The music of Eurovision has long been criticised but the very basis on which much of the voting in the contest took place last week really had plunged the whole event to new depths. At least the camp and kitsch, pop and pap elements of it could be enjoyed. Now however the fragmentation of Eastern Europe and their membership to the EBU combined with the equal vote that each country receives has potentially skewed the voting. A certain amount of voting for neighbours is expected, but when each of Serbia's tiny neighbours awards its song 12 points in what's being called 'bloc voting' any hope that songs win on merit are thrown out the window.
I can't say I care that the UK faired so badly, but the top-of-the-blocs entries dominating the scoring largely didn't deserve to be there. Ukraine had a fair shot with its ultra-kitsch and glam offer but otherwise many of the songs that received so many points were largely forgettable. For what it's worth I did vote for an Eastern European country - Slovenia, with their sensational operatic singer - although it seems the Slovenians aren't quite moving in the right circles to garner the sort of support expressed towards Russia and others.
No, I'm afraid the Eurovision, for whatever it might have been worth has become a shell of the contest it once was. Let the best song win, whoever that may be, but when that most basic of requirements - that of merit - is so blatantly ditched in favour of neighbourly political bias it's time to call it a day.
Related articles:
MP demands Eurovision vote change (BBCi)
Tactical voting the low note as Serbia wins Eurovision contest (the Australian)
Sozialistische Nachbarschaftshilfe (Die Zeit)
On Eurovision Night, everybody needs good neighbours (The Times)
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
20070513
20070502
Cheese - junk food?
The government has classified cheese as junk food in relation to their campaign on childhood obesity and the restrictions that will be placed on advertising to children.
Yes, cheese is composed of a high percentage of fat, but cheese is a fine natural product in which a great amount of time, effort skill and indeed art is applied. Junk food indeed! Ofcom have shown themselves up as being culinary heathens on this issue. Cheese *can* be fattening of course, but it doesn't make it junk. To even put it on the same level as the likes of MacDonalds whose food is designed to contain all that is bad in order to create addiction seems quite incredibly really. Cheese is tasty and perhaps somewhat addictive through being a fine, natural product and long may it continue to satisfy us.
Jaffa Cakes and Marmite is also being classified as junk food. On these I hold less of an issue. Jaffa Cakes, well as the name implies are a manner of cake. Indeed it was once proven to authorities that they are cakes and not chocolate biscuits in order to avoid VAT I believe. Fair do's really. Marmite, well I have forever failed in seeing what is in the slightest bit attractive of this foul substance. Thus I have no qualms in limiting its advertising coverage!
Yes, cheese is composed of a high percentage of fat, but cheese is a fine natural product in which a great amount of time, effort skill and indeed art is applied. Junk food indeed! Ofcom have shown themselves up as being culinary heathens on this issue. Cheese *can* be fattening of course, but it doesn't make it junk. To even put it on the same level as the likes of MacDonalds whose food is designed to contain all that is bad in order to create addiction seems quite incredibly really. Cheese is tasty and perhaps somewhat addictive through being a fine, natural product and long may it continue to satisfy us.
Jaffa Cakes and Marmite is also being classified as junk food. On these I hold less of an issue. Jaffa Cakes, well as the name implies are a manner of cake. Indeed it was once proven to authorities that they are cakes and not chocolate biscuits in order to avoid VAT I believe. Fair do's really. Marmite, well I have forever failed in seeing what is in the slightest bit attractive of this foul substance. Thus I have no qualms in limiting its advertising coverage!
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
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.
20070118
Who cares ... you decide
Celebrity Big Brother has been in the media today for what it has to be said somewhat different reasons than normal, but at the end of the day it's all the same sort of celebrity orientated nonsense we could likely do without.
Is this all an issue? As a society we suffer from a huge grey area in free speech where we're on uncertain ground as to what is acceptable or not. What is a joke to one person becomes the gravest offence to another. It strikes me that what was said, I am admit I've only caught snippets through the news along the lines of the lady targeted having dirty hands, is borne through stereotypes. Guide books will warn you about personal hygiene in a great many countries; does this make them racist? More likely what is happening in the CBB house boils down to little more than back stabbing and bitchiness, drawing as it often does on the crudest of sources for ammunition.
My gut instinct is to leave it be. For one thing Jade and her kin are the type of ignorant loud-mouthed scumbags that are best ignored. They're incapable of furthering themselves through any intelligent means so I feel aggrieved that a moment's airtime on the news should be taken up with what they spout out. Or the other hand if it does go as far as the police we can but hope that it will lead to the removal of Jade from the media spotlight through a destruction of reputation. It would hardly be character assassination; after all what could you say to put such people down that is any worth than what they bring upon themselves through their own words and actions.
