williamonthehill

The BBC Brand

Been quite a while since the last Blog. Really busy and lots of interesting stuff has just passed me by. Can't let the current 'Bash the BBC' spectacular own goal pass by without just a teeny comment.

I have never found Russell Brand to be at all funny. Sorry, his humour is just not mine. As for Jonathan Ross... Well, I can't see the point of him. Talentless, humourless, can't sing, can't dance - just what does he do to earn his £16,000 a day licence fee payers money? Answers on a small postcard please. The 'joke' of leaving a truly smutty, nasty message on an old man's answer maching - well, please how funny is that? I mean, really.Not funny at all and you just wouldn't do it. But to do it and broadcast the deed for all to hear. Truly, the mind boggles. Welll, mine does anyway but then, I have a mind to boggle.

What I find interesting is that this issue has identified the divide in modern society, namely that between the young, and the old. People like me, of a certain age and generation have found this entire sorry, sad affair shocking and outrageous. This is 'Auntie Beeb' for goodness sake!  'Yoof' on the other hand, e.g. anyone under about the age of 35, found the skit falling down laughing funny and can't see what the fuss has all been about.

In common with most mass media the BBC has placed itself in total thrall to the 'yoof' market and has been desperate to broadcast, commission and otherwise cater to, this alleged market. The reality of course is far different. I don't think you require a Focus group and online surveys to realise that the majority of regular BBC listeners and viewers are likely to be over the age of 40. Mark Thompson might have been ill-prepared and shocked by the response to the Brand/Ross 'skit' but he ought not to have been. And even if he wasn't briefed, the head of Radio Two who has just fallen on her sword, certainly knew better as her background has been entirely in marketing the BBC.

The reputation of the BBC has been badly dented by this episode, questions have been asked in Parliament and I would not be at all surprised if the Government of the day, of whatever party that might be, doesn't take another, more serious look at the way that the BBC is currently funded and decide that it  should go to the market place for its funding like all other Broadcasters.

Libraries for the 21st Century

The Minister for Culture, Margaret Hodge has been at it again. Celebrating Labour's keeness for dumbing down I mean. This time she was addressing the Association of London Chief Librarians. She told delegates that although spending on libraries had risen by 17 per cent in the past ten years, the number of books borrowed had dropped by 34 per cent. 

I can give Ms Hodge an explanation as to why the number of books borrowed from public libraries has dropped. My local library suffered (I use the word advisedly) a make-over about 18 months ago. Gone are librarians (customer assistants now, mostly volunteers, mostly part-time, none of 'em trained librarians). Books and other media are checked in and out via a self-service electronic machine. But the worse part of the new library is that the book stock was reduced by nearly two-thirds. Basically, there are fewer books to borrow. This library appears geared for the under 25 image and not word obsessed 'yoof culture'.  Heaps and stacks of CD's, Playstation games and 'graphic novels' but precious few books one actually would like to read. And a bias towards 'Mills & Boon' and 'Ethnic literature'.

Mrs Hodge thinks that libraries are 'not in touch' with modern culture (whatever that is) and should site themselves in shopping malls and supermarkets and invite Starbucks, Costa or whoever to host a library in their shops. Libraries should issue loyalty cards to encourage book borrowing.

Tim Coates, former managing director of Waterstone’s and author of the library report Who’s in Charge? Responsibility for the Public Library Service, said: “Book collections have become poor to the point of uselessness and that is a problem which is not addressed by clubcards or Costa coffee shops. Good coffee doesn’t make a poor bookshop into a good one – and neither will it do so for a library.”

I agree entirely with Mr. Coates. We do need better investment in our public libraries which means more, and more books, not less.

The Minister of Culture also called for libraries to provide a web-based lending service with home delivery, allowing books to be borrowed in Bromley and returned in Barnet. Preempting questions about how her proposals would be funded, she said that “there ought to be scope for efficiencies through greater collaboration”.

