The Current Outlook

My last post from Blogger

2005-03-05T08:02:00.000Z

Just a final note (from Blogger) to say I have decided that after eleven months of using Blogger for weblogging to use another service. Blogger has been left something to be desired for a considerable amount of time for me, anyway.

My new blog (still known as 'The Current Outlook') is located here. Please update your links, favourites, diaries, brains, whatever.

Tonight's Any Question's line-up announced

2005-03-04T17:29:00.000Z

Tonight's edition of Any Questions? comes from Hall Grove School, Bagshot in Surrey. Jonathan Dimbleby will be presenting.

The panellists:

Lord Falconer (Labour)
Tim Yeo MP (Conservative)
Don Foster MP (Liberal Democrat)
Christina Odone (columnist for The Observer)

I look forward to tonight's debate.

TV: Question Time

2005-03-04T17:22:00.000Z

Charles Clarke was completely defeated with regards to control orders. It was rather surprising just how far he was overwhelmed.

I was stunned by the claim by Clarke that 'the price of freedom is eternal vigilance'. Shami Chakrabarti pointed out that sentiment is for us the British public to keep watching people like Charles Clarke and the Prime Minister, the people who want to take our freedom away much more effectively than any terrorist bogeyman like Al-Qaeda.

Home Office's "anti-terror" laws go before the House of Lords today

2005-03-03T04:27:00.000Z

Controversial terrorism plans, including putting suspects under house arrest, go back before the Lords later.

It's easy to deride and mock those who sit in the House of Lords. I'm not going to mock them. They are the only safeguard the British people have against the full force of this Government. I hope they don't fail us.

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-03-02T23:37:00.000Z

Tomorrow night's edition will be broadcast from London and will centre on the subject of home affairs - Law 'N' Order. The panel has undergone a reduction from five members to four.

The line-up:

Charles Clarke MP (Labour)
David Davis MP (Conservative)
Mark Oaten MP (Liberal Democrat)
Shami Chakrabarti (director of Liberty)

I will be looking forward to this.

Christmas in August

2005-03-02T13:41:00.000Z

This was a lovely drama. It's about a photographer Jung-Won (Han Suk-Kyu), who is quite young. He is suffering from a terminal illness. He strikes up a platonic relationship with Darim (Shin Eun-Ha). He realises though that he does not have enough time left to see his relationship with her through and is haunted by the knowledge that he will die and leave people behind him.

It's quite a sad movie, yet rather upbeat too. It doesn't go over the top by screaming and shouting but instead goes for the subtle technique. Christmas in August is a wonderful little film. I liked it.

Survey says politicians are among the most sleep deprived people

2005-03-01T23:14:00.000Z

Politicians are among the most sleep deprived people in society, a survey has suggested.

Diddums. It's no wonder they don't sleep properly when they behave as they do. They don't have a lot of sympathy from me in any case.

My House in Umbria

2005-02-28T23:22:00.000Z

I decided to go and see this at the cinema tonight.

A railway carriage is bombed, apparently by terrorists. Some of the people in the carriage die but four survive, one of them being Emily Delahunty (Maggie Smith), a British writer. Emily decides to invite all four survivors: an old British general (Ronnie Barker), a young German political reporter (Benno Fürmann) and a small American girl, Aimee (Emily Clarke) to her lovely home in the Umbrian countryside to recover. Emily spends most of her time drinking and doing nothing. Her childless professor uncle Tom Riversmith (Chris Cooper) is notified and he turns up. He's no-nonsense and dislikes her rather carefree, drink-filled lifestyle. She tries to get him into bed and he shatters her dreams.

That's about it. It's all very well mannered but the film achieves nothing. Nothing happens. The film essentially achieves nothing instead of loads of lovely shots of the Umbrian countryside. It would probably be better on a Sunday afternoon in front of the TV as it certainly isn't suited to the cinema. My House in Umbria is made up of scenery porn and little else.

My House in Umbria has some wonderful scenery but sod all else.

Government denies Shadow Home Secretary's 'backtrack' claims on "anti-terror" law

2005-02-27T20:17:00.000Z

The government has denied claims by Conservative shadow home secretary David Davis that it is to backtrack on controversial anti-terror legislation.

I would think they'll still want to get some kind of cross-party support. I do worry about the Liberal Democrat's position on this worrying piece of legislation. Mark Oaten appears to be far too aligned with the Government on this and, in my opinion, is failing in his job to stick up for the beliefs of their party.

Quick plug

2005-02-26T16:42:00.000Z

Just thought I'd take the time to advertise a new forum I run with others about Asperger's Syndrome called - oddly enough - Asperger's Forum. We desperately need new members so please register and start posting.

Other than the obvious boards discussing Asperger's, there are also forums discussing other matters - from heavy current affairs and politics to entertainment and computers and the Internet. There is even a forum for jokes!

Registration is open to all, both people with and without Asperger's Syndrome.

That is all.

Labour MP uses his last speech in Parliament to lambast the Blair Government

2005-02-26T15:14:00.000Z

Just thought I'd pass this on. I agree with pretty much everything Brian Sedgemore MP says - the hatred of civil liberties and freedom that this Government has is startling and must be stopped. The British people will pay dearly if their plans are not halted. There is a link to the Hansard here.

I quote his speech in its entirity thus:

Mr. Brian Sedgemore (Hackney, South and Shoreditch) (Lab): As this will almost certainly be my last speech in Parliament, I shall try hard not to upset anyone. However, our debate here tonight is a grim reminder of how the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary are betraying some of Labour's most cherished beliefs. Not content with tossing aside the ideas and ideals that inspire and inform ideology, they seem to be giving up on values too. Liberty, without which democracy has no meaning, and the rule of law, without which state power cannot be contained, look to Parliament for their protection, but this Parliament, sad to say, is failing the nation badly. It is not just the Government but Back-Bench Members who are to blame. It seems that in situations such as this, politics become incompatible with conscience, principle, decency and self-respect. Regrettably, in such situations, the desire for power and position predominates.
As we move towards a system of justice that found favour with the South African Government at the time of apartheid and which parallels Burmese justice today, if hon. Members will pardon the oxymoron, I am reminded that our fathers fought and died for liberty—my own father literally—believing that these things should not happen here, and we would never allow them to happen here. But now we know better. The unthinkable, the unimaginable, is happening here.

In their defence, the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary say that they are behaving tyrannically and trying to make nonsense of the House of Lords' decision in A and Others as appellants v. the Home Secretary as respondent because they are frightened, and that the rest of us would be frightened too if only we knew what they will not tell us. They preach the politics of fear and ask us to support political incarceration on demand and punishment without trial.

Sad to say, I do not trust the judgment of either our thespian Prime Minister or our Home Secretary, especially given the latter's performance at the Dispatch Box yesterday. It did not take Home Office civil servants or the secret police long to put poison in his water, did it? Paper No. 1, entitled "International Terrorism: the Threat", which the Home Secretary produced yesterday and I have read, is a putrid document if it is intended to justify the measure. Indeed, the Home Secretary dripped out bits of it and it sounded no better as he spoke than it read. Why does he insult the House? Why cannot he produce a better argument than that?

How on earth did a Labour Government get to the point of creating what was described in the House of Lords hearing as a "gulag" at Belmarsh? I remind my hon. Friends that a gulag is a black hole into which people are forcibly directed without hope of ever getting out. Despite savage criticisms by nine Law Lords in 250 paragraphs, all of which I have read and understood, about the creation of the gulag, I have heard not one word of apology from the Prime Minister or the Home Secretary. Worse, I have heard no word of apology from those Back Benchers who voted to establish the gulag.

Have we all, individually and collectively, no shame? I suppose that once one has shown contempt for liberty by voting against it in the Lobby, it becomes easier to do it a second time and after that, a third time. Thus even Members of Parliament who claim to believe in human rights vote to destroy them.

Many Members have gone nap on the matter. They voted: first, to abolish trial by jury in less serious cases; secondly, to abolish trial by jury in more serious cases; thirdly, to approve an unlawful war; fourthly, to create a gulag at Belmarsh; and fifthly, to lock up innocent people in their homes. It is truly terrifying to imagine what those Members of Parliament will vote for next.I can describe all that only as new Labour's descent into hell, which is not a place where I want to be.

I hope that—but doubt whether—ethical principles and liberal thought will triumph tonight over the lazy minds and disengaged consciences that make Labour's Whips Office look so ridiculous and our Parliament so unprincipled.
It is a foul calumny that we do today. Not since the Act of Settlement 1701 has Parliament usurped the powers of the judiciary and allowed the Executive to lock up people without trial in times of peace. May the Government be damned for it.

Feel free to quote bits from it, link to it in your blogs, whatever. It is essential reading as it is a damaging attack on the Labour party from one of their own. The important thing is that people see (or hear) it in its entirety. Brilliant stuff.

