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News - Sixty things for Sir Elton’s 60th

vitamin4ik696 — Mon, 26 May 2008 04:40:25 +0000

1. Elton Hercules John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex.

2. His father, Stanley Dwight, was an RAF flight lieutenant and big band trumpet player. He divorced Elton’s mother Sheila in 1962.

3. Elton began playing the piano when he was three or four and went to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11.

4. He attended the academy for five years but dropped out before the final exams, later saying he “resented” attending and hardly ever studied.

5. He joined his first group, Bluesology, at the age of 14.

6. He would perform, aged 15, at weekends in the Northwood Hills pub and would have to cope with drunken customers emptying their pints into his piano.

7. His parents were alarmed by his music. His father wanted him to adult dating free local site
on classical pieces whereas his mother did not like his often raucous playing style.

EARLY CAREER

Elton sang with Kiki Dee on Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

8. Sir Elton auditioned for prog-rock bands King Crimson and Gentle Giant - he was rejected.

9. Before he hit the big time, Sir Elton recorded several anonymous albums of budget cover versions.

10. He also played in the backing band of British blues legend Long John Baldry. His stage name is drawn from those of Baldry and his sax-player Elton Dean.

11. Scarecrow, the first adult dating free online personal
between Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, was released in 1967. The pair had never met - their work was swapped by post.

12. His official nickname is Rocket Man - taken from his second hit single - but Rod Stewart calls him Sharon.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Sir Elton was a personal friend of Princess Diana

13. He is at number nine on the all-time US best-seller list, with a total of 69 million albums sold in the US during his career. He is sandwiched between Barbara Streisand at eight and AC/DC at 10.

14. His song Candle in the Wind ‘97, released in tribute to the late Princess Diana, is the highest-selling single in history. More than 30 million copies were sold around the world.

15. The Elton John Aids Foundation has raised more than $100m (52m) since it was established in 1992.

16. When he received his knighthood in 1998, the Rocket Man was announced as Sir John Elton.

AWARDS

Sir Elton is known for his many celebrity friends

17. He was named best British male at the Brit Awards in 1991. It is the only competitive Brit he has won - but he has received the outstanding contribution award twice.

18. The first time, in 1986, he shared the honour with Wham! and was presented with the award by then-Conservative Party chairman Norman Tebbit. Sting presented the second accolade nine years later.

19. In 1994, the five nominations for the best original song Oscar included three songs Sir Elton co-wrote for The Lion King with Sir Tim Rice. They won with Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

20. He has won five Grammy Awards - his first in 1986 for That’s What Friends are For and his most recent in 2000 for Aida.

21. Sir Elton had 13 UK top 20 hits before Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, a duet with Adult chat dating room service
Kiki Dee, earned him a number one spot in July 1976.

TOUR STORIES

Sir Elton’s official nickname is Rocket Man

22. His 1976 World tour was called Louder than Concorde (But Not Quite as Pretty).

23. Sir Elton became the first Western pop star to tour the Soviet Union in 1979.

24. He has toured several times with Billy Joel, but denies there is any rivalry. “He is Mr Piano Man, I am Miss Piano Man,” he said.

25. After performing with Eminem at the 2001 Grammy awards Sir Elton was full of praise for the rapper. “There just aren’t many people in the world with balls that big and talent that awesome,” he said.

26. “It’s very important to have two tiaras when you’re on the road,” he said. “You never know when you’ll be invited to something really formal.”

27. He once had a balloon promoting a Rod Stewart concert shot out of the sky.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The star has sold off lots of his clothes for charity

28. In 1975, he played the Pinball Wizard in Ken Russell’s big-screen adaptation of the rock opera Tommy.

29. He became chairman of the then Fourth Division Watford football club in 1973. He wept openly when the team lost 2-0 to Everton in the FA Cup Final.

30. In September 1988, Sir Elton put more than 2,000 items of his personal memorabilia up for sale at Sotheby’s, raising 4m for his AIDS charity.

31. Every year since 2004, he has opened a temporary shop to sell thousands of items from his wardrobe for charity. Last year, the shop was in New York, and was called Elton’s Closet.

PERSONAL LIFE

Sir Elton is known for his love of fancy dress

32. He came out as bisexual in a 1976 interview with Rolling Stone magazine. “People should be very free with sex,” he said. “But they should draw the line at goats.”

33. He married Renate Blauel, a German recording engineer in 1984 but they divorced four years later. He announced his asian adult dating
soon after.

34. In 2001, Sir Elton told The Sun newspaper he spends “more than 200,000 a time” when shopping for clothes.

35. He entered into a civil adult dating web site
with long term partner David Furnish in December 2005.

36. He cannot put a figure on how much he spent on drugs, but told one reporter: “Sometimes when I’m flying over the Alps I think, ‘that’s like all the cocaine I sniffed’.”

37. The superstar has refused to adopt a child with Furnish because of their age difference. “And, frankly, I refuse to breast feed,” he joked.

38. He credits Watford Football Club with helping him kick his addictions. “Graham Taylor would sit me down and say, ‘You’re drinking too much’,” he said in 2004. “If I hadn’t had Watford, I really don’t know what would have happened to me…”

CONTROVERSY

Sir Elton John has sold nearly 70 million albums in the US

39. He reckoned Hear’Say were the “ugliest band in pop”, saying singer Danny Foster was a dead ringer of cartoon character Shrek. Hear’Say blamed Sir Elton for the demise of their group.

40. He doesn’t like making music videos. “I hate videos. Videos are loathsome,” he complained in the warts-and-all documentary Tantrums and Tiaras.

41. David Bowie sparked a 20-year feud with Sir Elton when he called him “the token queen of rock”.

42. Sir Elton joked that if he was to join the Spice Girls he would be known as “Cocky Spice”. Fellow crooner Rod Stewart would be “Mingy Spice, because he is mingy”.

43. The singer wasn’t impressed with Elvis Presley. “When I met him in Washington he was half dead already. There were no signs of life there and it was kind of sad.”

IN THE STUDIO

Sir Elton is also famous for his change in hairstyle over the years

44. Former Beatle John Lennon plays on Sir Elton’s 1975 concept album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - but he is credited as Dr Winston O’Boogie.

45. One of his oddest songs is called Conventional Oven Thermostat. He improvised it using the manual from Richard E Grant’s cooker on ITV’s Audience With Elton John in 1997.

46. The masterpiece included the lyrics: “You and your oven are capable of great things / Remember, no two ovens are the same”.

47. Lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote the ballad Someone Saved My Life Tonight about the night he stopped Sir Elton from committing suicide with a gas oven.

48. The pair wrote a song called Can’t Go On (Living Without You), hoping it would become the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969. But it didn’t make the cut, coming sixth out of six songs.

49. Sir Elton has duetted with George Michael, Kiki Dee, Gladys Knight, Cliff Richard and 2Pac.

50. He plays piano on the Scissor Sisters number one single I Don’t Feel Like Dancing.

51. Sir Elton wrote the music for the Captain Fantastic album aboard a luxury ocean liner. “I’d tried to book the ship’s music room, but an opera singer had it for the whole five days,” he told Rolling Stone. “The only time she wasn’t there was when she scoffed her lunch for two hours. So every lunchtime I’d nip in there and grab the piano.”

52. The pop star keeps up to date with the latest music, listing LCD Soundsystem, James Blunt and Antony and The Johnsons among his current favourite acts.

53. Sir Elton and Taupin wrote Don’t Go Breaking My Heart under the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche.

MISCELLANEOUS

He first had a 1973 hit with Candle in the Wind in 1973

54. Pop star Justin Timberlake appeared as a young Elton John in the video for This Train Don’t Stop Here Any More.

55. The original version of Candle in the Wind was a UK number one in 1973, but its release was cancelled in the US when radio stations started playing Bennie and the Jets instead.

56. Take That’s Gary Barlow sings backing vocals on Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

57. For his 50th birthday, Sir Elton wore a Louis XV-style powdered wig topped by a silver ship shooting real smoke from its cannons.

58. The garment was so big, he had to be delivered to his party in a furniture removal van. He was not pleased.

59. He was a guest of honour at Liz Hurley’s recent wedding, and walked the bride down the aisle.

60. The flamboyant superstar was dragged into a pool of water by a troupe of singing crocodiles when he appeared on the Muppet Show in 1977.

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News - African Brother joins UK show

vitamin4ik696 — Sun, 25 May 2008 03:34:30 +0000

African Big Brother contestant Gaetano Kagwa is getting to know contestants in the UK version of the show after swapping places with one of their contestants.

The 30-year-old law student from Kampala, Uganda has moved into the surveillance gameshow’s house in Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, to join the six British contestants.

Meanwhile, 32-year-old Cameron Stout entered the African programme’s free group sex mpeg
house in Randberg, South Africa.

