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And another audio clip

Comments

1. At 08:08 AM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

   You are the editor of the Daily Mail and I claim my five pounds.

2. At 09:36 AM on 29 Dec 2006, John H. wrote:

   Jason (1) - hahaha!

   Completely off subject, I was just reading about the new (anti) smoking campaign on the Sky news site. It's mirrored in the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ news health pages, but includes a detail that the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ doesn't report. Basically, it highlights the cost of the current campaign as being around £7million whereas the cost of treating tobacco related illness costs the NHS around £1.7billion per annum. As an ex-smoker, I feel as though I have an interest in issues like this, but it really annoys me that there is no mention of the revenue from tobacco duty. I had a quick look round and found a report from Ash () which includes a figure from the end of the 90s and states that revenue was more than £8billion for the year 98-99 (I think). In other words, around five times the amount spent on treating related illness. I can't help thinking that this "detail" is crucial to understanding the relationship between the amount spent on campaigns and support for people trying to quit and stated "policy". Perhaps on this issue, my cynicism gets the better of me, but I can't see this being greeted with open arms in government: "great, everybody has stopped smoking - what a coup for health policy - it's a fantastic £2billion saving in NHS costs - but it gives us a £6billion drop in revenue - and loads of people are going to live longer so that will mean more pension payments...."

3. At 09:46 AM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

   John H (2): You are the editor of The Guardian and I claim my five ponuds.

4. At 09:59 AM on 29 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

   It was RadioActive that started this trend inarticulate repeating, wasn't it? Mike Something. Ah the glory days of radio journalism.
   BTW Lissa, I note you have upgraded Rupert to pic of the week. What an articulate face, If only the journalists were equally so.......mind you, they'd be bleeped if they said what his expression says!

5. At 10:20 AM on 29 Dec 2006, Vyle Hernia wrote:

   John H: Ah, the figures at last. Thank you. But there are other factors, such as the working days lost through tobacco-related illnesses, the pollution helping to add to the planet's existing pollution, the fact that growing tobacco has not been helpful to the environment in certain countries, the stink in one's clothes, the brown muck on the walls when people smoke indoors...

   We should not reduce everything to the economic level, but we may be conficent that smoking will not disappear very rapidly. so chancellors will have plenty of time to devise new taxes to replace tobacco duty. Personally I would like to see some tax harmonisation across the EU to stop all the Booze Cruises etc. I would like to see duty on the continent brought up to UK levels. (That should make me popular!)

6. At 10:26 AM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

   £10 already Jason -- Drinks on YOU then tonight.

   Re: Aunt Dahlia, It is in interesting expression on Ruperts face.

   I think it deserves a caption. I wonder what was going through his mind that day at 5PM ? My bet is :

   'The sooner this Window on your world thing is over and done the better' !

7. At 10:28 AM on 29 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

   Jason
   You make me laugh out loud - very bad in my working environment!

8. At 10:40 AM on 29 Dec 2006, Anne P. wrote:

   No newsletter yesterday. Was there one?

9. At 10:50 AM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

   Jason also makes me laugh out loud too! Can we claim £5 for that?

   Mary

10. At 10:51 AM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Something slipped my mind twice in the above postings, namely: (other newspapers are available).

    In loco parenthesis.

11. At 11:17 AM on 29 Dec 2006, Stewart M wrote:

    Aunt Dahlia (4) ish. I think it was Mike Stand, There were other equally corny names that elude me now. One returns, Ann Adapter.
    

12. At 11:23 AM on 29 Dec 2006, Valery P wrote:

    Fearless - nice strapline! Where's Kate O'Mara when you need her?

    Jonnie - I think it's Rupert's eyebrow that gives it all away.

    Aunt D - I seem to remember they were all called Mike weren't they? Great show.

    John H - where have you been hiding?

13. At 11:40 AM on 29 Dec 2006, Frances O wrote:

    Hahaha, Jason!

    I enjoyed Radio Active, too, Auntie. And Weekending (sp?).

    Thank goodness for ISIHAC and the News Quiz!

    Re the smoking thing - and this is just a guess - is this a one-off campaign? Which could be seen as an investment.
    

14. At 12:17 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

    I guess Rupert's not thinking

    "Damn! Lissa's caught me with her camera phone at last".

15. At 12:55 PM on 29 Dec 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Jonnie (6), Um, I like to think I'm a little more expensive than that, much as Jason amuses me too...

