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ref: reading on line hotel reviews
I wish I had taken notice of the reviews about the hotel in Ayr in which I stayed last night. It was lovely from the outside and like Fawlty Towers on the inside. The staff were friendly enough but seemed genuinely surprised when I asked if they were serving dinner and even more surprised when I said I would stay for dinner (it was miles from anywhere and I had flown up to Scotland so it seemed to make sense). The online reviews had pointed these things out but they seemed a bit over the top!
I'd always trust Tripadvisor - and they are *VERY* harsh if any reviews are found to be fraudulent.
With this new decision on the human animal embroyos has anyone thought about the possibility of this aiding the cross over of disease, Bird Flu for example?
On the issue of political causes and charities, I'm reminded of this remark by the late Salvadorean Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was murder by a US-backed death squad in 1980.
鈥淚f I feed the poor, they call me a saint; if I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist.鈥
If your cause is supported by, or at least does not irritate the state, it can be a charity. Do anything that runs against the interests of the state and you are 'political'.
The 大象传媒 is right to distance itself from the current, lunatic, debate on climate change. We are supposedly facing catastrophic changes to the Earth鈥檚 climate and all the environmentalists want to do is change light bulbs. Until we take huge global action to move from fossil fuel to renewable sources like solar energy we are just fiddling at the edges. We currently burn 80 million barrels of oil a day. Trivial energy savings make no difference to this. We need real, large scale action.
You news people sometimes make me so angry. In your main 'stem cell research' report, a scientist carefully explained that the animal's DNA is removed from the egg before being replaced with human DNA. In your summary just before 5:15, I could hardly believe my ears to hear the newsreader saying that the "technique mixes human and animal DNA". If I have misheard or mistunderstood, I apologise, but it sometimes seems to me that you are in such a hurry to make these announcements that no checks are made. However, if I heard correctly you have potentially creates unnecessary alarm of the 'Frankenstein experiments' variety.
Human-animal hybrids?? Frankenstein!! Three-headed, nine-eared eleven-toed sheep!!! Giant babies with forked tails and flippers!!!!!!!!! Wrath of the Lord upon you all, and not before time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do I keep humming Werewolves of London - or are they just synonymous with full moons?
On the lighter side of the 'Human-animal' embryo green light - it'll be interesting to see what the tabloid cartoons make of it all.
Perhaps BigSister can create a little Eddie Mair with Udders or Rabbit ears to amuse us?
Then again - perhaps not.
Presumably God will punish all those engaged in the human/animal embryo experiments. Or does he not do that sort of thing anymore ?
What's happened to the webcam?
Re: The Human Tissue and Embryos Bill
HFEA agreement to extend more research on human embryos and more tinkering around with our DNA fills me with dismay. It just seems that the special sanctity of human life is being destroyed slowly but surely by constant pushing of safeguarding limits and I cannot help but think that the transfer of cells from an animal embryo to a human is another affront to human dignity. Where will it end? What ghastly disasters are we courting? I think we need more reassurances from scientists other than a nebulous promise of 'cures' for serious illnesses. Just what has been cured so far by human embryo experimentation?
What may the 大象传媒 actively interfere in (climate warming).
There was the hint in your report that it was OK for the 大象传媒 to produce "Red Nose Day" but not "Climate Aid" because there might be some who do not accept mankind's influence in the observed climate disruption but nobody can gainsay charity donations to the third world.
May I make "A Modest Proposal"...
The 大象传媒 providing a funding stream into the third world is no more nor less than charity colonization. It disrupts the normal development of a country and is disruptive to world trade.
Now will they drop Red Nose Day?
Andrew McKindly [sic] "over exaggerates". It's the nature of worms and Trojans to self replicate and retransmit themselves from computer to computer.
China has the greatest surge in new online computers, coupled with a fairly low level of anti-virus use. If this is accepted then most worms and Trojans will emanate from the regions with least computer security, such as the eastern bloc and China.
The whole story seems to be another Y2K tin-foil-hat exercise to me. If Andrew is so fearful and so ignorant of computer hacking, then he should sell his PC and take an anti-panic pill (made in China of course).
