Shaun Ley at work in Egypt
with his editor Amanda kneeling at his feet. Which is as things should be.
Archives for June 2008
What's in your favourites folder?
A regular feature on our sister programme iPM involves us asking someone famous about their internet favourites: those sites they've bookmarked to access regularly.
In previous editions Martha Lane Fox told us about Patient Opinion, the illusionist Derren Brown revealed his interest in parrots, and Armando Ianucci pointed us towards Martian FM. You can read and hear about their choices and all iPM's internet favourites by clicking here.
The reason I'm bothering you with all of this is that for this week's iPM, Chris Vallance approached the famous British inventor Sir Clive Sinclair to ask about his internet favourites. His answer, which you can hear in PM tonight, might surprise you.
Evening update: want to hear the interview? Click here.
Sex.
There, I said it.
On the programme tonight we're going to talk not just about people over 45 doing IT - but giving each other .
This is some gonorrhoea bacteria, apparently. Eugh. If you'd like some ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ advice on all this - and why wouldn't you...it's here.
Listing.
English Heritage wants ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Television Centre in London - where we work - to get listed status. It's urging the government to recognise the "cultural and architectural importance" of the building.
It means the Glass Box would be even more special. Or something.
Anyhoo, I've just been speaking in the Blue Peter Garden to the delightful Emily Gee (on the left) from English Heritage. You can hear our chat tonight.
But of course you really want to see some pretty garden photos:
And I have no idea what this is, but I'm sure someone will know:
The Glass Box for Monday.
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:
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 Furrowed Brow.
The place for serious talk about whatever you want.
The Beach.
Hello. Welcome to my beach.
It's a place to take all your inhibitions off and run into the sea and have a dip...
Go to the bar have a drink or just lay down and sun yourself...
because the sun always shines on the beach.
Be nice.
Say nice things.
Have a nice day.
The Glass Box for Friday
Once again, it's your chance to be a 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:
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.
Where has the afternoon gone?
Ritula writes:
Lots happening in the PM hothouse (glassbox reference - geddit?!)
John O Farrell's going to talk to us about losing elections, we also hope to hear why the Football Association is planning to ban football leagues for the under eights. You can read about the plans
Do tune in!
Talking of beer...
Michael Buchanan will report for PM today from a museum devoted to the history of brewing and beer, ahead of its closure on Monday.
Michael writes...
In this era of concern over alcohol misuse, it's often overlooked that Britain has a very proud brewing heritage. Ales from these shores have been quenching thirsts for centuries and nowhere is more associated with that tradition that Burton-on-Trent. But a gem of a museum in the town devoted to brewing (with a strong emphasis, it's fair to say, on the Bass brewery) is to close at the end of the month.
The museum gives visitors a thorough understanding of the brewing process
and how it developed as well as containing archives going back to the 1740s.
These labels
are all rip-offs of the famous red Bass triangle which brewers across the world produced in an attempt to be associated with the good name of the Bass ales.
The museum also gives an insight into how pubs in Britain developed.
The reason for the closure is falling visitor numbers but supporters such as Adrian Wedgewood are engaged in an enthusiastic campaign to keep the collection together and re-open the place as a national brewing museum.
He says that an important part of Britain's industrial heritage is in danger of being lost, and is looking for benefactors to come forward with the more than £300,000 per annum they reckon they'll need to keep the museum open. The owners of the museum have given them until the end of the year to put together a rescue package. If this was a collection of artwork, says Adrian, there would undoubtedly be a national campaign to keep it.
So that's the 1100 meeting finished.
And here's the rundown of what may lie ahead.
We're looking for a loser....the clue is "Henley"...
There'll be the latest from Zimbabwe and I'm told "Dot" will bounce into earshot..
Also are most of us in favour of cheap food over chicken welfare? -- discuss...
Oh, and there may be some beer too.
Hi, I'm Ritula Shah.
Ooh it's familiar but different...I'm normally in this seat on a Saturday but it's a bit bigger today -- so bear with me while I buckle up and settle in -- I'm determined not to slide about once the rollercoaster that is PM gets going -- and there will be NO screaming....well not much anyway. I'll let you know what we're doing in a while
Glass Box for Thursday
dot dot dot, dash dash dash.
It's Wimbledon and Dot's back. Jonnie sent us this - can you spot the Dot?
Thanks..
.... for all your comments about our Anglo-American interview yesterday. We thought it was a good chance to hear from a big company like that about why it has decided to press on with a project in Zimbabwe despite international condemnation of the regime there. Some of you didn't like it - and it's been interesting to hear why.
We're thinking of doing something about eco towns today. You know the Government is looking for ten areas in which the towns could be built, but in many of the proposed areas there's growing opposition. Do you happen to know of any area where they are in favour of having an eco town?
