With the aim of making the BBC's news and current affair shows more accountable to the viewer, NewsWatch is designed to connect programme editors with viewer questions of all kinds.
One item I found interesting from this week's show was the issue posed regarding the pronunciation of Port-au-Prince. In light of the devastating earthquake there, the place name has been said many times. But, is it Port au Prance, or Port au Prinss?
"Our aim is to ensure that pronunciations used on the BBC are accurate and consistent, and our advice is free of charge to independent programme makers producing BBC programmes as well as BBC staff."
"In the case of Haiti and Port-au-Prince, we recommend the established anglicisations HAY-ti (-ay as in say, stressed syllables in upper case) and PORT-oh-PRINSS (-i as in pin)."
So, there you have it! I don't really know why that interests me, but it just does.
I don't know if this means I am entering the early stages of a midlife crisis (at age 27!), or if it's just my romantic view of a road trip across the United States being stimulated! Either way, there are some classics on here!
Wide white top and broad side up, Draped oe'r polished grains of wood, Peaceful now in a carriage, On your way to your final home,
The bells of St Bartholomew's toll out a sombre mood, An eerie silence fills the air for a friend now absent, Antonymous to the whistling of bullets in your final moment,
The command "Up" is heard, Friends, family and colleagues salute their hero, Sunlight rippling across their gleaming medals, Sixty seconds later, and "Down",
The unknown people of this Wiltshire town, Out in their thousands, shedding their tears, To say goodbye to an admired figure, Now gone forever, but never forgotten.
Well now, well now boys and girls (maybe just boy and girl, maybe even just boy i.e. me!), it's been at least a few days since I mentioned Mark Knopfler!
This song, Our Shangri-La is in my opinion one of Mark's most beautifully composed songs - both melodically and lyrically. We all have our "Shangri-La" and likely this song will take you to yours (YouTube video is at the bottom, but it's there because I strongly encourage the lyrics are read first!).
It's the end of a perfect day For surfer boys and girls The sun's dropping down in the bay And falling off the world
There's a diamond in the sky, Our evening star In our Shangri-La
Get that fire burning strong Right here and right now It's here and then it's gone There's no secret, anyhow.
We may never love again To the music of guitars In our Shangri-La
Tonight your beauty burns Into my memory The wheel of heaven turns
Above us endlessly This is all the heaven we've got Right here where we are In our Shangri-La
Tonight your beauty burns Into my memory The wheel of heaven turns Above us endlessly
This is all the heaven we've got Right here where we are In our Shangri-La
So you know how sometimes when you're on a website, you get one of those CAPTCHA's to make sure "you're a human" and not a "computer bot"....? I was on a....well to avoid getting into trouble, let me just refer to it as a "well known social networking website" tonight and when submitting a post, I was prompted with the following Captcha.
It concerns me! Surely, this "well known social networking website" would have procedures in place to stop this happening - you know a "Two words not to put together list". Examples might be;
Muslim & terrorist Lactose intolerant & cow (OK that's three!) Britain & sun iPad & tampon
Well, not actually this very same way, but by some other magical, romantic means. I'm not into the whole 'games' of two people hinting they may or may not like each other and getting to know that they do indeed like one another (if you think someone is special, don't hide it!). But once it's known, then something like this would be so lovely to get the journey started.
Anyway, that's my daily dose of estrogen dispersed! Now, back to watching something masculine, gaaaarrr! Ideally a combination of shows titled "America's hardest football playing strippers on the run" should do it!
The site has nearly 800,000 photographs taken since 1961 available for viewing and I have probably downloaded for personal viewing a couple of thousand of these - there are so many spectacular images, each with their own unique quality that makes me gaze with curiosity. I couldn't possibly begin to sift through those I particularly like.
The image below is one I found recently showing the UK at night as observed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
“Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center.” http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
(This could prove to be one of my longer blog posts....you have been warned!)
For those not familiar with the concept of Room 101 - (the TV show, not the one in 1984, although the latter inspired the former) allow me to explain. Basically, it was a BBC TV comedy show with, according to the BBC microsite, one with a 'simple premise':
"Celebrity guests come on and consign to Room 101 anything they particularly loathe and despise, arguing with the host as to the merits of chucking Football, France or Novelty Underpants to oblivion."
