大象传媒

The Furrowed Brow

Comments

1. At 12:03 PM on 25 Jun 2007, Perky wrote:

   This may be a non-Furrowed Brow topic, but I wanted to say again that my thoughts are with Alan Johnston's family, friends and colleagues after the release of the latest video.

   I really hope this story has a positive ending.

2. At 12:50 PM on 25 Jun 2007, wrote:

   perky,

   hear! hear!
   xx
   ed

   And, from today's Today:
   /radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_0830_20070625.ram
   

3. At 02:02 PM on 25 Jun 2007, Tuppence wrote:

   On a different subject - not quite sure where is the right place to ask this - where has Thursdsay's Glass box gone. I made my first ever comment there, and just wanted to check (in the half hour available to me for lunch) what anyone thought of my thoughts.

   Not a lot apparently!

   Totally agree with Ed and Perky - thinking of Alan doesn't seem to be a very effective thing to do, but that and praying is all that is open to me - I have signed the petition. Will carry on doing both though on the grounds that I can't just do nothing.

4. At 02:17 PM on 25 Jun 2007, wrote:

   Scots railway signallers are threatening strke action because they're not getting paid discretionary bonus payments after a previous strike in March.

   Eddie, can you get Bob Crow onto your programme and explain to him the meaning of the words "discretionary" and "bonus"?

   Discretionary: left to discretion, not required.

   Bonus: an extra, a premium, often given for exemplary performance.

   When did a "bonus" become an expected right?

   I'm lucky, I have alternative methods of getting to work. What about people who don't have other public tranposrt nearby, and who don't get paid as much as trade union leaders and so can't afford taxis?

5. At 02:35 PM on 25 Jun 2007, Gillian wrote:

   Tuppence (3) The quickest way to find it is to click on the blue 21 in ''Archive'' in the column on the right of this page. You'll need more than half an hour to read all the entries!

6. At 04:12 PM on 25 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

   Gillian @4 -- it would be the place to find it if it were there, but it isn't: the Glass Box for Thursday is missing from the list, which jumps from Wednesday to Friday. This was predicted by me a while back when it jumped from Monday or Tuesday to Friday for a while, and mentioned to Marc, but he's on holiday and can't fix it from there, apparently. The problem may have been that Sequin didn't know the usual drill when she put up Glass Boxes for us, possibly. Not her fault, just one of those things.

   Tuppence, I did answer your post but I can't remember what I said... Probably nothing of particulat interest, I fear.

7. At 05:55 PM on 25 Jun 2007, wrote:

   Tuppence,

   It's here, and I got it from the calendar (archive) at 21.
   xx
   ed

8. At 06:19 PM on 25 Jun 2007, wrote:

   Chris (6),

   That's a pretty dusty answer, if I may say so.
   xx
   ed

9. At 06:49 PM on 25 Jun 2007, wrote:

   Hear, Here!

10. At 06:56 PM on 25 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

    And it is downright annoying when one goes to the trouble to put in the number of the post to which one is replying, and then the order of the posts changes so that one's care is wasted. From 2.50 or so until 4.12 Gillian's comment (somewhere up above) was at 4, then some time between 4.12 and 18.30 the Stainless Steel Cat's post was slotted in above it, in correct chronological order of posting but

    Argh.

    Sticky sand indeed: there are two posts of mine waiting somewhere in the aether to get into the wrong order in the Glass Box for Monday, and they've been waiting since well before John's (very interesting) post at 5.3-whatever.

    And where is Marc when we need him? -- well all right we always need him, that's becoming obvious. Gone to Finland or something.

    Waaaah!

11. At 07:18 PM on 25 Jun 2007, wrote:

    
    China Passes U.S. as Top CO2 Emitter
    Cheney blames environmentalists.
    Moscow Ranked World's Most Expensive City
    Costs more to see Lenin's Tomb than visit Disney World.
    Large Lake in Southern Chile Missing
    Anyone who has seen it urged to call Chilean government.
    Poland Wants to Change Name of Auschwitz
    But having difficulty selling naming rights.

    ;-)
    ed

12. At 07:24 PM on 25 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

    Ed I, somewhere up there:

    'That's a pretty dusty answer, if I may say so.'

