³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Archives for March 2008

The Glass Box for Monday.

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Eddie Mair | 16:07 UK time, Monday, 31 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxd.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Heathrow T5 Day5.

Eddie Mair | 16:01 UK time, Monday, 31 March 2008

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Will be speaking shortly to a passenger who's had all sorts of trouble. He's sent us a number of pics from T5 including this one.

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The Furrowed Brow

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Eddie Mair | 10:37 UK time, Monday, 31 March 2008

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is the place for serious talk about subjects of your choice.

Charlotte gets the giggles...

Eddie Mair | 10:35 UK time, Friday, 28 March 2008

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...at the end of the 0800 summary this morning. This is how reports it.

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PA reports:

"The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ switchboard was said to be in "meltdown" today after a newsreader collapsed in a fit of giggles in the middle of a bulletin. Charlotte Green had just introduced an item about the oldest known recording of the human voice on the Radio 4 Today programme's 8am news bulletin. As the recording of a woman singing the French song Clair de Lune, made in 1860, played, somebody in the studio apparently whispered in her ear that it sounded like a bee buzzing in a bottle. The result was an uncontrollable fit of the giggles as Ms Green struggled to make it to end of the next item - a report about the death of the Hollywood screenwriter Abby Mann."

Want to hear it? Click on Start....


The Glass Box for Friday.

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Eddie Mair | 10:33 UK time, Friday, 28 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxh.JPG

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

The Beach.

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Eddie Mair | 10:28 UK time, Friday, 28 March 2008

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What is the Beach?

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It's a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you are the only one around, but you can leave your footprints for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness.

If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question.

The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.

There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

beachb.JPG

Margo and Death.

Eddie Mair | 16:38 UK time, Thursday, 27 March 2008

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The veteran Member of the Scottish Parliament Margo MacDonald has called for a public debate on assistance for
terminally ill people to end their lives. You'll hear the interview tonight. What do you think?

The Glass Box for Thursday

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Eddie Mair | 16:37 UK time, Thursday, 27 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glasse.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Caption Competition!

Eddie Mair | 10:30 UK time, Thursday, 27 March 2008

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We very much like this Press Association photo from the other day, when Labour launched its local election campaign.

As ever this is not really a competition, there is no prize and there is no point.

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Where are you?

Eddie Mair | 14:56 UK time, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

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Tell us your surname and we can tell you!

Well, not exactly...but on the iPM blog Chris has been doing some work on this. The slideshow is fascinating, and Chris will talk about it on PM tonight.

If you fancy checking your surname...click on the "Scotland for example" link and enter your details. Let iPM know how you got on.

"I'm on the plane"

Eddie Mair | 14:31 UK time, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

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Ofcom has announced that plans are in place to allow passengers on UK-registered aircraft to use their own mobiles while in flight in European airspace. For some time, some airlines have offered passengers in-flight telephone services via the airline's own network. Ofcom said today that the new arrangement will involve passengers' own mobiles connecting to an on-board base station. Both of these must be switched off
during take-off and landing to ensure they do not interfere with mobile networks on the ground.

This is what is saying about it. What do you think?

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Jack and Vera yesterday.

Northern Rock and the FSA.

Eddie Mair | 13:10 UK time, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

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The UK financial watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has admitted that it failed to regulate Northern Rock adequately. We'll talk about it on the PM tonight. and you can also read what the itself is saying. Robert Peston has been blogging about it too.

The Glass Box for Wednesday.

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Eddie Mair | 13:08 UK time, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glasse.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Immigration....

Eddie Mair | 12:39 UK time, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

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...Jennifer from iPM has compiled this for you (Jenny is the iPM web queen and travels far and wide online in search of stories. She grew up by the sea. She owns lots of red shoes. She has 1 TV and 4 radios, enough said.)

When the Government talks about immigration it often argues that it's good for Britain's economy. Ministers have even put a figure on the benefit - £6 billion a year.

But do these figures take all the costs into account? In particular, the costs to our public services such as schools and hospitals.

Next month an is expected to argue that the actual benefit of immigration to Britain's economy is much smaller than the Government says it is.

This week, The World at One and PM are examining the issues.

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1. Schools
Social Affairs Correspondent Andrew Bomford visits a school in Lincolnshire where they're learning to adapt their teaching as a large number of pupils don't speak English as their first language.


2. The European Union
When Poland joined the the EU in 2004 only the UK, Ireland and Sweden allowed unrestricted access to workers from these new accession countries. Other EU countries, like France were more cautious. Our Europe Editor, Mark Mardell, examines the result of France's more restrictive approach to the free movement of workers across Europe and how it compares with our own.


3. NHS
The NHS is Britain's biggest workforce - and experts say immigration has helped sustain it at many hospitals in recent years.

The number of new health service staff who've come from eastern Europe is surprisingly small among the clinical professions - but countries such as India and the Philippines have been major contributors.

Last year more than eleven thousand foreign-trained doctors, nurses and midwives registered to work in the UK, but the numbers have slowed down considerably during this decade. Health correspondent, Jane Dreaper, explores the experiences of NHS staff in Bradford.


4. Secondary migration
Public concern over immigration has led the government to announce a stop on unskilled workers coming in from non-EU countries.

But there is a way round it. Every year, refugees and immigrants who've gained citizenship elsewhere in the EU migrate for a second time - to Britain.

Not much is known about about secondary migrants and the numbers aren't large by national standards, but there have been some dramatic local impacts. The World at One/PM journalist Ray Furlong reports.


5. West Cumbria: the changing face of England
The thriving fishing industry that sustained the town of Maryport in West Cumbria has declined in recent years.

But a stagnant economy has been revived, in part, through the estimated 700 eastern European immigrants moving to the town (population 11, 000) in the last 4 years, says Cumbria county council.

The World at One/PM reporter Michael Buchanan visits Maryport to see what effects the migrant workers are having.


