didn't arrive yesterday. I think we tried to send it about five times - which almost inevitably means that they will all arrive in your inbox on Saturday week at 03.30. Tired of hearing me apologise for our incompetence? Fed up that we don't do what we promise? You and me both brother (or sister, because it's nobody's fault you can't have babies, not even the Romans).
I'm going to need a LOT more coffee to get through today. Howabout you?
Jump to more content from this blog
PM The evening news and current affairs programme presented by Eddie Mair.
iPM The programme that starts with its listeners. Join the discussions online and contribute ideas for a weekly programme presented by Eddie Mair and Jennifer Tracey.
Read the final report of the PM Privacy Commission.
Meet the commissioners, view the terms of reference and hear the Commission Chair Sir Michael Lyons explain his approach.
´óÏó´«Ã½ © 2014 The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
RSS feed
Email us
Listen to PM
I see LadyPen's strap-line has appeared again. None of my suggestions appear to cut the mustard.
I hesitate to suggest that you could post the newsletter as a Blog, so at least some of the subscribers (those who are also froggers) will get the information; it might end up being the temporary fix that then drifts into early permanant fix...
CB1
Make mine a very big latte, Eddie!
We all know it isn't your fault. We all know how these things really upset you, being the model of competence and good manners.
Do not allow this to spoil your day, your week, or even a further minute of your life.
Forget it. We can all live without the newsletter.
It isn' your fault.
Really.
Eddie, there's a curious level of reassurance to be had when the Newsletter doesn't arrive. It's what we've come to expect. It's the world as we know it, unchanging, imperfect as always, representing man's struggle against entropy.
Just think of the joy there will be when one does come: the surprise five years hence when we discover what was meant to happen yesterday.
Worry not. And watch that coffee intake - too much is bad for you....like most things (even Newletters).
Eric, are you sure you haven't already had a lot of coffee?
Yep, a bit of a fraught day here, too. Evil painter-and-decorator who does neither is due at 1130. What's the betting he won't turn up *again*?
"Oh, but it's raining..." I can just hear him now.
That is, if he bothers to ring. Which he doesn't, usually.
I'd quite like a window in the kitchen, too. The one he took away to replace hasn't been replaced. Polythene and duct tape just don't cut it in this weather.
Rant, moan, cont p94
You and me both brother (or sister, because it's nobody's fault you can't have babies, not even the Romans).
Now then, Eddie, I think you're getting a bit muddled here.
A quick lesson in the facts of life:
Men are the ones who don't have babies.
Women are the ones who do.
As my grandmother taught me:
"When God made Adam, He made him out of string.
He had a bit left over so He left a little thing.
When God made Eve, He made her out of lace.
He didn't have enough and so He left a little space"
Is that clear? Men are the ones with a bit extra, women bit less. But it is the latter who have the babies.
And how did the Romans get into the picture?
Nice to see a Life Of Brian reference creep in there, Eddie! Why do you feel the need for so much coffee this morning? You'll have to be careful... You wouldn't want to drink so much that you get caught short halfway through the programme tonight, would you?!?
never mind Eddie, it's probably about what we expected. Why don't you just give up and post what would have been the newsletter on the frog. Lots of people have already suggested it and it seems like a good idea. After all some of the time people who DID get the newsletter pasted it on the frog for the benefit of those that didn't.
Now go and make yourself - or even better get Marc with a C to make for you - a nice long latte and relax for a bit. We know it isn't your fault.
I think you need a wee rest in a nice quiet darkened room, preferably with some whale music playing in the background..........
Relax dear Eddie - ok our inboxes were left sad and empty yesterday (well not so empty perhaps - I'm talking metaphorically here), but you've done your best and that's all we can ask of you. Ok, ready 1, 2, 3 now breathe........
Your Newsletter department isn't fit for purpose I reckon. Watch out, John Reid's coming to get you. Seriously, why don't you just give it up as a bad job and post it as an entry on the blog?
Chin up Eddie...
There is nothing in life that a good cuppa' coffee can't solve.
When it comes to fixing technology there is nothing like a sledgehammer - well ok - it doesn't really fix the problem but it makes you feel a lot better.
Coffee sounds good to me. Very strong, thimble-sized demi-tasse of French 'noir' please. Strong enough to dissolve a spoon. With one of those little wrapped-up, dark, bitter chocolates on the saucer.
I once drank nine of these in a day. By late afternoon / early evening I had the shakes and was hallucinating (honestly) and having palpitations. I blame the chocolates. It was better than reality. Didn't manage to sleep that night though. Damned chocolates.