Your correspondent on the hybrids betrayed his own view: this is the UK at the forefront of scientific progress. Had he been less biased he might have given the alternative view, that it could easily reflect UK moral bankruptcy.
ps Did I miss the mention on air of what is on the 大象传媒 website - Milliband being at the forefront of advocating that Turkey join the EU?
I'm faintly amused by the suggestion that the Chinese may be testing our Government systems in some kind of intelligence war.
Have we got a Government system that actually works properly? You only seem to hear about Connecting for Health, the Passport Office system and the ID card thing, all of which appear to be exceeding their budget and underachieving. You know that somewhere in Whitehall someone thinks that the DNA database is a great idea but knows deep down that we'd never get the technology to work.
Maybe we should be employing the Chinese on a consultancy basis to fix these systems...
Your Iraq correspondent said that he was embedded with the troops.
If I hear "embedded" once more I shall scream.
It's a horrible word.
Be the first. Why not say "here is X who is with the Y troops in Iraq"?
Why is everyone surprised that Government computer systems might be hacked?
The first rule of computing is that if you have a secret then don't put it onto a computer!
The second rule is that if systems such as transport, power generation, health, et al are computerised then don't have any connection from that system to the internet. No connection equals no hackers!
What happened to simple commonsense? I can only agree with Frank Zappa's observation that the most common commodity in the world is stupidity.
It should not be an offence to put feet on train seats as there will always be ignorant, thoughtless and bad mannered people. It should certainly be an offence to refuse to remove them when asked, whether by a staff member or a more enlightened member of the public.
I seem to recall that written on the barn wall were the words:
"there will not be a slippery slope"
But now I have just heard on my radio, that the words have been read as:
"there will not be a slippery slope because the HFEA will always approve techniques *only* after careful analysis and thought"
I don't recall that last bit; is it my memory? At least I know that *my* future is in safe hands - I am guarenteed a lush pasture in which to spend my final days after all my work is done.....
Eddie invited us to contribute to his "virtual glass box." Here's my idea. Convert the box into a real glass box, stuff Mr Mair into it and send it off into space.
Then invite a new presenter to come in and replace the present inane chatter with serious news reporting and informed comment.
"News" is not an entertainment Mr Mair. If you want to try to be funny and chat, go to an appropriate frivolous station.
No offence, Eddie, but I love my news and comment and you're making me turn off PM at times. This is a serious plea.
J.Black
Jim Black (20) Oh, thank goodness for the Six O'clock News, eh, Jim?
So the inter bank rates are high because every bank suspects that one or more of the others is exposed to risky liabilities (as the asset stripper said to the banker).
That is, all banks suspect all others may be lying about their portfolio positions. They think that the one up against the wall is pretending it must be one of the others too.
So all the banks think all the others capable of lying about their asset position in order to protect ..... the value they put on their assets, and hence their share values. And at least one IS lying.
Well, that surely is just a bunch of bankers acknowledging that the value they put on their assets is just what they think they can get away with with the others - and us.
You're all still sure you're not going to be at a queue at the banks tomorrow (Barclays was into the BoE twice last week at punitive rates)?
I expect when their pension fund collapses 大象传媒 correspondnets will be calling for a common pension pool just like us paupers. Till then, they will hope that their reasonable sounding 大象传媒 voices saying Governor King is restoring confidence, with his On/Off policy U turns, are keeping the wolf from the door.
When our parents and grandparents tried to nationalise this shower of bankers and their bullion it was, we are now told, a piece of 'hateful' politics.
I don't think so.
Incidently when the Americans in WW2 (a middle 20th Century conflict) insisted on flooding Europe with troops rather than joining the British in trying to bomb Germany flat (courtesy of the British terrorist, 'Bomber' Harris, then late of Iraq), what doctrine of firepower did that belong to?
And although it belongs in another place, since Joshua seems to be resting in his tent, it seems fall on me to say I'd be pleased to help Little Uganda preserve her integrity, just as I am pleased to help little Palestine try to retrieve hers - which comprises most of Isreal.