One of the episodes I particularly enjoyed was Stephen Fry's appearance and his attempt to put Room 101 into Room 101 itself. Not because he didn't like the show, not because he didn't like the presenter, but because it focused too much on the negative - the things people didn't like. And so, Stephen Fry was granted a 'Room Lovely' to discuss what things should go into a place filled with all the niceties in life.
You can watch Fry's appearance on Room 101 on YouTube (from 3 minutes in is the "Room Lovely" section)
So, this blog post is about some of the things I would put into Room Lovely - and where appropriate (or required!) my reasons. Yeah, I know it's self indulgent, but hey this is my blog isn't it - you can go make your own!
So, vamos a ver!...
Oh, I should mention that I am not including the obvious things like food, water, oxygen, medicine, family, love, Rachel Stevens etc (putting a hyperlink in for Rachel Stevens is for my benefit to save me having to type it in later! Focus Phil!, focus!). These are in no specific order. Oh, and I am also excluding raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...
1. BBC News - For good (as unbiased as you can get nowadays!) news reporting. Professional sitting at a desk saying what is going on in the world.
2. Atlases - I personally find looking at an atlas an almost sexually exciting experience (but not quite - so no need to call the men in white coats yet). When at school, my friends would be saving up for playstation games, or asking for them as presents for birthdays, but instead I got all excited when the latest edition of the world atlas came out and would want that! I could just look at all the places for hours on end, trying try to understand how different places were related, how diverse and beautiful our natural landscape can be.
3. Mark Knopfler - Do I really need to add more here? If you've looked at my blog already, you will know how great I think he is.
4. Piano - OK, so I'm no Jools Holland (oh, he should go in Room Lovely too!), but I do play and think the piano is a wonderful instrument.
5. Newspaper articles - I don't read them as much as I should, but occasionally there will be one that takes my fancy. This goes in to Room Lovely though more because it's the freedom of healthy thought provoking opinion we are supplied with in copious amounts.
6. iPhone - I think the phone itself is a feat of technological engineering (I have one myself), but this goes in just as much for raising the bar for what a mobile phone should be about. Touch screen is now the norm, and people expect their phone to do much - quickly and easily. Thank you iPhone for creating this leap.
7. Microwaves - Because I would starve without one! (oh and I'm adding microchips to this!)
8. Kit Kats - What, you mean you haven't figured out why this is in?....Look at the name of blog!
9. Encyclopedias - Cos I like to know stuff! And a place to go for all of this is neurologically fulfilling!
10. Cameras - To help keep memories alive. The emotions looking at a picture can exhibit demonstrates their power. The photo of an old pet, the view from your old bedroom window, that holiday shot of whatever it was that made the people involved get the giggles.
11. Amygdala - My favourite part of the brain. Without it, we'd be pretty dull people!
12. Soap - Think about it - is there anything nicer than knowing you have clean hands? Sure, but not stuff I'm gonna put on a publicly accessible blog!
13. Official Monster Raving Loony Party - For those outside the UK, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party is an officially registered political party in the UK. They'll never win (tragically!), but I just love their humourous (and it's the fact this is official) take on political activity. I strongly encourage to study their Manifesto. Where else do you get policies such as;
"Cool on the outside: To combat global warming and climate change all buildings should be fitted with air conditioning units on the outside."
"Terror Passport Separate Passports for Terrorists: Terrorists should be required (by virtue of law) to apply for separate passports in which they give there full contact details, number of explosives, and time (as well as location) of any plot. This would save time and money in gathering intelligence, and could also help identify the intended ambition(s) behind any atrocity(s)."
"Interesting News: Every day the news should tell people an interesting fact in a hope to increase people's knowledge."
"Nice Curves A government agency will be set up to paint contour lines on to hills and colour roads the same as on maps. This will help people know where they are."
"National Defense. To keep our nation on it's toes, we should have a minimum of 2 nuclear war drills a day."
"Nessie The Loch Ness Monster should be added to the endangered species list."
"Bon Voyage We will pass a law ordering British Airways flight attendants to CHEER UP"
And it should be noted, that some of their policies have become actual law.
14. Elmo - Because.....
15. Snooker - My favourite sport. I also really like it because the professional circuit has such a warm family feel to it. Cheating and being disrespectful are still very rare and frowned upon. Not to mention that a great amount of skill is needed to play. There's really nothing quite like a cold winters evening watching the final of the Masters with Willie and Dennis in the commentary box, popping back to the studio for a quick comment by Steve Davis to get you chilled!
