Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may be moderated.
Algerian aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan punished by islamist freedom fighters
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7137997.stm
My mistake American, Algerian they do sound a bit alike, but there is actually no sign of this in the article.
Apparently when its Algeria it has no relevance but for the US (and UK) its all important, well if you listen to the BBC.
The BBC its hatred of America and not even a story.
Icelandic teen dupes White House
An Icelandic teenager tricked the White House into thinking he was Iceland’s President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson. Vifill Atlason, 16, called the general switchboard number claiming to be the Icelandic leader and asked to speak to President George W Bush.
…………………
But he never got to have his chat with the president – the White House eventually spotted that something was awry and instead Vifill got a visit from the local police of Akranes, a small fishing town on Iceland’s west coast, where he lives.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7137873.stm
So tell me how can the BBC promote a story that a child got one over the Whitehouse staff. When they noticed something was amiss and they called in the Icelandic police.
Oh does being polite on the phone at the Whitehouse now rank as gullibility to the BBC.
The BBC its hatred of America and not even a story.
The issue of the pips is not a new one. The pips are never going to be spot on because many factors can effect them. Even listening on MW. LW or SW can create a delay. Not only that, but don’t forget when you hear the pips in your ear there will already be a tiny delay as the sound will have to have travelled from the radio to your ear.
I don’t think anyone ever uses the pips for accurate time signals do they?
For the difference in digital they probably can allow for the delay from the data going up to a satellite and down again by starting them off a bit earlier on digital, but these days with atomic time signals and GPS time I don’t think anyone really uses the pips.
rightofcentre: It’s a good question. The pips persist on radio as does Big Ben, but if you are listening via a computer or a digital radio then the signal will be slightly delayed as it has to be unscrambled.
On TV, we you may have noticed you don’t see a clock on the BBC any more because it would always be a few seconds out if you watch via freeview, satellite etc etc.
If you want to set your watch listen to the pips on Radio 4 on FM.
“Icelandic teen dupes White House”
Those dumb Yanks!
Nobody else would fall for that, would they Beeboids?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030108/ai_n9676173
Would they Beeboids?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article717210.ece
Would they Beeboids?
http://www.out-law.com/page-5132
Why is David Gregory BBC so selective in the questions he chooses to answer?There are numerous valid points posted above yet he concentrates on the Mars thing.
Rightofcentre writes;
“How can the BBC still transmit the Greenwich time signal, as due to the process of digitising and bouncing off a satellite it is approx 1 or so second late?”
I’m not Mr Gregory , but if as I presume you are referring to DAB broadcasting would you mind if I reply. As it’s a subject close to my heart.
The time delay you refer isn’t from bouncing it off a sat but rather the time lag it picks up as it passes from each digital transmitter. I wouldn’t berate the BBC for that, as that is a physics problem and not something that has an easy solution. While a pain it would simply mean that the pips (If they continue) will be wrong by about 2 seconds at the most. How many people can say they keep such accurate time keeping anyway?
Anyway I mentioned it was a subject close to my heart and the reason being is an early adopter of technology that I am I replaced every radio in the house with an DAB one. We have a REVO for the Bedroom £70, A Sony separate £200, A Bush for the spare room £50 and a small Roberts portable £50. The BBC still advertises on TV and the Web that moving up to DAB is a good move here is the current BBC ad from its News website;
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8431/image1wf9.jpg
and if you click on the link it takes you here;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/digital/radio/index.shtml
Fine, well not actually. Because DAB broadcasts are yesterdays technology and the UK as is Europe (with the exception of France) is now moving up to DAB+.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcasting#DAB.2B
The two formats are not compatible and while there are plans to transmit both in conjunction when DAB+ comes on line, DAB will go the way of the Dodo. So why is the BBC still promoting DAB when DAB+ is the future. Ok I will accept there are only a handful of DAB+ receivers but after dishing out almost £400 on new radios I find we may need to replace them again. Why can’t the BBC inform the plebs that DAB+ and not DAB is the future. I for one would have held off from spending my cash.