He boarded a private plane early on Sunday after accepting the opportunity to take part in an “individual challenge” - which was to deliver a letter to the African housemates.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA

Is the first cross-continental show, and follows two South African series

Started with 12 housemates from 12 countries - five women and seven men

The series lasts 106 days

The prize is $100,000 (60,000)

Viewers can watch the contestants shower

First eviction took place on Sunday - farewell to Bruna Estivao from Angola

Housemates keep macaws in an atrium

Gaetano first met his UK housemates at 0915 BST, and got a hug from Steph Coldicutt, who was expecting to see Cameron walk out of the house’s “reward room”.

‘Serious pad’

“It’s a serious pad you’ve got over here,” Gaetano said - before eyeing up the house’s swimming pool and rubbing his hands.

He presented the housemates with a breakfast hamper as they introduced each other and discovered what had happened to Cameron.

Cameron leaving the UK on Sunday

Gaetano, known as Gae, has a degree in politics. He likes motorbikes, football and jazz.

He was chosen to join UK Big Brother after passing a cocktail-making challenge, and has already made a name for himself after sharing an intimate moment with fellow contestant Abby Plaatjies on the African programme.

“The blanket did some very heavy duty heaving as Gaetano’s
horizontal mambo began,” the official Big Brother Africa website
said.

The swap is expected to last several days, although it is not clear how exactly how long it will continue.

BIG BROTHER UK

Is in its fourth series

Started with six men and six women from the UK and Ireland

The series lasts 64 days

Prize money is 64,000

Four contestants evicted already

Viewers cannot watch contestants in the shower

Housemates keep chickens in the garden

Producers in Africa say the swap will help tap into the
programmes’ varied cultural content and help boost bisexual yahoo group
interaction.

Contestants on the Spanish version of Big Brother, Gran Hermano, swapped with counterparts in Mexico in May last year, and the feat was repeated with the Argentine version of the programme last December.

Since being launched in the Netherlands in 1999 Big Brother has become a hit in countries around the world, and helped spark a boom in so-called “reality TV” shows.

BBC News Online users in the UK and Africa sent in their views on the swap.

Q. How can C4 try and liven up an already dreary and boring show?
A. Cross BB with A Place in the Sun.

What’s next? Help! I’m a celebrity Changing Rooms?

Duncan J McKean,
UK

What a great idea!!!! No one saw this coming. Everyone was predicting Big Bro letting in another English housemate, but this has thrown everyone. It must be great for Cameron and Gaetano. Big Bro is an experience alone, let alone getting to go to another country while doing it. I’m looking forward to seeing how they cope.
David Paull, UK

I think that this has gone on far too long. Everytime I have chosen to turn on, what do I see? Man sleeps in bed or group talk rubbish on back lawn. Let’s face it - the only reason that Big Brother expanded across the world was because two Dutch people got together at the end of the first ever Big Brother. Are we watching now, just in the hope that this might happen?
Michael, UK

Boy, Gae is the man; first and foremost is because he is my cousin!!!This year it’s been very boring but I’ve started watching E4 - Gae has brought it back to life. You wouldn’t have believed that one man single handedly can change the house. Go Gae!!!
Ruth Galiwango, UK

I reckon it’s a brutal idea, especially as it’s Cameron that has gone to Africa, he is by far the most refined out of all the housemates. Just after getting to know the people in the BB4 house he gets landed on a different continent with a group of totally new people who have known each other for a month. I haven’t seen the new guy Gaetano but from what I read he reckons he is a bit of a ladies man, well hell will freeze over before there is any “craziness” in the BB4 house with the 3 girls that are left! Good luck to Ray hope he wins.

Jude,
Ireland

What typical British hospitality for Steph to plant a coed group sex
smacker on Gae and the rest to make him feel so welcome. I hope our Cameron is being treated as well!
Carol Hartwell, England

How refreshing it was to see somebody from Scotland in the BB Africa house. Cameron’s many interesting stories and his excitement injected a new dynamic to the show. Hope he enjoys his stay.
Glenys, Zimbabwe

I think this is the best idea to come from the Big Brother camp for ages - we needed one after the appallingly thought out superhero one! It will be very interesting to see how such different cultures will mix, and if anyone in the house learns anything from it. I suspect that Gaetano will make people think because he sounds like an intelligent and interesting guy, with a vastly different background to the UK contestants. Maybe we’ll even see Tanya’s brain click into action!…
Mel, UK

Gae seems like a breath of fresh air into the house but please, please bring back Mr Tickle!
Beverley, UK (South Wales)

Gae is already proving to be a quality character, he was adamant at one point that he was finishing Tania’s beer! Already the second best contestant this series behind Jon, I just hope they keep Gae here and Cameron in South Africa until their evictions!
Stevie, England

What a stupid idea. Why mess with what has been an innovative series with the introduction of the Reward Room? Too many changes like this devalue the concept of the programme. Why not ship the entire group out to another country, and move a new set of house mates into Elstree. Or we could just watch a foreign version anyway.
Paul Jones, England

Excellent, from the moment Cameron went into the diary room we were fixed to the tv. I am really looking forward to seeing the BBA reaction.
Gra, Kent, England

I am sure Gae will leave a big impression. Fancy the ladies better watch out for some African flavour!
Brian Chishimba, South Africa

I think that the swap is a bad idea - the whole point of Big Brother is that the housemates should be under surveillance 24 hours a day in isolation, without interruption. This move is clearly a desperate attempt to boost flagging ratings, and one which can only convince the viewing population that the whole programme is a farce.
Verity Kingscroft, England

I am not sure that the swap is a good idea for Cameron. Being a bit of a prude, the very thought of skinny dipping, and sharing the girls bedroom would be enough for him to want to go home to mummy!!! As Steph said this morning “we are a bit reserved here”.

Perhaps it would have been better to send someone who represents a more realistic idea of what the British are really like (Federico would certainly have made a lasting impression). Still, it will make interesting viewing!!!!!
Carol, England

If Gaetano keeps upsetting the people in the house like he is at the moment, can this be a permanent swap?
Ian S, UK, Birmingham

I believe that the idea is fully justified in the circumstances. Many viewers have noticed the destruction of the BB4 experience from the moment the 12 housemates were introduced, without the sexy and single, poorer meets richer, educated meets challenged, stripper meets model, lesbian meets gay and ethnic meets country, which would have had us glued to our screens. Anoushka being evicted within a week was tragic and the slide continues with Fed and Jon the only two characters left gone now also.
Freddie Onuma, London, England

It’s really amazing. In fact Gae is just the right candidate to have been swapped as he is just lively and clever. Hope UK viewers will enjoy the true African vib.
Cephas Chipare, Zimbabwe

Cameron has really shaken them up. With 12 countries, the cultural differences are wide already, now a white European, first time in Africa, will create sparks. Maybe now we shall get some political discussions, not just drunken sex talk!!
Paulene Jones, Malawi

The show is still interesting even without our Gae in the house.Cameron fits in perfectly. His accent…that is nothing to worry about because by now, the housemates are used to the different accents from all over Africa especially from Nigerian Bayo so Cameron’s is not any different. From the look of the UK house, I think our Gaetano may be a little bored, but being the guy he is, he will get used real fast. As for Cameron, he can’t get over the size and beauty of the African house. I’m sure he wishes he could stay much longer.By the way, he was surprised that the guys were doing the cooking. Who does the cooking in the UK house????
Rosette , Uganda

I think Cameron has lightened up the house - and I love his Scottish accent - it made me homesick for wonderful friends in Aberdeen.
Rose Hill, Zambia

Poor Big Bro! The swap smacks of desperation. How they could choose such boring cardboard cutout characters, I’ll never know! The only genuine characters were Jon & Fed, but BB chose to boot them out at once. I’m no longer watching.

Anne,
England

I think it is a good idea as it adds something new to the house. I hope Cameron will be very successful and I wish him all the best. Well done BB & keep up the good work! Ray to win!!!
Michelle, Ireland

Well, after Jon’s eviction I didnt see the point of even tuning in to BB any more. It was only because my boyfriend receives the BBC news emails every day that I found out about the swap. I was so intrigued I had to have a look! I wish I could see Cam now though, is there a website I can watch him on?
Nichola Willett, UK

What a fantastic idea, especially as this was turning out to be one of the most boring Big Brother yet. Our African friend, will I am sure, bring a lot into the house. Best of luck.
Sally, UK

Hopefully Cameron will be able to understand and cope with the different personalities in the house. I hope that he will not be to overwhelmed by all the drama…Gaetano, keep representing.
Justina, Uganda

I think it’s a really interesting idea, I’m glad they’re doing something different again this year. Big Brother is just more of the same really, but little changes like this make it worth watching. It will also give the housemates some new conversation matierial as they have someone new to talk to and share his experiances with them.
Sarah, U.K (Wales)

I think Gae is wonderful. He has turned to be a spotlight in Africa. His Character is unique, he has rare sense of humour and he does things right. I think he deserve to experience the Big Brother Version of the UK. Wish him luck.

