Isn't April brilliant? I must admit that in the 24 months since I'd last fully experienced an April in the UK I had quite forgotten just what a sensationally fine month it is.
Take for example its place in the year: It's early Spring, and as the month begins the trees are still largely bare and the weather cool. Suddenly though an explosion of green appears from nowhere, bright, fully saturated greens of vibrant hue and quality. The trees spring to life, the fields glow, the hedges and cherry trees are in blossom, birds return to our shores and are busy constructing nests; all combine to make the countryside look absolutely marvellous.
Best of all, we know we've the whole of the summer stretching off far into the distance. These are but the earliest days of warmth, sun and colour. Many months lie in store with all the expectation and promise that they contain. Why would you want to be anywhere else?
20070428
20070422
First big test for new news channels
Today's Presidential Election in France is the first big test for the new kids of the media block, namely France24 and Aljazeera. Both are planning considerable coverage for tonight's results and it'll provide a good benchmark for judging these new channels in comparison to the established outlets of BBC's News24, Sky News and CNN.
It is of course a chance for France24 to shine in particular as it's a major domestic event of which to provide in-depth coverage. The elections have already been receiving some considerable airtime as you'd expect, particularly on the discussion programmes, although we're often not too keen on these as the volume differentiation between the speaker and the translator is often insufficient and doesn't make for pleasant listening. We'll see how it pans out this evening.
Aljazeera in contrast focuses its news coverage on Asia and Africa but does have ample resources at its disposal, so it'll prove interesting to see what level of coverage and guests they're able to produce.
The more established outlets shouldn't be ignored either, as we'll see if they up the ante on their own election coverage to compete in particular with France24 which will be assumed to provide the most comprehensive of coverage, albeit with less experience than the competition.
The coverage is beginning now - 6pm UK Time - so tune in!
It is of course a chance for France24 to shine in particular as it's a major domestic event of which to provide in-depth coverage. The elections have already been receiving some considerable airtime as you'd expect, particularly on the discussion programmes, although we're often not too keen on these as the volume differentiation between the speaker and the translator is often insufficient and doesn't make for pleasant listening. We'll see how it pans out this evening.
Aljazeera in contrast focuses its news coverage on Asia and Africa but does have ample resources at its disposal, so it'll prove interesting to see what level of coverage and guests they're able to produce.
The more established outlets shouldn't be ignored either, as we'll see if they up the ante on their own election coverage to compete in particular with France24 which will be assumed to provide the most comprehensive of coverage, albeit with less experience than the competition.The coverage is beginning now - 6pm UK Time - so tune in!
20070420
Wonderful websites
There are some truly awe inspiring websites out there which should be promoted as much as can be. My latest find is Panoramio. Not the most memorable of names perhaps but bear with me. This photo website is linked in with Google Earth. For each photo you upload you specify the location it was taken. Then you can browse a world map on the site, and for whichever area of the world you're looking at the photos taken in that area appear on the left-hand side to be viewed. It's superb! You can look at some of the most remote corners of the world but people have been there and have taken photos there. Navigate to that location and you'll see views from all around it. Better still photos and their locations will appear on the Google Earth maps, making your photos and the places you've captured available to even more people. Even if you don't upload any pictures it's well worth signed up to browse the World Map. I can't recommend it highly enough.
US Uni shooting
What to say about the terrible shooting that took place on Virginia Tech Uni campus this week. I've had several thoughts.
Initially there were interviewees on the TV and radio with regard to the gun situation in the US, including an NRA spokesman who truly believed that having more arms on campus would have helped. I disagree. Here in the UK if someone isn't of sound mind and feel like taking drastic action generally the means are not easily available for them to do so. Licensing and background checks should prevent easy available of firearms to those who shouldn't have them, and out of many ways to take out your grievances the use of guns could well be said to be the easiest. There's minimal confrontation of your actual problems, just pull the trigger and all your troubles are removed. Thus this option is best being kept well out of reach from those susceptible to irrational actions. In the US this isn't the case and firearms are essentially regarded as a right and are available accordingly. As a result we see such events taking place in the US much more frequently than we do in other countries.