So the 大象传媒 isn't going to support the CO2 climate change campaign, in a similar way to its support of comic relief or children in need.
Did I really here the Friends of the Earth complain !
I have been to Sierra Leone, and saw hunderds dead or dying, parents carrying their dead children up the street in sacks.
I did not see anyone die of climate change, and I suspect I never will.
As far as I an concerned FOE can got to Hell, I have already been there!
Given the current state of the seats on Merseyrail trains, the company is fighting a losing battle. It IS appropriate to prosecute and there are enough signs up in the trains warning passengers not to place their foul footware on the seats. If the young lady was unable to follow simple written instructions, then god help the children placed in her care if she passes her exams and becomes a teacher!
Jim Black (20) - Jim, the News starts at 6.00 p.m. What we have at 5.00 p.m. is a news magazine programme 鈥 a mix of serious and lightweight themes. When it is serious it is very, very good. When it is lightweight it is very, very good. It does exactly what it says on the tin! Can I suggest you set your timer for 5.59 p.m.?
JB (20) - Surely we have enough talking heads on the media. Whereas what is required is more skilled inquisitors, to induce the horse to talk.
Paxo and Humphries are good at their style of direct confrontational questioning; but there is room for Eddie Mair's style of 'softly softly catchy monkey'.
Mair's style comes across as intelligent and approachable, so as not to intimidate the interviewee into a defensive non-disclosure mode. It's also nice to hear a presenter on the 大象传媒 who doesn't have to prove to the world his balls have dropped.
Jim Black (20) makes, I think, an interesting point. I have often noticed the almost complete contrast between PM and the immediately proceeding Six o`clock News.
I am not a regular listener to the 6pm prog because I prefer to hear other peoples opinions
on the current issues in the news.
I tend to have no firm views of my own plus
Eddie Mair seems to cover most points that
attract my attention.
When all said and done, as Jim rightly states,it is personal choice.
So, the 大象传媒 has to remain impartial. Does that mean David Attenborough should not have been such a powerful and one-sided advocate for the earth's endangered species? Can you imagine him saying "Another species gone. A good thing or a bad thing? We'll let you decide."
And where was the other side of the story about tigers in Tibet? All we got was the stuff about this being good for tigers and so on - but nothing from the people with tiger-phobia, who'd prefer the tigers to die out pronto.
Come on - any news provider shows their bias as soon as they select one story in preference to another. What they should do - and what the 大象传媒 does pretty well - is to be aware of that bias and to give reasonable air time to alternative views.
Sid
Various, including Boxer (19),
I am uneasy with the HFEA's decision. But as one who's father has recently died of Alzheimer's, & mother has had cancer numerous times, the idea of a "cure" (and hence to die in one's sleep without months/years of pain/suffering) appeals. So mixed reaction to this development, but as I said before, uneasy (very). I'm a scientist by profession, but not in this field (and I suspect many biologists would be uneasy about Nuclear science, to give a counter example).
Also I agree with the point made above somewhere that an interview said that all the animal DNA was removed from the egg before human DNA was added, but then the headlines a few minutes later said it was a mix of DNAs ( I also noticed it changed later in the programme). Off the top of my head, I don't know which precisely correct - if removing the DNA is enough (what about the micochondia (sp))?
I've often noticed that the headlines have not kept up with interviews broadcast (but not necessarily recorded) a few minutes earlier.
**SECOND A LERT***
At 15:25 on Thursday, EM's Camel appeal will be repeated, including the camel-milk toffee incident, one presumes. Has anyone tried herding our camels into - oh, say, Brookfield - to milk them yet?
I'm away nearly all the working day tomorrow, on the world's most famous car-parks (M25, M4) lined up in spectacular fashion by some fiend who remains nameless (to protect the guilty). So cannot a lert people any more. Maybe Listen Again?
Deep,
As a scientist (retired), I agree with your approach, and you only missed out a single 'r' in mitochondria, but that's far more than the difference between us and monkeys. ;-)
Jonnie, the full moon couldn't be much further away (about sixteen days, I reckon. Glorious milkynway tonight.
