Thanks
for the response to the two clips posted yesterday. And no, my Sir Ming/Sir Malcolm confusion will NOT be appearing here.
I have a collection of goodness knows how many clips of mistakes or on-air silliness. It began years ago with one from The World This Weekend that made me laugh, but is not in and of itself funny. Now, colleagues - especially but not exclusively Marc, Ryan and Neil send me things they've heard that amused them. It's probably unfair to post clips without the permission of the person involved, so most of them will have to stay on my desktop. But this one from Farming Today was clearly meant to amuse. Or was it?
No newsletters still - don't get me started.
RSS feed
Email us
Listen to PM
Perhaps he can borrow Fearless' sock?
Thank goodness we've got another thread to get stuck into at last.
That scrap with you-know-who has left me shaking.
And not with laughter!
But the clip has. My own name (which you all know because Eddie said it... okay, shut up Fifi) was embarrassing enough to have to go through school with.
I doubt if I typed the one for the clip in here that the moderator would let it through!
Hee hee.
Patricia will not be pleased, but perhaps it's just what she needs?
xx
ed
I鈥檝e just seen this headline on a website:
鈥淏lair to face police quiz?鈥
So, Eric, is there any chance of you quizzing the PM about the police today? Failing that, perhaps you could prepare a quiz on the police for listeners today.
1) How many letters are there in the word 鈥榩olice鈥?
2) What is the job of the police?
3) What is the most famous criminal case in the history of the UK?
etc......
About the only theme it seems to me worth bringing forward from yesterday is the question of the nom de plume.
I did think of calling myself Esmeralda since as a child I desperately wanted to be a redhead of that name. Needless to say I didn't and I'm not.
But I love speculating about my fellow froggers' on the basis of their names. Would we recognise each other at Appy's party?
It all seems a bit slow today - as if the 'p-affair' has burst everybody's collective bubble. I still think it might have been a plant - possibly a nettle, or a thistle of some sort.
Doc H - here's another one:
What follows "'Ello, 'ello, 'ello, ..." in the traditional policeman's greeting?
(Is this tangent about the police just a sly ruse to juxtapose the notion of "helmet" with "sausage"? Or is that just me?)
Fifi, she isn't worth it, don't even go there. Stay where the people are warm and funny and NICE!
Dr Hackenbush (4)
4) Who's in charge here?
;o)
Oh, another:
Which of the following is not a slang term for a policeman/woman or "the police" - "rozzer", "fuzz", "pig", "turnip", "bobby"?
Smart blog.
I think Patricia might like these more serious sites:
and
Just so's y'all know.
ed
Fifi,
Glad you're now linking your name to your site :-)
Dr H (4),
Blair probably would have a better chance with:
1. Who is the lead singer?
2. What was their greatest hit?
I don't care if this is sad, waterered-down un-newsworthy nonsense. I miss the PM newsletter very, very much - rather like you might miss a rather batty but endearing relative.
I heard the 'Today' programme talking about how young offenders' institutions are becoming as overcrowded as our prisons. Obviously, I don't know whether or not this will be featured on PM, but I wondered why more Restorative Justice schemes are not in use for younger offenders.
The speaker on 'Today' was saying that many of these youngsters start to get into trouble when very young but often receive frequent warnings or ASBO's and then end up in prison when older. Many of these children proabably never face the consequences of their behaviour until it's too late and they end up in prison. I heard that Restorative Justice may significantly reduce the chances of reoffending compared to other forms of punishment?
Why do we not use it?
Not just no newsletter
First thing this morning - no 大象传媒 website
Now 'Listen Again' has gone walkabout
And nothing showing here for the last hour (can't believe you've all gone to lunch)
Oh well, off to the allotment - catch you later
Hee hee! I heard that one this morning, leading to toast crumbs being sprayed all over the table.
Eddie, I think you and Sequin are infecting the whole of Radio 4 with your irreverence... Well done!
鈥淏lair to face police quiz?鈥
Is he trying the new citizenship exams?
Is it safe to come out here to play today?
I heard farming today this morning and at the end when she said THAT I laughed so much my tea came down my nose! Thank you for reminding me of it in an otherwise grey day at the office. x
PS I really, really miss my news letter.
Talking of cock ups, I remember the old 大象传媒 announcer who whilst reading the weather... suddenly stopped and said...
