Hi folks. This is the official Friday thread. We have this new sticky thread thing which keeps the Open Thread top of the page but I’m not sure it works that well? Thoughts on a postcard?
FRIDAY OPEN THREAD.
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agw anti-American anti-conservative anti-Israel anti Israel. pro Palestinian Antisemitism BBC - sickeningly biased at all times. BBC agenda BBC bias bbc bias and balance. bbc bias by omission BBC censorship BBC Question Time BBC selectivity bias Biased BBC climate change dhimmis general thread immigration Islam israel Mark Mardell obama obama bias Obamalove open thread pro-labour pro-palestinian pro EU pro Hamas pro Islam pro Labour bias pro Obama PRO OBAMA AT ALL COSTS. pro Obama BBC agenda question time question time live Richard Black save gordon. USA politics US economy US News US politics US presidential elections
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/9946806/Major-terror-attack-on-scale-of-77-foiled-every-year-in-UK-police-reveal.html
serious terrorist threat up by 60%? … in a year!
is it those tiny minority of extremists again?
the ever helpful bbc, and danny shaw
relax 😀 … bother? what bother
“he s simply painting a picture of the complex and rapidly changing terrorism landscape, containing small groups, “lone wolf” terrorists” … hmmm
wheres the wise words of in house “scaredy cat” security correspondent F . Gardiner eh … not hiding in the cupboard is he?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21878867
yep! gone like the milk on your doorstep
not a sign of it today
There’s one ethnic minority in this country you never hear anything about, the Chinese community.
No Chinese news readers, sports presenters, weathermen, actors in soaps, Chinese story lines in dramas etc etc. Totally invisible.
Is it a question of those ethnic minorities who shout the loudest gets the most intention ?
Typing error
shout the loudest gets the most attention ?
That’s a very good point, David. The Chinese seem to be very quiet, respect our laws of the land and just get on with living here whereas some Muslims seem to see themselves as above our law, religious traditions and culture. So long as the Chinese continue to make Singapore fried rice, I’m a happy bunny.
I hear Dez likes Cream Of Sum Yung Gy
There is Pui from Show me Show me on Cbeebies.
There’s Gok Wan on C4.
How about Kevin Fong the surgeon on Horizon last night?
There was The Chinese Detective. A long time ago now.
Strange you mention that, as only last night there was a new science program and the presenter was a British Chinese doctor, one Kevin Fong.
I thought, have the BBC suddenly realised how invisible the Chinese are on TV?
I guess the Chinese don’t qualify as Asians.
Actually there’s quite a few groups of people you never see on the BBC – most of South America, Scandinavians, Russians, in fact Eastern Europeans are woefully under-represented etc. etc. Indians and Arabs are completely over-represented.
You forgot the English in your list.
There was one time where the BBC did feature some Eastern Europeans. Of course, there was an agenda behind it…..
Before it was introduced I had thought the idea of an open thread at the top would be a brilliant idea. But Tuesday’s Open Thread seems to have stuck there (ie today’s thread is showing below) and caused some confusion when the newer Budget OT thread was beneath it.
In addition I think we are getting less comments on other threads because everyone (me?) just goes to the Open Thread first. My suggestion is that we go back to the way we were.
The Open threads get clogged up quickly on Day 2. I think there should be a new Open Thread every day.
Also, I would like to see if there is a way to reintroduce names to those clicking “like” on a post. This way we would be able to see which clowns bandy together, and also if we have already clicked “like” ourselves. And it would be very useful to be able to unclick like on a post that we clicked on accidentally.
I’m with Deborah – I had thought it would be a good idea but it’s been to the detriment of other posts which appear to get more or less ignored. Once comments go to two pages it can become difficult to review them (and the “Newer Comments” label is easy to miss). Maybe it would work better with a daily open thread, but it would have to be done in the wee small hours otherwise no-one would comment on the old one while waiting for the new one. My suggestion would be a daily, but not sticky open thread.
I was also rather thinking of a daily O/T but not sticky just like Deborah said.
So you did. And before me too. 🙂
I hadn’t clarified the non-sticky and that’s where you came in and joined the two bits. 😉
I think the only problem with a daily open thread is debates would get curtailed as people move on to each new thread. I think it takes a couple of days sometimes for a debate to run its full course – sometimes longer – and we’re in danger of losing some of the depth in our discussions if we go for daily.
Never too convinced, or keen on the value of such things, but as there seems a major fix in place, and bum’s rush being enacted, I’ll take what I can, when I can:
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaigns/leveson
Interestingly, I got an immediate acknowledgement from Mr. Clegg & Ms. Harman’s offices.
So far Mr. Cameron MIA.
While I agree with the main premise that this power grab on free speech to encompass individuals is a democratic process horror story with awful historical precedent, I also took the opportunity to point out that with The Spectator & Economist backing out it was a pretty unravelling duck already, especially as it all seems focussed at print media only, for offences already covered by law, whilst doing nothing to address abuses in broadcast such as the BBC’s Savile/McAlpine stitch-up, that OFCOM (headed by an ex-Labour, DG-aspirant) clearly is either uninterested in or incapable of addressing.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/03/hacked-off-says-press-damages-plan-is-a-mistake/
Looking more and more like the horse the BBC backed/s so enthusiastically is not just lame, but now in one of the halal veggie-burgers in the new canteen microwave.
And now…
http://order-order.com/2013/03/22/breaking-amendment-to-protect-bloggers-put-down/
I can’t see legislation framed on the fly in such a rush, with sticking plaster upon sticking plaster at the 11th hr, is ever going to be sensible.
It’s turned into a total horlix.
Not just the BBC , who of course want the last remaining voices of free speech in Britain shut down, so there is no challenge to their leftist views, but also Panda Milliband. Remember this remarkable deal was done after hours and hours of detailed negotiation in his office. Nick Robinson took delight , although he was clearly in awe of being allowed into such a exalted place, in showing us who sat where at this historic meeting and telling us how much of the credit must go to Panda for this marvellous piece of legislation.
Well, I am proud of the press for telling em where to stick it.
I have sympathy for the families who were harassed but that doesn’t extend to the preening celebs. My advice for those who don’t like the way some papers get their ‘human interest’ stories is not to buy the rags in the first place. If you don’t buy the paper they won’t print such rubbish.
But a free press really is important to our ability to get told the truth and hold the powerful to account. Particularly so as the state broadcaster only does so selectively when it suits them.
Has it ever been revealed exactly who it was from Hacked Off? Did Nick Robinson know?
I’m sure Robinson knows by now. I’m not sure it matters who it was, just that they were there, but nobody else was allowed. Not that I think any lobbying groups should have been allowed in at all. How that’s not a form of corruption I have no idea. It’s bad enough that lobbyists have influence on the creation and writing of legislation anyway (it’s just as bad, if not worse, in the US), but to sit in on – participate, if we’re honest – negotiations like this is through-the-looking-glass craziness.
It was most likely the top Hacked-Offers who were already well-known to and had a good relationship with the politicians involved: Brian Cathcart and Kevin Marsh. It would make sense that the top dogs with the most experience and expertise in journalism were present. If Lord Hugh of Rodeo Drive was there, it would be a national joke. Maybe that’s why Robinson and everyone else is keeping shtum, to protect the politicians and their own access to them. Robinson, at least, has admitted to doing as much in the past. He’s not unique in that, either.
Great, isn’t it? A couple of leftist lobbyists have more influence on freedom of speech legislation than the whole of the Britsh electorate.
Ah, but they’ve got Brussels on their side – as has the BBC.
http://britain-today.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/european-censorship.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9055183/BBC-admits-receiving-millions-in-grants-from-EU-and-councils.html
‘The national media councils should follow a set of European-wide standards and be monitored by the Commission to ensure that they comply with European values.’
Any sniff of Euro-scepticism and your publication is for the chop, then. How very Euro-nazi.
‘Has it ever been revealed exactly who it was from Hacked Off?’
Not that I am aware, and certainly not from any ‘official’ sources, like the Government, Coaliton and Opposition teams who were at this little gang-bang of the vanities.
And while I agree with DavidP that any from this lobby group were there at all is the big question still, I wouldn’t mind knowing, as it completes a not very pretty picture.
Given great moments in history have been preserved with images of those present, I am not sure a noble moment in British politics is well served by the image of Ed, Oliver and Nick in a foyer, with four mystery shadows along the wall making sure they towed some line the people of this nation don’t need bother their pretty heads about.
FWIW, having asked the question everywhere, on the Spectator Facebook page a guy did offer this selection: Brian Cathcart, former LibDem MP Evan Harris, Hugh Tomlinson QC and Martin Moore.
None I recall voting for, nor, by the look of them, has anyone else.
