On yer bike

Watching Minister Ruth Kelly (one who I really have trouble taking seriously on anything) as we speak advocating cycling (ok) and justifying a vast amount of money to make us do so (not so ok). Ruth Kelly launches £140million cycling fund

Rather interestingly, the reporter banged on constantly that she does not cycle to work, which really was not too fair, but inevitable. Her answer was not the best, namely that she needs to take the car to do work (so that's ok) and she has an eco-friendly one!

Like recycling, I see so much wrong with the practice of such initiatives, if not the principle.

Quite rightly, the issue of safety was raised as the most serious issue. I am sorry, but a bit of training is not going to make me feel my kids are any safer against the numpties on the roads these days. So on that basis it is a non-starter for this parent until they are a lot older and the lanes are protected (how I have no idea).

Also there is the issue of weather. In this country it rains a lot. Unless there are amazing levels of new facilities being created (in addition to safe storage... so how much is all this going to really cost, or is it just going on another awareness comms effort - like most recycling - that has no chance of being engaged because the advanced practicalities have been ignored and are not in place) such as changing rooms and showers, what is proposed or when they set off and get soaked?

Sorry, all mouth and no trousers. Again. But cute seeing a couple of munchkins wheeled on to trot out the memorised slogans, which for me made it even less credible.

Not the message intended?

I too, have followed the one laptop per child cause quite carefully (from my laptop), so when I came across this it was of interest: Intel says bye to One Laptop

Sadly, or maybe I should say fortunately, where once the BBC weighing into a clear example of corporate abuse would have had me onside, I now find myself wondering about the full... accurate... story (a few avenues raised already in the thread replies). Nice one, guys.

Anyway, another thing popped into my head as I read:

'Yes, it is truly awful when a corporation says one thing but does another.

Just wondering why, with climate change and all, the BBC felt the need for two technology correspondents (you can never have enough of those to promote endless new consumer must-have juice gobblers) to go to the same far flung outpost?

Speaking of which, I hope Las Vegas is nice this time of year, too.'

I can see it now: 'Ah... but this is different. This is our job.' And no irony plugging the latest i-Tat in the same segment as the blonde and bouffant scold us on our wasteful ways.

Reuters - Intel drops out of One Laptop Per Child program

The royal 'we'.

And 'we' are not amused.

I just watched a BBC Breakfast News piece about food, supermarkets and 'us'.

What a surprise; to debate this issue we were presented by representatives of two rather entrenched viewpoints - the FoE and the British Retailers Something - who proceeded to tell us what we were asking for and/or feeling.

The retail lady was indeed pretty much 'not us, guv', and they were only giving 'us' what 'we' demanded, which rather validated the point of the FoE lady that 'they' need to be forced to change... by government.

However, what really grated on me was this self-appointed guardian of 'me' constantly saying 'we must'. It really came across much too much as them being a slightly more equal we than others, and a group who see their agenda to be the only one and the rest of us must get in line, if for our own good, with them.

The net result of all this was, as always, a sense that I was caught between two extremes, neither of whom represented me at all, but who were invoking my mandate as if it were god-given, and given free rein by a media who only want a quick slot before moving on. A rather neat example of which was a subsequent piece where we were treated to the joys of having your own personal shopping assistant to help you buy such essentials as snow made from stuff you add water to. Nice.

ps: But it's OK, they have flown out to Africa to show us the great work Land Rover is doing to offset emissions. It really is washing all over me as just so much conflicting 'noise'.

'Oh Aunty, what big fingers you have!'

'All the better to flip you one whilst plugging my ears... tra-la-la-la...' One in three Brits back BBC accuracy.

And, for those enjoying the ten golden years that is our nu-education system, that makes 2 in 3... don't. I was moved to write:

Oh, heavens, do get with the (new) programme.

As Ed Balls has clearly explained regarding the country's relative positions in educational standards in a similar global survey: it's not that we're doing worse; it's just the others that are doing oodles better.

I am sure the BBC, who will cheerfully read out any press release they are given from such worthy sources, will be able to apply the same reasoning or cherry pick to suit.

"We are also seen as the most trusted news provider, especially in times of crisis and for big breaking news stories. This clearly shows the value audiences place in us."

There we go.

Why I love today's media. Not.

Zero to do with the environment; everything to do with who we should view those who claim to report it on our behalves:

Revealed: scientist who sparked racism row has black genes

Whether one feels like getting into James Watson's belief systems or not in this PC-obsessed age, I sure hope the Indy is proud of every aspect of their involvement in this 'story', including that headline.

Sad, sad, sad.

A lot of space

Not exactly a priority in the great scheme of things, but I am watching the BBC news and something has struck me.

While I appreciate the dilemma presented by space travel between scientific investigation and the vast carbon footprint it lays down, I cannot for the life of me comprehend why the national broadcaster would be so actively promoting space tourism in all its forms.

Other than the dubious justification of using private money to fund public works (like rich hunters getting to kill whatever they fancy to support conservation), there seems to me no other way to describe this activity other than sticking a rich bozo atop a column of greenhouse gasses to have a Kodak moment.

Yet it warrants a visit to NASA to promote to those of us who will never afford it, even if we feel the urge. Odd.

