Blogtastic
Just been hearing good things about how this blog is being received. Will write more about this when I can say something definitive...but it seems the number of contributions is pushing us near the top of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ blog list. Does that make any sense? Maybe I should have waited to get the official SP, as I believe they say in the racing world. More will follow.
On a more serious note, did you realise that a child born today in Africa, has a one in three chance - that's right one in three chance - of being adopted by Madonna?
Also posting soon, more postcards - they are becoming more weird...thank you.
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Eddie,
We aim to please.
Does that mean that the bloggers will all get Sony Awards as well?
Ledg-with-an-E
The last two cards have yet to be added to the ‘listener postcards’ animation link, and therefore to the PM section at flickr. I mention this only as they were the best two so far, and one was clearly from me. No doubt the wonderful Lissa is listening and taking careful note.
P.S. Any tips on avoiding being adopted by Madonna, or by Maradona?
When I reference the last two, I meant the two from the 12th, as I had completely forgotten (or blotted out) the image of Wolf...
...it might be even higher in the polls if all our comments actually appeared. My first this morning still hasn't appeared...(sob).
Hey, there's an idea for a quiz prize
Winner gets one of Eddie's Awards.
SB2
PS you will notice that I am avoiding Friday's Frog, where I inadvertently left an double-entendre - Ho-hum
Eddie - I hope that's MY latest postcard you're talking about. "More weird". Sounds about right.
I had a brief look at a couple of other bbc blogs over the weekend. Very worthy. Not mad at all. Nor weird. I probably won't be going back. Just thought you'd like to know.
In the frog rankings, where is PM's, and who else's is on the grid (or even in pole position)?
I wonder if this comment (my third of the day) will ever appear?
SB4, but who knows.
I liked the bit I read in yesterday's paper about the uncle of Madonna's 'adoptee' - He wants to be given the chance to come and check her place out.
I think he may have rumbled her.
But, on a serious note, it does emphasise the point about celebs and their 'fashion adoptions'. A long, long time ago this country took a stand on that kind of thing. But where there's a chequebook there's a way, I guess.
3 - Stephen - "inadvertently" ha! Your comment will have sent the entire blog readership rushing over to look for it. I noticed, but was too polite to mention it. Knew it wouldn't take long for someone else though...
See? - I told you not to try to change it!
Dr Muir - does this mean that you are even beating Nick "media glasses" Robinson?
Nice blogs.
Steven - Of course he's beating Specs on the blogging front. Specs' blog is VERY moderate - and moderated!
No contest.
I agree, Annasee (6) - other blogs are worthy, but (as I hope Eddie realises) this one is worthier - I think because you (and hopefully I'm included) are more interested in each other and each other's thoughts and opinions than in mouthing off about our own. That's not to say we don't have thoughts and opinions; it's just that they are open to modification.
On the other hand, mine could just be a bit wishy washy.
Silver Fox.
Thank you for 'stroking' us all again today. Or are you marking us out of 10?
As regards postcards - I still get a little thrill when I see the mis-spelt one. Sad me. Also you can go there to see who won the prize!
13.40 p.m. and only one strand on the go.
Is Eddie resting on our laurels?
Hmm, Silver-fox, are you real?
You seem even more of an automaton than our previous suspect. The only difference is that I have no idea why you would be posting, as you don't include a link?
Annasee. Are you suggestion that I would deliberately force an inapproprate comment onto a serious blog only to gain attention. Well yes I probably would, but not on this occasion
Phew, I go to the gym, and come back to find two new threads, loads of new frogs on older threads. I'm never going to get all my work finished befre the trip tomorrow at this rate! Ah well, at least I can rest safe in the knowledge that I've played a very small part in making this Frog succesful. Choccie Biccies all round, I think!
... something like that, Mr silver-fox ... :)
FF
Choccy Hob-nobs or Choccy Digestives?
I'd go with the Choccy Hob-Nobs (although, of course, other chocolate iscuits are available)
I've a hunch The Archers blog must be among the Top Ten. I joined it a few days ago and the amount of traffic the Ruth-David-Sophie-Sam storyline is generating is really incredible. Perhaps an emotionally drenching affair between Eddie and Lissa could catapult us to the top? Just a suggestion.
FF and SLoSTROP,
"Bah" and "poo" to you both. I've just come back from running a 2-hour class and I'm famished even after rushing what little I had with me for lunch. My diet says I'm not allowed to partake of the nice biscuits in my tin just now, so your biscuit-teasing is straining my self-control.