I'm not an e-mail subscriber. It's easier on my blood pressure that way. Fed-up? Not at all. Why not post the text of the newsletter here daily? I know that you have done so on occasion in the past, and other Froggers have called for it.
Don't rush to assume that it's 'your' incompetence. If the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has outsourced it's I.T. department (and most big organisations have done so), then it's 'their' fault for setting up a system that isn't fit for purpose.
Say there's a thought. I don't suppose your e-mail goes via the Home Office, does it?
And what have the Romans ever done for us?
Si.
I echo the request for it to appear here. But it is nice to get some carefully crafted, amusing prose in amongst all the adverts for cheap medications, investment tips and body enhancements.
I find I get a banging headache after two "proper" coffees so stick to tea instead. Some lemon stuff is lined up for this afternoon's de-stress. Odd how I am winding down from my day just as you are beginning to wind up towards live broadcasting.
Having just saved a teacher from a dangerous case of missing bottom border on a Word document I shall head off and free the world of a broken keyboard, an inoperative mouse and a lazy printer. I am beginning to think I have become an adrenalin junky...
'Life of Brian' quotes Mr. Mair, you're spoiling us!
Yesterday, Home Secretary John Reid told the Commons, "It is impossible to produce anything other a human estimate on the timescale for this struggle. My own estimate is that we will not be able to guarantee the delivery of the newsletter for at least as long as the Cold War lasted."
He then crept up behind the British public and shouted "BOO!"
Good afternoon Mr Mair,
Did you know that England have won a game of cricket. I'll repeat that for you: England have won a game of cricket.
It was against New Zealand, not the best team in the world but then, when you are on a losing streak as deep and wide as England's, you take your wins where you can.
This win happened to be at the expense of the New Zealand team but, really, it could have been against the Ambridge village green team for all I care.
It was the 13th match of the tour too, which somehow sums it all up. Unlucky, ill-prepared England make 13 their lucky number. But just in case it doesn't happen again for a while I'll repeat that for you – England have won a cricket match.
One could almost start to think the Newsletter is being witheld to increase its' value... after all it'd be so easy to post it on the blog......
1707 - 2007
The Solemn League and Covenant
Now brings a smile, now brings a tear.
But sacred freedom, too, was theirs;
If thou ‘rt a slave, indulge thy sneer.
Is the newsletter thing unique to PM or is it a ´óÏó´«Ã½ problem in general. I have not had a Balamory newsletter for a while. (For I, read my Daughter) The Balamory ones are less frequent but have links to games on the Cbeebies web site. We don;t even have a screensaver on the PM webpage.
... do you need to gargle today, Eddie? Y ou were a bit hoarse yesterday, I thought.
Oh Eddie - Love is never having to say your sorry (yup I remember Love Story), and you do love us don'tya? We know it can't be your fault, it generally takes a whole dedicated department to single-mindedly make such a c*ckup of something like this doesn't it? After all if IT is their prime purpose for existence why on earth would they be able to get it right?
Another note to self - facetious is bad, don't do it again.
The newsletter fails to arrive and the hands on the DoomsDay clock are moved closer to Midnight. I am worried that there may be a connection. Does anyone know where I can buy a nuclear bunker for a second-floor flat?
H.
Big Sister (17) the sounds of yesterday were directly attributable to the excesses of the day before...
To PM:
Tony Blair said recently that Britain cannot afford to be a "mini-America", intervening around the world, and that the covenant between Armed Forces, Government and people has to be renewed.
I thought it was an extraordinary statement that demonstrated the extent to which the New Labour Government has taken the military for granted. No peacetime premier, since the Second World War, has deployed the Armed Forces as frequently as Tony Blair, not even Mrs Thatcher during the Falklands conflict 25 years ago.
They are, ultimately, the people who are charged with implementing the Government's foreign policy on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dozens have already paid the ultimate sacrifice; their cause not aided by the perpetual failure of penny pinchers at the Ministry of Defence and Treasury to ensure that the troops were properly equipped for battle.
Many have already quit the Armed Forces in disgust. And many still on the frontline could not be blamed for reappraising their own careers when they learn of Mr Blair's disingenuous remarks, and how much priority should be afforded to defence spending in the future.
However, this is a matter for government – and not the wider public. Mr Blair should not require a national debate to realise that the nature of the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalists remains undiminished and has probably been exacerbated by the hardline stance that he has taken in conjunction with President George W Bush.
Indeed, it was suggested only a few days ago that the headquarters of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network is located in Pakistan, supposedly one of the West's key allies in the war on terror.