Tonight's Any Questions? line-up announced

2005-02-25T17:48:00.000Z

Tonight's Any Questions? comes from St. Ann's Church, Beamish Street in Newcastle.

The panel:

David Miliband MP (Labour)
George Osborne MP (Conservative)
Ben Page (director of Market & Opinion Research International's Social Research Institute)
Bea Campbell (writer)

We shall see if this is any good.

High Court grants Maxine Carr an indefinite order protecting her new identity

2005-02-24T21:30:00.000Z

Maxine Carr, the former girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley, has been granted an indefinite order protecting her new identity by the High Court.

Of course she should have her identity protected. It is only because of the tabloids' campaign of hatred against her that this protection is actually needed in the first place!

She's been punished for her actions and I think she should be able to get on with her life now without the press harassing her and people trying to threaten her safety.

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-02-23T17:38:00.000Z

This week's edition in Question Time will be recorded in Warrington and the panel:

Alun Michael MP (Labour)
Theresa May MP (Conservative)
Norman Baker MP (Liberal Democrat)
Mark Steel (comedian)
Anne Atkins (commentator)

Interesting big two. Other ones seem less relevant though.

Home Secretary plans to give himself the power to put people under house arrest

2005-02-22T09:21:00.000Z

The home secretary is expected to press ahead with plans to give himself the power to put terror suspects under house arrest, despite wide opposition.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. In a so-called 'free' country we should not be giving the Government that kind of power. They misuse the power they have already (by criminalising innocent people, by harassing innocent people, by spying on innocent people) - why give the Government of the day the power to lock up anyone they like without evidence? It's obscene.

Kung Fu Hustle

2005-02-21T16:44:00.000Z

Decided to watch Stephen Chow's (of The God of Cookery and Shaolin Soccer fame) new film Kung Fu Hustle.

It's a moderately entertaining ninety or so minutes with plenty of action to keep you occupied. Even so, I was left just a little underwhelmed by it all. The other two films I mentioned have grown on me much more - The God of Cookery especially.

Worth checking it out as others seem to have liked it more than I did.

With Harmful Intent

2005-02-20T07:02:00.000Z

This was the second in five's double-bill. It's really quite an awful TV movie. It's about a doctor who gets in his car and goes round knocking schoolchildren over so his sister (I think?), with all the other real opposition removed, can present her son as the School Genius™. With Harmful Intent pulls uses cliche after cliche, and pretty terribly too. The whole thing is really quite laughable. I've seen a lot of films which were much less entertaining.

The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story

2005-02-19T06:37:00.000Z

I caught this on five's double-bills that usually takes place overnight on Friday night-Saturday mornings.

The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story is a TV movie about the first two days of the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 (of which there is more on the real-life case here) in 1985.

The story focuses on Uli Derickson (Lindsay Wagner), a flight attendant who was on the plane, which was bound for London. Two armed hijackers take over control of the plane. They assert their control by carrying out brutal beatings on both some of the crew and passengers with American passports. Keeping her cool, Uli manages to gain the trust of leader Castro (Eli Danker) and saves innocent people's lives and getting some others released by negotiating with them.

This was quite an interesting drama. The acting was somewhat better than I had expected. I went in to The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story with decidedly low expectations (the awful music doesn't help) but it was overall a very decent bit of entertainment. I did feel the ending was just a bit of a letdown as I wanted to know what happened to Castro in particular - helped by Danker's excellent portrayal of a brutal but occasionally quite caring man. Better than I expected.

Nestlé to axe tube-shaped Smarties packets

2005-02-19T05:42:00.000Z

Childhood may never be quite the same again - the maker of Smarties has announced it is to ditch the colourful chocolates' tube-shaped packet.

I'm just waiting for someone to declare that it's "PC gone maaaaaad!" over this. I can't deny that I like Smarties too.

UK TV viewers lead illegal downloading of American programmes from the Internet

2005-02-18T22:30:00.000Z

British TV viewers lead the trend of illegally downloading US shows from the net, according to research.

When the British TV stations themselves are often so awful at providing the shows anywhere near than their US counterpart are they really surprised that people download? Some people have to wait many months before an American series they want to see gets shown on British television - and even then it's often dumped away at silly graveyard hours when hardly anyone will be watching.

Is it really surprising that people turn to BitTorrent sites to get their shows?

Burglar caught after the webcam in the house he was raiding recorded him stealing

2005-02-17T19:07:00.000Z

A house burglar was caught after a webcam on the owner's computer recorded images of him carrying out the raid.

What an idiot - I hope that teaches him not to be quite so stupid in future. Or perhaps it won't.

A Pair of Briefs

2005-02-16T20:20:00.000Z

Caught this old British comedy on Channel 4 yesterday afternoon. It was a tame satire on the British legal system. A Pair of Briefs came across as being rather dated and not all that funny.

BBC to take its political discussion programme Question Time to Shanghai

2005-02-16T20:14:00.000Z

BBC Television's flagship political discussion programme, Question Time, will broadcast a special edition from Shanghai on Thursday 10 March.

I'll wait and see on this one. The special US edition they made from Miami was really quite odd and surreal in that the audience was shouting down the panellist for the Electoral Commission who was arguing for reform of the electoral system!

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-02-16T20:06:00.000Z

Tomorrow night's edition will be recorded in Slough. The panellists:

Diane Abbott MP (Labour)
Nicholas Soames MP (Conservative)
John Thurso MP (Liberal Democrat)
Johann Hari (journalist)
Heather Mills McCartney (goodwill ambassador for the United Nations apart from the obvious)

Interesting panel.

Four more refusals at the BBFC

2005-02-15T13:23:00.000Z

The BBFC have refused certificates to four more video titles, all to do with the preparation of various drugs. The reason for the rejection in all cases is because of the law.

Mushroom Growing Made Easy was rejected for magic mushroom preparation which will probably become illegal if Parliament pass the new Drugs Bill which will clean up legislation regarding the whole magic mushroom thing. The BBFC's rejection page is here.

Their justification:

Mushroom Growing Made Easy is a one-hour video work offering the viewer clear and detailed guidance on the cultivation of 'magic mushrooms'. At present, the cultivation and possession of fresh and untreated psilocybe mushrooms is not apparently an offence under UK law. Nonetheless, the Board is conscious that the Drugs Bill currently passing through Parliament will have the effect of making the cultivation and possession of such mushrooms, even in their fresh state, illegal. It would be premature for the Board to classify this video work when it is likely that, within a short period of time, it will become a clear incitement to a criminal offence involving a Class A drug. Regardless of the current legal situation, the video in any case shows how to cultivate an organism that contains what is undoubtedly a Class A drug (psilocin) and which, if altered or treated in any way (for example by drying), would even now result in the commission of a serious criminal offence.

The BBFC's Guidelines clearly set out the Board's serious concerns about the portrayal of illegal drugs, particularly when the work in question promotes or encourages their use. The Board’s Guidelines clearly state that “No work taken as a whole may promote or encourage the use of illegal drugs”. Furthermore, under the terms of the Video Recordings Act 1984, the BBFC is required, when making a determination as to whether a video work is suitable for classification, to "have special regard (among the other relevant factors) to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers or, through their behaviour to society, by the manner in which the work deals with [...] illegal drugs" [Video Recordings Act 1984 section 4A(1)].

The Board considered whether cutting the work would be a viable alternative to refusing a classification certificate but found that, because the entire purpose of the video is to assist and encourage in cultivating an organism which contains a Class A drug, this was not a viable option.

It is our conclusion therefore that this video work is in conflict with the Board's published Guidelines and the requirements of the Video Recordings Act. In line with its specific duties under the Video Recordings Act, the Board is required to treat material of this kind very carefully indeed and the Board therefore finds this to be unacceptable for a classification certificate to be issued to it.

The second rejection is The Hash Man (rejection page is here).

BBFC's synopsis:

The Hash Man is a one-hour video work offering the viewer clear and detailed guidance on the extraction of 'hash' from cannabis plants. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the cultivation of cannabis plants is illegal in the UK (without a license or other authority from the Secretary of State for research purposes), as is the ownership, use and supply of cannabis. Indeed, although apparently produced in the US, it is made clear during the video that the growing of cannabis is illegal in many parts of the world and advice and tips are offered on how to avoid detection. The intention of the work is clearly to assist people in breaking the law by giving detailed advice on how to cultivate an illegal drug. The work both constitutes an incitement to commit a criminal offence and, in contravention of the BBFC’s Guidelines, promotes and encourages the use of illegal drugs.

The BBFC's Guidelines clearly set out the Board's serious concerns about the portrayal of illegal drugs, particularly when the work in question promotes or encourages their use. The Board’s Guidelines clearly state that “No work taken as a whole may promote or encourage the use of illegal drugs”. Furthermore, under the terms of the Video Recordings Act 1984, the BBFC is required, when making a determination as to whether a video work is suitable for classification, to "have special regard (among the other relevant factors) to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers or, through their behaviour to society, by the manner in which the work deals with [...] illegal drugs" [Video Recordings Act 1984 section 4A(1)].

