Jeremy
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 05/03/10 at 09:03:46 pmYes I know there are more important things going on in the word than the closure of a digital only radio station that caters for a niche audience but I don’t care it’s my radio station. This is footage from the BBC Director General’s appearance on Newsnight where he was savaged by Jeremy Paxman, who I have to say has balls of steel to make his boss look like a twat on national television. This footage has been cut together with footage from the Thick of it by some clever bastard.
This on I love as Adam Buxton (of Adam and Joe fame) offers the director General out for a fight on Channel 4 news.
Conspiracy
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 02/03/10 at 07:03:39 pm
Call me cynical but as the BBC 6 music/Asian Network radio station closures have panned out this week I have a nagging feeling that I am being used. The leaking of the news that 6 music was to close on Friday was the kick start to a massive campaign by a very vocal 6 music listening community. There are around 600,000 listeners per week to the digital station that has finally given a modern music appreciating audience a medium that they hold dear and will defend. You only have to see how much of a stink was kicked up when someone decided that Georg Lamb would be a good idea on the station. There is also a fair amount of presenters/guest presenters and bands that are being very criticising of the BBC for axing 6 music.
Now I’m not one for conspiracy theories and I’m not going to go all David Icke on you but hear me out. I’m Mark Thompson and I need to trim some of my output because of a reactionary right wing press witch hunt to destroy the socialist nightmare that is the BBC and a Tory Government is just around the corner. I want to close a radio station that serves a minority audience but it will be a little bit tricky to pull off without compromising the public broadcasting remit that the BBC has to answer to. What can I do? I’ll also announce the closure of another minority audience radio station one that has a similar number of listeners. Only this station has quite a passionate following and is used mainly by people of a certain age who would exploit all social networking tools and media to demand that their station remain open. There will be a massive backlash across all the news outlets and the BBC trust will have no option other than to reverse the decision. 6 Music will stay open and may even gain some more listeners who will tune in to hear what the fuss is about. In the mean time my original target will close and Asian network will be no more.
Just a prediction. Hope I’m wrong and they both manage to stay open. I don’t listen to Asian Network but I have no doubt that the people who do love it as much as we love 6 music. The BBC is meant to cater for minority audiences in a way that commercial television and radio doesn’t. If that means people who listen to bhangra or a John Peel Beta Band session from 1998 we aren’t going to find it on radio 1/2 or any of the commercial station sin between ‘go compare’ and ‘we buy any car’ adverts. Thats why we pay the TV licence.
In the oft misquoted words of Voltaire “I don’t agree with that Pap your watching on BBC3 but I’ll defend to the death your right to watch it”
We own the BBC.
On my radio
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 26/02/10 at 11:02:22 amI have always been a defender of the BBC. I admit that I do not watch or listen ot a lot of its output, especially that aimed at the teh majority market, soap operas, dancing programmes, etc. I do enjoy the fringe output that the BBC produces the latest gem is that of Charlie Brookers Newswipe programme which I don’t feel could have been made anywhere else but the BBC. Stewart Lees comedy Vehicle last year was my favourite programme. I don’t really find the appeal of anything that is broadcast on BBC 3 but hey ho each to their own. Apparently not though as rumours are abound today that the radio stations 6 music and Asian Network are to be axed. I don’t listen to Asian Network so I can’t comment but the axing of 6 music using the argument that the commercial sector should provide this kind of output is just outrageous. Yes it wen through a rough patch when George Lamb was on in the morning but those dark days are over and the station is a pleasure to listen to the majority of the time and provides a service that is not available anywhere else on that medium. There is no national radio station for serious music fans that wish to escape the dross that is current popular music. Except 6music. It will be a disgrace if this is axed. They wouldn’t dream of axing radio 3 and if Radio 3 was a digital only station it would have similar listening figures. SAVE 6 MUSIC
The Beautiful People
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 20/02/10 at 09:02:11 amI’ve been watching the winter olympics over the last few days and have found myself following it more and more. I was perhaps more excited than I should have been at Amy Williams gold victory last night in the Skeleton event, there is something about the speed of the event which is just very exciting. One thing that sticks out about the winter Olympics though is how beautiful everyone is, that and they all seem quite posh. I suppose wealth gives you access to these kind of sports and an advantage over your average British kid. The only time I went snow boarding it cost me a fortune and although I enjoyed it I didn’t think it was feasible to do regularly. Plus the fact I dislocated my shoulder puts me off a bit. The fact I am struggling to write this with my left hand because my right arm is in plaster is making me wonder if I’m a little accident prone.