The implications of this latest intelligence remain unclear. What can be said with absolute certainty, however, is that Britain is going to be at the vanguard of this struggle for many years, if not decades, to come Dr Reid has alraedy confirmed this.
New Labour must face up to its obligations, whether it be the accommodation available to service personnel, ensuring soldiers go into battle with the necessary body armour or the replacement of the nuclear deterrent.
This I think is the heavy price that must be paid in order to uphold our country's values and liberty.
Member of the public (15): That deserves to be broadcast, as is, on tonight's show. If there is any justice in this world...
I just enjoyed Tony's monthly press conference. I am still astonished that thinks he can look sincere and half laugh and stay in office. But then, I suppose, he did get re-re-elected...
Did Ian Hislop ever actually dress up as a banana?
eddie mair (22)
A threatening word in your shell-like. It happened to a Bishop I know.
Hungover what? An abyss seething with liquefied hopes? A chasm cleft between sanity and despair? A void of abandoned aspiration?
It is a mess of fear; real and imagined. I speak not of the Monday morning throbber dispelled with Aspirin and fresh air, but of an abiding, unspecified angst, every nerve-end aquiver.
The smallest sounds clangour in a brittle brain whose cells sizzle and burn. Immobility impossible, concentration a forgotten gift. Shot eyes daren't hold those of another human without the fierce courage distilled in a bottle.
A sly cowardice grips and crushes the backbone you kid yourself still exists, and your body reneges. The knowledge of your fall is on the lips of friend and foe, while your own sullied lips drip the weasel words of false remorse.
Hungover. No-one left to drag you from the fearful edge. When, in rare lucidity, YOU are the only 'reality'; your's the only insight. Longing to caution others on the road to hell, knowing they will not heed; not you, who cannot halt your own slide into oblivion.
So the grey turns to black, and the black shrouds any thought of escape from this fluid purgatory.
Hungover - nowhere to go, but down. No hope of rising until scraping the bottom. There, if you are among the lucky few, some dregs may remain of your former self. Some power enwraps and guides you, weary as you are, through these visions of awful night which assail you.
Make no mistake. The journey down is but a beginning. The road back is beset with traps. You knew it even as it happened.
Friends, family, respect and reputation are no longer yours. Some - you may regain. The rest? Let it go. Forget it, if you can. The bleak horizon will brighten; the storm of past days settle to unquiet memory and you will move on; strong in the knowledge of weakness. :o)
Valery P (20),
While I'm the last one to comment (glass houses etc)
Love is never having to say your sorry
your/you're, surely?
Eddie (22), so what was the Blog Prince like yesterday - or was that his day off?
The Reverend Green: How uplifting. You need to turn the heating up in your church...
Rev'd Green, on the Blog, with a Posting. Cleudo anyone?
Or is it Cluedo - yes that looks better, should have checked.
Deepthought - You’re quite right!
But can I say that you are a very brave man to point that out to Ms Pedant. Got a very long memory has our Val. I think you should double-check all your postings for the next few months!
Rev,
I wish I'd written that!
xx
ed
I wanted to bring ´óÏó´«Ã½ PM the article about how Iran and China was able to buy at the US Defense Department Auctions:
DeepT - thanks pal, as it's you, I'll be kind!.
That's two in a row today (so far), so I'm going to blame it on this new Christmas present. It was great yesterday when I took it out of the box, but once SO put the castors on last night, it's taken me so high above the keyboard and monitor that i can't see what's going on. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
DeepT - thanks pal, as it's you, I'll be kind!.
That's two in a row today (so far), so I'm going to blame it on this new Christmas present. It was great yesterday when I took it out of the box, but once SO put the castors on last night, it's taken me so high above the keyboard and monitor that I can't see what's going on. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Hmmm, this won't submit, darn thing'll probably come up twice now. Well I'll just take this opportunity to correct the typo in this one too....
RJD( 30),
I'm so used to the sticks and stones of outrageous fortune (for which read spelling/grammar corrections)....and anyway, it's clearly Val P's off-day, as she had to correct her own spelling as well.
Member of the Public (15), alright, we heard, although personally I cannot abide this "game". Disband, I say, then Radio 4 LW can return to its true schedule.
Jason G(27), no, Rev Green has no problems with church heating, what with all the fire and brimstone ;-)
RJD( 30),
I'm so used to the sticks and stones of outrageous fortune (for which read spelling/grammar corrections)....and anyway, it's clearly Val P's off-day, as she had to correct her own spelling as well.
Member of the Public (15), alright, we heard, although personally I cannot abide this "game". Disband, I say, then Radio 4 LW can return to its true schedule.
