He can try and play it. I'll still 'Hmn' it.
Miliband - I'm in tune with the 'I can' generation
An interesting collection of virtues there. And a few notable absences: Honesty. Ethics, Substance. Leadership. Trust...
With the exception of the first that has been cited, all seem more to do with self, as opposed to public... service.
But then, that is probably what politicians today think politics requires... as virtues. With luck the vote, while we still enjoy a free one, will rectify such a notion.
Though obviously out of tune with the hipster, ‘cool’ and ‘now’ crowd embodied by today’s David Brent ministerial class, but still as a British subject, parent, worker, homeowner (and voter, let’s not forget), I can think of and wish for a bit more from my aspiring leaders than ‘being in tune with the times’ as a number one ambition.
It all rather smacks of reacting to now, rather than thinking ahead, proactively creating and inspiring to improve on the future.
As does “I can”. Leaves things a tad vague to my tastes, and almost begs to be followed by ‘...but I may not’, which renders it without any value. Or if there is movement intended, it seems towards more and more ‘talk’ at the expense of any ‘walk’. Sounds about right.
This nation is rapidly in danger of seeing merit in and rewarding the culture of rushing to be the first to be second. Not to do what's right. But simply not to be seen to be wrong.
When I see third sector initiatives - delivered to meet calls bannered under slick titles such as ‘Inspiring Creative Innovation’ and ‘Encouraging Social Entrepreneurship’ - getting rejected for being ‘unproven’ (what else is an innovation but..?) at the expense of ‘proven’ over-staffed, unaccountable, mysteriously vague ROI’d quango money pits, then I know the bean counters have truly decided to be the only ones left seated, albeit with ever more growling stomachs, in the cafe.
Me, I prefer those who say “I am...” and are, or, at a pinch, “I will...”, and do, so long as the promise is met within a decent, specified, reasonable time period.
I of course appreciate it is me who is meant to be motivated by this mantra, but as those who would wish to enjoy the fruits of government seem so unable to live by it, I’m hard pressed to see why I should do their jobs, and pay them for not doing them.
But I am in fact doing all I can. Not because of what hype and spin soundbite politicians have had written by minders to parrot from their membership cards (and it seems not that often delivered in reality), but in spite of them.
And that... really excites me, at least.
GUARDIAN - A backroom conspiracy
'We can't just carry on with New Labour. It is seen as self-obsessed, media-fixated and corrupt '
It has been said before, but it's worth saying it again. Repeat after me....
'....and that's because...'
ps: Nice, uncorrupt piece by Mr. Miliband in the Telegraph today. Two out of three ain't half bad. Literally.
Guardian - Labour must act against this group of dedicated wreckers
Has anyone read what the 'other' option being touted to lead our country has by way of a vision thing?
ps; It's in the Telegraph. Linked from the above. Saves me cut, edtitting and pasting, as I don't have 'people' on the public payroll to do it for me.
Telegraph - Labour's fresh voice
'Isn't it insane that under New Labour the taxpayer pours billions into the NHS, but still ends up with worse benefits than they could buy from the reviled free market system of the US?'
Welcome to our world.
Imagine if they were running a business?
Better yet, how would they fare on The Apprentice?
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Beam me up.
It has been... another... long day.
So I was in an odd mood when a student asked me to fill out some questions on Social Enterprise.
While there are many good examples I have come across, there are still way too many who know how to play the game and are supported by a system too lazy and inept to make the effort to really get the money where it will do the most good.
Here are the questions, along with my, often rather flip but still honest, answers:
WHY THE NEED FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
1. Why do you feel there has been such a dramatic increase in the number of social enterprises over recent years?
We’ve pretty much messed the place up, so for our kids’ sake some feel it’s worth trying to get it back on track. Others see it as a nice comfy little earner, or nice on the resume.
2. Why do you feel the work carried out by social enterprises is so vital to the UK?
Because the more traditional bodies, such as government, have, are and will make a total fist of it as those in charge and those joining public service are no longer doing so with the primary aim of serving the public.
3. Do you think social enterprises are the best way forward to meet the social needs of the UK population – please state why?
Possibly. Yes because most efforts succeed mainly by being what people need and want, and hence get supported by those they are there trying to help. No if, and by my experience, when some simply see it as a way to pursue agendas more motivated by personal gain rather than any real social improvement.
4. How successful do you feel social enterprises have been in solving the social problems of local communities or society in general?
Some... a lot. Most.... Not so hot. Many simply add whole new layers of cost and interference into already crowded and under-funded areas.
5. Do you think the public and private sectors fail to fully address and satisfy the social needs of the UK and why?
(if yes, proceed to question 10, if no proceed to question 11)
Yes. Public by seeking to meet targets and career agendas rather than needs. Private by being way too short-term and looking only at the bottom line.
6. Do you believe the public and/or private sectors have the capabilities to fully accommodate for the social needs? – please provide details
Public... no. Not any more. The systems have been corrupted by the process being more important than the product... or service. Private... possibly. But it needs a real shift in bottom line mindsets that impact personal career developments in that sector.
METHODS OF FUNDRAISING
7. How does this organisation compete for sources of income considering the competitiveness within the social economy is increasing?
Badly! It’s not what you are, but who you know. And how well you let box tickers tick the boxes and sign off the readies rather than any real attempt at creating viable social ROIs.
8. What is the main source of income the organisation receives?
Advertising
9. Is there a procedure in place in the event of a lack of funding?
Dig deeper into personal bank account.
10. Do you feel there has been a significant change in the amount of support or funding provided by the public and corporations?
Yes, There seems to be a lot more about, but they still seem to keep most of it to themselves first building empires and armies of bean-counters before any gets doled out where it does the most good. And do corporations fund anything that is not their mate’s wife’s hairdresser’s favourite charity to look good at CSR report time in the annual AGM? Or what makes them more profit?
EXTERNAL CHALLENGES
11. What are the main challenges faced by the organisation from both a short term and long term aspect?
Competition from those funded by government and quangos to unfairly compete on what should not be a commercial basis. Intellectual property raiding by private sector.
12. Are there any strategic plans in place to reduce or eliminate the impact these challenges could potentially have on the organisation?
Yes. If you can’t get them to join you, beat them and hope they rain on some other person’s parade. Win the public, and you win. There’s always the vote. For now.
So I was in an odd mood when a student asked me to fill out some questions on Social Enterprise.
While there are many good examples I have come across, there are still way too many who know how to play the game and are supported by a system too lazy and inept to make the effort to really get the money where it will do the most good.
Here are the questions, along with my, often rather flip but still honest, answers:
WHY THE NEED FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
1. Why do you feel there has been such a dramatic increase in the number of social enterprises over recent years?
We’ve pretty much messed the place up, so for our kids’ sake some feel it’s worth trying to get it back on track. Others see it as a nice comfy little earner, or nice on the resume.
2. Why do you feel the work carried out by social enterprises is so vital to the UK?
Because the more traditional bodies, such as government, have, are and will make a total fist of it as those in charge and those joining public service are no longer doing so with the primary aim of serving the public.
3. Do you think social enterprises are the best way forward to meet the social needs of the UK population – please state why?
Possibly. Yes because most efforts succeed mainly by being what people need and want, and hence get supported by those they are there trying to help. No if, and by my experience, when some simply see it as a way to pursue agendas more motivated by personal gain rather than any real social improvement.
4. How successful do you feel social enterprises have been in solving the social problems of local communities or society in general?
Some... a lot. Most.... Not so hot. Many simply add whole new layers of cost and interference into already crowded and under-funded areas.
5. Do you think the public and private sectors fail to fully address and satisfy the social needs of the UK and why?
(if yes, proceed to question 10, if no proceed to question 11)
Yes. Public by seeking to meet targets and career agendas rather than needs. Private by being way too short-term and looking only at the bottom line.
6. Do you believe the public and/or private sectors have the capabilities to fully accommodate for the social needs? – please provide details
Public... no. Not any more. The systems have been corrupted by the process being more important than the product... or service. Private... possibly. But it needs a real shift in bottom line mindsets that impact personal career developments in that sector.
METHODS OF FUNDRAISING
7. How does this organisation compete for sources of income considering the competitiveness within the social economy is increasing?
Badly! It’s not what you are, but who you know. And how well you let box tickers tick the boxes and sign off the readies rather than any real attempt at creating viable social ROIs.
8. What is the main source of income the organisation receives?
Advertising
9. Is there a procedure in place in the event of a lack of funding?
Dig deeper into personal bank account.
10. Do you feel there has been a significant change in the amount of support or funding provided by the public and corporations?
Yes, There seems to be a lot more about, but they still seem to keep most of it to themselves first building empires and armies of bean-counters before any gets doled out where it does the most good. And do corporations fund anything that is not their mate’s wife’s hairdresser’s favourite charity to look good at CSR report time in the annual AGM? Or what makes them more profit?
EXTERNAL CHALLENGES
11. What are the main challenges faced by the organisation from both a short term and long term aspect?
Competition from those funded by government and quangos to unfairly compete on what should not be a commercial basis. Intellectual property raiding by private sector.
12. Are there any strategic plans in place to reduce or eliminate the impact these challenges could potentially have on the organisation?
Yes. If you can’t get them to join you, beat them and hope they rain on some other person’s parade. Win the public, and you win. There’s always the vote. For now.
Al a kazam! Al a kaboom! Al a can't be bovvered...
Newsnight - Tuesday, 27th March, 2007
Interesting. Which is more than I can say about the Al Gore interview, which doubtless was a BBC 'exclusive'. What did he offer? 2 minutes between more important meetings?
Other than a few side mentions, almost 100% of responses to last night's programme are concerned with poverty, which may have a part to play in my area of interest (other than wondering if it is a mandatory to be Scottish to get into government and/or be a spokesperson these days - if so, sign me up. I am, at least half), which is the environment and how to just keep it ticking along, and with luck tickedy boo.
So it seems we may have to call in Al.
I have lately weathered a lot of blog storms (sorry and sorry for the puns) about the issues of climate change, post IPCC and Ch4/Durkin, and Mr. Gore's role in it all has popped up on occasion.
It has not been pretty. I'm afraid this piece didn't scrub up much better.
For a start, the programme was launched with Mr. Gore quoted as saying the US could learn a lesson from the UK Government.
Sadly it was not too clear what that was. Hopefully it is not saying to the population to do one thing whilst those doing the saying don't feel it really can or should apply to them.
Mr. Gore was mildly tasked on this aspect of leadership by example. At least on his electricity consumption, which he had a good chance to field, and did so fairly comprehensively; though saying something is a lie and not really saying where sets up some red flags. Personally I thought he would have been better advised to point out that as his is not exactly a two-up, two down family home and as he runs his office from it (with staff), there is likely a bit more than a microwave and TV left on standby in there.
Sadly we did not go on to find out why him flying (if indeed he does) by private jet is necessary thanks to a busy schedule that the rest of us apparently do not suffer from. I'm off next month to Geneva and simply can't wait to get in that aluminium tube and see what I can catch in the 90 minute flight from row 22b. But the price and time advantage vs. a train was simply too great to enjoy the slooooow travel now promoted by all our offsetting travel writers with places to eventually get to, and people to sponge off.
So we're winning the war on climate change? When EU ministers think their 4x4 is OK but yours is not, and then vote to let even more planes shuttle back and forth to the US, along with Air Force Gore, of course. Not.
I was also very surprised how unconvincing he was. He droned, dealt out dry facts and frankly didn't look as if he cared a damn what anyone thought.
Maybe the CH4 doco was reckless, but explaining how by just saying 'his' 'experts' are better than 'theirs' is a level of argument my 10 year olds would demolish. And I now have a lot of highly-educated and aware mates tackling me more challengingly on my advocacy, based on being swayed by this show. It's no good just saying they are naughty people and 'we' wear white hats, so we must be right. The small group of sceptics I am aware of seems pretty big to me, outside of the green elite and business leaders with their eyes on a) not being walloped with punitive measures and b) making a nifty profit. These folk only know what they know, and calling them deniers won't help much to change their minds.
