The folks over at Tim Blair suspect there is more wrong with the Beeb than meets the eye. From AFP:
Staff at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) have been given instructions on how to walk through a door, a tabloid newspaper reported.
The Sun, Britain's biggest selling daily newspaper, reported that workers at the global broadcaster's offices in Birmingham, central England, had been issued with a memo advising them on how to get through a revolving door...
Employees at BBC Radio Sheffield in the north of England had previously been instructed on how to get through the often confusing and peril-laden task of boiling a kettle.
Here is an artistic rendering of a BBC employee going to work.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Friday, December 24, 2004
The Post-Melodramatic Stress Disorder of the Opera
So it begins...
"We're seeing a barrage of psychological consequences in those who have been exposed to the violently overblown acting and protracted, heightened emotions in The Phantom Of The Opera," said Bill Lambert, a psychology professor at the University of Chicago. "After such intense abuse of their artistic sensibilities, melodrama victims are finding themselves plagued by extreme sentimentality, flashbacks to especially torturous scenes, and canned-emotional detachment."
According to Lambert, a good portion of PMSD sufferers are experiencing distress so great that it is interfering with their jobs as overweight receptionists, struggling fashion designers, and community-theater actors.
"We're seeing a barrage of psychological consequences in those who have been exposed to the violently overblown acting and protracted, heightened emotions in The Phantom Of The Opera," said Bill Lambert, a psychology professor at the University of Chicago. "After such intense abuse of their artistic sensibilities, melodrama victims are finding themselves plagued by extreme sentimentality, flashbacks to especially torturous scenes, and canned-emotional detachment."
According to Lambert, a good portion of PMSD sufferers are experiencing distress so great that it is interfering with their jobs as overweight receptionists, struggling fashion designers, and community-theater actors.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
The Right To Be Offended
Winston Churchill: Some people's idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.
It's been said that one of the prices of freedom of speech is that anyone can make a statement worth less than the neuron that powered the thought. Now, BBC News Magazine tackles the debate over "the right to be downright offensive." Perhaps I am being a contrarian, but as John Cleese says, nobody has the right not to be offended. Frankly, many people act as though they could find their own shadows objectionable, and these are usually the same individuals lecturing on inclusiveness. (They are inclusive, of course, depending on how much you think like them or the extent to which they can arrange/exploit your victimhood.)
South Park and Chappelle's Show are my two favorite programs on Comedy Central. They also aim to offend, and frequently hit their marks. I enjoy the challenge. Who can forget Dave Chappelle's portrayal of a blind Ku Klux Klan member unaware that he is black? The satire is sharp. There are 'appropriate' contexts for 'inappropriate' subjects. Excepting speech that is literally dangerous or detrimental to another's freedoms (yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater being oft cited, or calling for people to maim and murder), there is room for views I regard as wholly inappropriate and loathsome. I counter those views by sharing my views. Surely anyone genuinely concerned about each individual's right to expression knows, at least in principle, that "The antidote for misuse of freedom of speech is more freedom of speech."
Update: Changed my typographical error of "mime and murder" to "maim and murder," though you could argue that it works well either way.
It's been said that one of the prices of freedom of speech is that anyone can make a statement worth less than the neuron that powered the thought. Now, BBC News Magazine tackles the debate over "the right to be downright offensive." Perhaps I am being a contrarian, but as John Cleese says, nobody has the right not to be offended. Frankly, many people act as though they could find their own shadows objectionable, and these are usually the same individuals lecturing on inclusiveness. (They are inclusive, of course, depending on how much you think like them or the extent to which they can arrange/exploit your victimhood.)
South Park and Chappelle's Show are my two favorite programs on Comedy Central. They also aim to offend, and frequently hit their marks. I enjoy the challenge. Who can forget Dave Chappelle's portrayal of a blind Ku Klux Klan member unaware that he is black? The satire is sharp. There are 'appropriate' contexts for 'inappropriate' subjects. Excepting speech that is literally dangerous or detrimental to another's freedoms (yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater being oft cited, or calling for people to maim and murder), there is room for views I regard as wholly inappropriate and loathsome. I counter those views by sharing my views. Surely anyone genuinely concerned about each individual's right to expression knows, at least in principle, that "The antidote for misuse of freedom of speech is more freedom of speech."
Update: Changed my typographical error of "mime and murder" to "maim and murder," though you could argue that it works well either way.