“For the difference in digital they probably can allow for the delay from the data going up to a satellite and down again by starting them off a bit earlier on digital”
Martin | 11.12.07 – 12:46 pm |
If that were to be done then you wouldn`t be transmitting the Greenwich time signal, but a recording.(Same applys to Big Ben)
—————————————
David Gregory (BBC) | 11.12.07 – 12:48 pm |
BBC News 24 has a clock at the Bottom.
I agree, it`s not really important as I sync my pc with the U.S Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.
I was just curious 🙂
Sorry above was me.
rightofcentre: But the clock doesn’t have a second hand like the old alalogue clock used to.
jeff:
Why is David Gregory BBC so selective in the questions he chooses to answer?There are numerous valid points posted above yet he concentrates on the Mars thing.
jeff
Sorry, Jeff. I’ve explained the rules about where I can usefully contribute and someone asked me a direct question.
I guess James Walker is talking about me here, Davidov Gregorovitch, but Ben has already commented on that particular post. I will just say this;
“How is it that Newsnight, a programme with more staff and resources devoted to it than the entire 24 hour Sky News operation”
Is rubbish.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7137772.stm
A relatively even-handed story but there isn’t any come back on the US bashing or on the quality of the new Council. This little exchange explains why Cuba is so happy to join:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70718-0001.htm
Pounce: So glad you don’t blame the BBC for the laws of physics! 😉
You make a very good point about DAB. Indeed over the years I’ve seen plenty of other standards demonstrated. In the end you have to pick one and go with it. I’m not sure in the end there’s much you can do about “better” standards coming later as technology improves.
For DAB that is correct. However, if you listen on Sky then that is coming via satellite and there is quite a significant delay.
Cockkney: wonder how much carbon ramadan cost?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/engla…ter/ 7137504.stm
How much carbon does it cost to go on the Hajj? Think how much carbon footprint could be eliminted if 10s of millions of Muslims did not converge on Mecca every year?
You won’t see al-Beeb bringing this point up!
David Gregory: since you are the only Beeboid here, could you please answer my question about the racial attack in Stepney not being covered by the Beeb? I know it is not your “beat” but do you at lest have an opinion as t why it was not covered?
The BBC on those nasty racist Jews:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7136068.stm
On the subject of BBC salaries, I’m delighted to see that the BBC’s sports editor, Mihir Bose, has had the spare time to pen a 350+ page history of Bollywood.
Now hands up everyone here who would have the time to research and write such a book without it affecting their day job?
Hmmm, thought not.
Mods – I took a straw poll in the office the other day and there wasn’t a single defender of the disgusting BBC (though in the interests of accuracy, I should point out that while a few (mainly Christians and Tories) did indeed loath it, as I do, most were simply indifferent to it).
I think the time has come to try and lobby public opinion. Hopw can we get the message over to the public that the BBC is actually a danger to free thought and the British way of life?
It seems to me that B-BBC itself could serve as a very useful campaigning tool. But we need more: we need a more powerful way of reaching the public and exposing the lying, cheating, bigoted Beeb to greater public scrutiny.
Should we have protests outside BH or QT (hey! We finally get to meet the apparatchik John Reith! What fun!)? Should we send letters to newspapers, organisations and MPs exposing their lies and bigotries? Should we find a way of advertising on billboards or in newspapers?
I am convinced that more and more people are fed up with this bloated and vile “news” organisation. We should strike while the iron is hot.
Ideas?
None of our corrupt politicians will do anything about the BBC. For many when they finally get kicked out of their cosy little job in Parliament (after ripping us off on their pension and expenses) theBBC is often seen as one of the top “meeja” jobs for their next career.
According to the BBC these are “two London men”.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7137695.stm
Just how pc (and not very accurate) do they want to be?
Even they admit that one is “an Iranian student” and the other “a journalist from Pakistan”.
I suppose David Beckham will be known as Los Angeles resident by the BBC? No, thought not.
BBC redesigns website….
bbc.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/home/beta/
Wouldn’t you if you have £3.5BN?
David Gregory: since you are the only Beeboid here, could you please answer my question about the racial attack in Stepney not being covered by the Beeb? I know it is not your “beat” but do you at lest have an opinion as t why it was not covered?