The army in the classroom.

Eddie Mair | 17:23 UK time, Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Comments

You heard from the NUT and from the army. What do YOU think?

The Glass Box for Tuesday.

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Eddie Mair | 16:48 UK time, Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxd.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Immigration

Eddie Mair | 14:18 UK time, Tuesday, 25 March 2008

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is the theme of a series running all this week. Michael Buchanan has a report for us tonight from west Cumbria. He writes:

"Maryport once had a large and proud fishing fleet, but in recent years as the industry has declined so has the town's fortunes.

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A stagnant economy has however been revived in part through the influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe, says Cumbria county council.

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An estimated 700 immigrants have moved into the town (pop 11,000) over the past 4 years or so, and there is a general acceptance in the town of the new arrivals.

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Their influence is noticeable across Maryport - in the library, the church and this small corner shop which has a reasonable selection of eastern European foods. A local bar, popular with immigrants, is known locally as the Polish embassy!

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There are issues, especially surrounding private rental accommodation, but the mayor of the town, Linda Radcliffe, says that overall the migrants workers have been a positive development for Maryport."

Mrs Slocombe

Eddie Mair | 11:56 UK time, Tuesday, 25 March 2008

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could probably come up with a better name for this - but we're calling it the great "Name the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Baghdad Cat Competition".

Unlike Blue Peter we haven't decided on the name already, and unlike Blue Peter there is no prize. We may not even bother giving the cat the chosen name.

But for the sake of argument, let's all pretend there's a purpose to this. Hugh has sent this photo of said cat and wants names. We may or may not translate the "winner" into Arabic. Or French.

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Hurry! Competition closes sometime. Just click on the Comments link and let the fun begin.

Hugh is leaving Baghdad,

Eddie Mair | 10:41 UK time, Tuesday, 25 March 2008

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after...well, let's just call it an incident.

OK, I'll tell you. He was caught stealing a stapler and was asked to go. But you didn't get that from me.

Before collecting his jotters, he sent these images and words..things he'll remember from the last 25 days.

Coming in a moment by the way, your chance to name a cat.

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"Arsenal boy in Haifa Street


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We had to leave before I could find out how he had lost his leg.


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Gymnasts in Haifa Street.


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Almost certainly underestimates.


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Haidar. he was on duty when I met him across the road from where two bombs exploded the next evening. A week later, nearby, he spotted me and rushed over and we hugged. He was on a day off the day the bombers came. But several of his street trader friends were not so lucky.

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"Terrorists - You Are Not Real Muslims!"

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Producer Peter Emmerson with children who befriended us as we were broadcsating live from Abu Nawas park on the banks of the Tigris.

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Sand storm.

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Black bee, outside my bedroom window.What's the flower?


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Hoopoe on the garden wall at the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ house. In Arabic, 'Hud-Hud'. "

Be a critic for an evening...

Sequin | 16:51 UK time, Monday, 24 March 2008

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Ok - just another way of inviting you to contribute to The Glass Box.

Ah go on go on go on...

oops

Sequin | 12:07 UK time, Monday, 24 March 2008

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Please bear with me. It's a while since I've done this ... here's another try..
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Thanks Big Sis

Sequin | 10:50 UK time, Monday, 24 March 2008

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Doesn't quite match the snowy view outside our window at the moment, but we live in hope!

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Titter ye not...

Sequin | 10:03 UK time, Monday, 24 March 2008

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Are you watching the Olympic Flame Ceremony. We've got the sound down. Looks quite surreal.

Chocolate duck

Sequin | 09:52 UK time, Monday, 24 March 2008

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That's what I got for Easter. And a cadbury's cream egg - both demolished at top speed. Ed has left some chocolate nuts on the desk - or so I thought. I shook the tin and they've all gone. Typical.

It looks like another quiet day is in store. Thanks for sharing your news with me on Friday - it was great to catch up again. After PM today, I have two Today shifts - my last one will be on Wednesday before I branch out into ventures new. I'll still be Ed's stand-in here , and I'll be doing more Saturday PMs as well as my Sunday programme, The Westminster Hour. But no more 3 a.m. starts...

sequin

Glass Box of sorts

Sequin | 16:44 UK time, Friday, 21 March 2008

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As it's a holiday day I imagine that most of the PM team will scoot out of the building on booster rockets once the bongs start. A few of us might have a brief meeting afterwards. But that doesn't mean you can't as usual let us know what you thought of this evening's offering.

I'll be back with you again on Monday. See you then,
cq

Easter greetings...

Sequin | 09:30 UK time, Friday, 21 March 2008

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Hello
CQ here - Ed's taking a well-deserved day off.
Any news for me?

More on Iraq

Eddie Mair | 17:33 UK time, Thursday, 20 March 2008

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from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ here.

The Glass Box for Thursday

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Eddie Mair | 16:29 UK time, Thursday, 20 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxh.JPG

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

The Easter Beach.

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Eddie Mair | 11:58 UK time, Thursday, 20 March 2008

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What is the Beach?

beacha.JPG

It's a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you are the only one around, but you can leave your footprints for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness.

If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question.

The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.

There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

beachb.JPG

Five years ago today,

Eddie Mair | 14:00 UK time, Wednesday, 19 March 2008

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Colonel Tim Collins made a speech to his men in Iraq which has become legendary. Tonight, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ TWO's Newsnight will end its Ten Days to War drama with Kenneth Branagh as Colonel Tim Collins. On PM tonight, we're going to play it in full. The words were initially recorded by a Mail on Sunday journalist . There's more on the Newsnight series .

Global warming and Dubai.

Eddie Mair | 13:53 UK time, Wednesday, 19 March 2008

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Our reporter Michael Buchanan will have a piece for you tonight. He sends these words and pictures:

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"They don't do anything by half in Dubai. This is the world's tallest hotel, the Burj Al Arab, which bills itself as seven star accommodation. You may remember seeing pictures of Roger Federer and Andre Agassi playing tennis on its helipad a few years ago. This is as close as I got to it - ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ budgets don't accommodate staying at such places."


