BBC TV News Review - Thursday 18th October

An assassination attempt on former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, was our lead story on the BBC News at 10 last night. Fiona Bruce, anchorlady for the evening, told us to beware of imminent "disturbing scenes" and we cut to Kabul to see images of an explosion, courtesy of Pakistan Television. 89 dead it appeared at that stage, we heard of the possibility of involvement by "taliban linked militants" and saw further images of large crowds greeting the returning Miss Bhutto, along with an exclusive interview with the lady, just prior to the attack. To close we saw the aftermath of the explosion including a damaged vehicle.

Another "damning report" hsd been composed, this one relates to rival television network, ITN, and found further cases of the viewing public being conned via bogus competition winners, rigged polls etc. We saw some clips of the offending programmes - Ant and Dec seemed to be heavily involved. The chairman of ITN, Michael Grade, told how there would be no sackings over this, however vowed that there would be no repetition. We saw a reminder of the furore over the Blue Peter cat name scandal before we closed with images of Ant and Dec, stating their disappointment and offering reassurances for future phone-in's.

Health followed, it seems that a quarter of hospitals are "failing to control infection" in respect of "superbugs" and similar filth loving virus' - we heard of the Royal Cornwall, the "worst in the country" and saw images of wards. Consideration was offered as to "should the 21st century NHS ever have got this bad", no real answer was given, instead we cut to the relative of a recent victim, Sandra Comfrey, who told of her mothers plight whilst in the care of the NHS, talk was of unwashed excrement. To remind us what it used to be like back in the good old days, we saw old black and white television pictures of a busy ward and heard of matron and her "rod of iron".

http://newspaceman.blogspot.com/2007/10/bbc-tv-news-review-1st-october-2007.html - re rod of iron

The Dodi Diana inquest continues, today we were told that Dodi had visited a jewellers to purchase a ring on the day of the accident and that some believe that this was an engagement ring. CCTV images of the shop visit were displayed, it seems Dodi spent eight minutes "browsing" in the shop, before plumping for an £11,000 option from the "just say yes" range of golden hoops. However, seemingly to contradict this, we heard that Diana has in fact confided to a close friend that "she needed a marriage like a rash on the head". I always though it was hole in the head ?

We turned back to the aforementioned assassination attempt to hear of more alleged "breaking news" - there was not actually any. The death toll was again stated, we saw the explosion again, and this time heard that Miss Bhutto would be in need of better security, given both this incident, and "threats" which have been made towards her by the Taliban and Bin Laden.

We edged on to Europe as an update was provided to the current talks over a Treaty or similar. It seems that leaders are "locked" in discussion - again the information provided into what they are actually discussing seems surprisingly scant. However we are constantly re-assured by means of the mysterious red lines, they seem to be our salvation. Anyway, in subliminal reference to the 2nd World War perhaps, we were advised, that "the Italians and Poles are digging in, - not to their supper - but to entrenched positions".

The BBC themselves and their restructuring - again we heard of more repeats, less funding and "having to shrink - become more efficient". We heard from new BBC executive Mark Thompson, who told of "spreading the butter too thin", and of a reduction in news coverage.

A 16 year old has been found shot dead in England, we heard how previously he had talked of becoming a priest and saw black and white images of other children recently murdered in gangland killings. Again we heard of consideration as to the reasons for this violence and a "raft of initiatives" which have been introduced in order to attempt to combat the growing menace. No mention was made of the collective spiritual malaise which pervades our society and indeed world.

The French PM, Nicolas Sarkozy, has split from his wife. We saw many images, including one of a friendly George Bush.

To close, the death of actress Deborah Kerr, we heard of her achievements, in particular her role as governess in The King and I, and also with Burt Lancaster in From here to Eternity. A short clip from the latter black and white movie was displayed, and we were told it was considered somwhat risque at the time. However, she was a lady of "grace and candour".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7050000/newsid_7051300/7051370.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&nol_storyid=7051370&news=1#

cheers

Royal Cornwall - "worst in the country"

Esoterically ?