Meanwhile, from those wonderful people who brought us the Magna Carta, etc, this is how things get done now…
http://order-order.com/2013/03/22/lord-lucas-amendments-in-full/
Seems they are juggling not getting busted by the blogosphere, whilst slamming any popular papers and leaving the low-circulation Indy and Graun in the clear to be sole voices of reason from Breakfast through to Newsnight (no change there). Who needs ABC ratings when you can twist the law to your tune?
When the BBC talks of ‘speaking for the people’, they of course don’t specify which people they mean. It doesn’t seem more than a few from within the bubble.
Never in the history of human communication, have so few stitched up so much for so many.
Media Standards Trust guy? Figures. So now I have another question: Are OfCom and the PCC still in business or what? Why not give one of these the power to fine a newspaper or blog if the don’t publish an apology on the front page? Not enough direct control for those behind Hacked Off?
Evan Harris, ex LibDem M.P. and thorough fascist was one attendee. I also believe Brian Cathcart and the Human Rights Q.C. Tomlinson (forget his first name) were also there prompting Miliband.
Noticed that Tomlinson was also the lawyer who stated in Court that there were 600 new investigations being started by the police into hacking against the News of the World and Trinity Mirror. Coincidentally, Tomlinson’s allegations were made on the same day the new deal agreed by the three party leaders was being debated in the Commons.
As usual, Sp!ked, and Mick Hume in particular, is well worth reading.
10 random lies about the press freedom stitch-up
Could a “Reply” button be added to each comment on the mobile site so a dialogue can be started. Makes it more logical.
For anyone who might want to sign and tell Hugh and his mates to stick it…
http://blog-off.org/
Done
Yes, as pickles said: Lord Hugh Grant, of Rodeo Drive, rt hon Leader of HM’s opposition.
Done!
ditto
If he had not been caught poking his corn on the cob into Devine Brown’s gob, do you think old Hugh would have been quite so eager to go after the press?
I always make sure I miss this horrid monstrosity, but apparently it didn’t go too well for the New Labour shill…
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100208542/yadda-yadda-michael-gove-brings-down-the-house-as-he-slaps-down-emily-thornberry-on-question-time/
Quite a few things to like and dislike in this programme from York. A few of my recollections, in no particular order:
1. The man with Portuguese/Canadian/African heritage who finds our history teaching boring. Well, sorry about that, but isn’t the solution obvious?
2. The rude smirk on Emily Thornberry’s face when Gove was speaking.
3. Her absurd claim that children know quite a lot about grammar.
4. Her objection to Gove commenting on her background (something which lefties never do!) and the retort that she failed her 11+. I’d say that’s more educational achievement then “background”.
I don’t usually watch the wretched programme, but Gove is always good value.
Thanks for the quick review.
Perhaps those who are still able to bear the weekly teeth-grinding frustration of Question Time could post their summations on an open thread for those of us who can’t take it anymore, but would still like to know of any points of interest.
That’s a great idea – preferably with timings so that we can pick out the best bits on iPlayer.
Here is a good bit at 47m 28 seconds in until 49m.45s when friendly Dimblebore allows the ChinMeisterin to continue to make a fool of herself.
Own goal!
Point 3: Her children know a lot about grammar as she sends her children out of borough to a very selective school. Another one of these state funded independent schools (my definition); similar to what Bliar, Harmon and Clegg have done.
Such corrupt admissions procedures exclude working class kids from good neighbourhood schools, so they have to go to distant sink comprehensives.
Still, at least it spares our future elite from having to mix with the oiks.
The Afro-Portuguese Canadian was actually causing my blood pressure to rise. “Its all about dead white men”, I actually struggled to process the stupidity of the man.
Yes, but being Afro-Portuguese Canadian makes him so …… SPECIAL.
He’d obviously prefer to be learning about the intricacies of the mud and cow-shit hut.
Note the cameras always showing the gurning of Thornberry as well, whenever Gove was speaking.Typical BBC despicable practice as always.
Standard leftie tactic to sit and smirk knowingly and/or shake your head whilst the oppo is coming out with some unpalatable truths. Obvious own goal, though, to any viewer who was brought up with good manners.
“Standard leftie tactic to sit and smirk knowingly and/or shake your head whilst the oppo is coming out with some unpalatable truths. “
This was exactly the tactic of the despicably rude “Danny” Sriskandarajah, ambitious Sri Lankan immigrant, and then Director of Immigration at the biased think tank the IPPR, when faced with the impeccably well mannered Sir Andrew Green of MW, on the set up “debate” by the BBC on immigration some years ago, hosted by druggie Richard Bacon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhananjayan_Sriskandarajah
Related…
http://order-order.com/2013/03/22/the-many-faces-of-emily-thornberry/
(re-posted from the end of the Tuesday Open Thread) :
As David Preiser often points out,, the BBC’s coverage of the US debate on its huge and worsening debt problems usually throws blame on the Republicans. If only they would stop being so recalcitrant, and just play along with Obama.
The BBC seldom if ever points out that the Republicans have been pushing plans eg from Paul Ryan for several years to start to deal effectively with the mountain of debt. The BBC omits to tell us that the Dems and Obama have all along refused to address the issues properly. The BBC does not point out that the Democratic Senate was refusing for year after year to do its constitutional duty and produce a budget – whereas the Republican House of Representatives produced a coherent budget every year.
The pantomime continues. Obama recently went through the motions of cross-party talk – after public opinion was showing big drops in his ratings, with people failing to accept that all the blame for impasse lay with the Republicans.
And FINALLY, the Democratic Senate has produced a “budget” – which totally fails to deal with the deficits and the debt,.
A Republican Senator tabled a motion that effectively says “No, this isn’t good, enough, we need budget realism and at the very least an aim to close the annual deficit by 2013 – ten years hence !”
Every single Democrat has voted against this motion. As this Powerline blog post shows from their previous individual statements, this demonstrates the utter hypocrisy of the Democratic Senators – and for that matter of Obama. The Dem side are happy to drive the US economy towards the cliff, they don’t want to cut down on the dependency culture.
Now THAT is the real story about the US fiscal crisis, and it has been the real story all along. The real story, the true story – which the BBC refuses to recognise and report on.
All just part of the BBC pattern of attacking attempts at fiscal responsibility, whether in the US or here in the UK. They live and overpay themselves on other people’s money, so who cares if the economy goes down the Swanee ?
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2013/03/dems-say-balanced-budget-we-were-just-kidding.php
How the bBC puts a racist Israeli slant on the story of the first black Miss Israel.
Yityish Aynaw: First black Miss Israel will go to the ball
It’s been an astonishing three weeks for Yityish Aynaw, an immigrant orphan from Ethiopia, who became the first black Miss Israel last month, and has now been invited to Thursday’s gala dinner with visiting US President Barack Obama. When Yityish Aynaw arrived in Israel as a 12-year-old, winning beauty contests and dining with presidents was as far from her thoughts as her native Ethiopia is from her adopted land.Her mother had just died, leaving her an orphan – her father had died years earlier. So her mother’s parents, who were among thousands of Ethiopian Jews already living in Israel, arrived in Addis Ababa to fetch Yityish and her older brother. In their new home, they had to learn Hebrew from scratch. “It wasn’t easy because I couldn’t speak the language and I was put into a regular class without any help…”It was a new language. It was a new culture. Quite often children even laughed at me,” she says, though she adds that she also met many kind people” Aynaw, now 21, told the BBC World Service.
You’ve got to hand it to the bBC, to them Israel can only ever be a racist country and yet Israel rescued (Yes rescued 14 thousand Ethiopian Jews) these people in turn brought in their immediate families of which the young lady in question and her brother were two. Is that the acts of the a racist country? But it gets better according to the bBC this young girl was thrown into a class without any help and the children called her names. Here is what the bBC leave out:
She was sent to an Israeli boarding school without knowing a word of Hebrew. Some of her classmates made fun of her Ethiopian name, Yitayish. “What is ‘Yitayish?’ This is my name. but it sounds weird,” she says. “There were times they’d call me ‘Tayish.’ In Hebrew that’s a kind of animal. You know?”
Yet for all those racist hurdles, she excelled at school, became an Army Officer and now is Miss Israel.
If anything the fact she was picked to sit with Obama because she is black (by his wife) is more racist than anything else.
The bBC, the real racists out there
And here is some more about black Jews the bBC doesn’t inform you about:
“It’s been a pioneering couple of years for Ethiopian-born Israelis. In 2011, the Israeli version of American Idol had its first Ethiopian-born winner – Hagit Yaso.