The poverty story does make one wonder. Is it just possible a reason that most average people are not as engaged as one would imagine, or hope, is because we are being talked down to mostly by guys who have scored nice little earners but are often shown to be doing so from very dubious and shaky pedestals. I would accept that Mr. Gore is better placed morally than most, as he has form going back a long way. Genuine stuff. But unfortunately for him, and in my view his - and my - cause, he is not the best person to communicate effectively with the general public by dint of personality and personal circumstances. Not his fault, but a simple fact of media life.
The world's mid to low-income consumers really are the only ones that matter when it comes to making the necessary changes in personal choices to in turn help the planet.
Can this nation's 'leaders' (especially, lord help us, the self-anointed 'green elites'), and Mr. Gore for his own country, and all the trendy media who would support them, really put hands on hearts and say their efforts at reaching this majority, much less influence them, have been successful to date? I'd say not.
So we need some new brooms.
----
ps: Ribena has been fined for its lack of Vitamin C in the iconic drink. That'll teach 'em! I'm guessing about what they make in an hour, right?
pps: I am thinking of taking the Italians to court for war reparations for stuff I am sure happened to my great, great, etc granny, who I'm pretty sure was a Roman comfort woman. Now can we fill five minutes with some spokesperson and critics hauled off the BBC rentamouth crowd to chew on this, please? And anyone who says I can't is a racist, and I demand compo!
---
MASTER...CADS?
The percent you can claim back via tax credits (minus admin costs of an army of pen-pushers with only one personal voting option to stay employed by those who created them) to compensate for what you've had taken directly in tax - a long way shy of a 100, Jimmy!
Taking a private jet to go to an enviro awards ceremony or media opp - worth every tonne, especially if Bono can hitch his hat a ride.
Telling your customers that what's in your product isn't quite what they may actually find - £70k
Taking a bit of distant history and turning it into a divisive conflict tournament for a few days - loadsaratings!
The trust the people now have in government, activists, spokespersons, business... and the media that is meant to keep us informed objectively on their activities - er.... less.
A whole lot less.
ADDENDUM: I was rebutted -
Sarah,
Well one bit out of a few is not too bad! Better than none!
I don't think we are disagreeing too much at all on anything, even what the problems are. But I'm afraid I must offer the opinion that your reply rather makes my point.
I have worked my whole life in media communications. One lesson I learned early on was when we were pitching and my boss said to a client ''I'm afraid you are not understanding my point", to which the client replied: '"And I'm afraid you are not making it clearly enough for me to be persuaded by it. Oh, and I'm the one you want to pay for the consequences of your proposal'.
I would dispute the word wilful totally, but for the purposes of brevity I summarised my feelings, which stand. Without reference to the archive it's hard to get into detail, but that's how it came across ... to me. And another, sad fact of our sound-bite culture. Who has time for the full story... 'when that's all we have time for'.
Be assured, I am keen for most, if not all, of Mr. Gore's views to prevail. But I concern myself that the messenger, and not the message, is at the fore, and there may be some flaws to this that outweigh any earlier gains in 'awareness'.
It is a fundamental aspect of the fight to win hearts and minds, to effect what I see as necessary changes to lifestyles to redirect our futures in a better environmental direction.
I am not telling you you are wrong in your data. How can I? I don't know yet what is fact and what is not. I am simply sharing how I feel. Yet your response has been that I am wrong and it seems I must now change to your way. I'm sorry, but my first instinct is to push back even harder.
I have lived through but been too badly burned by too many flame wars between big-oil-funded deniers and rabid eco-fascists (the only 'camps' that seem to get featured, and hence dominate any public media outlet) to feel like getting into the global warming 'debate' any more, as both can only seemingly operate in the most didactic manner. For the few paras you lob in here I can point you at scores of blog pages that have run to hundreds of posts, pro and con. We seem no further ahead.
For professional reasons I try a lot more than most to understand the problem, to be objective in seeking and sharing the solutions. Many do not have the time or inclination to do so. And they are 'our' audience to convince. If it is all so obvious, how has this failed to happen yet? Are you saying that the masses can't understand, and so don't know what's good for them?
We're getting to points where people are being asked to cut back, and if they are being asked to do so by those who reserve the right not to, or who will suffer in relative terms much less, we are entering eco-farming territory Mr. Orwell would recognise.
Ask the average person in the street what they think of the global warming issue, and I'll be interested in who cites the IPCC report, and who mentions the GGWS, both of which are used by various media to bash on their agendas. And you surely can't be saying that the BBC is not sympathetic to the notions in support of man's influence? But equally it is rather telling that you seem to require that only what you agree with gets shared. Allow debate to take place, and counter in ways that people can understand... and respond to.
I simply feel that those who think they know better then the rest of us are in danger of being more worried about being proved right, than seeing anything right get done by the best folk for the job.
ADDENDUM #2;
All concerned have a passion that is to be applauded, and some... levels of conviction that are to be envied.
It could however be wished that such knowledge and desires to share are matched with an equal ability to convince, otherwise we are in danger of spinning in one place.
Sadly, it would appear that I suffer from a similar inability to get some to see my key point, which I must accept as a failing on my part. At least I hope I am not using the basis of my facts being the only facts that are valid, as can happen, and would rather deal in what seems to come across more by the evidence of my of my own eyes as I look out the window, and then witnessing what gets traded in blogs such as this.
The thing is, we are usually not debating from opposing sides, or even trying to effect a compromise between differing views.
So I end up agreeing with most of what people believe in and seek to share, if it's what's best for our kids' futures.
I simply question how effective such belief alone often is in effecting the necessary changes in the optimum timescales.
Applying highly simplistic tags to a very complex issue, the 'deniers' have a huge advantage.
They are basically saying 'There's nothing wrong. Or if there is it's not down to us. Or if it was/is there's little we can do now to change it. So just chill out as you warm up, keep on doing what comes naturally and partayyyyy!'
Those who take a different view, including myself, would beg to differ. Speaking personally, I don't really yet pretend to know with certainty whether what we are experiencing is as a result of a climatological natural phenomenon or not, but the visible influences are looking tangible, rather frequent and moving a lot faster than a geological timescale.
Hence I'm operating on the basis that whatever man is doing, we may not be helping. And hence it might be as well to check our headlong rush into potential oblivion.
Which brings us to scale. Do we 'cut back a bit'? Do we stop? Do we reverse? All involve compromise, which to a race with competitive cultures which have evolved into growing economies, is not going to be easy to manage.
So far, I don't think the problem has been sold very well, very consistently or at all convincingly. And with very few solutions that make sense or simply smack of bandwagon jumping. And while there are many sincere folk doing their best to share their messages, and doing so in an inspiring way and with best of practices and personal examples... too many are not.
As it stands, I regret that I think the 'my way or no way' style of persuasion stands a polar bear on a shrinking ice flow's chance of getting Joe Blow out of his aircon car, Fiesta family into a Prius, any Isligtonistas off their ski trip this Easter, or me to concede its OK to just talk loudly without being too concerned whether the message is being received, understood or being acted upon.
A bit like a Brit on holiday abroad. 'Silly foreigners don't see how obvious what I'm saying is'.
Good luck. Over and out.
Interesting. Which is more than I can say about the Al Gore interview, which doubtless was a BBC 'exclusive'. What did he offer? 2 minutes between more important meetings?
Other than a few side mentions, almost 100% of responses to last night's programme are concerned with poverty, which may have a part to play in my area of interest (other than wondering if it is a mandatory to be Scottish to get into government and/or be a spokesperson these days - if so, sign me up. I am, at least half), which is the environment and how to just keep it ticking along, and with luck tickedy boo.
So it seems we may have to call in Al.
I have lately weathered a lot of blog storms (sorry and sorry for the puns) about the issues of climate change, post IPCC and Ch4/Durkin, and Mr. Gore's role in it all has popped up on occasion.
It has not been pretty. I'm afraid this piece didn't scrub up much better.
For a start, the programme was launched with Mr. Gore quoted as saying the US could learn a lesson from the UK Government.
Sadly it was not too clear what that was. Hopefully it is not saying to the population to do one thing whilst those doing the saying don't feel it really can or should apply to them.
Mr. Gore was mildly tasked on this aspect of leadership by example. At least on his electricity consumption, which he had a good chance to field, and did so fairly comprehensively; though saying something is a lie and not really saying where sets up some red flags. Personally I thought he would have been better advised to point out that as his is not exactly a two-up, two down family home and as he runs his office from it (with staff), there is likely a bit more than a microwave and TV left on standby in there.
Sadly we did not go on to find out why him flying (if indeed he does) by private jet is necessary thanks to a busy schedule that the rest of us apparently do not suffer from. I'm off next month to Geneva and simply can't wait to get in that aluminium tube and see what I can catch in the 90 minute flight from row 22b. But the price and time advantage vs. a train was simply too great to enjoy the slooooow travel now promoted by all our offsetting travel writers with places to eventually get to, and people to sponge off.
So we're winning the war on climate change? When EU ministers think their 4x4 is OK but yours is not, and then vote to let even more planes shuttle back and forth to the US, along with Air Force Gore, of course. Not.
I was also very surprised how unconvincing he was. He droned, dealt out dry facts and frankly didn't look as if he cared a damn what anyone thought.
Maybe the CH4 doco was reckless, but explaining how by just saying 'his' 'experts' are better than 'theirs' is a level of argument my 10 year olds would demolish. And I now have a lot of highly-educated and aware mates tackling me more challengingly on my advocacy, based on being swayed by this show. It's no good just saying they are naughty people and 'we' wear white hats, so we must be right. The small group of sceptics I am aware of seems pretty big to me, outside of the green elite and business leaders with their eyes on a) not being walloped with punitive measures and b) making a nifty profit. These folk only know what they know, and calling them deniers won't help much to change their minds.
The poverty story does make one wonder. Is it just possible a reason that most average people are not as engaged as one would imagine, or hope, is because we are being talked down to mostly by guys who have scored nice little earners but are often shown to be doing so from very dubious and shaky pedestals. I would accept that Mr. Gore is better placed morally than most, as he has form going back a long way. Genuine stuff. But unfortunately for him, and in my view his - and my - cause, he is not the best person to communicate effectively with the general public by dint of personality and personal circumstances. Not his fault, but a simple fact of media life.
The world's mid to low-income consumers really are the only ones that matter when it comes to making the necessary changes in personal choices to in turn help the planet.
Can this nation's 'leaders' (especially, lord help us, the self-anointed 'green elites'), and Mr. Gore for his own country, and all the trendy media who would support them, really put hands on hearts and say their efforts at reaching this majority, much less influence them, have been successful to date? I'd say not.
So we need some new brooms.
----
ps: Ribena has been fined for its lack of Vitamin C in the iconic drink. That'll teach 'em! I'm guessing about what they make in an hour, right?
pps: I am thinking of taking the Italians to court for war reparations for stuff I am sure happened to my great, great, etc granny, who I'm pretty sure was a Roman comfort woman. Now can we fill five minutes with some spokesperson and critics hauled off the BBC rentamouth crowd to chew on this, please? And anyone who says I can't is a racist, and I demand compo!
---
MASTER...CADS?
The percent you can claim back via tax credits (minus admin costs of an army of pen-pushers with only one personal voting option to stay employed by those who created them) to compensate for what you've had taken directly in tax - a long way shy of a 100, Jimmy!
Taking a private jet to go to an enviro awards ceremony or media opp - worth every tonne, especially if Bono can hitch his hat a ride.
Telling your customers that what's in your product isn't quite what they may actually find - £70k
Taking a bit of distant history and turning it into a divisive conflict tournament for a few days - loadsaratings!
The trust the people now have in government, activists, spokespersons, business... and the media that is meant to keep us informed objectively on their activities - er.... less.
A whole lot less.
ADDENDUM: I was rebutted -
Sarah,
Well one bit out of a few is not too bad! Better than none!
I don't think we are disagreeing too much at all on anything, even what the problems are. But I'm afraid I must offer the opinion that your reply rather makes my point.
I have worked my whole life in media communications. One lesson I learned early on was when we were pitching and my boss said to a client ''I'm afraid you are not understanding my point", to which the client replied: '"And I'm afraid you are not making it clearly enough for me to be persuaded by it. Oh, and I'm the one you want to pay for the consequences of your proposal'.
I would dispute the word wilful totally, but for the purposes of brevity I summarised my feelings, which stand. Without reference to the archive it's hard to get into detail, but that's how it came across ... to me. And another, sad fact of our sound-bite culture. Who has time for the full story... 'when that's all we have time for'.