Either way we should be rid of it. I despise the cult of celebrity and the likes of Jade who is in the spotlight as no result of any iota of talent, achievement or indeed any positive aspect at all should be despised the most. However I shall be practising what I preach and not going anywhere near Channel 4 this evening. Ironically I have just renewed my contract with Carphone Warehouse who today pulled their sponsorship of CBB with immediate effect. I would like to claim the two events were linked but alas I can only endorse the action; not that it is necessarily against racism but against this generation of baseless fame that so craves media attention in the house. Let them be starved of this very attention. However quiet a news day it is there must surely be events in the world many times more deserving of coverage. But that rant will be saved for another day.
Is this all an issue? As a society we suffer from a huge grey area in free speech where we're on uncertain ground as to what is acceptable or not. What is a joke to one person becomes the gravest offence to another. It strikes me that what was said, I am admit I've only caught snippets through the news along the lines of the lady targeted having dirty hands, is borne through stereotypes. Guide books will warn you about personal hygiene in a great many countries; does this make them racist? More likely what is happening in the CBB house boils down to little more than back stabbing and bitchiness, drawing as it often does on the crudest of sources for ammunition.
My gut instinct is to leave it be. For one thing Jade and her kin are the type of ignorant loud-mouthed scumbags that are best ignored. They're incapable of furthering themselves through any intelligent means so I feel aggrieved that a moment's airtime on the news should be taken up with what they spout out. Or the other hand if it does go as far as the police we can but hope that it will lead to the removal of Jade from the media spotlight through a destruction of reputation. It would hardly be character assassination; after all what could you say to put such people down that is any worth than what they bring upon themselves through their own words and actions.
Either way we should be rid of it. I despise the cult of celebrity and the likes of Jade who is in the spotlight as no result of any iota of talent, achievement or indeed any positive aspect at all should be despised the most. However I shall be practising what I preach and not going anywhere near Channel 4 this evening. Ironically I have just renewed my contract with Carphone Warehouse who today pulled their sponsorship of CBB with immediate effect. I would like to claim the two events were linked but alas I can only endorse the action; not that it is necessarily against racism but against this generation of baseless fame that so craves media attention in the house. Let them be starved of this very attention. However quiet a news day it is there must surely be events in the world many times more deserving of coverage. But that rant will be saved for another day.
20061228
Auntie's questionable geography
Tragic news strikes us from Morecambe Bay again with the gas-rig bound helicopter ditching in the sea with we assume the loss on all on board. Television news reports are oddly timed at this time of year but the one I caught on the Beeb featured a particularly slap-dash looking map which would have been hilarious if it wasn't for the circumstances. Morecambe Bay was placed vaguely off the coast of Whitehaven and later migrating into the Solway Firth while Liverpool was now in Lancaster and poor Barrow was up around Stanraer. The BBC has plans to move some of their operations up North to Manchester. By the looks of things it's not a moment too soon.
20061219
Multi-channel living
This is no doubt terribly old hat for many people but here in the wilds of Cumbria where we like things simple it's quite a turn up for the books. The SKY man has been and gone, the digibox card has arrived and we are now officially a multi-channel household.
For the time being there's an element of 'new toy' excitement about it all. The rest test will be in the longer term to see how we come to use what is a 50-fold or more increase on the number of channels we've had to date.
It's fair to say that the majority of satellite channels don't offer programming that can match the terrestrial channels when they're at their best. The advantage comes from having a wider choice of programming 24/7 which should in theory offer something of some interest at more or less any time whereas the standard four channels could often fail on this score.
Having become used to watching no television during the duration of my trip I'm not feeling a great desire to start now. I've enjoyed a few hours of different channels so far and I suspect being able to to sit down when it suits me and being able to put the news straight on or some other programme I'll find of interest will be an advantage. I can't see myself spending hours a day in front of the goggle box though. I've got my PC for that!
For the time being there's an element of 'new toy' excitement about it all. The rest test will be in the longer term to see how we come to use what is a 50-fold or more increase on the number of channels we've had to date.
It's fair to say that the majority of satellite channels don't offer programming that can match the terrestrial channels when they're at their best. The advantage comes from having a wider choice of programming 24/7 which should in theory offer something of some interest at more or less any time whereas the standard four channels could often fail on this score.
Having become used to watching no television during the duration of my trip I'm not feeling a great desire to start now. I've enjoyed a few hours of different channels so far and I suspect being able to to sit down when it suits me and being able to put the news straight on or some other programme I'll find of interest will be an advantage. I can't see myself spending hours a day in front of the goggle box though. I've got my PC for that!
