大象传媒

Archives for May 2007

The Glass Box for Thursday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:37 UK time, Thursday, 31 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme.

Just click on the "comment" link.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious of your choice: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

Exciting news just in...

Eddie Mair | 15:37 UK time, Thursday, 31 May 2007

Comments

Peter Donaldson will be bring you tonight's news.

Where in the world WAS Rob Broomby????

Eddie Mair | 12:28 UK time, Thursday, 31 May 2007

Comments

The answer: Georgia.

The (still unedited) intro to tonight's report:

"Iran has failed to obey yet another UN Security Council imposed deadline calling on it to halt its Uranium enrichment programme, which the United States says could give it access to material suitable for a nuclear bomb. Iran maintains its actions are purely peaceful America says not . The agency at the centre of the storm is the UN's nuclear watchdog the IAEA based in Vienna. Our reporter Rob Broomby was been granted unique access to the agency, its leaders and the nuclear inspections teams. For almost 12 months he has been monitoring their work from the inside for a two part Radio Four documentary on the Iran crisis to be broadcast tonight. As he learns the sanctions may have backfired"

The photos from this report and from tomorrow's, including, further down, a snap or two with the head man sitting on the UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei. His dog is not in the photo. No idea what the pig is about. Looks happy though.
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Log update:

Eddie Mair | 07:34 UK time, Thursday, 31 May 2007

Comments

On this morning's log, but referring to the PM of May 29th:

"Felt that the programme was excellent. "I was mesmerised. It was wonderful and I particularly liked the report about The Big Donor Show.""

I know it's early

Eddie Mair | 07:25 UK time, Thursday, 31 May 2007

Comments

but I'm here before dashing off on another bit of work. Carolyn is in my line of vision in the studio doing Today. Martha is already here reading in for The World at One, and Rupert - yes, our Rupert - is editing WATO today.

We're all in for a treat.

The Glass Box for Wednesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:37 UK time, Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme.

Just click on the "comment" link.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless. Peter and Jeremy are in charge tonight. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious of your choice: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

Just been talking to

Eddie Mair | 13:31 UK time, Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Comments

a man who was so fed up with fortnightly rubbish collections he started a business to collect his neighbourhood rubbish weekly. It's been wildly successful. Just about to talk to Labour deputy leadership hopeful Harriet Harman.

This is Andy who was on the show last night

Eddie Mair | 10:53 UK time, Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Comments

andy.jpg

Thank you.

Eddie Mair | 10:17 UK time, Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Comments

Felt that the programme was excellent. "I thought the programme was
mesmerizing and very well done."
Felt that the programme was excellent. "It was interesting and informative."
Felt that the programme was excellent. "I was mesmerised by the programme, it
was absolutely great."
Felt that the programme was excellent. "I was mesmerised, it was excellent."

Police! Stop!

Eddie Mair | 16:33 UK time, Tuesday, 29 May 2007

Comments


This is the photo Martin Shankleman talks about on PM tonight.

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The Glass Box for Tuesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:32 UK time, Tuesday, 29 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless. Jeremy and Sarah are in charge tonight. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

Got a mobile?

Eddie Mair | 13:11 UK time, Tuesday, 29 May 2007

Comments

You can now listen to regularly updated news headlines on your mobile phone. 60 seconds of news and sport are available from 大象传媒 News. If you'd like to find out how, follow this link.

The listener log has had

Eddie Mair | 10:18 UK time, Tuesday, 29 May 2007

Comments

a call about the Radio 4 programme "Nature" transmitted yesterday.

The listener said:

"I was mesmerised by the programme. Excellent work."

Isn't that nice? What a lovely lovely thing to say about people's work.

I was wondering - and this is completely unethical - whether you might call the log (according to the 大象传媒 website it's 08700 100 222: calls from a BT line cost up to 8p per minute (some operators and mobiles vary) and may be recorded for training) and say about tonight's PM these exact words:

"I was mesmerised by the programme. Excellent work."

You'll have to wait till after 18.00 obviously. By which time I may have been told off. But it will be a giggle. Tomorrow I will report back on how many calls there were.

Just got an email from Stanley saying:

Eddie Mair | 17:51 UK time, Monday, 28 May 2007

Comments

More eagle owls about than anyone thinks. We have one on the moor and it's been there for almost four years. Wonderful animal. Don't give the location, it's doing a good job keeping the rabbits down.

owl.bmp


The Glass Box for Bank Holiday Monday*

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:40 UK time, Monday, 28 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless. Jeremy and Sarah are in charge tonight. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

*unless it isn't, where you live.

Richard Fairbrass

Eddie Mair | 15:09 UK time, Monday, 28 May 2007

Comments

of Right Said Fred (seen here on the left)
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has just been speaking to us about his experience being beaten up in Moscow yesterday. It was one of those interviews that took a turn I didn't really expect. You too might be surprised by what happened. We'll play it in the programme tonight.

It's a holiday

Eddie Mair | 08:27 UK time, Monday, 28 May 2007

Comments

in some parts - not in others. It's a lovely day in some parts - but the monsoon has started here.

Undeterred, we will bring you a full hour of PM tonight whether you like it or not. If all the talking gets too much, hum some light classical music to yourself. Under no circumstances should you change channels.

I see Kylie is 39 today. How old does that make the rest of us if Kylie is 39?

The Furrowed Brow

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Eddie Mair | 06:18 UK time, Monday, 28 May 2007

Comments

Something serious you want to raise? Even something never heard on PM? This is the place.

The Glass Box for Friday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:37 UK time, Friday, 25 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. Just click on the "comment" link.

But please also have a look further down the page at the faces of the young people in Michael Buchanan's report.

The Beach

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Eddie Mair | 06:23 UK time, Friday, 25 May 2007

Comments

What is the Beach?

It鈥檚 a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you鈥檙e the only one around, but you can leave your 鈥榝ootprints鈥 for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question.

The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.

There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

What do you think of it so far...?

Eddie Mair | 17:05 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2007

Comments

If you have a comment on rubbish and recycling...this is the place.

And look: Jonnie sends this: "These are photos of our new smaller wheelie bin. The chip is the circular object with holes around it, embedded in the plastic under the rim. To be eco-friendly the Duracell's have been removed from the Rupert, and he is now powered by a permanent orange extension lead. "

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The Glass Box for Thursday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:37 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless. Jasper and Jeremy are in charge tonight. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

We've dropped our coverage of control orders.

Eddie Mair | 16:05 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2007

Comments

It's partly because there's not a lot fresh to say that won't be in the 1700 news. And there's a lot to cram in tonight including reporter packages which we sort of need to balance the number of interviews.