BBC TV News Review - Wednesday 17th October

Obesity was again the first topic covered on the BBC News at 10 lat night. Top newscaster, Fiona Bruce, told us again of how this problem is forecast to balloon in the coming years, now it seems that in fact 60% of men will be clinically obese by the year 2050, along with 50% of women and 25% of children. We rolled along, hearing that the problem could be blamed 0n the fact that food is now "cheaper and richer in calories", plus it seems that people are eating more and doing less physical exercise. To confirm this, we saw a girl Jo and her personal trainer, working out a sensible diet and training plan before many images of the bottom halves of overweight individuals were displayed - "take a good look" we were advised. It seems though that "supersized" nation America is in fact way ahead of us in this department - we saw "Fatburgers", a fast food drive in, before turning to a class of schoolchildren who were frighteningly asked "how many of you drink fruit juice voluntarily?". None seemed to be the answer, although no details were supplied as to how compulsory intake was enforced or encouraged, if indeed it was, although that seemed to be the implication.

America featured stronlgy in the next report which regarded house prices in the UK. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, have warned that our homes could possibly be "overvalued" given the massive increase in prices that we have seen over the last decade. Economic reporter Evan Davies ran through a stack of statistics and told that by his calculations, prices may be as much as 26% too high. We went to the States to see their property crash, rows of Married with Children style ranch houses, many displaying For Sale signs. It seems that these are times of "considerable uncertainty", and to close we heard of similar potential problems in Germany and Ireland" as a large red house was displayed on the screen. It looked remarkably similar to a hotel gamepiece from the Monopoly board game.

Chris Huhne and Nick Clegg will both run as candidates to replace ex sprinter, Menzies Cambell, as leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Potential military conflict is brewing on the Turkey Iraq border due to "Kurdish separatists" who are using Northern Iraq as a base for their ongoing conflict with the Turks. It seems that the Turkish military are gathering in preperation,to reinforce this, we saw images of tanks and similer vehicles and heard that "Turkey has the second largest army in the World". George Bush told of "a better way of dealing with the situation", however no further information was given as to his thoughts on the matter. To close, we saw some rebels.

Coming up - a damning indicment of our education system

First though we travelled to Switzerland with reporter Gavin Hewitt, to hear of a remarkable racist sheep story. It seems that the far right Swiss People's Party have produced an election poster which shows three white sheep kicking a black one out of the country. We heard more of this, the SPP have advised that the sheep is meant to represent "a misfit or troublemaker", one party representative told how "criminals are not really a race". However a black man was interviewed, none too happy, so much so that he is utilising the offending picture as a mobile phone screensaver. Somehow we moved on Hell, a place for rapists and ner-do-wells; then Heaven, an all white industrious civilisation where the leader of the SPP stood in the Alps; -"up high" we were assured. To close we heard of Islamisation, "another political order" and "fear of the Swiss indentity being polluted". I have enclosed a link to the video (see the cows, foot and mouth) - what does this actually say ?. Furthermore, the story was originally published by the BBC in early September, only making the national news yesterday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7050000/newsid_7050000/7050032.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&nol_storyid=7050032&news=1#

The BBC diet is underway, 2 billion slashed from budget - massive restructuring programme is in order. Breaking up and rebuilding.

The Metropolitan police are under fire, accused of tampering with the reconstruction of the 50/50 photograph of mistakenly identified suicide bomber, Brazilian, Jean Charles de Menezes. Regular readers will remember that it was a reconstruction of a half of two separate faces, merged together to create one; it has now transpired that some tampering, stretching to be precise, occurred in the manufacturing process. The link is here to the original posting; photographic alteration seems hot just now.

http://newspaceman.blogspot.com/2007/10/bbc-tv-news-review-tuesday-2nd-october.html

As promised, the report on "Education, education, education". Standards seem to be slipping, statistical evidence verifies this - we ran through figures - some schools are better than others, that seemed to be the conclusion. A red line for teachers ?