There is a story of a large London Borough which commissioned an expensive consultancy on the local library service. Apparently the principle consultant visited the Chief Librarian in the central library to discuss the prelimminary findings. As the meeting drew to its close the consultant, looking around at his surroundings commented that the central library embraced exactly all the problems that encapsulated the public library service in that borough - far too many books on long and high shelving.

You couldn't make it up!

Memories of work

Just random thoughts and expereinces from the last few days at work.

Drinking coffee in a cafe in Grays Inn Road, looking up and out through the door just in time to see Cherie Blair striding purposefully up the road, head up, black coat flying in the wind...

Later the same day, walking up to Kings Cross and seeing Boris Johnson, complete with cycle helmet and jacket (unbuttoned) on his bike waiting for traffic lights to change. I swear that he took the bow as a white van drove past and the workers in it recognised him and gave an ironic cheer!

Sitting on the night bus at 5 this morning, bound for Swiss Cotttage to look for rough sleepers and persuade them to go into hostels. And there was a definite Autumn cold in the air this morning. Found 'Pat' in his usual doorway, an estate agents near St. Johns Wood road. Isn't that an irony? The team has known about Pat for nearly a year now. It has been a slow and patient job to get his trust. This morning he was persuaded by our patter and he followed us tamely to a nearby hostel. Pat has been this far before; thrice or more times he has booked into this jhostel only to leave a few hours later. We aren't sure why. But this time, perhaps he will stick it out at least for the weekend. He needs some respite, a warm place, decent grub and a bath. When I left work this afternoon we hadn't yet had a phone call to say that Pat had taken off again. So perhaps this time...

Secret Societies

This morning I caught the Bedford train from London Bridge to St. Pancras International. As the route is not well used by commuters one can usually get a seat for the approximately 20 minute journey. I sat down next to a chap who was furtively reading the Freemasons manual. On realising what the chap was reading a very childish impulse to pour my coffee all over his little book overtook me. Fortunately for him I managed to control my impulse.

What possesses perfectly normal men to want to join the Freemasons? Apart from the extreme secrecy and the, frankly cod 'history' and biblical interpretations justifying their secret society, what else could possibly attract a grown man to join in risable and laughable 'rituals' and to take vows which include blood thirstry promises to tear people's tongues out and to ensure their death should they 'blab' about what they do up at the local Freemason 'lodge'?

Make no mistake, the Freemasons of Britain are a very secret society. Non members are not even allowed to know who the membership is. Enrolment lists are more than a well kept secret. They are absolutely secret. One is often told (by Masons, natch) that the Freemasons are merely a body that raises money for charity. Yes, they are. But the 'charities' for which they raise money are Masonic ones - Royal Masonic hospital, Royal Masonic school, so on and so forth. These are institutions admission to which is dependent on membership of the Freemasons. I wonder then how the Freemasons have got themselves past the Charity Commission 'public gain' test? In what way do the Freemasons charities benefit society?

Low Sugar fainting fit

I am a Diabetic. I was diagnosed with type 2 in April 2007.

Yesterday I had my first experience of a Hypoglycaemic episode. That is when the blood suger falls below a certain point. I haven't experienced such a thing before since my problem (since diagnosis of my Diabetes) has been one of Hyperglycaemia; raised blood sugars.

Since April 2007 my Glucose has been averaging 10.2, not good and very dangerous in fact. I have been struggling to manage my Diabetes and struggle has been the operative word. Over the last month I have been really trying hard to control my illness. I have not felt good in myself with this feeling that I was consistently bad at doing the 'right thing'. So I have really been trying this past four weeks. Changed my diet (trying anyway); less Carbohydrates, no bread (wheat does strange things to my guts anyway) - too much Carbs produces too much sugar and I have been avoiding sandwiches for a few months since I have noticed that after eating bread I get really tired/want to fall asleep.