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Such construction projects, and the stress they put on landfill sites, coupled with a lifestyle that's high on energy use - unbelievably they have an indoor ski slope IN THE DESERT - has given the UAE a terrible environmental reputation. People here were found to have the largest carbon footprint in the world a while back, but a project to be built here in the Abu Dhabi desert could put the UAE at the forefront of renewable energy.


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Its called the Masdar initiative and by 2016 the plan is to have 90,000 living and working in the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste city. There's an of how it will look.

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Fifteen billion dollars has been set aside for the development, so they're clearly serious about it, with Lord Foster leading the construction."

The Glass Box for Wednesday.

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Eddie Mair | 13:50 UK time, Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxh.JPG

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

The Glass Box for Tuesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:38 UK time, Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxd.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Anthony Minghella has died.

Eddie Mair | 12:56 UK time, Tuesday, 18 March 2008

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We'll reflect on his life in the programme.

anthony.jpg

The judge

Eddie Mair | 12:41 UK time, Tuesday, 18 March 2008

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who heard the McCartney/Mills divorce case said in his judgment released today that Heather Mills' evidence was "not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid. Overall she was a less than impressive
witness."

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The is reported by PA: Heather Mills was "a less than impressive witness" whose evidence was "not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid", a High Court judge says in a ruling the former model did not want the world to see. The full judgment of the divorce battle between Miss Mills and estranged husband Paul McCartney was released today after her attempt to appeal Mr Justice Bennett's decision to release it failed at the Court of Appeal. The judge described Sir Paul McCartney's evidence as "balanced". He said: "He expressed himself moderately though at times with justifiable irritation, if not anger. He was consistent, accurate and honest." Mr Justice Bennett said Heather Mills was a "strong-willed and determined personality" who had shown great fortitude in overcoming her disability. He said: "She has conducted her own case before me with a steely, yet courteous, determination." The judge described her as a "kindly person" who is "devoted to her charitable causes".

Thanks

Eddie Mair | 12:34 UK time, Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Comments

to an email taking a full 24 hours to arrive (I think Big Sis sent it second class) this is a little tardy...however:

"Having spent the weekend in Wales at a time of great victory, I thought you and PM bloggers might like a bit of Wales to brighten up the Blog. I wonder how many bloggers will recognise the view? No prizes, of course! but a clue: If you love gardens, you'll want to visit."

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The Glass Box for Monday

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Eddie Mair | 15:44 UK time, Monday, 17 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxh.JPG

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Heather Mills news

Eddie Mair | 12:13 UK time, Monday, 17 March 2008

Comments

is not on .

1326 UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: PA: Miss Mills emerged from the court at 1.20pm and said: "It's over, yes." She is expected to make a statement shortly.

1331: just had a 10 seconds warning

1333: PA: Mills gets £24.3 million

1336: Ms Mills on my office TV, as the entire world watches this moment: heather.jpg

seems to be up and running again.

Janet Jackson teaches Larry King to dance.

Eddie Mair | 10:57 UK time, Monday, 17 March 2008

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Look! Look! It's the world's tallest snowwoman!

Eddie Mair | 09:20 UK time, Monday, 17 March 2008

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The Furrowed Brow.

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Eddie Mair | 09:11 UK time, Monday, 17 March 2008

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The place for serious talk.

Hugh's latest from Iraq.

Eddie Mair | 06:44 UK time, Saturday, 15 March 2008

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Here are Hugh's photos and words to accompany the last of his Iraq reflections five years on from the start of the war in 2003:

"There is so much sadness here. Almost everyone I meet has a horror story - about themselves, or their friends, or - most distressingly - about their children:

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Riath Hussein with his daughters Noor, aged 5 and Rana who was six at the time (July 2003).
Riath was shot in the head and blinded after a misunderstanding at a US checkpoint.

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Murad el Moshedi with a portrait of his 19-year-old son Anjem Ranem Murad, an engineering student. He died in an American bombing raid on a Saddam Fedayeen parade; his father told me he was 'intercepted by Ba'athists and forced to attend". I asked him who he blamed for his son's death. "Saddam Hussein". (2003)

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Hakima Mohammed with a photograph of her son Thama Nema Sarhan - killed in a battle during the Iraq war. I asked her who she blamed for his death. "Saddam Hussein". Before answering, she asked the interpreter if it was "safe to tell the truth". (2003)


I can't show you ten year old Mohammed, paralysed from his chest to his feet by a bullet through his neck. His father didn't want to release any photographs for public use. If I could, you would see, in his father's words, 'a beautiful boy' - smiling, sitting in a wheelchair. I can't show you his father. If I could, you would see a very angry, very distressed man. (2006)

Raja doesn't want to be seen on the internet either. Sitting at a restaurant table, she told me her husband had been shot dead walking down the street three months earlier, "for no reason". While she spoke, her 3-year-old daughter Samira listened intently, her chin in her hand and her elbow on my knee. When her mother stopped talking, the little girl looked up and said to me, "Please. Stay with us". (2007)"

The Glass Box for Friday

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Eddie Mair | 16:35 UK time, Friday, 14 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxd.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Shannon Matthews

Eddie Mair | 14:28 UK time, Friday, 14 March 2008

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found alive. Likely to be our lead story.

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1557 UPDATE: There is more on the story . We've just recorded an interview with a man who lives in the block next to where she was found. He describes seeing her, walking to the police car.

The foreign secretary

Eddie Mair | 13:54 UK time, Friday, 14 March 2008

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will appear on the programme tonight. It was hoped he could appear on The World at One but what with one thing and another that didn't happen. So Mr Miliband (who has his own blog ) rang in just after 1330 to kindly offer to do PM - he was at the big EU pow-wow in Brussels.