Jason G(27), no, Rev Green has no problems with church heating, what with all the fire and brimstone ;-)
RJD( 30),
I'm so used to the sticks and stones of outrageous fortune (for which read spelling/grammar corrections)....and anyway, it's clearly Val P's off-day, as she had to correct her own spelling as well.
Member of the Public (15), alright, we heard, although personally I cannot abide this "game". Disband, I say, then Radio 4 LW can return to its true schedule.
Jason G(27), no, Rev Green has no problems with church heating, what with all the fire and brimstone ;-)
Very good blog comments.
Was I dreaming or did I just hear someone say on the intro to PM, 'Singing is the greatest form of NON VERBAL communication'.
Que?
Less than five minutes in and already something to comment on.
Someone has just claimed singing is "non-verbal communication" hmm...
I'd prefer to see the newsletter here really, then we can all post under the issues of the day before the programme, it would be good all round if Eddie is ever stuck for a thought, not that I think that ever happens.
I was driving home to PM from the Peterborough passport office yesterday, a grim experience despite cheery desk staff, why does one always have all the wrong pieces of paper even having checked in advance? Whoever it was you were interviewing Eddie, it was brilliant, I think it was about the home office shenanigans. Obviously you could say not that brilliant because I can't remember, but that would just be the result of having my head filled with my work, plus a prematurely senior moment.
SparklyHelen - passport office? passport? honeymoon? Do tell?
Haven't actually organised the wedding yet Valery P, but am pathetically grateful for the interest, my mother takes none which is not out of character!
Nothing so exciting I’m afraid but SO’s Christmas present included flights to visit friends in Spain in Feb so a lovely weekend beckons. Unfortunately it I was belatedly reminded of our passports going off with someone else last summer, just after we had spent a delightful time together in Italy as well, and it would have been wise to replace them at the time instead of a couple of weeks before we are due to fly... cost a LOT more too.
The bag probably looked like it had contained something far more instantly valuable like cash, but I really am still in mourning for the mulberry planner which was of "no monetary value" to the insurers, but which I can't replace it because to have the same again would cost me nigh on £300!!! Not something I would justify even if richer. The original was about £30 in the Selfridges sale about 15 years ago, so I should really just be cherishing the time we spent together, but the new (red leather) diary is proving a poor substitute despite a glamorous exterior which would imply otherwise.
I like that Senator Barack Obama, I mean I was enthusing about Hillary, though Naomi Wolf said she wasn't going to run, but he would be a far finer option. With George Clooney's backing can he go wrong, having seen Clooney interviewed by Kirsty Wark; I'd vouch for him being well informed politically.
According to some reports Naomi Campbell would like a palatable version of community service, rather than being chased around the streets aka Boy George. After being in trouble for anger issues 8 times thus far, I’d really like her to have to face up to the issues which aren’t just a result of being a spoilt superbrat, err model. There may be some deep rooted explanation which psychobabble could address, or it could just be that she is always hungry aka Julia Roberts in Notting Hill, when she says she’s been starving for 20 years. I think I would be permanently bad tempered if I had to stay thin, but had lost the use of cocaine to control my appetite; perhaps Naomi just always hungry.
Excellent programme this evening Teddy....er....sorry...Eddie. How could I have got that name wrong?!
Sorry for the triple blog, I thought nothing was happening.
I meant to post this yesterday, but what with the mother visiting, I never got around to it. I nearly crashed the car during WATO yesterday lunchtime when the newsreader read without spluttering "the Iraqi government reported no violations this time although al-Tikriti was decapitated during the execution". This must be one for Eddie's clip file. I can't remember who it was, Charlotte or one of those other lovely voices, but sometimes they must just want to drop their professionalism and go "Eeeuw!". Brutal, vile and ghastly just doesn't begin to cover it.
Yes Eddie, you may take me out for coffee. Where would you like to go?
With a nod to a refernce above about George Clooney and his being well-informed politically (wholehearted agreement here) I need to mention that I will be leaving you to become First Lady when he becomes President, but I think that's still some time away...
whisky-joe (17), the Solemn League and Covenant wasn't 1707, as I'm sure you know.
You might find a better quotation of the Union of Parliaments in 'Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation', for instance
I know this is going to be a stupid question, but hey ho, if you don't ask....
Why does there have to be a newsletter sent via email ? After all, this blog is just posted on the website, and everyone can see it, without all that tedious 'email' subscription tosh.
Or is there some long term strategic reason for needing our email addresses ? Personally I don't think there is, my money is on it simply being a 'senior management box-ticking exercise'.
