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Friday, July 18, 2008 David Vance # REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL - PART FIVE. My thanks to the eagle eyed B-BBC reader who spotted this amazing item the BBC is running entitled "Five reasons to be cheerful amongst the gloom." Give it a read - it's hilarious, pure BBC delusionalism! Who would have guessed that all is well with the property market; that unemployment has taken only a "minor turn" for the worse; that inflation is down; that lower earnings are good for you... and finally, that we are living longer anyway and so should be a damn side more thankful to the Great Leader for all he is doing for us. Labels: pro Labour bias
David Vance #
General BBC-related comment thread! Please use this thread for comments about the BBC's current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog - scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. This is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may also be moderated. Any suggestions for stories that you might like covered would be appreciated! It's your space, use it wisely
Labels: open thread
David Vance #
JUST 20 MINUTES. The trouble with BBC bias lies not in finding it, but rather in avoiding it. Take the Today programme - please. I listened to it this morning for just twenty minutes from 7.05 t0 7.25 and was astounded by the series of propagandist items masquerading as news.
First up we had Islam, a BBC favourite. This time round we were treated to someone from the Muslim Council of Britain explaining how very important it was for government to fund a new board of Muslim thinkers, whilst not interfering with what they preach them in any way. But we can relax since these would be "moderate" Islamic preachers. Sure. No tough questions were asked of the MCB, as ever.
Next up we had the Government's panic-driven decision to abandon its' own already completely discredited fiscal rules served up to us as a necessary "relaxation" as we approach a new economic cycle. Gordon will have appreciated that one.
This was followed by an attack on the US exam marking company EDS. The BBC has been to the fore in the onslaught against this Aamerican organisation and its apparent failure to deliver results in a timely and accurate manner. At no point does the BBC see fit to examine the role of those in government who awarded the contract to EDS, how could it when it was so busy demonising the US outfit? Next up, Nelson Mandela's birthday. Yes, I thought we had got that one out of the way the other week when Saint Nelson moved amongst us but today is his official birthday and the BBC were keen to mark it. After this twenty minutes, I turned off.
Thursday, July 17, 2008 Labels: Crime
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 Labels: Biased BBC
David Vance #
IT'S CLUB GITMO DAY. Turned on the PM news on BBC Radio 4 only to be confronted with the full on BBC whingeing mode on behalf of the inmates of Guantanamo. This time it's newly released video footage of Omar Khadr being asked by Canadian officials in 2003 about events leading up to his capture by US forces that is causing BBC consternation. Khadr is accused of throwing a grenade that killed a US soldier in Afghanistan in 2002. Frank Gardner was promptly allowed to come on and pontificate about just how damaging this footage is to the image of the US around the world, and the Muslim world in particular. I agree with Frank and I share his outrage. I am outraged at the civil and caring manner in which the Canadians conducted the interrogation and I am even more outraged that Khadr was captured in the first place. If militant Muslims view the civilised manner in which we treat Gitmo residents they may continue their barbarism! How on Earth could we ever have conducted World War Two had the BBC behaved then as deplorably as it does now. It continually seeks to undermine our war efforts against Islamic terrorists and never fails to see things from the Jihadists' point of view. Labels: Guantanamo
Monday, July 14, 2008
Natalie #
Questioning maternity leave. The head of the "Equalities and Human Rights Commission", Nicola Brewer, has said that the legal burden placed on employers who must pay maternity leave is making them reluctant to employ women of child-bearing age.
About time someone in the Equalities industry said it.
This Have Your Say page on the subject now asks:
About time someone in the BBC asked that question - the "Are you an employer" part, I mean. This morning there was no question addressed to employers; the question referred only to the false dichotomy of women choosing between a career and a family (as if it were all or nothing), and the only people invited to comment were those who might have been discriminated against.
Labels: victimhood, wages, war against business.
David Vance #
DON'T MENTION DDT. It's remarkable the number of articles the BBC can run, like this, on the topic of Malaria without ever ONCE mentioning the fact that DDT remains the most practical and effective means of controlling it. Why? I think the BBC still accepts the entirely discredited drivel "Silent Spring" served up by Rachel Carson decades ago - the consequences of which are millions of lost lives caused by the de facto banning of DDT. Labels: Environmentalism
David Vance #
TAXI? Wonder what you make of the news that the BBC's annual taxi bill for ferrying guests to programmes has soared by an astonishing £2million? In the last financial year it spent 5.3million on transporting contributors, up 60 per cent on the previous £3.3million. With more broadcasting planned from the BBC's new regional centre in Salford - even though many guests will have to be brought up from London - taxi bills are likely to soar ever higher! And worst of all, what about those ghastly C02 emissions destroying Gaia? Isn't it time that BBC contributors got out of their plush license tax funded taxis and onto their bicycles - if only to save the planet? Also, why is it that BBC execs travel first class? I see this on a regular basis and fail to see why such indulgence is permitted with OUR money? Labels: bbb costs.