The Board considered whether cutting the work would be a viable alternative to refusing a classification certificate but found that, because the entire purpose of the video is to assist and encourage in breaking the law, this was not a viable option.

It is our conclusion therefore that this video work is in conflict with the Board's published Guidelines and the requirements of the Video Recordings Act. In line with its specific duties under the Video Recordings Act, the Board is required to treat material of this kind very carefully indeed and the Board therefore finds this to be unacceptable for a classification certificate to be issued to it.

The third is High-Yield Hydroponic Systems (BBFC's refusal page is here):

High-Yield Hydroponic Systems is a one-hour video work offering the viewer clear and detailed guidance on the cultivation of cannabis plants. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the cultivation of cannabis plants is illegal in the UK (without a license or other authority from the Secretary of State for research purposes), as is the ownership, use and supply of cannabis. Indeed, although apparently produced in the US, it is made clear during the video that the growing of cannabis is illegal in many parts of the word and advice and tips are offered on how to avoid detection. The intention of the work is clearly to assist people in breaking the law by giving detailed advice on how to cultivate an illegal drug. The work both constitutes an incitement to commit a criminal offence and, in contravention of the BBFC’s Guidelines, promotes and encourages the use of illegal drugs.

The BBFC's Guidelines clearly set out the Board's serious concerns about the portrayal of illegal drugs, particularly when the work in question promotes or encourages their use. The Board’s Guidelines clearly state that “No work taken as a whole may promote or encourage the use of illegal drugs”. Furthermore, under the terms of the Video Recordings Act 1984, the BBFC is required, when making a determination as to whether a video work is suitable for classification, to "have special regard (among the other relevant factors) to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers or, through their behaviour to society, by the manner in which the work deals with [...] illegal drugs" [Video Recordings Act 1984 section 4A(1)].

The Board considered whether cutting the work would be a viable alternative to refusing a classification certificate but found that, because the entire purpose of the video is to assist and encourage in breaking the law, this was not a viable option.

It is our conclusion therefore that this video work is in conflict with the Board's published Guidelines and the requirements of the Video Recordings Act. In line with its specific duties under the Video Recordings Act, the Board is required to treat material of this kind very carefully indeed and the Board therefore finds this to be unacceptable for a classification certificate to be issued to it.

And, finally, Introduction to Indoor Growing (rejection page):

Introduction to Indoor Growing is a one-hour video work offering the viewer clear and detailed guidance on the cultivation of cannabis plants. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the cultivation of cannabis plants is illegal in the UK (without a license or other authority from the Secretary of State for research purposes), as is the ownership, use and supply of cannabis. Indeed, although apparently produced in the US, it is made clear during the video that the growing of cannabis is illegal in many parts of the world and advice and tips are offered on how to avoid detection. The intention of the work is clearly to assist people in breaking the law by giving detailed advice on how to cultivate an illegal drug. The work both constitutes an incitement to commit a criminal offence and, in contravention of the BBFC’s Guidelines, promotes and encourages the use of illegal drugs.

The BBFC's Guidelines clearly set out the Board's serious concerns about the portrayal of illegal drugs, particularly when the work in question promotes or encourages their use. The Board’s Guidelines clearly state that “No work taken as a whole may promote or encourage the use of illegal drugs”. Furthermore, under the terms of the Video Recordings Act 1984, the BBFC is required, when making a determination as to whether a video work is suitable for classification, to "have special regard (among the other relevant factors) to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers or, through their behaviour to society, by the manner in which the work deals with [...] illegal drugs" [Video Recordings Act 1984 section 4A(1)].

The Board considered whether cutting the work would be a viable alternative to refusing a classification certificate but found that, because the entire purpose of the video is to assist and encourage in breaking the law, this was not a viable option.

It is our conclusion therefore that this video work is in conflict with the Board's published Guidelines and the requirements of the Video Recordings Act. In line with its specific duties under the Video Recordings Act, the Board is required to treat material of this kind very carefully indeed and the Board therefore finds this to be unacceptable for a classification certificate to be issued to it.

It would seem that the BBFC only reject these days when they feel that some prosecution might result or it is illegal. Which I think is generally the fairest way of going about things.

Tories to pledge that people wanting to work in Britain will have to undergo checks for diseases

2005-02-15T02:07:00.000Z

THE Conservatives will fuel the debate on immigration today by promising that people travelling to live and work in Britain will have to undergo checks for HIV/Aids and other diseases.

If these Conservative proposals prove popular I bet Labour will nick the policy for their own General Election campaign. If the proposals prove a failure with the general public Blair will poke fun at it at Howard's expense.

TV: The Sun Says Sorry... and Other Tales of Forgiveness

2005-02-15T00:55:00.000Z

This programme was essentially four personal stories which all have a common theme - forgiveness. The first one was about the people of Liverpool and the British tabloid newspaper The Sun's quest for forgiveness for the lies the newspaper printed about the 1989 Hillsborough disaster which resulted in the death of 96 people. There is also the moving personal journey of the parents of a murdered child offering forgiveness to their son's killer. Bizarrely, also included are two other tales: one of a daughter whose mother nicked her boyfriend, the other a faintly ridiculous story a middle-aged man haunted by a bullying teacher who called him "sparrow-legs" at school.

The first two stories were the most important and were genuinely moving pieces of television. The other two were trivial and shouldn't really have been included. I think the attitude of The Sun and the man representing them were pretty appalling. His attitude seemed to be "accept our apologies and buy our newspapers". Disgusting behaviour.

I have a lot of sympathy for the parents of the murdered child though. I don't think I could ever forgive anyone who murdered a member of my family. The other two stories were silly inclusions, particularly the "sparrow-legs" man (and if you were so embarrassed about your legs why did you parade them on national television?) probably put there to pad out the programme, which is a shame.

I came away with the feeling that The Sun Says Sorry... and Other Tales of Forgiveness was rather strange, all in all.

Nineteen Eighty-Four

2005-02-14T16:32:00.000Z

This film adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four was not quite as good as I had hoped but it was strangely involving in its bleak, depressing, detached way. There are certainly some similarities today: CCTV cameras are a given in most British town centres, the Government have recycled their own initiatives in the past which they claim to be 'new', and so on. All the performances were generally good with John Hurt being the best of the bunch. A reasonable movie. A decent if not outstanding film.

Blair passionate about winning third term but warns supporters against complacency

2005-02-13T20:10:00.000Z

Tony Blair has spoken of the passion he feels for the Labour Party winning another general election, but warned his supporters against complacency.

I hope as many people as possible take this opportunity to vote against Labour's increasingly authoritarian Government and their proposed new intrusive and oppressive 'anti-terror' laws. It may well be the British public's last effective chance to register their dissatisfaction with New Labour. They'll no doubt win the next election but I urge you to go to the polls in May and vote against them anyway.

Incidentally, 1984 is on Channel 4 in the early hours of tomorrow morning at 01:05, straight after Tony and June, an inane programme featuring a sycophantic, star-struck June Sarpong interviewing Tony Blair. I suspect 1984 will bring a wonderful balance.

TV: Question Time

2005-02-13T01:38:00.000Z

This was such a bad-tempered and childish edition of Question Time it was untrue. David Dimbleby threatened to stop the recording and clear the hall if Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness and Social Democratic and Labour Party's Mark Durkan wouldn't stop arguing. They behaved like a bunch of children. I bet David Dimbleby hates taking Question Time to Northern Ireland because behaviour like that ensues. He should have not indulged Martin McGuinness to anywhere near the extent he did.

The EU Constitution is to be sent into space

2005-02-12T13:07:00.000Z

With its future on earth still undecided, the EU Constitution is to be sent into space - carried by cosmonauts to the International Space Station.

I hope they have a bin up there.

Tonight's Any Questions? line-up announced

2005-02-11T00:10:00.000Z

Jonathan Dimbleby chairs a topical discussion which will be broadcast this week from Thomas Mills High School, Framlingham in Suffolk.

The line-up:

Alun Michael MP (Labour)
John Whittingdale MP (Conservative)
Matthew Taylor MP (Liberal Democrat)
Caroline Lucas MEP (Green)

A bit of a no-name panel, methinks.

It's the thought that counts, isn't it?

2005-02-10T12:10:00.000Z

If Tesco really did do those I'm sure there would be enough cheapskates about who would buy them.

Prince Charles set to marry Camilla

2005-02-10T09:50:00.000Z

Prince Charles is set to marry his long-term partner Camilla Parker-Bowles, Clarence House says.

Oh, are they? Good for them.

Next!

To be honest I'm not really bothered any more as the Royal Family doesn't really have an impact on anything other than tourism these days.

