Glass Box for Friday PM
what did you think??
Archives for May 2008
Rail penalty fares.
With Carolyn hard at work on tonight's PM, and me about to swan off on the rail network, it reminded me to ask you about your experience of rail penalty fares. Our sister programme iPM is working on something - click here to read more, and better still to leave a comment.
Eddie's on the road again
..so I'm holding the fort back at base.
We're trying to find out more about these reports that Gordon Brown has been cold calling voters to reassure them that he's listening to their concerns. Have you by chance received such a call? What would you say to him if you did receive one? What sales advice would YOU give to Gordon Brown ?
Keep it clean!!
sequin
Think your fuel costs a lot NOW?
Wait till you hear this week's iPM. We hear that double digit rises are coming...on top of the double digit rises we've got.
Download the brand new iPM podcast - here.
The Beach.
Everyone should have a Beach to go to, chill out, meet their friends and relax.
In other words it's the off-topic area of the Blog, renewed every week on a Friday, to keep it to a manageable length. Bad attitudes not welcome. No bridges for Trolls to hide under. Just warm sun, sand and virtual sangria. Plus the odd (make that very odd) camel wandering around.
Strawberry Fields for Nils.
The strawberry picking season in Britain is getting under way this week. Please think of your friends at PM if you have any left over.
The crop promises to be bumper one, but the strawberry growers are warning that some of their crop may end up rotting in the fields because Home office rules are making it hard to find enough pickers.
Our Business Correspondent Nils Blythe has been finding out more. You can hear his report in the programme tonight. Here he is at Langdon Manor Farm near Faversham in Kent...
... interviewing Marina Georgieva from Bulgaria who has been working in the strawberry fields of Kent for two years and expects to earn £3,000 during her six month contract
Alistair Brooks is owner of Langdon Manor Farm near Faversham in Kent - he fears that unless more labour is allowed into the UK much of his crop will remain unpicked.
Patryk Ulrich from Poland has worked at Langdon Manor Farm for 3 years but says that more and more of his friends are returning home
Workers under the polytunnels earn a basic of £5.53 an hour, this can be topped up to around £9 an hour if they pick the fruit fast
Caption non-competition.
"Roger, the PM editor, couldn't explain why reports for the programme were so bad. "They sound fine to me""
Iraq...then and now...?
Hugh writes:
"(re-) Building Bridges in Baghdad: Remember ?:
Well, it is now:"
Knife crime.
There's a new ad campaign - page has some of the ad material.
In the programme tonight, we are planning to look at an angle not often discussed - the idea that if kitchen knives didn't have those sharp points, lives on the streets could be saved.
The Glass Box for Thursday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Parking trouble.
On our sister programme iPM, we always say - share what you know, so we can bring to wider attention something you think is important that's not being reported in the mainstream. With the help of our listeners we did just that about motoring fines, back on May 16th.
On breakfast telly today, and online, the story is receiving . Thanks for letting us know first.
This week on the iPM Podcast, how secure is your electricity supply? Again, thanks to a listener sharing what they know, we're investigating.
Beryl Cook.
See more of her work . There's more coverage . This is a previous Blog posting
And here is Joan Bakewell, talking to Beryl Cook on PM in 1980. Just click on Start:
More on tonight's Front Row on Radio 4.
Fuel, heating oil, and the credit crunch map.
We're talking about them all tonight on the programme. If you'd like to see or contribute to our credit crunch map of Britain, click here.
After Michael Buchanan's report from Stornoway, you might find this of interest. It's got lots more on heating oil and related issues, from our sister programme iPM.
Pandas...
...in Chinese art. Tonight, Nigel Wrench will be with Zhang Qikai who created these....
...and telling us why collectors are paying millions of pounds for contemporary Chinese art. In case you'd like one, these large oils, on show at the Marlborough Gallery in London, start at £43,800.
1405 UPDATE: ...and here is Mr Zhang with "Crossing the English Channel in the same posture" snapped at the gallery this morning. He'll be talking about it on PM.
Beryl Cook has died.
´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Devon says: "She was best known for her famous comical paintings of cheeky fat ladies. She died peacefully this morning at her home in the city with her husband and family at her side." More .
Petrol.
Karen sent his yesterday: "taken this afternoon on the A14 Westbound just before the Orwell Bridge outside Ipswich....
....It didn't look any better in the mirror.
It's taken that long to get my PC to see my phone that the price has probably gone up again since then!
Last time I filled up it cost me £38. Today it cost £43. When I first bought the car (5 years ago) it was £28."
The Glass Box for Wednesday
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
We'll talk tonight about the report which says children are being abused by UN peacekeepers and aid workers.
You can read the report - from Save the Children - .