Glass Box for Weds
Thanks to Big Sis for this after my plea for some stardust yesterday.
UPDATE: delay on images uploading to our server - here's hoping we can sprinkle stardust soon...
All comments on the programme very welcome.
New balls please
Good blog suggestions last night.
Special guest appearance by Lord Levy this evening doing the commentary for us at Wimbledon. Only joking! Lovely dot@wimbledon isn't going to be available for PM (boo) but we do have one of her colleagues - Annie McGuire - joining us from SW19.
What do you want me to do about the Glass Box photo? Shall we restore the old pic - Monty 'n' all?
see you later,
cquinn
Glass Box for Tuesday
Would you like to sprinke a little stardust on this picture? We've decided to let you do your own thing this evening. Give us some ideas about what you thought of the programme as well please....
Anyone for tennis?
....with Tony Blair? Or dinner with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Or tea with Nancy Dell'Olio. Just some of the exciting prizes on offer if you cough up loads of money for the Labour party at an auction next month. Lord Levy, formerly Labour's "Mr Moneybags" will be joining us live to talk about the state of the party's finances. I'll give you a clue - they're not good.
Any thoughts on what celebrity offer would make YOU part with your hard earned cash?
Talking of celebrities - Ed's out of the office - so I'm in charge of tearing off the calendar page. And remembering to put the Glass Box on - thanks for the reminder last time jonnie - all offers of help gratefully received!!
see you later,
cquinn
Wimbledot.
In response to a request in the Glass Box, and thanks to a link from Jonnie, here is Wimbledot - appearing tonight on the programme. She is the official Dot of the All-England Championships.
The Glass Box for Monday.
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:
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.
Aspire.
We're talking about it tonight. It's big. Bigger than a stiletto. It's the tallest freestanding sculpture in the UK. It's .
Nicked any stuff online lately?
We're running a discussion about the rights of news organisations and bloggers tonight. If you can't wait, you can hear it right now, and read more here.
Digital Radio.
"The Digital Radio Working Group was established in November 2007 by instruction of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Its purpose was to bring together senior figures from the radio industry and related stakeholders (membership of the DRWG is detailed in Annex A of this document), under an independent Chair, to consider three questions:
• What conditions would need to be achieved before digital platforms could become the predominant means of delivering radio?
• What are the current barriers to the growth of digital radio?
• What are the possible remedies to those barriers?"
So begins the DRWG report - out today. We'll talk about it tonight....
Independent.
The other day we got an email from someone passionate about renewable energy. As we often do, we suggested he post his comment on the blog. We thought you might be amused to read his reply:
"Thanks but no thanks. Blogs are used by nutters with axes to grind who can't spell. I repeat my comments below -- all the points are listed on the Costing the Earth website which I think has been got at by the government apparatchiks as later editions have taken the Politically Correct line. Your programme on Friday was a travesty of fairness as you gave the wind power developers a free run. When they say that a wind "farm" will provide power for 10,000 houses they forget to mention that is provided no-one switches on a kettle and that the wind is at gale force 8. Below that output drops on an exponential curve. So few people nowadays have much knowledge of physics that they can get away with any claims they like as most wouldn't know a kilowatt from an ampere if it was staring them in the face. I just want your programme and the others news reports on Radio 4 to be independant thinking and not to be agents of the government."
Swan vista.
The Stainless Steel Cat says: "I'll see your swan and raise you another swan and a duck. This photo was taken last Monday, so is perfectly on topic... (The swans however were on crisps, not nutty chocolate bars)"
Do not feed the trolls.
Fifi says: "Guima sent this, spotted in his garden in Brazil. I always wondered what a Troll looked like......!"
The Furrowed Brow.
The place for serious talk.
Martha Stewart.
Is she really banned from Britain? thinks so - and he'll join us on the programme.
"Why is everyone so bloody miserable?"
The Transport Minister Tom Harris has got a lot of mileage out of . You may have heard him on Today this morning. He's written about some of the outcry and .
We'll talk about this tonight.
The Glass Box for Friday.
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:
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 on the move...
He sends this:
"This should save a few hours reading...
Dawn in Jerusalem this morning, about 5am. There are sounds to go with this. (coming soon...ed)
This is Hugh signing off and heading home. If you have been, as John Ebdon used to say, thank you for listening."
The Beach.
The beach is a state of mind, where we escape from the must to the maybe and what if, where thoughts may be lightly etched on the shore or sculpted in the sand, admired and commented on by others, then swept away by the waves or jumped on by small children of all ages...
Inside Burma.
We'll hear in PM from two people who've been inside the country, seeing for themselves what aid is getting through. There's much more, .