Anyway - here's what you could have won, as lifted from the running order:..

"The curious thing about the three terror suspects who're on the run is that people from all sides have managed to claim that things might have been different if only they'd been listened to.

Newspaper front pages screamed for attention this morning. There was the Daily Mail's

VOICE UP:

FIND THEM. New security shambles as three terror suspects under control orders go on run.

EDDIE:

For the Daily Mirror the message was

VOICE UP:

GET THEM. "extreme danger" terror suspects on loose.

EDDIE:

But how dangerous are these three men judged to be?

We were told last night by deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Clarke that the public should not approach the men but dial 999.

This morning the Home Secretary John Reid called the men "dangerous", though NOT a direct threat to the public.

Then Britain's most senior police officer Sir Ian Blair said nobody could be perfectly satisfied that the men were not a risk to the public in Britain.

As I say there is agreement, though for different reasons, that there's something wrong with the current control order system.

The Home Secretary John Reid in his first public comment this morning complained of the imitations placed on the authorities by Parliament, the courts and the law. It was like having to fight with one hand tied behind his back.

He elaborated later in the House of Commons.

[VCS.MOSGW4.TVC.大象传媒.MOSVCS audio insert

NAME: CONTROL ORDERS Reid Clip

NUMBER: 14674

IN WORDS: unfortunately

OUT WORDS: counter terrorism bill

DURATION: 0'51''
000000002BE762F4CONTROL ORDERS Reid Clip441002249100VCS.ENPS-ActiveXVCS.ENPS-ActiveXVCS.ENPS-ActiveXVCS audio insert
NAME: CONTROL ORDERS Reid Clip
NUMBER: 14674
IN WORDS: unfortunately
OUT WORDS: counter terrorism bill
DURATION: 0'51''
4CONTROL ORDERS-010-4
]

For the Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve the problem was one of the Government's making.

[VCS.MOSGW4.TVC.大象传媒.MOSVCS audio insert

NAME: NEWSWIRE CONTROL GRIEVE

NUMBER: 14263

IN WORDS: The government

OUT WORDS: to take action on this point

DURATION: 0'30''
VCS audio insert
NAME: NEWSWIRE CONTROL GRIEVE
NUMBER: 14263
IN WORDS: The government
OUT WORDS: to take action on this point
DURATION: 0'30''
000000001BDB73F0NEWSWIRE CONTROL GRIEVE441001323000VCS.ENPS-ActiveXVCS.ENPS-ActiveXVCS.ENPS-ActiveX2CONTROL ORDERS-010-2
]

Shami Chakrabarti, the director of the human rights organisation Liberty, insisted control orders were not the answer.

[VCS.MOSGW4.TVC.大象传媒.MOSVCS audio insert

NAME: NEWSWIRE CONTROL CHAKRABARTI

NUMBER: 13098

IN WORDS: Those people ...

OUT WORDS: ... our security policy.

DURATION: 0'17''
VCS audio insert
NAME: NEWSWIRE CONTROL CHAKRABARTI
NUMBER: 13098
IN WORDS: Those people ...
OUT WORDS: ... our security policy.
DURATION: 0'17''
000000001BABA9E4NEWSWIRE CONTROL CHAKRABARTI44100749700VCS.ENPS-ActiveXVCS.ENPS-ActiveXVCS.ENPS-ActiveX3CONTROL ORDERS-010-3
]

It emerged this afternoon that one of the three men who've absconded while under control orders had previously appeared at the Old Bailey - for breaching his control order."

Where in the world...

Eddie Mair | 14:17 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2007

Comments

is Jim Muir, we wondered the other day, when we completely screwed up his location.

Now try this. Next week, PM will run some of Rob Broomby's latest adventure. Where in the world do you think he is?

roba.JPG
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(we'll take "miles from a clothes shop" as read...)

Big Brother

Eddie Mair | 10:25 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2007

Comments

will probably feature on the programme tonight - because of .

We don't normally do this

Eddie Mair | 10:19 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2007

Comments

because otherwise we could just fill the Blog with emails but look - we just tried this...or rather Jasper and Jeremy, our editor and deputy for the day just tried it, and it does work. We don't care how, we just marvel at it.

It was sent in by Andrew Willis. Thank you.

"YOUR AGE BY EATING OUT

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway-but your waiter may know!

YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH

This is pretty neat

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!

It takes less than a minute .

Work this out as you read ...

Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

N.B. you may need a pen & paper for two or three calculations.


1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)


2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)


3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1757 .....

If you haven't, add 1756.


6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(I.e., how! Many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week)

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)


THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2007) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS"

The Glass Box for Wednesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:44 UK time, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless. And he's editing tonight. After last night's fiasco!

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

Soaps are changing their storylines

Eddie Mair | 16:21 UK time, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Comments

and website isn't happy about it. We're talking about it on the programme. There's another page .

An email

Eddie Mair | 13:42 UK time, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Comments

arrives from Big Sis...

"Well, Eddie, you know how it is .... These froggers say these things and I just can't resist the challenge! Blame the SSCat."

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Last night on PM

Eddie Mair | 12:05 UK time, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Comments

and this morning on Today, we were, completely across where our esteemed colleague Jim Muir is.

And while we're at it - we weren't the first...

Apologies for

Eddie Mair | 10:51 UK time, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Comments

something you may not have noticed but which was driving me nuts yesterday afternoon. I felt cut off from you - and you in turn were cut off from reading my pointless drivel.

There was some kind of catastrophe, and it meant we couldn't log in to write anything, or properly access your comments. It says something about the journey we've all been on (pass the sick bag, Alice) that it was actually disconcerting: to lose access to this new way of communicating with our audience.

Anyway it seems to be working again so the torrent of rubbish from me can go on.

Where in the WORLD is

Eddie Mair | 10:32 UK time, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Comments

Jim Muir? The answer will be posted here, presently.

40,007

Eddie Mair | 06:29 UK time, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Comments

and counting.....

39,968

Eddie Mair | 20:57 UK time, Tuesday, 22 May 2007

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comments. We will breach 40,000 tomorrow. Or maybe tonight. Congratulations!

And then at 50,000 we will definitely tell you about...

The Glass Box

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:54 UK time, Tuesday, 22 May 2007

Comments

Write here about tonight's programme. Apologies for the lack of the usual explanation...had a devil of a time this afternoon accessing the Blog. We'll try to fix it...

Lord Adonis's interview broadcast

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Eddie Mair | 12:24 UK time, Tuesday, 22 May 2007

Comments

last night, May 21st is here.