More petrol.
From Di Y:
"This morning in Coltishall, cheap as chips!"
´óÏó´«Ã½.
After weeks away, and a lot of suggestions here on the Blog as to what could have been happening, the famous ´óÏó´«Ã½ lettering was being put restored to Television Centre in London as I came in this morning.
From underneath, this was the scene just as the craney thing* was pulling away having put up the second "B".
This was how it looked from a distance.
And snuggled between a wall and the sign company's van was the Big C. **
*this is not a technical term. Please try to avoid using it in conversation with people from sign companies, or builders etc.
**no, not that illness. Or that presenter.
More petrol.
Leslie Burgher sends us "Petrol prices in Orkney. (Dounby to be precise). You'd never believe that the stuff is brought in from the North Sea here!"
Jack and Vera yesterday.
Podcasting.
A little birdie tells me that the day when PM will also be a podcast may not be too far away. But you didn't hear that from me. In fact, once you've read this, print this page and eat it.
In the meantime, iPM, which is not in its 17.30 Saturday berth for a few weeks IS available as a nifty podcast. Brand new programmes in a tight 15 minute format. And by tight I mean drunk. Available every Saturday.
If you're familiar with podcasting, you'll know what to do.
If not: here's the Radio 4 guide to getting started. Remember - you don't need a pod - just a computer. Oh and an internet connection. And a power supply of some kind.
Glass Box for Bank Holiday Monday
Let us know what you thought of tonight's programme........
Rocket man
Have you heard about Michel Fournier, the 64 year old parachutist who has been preparing to leap from a balloon on the outer reaches of the stratosphere and plunge 40 kilometres (25 miles) to earth on Canada's western plains. He says it's his life's dream to
make the record jump, which will begin at a point four times higher than the cruising altitude of a commercial jet.
Possibly one of the more extreme life ambitions I've heard........ unless you can better it???
Torrential
rain rain rain
How are you spending your bank holiday? If you live in the south, might you press ahead and play your part in the supposed "camping and caravanning boom"?
hmm
The Furrowed Brow
The place to raise serious subjects of your choice.
Rupert, the iPM editor just alerted me to this.
I obviously missed a great Radio 4 programme. There's a link to it here. Have a look at the link before you enjoy the video below...
More petrol from Humph
Here is my offering for the Petrol Price non-competition. I have to say that I really do not understand what all the fuss is about. 12.9 pence for a litre of unleaded? That sounds quite reasonable to me. It is a shame that diesel is twice as much but 24.9 pence a litre is still not going to break the bank. The people I feel sorry for are those who rely on Autogas. Or am I missing something?
Weekend Extra: Bored?
Here is a wonderful way to waste time, and yet feel that you're seeing the world...
RJM sends:
If you are a Flickr user you could upload your pics and tag them "petrolpricesmair" and, if you know how, them too. That way we can pull them all together like , and maybe stick 'em on a map.
Petrol Photo latest: from two stations in Bournemouth, within half a mile of each other.
From Jonnie:
Brand New Photo Non-Competition for the Blog.
Inspired by a frogger, I will shortly be announcing a brand new photo non-competition for the Blog.
It's new!
It's exciting!
It's pretty pointless!
1410 UPDATE (sorry for the delay...) Roberto in Miami in Florida sent this excellent picture showing clearly what petrol prices are like there.
And it got me thinking. What I want...no...NEED to see, are photos from across the UK...no...the WORLD, showing petrol prices.
So GET OUT THERE. Take a photo of your local petrol station's price list, Once you've done that, why not take a photo of a petrol station price list from somewhere else? Maybe even on holiday?!
Just send them by email to pm@bbc.co.uk. Mark the subject line PETROL PHOTO and we'll do the rest.
1610 UPDATE: If you are a Flickr user you could upload your pics and tag them "petrolpricesmair" and, if you know how, geotag (link https://www.flickr.com/help/map/?search=geotag) them too. That way we can pull them all together (like this link https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/petrolprices/) , and maybe stick 'em on a map.
The Glass Box for Friday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
The Beach.
Oh most beautiful Beach of the programme PM,
Where the Froggers congregate even though you can't see them,
With camels and surf and castles of sand,
As a refuge from woes and seriousness it was planned,
With a bar in memory of a presenter most grand,
And imag'nery sun to get most safely tanned,
Renewed by our host, most every Friday,
Visitor, relax and enjoy, and please keep it tidy.
The Glass Box for Thursday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Huge.
An email arrives from Roberta Lawrence-Sykes asking:
Is it an 'in' joke or mistake that Hugh Sykes is listed as Huge Sykes on the attached page .
Well, we're not sure. But we're checking...
Alcohol update.