Petrol.
Ros Connell says: "Here is a photo of my local biodiesel price board. Great Milton Oxfordshire. Free range eggs also available from a shed beside the pump (if the hens are laying enough)." 
Hugh In Israel.
He writes: "Here are some faces to put to the voices on the report from Jerusalem last night, and some other scenes that caught my eye:
Amotz Asa-El, Jerusalem Post columnist, with a photograph of his mother and her sisters, all Auschwitz survivors.
Victoria Buch, Chemistry professor and anti-occupation activist - who does not think an attack on Iran would be the right response to the threats from Teheran.
Religious mix on a Jerusalem street.
Religious mix in the Jerusalem view from my hotel window. A mosque minaret, and the tower of St. George's cathedral.
More of the hotel window view. Ah, those flowers. And these:
That's a smart new Jerusalem shopping mall, with art on the walls all along it.
This canvas refers back to the 1967 war.
Workmen completing part of the shopping mall.
Guard cats at Victoria Buch's block of flats.
Moon over Jericho and the Jordan valley on Tuesday evening."
The Glass Box for Thursday.
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:
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.
Online crime maps.
The Government is it seems. iPM reported on this last week. Have a look.
I have found the clip of Joan Rivers swearing on TV yesterday.
It struck me as very funny. But not really post-able here, I wouldn't have thought. Shame.
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
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:
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.
Barking.
Call to the Listener Log:
"At the beginning of the programme there was a report about a Home Office
minister who had her lap top stolen. On the half hourly update it was announced
that this story had been dropped from the topics of discussion. The impression I
got was that somebody from the Home Office had phoned to tell the programme to
drop the story."
Petrol.
Carol Winton (and I am blushing at your kind comment) says: "Hello everyone on PM! I took this on the A422 Newport Pagnell bypass. It's the cheapest I've found in this area."
The Stainless Steel Cat says "here's one I took on Monday in Arrochar in the Highlands. Sorry it's a bit fuzzy. As you can see from the main shot from which it was taken, I clearly had my priorities wrong when composing the picture..."
Blog probs.
Summat odd happening. Stand by.
Cancer treatment.
No, not this sort of doctor, silly.
Time and again on PM we've discussed the provision of cancer drugs on the NHS. The time it takes to get them approved; their cost, and the fact that treatment can depend on where you are in the UK.
Some people with cancer have tried to get round some of those problems by paying for drugs privately - only to find that in their dying months the NHS denied them treatment. There's a ban on cancer patients paying for top up treatments in the NHS - something known as .
Until recently, England's health secretary Alan Johnson publicly opposed co-payments, because letting patients pay for their own drugs would create a two-tier NHS. Now he's announced a review.
Israel.
We had a lively discussion on the blog about a recent article by Israel's ambassador to the UK. Now, the Labour group in the Welsh Assembly are holding a meeting about
Hugh
has travelled from Damascus to Israel, via Jordan and the West Bank. Here are his words and pictures reflecting the sights and people (and cat) that he saw on the way:
"Pontiac in a back street in Damascus.
Syria departure hall at the Jordan border. Very quick, efficient and friendly.
Family on the move at the border.
Coffee, very good Arabic coffee, on the Jordanian side.
In Irbid, on the way down to the Jordan Valley to cross into Israel. The farm lorry is laden with coriander. Or is it parsley? I contemplated jumping out to taste it, but the lights changed.
Bus driver Issam, who came to my rescue when my Syrian taxi was turned back at a Jordanian army checkpoint on the way down into the valley. No Syrian licence plates are allowed down near the border
Waiting for the bus at the northern 'Sheikh Hussein' crossing near the Galilee (not the famlous Allenby Bridge).
Palestinian family about to board the bus to cross the border.
Fadiya, who befriended me on the bus, and took me by the hand when we got off.
The bridge across the Jordan is about twenty metres long. Total journey time: 5 minutes.
Israeli fences and security road, along the border between the occupied West Bank and Jordan. Many Israelis are adamant that the Jordan valley section of the West Bank will always be occupied. Palestinians say this is totally unacceptable - because it will mean they will be 'surrounded' by Israeli-controlled land.
Jerusalem at last. 8 hours on the road from Damascus. Time for a sleep.
Beautiful coffee at cafe Erez Lechem."
And there's more from Hugh in Israel in tomorrow's PM.
Stagflation Pincer Movement
is a phrase used in our 11.00 meeting just now.
Petrol.
Stuart Jeffery in Maidstone says "This Esso sign clearly explains why fuel prices are rising...
Vyle Hernia writes:"Here's one I prepared earlier... a lot earlier. I took this to preserve the Safeway sign when Morrison was taking over. I also inadvertently preserved the BP logo. And the price - 72.9p/l."