As to Uganda and , the less said the better. It tests our denial too much.
Mac,
Futures
Last Change Settle
Crude Oil 75.85 0.12 75.73
Gold, Dec 691.0 0.3 690.7
DJ Industrials 13348 -113 13343
S&P 500 1474.80 -1.80 1476.60
6:57 p.m. EDT 09/05/07
lalalalalalala
Salaam/Shalom
ed
For Mac and any others interested in stuff.
xx
ed
I'm not normally one for writing in, but MP Andrew MacKinley, who you interviewed for the Chinese hacking piece left me gobsmacked.
So he thinks that computer-hacking is as serious a threat to national security as a nuclear bomb?
Does that mean that the residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should be grateful that the American Cyber-Geek Corps didn't plunge their financial, transport and financial systems into chaos through concerted campaign of computer-hacking.
Who knows? Perhaps if the Allies had been able to cripple the Japanese Child Support Agency early on in the war, they'd have agreed to an early truce?
Despite Mr MacKinlay's hysteria on this issue, he thinks that it's good and proper that UK security agencies perform similar stunts in China.
One can only hope that this gentleman doesn't get any closer to Britain's nuclear arsenal than he already is.
The good folk of Thurrock have elected a real twit. Who was the previous parliamentarian for that constituency? Corporal Jones?
Jim Black -
I hope Eddie will leave you a comment as Gillian's remark didn't do justice. RJD however (in my opinion) was on the ball.
The old adage that you can't please everyone comes to mind - but I'd like to hear some expansion as to your comment - a few more specific details as to the parts of the glassbox - or programme that deterred from your listening pleasure?
, eh?
Drat! I've been 502'd twice!
xx
ed
I made this comment yesterday, but it seems to have got lost - probably my fault.
Did I really hear on the 5.30 news slot ,"two British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, next of kin HAVE YET TO BE INFORMED"?!
I am encouraged by the HFEA's decision to extend more research on hybrid human embryos (under strict controls). I don't understand the argument that such advances in medicine can be viewed as 'Frankenstein' or tinkering in any form considering how we mutilate, torture and kill animals in the name of scientific research, even though the physiology of these animals in not compatible with humans.
Did I hear a spokesperson for a religious organisation mention the special sactity of human life being destroyed? A bit of a paradox I think.
Did I hear a spokesperson for a religious organisation say that the HFSE's decision to extend more research on human embryos is destroying the special sanctity of human life. What hypocrisy.
As for these advances being described as 'Frankenstein' in nature, I would suggest that experimentation on live animals in the name of medical research is far worse.
Those 10 to 15 extraordinary notes!
From out of nowhere. They'll search the town, none shall sleep....and then from this pedestrian ransacking search comes....the most extraordinary affirmation of the human spirit, a handful of notes that soar to heaven like a golden eagle on a swallows path
Chris (33)
....and to the good people of Thurock........DON'T PANIC.....DON'T PANIC.
Those 10 to 15 extraordinary notes!
From out of nowhere. They'll search the town, none shall sleep....and then from this pedestrian ransacking search comes....the most extraordinary affirmation of the human spirit, a handfull of notes that soar to heaven like a golden eagle on a swallows path
Chris (33)
....and to the good people of Thurock........DON'T PANIC.....DON'T PANIC.
Jones Cpl G9863325
I'll have some of what mac's having, please.
Sid
Poor Eddie.. first line as well.. rehearsals rehearsals. I am
Chris (33)
....and to the good people of Thurock........DON'T PANIC.....DON'T PANIC.
Jones Cpl G9863325
Poor Eddie.. first line as well.. rehearsals rehearsals. I
Paul (37/38) I agree with you whole-heartedly on this one. As someone with a scientific backgroundi get very frustrated when attempts at making scientific breakthroughs that could help develop medical benefits for large numbers of people are dismissed out of hand by those with a blinkered viewpoint. This is something where we need calm, rational decisions based on fact, not belief. It angers me when things such as stem cell reseach is curtailed due to people's religious beliefs or through emotive, simplistic campaigns that distort what the reseach is doing.