16. Sir David Attenborough - Watch, and enjoy. What a wonderfully, fantastic man. A genuinely brilliant human being whose passion cannot be ignored.
17. Baywatch - Run Yasmin, run like the wind (although Pamela Anderson was my favourite!) Yeah I know it's wrong to put this in, but my youth is in this show and I will defend it! So many memories, ah.
18. Paul Merton - He is a fantasticly witty comedian with a very dry and unbelievably quick sense of humour. He represents the type of humour that I adore. Clever. I think also, Have I Got News For You is very representative of the British sense of humour (of which I'm a big fan).
19. Satire - This leads on to satire, which deserves its own place. I think it's very healthy to make things humourous where ever possible, and done in a slightly 'dry/can you get away with that?' manner is both very clever and good for us.
20. Friends (the TV show). Princess Consuela Bananahammock, Hey, How you doin? There are many more moments!
21. The internet. For all it's spam and things we don't want to see, it really has changed society I think. We rely on it so much and when it does what it's supposed to, it's just wonderful. It certainly has changed my life.
22. Ray Mears - Whilst writing this blog post title The Real Heroes Of Telemark - In Streetview I realised that of course Ray Mears should be in Room Lovely! For his genuine enthusiasm of the natural world, the heritage of it and our responsibility to it, and how there are skills we can learn and carry with us so that no matter where we are - we are able to survive.
23. Stephen Fry - Because he came up with the idea of Room Lovely in the first place!
I have agonized over whether to hit 'Publish' on this, partly as I know it does not do justice to the complete horror people in Haiti are experiencing, and partly because I never know whether those not directly involved in the actual disaster (victim and responder) should do any more than make their donation and keep out of it.
My simple aim is just to publish some of the feelings that I've had on my personal space. Thoughts in particular for the children who can unlikely make sense of it, may even now be orphaned.
Seriously, people should not be made to suffer like this and if you have chosen to read this, I hope you will forgive my hitting publish. I hope I have done the right thing.
A Poem For A Haitian Child
One magnitude for each year of your life, Your look of the world rearranged in a moment,
The night sky is filled with stars, But to you, like your heart looks empty, As tears speed down your face like racing cars, Your grief is all too a plenty,
You didn't ask for this, Nor did you deserve this, Your face now filled with sorrow, Showing a heart feeling hollow,
Beyond the fences you see the military might, Stocking supplies, one mile high, Yet why is the only water you see in sight, The mist of the tears filling your eyes?,
Right now explanations are bare, What are we supposed to tell you child?, If only you knew how much we care,
I hope one day you can laugh and smile, If you can, then our effort will be all worthwhile,
So, basically Cadbury, a British confectioner and one of the best known brands in the UK is under threat of a takeover from US based Kraft Foods. That's right, our evil cousins across the pond are trying to dent the heart of one of the finest British institutions and crush the way we calm our anxieties of the world by tucking into a bar of dairy milk! We helped them out in Iraq, and this is how they repay us?! Are you detecting a hint of sarcasm in this yet?! Hopefully, as I'm quite fond of them.
Actually I'm not even sure it's the fact that an American company is bidding to take over Cadbury - I'm sure the reaction would be the same if it was another country.
My take on it, is that it summarizes this weird sense of patriotism that us British folk have - and not just patriotism, but what really gets the backs up in the mind of the British psyche. This is perfectly explained by what Tim Richardson says here;
Bankers' bonuses? Annoying, but what can you do? Utilities bills rocketing? C'est la vie. Americans taking over Cadbury? Get your hands off our sweets!
Say Dairy Milk, Crunchie, Curly Wurly or Flake to any British person, and their hippocampus will immediately fire into action and recall feelings of comfort and safety from a time when all was calm, familiar and innocent.
Tim Richardson also adds;
And it's not just the jobs under threat – 30,000, according to the trade union Unite – or the potential upheaval of a Victorian institution from its Bournville home that voters wouldn't like – it's the fact that the sweets themselves would be threatened.
I agree mostly with this, though do feel it is just as much the threaten to this British institution that causes so much upheaval. I don't know for sure what it is, but my theory is two things cause us to feel this 'protectiveness' over the brand and its heritage (which is emphasized by the company making something so familiar and comforting):
1) Britain was once an empire. Many previous British territories are now independent. Our reach was great, our navy formidable. We all know how powerful Britain once was from our history lessons at school. This strength has, as all empires past, present and future experience at some point, dwindled over time. But trying to take our sweets? That's just crossing the line ne c'est pas? The final straw - Britain should loose no more ground! And this in my opinion causes such a strong reaction.