Last year, Israel appointed its first Ethiopian-born ambassador. And this year, Israel elected its first Ethiopian-born woman to parliament.”
http://www.theworld.org/2013/03/ethiopian-crowned-miss-israel/
It must really annoy the Beeboids that Israel is ultimately more tolerant and inclusive than their own country.
Exactly, while I posted above that Israel airlifted 14,000 Ethiopian Jews they also took in 8000 from Sudan, 80,000 from Morocco. Seeing that the population of Israel at the time was just under 5 million that’s a big intake. The Moroccans arrived during the 60s when the Population of Israel was around 2 million an even bigger intake yet all I hear from the bBC is..Racist,racist,racist.
Palestinian racism directed towards Blacks –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_Palestinian_territories#Racism_directed_towards_Blacks
Maybe they mistook them for Ethiopian Jews 😉
Why, I wonder, did they all wish to leave their countries and go to Israel? No doubt because they were racist Jews and not because anyone at home was pushing them out. No of course not. And none of those countries have anything in common do they?
‘In their new home, they had to learn Hebrew from scratch. “It wasn’t easy because I couldn’t speak the language and I was put into a regular class without any help…”It was a new language. It was a new culture. Quite often children even laughed at me…’
Well I never, kids being cruel to other kids. Obviously unique to Israel, eh? Never get that in multicultural Britain, would we? etc etc (BBC world view continues p99…)
I am just back from a week or so touring Israel – the amazing city of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Acre, Haifa and Tel Aviv.
Everything ran very efficiently – unlike some European countries. No hassle anywhere – except from some Arab market traders and touting cab drivers.
The predominantly Arab towns of Bethlehem and Nazareth looked pretty prosperous – Nazareth for example was as smart as nearby predominantly-Jewish Tiberias. From what I have seen and know of the Middle East and North Africa, I felt that Israel is a better place for most Arabs than anywhere else in the region. No sign of the “apartheid” the BBC often talks about.
All confirming that Jeremy Bowen’s beloved Gaza strip is a hellhole because of the way fellow-Arabs run it, plus the deliberate policy of the Arab oil nations to keep as many of the “Palestinians” in “refugee” camps as possible, rather than trying to help them.
In preparing for the trip, I learned one thing about the 1967 Six Day War that really surprised me. After the Israeli Army took back the old walled city – and they would have seen the way the Arabs had desecrated all the former synagogues there – General Moishe Dayan declared instantly that the Muslims should keep control of the Temple Mount – where the Jews’ first Temple dated from King Solomon’s time. How about that for magnanimity in victory ?
I went last year. Fabulous country isn’t it? Everyone seems to get on really well. I get the impression most of the trouble with neighbouring Arab countries is that they’re just jealous of the Arabs in Israel doing so well for themselves! That said, Bethlehem (Palestinian remember) and Nazareth (the ‘Arab capital of Israel’) are a bit tatty and unloved frankly.
BBC South TV has just had a completely anodyne segment on the shutting down of Didcot A power station. Worn out ? No.
Obsolete ? Doubtful. .Still needed? most cetainly. Just look at today’s weather.
WE did learn why it is closing but to no comment. The EU says it must. The usual environmental drivel . Global warming etc etc etc. I expect the Chinese have just opened another power station this week.
The very same EU that is mired in the farce of the single currency and looks like finding the Cyprus matter far beyond it’s competence.
But this EU says Didcot must close. Idiots is too mild a word.
And I expect we will hear no word of criticism from the BBC or permitted on the airwaves. It has to reflects the correct view. Not the popular one. Which is why it needs to go or submit itself to radical reform.
“Just look at today’s weather.”
Yes, but that’s “CLIMATE CHANGE”.
The BBC were keen, as usual, to overplay the subtle CAGW card on tonight’s ‘six o’clock news. One might imagined Armageddon itself had descended upon the hapless UK the way these muppets got all breathless and over-excited over a spot of snow and some more localised flooding.
The relentless CAGW-engineering of the weather by the BBC really is getting very tedious, indeed.
More this morning – how ‘extreme weather’ is unusual for this time of year.
The BBC keeping to its 28gate promise and repeating ad nauseam the environmentalists’ latest favoured mantra (now that ‘catastrophic global warming’ has been trashed by real world evidence).
Idiots is too mild a word, from above, correct.
Traitors? More apt?
I will forever remember just what I was doing when I heard of the death of Chinua Achebe! Forever!
I was reading biasedbbc.tv
How is my life going to continue now?
So what do you folks have to say about this strand of bBC propaganda against Canada.
Bogus or abandoned? Watch
Since the 1950s refugees seeking asylum in Canada have had access to free healthcare from the moment they arrive. Supporters view the generous benefits as an example of Canada’s spirit of generosity to the persecuted and vulnerable. But critics say they have made the country an attractive destination for economic migrants seeking a better life. In December 2012 the federal government changed the eligibility requirements for the refugee healthcare programme…This month Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, along with three individual patients, asked a federal court to declare the cuts unconstitutional and illegal. The case could last a year.
More bBBC racism: “it is thought that about a quarter of all cowboys were black”
But why did Hollywood choose to so misrepresent the true racial diversity of the West? ”
“The West was where white men were able to show their courage. But if a black man could be heroic and have all the attributes that you give to the best qualities in men, then how was it possible to treat a black man as subservient or as a non-person?”
So, it has to be racism again, rather than Hollywood re-writing stories to fit their best actors and audience preferences. When will the bBBC do a parallel investigation of Hollywood rewriting World War stories to misrepresent the role of Americans?
“it is thought that about a quarter of all cowboys were black”
Unlike judges, generals, police chiefs and scientists, who are 100% black ……….. apparently.
“The Lone Ranger, for example, is believed to have been inspired by Bass Reeves, a black lawman ”
Soon 150% of all cowboys will have been black, and the Declaration of Independence found to have been “inspired” by Cetawayo, King of the Zulus.
Wake me up we get to Stafford Hospital – motto, “Arbeit macht frei”.
I’m not going to defend the absence of black people from movies in a bygone era. I just don’t see how this “sins of the fathers” stuff really benefits anyone except those who need to harp on this stuff to feel superior to others.
I had the mis-fortune to listen to the Black cowboy story. I don’t believe a word of it. Apart from the bit about the first Black film star who was an Irish Italian who blacked up for the role!!. Also some Irish play which made a point of talking about Army brutality. Then to top it off the comedy about left wing bias which was surprise left wing.
It’s not completely false at all. There were plenty of ex-slaves and free blacks who headed out to the cowboy lifestyle after slavery was abolished. It was a much freer lifestyle, and certainly much safer for them in some cases.
Nothing wrong with talking about it. I just don’t see the point of assigning guilt for it to the current generation, which is what this is really about.
I am not convinced the numbers were very great though, since those areas of America, Mid West, where the former cowboys settled have been historically very ‘white’. I imagine most of the freed slaves headed for the northern cities. Don’t you think so?
Just found this:
“In 1910 — nearly 50 years after the Civil War ended — 89 percent of all blacks remained in southern states, and nearly 80 percent of those lived in rural areas. But between 1915 and 1920, at least 500,000 blacks migrated north. Some estimates double that number to a million. Thousands more migrated west. There were a number of reasons for the exodus.”
So basically there were very few blacks indeed in the West, during the ‘cowboy era’. Seems those old cowboy films were pretty accurate!
http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0700/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0700/stories/0701_0131.html
And Wiki agrees, declaring black movement WEST to be largely a post WW2 phenomenon.
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million African-Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the Northeast, Midwest, and West for most of the 20th century. Some historians differentiate between the first Great Migration (1910–1930), numbering about 1.6 million migrants who left mostly rural areas to migrate to northern and midwestern industrial cities, and, after a lull during the Great Depression, a Second Great Migration (1940 to 1970), in which 5 million or more people moved, including many to California and other western cities.”
“Cowboys” seems to be a very loosely defined word…
Or perhaps they were telling the truth, and the BBC is lying.
Does anyone watch cowboy films anymore anyway?
Oops, forgot about Brokeback Mountain. Now that would have been an opportunity to set the record straight…….sorry, I meant………..oh, forget it.
Now that Hugo the Hero has been promoted to glory, his legacy is becoming more clear:
Venezuela Takes Desperate Measures to Put Off Day of Reckoning
The Venezuelan government is making a frenzied effort to combat shortages of food and medicine. The FT reports that on Monday the country will begin auctioning off dollars to certain business in hopes of spurring them to import the basic goods it desperately needs.
But remember, boys and girls, as colditz and his fellow travelers are so fond of pointing out, income inequality is not as bad as it used to be. Oh, and La Systema, which produced that wonderful youth orchestra and a famous floppy-haired conductor. That’ll be a comfort to the sick and starving.