    As a child of the Thatcher era I learned to abhor individualism as a political stance, however, when it comes to a few specific issues, including smoking, I make an exception: One can chew over the macro economics of it but ultimately taking the micro view -- considering ones own health, wealth, appearance and aura etc. -- is the only sensible way to arrive at a decision. The politics obfuscate the real effects upon oneself. I'm not going to go over old (and, I accept, occasionally unpleasant) arguments here -- did all that on the smoking thread of 29th November: /blogs/pm/2006/11/do_you_smoke.shtml
    but I couldn't resist commenting. Thank you for your attention.

16. At 01:11 PM on 29 Dec 2006, admin annie wrote:

    
    on the economics of smoking anyone else remember the old joke when they were still just talking about health warnings on cigarette packets - One side said 'Smoking can seriously damage your health' and the other said 'but thanks for building Polaris'.

    And oh yes, the late and much lamented Week Ending...never did understand why some idiot prole of a new R4 Controller took that off. Perhaps we should campaign to get it back, there has to be an audience for late night once a week political satire hasn't there?

17. At 02:09 PM on 29 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    Oh annie - and we know EXACTLY who could present it, don't we ?

18. At 02:39 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Aunt Dahlia (17) Awww, shucks!

19. At 03:07 PM on 29 Dec 2006, whisht wrote:

    actually I loathe the expression "political correctness gone mad".

    Its as bad as "the Law's an ass".
    (actually Eddie and everyone else might well be saying just this at the moment...)

    Anyone want to share their most loathed statements of meaningless tripe?

    Maybe we can ban them for the New Year....

20. At 03:38 PM on 29 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    OK Whisht at 19 how about

    'HOW much did you say renting this womble costume was?'

21. At 03:49 PM on 29 Dec 2006, whisht wrote:

    worth every penny Aunt Dahlia..... worth every penny.....

    its about value not cost..... and I've been told before that I'm a "value proposition", which I think is a good thing....?

    
    [thinks]

    (uh oh.... now that I've written it down... I've just realised it may not be such a good thing after all......)
    

22. At 03:55 PM on 29 Dec 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    I have mentioned before my unhappiness at the use of "on a daily basis" when "daily" would suffice. Not fond of "at the end of the day" either, for the usual reasons. In fact, I dislike anything that is said so often it has become a cliche and, as such, is given little thought when used.

    Sorry -- came over all serious again.

23. At 04:01 PM on 29 Dec 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    I wish you lot would stop, I really am not supposed to laugh out loud at work.... I suppose I could go and read Chris Evans blog, but I'm supposed to stay awake as well as not giggle.

24. At 04:39 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

    Admin Annie, we are on the same wavelength as usual - regarding Week Ending, the bestthing on Radio Four EVER!

    Like the funnies that make Wogan's show so memorable, most if not all of the sketches were sent in by listeners. And the quality was phenomenal.

    Who could forget the pre-Smith&Jones barflies, who each week would reduce some complex matter of world affairs to:

    'Moikes ya fink dunnit?'
    'Well vississi' innit?'

    Or the hilarious wails of despair from Sally Grace as she tried dismally to impersonate new PM John Major, after so many years effortlessly taking off Mrs T?

    The talent and dedication of us froggers suggests to me that, in this age where the media expect to be interactive rather than informative, the time is perfect for a comeback!

    Does anyone think I should put in a suggestion by email to Lord Mair, and see if he'll put a word in?

    Fifi

25. At 04:48 PM on 29 Dec 2006, whisht wrote:

    that's ok Aperitif.

    I was thinking we could cut'n'paste em all up and stick em on a blog somewhere.

    I might even resurrect mine if i can find the defibrilators...

    I'll need to get rid of the fibs before telling anyone the URL.....

26. At 07:42 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

    I hate the word "rebalance" and also "rebalancing". The chap talking about downloading music on PM used the expression. The government uses it. What does it mean?

    whisht, I am on your side in your choices.

    BTW there was someone on a thread in a womble costume looking for you.

    Mary

27. At 07:50 PM on 29 Dec 2006, admin annie wrote:

    makes yer fink, that was a good one, Also

    'onest Ron,'onest Ron, the others are a con.

    I think my favourites were the 'Daddy, Daddy' ones.

    phrases that I hate:

    1 I'll give 110% - usually in the context of some reality TV show.

    2 It's been a rollercoaster of emotion - that one really really annoys me.

    3 I love him/her to bits - what the hell is that supposed to mean?

    and finally for now, from weathermen

    It's been a funny old day weatherwise...