Yesterday I had an appointment with my GP for 07:45. My blood glucose was 7.7; going in the right direction but still a tad high. Working on it, honest. I have just started an OU course on managing diabetes care and it is helping. Anyway, went off to work. It was a very busy morning. Barely time to put my lunch in the fridge and we were off. First a hostel visit, then off to a Psychiatric unit for a ward round. It was while I was on the bus going up Highgate hill that I began to feel a bit strange. My legs began to feel strange, 'leggy'; can't explain really. Then I felt a bit dizzy. My awareness began to close in and my vision became blurred. Then I broke out in buckets of sweat. My mind began to shut down and I nearly fainted. 

I know now what was happening. But I didn't then. It was very frightening. I think it happened because of my having only a light, early breakfast, then rushing to work, rushing about at work, not having a rest, or any snack. It was still an hour later before I ate my lunch. I should have eaten it before I went to the hospital but I wasn't in charge of the timetable yesterday, my colleague was. One to report to my GP.

The Bonus Kings have already done their worse...

So the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling is to ask the FSA to "look into" the City bonus malarkey. He says that the bonus system in the City make encourage "reckless risk-taking" and lead to the undermining of the world's economic system.

Strange isn't it? Since New Labour was elected to govern back in 1997 many activists, MP's and even a Cabinet Minister or three have demanded of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown that something be done to curb the excesses of the City types. To no avail. Gordon especially set his face against any such regulation less it discourage the City from turning profits.

Well Alistair, sorry not to get up any enthusiasm for your new-found enthusiasm for "reining in" the "Loads-of-Money" Bonus kings of the City. This is a case of doors being slammed after horses have bolted.

Shopping Trolley

I have joined the brigade of the shopping trolley. Can decreptitude be far behind! Carrying big bags of shopping was just becoming too much. My arms and shoulders would ache, my hips would ache and my knees would ache. So I have bought a shopping trolley. Only eight more years until I receive the Order of the Freedom Pass (aka: the granny pass)!

The Relics of St. Therese, "the Little Flower"

I have known for a long time that the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower, were coming to England. Now the Bishops Conference has announced that the relics will indeed be in England between the 16th September and the 15th October, 2009.

The Saints reliquary will arrive at Portsmouth on the morning of the 16th September and will be taken to Portsmouth RC Cathedral where they will remain until the 17th September. Then they will be taken to Plymouth Cathedral where they will remain until 18th September.

On Friday 18th September the relics will go to St. Teresa of Lisieux Parish Church, Taunton, Somerset until the 19th.

On the 19th September, until 21st the Saint will reside at St.Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham, before going to the Parish Church of the Sacred Heart and St. Teresa, Coleshill, Birmingham.

On the 22nd, and until 23rd she will be at Cardiff RC Cathedral. On the 23/24 the relics will be at the parish church of St. Teresa's, North Filton, Bristol. On the 24th and 25th the relics will be on view at Liverpool RC Cathedral. On the 25th - 27th the relics will be at Salford Cathedral. On the 27/28th the RC Chaplaincy at Manchester Uni will host the relics. Between 28th - 30th Lancaster Cathedral will be the host.

On Wednesday 30th the relics arrive on Tyneside - St.Andrews Parish Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne until 1st October.

Then, in a gesture of Ecumenism the Little Flower will rest in York Minster between 1st October and 2nd October before going to Middlesborough Cathedral (2nd- 3rd October). On 3rd October Leeds Cathedral plays host until 5th October.

The East Midlands gets a chance to pay homage on 5th October, when the saint arrives in Nottingham Cathedral, where she will stay until 6th.

I expect a very great crowd when The Little Flower arrives at the National Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham, on the 6th and 7th October. On the 7th she arrives at the Oxford Oratory, where she stays until 8th. On the 8th and 9th the relics may be seen in Gerrards Cross, at St. Joseph's Priory. Then the relics will trravel to Aylesford Priory (9th-11th Oct). On the 11th - 12th the relics will be venerated at the Carmelite Church, Kensington Church Street, W8.

The final opportunity for veneration will be at Westminster Cathedral between 12th and 15th October before being taken back 'home' to Lisieux.

The Bishops would like this special time to be an opportunity for Evangelisation, prayer and renewal for the Church in England & Wales. Let it be so.

