The Glass Box for Friday
In the PM office we meet every night after the programme in this Glass Box:
We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be honest about our hour. Members of the production team will read it, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
RSS feed
Email us
Listen to PM
You're posting this rather early today, Eddie. Can I make a pre-emptive comment? I hope there's not a large piece today about the Iowa caucus. It's not that I don't think it was news-worthy. Far from it. In fact, covering it yesterday was the right thing to do, as you were leading into the caucus, and there were no major news programmes on R4 again before the event. Now, however, you'll be third, after Today and WatO. I realise it's probably worth covering for those who haven't heard/watched earlier bulletins, but a little judicious trimming is warranted for what is not as major a story today. After all, this is just the first of 50 primaries/caucuses just to decide who will take part in the election. It's not the election itself....
" a woman who's been banned from driving for seven days for driving on the motorway at ten miles an hour."
Was this on the M25? If so, many will be jealous.
Vyle @ (2) - She has MS and was on the M32 in Bristol, to which your comment still very much applies!
She will just have to take the bus, as I do, for a week. Not easy, as they do get so delayed by all the cars on the roads.
She had to get ink for her printer from the office supplies mega-shop.. Why didn't she order her computer supplies on-line? So much easier to let the van driver sit in the traffic jam.
Vyle @ (2) - She has MS and was on the M32 in Bristol, to which your comment still very much applies!
She will just have to take the bus, as I do, for a week. Not easy, as they do get so delayed by all the cars on the roads.
She had to get ink for her printer from the office supplies mega-shop.. Why didn't she order her computer supplies on-line? So much easier to let the van driver sit in the traffic jam.
Vyle @ (2) - She has MS and was on the M32 in Bristol, to which your comment still very much applies!
She will just have to take the bus, as I do, for a week. Not easy, as they do get so delayed by all the cars on the roads.
She had to get ink for her printer from the office supplies mega-shop.. Why didn't she order her computer supplies on-line? So much easier to let the van driver sit in the traffic jam.
!
Even the "Leading groups" are falling!
Wheeeeeee!
xx
ed
!
Even the "Leading groups" are falling!
Wheeeeeee!
xx
ed
Sorry people :-) there is a terrible echo in here!
I've got a distinct feeling of deja vu. Haven't I heard the report from James N before? In fact, I know I have, i just can't remember when...
I wondered if Stephanie Cole's real sanction was the required re-test, in which case is 7 days the shortest disqualification period triggering the need for one?
That being so, I would have preferred reports to say something like: "Has to re-sit the Driving Test and if she fails will be disqualified."
A ban of 7 days as the headline just sounds petty and mean. The re-test is surely the important element in the sentence?
Her Royal Straplineness,
Fifi ;o)
When I was learning to drive, there was a category of "not making enough progress" which would cause a fail - namely, not driving fast enough (but obviously under the limit). I can think of various times around here where the road was clear in front, but I was stuck behind someone doing less than 20mph, and slowing down whenever an opposing car approached (a frequent occurance; frequently enough to prevent me overtaking).
Now I thought 10mph on a motorway was illegal. 30 is/was the *minimum* speed, (well it was in the day of my Highway code, but I've never seen the sign signalling the minimum speed limit in the real world), although there are/were crawler lanes from the days when lorrys were not turbo-charged and hence could only crawl up hills around the network.
I was interested by this PM and thought the balance of the programme was good as far I I was able to listen to it.
The balance of the broadcast wasn't, though. Some of the time it was very soft, and I had to turn the radio right up, then suddenly and sometimes in mid-sentence it went 'normal' and I was nearly deafened as I leapt for the volume control lever. In the end I had to turn it off. When I switched back on just after 6pm, all was well and the volume my radio gave me was pretty constant.
Did anyone else get this variable-volume PM? Why would it happen?
Thanks folks for all your comments.
Not that many really obvious stories around, so we had to go hunting a bit... which is a good thing, because it invariably makes the mix of the programme more interesting.
Fifi (10)... I think you are right. We should have explained better what the re-test meant. Presumably a rolling ban until she passes again.
Chris (11)... not sure what could have caused your problems. There were a couple of scratchy phone line interviews which may have had an effect, but pretty much everything was broadcast or recorded through our regular studio.
Have good weekends.
Rog
Oh gosh. My first posting past the midnight deadline ... WENT THROUGH with NO 502!!!
* faints with shock *
Fifi ;o)