Looking on the bright side, I suppose better Beethoven than N****r N****r Mother*****r etc etc.
True. I guess sometimes there are benefits to European colonialism after all. 🙂
In case you hadn’t had enough of Chav-ez, staring on Monday (for ten days) the bBBC’s Book of the Week will be a biography of their hero.
Episode 4 sounds like compulsory listening for the bBBC: Chavez’s near-sequestration of the media proved an invaluable political tool.
I wonder if this is as good a book as Not One Of Us by Ali Dizai also featured as a ‘Book Of The Week’.
Yerr, *that* Ali Dizai, the one that was banged up for some years for Perverting The Course Of Justice and Misconduct In Public Office.
The BBC – corrupt.
No other word for it.
Not enough facepalms in the Universe for this one…
Is the BBC biased TOWARDS Israel? (Laugh.. go on!)
Sadly, this is a uniform view across pro-Palestinian groups – who think the BBC is an Israeli propaganda outfit. Seriously…
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3013/is_the_bbc_biased_towards_israel_laugh_go_on
pro palestinian groups, only want so called “revenge”
for their own dismal failings – they have had their opportunities, and their own hatred took it away from them, anyone who isn t whipping on the jackboots is in the “zionist conspiracy” – they are deluded.
Israel is there and ain t going anywhere … is all they need to hear for incandescent rage … both irrational and absurd
So long as the BBC don’t call Israel ‘the illegitimate apartheid state of Israel’ then there will be people who think the BBC is pro-Israel.
Criminal and police violence remained a serious problem in Venezuela’s cities
Human rights defenders were threatened and subjected to unfounded accusations by government officials and the state media
There were continuing reports of human rights violations by the police, including unlawful killings and torture. Most of these abuses were not properly investigated and little, if any, judicial action was taken.
Politically motivated charges continued to be used against government critics.
There were continuing concerns about the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
Violence remained endemic in the chronically overcrowded prisons
There were further restrictions on freedom of expression
Violence against women remained pervasive.
etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc
Amnesty Int on guess where.
But hey, it’s alright because Oogo (pretends he) is a lefty, one of us, and reduce poverty first then worry about human rights.
How I love the rank rank smell of utter hypocrisy in the afternoon
Lefty government is wonderful, as it provides free healthcare and free education, and who cares if there’s no freedom of thought ?
Once again, it was/is all Israel’s fault…..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21902273
The top article on the BBC website concerns a “whistleblower” who lost her job after getting someone else fired for making a “sexist” joke.
Almost nothing in the BBC report is true. No “sexist” joke was ever made, only a sexual one. She wasn’t a “whistleblower” but someone who invaded other people’s privacy by taking a picture of them without their consent and smearing them on social media (whilst misquoting their words). Not only did she make a mountain out of a molehill, it then emerges that she happily made sexual jokes on twitter just days before (a public conversation rather than a private one) not to mention anti-white comments though the BBC don’t’ report any of that.
Due to the fact that she’s ethnic and female AND working in IT this makes her think she can get away with doing anything she wants in her job. Now she’s attempting to play the victim and the BBC are essentially acting as her agents.
…a more accurate version of events here…
http://www.avoiceformen.com/feminism/dongle-gate-the-sterilization-of-men-in-tech-culture/
Here is how SendGrid (the company which sacked her reports on the same story)
A Difficult Situation
Wow. This week has been extremely challenging for all. We want to give you our perspective on this complicated situation, so here goes…
On Sunday at PyCon, Adria Richards felt comments made behind her during a conference session were inappropriate and of an offensive, sexual nature. We understand that Adria believed the conduct to be inappropriate and support her right to report the incident to PyCon personnel. To be clear, SendGrid supports the right to report inappropriate behavior, whenever and wherever it occurs.
What we do not support was how she reported the conduct. Her decision to tweet the comments and photographs of the people who made the comments crossed the line. Publicly shaming the offenders – and bystanders – was not the appropriate way to handle the situation. Even PyCon has since updated their Code of Conduct due to this situation. Needless to say, a heated public debate ensued. The discourse, productive at times, quickly spiraled into extreme vitriol.
A SendGrid developer evangelist’s responsibility is to build and strengthen our Developer Community across the globe. In light of the events over the last 48+ hours, it has become obvious that her actions have strongly divided the same community she was supposed to unite. As a result, she can no longer be effective in her role at SendGrid.
In the end, the consequences that resulted from how she reported the conduct put our business in danger. Our commitment to our 130 employees, their families, our community members and our more than 130,000 valued customers is our primary concern.
We will continue listening to the community, addressing this situation constructively, and serving our customers to the best of our ability. I welcome your feedback, and you can email me directly at ceo@sendgrid.com.
Put in place a set of fascistic rules and you encourage fascistic behaviour from people with a certain kind of mindset. Makes you think Leveson might just be the start.
Wow.
If ever something needed me to step away from the keyboard and towards the single malt waiting downstairs, this was it.
If someone had written that as a piece of satire I would have found it too silly to credit.
But it’s true.
And for once, there appears to have been a result more in keeping with sanity.
Until the BBC weighs in.
It’s no longer top of screen (that honour goes to the flotilla apology by … ) but worth a read.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21896442
The first para really sets the scene in a different way to the story as outlined elsewhere. Especially in context.
This office snitch got a person fired (for their company to answer; frankly well out of the place) on the basis of overhearing a convo she was not part of and getting offended and telling tales … who is she, Adrian Chiles and Jo Brand’s idiot lovechild?
The attempts at justification being po-faced passed on are such as only a unfair dismissal lawyer could conjure… though will probably see them win.
The world’s gone mad.
Interesting how the very same bBC which spent so much time defending the likes of Ross and Brand ,James Naughtie referring to the culture sec as a C… and then spent the next couple of minutes giggling like a little girl. Now tries to make a huge song and dance over how a silly little girl who overhearing a private joke took umbrage and twittered a photo
of the two men, when nothing happened she ,then contacted the people running the show and the men were escorted out of the show. Then it transpires the man behind the joke was sacked. But get this, it transpires that the Bitch has form for twittering anti-male jokes. But like the left that is ok.
People like her set back equality for all by years. So glad she got sacked, and hopefully nobody will employ her again
What’s the protocol when a moslem employee makes an anti-female joke?
The Left’s hierarchy of causes kicks in – feminism takes a back seat.
Yes , Islam trumps feminism, and the feminists take it laying down. No pun intended.
Reed
You may like Ramzpaul has to say, he takes the mickey out of Liberals, feminism, multiculturalism, immigration, all the sacred cows of the Left.
” Adria Richards is a technology evangelist, that’s a code word for bullshitter, she tells you what printer to buy ! ”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k52Ld3cPKq0
Cheers, David. I’ve seen some of his vids before, but hadn’t yet seen his take on this story.
I’ve just learned the snitch Adria Richards has now lost her job too.
What goes around comes around.
Now we just need the other bloke to get his job back. No need to sack someone for harmless private comments overheard by a non-involved party, who is not a customer.
Look for ‘MundaneMatt:Open letter to Adria Richards’ should be among the recomendations
Follow up article, by Janet Bloomfield. Nicely done…
http://www.avoiceformen.com/feminism/donglegate-ii-judgybitch-judges-judge-mental-bitch/
As a veteran of CECUTT exchanges, I have come to appreciate just how much semantics can matter in the creation of a good weasel.
Only the other day I was politely blown off by a government department on an inquiry with the words ‘we do not have any information in the scope of your request’.
I was going to take it that they had no information pertinent to it, but on reflection they haven’t said that; they are saying I didn’t ask the right way, so they won’t answer.
Equally the BBC’s finest.
http://tradingaswdr.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/not-telling-you.html?
Does the reply technique look just a little bit familiar?
They have been forced into providing replies, but have simply adapted like the Borg and concocted new and equally bovine ways to avoid doing so…. using their own rules as justification.
The President has twisted some arms and made Israel apologize for “mistakes” made when those “activists” were killed on the Mavi Marmara. It will be viewed as His greatest foreign policy triumph. Maybe the BBC will mention His Nobel in this context.
I guess that Jewish Lobby isn’t as powerful as Katty Kay thinks it is.
In James Reynolds’ (our man in Istanboul) ‘analysis’ piece, accompanying the story on the BBC webpage he comes up with the line:
” But Mr Erdogan has often tried to make a point of standing up to Israel. ”
Gallant little Turkey (pop 73,639,596) standing up to the power of the Israeli (pop 7,765,700) colossus!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21902273
Obama’s comparing Israeli-Palestinian relations to those between US and Canada has sparked off much mockery on Twitter – I suppose it could class as one of those gaffes about which the Beeb has taken a vow of silence.