A man who tortured and murdered his 2 year old stepdaughter has been jailed for 12 years, the girls mother received six. Images of the adorable toddler were shown.

Europe followed, we heard who Gordon Brown has refused to have a referendum over the European Treaty - he cites a mysterious and seemingly intangible red line as being our protection.

To close, football, not good results for either England, denyed by the red line of Russia; or Scotland. We probably heard about the forthcoming rugby in Paris, I just switched off.

cheers

Red Line TV, On its way ?

BBC TV News Review - Tuesday 17th October 2007

The BBC news at 10 began with the ongoing Northern Rock saga as "top executives" of the failing bank were asked to explain their conduct in respect of the recent crisis to the governmental Treasury Select Comittee. We saw images of this grilling and heard of today's revelations - that a Lloyds Bank takeover had "floundered" at the very begining. It seems some have levied criticism towards the BBC themselves for revealing details of the Northern's "cap in hand" approach to the Bank of England and thus creating the panic driven run on the bank.. Business editor Robert Peston denied it was wrong to "run the scoop" or that the subject was "sensationalised" and claimed it was "up to viewers and listeners" to make up their own minds.

Menzies Campbell's resignation followed, it appears that age and role played a significant part in his decision to leave; it seems that articles written on what type of socks he wore both "irritated and frustrated" him, we heard of 7 days and 7 consecutive reports and were shown cartoons mocking Ming, showing him on a zimmer frame for example. BBC reporter Nick Robinson attemped to delve further into the behind the scenes activities which may have helped Ming make his decision, however he was unsuccessful in this, and very little was revealed. We closed by hearing of a possible book.

The death of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes next,; court proceedings continue, it seems that a specialist police officer broke down yesterday whilst giving evidence behind a screen. Images of the body of Mr Menezes, dead on a tube carriage floor were displayed as we heard that traces of cocaine were found in his urine, but not his bloodstream. Further CCTV footage showed other tube passengers in blind mass panic.

Migrant workers, again we were advised that 1 in 8 workers is in fact a migrant.

Health, the Royal Blackburn hospital has closed its neonatal unit due to an outbreak of MRSA. It appears that this is not a common strain of the flesh eating virus and that 7 or 8 babies had positive traces on their skin, one in their blood.

The murderer of a vicar was yesterday detained indefinately after pleading guilty - due to diminshed responsibility. We heard how Mr Geraint Evans stabbed Father Paul Bennet on his doorstep, then sat on a gravestone to await the police. It seems that Mr Evans considered himself to be Jesus, God and the Antichrist all rolled into one and this, together with a quantity of alcohol, cannabis and butane gas, had led him to carry out his actions. It seems that he used the name Jack Blades whilst corresponding on the internet, although very little was revealed on this matter.

Coming up - Booker Prize

First though, our loyal hero soldiers return from Afghanistan to their base in Pirbright. We saw 108 members of the Royal Anglian Regiment returning to meet their loved ones who have been "waiting and worrying for six months" We saw a soldier interviewed, he appeared slightly shellshocked and found it difficult to communicate his feelings to the camera. Black and white photographs of the "ones who didnt make it" were shown to viewers as their names were read out, like a roll call.

More restructuring, this time the obese (OBC) BBC themselves are to be thinned, 150 "top managers" were yesterday given a preview of the proposals which should save 2 billion pounds. 500 jobs will go in the BBC news, however viewers will now be subjected to more repeats and less factual and childrens programmes.

2 planes were involved in a minor collision at Heathrow airport.

Countdown to the rugby final - 4 days to go - we heard about England opponents, South Africa, in particular Bryan Habana, a man with "superhuman speed". To verify this, we saw Mr Habana racing a cheetah. Not an athlete on amphetamine, an animal. Coincidentally, it may be worth reminding readers here that the aformementioned Menzies Campbell was once known as "the fastest white man on earth", back in the 1960's.

Last up and to close, the Booker Prize. We saw the winner announced live - Anne Enright for her book, the Gathering.

cheers.













