was 'according to a source from Iran'.
I would hope that I do not engage in practices such as not practicing what I critique. If I do, slap me down. Quick and hard.
The Fast Ark
I have a a rough guide to those worth working with, based on what I call The Fast Ark.
You can climb aboard and help row. You can be a passenger. Or you can be an anchor.
It is obvious that those in the last two categories are destined only to impede progress, and are hence not worth much at all, save as targets for persuasion and conversion to rowers.
I was pondering this as i read the following:
Only one in 40 officers free to answer calls
While one accepts certain reduced %ages are inevitable by 24/7 shifts and the need for coordination and logistical support, this does not look healthy.
Especially as I look at my new rate bill, with the costs kindly broken out.
What might be helpful, and concentrate the minds of those we vote into, and out of office to manage such things, might be a traffic light system for such services (like the food packaging one), where one can get an idea of who is rowing, who is coxing, who are passengers. And how effective all are in their contributions.
We'll be able to figure the anchors out for ourselves, I'd hazard.
You can climb aboard and help row. You can be a passenger. Or you can be an anchor.
It is obvious that those in the last two categories are destined only to impede progress, and are hence not worth much at all, save as targets for persuasion and conversion to rowers.
I was pondering this as i read the following:
Only one in 40 officers free to answer calls
While one accepts certain reduced %ages are inevitable by 24/7 shifts and the need for coordination and logistical support, this does not look healthy.
Especially as I look at my new rate bill, with the costs kindly broken out.
What might be helpful, and concentrate the minds of those we vote into, and out of office to manage such things, might be a traffic light system for such services (like the food packaging one), where one can get an idea of who is rowing, who is coxing, who are passengers. And how effective all are in their contributions.
We'll be able to figure the anchors out for ourselves, I'd hazard.
Deterrence
I was watching the BBC Breakfast News when a piece came on about a train crash enquiry/case.
They had of course wheeled out a spokesperson/victim, to whom our sympathies must be extended.
He seemed to be of the view that a fine of £10M will be appropriate. I fear I must question the logic of all this as an effective deterrent. While money is a great motivator, just how it works in ways to the decision makers in corporations is in question. Look at the famous Pinto case.
As I wrote:
How is a fine, of any size, or a company apology, going to act as a deterrent when individuals must have been culpable? Have there been any individual, career-related penalties?
Until people take responsibility, and are held truly accountable, I rather fear that all that's happening is money getting shunted to where it is really not going to do much use from where it could be better applied to rectify faults.
They had of course wheeled out a spokesperson/victim, to whom our sympathies must be extended.
He seemed to be of the view that a fine of £10M will be appropriate. I fear I must question the logic of all this as an effective deterrent. While money is a great motivator, just how it works in ways to the decision makers in corporations is in question. Look at the famous Pinto case.
As I wrote:
How is a fine, of any size, or a company apology, going to act as a deterrent when individuals must have been culpable? Have there been any individual, career-related penalties?
Until people take responsibility, and are held truly accountable, I rather fear that all that's happening is money getting shunted to where it is really not going to do much use from where it could be better applied to rectify faults.
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