Sunday, July 13, 2008 Labels: homosexuality
David Vance #
THE WAR ON OUR ARMED FORCES. Not a day passes without the BBC leading the charge against the professionalism and integrity of our Armed Forces. Little wonder the Jihadists figure that the biggest damage that can be carried out on the British Army is by the British media, with the BBC to the fore. This past week has carries stories of plummeting moralE, now abuse, compensations for torture - you name it and the BBC have run it. It really sickens me to see the evident delight that the BBC takes in running down our brave men and women who serve this country so diligently, in the teeth of a savage enemy. Labels: anti-military
David Vance #
MANDELA WORSHIP. Is it heretical to view Nelson Mandela as anything other than a latter day saint? I think the BBC believes this to be the case based on this unctuous piece entitled "Why everyone wants a piece of Mandela" by Peter Biles. This article really takes the biscuit in sanitising Mandelas' past, carefully paving over any valid criticisms of the former ANC leader. You see it's not that I don't accept that Mandela has done some good things, but he has also failed in many other areas and what I expect from the State Broadcaster is more balance. Stop patronising everyone who demurs from the Saint Nelson line. Labels: Nelson Mandela
Friday, July 11, 2008 Labels: zimbabwe
David Vance #
General BBC-related comment thread! Please use this thread for comments about the BBC's current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog - scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. This is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may also be moderated. Any suggestions for stories that you might like covered would be appreciated! It's your space, use it wisely.
Labels: open thread
Thursday, July 10, 2008 Labels: question time
David Vance #
BURN IT UP AND WEARING OUT. Well, you all seemed to have plenty to say about BBC1's absolutely ridiculous "Christkickers" sorry I mean "Bonekickers" so I bet you just can't wait to tune in to BBC2's forthcoming "Burn Up"! It's a "two-part, provocative drama set in the real-life context of climate change". It gets better! This ..ahem..."topical thriller sees oil company executives, environmental activists and politicians collide in the battle between economic success and ecological responsibility".
Penry-Jones stars as Tom, who, having been named the new head of Arrow Oil, finds his life unravelling as he's pulled into a high-stakes game of power and international intrigue. Campbell plays his colleague Holly, whose covert collaboration with environmentalists puts her in great jeopardy, and Whitford plays Tom's best friend Mack, a charismatic yet unscrupulous oil industry lobbyist. This sounds like a classic. I wonder did Greenpeace approve? BBC propaganda comes in many guises - this new drama is just the continuation of AGW by other means.. Labels: agw, ecowackery
Natalie #
"Israel bulldozer driver shot dead." David Vance posted about how the BBC declined to describe the Palestinian who killed Israeli civilians with a bulldozer as a terrorist. Here are three more posts about BBC coverage of that act of terrorism that speak for themselves:
Labels: israel, middle east bias, Palestinians
David Vance #
BRITISH ARMY - PUBLIC ENEMY NO 1. The BBC's dislike of all things British is nowhere more evident than in its dislike of the British Army. Concepts such as patriotism and warrior bravery are perhaps a little too old fashioned in sophisticated metrosexual BBC circles. So a story like this is manna from heaven for Al Beeb and boy does it relish reporting the news that "the Ministry of Defence has agreed to pay almost £3m in damages to Iraqis who were tortured by UK troops in Basra in 2003, their solicitors say." The use of the word "tortured" is under scrutiny since this is an allegation, not a proven fact. Indeed SIX of the seven soldiers who had this charge levelled against them were found INNOCENT and the a seventh soldier who was rightly punished admitted treating Iraqis inhumanely. Quite where the torture slur comes from I do not know, other than the BBC enthusiastically insert it into the first sentence. It's not enough that our soldiers have to fight against Jihadi in Iraq, they also have to cope with the State Broadcaster taking every opportunity to stab them in the back. Labels: anti-military, Iraq
David Vance #
NINE OUT OF TEN CATS?