Then again... it was quite a difficult class and I answered a lot of questions from puzzled students, so maybe I can allow myself one biscuit...
So. Digestive or bourbon?
bourbon definitely,
on the rocks...
Sara, 14 - yes! Fearless came up with a fantastic characterisation of this frog the other day - sorry, can't remember where - but in the same in spirit to what you say: a frog for wondering about things as well as spouting off - exchanging opinions as well as trying to air them. Very noble.
In light of this, will somebody tell me what exactly is going on? Over the weekend, the main ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ new site was showing a story about the muslim woman being sacked for refusing to remove her veil when teaching and another about a woman in trouble for wearing her cross. This isn't the "Britain" I think of as belonging to. Surely, the thing we do is "tolerate". I think I understand the concept of a secular society, but why should this mean that it is offensive to indicate your faith? Surely we don't make a more tolerant society by refusing people to express who they are? Isn't it better to just allow people to "be"? Yes, I know the whole "wearing a veil" thing has been discussed recently as a political gesture, but if we, the proles, accept that banning the "tokens" of faith - or anything else, for that matter - of the majority will help to limit the negativity, and threat, of the minority, where do we stop? Should everybody be forced to be dyed green so that we can't be offended by the colour of somebody else's skin? Facially altered so that we can't notice enthnicity in feature and take offence at those?
I'm sorry, but the paucity of my powers of expression fail me, because I cannot put into words why this feels SO, SO wrong. Please help...
Oh, I'll have chocolate hobnob thanks, :)
Jezetha (23),
I think you'll find the Archers site is not a blog, but a bulletin board. There's not one writer who starts every thread off (as in the PM case, Eddie or Sequin), which is sort of the definition of a web log. Someone writes a log, to which others respond. Follow the link to mine, or to Stephen, leader of STROP for other web logs > frogs.
On a bulletin board, anyone can start off a thread, but I think they have to be heavily moderated. I've not checked, but if the Archers Matriarch starts every thread, then I'm wrong.
Just to prove my point, I've looked at the bbc blog index, and the archers do not appear in it.
Here you go, Appy, catch!
About time for a Sony frog award, I agree.
Thank you Fearless.
I have to say - I'm quite embarrassed by the juxtaposition of John H's 26 and my 27. Which of us was thinking the more important thoughts at 2.53 this afternoon then?...
Then again, maybe it's proof of his opening point.
And I am in agreement with all of it.
John W (28) Point taken. No, Vanessa Whitburn does not start off a topic every day to which we can respond... Must remember this. Bulletin board, blog, bulletin board, blog...
You learn something every day.
Well, there I was reading all about FF, & John W, & Appy, et al, quietly sipping my amber liquid anaesthetic whilst listening to Eric when suddenly I'm ordered to write a blog and let you know what I think!
Uhm........
oh & happy birthday for tomorrow Aperitif. Cheers.
So, what do you think, Steve [33]?
Not a lot Andy (35), not a lot.
In my family, in response to being asked what one thinks, the reply "I think thinking's so important" (sometimes followed by "M'lord") can oft be heard.
Referencing Baldrick in Blackadder series 2, in case you wondered.
It's usually enough to halt the conversation and stop the pressser pressing the pressee any further, if you see what I mean...
P.S. Thank you Steve.
Apparently this was mailiciously fast.
John H (26)
On one of those more worthy blogs
/blogs/theeditors/2006/10/cross_words.html
they are discussing what newsreaders should (or shouldn't or mustn't) wear. Just so y'all know.
I'm reminded that the only trouble with common sense is that it ain't all that common.
Who can refresh me on whose quote that is?
xx
ed
I think it was Ben Franklin, wh also said,
"Like a man travelling in foggy weather,
those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped up in the fog,
as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side,
but near him all appears clear,
though in truth he is as much in the fog as any of them"
Love it!
"Andy (35)" : I like that. Makes me feel young again!
Ed, and John H, - I'm a similarly despondent correspondent.
hopefully i'll not misquote another great man:
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe.
I dispute that.
I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."
Frank Zappa
Hello,
Well as you might expect we've our eye on Gaza, the state of the Anglican Church, the election of a Speaker for the House of Lords, Freedom of Information, and disgruntled French journalists.
We've also heard that Belgian police have found the body of one of two girls who went missing earlier this month. We're checking the story and expect to have more details for you at five o'clock.