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-02-09T14:34:00.000Z

This week's edition of Question Time will be held in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.

Paul Murphy MP (Labour)
Martin McGuinness MP (Sinn Féin)
Jeffrey Donaldson MP (Democratic Unionist Party)
David Trimble MP (Ulster Unionist Party)
Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party)

I don't know much about the politics of Northern Ireland and this will no doubt be more on local issues. It shall be interesting to hear the debate though.

Racing Stripes

2005-02-08T16:25:00.000Z

I went up to the cinema to see Racing Stripes last night, although it was apparent by the end that others enjoyed it more than I did. The film is really all about racism and intolerance. Here's the film's plot (from the Internet Movie Database):

In the middle of a raging thunderstorm, a traveling circus accidentally leaves behind some very precious cargo--a baby zebra. The gangly little foal is rescued by horse farmer Nolan Walsh, who takes him home to his young daughter Channing. Once a champion thoroughbred trainer, Walsh has given up horse training for a quiet life with Channing on their modest Kentucky farm. The little zebra, or "Stripes," as Channing calls him, is soon introduced to the farm's misfit troupe of barnyard residents, led by a cranky Shetland Pony named Tucker and Franny, a wise old goat who keeps the family in line. The group is joined by Goose, a deranged big-city pelican who's hiding out in the sticks until the heat dies down in Jersey. The un-aptly named bloodhound Lightening keeps a lazy eye on goings-on at the farm - in between naps. The Walsh farm borders the Turfway Racetrack, where highly skilled thoroughbreds compete for horse racing's top honor, the ultra-prestigious Kentucky Crown. From the first moment Stripes lays eyes on the track, he's hooked--he knows that if he could just get the chance, he could leave all those other horses in the dust. What he doesn't know is--he's not exactly a horse. But with characteristic zeal, he devotes himself to training for the big time, with a little help from Tucker, who has coached a host of champion racehorses in the past.

It's essentially a children's film. It proves mildly entertaining on occasion. Taking everything into account I found Racing Stripes to be a rather mediocre and uninspiring but short piece.

ID cards and the National Identity Register: write to your MP

2005-02-08T15:10:00.000Z

The deeply worrying National Identity Register Card plans are getting their third reading in the House of Commons on Thursday.

I urge anyone who is even slightly worried about this odious Government proposal to write to your MP, either by letter or through FaxYourMP.com (it's free) to protest about this hideously authoritarian and invasive proposal to remove even more of your civil liberties. It is for the good of Britain that the entire Government plan is stopped. I used the FaxYourMP.com service today to write to my own MP and it was the first time in my life that I had wrote to my representative but I did so today to tell him how I felt about these plans. Please take half an hour of your time to send a quick letter off so you can tell your local representative how you feel.

Nicky Campbell makes a massive blooper on BBC Radio Five Live's Breakfast show

2005-02-08T09:41:00.000Z

This little incident hasn't been covered in the press but it's damn funny all the same. Nicky Campbell made an astonishing error yesterday morning on his morning show called Breakfast just before 08:00 when he accidentally said the word 'cunt' when referring to the West Kent Hunt. What's odd about this is that he made exactly the same mistake last year. The BBC Radio Five Live team pulled the streamed version of it and edited it to remove all this an hour or so after broadcast but here is the text of the piece. I have reproduced what he said below.

Nicky Campbell: And... erm... lots of you are mentioning that they'll still be talking about the cunt... that, er.. c--... the West Kent Hunt that shall not be mentioned in 500 years time. I don't believe it... I don't believe it.

Whoops. And it wasn't even subtle either!

Mystery cash donor allows free guided walks in the Lake District to continue for another year

2005-02-07T16:13:00.000Z

Free guided walks in the Lake District will be able to continue for another year - thanks to a mystery cash donor.

Good on the mystery donor. There is no discrimination taking place here. Everyone who wants to join in is able to. Just because a particular activity attracts some doesn't mean it will attract everyone. There are far too many intolerant people in this country, I feel.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke proposes a 'points' system for immigrants coming to the UK

2005-02-06T11:24:00.000Z

Anyone planning to move to the UK will have to pass a test to prove they can contribute to the country, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has said.

This is obviously General Election guff. Most people should be able to see through it. And we have another four years of these authoritarian wasteful slimeballs too. Makes you proud to be British. Not.

TV: Kilroy: Behind the Tan

2005-02-06T07:41:00.000Z

I watched this documentary about Robert Kilroy-Silk. He came across as a complete idiot who doesn't know when to shut up, in the main. The only thing that came across as being worse than him was the shockingly mysoginistic behaviour of the other United Kingdom Independence Party MEPs. Their comments and general behaviour towards women seemed straight out of a British sex comedy of the 1970s. Awful.

The one scene where I laughed (and totally agreed) with Kilroy was when he was giving the European Parliament and Peter Mandelson a good slagging off. The fact that my country is being represented by that cretinous and utterly corrupt joke of a politician that is Peter Mandelson is shocking. And why exactly was Neil Kinnock looking down at Kilroy-Silk all the time? Does he know that Europe is a dumping ground for politicians who have failed in their own country?

If anything, UKIP came out of the programme worse than Robert Kilroy-Silk. I wondered why Private Eye had such a grudge against them. Now I know.

Kilroy: Behind the Tan was great entertainment.

Radio: Any Questions?

2005-02-06T07:40:00.000Z

A mildly interesting programme. More toeing of the party line though Alex Salmond was good value.

A man banned from every petrol station in his town for guzzling petrol from the pump

2005-02-05T01:02:00.000Z

A gas-gulping petrol addict has been banned from every petrol station in his home town for guzzling four star petrol straight from the pump.

Eugh. Admittedly I quite like the smell of petrol but actually drinking the stuff sounds utterly vile (and dangerous too, I would have thought). Ew.

Tonight's Any Questions? line-up announced

2005-02-04T07:25:00.000Z

Any Questions? goes north of the border tonight to broadcast an edition from Albyn School for Girls in the city of Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire. The panellists:

Alistair Darling MP (Labour)
Peter Duncan MP (Conservative)
Alex Salmond MP (Scottish National Party)
Dr. Mona Siddiqui (Head of the Department for Theology and Religious Studies at The University of Glasgow)

A few interesting panellists there. The leader of the SNP is usually good value but he can come across as an idiot sometimes.

Tonight's film: Bound

2005-02-03T23:48:00.000Z

Just a quick note to say that Bound is on Channel 4 in less than half an hour. It's not a bad thriller. I enjoyed it a lot when I saw it (and the lesbian scenes rock).

Synopsis (DigiGuide):

Film noir thriller in which a gangster's moll and a female plumber hook up to steal $2 million from a gangster. After they become lovers, the pair decide to run away together with a suitcase full of money belonging to the boyfriend, who is quick to give chase.

Bound begins at 00:15.

TV: Question Time

2005-02-03T23:37:00.000Z

I didn't think this was much good tonight, I'm sorry to say. I didn't think much of the panellists and the show was bland and boring.

The last question had me squirming in my seat. I know it's nearly Valentine's Day but Question Time is a political debate programme and that kind of thing really isn't appropriate.

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-02-02T22:25:00.000Z

Tomorrow's edition of Question Time will be broadcast from Derby.

On the panel:

Margaret Beckett MP (Labour)
Andrew Lansley MP (Conservative)
David Laws MP (Liberal Democrat)
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (columnist for The Independent)
Lord Stevens (former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police)

There are at least one or two well-known people on the panel this time. It's worth mentioning that the last time that Beckett woman was on she was roundly ridiculed.

Robert Kilroy-Silk launches his own Eurosceptic party Veritas

2005-02-02T22:16:00.000Z

Ex-BBC chat show host and East Midlands MEP Robert Kilroy-Silk said he wanted to "change the face of British politics" as he launched his new party.

He proved his 'honesty' (or, rather, lack of it) on BBC Radio 2 this afternoon on Jeremy Vine. He was roundly laughed at. Even the listeners who weren't fully content with his handling got in on the act, dishing out further ridicule. He then decided to hector the callers: "What's your political party? You have an agenda!"

Robert Kilroy-Silk calls his party, Veritas, 'straight-talking' yet when someone asked him what the basic state pension was he couldn't answer it. Yet, he didn't say so - he proceeded to lie and dodge the question. It was clear he didn't know. So much for honesty, Mr. Kilroy-Silk!

I see right through him and Vanitas.

American soldier threatened with beheading is actually one of its dolls, manufacturer says

2005-02-02T21:55:00.000Z

A photograph of what Islamic militants claim is a captive US soldier may have been posed with a toy figure, an army doll manufacturer has said.

You shouldn't laugh but I did. It's hilarious!

Foreign terror suspect detained in a British prison without trial since 2001 has been freed

2005-02-01T18:34:00.000Z

A foreign terror suspect held in the UK without trial or charge since December 2001 has been freed from jail, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has confirmed.

