On the lookout...
There we were last week, complaining about the labour leadership story and the way it was dominating our running orders day after day. Yesterday and today, though, we have encountered the broadcasting equivalent of drought.
Amanda our Editor is trying to give off an air of breezy calm about the fact that she has no obvious lead story. I've noticed her knuckles are white though, which is a bit of a giveaway. Her second in command, Mark, is getting alarmed at all the stories this week about how to bring up your kids, since his wife is about to give birth anytime now. He, too, is trying the breezy calm approach - but we can see through it.
I'm off to the coffee shop for inspiration.
Sequin
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Perhaps the lead story should be a discussion on how some folk seem to be considering "running" for the office of Deputy Leader of NuLabour.
I always though British politicians "Stood" for election. If they are running, perhaps it should also be for the Labor Party?
xx
ed
Oh please NO MORE on the Labour (deputy) leadership - just one day off PLEASE.
Well, as far as labour partsy are concerned , Blair is certainly loosing his concent in the minds of labourers and i think Mr. brown is getting up to it.
Great Blog.
Sequin: Surely your lead story must be the news that the Dwarf Planet previously known as "2003 UB313" and popularly known as "Xena" after the leather-half-clad-warrior-princess, has now been named "Eris" after Erys Hughes, the well known Liverpudlian spelling mistake.
Surely this travesty must not go un-analyzed?
SB 6
Perhaps you could lead with a feel good "... and finally" story. You know the sort of thing ... cat gets stuck up a tree and is rescued by a donkey flying a helicopter. Then cut straight to the bongs 鈥 keep Charlotte on her toes as she has to adlib to fill the void. Come one cquinn, lets see Eric top that!
Not a lead story perhaps.... but comment surely to come on how the plot of Lysistrata has come true.
Could weave in some thoughts on "Why can't all wars be decided this way?". No more NATO troops required as Afghan women lead the battle...?
hm, mind you I cannot think of any other blog I can get away with mentioning Lysistrata...
Is it just my imagination, or has this been "all shook up"?
Names in bold (or underlined if a link) - comment box at top of comments rather than below.
Lissa, are you having fun?
SB6
Hello
Back from holiday and still haven't managed to iron out the glitches. The weird delay with postings is apparently caused by comments being published to the "Borg 2 queue".
As promised earlier in the week, a photo of Chris Ledgard who braved London's roads to see if it's safer cycling with or without a bell.
And - so you don't forget him - a photo of Rupert who's recently moved over to the forward planning desk.
I can't work out how to upload more than 3 photos at a time.
As ever, yours apologetically, Lissa
And the counts on the main page are updating correctly.
Go Lissa
SB9
Ah but with the comments box at the bottom one was more inclined to read the other comments first. And actually the count says 7 but there are 9.
Still, B+ Lissa, keep up the good work, ;).
SB10
Re: Changing Blogs
Nice job Lissa. Kudos (and chips!)
I sort of preferred the input form at the bottom of the comments but if this works, stick with it!
You should use the 大象传媒 news story about the trapped Dorset man
I guess the passersby thought it was a candid camera setup
Come back Tobias! All is forgiven!
x
Lissa: Re: Rupert moving to the Forward Planning Desk...
Does that mean he's at the desk concerned with Forward Planning, or is it just a case of him being moved to a Planning desk at the front of the class where the teacher (Sequin?) can keep an eye on him?
BTW, is he wearing a stethescope? Or a collar & lead?
Either way, I now have mental images of the PM office I didn't really want to have...
I guess Clare Short took care of a story to start with.
SB13
Lissa - good work.
But I would endorse the view that the comment form was better when placed belowed the existing contributions, and not above.
And I would also point out that, once you get past single figures, the space after the number disappears - 13.At 17: or 13. At 17:
Dr Hackenbush diagnoses the tutting, sharp intake of breath opening as bad for the health.
Ms Short? Surely better off out of the party.
Lissa I won't have a word said against you as you have provided me with the cover for my darts board at last. He is chubbier than I expected and, for someone who constantly makes a hash of sending out PM newsletters, cheerier too. I say this without malice as he once sent me an e-mail which was kind of him. Mind you he was just pointing out that he wasn't repsonsible for that days lash-up with the aforementioned newsletter.
Am I the only person concerned at this mention of a Borg? were they not something to do with Star Trek? Come back from Pluto Stephen and save us all from this extra terrestrial interference
Why do they wnat to look at a R4 blog? .I think We Should Be Told.