16 July 2005
You almost certainly know this already, but I repeat with no small amount of glee that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in the popular series, will arrive on bookshelves in the summer. While my favorite entry remains Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling's tales appear increasingly imaginative and dramatic (her annoying obsession with adverbs notwithstanding). Now is the part where we wait.
With this on top of the last Star Wars prequel, a new Steven Spielberg film, and Narnia coming to life, 2005 looks like a blockbuster year for storytelling. We shall see!
With this on top of the last Star Wars prequel, a new Steven Spielberg film, and Narnia coming to life, 2005 looks like a blockbuster year for storytelling. We shall see!
Sunday, December 12, 2004
The Moore The Merrier
I never thought I would see Michael Moore as a smart man, but Tim Blair has a round-up of some folks that make him look that way.
Moore's guess at how Bush won the election: He got more votes.
Hopefully being forthright and honest will do the filmmaker some good.
Wearing a jacket and tie still does not suit him, however.
Moore's guess at how Bush won the election: He got more votes.
Hopefully being forthright and honest will do the filmmaker some good.
Wearing a jacket and tie still does not suit him, however.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Personal Responsibility
I had this observation from Free Will bookmarked a couple of weeks ago, thinking I would add loquacious commentary here. Aaron's view on responsibility stands well enough on its own, though.
This pointer may be past due, but as the sales pitch for The Commercial Appeal used to go, "If you haven't read it, it's still news."
This pointer may be past due, but as the sales pitch for The Commercial Appeal used to go, "If you haven't read it, it's still news."
25
Today is my birthday! A quarter of century lies behind me, so a big public Thank You to all the people who helped me make it this far.
Offensive
More lessons from the "don't fight the rapist; enjoy it" academy...
In most cases the best form of defence is always avoidance. If this isn't possible, act passively, be careful what you say or do, and give up valuables without a struggle. This allows the victim to take charge of the situation, without the intruder's awareness, through subtle and non-confrontational means.
Accepting that it is true that handing over your existence to a burglar is self-empowering, consider how this works in actuality. When your valuables are in danger, you strive to protect them. You have a right to your personal property. More importantly, what if you value your body, or the life of another? You can and should fight a fire, for example, so many people own fire extinguishers, the weapons against that threat. Certainly avoidance is wise if your life is in imminent danger (you are worth more than your television set), but you have the right to fight back when situations are unavoidable, and the right to prevent intruders from creating intolerable situations for you in the first place. To that end, the best defense is a good offense.
Update: On a note related to this entry and the previous post, I wish my Jewish friends a happy Armed Jews Week.
Update II: Efforts to ban guns are so 20th century. Let's ban pencil sharpeners.
In most cases the best form of defence is always avoidance. If this isn't possible, act passively, be careful what you say or do, and give up valuables without a struggle. This allows the victim to take charge of the situation, without the intruder's awareness, through subtle and non-confrontational means.
Accepting that it is true that handing over your existence to a burglar is self-empowering, consider how this works in actuality. When your valuables are in danger, you strive to protect them. You have a right to your personal property. More importantly, what if you value your body, or the life of another? You can and should fight a fire, for example, so many people own fire extinguishers, the weapons against that threat. Certainly avoidance is wise if your life is in imminent danger (you are worth more than your television set), but you have the right to fight back when situations are unavoidable, and the right to prevent intruders from creating intolerable situations for you in the first place. To that end, the best defense is a good offense.
Update: On a note related to this entry and the previous post, I wish my Jewish friends a happy Armed Jews Week.
Update II: Efforts to ban guns are so 20th century. Let's ban pencil sharpeners.
Australia's Nazi Hanukkah
Herald Sun: Gardeners hired by Melbourne City Council intended to arrange the purple and white pot plants into neat geometric shapes.
But they left six 3m garden beds along Swanston St displaying large Nazi symbols.
The article indicates that the gardeners did not know swastikas might be inappropriate.
Excuse me, but how #&(^ing ignorant are these gardeners?
But they left six 3m garden beds along Swanston St displaying large Nazi symbols.
The article indicates that the gardeners did not know swastikas might be inappropriate.
Excuse me, but how #&(^ing ignorant are these gardeners?
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
It's A Gas!
Behold, the fruits (prunes, most likely) of science...
The present invention relates generally to intestinal discharge control products and, more specifically, to flatulence deodorizers. There are various devices in this field for dealing with the problems of intestinal discharges with some degree of success. However, all of them are somewhat cumbersome and/or bulky to use. The present invention, the Flatulence Deodorizer, is the first product for this application to use activated charcoal cloth as a deodorizer because it is so much more effective in removing odor than other known agents and because of its highly efficient filtering action, the thickness of the cloth can be significantly reduced without loosing effectiveness. The filter is worn taped to the inside of briefs or panties and because of its slim profile, the wearer is comfortable and virtually unaware of its presence. The activated charcoal cloth filter is also washable and reusable. This makes the present invention the most effective, cost efficient, comfortable and least intrusive means of deodorizing gassy discharges.