And Julian Lewis-Booth sends this (rather distant for my old eyes) shot of "Prices in Sk2":
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
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:
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.
German energy.
Ray Furlong writes: "This week we've been looking at renewable energies. In Germany, the renewable sector is booming - while ours is still in its nappies. Germany's success is largely due to a system called Feed-In Tariffs, where anyone can use renewables to generate electricity - and then sell it back to the energy companies for a guaranteed and inflated price." There will be more on the programme tonight - Ray has sent these photos.
This one was taken by the people at , the Innovation Academy at Baden-Wuertemberg.
Below is Fritz Merkle and his solar roof:
And Ray recommends this link: is tipped as being good for general info.
Petrol
We want a photo of your local petrol station's prices. Send it please to pm@bbc.co.uk.
This just in:
"I continue to listen to you every day from Santa Fe, New Mexico! You were asking for photos of petrol stations, and I took this one two weeks ago when I was teaching a painting workshop in the mountain village of Truchas, NM. Obviously we aren't paying quite as much as you are in the UK, but thought you might enjoy this sign. Because the petrol station is high up in the mountains, the local depot are charging more for delivering to these remote areas. Pity they can't spell and put the decimal point in the correct place!!Best wishes, Lynne Windsor"
If you want to see the others - click on Petrol Photos on the right.
Party funding.
There is a white paper on the funding of political parties. Jack Straw will be live in our programme. I'll post a link to the Justice Ministry's site when the right page appears.
1645 UPDATE: is the news release. If you want to read the full white paper, it's .
If you have a question for Mr Straw, or a comment - post it here,..
Many weeks after
Gladys Friday sent this - I have the pleasure in presenting her card. She and Mr Friday were "having a lovely time". Sorry for the delay. My fault entirely.
Renewables.
The government would like us to believe that the future is green and renewable. But why has it been so difficult to deliver it? Is the problem dodgy science, over-ambitious targets and spiralling costs or simply a lack of political will?
All this week on PM we're examining these questions. We'll investigate what we can learn from other countries and why the debate on renewables is more rhetoric than reality. PM reporter Michael Buchanan sends these words and pictures:
What's the best thing to do with the Barvas Moor? Not a question that occupies your mind too often I'd imagine, (unless you actually live on the Isle of Lewis) but one idea was the build Europe's biggest wind farm here. Lewis is after all acknowledged to have Europe's best onshore wind resource, and its fair to say its often blowing a hoolie on the moor. But the scheme - which was project to save about a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission per annum - was rejected in April by the Scottish government due to the adverse effects it would have on wildlife. It would have been huge - 181 turbines standing 140 metres tall - and was wildly unpopular locally. But do we have to withstand such issues if we are to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint? Discuss."
Jonnie
sends this update on "the local Esso in Bath Road, Bournemouth". 
(compare it to the photo here)
The Glass Box for Monday.
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:
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 Furrowed Brow.
The place for some serious talk.
Friday the Thirteenth
Let me reassure you. Eddie is not at a lakeside summer camp but is on his way to chair Any Questions.
We're watching the tanker driver strike and wondering how many people are panic buying. Got any pictures of you NOT panicking? Got any pictures of petrol stations without queues?
top of the mornin'
cquinn
The Glass Box for Friday.
Carolyn is your host tonight. 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:
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. I may well blog from the Any Questions tour bus later...
Crime.
How would you like a map of your neighbourhood - or a neighbourhood you're thinking of moving to - which reveals the crime rate?
As promised, here are Hugh's
words and photos of "Damascus away from that lovely mosque.
The image of President Bassar al-Assad is ubiquitous - banners on buildings, framed photographs in every shop I've looked into. It is illegal to criticise him publicly.
A lot of the old Damscene houses are ripe for renovation. This is what can be done:
The 'Old Damascus' Hotel. There are several like it. A bargain at around $80 a night. Almost total silence, apart from mosques and churches every now and then. And the splashing fountain.
Time for lunch. That's my meal in the foreground. Piping hot fresh pizzas - the one with zatar (thyme) and olive oil is really good. Total cost: £75. Syrian £s. ie, 75p.
Lunch another day. Bigger pizzas, 40p each. And here's who I met while I was waiting for my lunch to bake:
A man passing by saw me taking those photographs, and waited to ask me: "Do you have monkeys like this in Britain?" Damascus is gull of wonderfully friendly, confident children. And adults. Sadly, also, there is a lot of child labour. Those children look exhausted. One little boy stands at a corner near my hotel, with a small set of scales for passers by to stand on and check their weight. He gets about 10p a time. He stands there for hours, great grey bags under his eyes. I didn't photograph him.