(speech to university students in Israe, Thursday:)
Obama described his vision: “There will be a sovereign Palestinian state, a sovereign Jewish state of Israel and those two states can, I think, will be able to deal with each other the same way all states do.”
And then he invoked this example: “I mean, you know, the United States and Canada has arguments once in a while, but they’re not the nature of arguments that can’t be solved diplomatically.”
leading to:
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TheCanucksAreComing&src=hash
Racists. 😮
“The French have colonised New Hampshire’s textile mills, driving the natives into squalid refugee camps outside Concord. Is a two state solution possible, or should they be sent back to Montreal?”
well theres one thing you can be sure of, and thats i think what my argument is?? i think (shakes head)
This is more or less what Stephanie “Two Eds” Flanders was trying to get Ed Balls to do the other day.
Mandelson to Balls: Spell out economic vision rather than just attack cuts
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls’ attacks on government spending cuts have become “predictable” and “tiring to the public”, Lord Mandelson has suggested.
The former business secretary said arguments about the depth and speed of cuts were outdated and Labour should focus on how to rebuild the economy.
To maximise its appeal, Labour must talk about extending prosperity as well as social justice, he added.
At last the BBC has the confirmation they’ve been looking for. They’ve only been gently suggesting this to Balls in interviews for the last two years.
BBC-NUJ: still pro-Mass Immigration, after all these years.
In its current propaganda mode, BBC-NUJ portrays its fellow mass immigration campaigner, Clegg as a wonderful reformer-
“Clegg backs ‘security bonds’ as he sets out immigration stance”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21884415
And weak, ineffectual and opportunist is Clegg’s stance, as can be seen in his history of campaigning for mass immigration into Britain from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.
ARrrghhhh
Keith Vaz on the news being asked to comment about deposits for visas from high risks country.
If anyone wants to know why this is outrageous just look at the Wikipedia entry for this disgusting man.
Well surely all those cheques and sacks of khat etc will all be issued to Vaz and Family( grease guns solutions for new labour since the Battle of Rushdie 1989(PBUH)…so , I reckon Keith will be quietly purring with all his family and relations at this news.
I myself do trust Keef…and who wouldn`t…we are where we are, and I for one am happy to reflect, then have the concversation with the British public…and am already working on the “lessons will be learned” appendix to the inevitable disaster and lining of Keefs ample shrouds and saris department.
PS heard a Chris Mason with a vague Rochdale brogue on the BBC this morning telling us all about UKIP…not no Farage for some reason…the BBC seem to be denying Nigel his soapbox…any reason?
Ah…Chris Mason…northern scamp…no relation to Mr “It`s all kicking off Pru” Paul Mason of the Labourlusting Chapel is he?
Just asking!
Bluestone 42. Am I the only person surprised by the BBC making a comedy about the Army in Afghanistan with such sympathetic characters? Will this continue or is a sting in the tail planned?
No and Yes
The wimmin soldiers will don burkhas to show they’re not islamophobic while the men urinate against the wall of a mosque. As for the cathoilic padre…
It was a constant refrain of the BBC that George Bush was stupid.
But Obama has always been ultra-clever.
You would NEVER see or hear Obama being taken down on the BBC for his dangerous stupidity and gullibility on Middle East affairs in this manner :
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/03/22/So-Jesus-was-an-Embarrassment-and-Arafat-Isnt-Rudy-Giuliani-Blasts-Obama
Obamas car broke down because some idiot filled it up at the wrong pump. Had that happened to any Republican president it would have been top of the agenda on any BBC ‘comedy’ or satire show.
A bunch of Beeboids would be tweeting and retweeting something about it being a metaphor. Yet, when it’s Him, silence as usual.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21898664
Look you bunch of heathens don’t you know that the colour of this mans skin and the fact he was born lived & died in Africa makes him a writer of equal importance with Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, William Shakespeare etc etc
Anyone who hasn’t heard of him or denies his importance is clearly a WWAAAYYYycist
Or so the bBC would have you believe
Goodness. This is something of a coincidence. I mean the sad news that Chinua Achebe has died.
Not that I read any of his work or was planning to do so.
But I had highlighted here just a week or so ago that the BBC seemed to have adopted many of the views held by this writer.
The point I made was that the BBC were no longer interested in the concept of ‘art for art’s sake’ .
Should we commission this drama series? It is good? (art for art’s sake) But more importantly has it got anything to say? Does it fit our agenda? That’s the modern BBC.
‘Contemporary postcolonial African writers such as Leopold Senghor and Chinua Achebe have criticised the slogan as being a limited and Eurocentric view on art and creation. In “Black African Aesthetics”, Senghor argues that “art is functional” and that “in black Africa, ‘art for art’s sake’ does not exist.”‘
So don’t be surprised that the BBC has gone into full mourning mode for this guy.
I too noted this mans sudden inclusion into “Last Word”.
Can`t remember the last time that somebody died on a Friday and got pushed into the show a few hours later.
The 5pm news also told me about the death of this father of African literature….never even heard of him, but hey-I`m an empire loyalist and only those who truly opposed Ian Smith and PW Botha could possibly know of this mans towering genius!
How`s things down in Cape 8 then these days under the benign and enlightened Zuma and chums at the ANC…or are we not to cause offence and dare to ask?
I will forever remember just what I was doing when I heard of the death of Chinua Achebe! Forever!
I was reading biasedbbc.tv
How is my life going to continue now?
I once read a synopsis of ‘Things fall apart’ to see what Africa”s greatest novel looked like: the hero, a rather over-rigid sort of bloke, who is a polygamous patriarch, at one point is called on to kill a hostage boy from another tribe whom he has looked after like a father: in order to maintain his hard image with the others he kills him despite the fact that the frightened boy runs to him for protection. Rather put me off traditional Nigerian society. Eventually, after killing a colonial official he commits suicide and the tragic hero who had spent his life seeking to be macho figure of respect is not even buried because there is a taboo against touching the body of a suicide. I get the impression colonialism and arrogant administrators were the villains.
Yes I heard this on the radio , my wife had the BBC on again despite being on her last warning , and I was on a step ladder implementing her last set of instructions regarding our curtains. I fell of laughing and now intend to sue the BBC.
Only the BBC could possibly think this was a news worthy item for a UK audience. Honestly they really are mad as well as bad.
You heartless beast. I will now proceed to sue you for the base crime of “Pre-Post Colonial Reactionary Thought Crime Distress”, which is a very, very serious matter indeed, Oh yes !
That’s for not donning the sackcloth and ashes and beating yourself bloody with a scourge when you heard this most tragic news, and as compensation for my the distress of my millions of African brothers, I will be seeking the following damages: 1 speedboat, a dozen (large) packets of Werthers Originals, and a first edition of Walter’s “My Secret Life” (with illustrations).
Secondly: Since you were able to fall off the ladder, I must assume that your wife is treated as a second class individual and not allowed to demonstrate her manifest and superior competence by climbing aloft towards the soaring uplands of equality. (Granted, a step ladder doesn’t elevate one very much closer to the heavens, but every little counts). For being thus revealed as a bourgeois, ovary-hating enemy of the people, and distressing me thereby, I will be seeking from you : Another speedboat (so we can have races at the Durham Miners’ Gala), a Manchester terrier puppy, a ski lodge in Courcheval, a mint copy of Lloyd George’s “My Shagging Years” and the freehold of the island of Gozo (for my holidays).
I’d advise settling at the earliest opportunity (and before I send “The Boys” round). Maybe next time you’ll think of us professsional grievance mongers before you start showing off your tattered reactionary feathers, eh chummy ?
Well wait till the death of Mandela.
The BBC will close-down until the funeral, for reasons of very deeply lamentful, grief-stricken, distressingly sorrowful end-of-the-world wailing and mourning.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9948552/Thats-it-Ive-had-it-with-the-Today-programme.html
Luckily for the BBC… uniquely even… if she or any others so moved still have a device capable of receiving a broadcast signal, they probably will still need to stump up £145.50pa no matter what to avoid being harassed and bullied legally by an envy of the world media monopoly desperate for money to pay its hush money, new board and garden leave obligations, plus some dodgy pension investments that can only go up as well as upon Planet Moneytree.
Looking at the comments, a few of the weekend team here may need drafting across to this thread asap.
An article in praise of – amazingly – UKIP: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21904203
When I was reading this, I thought ‘Am I dreaming?’.
But then I remembered that UKIP will be the Tories’ biggest obstacle at the next election.
My enemy’s enemy is my friend…
Jeff
Alas Jeff you must only have read the first half of this article. I thought it highly unusual of the BBC to say something to positive, it’s only when you read on that the true nature is revealed:
“It’s never actually developed any body of thinking on mainstream British political problems, we have no idea what it would do in most areas. It’s obsession now is on immigration, race and Islam, all of which I deplore.”
