BBC Ignores the Science and the History
Perhaps it’s symtomatic of our age, where people forget or ignore the science and history behind everything.
I watched the start of the torch relay at Land’s End on the BBC.
They didn’t mention that the miner’s lamp used to transport and safeguard the flame is a development of the Davy lamp. The original lamp was designed by Humpry Davy from Penzance. That was close to Land’s End, last time I looked.
BBC Breakfast Has Been Dumbed Down
Whether this is because of the move to Manchester, I do not know, but BBC Breakfast isn’t the program it was when it was in London. Obviously, the move cost it two of its best presenters; Sian Williams and Chris Hollins, but the rapport and banter between the presenters seems to have gone too.
I think too, that the regular guests, like Dr. Rosemary Leonard, have not been replaced with others of the of the same quality. I know that it’s early days yet, but some have been absolutely dire, when talking about serious subjects.
And then there are many more segments about pop music and people struggling with horrendous injuries. Today, there was only three serious stories. One about plastic bottle recycling, another about MOT bias and another about goal-line technology.
The sooner the program returns to its natural home in London, the better. Incidentally, one of the stories on BBC London; about children in care in Hackney and how long it takes them to be settled, should have been covered nationally.
But what illustrates the dumbing down and lack of quality most, is the story about the grooming of young girls in Rochdale. That didn’t get much coverage at all in the last few days. Why not?
And what is the phone-in on Radio 5 about this morning? Celebrities!
Obesity
They’ve just given a forum on BBC Breakfast for a very large lady, who calls herself a Size Awareness Campaigner. She objects to being called obese and wants doctors to use other words.
I would just use fat!
After all because of their overeating, they are pushing the NHS down the toilet.
Why should I pay my taxes to fund other clear up the mess causes by the bad habits of others. And of course that includes smoking and excessive drinking!
That item would never have been shown, whilst the program was based in London.
Beware The Croydon Man
With all the fuss about Roy Hodgson becoming the new England manager, I thought I’d look up who else was born in Croydon, that much maligned suburb of South London.
The most interesting is that polymath and outstanding sportsman; Charles Burgess Fry, better known by his initials of C. B. This paragraph from Wikipaedia sums him up.
Fry’s achievements on the sporting field included representing England at both cricket and football, an FA Cup Final appearance for Southampton F.C. and equalling the then world record for long jump. He also reputedly turned down the throne of Albania. In later life, he suffered mental health problems, but in his 70s was still able to perform his party piece: jumping backwards onto a mantel from a standing position.
I think that if you look at Hodgson’s career, he hasn’t shirked any challenge and perhaps he just is the man to lead England in Euro-2012 and beyond. He’s not a polymath like Fry, but he’s a real polyglot, speaking ten languages with varying degrees of fluency.
Hodgson’s problem will be the press. Last night, the Manchester-centric Radio 5 Live commentators were saying it was a bad decision.
I disagree, especially he appoints Stuart Pearce to his team.
The BBC’s Obsession With Manchester Music of the 1970s
They keep banging on about this and it bores me stiff. I suppose in the 1970s, C and I were bringing up children and our musical tastes were still in Liverpool in the 1960s and with Dory Previn.
When I hear the rubbish from Manchester in the 1970s, I reach for the off button.
Also if the Hacienda was so great, why doesn’t anybody remember Tommy Ducks?
It all goes to prove that the move to Salford of the BBC is a disaster for the rest of the country.
The First Northern BBC Breakfast
I watched it all the way through and there wasn’t one politician. Some will say that’s a good thing, but the quality of the guests wasn’t good and they were very local to the studio.
If it doesn’t improve, I’ll be switching to Radio 5 or perhaps even Radio 4.
Perhaps this is what the BBC wants as radio must be much cheaper to make than television.
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Consequences of the BBC’s Stupid Move to Salford
Obviously we’re going to get a lot more inconsequential phone-ins based on Manchester, because of the BBC’s stupid move to Salford. Today’s was about Manchester City, who aren’t even the best team in Manchester and their rather immature player; Mario Ballotelli.
To be fair too, Manchester is probably not even the third English city after London and Liverpool.
Can you imagine French radio moving its flagship breakfast program to Lyon from Paris?
Let’s get rid of this sillyness and bring Radio 5 back to London!
The Things People Say
The BBC weather girl; Carol Kirkwood, was comparing this Easter weather with last.
She said that last year it was so hot, she only wore a T-shirt in her garden.
Really!
The Grahame-White Aircraft Factory
This historic building is now part of the RAF Museum at Hendon and has been fully restored and added too, by moving the Watchtower to join it. The latter operation was shown on BBC TV.last night. The building contains aircraft from the First World War and earlier and they are listed here on the Museum’s website.
In some ways, it is one of the best parts of the museum. The BBC programme was very much worth seeing as it gave a deep insight into Claude Grahame-White, who in many ways has become a forgotten aviation pioneer.
Brian Redhead Was Right
I have been listening to the Malaysian Grand Prix today on BBC Radio 5 Live.
It has been a disaster for Sky, as for most of the race, it has been raining cats and dogs.
So as the late great Brian Redhead once said. “If television had been invented first, radio would be the dominant medium, as the pictures are better!”
The BBC commentators are proving him right, by bringing interesting guests to the microphone, explaining everything that is going on extremely well. But then, the BBC has had all that practice with cricket.
If I was paranoid, after reading Brian Redhead’s Wikipedia entry, I’d think I had a ruptured appendix, as he died of one, after complaining of pain in his left side and leg. But I’ve had my pain for years, so it’s probably nothing to worry about.
The Anonymous Widower 