Haiti
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 21/01/10 at 03:01:51 pmI’ve not watched a lot of the coverage of the Haiti earthquake on TV as it’s pretty horrendous. I’ve been following relief efforts in the papers and reading about it. I’m not an expert by any means but it seem there are a lot of soldiers going there and not many people getting the aid they need. The sensationalist reporting is reaching new heights though, I’ve seen a few video reports on the BBC’s website and the BBC reporter I have seen before but he seems to be in his element reporting all the violence and looting. Is it really looting when your starving? Whats the difference between finding food and looting?
Matt Frei
Sorry I seem to have got his image mixed up with Damien Day from drop the Dead Donkey.
Damien Day
Cancer for the cure
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 20/01/10 at 03:01:08 pmI read today that Glasko Smith KLine (GSK) have announced they will publish over 13,000 compounds that may have an impact on Malaria to stimulate research into the disease. This isn’t a cure they are giving away but it may ultimately lead to one. This is all in the interests of social responsibility according to its Chief exec. This coupled with Google’s recent announcement that it is going to stop censoring Google China (remember the ‘don’t be evil’ motto, they forgot for a while) looks like the start of a corporate responsibility trend. Could 2010 actually be the year corporations gain a conscience, next we’ll hear about how Nestle will stop aggressively marketing baby formula in africa and Tesco will be supporting local shops and protecting jobs at suppliers. Although I do think that both these decisions should be applauded I don’t think that it should detract from the criticism of the orignal acts themselves. People don’t applaud me because I don’t beat up old ladies.
Snowblind
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 06/01/10 at 06:01:25 pmThe country is in chaos as the white stuff has brought us to a stand still. To be fair though I have never seen snow this deep before. The cars are stranded but no snow days for me as the trains are still running. This is what its like outside my house today.
Hadfield is pretty much at a standstill.
Although I did have time on the way home to admire this snow sculpture in Glossop town centre. A wonderfully sculpted cock and balls I’m sure you agree. The attention to detail even includes a throbbing vein.
Love cats
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 29/12/09 at 05:12:08 pm
Got a troublesome cat? The A team won’t help? Maybe you can ring 999!
Shame on you
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 29/12/09 at 12:12:39 pmBack at work today, seemingly one of only 4 people do do so on the train in this morning. All in all a pretty depressing day. I turned on the computer this morning when I got in and read the news that China had executed Akmal Shaik last night, a British National accused of smuggling 4Kg of Heroin into China in 2007. I’ve been following this story for a couple of days and read about the tragic developments in this guys life that have led up to his execution.
The fact that Akmal’s seemingly obvious mental health issues were not taken into consideration (he wasn’t even assessed by a doctor) by the Chinese authorities whilst on trial or before sentencing is criminal. Diplomatic pressure from Gordon brown seems to have just loaded the gun that shot him, there was no way that China would sway to any pressure from a European state where it’s Justice system is involved. Especially from a country that doesn’t take the mental state of it’s own prisoners or detainees into account. The Mental health of detained children of failed asylum seekers is a crime that is occurring now and in this country. Perhaps our media could fill the Christmas news lull with this kind of story and force a change. It is stated that Akmal was suffering from Bi-polar disorder and not truly in control of his actions. The same could be said of Gary Mckinnon, the guy extradited from the UK to the USA charged with hacking into the Nasa computer systems looking for evidence of UFOs. Gary suffers from Aspergers Syndrome and was released to US custody despite medical evidence to say he could be suicidal if extradited.
