The sanitisation and idealisation of the religion of Islam proceeds apace at the Beeb. It must- as this culture is being more and more forcefully advocated by its adherents, so it requires greater and greater efforts to retain management of the news in a way that the Beeb feels is responsible. After writing this post originally, I heard of the terrible stampede at this year’s Hajj. I am naturally sorry … Continue reading →

Something about the picture in this article reminds me of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s the utopianism I think. So, as multiculturalism (and lifestyle choice) becomes religion, religion becomes problematic, though, as Ritter points out, Sir Iqbal and Mr Jones get different treatment. And no, it’s not just the media treating the two cases differently. There’s no mention of Mr Plod actually knocking on Sir Iqqy’s door. Click through to read … Continue reading →

the humour of the late left-wing Labour MP Tony Banks, “known for acid tongue and sharp wit“, who “will be remembered for his hilarious insults“ “Tory MP, Terry Dicks, was dismissed as “living proof that a pig’s bladder on the end of a stick can be elected to Parliament”. The former sports minister, who became Lord Stratford last year, showed reputations did not intimidate him when he accused Lady Thatcher … Continue reading →

(I’ve changed the date on this post to reflect the transition from first saving to final form) I think I was a scout for two weeks, though I can’t remember exactly. I had been promised it would be way different from the hateful cubs pack I was a member of, but it was sufficiently like it to bring out a nervous reaction that saw me resolutely glued to the sofa … Continue reading →

I followed this link to an “On This Day” article about the 1985 airlift by Israel of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. I have no bias complaints about that article itself. It actually said that the Jews had suffered particular president under “Marxist President Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam.” But I noticed several funny things about the “Timeline Israel/Palestinians” covering the 1950s to the present. I’m afraid this is going to take … Continue reading →

BBC Eye is a Beebwatching blog by “Cerdic”, who started the Beebwatch blog before blogs existed. His post for today says: Five Live Drivel continues to not surprise. In awaiting Charles Kennedy’s statement (no, not ‘mine’s a pint), they said that the Shadow Cabinet was split over his possible departure. Since the Shadow Cabinet is currently Conservative (I know the BBC hopes the LibDums will become the official opposition, but … Continue reading →

Andrew Zalotocky writes: What did you think of “The Christmas Invasion”? It didn’t seem overtly political, which makes me wonder why the BBC web site had that story promoting it as such beforehand. I can think of three plausible explanations: 1) The “peace message” story was a heavy-handed attempt to ensure that the audience got the right message 2) It was the loose cannons at BBC Online giving it their … Continue reading →

Not many posts while I was away, I see. I suspect that, with the honourable exception of Laban, the Biased BBC shock-jocks were unable to post due to a prior commitment to getting some serious hung-over layabouting done. Never mind, other bloggers took up the slack: Read Adloyada on one award the BBC won’t be boasting about – namely an ironic award from Honest Reporting.com. Readers provided a full laundry … Continue reading →

reports on the trial of Saddam Hussein, declaring ‘Saddams’s trial is not a farce’. Pootergeek is concerned for him. I think I have just read John Simpson’s final serious news report. It is in many ways a frightening document; I am afraid on his behalf. Apart from the factual content that we have come to expect from the BBC even at its most feeble, it breaks metropolitan media convention in … Continue reading →