We recorded the interview in the last half hour. It was a bit of a rush job for me, and for the Foreign Secretary it was in difficult circumstances. When I arrived in the studio I could hear background noise coming down the phone line as Mr Miliband and his aides tried to find a quiet spot to do the int. He told me he had accidentally stepped into a cupboard moments before. Amid the kerfuffle, the echo on the line increased, and Mr Miliband informed me they were now in a toilet. A quick check was carried out to ensure there was no-one in and that no-one would flush. Then we got on to Afghanistan and Tibet.

Last night

Eddie Mair | 10:42 UK time, Friday, 14 March 2008

Comments

Hugh heard from US soldiers in Iraq.

He writes: "I have been on several embeds here, shamelessly using Humvees as taxis - to get me to reconstruction projects and to polling stations for the referendum and the two assembly elections in 2005. These are some of the people I met:

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Top cover for an Iraq Police station in New Baghdad


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Passengers on the Marne Express - a helicopter shuttle service across Baghdad.


fridayc.JPG
One of the helicopter pilots with his mascot.


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D-Fac. Dining Facility. Remarkably good food - substantial hot meals, omeletttes to order, and unlimited Baskin Robbins ice cream.


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Here is a soldier's quarters at a US base.

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Enjoying the Superbowl live on the big screen in a former Ba'ath Party auditorium in the Green Zone, Baghdad.


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Howard and Mike.


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Quiet times at Camp Rustamiya.


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Anyone hungry? Sgt. Mike Brinton returns from kebab shopping in Karada, Baghdad. After a suicide bomb attack, Mike told me: "I feel remorse. This is only happening because we're here"

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Kebab picnic near the Tigris. On the left, Col. Brian Dosa: ""I love it here, the people give me energy".

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"You'll have to forgive a bit of cavalry swagger, Hugh"


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On the way home: military contractors in a Hercules C130.


fridaym.JPG
Hercules crewman gets some rest."

Browsing

Eddie Mair | 10:39 UK time, Friday, 14 March 2008

Comments

the wares in the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Shop across the way, I noticed on the back cover of one of the DVDs this parental warning: "contains infrequent mild innuendo".

Leaving aside the question of why they have to bother with that, I wonder if you can guess which DVD it was?

The Beach

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 05:53 UK time, Friday, 14 March 2008

Comments

What is the Beach?

beacha.JPG

It's a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you are the only one around, but you can leave your footprints for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness.

If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question.

The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.

There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

beachb.JPG

The Glass Box for Thursday.

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 15:34 UK time, Thursday, 13 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassc.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Terry Pratchett is speaking about now about

Eddie Mair | 10:43 UK time, Thursday, 13 March 2008

Comments

Alzheimer's. We might talk about it tonight on the programme. In any case, is his planned speech.
terry.jpg

Hugh in Iraq, Wednesday

Eddie Mair | 12:48 UK time, Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Comments

Hugh's reflection on five years of war in Iraq tonight is about Marlene. And her sister Samira. Here are his words and pictures:

"A year ago, I was in Marlene's kitchen asking her about the cost of living. We'd dealt with cooking oil and bottled gas; just as she was talking about the soaring cost of bread, there was a massive explosion that shook the building and rattled the glass in the windows. It was the bomb attack on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visiting the Green Zone a mile away. Marlene crossed herself, said "Oh my God!", and "I'm sorry". She then laughed as I commented: "How ironic, I was about to say that your life must be very stressful!"

A year on, Marlene is not laughing, She is barely speaking.

wedna.JPG
Marlene

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Marlene with her sister Samira

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In memoriam. Marlene's and Samira's parents

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Their father as a young man. He's wearing the uniform of one of the mostly Assyrian-Christian Levy Units of the British Army in the early twentieth century, and under the "Mandate for Mesopotamia". There's more on the Levies :


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Better days. Another photograph on Marlene's wall: the River Tigris waterfront in Baghdad, in the nineteen sixties she thinks. Cafes, fish restaurants, seats on the sand, big American cars with fins, and timeless VW Beetles.


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Samira. How does she stay so cheerful? "It's my nature"

The Budget.

Eddie Mair | 12:20 UK time, Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Comments

There is much more general and specific information . If you want it VERY specific, the budget calculator is .

The Glass Box for Wednesday.

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 12:19 UK time, Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxg.JPG

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Hugh in Iraq, Tuesday.

Eddie Mair | 16:59 UK time, Tuesday, 11 March 2008

Comments

Today, Hugh's PM reflections on aspects of the past five years in Iraq focussed on the three polling days in 2005. Optimistic days, and days with bombs. Here are some of the photos he took at the time, along with his words:

tuesdaya.JPG
"January 2005: Billboard with a clear message. There was also a T-Shirt: "Give Terrorism the Finger".


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Enforcing the Baghdad vehicle curfew on election day. The sign says: "Vote - to give our children a better land".


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Roaming the streets. Neighbourhoods had put up their own defences for election day. We turned back.

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A US 'ring of steel' kept car bombs out of Baghdad on election day. But it couldn't prevent at least four suicide bomb attacks on polling stations. Dubious message on the tank....

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Early in the morning, one of the first voters on January 30th 2005.


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Two hours later, the polling station was approached by a suicide bomber. The two policemen who who challenged him died in the ensuing explosion. These voters remained patiently in line despite the human remains that they could see in the street in front of them.


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Rana, aged seven, listening to her own voice on my sound recorder near a polling station. A few moments of cheerful distraction for a grief-stricken little girl - her policeman father had been shot dead three days earlier.


tuesdayh.JPG
Happier voters at the election in December 2005. The woman on the left is inviting me in for tea."

Jonny Wilkinson's England career so far.