This man wanted his picture taken: 
Ahmed, a refugee from the violence in Iraq. He spat fury about George Bush, and made gestures saying that he would shoot him, and stab him, and stamp on his head.
The leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshal, who lives in Damascus.
The editor of the Syrian government newspaper, al-B'aath, Elias Murad. And that's him in the old photgraph:
1973. Elias on the left, posing proudly by the wreckage of an Israeli plane. It was shot down during Syria's failed attempt to regain the Golan Heights - which were captured by Israel in 1967.
The new Assad Centre for the Arts and Culture.
Damascus is Arab City of Culture 2008. The Peter Brook production was powerful, thought provoking, and the actor Bruce Myers received a standing ovation.
After the show, time for a hubble-bubble at al-Rowda cafe. Water pipes, chess games, a clack of dominoes, and Euro 2008. Wild cheers when Turkey beat Switzerland.
And that's Georges. He kept smiling at me. So I promised to use his picture. I don't think he understood - he just went on grinning. Lovely place, warm-hearted welcoming people. Yes, there is some imprisonment without trial. But, as Elias Murad said to me: "Nothing worse than Guantanamo"."
The Beach.
"Welcome to The Beach, a very special place on the PM Blog.
The sun shines, the drinks are free, there are more than enough sun loungers and hammocks to go round, and the camels are friendly. So, take a break from your day to day stresses and strains and relax.
There are only two rules; 1) be nice to everyone, and 2) don't eat the petunias."
David Davis resigns as an MP.
We'll talk about it tonight. What do you think?
BTW thanks to newsletter subscriber Lynwen who asked, if I can multi-task on Daily Politics, why didn't we mention David Davis in today's newsletter? Alas, it was written at 11.52...and my skilling doesn't yet extend to seeing the future. But there is a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ course on doing that so stand by...
Want to read his full statement?
The Glass Box for Thursday.
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:
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.
This man paints doors for a living.
He's Gary Hume, one of the original "Young British Artists" in Damien Hirst's famous Freeze show in 1988, and on PM, with Nigel Wrench, this evening. Nigel writes:
"For twenty years now, Mr Hume has been painting glossy versions of the same set of hospital doors (at St Bart's in London, which oddly enough, featured in my report on a Brazilian theatre company last week).
A mini-retrospective of these works opens on Saturday at Modern Art Oxford. The catalogue says, "The paintings of Gary Hume challenge us not to be seduced". You may smile, but the shiny surfaces are oddly alluring.
Above is Black Door With Sash (2006). Mr Hume says he imagines it like a general on parade.
And below is More ****ing Values (1991 - 2008), (censorship mine, by the way, it'll be a bleep if it features on the radio). 
The door pictures sell for six-figure sums, in case you're thinking of getting one for the front room. They were installing them in the marvellous soaring space that is Modern Art Oxford when I was there yesterday.
The woman in the white t-shirt on the left is Suzanne Cotter, director of the gallery and a Turner Prize judge this year. Gary Hume is on the left at the back, helping to hold up Brown Door (1988).
And finally:
Something I took at first to be an installation, but turned out simply to be a lift they're using to place the works on the walls. You just never know with contemporary art, do you?"
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and the UK.
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Trust has come up with a report on how the UK is reported by the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳. You can read it here, and we'll talk about it tonight.
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
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:
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.
Remember
the photo Hugh sent of the children rolling on the marble?
Hugh writes: "It's time to reveal that they were having fun.... in the grand courtyard of the Ummayad mosque in Damascus.
There were lots of children having fun on the marble; rolling around, playing sliding games (racing to see who could slide the furthest), playing catch, and one little boy was roaring about on a push-scooter doing skid turns.
It's a very happy place. Even inside the main hall it's relaxed.
During evening prayers the day I visited, while rows and rows of men (and women in a separate area) faced Mecca for their prayers, others simply sat in contemplation - and one woman took photographs with her mobile phone.
The mosque was built in 705 AD. It was restored after a decree by the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Thousands of pilgrims come here from Iran - they believe the head of the Shia Imam Hussein - killed in the Battle of Kerbala (in Iraq) - is buried here. More from Syria on PM this evening."
The missing headlines:
Downing Street has condemned plans for a four-day strike by oil tanker drivers that's due to start on Friday. It's urged motorists to refrain from panic-buying petrol and diesel. The action by drivers who deliver fuel for Shell is likely to affect about one in ten filling stations.
Charities have expressed dismay at a rise in the number of children and elderly people who live in poverty.
The Police Federation has lost a legal bid to force the Government to backdate the pay award for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Let there be light.
This won't mean much to you, but it means a lot to me.