Home Information Packs

Eddie Mair | 12:05 UK time, Tuesday, 22 May 2007

Comments

news just in: The Communities and Local Government Secretary, Ruth Kelly MP, is to make a Commons statement at 1530 this afternoon on Home Information Packs.

1233 update: "Ruth Kelly is expected to announce a delay to the introducation of Home Information Packs in a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon. Government sources are indicating she will give "an update on the implementation" of Hips but deny reports that they will be scrapped. However they are not denying that the new scheme - which might face a legal challenge - could be delayed by a matter of weeks."

Have you had personal experience of preparing for Home Information Packs? Rushed through the sale of your house? Or put off buying? Whatever your experience, let us know.

A word or two lifted directly

Eddie Mair | 11:20 UK time, Tuesday, 22 May 2007

Comments

from our in-house web pages. Thought you might find it interesting:

"More than 100,000 people from around the world have now added their names to the petition calling for the release of kidnapped 大象传媒 Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. Messages of support from over 6000 people have also been posted on the 大象传媒 News website.

The petition was launched in April in the Guardian newspaper when 300 leading figures from the journalistic community signed a petition calling for Johnston's release.

Yesterday, 21 May, the 大象传媒's world editor Jon Williams spoke at a vigil for Johnston held at Television Centre. He said, 'Now, more than ever, we miss Alan's integrity and humanity in reporting that [Gaza] story.

'But he is not the only one under threat in Gaza. Alan's friends, our colleagues, Ibrahim Adwan and Rushdi Abu Allof, were among 30 journalists trapped by gunfire inside the building that houses the 大象传媒 bureau in Gaza.'

Williams said that 大象传媒 reporters in Gaza had been recently broadcasting around the clock 'ensuring that in Alan's absence, the 大象传媒 can continue' its coverage.

There has been no public statement from Johnston's kidnappers, although on 9 May al-Jazeera received a tape purportedly from his kidnappers which included several demands and a picture of Johnston's 大象传媒 ID card.

Jon Williams said in an announcement in May that the tape runs for several minutes and contains readings from the Koran and a demand for the release of Muslim prisoners in British jails, specifically, the Muslim preacher Abu Qatada. The 大象传媒 has not commented on the analysis of the tape.

Vigils are being held by friends and colleagues every Monday at various 大象传媒 venues to keep his plight in the spotlight."

A bit later this morning

Eddie Mair | 08:37 UK time, Tuesday, 22 May 2007

Comments

we'll post Lord Adonis's latest interview here in case you missed it. In the meantime, here, as promised, is the question suggested by a member of the Any Questions audience in Whitby last week which, perhaps, we should have used on air:

"As we are in the town where Dracula landed, whose blood would members of the panel drink to reinvigorate themselves?"

Your thoughts on Lord Adonis tonight

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:57 UK time, Monday, 21 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box for Monday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:35 UK time, Monday, 21 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

Special Educational Needs and Lord Adonis.

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 14:07 UK time, Monday, 21 May 2007

Comments

The education minister will be back on the programme tonight, and as part of our live interview, I will put to him some of the criticisms made by listeners on this topic. If you want to read them for yourself, or hear the original interview with Lord Adonis, click on the link on the right.

Big Sis

Eddie Mair | 07:25 UK time, Monday, 21 May 2007

Comments

sent her now traditional postcard from an Any Questions destination...apologies that I'm not able to post it till this morning..

"You know me well enough by now to know I wouldn't let you down. Have a lovely time in Yorkshire. A weekend away, perhaps?"

Sadly not!

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While I remember, I will bring in to work tomorrow, a question we almost put into Any Questions on Friday but didn't. After we decided it wouldn't go in, we showed it to some of the panel and they hooted with laughter and said we should have used it. They were probably right.


The Furrowed Brow

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Eddie Mair | 05:45 UK time, Monday, 21 May 2007

Comments

The place to be serious.

We are heading for 40,000

Eddie Mair | 07:24 UK time, Saturday, 19 May 2007

Comments

comments on the Blog. Anticipate we'll hit it sometime next week. Maybe we should do something special for 50,000. Like spend all our horse winnings...

This may have been the biggest week yet for the Blog. Is now the time to mention our plans to....

Maybe we'll wait for 50,000 to drop the big hint...

Glass Box for Friday

Sequin | 17:06 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

If you want to comment on tonight's programme, don't forget the Glass Box which is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Jeremy Rawlins is editing tonight - so he'll be reading your comments later. You are honoured!

Signing off now...

Eddie Mair | 16:20 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

join me if you can for Any Questions. More importantly - tune in to Carolyn at 5. Stand by for the glass box..
.
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Thankyou...

Sequin | 16:15 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

.... for your thoughts on David Lammy and the headteacher who's checking up on parents. Unfortunately I'd already done the interview with Mr L by the time I got your comments. But I'll certainly try to put some of your thoughts to the Headmaster when I talk to him live at about 5.20.

As for your question ( Jimmy Hillstart 8) about what gets taken to the FA cup final every year and never gets used, I know the answer. The losers' ribbons, because only the winners' ribbons are tied onto the Cup.

I knew all those pub quizzes would come in useful one day.

He's gone back to the

Eddie Mair | 15:57 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

FT. Wolfing down a baguette I think he brought on.

paper.jpg

Outside: just passed an Asda in the foreground and a beautiful old church in the distance. Station was too blurry to tell where we are.

Tunnel.

And now trees everywhere.

Refreshment arrives..

Eddie Mair | 15:30 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

...I've left the gin out of shot.

tea.jpg

The American woman's been on her mobile. The beardy man is reading the Evening Standard. He can't have got through the FT in this time.

Beautiful day. Didn't the weather promise gloom?

nicedaya.jpg

Ten minutes out

Eddie Mair | 15:13 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

of London. There's a man opposite - beard - reading the FT. He asked an American woman who had her bag on his seat to move it. I'm not sure I like him.

We're going at a helluva lick. Might get to York before 15.30 at this rate.

tenout.jpg


Stand by

Eddie Mair | 14:48 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

for departure.
stationb.jpg


Michael Palin

Eddie Mair | 14:24 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

probably started with this sort of thing.

stationa.jpg

Don't worry. I didn't forget to pick up my Lon.

Any thoughts?

Sequin | 11:46 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

I'm just about to interview the Culture Minister David Lammy. He wants Gordon Brown and the deputy leadership candidates to consider the imposition of all-black shortlists to increase the number of non-white MPs. He says there should be 51 ethnic minority MPs . He wants the same efforts put in as were employed with the all -women shortlists.
What do you think?