Imprisonment without trial is so wrong. That applies to Mr. Law 'N' Order's house arrest plans just as much as locking someone up in a prison. Scrap these laws immediately.

Former Labour Culture Secretary Chris Smith reveals he has been HIV positive for 17 years

2005-01-31T17:30:00.000Z

The former Labour culture secretary, Chris Smith, has revealed he has been HIV positive for 17 years.

To be honest I don't think this really matters. I hope that it allows more people to be open about this type of thing but otherwise it doesn't change anything relating to his job in the Government.

Audiobook: Shooting History: A Personal Journey

2005-01-31T05:31:00.000Z

Shooting History is essentially Jon Snow's look at his journalistic career as a foreign correspondent, reporting on world events in parts of South America and in Uganda, South Africa, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States. It's a moderately interesting read too. Good fun.

Tonight's film: The Green Mile

2005-01-30T19:40:00.000Z

This post is just a quick mention to say that The Green Mile is on TV tonight. It's a decent prison drama, a real tearjerker towards the end. As it is a long film though (clocking in at just over the three-hour mark) you might want to record it instead.

Synopsis (DigiGuide - must re-register this wonderful piece of software soon):

Supernatural prison drama set in 1930s America. A convicted child murderer arrives on death row, but the guards find it hard to believe that the gentle giant could have been capable of such horrific crimes. Moreover, the man seems to have miraculous healing powers and the head guard hopes that he may be able use them to help the prison warden's dying wife. Adapted from a novel by Stephen King.

The Green Mile begins at 22:00 on Channel 4.

William Hague will not stand for Tory leadership again having given up his PM ambition

2005-01-29T16:50:00.000Z

Former Conservative leader William Hague says he will not stand for the leadership again, having given up his ambition to be prime minister.

I actually think that Hague's time as Conservative leader probably came too early and that he made himself look like stupid appearing to be 'cool' instead of being leader. He was good at Prime Minister's Questions but sadly wasn't very effective outside the Commons. This was to his undoing at the 2001 General Election where they wibbled on constantly about 'Keeping the Pound'. The incumbent party kept their massive majority.

Elderly man with a World War I bomb in his car forced Eurotunnel to be halted in rush-hour

2005-01-28T21:54:00.000Z

The Channel Tunnel was brought to a standstill on Friday after an elderly man tried to take World War I munitions through to France in his car.

What planet was the bloke on? Madness.

Tonight's film: Physical Evidence

2005-01-28T17:14:00.000Z

An unremarkable cop thriller, Physical Evidence's premise is about a violent policeman who, after being sacked wakes up from a drinking binge to find himsefl being accused of the murder of a local gnagster. Despite the seemingly overwhemling evidence against him he manages to convince his attorney of his innoncence and asks for her help in finding the real murderer.

The film is on ITV3 twice tonight, at 21:00 and then again at 00:05.

Tonight's Any Questions? line-up announced

2005-01-28T15:47:00.000Z

Tonight's Any Questions? will be broadcast from Horsenden Primary School, Greenford in Middlesex.

On the panel:

Lord Hattersley (Labour)
Nicholas Soames MP (Conservative)
Sir Menzies Campbell MP (Liberal Democrat)
Ann Leslie (foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail)

Interesting. I bet at least some of those end up on Question Time within a few weeks.

Clarke: Suspected of terrorism? No evidence whatsoever? Indefinite house arrest it is then

2005-01-27T13:14:00.000Z

UK citizens suspected of involvement in terrorism could face house arrest as part of a series of new measures outlined by the home secretary.

This is frightening stuff. We are turning into a police state.

This rubbish must be fought at every opportunity. If we don't we will have to buy back our rights with blood.

All British citizens should be deeply concerned about these 'measures' if they value their basic civil rights in the slightest.

Tonight's film: Fahrenheit 9/11

2005-01-27T12:43:00.000Z

Fahrenheit 9/11, one of the main talking points of last year is getting its Premiere on British terrestrial television tonight. It's less relevant now of course and in a few years time the film will be little more than a curiosity but last year it could have been a serious threat to George W. Bush's campaign to get re-elected as President of the United States. I got the feeling while watching this film that Michael Moore was aiming Fahrenheit 9/11 mainly at the American electorate; others less so.

Fahrenheit 9/11 starts this evening at 21:00 on Channel 4.

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-01-26T21:46:00.000Z

This week's edition takes place in Croydon.

Ken Livingstone (Labour; Mayor of London)
Kenneth Clarke MP (Conservative)
Baroness Walmsley (Liberal Democrat)
John Rentoul (writer)
Trevor Kavanagh (political editor of The Sun)

Hm. Interesting.

Tonight's film: Robocop 2

2005-01-26T09:26:00.000Z

Just a quick note to say that Robocop 2 is to be on TV tonight. If you haven't seen it already it's certainly better than Robocop 3 and TV incarnations but not as good as RoboCop.

Here's a synopsis (DigiGuide):

In this sequel to the original blockbuster, Robocop and Lewis try to thwart a corporation boss and a vicious drug king who are planning to introduce a devastatingly powerful narcotic onto the marketand then rule over its addicts.

Robocop 2 begins at 22:00 on five.

EU Constitution referendum question unveiled

2005-01-26T08:47:00.000Z

The question to be asked in the referendum on the EU Constitution has been unveiled by the government.

I'm not sure what to make of it. It's largely OK, I guess. The only two things that worry me is the word 'approve' (it sounds too positive in favour of the Government and not neutral enough) and the date for the referendum. Why is the Government hiding away with this?

Teenage boy called 'an angel' by nan has been bailed amid allegations of a £20,000 web fraud

2005-01-25T11:02:00.000Z

A teenage boy described as "an angel" by his grandmother has been arrested and bailed amid allegations that he netted £20,000 flogging non-existent gear from his website.

The enterprising little bugger.

By the time the police had tracked down the boy his operation was so successful that he had rented an office and even hired staff.

Cheeky little sod, isn't he? Oh, and here's best bit:

His gran told the newspaper: "He is an angel and never been in trouble. I'm going to kill him when I get hold of him."

I bet the ickle chewub is in for a piece of verbal lambasting when she sets eyes on him again.

Tonight's films: Clockwise; Blue Velvet

2005-01-25T09:17:00.000Z

Two films on TV tonight.

The first is Clockwise, a comedy that passes the time reasonably. The main strength of Clockwise is John Cleese's lead performance as the clock-obsessed headteacher Stimpson. Here's the synopsis (DigiGuide):

Manic comedy about the misadventures of an obsessively punctual comprehensive school headmaster who sets out to give an important speech to a conference of headteachers. But the day goes from bad to hideously awful when he boards the wrong train - the first set-back in an increasingly hysterical race against the clock.

Clockwise starts on ITV1 at 23:00.

There is also the choice of a much heavier film over on Channel 4 in Blue Velvet, a disturbing but excellent David Lynch movie set in small-town America.

Synopsis (DigiGuide):

Disturbing tale of paranoia, extreme violence and deviant sex in suburban America. A young man discovers a severed ear in a field and, driven by curiosity, finds himself drawn into a twisted reality controlled by a deranged criminal. As the man tries to help a nightclub singer whose son has been abducted, he gradually discovers the dark side of his own psyche.

Blue Velvet begins at 23:50.

Ladies in Lavender

2005-01-24T23:16:00.000Z

I hadn't been to the cinema in ages - over a year and hadn't seen a film in a few months. I decided to go out and see this instead of simply staying in and doing nothing. I'm surprised at quite how much I enjoyed this. It's essentially a charming period piece with a bit of comedy and emotion mixed in.

It's set in a Cornish village in the 1930s. One day a mysterious stranger washes up on the beach near their house. They take him in and look after him and it turns out he's a Pole named Andrea Marowski and he has a talent for playing the violin. Then a seductive younger girl turns up on the scene taking a painting holiday in the village. The wonderful tones of Andrea playing the violin attracts her. She makes a determined effort to befriend him and introduce her to her internationally famous violinist brother Boris. Jealousies make their way into the situation and Andrea has to decide how much longer he wants to stay in the village with the sisters.

I recommend Ladies in Lavender if you like this sort of thing.

Audiobook: My Trade

2005-01-24T22:33:00.000Z

I've also been reading this over the past few days. It's partly Andrew Marr's memoirs but My Trade also takes a look at the history of journalism in the United Kingdom.

I begun to lose interest in the audiobook by about the end of Disc 2 or so. Your mileage may vary according to how much it grabs you.

Today's film: Hit and Run

2005-01-24T06:17:00.000Z

Hit and Run is pretty much your typical American TV movie - average through and through.