A few days ago I asked if any subscribers wanted a blog from me. Thanks if you went to the trouble of responding. By and large the mood was favourable. I should say that if and when we do one, its key attraction for us is not me jabbering on (you get enough of that here) but the ability of listeners to communicate directly with each other through the blog.
For example, yesterday's newsletter carried this email from Christine:
"My dear mother died at 18 45 hrs on 12 12 02, I was with her all day. When I came home later that evening for some strange reason, I felt it would not be right to go to bed before the whole day had passed. It felt disrespectful. So as tired as I was, I waited...at 7 minutes to midnight I went into my back garden, which backed onto the Gatwick Express railway line, to have a quite, but cold, breath of fresh air. I then went upstairs, got ready for bed, and opened my bedroom window. It was midnight, and suddenly I heard the most lyrical bird I have ever heard...that bird continued to sing for at least the next 2 hours...I know as I couldn't sleep. The same thing happened for the next 2 nights.....any ideas ????"
If we had a blog - the scores of responses, which themselves are all worthy of responses we had, could all feature on it. A dialogue could start between listeners. Wouldn't that be nice? In the meantime, I am happy to be the conduit. Here's a small selection of the responses to Christine. We'll start with this from Karen Weynberg who consulted a chum at the RSPB! This was the response she got:
" I've had to consult some colleagues on this one, but we have come to the conclusion that the most likely culprit is the robin. Many birds will sing at night including thrush, dunnock and blackbird but during the winter months, nocturnal song usually comes from the robin. They are really the only bird which maintains territory throughout the year so will be regularly heard when no others are singing. The song at night is set off by bright street/security lighting and, because it is generally quieter at night tends to sound clearer and more beautiful. They are often heard at all hours during the winter."
Steve said:
"I wonder, does your subscriber happen to live anywhere near Charlotte Church?"
Norman Fitch put it like this:
"...my guess would be a nightingale. They have a beautiful song. I have heard robins singing during the night & think this is due to the intensity of street lighting in urban areas. Also our local crows often start squawking at odd hours during the night but I think this may be due to their being disturbed by a fox.
Now this is a true story. Someone was intrigued by the sight of a pair of bird's feet on a tree branch - just the feet, nothing else. It seems that when a bird lands on a branch to roost, the claws on its feet automatically lock to prevent it falling off when asleep. In this mode a predator can kill & eat the bird leaving the feet still attached to the tree. Not many people know that (M.Caine!)."
Susan Frost: "Sorry to be a bird bore, but I was interested in your listener's account of the bird singing after the death of his or her mother. The most likely candidate is the robin, which often sings at night and, strangely, is associated with death and bereavement. In the fantastic "Birds Britannica" Mark Cocker recounts a number of stories about robins visiting dying or recently bereaved people. I thought you - and your listener - should be told.
Anthony in North Yorkshire. "When we lived in the same sort of area (about 15 miles from Gatwick) in the early 70s we heard loud birdsong for about 2 hours starting around midnight for about five consecutive nights. Asking around, people said that it was a nightingale, but I don't know if this was true or not. December sounds rather unlikely though, as ours was in May. "
Julia wonders: "..could it have been a simple blackbird? I have often heard them singing their hearts out in the depths of winter nights, tirelessly."
Philip Samengo_Turner wrote: "Maybe it was a Robin. On the Christmas Eve after my father in law's death omy wife and I saw a Robin in a bush at midnight-the fact that is wasn't singing is unimportant as Robins must have the most lyrical song of all the birds. "
Liz Arundell believes "it was probably a nightingale - We used to have resident nightingales hereabouts, and their song was magical. Like your correspondent, I was entranced by its song, and it would - just as she described - sing endlessly, with an incredible variety of output. I'm sure many other emailers will have told you this. Once heard, never forgotten. Every year I wish they would return to our neighbourhood but they are, I fear, very rare these days. "
Ian Redwood responded: "The lady who heard the most lyrical bird she had ever heard must have been listening to the sound of a Nightingale. It has fast rising and falling call with trills and gurgles. It rarely repeats the same phrase and the result is a lyrical treat - unparalleled in the UK in its beauty and melodic variety."
Abigail Cooke: "It was probably a robin. I get up very early in the morning to commute to work and often hear a bird singing, even in the depths of winter when it couldn't be a nightingale."
And finally this from Diane Millman in Devon: "Sorry, I have no suggestions to make on Christine's strange bird song......It's a pity that Home Truth's is no longer on Radio 4 - I'm sure that programme could solve the mystery, or at least know a man that could."