They've fixed all the lights in Studio S1, which is where PM, The World at One, Broadcasting House, Today, The World Tonight, The World this Weekend and iPM are all broadcast from. They've been flickering on and off for some time...sometimes plunging us into darkness (I am exaggerating a lot but go with it, please) and appalling scenes (OK it's completely over the top now)....but now the (ahem, one) flickering light has been fixed and I think the whole thing has been given an overhaul. Super.
Britain is a "hotbed of radical anti-Israeli views"...
and extremists have "hijacked" the Israel debate - according to Israel's ambassador to the UK. He has written . In PM tonight we'll discuss his views.
What do you think?
Ireland
is preparing to vote on the EU Treaty. Yvonne Murray is there for PM and will report tonight. She's sent these photos and words:
"Some campaign posters on a lamp post in Dublin. Everywhere there's a YES poster, there's one for the NO side too. Irish voters don't know who to believe.
This is a rally outside the GPO on Saturday. The GPO was the scene of the Easter Rising in 1916 and the NO camp are linking the struggle for Irish independence with the Lisbon Treaty - saying Ireland's hard-won sovereignty will be compromised.
Here we see people out enjoying the sunshine in Stephen's Green in Dublin. It's really warm and sunny here this week which makes a change from the rain..I asked some of them how they were planning to vote on Thursday. Most hadn't made up their minds."
What do voters in Britain think? There is a new opinion poll from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s programme:
64% think there should be a referendum on the EU Treaty of Lisbon with 26% saying the decision should be made by Parliament. The results of the poll will be published on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳2's Daily Politics programme today at 12:00pm.
When asked how they would vote if the UK were to hold a referendum on the EU Treaty, 40% said against, 33% in favour with 27% saying they did not know.
The poll was conducted for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳2's Daily Politics programme by ComRes. They spoke to 1,010 voters between 6th and 8th June.
Full Results
Q1. Some people argue that the EU Treaty of Lisbon should be subject to a referendum of all UK voters, while others say that the British Parliament ought to decide whether or not the UK ratifies the Treaty. Do you think the UK should hold a referendum, or do you think that Parliament should decide?
64% UK should hold a referendum
26% Parliament should decide
9% Don't know
Q2. If the UK were to hold a referendum on the EU Treaty of Lisbon, as will happen in Ireland on Thursday, do you think you would vote to accept the Treaty or reject it?
33% Accept
40% Reject
27% Don't know
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
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:
THIS IS THE FULLEST THE BOX IS GOING TO GET!
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 is where...?
Here are some clues from him.
"1: One swift doesn't make a summer
2: More than twenty....do. Swifts, note. (In Joke....last time I was in This Place, a lorra people wrote in to correct me when I described screeching swooping ...swallows. I've got new glasses now.)
3: So, where am I? Where are these children playing their rolling game? Answers soon. Insh'Allah."
Flags.
In today's Daily Telegraph, about one of the big differences between Euro 2008 and 2004. We'll talk flags with Britain's biggest flag manufacturer. By which I mean they make a lot of flags, not that they've made just one massive one.
Congestion charging.
We expect an announcement about Manchester in the Commons this afternoon. There is a not terribly helpful (at 1215) link . There is coverage...and we hope to talk to the Transport Secretary on the show.
The Glass Box for Monday.
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:
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.
Meanwhile, over on LBC..
the Parma Ham clip below took me to this archive clip of a memorable moment on the London talk station...
The Furrowed Brow.
Seriously - what's on your mind?
Sunny Sunday.
Mother and child watching the sunset, Beirut.
For more from this photographer, click on 9e under Categories on the right.
Petrol.
From guess where...and who? (answer under Comments)
Glass Box for Friday
What did you think of tonight's programme? In the PM office we meet every night at 1800 in this Glass Box, come and drop in...
By the way....
while Ed's away, it's me again.
Just wanted to say hello.
We fancy doing a discussion this evening following the MEP's expenses story. With all the questions about politicians' allowances and the claims that have been made - legitimately- by individual MPs and MEPs, we wanted to ask whether it is just human nature to claim as much as possible, to take what's given rather than restricting yourself to what you actually need. Or should we all just claim what we need rather than what we are entitled to? What do you do about claiming from your employers? Do you restrict yourself or take anything going?
The Beach.
Welcome to the Beach. The off topic place for froggers and peeps to be frivolous, have fun or just to chill out. The weather is always perfect, the sea is never cold and the breeze always warm and gentle, ideal for blowing away the woes of RL and flying kites.
The company is always engaging and there is usually a something going on at 'The Nick Clarke' bar where tipples and nibbles can also be had. There are hammocks to laze in, a dog walking area and even a naughty step for those that want to self administer mild punishment! Whether it is a herd of camels wandering by, parties or semi organised beach games and activities there is always something to watch or join in with, so why not come and join us?