New figures on the number of NHS hospital admissions linked to alcohol (in England) show a rise of 7 per cent in one year. Over the last twelve years the figures have more than doubled.
We're talking about the figures tonight. You can read more .
Getting aid to difficult-to-reach places
has been one of the big talking points in recent weeks.
Is the answer in a trade-marked bottle?
The Bath International Music Festival
features on the programme tonight. Nigel is there and has just sent this:
Jack and Vera yesterday.
THURSDAY UPDATE: And here is a photo of Nigel's guest, the pianist Joanna Macgregor.
The cost of fuel.
We're talking about it tonight. The iPM credit crunch map shows fuel prices as the biggest concern. French fishermen are revolting over fuel prices. There were clashes with riot police in Paris, as a blockade of ports and oil depots that's gone on for more than a week, began to bite. Some French towns are short of fuel. The blockades at Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne forced the closure of the Port of Dover to all ferry traffic.
And if the cost of home heating oil concerns you - try this.
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
The blog will not work tonight.
As we posted a few days ago, there is some essential maintenance taking place on the Blog network. Or something.
"The work is scheduled to begin at 1800 on Wednesday (21 May), and should be finished by 2100 at the latest."
Brace yourself.
Dignity in care.
We're talking about it tonight.
Sir Parky has been appointed the UK's Dignity Ambassador. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ News story is . There's more on the Government campaign and .
On the programme tonight we're talking about Iris and Thomas Bashford. They fell in love long before many of us were born and have been together ever since. This year is their diamond wedding anniversary. But they've been told by social services that they could soon be living apart.
Feel free to share what you know by clicking Comment.
Not quite gold but...
....Nigel writes that "the Summer Solstice garden featured on PM yesterday -- complete with green wheatfield, fruit, veg and in-garden kitchen -- has won a Silver Gilt Flora award at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The judging system is particular to the Royal Horticultural Society, as is its use of capital letters. Any number of awards can be given, or not given, from Gold through Silver Gilt Flora, Silver Flora and Bronze Flora to, and it's a particular depth, "no award".
Eight gardens get Gold this year, four, including Summer Solstice and the garden in memory of George Harrison get Silver Gilt Flora. The sole "no award" among the show gardens was the Simply Italian UK Ltd garden.
Lady Carole Bamford and her organics company are behind the Summer Solstice garden. "It was our very first attempt and we were feeling our way. Our garden has a very different ethos and resonance from many other gardens at Chelsea.
"The message wanted to convey was a garden in which people grown their own food naturally and organically showing practical could also be beautiful."
Here she is once again with her head baker Simon Spears and designer Tomasso del Buono in the Summer Solstice garden. You can see the open kitchen, not entirely practical for an English summer, behind their backs.
And some more snaps I took of the planting":
We have spots.
On TV at the moment. Like this:
Chelsea Blog extra. Roses, art, Iraq.
A little extra from Nigel's visit to press day at the Chelsea Fower Show. Tony Smith with an art installation designed to provoke opinion.
Up close: white rosebuds outline the shape of a corpse. Red rose petals trail from its chest.
The artist means it to be a statement about the Iraq war. Here's Nigel, at Chelsea, talking to Mr Smith about his work, just for the Blog. Just click on Start.
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Schools, Ofsted and Jim Knight.
What do you think? More on the story . Feel free to leave a comment.
Ask the PM.
we're thinking of jumping on the bandwagon with our own "Ask PM" thing on You Tubes... after this "Ask the PM" from Gordon Brown:
1625 UPDATE: Well here it is:
If you have a question, we MUST have it on video. Just send us a link to your post on the video website of your choice...(You Tubes, Blip etc) and we'll make it happen. Or not.
Hello flower.
Nigel's been at the Chelsea Flower Show for us this morning. He's on the show tonight with a larger meaning behind the trend for grow-your-own in the back yard.
Here are some of his words and snaps from Press Day. Starting with a notice being put up early this morning:
"It's always a little surreal, the exhibitors are panicky, sleepless, expecting judges, wondering if the Queen will stop at their garden, trying to keep camera crews at bay, and posing for pictures.
"Lady Carole Bamford in Summer Solstice, the garden her organics company has come up with. That's a green wheat field she's standing in (they were especially pleased the blue cornflower was out). More about this garden on the programme tonight and its links to the rocketing popularity of grow-your-own.
Andrew Tokely, horticultural manager of one of the big seed companies, with a garden that's entirely fruit and veg. Everything from cabbage and sweet potato to blueberry, thornless blackberry, olives and kohl rabi. Across the way a front-bench Tory with a basket-weave mosquito.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary who said: "Please don't say anything about politicians and blood-sucking." Other faces:
The former Formula One champion Damon Hill, at Chelsea to see a garden in honour of his old friend George Harrison. And at a garden that had something to do with the night sky:
Sir Patrick Moore. Among the celebrities, the people whose grounds these are.