Nsubuga Edward,
Uganda

Having been down in Zambia and Moambique for the past 2 weeks, I’ve been able to catch a couple of the the pan-African Big Brother shows as well as the latest UK edition. I can safely say that Africa’s version is far more lively and interesting than the dreary fourth British incarnation; Kampala’s Gaetano is one of the most interesting in that show, so I fear he will die of boredom when confronted with the shallow and adult dating chat mail
UK contingent!
James, London, UK

I haven’t had time to watch BB Africa yet as Cameron went into the house at about the same time that I arrived at work, but I think the swap is a great idea. I just hope Cameron will cope with our muscle man, Alex and our screaming “disapproving sister”, Cherise.
Mary van Staden, South Africa

What a fantastic idea to ’swap’ contestants!!! of all the big brothers this has to be the best idea they have come up with. Gaetano will bring excitment and fun into the house!! good on ya BB
NATALIE WIGGINS, ENGLAND

Cameron is doing fine in south africa, he seems to be fitting in very well with the BB Africa housemates & his diary room session this morning was very endearing.
Leon Coetzer, South Africa

If there are any ladies in the house, watch out: the lion from the pearl of Africa has just been let loose in your back yard.

Brenda,
Kenya

I think it’s a stupid idea, Cameron is one of the only characters left with any personality. I think i’ll stop watching Big Brother now!
Lisa, UK

Cameron will come back a changed man. The housemates will miss him dreadfully, especially as they have also lost Fed and Jon over the last few days. The whole character of the house has changed in three days.
David Farmbrough, England

Anything to bring a bit of variety in to the house is welcome. As long as they don’t stick up a stupid divide like they did last time!!
James Morgan, England

It’s excellent that the producers are not allowing the concept to stagnate - they have brought in new ideas with each series (the den in series two, the rich-poor division in series three) and this year’s swap is certainly the most interesting and radical yet. The timing is also impecable: the house’s two genuine personalities were both given the boot on Friday and the remaining inmates are not strong enough to drive the ratings on their own.
Matt, UK

I wasn’t really interested in previous iterations of Big Bro, but this year I must admit I’ve been loving it! Cameron, while perhaps noot a winner will be missed by the other housemates and perhaps might ignite passion from Steph? The whole swap idea doesn’t convince me 100% however but any sort of shakeup is welcome!
David, Northern Ireland, UK

Very imaginative so far, and the idea of a swap is spectacular, but will anyone understand Cameron’s accent?
Adrian, UK

Great idea - most interesting twist they’ve added in three years! This is a REAL experiment in human behaviour now.
Emma, UK

Yawn! Big Brother is a long way past is sell by date and it should be put down.
Martin, England

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News - Pregnancy at work under spotlight

vitamin4ik696 — Sat, 24 May 2008 03:33:02 +0000

A series of pregnancy discrimination ‘horror’ stories has prompted the first ever investigation into the way pregnant women are treated at work.

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) said it would be launching a 17-month inquiry, because it was receiving more complaints about the subject than any other issue.

Each year, many women are sacked, or threatened with dismissal by employers just because they get pregnant.

According to an EOC survey, one in five people know a pregnant woman who has experienced problems at work.

‘Appalling’ treatment

Jenny Watson, deputy chair of the commission, said: “We hear of quite appalling cases of women who have been demoted, disciplined or even sacked simply for having a baby…we urgently need to find out why.”

Employers who discriminate against pregnant women are breaking the law and could be liable to pay compensation

Patricia Hewitt, Minister for Women

A third of workers in the 25 to 34 age group know someone who has experienced some form of discrimination because they are pregnant.

The continuing problems faced by some women are in stark contrast to awareness of the issues, the commission said.

According to a survey conducted by the EOC, three-quarters of workers are aware of pregnant women’s basic rights.

Ordeal

Harriet Completely free adult dating site
, a solicitor, won her sex discrimination case earlier this year after being sacked because she was pregnant.

She was awarded 30,000 compensation by an employment tribunal.

Ms Davies-Taheri fully supported the commission’s announcement.

“I wouldn’t want any other woman to have to go through what I went through,” she said.

Patricia Hewitt, Secretary for State for Trade & Industry and Minister for Women, also welcomed the research.

“Employers who discriminate against pregnant women are breaking the law and could be liable to pay compensation,” Ms Hewitt said.

“They are being foolish and harming their own businesses by excluding talented women from the workforce.”

Need further information about your rights?

The Equal Opportunities Commission has published a new guide on pregnancy and maternity rights at work, which will be available from its website (see link on right) from 1 September.

Use the form below to send us your views about how pregnant women are treated at work.

Your comments:

I have to say there are benefits to working for the NHS. I had great support when I was pregnant and was able to come back to work after 12 months leave to reduced hours.
All employers should take a leaf out of the NHS’s book on this.

Frances,
UK

Businesses should be able to discriminate on ability to do the job

Rob Read, UK

Businesses should be able to discriminate on ability to do the job. If a pregnant woman can’t do the job as well as she could when she was employed then I can see very valid business reasons to end her contract. Technology means Women can control their fertility so children must be seen as a lifestyle choice. The current rules make sure many women are not even given a chance to work (who would employ a liability?) and this will depress all women’s incomes.
Rob Read, UK

This article is no surprise - after all pregnant women disrupt the normal workflow and thus increase costs plus they are off work for a long period, it is difficult to find someone to replace them and the employer is bound to keep the job open for them - this all adds up to one big headache for employers and problems for women who are pregnant. The trouble is that the world is so short-term in its thinking. We need children in society - otherwise we will have no new employees, reduced contributions to pension funds and fewer consumers. This ‘problem’ needs to be addressed urgently.
Alex Roe, Italy

Whilst I understand flexibility should be given during/after pregnancy. I don’t understand why Companies should pay when the mother is not at work. This is a life style choice and should be unpaid. However regulation should be in place to safeguard a position within the company should they wish to return.
Mike, UK

My wife was made redundant three months ago (four weeks before she was due to give birth) along with 70% of her co-workers because the parent company of her employers was merging several of the smaller companies together. This in itself was not breaking any law, however, her employer then tried to claim she would not receive any form of maternity leave pay. Obviously this was very distressing to both her and our unborn child.

Luckily for us I was able to obtain the legal documentation of rights on maternity pay during redundancy, and presented this, along with a letter from my Solicitor’s to her employer. Guess what? The next day she went in to work she received full apologies from senior management and was given her full maternity pay package. For anyone out there that experiences problems of this nature, all I can suggest is to seek legal advice straight away and let your employer know that you are aware of your rights. It may just get you what you’re entitled too.
James, UK

I have a nine week old baby and have been treated obscenely by my employer

Karen Rusher, UK

I have a nine week old baby and have been treated obscenely by my employer; refused maternity pay and sick pay, no safety assessment carried out. I have effectively suffered a constructive dismissal according to advice received but with a new baby who wants to go through the hassle of a tribunal claim?!
Karen Rusher, UK

I know many women who have taken all the benefits from the employer then decided after full maternity rights not to return to work; it works both ways.
Colin Phillips, Scotland

In my wife’s work they elect not to pay any company maternity benefits to staff who work under a certain number of hours per week. I thought maternity benefits were supposed to be proportional to your pay rather than cutting off to zero below a certain salary? The holidays and sick leave are proportional, why not the maternity benefits? She resigned instead as it wasn’t worth her while to stay as an employee on zero maternity pay.
Andrew, Scotland

At the age of 22, just graduated from University, I was asked by a large electronics company in the interview what my plans were for having a family. Needless to say didn’t take that job.
Helen, UK

They receive far too much preferential treatment. Why should the rest of the workforce be expected to do the work of somebody else who still gets the same pay and who spends more time out of the office than in it?

Philip Ross,
England

I recently lost a baby. When I returned to work after a week’s sick leave, my MD called me to his office. He said he was sorry to hear about the baby and asked me when I was leaving. I said, I have no plans to leave the company. I plan to try and get pregnant again, but I will be staying with the company and taking maternity leave, after which my mother will look after my baby and I will return to work. He looked shocked and said nothing more. I am now petrified that should I get pregnant again, I will end up losing my job, as he obviously expects me to leave.

Tracey,
UK

When my wife’s employer was informed of my wife’s pregnancy, she was appointed increasingly difficult and physically challenging tasks in a concerted effort to drive her to resignation and not return to work, as a young family “was not in the interests of her role within the organisation”.
Leonard, UK

While the situation may feel bad, it is so much better than the way things happen in Mexico. When a young lady is hired by a company, typically she is asked to sign an undated “resignation letter”. When she later announces that she is pregnant, the letter is dated and this way she as “quit” which means that she doesn’t get any notice or any money for getting fired! This has decreased lately but, as a pregnant lady in the UK, I know that things could be so much worse. At least here things like this aren’t considered the status quo.
Claudia, Mexico (now living in the UK)

I think tragically women and pregnant women are still treated particularly badly in this country

Jen , UK

I think tragically women and pregnant women are still treated particularly badly in this country, When will people refuse “equal opportunity” is no opportunity at all. The big corporates are just as bad as small firms and provide very little support to staff harass, harangue and denigrate you.

