I feel obliged to start this piece with an apology; some weeks have passed since my last post and regular readers have actually been getting in touch to ask if everything is okay. There is some satisfaction to be had in people noticing my quietness but at the same time, I now have this feeling of guilt that I have been letting my readers down.
Sorry!
I am relieved to report that nothing untoward has occurred; life has just been rather hectic of late. After my hernia op recuperation period ended, I spent a week back in the office (which was frantic) before heading off to North Cornwall for a two week camping holiday with the wife and kids. I have just completed the first week back at work (also frantic).
Despite being otherwise occupied, there has been a wealth of stuff to write about. A few of the topics closest to my heart are addressed in subsequent paragraphs and I start and end with a bombshell!
Disappointment with the Guardian
I need to find a new newspaper. A few weeks ago I spent thirty minutes chatting to a journalist who was preparing a piece for the Guardian. The broad ranging conversation centred on best practice procurement for social care services in the UK.
Despite our thoroughly sensible conversation, Diane Taylor went on to produce a sensational article with some misinterpreted freedom of information act data and poorly informed comments from dissenting third parties. Some of my comments were, shall we say, tailored to suit her purposes.
Her article has since been challenged by way of a formal complaint about factual inaccuracy but in the meantime her piece has my name associated with it.
I have been a Guardian reader for the last decade or so and now find myself looking for an alternative newspaper. I can’t endorse red top, tabloid type journalism from a broadsheet. The Telegraph was procured last Saturday, other papers will be sampled until an adequate alternative is found. Lucy Mangan and Tim Dowling – you will be missed.
Prince Harry turns 30
On the subject of media coverage; a documentary was shown on ITV this week to mark Prince Harry’s 30th birthday. It has been a while since I watched something quite so overwhelmingly supportive (borderline slushy); Panorama it wasn’t!
I have to state though that I enjoyed watching it and am of the opinion that Harry is a genuinely good egg that the royal family should be proud of.
The Independent (newspaper), which is staunchly republican, would inevitably disagree and that may well mean that I can’t buy that either.
Beheadings
IS beheadings have been big news and they are horrible events to learn about. I have been trying to get my head around what sort of person would actually be prepared to do it. Shooting enemies on the battlefield is one thing; taking a sword/ machete/axe to an unarmed, helpless person is something completely different. The individuals that are prepared to do this must be totally deranged/psychopathic.
On holiday I finished reading ‘Bring up the Bodies’ by Hilary Mantel (a good book incidentally) and whilst beheading was an oft utilised punishment in the 16th century, it’s not something that suits the enlightened times of the 21st.
As I understand it, human rights abuses are Diane Taylor’s area of journalistic expertise, perhaps she could write a properly informed piece about what the hell is going on in the middle-east. Field trip potential perhaps?
No religion, no circumstances and no person (even Diane Taylor) warrant such barbaric actions. The people that condone this behaviour are dangerous and need finding and neutralising. Does that sound a bit Daily Mail?
I won’t be buying that paper either.
Putin, nukes and NATO
Dangerous types brings me on to Vladimir Putin. Last week he reminded the world that Russia remains a considerable nuclear power and that we should all think twice about messing with him. Hhhhmmmmmnnnnn!
What he is surely sponsoring in the Ukraine is wrong, the international condemnation/sanctions are right and Putin must be getting rattled to play the nuclear card. My belief is that in making such crass comments, he reveals weakness as opposed to strength. The implied threat is hollow because he’s not stupid enough to think he can actually use nukes.
NATO forces are present in Eastern Europe and Putin’s mention of nuclear weapons is hardly likely to result in everyone going home.
IS is prepared to behave in a medieval manner, Putin is also exhibiting some outdated thought, does he think it’s still the 1950’s?
And on the subject of Times, my newspaper decision for tomorrow has just been made.
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Sorry!
I am relieved to report that nothing untoward has occurred; life has just been rather hectic of late. After my hernia op recuperation period ended, I spent a week back in the office (which was frantic) before heading off to North Cornwall for a two week camping holiday with the wife and kids. I have just completed the first week back at work (also frantic).
Despite being otherwise occupied, there has been a wealth of stuff to write about. A few of the topics closest to my heart are addressed in subsequent paragraphs and I start and end with a bombshell!
Disappointment with the Guardian
I need to find a new newspaper. A few weeks ago I spent thirty minutes chatting to a journalist who was preparing a piece for the Guardian. The broad ranging conversation centred on best practice procurement for social care services in the UK.
Despite our thoroughly sensible conversation, Diane Taylor went on to produce a sensational article with some misinterpreted freedom of information act data and poorly informed comments from dissenting third parties. Some of my comments were, shall we say, tailored to suit her purposes.
Her article has since been challenged by way of a formal complaint about factual inaccuracy but in the meantime her piece has my name associated with it.
I have been a Guardian reader for the last decade or so and now find myself looking for an alternative newspaper. I can’t endorse red top, tabloid type journalism from a broadsheet. The Telegraph was procured last Saturday, other papers will be sampled until an adequate alternative is found. Lucy Mangan and Tim Dowling – you will be missed.
Prince Harry turns 30
On the subject of media coverage; a documentary was shown on ITV this week to mark Prince Harry’s 30th birthday. It has been a while since I watched something quite so overwhelmingly supportive (borderline slushy); Panorama it wasn’t!
I have to state though that I enjoyed watching it and am of the opinion that Harry is a genuinely good egg that the royal family should be proud of.
The Independent (newspaper), which is staunchly republican, would inevitably disagree and that may well mean that I can’t buy that either.
Beheadings
IS beheadings have been big news and they are horrible events to learn about. I have been trying to get my head around what sort of person would actually be prepared to do it. Shooting enemies on the battlefield is one thing; taking a sword/ machete/axe to an unarmed, helpless person is something completely different. The individuals that are prepared to do this must be totally deranged/psychopathic.
On holiday I finished reading ‘Bring up the Bodies’ by Hilary Mantel (a good book incidentally) and whilst beheading was an oft utilised punishment in the 16th century, it’s not something that suits the enlightened times of the 21st.
As I understand it, human rights abuses are Diane Taylor’s area of journalistic expertise, perhaps she could write a properly informed piece about what the hell is going on in the middle-east. Field trip potential perhaps?
No religion, no circumstances and no person (even Diane Taylor) warrant such barbaric actions. The people that condone this behaviour are dangerous and need finding and neutralising. Does that sound a bit Daily Mail?
I won’t be buying that paper either.
Putin, nukes and NATO
Dangerous types brings me on to Vladimir Putin. Last week he reminded the world that Russia remains a considerable nuclear power and that we should all think twice about messing with him. Hhhhmmmmmnnnnn!
What he is surely sponsoring in the Ukraine is wrong, the international condemnation/sanctions are right and Putin must be getting rattled to play the nuclear card. My belief is that in making such crass comments, he reveals weakness as opposed to strength. The implied threat is hollow because he’s not stupid enough to think he can actually use nukes.
NATO forces are present in Eastern Europe and Putin’s mention of nuclear weapons is hardly likely to result in everyone going home.
IS is prepared to behave in a medieval manner, Putin is also exhibiting some outdated thought, does he think it’s still the 1950’s?
And on the subject of Times, my newspaper decision for tomorrow has just been made.
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