Eddie Mair | 14:09 UK time, Tuesday, 11 March 2008

Comments

1998: Ireland (h) won 35-17, Australia (a) lost 0-76, New Zealand (a) lost
22-64.
1999: Scotland (h) won 24-21, Ireland (a) won 27-15, France (h) won 21-10,
Wales (a) lost 31-32, Australia (a) lost 22-15, USA (h) won 106-8, Canada (h)
won 36-11. World Cup - Italy won 67-7, New Zealand lost 16-30, Fiji won 45-24,
South Africa lost 21-44.
2000: Ireland (h) won 50-18, France (a) won 15-9, Wales (h) won 46-12, Italy
(a) won 59-12, Scotland (a) lost 13-19, South Africa (a) won 27-22, Australia
(h) won 22-19, Argentina (h) won 19-0, South Africa (h) won 25-17.
2001: Wales (a) won 44-15, Italy (h) won 80-23, Scotland (h) won 43-3, France
(h) won 48-19, Ireland (a) lost 14-20, Australia (h) won 21-15, South Africa (h)
won 29-9.
2002: Scotland (a) won 29-3, Ireland (h) won 45-11, France (a) lost 15-20,
Wales (h) won 50-10, Italy (a) won 45-9, New Zealand (h) won 31-28, Australia
(h) won 32-31, South Africa (h) won 53-3.
2003: France (h) won 25-17, Wales (a) won 26-9, Italy (h) won 40-5, Scotland
(h) won 40-9, Ireland (a) won 42-6, New Zealand (a) won 15-13, Australia (a) won
25-14, France (h) won 45-14. World Cup - Georgia won 84-6, South Africa won
25-6, Samoa won 35-22, Wales won 28-17, France won 24-7, Australia won 20-17.
2007: Scotland (h) won 42-20, Italy (h) won 20-7, Ireland (a) lost 13-43, South
Africa (a) lost 10-58, South Africa (a) lost 22-55, Wales (h) won 62-5, France
(h) lost 15-21, France (a) lost 9-22. World Cup - Samoa won 44-22, Tonga won
36-20, Australia won 12-10, France won 14-9, South Africa lost 15-6.
2008: Wales (h) lost 19-26, Italy (a) won 23-19, France (a) won 24-13, Scotland
(a) lost 9-15.
Total: Played 69; won 52, lost 17.
Points scored: 1,032.

Lord Goldsmith's report on citizenship

Eddie Mair | 12:31 UK time, Tuesday, 11 March 2008

Comments

has been published. As well as all the stuff that was previewed, there are some new details we'll talk about tonight, including a National Day, the idea of a compulsory citizenship curriculum for primary education and a Deliberation Day in advance of general elections.

is the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s report on the report. If you'd like to read the full report, it's .

I couldn't think of a photo to illustrate this story so I've opted for photo of a panda.

panda.jpg

The Glass Box for Tuesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 12:30 UK time, Tuesday, 11 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassbb.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

DiY is working in Leominster this week and

Eddie Mair | 10:46 UK time, Tuesday, 11 March 2008

Comments

staying in Ludlow - "the town of my childhood.....a Shropshire Lad comes home you might say. Now that is a view!"

leo.JPG

The Onion,

Eddie Mair | 15:17 UK time, Monday, 10 March 2008

Comments

the American satirical website, will appear on the programme tonight. . If you're unfamiliar, you should know before you click that some of the stuff contains adult language and themes. It also contains satire.

onion.jpg
Jack and Vera yesterday.

1050 UPDATE: Sorry but this piece didn't make it onto the programme last night. I will try to get it posted here later.

Hugh Sykes is in Iraq.

Eddie Mair | 13:49 UK time, Monday, 10 March 2008

Comments

Every day on PM this week, Hugh will be reflecting on five years since the Iraq war began, and here on the blog he's going to provide some photos taken there along the way to go with the reports - some of them of the people you hear, others just to give a sense of the place. Here's the first batch. By the way you may enjoy clicking on our new link on the right (under Categories) to see previous Hugh photos:


fiveannnn.JPG
"Baghdad from 40,000 feet, looking east, on my way there via Kuwait.

fiveannnnn.JPG
Baghdad from an American helicopter, on my way to an 'embed'. The smoke is from the Dora oil refinery.


fiveannc.JPG
At ground level, a broken place. The main avenue from the Tigris river to Firdaus Square. Firdaus means 'paradise'.


fiveannd.JPG
Baghdad at night. No power. Absolute darkness - apart from the moon, car headlamps and flames at charcoal kebab stalls.


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City centre on a curfew day.


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Four days after the 'liberation'.


fiveanng.JPG
No he wasn't shouting in Arabic.


fiveannh.JPG
Baghdad smiles.


fiveanni.JPG
Baghdad warmth.


fiveannj.JPG
Baghdad family (it was cooler in the street than in their home: no power for the ceiling fan)"

The Glass Box for Monday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 13:45 UK time, Monday, 10 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxh.JPG

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

All this week

Eddie Mair | 12:25 UK time, Monday, 10 March 2008

Comments

Hugh Sykes will bring us a series of five reflections on the past five years in Iraq.

You can hear the first tonight: here are some pictures Hugh has sent us. More tomorrow.

fiveanna.JPG

fiveannb.JPG


The Furrowed Brow

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 05:23 UK time, Monday, 10 March 2008

Comments

The place for serious talk.

Hugh Sykes, photojournalism from Iraq.

Eddie Mair | 12:39 UK time, Saturday, 8 March 2008

Comments

Apologies to Hugh, these photos are not, as I mistakenly thought, related to his piece for Broadcasting House. In any case, as ever, they and Hugh's captions speak for themselves. Here are Hugh's words and pictures.

"On Thursday evening, the relative peace of Baghdad was shattered by two bombs and mass murder in the mixed city centre area of Karada. By coincidence, 24 hours earlier, I was at the street corner where they exploded.

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Wednesday evening: It's a tranquil, mixed neighbourhood, where families amble and men gather in cafes like this one.