But then I'm a natural born sceptic...
Valery, do sit down in a comfy chair. It's not your day. Now try that relaxation exercise suggested for Eric. Deep, slow breaths. And no coffee.
Better?
Much better Frances - thank you, sigh.
Sparkly - keep me posted, I'll be the surrogate mother-of-the-bride if you wish! :o) As long as I don't have to wear a pastel coat dress and matching hat....
Philip, my thoughts exactly - anyone who wants the newsletter must have an internet connection, therefore must be able to access this blog. What's the problem? Unless, perish the thought, the fact that I get inundated with spam these days is something to do with the Beeb??
Nooo, not everyone has access to the blog. We have an extremely tall frog-proof fence at work (which can only be climbed with extreme caution) so we rely on the email newsletter to be part of things!
´óÏó´«Ã½ Look North seem to manage to get an email newsletter out every day from Hull... why not post it to Peter Levy there, and see if he can do the biz?
-- Paul H
Thank you Valery P, I shall be holding you to that, the post is vacant & you don't have to wear a matching anything! I think it will be next year.
Now Aperitif, I don't want to fall out over this but Clooney is mine, don't you have Johnny Depp already? Another would be just greedy, or was that someone else, either way he's mine as soon as he realises it!
No no no Helen (53) Geogeous George Clooney is surely mine - MadMary gave him to me for christmas! (And if you don't believe me, look at the christmas day beach!)
Sparkles! And you a blushing bride-to-be!! Greedy or not I have long been a Johnny-and-George-and-Eddie girl. I refer you to my list many moons ago. There are others on it and it is fluid and subject to occasional sudden change but those three are always at the top.
What is even more greedy, I have to say, is that my late SO was a bit of all three -- looks of one, name of another, wit of the other. I was truly a lucky lady. Sigh.
I ran the Phoenix marathon on Sunday in below freezing weather. The only thing that will get me through today is another dose of Advil and a rather large G&T.
:-)
I just attempted to post the last entry three times before it took. Here is the error message I got,
"Can't load error template; got error 'Loading template 'error.tmpl' failed: HTML::Template->new() : Cannot open included file error.tmpl : file not found. at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/extlib/HTML/Template.pm line 1500 HTML::Template::_init_template('HTML::Template=HASH(0x104086f40)') called at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/extlib/HTML/Template.pm line 1105 HTML::Template::_init('HTML::Template=HASH(0x104086f40)') called at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/extlib/HTML/Template.pm line 999 HTML::Template::new('HTML::Template', 'type', 'filename', 'source', 'error.tmpl', 'path', 'ARRAY(0x103a81540)', 'search_path_on_include', ...) called at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/lib/MT/App.pm line 736 eval {...} called at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/lib/MT/App.pm line 735 MT::App::load_tmpl('MT::App::Comments=HASH(0x1011547f0)', 'error.tmpl') called at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/lib/MT/App.pm line 534 MT::App::show_error('MT::App::Comments=HASH(0x1011547f0)', '') called at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/lib/MT/App.pm line 621 MT::App::run('MT::App::Comments=HASH(0x1011547f0)') called at /home/system/cgi-perl/mt/mt-comments.cgi line 80 Apache::ROOT::cgi_2dperl::mt::mt_2dcomments_2ecgi::handler('Apache=SCALAR(0x1039d7290)') called at /usr/local/perl/lib/site_perl/5.6.1/sun4-solaris/Apache/Registry.pm line 149 eval {...} called at /usr/local/perl/lib/site_perl/5.6.1/sun4-solaris/Apache/Registry.pm line 149 Apache::Registry::handler('Apache=SCALAR(0x1039d7290)') called at /dev/null line 0 eval {...} called at /dev/null line 0 '. Giving up. Original error was"
I will need more than coffee to get me through this one ;-)
Philip (49), it's a good question. The newsletter pre-dated the blog, and we did wonder once the blog started, whether there would be demand for the newsletter. But there very much is. We know from the feedback we get that people seem to enjoy something arriving in their inbox, rather than having to seek it out.
Sparkley (43)
aka Boy George? Also known as Boy George!? I don't think so, somehow ;-).
H.
How many subscribers has it got, I wonder?
(And not at all related, but what sort of traffic does this blog get, I wonder?)
Ladies I am not going to join the fight but would just like to say that I have never understood the George Clooney thing. What is it? He's reasonable looking with dark shadows under his eyes, and a not particularly attratcive voice. What is it about that that gets other female pulses racing?
Annie..... Look into the eyes..... Look into the eyes.....Do not look around the eyes....1 2 3 you're under....