Jack Dempsey, 92, and a Chelsea Pensioner, resident at the Royal Hospital. "This is my home." The RHS are annual guests. So, for a reason I couldn't quite discern, was....
this Womble:
Finally not at Chelsea but ten days ago on a brief trip to London, Sir Roy Strong, talking about why grow-your-own is no fad on PM this evening, and pictured in St James's Park."
Hillary Clinton and John McCain
were the subject of Garbriel Gatehouse's report on PM on Saturday (more here) . Now, our coverage is in turn prompting acres of press coverage, as you can readily see:
China
has been on the air a lot lately after the earthquake. On Wednesday's PM we heard from Michael Watts from Sheffield United who was in Chengdu. As he told us, there are close ties between Sheffield United and the Chengdu Blades, football team who're based in Sichaun province.
Michael told us about the Blades' plans to help out.
Starting us off: Xu Yiwen, captain of the Chengdu Blades' Under 19s, giving blood.
Staff from Chengdu Blades have provided tents, clothes, umbrellas, water and food to the hard hit areas.
How big is your
drink?
We spoke about alcohol a lot last week - you can hear more here - and as it happens today the Department of Health is launching its know your limits campaign. You'll hear the Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo in the programme tonight: .
Michael Rosen and Harry Potter.
The children's laureate Michael Rosen is today saying horrible things about the Harry Potter books.
Among his quotes: "I am distant from them whereas I read some kids' books and I get quite drawn in emotionally to them....They don't grab me personally....Figures appear and you don't know whether they are a goodie or a baddie....My seven-year-old daughter watches the films but they tend to spell it out a bit more....I haven't read the books to her, you don't want to bore your kids."
Well, Mr Rosen says he was misquoted. He will join us live on PM.
In the meantime, here he is performing one of his best-loved works:
The Glass Box for Monday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
The Furrowed Brow
What do you want to talk about, seriously?
Tonight's iPM will be good.
Very good we think. (There's more here)
But let's face it - it won't be anything like as good as this:
The delightful
Ritula Shah is your host for tonight's PM. Among the things on her mind, an interview from PM the other day when we heard from Terry McAuliffe, the chairman of the Hillary Clinton For President campaign. I was trying to uncover the 'real Hillary', whether she does in real life what she's been doing in her photo-ops...drinking shots. Mr McAuliffe revealed that Mrs Clinton was in Ukraine once and beat John McCain at downing shots.
Well, you know us. We had to know more. Our Kiev correspondent, Gabriel Gatehouse has been on the case and will report for Ritula tonight. Here are some lovely snaps to go with the report.
Noice.
Have you been illegally fined by your council for a motoring offence?
Some councils are doing just that.
If YOU have some experience of how councils behave...or maybe you work on the other side and can share something from a council's point of view...leave a comment by clicking here.
Here's what can happen. Perhaps their box junction was illegal...or the bus lane wrongly marked. Thousands of motorists can be caught on camera and fined automatically.
But when one driver points out the mistake - while he or she gets their fine refunded, the council is not obliged to contact everyone else who's been wrongly fined.
This was brought to our attention by a listener to our sister programme, iPM.
In tomorrow night's programme we'll hear from all sides. But we thought you might like to hear from one of our guests, Lord Lucas who chairs the London Motorist Action Group. He says the current set up is intolerable. Just click on START.
Shaun has
just gone into the World at One studio.
Stand by.
The Glass Box for Friday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Jazz.
Nice.
Nigel Wrench writes:
"One of the world's greatest jazz pianists, pictured in Watford. This is Abdullah Ibrahim, from Cape Town, photographed by me yesterday at the Watford Collosseum.
In the view of Watford Borough Council, "The venue has a renowned international reputation due to the fine acoustics within the main auditorium." Mr Ibrahim was rehearsing with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Big Band and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra for a concert at the Barbican in London tomorrow. The people of Watford won't have the pleasure of hearing him, though he is in Manchester next Tuesday and on PM this evening.
If you're wondering what that is to the left of the picture here's a clue:
It's a 1970s pressing of the record that made him famous in South Africa, and which became an unlikely anti-apartheid anthem.
Tonight on PM, Mr Ibrahim tells me that he believes music can help heal his country. He says, "We have achieved collective liberation. Now the task is to find personal liberation."
Early warning of Blog not working.
We've been told that this Blog and others will be out of action to allow essential maintenance. The email has just come in and I thought I'd let you know straight away.