Be assured, I am keen for most, if not all, of Mr. Gore's views to prevail. But I concern myself that the messenger, and not the message, is at the fore, and there may be some flaws to this that outweigh any earlier gains in 'awareness'.
It is a fundamental aspect of the fight to win hearts and minds, to effect what I see as necessary changes to lifestyles to redirect our futures in a better environmental direction.
I am not telling you you are wrong in your data. How can I? I don't know yet what is fact and what is not. I am simply sharing how I feel. Yet your response has been that I am wrong and it seems I must now change to your way. I'm sorry, but my first instinct is to push back even harder.
I have lived through but been too badly burned by too many flame wars between big-oil-funded deniers and rabid eco-fascists (the only 'camps' that seem to get featured, and hence dominate any public media outlet) to feel like getting into the global warming 'debate' any more, as both can only seemingly operate in the most didactic manner. For the few paras you lob in here I can point you at scores of blog pages that have run to hundreds of posts, pro and con. We seem no further ahead.
For professional reasons I try a lot more than most to understand the problem, to be objective in seeking and sharing the solutions. Many do not have the time or inclination to do so. And they are 'our' audience to convince. If it is all so obvious, how has this failed to happen yet? Are you saying that the masses can't understand, and so don't know what's good for them?
We're getting to points where people are being asked to cut back, and if they are being asked to do so by those who reserve the right not to, or who will suffer in relative terms much less, we are entering eco-farming territory Mr. Orwell would recognise.
Ask the average person in the street what they think of the global warming issue, and I'll be interested in who cites the IPCC report, and who mentions the GGWS, both of which are used by various media to bash on their agendas. And you surely can't be saying that the BBC is not sympathetic to the notions in support of man's influence? But equally it is rather telling that you seem to require that only what you agree with gets shared. Allow debate to take place, and counter in ways that people can understand... and respond to.
I simply feel that those who think they know better then the rest of us are in danger of being more worried about being proved right, than seeing anything right get done by the best folk for the job.
ADDENDUM #2;
All concerned have a passion that is to be applauded, and some... levels of conviction that are to be envied.
It could however be wished that such knowledge and desires to share are matched with an equal ability to convince, otherwise we are in danger of spinning in one place.
Sadly, it would appear that I suffer from a similar inability to get some to see my key point, which I must accept as a failing on my part. At least I hope I am not using the basis of my facts being the only facts that are valid, as can happen, and would rather deal in what seems to come across more by the evidence of my of my own eyes as I look out the window, and then witnessing what gets traded in blogs such as this.
The thing is, we are usually not debating from opposing sides, or even trying to effect a compromise between differing views.
So I end up agreeing with most of what people believe in and seek to share, if it's what's best for our kids' futures.
I simply question how effective such belief alone often is in effecting the necessary changes in the optimum timescales.
Applying highly simplistic tags to a very complex issue, the 'deniers' have a huge advantage.
They are basically saying 'There's nothing wrong. Or if there is it's not down to us. Or if it was/is there's little we can do now to change it. So just chill out as you warm up, keep on doing what comes naturally and partayyyyy!'
Those who take a different view, including myself, would beg to differ. Speaking personally, I don't really yet pretend to know with certainty whether what we are experiencing is as a result of a climatological natural phenomenon or not, but the visible influences are looking tangible, rather frequent and moving a lot faster than a geological timescale.
Hence I'm operating on the basis that whatever man is doing, we may not be helping. And hence it might be as well to check our headlong rush into potential oblivion.
Which brings us to scale. Do we 'cut back a bit'? Do we stop? Do we reverse? All involve compromise, which to a race with competitive cultures which have evolved into growing economies, is not going to be easy to manage.
So far, I don't think the problem has been sold very well, very consistently or at all convincingly. And with very few solutions that make sense or simply smack of bandwagon jumping. And while there are many sincere folk doing their best to share their messages, and doing so in an inspiring way and with best of practices and personal examples... too many are not.
As it stands, I regret that I think the 'my way or no way' style of persuasion stands a polar bear on a shrinking ice flow's chance of getting Joe Blow out of his aircon car, Fiesta family into a Prius, any Isligtonistas off their ski trip this Easter, or me to concede its OK to just talk loudly without being too concerned whether the message is being received, understood or being acted upon.
A bit like a Brit on holiday abroad. 'Silly foreigners don't see how obvious what I'm saying is'.
Good luck. Over and out.
Now I see why we must stop 4x4s at all costs!
Carbon emissions from power stations soar
Ironically, right next door...
Government to unveil greener cars plan
Right hand, meet left.
BBC - Emissions soar from UK generators
Ironically, right next door...
Government to unveil greener cars plan
Right hand, meet left.
BBC - Emissions soar from UK generators
Biter bit?
Delicious.
Tablet facing race complaint
Good job they are unlikely to be up for any senior Conservative spokespersons posts.
Think it. Just don't get caught telling.
Who needs freedom of speech anyway?
Tablet facing race complaint
Good job they are unlikely to be up for any senior Conservative spokespersons posts.
Think it. Just don't get caught telling.
Who needs freedom of speech anyway?
Branson's Solar Spaceship Ate My Hamster!
Green visionary or pipe dreamer?
“the 50-year-old entrepreneur has repeatedly managed to get Hollywood celebrities and other investors to join his ventures."
Bong smoker, more like.
Lord spare us from yet more hype based on celebrity obsession fuelled by the media.
Would we even have heard about this but for that para above?
Yes, it would be nice to think it 'could' work, but as with all things green and topical, the one thing that gets forgotten is the enviROI; the cost to the planet.
A bunch of dipsy celebs boost their cred by blowing chump change on something financially unsound but which does make a positive difference is fine by me.
Getting a wadge of PR by consuming vast resources to screw up the planet even more for my kids... no, I don't think so.
“the 50-year-old entrepreneur has repeatedly managed to get Hollywood celebrities and other investors to join his ventures."
Bong smoker, more like.
Lord spare us from yet more hype based on celebrity obsession fuelled by the media.
Would we even have heard about this but for that para above?
Yes, it would be nice to think it 'could' work, but as with all things green and topical, the one thing that gets forgotten is the enviROI; the cost to the planet.
A bunch of dipsy celebs boost their cred by blowing chump change on something financially unsound but which does make a positive difference is fine by me.
Getting a wadge of PR by consuming vast resources to screw up the planet even more for my kids... no, I don't think so.
DTI, huh, what is it good for? Absolutely...
(to the music of Edwin Starr)
I was just passing this and couldn't resist popping in.
Could the DTI face being broken up?
In light of this question - "What is the DTI for?" Asked its Head of Department in 1989: "I've got bugger all to do, and thousands of staff to help me do it." - and the fact I for one can't see how much has changed since then, I have to ask if the headline question was posed in any way as it should be.
'Can the DTI avoid being erased for the sorry money pit it was, is and always will be', would be more like it.
I was just passing this and couldn't resist popping in.
Could the DTI face being broken up?
In light of this question - "What is the DTI for?" Asked its Head of Department in 1989: "I've got bugger all to do, and thousands of staff to help me do it." - and the fact I for one can't see how much has changed since then, I have to ask if the headline question was posed in any way as it should be.
'Can the DTI avoid being erased for the sorry money pit it was, is and always will be', would be more like it.
Apprentice Shi*
I was just watching BBC Breakfast with Sir Alan Sugar explaining the new show's format.
I haven't watched it before. Doubt I will now.
He deems the winner's paths to be a great accolade to the BBC. I must see how Ruth Badger's consultancy is doing.
But I was mostly struck at his admission that what is shown is nothing like reality because that 'doesn't put bums on seats'. So a man of his calibre is merely a puppet to what some luvvie production munchkins want for ratings.
And hence... even though it's obvious it wasn't isn't and never was intended to be, lets be clear it's nothing like real business then.
Please let's not try to pretend it is.
Guardian -
I watched BBC Breakfast the other day with Sir Alan Sugar explaining the new show's format.
I haven't watched it before. On the basis of his performance I saw nor reason to try try this time. From what I read above I was well motivated not to.
He deemed previous winner's paths to be a great accolade to the BBC. I must see how Ruth Badger's consultancy is doing.
But I was mostly struck at his admission - like we didn't know, but really, today's media is all about saying one thing as po-faced as possible while doing the direct opposite off camera - that what is shown is nothing like reality because that 'doesn't put bums on seats'. So a man of his calibre is merely a puppet to what some luvvie production munchkins want for ratings.
And hence... even though it's obvious it wasn't, isn't and never was intended to be, lets be clear it's nothing like real business then.
Please BBC, let's not try to pretend it is. There are some in this country who don't get their business and career guidance from such as Dragon's Den and rubbish like this.
It is only popular because slickly produced public executions have always been so, and if you are handed the full force of a national broadcast medium machine you are pretty much certain of a nicer job thanks to the ratings boost. Except if you made Castaway. Keelhauling may help there, not that I've watched it either.
Guardian - Last night's TV
Guardian - Stepping out from under Sir Alan's shadow
I haven't watched it before. Doubt I will now.
He deems the winner's paths to be a great accolade to the BBC. I must see how Ruth Badger's consultancy is doing.
But I was mostly struck at his admission that what is shown is nothing like reality because that 'doesn't put bums on seats'. So a man of his calibre is merely a puppet to what some luvvie production munchkins want for ratings.
And hence... even though it's obvious it wasn't isn't and never was intended to be, lets be clear it's nothing like real business then.
Please let's not try to pretend it is.
Guardian -
I watched BBC Breakfast the other day with Sir Alan Sugar explaining the new show's format.
I haven't watched it before. On the basis of his performance I saw nor reason to try try this time. From what I read above I was well motivated not to.
He deemed previous winner's paths to be a great accolade to the BBC. I must see how Ruth Badger's consultancy is doing.
But I was mostly struck at his admission - like we didn't know, but really, today's media is all about saying one thing as po-faced as possible while doing the direct opposite off camera - that what is shown is nothing like reality because that 'doesn't put bums on seats'. So a man of his calibre is merely a puppet to what some luvvie production munchkins want for ratings.
And hence... even though it's obvious it wasn't, isn't and never was intended to be, lets be clear it's nothing like real business then.
Please BBC, let's not try to pretend it is. There are some in this country who don't get their business and career guidance from such as Dragon's Den and rubbish like this.
It is only popular because slickly produced public executions have always been so, and if you are handed the full force of a national broadcast medium machine you are pretty much certain of a nicer job thanks to the ratings boost. Except if you made Castaway. Keelhauling may help there, not that I've watched it either.
Guardian - Last night's TV
Guardian - Stepping out from under Sir Alan's shadow
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Tax and spend, OK. But where's it going and what's the return?
The real battle is over services, not tax
To the author:
Forgive me, but I don't subscribe, so I don't have the benefit of the full article to comment upon. So maybe you have covered this.
Like any businessperson, or indeed any individual managing a budget, my greatest concern is what I get for my expenditure and, In the case of investment, how good the return is.
What appals me is the way government, and its hired but unaccountable mercenaries in the quango sector, can claim results based on expenditure with no measure at all of how well anything has performed in real terms.
As a parent I despair over what the money lavished upon health and education has actually resulted in. As a professional ad man and green advocate my jaw stands agape that entities such as WRAP can claim response rates for recycling as 'good' when they have blown bazzillions of public funds on campaigns that may look nice, tick boxes, meet agendas, etc, but may not actually result in as good, or even a better planet for the money.
My battle is to get this whole sorry mess back on track, for my kids' sake. It will take a long time, at least before any rectifying efforts bear fruit. And for that reason, I doubt any short-term oriented pol who does appreciate this truth will be in the least bit interested or motivated to do so.
To the author:
Forgive me, but I don't subscribe, so I don't have the benefit of the full article to comment upon. So maybe you have covered this.
Like any businessperson, or indeed any individual managing a budget, my greatest concern is what I get for my expenditure and, In the case of investment, how good the return is.
What appals me is the way government, and its hired but unaccountable mercenaries in the quango sector, can claim results based on expenditure with no measure at all of how well anything has performed in real terms.