It’s sad but I guess that kind of treatment puts career women off having children, Employers really should “pick on someone” their own size, women are easy targets and a pregnant lady more so than most, especially as employers know that they can’t be charged for manslaughter etc if they through bad practice induce a miscarriage.
The whole of society will pay the price for this treatment of women when quite simply the birth rates drops even more in the middle classes!
Jen , UK

It is a lifestyle choice, but that doesn’t mean women should miss out on being able to keep their job so that they can support their offspring. After all, people would soon moan if all mothers relied on welfare handouts. We would also be in a right old mess if only the idle rich could afford to have babies! Oh, to be a man - how simple and easy life is for them! I bet if it was men who carried babies the law would be even tougher.
Miranda , UK

Women having children is a fact of life. The fact that employers seem to resent this natural difference just simply shows that generally they are ill prepared for any change in the work place that does not appear to be in their favour.

Jon Green,
UK

Although my company supports pregnant women very well, there is certainly some resentment towards women going on maternity leave by other staff. Because the women on maternity leave are still paid, the company can not afford to bring in replacements for them whilst they are away, meaning that other people have to work sexy arab group
harder to cover for them. That is an unfair burden on the remaining staff. Also, since only about half of the women come back to work after their maternity leave, it creates further resentment that work colleagues covered for them for 6 months only to fell cheated at the end.
Martin, UK

I am 16 weeks pregnant with my second child. I plan to take just 9 of the 12 months’ maternity leave that I am entitled to. My bosses do not plan to fill my post while I am away in order to save money. This also happened last time.

The problem I face is having to redefine my role when I return. We are restructured every 2 years or so. If they manage without me, how can I justify keeping my post at the next restructuring? The worry cannot be good for my blood pressure.

In addition: last time I developed complications, leading to my leaving work without warning for sick leave, then my daughter arriving 9 weeks prematurely. There was no sympathy at all from the HR department.

They simply complained about the lack of warning and sent their standard letter informing me when I was due to return to work. I was very close to telling them where to stuff their return date!

It is difficult to look forward to pregnancy when this kind of treatment is commonplace.
Lisa (working mother of one, with another on the way!), UK

My wife works for one of Britain’s biggest and most profitable companies.

On returning to work following the birth of our first child two years ago, she received a returnee’s’ bonus of three months’ salary.

She is about to go on maternity leave for a second time, but the returnee’s’ bonus has been abolished. Instead, even better, she gets six months’ full pay while on maternity leave!

This shows that some world-leading companies are doing what they can to retain and reward female staff. Let’s hope that, in time, more firms come to recognise the real value that female workers add to their businesses.
Cliff, UK

If a woman can continue to do her job properly during pregnancy, there are no grounds for discrimination.

However, if the pregnancy means that she cannot continue doing the job properly, the employer should not be penalized for this.

The woman makes the decision to become pregnant - it is a lifestyle choice - and she gives the employer no say in this.

In some cases, it may be possible for the woman to be reassigned to duties more in keeping with her condition. However, in other cases, this may not be possible.

I think the current trend for making “discrimination” a dirty word is very damaging. Group private sex
is what allows us to tell what is good from what is bad.

An employer being forced to carry an employee as a passenger because of a choice she made independently of the employer is not a good thing.
David Smith, UK

I am a single woman, with a mortgage, and all other concomitant expenses of a household. I am currently working part-time, to cover for a maternity returnee who has decided to return to work only three days a week. The post requires a full-time worker. All returnees should consider their child - its development and social integration would surely be better aided by a full-time parent. We would not then adult dating free dating
children, whose behavioural problems have to be addressed by teachers. Experience has taught me that, legislate as we may, women cannot have it all.
Tanya, UK

Reading through all the comments made, I feel very lucky in the treatment I am receiving being 5 weeks away from the birth of my second child. I work for a Government department, and whilst I do not get a financial package whilst on maternity leave , just the normal SMP package, my line manager and above , could not have been more supportive. I think a lot of it is your attitude towards your pregnancy. I have tried to be very positive and have indicated to them , very early on , what my intentions are , both throughout my pregnancy and maternity leave. My colleagues are also equally as supportive. Maybe it has something to do with being an older Mum, and being in my late 30s and having working for the dept for nearly 20 years? Who knows ?

Mary,
UK

There are two sides to the pregnancy “rights” issue, and whilst it is easy for large companies to “balance things out”, small employers simply can’t afford the costs of paying someone to do nothing for many months. Is it right that a small business should be bankrupted simply because their one and only employee happens to get pregnant?

Of course, everyone knows the “real life” (but illegal) outcome - no small employer in his right mind would take on a female employee of reproductive age!
Dave Harvey, UK

Unfortunately this is all too common and its not just the workplace. I represent an organisation that campaigns on behalf of student parents. We regularly receive emails, phone calls etc from students who are often mistreated just because they get pregnant.
A lot of people, including women, tend to hold the view that women shouldn’t get pregnant and we have heard one too many stories of students who are encouraged to abort their baby against their wishes.
These stories sadly demonstrate that there is a lot more work to do be done in terms of women’s rights.
I am very glad however to see the EOC is to hold an inquiry - it’s long overdue.

Patrick Leahy,
UK

In my opinion, this is the worst form of conduct that an employer can exhibit. It is morally and ethically wrong and goes against the fabric of humanity and civilization. People who commit these crimes should be caught, jailed and their acts made public. Public should be aware of such employers and should be advised to avoid doing business with them.
Ali Khan, Pakistan

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News - Boys’ club closes after 60 years

vitamin4ik696 — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:18:01 +0000

A boys’ club, which has been in existence since 1941, is to close later this year.

Chairman of Bedminster Boys’ Club, Andy Lewis, said the group’s financial and staffing positions meant it would cease to meet after June.

Last year, a 30,000 grant made by Bristol City Council was discontinued after a reorganisation of funding.

A potential merger with a girls’ group which would have yielded funding of 12,000 was rejected by club members.

Make ends meet

“We have been run on a democratic basis since 1967 and the boys voted to stay single sex,” said Mr Lewis.

Despite reserve funds and efforts to find other sources of income, the 250-strong club says it will not be able to make ends meet in the future.

“We have had to let our malaysia group sex
leader go and you can’t rely only on volunteers; adults just don’t want to give their time to young people.”

Last week, a closing date of 16 June was set by its adult agencys dating escort uk wiltshire
women casual sex dating.

Not many facilities

“We wanted to remain the best until the very end, so we took the decision to close it while we were still a high quality club,” added Mr Lewis, who has been a member since 1965.

“I have no idea what young people in Bedminster Down will do - there are not many other facilities in the area.

“Now it’s up to someone in the community to inspire a new initiative which caters for the needs of young people of today,” he said.

Bristol City Council said the decision to change its youth project funding policy was taken in line with advice from Ofsted to channel money into the city’s 14 most deprived areas.

News - Petition over Super Furries’ gig

vitamin4ik696 — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:26:59 +0000

Brecon residents are objecting to a concert by Welsh rock group, the Super Furry Animals, at the Brecon Jazz Festival next month.

A petition has been signed by 84 people living near the field, where the band will perform in a marquee on 12 August.

Residents claim the concert has been “sprung” on them, although festival organisers deny it will bring any problems.

Meanwhile, street performances at the festival will have to end earlier, by 2000 BST over the weekend.

Local resident and town mayor Mike Gittins is unhappy about the Super Furries’ appearence at Watton Field, blaming “11th hour planning”.

Festival director Andy Eagle defended the concert but conceded that another venue may have to be found, because of the opposition.

The concert is subject to a public free trial adult dating
licence application to Powys council on 28 July.

We should be proud the Super Furries are coming, it’s a real coup for the town

Festival director, Andy Eagle

Mr Gittins said: “Watton Field is hallowed turf in the town surrounded by homes inhabited by senior citizens.

“They, and others in the town, are concerned about the Super Furry Animals’ concert.

“I think people associate rock and roll with sex, drugs and alcohol and they are also concerned that the Super Furry Animals are more of a rock group than a jazz group.”

He added that the 1,000-capacity market hall would have been better suited to the concert than a marquee.

“The festival has been allowed to use Watton Field on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but it seems the organisers have sprung this extra date on us.

“If they’d planned it properly and consulted with the relevant agencies, then it probably would have gone through.

“But the 11th hour planning has caused problems.”

‘Insult’

Andy Eagle says SFA will launch the festival on 12 August

Mr Eagle said: “The Super Furries gig is for young people and I think it’s an insult to say that there will be canada adult dating
intent on causing chaos at the gig.