Paul (37/38) I agree with you whole-heartedly regarding the HFEA decision. As someone with a scientific background i get very frustrated when attempts at making scientific breakthroughs that could help develop medical benefits for large numbers of people are dismissed out of hand by those with a blinkered viewpoint. This is something where we need calm, rational decisions based on fact, not belief. It angers me when things such as stem cell reseach is curtailed due to people's religious beliefs or through emotive, simplistic campaigns that distort what the reseach is doing.
grrrr I'm ending up in room 502 when I try to post this...
Jonnie (8) Definitely not!
mac (39) puts me in mind of a favourite G&S lyric:
Up and down, and in and out,
Here and there, and round about;
Every chamber, every house,
Every chink that holds a mouse,
Every crevice in the keep,
Where a beetle black could creep,
Every outlet, every drain,
Have we searched, but all in vain.
Puts me in mind of Mr. Mair's interview on Monday. Many an amdram production of Yeomen of the Guard nowadays includes women Yeomen (just as long as they can sing below soprano!)
Thanks for all the comments. Yesterday we had a bit of a disaster at 4.50pm when we realised the clips on our top story (three Germans arrested over suspected terrorist attack) were, er, in German. Last minute re-shuffle of the order and complete failure to get any other correspondents up in time meant poor Eddie was left with nothing to go at about 5.13. He manfully filled, and hopefully it didn't sound too strange that our second story was about Steve Fossett (wasn't planning to run it so high up the running order) and then a piece about the terracotta army (ditto). We are hoping to have tonight's running order fixed in stone by lunchtime so we don't have to go through the same horrors.
In response to D Winslow (36), I've spoken to the newsroom (the team upstairs where they write the bulletins) and received this reponse.
"The Newsroom was aware of the deaths some four or five hours before we reported them. Stories were running on several wires -- which feature on the log in pages of many internet service providers, for example, and were, I expect, being reported by other news channels in any case. People with an interest could or would have been aware that NATO troops had been killed in an area where most are British. We held off until the deaths were confirmed -- by the Ministry of Defence -- issued that afternoon. The reason we usually say "next of kin have been informed" is to avoid spreading unnecessary alarm, and ideally we wouldn't broadcast news of a death until we can say this. But on rare occasions this isn't possible. Our editor's view is that deaths which have been confirmed by the MoD can be reported, and they were. The process of contacting relatives can be lengthy -- people on holiday and so on."
I hope that helps.
D Winslow (36) Yes, I was taken aback to hear the next of kin have yet to be informed. I hope it was a mistake on the part of the newsreader.
On a slightly different note there are at least two 'comments' in 大象传媒 newsreporting that I object to. Firstly, that the Iraq/Afghanistan wars are unpopular. Is there any right-minded person who applauds war? Has there ever been a popular war? This is offensive considering some members of the armed forces are dying in order to prevent the sort of terror which we face.
Secondly, I refer to 'public opinion' mentioned in newsreports as a whole, in other words we all have the same opinions. Again, I feel these generalisations are used because they chime with the political persuasion of the 大象传媒.
Re the Diana inquest story. Is it only me or was anyone else struck with fear for the safety of Judge (or was it Lord) Baker Scott when your correspondent said that unless he were abducted by aliens in the meantime, the inquest would open next month?
It has taken 10 years and 4 coroners to get us this near - please don't tempt fate by suggesting things that might delay it further.
In the meantime I shall keep listening to the news in case there is an item on 'mysterious disappearnce of Royal Coroner' - please say it won't happen.
T
Re: Elouise and the D. Winslow remark. I think the actual words used were 'The Ministry of defense has said their families have not yet been informed. - I don't actually have any problem with that, as they obviously (at that stage) weren't named.
More worrying - is the obsession that PM has with the order of stories as regards to their newsworthy relevance.
In which case - most sane people would have run the death of two soldiers being killed in South Afghanistan as the lead. However in this case it would have been a newsdesk issue.
If the programme was in two segments 17:00 - 17:30 and 17:30 - 18:00 - then logic would dictate the bigger stories (as in News worthiness) would be closer to 18:00 ??