As a parent I despair over what the money lavished upon health and education has actually resulted in. As a professional ad man and green advocate my jaw stands agape that entities such as WRAP can claim response rates for recycling as 'good' when they have blown bazzillions of public funds on campaigns that may look nice, tick boxes, meet agendas, etc, but may not actually result in as good, or even a better planet for the money.
My battle is to get this whole sorry mess back on track, for my kids' sake. It will take a long time, at least before any rectifying efforts bear fruit. And for that reason, I doubt any short-term oriented pol who does appreciate this truth will be in the least bit interested or motivated to do so.
Fly away, Peter. Or, maybe, not.
Make green taxes fair
Like you, I am middle of the road, greenwise (though wondering when ever it could be OK to straddle the white line). So I pretty much agree.
But I would make a small plea to pols, activists and media from the London C-(for centric) zone to at least acknowledge that some do not live within our fine capital.
Noting the dashing hybrid, I can only wonder how I am helping the planet driving along the motorway or along country lanes (no trains worth mentioning here) lugging a heavy battery.
That said, I also wonder how a Porsche Cayenne, at a dead stop parked in the City after a 3 mile trip, is 'worse' than such a vehicle buzzing about all day, emitting away.
And before we get on taxing fuel, like the ill-considered road-pricing first outing, bear in mind the district nurse racking up a hundred miles a day. She has a vote and knows how to use it. Tricky, ain't it?
As to flights, who is this 'us' who are accorded short haul flights, and who is the 'them' who decides to take or bestow upon this Peter, to the detriment or benefit of 'whom'? I just ask, because there may be some Kalahari bushmen breathing the same air as we do who will be well chuffed to get such an allowance to trade.
Or is just for 'us' to play with, and not 'them'? Also pretty tricky, huh?
As to fair, well, you are having a laugh, right?
Like you, I am middle of the road, greenwise (though wondering when ever it could be OK to straddle the white line). So I pretty much agree.
But I would make a small plea to pols, activists and media from the London C-(for centric) zone to at least acknowledge that some do not live within our fine capital.
Noting the dashing hybrid, I can only wonder how I am helping the planet driving along the motorway or along country lanes (no trains worth mentioning here) lugging a heavy battery.
That said, I also wonder how a Porsche Cayenne, at a dead stop parked in the City after a 3 mile trip, is 'worse' than such a vehicle buzzing about all day, emitting away.
And before we get on taxing fuel, like the ill-considered road-pricing first outing, bear in mind the district nurse racking up a hundred miles a day. She has a vote and knows how to use it. Tricky, ain't it?
As to flights, who is this 'us' who are accorded short haul flights, and who is the 'them' who decides to take or bestow upon this Peter, to the detriment or benefit of 'whom'? I just ask, because there may be some Kalahari bushmen breathing the same air as we do who will be well chuffed to get such an allowance to trade.
Or is just for 'us' to play with, and not 'them'? Also pretty tricky, huh?
As to fair, well, you are having a laugh, right?
Sod it. There goes the SAAB (the money to buy it aspect may have been a factor, too)
If we want to save the planet, we need a five-year freeze on biofuels
Oops.
Will the next pro/con sledgehammer issue and its big (corn) oil denier and eco-fascist advocates please take to the stand... the people were in danger of thinking they had some idea of how to help save the planet, at least with personal transport. Seems not. Phew. Imagine if something had been resolved? Where are the op-ed jollies in that!!!
Next thing we'll find out that CarbCon trading is just a nifty way for short-term pols meet targets, tick boxes and make your mates in the City rich enough to fly you around the lecture circuit in their private jets.
I guess I'll hang with the 10 year old Volvo a tad longer.
Actually, there are some good points to be gleaned. I'll let you do that for yourselves.
Oops.
Will the next pro/con sledgehammer issue and its big (corn) oil denier and eco-fascist advocates please take to the stand... the people were in danger of thinking they had some idea of how to help save the planet, at least with personal transport. Seems not. Phew. Imagine if something had been resolved? Where are the op-ed jollies in that!!!
Next thing we'll find out that CarbCon trading is just a nifty way for short-term pols meet targets, tick boxes and make your mates in the City rich enough to fly you around the lecture circuit in their private jets.
I guess I'll hang with the 10 year old Volvo a tad longer.
Actually, there are some good points to be gleaned. I'll let you do that for yourselves.
Easy for me to agree
Commuter train or cattle truck?
This is the sort of environmental campaigning I like to see and fully endorse.
Identify the solutions, and where they are not working get them sorted first.
All it needs now is to get from a minor blog post to a mainstream voting issue.
(Sound of breath being held).
This is the sort of environmental campaigning I like to see and fully endorse.
Identify the solutions, and where they are not working get them sorted first.
All it needs now is to get from a minor blog post to a mainstream voting issue.
(Sound of breath being held).
Life Cycle
Cycling proficiency for the 21st century
'Only 2% of children currently cycle to school compared with 50% in 1969.'
I do wonder if that may in part be anything to do with the distance that many kids are now from their designated school, and the assault course that is the UK road system they would need to attempt to cycle to it. And once there, the provisions for dealing with being soaked to the skin.
But I am sure a nice shiny Comms trick between Government and compliant (nice COI campaign ad revenue follows, no doubt) media will have all of us rushing our little loved ones onto to their Raleighs. Or maybe not. But at least boxes will have been ticked everywhere, including Broadcasting House.
I did have to laugh at yesterday's BBC Dog's Breakfast 'News', when the 'reporter' on this 'story' cited, without irony, his taxi driver's feelings on the subject en route to advocating that our children should be daily obliged to embrace this mode of transport to get to and from school. Not so practical for the rest of us, then? Or maybe just too dangerous, time consuming and dirty for most adults with things to do, people to see...
'Only 2% of children currently cycle to school compared with 50% in 1969.'
I do wonder if that may in part be anything to do with the distance that many kids are now from their designated school, and the assault course that is the UK road system they would need to attempt to cycle to it. And once there, the provisions for dealing with being soaked to the skin.
But I am sure a nice shiny Comms trick between Government and compliant (nice COI campaign ad revenue follows, no doubt) media will have all of us rushing our little loved ones onto to their Raleighs. Or maybe not. But at least boxes will have been ticked everywhere, including Broadcasting House.
I did have to laugh at yesterday's BBC Dog's Breakfast 'News', when the 'reporter' on this 'story' cited, without irony, his taxi driver's feelings on the subject en route to advocating that our children should be daily obliged to embrace this mode of transport to get to and from school. Not so practical for the rest of us, then? Or maybe just too dangerous, time consuming and dirty for most adults with things to do, people to see...
The problem with the media #234
As also reported on BBC, a bit after the bit about the ballet dancing cat in ther 'main' news:
Captured sailor's family speak of their distress
She is also 26 years old, we are told.
The state of mind and ages of the other 14 are not a matter of concern to the news media, it seems. Bless.
Captured sailor's family speak of their distress
She is also 26 years old, we are told.
The state of mind and ages of the other 14 are not a matter of concern to the news media, it seems. Bless.
What's this lifting off my chest?
Unreality television
You want unreality? Try Newswatch, their navel gazing sop self-critique show, where sleepy junior management are wheeled out at dawn on the weekend to issue insincere mea culpas, or defensive denials, to transgressions throughout primetime the rest of the week.
Or their complaints department, which will review what you have said thoroughly and get back in some tick-box period to say they value your input, can't see a problem, will bear it in mind, but anyway for now buzz off.
If I was paying for this I'd be livi... oh, I am.
ps: Didn't write this to the Telegraph, but I am currently watching Breakfast TV, with the blonde and the bouffant in a love-fest with Mark Curry, who seems to get wheeled on at the drop of anything to comment, and promote his business. Oh, and he's an ex-BBC employee.
Oh, I couldn't resist. First salvo to Newswatch, which is always worth a laugh:
'Has BBC Breakfast been engaged to act as the PR agency for Mark Curry's business interests? He seems to have been invited to comment on... anything... recently, and then pitch his wares at the same time. Nice to help your mates and all, but a little incestuous perhaps?'
ADDENDUM: Newswatch
Well that makes.. two of us! Well tucked away little devil of a blog this... wonder why?
As I wrote to a paper the other day in response to a piece about broadcast standards:
'You want unreality [Rest above].'
Tick reply here:
1) It wasn't us
2) It wasn't a problem
3) If it was so what?
And if you get pressed...
4) It was not perhaps the best way to do it
5) We are addressing this at all levels
6) An urgent review is under way
But whatever happens, no one is responsible!
You want unreality? Try Newswatch, their navel gazing sop self-critique show, where sleepy junior management are wheeled out at dawn on the weekend to issue insincere mea culpas, or defensive denials, to transgressions throughout primetime the rest of the week.
Or their complaints department, which will review what you have said thoroughly and get back in some tick-box period to say they value your input, can't see a problem, will bear it in mind, but anyway for now buzz off.
If I was paying for this I'd be livi... oh, I am.
ps: Didn't write this to the Telegraph, but I am currently watching Breakfast TV, with the blonde and the bouffant in a love-fest with Mark Curry, who seems to get wheeled on at the drop of anything to comment, and promote his business. Oh, and he's an ex-BBC employee.
Oh, I couldn't resist. First salvo to Newswatch, which is always worth a laugh:
'Has BBC Breakfast been engaged to act as the PR agency for Mark Curry's business interests? He seems to have been invited to comment on... anything... recently, and then pitch his wares at the same time. Nice to help your mates and all, but a little incestuous perhaps?'
ADDENDUM: Newswatch
Well that makes.. two of us! Well tucked away little devil of a blog this... wonder why?
As I wrote to a paper the other day in response to a piece about broadcast standards:
'You want unreality [Rest above].'
Tick reply here:
1) It wasn't us
2) It wasn't a problem
3) If it was so what?
And if you get pressed...
4) It was not perhaps the best way to do it
5) We are addressing this at all levels
6) An urgent review is under way
But whatever happens, no one is responsible!
Woe is m... oney
Unwise councils
It's an idealistic dream to think that these things can be reversed, any more than you can uncrash a plane.
The comparison with the private sector (the more realistic, SME-one, not the big corporations who behave, especially at the top, just like government) is interesting, though I do wonder to what extent the inefficient can get weeded out at all, let alone cost-effectively, without gridlock.
There is a vast army that has been created to serve itself, and those who created it, though naked self-interest first and foremost. All within the democratic process.
It may appeal to have more and more bean counters, but eventually if there is no one left (or can afford) to make any beans to count, then cannibalism seems the only recourse. In political terms that seems to translate into social unrest.
'..they should make a point of voting for parties and individuals who recognise this profligacy cannot be sustained any longer.'
And these parties would be...? We're two months off and I am none the wiser.
So what has been written makes for interesting comment, but I don't see any practical solutions.
Which is the other sad legacy of present day life. Those make are marginalised by those who do little more than talk.
It's an idealistic dream to think that these things can be reversed, any more than you can uncrash a plane.
The comparison with the private sector (the more realistic, SME-one, not the big corporations who behave, especially at the top, just like government) is interesting, though I do wonder to what extent the inefficient can get weeded out at all, let alone cost-effectively, without gridlock.
There is a vast army that has been created to serve itself, and those who created it, though naked self-interest first and foremost. All within the democratic process.
It may appeal to have more and more bean counters, but eventually if there is no one left (or can afford) to make any beans to count, then cannibalism seems the only recourse. In political terms that seems to translate into social unrest.
'..they should make a point of voting for parties and individuals who recognise this profligacy cannot be sustained any longer.'
And these parties would be...? We're two months off and I am none the wiser.
So what has been written makes for interesting comment, but I don't see any practical solutions.
Which is the other sad legacy of present day life. Those make are marginalised by those who do little more than talk.
Word from above
Let the free market fight climate change
'There is potential merit in much that is advocated here. However, as a country-dweller of modest means I can only hope that whichever administration finds itself tasked with resolving what is a very complex long term problem, it can find itself able to do so from more than the perspective of a London C (for centric) - zone urban elite who can afford to indulge in symbolic practices. Or, worse, have mates in high places who don't see cutting back as the way to adequately dispose of their salaries.
At the end of the day, if we accept that a reduction of emissions is the prime objective, and an increase in efficiencies a valid route to this, the only acceptable routes are via establishing genuine enviROIs. It's one thing to practice, or impose, some green 'measure' even if there is a financial cost, quite another if it does not even end up helping the planet either.