“The people opposed are in the minority and these people should remember that they were young once too.

“We’ve had bands and individuals kick off the festival before who’ve had no jazz links.

“A few years ago Blues legend Buddy Guy and then Van Morrison appeared and they’re both not considered jazz acts.

“We should be proud the Super Furries are coming, it’s a real coup for the town.”

Mr Eagle confirmed that best adult dating site
had been placed on street performers who will only play until 2000 (BST) this year, unlike 2300 (BST) in previous years.

“There are concerns about this issue and that’s why there’s no bandstand. The times of the performances have been adult online dating and personals
too,” he added.

The Super Furries gig was announced last week. Organisers have put 1,000 tickets on sale.

News - Are we still living with the 60s?

vitamin4ik696 — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:53:22 +0000

Turning on the era in which he did much of his growing up (he was born in 1953), the prime minister said the 60s had been a time of great change, but “some took the freedom without the adult dating free online personal
“.

He said people now want a society based on respect and responsibility and that liberalism had gone too far.

Announcing tough new plans to fight crime, Mr Blair said the era spawned a group of young people without parental discipline or a sense of responsibility.

But while nostalgia for the 60s may remain strong, there is adult dating free local site
about whether we are really still living with its values.

LAW AND ORDER

In the 1960s the minor crimes of young offenders aroused far less interest from the authorities, says bi group sex video
Paul Kiff.

“The feeling was that they would grow out of it. Now the feeling is that we have to intervene.”

The mythology around crime is enormous, but the reality is it has not really changed

Paul Kiff

There are few people today who argue that criminals can simply be left to realise the error of their ways, says Mr Kiff, who is also secretary of the Penal Affairs Consortium.

The current argument is between those who want to deal with the social and economic causes of crime, like bad housing and poverty, and those who share Mr Blunkett’s desire to come down hard on the individuals responsible.

The government’s pledge to deal with offenders follows Tory leader Michael Howard’s move away from a more liberal approach, when he was home secretary in the 1990s, says Mr Kiff. He suggests it is the nature of crimes that the year 2004 has in common with the 1960s.

“The mythology around crime is enormous, but the reality is it has not really changed,” says Mr Kiff.

EDUCATION

Education saw very important changes during the 1960s, with the rapid expansion of comprehensive schools and more freedom for teachers.

Schools are still influenced by the 1960s

The reforms took place under the Labour government of Harold Wilson and many of those which came later, such as the creation of the Open University in 1971, also had their roots in the previous decade.

It was a time when greater attention was paid to the needs and rights of pupils, regardless of ability. More unusual techniques, such as facing tables away from the front so children looked at each other were tried.

“What people often think of teachers in the 1960s is that they had much more freedom,” says Gary McCulloch, professor of education at London’s Institute of Education.

While pupils in the 60s still had to sit exams, there was no national curriculum and teachers had much more leeway, says Prof McCulloch.

Today, there is a strict national curriculum and the government has announced its intention to replace comprehensives with independent specialist schools. Despite the changes, Prof McCulloch says: “In a sense all these debates are still with us and very influential and very much alive.”

SEX AND EQUALITY

Announcing his war on crime, Mr Blair said one of the good things the 1960s had brought were breakthroughs on individual rights. Among the most profound changes was an improvement in the status of women, with greater freedom and equality.

Women of the 1960s enjoyed more freedom than their mothers

The influence of the period remains strong among those who grew up at the time, says writer and broadcaster Marcelle D’Argy Smith.

“I think they liked being young so much, they decided to stay young,” says the former Cosmopolitan editor. The result, she says, has not always been great, with some women - and their partners - failing to be “very good parents”.

She is more impressed with the “poised and intelligent” young women of today. “We were idiots in the 60s, we thought we knew everything. We thought we had discovered sex and drugs.”

Despite a yobbish undercurrent, men have also improved, Ms D’Argy Smith suggests. “They still like fast cars and loose women, but their priorities are better. They don’t want to be a playboy anymore, they want to be a family man.”

The chances of a mature group sex picture
being present at the birth of a child were slim back in the 1960s, but today they would be seen as lacking. There is also greater equality in most homes.

POPULAR CULTURE

The Beatles and the Stones, Habitat, concrete tower blocks and snappy dressing all came to the fore in the 1960s and are clearly still with us. To many people it was a time of great innovation, which has continued to shape the way people live today.

Fashions bloomed during the decade

It’s not difficult to find influences of the era in any record shop, clothes store, or interiors magazine. But the importance of the decade is one which is routinely overstated, believes designer Wayne Hemingway.

“It was a time of great change after a period of austerity, but we have continued in a similar vein. It’s all to do with people’s ability to spend money,” he says.

The desire to have new clothes, or a new sofa is part of human nature and people continue to want different things.

“I don’t know anyone who thinks of the 60s when they’re designing,” he says.

Add your comments on this story, using the form below.

I’ve been a police officer for 30 years. Every Home Secretary I’ve seen has promised to cut down on police paperwork and get officers out onto the streets. However, all that has happened during that time is that bureaucracy has got worse and worse.
Andy, England

The 60s are “to blame” because parents who grew up in the decade have been unable to adopt the same sense of discipline with their kids that their parents adopted with them. The permissiveness they enjoyed in the 60s has been passed on to their kids, who have run riot as a result.
Jan Dawson, UK

Perhaps the legacy of the 1960’s that will always stick with Americans is the pioneering in the field of indivdual rights. Civil rights, freedom of speech right, rights of the accused, and a woman’s right to choose are all direct products of the 60’s emphasis on the sanctity of the individual.

Ben J, United States

The 60s still exerts such a big influence because there has been nothing notable in popular culture since then that has challenged the establishment on quite the same fundamental grounds. These days everything is just another commodity and we’re sold the idea that consuming more and more goods will lead to greater happiness.
Bob, UK

The 60s were about peace, love and sharing. Current attitudes date from the 80s, when the “every man (sorry, person) for himself” culture grew and developed today’s self-centred attitudes which lead to binge drinking (because I want too), lack of respect (only the strong survive), and the “I have my rights” brigade.
George Chilvers, UK

I was a teenager through the greater part of the 60s. Then we wanted to make a better, more equal, more peaceful world - we didn’t achieve it, but we wanted to. Now we don’t even want to.
Roger Steer, UK

All this blaming stuff on the 60s is just an excuse to bring in a more authoritarian system. If we were really living in a liberal paradise we would not be putting so many people into prison.
Adam Hamilton, Scotland

I was a child of the 60s and never stop being thankful for the opportunities I had as a working-class female. University education, foreign travel, a flat and a career of my own. Wonderful!
Madeline Cox, UK

It is typical of Tony Blair to blame anyone but himself for the country’s problems. He has been prime minister for seven years - maybe it is time that he took some responsibility?
Tom D, UK

Those left in authority, like our teachers, can no longer enforce discipline without danger of prosecution. Little wonder we’ve ended up in this state.
Peter Hill, UK

Blair launches a crusade, but the argument for it doesn’t stand up when you look into it. Maybe he’s just making a noise to distract attention from the last time he launched a crusade, when the argument for it didn’t stand up…
Ben, UK

In the 1960s we were still ruled by Edwardians and things like eating in the street or dropping chewing gum were still frowned upon. In the 1970s the country went down hill under the inept governments of Heath and Wilson/Callaghan and too much union power. It the 1980s Mrs Thatcher introduced new concepts of “no society”, “Loadsamoney” and “devil take the hind most”. These created basis for the mess we now find ourselves in.
Nick Bradfield, London, UK

That it is currently vogueish to treat offenders as if they are victims and victims as if they are offenders - and that it is more attractive for victims to shut up rather than speak out - must surely tell us we have completely lost the plot.
Matt, England

If Mr Blunkett had been around and in power when I was a teenager I would probably be in prison now, living on the streets, or dead. Instead, due to the values and common sense of my parents, who grew up in the 1960s, I got myself away from trouble with the law and I’m now in a well paid job, working hard, paying lots of tax and helping other people.

Joe, England

Disclaimer: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published.

News - Self improvement, the couch potato way

vitamin4ik696 — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:00:38 +0000

adult dating chat free xxx
gners want us to switch off the box this week, arguing that television has come to rule our lives. But a new book in the US flies in the face of fashion and suggests that watching TV makes you smarter.

Britain in the 1970s was a troubled place to be. But amid this unhappy era of industrial strife, rampant inflation and excessive polyester, the British always held one thing dear: their television.

In the popular mind the 70s remain the high watermark of TV. In a poll earlier this month for BBC Four, 31% voted it the greatest decade for television, followed by the 80s, the 90s and the 60s. Just over one in 10 nominated the current decade.

If those sentiments were to be translated into viewing figures, the people behind Turnoff TV Week, which started on Monday, could sit back, put their feet up and relax… read a good book perhaps.