Welcome back Lissa,
Thanks for the pix but where is the bike one? I've just got 4 people at desks and the studio. Also I'd prefer the post bit at the end too.
Cheers.
Caroline - tomorrow lets get something witty for the days blog name...
I've just noticed that the "Recent Comments" panel on the right could be quite amusing...
whisht On the lookout.... [too true, too true...]
Photos? Heading, but no photos. I wonder, Lissa, does the fact I don't allow third party cookies make a difference?
Enjoying the blog nearly as much as the comments.
We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is feudal - sorry, 鈥榩hew-tile鈥.
Doc H says, 鈥淒uck and cover.鈥
Oh, and thanks for taking our comments on board.
Hey, everyone, I'm back from my travels (finally!) Never let anyone tell you that driving across from South Oxon to Cambridgeshire is easy! I believe a glass or two of the old falling down grape juice is called for this evening...
One nice thing about the long drive beck, though was that I got to hear the whole show for once. Usually, I have to miss the first 10 to 15 minutes, as trying to get off the park is impossible, so I stay at the desk instead. Good show this evening Sequin:o)
The re-design? I think it's good, but I have one eentsy weentsy thing to suggest (it's not a complaint, Lissa, honest!) In the time for the posts, should there really be a leading 0 for the hours 01 to 09? I can understand doing that with a 24 hour format, but we're using an am/pm 12h format here, so it looks a bit wierd to me. It's not a major thing, I just think it would look nicer the other way...
p.s. Thanks for the Happy motoring, Appy (btw, if you're smiling, does than mean you're a Happy Appy?)
Hi Lissa,
By the time I got here today, I see the comments are at the bottom of the page (not under the blog, as implied by others).
Although the post a comment section seems to have changed somewhat, and "Required" now starts within the Name box (as viewed on Mozilla).
Stephen, Leader of STROP, didn't realise you'd started your own Blog until the new-look PM blog showed your name up as a link. So, with Pluto now joined with the old-dame of the dwarf planets Ceres, and the perhaps contraversally re-named Eris, shouldn't there be a peaceful alliance against the 8 big bullies (aka Planets) in the Solar system?
Missed all of PM tonight, work again getting in the way, what with a call from Germany, which was conducted in (almost) the language of Enigma machines. Top Secret Ultra or what.
Valery, went OK?
As for layouts, I'm reminded of a good quote:
"The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from".
Was going to be SB24, but was interrupted by a work phone call, so might now be SB25.
Re:whisht (20)
Would you mind if I point out that cquinn's name is Carolyn and not Caroline. The LAST thing I want to do is annoy such a thoughtful and regular poster as you. But, my guess is that Carolyn might be a little touchy on the subject.
I know I鈥檝e probably opened the floodgates to folk pointing out that the apostrophe is missing from the 鈥渓et鈥檚鈥 in my post at number 6 (two points for an accurate SB guess, by the way). But hey-ho, I鈥檓 missing Valery Pedant鈥檚 steadfast non-pedantic manner.
Anyway, interesting name, whisht. What part of the world is that from? If you don鈥檛 mind me asking 鈥
SB26
Ooh, been out, come back - it all looks lovely now! The 'recent comments' list still isn't right but I wouldn't dare to mention it.
Still no word from Valery on the networking session last night?
FFF (23), yes I suppose so. Did you think of that before or after the vino?
P.S. Whisht (20), on the lookout for what exactly?
Hmm that's true, Appy... I hope things are good with V.....
Okay, I'll admit to half a glass of vino before coming up with the Happy Appy thing.... I've come up with quite a few more, bu I'll ration them out over the next few days:-)
Well now, should I look forward to this or not?...
ah Charles - ta!
I usually try to get people's names right (in pronounciation). Almost as much as getting their preference for tea (sugar? strong..? what colour?)
So, apologies to Carolyn.
;卢)
As for my username, pretty simple really... Irish parents and I grew up hearing "will yer whisht?" a lot.
It means "shut up". Or at least to me it did!
Oooh, spooky - I was talking about Lysistrata on Tuesday
"Not a lead story perhaps.... but comment surely to come on how the plot of Lysistrata has come true.
with much the same world peace agenda thingummyjig idea. Anyone think it would work?