Hence my doubts on current carbcon trading proposals, which seem more focused on allowing things (and commissions for 'handling') to continue than any reductions at commercial or personal levels for those who can afford to pay.
While I have no problem with the notion of wealth creation ('Where there's muck...' 'n all), I really would advocate that in looking to the future it may help to realise that money... isn't everything.'
'There is potential merit in much that is advocated here. However, as a country-dweller of modest means I can only hope that whichever administration finds itself tasked with resolving what is a very complex long term problem, it can find itself able to do so from more than the perspective of a London C (for centric) - zone urban elite who can afford to indulge in symbolic practices. Or, worse, have mates in high places who don't see cutting back as the way to adequately dispose of their salaries.
At the end of the day, if we accept that a reduction of emissions is the prime objective, and an increase in efficiencies a valid route to this, the only acceptable routes are via establishing genuine enviROIs. It's one thing to practice, or impose, some green 'measure' even if there is a financial cost, quite another if it does not even end up helping the planet either.
Hence my doubts on current carbcon trading proposals, which seem more focused on allowing things (and commissions for 'handling') to continue than any reductions at commercial or personal levels for those who can afford to pay.
While I have no problem with the notion of wealth creation ('Where there's muck...' 'n all), I really would advocate that in looking to the future it may help to realise that money... isn't everything.'
Monday, March 26, 2007
One's gob is smacked
I know a headline like 'Major global blue-chip will say anything to flog tat' is not exactly news, but this left me... almost... speechless:
New Zealand schoolgirls find there's no C in Ribena
Just how low will they stoop?
And heaven forfend one affects the legal process at any stage.
Mail - The schoolgirls who cost Ribena £80k for its vitamin fib
New Zealand schoolgirls find there's no C in Ribena
Just how low will they stoop?
And heaven forfend one affects the legal process at any stage.
Mail - The schoolgirls who cost Ribena £80k for its vitamin fib
No news is...
Is there no end to my ignorance?
You don't need to understand the news. You are not meant to. It is merely one of a few ways to fill space and generate ratings, especially if you work for the BBC, as that is how you can get measured accurately enough to bail for the even bigger money.
I have a complaint in process at present for them taking a solicited comment, deleting the beginning and ending and re-presenting the middle chunk to say the total opposite of what I meant, to suit their agenda.
They will of course have a 'thorough review' and in two weeks I'll be told they care a lot so now be a good boy and buzz off.
This time, I think I may not be so inclined to do so.
You don't need to understand the news. You are not meant to. It is merely one of a few ways to fill space and generate ratings, especially if you work for the BBC, as that is how you can get measured accurately enough to bail for the even bigger money.
I have a complaint in process at present for them taking a solicited comment, deleting the beginning and ending and re-presenting the middle chunk to say the total opposite of what I meant, to suit their agenda.
They will of course have a 'thorough review' and in two weeks I'll be told they care a lot so now be a good boy and buzz off.
This time, I think I may not be so inclined to do so.
From a Horse's Mouth. About policies from 'tother end
I would have pitched in. Not really worth it. It would be tilling already very overworked soil.
A Stalinist solution
A Stalinist solution
Now let's see what she and her paper DO about it
Because I doubt we'll ever get a mention.
Dear Ms. Stephenson,
I could not agree more with what you wrote on Thursday about yet another climate change conference. At least it was in London. I just heard on the politics show yesterday some Lib Dem luvvie justifying a jolly to Brazil because she had her people ask some people to pay some people to whack a fir in the firmament. Or so she thought they had... maybe.
There is a vast industry involved in saving this earth. And it is growing daily. Trouble is, the majority are engaged in the age old profession of being 'all marf and no trarzers'. This green elite, sadly many located with the London C-entric zone, and spanning politicians, activists and some media, have spun a very nice little earner out of spinning.... in one place.
What a waste of space they all are. And yes, the same people pontificate to the same people again and again. And as part of what I do, I am cursed to read it all... again and again. I feel I should, in case there may be a nugget of gold in all the slurry that can be turned into a shiny piece of inspiration.
The eco-blosphere is alive with debate, but sadly its the big-oil denier vs. eco-fascist kind, so even those from the day-to-day world who may try and dip in get very burned in the flames and retire immediately.
There are those trying to make a difference, and do with style, grace and humour which, I am hoping, will win out over agenda, target, personal interest and greed. To be cliched myself, I think it is the British way, and what folk will engage with. Fines, nannying, guilt-trips and scaremongering are so.... last resort of the feeble self-appointed opportunitsa.
Dear Ms. Stephenson,
I could not agree more with what you wrote on Thursday about yet another climate change conference. At least it was in London. I just heard on the politics show yesterday some Lib Dem luvvie justifying a jolly to Brazil because she had her people ask some people to pay some people to whack a fir in the firmament. Or so she thought they had... maybe.
There is a vast industry involved in saving this earth. And it is growing daily. Trouble is, the majority are engaged in the age old profession of being 'all marf and no trarzers'. This green elite, sadly many located with the London C-entric zone, and spanning politicians, activists and some media, have spun a very nice little earner out of spinning.... in one place.
What a waste of space they all are. And yes, the same people pontificate to the same people again and again. And as part of what I do, I am cursed to read it all... again and again. I feel I should, in case there may be a nugget of gold in all the slurry that can be turned into a shiny piece of inspiration.
The eco-blosphere is alive with debate, but sadly its the big-oil denier vs. eco-fascist kind, so even those from the day-to-day world who may try and dip in get very burned in the flames and retire immediately.
There are those trying to make a difference, and do with style, grace and humour which, I am hoping, will win out over agenda, target, personal interest and greed. To be cliched myself, I think it is the British way, and what folk will engage with. Fines, nannying, guilt-trips and scaremongering are so.... last resort of the feeble self-appointed opportunitsa.
No sense
I just have one question to this:
Consumers in the dark over 'greenest' gadgets
In the name of all that is green and profitable to promote, why are they not making it the easiest thing in the world to make the best eco-decisions?
Consumers in the dark over 'greenest' gadgets
In the name of all that is green and profitable to promote, why are they not making it the easiest thing in the world to make the best eco-decisions?
A new source of free, but doubtless still taxable, energy
Ministers suspend solar panel grants
As it is obvious they think the sun will shine from there no matter what they do, I'd suggest photovoltaics in every Ministerial chair seat.
As it is obvious they think the sun will shine from there no matter what they do, I'd suggest photovoltaics in every Ministerial chair seat.
I love to say I 'told you so', so...
... well, D'uh: Biofuel demand makes food expensive
In the spirit of shared citizen journalism, another forward from Dave of Solarventi, with whom I must move in and between us we may just manage 'A' life.
I suspect I read more e-news than even him, and what worries me is how I see those in politics and business squaring up behind this industry, and I don't think green is the colour they are looking for on the bottom line.
To try and spin it more positively, an Taiwanese guy once eat a Volkswagen. But he may have needed the iron.... glass, rubber...
In the spirit of shared citizen journalism, another forward from Dave of Solarventi, with whom I must move in and between us we may just manage 'A' life.
I suspect I read more e-news than even him, and what worries me is how I see those in politics and business squaring up behind this industry, and I don't think green is the colour they are looking for on the bottom line.
To try and spin it more positively, an Taiwanese guy once eat a Volkswagen. But he may have needed the iron.... glass, rubber...
H2 Oh... yeah!
I am again grateful to Dave of Solarventi for this encouraging notion on Hydrogen.
This is a fuel I have some significant faith in, IF it can be produced to a reasonable enviROI.
There is also the small matter of reduction. As water, in the form of vapour, is still a greenhouse gas, I don't want to find we substitute one man-made exhaust pollutant for another, no matter how seemingly benign it may be.
This is a fuel I have some significant faith in, IF it can be produced to a reasonable enviROI.
There is also the small matter of reduction. As water, in the form of vapour, is still a greenhouse gas, I don't want to find we substitute one man-made exhaust pollutant for another, no matter how seemingly benign it may be.
Walking the walk so others can talk
Today is a very interesting day to be reading this:
Parents who park near schools may be fined
Every school day, rain or shine (barring monsoons), I walk the boys to school. I do it because we are relatively near, it gives us a chance to chat... and I enjoy the exercise. Where possible, and time permitting, I also meet them at the end of the school day to stroll back.
But today, despite clement weather, we are going by car.
Why? Because they are going on trip, and I am afraid I don't see how to get them, much earlier, to school to meet the coach along with a suitcase and ruscksack apiece.
It's not practical. Just as it is not practical for some others to do it daily. And the BBC blonde and bouffant (and reporter - I just heard him tell us what his cabby said en route to the story!) seemed to feel it would not be for them. While it is for our kids. As to safety, kids are to be 'trained'. And doubtless there is a nice little extra group who can be hired to act as councilors to those who have suffered a loss those another group has be tasked to 'encourage':
Parents could face fines...
Powers come into force...
...all councils will have to collect information...
...every authority will have to develop school "travel plans" to meet tough targets...
The theory is sound. Typically the practices is being managed cack-handedly with breath-taking hypocrisy and a stunning simplistic dismissal of the dangers posed by kids being forced onto busy roads. As I wrote to the BBC just now:
Interesting that the presenters today on kids' cycling did not feel the piece they carried applied to them in any way.
I just loved the reporter mentioning his cabbie's views en route to the story. Irony anyone?
I know it's probably 'just not practical', but if we are to trot out official propaganda (in some papers backed, it seems, by fines!) it should be shown for the latest half-considered nonsense it is.
How can something be deemed OK to apply for kids daily but not media workers? More media churn with no analysis or real critique.
BBC - Cycling tests return to schools
'Children are taught the kind of observation, road positioning and defensive driving tactics that new motorists learn.' - Without the ton of metal to protect them if it all goes pear shaped.
Parents who park near schools may be fined
Every school day, rain or shine (barring monsoons), I walk the boys to school. I do it because we are relatively near, it gives us a chance to chat... and I enjoy the exercise. Where possible, and time permitting, I also meet them at the end of the school day to stroll back.
But today, despite clement weather, we are going by car.
Why? Because they are going on trip, and I am afraid I don't see how to get them, much earlier, to school to meet the coach along with a suitcase and ruscksack apiece.
It's not practical. Just as it is not practical for some others to do it daily. And the BBC blonde and bouffant (and reporter - I just heard him tell us what his cabby said en route to the story!) seemed to feel it would not be for them. While it is for our kids. As to safety, kids are to be 'trained'. And doubtless there is a nice little extra group who can be hired to act as councilors to those who have suffered a loss those another group has be tasked to 'encourage':
Parents could face fines...
Powers come into force...
...all councils will have to collect information...
...every authority will have to develop school "travel plans" to meet tough targets...
The theory is sound. Typically the practices is being managed cack-handedly with breath-taking hypocrisy and a stunning simplistic dismissal of the dangers posed by kids being forced onto busy roads. As I wrote to the BBC just now:
Interesting that the presenters today on kids' cycling did not feel the piece they carried applied to them in any way.
I just loved the reporter mentioning his cabbie's views en route to the story. Irony anyone?
I know it's probably 'just not practical', but if we are to trot out official propaganda (in some papers backed, it seems, by fines!) it should be shown for the latest half-considered nonsense it is.
How can something be deemed OK to apply for kids daily but not media workers? More media churn with no analysis or real critique.
BBC - Cycling tests return to schools
'Children are taught the kind of observation, road positioning and defensive driving tactics that new motorists learn.' - Without the ton of metal to protect them if it all goes pear shaped.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Work with me on this
Please read the following (It mirrors what I heard on the TV this morning):
Sailors admitted incursion - Iran
Royal Navy personnel seized at gunpoint by Iran in the Gulf have admitted being in the country's waters, an Iranian general has claimed.
At what point did it really become clear to you that our armed forces may have done nothing and admitted nothing wrong, and in fact the whole story is based on pure speculation provided by a questionable source?
British Backstabbing Craven News
Sailors admitted incursion - Iran
Royal Navy personnel seized at gunpoint by Iran in the Gulf have admitted being in the country's waters, an Iranian general has claimed.