Who's gathering ?

BBC TV News Review - Monday 15th October

Our lead story on the BBC News at 10 was the shock resignation of Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, citing continous questions over his leadership abilties as the reason. Fiona Bruce, anchorlady for the evening, told how this was "sudden and unexpected", and we heard from political reporter, Nick Robinson, who appeared almost gleeful about events as he told his version. It seems that the main difficulty that Mr Campbell faced was that of his age - 66. Out with the old and in with the young - it makes you wonder.

Next up was health, although with a political slant. Last week, you will remember the deaths of 90 hospital patients with the virus, Clostridium difficle, yesterday we saw questions asked in the Commons over this matter, in particular that management were focused on finanical targets rather than care. The story of an old lady was told, aged 90, survived the Blitz, then died from this disease. Black and white photgraphs were again used to show the contrast between the olden days, say pre 1970, and now. Also, the latin name for the virus has been nicely abbreviated, and as such it should fit nicely with all the other collected worries lined up on the shelf - C-Diff.

Mark Campbell, aged 38, was jailed fror life after a string of sex attacks on young girls. We saw his image and heard of DNA evidence.

Next up was a long feature on China, a country which wishes to be "an economic superpower, rivalling America and Europe". This statement implies that Europe is already one big happy power, an entity of it's own. And so what happens when America crumbles, a monopoly ? Anyhow, we continued by hearing that China is "hungry for materials" and "does'nt have enough resources". Many people were shown in a busy square, walking and cycling; then, perhaps to show our future, a huge TV monitor was shown - it was very like the film Total Recall.. We saw a similar feature to this a couple of months back, in reference to global warming and the 2008 Olympics.

And global warming was the next topic, as we headed for the Artic North West Passage to see how reporter David Shukman is progressing in his travels. Before we left, to refresh our memories, Fiona showed a map of the route - then we cut to David, again on a boat in the middle of the sea; today it was beginning to snow, winter coming in, was the only fresh news.

CWU/ posties strike

Next up was Europe, we are told that our ministers are defending our rights as UK citizens rather than Europeans, talk was of "red lines" and a "charter of fundamental rights".

The internet paedophile, who's face was unscrambled by Interpol and placed on their most wanted list, has seemingly been spotted arriving at Bangkok airport. A new image was shown and we were told he was a Korean based English language teacher.

To close, firstly apologies, did not manage too many notes last night, secondly, more about England, Rugby, and Paris.

cheers

One World - One Red Line ?

The Antiques Roadshow

Next Sunday, rather than focus on the news, I shall report on the Antiques Roadshow, a British Institution, certainly in the eyes of the long term television watcher.

Be prepared for many references to military operations, monarchy, masonary - and similar - plus some very very subtle, almost subliminal, black humour.

cheers

BBC TV News Review - Sunday 14th October

We opened with obesity on the early evening BBC News last night, it seems that doctors have warned of a "potential crisis on the scale of climate change", in fact an "epidemic" looms; given the startling new figures which claim that by 2050, a half of all men and women in the UK, will be clinically obese. Images were shown of the bottom half of some incredibly fat people and we heard of the economic cost that results. An aerobics class was displayed, to show us how it should be done - but it seems that the main problem is "too much fast food". A gentleman from the National Obestiy Forum told us more before we closed with talk of a potential solution -"monitor schools". More Pied Piper, surely ?

Politics waddled behind, it seems that Lord Falconer has criticised Prime Minister Gordon Brown, telling how his reputation has been fractured in light of the recent potential election storm, however Goverment Ministers have rallied behind him. It seems this will be a difficult week for Labour, with "the tricky issue of Europe" to deal with.

A British Tourist is amongst 8 who perished in a cave accident in Thailand.