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Karada's main street, seen from that café.


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Men at the corner cafe, after I'd interviewed them - 24 hours before the bombs exploded.


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Here - a merry policeman outside the café.


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And this is the same street corner after the bombs. They exploded just over there, on the corner.
It's diagonally across the road from the café.
There were dozens of dead bodies on the ground, and severed limbs and hands.
68 people died, many of them teenagers and children.
120 were injured. The victims were Shia, Sunni, Kurdish and Christian.


bagaf.JPG
The owner of a clothes shop knocks broken glass out of the window frame.


bagag.JPG
Glass outside a chemist's shop across the road from the bombs. The pharmacist was inside. He's ok, but he lost a lot of stock, which was blown onto the tiled floor. In the dark, on Friday evening, there were dozens of lighted candles arranged on the pavement to commemorate the dead. And on some of the locked shops, signs outlined in black announcing: "We regret we are closed - because of the death of the owner".

bagac.JPG
And those men at the café? They're still alive. But the son of one of them is not. He was walking past when the bombs exploded."

Hugh will

Eddie Mair | 05:01 UK time, Saturday, 8 March 2008

Comments

send new pictures from Iraq in time for his report in Sunday's Broadcasting House. In the meantime, as promised deep in another thread...here is a snap of Green Park in London yesterday lunchtime.

green.jpg

Time.

Eddie Mair | 17:31 UK time, Friday, 7 March 2008

Comments

Whose side are you on?

Uniforms.

Eddie Mair | 17:15 UK time, Friday, 7 March 2008

Comments

You heard Tom and Sir Max. What do you think?

The Glass Box for Friday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:39 UK time, Friday, 7 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassc.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Things were a little slow first thing...

Eddie Mair | 11:27 UK time, Friday, 7 March 2008

Comments

desktop.jpg

It's like this at PM

Eddie Mair | 06:42 UK time, Friday, 7 March 2008

Comments

The Beach

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 06:41 UK time, Friday, 7 March 2008

Comments

What is the Beach?

beacha.JPG

It's a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you are the only one around, but you can leave your footprints for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness.

If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.

Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question.

The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.

Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.

There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.

The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.

beachb.JPG

Food security, energy security.

Eddie Mair | 17:10 UK time, Thursday, 6 March 2008

Comments

What do you think?

The Glass Box for Thursday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 15:34 UK time, Thursday, 6 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassboxe.JPG
Jack and Vera at Christmas

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Elephant in the room.

Eddie Mair | 13:53 UK time, Thursday, 6 March 2008

Comments

Blogsy has sent me this:

elephant.JPG

Among the emails we've had:

"In Chinese chess (xiangqi) it can be tactically advantageous to put an elephant or two in the palace if you have either lost your ministers or you don't feel they offer sufficient protection to a general under attack.

Martin Campbell"


"Eric - I AM the elephant in the room but the smell is nothing to do with me. trust me, I'm a white elephant. "


Michael Fagan writes:

"Elephants in the room. I work in the zoo. I constantly have elephants in the room one, two five they are really no bother as long as you keep them well fed on buns and keep the mice out."


Wolf wonders: "Could two birds be killed with one stone, and the problem be solved by eating the Elephant?"


and there was this: " Dear Sir Eric, I look forward to show time, {don't forget to have a handy source of empty washing up bottles, sellotape and the much loved sticky back plastic, after all you may need to create somewhere to put your pens and paperclips at short notice during the show." from Simon.


1620 UPDATE: HAPPY 74TH BIRTHDAY JOHN NOAKES

Public toilets: it's all cisterns go.

Eddie Mair | 12:49 UK time, Thursday, 6 March 2008

Comments


atoiletyesterday.jpg

Don't look at me like that it's not my bloody joke. It comes from , in which the Government reveals its plans to increase public toilet facilities.

We'll talk about all of this tonight. What do you think?

White.

Eddie Mair | 12:39 UK time, Thursday, 6 March 2008

Comments

In a while I'll be recording an interview with a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Commissioning Editor, Richard Klein, who is responsible for the White season..."Is white working class Britain becoming invisible?". We're planning a discussion on the programme tonight about how Britain's politicians treat the white working class.

The Glass Box for Wednesday

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 16:47 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassa.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

The Tote.

Eddie Mair | 15:04 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

The Government's latest plans to sell the Tote are outlined . The minister can't talk to us tonight but we will hear from the Labour peer Lord Lipsey and from the Conservatives.

horse.jpg
Jack and Vera yesterday.


Drugs.

Eddie Mair | 14:43 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

In the programme tonight we'll talk about the International Narcotics Control Board's report, and comments by the Board's president Philip Emafo. You can read ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News' report on his warning . The Board's latest report is - you'll have to dig a bit to find the UK stuff.

benelton.jpg

On the programme tonight, an interview we've just recorded with Ben Elton, author of

The US election...

Eddie Mair | 14:27 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

...our coverage tonight includes:

rome.jpg

cranford.jpg

hillary.jpg


That mathematical formula in full.

Eddie Mair | 10:48 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

Here is the article from about Darren Crowdy - this is in response to "racheinderbys" post in Tuesday's Glass Box.

She wrote:

"Didn't hear all of the programme, but loved that you actually had a mathematician on and had a serious attempt get to grips with his work. I missed his name - can you give it (or better still a reference for his paper)? I can't find any reference to it on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News website. FWIW I loved Billy Bragg too."

And here is Darren's formula. If you have any questions, please just ask.

formula.GIF

We're sorry but postings are temporarily available from this page

Eddie Mair | 10:40 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

and DiY writes:

"Hi Eddie, sorry to see you are having problems with the Blog. Here is some cute pastry to go with the cute bunny."
pastry.JPG

We're sorry but postings are temporarily unavailable from this page.