20061215
Catching up with the times
Being largely out of touch with the movements of the online world for seven months leaving a good deal of catching up to do on return. One of the major names to have dominated 2006 has been Youtube. This is a site I'd heard of prior to my trip but only briefly glanced upon. Throughout the year the media have continually giving mention to Youtube in relation to content, the buy-out by Google and legal issues regarding content; all great promotion of course.I seem to lack the type of friends who forever forward interesting, bizarre or hilarious Youtube video links (most I suspect are working too industriously these days) but during my trip and much more so since my return I've been exploring what this massive collection of video clips has to offer. It's impressive; more or less any music video you fancy, a good many concert recordings and even relatively little known bands are up there, such as 'Show of Hands' (see above).
There are clips of seemingly anything and everything. Teenagers singing into webcams or sharing their angst, a group of lads doing a spoof white-water rafting video on the river in my home town, favourite football goals (sigh), creative reworking of movie trailers turning The Shining into a family movie and Mary Poppins into a horror, the list goes on and on into the far distance. As with everything on the internet the quality is very variable, ranging from a finely crafted piece of work to someone droning on and inflicting their face upon us while doing so but it's no worse for that; if anything it harks back to the earlier days of the internet and gives it an interesting multimedia spin.
Youtube is a fine use of broadband internet speeds which most people now enjoy, adding an extra dimension to the online content which the normal man on the street can upload. Digital camcorders in one form or another are pretty much the standard these days making content creation within the grasp of seemingly anyone who has the time and inclination. It remains to be seen what will become of Youtube under its new ownership as some copyrighted content has already been removed in response to complaints by musicians and their solicitors. However for now it's pretty much all out there and worth exploring.
20061213
Digital living in a rural land
It wasn't so long ago that all this talk of going digital was wholly ignored around here, being something limited to the high-density living rat-racers in the cities. Internet was dial-up and there was no expectation of receiving digital radio or TV within the foreseeable future, if at all. Times are changing, although the move to digital is often thwarted by the geography of the area. Internet is now broadband and digital television is available from one of the local transmitters although it's available very patchily. Similarly digital radio is available from certain locations but in most cases it's having make it over some distance to reach here, meaning that signal levels normally hover around the threshold level for usability. We've long since tolerated a rather ropey analogue signal but for not much longer. There remains little or no possibility of receiving Freeview for now and even when it commences from our local transmitter in a year or two the signal may still not be up to scratch. This has left us with no option but to look up to the Sky, or to SKY, to be more precise.
I'm pleased to have finally convinced my parents to go down the good-picture-quality, multi-channel route, as for long enough they've been picking through the best of what the four terrestrial channels have to offer (no channel 5 of course), which is often somewhat limited. Even free to air satellite will help. I'm a big fan of BBC 4 as a source of decent programming many evenings and when I had Freeview in London last year even the likes of Sky Travel would occasionally bestow should gems upon us: an old Whicker's World or Ewan McGregor's 'Long Way Round' series.
The situation is even better than that though. The free to air price is some £150 which covers the equipment, installation and FTA decoder card. However for the time being Sky are also offering the same plus 2 mixes (a mix is a collection of their subscription channels such as entertainment, documentaries etc.) for only £120, which comprises a £10 monthly subscription charge with gratis installation and equipment. This means that for a year at least we'll also be able to enjoy the likes of Sky One, UK Gold and for my father more documentaries than it would ever be possible to digest. Most important though is the fact that for the first time ever at this house, that's a good 10 years or so, we'll actually have a good television picture. Is this going digital so much as catching up to what most people have had for many years? Rural life indeed.
I'm pleased to have finally convinced my parents to go down the good-picture-quality, multi-channel route, as for long enough they've been picking through the best of what the four terrestrial channels have to offer (no channel 5 of course), which is often somewhat limited. Even free to air satellite will help. I'm a big fan of BBC 4 as a source of decent programming many evenings and when I had Freeview in London last year even the likes of Sky Travel would occasionally bestow should gems upon us: an old Whicker's World or Ewan McGregor's 'Long Way Round' series.
The situation is even better than that though. The free to air price is some £150 which covers the equipment, installation and FTA decoder card. However for the time being Sky are also offering the same plus 2 mixes (a mix is a collection of their subscription channels such as entertainment, documentaries etc.) for only £120, which comprises a £10 monthly subscription charge with gratis installation and equipment. This means that for a year at least we'll also be able to enjoy the likes of Sky One, UK Gold and for my father more documentaries than it would ever be possible to digest. Most important though is the fact that for the first time ever at this house, that's a good 10 years or so, we'll actually have a good television picture. Is this going digital so much as catching up to what most people have had for many years? Rural life indeed.
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