So it’s back to the usual accusations then!
Very thoughtful of you to point that out, but I actually read the whole article! 🙂
The BBC have to have one voice of disagreement, but as is so often the case with BBC articles, working out where the author is coming from isn’t rocket science…
Jeff
OTish (it does reference the BBC, so I’ll allow it):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/9947737/The-rise-and-rise-of-the-female-TV-expert.html
‘There is a new breed of woman on the block. She is successful, knowledgeable and can talk for Britain.’
Also, from the look of the pictures chosen top and bottom, young, blonde and easy on the eye.
A bit like the majority of non-diverse BBC teleprompter-readerettes.
Guessing certain ‘isms are more critical to the sisters than others.
“BRIGHT BLOND Essex Girl”
The headlines of this months Mensa magazine.
The recent insults of the BBC, over its Climate Change science censorship policy, in the Mensa magazine, show that the evidence is that Mensa members regard blond Essex girls as more intelligent than anyone employed at the BBC.
I can think of a bright blonde Essex girl who’s on TV most weekday afternoons, but she’s on Channel 4 !
‘If you are easily offended, you probably shouldn’t live in a big, buzzing, brilliantly screwed-up city like London’
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100208580/if-you-are-easily-offended-you-probably-shouldnt-live-in-a-big-buzzing-brilliantly-screwed-up-city-like-london/#.UU2NsLn4RcA.twitter
Probably explains the move by some to Salford, but not sure it has changed much.
Salford has always been proud to showcase its identity, distinct from that of Manchester, but, like its brash and trendy neighbour, the old city has suffered serious depopulation and has a lot of ‘poor white’ poverty. There are however some pleasant districts (e.g. parts of Worsley) to the west, although they were gobbled up in 1974 and are still not keen on being associated with Salford.
I think it is time to have a weekly game called ‘name the Labour plant’ on BB1 Question time and as always Radio 4
Spot the difference: -http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rgszs/Question_Time_21_03_2013/ at 15m 12s
and the execrable Radio 4′s the ‘Now show’ the very next day!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r9wd3 at 16m 15 s
Who comes up with this mirthful stuff? Your guess on another postcard please.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100208542/yadda-yadda-michael-gove-brings-down-the-house-as-he-slaps-down-emily-thornberry-on-question-time/#.UU2P-YH8dHw.twitter
“I’ve been on QT and Any Questions? before with Thornberry and she’s a pro. Labour spin doctors think so too, which is why they keep putting her up for the big broadcasting programmes.”
I thought QT audiences were by invitation of the BBC, not who a party offers?
Still, after young Ms. Rutland, one presumes this is but another unique the BBC can shrug off with the ‘reality’ show that is ‘We ask the questions this time, not you’.
Pitiful.
If the Tories really think that Gove blasted Thornberry, they`re not watching the same stuff as I did.
Gove is everything that Dimbleby and Thornberry are not…but the likes of Thornberry are the kind of Jacqui Smiths so welcomed by the BBC and Labour.
The Tories really need a couple of Tebbits-but great blokes like him would not back this anaemic parody of a Conservative Party with a wet dishcloth…and they`re right not to do so.
The Tories are absolutely useless-let`s hope Nigel/UKIP splits them and we get a party worth the arguments that Peter Hitchens has long called for
A question is posed: ‘£25m to put West Ham in Olympic Stadium?’
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100208543/why-are-we-paying-25m-to-put-west-ham-in-the-olympic-stadium-shall-we-get-them-a-new-tax-funded-goalie-too/#.UU2R3-8nUA8.twitter
Seemed worth asking, but for answers I kind of lost the will to live at: ‘Here’s BBC’s rationale for the agreement’.
Maybe Ms. Flanders or Mr. Mason can offer their always unique ‘analysis’ before the Easter break?
West Ham fans and the BBC economics team seem to share a favourite motto: We’re forever blowing bubbles.
BBC report here and a positive headline for once
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21889864
‘West Ham get Olympic Stadium after government ups funding’
Government ups funding = double plus good in the BBC book
Meanwhile my favourite comment:
1053.
FergyTime
22nd March 2013 – 23:45
How about its renamed the “begging bowl”?
The really expensive mistake was building the thing in the first place.
West Ham were in the really lovely position of being able to say our twp bob offer is the only one you’re going to get – take it or leave it.
Oh dear, this could set a dangerous precident.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21901544
‘Authorities in the US state of Ohio have issued an “indictment” against Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog famed for predicting spring’s arrival, after he got it wrong this year.’
‘The groundhog forecast an early spring when he did not see his shadow as he emerged from hibernation on 2 February.’
‘But tongue-in-cheek prosecutors in Ohio’s Butler County accuse the rodent of deliberately misleading the public.’
‘They say such a felony should be punished by death.’
‘”Punxsutawney Phil did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that spring would come early,”‘
BBC : Barbecue Summer anyone?
BBC on Global Warming : UK children ‘may never experience snow’
Salford-centric BBC 5 Live break from their coverage of cancelled sports events across the UK today to get a travel report from some BBC approved Northern Lass. Just to add some more local flavour she tells us about a wedding she has seen going ahead despite the whiteness of the weather. Happily the guests are arriving and among them the ‘Groomsmen’ .
Groomsmen?
Could this be one of those new fangled PC terms so beloved of our national broadcaster.
I had to look it up (old fuddy duddy that I am!)
‘A groomsman is one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony. The term usher is more common in the UK while the term ‘groomsman’ is more commonly used in America’
Ee by gum our lass, I’ll go to the foot of our stairs, ‘ave thou gone all American on us? Well I’ll be jiggered!
The Beeb did a piece on there being some traffic in the opposite direction, last October:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19929249
I just returned from a picnic in the park. We also played a bit o’ cricket.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297946/Thousands-stranded-snow-chaos-Drivers-rescued-15FOOT-drifts-trains-delayed-Britain-freezes-freak-spring-weather.html
I hear BBC sports commentators are a little put out that they (along with their ITV counterparts) have been getting stick on Twitter for having a condescending attitude toward soccer minows San Marino.
For those not interested in football: England won 8-0 last night against a team of furniture restorers and accountants from the tiny Italian enclave and ‘Most Serene Republic’.
Twitter hackles have been raised at the suggestion by commentators that England were wasting their time in this mismatch.
‘Where does this sudden interest in the development of football in San Marion come from?’ The rather hurt and confused BBC guys ask.
Let me explain : Twitter is a largely lefty universe. People go their to trumpet supposed offense they have been caused. This shows what good people they are. You go there to support the underdog. I’m sure many lefty Tweeters sat in some discomfort watching England win something.
Best bit of commentary of the night:
“And now the crowd are singing ‘Are you Scotland in disguise?'”
ITV. Bless ’em. You’d not hear that on the BBC and the crowd noise would be quickly turned right down low.
AAAaahhhh So you’ve finally realised what we have been saying is actually right?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297776/SATURDAY-ESSAY-Why-Left-epic-mistake-immigration.html
However there is an extremely interesting comment from what I can only assume is a BBC exec:
“when dining at an Oxford college and the eminent person next to me, a very senior civil servant, said: ‘When I was at the Treasury, I argued for the most open door possible to immigration [because] I saw it as my job to maximise global welfare not national welfare.”
I was even more surprised when the notion was endorsed by another guest, one of the most powerful television executives in the country. He, too, felt global welfare was paramount and that he had a greater obligation to someone in Burundi than to someone in Birmingham.
If all this is true then it’s not just the bBC but the entire hierarchy of the civil service which needs to be removed.
No doubt the Whitehall mandarin with an overdose of noblesse oblige was one of Gus O’Donell’s non-politicised, scrupulously impartial, brilliant civil servants; the kind he was whitewashing on Radio4 recently. The kind that had rings run around them over PFIs by the private sector, & totally screwed up the West Coast Main Line franchise; that’s before we get onto the Home Office & the UKBA.
When I was working in the Cabinet Office in 1978 I mentioned to my boss that there seemed to me to be a lot of trouble simmering on the streets of Brixton. I had worked at the Employment Exchange there 15 years earlier – and had recently visited Brixton while selling my old car. The buyer was an older Jamaican, a chef – he would not let me walk back alone to Brixton station even though it was still daylight.
My boss gave me a real bollocking – effectively accusing me of racism when all I had been trying to do was comment on the high levels of unemployment among the black youth. And I know he marked me down in my annual report.
3 years later Brixton went up in flames. My boss by that time has picked up his knighthood on retirement.
Bloody blind leading the blind in Whitehall – I got sick of it all a few years later and left.