"The work is scheduled to begin at 1800 on Wednesday (21 May), and should be finished by 2100 at the latest." It's subject to change of course.
Blue.
OK. So yesterday I called time on the colour photos. But this has come in and, well...
"I thought you might like this one. My father took it of me in Norway on a Saga trip that we went on together soon after my mother's death last year. You could call it Still Life, Colour Grief. Poshmissusmac."
The Beach.
The PM Blog Beach is whatever you want it to be - a place to hang out with other bloggers, and be completely off topic.
Over time it has developed its own identity, complete with camels, sand dunes, and a permanently stocked bar, but fundamentally it is a place to relax and have fun.
Dwain Chambers
...more on James Munro's report .
Football video
is here.
Hugh
Sykes hates it when I use this picture:
But, if you click , there is a slideshow, about a family from Baghdad, who've featured on PM.
Black and white and pink.
Ok. This is the LAST one!
Big Sis says: "Not the best photo of him, but this piccie of Monty, taken a couple of months ago, does illustrate black and white and pink, don't you think?
Alcohol. Thursday's report.
When people talk about alcohol problems in Britain, they often look favourably at France, and their apparently more refined drinking culture.
Over the last twenty years, the amount of alcohol that's drunk in France has been falling - but according to French Alcoholics Annoymous there are still around 3 million alcoholics living in the country with perhaps as many as 10 million people who have a borderline alcohol addiction.
Reporting for PM, our Paris Correspondent Emma Jane Kirby.
PM on TV.
It's coming soon: at these times.
As I said in the newsletter,
we'll hear from the police in Manchester about last night's football violence.
There is video footage . Some of it is pretty graphic.
Red.
Now this is getting silly.
"This is red. It's not a flower -- it's an outline map of the EU from two years ago. But it is red.
Aperitif, x."
The Glass Box for Thursday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Alcohol. Wednesday's report.
The impact of binge drinking is well known. But can more be done to detect and treat ongoing alcohol dependence?
Reporting for PM, Christopher Landau:
Yellow.
"Hi Eddie, Not Red, Beige or even Purple.........but Yellow! DiY":
And:
"After seeing contributions in colour, I want to contribute the colour yellow. Cheers from Miami Florida. Roberto Carlos Alvarez-Galloso".
Purple.
"Would you say these were Purple? from UptheTrossachs":
"
Remember those Europe Day questions?
The European Commission had set a pub quiz. I promised you the answers. For the questions: click and for the answers click .
THURSDAY UPDATE: It was in fact the European Parliament that did the quiz, NOT the Commission. Apologies for my mistake.
Hugh and Iraq.
As you know, Hugh's radio work has won numerous awards, and his photographic contributions to the Blog are well admired too.
Shortly he'll have some new material which will appear here soon.
1620 UPDATE: It may well be tomorrow. But it may well happen!
Beige.
"Continuing the colour theme, would this pass as beige? It's Glenveigh in Donegal on a soft, misty day. The Intermittent Horse."
Red.
Sid says: "How about this for Red?"
Meanwhile: "This Gnorman the Gnome gnestling in the flowers in our garden." says David McNickle in St Albans.
11.50 UPDATE: Big Sis says: "Lovely though Sid's paeony and David's cystis (I think) are, they are not red. I don't claim the attached is a pure red, but I would say it's a lot redder, wouldn't you? Anyway, it's lovely (and another shot from Powis Castle, btw - you really should go there).
Something bugging you? Something on your mind? Something other Radio 4 listeners might want to know?
Well iPM is on the air on Saturday...and something you suggest today could be on it.
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
10p tax
What do YOU think?
It is, as they say
a packed programme, to the extent that a great guest we spoke to earlier has had to be dropped. The Blog, though, gives you a chance to hear what would have gone unheard.
I was planning to say:
"China's response to this latest natural disaster is in sharp contrast to that which followed a huge earthquake in 1976. Then, the authorities downplayed what happened.
The author Diane Wei Liang lived through that earthquake. Her new book, , is partly set in the region worst affected by the latest quake."
Remember Hugh's report last night?
He met a little Iraqi girl called Farah, now living in America, (she thought a clap of thunder in Lexington, Kentucky was a bomb.) Hugh writes:
"Here she is:
And here she is with her brother Bashar, who is nearly two (raiding the pudding - English trifle):
And here are their parents, Haithem and Ethar:
Haithem was an interpreter for the Iraqi army, she worked in a bank. After his friend - another interpreter - was shot dead, they decided to flee Iraq."
Later, you'll be able to read the full story, and hear Hugh's report here.
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Mannequins, Felix the Cat and a Deep-Sea Diver...it's the Turner Prize.