But while TV has lost some audience to other forms of home free group sex clip
- most notably the internet - it remains an overwhelming influence.

TV Turnoff week is an 11-year-old campaign run by an activists’ group called White Dot, which opposes television, full stop. It is part of the Canadian anti-consumerist outfit Adbusters.

TUNING IN

On average, Britons spend three hours a day watching TV

Compared to 17 minutes reading newspapers

11 minutes reading books

And seven minutes online

Source: Orange Prize for Fiction (2002)

“White Dot is against TV at a fundamental level,” says the group’s UK spokesman David Burke. “The whole base model of TV depends on average viewing time of three to four hours a day. That’s a huge commitment of time, when you consider we work eight hours, sleep eight hours - you give half of the rest of your day to television.”

Mr Burke cites a couple of the numerous claims that have been levelled against television over time - it contributes to obesity, it is linked to attention deficit disorder.

Almost since its launch, television has been on the back foot. Exactly 50 years ago the Nuffield Foundation began a study into the effects of TV on children.

The report three years later, entitled Television and the Child, was “reassuring” according to an Observer newspaper story at the time, although it suggested TV reduced social contacts outside the family, slightly hampered bright children and hastened arguments in the home.

In the half century since, TV has changed into the multi-channel, 24-hour programming environment we know today. But critics say more competition has led to a decline in the quality as programme makers have resorted to lowest common denominator formats.

TV bad for you? It’s been a debate since the 1950s

Now though, a new book in the US is challenging the notion that TV has “dumbed down” over the years; that watching television is bad for you.

In Everything Bad is Good For You, Steven Johnson argues that audiences are nostalgic for a “golden era” of TV that didn’t really exist. We remember the good shows, but forget the abundance of dross.

“You have to compare like with like,” says Mr Johnson, who believes US shows such as ER, West Wing, Seinfeld, 24 and the Sopranos - all of which have won loyal followings in the UK - are infinitely more sophisticated than their equivalents in the 70s.

Today’s programmes have more complex narratives, moral ambiguity, bigger casts, numerous intertwined plotlines - in essence, the sort of depth one would expect from a weighty novel.

“The form of these shows, the fact the onus is on the viewer to make connections and understand what’s going on… watching them is a mental work out,” says Mr Johnson.

Hill Street Blues, the long-running New York police drama which started in 1981, is Mr Johnson’s baseline. It tore up the cop show rule book by injecting realism into a casual nyc sex dating
shoot ‘em up format. Its success cleared the way for a host of increasingly more complex TV dramas, he says.

Reality TV is good?

There’s been a similar trend on this side of the Atlantic, says scriptwriter Tony McHale, who writes for BBC dramas Silent Witness and Waking the Dead. The shows combine the science of pathology with the suspense of a traditional whodunit.

You have these intense interpersonal dynamics when they are solving a challenge, and the audience is trying to figure out if there’s a better strategy

Steven Johnson on the intellectual challenge of watching reality shows

Compare these to Quincy ME, the 70s equivalent about a crime fighting coroner. “It was a more nave take on pathology,” says Mr McHale, “nowhere near as complex in plotting or character development.”

“I always say what we do is drama - the journeys of the characters may be exaggerated, but there are elements of realism. The science is real. The trick with a good script is to take an audience down a path so they will bridge that credibility gap,” says Mr McHale.

More controversially, perhaps, is that Steven Johnson extends his “TV is good for you” thesis to the reality format that has mushroomed in the US and UK. Watching Big Brother, I’m A Celebrity…, the Apprentice can also be brain food.

Quality at the margins

“What people miss when they see reality shows is that these are group psychology experiences,” says Mr Johnson. “It’s fascinating to watch because it’s unscripted. You have these intense interpersonal dynamics when they are solving a challenge, and the audience is trying to figure out if there’s a better strategy. It’s a much more engaged experience than watching a mediocre cop show.”

Make Me a Supermodel - intellectual viewing?

So could Mr Johnson be on to something here? Is today’s TV more intellectual than it’s often credited to be?

Television critic Chris Dunkley doesn’t think so. He acknowledges the crop of high-end, quality US dramas, but points out most come from the HBO stable. HBO (Home Box Office) is a subscription channel, rather than free-to-air. It’s cornered a niche market which is prepared to pay for quality, says Mr Dunkley.

Overall, TV has dumbed down since the 70s, he says, because quality shows have been “shunted to the margins” of the schedules. Of reality programmes, a few, such as Channel 4’s Faking It and the BBC’s Castaway, stand out, he says.

Tim Gardam, former director of programmes at Channel 4, says programming has got better, but within a far narrower field.

“In the multi-channel environment, you have to grab viewers, whereas before they had to settle into a programme. So in reality shows and the American dramas, there is innovation in the form.”

Where TV has suffered, he says, is in innovation of broader content - fewer documentaries, less foreign news coverage. The reality format has overtaken comedy, he says, because it is familiar and immediately accessible, whereas comedies require time to take root among audiences.

A key difference, he notes, between the 70s and today is the absence of American shows at prime time in Britain. “People sentimentalise the past but US shows in prime time just don’t rate with British audiences these days.”

Add your comments to this story using the form below:

It is and it isn’t, TV is far, far more informative that state schools these days it covers a wider range of topics and is far more up to date. However the trouble arises when people take what is on TV is total truth this is were propaganda creeps in and TV becomes a corrupting influence.
Paul Mahon, England

My wife and I couldn’t afford a TV + licence when we bought our first house and after a while we realised that we were very happy without one. We’ve lived like this for 8 years. When people discover this they always say two things:

- “Well there’s never anything good on anyway!”

- “I hardly ever watch ours.”

But challenge them to give up their TV and we’re met with looks of horror
Ben Harvey, Sussex, UK

I actually agree that TV could make you smarter… by “arming” you with lots of information. But having the intelligence to make good use of that information hardly comes from TV. And the worry is that TV often kills off that intelligence through information overload or twisted information. It’s akin to the parable of a donkey carrying books.
Kazem, UK

Got rid of my TV a couple of years ago - Best thing I ever did. I was amazed at how much of my life I reclaimed. Try it and you’ll never look back!
John-David Papworth, UK

My son is two and watches an hour of Cbeebies first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I am convinced his impressive vocabulary is in part due to what he has seen on TV, which he also links to what he has seen in books and in the outside world. He can count to ten without any prompting and I’ve lost count of the animals he can name. Children’s TV now is sophisticated and a very high quality, and uses technological advancements to make programmes engaging and stimulating - the learning that takes place as a result is almost a by-product of what is for him an enjoyable experience.
Joanna Farmer, Coventry, UK

I love to read - but it is so solitary. I can share a good TV programme with my partner, we can’t read the same book together (not even by buying two copies - he’s a much slower reader!)
Susan Jones, UK

If you consider TV to mean “The Ascent Of Man”, “Life On Earth”, “The Singing Detective”, “Edge of Darkness” or “James Burke’s Connections”, then yes, TV is good for our inteligence. But I feel the continual diet of reality gibberish is turning our minds into mush. I avoid TV as much as possible, but that’s not a principled stance. It’s just self-preservation!
Russell Jones, Manchester UK

The findings are rubbish - bit like childrens tv really - Dick and Dom, childrens tv presenters - need I say more,
Steve Edwards, Brighton England

I have to agree with the sentiment of this story - TV aids intelligence - it does not destroy or hinder. I have been an avid watcher of TV for many years now - I grew up in the 70s and 80s and, like so many of my contemporaries, have a nostalgic view of the TV made during this period.
The standard of television is not higher than it used to be and to compare something like 24 to ‘a weighty novel’ is nonsense. Reading a novel requires the reader to use their imagination. Programmes like The Brains Trust which were popular in the 50s would be beyond the grasp of many today. The innovative drama of the 60s was extraordinary and quality like that is rarer nowadays, so when it happens, eg with Shameless, it really stands out.
S Cattan, England

I know a family who are all obese, and the parents are constantly ordering their children to go and watch TV because the children make a noise when playing together. Is it any wonder their kids are getting fatter and fatter?
Sarah Naylor, UK

After 20 years of life without TV, I have recently aquired one. Amongst the dross there are a number of excellent programmes (Alan Hart Davis’ programmes about the history of technology, wildlife programmes etc). However, after spending a couple of hours being entertained, even educated, I still have the uneasy feeling I’ve not made the *best* use of my time. I think this comes from the fact that you can watch the TV without really having to engage the brain.
Mark Headey, UK

Wow! There’s some real rubbish being highlighted in this report. How slobbing out in front of mindless reality shows can be good for you is beyond any sensible explanation. With the multi channel environment, there is so much more dross. Quality drama series like I Claudius have yet to be bettered by any of the recent output. We’re headed towards the society described by Nigel Kneale’s “Year Of The Sex Olympics”, where people experience things through their television rather than in reality. And when was that shown? 1968. And still relevant today.
‘Nuff said.
James Dowling, Birmingham, England

I find that TV is self-regulating. There’s so much rubbish in the TV schedules that my wife and I watch little more than the news, films and the occasional documentary.