And now I REALLY have to get on. Don't you? Sorry to report also that, as AP reports: "The scrappy dog known as Eddie on TV's «Frasier» has died. The 16-year-old Jack Russell terrier, whose real name was Moose, passed away of old age Thursday at the Los Angeles home of trainer Mathilde Halberg, Halberg told People magazine. The canine character Eddie drove Kelsey Grammer's lead character crazy for 10 years on the show. Moose was naturally «extremely mischievous,» Halberg said. Moose also played the older dog Skip in 2000 film «My Dog Skip» and was retired in recent years."
Yours in sadness,
Eric Crane
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So now did I help at all with this "blog thingy"....or has it got ?is it getting out of hand? I don't think so...as everyone seems to be having fun!
Best wishes
Christine
Um, what's going on here? A Christine posting a draft newsletter for Eddie the night before? Does he not even write them himself then?
And what does she mean "if we had a blog..."? This is the blog. Is this some leftover good idea from that Away Day then?
I’m glad I’m not the only one who was confused by this. I couldn’t even think of a reply when I first saw it.
Um, eh? Er, what? I'm confused. But then, hey, that's not unusual.
I expect this will be explained and all will be revealed. We can blame Rupert in the meantime.
I think Christine is posting an eddie-mail from many moons ago (pre-blog) in order to explain to people why the blog is here.
I remember this one particularly well, as I was quite touched by the tail therin (okay, I'm an old softie at heart).
Okay 0 points for spelling
Obviously I meant "tale".
That's OK. We know they spell funny on Pluto.
(they spell it 'funni)
Happy Birthday Perry!
I thought it looked familiar - I remember the bit about the lady's mother (yes, touching) and the death of Eddie Crane, but have evidently blotted out all of the "bird stuff" (sorry - I'm happy that there are people in the world who care about birds but I am not one of them - they give me the creeps), but that doesn't really explain why it's been posted now...
Ah! Perhaps it's because it's two months today since the first blog!
Oh good grief - it makes my brain hurt.
Was it that Hitchcock film that did it for you, Appy?
I wish I hadn't seen it myself, I haven't been able to look a crow in the face since.
Thanks Christine. I remember it all. Glad to know you're weathering your bereavement.
God Bless.
ed
Whilst not a twitcher, I'm quite keen on birds. Definitely seeing an increase in the ravens flying overhead - if anybody cares. So I quite liked the various suggestions - I'm not great on bird songs, but can certainly recognise a robin. We had one come in the back door on Sunday - this was funny, but then it ventured into the util room and thought that the way out was the (closed) window. Oh dear, the noise alerted the lab and we had all sorts of fun. Oh, how we laughed. Actually, it was fine and the robin made its way out safely, with the help of a few sultanas.
All that was a bit of waffle. Drinks, 50 & earlier (can't remember), are you taking the opportunity of your birthday to have an imagination failure? (Oo, I feel mean, because it's your birthday.) I'm fairly sure that Christine is just posting her comment (inc. the newsletter) to lightheartedly suggest that her sad story and its treatment by Eric helped this blog come into existence. I reckon she's right. I also thought that Ted's comments about how he imagined a PM blog might be were interesting. Although I can't help wondering if we've all quite lived up to his aspirations. Never mind, I'm absolutely certain that he never imagined some of the gems that's I've enjoyed over the last few weeks!
John H (53), you are mean - and I only tolerate your meanness because you make a lot of sense the rest of the time ;)
Clearly - as I indicated above - once it had been pointed out to me that Christine was reposting an earlier newsletter, I realised what she was doing, but then wondered why she had chosen today. I think it was more of a failure of memory than imagination on my part.
Now, cake, champagne, beer or something else?
To make up for picking on me you have to start the dancing off - I suggest the 'Birdie Song' or the classic 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep', in honour of your Robin.
AndyCrFavourite-Strapline, no, but the film didn't help - I love Hitchcock, but can't be doing with that particular one. Look a crow in the face? - I'd sooner cuddle a lion (although I hear the latter have very bad breath, so maybe not...)
Grr! The one I left here hasn't appeared yet.
I completely missed the bottom end* of this. And "Grr" makes me laugh every time! It always reminds me of Valery P's "...WAIT A COTTON PICKING MINUTE..."
(* because it's only the "bottom end" if nobody adds any more to it. This raises all sorts of interesting questions about the status of an exchange if you can endlessly add bits to it. I probably shouldn't think about this anymore.)