Of course, I should not be making light of preventing odor from flatulence. This is obviously quite serious. FIG 1, with the man emitting gases from flatulence, illustrates the harsh and humiliating effects of flatulence. See the gentleman forced to hold his nose? FIG 5 demonstrates the positioning of the deodorizer. It also shows that although a woman may have shapely buttocks, beauty is no cure for flatulence. FIG 6 shows her flatulence attempting to escape, but being stopped dead in its tracks by U.S. Patent 6,313,371.
That'll teach that flatulence who's boss.
The present invention relates generally to intestinal discharge control products and, more specifically, to flatulence deodorizers. There are various devices in this field for dealing with the problems of intestinal discharges with some degree of success. However, all of them are somewhat cumbersome and/or bulky to use. The present invention, the Flatulence Deodorizer, is the first product for this application to use activated charcoal cloth as a deodorizer because it is so much more effective in removing odor than other known agents and because of its highly efficient filtering action, the thickness of the cloth can be significantly reduced without loosing effectiveness. The filter is worn taped to the inside of briefs or panties and because of its slim profile, the wearer is comfortable and virtually unaware of its presence. The activated charcoal cloth filter is also washable and reusable. This makes the present invention the most effective, cost efficient, comfortable and least intrusive means of deodorizing gassy discharges.
Of course, I should not be making light of preventing odor from flatulence. This is obviously quite serious. FIG 1, with the man emitting gases from flatulence, illustrates the harsh and humiliating effects of flatulence. See the gentleman forced to hold his nose? FIG 5 demonstrates the positioning of the deodorizer. It also shows that although a woman may have shapely buttocks, beauty is no cure for flatulence. FIG 6 shows her flatulence attempting to escape, but being stopped dead in its tracks by U.S. Patent 6,313,371.
That'll teach that flatulence who's boss.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Colby Nolan
Education belongs to every species...
Investigators paid $299 for a bachelor's degree for Colby Nolan — a deputy attorney general's 6-year-old black cat — claiming he had experience including baby-sitting and retail management.
On the bright side, the feline wasn't Toonces.
Investigators paid $299 for a bachelor's degree for Colby Nolan — a deputy attorney general's 6-year-old black cat — claiming he had experience including baby-sitting and retail management.
On the bright side, the feline wasn't Toonces.
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Hope And Prey
I recently finished reading Michael Crichton's Prey. I enjoyed it, but his favorite Powerful Morons plot device grows stale, and the science is surprisingly off considering Crichton's [mostly deserved] reputation as skeptical technology watcher. It offers little beyond terrific intrigue and thrills.
BBC: Slower Than A Bucket Of Snails?
Hot on the tail of America's media breakdown, featuring the spectacular Rathergate implosion, British Broadcasting Corporation came up with their own example of 'hard' investigative reporting...
BBC World said on Friday that an interview it ran with a man it identified as a spokesman for Dow Chemical Co, in which he said the U.S. company accepted responsibility for India's Bhopal disaster, was wrong and part of an "elaborate deception."
So hard is their reporting that it appears that making a phone call to verify the credibility of their source is beneath them. And it is not like this is the only recent failure at BBC...
Update: Jude Finisterra?!
BBC World said on Friday that an interview it ran with a man it identified as a spokesman for Dow Chemical Co, in which he said the U.S. company accepted responsibility for India's Bhopal disaster, was wrong and part of an "elaborate deception."
So hard is their reporting that it appears that making a phone call to verify the credibility of their source is beneath them. And it is not like this is the only recent failure at BBC...
Update: Jude Finisterra?!
Friday, December 03, 2004
Spider-Man 2
I am currently amazing myself with my amazing Spider-Man 2 DVD. The film is easily superior to the first; is not only better technically (including top-notch special effects this time 'round), but artistically and morally. "And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing people. Setting examples for all of us... I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams." Amen. Alfred Molina's performance is one of the best, if not The Best, I've seen out of this genre--frightening, but also sensitive, seductive and heartbreaking. A good Danny Elfman score and fine, sometimes laugh-out-loud sense of humor also help keep things moving. This may be the most genuinely entertaining film I've seen this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