Iraq, suicide bomber driving a tanker kills 18, imjures 27

A long feature next on Barack Obama, an American political candidate with "rock star status", tipped as the "new JFK". Images of BO frolicking in swimming costume with young ladies were displayed, however we moved on to Hilary Clinton before hearing how Barak is a hit in the "well heeled suberbs", but not in South Carolina, where "the poorest voters in the country" reside. We travelled there to see a poor man cycling and a single parent or two. It reminded me of the road from the Wizard of Oz and we too were reminded - about the Civil Rights movement, - black and white images of demonstrators were shown. There was mention of "a moses generation - a previous generation" before hearing that "blacks want one thing, whites want another". To close, we were told of an entire BBC programme covering this story - to be broadcast this week. Lewis Hamilton anyone ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7040000/newsid_7044200/7044288.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&nol_storyid=7044288&news=1#

A company of soldiers from the terratorial army have returned to the UK after a six month stint in Afghanistan

A Sunday story next, that of a "medieval jigsaw puzzle", an ancient church which has been rebuit and restored after falling into disrepair. For the first time in hundreds of years the "little Welsh church" was finally utilised yesterday, we saw the congregation "packed into it, just as they would have done in the middle ages". In its life there have been "many changes, from catholicism through to reformation"; another coming perchance ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7040000/newsid_7041600/7041624.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&nol_storyid=7041624&news=1#

sport to close, again much talk of England, the rugby, and Paris.

cheers

Obesity - Black and White ?

BBC TV News Review - Saturday 13th October

I am not an expert on astrology, far from it, but I am aware that when Mercury, the planet of communication, travels backwards or retrograde, we can expect communication problems, here on planet Earth. So, it is naturally Mercury I blame for my recent rash of computer problems; first on Friday the PC went down, eventually I sourced the problem to the telephone extension line, and attempted to rectify matters by borrowing a laptop and simply connecting that to the main telephone line input box. It worked fine at first, I managed to redo Fridays blog which was trapped in no mans land and on Saturday morning all seemed well. I started my blog and then the laptop crashed - Serious Windows Error - it said, and now it wont work at all really. Who knows, but I am both back up and running and in a spot of bother.

I wont write too much about the news, we commenced with rugby, England having beaten France and reached the World Cup Final to be held next week, again in Paris. Images of jubilent supporters were evident throughout this feel good, proud to be English, feature.

Royal Mail, we heard more about the agreement to avert more strike action, a top Union official apparently talked of slavery. Whilst I appreciate his sentiments, are we not all simply slaves ?

Retired US forces Commander, Ricardo Sanchez, has spoken out about the current military situation in Iraq, criticising Bush and ridiculing the troop surge. He is of the opinion there is no end in sight. I have provided a link to the video of this report for anyone interested. Lovely flag symbology about half way through, the Scottish lion set on a geometric arrow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7040000/newsid_7043200/7043255.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&asb=1&news=1#

Staying with our American cousins, Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, has been meeting with Russia, to discuss missile defence strategies. We heard that she travelling to the Middle East next, to join a conference on a Palestinian state.

A quick feature on politics followed, again is seems that the Conservatives feel their proposed policies are being pinched by the Labour party - in this instance, tax incentives for married couples. Images of a couple having their very special day were shown, quaffing champagne through clouds of confetti, outside a church.

To close, it seems that some parents are ignoring their childrens cannabis consumption, and are in fact, in some instances, actually obtaining it for them. Simon Byrne, the Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside has spoken out against these practices, accusing parents of being "niave and complacent". He suggested that some forms of the drug are actually five times stronger than 20 years ago and we saw a lady interviewed, who blamed the weed for the mental condition of her "lost son".

More sport to close

I know I have maybe harped on slightly this last week about a possible imminent change in our monarchy, in terms of chief figurehead anyway. It struck me that, naturally, and then therefore astrologically ,and perhaps psychologically, now is the time for seeds to be set, lying dormant under a blanket of leaf debris, awaiting the light of the Sun, and the prod of God; next Spring. Also and additionally, could the recent will-they-wont-they-over a political election have maybe set an other small seed in our minds - again a seed of change - an unconscious desire for change. Was that the intention ?

cheers

Acorns to Oaks