Joanna Kendall (Margaret Colin) is a typical American wife. While out driving in her car one day she hits a young girl (Dallas Dremer) on her bicycle and in her panic drives off. The incident leaves the little girl in a coma. Joanna decides to try and get on with life by pretending nothing has happened but a woman detective (Lisa Vidal) begins to suspect something. Can she avoid prosecution for her crime?

Hit and Run starts at 15:40 on five.

Tories accused of desperation for making immigration key in their General Election battle

2005-01-23T13:35:00.000Z

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has accused the Tories of desperation as they signalled that immigration would be central to their election campaign.

We're now in election campaign mode. Of this I have no doubt.

Even the Conservative party seem to realise they won't win. Here's to hoping enough people are bothered enough to get out and vote on polling day and that the Liberal Democrat don't squander this opportunity.

Tonight's film: The Negotiator

2005-01-23T07:26:00.000Z

The Negotiator is on tonight. I think the film is hampered by being stretched too much. It would have been superb over ninety minutes but there isn't enough material for two and a half hours.

Here's a synopsis (DigiGuide):

Taut thriller in which a hostage negotiator who is framed for the murder of his partner decides to take some hostages of his own to make sure his voice is heard. He is desperate to prove his innocence, and when another negotiator arrives on the scene, the two men engage in a suspenseful battle of words and wills.

The movie starts at 21:00 on five.

Audiobook: Lost for Words: The Mangling and Manipulating of the English Language

2005-01-22T10:20:00.000Z

I like John Humphrys. I like the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: I find it's at its best when Humphrys is presenting. I like his noisy, confrontational and argumentative style of interviewing and I enjoy reading his essays in various newspapers. So I bought this.

Lost for Words: The Mangling and Manipulating of the English Language is essentially a 140-minute Humphrys rant on the state of the English language and the Scummy Politicians and the Evil Insidious Marketing Men (yes, the capital letters were intentional) who, as he sees it, do their very best to destroy our language. He tells us that, although following set rules to the letter all the time destroys it too and that creativity is something to be cherished we should come together to save our English. Along the way he proceeds to list in his inimitable way exactly what irritates him about some of the new words 'the young' have picked up. It was an entertaining listen.

Tonight's Any Questions? line-up announced

2005-01-21T07:40:00.000Z

Just heard on Today tonight's Any Questions? listing. Jonathan Dimbleby returns as chair and tonight's line-up is billed as being:

Lorna Fitzsimons MP (Labour)
Patrick Mercer MP (Conservative)
Dr. Jenny Tonge MP (Liberal Democrat)
Simon Jenkins (columnist for The Times)

Hmm.

BBFC's first rejection of 2005: Terrorists, Killers & Other Wackos

2005-01-20T13:49:00.000Z

Terrorists, Killers & Other Wackos Rejected by the BBFC

I suspect that video underwent a title change somewhere as it is also listed elsewhere on the Internet as being Terrorists, Killers & Other Middle-East Wackos.

If this is of a similar tone to Bumfights: A Cause for Concern I can understand why they refused it a certificate - I wonder why they bothered submitting it, to be honest. The bad old days at the BBFC have passed - our film censors are far more tolerant than they were ten or fifteen years ago. I'm sure it will be floating about on the Internet before too long anyway.

The Bumfights website is selling copies of the DVD for $19.95 (£10.68) each. Surprise surprise.

Tonight's film: Liar Liar

2005-01-20T09:07:00.000Z

Yawn. ITV2 put on this mediocre comedy for the umpteenth time once again tonight. It's not even all that funny. Sigh.

Here's a synopsis (DigiGuide), although the plot is quite minimal really:

When a slick attorney fails to show up for his son's fifth birthday party after promising he would be there, the boy makes a wish that his father would tell the truth for just one day. Miraculously the wish is granted, and for the next 24 hours, the formerly mendacious lawyer is unable to tell a single lie - with hilarious results.

Liar Liar starts at 21:00.

Former BBC Radio 4 newsreader Patrick Muirhead attacks Channel Television

2005-01-20T02:45:00.000Z

After leaving BBC radio to become anchorman on Britain’s smallest ITV station our correspondent found himself drowning in the murky waters of local celebrity

I think that article from The Times is reasonable enough. I can understand that going from hard-hitting current affairs on BBC Radio 4 to by far the smallest ITV region to present the 'flagship' news programme Channel Report in the Channel Islands (where the only other major programme regularly produced is a children's birthday slot in the afternoon called Puffin's Pla(i)ce - click here for an entry I made last year on this masterpiece of British regional broadcasting) must have been extremely difficult for him.

EDIT: While on my Internet travels I came across a news article from the Jersey Evening Post on this. Even they have to admit that he was taking the piss out of himself as much as anyone else. Anyway, I've reproduced it below:

TV anchorman stirs up a storm in the Channel

Former presenter launches a merciless attack in The Times

Channel Television staff were today reeling from an attack made on them in a national newspaper by disgruntled former anchorman Patrick Muirhead.

In a two-page spread in The Times, Mr Muirhead mercilessly pokes fun at Channel, his heavily pregnant co-presenter Kristina Moore, regional television in general and himself - under the headline 'Confessions of a local TV anchorman'.

He describes Ms Moore as 'fawning and wooden' and reveals that when viewers thought they were chatting cosily with the microphones turned off, they were, in reality, 'trading verbal blows through grimaces hoping that lip-readers were preoccupied elsewhere'.

Disappointed

Ms Moore, who is on maternity leave and is due to give birth to her first child at the end of this month, today described the article as 'not very nice'.

'I feel that I helped him and gave him encouragement when he was struggling' she said. 'I am deeply disappointed.'

Mr Muirhead had given up his newsreader's job with BBC Radio 4 to become the 'new face' of Channel Television last autumn but within two months he had resigned, having, according to sources at the station, made enemies of most people there.

In the article he attacks the values of regional television journalism, complaining that instead of tackling the Rwandan president about war with Congo during his visit to Jersey, he was expected to 'gush and whoop convincingly about bovines in bunting' after the president was presented with four Jersey cows.

Channel staff are said to be very upset by comments such as: 'Regional television is a snakes and ladders affair; its barely literate but busty secretaries shoot to stardom...'

Channel Television managing director Michael Lucas defended his staff, and particularly Ms Moore. He said: 'Kristina is a professional, a reporter and presenter of whom Channel Television is rightly proud. She is hard-working and well respected by the politicians and viewers with whom she comes into contact on a daily basis. She also understands, as do the remainder of our staff, how vital is the service which Channel Television provides to our community.

'Patrick Muirhead appears to find our news agenda a matter to poke fun at. That's not how our viewers assess us, since we are reflecting what's important about their lives day in, day out.'

Too tough

Mr Lucas also revealed some of the background behind his decision to leave: 'Having been with Channel Television for only two months, Patrick Muirhead wanted to negotiate new terms, including fewer hours and more holidays. He found the going at Channel Television too tough.'

Mr Muirhead does not spare himself from his withering attack, accepting that much of his abrasiveness towards other people was due to his own shortcomings.

He says he could barely read the teleprompt because of his poor eyesight and missed cues because of his hearing. 'These failings flustered me, were embarrassing and made me bratty. Quickly I became the brittle egomaniac of TV fable, so uneasy was I about fouling up.'

He said he became so stressed that his psoriasis flared up. 'I was by now covered almost from head to toe in stress-induced weals and hopelessly unable to sleep, and my moods had become less sure than a high-sided vehicle crossing the Severn Bridge in a hurricane'.

Mr Muirhead's final insult is to suggest that ITV regional news is in 'terminal decline' in this multi-channel age. 'One must wonder how much longer those twinkling stars have left in local TV heaven.'

Director of programmes Karen Rankine strenuously denies the suggestion, saying: 'We are more committed to our regional programmes than ever before. All the ITV regions including Channel Television have been boosted by major investment in technology and facilities right across the network. That new investment is already benefiting our viewers in the islands and will continue to strengthen our regional news commitment.'

I'm not surprised he handed in his resignation. I wonder where we'll be seeing Patrick Muirhead popping up next?

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-01-19T14:01:00.000Z

Tomorrow night's edition of Question Time will be in Manchester. The list of panellists are as follows.

Baroness Amos (Labour)
Michael Ancram MP (Conservative)
Susan Kramer (Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate)
Billy Bragg (singer/songwriter)
Sir Jeremy Greenstock (former British special representative to Iraq)

I'm sure they just rotate half the panellists from Question Time to Any Questions? as the same panellists keep appearing on those two programmes. I'm still rather disappointed by this selection. We will see.

Tonight's film: Speed

2005-01-19T08:03:00.000Z

Speed is to be shown on the same channel twice in the same week. It's much less effective now then what it would have been when it was originally released. Today it seems very tame and not particularly exciting. Dennis Hopper's Dennis Payne is a rehashed Frank Booth, really. At least it's better than the awful, awful sequel.

