I really wouldn't like to be a politician - any politician for any political party. It would be like being married to me and DH suffers badly because I have an excellent memory about things that happened long ago and can repeat aged conversations practically verbatim. [Of course, I quite often go upstairs and can't remember why I've done so - but that's different - and not really relevant to this particular ramble. I shall elaborate on that ... if I remember to ... another time]. Apparently my near "total recall" is a very annoying trait. I find it quite useful but DH dislikes being reminded of every single misdemeanour - real or perceived - stretching back to the day we first met. I show no mercy and "gently" correct him whenever he displays signs of False Memory Syndrome.
How does all that tie in with the News? I watched Gordon Brown delivering his speech to Congress last night and, of course, noticed that his warnings regarding "Protectionism" didn't go down quite as well as many of the other parts of his address. After the insert showing his address, out rolled the inevitable pundits - one of whom was a chappy by the name of Scott Paul who represented the Alliance for American Manufacturing. He chided our Gordon for his views on protectionism stating "It's only protectionism when somebody else is doing it" and of course cited GB's bite of "British jobs for British workers". I wonder if the best policy for a politician is "to say it best when saying nothing at all"?
Another item that grabbed my attention was Chris Broad justifiably being very cross indeed about the terrorist attack in Pakistan. The man came within an inch of losing his life yet he was berated by the Head of the Pakistan Cricket Board for making critical remarks about the appalling lack of security that enabled the attack to occur. I'm sure that Mr Board wasn't in any way unfeeling about the six commandos who sadly lost their lives in the attack, but surely one is apt to forget one's manners just a little bit when in shock after being right in the centre of such carnage?
My ears prick up at any news regarding the television industry and I felt sad that ITV is going through such a rough time and that so many jobs are to be lost ... not because I have any great fondness for commercial TV or Radio in this country - I'm diehard BBC. And I certainly didn't feel wholly reassured by Michael Grade who said that the quality of output wouldn't suffer because of the cutbacks as I take issue with the quality of most ITV output anyway - but the BBC suffers indirectly when ITV has a hard time. I think back to the ITV strike and blank screens of the late 70s - which did the BBC no favours whatsoever. Auntie needs competition from a healthy rival not a sickly one. That said, there's competition in the media everywhere now - and I'm quite liking it! How else would I be able to get my humble little views across to such a potentially wide reading public?
Ramble over! Do you agree with anything I've said? Or does anything in the preceding paragraphs irk you rotten? Please comment and let me know!
How does all that tie in with the News? I watched Gordon Brown delivering his speech to Congress last night and, of course, noticed that his warnings regarding "Protectionism" didn't go down quite as well as many of the other parts of his address. After the insert showing his address, out rolled the inevitable pundits - one of whom was a chappy by the name of Scott Paul who represented the Alliance for American Manufacturing. He chided our Gordon for his views on protectionism stating "It's only protectionism when somebody else is doing it" and of course cited GB's bite of "British jobs for British workers". I wonder if the best policy for a politician is "to say it best when saying nothing at all"?
Another item that grabbed my attention was Chris Broad justifiably being very cross indeed about the terrorist attack in Pakistan. The man came within an inch of losing his life yet he was berated by the Head of the Pakistan Cricket Board for making critical remarks about the appalling lack of security that enabled the attack to occur. I'm sure that Mr Board wasn't in any way unfeeling about the six commandos who sadly lost their lives in the attack, but surely one is apt to forget one's manners just a little bit when in shock after being right in the centre of such carnage?
My ears prick up at any news regarding the television industry and I felt sad that ITV is going through such a rough time and that so many jobs are to be lost ... not because I have any great fondness for commercial TV or Radio in this country - I'm diehard BBC. And I certainly didn't feel wholly reassured by Michael Grade who said that the quality of output wouldn't suffer because of the cutbacks as I take issue with the quality of most ITV output anyway - but the BBC suffers indirectly when ITV has a hard time. I think back to the ITV strike and blank screens of the late 70s - which did the BBC no favours whatsoever. Auntie needs competition from a healthy rival not a sickly one. That said, there's competition in the media everywhere now - and I'm quite liking it! How else would I be able to get my humble little views across to such a potentially wide reading public?
Ramble over! Do you agree with anything I've said? Or does anything in the preceding paragraphs irk you rotten? Please comment and let me know!
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I found this blog interesting, mainly because of your particular background. I have stopped watching so much news and I tend to rely on radio updates. I was aware of the stories. I didn't watch GB but I did watch Obama's speech to congress. I scanned the start of GB's speech but I didn't get to the juicy bits. I wasn't impressed by the tendency to give a standing ovation at the drop of a hat.
ReplyDeleteMy blog is very random and I only write when the mood takes me. My blog is very simple and I haven't delved into gadgets and such. Keep it up.
Regards, Clive
The standing ovation habit is the US way of showing appreciation. It doesn't sit comfortably with us staid and low-key Brits but personally I love it. If they like what they hear they have no compunction in showing it. I like the "open-ness" of it all.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting thoughts on the world. I was particularly interested in the notion of wanting ITV to do well to provide real competition to the BBC. I am such a diehard Beeber that it wouldn've have occurred to me to do anything other than give the passing of ITV a passing glance. I've probably always hoped that C4 would be the real driver for BBC to raise its game but they seem to have their own issues too. I find myself watching increasingly less television and when I do mainly using iplayer or my V+ box. Feels like a wasted opportunity. But no doubt TV output, like so many things, goes in cycles and perhaps the things I enjoy will become popular to make again....In the meantime I have an entire 5 series of The Wire to watch on DVD so that should keep me quiet for a while!
ReplyDeleteI don't like it when they do the standing ovation at the drop of a hat. IMO, standing ovation should be for the spectacular or great, not just a 'hear hear!' moment. Quite ridiculous!
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