Also live on the programme this evening I'll be talking to the head master who has employed a private detective to spy on parents suspected of lying about where they live - just so they can get into his school ( St George's in Harpenden). Have you ever given a false address in order to get into the school of your choice? What do you think of people who do. And do you think Norman Hoare, the headteacher, is right to go on early morning and late night stake-outs of flats and houses of potential applicants to see if they really live where they say they do.

I'd love to know your thoughts.

Can you do the can can

Sequin | 09:42 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

I've got my shorts, my sunglasses and a couple of quid in my pocket. We're having a whipround at the moment to see if we have the necessary to get at least a couple of us over to Cannes. Jeremy Rawlins is editing - you'll be familiar with him by now - his photo's just above Carrie's on the right. Really it has to be his final decision. See if you can persuade him!

Sparky Marc is PM number two today so he'll be keeping a close watch on the blog as well.

See you later,

Sequin

Tonight's PM

Eddie Mair | 08:09 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

may or may not come from Cannes. Last minute negotiations taking place. Come what may, Carolyn will be your host, either in Studio S1 or on the beach. In any case, it's a beautiful view.

I will be in Whitby, the Cannes of North Yorkshire, for Any Questions, and will try to post from the train during the afternoon. By the way we think we've decided what to do with the fiver I won on Eurovision. We're going to put all the money on a horse. Don't tell anyone - we're pretty sure the 大象传媒 Charter forbids it.

The Beach

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 06:18 UK time, Friday, 18 May 2007

Comments

What is the Beach?

It鈥檚 a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you鈥檙e the only one around, but you can leave your 鈥榝ootprints鈥 for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.

It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question.

The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.

There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

Should Eddie and the whole PM team go to Cannes?

Eddie Mair | 17:52 UK time, Thursday, 17 May 2007

Comments

Add your name to our online petition. Click on comment. PLEASE

The Glass Box for Thursday and related matters

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:32 UK time, Thursday, 17 May 2007

Comments

It's been a bit of a day, what with one thing and another. Tomorrow I will post more often, not least because I will be on a journey and I can take you with me. If you'd like to listen again to our Matthew Parris interview - it's just below this posting.

We spent much of the day trying to get someone from the 大象传媒 to come to the wicket in response to widespread criticism on the Matthew thread about "excessive" media coverage of the story in Portugal. We tried and failed.

As for what's in tonight's programme, well, THIS is the place where you can comment on what you heard , interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.

Is Matthew Parris right?

Eddie Mair | 17:22 UK time, Wednesday, 16 May 2007

Comments

Thursday update: here is Matthew's interview.

The Glass Box for Wednesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:47 UK time, Wednesday, 16 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.
Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

Well it's been a tad busy

Eddie Mair | 16:16 UK time, Wednesday, 16 May 2007

Comments

with stories that were top of the running order an hour ago dropping down to make way for new ones.

Expect news of Prince Harry and Iraq at 5.

Wednesday's newsletter HAS been sent..

Eddie Mair | 12:27 UK time, Wednesday, 16 May 2007

Comments

..when will it arrive? And how often?

Glass Box Excitement

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 10:25 UK time, Wednesday, 16 May 2007

Comments

is gripping the world. No sooner did PM launch The Glass Box on the planet than people are going Glass Box crazy.

will join us on the programme next week, and we hope, here on the Blog. It'll be a big treat for us all and we're very excited about it.

And NOW what's happening!

If only we could get the newsletter to go out on the right day, we'd have something.

Home Information Packs

Eddie Mair | 17:26 UK time, Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Comments

You heard several views - what's been YOUR experience?

The Glass Box for Tuesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:38 UK time, Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

EXCLUSIVE:

Eddie Mair | 15:37 UK time, Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Comments

Have just been told that yesterday's newsletter "could" arrive in the next few hours. Please do not stray from your computer terminal or other email device.

A Labour deputy leadership contender

Eddie Mair | 12:32 UK time, Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Comments

has refused to come on PM in a debate with a fellow candidate.

Aren't they always wanging on about wanting an informed debate?

To be strictly accurate it was the candidate's "people" who declined our offer. But still.

We're a little bewildered

Eddie Mair | 11:43 UK time, Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Comments

as to why the newsletter never arrived yesterday. Until we know, we won't send one out today.

I can report from the 11.00 meeting that the Madeleine McCann inquiry is likely to be one of our main stories, but we're also looking at the Labour leadership/deputy leadership elections, especially what Gordon Brown plans to do about the 150,000 children a year leave school unable to count.

We'll also talk about the power of prayer and we've a SPECIAL on another Glass Box.

Just seen the overnight audience figures for Panorama (which we discussed on PM) - for the half hour they average 4.4 million - just under 20% share.

Nils

Eddie Mair | 10:51 UK time, Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Comments

Blythe reported live from the middle of the North Sea last night...with the help of his producer Sandra.

Here's his despatch:

"It takes two and a half hours by helicopter from Aberdeen to the Alwyn North oil and gas platform. And after all that empty sea the scale of the place is breathtaking. There are currently around 250 people working out here, drawing the oil and gas up from deep beneath the seabed and pumping it through a network of pipelines to the mainland.

I was shown around by Bill Cardno, the installation manager for the French oil giant Total. He's been working offshore since 1978. In the early days oil workers spent two weeks on a platform and then a week at home. Now it's two weeks on and two weeks off. And they are moving to two weeks on and three weeks off. Now there's progress for you.

We broadcast from the helipad at the top of the platform and as you can see we were extremely lucky with the weather. It's not normally like this, they kept telling us. I'm e-mailing these snapshots from the platform. Can't write any more because it's almost time for dinner and I'm told the food is excellent.( It's a French owned platform). But even the French don't allow any alcohol offshore. 'Tant pis', as they say."

nils.jpg

And here's Nils on air live from the Alwyn Platform:

nilsz.jpg


Tony Blair's thoughts on Special Educational Needs

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 17:11 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

what did YOU think?

UPDATE ON SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Eddie Mair | 16:52 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

Our reporter Andrew Bomford asks Tony Blair about it on tonight's programme.

The Glass Box for Monday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:47 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

Congrats if you guessed the graphic below

Eddie Mair | 15:21 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

was about Eurovision voting. It comes from some academic work published last year which examined the dynamics of Eurovision voting. We're going to be talking about it tonight. Want to read ?

Oh and we've received this news release from Richard Younger-Ross MP:

"Amidst the celebrations of the Serbian victory in Helsinki on Saturday night, the failure of the UK to get more than 19 votes, placing it second to bottom above Ireland, has prompted Devon MP Richard Younger-Ross to question the voting system for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Said Mr Younger-Ross, 鈥淲hilst I congratulate Serbia on its success, it is interesting to note that every part of the former federation of Yugoslavia gave Serbia maximum votes and in fact four out of the top five countries were east European or Balkan. Certainly the appearance of block voting makes the outcome more predictable now the contest has been opened up to the people and the old panel voting abandoned.鈥

Today Mr Younger-Ross has tabled an EDM calling on the 大象传媒 to insist on changes to the voting system or to withdraw from the contest.