WELL! WELL! WELL!
Lib Dem Baroness Susan Kramer let the cat out of the bag on “Any Questions?” this week by declaring that the BBC was in business in part to stop Sky from becoming Fox News.
Really?
And isn’t that an admission of the BBC’s lefty content?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r9wd9
‘the BBC was in business in part to stop Sky from becoming Fox News.’
Was it as unequivocal as that? And what is her relationship with the BBC?
If just a ‘guest’, they can of course shrug such a comment off as a degree of separation anything to do with them.
Mind you, if Lord Hall Hall & Tom Watson painted it in blood on the walls of Sky’s HQ as Paul Mason videoed it on one of his iCollection and got Laurie & Jonnie to post it across the twittosphere, ‘the BBC’ would still mutter that such views were their own.
Interesting. I was going to suggest that someone make this typically dimwitted LibDem aware of the impartiality regulations for broadcast media in the UK, but…
“This section of the Code does not apply to BBC services funded by the licence fee, which are regulated on these matters by the BBC Trust. ”
So there you have it. The BBC is a law unto itself, regulating it’s own output. No wonder it’s so prone to the kind of constant bias that other broadcasters would be likely to be pulled up on.
Section Five makes quite interesting reading. Have a scan, and see how many areas the BBC would have infringed were it subject to these codes.
Section Five: Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy and Undue Prominence of Views and Opinions
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/impartiality/
Meaning of “undue prominence of views and opinions”:
Undue prominence is a significant imbalance of views aired within coverage of matters of political or industrial controversy or matters relating to current public policy.
She said it was a “fact” that the BBC was a “counterweight” to prevent Sky from becoming Fox News, which makes no sense at all unless we consider it in the context of her talking about how a legitimate press watchdog should function. It seemed like that’s how she meant it. And even then it’s still a pretty bizarre statement. The BBC views Sky as business competition, and News Corp. as an ideological opponent which must be destroyed at all costs, but that’s not the same thing as a watchdog. What did she really mean to say? Sounded like more of an emotional response than an intelligent statement.
Well, not much she said in the rest of the show made sense anyway.
“Sounded like more of an emotional response than an intelligent statement”
The left’s modus operandi and their Achilles’ heel.
It’s so easy to take apart, but is usually met with more of the same, with increased volume and indignation – and even less reason.
The BBC and energy…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21909838
Seems odd what is being discussed vs. what is being quietly ignored, from subsidised renewables possibly not operating at peak capacity at present, to a bunch of gas under the ground the BBC seems to have been quite vocal in seeing stay there.
The lady on the interview sounds a right harpie seeking heat (of the ratings/tribal agenda variety) vs. light, interrupting left, left and left of centre.
The height of bills was mentioned, but what raises them was left well alone.
It seems incredible the BBC can advocate what it does on one hand, and then scream about supply levels and prices on the other.
I see it’s Earth Hour tonight, and the BBC are keen to let us know that we should turn off our lights in solidarity. Of course, if all these public bodies were so keen to cut emissions they wouldn’t light up their bloody buildings for the rest of the year, but I wouldn’t expect the BBC to ask this.
Me, I’m turning all my lights on for an hour at 8:30.
In often walk past a big council building on my way to work, even before any of the council workers are in they have floodlights on to light it up. If I was responsible for a building that ugly I would not want it lit up.
“Nearly 9,000 people in Scotland signed up for Earth Hour”
As Scotland has a population of 5,295,000, then only 1 in 588 Scots believes in global warming. Confirmation indeed of mass public support for wind farms.
An article by a gentleman who didn’t switch his lights off last night:
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3020/earth_hour_and_the_anti_science_left
All those Scots probably unintentionally joined in Earth Hour in the middle of the hours of power cuts due to the Siberian style weather this county’s been blasted with.
What you think vs. what you utter vs. reality is a fair bit to be sorry for.
Other than unprecedented weather since the last time, it was a very slow news day, so SKY were indeed full of what Ed ‘will say’.
They also got slaughtered for it on t’internet, and interestingly not one SKY cadet cropped up in defence. by default. Maybe they don’t have a 147-strong PR team?
They also might change their ways if folk suggest that running Labour press releases as news is a poor way to keep the monthly sub active.
Others appear to have no concerns in this regard.
Again, thanks for making the point.
GW, he/she/it is really best ignored. Otherwise we might all get sucked in to telling him that no-one is compelled to pay for Sky. Which he knows, and is just trying to stir things for the sake of doing so.
Trolls ought not to be fed.
RD/DC – Oh… all right.
But plant or plank, the value can be good, and whichever extreme it is it serves the cause of BBC gettingitaboutrightness poorly so I often figure the odd tease is worth it.
And as two also seduced to defending against the daft side of the Farce on occasion, you have to admit it can be tempting!
But resist, I will try, as Yoda might say.
Apparently this was no ordinary conference according to Labour’s Five Live…’people were invited from across the spectrum of the West Midlands ‘business, charities and even some Tories’.
And guess what? The BBC found a Tory who found Miliband impressive!
What a surprise!…Who’d have thought it? Well I never! You could knock me down with a rolled up copy of the Morning Star.
Very tempting indeed, and one does yield sometimes. But there’s often more fun to be had by being patient and watching the louder and shriller attempts to get some attention.
It’s always Earth Hour in N. Korea:
http://www.cfact.org/2013/03/22/an-hour-of-darkness-or-light/
Don’t give Caroline Lucas any policy ideas.
Beeb bias against Israel highlighted once more by the Commentator: this time because they attached an ‘IDF material’ label to some Mavi Marmara footage although they showed any old, unsourced video stuff from the Pally side during the ‘Pillar of defense’ operation.
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3017/bias_alert_bbc_issues_disclaimer_over_idf_footage
Not the BBC view on ‘extreme weather events’, so not coming to a Radio 4 programme near you anytime soon – in fact, never:
http://www.climatedepot.com/2012/12/06/New-Report-Extreme-Weather-Report-2012-Latest-peerreviewed-studies-data–analyses-undermine-claims-that-current-weather-is-unprecedented-or-a-new-normal/
‘But the latest peer-reviewed studies, data and analyses undermine claims that the weather is more “extreme” or “unprecedented.” On every key measure, claims of extreme weather in our current climate fail to hold up to scrutiny…………Professor of Environmental Studies Dr. Roger Pielke Jr. of the University of Colorado, summed up the latest science on weather extremes. : “There is no evidence that disasters are getting worse because of climate change,” he wrote. “There’s really no evidence that we’re in the midst of an extreme weather era – whether man has influenced climate or not,” Pielke added……….Pielke Jr. also explained the data does not support linking Hurricane Sandy to man-made global warming. “Sandy was terrible, but we’re currently in a relative hurricane ‘drought’.
etc etc etc
Meanwhile I’m going to apply for a job as a Climate Scientist…probably with the BBC. It sounds like a good little earner and one in which I won’t have to work too hard!
I’m not qualified in anyway but am getting the hang of it. So just to run though some interview answers they’d be looking for, I thought that I’d do some prep around various weather scenarios.
We have drought – (Answer) Evidence of man-made climate change
High summer temperatures – man-made climate change
Heavy summer rainfall – man made-climate change
Mild winters – man-made climate change
Strong autumnal winds – man-made climate change
Cold winters – man-made climate change
Thinning of the ice caps – man-made climate change
Thickening of the ice caps – man-made climate change
Red sky at night – man-made climate change
Red sky in the morning – man-made climate change
Flooding – man-made climate change
Snow in March – man-made climate change
Rubbish freezing summers – man-made climate change
People washing their feet in the sinks at New Broadcasting House – man-made climate change
I don’t know about you, but I think I stand a cracking chance at this gig
(the only problem – which admittedly I have overlooked – is that they never advertise any of their cushy jobs)
You missed….
Absolutely normal meteorological conditions for this time of year – Man-made climate change.
I’m sorry sir but we have candidates whose attributes more closely reflect the type of candidate we are seeking.
You have to join Greenpeace first, then you have to say that you have put a thenomitor into the mouth of a Polar Bear, and found that the temperature was found to be above freezing.
But you must not talk about Atmospheric Physics, Solar Astronomy or Cloud Albedo. Only talk about Climatic temperature changes, and how mankind is responsible for any changes in temperature such as winter and summer.
It would also help if you told the BBC that only a Labour government could stop carbon dioxide from poisoning the plants, frying the animals and suffocating the children.
You make a very convincing climate expert, except that the instrument that measures temperature is a thermometer, not a ‘thenomitor’.
Amazing the ways that can be found to point out and correct typos on blogs.