'... there will be blue skies with plenty of .... it actually says shoeshine on my script.... so with any luck at all you might get a nice light tan'
Quite brilliant!
I can't really answer gossipmistress' question about Restorative Justice, because I don't know anything about it - tho' have just had a quick look at a site about it. But it reminded me of something that was on (I think) last Tuesday about a scheme in Scotland trying to rehabilitate young repeat offenders. Did anybody hear it? I'm sure there's something online somewhere in the R4 site. It was really interesting though - quoting a statistic I can't remember about the high proportion of crimes carried out by a very small number of offenders, who individually have hundreds and hundreds of offences to their names. Since normal punishments clearly weren't working, this scheme seemed to be crash course in self-development and self-esteem building. I really don't know enough about the criminal justice system to have a proper view on this, but have a gut feeling that "rehabilitation" is too small a part of things as they currently are. Yes, people need to be punished for breaking the law, but surely it is better if somebody so punished then does not reoffend? Clearly, some people who are convicted of offences in a fairly "serial" manner do not fear going to prison - so it doesn't work as an effective deterrent in those cases.
I think I'm still trying to assimilate the comment that was in the headlines last week (or the week before) about it possibly being the case that we would look back on this period in history and think that it was barbaric that we locked up so many people for so long.
Chris Evans (Radio Two 5pm) news letter works ok. Mine arrived today, on time and beautifully written as per usual. Thanks Chris for caring. You're a radio legend. See you on the ice.
So do I, Mrs T (20).
Anne P (5) - when I was 5 I announced to my family that I was henceforth to be known as Annual. When it was pointed out to me that "Annual" isn't a girl's name I was able to refute this with reference to my favourite book - "Mabel Lucy Attwell Annual".
Well, I think it's pretty!
" I can't tell who's leading - it's either Oxford or Cambridge".
(John Snagge - Boat Race)
" There is Brendan Foster, by himself, with 20,000 people".
(David Coleman)
An awful lot of very low flying practice going on today. Are they getting ready for something, or am I just paranoid? Or both?
It's good for the nerves in the long run. Makes you imperturbable...
xx
ed
The problem with the criminal justice system/rehabilitation/self-development and self-esteem building is that there are some cases where it really doesn't matter what you do to help/punish offenders. Some people are simply incorrigible. My younger brother has been in and out of penal institutions since he was 15 (he's in his late 30s now) and despite coming from a loving family with 3 other siblings, he has always been in trouble and, sadly, probably always will. Almost every treatment/punishment has been tried and none have made the slightest difference. Unfortunately there is no answer/solution to people like this.
God that is such a distressing and depressing thing to think. Help me froggers.
Mrs T. (26)
Shoot him.
(18) Sarah
Pssst! It's OK, I think she's gone.
Actually, what about the 大象传媒 putting all potential bloggers through a vetting procedure, one per thread, to ensure we don't get abused by any more strangers.
I think I'll draft a Bill.
;o)
See what happens..?
How many times do I have to say there are two people one really shouldn鈥檛 upset in this world - young Rupert and Patricia.
Clearly (to me at least), someone upset Rupert and since then, we鈥檝e had no newsletters.
Now, someone鈥檚 upset Patricia and since then and until just now, we鈥檝e had no Blog...
Maybe that 鈥渟omeone鈥 should apologise? Obviously, I鈥檓 an innocent and don鈥檛 need to...
Incidentally, has anyone got the right time? My office clock has started gaining like crazy... Wonder why..? Ideas anyone?
An American arrived in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, and behind St Peter saw a huge wall of clocks. He asked, "What are all those clocks?"
St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie, the hands on your clock will move."
"Oh..." said the man. Pointing to one of the clocks he asked, "...whose clock is that?"
"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie."
"Incredible," said the man. "And, whose clock is that one?"
St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The minute hand鈥檚 moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire life."
"So, where's President Bush's clock?" asked the man.
"Bush's clock is in God鈥檚 own office. He's using it as a ceiling fan..."
I have a theory that siver-fox and Ms p E. are one and the same person with Jekyll and Hyde medication.
If proof be needed, I have never seen them together.
How to deal with young offenders.The ancient Romans had an interesting solution (albeit for parricide). The youth would be stripped naked, tied over a boulder, flogged mercilessly with whips (not walnut ones) then tied in a sack with a dog, a monkey and a snake. The whole lot were then thrown in the Tiber...... oh alright. I suppose that would be a slight over reaction. Besides they didn't have animal rights activists to contend with.