Facts, darn facts and... oh, fact!

In light of, well, everything really: The facts in the way of a good story

Another 48 hrs, and another, and...

I don't know, but I really can't equate this button link (on an eco-page) with front pages on the evils of plastic bags - 48 hrs in Fez

I know such things are what fund them, but how many 48 hour multiples can 'we' afford before 'they' see such as this as being more part of the problem...

The future's bright, the future will be subject to change

I found this interesting on several levels - And you thought that the age of spin was no more

There's the fact that the media can be easily seduced, with checking, into publishing a story on something before it happens.

There's the fact that few, if any, seem worried it didn't happen after all.

There's the fact that those in senior PR at government level know this. Including the 'boss'.

The fact they don't really care what this all means.

And there's the fact that I only found it tucked away as a comment piece based on what seems an already forgotten opposition MP's campaign.

We're get what we deserve, I guess.

It's Friday. It's 5 o'clock. And he's gone crackers, Jack!

Had to happen. I agree with the media: Eat, drink and be merry – you can ignore this unhealthy obsession with obesity

Dear Mr. Lawson,

I agree with all you say... with one small, wafer thin revision to suggest:

It is the uncritical reporting of scare stories as fact which does little service to almost anything that gets covered these days, I fear.

Yours sincerely,

The company you keep, or who keeps you

I am looking forward to this. I get the ST anyway, so it's a bonus not to have to go out and buy it.

By way of reminder, I just had an email.

Thing is, the ad alongside was/is from BMW.

No real problem, there (well, maybe a teensie-weesnie one). Their 1 series is apparently better than a Prius. Not that this seemed to be the message. More about touring the globe, and going on a journey together. The example I saw was Hong Kong, with a night view of all the skyscrapers ablaze. Apparently, the light show went on all night.

Not sure, but that may also go a small way to '... explaining the damage we're doing'.

Just a thought.

Treehugger - (are they following me?) - How Green Can a Newspaper Afford to Be?

The difference between the views of on-line and paper readers is notable, with 81% of paper readers thinking the coverage on climate change was excellent but only 45% of the web readers agreeing. - Well, D'uh. Which medium is lower impact?

Not sure the Editor has quite nailed the justification, mind.

Dirty great big car and skiing holiday ads (while the snow lasts!) next to pieces about how awful it all is what 'we' are doing to the planet and how 'we' need to be more aware of 'our' impact' and 'we' need to act now, rather undercut the basic thrust of many pieces, though.

Or maybe there are different 'we's' around. The 'we' haves and the ''we' haven't yets, because it's not like, you know, practical, as such'?

Bags of fun

This is an eyebrow-cock. I just watched a full BBC news splash about a town that has banned plastic bags.

Rather intriguingly, it was headed 'If you want to save the planet, then come and shop in Modbury'. OK, I'll let the logic of that one pass.

Now I admire any and all eco-efforts and wish only the best for those who use the media to push their cause. But... enviROI?

The issue of the cotton bags shipped over from India was quickly glossed over.

And it seems that 25,000 bags have been spared. I believe that's one tenth of the saving of driving one Volks Bluemotion in a year. I am unclear as to what else they do, or don't do there, which might actually help the planet as much as the PR industry. I saw a few shops in the background ablaze with lighting, which I am sure is down to CFLs. And for sure no doors open as heaters blast away inside?

I look forward to the story on the town where all the retailers club together and put insulation in the pensioners' homes. And the media cover it.

And as I look now at the next 'slot', I'm sure all the reporters will get there in chauffeured Mercs by way of example.

Addendum - Just watched it again at lunch. Something about the core of it all being biodegradable bags. Well, I am about to stroll to my local Somerfield (let's not get into the small shop thing here) and they have 'em. thing is, what are the consequences of these things biodegrading again?

A blonde. A cause. A new book/film/TV series.

I'm kind of losing count of how many Estuary blondes there are on the roster, but the more they crank out the more causes can be found. And as Green is the new 'du jour', so another I have to try and figure out gets launched on the box.

This one is something like Future Friendly, and will need tracking down as I don't recall in the slot much else before we moved to the real point: the 'goss..

Actually the blonde plugging (who showers and doesn't bath, apparently. Which is nice) tried gamefully to get back on the subject a few times, despite the blonde asking doing the usual 'so you have a cause? Well, great, now about the film and what was it like to lick Tom's...'

At least it's not their job to trivialise such an important issue.

ADDENDUM - Didn't take long...

Guardian - Future friendly? - Just guessing mind, but even they don't seem quite as enamoured at the Gaurdian as do the BBC. Remind me again, whose job is it to report the news and not....

Is the best default they have 'let's have a thing and get celebs along to talk about it to raise awareness 'n stuff'? Again?

Is this the same one I saw Tamsin Outhwaite promoting on, I believe, the BBC? That would be the BBC who is not in the business of... [fill in here]? And certainly not to trivialise huge issues in the name of celebrity ratings fests.

At least she tried to stretch to a few things about helping the planet in (she doesn't bath, apparently. Showers only. Which is nice) before she and her blonde oppo got into her new book/play/series/whatever, which, I must say, seemed to be what all parties present seemed really more interested in.