Nominations came out at breakfast time. is a link with much more from Nigel Wrench than we were able to squeeze on to PM: a specially recorded interview with Stephen Deuchar, who chairs the Turner Prize jury,
Nigel was at Tate Britain as this picture shows, he's talking to one of the judges Suzanne Cotter of Modern Art Oxford who may be on PM tonight.
And the nominees are: Runa Islam a film-maker.
(Runa Islam, Be The First To See What You See As You See It, 2004, 16mm film with sound Duration: 7 minutes 30 seconds, © the artist, courtesy Jay Jopling, London)
Second nominee: Mark Leckey, mostly a film-maker, fascinated by The Simpsons and Felix the Cat.
(Mark Leckey, Production still from Felix Gets Broadcasted 2007 Photographic print and pencil 37 x 45.5 cm Courtesy Cabinet, London. Private collection)
You can hear Mr Lecky on PM tonight telling us why he deserves to win, but will he beat nominee number three? She's Goshka Macuga, whose work, the Tate tells us, consists of "carefully staged mixed-media installations"
(Goshka Macuga, Objects in Relation Installation shot from Art Now at Tate Britain 2007 © Tate photography)
And the final nominee, Cathy Wilkes..
(Cathy Wilkes Installation view: Selective Memory Scotland and Venice, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 2005. Courtesy of the Artist, The Modern Institute/Toby Webster Ltd., Glasgow. Photo: Ruth Clark Photography)
Nigel's at Christie's, or should be in time for PM to ask about the financial value of a Turner nomination. What would you pay to have this art in your living room?
Alcohol. Tuesday's report.
Alcohol abuse costs British business an estimated £2 billion a year in lost productivity. And that's just the financial cost.
Ray Furlong has been talking to Karen Fletcher - once a high-flying city executive, now rebuilding her life after alcohol dependency.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE:
Ray's guest suggests a few websites: and . .
Alcohol. Monday's report.
Our reporter, Michael Buchanan has been speaking to 3 different people who've all been affected by the misuse of alcohol.
You just never know
what is going to catch people's imagination. Big Nige writes:
"If we are into soppy cat pictures...this is Judi who decided that a newly seeded seed tray was the place to be. I know the feeling...(Notice the bamboo cane deterrent just carefully rolled away)"
Green.
On the fourth floor at the White City building, where I recorded the track for the PM TV trail (airs on Saturday by the way), I passed by the Children In Need office.
Apparently it cost £106,000.
Off
to record the track for our new ads.
This means I will not be in the 11.00 meeting. I might get a colleague to send the newsletter today. Fiona is editing and I think she is up to it.
Yellow.
Big Nige took this yesterday.
Pink.
Anna writes: "If Gillianian has done "Blue", would you like "Pink"? The last days of the blossom in our garden. Gordon the cat was an astonished onlooker at the Froggers' conference last year. Since then he has got a little fatter, slower, & older. So unlike the rest of us!"
China Earthquake.
The Xinhua news agency website is .
´óÏó´«Ã½ News coverage is .
1600 UPDATE: Just recorded an interview with Norman McIntosh who was teaching in Chengdu when the quake hit. You'll hear it in the programme. He also sent these pictures:
1643 UPDATE: Norman has emailed to say: "I just want you to know we had another aftershock and it lasted about 30 seconds, it was strong for what I have been getting.
Inspired by Gillianian
and her Blue , here is a snap from yesterday in East Sussex:
Alcohol: Radio 4 Action Line.
The Radio 4 Action line is standing by if you would like help or information on alcoholism. The action line has compiled a list of contacts if you're concerned about your own alcohol intake or that of someone you know. The phone number for the Action line is 0800 044 044.
Alcohol.
PM's series on alcohol begins tonight.
Feel free to click on Comment to let us know your experience. You don't, of course, have to use your own name.
Our reporter, Michael Buchanan has been speaking to 3 different people who've all been affected by the misuse of alcohol.
TOMORROW: Drinking is deeply ingrained in the workplace culture of many professions, but it comes at a cost. Alcohol abuse costs British business an estimated £2 billion a year in lost productivity, and then there's the human cost...Ray Furlong has met Karen Fletcher - once a high-flying city executive, now rebuilding her life after alcohol dependency.
WEDNESDAY: GPs receive very little training on alcoholism. Should they be more able to detect alochol abuse in their patients and do they require more training to help them diagnose the problem? Christopher Landau examines the number of treatment options available for alcoholics and asks whether any of it really works?
THURSDAY: Over the last twenty years, the amount of alcohol that's drunk in France has been rapidly decreasing but according to French Alcoholics Annoymous there are still around 3 million alcholics living in the country with perhaps as many as 10 million people who have a borderline alcohol addiction. Our Paris Correspondent Emma Jane Kirby has been listening to the stories of some of those who have been treated for their illness and hearing how they were helped.