Phil Rogers, Bournemouth, UK

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News - The Magazine Monitor

vitamin4ik696 — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:26:24 +0000

Amusing thing happens when waiting in a departure lounge. Go online on public terminal, fancy a bit of the Monitor for diversion, and find that - alone among BBC pages, access is forbidden. “Unsuitable content,” it says.

Elgan, UK

In Microsoft aims to trounce Google (27 October), Bill Gates said that “the PC of today is still not the PC he dreamed about 30 years ago”; doesn’t he remember how in 1981 he said “nobody will ever need more than 640k RAM”?
Chris Simmons, Bristol

I see that TC (Monitor Letter, 27 October) has won Monitor Letter of the Week with a blatant bit of sucking up. Well I’m feeling pretty jealous, and would like to try a late attempt to win the title. So here goes: Hi Monitor, how are you? You’re really smart, you know, and you do make me laugh. Hey, have you been working out?
Luke L, banana13
Winner of the Monitor’s Letter of the Week for next week.

Re the caption comp - to be pedantic, it is surely a giant Westie rather than a giant Scottie (being white, rather than black), is it not?
Sarah, Oxford

Wine-loving French speakers use “Chateau la Pompe” for tap water (castle handpump). The current year is excellent and comes quite cheap.
Matt, London, UK

I’ve been wondered who it is that Phil Spector’s amazing hair reminds me of… happily I’ve realised it’s the eponymous Hair Bear from classic cartoon The Hair Bear Bunch.
Norbert, London, UK

I just tried Isabella’s ego-surfing (Monitor Letter, 26 October) and was extremely disappointed to find a picture of me popping up!
Kris, Orkney, Scotland

At last! An excuse to be wasting time at work - claim the health benefits with this article saying that Cabbaging prevents cancer (doesn’t it?).
Ben Hill, Cardiff, Wales

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this page it is stated that poverty is defined as “below 60% of the UK average wage” yet it also states that the average salary (in London I presume) is 31,370. This means that if you’re earning less than 19,000 you’re living in poverty. Surely there’s some mistake?
Ben,
Bristol

Re Kate’s Monitor Letter, 26 October, about tap water being called “council pop”, I spent my 1980s childhood with a father who only allowed me to drink ‘corporation pop’ with meals. It did make water sound more exciting somehow.
Kirsty,
London, UK

If you go to my uncle’s house (obligatory family cad), he will be mashing (making tea) with council pop (water) and cow juice (obvious).
Michael Rhodes,
South Normanton, Derbyshire

In The Netherlands tap water is known as ‘gemeentepils’, which translates as ‘council pilsner’.
Diana,
Charlbury, UK

Is cabbaging becoming the new Mornington Crescent?
David Gorton,
Oldbury, UK

Re the sexiest sections of motorway in Britain (Monitor Letter, 26 October), I dont know if it was a motorway or dual carriageway but I was a passenger in a car the other day and we passed a closed down Little Chef that had been reopened as a sex shop. Does that count?
Jonathan,
Bedford, England

Surely a candidate for 10 Things We Didn’t Know This Time Last Week, from a story about beavers due to be released in Britain: “The beaver was hunted to extinction for its fur and the pain-relieving properties of its anal gland secretions. ” Just the thought makes my eyes water.
James,
Cape Town

Re: Punorama’s search for a new name for Yorkshire feta: Oh dear, please don’t tell the EU I’ve been guilty of making Yorkshire Pudding in Sussex, Lancashire, Herts,and even for a few years in the US.
Robin,
Herts UK

Re:Net users told to get safe online: does anyone else often type their password in the “town/city and country” form on the Monitor?
Basil Long,
Newark Notts

Re: The Daily Telegraph article, mentioned in Paper Monitor on Wednesday with the headline “I waited with sick baby for two hours as doctor rode unicycle on ward”. For anyone who didn’t read the entire article, the best part is the quote, “a letter from hospital managers…said…that in future all unicycling on the ward would be restricted to ’special occasions’”. This seems only reasonable, doesn’t it?
Louisa Henney,
Woking, UK

With all these changes coming in to the BBC News website, can the Magazine be given more ’space’? Especially the Monitor section.
I would love to see more features, and most especially, more letters published. I’m sure I can’t be the only one?
TC,
UK
Winner of the Monitor’s Letter of the Week.

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It’s time for the caption competition.

This week, gymnast Steve Frew and a giant Scottie dog unveil the new Scottish team tartan ahead of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. But what’s being said?

6. J Gates, Reading
“I canny take the strain no longer, Captain.”

5. Angela Barlow, Liverpool
The mystery beast of the Lost jungle is finally revealed.

4. Christian Cook, UK
After the fire, the Aardman animators had to work from memory in re-creating their most famous duo.

3. Colin, Dublin, Ireland
Despite long hours of intense traning, wee Scotty still hadn’t quite grasped the concept of walkies.

2. Stuart, West Midlands
Nobody took the Cybermen seriously after cutbacks in the BBC costume department.

1. Bottly, Bristol, UK
“It’s the only way we thought we could get away with ‘Scottish Team’ and ‘Winalot’ in the same sentence.”

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How smart are you? - History, and the Nelson question. Just to be pedantic, Nelson was preserved in rum betwen Trafalgar and Gibraltar and then brandy from Gib to London. It was rumoured that the sailors guarding the barrel of rum quietly drained off quantities in order to give themselves some of Nelson’s courage. The tradition continues in Nelson’s birthplace in Norwich where one local pub sells a concoction called Nelson’s Blood.
Rob,
Hamilton, Bermuda

Re: Suckers, 25 October, in which you discuss the increasing sale of bottled water. Has anyone else come across the term “council pop” for tap water?
Kate,
Manchester, UK

Interesting to hear of Neil’s creation of “totally free adult dating” (Monitor letters, Tuesday). Try ego-surfing Google Images for another diverting pastime. Type in your name and see whose picture pops up. I am apparently a dreadlocked singer-songwriter, my boyfriend a check-shirted snow-mobiler and my baby daughter a middle-aged librarian with a worrying fondness for loud floral prints.
Isabella,
Sheffield

Re James’s Cabbaging experiences (Monitor Letters, Tuesday). This is clearly an example of canada adult dating
cabbaging, as defined in the 2002 Supplement, and as such should be discounted. Unless of course you were playing under the Strasbourg variant, which allows reverse-swtiching if any one of your opponents executes a double pack-pass cabbage.
Matt,
London, UK

Jeremy Langworthy’s letter in the Monitor on Tuesday criticises the BBC’s choice of pictures of motorways for being dull. Please point out sections of motorway that are exciting in still life and I, for one, will award you a metaphorical coconut.
Craig,
Edinburgh

I am intrigued to see what an “interesting” section of motorway looks like. Maybe we could have a new challenge for Monitor Readers - what are the sexiest sections of motorway in Britain? How would we measure their “Casual sex dating finder
“? I’d like to nominate a stretch of the M40 towards Oxfordshire which runs through a cutting type thing, which I find quite nice.
Greg,
Croydon, Surrey

Elle Dodd asks which places in the world, apart from Hollywood, Machynlleth and Brasov have “Hollywood”-style signs. She can add Mosgiel in New Zealand - sometimes referred to as “Mosgielwood”.
Dave Johnson,
Dunedin, New Zealand

Another small Welsh town that might benefit from such a sign would be Holywell, Flintshire.
David Green,
Flintshire/Oxford, UK

As you drive over the QE2 bridge from Essex to Kent you see the word ‘CROSSWAYS’ in large white letters. It is, alas, no more exciting than an industrial estate.
Ian,
Kent

In Can a home wind turbine make money?, 25 October, we are advised “You should be able to buy a wind turbine at B&Q and stick it in yourself.” Ouch, well that’d put me off right away.
David,
Bagshot, UK

Proof if proof were needed that the new Have Your Say system works. The most recommended comment on the debate about the smoking ban: “Having a smoking section in a pub or restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.” Pure genius.
Paul Taylor,
Manchester, UK

If someone were to cough up mineral water, could they be said to have Evian flu?
Lee Pike,
Cardiff

So Lamb and Lynx have decided they “want to keep being white” (Paper Monitor, Tuesday). It’s always nice when young people set attainable goals, don’t you think?
Charlene,
Calgary, Canada

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July?

Well there’s an entrant to the bizarro category today in the Telegraph (right). Great work.

And a special mention to the Times “People” diary today which notes Angelina Jolie’s new bad taste tattoo across the back of her neck. In the unpleasant Gothic font so beloved of tattooists, she now has the words “know your rights” etched on her. Profound, huh? Diarist Hugo Rifkind does the decent thing, though, and suggests alternative texts for her: “Bad Hair Day” (especially appropriate because the tat is only visible when Jolie has her hair up), “Kick Me” and “How is my driving?”.