EDM: "This House believes that voting in the Eurovision song contest has become a joke as countries vote largely on narrow nationalistic grounds or for neighbouring countries rather than the quality of the song; that such narrow nationalistic voting is harmful to the relationship between the peoples of Europe and calls for the 大象传媒 to insist on changes to the voting system or to withdraw from the contest.鈥"

The newsletter has

Eddie Mair | 14:17 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

strangely not arrived as yet. It was written before noon and said:

"Hello,

Thanks to the Eurovision Song Contest, I am five pounds richer today. Well four if you count the stake money. Anyway, as I detail on the Blog, I'm looking for ideas on what to do with the cash. All ideas welcome at www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm.

Our man Andrew Bomford is travelling with the Prime Minister today. No, really. And when he's not on a noisy helicopter, we're hoping Mr Blair will take a question about children with special educational needs, which you'll know has been a topic of great discussion on the air and on the Blog. Let's see what happens.

We'll look too at "costly" cancer treatments..West Ham..Panorama on YouTube...and our business guru Nils Blythe is in the middle of the North Sea. Covered in lard for all I know.

See you on the ice at five.
Now in new stronger menthol.

Gordon Muir"

As it happens, we are thinking of changing to that new method of sending the newsletter that we toyed with and discarded. It would be more reliable and allow us to send more than plain text. The downside is there would be a re-registering process, which, lets face it, we could all do without.

Stand by.

We'll talk about

Eddie Mair | 13:46 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

this in the programme tonight:

figa.gif

Can you tell what it is yet?

I've won some money. What should I do with it?

Eddie Mair | 10:43 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

This is not one of those Nigerian schemes which - as it turns out - NEVER pay up as they promise.

At the end of last week the lovely Amanda was doing the rounds with her Eurovision sweep. I parted with some money and look - this email explains it all:

"1st place Serbia / Marilyn 拢5
2nd place Ukraine / Eddie 拢3
3rd place Russia / Fiona 拢2
Last place Ireland / Eddie 拢2"

...which is why in my pigeon-hole today there is an envelope with five pounds in small change. What should I do with it? I'm tempted to place a bet with it to try to win some money for a charidee...but I bet (no pun intended) there's something in the 大象传媒 charter that frowns on that sort of thing. What should I do? Buy half a coffee from S**s?

And so another week begins and

Eddie Mair | 10:17 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

to cheer us up there's this from Jonnie:

"A postcard I received this morning from Fifi 鈥 with the CD of the Froggers song."

david.JPG


The Furrowed Brow.

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 06:12 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2007

Comments

The place for serious talk about serious things. What's on your mind?

I know

Eddie Mair | 11:57 UK time, Saturday, 12 May 2007

Comments

there was a sense of national disappointment yesterday afternoon that I didn't do another Trainblog en route to Manchester. I shared the disappointment. I'd gone along with all my computer stuff, camera, videocamera, notebook, satellite dish etc...but it turns out, a certain train company doesn't do internet access on board.

We'll just have to try to get on with our lives.

The Glass Box for Friday

Sequin | 16:51 UK time, Friday, 11 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.
Just click on the "comment" link. Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. It IS ROGER SAWYER today - so address all your comments to him. As Eddie says, he's completely hopeless, but means well.

Big Tent Politics ...

Sequin | 10:09 UK time, Friday, 11 May 2007

Comments

.... has become No Tent Politics. Well almost no tent. The canvas studios that always seem to appear from nowhere on College Green on big days at Westminster are now being de-rigged..... the caravan has moved on to follow Gordon Brown around the South East this morning. I won't be with them, I'm back on cocktail cabinet duties because of Ed's Big Appointment this evening. And getting ready for 6 or so weeks of campaigning. Are you up for it?

On a serious note, I don't know if any of you were listening to Mike Thomson's report this morning on the Today programme from the Democratic Republic of Congo .He spoke to a young mother who was recently abducted, along with scores of people from her village, by a group of rebel soldiers. She says her captives, Hutu militia from Rwanda known as the Interahamwe, then bayoneted fifty of them before forcing her to hang her own baby. It's such a horrifying story that maybe it's not the right subject for this blog, but I was so moved by it, and it's been on my mind all morning, I can't really think about anything else at the moment. We need to be constantly reminded, don't we, of what's going on there.

Sorry to be sombre.

sequin

The Beach

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 07:45 UK time, Friday, 11 May 2007

Comments

What is the Beach?

It鈥檚 a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you鈥檙e the only one around, but you can leave your 鈥榝ootprints鈥 for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.

How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.

There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

DOWNING STREET ROLLING COVERAGE CONTINUES: LIVE SHOT OF NUMBER TEN

Eddie Mair | 20:04 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

on this literally historic day. Literally.

downingz.jpg

The Glass Box for Thursday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:41 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments


The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.

DOWNING STREET URGENT UPDATE

Eddie Mair | 15:34 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

THIS LIVE PICTURE SAYS IT ALL:

downingz.jpg

We've been very lucky this year at PM

Eddie Mair | 15:28 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

but here is an award we're even more pleased about.

Peter Webb. Can you help?

Eddie Mair | 11:53 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

Yvonne who did our report last night on children with special educational needs would URGENTLY like to hear from Peter Webb, who posted this comment

"No 34: At 06:21 PM on 09 May 2007, Peter Webb wrote: I worked for an LEA for five years, presenting cases on behalf of the LEA to the Tribunal. In my experience it is true that LEAs have conflicting and irreconcilable roles in being both assessors and funders for children with special needs, and in some instances providers too. The danger is not so much that just one public body is responsible (although organisational separation would be preferable) but the main problem lies with the LEA staff who have to operate the procedures leading to assessment, funding and provision. It is impossible for them to behave impartially and they will invariably pursue the cheaper option, which is not always the most appropriate educational solution. My manager had responsibilty both for financial management of special educatiional needs provision, and for the LEA's statutory duty regarding assessment, and she was incapable of taking decisions on the basis of the individual child's needs."

As part of our follow up, could Mr Webb pleas email us: pm@bbc.co.uk. Thanks.

It is remarkable

Eddie Mair | 10:42 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

which is why I'm remarking on it, that on most days, when we try to get cabinet ministers on the programme to talk about controversial topics for which they have responsibility, they are often too busy.