2) National identity. At the moment, many British people feel our national identity is....well, unidentifiable. What are we? Are we Christian? Are we White? Are we tolerant, if so, do we want to be any more? Politically, this is demonstrated by an increase in people voting for far-right parties who's policies (they say!) would protect the typically historical image of a 'White British' person. Yet, here we are, another 'bunch of foreigners' coming over to steal a much loved 'safe' brand, ripping out yet another piece of our soul. I should emphasize that I do not personally agree with the views of far-right parties. My comments are more what I view as being part of the psychological construing that creates this unease about taking our chocolate away from us.
But, Phil, isn't this just about business and chocolate? Well, from a financial analyst's perspective - Yes, I'm sure it is! Are a significant percentage of the British population statistical financial analysts? No, hence our looking into our inner beings and looking for a threat!
Either way, we shall see whether it is Kraft, Hershey, or the Cadbury shareholders that win the golden ticket. The British people? Well, perhaps for now we should just eat some dairy milk to calm our nerves.
Fortunately, he doesn't swear as much as @shitmydadsays, which is good because I'm not a fan of swearing - unless it's in context. However, my Dad does come out with some real pearls of wisdom. I share with you his latest....!
Phil to Dad: I just sent a message to Tim Berners-Lee Dad to Phil: Hmm who's that? Phil to Dad: He invented the internet! Dad to Phil: Oh, so it's his bloody fault is it - I'll add him to my list.
I've always found thoughts/human wonderings and general musings amazingly beautiful to watch. Current estimates suggest that we have up to 100 billion neurons, each with their own way of connecting with one another. This leaves a phenomenal number of possible thoughts that humans could have. I often wonder what percentage of all the possible connections that could be had, have already been had by all the human minds added together.
Each day without realising it, we think so many thoughts - sadly many of which we are unaware of. If for love, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then a large number of thoughts, regrettably I feel seem invisible to their viewer.
So, here is just the day in the life of our thoughts. We get up, we think, eventually the day stops and we end up in our beds, and ultimately six feet under (hence the unknown of baggage claim), though lets not go getting ourselves worked up about that eh - we have thoughts to have amigos!
In the meantime I wonder what you see when you look out of the plane window.
Thoughts At Level Three Five Zero
Engines to full throttle, Time to depart, Where do we go today, Now's just the start,
O'er mountains, o'er forests, O'er valleys and lakes, Variety finds us, Through routes that we take,
Though t'destination is always the same, Who knows what's waiting in the baggage claim, For flying each day is all that we do, What do you see, that's up to you.
Although the show focused much on how Obama and his campaign team organised themselves into the eventual winners of the election, what really struck me more than anything was the shear passion and dedication of all of those 'every day folk' who involved themselves in the campaign, essentially putting their lives on hold and investing their time and effort in this one man and what he stood for.
As someone who has has spent much time in the U.S. and has several American friends, I am lucky to be able to observe the psyche of our cousins across the pond. It is this open, unashamed excitement and passion that is one of the major differences between the British 'reserved' way and America. In one scene, the documentary showed a panoramic shot of the stadium in Denver where Obama officially took the democratic nomination. Both the volume of people and the emotions exhibited really stand out as something we do not have in the UK. Put simply, imagine if you will Gordon Brown (or any other Prime Minister) filling Wembley stadium, having 100,000 people on the edge of their seats hanging with admiration on his or her every word? It wouldn't happen.
As for the specifics of politics - well that for me is not the issue here. I simply found this "I really can make a difference even though I am 1/300,000,000" state of mind fascinating to watch and judge it only as "Wow, us humans sure are weirdly spectacular creatures".
Naturally I have a fondness for America, and though yes it has its flaws like we all do, the world sure would be a dull place without it!
2009 was for me a very significant year. I moved from the UK to California - a distance door to door (as the crow flies and measured on Google Earth) of 5238 miles.
I am very close to my family and love them unconditionally - without boring you with the details, we have been through a lot and together faced many challenges. Naturally, these distances present challenges for interaction and goodbyes (which I really don't do...not well anyway!). And those goodbyes are experienced in a much more different and profound way than 'See ya, back in an hour'.