28. At 09:18 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

    27 (AA) "and that's your weather" - really? My weather? All for me? Not keeping any for yourself then? You're too kind.

    Notice how "number cruncher" has faded away? Used to hear it all the time, now it's gone again. Just like "blue skies" and "Out of the box" thinking.

    "Bless" aaarghhhh! Pass the bucket. Unless said with heavy irony in a totally unsuitable context. Then quite amusing.

    "To be honest with you" - always precedes a statement of untruth, particularly if said by a salesman. Leave the shop immediately.

29. At 10:49 PM on 29 Dec 2006, admin annie wrote:

    Bless is another one of my pet hates, and of course there is the infamous

    "pushing the envelope"

    Fortunately this seems confined almost exclusively to American members of the entertainment industry, but it still seems totally meaningless to me. As well as irritating, naturally.

30. At 11:24 PM on 29 Dec 2006, wrote:

    29 - Annie What does "pushing the envelope" mean then? Is it the effect I get when the last Xmas card in the box has lost its proper envelope & has to be rammed in to one of the ever - so -slightly too small stray ones I keep in another box, so the edges don't lie flat, & the flap doesn't quite fold in the right place? And in what other possible situations would this happen, to justify its use as a metaphor?

31. At 12:12 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    I too have long wondered from whence the term "pushing the envelope" originates. Should I find out I shall spank the person responsible until he/she is humbled.

32. At 12:14 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    I believe that the festive drinks of which I have partaken this evening may have rendered my attempts to write clearly somewhat pompous in appearance. Please be assured that this is due to over-compensation rather than genuine pomposity.

    Thank you.

33. At 12:38 AM on 30 Dec 2006, admin annie wrote:

    well Annasee confusingly enough it's usually used of either a part or a particular storyline in a TV series that is thought a tad controversial. So playing an Aids victim with a sympathetic storyline in a prime time drama is said to be pushing the envelope. LIke you I find it difficult to see the connection between the phrase and the use it is put to.

    And do you remember all those thesps that used to be interviewed and described the rehearsal 'process' as 'like climbing a mountain'. I think Ian Hislop killed that one off by satirising it mercilessly on HIGNFY - a public service if ever there was one.

34. At 12:40 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    What happened to my post about "pushing the envelope"? The one after it has appeared...

35. At 12:49 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Oh the moderators are just playing me now!!!

36. At 12:49 AM on 30 Dec 2006, Valery P wrote:

    I've decided the length of time between post and posting is down to the amount of interpretation required by the mods. If they have to stop and think about it at all, then it goes in a queue?

37. At 09:22 PM on 30 Dec 2006, wrote:

    I seem (although port, B*mb*y Sapphire and latterly cab syrah may have had their effect) to remember learning that 'pushing the envelope' thing whilst working in a large media conglomerate .. oh .. last century sometime.

    There was an awful lot of trap* being spoken at the time of course. But it was - I think - something to do with test-piloting jet aircraft, and what was believed to be physically possible.

    * Fifi Rhyming Slang

    Told you it was trap*!

    Later came helicopter views and defining moments .. oh don't start me. Email me privately via the website if you'd like the full diatribe!!!

    Has anyone else noticed the outbreak of weather forecasting cliches?

    - misty and murky
    - damp and drizzly
    - wild and windy
    - spits and spots (of rain)

    ... help me out folks, there were at least 5 more but I can't remember them. All from the same radio forecast!

    Fifi ;o)

38. At 11:20 AM on 31 Dec 2006, wrote:

    I hate appropriate & inappropriate, in a social care setting i.e. inappropriate behaviour. It's too harsh, too judgemental & an anathama to most of the people/situtations it is used to describe.

39. At 07:19 PM on 01 Jan 2007, wrote:

    blimey.... I'd say I've opened a "can of worms" or "set off the hares" or something but of course, such cliches are what we're tired of...

    I realise that noone will come back to this posting now, but I just thought anyone who did would like to see

    Seems a lot of people are getting annoyed with overused pointless words and phrases.

    and it pokes a finger in the eye of those who say that americans have no humour or wit (which i actually find annoying as a blanket statement across millions of people).

40. At 10:36 PM on 01 Jan 2007, wrote:

    Whisht,

    I came back, but probably because I'm a dumb (stupid) American and
    xx
    ed

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