Have I just been moderated for my kindly posting to Eddie re his hangover?
I merely pointed out that Marc throws mean parties, and Eddie doesn't throw toys.
The last bit of that remark being directed at Rev. Green.
Is it just me? Is the moderator getting a bit heavy handed these days? Or are postings being 'lost in the ether' rather regularly since the Lovely Lissa left town?
AA: I with you on that one. His looks are classic, but not outstanding, imho. It was seriously embarrassing listening to him on Desert Island Discs. Not because of him, but because of the reaction he provoked in the interviewer.
Now, if it had been Johnny Depp or Sean Bean, it would have been another matter...
Incidentally (and, Eddie, look away now, as this may embarrass you!) Has anyone else on the Blog thought that the Lord Mair has something of the Elvis about him? Elvis in his youth, that is ...
And, Eddie, if you did happen to see this comment, it was intended as a compliment. Just think of all those young women in the 50s.
Admin annie (61), I suspect that like most attractions it's not something to be analysed. Either you do or you don't.
AA (61);
His Wonga! Oooh, err, missus!
Si.
Well, here's an entertaining .
I promise not to keep endlessly posting all morning, but there is something further I need to get off my chest.
Where is Marc?
On another thread, people are swapping stories about sightings of water voles, but theses appear to be much much more common that our Frog Prince, who hasn't been seen on the Blog since he waved to us from Margate beach last week.
Oh yes, we all now know about his sooooperdoooooper party on Sunday, which left our Eddie hoarse from singing 'I did it My Way' (or was it 'Jailhouse Rock'?) on the karaoke, the falling down juice flowed free, and where just about every pairing was a product of speed dating ............. But no sign of the 'birthday boy' himself!
If Marc is sleeping off a hangover in a quiet corner of Auntie's Palace, could somebody please give him a nudge and tell him that the Froggers do like a little wave every now and then, if he wouldn't mind doing us the great honour? - :0)
I used to drink tonnes of coffee, Eddie. But I gave it up completely in early 2006. Despite the banging 'hangover' which lasted two weeks, I'd only say that life has improved - alertness during the day and better sleep at night.
Just a thought.
Big Sister (64) - George Clooney provoked a reaction in the interviewer on D.I.D? That sounds like a novel idea if it was the current presenter. According to Mrs. H., she is very monotonous.
Helen (43). I've been watching Barack Obama for a while now and indeed, he is very good. It's nice to see a politician who is intelligent, honest and has a sense of humour (of course, that will probably change now that he is running and has to start playing politics!). That being said, the minute that Fox news get hold of him - calling him Barack Hussein Osama - oops, look, they already did that, and then start aligning him with the Taliban and being ungod-like and thus unamerican, it will probably affect him greatly.
Outside of Bill O'Reilly-land though, if nominated, he does need a highly experienced person to run with him as VP. Hillary would be good on paper, but very few people actually like her and she will likely be his main contender in the primaries so they may knock each other out given that they appeal to similar voter bases. The only other person I can think of is Al Gore...and I'm just not sure he'll want to wade into the Piranha pool again.
Big Sister (64) I hope Eddie sits still in his chair this evening so it doesn't creak, or we'll all be thinking of a Leather-clad Elvis. Now there's a thought.......! We'll have to amend your last phrase to ''Just think of all those not-so-young women in their fifties!
Mind you, I don't ever recall Elvis in a rugby shirt (Eddie's sartorial preference, I've noted!)
Does he own leather jeans, I wonder?
I can feel him blushing as I write.
Re DID and George Clooney. It was the previous presenter. I shall not name names as the Moderator is very immoderate these days.
Gillian - I hope, most emphatically, that you aren't implying that women in their fifties are not-so-young? It will happen to you one day.......
Sparklydaughter - that's a date (not Fearless' kind of course).
David Jones - well done to you. I know not the marathon of which you speak, is that Phoenix, Arizona, or (I should really g**gle this, but I've started so I'll finish) somewhere around San Fransisco? You shouldchat to Belinda btw - ref her musical choices yesterday.
Jason - IT advice required, summat odd happened to my space bar in the middle of that last paragraph, every time I used it, the cursor skipped back a space and removed a piece of the text. Oh no, not another day like yesterday, pur-lease?
George Clooney - it's the twinkle in your eyes of course.
Vyle H, I liked that newsletter. May try to start a pillow fight on the beach.
Big Sis - as an interviewer then, is Eddie a teddy bear or does he have a suspicious mind & a wooden heart?