At what point did it really become clear to you that our armed forces may have done nothing and admitted nothing wrong, and in fact the whole story is based on pure speculation provided by a questionable source?
British Backstabbing Craven News
Well at least 2 others liked the Budget.
Politics Show West Midlands
Caught the tail-end of the piece with the Lab Enviro Minister and the Lib Dem MP (no Tory? Maybe that was explained earlier).
Pathetic. The former vainly trying to keep his seat in the face of gesture politics ('My ministerial car is a Prius', indeed). The latter trying to do the same whilst trying to explain away, much less justify using whose money to buy-off a trip to Brazil on a jolly.
I hope the voters should them the contempt they deserve. Not for wishing to address environmental issues. But for trying to do it so hamfistedly and in such hypocritical ways.
Caught the tail-end of the piece with the Lab Enviro Minister and the Lib Dem MP (no Tory? Maybe that was explained earlier).
Pathetic. The former vainly trying to keep his seat in the face of gesture politics ('My ministerial car is a Prius', indeed). The latter trying to do the same whilst trying to explain away, much less justify using whose money to buy-off a trip to Brazil on a jolly.
I hope the voters should them the contempt they deserve. Not for wishing to address environmental issues. But for trying to do it so hamfistedly and in such hypocritical ways.
Why I cannot respect most UK institutions.
Following the kidnapping of 15 British service personnel by a hostile and erratic foreign power, what we are treated to from, and in, way too many quarters?
A minor royal in a night club.
Sad.
A minor royal in a night club.
Sad.
Possibly not too good for the planet, either.
Changing a bulb is risky at BBC
Maybe, in mitigation, and in light of the BBC's climate concerns, we are talking low energy, long life bulbs?
Maybe, in mitigation, and in light of the BBC's climate concerns, we are talking low energy, long life bulbs?
As Bono's people said to my people...
A conflict of interest?
Having lived and worked (albeit a long while ago) in the States, I was struck how much more important journalistic standards were held to be there, by both protagonists and their audiences.
I tend to agree that it is a bit of a storm in a tea-cup in many ways, but does highlight that what we are served these days is all to often not what matters, but what gets cooked up between a small, privileged cabal of media elite chums who exist merely to serve each other's, or their paying client's interests.
As you say, we can make our own minds up. Maybe that is why so many turn to blogs, in the hope of accessing real news not concocted between a PR agency and 'corespondents' who are addicted to the celebrity access and lifestyle they gain by being compliant in their 'reporting'.
Having lived and worked (albeit a long while ago) in the States, I was struck how much more important journalistic standards were held to be there, by both protagonists and their audiences.
I tend to agree that it is a bit of a storm in a tea-cup in many ways, but does highlight that what we are served these days is all to often not what matters, but what gets cooked up between a small, privileged cabal of media elite chums who exist merely to serve each other's, or their paying client's interests.
As you say, we can make our own minds up. Maybe that is why so many turn to blogs, in the hope of accessing real news not concocted between a PR agency and 'corespondents' who are addicted to the celebrity access and lifestyle they gain by being compliant in their 'reporting'.
Do Tel
Wogan's World
To mutilate Voltaire, 'I may not like the way you choose to say it... but by heck you are right!'
As one committed to DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE and INCENTIVE-BASED with a little reuse website whatever is practical to reduce unnecessary waste simply because it makes financial sense, I despair of the ill-considered measures in the name of green that have been rushed out by inept aspiring 'managers of our minds'.
ADDENDUM:
By way of a more tangible point-to-ponder, your motorist friend will of course get hammered for driving a few miles into town (unless he already lives within the London C- for centric - zone) and then stopping the engine for the day.
Should he invest in a hybrid, however, he can of course test his endurance driving around emitting away all day long. Of course, should he need to drive in from outside our fair capital, he will spend most of the journey lugging along a heavy battery. Such cars are also not so hot at pulling out stumps.
Gesture politics, often supported by rich, urban, blinkered, liberal activists and media luvvies are making efforts to make the planet better for our kids a lot harder, with all their green elite posturing.
To mutilate Voltaire, 'I may not like the way you choose to say it... but by heck you are right!'
As one committed to DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE and INCENTIVE-BASED with a little reuse website whatever is practical to reduce unnecessary waste simply because it makes financial sense, I despair of the ill-considered measures in the name of green that have been rushed out by inept aspiring 'managers of our minds'.
ADDENDUM:
By way of a more tangible point-to-ponder, your motorist friend will of course get hammered for driving a few miles into town (unless he already lives within the London C- for centric - zone) and then stopping the engine for the day.
Should he invest in a hybrid, however, he can of course test his endurance driving around emitting away all day long. Of course, should he need to drive in from outside our fair capital, he will spend most of the journey lugging along a heavy battery. Such cars are also not so hot at pulling out stumps.
Gesture politics, often supported by rich, urban, blinkered, liberal activists and media luvvies are making efforts to make the planet better for our kids a lot harder, with all their green elite posturing.
Oh, the irony.
Well, it is a skill, if not a virtue.
I long for high office without low comedy
'...should we not be just a bit bothered that one of the most important things that the Prime Minister's office has to report is that the nation's leader is a good comic actor?'
But you cannot, at least, resist reporting on it, too.
Am I ...concerned with what today's media demands, and rewards?
Yes.
I long for high office without low comedy
'...should we not be just a bit bothered that one of the most important things that the Prime Minister's office has to report is that the nation's leader is a good comic actor?'
But you cannot, at least, resist reporting on it, too.
Am I ...concerned with what today's media demands, and rewards?
Yes.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The Emperor's 2p
2p won't buy Brown a ticket to No 10
I don't get it.
This seemingly hailed, at least initially, 'masterstroke of political theatre', that left all and sundry gasping, was almost immediately seen for what it was and is now confirmed to be a hollow sham just a few days on.
In my line of work you keep in work by promising with professional caution, and then delighting with even better delivery. Dazzling with smoke and mirrors is bad enough when there is no substance, but is a major backfire when it turns out to be a botched attempt to conceal a failing patch-job on already straining band-aids.
This has served to do nothing but dismay, and further hold up today's political process as a piece of theatre dispensed for and only savoured by those players and favoured critics allowed within the venue, and either dismissed or despised by those outside in the real world.
I don't get it.
This seemingly hailed, at least initially, 'masterstroke of political theatre', that left all and sundry gasping, was almost immediately seen for what it was and is now confirmed to be a hollow sham just a few days on.
In my line of work you keep in work by promising with professional caution, and then delighting with even better delivery. Dazzling with smoke and mirrors is bad enough when there is no substance, but is a major backfire when it turns out to be a botched attempt to conceal a failing patch-job on already straining band-aids.
This has served to do nothing but dismay, and further hold up today's political process as a piece of theatre dispensed for and only savoured by those players and favoured critics allowed within the venue, and either dismissed or despised by those outside in the real world.
Recycling is all the rage
At least I can do it with my posts, too
I want a year off paying any taxes
I was listening to a BBC Budget follow-up... and the 'performances' I heard, from both sides of the table (we pay the BBC salary bill, too), support your notion.
To be fair, much can be laid at the door of the facile demands of soundbite media, where interviewers get constrained and now savvy politicians can use the ridiculous timeslots to say nothing, not answer or duck and run to best advantage.
Dismissing the talentless robots put forward by the Conservatives and Liberals. I think I could have drummed up more coherent counter-argument from my kids' playground. There was such fertile ground for opposition to shine and show government failings and where they would make a difference. Sadly, rehashing outdated (things can change in minutes and you need to move fast to react) spin-meister training may seem like good micro-management, but doesn't do much beyond making them seem like only being worried about being on-script.
But Mr. Brown....
He was allowed to waffle out facts ... over and over and over again... that neither answered the questions nor excused the positions the country finds itself in.
This... government has had a long time more to do what it said it wished to do. Not only has it either not done it, but in many cases has changed its tune to suit.
In fact the only real achievement, supported by Mr. Brown's own testimony, has been to pour money into black holes, and/or employ legions more people to help gobble this money up to little or no result.
As just one example, to a challenge that most people, including Doctors, find the NHS to be in a dire state despite the multi-billions lavished upon it, we were treated to a time-consuming rumbled drone of figures and excuses about 'modernisation'.
And whoever thought up the nonsense of consuming precious challenge time with 'listener questions' should be shot. One, isolated, cock-up is legitimately and reasonably dismissed as not something he has heard about, but write in and it will be dealt with. When.. in another ten years?
At least Mr. Brown's red to green deep nostril investigations showed a commitment at least to recycling.
That's my 2p worth anyway.
I want a year off paying any taxes
I was listening to a BBC Budget follow-up... and the 'performances' I heard, from both sides of the table (we pay the BBC salary bill, too), support your notion.
To be fair, much can be laid at the door of the facile demands of soundbite media, where interviewers get constrained and now savvy politicians can use the ridiculous timeslots to say nothing, not answer or duck and run to best advantage.
Dismissing the talentless robots put forward by the Conservatives and Liberals. I think I could have drummed up more coherent counter-argument from my kids' playground. There was such fertile ground for opposition to shine and show government failings and where they would make a difference. Sadly, rehashing outdated (things can change in minutes and you need to move fast to react) spin-meister training may seem like good micro-management, but doesn't do much beyond making them seem like only being worried about being on-script.
But Mr. Brown....
He was allowed to waffle out facts ... over and over and over again... that neither answered the questions nor excused the positions the country finds itself in.
This... government has had a long time more to do what it said it wished to do. Not only has it either not done it, but in many cases has changed its tune to suit.
In fact the only real achievement, supported by Mr. Brown's own testimony, has been to pour money into black holes, and/or employ legions more people to help gobble this money up to little or no result.
As just one example, to a challenge that most people, including Doctors, find the NHS to be in a dire state despite the multi-billions lavished upon it, we were treated to a time-consuming rumbled drone of figures and excuses about 'modernisation'.
And whoever thought up the nonsense of consuming precious challenge time with 'listener questions' should be shot. One, isolated, cock-up is legitimately and reasonably dismissed as not something he has heard about, but write in and it will be dealt with. When.. in another ten years?
At least Mr. Brown's red to green deep nostril investigations showed a commitment at least to recycling.
That's my 2p worth anyway.
Just what we needed
The world's poshest farm shop
The planet can now breathe easier.
Even though most farm shops hereabouts are usually on the farm, though to be fair they don't provide too many yoga mats. I'd drive to London to get mine but unlike the clientele above, would probably need a C-charge sticker for my 4x4, if I could afford one.
Are JCB's exempt?
The planet can now breathe easier.
Even though most farm shops hereabouts are usually on the farm, though to be fair they don't provide too many yoga mats. I'd drive to London to get mine but unlike the clientele above, would probably need a C-charge sticker for my 4x4, if I could afford one.
Are JCB's exempt?
The enemy of my enemy
Storm in a TV studio
'We should complain, loudly and aggressively, every time we catch the Corporation being lopsided. Believe me, they really will listen.'
Can't speak for the EU aspect, but I have complained to the BBC several times recently, loudly if politely, every time they have engaged in dire standards of journalism and plain twisting of facts to suit editorial agendas. In one recent episode, they selected just one sentence of three that I sent in as comment, which turned what I said through 180 degrees.
Believe me, when you do fire off a serve they have a vast funded empire of munchkins who will indeed send you placatory emails that they are listening, checking and, eventually, don't see the problem but thanks for writing. To insist on a follow up you can't reply directly, but have to restart the process all over again.
Even the cosy, pointless Newswatch, which gets junior management up at dawn at the weekend to sulkily say 'maybe we need to do better' or 'no, we've checked (probably with the complaints dept. munchkins) and it was all fine' in reply to prime time transgressions, at least tries... a bit. But what they choose to share, or not, is down to internal decision... of the BBC.
Who monitors the complaints department? Like so much spun and hyped in politics and business these days, there is no point in listening if you have no intention of hearing, much less acting.
'We should complain, loudly and aggressively, every time we catch the Corporation being lopsided. Believe me, they really will listen.'
Can't speak for the EU aspect, but I have complained to the BBC several times recently, loudly if politely, every time they have engaged in dire standards of journalism and plain twisting of facts to suit editorial agendas. In one recent episode, they selected just one sentence of three that I sent in as comment, which turned what I said through 180 degrees.
