According to BBC News, a record number of UK beaches have been awarded Blue Flags for cleanliness. Just in time for summer. Now, where’s the beach in Central London?
BBC NEWS | UK | Record number of clean beaches
2004: The Day After Tomorrow
2003: We all love Dermot
2003: Last Night
Yesterday evening:
Train home: reading this.
Eating: this.
Watching: this (which is hysterical) then this (which was fascinating).
Surfing: this and this.
Finally: watching this.
2004: The Day After Tomorrow
2003: We all love Dermot
2003: Just In Time
Latest Link:
Society | Big Brother’s message to the government
What can the e-government sherpas who are scaling this organisational Everest learn from the PDME kings and queens at Endemol, Granada and the BBC?
Interesting article in The Guardian yesterday discussing how the British Government could learn a thing or two about electronic communications from BBC et al. I thought it was timely as I have been sent a tax return this year and have had to go through the UK Government Gateway registration process. It’s not that user friendly but I am hoping the act of filing is easier.
I wonder if we’ll get a decent e-government strategy. It could save time and money but I suspect the thought of integrating all the legacy systems is likely to make more for the big computing and consulting firms, cost us a small fortune and get us nowhere. Cynical? Just a little bit.
2004: Brother Beyond Star Charged
2003: Workings of Parliament
According to today’s Independent newspaper, MPs and (gasp) Peers will challenge the new employment legislation that allows religious employers to sack gay and lesbian staff. Firstly, of course, I welcome this move. Equality should now allow exemptions at all. Secondly, having read the article it’s increasingly clear to me that I do not understand the workings of Parliament at all. This, apparently, is “secondary” legislation which would not normally be debated in The Commons. So, how many un-debated bills are passed every year and how is that decided? Maybe I should write to my MP. Do they still take constituents around The House?
2004: Brother Beyond Star Charged
2003: The Government Could Learn Much From Big Brother
I haven’t looked at the site stats for Listen to Musak for a while but, as it’s the beginning of June, I thought I would look to see how I’d been doing. What’s for certain is that the Listen to Musak traffic certainly follows much of popular culture.
And lo, towards the end of last month I started getting more and more hits for people searching for Dermot O’Leary. Of course, the sexpot is back on our TV screens hosting this year’s Big Brother’s Little Brother show – an early summer treat to be sure.
2006: links for 2006-06-02
If the act of firing people by text message was in an episode of The Office I would be laughing. But it’s the real world and seems like one of the most appalling ways to treat people that I have heard of (mind you, remember this?) Does nobody have any respect for people anymore? Does nobody want to treat employees like human beings? Or is it all exaggerated as an “and finally” story?
Latest Link: C4 News – Fired by text message
Up to 2,500 workers at personal injury claims firm The Accident Group have been made redundant – many of them learning of their fate by text message.
2004: Troy
2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Open Secret
2003: Crossroads ‘was all a dream’
2003: Pop Life
2003: No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions
2003: Dr Kildare is a Sissy
I wonder how many blogs will mention Big Brother this year?
Davina McCall continues to be the undisputed queen of handling a live show while jumping about in an excitable manner. Even while pregnant. [Source: BBC News: Big Brother’s not-so-dirty dozen]
2005: Danny Baker Shuts Up His Tree House
2004: Palme d’Or
2003: Amusing Connections in News
2003: An identity crisis
Latest Link: Telegraph An identity crisis
The issue of national identity cards is being raised again. What I am surprised about is this piece in The Telegraph – I thought they would be in favour of ID cards.
See also BBC NEWS: ID cards will ‘infringe civil liberties’. In all the hysteria about terrorism and ID cards, it is worth reminding ourselves that, “The terrorists who committed the atrocities in America on September 11 had legal papers”.
Still, I am unsure what to think about the whole ID card issue. What is telling is that, according to Charter 88, “Countries that already have identity cards have a written constitution and have those rights protected – we don’t”.
(Related: Entitlement Cards)
2005: Danny Baker Shuts Up His Tree House
2004: Palme d’Or
2003: Amusing Connections in News
2003: Here We Go Again
It’s been a funny week and I am glad it’s over. I’ve been very busy at work which has meant there hasn’t been a great deal of time to think about things to write. Still, I eventually got the Norwegian pictures in the gallery.
2005: links for 2005-05-23
I’ve been on holiday. I visited my godson in Norway and spent a very nice time watching the parades on 17th May – the Norwegian national day. I’m going to upload some of the pictures when I have time.
I truly appreciated the sense of space and time out that the break gave me. The Monday and Tuesday before I left were very, very stressful days at work. I am so glad that I was really able to get away from the daily stresses of life to and spend time with friends (good company, good food and good times are a great cure for many things).
Of course the rest of the world has been moving forward while I’ve been away. Phil Gyford‘s written one of the best summaries of working for a so-called dot-com business – it reminds me so much of places I’ve worked.