Piper (29)
Thank you that is wonderful and I have now stolen it and forwarded it to all my friends.
Mrs Trellis at 27 - any chance Trellis Jr. would be willing to join this blog to tell his side of the story?
(Everyone promise to not log on as JR Trellis)
Re the Restorative Justice question, I can't comment much on it, not having been the victim or perpetrator of a crime. However, I think it makes perfect sense to have a range of options for the courts to use. Anything that makes iot less likely for someone to re-offend has to be considered. (I'm not including the death penalty in this statement, by the way)
Right, serious stuff over:) Anyone got yesterdays' email yet? It's bugging me that the other newsletters (BH, WATO for example) aren't affected..
{31} Cheeky blogger!
Mrs Trellis (27), One way to help is to frog more often here.
MT and gossipmistress (14), As I can offer no useful comment on restorative justice, I won't bore everyone by sounding off nonsence. Some people seem to think that's what intelligent people should do. Informed people may well comment on the topic here today.
Eddie, should we get Farming Today to post your Sir Malcolm/Sir Ming soundbite by return?
...thank you Mrs Trellis (32) but don't send thanks (I stole it too), send money. A quid on the plate after prayer next Sunday will suffice.
Rosalind (7)
You are sweet. Yes, I've chilled out again now thank you.
(But not before I put in a complaint!)
So, maybe it's my fault the frog's been creaking more than croaking today.
I can't imagine they get many complaints, and someone may have panicked!
Either that or my careless use of the term 'frogs porn' yesterday blew a gasket in the works!
...incidentally Mrs Trellis, between us, your (27 & 33) and my (37) I can't help feeling we should have some understanding of your younger siblings problem...
Yay!
silver-fox isn't just a thesaurus of compliments, which makes the previous approval truly significant and worthwhile.
(grin,grin,grin)
But Mrs Trellis' brother surely wasn't actually born bad. I mean, can a little tiny baby be classified as bad? The problems surely start when he begins to respond to other human beings and to make choices, and that's where no two relationships are ever the same. The fact that he had law abiding siblings could even exacerbate whatever his propensity is to do bad things or make bad friendships.
Putting him in prison is unlikely to make him better (though it could keep the rest of us safer). Isn't Restorative Justice something like community service? i.e. some kind of connection has to be made between the punishment and the crime?
And the problem with that approach as with all the others, prison included, is that there aren't enough people and time to do it properly and consistently.
But stick with him, Mrs T. There must always be hope, surely.
Did anyone do a sweet-shop run today? I've got some hob nobs if needed - they're in the office kitchen cupboard. I might need to lock them up tomorrow because I've eaten too many already ...
...Mmmm, maybe t'was Eddie who upset young Rupert AND Patricia. Just been listening to him Gut and Grill Tony Mcmulty (?)
Tough guy is our Eddie. And, rightly so...
...Chester Nydeer (31) I doubt your analysis is correct. Remember, medically, a person's never alone with Schizophrenia...
...Mark Intime (32) Look, that's all very well and good but after all that, could the youth do the important things in life like ... lick his own elbows..?
i see from the Blog page under the heading "Related 大象传媒 Sites" a heading - "The World At One".
Can't help wondering if this statement doesn't contravene advertising standards (whatever they might be...)
When, has the world ever been at one..?
Ooooh, Eddie, don't get you started on the PM newsletter? And now you mention it... on air...
as for Chris Evans', do we deeply care?
(OK, some may do. I'm stuck with R4 cos mostly it's exactly what I want to delight or infuriate me. When I'm bored I switch off. Saw'id.)
Mrs Trellis (27)
A lad I've known since his teens looked all set for a glittering career.
For various reasons it all went pear-shaped. He ended up involved with drugs, drink, gangs, violence and looked a completely lost cause. There's much we will never know about how dark things got during those years. It was grim and terrifying.
He hit rock-bottom. But later he found himself in a halfway-house affiliated to a Baptist church. He had to stick to curfews and house rules -- and to his own surprise he did.
I'm not a god-botherer myself these days but I have an interesting past as a result of which I tend to be suspicious of churches doing a lot of 'outreach' stuff. But this one turned my young friend around, gave him a community and structure and relationships and goals. What happened?