Susan
Susan. I’ve no idea. I don’t have the time to sort through the local radio/tv coverage to see if it was or it wasn’t and the website search remains as clunky as ever. Were they sentenced yesterday? Looking through Google news it seems only the Mail picked it up.
David Gregory…’Sorry, Jeff. I’ve explained the rules about where I can usefully contribute and someone asked me a direct question.’…….
I’m afraid that’s not good enough.You are,as I see it,a brainwashed bbc apologist.You comment on the ‘easier’questions but totally ignore the more important points.
Do you and your comrades at the beeb realise the growing anger out here in the real world?Are you aware that the majority of us are not as daft as you assume we are?
When it all kicks off,(and believe me it will do),lets hope it’s the dear old marxist bbc that goes first,along with its legions of leftie,’right on’robots.
BBC Worldview agenda driven ‘news’
Prison = baaaaad.
How drugs fuel violence in prison
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7138324.stm
Sub headings:
‘String of attacks’
‘High drug use’
‘Vulnerable prisoners’
‘Bullying’
BBC Worldview agenda driven ‘news’
State owned industries = good!.
Nationalising Northern Rock
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7138242.stm
A report geefully explaining how wonderful state ownership is and how easy it would be to nationalise Northern Rock. Nil analysis of the downside. Figures.
Beeboid facing jail…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7138496.stm
Ps. What’s the latest on Nigel Wrench
Susan | 11.12.07 – 3:32 pm
….could you please answer my question about the racial attack in Stepney not being covered by the Beeb? I know it is not your “beat” but do you at lest have an opinion as t why it was not covered?
Because there are too many such attacks to report.
Most such attacks feature white victims and BME (Black and ethnic minority) perps.
If the BBC were to report only the most serious, it would run to hundreds every week.
The most recent analysis shows that in 2004, 87,000 people from black or minority ethnic communities (BME) said they had been a victim of a racially motivated crime. In the same period, 92,000 white people said they had also fallen victim.
Focusing on violent racial attacks, 49,000 BME were victims. Among whites, the number was 77,000. A Of those that involved wounding 4,000 were BME. Among the white population it was 20,000
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6128466.stm
Jeff:
“I’m afraid that’s not good enough.You are,as I see it,a brainwashed bbc apologist.You comment on the ‘easier’questions but totally ignore the more important points.”
Ok. Well the “important points” I’d imagine you are discussing would things like the coverage of the US and Israel. I have no expertise at all in these areas. What could I usefully add?
“Do you and your comrades at the beeb realise the growing anger out here in the real world?Are you aware that the majority of us are not as daft as you assume we are?
When it all kicks off,(and believe me it will do),lets hope it’s the dear old marxist bbc that goes first,along with its legions of leftie,’right on’robots.
jeff ”
Only today as I passed through our “open space” and had a nice chat with people browsing through the shop and having a coffee I sensed the worst thing that might “kick off” was a hug from a nice lady who seemed a bit over fond of me. As for the “real world” I live there too you know.
If it makes you happy I’ll contribute posts on topics of which I know nothing. But what would be the use?
(Susan: Sadly I think Reith may well be right, hence only the Mail picking up the story too)
John Reith | 11.12.07 – 6:09 pm |
“Because there are too many such attacks to report. ”
LOL
You got a promising stand up career with lines like that. My eye are still watering even now.
That could become your bye line. Look how well it works.
Why does the BBC not report [enter subject matter here]
Labour party funding corruption….no. “Because there are too many …. to report”
Muslims attacks on apostates in Britian ….no. “Because there are too many …. to report”
Hezbullah attacks on Israel……..no. “Because there are too many …. to report”
Labour party vote rigging……no. “Because there are too many …. to report”
Lurkingblackhat – Best post of the day!
Dr. R:
“I think the time has come to try and lobby public opinion. How can we get the message over to the public that the BBC is actually a danger to free thought and the British way of life?”
My thoughts exactly Dr. R. And I hope your point does not get absorbed by this thread and ignored.