    Oh. Sorry. It wasn't meant to be, it was meant to explain that Thursday's Glass Box had apparently not made it into the Glass Boxes link to the right. I hadn't found it at 21 June's slot. Thanks for that pointer.

    Meanwhile my iCab is very unhappy with this site, and has 122 error report messages saying (mostly) things like 'HTML error (7/42): Illegal character 鈥�/鈥� in tag.' and 'CSS Error (105/841): Invalid property value 鈥渉idden鈥�.' and 'HTML warning (105/2457): The attribute "WIDTH" is deprecated in the tag and should no longer be used. It is suggested CSS be used instead.'

    and I don't think I am doing any of these things, so I think it may be some kafuffle at the 大象传媒, and it is unnerving me to be told these things all the time! which may be making me slightly more ruffled even than usual.

    Gillian, if it sounded as if I were being rude to you I humbly apologise: it wasn't meant that way.

    (Though goodness knows when/whether you'll be able to read this post...)

13. At 08:26 PM on 25 Jun 2007, Gillian wrote:

    Chris Ghoti (12) No offence taken, Chris....Thursday's Glass Box has popped up twice, straight away, both times I've accessed it from ''Archive''. And at the risk of sounding smug, I have had no problems with the blog today......yet!

14. At 07:53 AM on 26 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Chris,
    Dusty as in particulat.

    As to all those errors, Firefox sees them and goes on and gives you the page without telling you unless you ask to see the source code in which such things show up in red.

    No, it isn't anything you're doing, except using a particularly snotty browser like Marvin, "and just look at the software they give me to work with..."

    xx
    ed

15. At 10:02 AM on 26 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Fingers, toes, eyes and anything else cross-able crossed for Alan Johnston.

    It makes me so angry that whoever's holding him is threatening the one 大象传媒 reporter who had the courage and articulacy to put THEIR side of the story, as well as the other more widely reported aspect.

    May I join other Froggers in the sending of good wishes and positive thoughts to Alan and his family, friends, colleagues.

    Grrrrrr!

    Fifi

16. At 10:46 AM on 26 Jun 2007, Molly wrote:

    I echo Fifi's comments. I actually founf it impossible to listen to the audio recording much less watch the video. How absolutellly hellish for family and friends.
    What is going on in these peoples heads- don't tell me-GRRR-yes!

    Mollyxx

17. At 10:46 AM on 26 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

    I find it very interesting that this frog is often full of very vituperative comments about 大象传媒 bias against Israel in the matter of Palestinians and how they are treated, but Fifi can say that Alan Johnson was 'the one 大象传媒 reporter who had the courage and articulacy to put THEIR side of the story, as well as the other more widely reported aspect' and not be instantly contradicted -- and it has been being said on and off ever since he was abducted without anyone retorting that all the 大象传媒 reporters do that all the time.

18. At 11:22 AM on 26 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Fifi,

    Not to diminish in any way our concern for Alan, we cannot ignore Hugh Sykes.
    xx
    ed

19. At 11:39 AM on 26 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Fishy Chris,

    I posted my 18 before your 17 appeared, and as usual, you said it better. I love the context you noted as well! I thought it was thou and me who were accused of vituperation ;-)

    xx
    ed

20. At 12:40 PM on 26 Jun 2007, wrote:

    I used to work a lot with the Royal Mail when I was in the junk ... sorry ... direct mail business.

    They were in the process of having all the most lucrative bits of their business opened up to competition, whilst being required to carry on with the uprofitable letter delivery side.

    We used to have the best postal service in the world. I know this, because there were some countries it wasn't worth sending a gift subscription of a magazine to, because the mags simply wouldn't ever get there. Or they might go to a PO box and have to be collected from miles away.

    Because of the way the Royal Mail chooses to report its finances (ie loading costs heavily onto the Post Office bit) it's now going to justify killing off thousands of local post offices, including Crown offices (the main ones).

    It's already made sending a greetings card or anything larger than a slim A5 require a visit to the post office ... which they'll soon be shutting ... so where's the sense in that?

    Once again I find myself asking: how come the only way to make businesses profitable is to cut-cut-cut?

    Why doesn't anyone seem to realise that you can only cut so far, and then there's nothing left?