So far this morning, the offices of two - count them TWO - cabinet ministers have called up offering their ministers to talk about Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Lord Adonis update..

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 10:30 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

...we are approaching his office to ask if he would like to respond to the comments on the blog. Also, in case you didn't hear the interview - or would like to hear it again - here it is.

LIVE PICTURE OF DOWNING STREET

Eddie Mair | 09:45 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

as part of our continuous coverage of the entirely surprising events of today.

downingg.jpg

Keep watching for comings, goings, reading of faces, shouting of questions and all the other drama.

Lord Adonis's appearance

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 06:59 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

on the programme last night caused quite a stir (see "Children with special needs" below).

We will think this morning about what to do next. We may invite him to read and respond to what people have written...and we'll certainly consider doing something "bigger" since as several people remarked there was enough material for a special of some kind. We'll ponder...and in the meantime if you have a thought on what we could do, post it on the comment on this thread. If you'd like to read what people have written, or carry on debating the substance of SEN, then the Children with Special Needs thread is the best place.

It's ten years

Eddie Mair | 06:53 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2007

Comments

since we heard the first ever assessment of how Tony Blair was doing as Prime Minister. Ten years later, there are ten years of assessments to assess, and tonight on PM we'll assess the best of the assessments. Who assessed most accurately, pithily or assessingly? Has this period seen the birth of what we could call Assessism, or has it always been with us? Join us as we assess ten years of assessing. We'll hear from the kings and queens of assessment in Britain, and internationally, from King Assess of Syria, from the capital of Assessistan, Assessibad, and of course St Francis of Assessi.

If you have your own assessment, please hand it to your teacher.

Children with special needs

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 17:34 UK time, Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Comments

What's your experience of getting the education help they need? Post a comment by using the link.

The Glass Box for Wednesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:50 UK time, Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves. And sometimes it smells. But not now.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach (there's one just below this entry) is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.

Austrian Erotica

Eddie Mair | 16:49 UK time, Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Comments

was perhaps my favourite recorded interview of the day. Scheduled to run at 1754.

Paris Hilton

Eddie Mair | 13:40 UK time, Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Comments

gets several mentions on a previous thread ("If you haven't already"), and I'm sure you can easily find an online petition to save Ms Hilton from the clink. On the hand...

The smell in the

Eddie Mair | 11:51 UK time, Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Comments

Glass Box has gone. It was a bit like stale baby mess. You know? Anyway it's gone. Where, I do not know.

If you haven't already,

Eddie Mair | 06:25 UK time, Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Comments

please consider signing the online petition about Alan Johnston. The button on the right will take you to a page with the latest information about him, and a link to the petition.

As you'll know if, like me, you switched on Today at 0600, there is some news. Full details on the link on the right.

The Glass Box. For your comments on Tuesday's programme.

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:29 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves. And sometimes it smells.

The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach (there's one just below this entry) is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.

The Glass Box stinks

Eddie Mair | 15:20 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Comments

Well of course, not our Blog concept of the box. It smells only of roses, and after eights.

No. The real Glass Box smells like an autopsy. We went in for our 11.00 and then departed to hold it somewhere else. At the 14.30 we just put up with it. Spilt milk, apparently (we've done the jokes) but honestly if spilt milk smells like that, then you should treat it like nuclear waste.

We've been promised things before

Eddie Mair | 15:18 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Comments

but this has an air of authenticity about it don't you think?

"Dear Lucky Winner,
WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!
The Microsoft company successfully organised a promotion, over 100,000.000.00 (One Hundred Million Great Britain Pounds) was earmarked for the Draws. Winners were randomly selected a from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage. computer draw system was used for selection attaching email addresses to ticket numbers. E-mail Address : attached to ticket 008795727498 with serial numbers BTD/9080648302/06 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you 1,000, 000.00 (One Million Great Britain Pounds) DATE:9/APRIL/2007 DRAW NUM: 1 It was held in London (UK) the claims agent assigned to you to, for the release of your prize

Mr. Garry Jolly
Head Winning Claims Dept.
Email:claiims.mic2@yahoo.com.hk
+44 7045710478

Sincerely,
MORGAN RICHARS.
Head Customer care Service "

The Turner Prize shortlist has been announced and

Eddie Mair | 14:49 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Comments

we'll be joined live by Christoph Grunenberg, the director of Tate Liverpool, which will host the Prize this year. He also chaired the jury which came up with shortlist.

Among them, someone who featured on PM in January, Mark Wallinger..."for his solo exhibition State Britain at Tate Britain. Mark Wallinger's powerful installation demonstrates art's unique ability to engage with contemporary political issues. The direct representation of Brian Haw's banners and paraphernalia creates a force and conviction unmatched by the representation of the Parliament Square protest in the media. The work evokes a heightened sense of reality that communicates an unpalatable political truth."

markp.jpg
Mark Wallinger State Britain, 2007 Installation view at Tate Britain 漏 Mark Wallinger Photocredit: Sam Drake, Tate Photography

Then there's Mike Nelson: "For his solo exhibitions AMNESIAN SHRINE or Double coop displacement, Matt's Gallery, London and Mirror Infill (2006), Frieze Projects, Frieze Art Fair, London in which his immersive installations transport the viewer to imaginary, yet plausible worlds. For the Frieze Art Fair he created an installation of a photographic studio that brought the site of creativity to the heart of the commercial environment in which it was embedded."

mikem.jpg
Mike Nelson Mirror Infill, 2006 Commissioned and produced by Frieze Projects 漏 Mike Nelson Courtesy the artist and Matt's Gallery, London.

Howsabout Nathan Coley "For his solo exhibition at Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute, the public installation Camouflage Church, Santiago de Compostela, Spain and his contribution to the group exhibition Breaking Step - Displacement, Compassion and Humour in Recent British Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade, Serbia. Through a variety of media, Nathan Coley's work makes manifest the belief systems embedded in society and its architectures."

nathand.jpg
Nathan Coley There Will Be No Miracles Here, 2006 漏 Nathan Coley Courtesy doggerfisher and Haunch of Venison.

And then there's Zarina Bhimji "for her solo exhibitions at Haunch of Venison, London and Zurich, with work engaging with universal human emotions such as grief, pleasure, love and betrayal using non-narrative photography and film-making. Through powerful, atmospheric and poignant imagery, Bhimji's recent work demonstrates a new approach to her long-standing preoccupations and research. "

zara.jpg
Zarina Bhimji Your Sadness is Drunk, 2001-2006 漏 Zarina Bhimji. DACS, London 2007 Courtesy Haunch of Venison.