The problem is, most intelligent licence payers (outside of Broadcasting House) know exactly how manipulative and ethnocentric Al Beeb are, but don’t have a clue what to do about it. Worst still, many of them would rather sit and stare at Sky as an alternative rather than doing anything ‘physical’ about it.
Personally, I’ve always thought the achilles heel of the BBC is the way it needs to instill fear of imprisonment against those who would consider not paying the licence fee.
Educating the general public into realising TV detector vans are a myth and that TV licensing have very little power to do anything against those who refuse to pay, and you could possibly convince people to stop paying the license fee en masse.
The BBC would then crumble like a house of cards.
But that’s only one possible direction. You’d need to hit them from many angles and to do so would mean using the same media Al Beeb use themselves to indoctrinate:-
The TV, web and print.
Personally, I’m up for anything that will silence this broadcasting dictatorship. They are a very real and dangerous threat to this country’s security and that fact can never be understated.
If anyone would like to discuss this subject of how to lobby public opinion outside of this forum, and would be willing to motivate themselves and others, I’d be happy to exchange e-mails.
Lurkingblackhat: Reith does make a good point. Imagine you are the producer of an early evening news bulletin. You have half an hour. Do you report every single murder? That’s a lot of still pictures of victims, fluttering police tape, and shots of the outside of buildings.
I am convinced that more and more people are fed up with this bloated and vile “news” organisation. We should strike while the iron is hot.
Ideas?
Dr R | 11.12.07 – 4:18 pm |
Organise a cancel your BBC license day.
When million of people stop paying (there are not enough jails)it will be “goodbye BBC”.
Show the beeboid who is master.
Glauca:
“Organise a cancel your BBC license day.”
I can’t think of a better start.
But how do you educate them into understanding that they will not be imprisoned, fined or bullied by Auntie for not paying?
Reg Hammer,
Re lobby public opinion outside this forum, I will be happy to exchange e-mails.
But how to educate them into understanding that they will not be imprisoned, fined or bulliedby Auntie for not paying?
Reg Hammer 11.12.07 – 8:02 pm
Maybe we should start witheach one signing a pledge of their intention, and when we have a couple of millions (more will easily follow) then we can set the D Day when every body, in unison, stop paying.
As I said, there are not enough jails to house millions.
Need to be planned as military operation.
Carbon Stories: the Beeb look at the “carbon lives” of five families around the world. What has me rolling in the aisles is the Beeb’s willingness to dispatch reporters around the world to talk to these various families. No eco-hypocrisy there then…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7137123.stm
David Gregory (BBC) | 11.12.07 – 7:57 pm |
No not every murder should be on the news.
Also this was not murder but attempted murder.
IMHO this warrants a a mention on BBC TV news, BBC 24 hour news, BBC website, BBC radio (any national station).
A racist attack by a mob 20 of “wielding machetes and metal bars” against 5 people for the audacity of being the wrong colour and walking into the wrong street which ended up in successful procedution for attempted murder and of which the racist nature of the mob would graphically established during said procecution
And it does not matter if the racists were white, black, brown, yellow or sky blue pink with yellow dots on…..IT IS BLOODY NEWS WORTHY
Reg Hammer,
When people will know that they will be part of an “army” of millions, they will not be afraid to act.
“United we stand, divided we fall”
How about this.
Kick off a campaign by asking 1000 people to pledge on Pledgebank.com to donate a year’s licence fee to an organisation with the following objectives:-
1. To abolish the compulsory licence fee.
2. To allow the BBC to continue as a national broadcaster on the same voluntary basis as The National Trust. (If it’s as popular as Reith and David Gregory keep telling us it should have no problem in funding a viable, if more modest, service.)
Use the £ 100,000 from the pledgebank campaign to finance a bigger fund raising campaign along the lines of – “Give us a years licence fee it could be your last”.
An important consideration is that people have the option of donating their licence fee while witholding it from Crapita (if they’re brave or committed enough) or just donating the money while still paying their licence (if they can afford it and don’t want the hassle).
That way you’re iinviting people to donate a years licence fee without actually inciting them to break the law.