Last Call For Flight 94043
The hustle and the bustle, Different people everywhere, Each with their own story, Their love is their glory,
Husband, Wife, Son, Daughter, Their presence shall be missed,
An electric atmosphere fills the air, Yet for now, I am calm,
But now the screen changes, I see what I have been dreading, Flight 94043 - proceed to gate,
So, now is the time for my body to depart, And leave with home a piece of my heart,
I won't turn around now, I can't risk seeing your face, And you shouldn't see mine,
For this is now for me to do, Knowing I'll always love you,
Goodbye for now best friend, I shall see you soon.
Like so many places at the moment, Britain is currently in the grip of one of its biggest cold snaps for decades. Now sure, us Brits do love to talk about our weather, so I think deep down we're all secretly delighted that we finally have something worth talking about!
Now, whether or not it is Fred Barnard that we have to thank for the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words", this image below captured by Nasa's Terra satellite on 7th January 2009 at 11.50 UTC certainly echoes that saying. And those of you that know me well know that I have always had a certain penchant for these 'pictures' being of the aerial/satellite nature!
Photo: NASA/GSFC, MODIS Rapid Response
If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, you can download this KML file to see the image overlaid on top of existing imagery.
I pride myself on trying to be considerate to others, a notion given to me by my wonderful parents. My mantra is never to say that you are a good person as believing you already are does in my view fuel arrogance and not stopping before opening your mouth! Instead, I always say that I always try to be a good person - because yes, sometimes I will get it wrong and cock up like everyone does - but I will at least be making the effort to do right.
Recently, a very close friend of mine has been going through some tough times. This is a poem I knocked up for her. I don't expect it to win any prizes, but hey it's my bloooog!
Ma Petite Grenouille
As I gaze outside, I feel so alone, Sadness and sorrow fill my heart, The winter has come, the trees look dead, The emotions feel too strong inside my head.
Looking around me, I see little light, But part of the sky is now filled with might, I see my friend, I see my allie, I know I am loved, more than money can buy,
Now, my friend is with me, I will someday be OK, When and how, well I cannot yet say, But what I can know, What I should know, Is true loneliness need never be felt, wherever I go,
I am a massive fan of Mark Knopfler. He is my favourite musician and in my opinion one of the most gifted songwriters of all time. Songs such as Money for Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Sultans of Swings, Going Home (theme from Local Hero), Golden Heart, Sailing to Philadelphia and Remembrance Day are all examples of his landmark pieces of genius. I would list all the ones I like, but my fingers would get tired from all the typing!
In it, he talks about one of the songs on an earlier album titled 'If This Is Goodbye'. Although, I have listened to it many many times over the last few years, what I didn't realise about it, was that writing this song was Knopfler's way of discussing 9/11. The song is basically about those phone calls made from the twin towers and the planes, and although completely tragic, what can be taken from those calls is that whatever happens to humans - whatever is thrown at the decent folk of the world, our ability to love will always triumph, and it is that which should be taken from the attack. This is the article written by Ian McEwan referenced by Knopfler in the video below.
I will never be able to listen to that song in the same way again.
Here are those lyrics:
My famous last words Are laying around in tatters Sounding absurd Whatever I try But I love you And that's all that really matters If this is goodbye If this is goodbye
Your bright shining sun Would light up the way before me You were the one Made me feel I could fly And I love you Whatever is waiting for me If this is goodbye If this is goodbye
Who knows how long we've got Or what were made out of Who knows if there's a plan or not There is our love I know there is our love
My famous last words Could never tell the story Spinning unheard In the dark of the sky But I love you And this is our glory If this is goodbye If this is goodbye
OK well I guess this is the real first blog entry, and the pressure is on to make it a good one! But wait, this is my blog, so I can do what I want right?!
Well I think I'll actually just start (split infinitive??....wait who cares, this is my blog!!!), I will just start with some cheery, one you all know too....
I really think this video should be put up on giant TV screens in places like shopping centres, airports, Dr waiting rooms and played every hour. I'd love to see the results from that social experiment.
Well who knows whether anyone will read this, if so do you continue? Well, given that the internet aims to be democracy, I shall let you make that decision.
Anyway, I have been wondering about starting a blog for a while - just as a place to become a grumpy old man online, and perhaps also share some of the results from my neural activity with you.
Videos, thoughts, pictures, opinions (my own!) and maybe even the odd poem will be thrown together to create a mixing pot of craziness.