All we ask is that you be nice to everyone.
Rail penalty fares. Broadband speeds.
PM listeners have been very interested in both. There is more new material on the iPM Blog.
On the iPM podcast this week (brand new and shiny for you on Saturday) we'd also like your help with stories we're planning for future weeks. Podcast us to find out more.
Hugh in Lebanon.
Here are some faces and places to put to the names in Hugh's report from Lebanon last night - he was pinning down the extent of Iran's influence and control on the Hizbollah movement:
"Alam Shourab, mobile phone shop manager and supporter of Hizbollah. And of Iran. If America helps Israel, he asked me, why shouldn't Iran help Hizbollah?
Nawar el Sahili, a Beirut lawyer and one of Hizbollah's fourteen members of the Lebanese parliament. He says Hizbollah has no aggressive intentions towards Israel, that it merely wants the Israelis to vacate land (like the Shebaa farms) which it regards as occupied Lebanese territory.
Oussama Safa, director of the Lebanon Centre for Policy Studies in Beirut. He says Iran is trying to increase its direct contacts with Hizbollah, to reduce its dependence on Damascus in case Syria and Israel sign a peace treaty.
Paul Salem, at the Carnegie Endowment in Lebanon. He says Hizbollah is still hugely dependent on money from Iran - to pay it's 50,000 salaried staff for example.
Hizbollah general secretary Hassan Nasrallah's face appears on many posters in the movement's heartland in the southern Beirut suburbs.
This is a block of flats destroyed by Israeli bombing in the summer war of 2006.....
...and the same location now. Hizbollah's Iranian funding, and the speed and efficiency of its reconstruction programme are the envy of other districts of Beirut:
Unrepaired damage from the civil war, which ended nearly twenty years ago. This was the Holiday Inn. Advantageous high ground, but a vulnerable easy target.
Spring flowers and bullet holes.
Beirut is bursting with flowers. Oleander and plumbago are in full bloom. These hollyhocks are near the Corniche, and a fun fair by the sea. Meanwhile....
...spotted in heavy Beirut traffic. French songs were booming from her window. And, at night, and not in the Shia suburbs": 
Do not buy eggs from this man.
Rupert at Hay.
1555 UPDATE: And in response to Stewart M's plea in Comments - here is the "camper van" used at Hay.
The Glass Box for Thursday.
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:
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.
Today's strapline.
Well you can read it for yourself and see who created it....except, we received this from John:
"Hey. What's going on? That lava lamp strapline was my idea and you've attributed it to someone else!"
John, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Trust will now institute a top-level inquiry. Accountants will be brought in at huge expense, and all blog activity stopped until we find what's gone wrong. Then it will publish a report saying everything is fine and really it's probably you're fault.
In the meantime, I'm sorry.
Petrol.
Stewart Mitchell says: "I know its a week late but I was on my holidays. Note how Diesel is cheaper than unleaded on the other side of the channel. Oh this is Belgium by the way."
Brazil. Theatre. A hospital.
Nigel Wrench writes:
"This is the Brazilian cast, snapped before dress rehearsals last night, of Hysteria, performed for the first time in Britain this evening, already an international award-winner, and on PM today.
The five actors are part of Grupo XIX de Teatro, their performance is not in a theatre but in the 18th century Great Hall at England's oldest hospital, St Bartholomew's, on the edge of the City of London.
The audience is segregated as they walk in. Women sit on the benches you see in this shot, men watch as women become part of the play, telling the cast of their experiences.
All of the actors including Mara Helleno (above) have spent a year learning English for these performances. The cast sang for me last night, in Portugese, and performed part of the play, in English. Paul Heritage, director of People's Palace Projects who've brought the production to Britain, told me this morning that far from being didactic or divisive, the cast "perform with love."
He's on PM tonight too."
The changing blog.
There has been a bit of work going on on our blog this morning. Regular readers will know that I am to things technical what John Wayne was to knitting. So I'm pleased to say that a grown-up - Aaron Scullion, the Product manager of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Blogs no less, has kindly sent this by way of explanation.
"As you know, after many months of technical problems on this blog, we moved PM (and iPM) to a new comments system in January this year, which meant that you had to register with us. That was a trial, which was considered a success, so we moved all the other ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ blogs over to it as well. (At that point, we changed the design a little, made it so comments were displayed in the order they were received (like they used to be here), and added a few bells and whistles. And so this morning we upgraded PM (and iPM) again, to bring them in line with the rest of the blogs. Sorry for any disruption - I think we lost about a dozen comments in the process, which was obviously not planned - but I hope you're happy with the new look. If you've got any feedback, please do leave a comment."