    Fifi

    PS Ed and Chris ... quite right. I sit corrected!

    ;o)

21. At 08:00 PM on 26 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

    Ed I @19, yes, that wasn't accidental, and yes, we were and we are, or in your case a troll. Tsk Tsk Tsk you naughty person. Trip-trap, trip-trap, trip-trap...

    Fifi @20, I wasn't even slightly disagreeing with you or wanting to correct you, I was just noting with amusement that the trolls are too silly to notice that what you said is incompatible with their accusations of 大象传媒 bias.

    And now I think I shall go and infest the Glass Box for Monday briefly.

    (spits a pebble in a contemplative manner, and girds whatever it is that fish have)

    If there is any justice in the world, what I intend to post there will be deemed malicious, but I bet it isn't.

22. At 05:52 AM on 27 Jun 2007, country lass wrote:

    New topic...

    last week our town had the new phone book delivered. There are still one or tow dotted about outside folks' doors. I took mine in, looked at the plastic wrapper and thought, what do I want with a phone book? I am guessing that I was not the only one with this thought, I haven't used a phone book in years. I use the internet or one of the 118 services. The phone book is so parochial. Locals whom I do not already know who I wish to contact by phone are few and far between. Why can't BT in the interests of the "green" society, put a small card though the door advising that the new phone book is ready fror printing and if you would like to order a copy, phone the order number by (say) a month's time? The card, unlike the phone book itself, could go in the recycling. Only wanted books would be printed.
    We're all trying to do our bit for the environment, but like so many things it is the companies that need to change to make a bigger difference.
    Whew - got that off my chest.
    

23. At 09:01 AM on 27 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Country Lass, that's a very good idea. I haven't looked in any of the three directories that I get for years. In fact, I can't remember the last time I actually opened the things...
    Like you, I tend to use the internet for all the looking up. I think this is something that BT (and the other two companies) should look into, as it would represent a cost saving to them. I'd happily opt out of all directories, as they're generally not worth the paper they're printed on.

24. At 09:43 AM on 27 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Country Lass, great idea - have you thought of emailing them to suggest it? Would be interested to know their response.

    In fact I might give it a go myself.

25. At 12:17 PM on 27 Jun 2007, JADE wrote:

    So many questions, for so many months, over the decisions of just a couple of minds. And we still don't question our democracy. GOOD RIDDANCE TO THAT SHAME FACED LIAR.

26. At 12:27 PM on 27 Jun 2007, wrote:

    JADE (25),

    Aye, but is it helpful or humane to lumber the Middle-East with him?

    xx
    ed

27. At 12:59 PM on 27 Jun 2007, JADE wrote:

    You said it again, Ed I. But this lightweight is just reading today. Have a good Frog.

28. At 10:16 AM on 28 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Grrrr! I have a furrowed brow just now.

    I've signed up for a two day course at a local college, but the City & Guilds exam which follows the course requires a photo ID to get into the exam room. The acceptable forms are a passport or new-style driving licence.

    I have no driving licence - except an old-style provisional from ~20 years ago - nor a passport. Nor do I have any interest in getting either.

    The only alternative might be to get a government ID card, but frankly I really don't want to be stuck on a dodgy database.

    What is this mania these days for identification? Why will no-one take my word that I am who I say I am?

29. At 11:04 AM on 28 Jun 2007, Anne P. wrote:

    SSCat - how about one of those photo-id cards used to prevent under age drinking?

    You are over 18 I take it?

    More seriously I absolutely take your point, there are many people who don't drive and don't travel abroad who seem destined to become non-people in an increasingly Orwellian world.

30. At 01:01 PM on 28 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Anne P. (29):

    Way, way, way over 18...

    Where do you get an age-verifying photo-ID anyway? Isn't it easier to judge age by TV questions?

    Name 3 Clangers...

    What was the name of the Banana Split with the long nose?

    (For guys) Who do you find more attractive? Pan's People, Legs and Co or Hot Gossip?

31. At 08:38 PM on 28 Jun 2007, wrote:

    Dear Ed Iglehart,
    I hope you find this soon. Just a brief thought, Brother- A Picture Can Say A Thousand Words.

