NICE TWEET

Here’s another little nugget from Twitter just to keep the blog ticking over on a quiet day. This tweet comes from Mark Sandell, editor of the BBC’s World Have Your Say discussion show (and also Mr Victoria Derbyshire): He couldn’t resist – he just had to put a #nice tag in there. He’s also concerned that not enough musicians are lending their support to the Occupy Wall Street demos. (Right-on … Continue reading

Mark Mardell Is Depressed, But It’s Never The President’s Fault

A couple of days ago, I commented on a previous open thread about Mardell’s latest journey amongst the great unwashed in search of more hope for the President’s chances of re-election. It was basic human interest stuff, anecdotes about how the economic crisis and continuing New Depression have hit black people hardest. He didn’t do any in-depth analysis in that piece, as it was just supposed to set the stage … Continue reading

CLASSIC EASTON

Mark Easton’s report for the Today programme (reproduced on his blog) about a study into civility by “social science think-tank” The Young Foundation is a classic of the Easton genre. He opens the piece with some Tory bashing, in this case reproducing a 2007 David Cameron quote which he then dismisses as “dangerously counter-productive bunkum”. He explains: “Generalisations about declining standards of civility are inaccurate and problematic”, say the researchers…. … Continue reading

THAT TRAFALGAR SQUARE RALLY AGAIN

A little update to yesterday’s post. Here’s BBC Newcastle reporter Sarah Walton’s reply to BBC London News producer Jane Bradley on Saturday: The love of lefty protest is no great shock, but I am a little surprised to discover that BBC journalists still hold Assange in such high regard. I guess it’s all part of displaying one’s radical cred. Click through to read and contribute comments on this post.

SHIVER ME TIMBERS…

Here’s a quite astonishing instance of BBC advocacy for that well known oppressed minority group – Somali pirates. Yes, only the BBC would spend our cash worrying about these brigands will be treated in US prisons! Federal prison is a frightening, perilous environment of intrigue, violent gangs, terrible food and severe isolation, even for the most hardened criminal. For men from a faraway land with little or no English-language skills and … Continue reading

FOX ON THE RUN…

It’s a question of priority, isn’t it? On the same day that dozens are killed in Egypt; that the huge Belgium bank Dexia becomes the latest multi billion casualty of the Euro-zone crisis; that Obama’s stormtroopers occupy Wall Street whilst defecating on Police Cars- what better story to LEAD the news with than Liam Fox and his “working relationship” with Adam Werritty? There was a an interview between John Humphrys … Continue reading

WHY IS ROBERT PESTON SUCCESSFUL?

Biased BBC reader Alan asks the question; “Why is Robert Peston so successful?” “It’s because he is so supremely interesting and stupendously intelligent. Or so so he tells us. In the Sunday Times Peston says he is setting up an organisation to provide inspirational speakers to schools…great thinkers from the worlds of business, politics, sports and journalism amongst others. He is annoyed that it is public schools such as Eton that … Continue reading

THERE’S ALWAYS THE SUN…

Had to laugh at this item (7.17am) on Today this morning.  It suggest the RADICAL news that the big orange thing in the sky – the Sun – might actually affect weather on the Earth. I know, I know, who would have figured that one, huh? Anyway, our dear friend Richard Black was on hand to quickly point out that whilst the Sun may help us predict UK winters, this has … Continue reading

Conservatives everywhere!

It’s come as a shock to the BBC that things are not working out the way they assumed they would in Egypt. The Arab Spring looks more and more like the Islamic uprising some of us pointed out at the time. Obviously Christianity cannot co-exist with the rampant intolerance of Islam and Egypt’s Coptic Christians know all about this, having been at the receiving end of things. So, they take … Continue reading