Yeah, OK, but desperate times, you know
Lysistrata - could it work..?
well... it would have to be "all out" as it were.
Full strike.
Won't work if any "working women"... erm... work.
so.... Frances O, you were talking about Lysistrata conversationally?? I'm sooo out of my depth on this...
Ah, wheeesht, whisht
It was just gurl talk.
We got onto the girly gossip about string theory and metaphysiopschychognopmiscaloscopologicysmeticpismics after the first bottle of chardonnay
So - you think kitten heels or just the usual 2-inchers this autumn?
C'mon Ap, would I be nasty to you????
If you're enjoying yourself at a gig: Clappy Appy
If someone insults you: Slappy Appy
If you're in a tizz.... Flippy Flappy Appy
:p
btw, I saw your 69 on WaH. big congrats! I'm really happy for you:o)
Wow, this site is truly being improved in real-time. Yesterday, a new layout and a few complaints/suggestions about the positioning of the comment box, today, it's changed!
Have been struggling to get up to date with work things so am probably a bit behind with the discussions here. Well done, Drinks (WaH:69) - hope it all turns out OK. I did wonder if your "pre-selection" activity, leading to more concrete possibilities was speed dating!
Love the collective noun comments (hm, what would the collective noun for collective nouns be? - Somebody, I'm sure, has answered that). Reminds me that I had planned to start 2 web pages - one for animal terms (dog:bitch/dog, etc) to get together those obscure ones - the horsey girls will know what I mean ("No, for a male horse thats older than one but younger than 3 and hasn't been castrated, it's a ...") - and the other for phrases that apparently don't appear on the web - you know when you search in Google and it returns nothing, but the phrase you searched for is fairly simple (e.g. "big headed cat people" - try it). Philosophically, quite interesting, I thought.
Anyway, that's me for the next week or so. Off on hols with S.O. (known affectionately as Mrs H). Have fun and I'll try to remember the postcard.
whisht (30)
I thought "whisht" was a scottish expression. It is a phrase I heard a lot as a child (no I'm not scottish before anyone asks) along with the word "wean" (is that the correct word) meaning child
SB35
How about a bit more on the Health and Safety zealots in the EU who are taking the UK to court because they say we are not meeting H&S regulations. They say we must treat all risks the same i.e. the risk of a papercut in the same way as the risk of falling from a ladder which is patently absurd.
It also shows they have NO understanding of risk. It will paralyse industry if we do need to do this.
SB38
Thanks guys - still haven't got the offical letter yet though. I suppose it was a bit like speed dating - although I imagine that involves the vital elements of "speed" and "dating" - this was more like "slow" and "solo" (I want to say 'oo-er' here but I won't).
Today's strapline makes me feel sick, btw. I think it's the use of the word "gobbets" that tips me over the edge.
Gosh Steve (37) - real serious news stuff! The mention of the EU reminds me actually - this blog is not work. And work is there to be done. I must be off :(
A migraine of collective nouns perhaps?
Have a good trip JH.
Not-so-happy-Appy...
Hello compadres! Very touched by your concern so my thanks go to all - you know who you are - not forgetting my publicist, oops wrong speech, sorry.
You know, I was thinking, while i've been away, the last couple of weeks have been most cathartic. I used to turn into a rip-snorting dragon everytime I saw a typo (hence being inveigled into my very first post here), but immersing myself in mis-prints, typos, incorrect names etc has allowed me to wallow and slosh about in a whole new world. Now I don't want to encourage anyone, and i certainly wouldn't want to have to change my name - but thanks guys!
More later....
SB32
Afternoon all!
Valery - great to see you back again:)
Appy - Don't let the work grind you down too much; Remember that we're on the downhill stretch to the weekend now!
Serious bit: Does TB really think that the general public actually believe that he can achieve anything meaningful in the next few weeks/months before he leaves office?
Now back to normality. I'd like to suggest the following collective noun for consideration and perusal:
A "corny"copia of bad jokes..
FF
For that pun you must leave the room. We may let you back in but you will have to ask nicely!
Valery - welcome back. How did the almost-but-not-quite-whatever-it-was go? You didn't say
SB40, but most of the day nothing appeared.
Trying to speed read and catch up on all your goings-on.....
Well done Aperitivo! Perhaps this is THE month for moving onward and upward? Carpe diem (if I'd worked out the italics yet, that's where I'd have used 'em).