Eddie Mair | 08:23 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

In the meantime, here is a cute picture of some lovely flowers.

flowers.jpg

We're sorry but postings are temporarily unavailable from this page.

Eddie Mair | 07:42 UK time, Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Comments

In the meantime, here is a cute picture of a bunny.

bunny.jpg

Margaret Hodge, Billy Bragg etc

Eddie Mair | 17:50 UK time, Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Comments

is the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News report on her comments. What do YOU think?

Caption Competition!*

Eddie Mair | 15:35 UK time, Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Comments

*Well of course it's not really a competition because we can't be faffed reading the complicated new ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ rules about having a competition. But we were just emailed this by the Kennel Club people, going on about launching "Gromit, the good looking and intelligent half of the Oscar® winning duo Wallace and Gromit, as the new face of its Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) - the largest dog training programme in the UK."

They sent this photo which I thought we could use for some much needed fun.

kennell.JPG

The Glass Box for Tuesday.

Post categories:

Eddie Mair | 15:33 UK time, Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

glassaa.jpg

We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

Easing congestion on the roads

Eddie Mair | 12:44 UK time, Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Comments

will also be on our minds tonight. Our political correspondent James Hardy has just filed this copy:

"The Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has announced new measures designed to ease traffic congestion in busy cities and on motorways.

She's says what's needed are immediate practical steps to ease congestion - and that means primarily using tried and tested methods.

Among them will be extending the M42 experiment, where traffic uses the hard shoulder, on to parts of the M6 and M1. In these zones, the current speed limit of 50 could be raised to 60 if the higher speed can be shown to be safe.

Another option under consideration is to charge drivers without passengers for using the extra lane.

Cities will be encouraged to follow London's lead by looking at congestion charging and improvements to bus services.

But Ms Kelly also admitted that for the time being both the technology and the public support were lacking for a wider system of levying charges on every driver per mile driven. That suggestion provoked 1.8 million people to sign a protest petition on the Downing Street website."

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News Online story is .

Licensing laws will be a talking point tonight.

Eddie Mair | 12:40 UK time, Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Comments

is the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News Online story...and below is the full ministerial statement - I will find a way later of providing a link for this rather than taking up the entire Blog.

"EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

LICENSING ACT 2003 AND TACKLING ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Andy Burnham): I am today publishing the evidence gathered so far on the operation of the licensing laws introduced in England and Wales in November 2005, and setting out how we intend to monitor the licensing regime over the next few weeks and months, and the immediate action the Government is taking to tackle alcohol-related problems. Copies of the evaluation report are being placed in the Library of both Houses.

This first review of the Licensing Act reveals a mixed picture.

Its introduction has not led to the widespread problems some feared. Overall, crime and alcohol consumption are down. But alcohol-related violence has increased in the early hours of the morning and some communities have seen a rise in disorder.

Our main conclusion is that people are using the freedoms but people are not sufficiently using the considerable powers granted by the Act to tackle problems, and that there is a need to rebalance action towards enforcement and crack down on irresponsible behaviour.

Some aspects of the Act have worked well.

Bringing together six previous licensing regimes into a single integrated scheme has resulted in a considerable reduction in red tape - estimated at £99m per annum - with benefits not just for business, but the third sector and non-profit making clubs too.

The Act has also delivered new powers and flexibilities enabling local authorities and police to work in partnership to significantly reduce crime and disorder in some areas.

At the same time, millions of people have been able to able to enjoy the convenience of shopping at a time that suits them and socialising in restaurants, bars and cafés beyond 11pm.

Furthermore, contrary to popular expectations:
· The average closing time across all on-licensed premises has increased by only 21 minutes since the Act came into effect;
· the overall volume of incidents of crime and disorder has remained stable and not risen; and
· alcohol consumption, rather than increasing, has instead fallen over this period.

In total, fewer than 4% of premises (some 5,100) have licences permitting them to open for up to 24 hours a day - many of which are hotels, stores and supermarkets. Only some 470 pubs, bars and nightclubs have 24 hour licences, but there is no evidence that more than a handful operate on that basis. The British Beer and Pub Association informed a Select Committee recently that there are only two traditional pubs in the entire country that operate for 24 hours.

But beneath these headline facts the picture is much more mixed.

Whilst crimes involving violence may have reduced over the evening and night time period, the evidence also points to increases in offences, including violent crimes, reported between 3am and 6am. This represents 4 per cent of night-time offences.

Similarly, whilst there is no clear picture of whether alcohol related demands on A&E services and alcohol-related admissions have risen, some hospitals have seen a fall in demand, others have reported an increase.

It is also clear that the overall reduction in alcohol-related disorder we wanted to see across the country has not materialised consistently in all areas.

The Government remains determined to address these issues, and the report published today has helped us identify a number of ways we can go further to protect the public, both in terms of using all the flexibilities in the Act to crack down on irresponsible behaviour, including more caution and conditions when issuing licenses and the withdrawal of licences in certain areas, but also introducing new initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol consumption.

The announcements today contain measures to target those businesses that continue to sell alcohol irresponsibly and cause harm within our communities.

To specifically address the small but unacceptable proportion of violent crimes occurring in the early hours of the morning, we will undertake further comprehensive research into post-midnight drinking patterns and their impact on crime and order, and will not hesitate to take the necessary action through new legislation and enforcement measures to tackle this.

But we will take immediate action now.

First, we will utilise existing powers to identify problem premises. We will make it easier to review premises where local intelligence suggests there is a problem.

Second, we will encourage the imposition of tougher sanctions on those found to be breaching their licensing conditions. This includes the stipulation that there be far more instant closures of pubs and clubs in an area where there has been a disorder and indefinite closure by the courts for any breach of licence conditions. We will develop a toolkit for local authorities and police, building on my Rt. Hon. Friend the Home Secretary's recently published Guide for Dealing with Alcohol Related Problems.