Synopsis (DigiGuide):

Fast-paced action adventure following a Los Angeles SWAT-team cop's attempts to foil the plans of a deranged bomber. The cop cheats his quarry out of one ransom, but, in response, the psycho contacts him with a warning about a bomb on a bus which will explode if the speed drops below 50mph. With the help of a female passenger, the cop attempts to navigate the bus around the crowded streets of LA while keeping its speed constant.

Speed is on the digital channel BBC THREE at 21:00.

TV: Auschwitz: The Nazis and the 'Final Solution' (Part 2 of 6)

2005-01-19T02:49:00.000Z

This is turning out to be an outstanding series on Auschwitz and the mindset of the people who worked there - detailed and compelling but very bleak. Programmes like these are one of the reasons I think support the licence fee being retained. The Hlinka guard laughing at what he did there was an immensely disturbing moment. Superb series.

Canadian man charged by police for choking his son's hockey coach to unconsciousness

2005-01-18T02:08:00.000Z

Jan. 17 (Bloomberg) -- A Toronto man, angry that his son didn't play in a minor-league hockey game, was charged with choking the team's coach until he lost consciousness.

Crazy bloke. Perhaps he shouldn't try to live his childhood dreams through his children in future? What a nutcase.

The Tories are releasing more details of their election tax-cutting plans this afternoon

2005-01-17T10:21:00.000Z

The Tories are to unveil more details of their plans if they win the next election with Michael Howard expected to propose tax cuts of about £5bn.

I heard Oliver Letwin being interviewed by John Humphrys on the Today programme this morning. He came across as being a bit crackers to be honest - surely they realise that this sort of thing is the last throw of the dice? If I was Michael Howard I would be pulling out all the stops trying to win the next General Election as they don't have a great deal to lose.

The Conservative party are due to start outlining their election plans at 15:15 this afternoon.

Tessa Jowell writes in article for The Observer: Artists must be free to offend

2005-01-16T21:10:00.000Z

I heartily disliked Jerry Springer: The Opera, but I don't want to be given the power to ban it

I wonder if someone convinced her to remove that nasty kneejerk bent of hers? Let's go back to July 2001, just under two months after Labour was returned to power, managing to maintain their large Government majority in the UK Parliament. This was one of her comments on Brass Eye Special after it was broadcast (BBC News story is available here):

If this is considered acceptable material then we are tearing down all the boundaries of decency on television.

And then she later admitted she hadn't even seen the show! Odd how politicians opinions change, isn't it?

Romanian woman, 66, gives birth to a baby girl

2005-01-16T20:42:00.000Z

Romanian hospital officials say a 66-year-old woman in Bucharest has given birth to a baby girl.

I think that sometimes nature really does know best. This woman strikes me as being selfish.

The female life expectancy in Romania is 73. When that girl is five she will be 71, even if either of them live that long. Romanian orphanages are horrible places where physical, mental and sexual abuse are rife. I just think that the child will have no real quality of life and will die young.

Tonight's film: The Demi-Paradise

2005-01-16T01:41:00.000Z

The Demi-Paradise is an odd little World War II romantic comedy meant to drum up support for the British-Soviet alliance as well as to raise domestic patriotic feeling.

Soviet engineer Ivan Kouznetsoff (Laurence Olivier) is sent to the UK shortly before World War II begins to work on the production of his new propeller for ice-breakers. At first he sees the British as a stuffy humourless and generally cold bunch of people. He eventually begins to get together a relationship with Lady Ann (Penelope Ward), who tries to introduce him to British culture and comedy but he seems unimpressed by what he experiences. Just as their romance gets going, Ivan returns to the Soviet Union for a year.

He returns after Britain declares war on Nazi Germany. He sees for himself the British sense of generosity and their kindness in the face of adversity. He is thrilled when the proceeds of the pageant of that year are donated to war relief in his home town in Russia. He comes to have an entirely different opinion of Britain and its people from when he first visited the country before the war.

Laurence Oliver is quite underrated as Ivan, the rather odd Russian who learns to laugh. The rest of the cast are reasonably good too and although the film does drag sometimes depending on what you think of the film it does pass the time.

The main curio arises at the end of the movie in its closing speeches calling for Britain and the Soviet Union to become friends after the war. As we now know subsequent events took a rather different turn.

The Demi-Paradise starts tomorrow morning on ITV1 at 02:15.

Conservative MP defects to Labour

2005-01-15T20:49:00.000Z

A former Conservative minister has defected to Labour.

I think he's probably realised that the Conservative party is dying away and has decided to jump ship? He's standing down at the next General Election anyway.

Radio: Any Questions?

2005-01-15T16:37:00.000Z

Unfortunately I missed Any Answers?, the Saturday afternoon phone-in counterpart but taken as a whole this was a reasonable edition with one decent major panellist: Robin Cook. The rest of them were a bit lacking I thought. I would still prefer Nick Clarke to take over the job of being permanent host as I think he takes to the role much better. Jonathan Dimbleby will be back next week.

TV: Question Time

2005-01-15T05:09:00.000Z

I have to say that the main thing I came away thinking from this week's edition of Question Time is that John Redwood and people like him are part of the reasons why the Conservative party is going into political oblivion. The Green MEP was OK. I didn't hear or see anyone endorsing one woman's suggestion that we should have someone like George W. Bush in Britain though (perish the thought) and the great 'Charles Bronson' woman.

It's still much too weak for my liking. I hope this year's General Election prompts some decent guests and (gasp) some challenging debate.

Humour or verbal abuse?

2005-01-15T02:00:00.000Z

I can't believe some of the stuff some of the local American radio networks broadcast in the name of 'humour'. A furore has broken out of this particular clip broadcast on a hip-hop morning breakfast show (not that this kind of thing would be at all acceptable later on at night) called Star & Buc Wild on Philadelphia's Power99FM. It features a black DJ pretending to be a white American making phone call to a call-centre worker in India. While I can understand that some people might not be too pleased with outsourcing there is no excuse for spouting this this kind of abusive and sexist bile towards people only doing their jobs.

An MP3 file of this is available here. The station has since pulled it due to uproar. If the link doesn't work, here's a complete transcript:

Narrator Intro: Wakeup with Star and Buc Wild in the mornings of Power 99 FM.
Star: I'm going to play this call from earlier before we get out of here. This is the, uh, call that I made to - I thought it was a company here locally. Not that I was surprised.
(laughter)
Star: I saw this infomercial about, uh, what are these things called again? Oh, the, uh...
Female Voice: Bead? Oh shoot.
Star: Anyway, let - let's just play the call. I was surprised when I got somebody on the line in East India. These little beads that I saw. Little white kids, uh, a little machine that puts them in their hair.
Female Voice: Mm-hm.
Star: Play it.
(tape begins)
Steena: This is Steena. How may I help you?
Star: Hi, Stain-a, you say?
Steena: Yes.
Star (in fake Indian accent): Yeah, I called and I just got hung up on. I'm calling from America about the quick beads for my daughter's, uh, hair. Quick beads.
Steena: Okay. May I have your ZIP code please?
Star: 10274.
Steena: 10274?
Star: Yes. Get it right. Now are you in India? Because I just spoke to someone in India who hung up on me.
Steena: Thank you. I am from India, ma'am.
Star: Okay. So my call is being outsourced to India.
Steena: That's right.
Star: In... in regards to my six year old, white American daughter who wants to get the quick beads like Serena and Venus Williams.
Steena: Now. I'll definitely place an order for that. See...
Star: What's that?
Steena: ...in the ad, she called to place a quick bead of counier. To ensure proper handling...
Star: Ma'am, I don't know what the hell you're saying. Hang on a second. Let me try and get something straight here. The quick beads, like Venus and Serena Williams, that to advertise to - to the white kids on television. This call has been outsourced to India?
Steena: That's right.
Star: Well, ma'am, what the eff would you know about an American white girl's - uh, uh - hair? And quick beads.
Steena: Just to inform you, ma'am, we're a national chain services company. And we're just taking calls on the opposite...
Star: Listen, bitch! Don't get slick with the mouth! Don't you get slick with me, bitch!
Steena: Now if you continue to speak this language, I will disconnect the call.
Star: Listen to me, you dirty rat eater. I'll come out there and choke the eff out of you.
(laughter)
Star: You're a filthy rat eater. I'm calling about my American six year old white girl. How dare you outsource my call? Get off the line, bitch!
(real laughter; end of tape)
Star: Pull it up.
(canned laughter)
Star: Heard they listen well out there.
(end of clip)

How can threatening violence on someone in that way be considered humour? I'm no reactionary but that's really quite disgusting behaviour. The American Federal Communications Commission should take a very dim view of this.

Jackie Stallone becomes the first to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother

2005-01-15T00:10:00.000Z

Jackie Stallone, mother of actor Sylvester, has become the first star to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother.