Believe me, when you do fire off a serve they have a vast funded empire of munchkins who will indeed send you placatory emails that they are listening, checking and, eventually, don't see the problem but thanks for writing. To insist on a follow up you can't reply directly, but have to restart the process all over again.
Even the cosy, pointless Newswatch, which gets junior management up at dawn at the weekend to sulkily say 'maybe we need to do better' or 'no, we've checked (probably with the complaints dept. munchkins) and it was all fine' in reply to prime time transgressions, at least tries... a bit. But what they choose to share, or not, is down to internal decision... of the BBC.
Who monitors the complaints department? Like so much spun and hyped in politics and business these days, there is no point in listening if you have no intention of hearing, much less acting.
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Tooth Hurts
Re-cycle of Life
Though you are too polite to mention it here, I am not and will add that the irony of your dental dilemma is all the more painful in the knowledge that via his salary and, possibly, ministerial perks, we the taxpayers funded Mr. Brown's private cosmetic visit to let him sell his visions to us more palatably.
Though you are too polite to mention it here, I am not and will add that the irony of your dental dilemma is all the more painful in the knowledge that via his salary and, possibly, ministerial perks, we the taxpayers funded Mr. Brown's private cosmetic visit to let him sell his visions to us more palatably.
Colour him bad.
How red is Brown?
As we are working our way through the rainbow, I had initially thought that my feelings on Mr. Brown's conversion from Red to Green had been analysed for what it was already, but it seems it was to depths I would not wish to fathom.
For those perhaps more interested in the environmental aspects of this newer, kinder, gentler, more treehugging Green pol, may I invite you here
At least he seems keener on recycling than I thought.
As we are working our way through the rainbow, I had initially thought that my feelings on Mr. Brown's conversion from Red to Green had been analysed for what it was already, but it seems it was to depths I would not wish to fathom.
For those perhaps more interested in the environmental aspects of this newer, kinder, gentler, more treehugging Green pol, may I invite you here
At least he seems keener on recycling than I thought.
Next!
FOR sale: 5,000-odd mannequins, no heads or legs. All serious offers considered. Please contact Simon Wolfson, Next Plc, Leicester. Next is chucking out the old and bringing in the new. In an attempt to reverse falling like-for-like sales we are promised new ranges, new stores, a new logo, new adverts and even trendy new carrier bags. Not forgetting of course 5,900 new mannequins.
I'm guessing that this is one company not likely to be trumpeting the CSR greenwashing efforts this fiscal then?
If they can't sell them, we could still help find a home - JunkkYard.
I'm guessing that this is one company not likely to be trumpeting the CSR greenwashing efforts this fiscal then?
If they can't sell them, we could still help find a home - JunkkYard.
It's not what you know. It's how the media sk... screws it
I maintain a watching brief on the Sky Big Idea website. There are still some who use it, and they are on the whole a nice, talented, well-informed bunch. They also have little love for TV reality shows, and Dragon's Den in particular.
So let's see if and where this goes...
I just watched BBC Breakfast TV where, for the first time in the history, all the Dragons in the BBC show's Den had unanimously backed... a standby plug.
I was just wondering how this differed from Karl's show winner back in November?
They had the lady Dragon on to show how serious and professional they were, but when the subject of patent protection came up it seemed to veer from vague to simply not answering the key question of whether this idea was protected, and to what level, if at all.
I also noted that the inventors have signed over 50% of their concept to a collection of ego-driven, competitive money-folk. An interesting recipe.
How this one pans out I will await with interest.
But in wishing these guys and the planet well, why to I get the feeling the only real winners, if any, will be the TV show ratings and its 'stars' profiles.
ADDENDUM: The inventor, Karl, has replied, I'd say in remarkably placid terms. I felt less conciliatory process.
Miffed?! I'd be livid!
The TV stations, from 'entertainment' shows like DD & TBI, but also news, must bear some responsibility for the state of genuine invention and product development here.
For the sake of their own odd agendas in the case of the former, and the cause of co-promotion (in the case of the BBC with the latter), pure bad practice and sloppy reporting is letting genuine stories about potentially significant developments get sidelined (or worse, in your case, barred for no better reason than it has been 'seen' before).
This not only does not serve the interests of contributors like you, but is also not helping viewers gain access to the best information to the options out there.
Thanks to the Sunday Times I am looking at 'the next big thing' in this arena - the Bye Bye Plug - which is apparently going to help me go green and save money.
Maybe it will... I don't know. But I have bought all that I have seen advertised and am/will be testing them to try and produce an objective report. Let me know when yours is ready.
I'm fed up with editors and PR people controlling the access to objective information that I need to lead a greener lifestyle, as opposed to genuine, fact-based investigative reporting.
This is a country in the thrall of 'talk' hype and spin, when more than ever we need to reward 'walking the walk' substance.
So let's see if and where this goes...
I just watched BBC Breakfast TV where, for the first time in the history, all the Dragons in the BBC show's Den had unanimously backed... a standby plug.
I was just wondering how this differed from Karl's show winner back in November?
They had the lady Dragon on to show how serious and professional they were, but when the subject of patent protection came up it seemed to veer from vague to simply not answering the key question of whether this idea was protected, and to what level, if at all.
I also noted that the inventors have signed over 50% of their concept to a collection of ego-driven, competitive money-folk. An interesting recipe.
How this one pans out I will await with interest.
But in wishing these guys and the planet well, why to I get the feeling the only real winners, if any, will be the TV show ratings and its 'stars' profiles.
ADDENDUM: The inventor, Karl, has replied, I'd say in remarkably placid terms. I felt less conciliatory process.
Miffed?! I'd be livid!
The TV stations, from 'entertainment' shows like DD & TBI, but also news, must bear some responsibility for the state of genuine invention and product development here.
For the sake of their own odd agendas in the case of the former, and the cause of co-promotion (in the case of the BBC with the latter), pure bad practice and sloppy reporting is letting genuine stories about potentially significant developments get sidelined (or worse, in your case, barred for no better reason than it has been 'seen' before).
This not only does not serve the interests of contributors like you, but is also not helping viewers gain access to the best information to the options out there.
Thanks to the Sunday Times I am looking at 'the next big thing' in this arena - the Bye Bye Plug - which is apparently going to help me go green and save money.
Maybe it will... I don't know. But I have bought all that I have seen advertised and am/will be testing them to try and produce an objective report. Let me know when yours is ready.
I'm fed up with editors and PR people controlling the access to objective information that I need to lead a greener lifestyle, as opposed to genuine, fact-based investigative reporting.
This is a country in the thrall of 'talk' hype and spin, when more than ever we need to reward 'walking the walk' substance.
If you want to do it right...
Yesterday I went to the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the NEC... as invited press! Wooooo.Pretty worth it. My main port of call was the Eco Homes section, which amounted to about a hundred booths.
Unsurprisingly, many were the same as last year. And I was reminded how many of them did not take me up on an offer of free publicity via our diRE:ctory, on site reviews and newsletter mentions since then. The offer still stands, but I am buggered if I am spending any more time chasing folk to offer them a chance at selling their stuff for free.
I was also struck how broad the definition of 'eco' can be. I guess it's fair enough, but I sailed past an awful lot of stands pushing bazzillion £ oak beamed houses. Not my bag.
What was worth it was stopping at the B&Q stand, which was hosting wind turbines from Windsave. Now, I have been dubious to date about some aspects of micro-generation, especially home wind turbines, and had a lot of questions.
Many of these were answered by their sales manager Anya, but she was very keen that more were addressed by technical experts, as one of their frustrations has been the way some media have not understood, or wanted to understand that there are many complex issues at play here.
I am therefore hoping they will take me up on my invitation to come and survey my home for suitability, and provide fair estimates of the ROI's (financial and enviROI) as to how worth it to us it will be. Not only that, we are planning to use a few other homes in Ross as examples to see how things change in even a small area, depending on local conditions.
The rest of the show... well, OK. But hardly worth the shoe leather. What was a surprise was a few other eco outfits had decided not to be in the 'zone'. Not sure that was a good idea. Apparently the majority of the visitors to the show came first and foremost for the eco section, and as it is a big show, one may miss other areas if time is tight.
One such was nuaire, who were showing a technology that was a bit different from the horde of other solar guys, and which caught my attention. Basically an air driven system, not dissimilar I believe to that of our Solarventi dehumidifier here at Junkk Towers. I look forward to sussing out its merits.
I also had a interesting chat with the technical sales manager of lighting specialists Snaplite, who had a lot of great information on what is real and what is bogus in low energy lighting. My report on this area is looking more and more like it will be a worthy journey.
Then I passed by FiberTech, which has a great UV cured patch for exterior plastics repair called 'Rapid Repair'. I have a sample and now need to find a broken gutter to test it on. Will report back.
And finally REHAU. I mention them because they not only have a load of fingers in even more eco-pies, but also they are based in... Ross-on-Wye. And that appeals to me in more ways than you can imagine. I just love the notion of having a core of technical experts literally right next door to bounce stuff off with.
There may be more to come. I have a stack of guff a foot high to wade through. And will likely enjoy every minute.
The Won't Budg... et
Wednesday, 21 March, 2007
Yesterday I was listening to the Jeremy Vine show Budget follow-up... and the 'performances' I heard, from both sides of the table, had me wishing for Jeremy Paxman to be in the chair.
Though, to be fair to Mr. Vine, much can be laid at the door of the facile demands of soundbite media, where interviewers get constrained and now savvy politicians can use the ridiculous timeslots to say nothing, not answer or duck and run to best advantage.
In Eric Morley, Miss World style, let me in reverse order dismiss the talentless robots put forward by the Conservatives and Liberals. I think I could have drummed up more coherent counter-argument from my kids' playground. There was such fertile ground for opposition to shine and show government failings and where they would make a difference. Sadly, rehashing outdated (things can change in minutes and you need to move fast to react) spin-meister training may seem like good micro-management, but doesn't do much beyond making them seem like only being worried about being on-script.
But Mr. Brown....
He was allowed to waffle out facts ... over and over and over again... that neither answered the questions nor excused the positions the country finds itself in.
It is a possible failing of our political system that some parties have only 5 years to effect real change, but you work with what you have got.
This... government has had a long time more to do what it said it wished to do. Not only has it either not done it, but in many cases has changed its tune to suit.
In fact the only real achievement, supported by Mr. Brown's own testimony, has been to pour money into black holes, and/or employ legions more people to help gobble this money up to little or no result.
As just one example, to Mr. Vine's challenge that most people, including Doctors, find the NHS to be in a dire state despite the multi-billions lavished upon it, we were treated to a time-consuming rumbled drone of figures and excuses about 'modernisation'. You can't blame pre-1997 any more Mr. Brown!
And whoever thought up the nonsense of consuming precious challenge time with 'listener questions' should be shot. One, isolated, cock-up is legitimately and reasonably dismissed as not something he has heard about, but write in and it will be dealt with. When.. in another ten years?
And thus he managed to tell the interviewer wordlessly that he was busy and had enough and that was that. What a waste of space.
And speaking of waste, well, the environment, which is my core interest, I came back last night to a post on my site from a reader which sums up how green this budget was (noting some other great points above):
"I'd like to share the fantastic increase in the budget for microgeneration grants administered via the Low Carbon Building Fund. From £6Mill to £9Mill - brilliant!... that'll make a massive difference! Here's where it will go - half to employ more administrators and bean counters with gilt-edged pensions and half (I hope!!) to those concerned (albeit well entrenched) consumers who would like to do their bit.
So now the LCBF grants will run out at 11:45 on the morning of the first working day of each month rather than at 10:30? Fat lot that goes towards helping. Uncle Gord might as well have stuck two fingers up to the electorate .... or did I blink and miss him doing just that?"
That's our 2p worth anyway.
Telegraph - Budget has left us no better off say 7 in 10
A letter in the Telegraph:
Sir - Well done, Mr Brown. Yet another nail in the coffin of the British farmer - £400 a year to tax our Land Rover. What a good idea. I'm sure my husband will be delighted when I tell him we are selling the Land Rover to become "greener" and save ourselves £400 a year and suggest he gets around the fields to feed our 400 ewes on his bicycle, or perhaps a Smart car would fit the bill?