It all puts Paper Monitor in mind of the legendary story from 1999 when three American biker chicks sued a tattooist after they realised that their new tattoos across their chests did not, as they had requested, say “Satan’s Slaves”. Oh no. They said “Stan’s Slaves”. That font can be so confusing, can’t it?

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Monitor Letters, was there some humour that I missed in your letter? What on EARTH are you trying to say? I for one am completely baffled!
Hardik
Wellingborough

While having my first go at cabbaging, I ended up on this bbc.co.uk page: There isn’t a date on the page itself, but the date is in the title bar, and in the address. Does this count, or am I disqualified? We cannot award the teacake until we have official adjudication! Thanks for a great magazine.
James
Manchester

Congratulations BBC online. Whilst I understand that finding stimulating imagery for some of your “drier” stories may be a challenge you really have set new standards with the photos in the article Scanner to ’see inside’ concrete
These are, without question, two of the dullest sections of motorway I have ever seen.
Jeremy Langworthy
London

Quick question: are Lamb and Lynx the same blond little girls that were featured on one of those Louis Theroux’s shows a while ago? I seem to remember he spent some time with some white supremacist family and the two girls would sing about how great it was to be white…
Claudia
Milton Keynes

With reference to the article about the EU decision on naming of Adult chat dating chat room
feta cheese How about ‘the cheese formerly known as Feta’?

Ben Simkins
Vevey, Switzerland

Reading about the new Hollywoodesque sign in Machynlleth made me think, how many other cities have a Hollywood sign? Are there enough for me to stop calling it a Hollywood sign, does it have real name? The first (or rather third) place on the list, is Brasov, Romania.

Elle Dodd
Brasov, Romania

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Flexicon:”blong hair”). Their “Smiley” T-shirts are also typical of many girls their age, apart, that is, from the way the face has been made to look like Hitler. The pair are the biggest thing to hit the white supremacist pop scene in some time.

In a statement (which is not believed to be related to the need for taking precautions in the hot Californian sun), Lynx told reporters: “We’re proud of being white, we want to keep being white.”

The paper reports: “Their mother appears to be the main source of inspiration. ‘I’m going to give them my opinion, just like any parent would,’ she said… April Gaede said that she had tutored the twins herself at home, teaching them her own version of current affairs and history. The girls have also been brought up surrounded by their father’s taste in dcor, which relies heavily on the swastika. He wears it on his belt buckle, plasters it on the side of his pick-up truck and has even registered it as his cattle brand.”

Ah well, here’s something to cheer - the Guardian’s Simon Hoggart interpreting what he sees as an idealised way that 24-hour drinking will work. “The new hours will create a relaxed and continental drinking culture, in which young persons toy with a glass of rose until two in the morning, as twinkle-eyed peelers stand outside pubs suggesting that they might move along, but only if they’ve had enough. Then the young women will ride home on unicorns.”

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Sneeze into the hanky! Got it?, 24 October, you say “Charley Says worked because kids…thought they were cute little cartoons… The animation had a home-made, cut-out look similar to the Roobarb and Custard cartoons, so they didn’t look scary”. Two things: 1) Roobarb & Custard didn’t have a cut-out look, it had a wiggly drawn look, and b) Charley Says films used to scare the bejeezus out of me. They were coloured in shades of mud and looked as though they were set in the most depressing town in Britain. The look of the animation freaked me out even before they had got to The Message.
Kaylie,
Runcorn, UK

Re: Lobsters, 24 October. An American colleague was on a visit to Thailand when some locals asked him a most poignant question: “Why do you eat lobster when you can afford meat?”
Mark Esdale,
Bridge, Canterbury

I’ve been reading (with some interest) the thoughts about Brian Cant’s absence from the Quaker Oats advert (Ad Breakdown: Miller’s sexed-up tale, 21 October). I’d like to shed some light on to the matter - if you look on a list and see “Brian Cant”, then surely the best thing to do would be just to keep moving down the list and find someone who can? I suggest Brian removes the “t” from the end of his surname - more work may result.
Greg,
Croydon

Re: Paper Monitor’s request for a Flexicon word for the vindication of obsessive menu-keepers: perhaps they could call themselves “save-yours”? (Suggested by a colleague, I must admit.)
Brian Ritchie,
Oxford, UK

If I only were able to come up with an entry to the Flexicon, that entry would be “correctrospective”. Ah well indeed.
Greg,
Croydon, Surrey

Rey Apple faces iPod Nano litigation, 24 October, in which you report: “Commenting on the lawsuit, Apple said: ‘We do not comment on pending litigation.’” At last, news stories from The Day Today!
Basil Long,
Newark Notts

I have stumbled along a new pastime for time-wasting at work.. photo-cabbaging. I managed five clicks starting here Chippy named best in Wales, all using the same stock photo (or close up from the same photo) of a adult asian dating
unappetising-looking bit of fish & chips. I have duly awarded myself a picture of a teacake.
Neil,
Aberystwyth

Luv your site, lads!!!
Catherine Monaco, Los Angeles
Monitor note to Monaco: What about us gals?

Can we have someone who can watch over theys websit makes. so each one to be carefull in want they say about thinks they are going to happen when they are not going to happen like thres plx .
Steer,
Dagenham

RE: the introduction of a Flash 7 days 7 questions, 21 October: I thoroughly miss the excitement of not knowing my score until I press results. That is all.
Dave Candy,
Bicester, United Kingdom
Monitor note to Candy: We’ll see what we can do.

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News - The ups and downs of George Michael

vitamin4ik696 — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:29:21 +0000

George Michael is considered a musical veteran in today’s climate of short-lived manufactured singers and bands.

But the career of the outspoken singer has also been one dogged by ups and downs, with his fair share of controversy, exemplified by his caution for possession of cannabis in London.

He started out in boy band Wham! as the lead singer alongside guitarist Andrew Ridgeley, whom he met at school in north London.

The pair had a massive following, carving out a huge fan young fan base with hits such as Wake me Up Before You Go Go, Freedom and Last Christmas.

The group had four best-selling albums, including a greatest hits release in 1997.

Michael, who was born Georgios Panaytiotou, had his first stab at solo success in 1984 with the ballad Careless Whisper, which went to number one.

Wham! were the biggest boyband of their time

He continued performing with Wham! and it wasn’t until 1986 that the duo went their separate ways, with Ridgeley devoting his time to rally driving and later becoming an environmental activist.

Michael re-invented his image and released the singles A Different Corner, Faith and I Want Your Sex.

These were taken from his number one album Faith which established him as one of the UK’s biggest solo talents.

While he still appealed to young fans he also managed to gain a new older following, ensuring massive record sales.

‘Professional slavery’

Faith sold more than 10 million copies and earned Michael a best album Grammy in 1988.

The album Listen Without Prejudice followed in 1990, which spawned the hit single Praying for Time.

But he fell out spectacularly with his record company in 1994 and tried to get himself released from his contract which he had called “adult agencys dating uk wiltshire
slavery”.

A three-month court case ensued which Michael eventually lost, forcing him to fulfil his adult dating free services xxx
commitments and record two more songs - Outside and As - to be used on a greatest hits album.

He eventually settled his differences with the company and parted company with them in 2003.

George Michael split with Wham in 1986

In 2002, Michael found himself in the firing line when he released the single Shoot the Dog, which featured a cartoon video of Prime Minister Tony Blair as US President George Bush’s poodle.

There was a particular backlash against it in US because it was seen as anti-American, with Michael fearing he would be unable to the return to the US.

Despite the huge publicity the single reached only number 12 in the UK charts.

More recently Michael said he was thinking about retiring from the music business, but later backtracked.

He has embarked on his first tour in more than a decade to mark his 25 years in the music business, with sold out UK dates beginning in November.

Michael has suffered a number of legal woes in recent years, starting when he was arrested in a public toilet in Los Angeles after attempting to solicit an undercover police officer in 1998.

Chart success

His conviction for lewd conduct resulted in a $450 fine and 80 hours community service.

It also forced Michael to admit he was gay, something he had refused to be drawn on in the past.

Once he put his sexuality in the public domain he became vocal about gay issues, speaking publicly about the death of his partner Aselmo to Aids in the early 1990s.

He struggled to achieve the heights of his early chart success but he was more content in his personal life, often speaking glowingly about long-term partner Kenny Goss.

Michael has been with Kenny Goss (L) for many years

In July this year Michael admitted seeking “anonymous and no-strings sex” on London’s Hampstead Heath, which he described as “the best cruising ground in London”.

In an interview with BBC News he said he planned to take legal action against a man who claimed he had a gay encounter with the singer on the Heath, and he also said he planned to sue two casual sex dating meeting for harassment.

But he denied his planned civil partnership ceremony with Mr Goss was called off over his “cruising” saying “it has never been an issue between us”.