Third, we will change the offence of "persistently selling alcohol to a person under 18" from 'three strikes' to 'two strikes' in three months. This means that any seller who twice sells to under age drinkers and is caught doing so will immediately lose their licence.

Fourth, we will support the police and local authorities to identify problem hotspots by ranking geographical areas and concentrations of premises on the basis of the risks they present to crime and disorder, public nuisance and children. This will allow licensing authorities the ability to exercise more caution and conditions when issuing licenses, and wholesale withdrawal of licences in these areas, and permit local authorities and police to target enforcement resources more effectively at problem hotspots.

Finally, the message must be clear to all: breach your licensing conditions and you face severe and costly restrictions on your business - with a new "yellow card and red card" alert system. A yellow card will put the problem premises on immediate probation together with tough and uncompromising sanctions. And when the circumstances are right, it will be a straight red card leading to withdrawal of the licence.

To tackle wider anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol consumption my Rt Hon Friend, the Home Secretary, will bring forward legislation to:
· Increase the maximum fine for anyone not obeying an instruction to stop drinking, or to give up their drink in a designated public place from £500 to £2,500;

· Make it easier for the police to disperse anti-social drinkers - both adults and children -from any location - if necessary, we will change the law to make this happen;

· Extend the use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts for young people caught drinking in public, to require them and their parents to attend a session with a trained worker; and

· In addition, we will be extending the alcohol arrest referral pilots that my Rt Hon Friend, the Home Secretary, announced last month so that under 18s may also benefit from a brief intervention from a trained worker. This will help deal with young people drinking in public who are already involved in criminal activities.

I, together with my Rt Hon Friend, the Home Secretary, will convene a summit of police and local authorities to explore how we can take these proposals forward.

The report published today is not the end of the story. The measures announced today are only part of the Government's comprehensive strategy for combating the problems associated with alcohol.

A significant programme of work is underway over the next 6 months.

We are working with the industry on alcohol advertising, and welcome industry consideration to give much more prominence to clear information about the dangers of alcohol, and to actively support Government campaigns to promote sensible drinking. We will strongly encourage them to press on with trials to test their effectiveness. If we need to, we will consider more restrictions.

Later in the year, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families will publish the Government's action plan on young people and alcohol containing further proposals for reducing drinking by young people specifically.

Later in the spring, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, will also set out measures for dealing with the relatively small number of people who continue to think it is acceptable behaviour to drink and drive.

The Department of Health will publish the results of the independent study commissioned from the University of Sheffield to look at the evidence on the relation between alcohol price, promotion and harm and in response will bring forward necessary action. The real cost of alcohol has fallen to historically low levels, and there is already an emerging consensus that more needs to be done to tackle irresponsible promotions and deep discounting that can lead to anti social behaviour. The Government will begin immediate work with the licensing authorities and retailers, including the development of new codes on responsible sales and promotions which might be considered as a condition of an alcohol licence.

In conclusion, we are prepared to take action wherever the evidence suggests that it is necessary to tackle the problems associated with alcohol."

More snow

Eddie Mair | 12:34 UK time, Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Comments

this time from Lady Sue who sends this snap "for the blog in response to Jonnie's comment. This one's the intended Christmas card!"

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Car Park charges.

Eddie Mair | 16:54 UK time, Monday, 3 March 2008

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We'll talk about them tonight, and hear from England's health minister Ben Bradshaw.

There's more on the story .

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Jack and Vera yesterday

The Glass Box for Monday

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Eddie Mair | 15:41 UK time, Monday, 3 March 2008

Comments

Be your own radio critic! Tell us here, frankly, what you thought of tonight's programme. In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box:

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We talk about the content of the programme and try to give an honest assessment of what worked and what didn't...the things we missed and the places where our ambitions were not met. THIS virtual glass box you are looking at is where you are invited - indeed encouraged - to be your own critic. Comment on our hour by clicking on the comment link. Members of the production team will read the comments, and the editor should comment too. Click on The Glass Box link on the right of the page to read previous entries.

More weather...

Eddie Mair | 14:18 UK time, Monday, 3 March 2008

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this time from Lady Sue who says it's snowing in Ireland too.

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Stewart M

Eddie Mair | 11:55 UK time, Monday, 3 March 2008

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in an email entitled: "It's grim up north", says "7.30 this morning it was blizzard conditions in west yorkshire.

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Its actually quite nice now. I'm sure others may send you pictures of awful weather also."

And as it happens we got this rather sunnier shot from José Roque:

"Recently I sent a frog photo, as Jonnie advised me to do. Now there's one from Venice Beach in LA, taken some days ago."

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Hugh is on assignment,

Eddie Mair | 07:46 UK time, Monday, 3 March 2008

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but because he is, in my view, radio royalty, I am forbidden from telling you where he is. Wild horses would not drag it out of me.

He has sent these first-impression photographs from his first 24 hours back in the city that he's visited many times since the invasion in 2003. It's Baghdad. Oh damn. Here are Hugh's words and pictures:

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"Some things haven't changed - checkpoint on the road from the airport to Baghdad city centre.

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Tank track seen through the windscreen of our discreet, low-profile vehicle.

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American checkpoint.

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Some things have changed. A family on the Tigris river embankment.

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Another family. New umbrellas and tables in an area which was desolate, neglected and empty for years.

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Three sisters enjoying the spring evening air.


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New swings for the children. And for Mum.

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The main ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ office. Darker than ever now because of new steel sheets across the windows in case of bomb attacks nearby. Very depressing working conditons, rather claustrophobic.

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On our fortifications outside: "I am the cat that walks alone, and all places are alike to me" (Have I got it right? - T. S Eliot, I hope)"

The Furrowed Brow.

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Eddie Mair | 06:42 UK time, Monday, 3 March 2008

Comments

The place for serious talk. What's on your mind?

Soon...

Eddie Mair | 11:25 UK time, Sunday, 2 March 2008

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new photos from Hugh on assignment in ****.

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