Fearless Fred (48)
I agree. A philospher named Weinberger said Religion is an afront to human dignity. As an Aetheist I would say he knew what he was talking about.
Eloise Twisk (50) Sorry, but it seems a bit overzealous to say the least to release this information before next of Kin have been informed, under any circumstances.
Re: PAul #51
As regards to your first point I don't see the logic.
It's similar to saying that if a plane crashed, all the families of the victims would have to be informed before the news could be broadcast.
As regards to your second point - according to a friend of mine - who's son is in Afghanistan as a soldier - the overwhelming majority of the soldiers are aware that the 'overwhelming majority' of the British general public do not think they should be in Afghanistan, - and they themselves agree!
You then say: -
Again, I feel these generalisations are used because they chime with the political persuasion of the 大象传媒.
Political persuasion PAul? - Oh come on!
It's just reporting the facts as they are.
If you want bias start on the press and Sky News for that matter before you start aiming blows at the 大象传媒 coverage.
Jonnie (55)
I am entitled to my opinion as you are to yours.
Nothing you have said has changed mine.
Paul wrote (54):
"A philospher named Weinberger said Religion is an afront to human dignity. As an Aetheist I would say he knew what he was talking about."
Find me an atheist who would not agree with Weinberger.
Excellent SOS on last night's programme. It was actually all I heard.
That's fine paul -
as long as you don't get opinions confused with facts - though Im not implying that you have - yet.
Paul (54) It may surprise you to find out I do hold a religious belief myself. That said, I look at this as us using our god given intelligence in order to better our lives in this broken world...
Oh no, Tuppence! (52) That's all we need now... Imagine Mohammed Fayed's* conspiracy theories if that happened
p.s. Paul (54) are you the same person as PAul (51)? Just curious....
*Mr Fayed was born as Mohammed Abdul Moneim Fayed. He has added the al as an affectation. It is somewhat akin the the von in use in Austria & Germany. It implies a social status within the arabic society that Mr Fayed is not entitled to...
DING!
End of Round One.
Boxers will now retire to their corners.
Fifi ;o)
Fearless Fred (59)
Yes, PAul and Paul are one in the same person. Me. This is not intentional, when I get time to use the computer I am usually doing it on the hoof. I have little time to check these things. It may be bad form, but that's how it is.
You're lucky Paul (61) : I've felt moved to post on several threads today, and EVERY time I have had to re-type all my details in again!
Return of the twittering thing seems to have resolved it though.
And for the record... I really like having dissenting voices on the blog. It keeps our arguments and thinking sharp.
It's only when people start drawing inferences about other froggers that I get uncomfortable...
Which rarely happens.
Fifi :o)
Paul (61) No problem. I was just curious. I'm just surprised I haven't ended up putting in the _ that's part of my email address every time the Remember Me box fails. It's not bad form as far as I'm concerned :)
Somebody, somewhere on this blog (I can't find it) mentioned a Camila Batman Geller. Did they mean Camila Batmanghelidjh or did said person marry Batman and keep her own name, Geller, as well? Whoever it was should get Eddie to post a photo of Camila here. Quite an interesting looking person, she is....
Ladies and gentlemen, please do NOT feed the trolls.
Thank you.
Duh Manage Mint @ 65, surely it is possible to be a boring twerp but not a troll...
john c [23] you 'suspect you never will [see anyone die from climate change]' well you clearly haven't been looking, or are not capable of understanding what climate change is. Remember all the violent storms of the last decade? Remember New Orleans? Remember this summer? The deaths from climate change have barely started and will increase year on year. The Greenland ice shelf is rapidly melting and holds enough water to raise sea levels by seven metres, any ideas how many deaths will result from that? That's Nangladesh and all the Pacific Islands gone. That's Florida gone and large parts of the southern coast of the US, that's Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex gone, not to mention London, New York, Tokyo and every other coastal city. That's all the productive farmland worldwide gone. What you gonna eat john c? Some people surely do need a wake up call, which the 大象传媒 programme just might have given them. Banning it was the most absurd thing the 大象传媒 has done since the government removed its balls over Gillighan.