Valery P: first off shut everything down (including the central heating, but most importantly the kettle). Then unplug all the wires at the back of the computer. The plug them all back in again in random places. Then try again.
If it doesn't work, ask someone else, but don't mention that you already had a problem. The line to use is "It was working perfectly and now it isn't - so sort it as I'm teaching year 4 how to book a skiing trip for half term".
Hang on, you aren't a teacher at a school are you? That won't work then...
Seriously, no idea. Rebooting cures 90% of problems. A cup of tea and a back rub stops you caring about the other 10%.
Big Sister: re DID - So Lonely, then?
Have never thought Young Kirsty was monotonous...I think she has a gorgeous voice. Are you sure it isn't jealousy?
GM:
'If I can dream' ..... t'would be Eddie as teddy in blue suede shoes. The suspicious mind comes as standard for an interviewer.
D'you think his interviewees are all shook up by him?
Well, That's alright.
ValP: Have you accidentally pressed the 'insert' or 'delete' keys on your keyboard? Just a thought ...
No no Big Sis! Eddie is nothing like Elvis - euurgh. Elvis was greasy and horrid and dim. The mere sight of him makes me feel queasy...
Good job we're not all into the same thing eh? Clooney was utterly adorable on D.I,D. and I could quite empathise with the reaction of Ms Lawley.
Valery P. (74) I'm afraid I speak as one who knows! And what you describe as your IT problem so aptly descibes me......just insert ''brain'' for ''space bar'' and ''tongue'' for ''cursor''! Jason's advice for both of us is spot on.
Thanks Jason, I'll give it a g.....
Belinda (71),
On Obama,
Thoughts on the corrupting ability of the mere desire for power? It is virtually impossible to achieve high office in any of our oversized centralised 'democracies' without having already sold out to dozens of corporate power blocks.
Sadly,
ed
I blame Valery (74) and Jason (77).
Trying to fix a spacebar problem and the whole system freezes!
(Would you believe it ? - Not a thing on the Frog for three hours and I get a message saying I'm posting too quickly. Sheeesh!)
Push!
Appy,
While I agree with your opinion of The Pelvis in later years, when you see the early stuff, and interviews with him when he first hit the scene, he was gorgeous.
Valery P (74) - Yes Pheonix, Arizona. It was -3C/26F at the start brrrrrrrr. I have also run my own cities marathon (San Francisco) a few times. As I approach my mid 30's I find it a good way to stay relatively thin without stopping drinking G&Ts and eating at my favourite Indian Cafe Pakwans (16th and Guerrero).
As for Obama the Daily Show showed CNN footage comparing the way he dressed to Saddam Hussein. Fox news is also having a field day with him.
My money is on a Mccain/Giuliani v Obama/Clinton Presidential race. Sadly I think Mccain/Giuliani will win.
David (88)
"My money is on a Mccain/Giuliani v Obama/Clinton Presidential race. Sadly I think Mccain/Giuliani will win."
Sad on every count. Almost as sad as our likely choices here in the UK. Who do you reckon would be 'on top' in each pairing?
xx
ed
I flip back and forth on the Mccain/Giuliani pairing but Mccain does have more experience as a Senator so is likely to be the President with Giuliani being the popular VP. I feel much of the middle ground of voters would vote for this pair.
Obama/Clinton I feel Obama as president and Clinton as VP. I feel Obama/Clinton would loose in the end because the US is still a very conservative country as is not ready for a Black or Female President. Also a lot of Democrats and middle ground voters would vote against Hilary just becuase she is a Clinton.
In the end I am just happy that the House and Senate are now controlled by the Democrats. There is something to be said for having no party in overall control of what goes on in the USA.
Big Sis, Nope, sorry -- can't agree. I was referring to the early years. Later he was essentially the same but fatter. Yeuch.
Appy: Okay. In fact, I was never a fan of his (well, I like his early music, and he did have a great voice). However, he clearly had 'something', animal magnetism or whatever, and footage of him playing in the 50s and the effect it had on the women and girls who saw him are witness to his physical as well as musical impact.
As to my comment re him/Eddie, I didn't mean by it that Eddie looks like Elvis, but there is something about the eyes and mouth which remind me of Elvis. Especially, again, the earlier photos I've seen of Eddie.
I wonder if it's something anyone else has ever noticed? The person who would know is Eddie. But I doubt if he'll comment.
Anyway, it was something that occurred to me quite recently, and was a pretty random thought. Like, you might say, most of my thoughts?