FRIDAY:We'll assess what needs to be done to improve our understanding of alcoholism, its cost to the health service and business and ask whether the testimony we've heard plays enough of a role in various Government alcohol strategies? We're hoping to speak to the Chief Medical Officer, Liam Donaldson and a Professor of Addiction Psychiatry.
The Glass Box for Monday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Death.
Regulars at the Nick Clarke Waterfront Bar (on The Beach), and many more listeners besides, will be interested in this programme tonight on Radio 4.
Blue.
"These bluebells are starting to wilt, so I caught them just in time. They're at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. I thought it would be nice to share them with fellow froggers.
Best wishes, (and hoping you all had as good a weekend as I did) from Gillianian."
The Furrowed Brow.
The place for serious talk.
Burma pics
You may feel you have heard everything you want to hear about the heartbreaking situation in Burma. Maybe you're wondering whether it's worth donating any money to the aid operation because you're fearful it won't reach the people who need it. If so, listen to my interview with Joe Lowry from the International Federation of the Red Cross who is in Burma. Also take a look at these photographs that were taken by some of his team. Thankyou.
Coroners.
iPM will be talking about this tomorrow. Please feel free to read about it here, and share what you know.
The Glass Box for Friday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
It's Europe Day
apparently. And the European Commission has set a pub quiz! It says:
"Every year since 1985, May 9 has been celebrated across the EU as Europe Day. It is an opportunity to come together and learn more about the European Union and its 27 Member States. In the evening of Friday May 9 teams across the UK are pooling their knowledge and racking their brains to take part in a special Europe Day Pub Quiz devised by the European Parliament's UK Office."
We will post the answers here next week sometime. If you want to have a go click . I know it's not Christmas sprouts but...
Should we just take their radios away?
Among the calls to the listener log after last night's programme:
"During the first sentence on the show, the word 'faffing' was used. I was offended
by this as I consider it a substitute for the 'f word'." (faffing is in fact a word)
"Eddie Mair referred to Osama Bin Laden's deputy as a 'creature', which I felt was
offensive. This could cost lives in Iraq and Afghanistan." (no, I didn't. Clean your ears out)
"Eddie Mair was just wrong to refer to the actions of the Burmese authorities as
genocide. It is criminally libellous and is an abuse of the word, which disrespects
those who have suffered from real genocides." (I was quoting the former Europe minister, Denis MacShane)
"There was no mention of the change in the interest rate today. It should have
been reported." (yes there was, in the news at 1730. But we should probably have done it in the 1700 summary too. So you can keep your radio)
The Beach.
The Beach, The place to visit for a little rest and relaxation when real life gets too real. Off topic friendly chat.
Burma.
What do you think? There is more info .
And there's another chance to hear one of last night's guests .
The Glass Box for Thursday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
No wonder the economy is falling apart.
We just called up our camera in the City of London and look. Everyone's outside! Shocking!
Parents' Evenings.
Is it time to stop?
The Children's Secretary Ed Balls says traditional parents' evenings are declining in popularity and schools should consider other ways to communicate with families. We might talk about it tonight. We're keen to hear what you think.
You can read more .
Apprentice spoiler alert. Do not move your eyes to the photo below if you have yet to see last night's programme.
We just conducted our 11.00 editorial meeting outside in the sunshine. All the meeting rooms here were full. ALL of them. What does that tell you?
Anyhoo, I know we shouldn't use the blog as a "generic content production tool" but when we were outside we spotted last night's two losers from the apprentice, preparing to do a down the line piece to camera. I took a little snap. Felt a little grubby doing it. Should I sell it to Heat? Anyway here it is.
Actually now I look at the photo it could be anyone.
Burma will feature on the programme tonight.
Our reporter Ray Furlong has been meeting some Burmese ex-pats at the Mandalay Restaurant in London.
This is the owner, Dwight Altaf Ally.
And this is what Ray had for lunch. Any ideas?
Cannabis.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has reported - you can read it .
We'll talk about the to ignore the report's conclusions on cannabis.
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Today's sunny pics
accompanied by some of last year's Sounds up Summer...
We'll post a selection of the sunny snaps shortly
but this one arrived a little too late to include in our compilation. It's from Doug in Northfield Minnesota in the US. :
"Attached is a snap taken whilst on my morning run in the Carleton College Arboretum around 7.15 am. We're six hours behind GMT so it was taken whilst you were out lunching on your crayfish & rocket sandwich from Pret a Manger. In the distance you can just barely make out the not exactly Oxford-like spire (or two) of Carleton College. The dogwood and cherry trees are in full blossom. This oak is just beginning to bud. We had a dusting of snow on the ground two weeks ago. The sun and the warmth (low 20s here today) are much welcomed."