John H - Bon Voyage, that wouldn't (obviously) be My S.O. going on your holidays would it?
Can't be, cos mine is Mr H - spookily enough.
O Leader Stephen - found your other place. Which reminds me, has anyone seen andycragg recently?
Frances 0 - two inchers everytime (speaking as one who is short ). However, I'm sure the crossed-leggers prefer them l..... no, no, no I don't want to be complained at when I'm just catching up again!
Charles Hat-on, see my 39 :o)
Whisht, yup, it was used a lot in my (scottish) childhood too - just too onomatopoeic to be resisted by parents who - I'm sure - would have preferred to resort to summat stronger!
Fearless and John W, nice to know I was on your minds. Networking not as nerve-wracking as expected, I kept off the vino collapso pronto till afterwards (good move I always think), but over indulged a tad after, lost track of time, caught the last train from The Other Big City but missed my train from Nearest Big City to the Park-n-Ride where I'd left my car - necessitating the intervention of a taxi ride. Huh, so much for seamless integrated public transport. Don't get me started....
SB40 ish?
Stephen - you're not wrong.
A Scottish friend did say that he'd grown up with the phrase "willya howl yer wheesht?" in broad Aberdeenshire.
Didn't think it was solely Irish but certainly Gaelic of some sort. God knows if its an actual word... but handy for usernames (whisht358 hasn't happened yet..!)
Frances O (like Caroline O... on second thoughts better not get into "Carolines" and "Carolyns").
Heels-wise, I can't do them I'm afraid - I teeter. Mind you, when those no-heel shoes were all you could get for the last coupla years my Achilles killed me.
uh oh, not more Greeking.... lorem ipsum doler....
Is it just me, or do other people also have an almost uncontrollable urge to shout LIAR! at the radio or TV whenever a Government minister comes on to defend their actions?
Today's collection of them denying that Health cuts are being targetted to avoid Labour marginals is a case in point.
Hmm need maths lessons
FF was at already 40, so why did I put SB40. Must check.
From Peano's Axioms: I think I derive that 40+1 = 41. Would anyone like to check my workings
Blogless in Bootle...
(Not that I'm *in* Bootle, I'm not even sure where Bootle is...)
No Friday Blog? Where's Sequin this afternoon?
Chasing the Pope for an interview? Having a long lunch?
Preparing for the programme?
Can I come back in yet? I promise I'll behave!
Valery, re your 42, "Carpe diem"... fish of the day?
D8mn! so much for behaving myself!
SB45
I've heard "Whisht yer gob!" here in Bonny Galloway and a wean is just that - a child no longer on the breast. Not to be confused with "wee yin"?
And, just to keep up with my tradition of trying to distract the audience:
and
xx
ed
FF and Leader, see previous few days' blogs for catch-up posts - if your stuck for stuff to do on a Friday afternoon. :o)
FF, passed your "end of day website" to the boss on Wednesday and he loved it. He had a packet of Mentos in his pocket, and was desperate to order a diet coke at the N E and shake everyone up!!!
Whisht - Oh I can't do flats at all. That's not to say that I don't have some in my collection of course, they just don't get worn except in extremis.
SB45
Welcome back Valery! Glad the networking went well. I've been wondering where Andycragg is too - he went off to set about illustrating earlier blogs a few days ago and hasn't been seen since. Maybe there's more work in it than I'd imagined?
As for heels, I love them very much. I used to beg my mother for grown-up shoes as a child but 'no, no, no - your feet are still growing'. I regularly thank her now: I can wear any old nonsense on my perfectly formed feet (if I do say so myself, I have lovely feet). At 5'9" I really don't need extra height but I put 4-inchers on every now and then just to annoy my shorter friends. Well, I'm never going to Kylie-sized so I might as well embrace my inner-Elle. I do flats too though. Variety being spicey and all that...
Oh, on a Friday afternoon it is so much nicer to think about shoes than the potential for integration of EU members' Higher Education policies, you are right Fearless (Cornycoupoia, har-de-har...).
Stephen, that thing you did where "that pun" fires one back to FFF's entry is very clever, but a tad unnecessary as yours was the very next entry. You wouldn't be showing off would you? Fine by me - I think showing off is seriously underrated, hence
I love my feet, I love my feet...
Ah - ooh an error! Perhaps one day I'll review my comment before posting!
For "your" read "you're" - see told you I'd been chilling....
SB49