He's now in his mid 30s. Married to a wonderful girl from the same church, with 2 gorgeous children and a couple of cute cats. They bought a house, run 2 cars, and work hard. He never forgets, and there are a few things he can't joke about ... but he's as 'sorted' as any of us.
It's wrong to generalise, so I won't say: 'If he can turn it around, anyone can.'
But Mrs Trellis, there is always ALWAYS hope. Miracles aren't just the interventions of an imaginary friend... people can surprise you. Unconditional love, even if you can't unconditionally accept behaviour, seems to be one key element.
I hope one day you'll have a happier outcome to tell us than you can believe in now.
And here's a big hug from me to finish off this extremely serious posting!
Fifi
Fifi, thank you but not sweet at all. i found it very interesting that Patricia in her second posting gave away her agenda so clearly.
This begs an obvious comment: never take a criticism at first airing, there may well be darker forces underlying the apparent innocent first airing.
I am all for Restorative whatever, it sounds good, but I have no idea what it is.
On the other hand as an ex teacher I have always thought it helps to really, really listen to what teenagers say. And I mean really!
A bit of a Piper poly post, there.
Thank you all for your helpful comments and suggestions and I will be frogging more often (I have only fairly receintly come upon this wonderful forum of silliness and genuine serious comment and will be a regular visitor. Always assuming you will have me: )
In way of payment I offer an obsovation that has always bothered me:
Why do people say "well, to be honest" Are they saying they usually lie but on this one occasion...
I think I'm right in saying that restorative justice originated with the Maori community in New Zealand and has to do with the community connecting the offender with the person offended against so that the offender understands the consequences of their action and makes restitution - though I'm not sure what form it takes.
I believe it is very successful in preventing reoffending.
Rosalind (48) I absolutely agree about the importance of listening - much too easy to say 'lock them all up' - but then listening would take time and effort.
Sara (24) - loved it!
Fifi, Thank you the hug was just what I needed.
I will pass it on to my brother when I see him. Shared hugs always come back.
Mrs Trellis (51) a point well made I think...
Where can one find this man?
Hi Mrs Trellis - I work in a team that is there for youngsters who have lost their way a bit (often a lot) in life... some come from your archetypal "good" families, others from less supportive backgrounds.
All have serious issues to contend with; some grasp the opportunity to start afresh with all their might, others don't and carry on regardless in their downward spiral.
Those who decide to get a grip usually hang on tight and settle into some sort of "decent" life. The other group often spiral to the bottom, where the only way is up...
The different ways these youngsters interact with their peers has a great effect on the eventual outcome... little of the way they choose to go seems to reflect on their upbringing.
So there is hope there, it just depends on when your brother chooses to see it.
Crikey, I need to finish off the hot choc and get to bed after that!
Bigs hugs Mrs T, and please stay around to become a Frequent Frogger...
xx
This recent burst of seriously serious (but not remotely stuffy) frogging leads me to ask:
Are we ready to be challenged by The Lord Mayor to comment on another topical news item?
Either that, or might Mrs T lead a delegation via the PM email address, offering all of us to provide a complete story about restorative justice between ourselves?
Provided she doesn't reveal she is from North Wales her identity would remain cloaked in mystery.
And by saving Eric the trouble of hunting down news to talk about, he'd have more time to play in the frog pool!
If this is a stoopid idea, tell me now. It's either time for more tea or a lie down in a darkened room...
Fifi : Its not a stooopid idea, but it is always time for more tea and a lie down in a darkened room!
I've had a look round a few websites and it seems that there are quite a few trial schemes involving Restorative Justice, mainly involving cautioning or pre-sentence young offenders. One small scale trial (56 offenders) found them 'half as likely to be convicted or further cautioned'
The aims seem to be to reduce reoffending rates and to give the victim a voice; most involve meetings between all those with direct involvement in the crime.
Thames Valley Probation service have information on their website:
By the way I wasn't meaning to suggest it was the answer to every young offender's problems, sorry if that was what came across
I've had a look round a few websites and it seems that there are quite a few trial schemes involving Restorative Justice, mainly involving cautioning or pre-sentence young offenders. One small scale trial (56 offenders) found them 'half as likely to be convicted or further cautioned'
The aims seem to be to reduce reoffending rates and to give the victim a voice; most involve meetings between all those with direct involvement in the crime.
Thames Valley Probation service have information on their website:
By the way I wasn't meaning to suggest it was the answer to every young offender's problems, sorry if that was what came across