I see the BBC has been highlighting the charge by extreme left wing group Yesh Din that nine out of 10 investigations into alleged attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers end without anyone being charged. It adds that Israeli police disputed the findings, but "admitted" just 15% of cases in the West Bank in 2007 ended in a charge. Interesting to reflect that the conviction rate for most violent crime in the UK is less than 10% of reported cases. I look forward to the BBC conducting an investigation into this "admission" with equal vigour. Labels: israel
David Vance #
PROBLEMS WITH CLERGY. I was reading the BBC's coverage of the Rev Jesse Jackon's gaffe concerning Democrat Presidential nominee Obama. Clearly the shakedown merchant par excellence was caught out and his bumbling apologetic "My support for Senator Obama's campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal" was hilarious. Once again Fox News provides us with something interesting. But if you wade through the BBC report towards the end you can virtually hear the violins start up when it states "Mr Obama has had a number of problems with clergymen during his election campaign." Odd way of putting it, don't you think? I mean it's not that Obama has been some sort of hapless victim of these unscrupulous clerics. He CHOSE the Rev Wright as his spiritual guru, for example. If Obama has problem, they emanate from his very poor judgement, something the BBC will twist in the breeze before analysing. Labels: obama
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 Labels: Christianophobia
David Vance #
HUMPHRYS IN BASRA. I see that the BBC have flown the intrepid John Humphrys over to Basra (Never mind those pesky carbon emissions, eh?) to report on the current situation there. I caught his first report this morning interviewing a senior army officer who in true blue military form showed a tenacity to finish the job by getting the Iraqi army up to speed. Humphrys zeroed in on those British soldiers who had lost their lives during the past few years in Basra wondering if their sacrifice had been in vain. How delightful for the next of kin. Why does the BBC have such a defeatist and pessimistic mindset? I always find that BBC interviews with Armed Forces personnel demonstrate the best and worst of British - with our military showing courage and vision whilst the BBC shows unrelenting gloom and doom. The beat of surrender is always close to the surface... Labels: Iraq
Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Labels: agw
David Vance #
LET THEM EAT CAVIAR. Well now, at this time of looming economic recession, when the Great Leader himself is forced to admonish us proles to consumer rather less and reduce our wastage of food (Before tucking into his 8 course banquet at the G8 Meeting, natch!) how do those guardians of public broadcasting at the BBC respond to these tough times? Well, by awarding themselves 17% pay increases, that's how! Mark Thompson, the Director-General, and nine other BBC bosses earned £4.96 million in 2007-08, up from £4.25 million the previous year. Most BBC employees took home 4% increases over the same period. Given the cutbacks in the private sector over the past year, I would like to know on what grounds the BBC fat cats get that much more bloated and even the workers ants get their inflation busting 4%? I mean, how can they afford it? Oh yes, I forgot, they just rip us off. Money for old rope - let's hope it's a rope to hang these parasites. Labels: bbc rip-off
Monday, July 07, 2008 Can you imagine the BBC using such a perjorative headline in a story about any other group ? Labels: education, hypocrisy, self-loathing
Sunday, July 06, 2008 Labels: open thread
David Vance #
GLASGOW EAST - THE MISSING FACTS.
The BBC's coverage of the Glasgow East by-election is curiously mute on the reasons as to why Labour MP David Marshall suddenly decided to stand down from office. We are told it was for "health reasons". So when we read in the press that the Labour MP used almost £500,000 of taxpayers' money over six years to help run an office from his home which was staffed by his wife we have better insight as to why the BBC is so silent. Marshall's office was in his semi-detached Glasgow home and he employed his wife Tina as his secretary. It is also believed he paid his daughter Christina to work from his home from the same pool of money. Now given the BBC's delight in revealing every nuance of the allegations against Ray Lewis in London, shouldn't it be providing these facts concerning how a Glaswegian Labour MP uses tax payers money? Or might that prove a tad awkward for Mr Broon? Labels: pro Labour bias
David Vance #
NEVER SAY VICTORY.
It's great to read that American and Iraqi forces are driving Al-Qaeda in Iraq out of its last redoubt in the north of the country in the culmination of one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror. After being forced from its strongholds in the west and centre of Iraq in the past two years, Al-Qaeda’s dwindling band of fighters has made a defiant “last stand” in the northern city of Mosul. A huge operation to crush the 1,200 fighters who remained from a terrorist force once estimated at more than 12,000 began on May 10. Operation Lion’s Roar, in which the Iraqi army combined forces with the Americans’ 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, has already resulted in the death of Abu Khalaf, the Al-Qaeda leader, and the capture of more than 1,000 suspects.