    Hope you are well. I only use the JPA tag when I'm being serious or confrontational, because it seems a bit cowardly not to at such times. But I'm always here in many guises and wish you well.

32. At 08:51 PM on 28 Jun 2007, Anne P. wrote:

    SSCat I couldn't find out how to get the pub ID, though I'd guess it's probably issued by the local authority. However, you could try a library card (if yours uses photo id) or a student card if the college issues them. Of course if you are really, really old (as I almost am :-)you could get a bus pass for which a birth certificate is enough at least here in Derbyshire.

    Finally if you put 'fake id' into a search engine you'll find all sorts of offers to create id-like cards!

    A.

33. At 09:49 PM on 28 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

    SSC: do it yourself. Produce, on the computer, a printed card of a size that fits easily into your wallet, with your name, and whatever else in the way of information you think you ought to allow them, and a fancy thing in one corner that is a set of initials of some spurious organisation. Get it laminated, and there you are. For some obscure reason, a shiny surface carries a lot of conviction.

    One of my friends used a genuine KGB ID blank with her photo and signature appropriately filled in, as ID to get into one of this country's Secure Establishments, for more than a year before anyone noticed and asked her please to stop *doing* that. Just don't ask how she got hold of that card, it's a long story.

    I carry a Photo-ID card that identifies me as a member of the Reality Police Intertemporal Constabulary, which among other things asserts that I am authorised to manipulate the flow of time and mend holes in the space/time continuum, and so far it has been accepted as valid ID by three policemen from three different forces. :-)

34. At 12:02 AM on 29 Jun 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Mr Fish (33) I carry a Photo-ID card that identifies me as a member of the Reality Police Intertemporal Constabulary, which among other things asserts that I am authorised to manipulate the flow of time and mend holes in the space/time continuum

    I find that all too easy to believe, as it's you...

35. At 12:19 PM on 29 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

    Aperitif @ 34: that's only the day-job, pretty tedious; darned one millenium, you've darned 'em all, really. I moonlight in elephants.

36. At 02:56 PM on 29 Jun 2007, wrote:

    JPA (31),

    Thanks for that, my sibling. And the well-wishing is mutual.

    Namaste
    ed

37. At 07:43 PM on 29 Jun 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Outside of an elephant, a book is a fish's best friend. Inside of an elephant it's too dark to read.

    With apologies to Groucho Marx.

38. At 09:09 PM on 29 Jun 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

    Aperitif @37, unless one happens to own the Acme Moon Light, available at all branches of Strike A Light ( a wholly owned subsidiary of Cosmic Enlightenment Inc).

    Of course you must on no account forget the suspenders.

39. At 10:43 AM on 30 Jun 2007, wrote:

    What can I add to Feef's comments above? (20)!
    Not alot, well said.

    I will ask all people who stumble upon this, to support your Post Office services and workers. We are all users, and it does us a great service. If modernisation implies a better service, then how will more cuts achieve this with something so cut to the bone already? We've watched and read about it for a few years, and I see a poorer service what ever they have spun to us beforehand.

    A day's disrupted service is well worth supporting if it can help towards saving a perfectly good service for the future. In that sense, I feel we should all join the fight for OUR Post Office.

    Thanks for your time,
    JP exCWU

40. At 01:40 PM on 01 Jul 2007, wrote:

    JP,

    My postie is (or has been) the Union rep. He's one of the best in every respect. here in the rural areas, the postie is very much a person and neighbour as well as a public servant.

    We have the extra advantage of being the second-last stop on his round, and thus we've had many leisurely conversations on many serious and trivial topics.

    Strength to those who support the postal workers and the public asset they strive to preserve.

    in Solidarity
    ed

41. At 04:07 PM on 02 Jul 2007, wrote:

    Well said, Ed.

    (Sorry, I'm not really chatting ... just finding a quiet corner to work in, since Gazeboland is either too damp or too cold by turns today.)

    * dives - maliciously, it seems - back into the last 5 nits needing picked from a very good new book about presentation skills *

    Fifi

42. At 06:23 PM on 02 Jul 2007, wrote:

    Hurrah!

    Finally finished editing this book, in time for a glass of something at the Brow, and maybe something savoury from the Afternoon Tea Menu..?

    Please join me. My treat.

    ;o)

    Fifi