If as many people as we all think are totally p*ssed off with the Beeb – the final response should be enough to fund a proper professional PR & political lobbying campaign, which is the only way anything gets changed in our society.
Whadya think?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7137101.stm
BBC reports on Scooter Libby deciding not to appeal against his sentence for involvement. Funny how they do not mention ANYWHERE in the story who actually leaked the name, one Richard Armitage, merely saying no one has been charged… funny that.
BBC and their hatred of America which ensures they NEVER report the full story if they can have a bash at Bush or the White House…no wonder so many of us now turn to the US News and blogs for the whole story!
John Reith spins in his grave:
Impressive stuff. You’ve clearly thought this through.
It would certainly appear as a pro-active campaign rather than a destructive campaign. Far kinder than they deserve but difficult to object too.
“The final response should be enough to fund a proper professional PR & political lobbying campaign, which is the only way anything gets changed in our society.”
Raising funds via Pledgebank.com is smart, as long as those controlling the funds had a status of trust.
Failing that, pooling resources of trade and time could possibly work. I’m certain that there are all sorts of professionals in media, law, print, IT, design, advertising and who knows how many useful roles who would be willing to donate some of their skills and time.
I’d hate to think this opportunity would be lost somewhere in debate.
Does anyone really fancy another 10 years of Al Beeb?
Lurkingblackhat: In terms of news judgment only the Mail thought it a newsworthy story.
Reg: That way broadcasting is going we may well not be here in ten years!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7139202.stm
More rubbish headliners by junior staff at the BBC:
“Woman killed after early release”
Early release? What from a hospital or prison or mental home? But then read on and you find out it was her boyfriend who was released early from prison who murdered her. Killed? No MURDERED. After early release? No. BECAUSE of early release.
Get them to resit their English exams please before allowing them to write such headlines – most of which are designed to give exactly the wrong impression at first glance or even second!
I recently took a complaint to the BBC Trust, as the BBC Information response I got was shockingly lame, a real cut ‘n paste job. I was resigned to the fact that I was never going to get a sincere response from these people.
Bruce Vander, the BBC Trust Complaints manager advised me to take my complaint to Helen Boaden, Director of BBC News for a stage 2 response. Apparently it is only if I find her response unsatisfactory that the Trust will consider an appeal…
Does anyone have any experience in dealing with her? Or what the criteria for a successful appeal are? I’m hoping (don’t laugh) that her response will be more constructive than the Janet and John response I got recently. Whatever the outcome I’m prepared to complain persistently.
In my opinion the BBC get away with a lot of nonsense due to public apathy. If sufficient numbers of people could overcome their inertia and make a fuss, something beneficial would happen.
John Reith spins in his grave,
I like it.
I pledge one year licence fee. As don’t have a TV I don’t even have to withold it from Crapita.
“Does anyone fancy another 10 years of Al Beeb?”
Reg Hammer
Hell no!
Interesting bit of humble pie eating by the BBC on Newsnight with Mark Urban.
However, his dig at the “walled” communities not being a solution made me laugh. Has he forgotten about Northern Ireland?
David Gregory:
In view of the BBC’s wonderful carbon accounting of Christmas dinner, can you say how many of your colleagues will be contributing to make it carbon neutral?
HappyUK,
This will give you an idea of what you will be up against if you submit a complaint to Helen Boaden:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/10/bias_at_the_bbc.html
All her articles to The Editors blog are here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/helen_boaden/
Whatever your complaint, it is almost certain that she will fob you off. Probably the most that you can hope for is that she will have a quiet word with whoever was the cause of your complaint without letting you or anyone else know that she has done it.
Does anyone know how much CO2 that tosser Harrabin created flying to Bali? How does the BBC justify the CO2 created and why did it send so many people to Bali in the first place?
Ps. What’s the latest on Nigel Wrench
I’ve written to the BBC about this and had no reply. Has the rape charge been dropped? Are we paying the salary of a convicted rapist? What’s happening? Is he suspended on full pay? What’s the process for reporters on criminal charges? Why no mention on PM? Why nothing on the BBC news website AT ALL about the case?
Anyone? Any Beeboid like to comment?