Month: August 2007
-
More on Tintin
I noted a few weeks ago that following the controversy over Tintin in the Congo, it was storming the Amazon charts (it’s currently 115). So it was interesting to note that in Hergé’s own home country, state prosecutors are considering whether charges can be brought. Ridiculous, I know. Plenty of racist/sexist/homophobic books are available to…
-
More on US Digital TV Switchover
I mentioned a Reuters report in the States highlighting the lack of awareness and equipment in the lead-up to digital switchover in the US on 18 Feb 2009. Today, US Today has a further piece on the issue, and it’s worth a mention for a couple of things. First, there’s this quote: “This scares me…
-
Delays…
Last Sunday, Sky One started showing series two of Weeds. This coming Monday, Showtime, the US premium cable channel that makes the series is starting series 3 (Link to the Showtime website now unblocked for non-US visitors!). I really don’t understand why, in this day and age, Sky is taking so long about bringing its…
-
0224072862
0224072862
-
TV Fakery Not Really Exposed
Does television fakery know no bounds! This morning’s Telegraph presents the picture below and exposes it as – shock, horror – a CGI creation. Wow. Who’d have thought? Next you’ll tell me that the word “Mountain” isn’t really there, floating in the sky, either! Look, if there are genuine things to expose, then do. If…
-
Football Commentaries on Commercial Radio
Once upon a time you could be pretty sure that if you wanted to listen to your local football team, one station locally or another would be carrying a commentary. In recent years the prices for rights have increased as local clubs, especially Premiership ones, have more competition, and stations battled to win the rights.…
-
Tomorrow’s World/Science on TV
Vivienne Parry, one time Tomorrow’s World presenter, bemoans the state of science on television. And has anyone seen one of these Maggie Philbin pieces? See also here. And yes, I know that BBC Four is partway through an excellent Science You Can’t See season. [Update] The BBC – just to be clear – has insisted…
-
0571236154
0571236154
-
Various Bits
A couple of entertaining bits from this week’s Media Guardian. Anthony Lilley of Magic Lantern productions bemoans the BBC’s iPlayer, and in particular the pointlessness of the limitation in how long after a programme’s aired you can still get a download. And allied to that is the expiration date on programmes. He does point out…
-
David Lynch Says Don’t Litter
-
Top Gear and Toyota
Last week, BBC2 aired a special edition of Top Gear, in which Jeremy Clarkson and James May drove a vehicle to the “North Pole” against Richard Hammond who was on sledge pulled by huskies. Now while it was as entertaining as ever with lots of boisterousness as is the norm, there are three specific issues…
-
Random Notes
Dave Gorman is stopped from taking photos of funfair rides because he might be up to no good and trying to take pictures of children. Even when he shows that he’s completely innocent, the police tell him to leave. The daily newspaper I once worked for, The Bath Chronicle, is becoming a weekly newspaper. It’s…