Who is to blame for teenage anti-social behaviour?
Is it the children, their parents or society in general? And is it really getting worse?
Over the next 3 nights here on PM we'll be discussing those issues. Tonight we're going to look at one of the factors often blamed for youth crime - single parenthood. 1 in 4 British families is now headed by a single parent - usually a mother; 30 years ago that figure was less than 1 in 10. But are the children of single parents any more likely to turn to crime than kids from two parent homes? Michael Buchanan reports:
Adoption
is something we talked about on PM the other day. Our sister programme iPM is considering a follow up. You might be interested and/or able to share what you know on the subject. Feel free to read more here.
The state of the Royal Mail
is the subject of an interim report detailed .
Of course, feel free to let us know what you think.
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
As always,
Steve Richards in The Independent today is an interesting read...except...
"So what, if anything, can Brown do to avoid a 1997 landslide in reverse? Currently, a fatal narrative is in place. It can be summarised in three words: "Brown is a disaster"."
Send us your sunshine pics!
It is sunny outside our office and I'm wondering if it's sunny with you. If it is, email a sunny pic from today to PM@bbc.co.uk...and we will cheer up those bits of the world where it's not sunny today.
Here's a shot from half an hour ago of the media centre near us.
Glass Box for Easter Monday
What did you think of tonight's programme?
Let us know....
Ta Ta t
My t went for a break!
It's the final fighback
"dah dah dah dah
dah dah dah dah dah
dah dah dah dah
dah dah dah dah dah dah dah deedy dah deedy dah dah dah dah dah daaaaaaaaaa dah
We're leaving together,
But still it's farewell
And maybe we'll come back,
To earth, who can tell ?
I guess there is no one to blame
We're leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?
It's the final countdown..."
On the subject of Europe - we're bidding Sir Cliff on this claim that he was cheated out of the 1968 Eurovision title when General Franco's fascist regime rigged the contest to boost Spain's image.
Congratulations if you can make sense of any of this. It is the Bank Holiday after all. Indulge me!
Ed's back tomorrow!
The Furrowed Brow
The place for serious talk.
Not only is this completely childish,
time-wasting and utterly off-season...it's quite good fun.
This is just for your weekend, right? I will have to delete this come Monday.
How is the credit crunch affecting you?
Just click on THIS then look for "follow this link to the MapTube website to take part"
Election results latest:
Party Total Change in Seats Net change
councils control won in seats
C 60 +12 1,164 +221
Lab 15 -8 823 -256
LD 11 +1 690 +28
PC -1 114 +3
Green 16 +6
R 15 -9
Lib 6 -2
Ind 5 +2 425 -5
BNP 13 +11
Soc 1
UKIP 2 +2
Respect 1 +1
Ind HC 1
Vacant 2
NOC 48 -6
URGENT 1615 UPDATE:
C 63 +12 1,337 +241
Lab 17 -8 931 -297
LD 11 +1 749 +26
PC -1 146 +9
Green 17 +6
R 15 -9
Lib 7 -2
Ind 5 +2 459 +8
BNP 14 +12
Soc 1
UKIP 4 +3
Respect 1 +1
Ind HC 1
Vacant 2
NOC 55 -6
More food.
One of our World at One colleagues is just back from Honkers, as I'm not allowed to call it, and brought these. I haven't had one yet.
Election coverage.
In PM, we may have the first London results. We'll certainly have a much clearer picture of how votes went in the rest of the country. And if you want to read more - is the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s online stuff.
The Glass Box for Friday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
Lovely call to the Listener Log about The World Tonight. I kid you not.
"I am annoyed by the amount of time spent on news items from abroad"
The Beach.
Hello. Welcome to my beach.
It's a place to take all your inhibitions off and run into the sea and have a dip...
Go to the bar have a drink or just lay down and sun yourself...
because the sun always shines on the beach.
Be nice.
Say nice things.
Have a nice day.
The McCanns.
Should they carry on in the public eye?
The Glass Box for Thursday.
Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 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 your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.
People come to work on PM to be at the cutting edge of radio journalism,
but they stay for the food. Most days, there is a pile of confectionery on our desk. Some of it shop-bought - increasingly though, members of staff are baking and bring it in.
Today, our editor Amanda has brought in her chocolate and ginger cookies.
We tried, briefly,
to get Sir Cliff Richard on tonight's programme. But we're told he's on a charity walk in China with Olivia Newton John. Never mind. Here is a pic of Sir Cliff instead.
Una Stubbs is 71 today.
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PM The evening news and current affairs programme presented by Eddie Mair.
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