In a kind of "double whammy" I continued listening to the radio after Warnock had shocked me senseless. I am an "Archers" fan. Sorry. No apology from me. I have listened to this famous "soap" since I was 14 - a very long time indeed. Over the past few months we have been following a village controversey involving Ruth and David and their cousin Adam (the "Gay" one). They are trying to put together a proposal for  something called a "Bio-Digester" plant (search me) which will produce heat and power from agricultural and waste products. Naturally their is opposition from Pat Archer (the organic one) who is the token Guardian reader in the village.

The 'double whammy' came when Pip, the 15 year old daughter of Ruth and David had one of her hysterical rants about the "end of the world", the greenhouse effect and so forth. She very forthrightly argued the Zac Goldsmith/Peter Singer position which is (simplified) that the world can now only be saved from destruction by humanity 'culling' itself. That is to say, global Genocide. Pip ranted on about "stopping having babies" being the only option now available to us.

Of course, and as her 'mum' Ruth attempted to argue - here in western Europe that is exactly what is happening although only among the indigenous population. White Europeans are contracepting and aborting themselves into oblivion. In previously Catholic countries such as Italy and France the birth rate is now so low that they  are not replacing the aging and dying population at anything like the same amount as is needed. Meanwhile, the recent migrants of the last three or four decades are increasing their birthrate at astronomical levels. It is reckoned that before 2040 the Turkish community in Germany will be way larger than the 'local' German population. In English cities such as Leicester and Bradford we have reached that point already. 

The BBC is guilty of planting pernicious and factually incorrect propoganda with this story line and they need to be careful to establish a political balance here. I have already made a complaint to the BBC and I urge others who heard this particular episode (Friday night) to also complain.

A Duty to Die?

The Baroness Mary Warnock is one of those o so annoying Guardian Wimmin so beloved of Tabletistas and Guardianistas everywhere. Yesterday, on Prime Time Radio she made a very fierce arguement in favour of Euthenasia for those with Alzheimers disease. Not just that these poor unfortunate people should have the right to commit suicide when they became a "burden" but that, actually they had a duty to kill themselves.

Mary Warnock is a so called 'expert' in medical ethics (save us O Lord, save us) and was once Chair of the Human embryology Quango. If she has ever understood the basics of human morality yesterday she let slip her mask of rationality and philosopher savant in favour of economic utilitarianism. In short, an Alzheimer sufferer has a duty to kill themselves because otherwise their care will cost the NHS a fortune.

At least she is an honest lady. Their are those in government and those at the top of the NHS who hold very similiar views I am sure. With regard to the NHS such choices are always going to have to be made. Who receives what care? When? The system will never have enough resources. The National Health Service is badly named. It ought to be called the National Illness Service. That would be more honest. You see, Bevan got it wrong back in 1945. He ought to have argued for a national health education service which would have taught the working classes how to eat healthily and keep their homes clean and so forth. Instead he committed the nation to a helpless cause. The fact is, no amount of money will ever be enough to treat everyone. This is why we have to have NICE to tell the PCT's what drugs are value for money; and which are not. And I am sorry, but no one has an absolute 'right' to the treatment or drug of choice for them. Unless they want to pay for their own treatment.

If I, with a terminal illness hear of a drug which may prolong my life for, say another three months but it costs £200 per tablet (and some do cost that) and I get refused it, what do I do? Perhaps I mount a legal challenge and get into the Tabloids and my PCT then 'caves in' to my demands. I am happy. My family are happy. My neighbours are happy. But somewhere in the system someone else, perhaps not so articulate, photogenic or popular, loses out. The pot is only so big. The NHS is never going to be adequately financed. What is 'adequate'? So it is inevitable that someone else has to lose out.

But back to Ms Warnock. Sadly she is a person with some influence in society. She is an influencer, "a mover and a shaker" as they say. Her thoughts on this subject will be noted somewhere. We have known for some time that, thanks to the power and influence of the Warnock's of this world, we are on the 'slipperey slope'. Yesterday we just slid a little further down into that abyss of humanist filth.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.