Here's the full, unedited interview,

Eddie Mair | 13:07 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Comments

with Richard Reed, boss man at Innocent. You can hear the edited version in PM tonight.

Just about to record an interview with the boss of

Eddie Mair | 12:02 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Comments

Innocent - the people who make smoothies. Some of their fans are upset at the company's decision to hook up with McDonalds. The link takes you to the company's blog where as you'll read, some customers are far from happy. To Burger or Not to burger is the bit you need.

We'll try to post the full interview here shortly.

Rather annoyed

Eddie Mair | 08:58 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Comments

that I couldn't give a running commentary on Election 97 which was running from 0900 on 大象传媒 Parliament. "Were you still up for Portillo" would probably have meant around midday in the repeat? I forget when it happened. I spent that election night at Tory headquarters. It was a long and increasingly lonely night, as only the bare essential party workers hung around. William Hague did a good turn though in a succession of interviews I watched him do around - oh I dunno, 3am - but the thing about being in a place like that is you are strangely disconnected from the excitement of Election Night. Mr Major arrived very late in the night - I think the sun had risen...was it around 6? He gave a good speech from half way up to stairs, as down with me what seemed like 5,000 party workers had come from nowhere to say what everyone knew would be goodbye. Being from the 大象传媒, I got several digs in the ribs - literally - from party workers who blamed the Corporation or perhaps me personally for the turn of events. In fact, now I think about it, having taped the Election Night show yesterday, I might watch it later to see if that moment makes it on.

Now, to emerge from the time warp and on with today.

The Glass Box for Monday

Sequin | 15:59 UK time, Monday, 7 May 2007

Comments

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.
Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond.

It's Jeremy Rawlins..

Sequin | 15:51 UK time, Monday, 7 May 2007

Comments

.... with whom we are frolicking today, Big Sister. He usually edits or "assists" on the PM desk. Nice Somerset lad . Never mind your Paxos and Vines!

Thanks for your Alan Johnson thoughts. He's actually a really decent minister to interview because he engages with you, and isn't afraid to use a bit of humour from time to time. As you can gather, it was a bit of a mad scramble to gather our interviews last thursday. I'm sure this Thursday, with Tony Blair's announcement of his timetable for departure will be along the same lines.!
all the best,
sequin

As Gary Glitter said...

Sequin | 09:59 UK time, Monday, 7 May 2007

Comments

Hello, Hello, It's good to be back.

When John Humphrys got the time wrong this morning but then said "it doesn't matter anyway, does it, because you're not going to work ", I wondered how many of you were in that position. I've been doing news shifts for so long now that I can't remember a time when a Bank Holiday has meant an automatic day off and I imagine a lot of you are in a similar position? Are you?

That sounded like I'm feeling sorry for myself. I didn't mean it to. Anyway I'm delighted to be allowed back in the building after my hideous faux pas a few weeks back when I forgot to post The Glass Box on the blog. Access to Ed's cocktail cabinet has been restored. But for heaven's sake, don't let me make the same mistake again. Could someone please remind me later?

Rupert's in charge - last time I heard him was last Thursday night - he was the "voice in my ear" from Scotland - he was running the Scottish end of our Radio 4 election night programme . And Jeremy's here as well, so nothing can go wrong.......

The Furrowed Brow

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 06:20 UK time, Monday, 7 May 2007

Comments

You choose the topics....this is the place for serious talk about serious things. Seriously.

Carolyn will

Eddie Mair | 06:19 UK time, Monday, 7 May 2007

Comments

be your host today. I'll be at another Tony Bennett concert.

The Glass Box for Friday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:41 UK time, Friday, 4 May 2007

Comments


The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach (there's one just below this entry) is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.

Scotland's ballot papers

Eddie Mair | 14:07 UK time, Friday, 4 May 2007

Comments

could well be the story of the night. As you may have heard from Nick Robinson on The World at One - there could be only one seat in it in - and there are thousands of ballot papers rejected.

Was too complicated?

Election fever

Eddie Mair | 10:05 UK time, Friday, 4 May 2007

Comments

is us here.

The other thing today is that the song Tony Bennett finished with on Monday night is in my head for a fourth successive morning. (It was "How do you keep the music playing?" since you ask). Beautiful song but I'm sort of going off it. Did you know he is a Sony artist? I don't feel so bad about missing the awards now.

The Beach

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 07:09 UK time, Friday, 4 May 2007

Comments

What is the Beach?

It鈥檚 a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you鈥檙e the only one around, but you can leave your 鈥榝ootprints鈥 for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

That email address for the British Library

Eddie Mair | 17:26 UK time, Thursday, 3 May 2007

Comments

is email@emailbritain.co.uk. And as I said - we'd love to be copied in...

The Glass Box for Thursday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:22 UK time, Thursday, 3 May 2007

Comments

Is it really Thursday already?

The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.

For the first time,

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 13:29 UK time, Thursday, 3 May 2007

Comments

we're able to bring you something normally only heard by award judges.

Here is PM's Gold winning entry for the Interactive award.

In fact it's not the complete entry...we've left out the final interview. It's included in the list of entries below just for the record. But we've been unable to contact again the woman we interviewed, and, not knowing her current circumstances, out of respect to her and her son, we didn't want to "rebroadcast" it here without her permission.

Otherwise, it's all there. Here is the complete list of what we submitted to the judges:


1. Text interaction 22/11/2006. Duration 1'31"
PM receives hundreds of texts and emails during the programme. Eddie Mair reads out many of the pithier ones. This contains a selection on the same topic

2. Birdsong. 06/06/2006. Duration 3'38"
Big Ben's chimes - which usually signal the end of PM - fall silent for repairs. Listeners write, email and text the programme to offer suggestions on how to replace them. One reader suggests bird song. The idea is taken up.

3. The announcement that Eddie Mair is starting a PM blog. 17/08/2006. Duration 37"
From small beginnings, the PM Blog rapidly expands and is soon the 大象传媒's most visited blog. By mid December 2006, there had been 15,000 hits.

4. Letters. 24/11/2006. Duration 6'59.
Every Friday, a selection of listeners' letters, texts, emails and phone calls are broadcast.

5. Window on Your World. Duration 54"
PM asks listeners to take a photo of what they can see at 5pm on December 5th and to send in their photos so they can be put up for all to see. Eventually, more than 10,000 are sent in.

6. Window on Your World. 16"
Another request for pictures.

7. Wood Pigeon. 22/06/2006. Duration 3'49"
A listener complains that, in our birdsong slot, we have badly edited the Wood Pigeon's call and it ruined his enjoyment. He is right.