I think the BBC’s are still best, where they first ignore that they have managed to introduce one, often in the face of polite input that they have (if enabled), and then later on quietly do a stealth edit evolution without acknowledgement, leaving any who’ve helped them out hanging out to dry with any subsequent posters who happen along.
Now that’s class.
You forgot the rain forest, and that you have to drive a Toyota Prius
Capital Idea, you would make a very convincing peer reviewer of the science of orthography.
But what about the scientific error I made by saying that “only a Labour government could stop carbon dioxide from poisoning the plants”.
Red sky at night, shepherds delight
Sheep drowned in the morning, global warming
Genuinely made me laugh.
What me laugh this morning was a bbc sports journo, on bbc breakfast waxing lyrical cuz when in the alps, you can see EVERY SINGLE STAR.
Really? Every one? Where do they fund these knobs!
Makes mental note, check for typos before pushing the send button.
U plonker Dysgwr!
Did you mean ‘how do they fund these knobs?’ Perfectly reasonable question!
Lol
and me!!
Red sky in the morning, global warming
red sky at night, cowshed alight…
I think it came from an episode of The Mary Whitehouse Experience, but I could be wrong. Long time ago.
And here I was, poir ignoramus me, thinking that The Answer to all questions (and Universe ‘n stuff) is ’42’, while all the times it was “man-made climate change”!
And the marvellous Christopher Booker does yer ANOTHER scorching piece on the “global warming crap, and why we`ll be reduced to candles for warmth due to Wavy Davy Huhne etal”.
Given his thorough vindication for the EU crap too, over many years now, you would have thought that this prophetic titan who has spoken truth to power at great cost and risk. Well he`d be getting on the BBC and namechecked at all the paper reviews with wee Paddy on B.H etc.
And yet…zippo!…coughs embarrassed silences all round.
And here`s Will, Polly, Owen…bleeding ANYONE but Chris Booker!
Reasons on a postcard please c/o Saviles sink where the great man washed his undies all those happy years at the BBC!
No wonder they`ve had to move….God alone knows what`s in the drains at Wood Lane!
‘Reasons on a postcard please….’
Sheer unadulterated bias.
Do I win the prize?
They’re both based on an error, no?
I find that Brain of Britain is usually an enjoyable programme on Radio 4, relatively free of the bBBC’s usual hang-ups. But tonight’s final was spoiled at the end when the winner was presented with his award by … Professor Mary Beard.
Agreed, I like the fellow who presents it.
Mary Beard who has started an alternative career as the droids’ go-to-girl for twitter trollery following her lamentable appearance on QT and her subsequent ‘social media’ roasting.
Yerrrr, that’s the same Mary Beard whose comment on the 9/11 attacks in which 2,600 were murdered was that ‘many people’ thought that the Americans had it coming.
When it comes to twitter trolling ‘many people’ thought that Mary Beard had it coming. Me included.
Not on BBC-NUJ ‘Health’ pages online, of course:-
“Revealed: The NHS imam who opposes organ transplants but has been employed in a hospital for three years”
By ABUL TAHER.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298203/Revealed-The-NHS-imam-opposes-organ-transplants-employed-hospital-years.html
Imagine him hovering over you as you lie helpless in your hospital bed. Impossible, scaremongering? Think Savile.
http://bbcwatch.org/2013/03/24/anti-israel-campaigners-seek-balen-2-from-the-bbc/
Another inquiry?
Ed Miliband will be keen. As will the legal/inquiry industries. How much did Pollard or Leveson consume? And who got the bill?
Even the BBC won’t really mind. It keeps folk occupied elsewhere and they know the result already, which of course will be another secret. The BBC likes its secrets.
I turn to BBC News 24 expecting some news, however, I’m cheerfully informed by the newsman that Nick Higham will soon be taking us ‘back to the twentieth century, where a quarter of females were domestic servants and things were very bad for them’
Here comes some BBC : Horrible History in the making.
Meet the Author with lucy Lethbridge
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21884802
Lethbridge – left- bridge? You couldn’t make it up
What does surprise me is the directness of this BBC mini lecture on communism.
LL : ‘As the working class were becoming politicaly mobilised… domestic servants were seen as underpinning a class system that was loathsome and corrupt.’
NH : ‘The employers often behaved very badly, unbelievable selfishness’
Nick Higham’s Twitter friends leave us in no doubt that this item is meant as a direct counter to the perceived Tory/Downton Abbey effect:
Diana J Williams @dianajwilliams 22h
@highamnews watching your fascinating report on c20th servants. Some welcome balance compared with the Downton view on life downstairs.
Is any of that famous BBC ‘balance ‘ given to Lucy Leftwing and her views?
Nick Higham @highamnews 21 Mar
The reality of 20thC life belowstairs: Lucy Lethbridge on her book Servants, filmed Brodsworth nr Doncaster 19.45 #BBCNews #MeettheAuthor
Nope, it’s BBC ‘reality’ and it’s official.
But Nick Higham, surely he’s just a rather bookish old Beeboid of the TV Centre generation. He’s not overtly political…. is he?
What does he choose to ‘reTweet’?
Oh just the odd pro-EU, anti-Tabloid bit of BBC approved agitprop….
The Media Blog @TheMediaTweets 19 Mar
Brilliant response from the European Parliament to “Daily Express euromyths”… http://tabloid-watch.blogspot.com/2013/03/we-do-not-normally-find-it-worthwhile.html … (via @tabloidwatch)
So the Beeboids do like the ‘Bloggers in their mum’s basements’ – when they come from The Left.
That Lethbridge connived at all Higham’s conventional wisdom, adding that the worst exploitation of servants was by the middle class who didn’t even provide the good food they got in big houses. Off-switch job.
And I suppose they all treat their Philippinas like one of the family eh?
Plus ca change etc.
fundamental Islington meme – “there is an essential nobility in the working classes (not that we actually know any) and in grinding, depressing manual labour (not that we would speak to anyone who does it, let our children do it or God forbid do it ourselves, honestly, that’s what cleaners, au pairs, nannies and gardeners are for!). Anyway, more coffee? It’s Nicaraguan fair trade and organic!”
Yes never any shortage of encomia from the ‘progressives’ on mining as a career.
Always conveniently forgetting about black lung, emphysema, pneumoconiosis (sp), crushing, drowning, gassing.
‘Progressives, who wouldn’t be seen within half a mile of a coalmine but happy enough for horny handed tons of soil to go down one.
Martin Bell on the new BBC Broadcasting House.
(I though they had stopped the guided tours?)
http://nickhighamnews.posterous.com/martin-bell-on-the-bbcs-new-broadcasting-hous
March 18, 2013
Martin Bell on the BBC’s new Broadcasting House
Martin Bell came in to be interviewed on his reactions to the new home for BBC News the other day. Afterwards he sent us this poem.
New Broadcasting House
They showed me all its wonders. I said ‘Strewth!’
Where people-mastering gadgets filled the floor
In caves of electronic shock and awe
It was the damnedest thing I ever saw,
Until I realised I’ve been there before:
They’ve reinvented 1984,
This is George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth.
[possibly one for the ‘in their own words’]
Thank you Radio 4.
My friends and I have long wondered what it would be like to sit at the breakfast bar with “Olympic Dame” Tessa Jowell , easy as a Sunday morning!
Thanks to Paddy O Connell, we were all able to wonder about the Royal Opera and whether Harrods or Waitrose may yet prove to provide the most authentique croissant.
Sadly we didn`t get around to hubbys kickbacks from Sir Silvio of Berlusconi, nor did we get any mention about dear David Kelly or mid-Staffordshire…such things would be somewhat indelicate matters when the coffee is as good as Tessa requires!
Thank you BBC…Radio 4…now then…may we have Eric Joyce on next Sunday to give us his preferred hangover cure after another robust Saturday night?…oh do tell us Paddy!
BBC Radio 4: that’s hard core bien-pensant with your Sunday morning croissant.
As the trad-dad sounds of the Travelling Wilburys (former Labour Cabinet Ministers) plays on the old radiogram in the background.
Easy like Sunday morning. Easy like BBC expenses cheques. Easy like off-payroll personal service companies.
Oh life is good.
We should throw open a window to meet the warm (globally warmed) breeze.
also, it ill-behoves me to comment on the peccadilloes of others but I do wonder how many smug little jokes the lantern-jawed comedy vacuum has made about Tory cabinet ministers’ affairs in the past?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2298147/Wife-divorces-TV-comic-Marcus-Brigstocke-discovering-year-long-affair.html
Sad news indeed.
I wonder who gets custody of the RV.
And the carbon offsets?
Puhlease! If this is a proper Hampstead hypocrite they’ll have a Toyota Prius !
he’ll still blame the Tory cuts and Margaret Thatcher