Unlike many of the owners of 4x4s, we rely on our Land Rover to get around the farm and for hay deliveries, which is one of the things we do to diversify. Perhaps we should get out of farming altogether, so that we can import all our food, and use lots of planes to get it here. Very green, very environmentally friendly.
Yesterday I was listening to the Jeremy Vine show Budget follow-up... and the 'performances' I heard, from both sides of the table, had me wishing for Jeremy Paxman to be in the chair.
Though, to be fair to Mr. Vine, much can be laid at the door of the facile demands of soundbite media, where interviewers get constrained and now savvy politicians can use the ridiculous timeslots to say nothing, not answer or duck and run to best advantage.
In Eric Morley, Miss World style, let me in reverse order dismiss the talentless robots put forward by the Conservatives and Liberals. I think I could have drummed up more coherent counter-argument from my kids' playground. There was such fertile ground for opposition to shine and show government failings and where they would make a difference. Sadly, rehashing outdated (things can change in minutes and you need to move fast to react) spin-meister training may seem like good micro-management, but doesn't do much beyond making them seem like only being worried about being on-script.
But Mr. Brown....
He was allowed to waffle out facts ... over and over and over again... that neither answered the questions nor excused the positions the country finds itself in.
It is a possible failing of our political system that some parties have only 5 years to effect real change, but you work with what you have got.
This... government has had a long time more to do what it said it wished to do. Not only has it either not done it, but in many cases has changed its tune to suit.
In fact the only real achievement, supported by Mr. Brown's own testimony, has been to pour money into black holes, and/or employ legions more people to help gobble this money up to little or no result.
As just one example, to Mr. Vine's challenge that most people, including Doctors, find the NHS to be in a dire state despite the multi-billions lavished upon it, we were treated to a time-consuming rumbled drone of figures and excuses about 'modernisation'. You can't blame pre-1997 any more Mr. Brown!
And whoever thought up the nonsense of consuming precious challenge time with 'listener questions' should be shot. One, isolated, cock-up is legitimately and reasonably dismissed as not something he has heard about, but write in and it will be dealt with. When.. in another ten years?
And thus he managed to tell the interviewer wordlessly that he was busy and had enough and that was that. What a waste of space.
And speaking of waste, well, the environment, which is my core interest, I came back last night to a post on my site from a reader which sums up how green this budget was (noting some other great points above):
"I'd like to share the fantastic increase in the budget for microgeneration grants administered via the Low Carbon Building Fund. From £6Mill to £9Mill - brilliant!... that'll make a massive difference! Here's where it will go - half to employ more administrators and bean counters with gilt-edged pensions and half (I hope!!) to those concerned (albeit well entrenched) consumers who would like to do their bit.
So now the LCBF grants will run out at 11:45 on the morning of the first working day of each month rather than at 10:30? Fat lot that goes towards helping. Uncle Gord might as well have stuck two fingers up to the electorate .... or did I blink and miss him doing just that?"
That's our 2p worth anyway.
Telegraph - Budget has left us no better off say 7 in 10
A letter in the Telegraph:
Sir - Well done, Mr Brown. Yet another nail in the coffin of the British farmer - £400 a year to tax our Land Rover. What a good idea. I'm sure my husband will be delighted when I tell him we are selling the Land Rover to become "greener" and save ourselves £400 a year and suggest he gets around the fields to feed our 400 ewes on his bicycle, or perhaps a Smart car would fit the bill?
Unlike many of the owners of 4x4s, we rely on our Land Rover to get around the farm and for hay deliveries, which is one of the things we do to diversify. Perhaps we should get out of farming altogether, so that we can import all our food, and use lots of planes to get it here. Very green, very environmentally friendly.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Let the flames begin!
Budget 07: mean not green
I have long since ceased to try to understand, let alone believe, and much less be convinced by anything the current crop of politicians and self-appointed green elite 'commentators' have to say about where we've been, are and could/should be going.
As this blog testifies, it has made not one whit of difference to entrenched positions which, by my estimate square up as about the population of tube-proximate, cycling Islingtonistas in the ecofacist pro camp, vs. the rest of the country's Daily Mail/Sun reading (well, you know what I mean) big-oil funded, Ch4 watching (and believing... how dare they) climate deniers... as a 'no' then.
So if, like me, you think there is a smidge of an issue here, and the best way to sort it is by persuasion and willing cooperation of the masses, I'd say we need a new broom pronto to sweep clear the whole sorry 'I care/know better than you lot'... pronto.
IMHO:)
I have long since ceased to try to understand, let alone believe, and much less be convinced by anything the current crop of politicians and self-appointed green elite 'commentators' have to say about where we've been, are and could/should be going.
As this blog testifies, it has made not one whit of difference to entrenched positions which, by my estimate square up as about the population of tube-proximate, cycling Islingtonistas in the ecofacist pro camp, vs. the rest of the country's Daily Mail/Sun reading (well, you know what I mean) big-oil funded, Ch4 watching (and believing... how dare they) climate deniers... as a 'no' then.
So if, like me, you think there is a smidge of an issue here, and the best way to sort it is by persuasion and willing cooperation of the masses, I'd say we need a new broom pronto to sweep clear the whole sorry 'I care/know better than you lot'... pronto.
IMHO:)
I may not agree...
What's the point of Channel 4?
'the propoganda that was The Great Global Warming Swindle.'
In passing, I am presuming that to be a typo (mea cupla, hourly) and not, in fact, a new word meaning it's well proper'.
However, I am very keen to learn more on the outcome of all the serious consequences being threatened here and there - 'Wunsch is reportedly considering [my emphasis - what the heck does that mean?] a complaint to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom' - to justify that rather, shall we say 'one-sided' view above of what was, shall we say, another, if alternative 'one-sided view'.
One man's big oil denier is another's ecofascist 'n all.
Balance, Grasshopper, balance, is how to win minds.
'the propoganda that was The Great Global Warming Swindle.'
In passing, I am presuming that to be a typo (mea cupla, hourly) and not, in fact, a new word meaning it's well proper'.
However, I am very keen to learn more on the outcome of all the serious consequences being threatened here and there - 'Wunsch is reportedly considering [my emphasis - what the heck does that mean?] a complaint to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom' - to justify that rather, shall we say 'one-sided' view above of what was, shall we say, another, if alternative 'one-sided view'.
One man's big oil denier is another's ecofascist 'n all.
Balance, Grasshopper, balance, is how to win minds.
Who does he think the press is working for?
Set information free
It's a very good, more than fair question.
One you could ask one of your colleagues a few pages over who I just took to task on her blog, who seems to think investigations into fraud should cease when they become 'boring'. Sounds like Lord G would agree. Bore it down and bury, hmnn?
Call me old-fashioned, but I like my press feisty, factual, fanatical and fair. And tenacious (no f'in that, sorry).
It's a very good, more than fair question.
One you could ask one of your colleagues a few pages over who I just took to task on her blog, who seems to think investigations into fraud should cease when they become 'boring'. Sounds like Lord G would agree. Bore it down and bury, hmnn?
Call me old-fashioned, but I like my press feisty, factual, fanatical and fair. And tenacious (no f'in that, sorry).
Lions led by donkeys, fed by jackals
Mr Brown’s long fuse
Au contraire. As we were obviously watching another performance entirely.
As I watched BBC's Breakfast's morning cuddlefest analysis, a series of taking heads, whilst happily agreeing that it was a massive nothing at best, and con at worst, all agreed that it was politically 'brilliant'.
When are those who work in Westminster, and those who work at feeding off them, grasp that the rest of the population can figure out that if it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck and stinks like a duck, we can probably assess it for the duck it is.
Time to get back to politicians who stand for something more beyond getting into or staying in office, and a complete purge of the whole Pundit Zero class with highly vested interests, and careers, in making it all seem like anything other than another catwalk run by the latest naked emperor.
ps: All that simply means I agree. Chance of showers to come.
Au contraire. As we were obviously watching another performance entirely.
As I watched BBC's Breakfast's morning cuddlefest analysis, a series of taking heads, whilst happily agreeing that it was a massive nothing at best, and con at worst, all agreed that it was politically 'brilliant'.
When are those who work in Westminster, and those who work at feeding off them, grasp that the rest of the population can figure out that if it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck and stinks like a duck, we can probably assess it for the duck it is.
Time to get back to politicians who stand for something more beyond getting into or staying in office, and a complete purge of the whole Pundit Zero class with highly vested interests, and careers, in making it all seem like anything other than another catwalk run by the latest naked emperor.
ps: All that simply means I agree. Chance of showers to come.
What a waste
Call for council tax rise - and a charge for emptying your bin
"But Sir Michael said with local government facing huge EU fines for missing waste targets "a charging regime would act as a powerful incentive" on householders to recycle."
No, it may act as a powerful DISINCENTIVE NOT TO, and is certainly passing the burden for meeting administrative targets onto those who are meant to be served. And pay for the 'privilege'.
Another nail in the 'fine first, figure out solutions later' coffin of what's being achieved by 'green' policies we are being subjected to these days.
"But Sir Michael said with local government facing huge EU fines for missing waste targets "a charging regime would act as a powerful incentive" on householders to recycle."
No, it may act as a powerful DISINCENTIVE NOT TO, and is certainly passing the burden for meeting administrative targets onto those who are meant to be served. And pay for the 'privilege'.
Another nail in the 'fine first, figure out solutions later' coffin of what's being achieved by 'green' policies we are being subjected to these days.
Ask. Don't Tell.
I'm on a ro... mission:
Noted that Declan asked the 'enviro question' of the BMI boss regarding the impact of increased flights as a result of new regulations.
And noted that the airline industry takes this issue very seriously (where have we heard that before.. ad nauseam).
But as to the answer that he (the BMI guy) doesn't think it will adversely affect the contribution of greenhouse gasses to climate change, [MY QUESTION:] does the BBC think leaving it at that is adequately dealing with this as a major aspect of news issue, on the day the budget is discussed for its green influence?
Noted that Declan asked the 'enviro question' of the BMI boss regarding the impact of increased flights as a result of new regulations.
And noted that the airline industry takes this issue very seriously (where have we heard that before.. ad nauseam).
But as to the answer that he (the BMI guy) doesn't think it will adversely affect the contribution of greenhouse gasses to climate change, [MY QUESTION:] does the BBC think leaving it at that is adequately dealing with this as a major aspect of news issue, on the day the budget is discussed for its green influence?
Nice one BIll
I usually lump him in with the blonde as the bouffant, however in the spirit of fair critique as my concern is the lack of fact in news these days:
'I have to give a big up to Bill.
He was the only one who kept trying to point out the facts to what sounded like the most nonsensical Westminster insider hype worship I have ever heard on Mr. Brown's budget, from the Lib Dem spokesperson and Telegraph columnist.
I don't want this country, or its economy, run by people who play silly games and only admire those who do so well at the expense of substance, and certainly not commentated upon by those who have lost touch with how the normal, working person exists and views things'
Let's see if one of those get a mention!
'I have to give a big up to Bill.
He was the only one who kept trying to point out the facts to what sounded like the most nonsensical Westminster insider hype worship I have ever heard on Mr. Brown's budget, from the Lib Dem spokesperson and Telegraph columnist.
I don't want this country, or its economy, run by people who play silly games and only admire those who do so well at the expense of substance, and certainly not commentated upon by those who have lost touch with how the normal, working person exists and views things'
Let's see if one of those get a mention!
Just the facts
My discourse with BBC Breakfast over the standard of their features and reporting continues, as summarised by this, which with luck will speak (write) for itself (I could have added that this black vs. white issue was left unresolved by the blonde and bouffant 'hosts', who just giggled):
I just saw your regular medical feature Doctor directly contradict the BUPA representative.
And he in reply told her she was wrong.
I do trust by the next screening 'we' will know who, if necessary via the moderators.
Otherwise what is the point of such news?
I doubt it will get read out at all, but if it does one can only wonder which sentence they will choose this time to suit their odd notion of truth.
I just saw your regular medical feature Doctor directly contradict the BUPA representative.
And he in reply told her she was wrong.
I do trust by the next screening 'we' will know who, if necessary via the moderators.
Otherwise what is the point of such news?
I doubt it will get read out at all, but if it does one can only wonder which sentence they will choose this time to suit their odd notion of truth.
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