But when I say it's great to read it - the one place of course that I won't be reading this is the BBC - which studiously avoids any mention of military victory in Iraq and concentrates instead on the news that four Iraqi men say they are suing US military contractors for torturing them while they were detained at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad. The idea that we are WINNING the battle against militant Islam in Iraq is unacceptable to the BBC and its " 'Nam quagmire " defeatist narrative and so even as we are poised for spectacular victory - the BBC stays mute. The BBC - the enemy within. Labels: anti-American, defeatism
Saturday, July 05, 2008 The story was that a woman who had had a 'sex change' operation (arguably a rather unsuccessful one even by the low standards of these things :-)) had acquired sperm from a sperm bank / anonymous donor and so given birth. The story seemed to give the facts clearly enough (I certainly have no criticism on that score): the woman was stated to have had her breasts amputated (and perhaps other cosmetic assistance towards presenting herself as a man in society) but had not been neutered, so her still being able to give birth was no surprise. Now, I can quite see that from a professional journalist’s point of view, the headline lacks something, but I found myself musing on why the headline was not and why the story used male pronouns throughout, always he, never 'he'. The story did indicate that she had, after the operation, managed to get herself legally registered as a man. 'The law is an ass' is a well-known quote and I should in fairness raise the abstract possibility whether the BBC might actually credit her with the ability to sue if not referred to as he, or (not quite so unlikely) be colourably able to pretend such concern. However it seems more likely that there were no quotes for the usual reason: if it suits the agenda, report it straight (or should I say 'straight' in this case :-)); if it does not, report it in quotes. Whatever the reason, next time any of my colleagues wish to question the BBC’s use of quotes, this non-use will give them a demanding standard to judge by: most right wing 'experts' and islamic 'terrorists' are less deserving of quotes than was this 'man'.
David Vance #
TRUE CONFESSIONS. I was listening to the news headlines on BBC Radio 5 live this morning and caught the surreal headline that "Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness is visiting Iraq on a peace mission." Three thoughts;
Why does the BBC not enquire when Mr McGuinness LEFT the IRA? Why does the BBC not enquire what atrocities the IRA committed when McGuinness was directly involved in commanding terrorism?" Why does the BBC choose at times to highlight the terrorist pedigree f McGuinness and then at other times to demurely cover this up?>
It seems to me that the BBC gets a kick out of fawning of terrorists, be they Islamic or Irish. Labels: terrorism
David Vance #
TAKING THE AXE TO THE BBC. I hope you all have read this excellent article by Antony Jay explaining why the BBC must be broken up. I particularly enjoyed this section....
"The BBC spends more than £4 billion-a-year - far more than we spend on prisons. Yet because of the lack of real commercial pressures, it squanders far too much on bureaucracy, inefficiencies, policy centres and endless tiers of self-serving management. Further signs of corporate arrogance can be seen in the BBC's navel-gazing, with its dreary debates about its Charter, its fee, its purpose and its direction. An effective broadcasting outfit would be spending less time on mass introspection and more on making programmes.
Equally irritating is the BBC's determination to promote a liberal-Left ethos, shown in its obsessions with climate change or multi-culturalism. As the BBC director Dr Samir Shah said recently, the Corporation's neurosis about diversity means there are now disproportionate numbers of ethnic minorities on our BBC screens.
So the BBC cannot go on as it is. Reform has to involve a drastic reduction in its operations and bureaucracy, a willingness to face up to technological realities of the modern world and an abandonment of corporate imperialism." Labels: Biased BBC
David Vance #
THE FROG AND THE SCORPION. The delight with which the BBC have been trailing the acquired scalp of Boris Johnsons' Deputy Mayor, Ray Lewis, following his resignation last night has been a wonder to behold. There has been a positive glee in the tone and depth of the coverage adopted which should make Cameron recall the fable of the frog and the scorpion. Destroying anything and anyone right of liberal is what the BBC does. Cameron can expect much more of this from the State Broadcaster and I do not envy Boris Johnson his time ahead. There is no way the BBC can be reformed because it is institutionally politicised and corrupted by left-wing values which is why it will continually provide a free pass to the likes of Peter Hain, Mick Martin, Yvette Cooper et al whilst excoriating the likes of Lewis. We often talk about the degree of BBC bias here but I would suggest that the BBC is not just biased - it has become a threat. Labels: London mayor. Conservatism
Friday, July 04, 2008
Why is the article about accepting a role for Sharia in UK law given more prominence (with picture) on the BBC World News page than on the BBC UK page (where there is no picture, and it appears in the "other top stories" section. Oh, and the main story is something or other about a badger cull)? Labels: BBC selectivity, Islam, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, positive discrimination
Laban #
Only on Today ...
Written an amusing pamphlet comparing the United States government and its foreign policy choices with those facing the Corleone mafia clan from 1972 gangster classic The Godfather ?
"... the ageing Don, Vito Corleone - emblematic of a declining hegemony ..."
Take 10 minutes of primetime breakfast listening.
You couldn't make it up. Labels: anti-American
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