Humph, Clooney honey, who gossipmistress, hasn't paid nearly enough attention to so he's looking elsewhere. & aperitif, you've definitely had your share then, but I am nice enough to wish the SO wasn't late (-:
admin annie, there is no explanation for such things, I really didn't think so much of him until I heard him talk, whereas others were swooning from the first days of ER. He is fairly humble with stardom arriving after slogging away in daytime soaps for years, but also knows what kind of films he would like to make, as opposed to those which pay him enough money to make the films he wants to make.
I saw an interview Clooney did with Kirsty Wark, which I think you can still see online, and was just impressed by his fluent political thoughts. I am not immediately taken with matinee idol looks, I need more! & never understood the attraction to Elvis but I reckon his hips were a revolution at the time.
I like Kirsty on DID, but it is always what the interviewee says that I am really listening to, & I do like how differently revelatory it is.
An Apology to Eddie:
I've been thinking about it all, Mr. Mair, and think I owe you an apology for making comments about your looks on your very own Blog. It is bad manners, and I'm now going to sit on the naughty step for five minutes to reflect on my behaviour.
Please do not regard aforesaid behaviour as being intentionally rude, rather as being, perhaps, inappropriately complimentary.
Sparkles - Elvis and his revolutionary hips - hahahahahahaha! Well done, my first laugh of today!
Helen (93) Re Mr Clooney I agree totally that the looks alone are not enough. What I really like about him is that he's prepared to stick his neck out for things he believes in, even if that means making himself unpopular in some quarters (eg over the Iraq war)
Sounds like his Dad is also a similar character. I agree he also comes across as well-informed and I think he tries to use his stardom to good effect. And at least he makes films he believes in as well as those which will earn him megabucks. And he's cheeky and twinkly and.....oooh I'll just have to go and sit down!
Oh but it's good that we like a bit of variety, no? Although I think Sparkles and I like Clooney for the same reasons! (And thanks for the kind words re late SO -- I wish that too! He had a Clooney-like face, among his many other marvellous qualities) And I'm with Valery - hahaha on the'revolutionary hips'.
Big Sis, come back from the naughty step! I'm sure we've all done much naughtier things and I think that Eric won't mind -- he knows it's because you love him, as do we all...
Helen Sparkles I wrote you a long post about Mr Clooney earlier but it's never appeared, so at the risk of it appearing twice (and at the risk of it looking as if I'm going on and on about GC!) here is more or less what it said!
I agree that looks are not enough and I like him because he is also prepared to stick his neck out and support what he believes in even when this might make him unpopular eg over Bush & Iraq. (Sounds like his Dad is a similar character as well). He might not be Einstein but he always seems quite well informed and genuine about the causes he supports.
He also at least uses his celebrity status to some good effect and makes some films he believes in as well as those he can make megabucks out of. He also seems to be quite cheeky & charming, and that twinkle in his eyes.........oooh I'm going to have to go and lie down!!
PUSH!
I imagine this is what labour is like...
Push!
At last my 2.26PM comment is visible! That took some pushing!!!
Ap - you always have been able to unblock the bloggage, aren't you clever?
I can't read the funny card :o(, same reason as not being able to get Yout*be at Christmas time, that stoopid, you need a new flash player message. SO had to disable N*rt*on eventually to re-load it. Now it seems to have gone again...
The funny card Valery?
I've found that, to unblock, one just has to send a "pusher". Bizarre innit?
Appy/Val P: You've brought a smile to my lips with your antics.
And I got off the naughty step fairly promptly. Hope I haven't upset too many folk, though, by my posting yesterday re feeling uncomfortable about criticising the prog on the frog. Must be my upbringing - felt a bit like telling a dinner party host that the meal was overcooked :0(
I've no doubt Eddie's shoulders are broad enough to take it, but, if I put myself in his shoes (I should be so lucky!) I'd find it a bit galling, hence my comment.
I always feel, when blogging here, that I'm 'in Eddie's house'. Oh well, it's a vivid imagination and no mistake.
Have now posted a clarification of what my point yesterday, having examined within myself what had made me feel uncomfortable.
ValP: If that was the funny card I sent, you can view it on the ´óÏó´«Ã½7 website under their ecards - number 3, from memory.
Big Sis - fret not. That's the beauty of this place, we are all at liberty to express out views!
Darn, this new posture stool - it really does affect my typing. I'm going to have to fiddle with it some more. For out read our!
Appy - the funny card, was the link to the one Big Sis sent to Lissa. We just have, I think, an overly enthusiastic firewall, which keeps deleting Fl*sh Player :o(
Worry not, Big Sis, worry not.
A, x.
With you now Valery -- but what are you doing typing on a Friday? Surely you have better things to do??? ;-)