8. Trail. Frequent use. Duration: 13"
A trail from a former PM presenter, Clare English, mentioning the Blog.

9. Probation interview. 07/11/2006. Duration 7'08"
In response to a 大象传媒 story about criticism of the Probation Service, a mother emails to say her drug addict son is due in court and she wants him in jail, not on probation. PM contacts her and she agrees to be interviewed.

More on our lovely award

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 11:48 UK time, Thursday, 3 May 2007

Comments

here in Matt Cole's report.

Later today we'll post on the blog

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 09:08 UK time, Thursday, 3 May 2007

Comments

the package we broadcast the other night about our lovely award. And if we're all very good, we'll post the full recording we submitted, which you can listen to, should you be having trouble falling asleep...

The Glass Box for Wednesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:40 UK time, Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Comments


Welcome to the Glass Box for Wednesday - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.

Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.

Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.

Never leave yourself logged in in an unattended studio

Eddie Mair | 15:37 UK time, Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Comments

Yesterday, while I was probably away getting drunk, a colleague (who shall remain nameless, and don't ask me to name him, please) sent this message in my name:

"you know all that guff that usually goes out when we win awards - all the "I couldn't have done it without you - this award is for the whole team".
Well, we all know that's bollocks on stilts don't we?

Let's face it, I'd win awards with a bunch of monkeys producing. But without me, you lot would win nad, nothing, zilch, rien.

Got that?
It's all about ME ME ME ME"

Our chums at mediamonkey in The Guardian have just been on asking if I sent it.

Of course I didn't. It was Roger Sawyer. But I agree with everything in it.

Busy chasing

Eddie Mair | 15:05 UK time, Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Comments

this story from today's New York Times:

"LONDON, May 1 - Omar Khyam, the ringleader of the thwarted London bomb plot who was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, showed the potential for disaffected young men to be lured as terrorists, a threat that British officials said they would have to contend with for a generation.

But the 25-year-old Mr. Khyam, a Briton of Pakistani descent, also personifies a larger and more immediate concern: as a British citizen, he could have entered the United States without a visa, like many of an estimated 800,000 other Britons of Pakistani origin.

American officials, citing the number of terror plots in Britain involving Britons with ties to Pakistan, expressed concern over the visa loophole. In recent months, the homeland security secretary, Michael Chertoff, has opened talks with the government here on how to curb the access of British citizens of Pakistani origin to the United States.

At the moment, the British are resistant, fearing that restrictions on the group of Britons would incur a backlash from a population that has always sided with the Labor Party. The Americans say they are hesitant to push too hard and embarrass their staunch ally in the Iraq war, Prime Minister Tony Blair, as he prepares to step down from office.

Among the options that have been put on the table, according to British officials, was the most onerous option to Britain, that of canceling the entire visa waiver program that allows all Britons entry to the United States without a visa. Another option, politically fraught as it is, would be to single out Britons of Pakistani origin, requiring them to make visa applications for the United States.

Rather than impose any visa restrictions, the British government has told Washington it would prefer if the Americans simply deported Britons who failed screening once they arrived at an airport in the United States, British officials said. The British also screen at their end, and share intelligence with the Americans."

Left off the end of the Newsletter:

Eddie Mair | 14:55 UK time, Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Comments

*as imagined by artistes.

1997-2007

Eddie Mair | 14:51 UK time, Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Comments

Robbie then:

robx.jpg

Robbie now:

roby.jpg

1997? 2007? 1957? Here is a timeless performer

Eddie Mair | 13:37 UK time, Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Comments

tonya.jpg

1997-2007

Eddie Mair | 10:34 UK time, Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Comments

Compare and contrast these snaps from Jonnie:

From 1997:

jonniea.JPG

and from April 30th 2007, this snap: "The lady I'm with is my sister who is visiting for a couple of days from Holland. The location is Kingston Lacy (National Trust) in Dorset

jonnieb.jpg

Rachel Gooch sends a photo of her daughter Harriet, who was born in June 1997

harrieta.JPG

and this from 2007.

harrietb.JPG

Angi Nutt in 97:

angieb.jpg

And in 2007:

angiea.JPG

And these are self-portraits of Clare Shepherd from 97:

clareb.JPG

And 07:

clarea.JPG

The Glass Box for Tuesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:44 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Comments


Welcome to the Glass Box for Tuesday - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us. Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.

Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.

The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.

And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.

Your photo ten years on...

Eddie Mair | 13:01 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Comments


As Tony Blair prepares to mark 10 years at number 10, we've a piece tonight on some of the people who were there to greet him on Day One. How have their lives changed?

They of course have changed - as you can see from photos you'll find by clicking on "entries with photos", and then "1997-2007".

If you have a photo of yourself from 1997 and one from this year, why not send them to pm@bbc.co.uk? Legal blurb: "By sending us your photos, you are agreeing to the 大象传媒's normal terms and conditions which can be found here /terms/ . You are also granting us permission to host your photos on a 3rd party website, if necessary". Please mark your email TEN YEARS.

The smug bastard

Eddie Mair | 10:17 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Comments

you see here is our editor, Peter "Reggie" Rippon collecting and clutching our Gold Sony Award.

sonye.jpg
sonyc.jpg

In fact, although we never tell him this, these awards have got rather a lot to do with him. Luckily he has no idea we have a Blog.

From somewhere abroad,

Eddie Mair | 10:09 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Comments

a snap from our good friend Chris Jarvis. He's having a lovely time, Jonnie tells me...

chrisa.JPG

Sony Awards Update!

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 05:56 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Comments

What the judges said:

GOLD INTERACTIVE AWARD
PM
Producers: Roger Sawyer, David Hass, Jeremy Rawlins, Lissa Cook, Fiona Leach, Rupert Allman, Liz Homewood & Manveen Rana
Writer & Presenter: Eddie Mair
Editor: Peter Rippon

"A programme which deftly utilises a full range of techniques to engage directly with the audience. At the same time the audience response becomes an integral part of the output and allows the audience themselves to influence the news agenda."
大象传媒 Radio News for 大象传媒 Radio 4

SILVER: SPEECH PROGRAMME

SILVER
PM
Producers: Roger Sawyer, David Hass, Jeremy Rawlins, Lissa Cook, Fiona Leach, Rupert Allman, Liz Homewood & Manveen Rana
Writer, Presenter & Performer: Eddie Mair
Editor: Peter Rippon

"A programme that goes well beyond the news agenda and has the ability to both surprise and entertain. It is the world according to Eddie Mair and he makes it a hugely entertaining place to visit. He handles the hard news stories with conviction and the lighter stories in a deft manner that can make you laugh out loud."
大象传媒 Radio News for 大象传媒 Radio 4


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