The fact this man has been executed is shameful by the Chinese. Capital punishment is barbaric and international pressure should be applied to all countries who still use it, the USA included. However I won’t be fooled by Brown or Camerons’s false sense of injustice that they can just turn on and off when it suits them or the media. I have yet to see a comparison with this case and that of Mckinnon’s in any of the pieces by the papers. Our prisons are full of people who should getting help for mental illness and we are allowing extraditions to countries that still have the death penalty, I find it hard to take any statements of outrage like this from our Government any more.
Winterlong
Posted by Ingenuity Lee - 27/12/09 at 10:12:50 amIts that time of year again. Here are my favourites of the year in the world of entertainment. In no particular order.
top 5 albums
Eels – Hombre Lobo
A lo fi concept album about a werewolf. Fantastic. Long live the dogfaced boy.
The Joy Formidable – A balloon called moaning
We have tickets for their tour in March. Catchy hooks, great energy, a brilliant self produced debut. Their singles are available for free download from their site or myspace
Flaming Lips – Embryonic
Some people hated this and I have to admit that you have to be in the mood for it but when it hits the right spot it’s majestic.
White Denim – Fits
A spectacular find recommended by the 17 seconds blog. I can’t make up my mind what I like the most, the thundering bass lines or the best use of the wah wah pedal for decades.
Big Star – No 1 Record (2009 remaster)
A sad state of affairs for 2009 albums when one of my top five is a remaster from 1972. I don’t normally get sucked into re-buying albums I already have but the Big Star remasters are absolutely amazing.
Top 5 films
Moon
An enthralling film using predominantly one actor.It also incudes the best use of the Chesney Hawkes song ‘I am the one and only’ to appear in film this year.
Let the right one in
Swedish Vampire flick that is getting raved about everywhere. Creepy and disturbing, I was still thinking about it days later.
In the Loop
Like the big screen version of On the buses but with more profanity. Malcolm Tucker has taught me all new kinds of swears this year.
The Story of Anvil
What happens when you don’t get famous. A pioneering eighties Heavy Metal bands european tour and album journey in film. A heart warming tale about friendship that brought a tear to my eye.
The Wrestler
What happens after the fame. Micky Rourke as Randy the Ram is perfect and the closing song is one Springsteen’s best for years.
top 5 tv
Dollhouse
Its been cancelled already while it’s just hitting its stride. Imprints, Actives, mystery, seduction, fantastic fight scenes and Eliza Dushku. It’s divided our Hadfield house but I love it.
Glee
Singing and dancing cheesy AOR songs and Show tunes set in an American High School full of beautiful people. I should hate it but they have struck TV gold with this one. Sue Sylvester is up there with Malcolm Tucker for TV greatness. It’s not really on in the UK yet but will be huge next year.
“You think this is hard? Try being water boarded. That’s hard!”
And thats how Sue C’s it
Fringe
Fringe is more than the new X files, the cast are great and the stories are always baffling and gory. Walter the crazy scientist is great, and Olivia Dunham is another strong female lead from creator JJ Abrahams.
Red Riding
The best thing on UK TV this year. Also included in one episode is the best actor in the world right now Paddy Considine. The dark stories of murder and child abuse in West Riding over 10 years was a real TV moment in a mediocre reality soaked year.
Battlestar Galactica
It finished this year in one ofthe most satisfying TV endings ever. They managed to recrreatethe trick of the Wire and The Sopranos by managing to treat viewers with respect and actually end the story arcs without making a half arsed attempt at it.
Most baffling success of the year:
Michael Macyntyre
“I made some pasta last night for my wife, I didn’t cook it for long enough and it went hard. Don’t you hate that.” Fuck off you painfully unfunny Twat
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