Even more media

Helpfully a friend has pointed out an ommision in the paragraph about how difficult it is to write for the Sun.

Are you aware that the sun has a vocab list of something like 10,000 words so as to not confuse its readers? – Caz

It doesn’t surprise me.

Another friend pleads:

Which current UK drama series have been running for

more than ten years?

We’ve already got Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Eastenders, Casualty, Grange Hill, Heartbeat (are they on the 70s now?), Byker Grove and The Bill.

And I’m bound to have missed something.

We think the longest running current TV comedy series is Last of the Summer wine. Yes I was surprised to find it is still going with yet another season in the pipeline.

Any hints please use the box on your right.

On my travels I found This article in the Guardian that suggests that despite all the governments best efforts over the Gilligan issue, the BBC is still the most trusted source of information. (Thanks to Nick Barlow for bringing it to my attention.)

I also note that I’m possibly being a bit of a political bantamweight by picking on the obvious deficiencies of the Sun rather than the pit of evil that is (dan dan der-) The Daily Mail.

Site of the day

Welcome to the White House. As recommended by Forceful and Moderate.

Sorry it is political satire again, but it is funny. Honest.

More media

As you may have read earlier I am not a fan of The Sun newspaper. In fact it depresses me (slightly: I do have a life, see the post below for details) that there is a need or demand for a publication of this nature. This morning’s front page consists of a Yellow Card being shown to Tony Blair, earlier editions have had similarly sophisticated messages for the people of France and the manager of the English football team.

I do have more time for the Mirror, which seems to have principles. Those principles being clearly signposts as being a complete and utter alternative to what the other tabloids are saying. And even on the few occasions that opposing view to that espoused by the rest of the tabloid press is plainly stupid, the Mirror sticks to its principles. Unlike the Sun which pretends to change its spots at a moments notice.

You may not believe this, but writing for the Sun takes a lot of skill. Not in tailoring your prose to include the particular poison your proprietor has demanded this week. But in toning down the reading level of your English to be clear and interesting enough to your typical Sun reader. A poor writer would write lousy English, and average writer would instinctively use words that are too long and boring for Sun fans. It takes a good writer to write what a Sun reader wants to read (without vomiting), in words a Sun reader can understand.

Of course most readers want a newspaper that is sympathetic to their own beliefs; even the Guardian and Independent have a mild left wing slant. (Not that I as a Lib Dem believe in Left and Right wing any more ). Sympathy for your reader’s values one thing, telling them what to think is another thing altogether. The level to which the Sun pushes its agenda is distasteful. Add that to hypocrisies like those over the Bruno story, and you have in the nutshell why many people dislike this publication.

Given the people I know read this blog, or who are likely to, I fear I am probably preaching to the choir. So as my friend Andy says you could make your views plain to the editor, if it makes you feel better.

A long day

The Explorer team did really well. Although some members retired at Lofthouse due to injuries the rest of the team went on to attempt to reach the presentation venue at West Tanfield. Unfortunately this was not to be, they were far too tired and had to be picked up and minibussed to the finish. As they are now older they were eligible for the male 14-19 trophy, for which there was a lot stiffer competition. So no award for Headingley Explorer Scouts this year.

The two 19th North Leeds (St Chad’s) Scouts teams won their classes, but they were the only entrants. This is damning by faint praise. I think the St Chad’s teams could have done with some competition; although their classes by default, the ten kids had put in such a good performance that given the same amount of competition the Explorers had they would still have easily won.

My job was to assist with the time keeping at Checkpoint 1, which we had down to a fine art, me signing the cards, another leader filling in the logs, a third the radio communications, and a fourth as a runner. I am getting to know so many people from Scouting locally, but my memory for names isn’t good.

Annother good event, I need to encourage more people to participate next year.

I managed to get the parents of two of my explorers to take the rest home (actually they offered and I accepted). So there was only me and James (from 19th North Leeds Scouts and SAGGA) to get home. It had been a long day and was not a pleasant journey. James and I discussed SSAGO-SAGGA relations which was probably not a good idea given how tired we were.

I got in finally at 10pm. Nicola wanted me to put her QSA project on disk, so she could edit it at her parents; however I was so tired it took me 15 minutes to operate the computer properly. Hopefully she should have her Queen’s Scout Award signed off by the end of the week.

The House

Nicola has suddently learned she will be presented with her Gold DoE on Tuesday night. So today we’ve been taking stuff to the council tip, clearing the front room, doing the washing up, making the futon accessible.

Because soon Nicola’s parents will be visiting.

Ulp.

He’s back- again

The BBC have announced that they’re bringing back Doctor Who. While I’m beyond getting too excited about this, the series is being written by Russell T. Davies. So it should be good and fill the gap Strange failed to.

And it’s being produced by BBC Wales, which sounds good too!

Amina Lawal

…wins her appeal.

Nicola

Nicola is back home, and taking a few days to get her Queen’s Scout in order. Very exciting stuff. He guide meeting went OK last night.

Friends often ask how Nicola is getting on finding experience in her chosen field of Architechure. Well, even though I feel she should be more proactive, I don’t push because Nicola will do what she feels she wants to. And in the end I’m not bothered whether I’m going out with a Young British Architecht, a Guide Leader, or a Lifeguard.

Nicola… has her own priorities. And sometimes they don’t seem to include me. She tends to get consumed by her current pet project, and then close to the deadline. But then I wouldn’t have asked her to marry me if I didn’t know what she was like, or find some of her hobbies, energy and enthusiasm endearing in some way.

BBC Comedy banned

This article tells us how two members of the NBC network are refusing to show US version of Coupling. This is because they ‘strongly feel that the premiere episode is little more than a succession of crude sex jokes.’

I can hear Steven Moffat saying “Yes… and?”

Turn over that new leaf

It’s gratifying to hear that The Sun is changing its ways. Stricken by the unfortunate things that have happened to Frank Bruno it has become compassionate for those suffering mental health problems and has set up an appeal.

And not a moment too soon… yesterdays early front page had the headline “Bonkers Bruno Locked Up”.