The American mentality shouldn't be overlooked either. One speaker on the radio said that the American tendency to act on impulse, as well as being the source of much of the country's success can also form the source of some of these actions.
Generally speaking though the student seemed to be of a very troubled mind. The source of problems and motivations could be many fold and can only be speculated at at this stage. Korea I know is, in a similar way to Japan, home to what we would regard as quite extreme lifestyles. There can be immense pressure from parents for success and some young people do turn to obsessive behaviour. There's also the factor to consider that the student was overseas, in unfamiliar surrounds and culture with all that entails.
The recent airings of the killer's videos were initially lapped up by a content hungry media and later the source of controversy as to whether these should have been aired at all. I'm currently against the airing of such videos. We've seen it with suicide bombers and we've seen it in this instance and in all cases I find it in bad taste and not the sort of thing the media should be giving any airtime into promoting. The perpetrators are sick, foul of mind and with evil intent. There sort are the very last sort of people who should be given any airtime as for one thing in doing so it legimates and gives coverage to their twisted cause and in turn copycats or supporters (in the case of terrorists) may be encouraged. Show stills perhaps, but do so in a context of condemning the perpetrator.
Initially there were interviewees on the TV and radio with regard to the gun situation in the US, including an NRA spokesman who truly believed that having more arms on campus would have helped. I disagree. Here in the UK if someone isn't of sound mind and feel like taking drastic action generally the means are not easily available for them to do so. Licensing and background checks should prevent easy available of firearms to those who shouldn't have them, and out of many ways to take out your grievances the use of guns could well be said to be the easiest. There's minimal confrontation of your actual problems, just pull the trigger and all your troubles are removed. Thus this option is best being kept well out of reach from those susceptible to irrational actions. In the US this isn't the case and firearms are essentially regarded as a right and are available accordingly. As a result we see such events taking place in the US much more frequently than we do in other countries.
The American mentality shouldn't be overlooked either. One speaker on the radio said that the American tendency to act on impulse, as well as being the source of much of the country's success can also form the source of some of these actions.
Generally speaking though the student seemed to be of a very troubled mind. The source of problems and motivations could be many fold and can only be speculated at at this stage. Korea I know is, in a similar way to Japan, home to what we would regard as quite extreme lifestyles. There can be immense pressure from parents for success and some young people do turn to obsessive behaviour. There's also the factor to consider that the student was overseas, in unfamiliar surrounds and culture with all that entails.
The recent airings of the killer's videos were initially lapped up by a content hungry media and later the source of controversy as to whether these should have been aired at all. I'm currently against the airing of such videos. We've seen it with suicide bombers and we've seen it in this instance and in all cases I find it in bad taste and not the sort of thing the media should be giving any airtime into promoting. The perpetrators are sick, foul of mind and with evil intent. There sort are the very last sort of people who should be given any airtime as for one thing in doing so it legimates and gives coverage to their twisted cause and in turn copycats or supporters (in the case of terrorists) may be encouraged. Show stills perhaps, but do so in a context of condemning the perpetrator.
20070416
Top heavy advertising
Banner advertising is one thing, but the size of the ads on Hotmail are getting ridiculous, especially since there's no scroll option. How long until I can't see my e-mails at all??
20070405
Return to blighty
The navy personnel taken in Iran have finally be returned. I suspect the true story of their captivity will now come out. However I'd be interested to find out whatever happened the military procedure of only giving your captors name, rank and serial number? Perhaps there was a good reason but their actions undermined the forces, government and country they work for.
20070404
Welcome to 1984
The government is further rolling out a trial of speaking CCTV camera. These feature attached speakers so when ne'er do wells are spotted they can be shouted at to cease and desist. It's probably a good idea, in that perpetrators know they're being watched, but it does sound a great deal like 1984 and it's ilk - instructions being blared at the submissive workers to get on their way and stay on the straight and narrow.
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