And they call this kind of rubbish 'news'? Words fail me. I have watched some of this rubbish - the original Big Brother was bad enough but they have got worse and worse as they have gone on. More people will vote for the celebrity is the flavour of the month than who they want to run the country in this year's General Election. Sad.

Tonight's film: Duel

2005-01-14T17:46:00.000Z

This is a great film - one of Spielberg's earliest films.. Here's a synopsis of the picture, taken from DigiGuide:

Engrossing suspense thriller in which a travelling salesman is menaced by a truck. Forced to take a detour along an isolated stretch of road, the lone motorist gradually becomes the target of a psychotic truck driver, whose identity remains hidden behind the windscreen of his souped-up rig. Tension mounts as the hapless salesman's plight grows steadily more desperate. Feature debut of Spielberg, Hollywood's most successful director.

Duel starts at 23:45 on ITV1.

Tonight's Any Questions? line-up announced

2005-01-14T17:04:00.000Z

Tonight's Any Questions? on BBC Radio 4 will be broadcast from Walton High in the town of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and will be presented by Nick Clarke.

Robin Cook MP (Labour)
John Bercow MP (Conservative)
David Bell (Ofsted's HM Chief Inspector of Schools in England)
Julia Hartley-Brewer (political editor of the Daily Express)

An interesting panel. Robin Cook should certainly be worth a listen. Looking forward to tonight's broadcast.

Tonight's film: Guilty as Sin

2005-01-13T18:55:00.000Z

I won't be watching this as a) I already own the DVD that only cost me about three quid ages ago and b) I will be yawning my way through another tedious edition of Question Time on the other side but it's just a quick log.

Guilty as Sin is a cheap and cheerful thriller starring Rebecca De Mornay and Don Johnson about about a young female lawyer (Rebecca De Mornay) who feels a bit uneasy about her latest client David Greenhill (Don Johnson) an deeply unpleasant womaniser accused of bumping off his wife. Fearing that he's guilty of what he is accused of she uses a detective (Jack Warden) to gather bits of evidence against him, triggering a deadly battle. If she acquits him she knows that he will be his next victim.

It's nothing great. Don Johnson makes a pretty good villain but the rest is a bit average. Guilty as Sin starts at 22:30 on five.

Prince Harry urged to publicly apologise for wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party

2005-01-13T13:27:00.000Z

Calls are growing for Prince Harry to apologise in person for wearing a Nazi costume to a themed fancy dress party.

I think the term 'mountain out of a molehill' applies to this particular story. While I can accept that this probably wasn't the brightest idea in the world for him to wear to a fancy dress party I think all this furore over what was a bit of a crap joke to a private fancy dress party astounding beyond belief. I hate being told what I should think by the rent-a-mob. In fact, I despise it. It reeks of dictatorship.

Prince Harry is a complete tit, of course. He should apologise (if he hasn't done so already) and move on. Should we ban anything and anyone we don't like?

I think The Sun have smelt blood and have decided to make sure the whole bloody world knows about it. It's only a pity that useless rag couldn't turn their energies to something more worthwhile and useful to the world, such as saving people's lives?

Archbishop Desmond Tutu calls for the release of all remaining Guantanamo Bay inmates

2005-01-12T23:10:00.000Z

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for the release of the remaining inmates at Guantanamo Bay and terror suspects detained without trial in the UK.

I listened to the interview - not live, but thanks to BBC Radio 4's Today website I could 'listen again' (interview available here).

I agreed with pretty much everything he said. If you suspect someone has committed terrorist offences in the past then charge and try them under a free and fair judicial system with their basic human rights accorded. Otherwise release them. Detaining people indefinitely without trial is not only very wrong but is also damaging for our freedoms.

Tomorrow's Question Time line-up announced

2005-01-12T22:19:00.000Z

Tomorrow's Question Time comes from Cambridge in Cambridgeshire. On the panel:

Lord Falconer (Labour)
John Redwood MP (Conservative)
Caroline Lucas MEP (Green)
Armando Iannucci (comedian)
Ann Leslie (foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail)

I'm getting increasingly exasperated with the show. David Dimbleby wants replacing and some decent guests want bringing in instead of these bunch (with the possible exception of Armando Inannucci).

Tonight's film: The Others; Beverly Hills Cop

2005-01-12T19:20:00.000Z

A very quick posts just to log the two films I've seen that are to be on TV tonight. I don't think I've seen a new film in ages.

The Others is a decent movie and certainly worth watching. All the performances are pretty decent and the film has a nice creepiness to it.

Synopsis (from DigiGuide):

Supernatural thriller set at the end of WWII about a devoutly religious mother who moves to a Jersey mansion with her ailing children to await the return of her soldier husband. Soon, a series of strange and chilling events prompts the newcomers to believe that the house is haunted.

The Others begins at 20:00 on BBC ONE.

Second film up is Beverly Hills Cop. Unlike one of its sequels (Beverly Hills Cop III is known for being particularly awful) this is quite a funny comedy. Nice theme tune too.

Synopsis (DigiGuide):

Fast, frantic and foul-mouthed comedy thriller in which a Detroit cop who lives by his own rules disobeys orders and travels to Beverly Hills to track down his friend's killer. But California just does not seem to be ready for his unique wisecracking approach to justice, and he attracts the attentions of armed factions on both sides of the law. A huge hit at the box office, the film was followed by two sequels.

Beverly Hills Cop starts at 21:00 on ITV2.

BBC Radio 3 producer quits in protest at Springer opera, saying it offends his beliefs

2005-01-12T15:03:00.000Z

A BBC Radio 3 producer has resigned in protest at the corporation's broadcast of Jerry Springer - The Opera, saying it offended his Christian beliefs.

That's up to him - for people outside the UK: BBC Radio 3 is a British radio station that mainly broadcasts stuff like classical music, opera, "highbrow" drama (including most BBC Radio Shakespeare productions) and jazz. It also shows the full Last Night of the Proms annually.

I think the problem the BBC faces is that it is under attack from religious extremists. I have no problem at all with religion and people holding a religion - indeed, it is their right (as long as they don't go pushing it down people's throats) and long may it be cherished. However, the minute they start being dictatorial about what I can watch in my own home I will damn well will have something to say about it.

In a society where freedom of expression is allowed the removal of something a minority religious pressure group simply doesn't like cannot be allowed to happen. It's a pity that these fundamentalists (obviously inspired by what has happened in the United States) cannot put aside their own narrow-minded desires and instead look at the implications for our basic civil liberties in the United Kingdom.

Cherish your rights. If you allow someone to remove them we will have to buy them back with blood.

Woman tore off her ex-boyfriend's testicle with her bare hands and popped it in her mouth

2005-01-12T14:11:00.000Z

A JILTED girl tore off her ex-boyfriend's testicle with her bare hands - then popped it in her mouth, a court heard yesterday.

Ouch. The woman certainly has balls though (boom boom).

TV: Shameless (Part 2 of 10)

2005-01-12T14:06:00.000Z

Great fun again this week. Perhaps the hash cakes wasn't the best way to start the episode off but it got better and better as it went along. Some class bits - the line right at the end was utterly hiliarious and I fell about laughing.

Next week should be good - can't wait!

TV: Auschwitz: The Nazis and the 'Final Solution' (Part 1 of 6)

2005-01-12T13:35:00.000Z

This is the sort of thing that BBC TWO should be transmitting.

A totally depressing but fascinating opener to a six-part documentary on the history of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz and the people who worked there. Really engrossing viewing: the mindset of the man working for the National Socialists was sick even after all these years: he had issues with even showing regret for what he did to innocent men, women and children - never mind repentance.

After this I didn't really feel like watching Shameless. Going from a documentary on the genocide of more than a million people to a bright and breezy comedy merely ten minutes later felt too jarring but I watched it anyway.

I'm looking forward (if that's the right phrase) to next week's installment.

Tonight's film: Rogue Trader

2005-01-11T18:28:00.000Z

A quick mention that Rogue Trader is on tonight. I won't be watching it as I'm opting for Auschwitz: The Nazis and the 'Final Solution' (mentioned in my last post) on BBC TWO and, afterwards, Shameless on Channel 4 instead.

Rogue Trader tells the true story of trader Nick Leeson, the man infamous for bringing down Barings Bank. It's a tedious and uninvolving film, I think. The acting isn't of a particularly high standard - Anna Friel feels wooden. The film begins at 21:00 on ITV2.

Historical Auschwitz documentary

2005-01-11T03:17:00.000Z

Just thought I'd mention this as the BBC have been giving this historical documentary major pimpage over the last week or so on a lot of its services.

It's a new series looking at how the concentration camp Auschwitz was created and the mentality of the perpetrators and how it related to the Nazi overall campaign of the murder of millions of Jews.

It sounds very interesting. Auschwitz: The Nazis and the 'Final Solution' starts tonight at 21:00 on BBC TWO.