Don't be alarmed.
They're fiddling with the Blog. It will all be fine.
In the meantime, if you want to comment, just click on the entry title, eg "Don't be alarmed".
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
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:
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.
Discuss.
Two calls to the Listener Log from last night's programme:
"By broadcasting Robert Mugabe's speech the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is giving it legitimacy. If it had
to be reported, it should have been read out by the presenter."
"I am appalled the programme reported on Prince William's plans to go to the
Caribbean. This is very dangerous. The information should not have been
disclosed, people now know his exact whereabouts."
Peat.
It's my fault entirely that this wasn't posted in a timely fashion to coincide with Michael Buchanan's report last Wednesday. This was how I introduced it:
"We know from our online credit crunch map that rising fuel costs are being felt most keenly in rural areas.
Owning a car is often not an option and remoteness from the gas network often means having to rely on coal or heating oil for cooking and heating. The Western Isles for instance is estimated to have the highest levels of fuel poverty in the country, and - its claimed - among the world's most expensive diesel. How to help rural communities is being debated as we speak by the Scottish Parliament. Reporting for PM live from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Michael Buchanan".
At the time, Michael sent these phoos and words:
"The soaring cost of fuel has lead to dozens of islanders returning to the ancient tradition of peat cutting. This is the first year the MacLeod family have been on the moors, and they're going to offset some of their heating costs with peat this winter. Paul says he's having a blast, while Norman - who does the hard work - can't stand it.
Calum used to cut peats as a child, and says he's quite enjoying remembering the old habit.
Many of the new peat-cuting irons are made by blacksmith Calum MacLeod. The shop has been in his family since 1920 and for decades the irons were a staple order, with over 100 being produced annually. Two years ago however, Calum only made 6 and he thought the day would come when he wouldn't make any. But this year, he says, he lost count after he'd made 50. Making a tarasgeir - as they're known in Gaidhlig - is not the most interesting task says Calum or indeed the most profitable - each sells for £30.
Finally a little treat for those in the south of Britain who've been deluged over recent days.
They've had 6 glorious weeks of weather here on Lewis, and the island is looking glorious. If you can cope with paying over £6 for a gallon of diesel, come on up!"
Penalty fares on trains.
iPM's work on this has already been picked up . In essence, if you've been kept waiting so long for a ticket that you have to board your train without one - should you have to pay a penalty fare? Click here for much more...and do share your view/experience on the iPM blog.
Hugh Sykes
is back in Lebanon this week, focussing on the influence of Iran on the region - over the next ten days he'll be reporting from Beirut, and from Syria and Israel. But he couldn't ignore the sudden lifting of spirits in Lebanon, thanks to the agreement in Doha in late May; so he sent us these:
"Here in Lebanon, a week is a long time.
There were 5km and 21km runs on June 1st - the full Beirut Marathon will be in November.
Followers of the children's 5km run.
And look at this - not just a photograph of Beirut's new Great Mosque.....there's a basketball tournament taking place.....
.....it's Beirut's Urban Street Basketball Challenge - teenagers from every background, Muslim and Christian, Sunni and Shia.
Boys....and girls:
Meanwhile....
...Sunday afternoon at Pigeon Rocks, west Beirut.
But a reminder just one street up from the cliffs...
....of the recent, very recent, violence. The remains of one of the Hariri family's Future TV studios, gutted by Hizbollah fighters during their brief occupation of parts of west Beirut just over a week ago. The banner used to show the face of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, murdered by a huge bomb about a mile from here on Valentine's Day in 2005.
This memorial now stands on the exact spot where his car was blown up. In the background, the remains of the St. George's Hotel. And just a few steps down the road, an apt message from the Beatles, adopted by Beirut's Hard Rock Cafe."
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
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:
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.
Soon:
new photos from Hugh, in Lebanon.
Good to talk?
We're going to talk about research tonight.
Rachel, who survived the July 7th attacks will join me on the programme. She wrote "Out of the Tunnel", and .
Public toilet provision.
We've spoken about it before on the programme. Tonight we'll do so again because The Communities and Local Government Committee has begun to hear oral evidence today on this very subject. .
The Glass Box for Monday.
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:
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.
We've been sent
lots of cute animal photos, from froggers who would like them to appear in The Glass Box. Sadly, I haven't the faintest idea how to make those things happen. It's a fellow frogger who does all the work. So apologies for their non-appearance. But stand by for a whole new Glass Box in a moment which was sent with the caption: "Roger regretted telling the cats that he didn't believe in magic"
Harvey Korman RIP.
Brilliant in Blazing Saddles. The star of the Institute in High Anxiety.
The Wikipedia entry is . The Guardian's obit is . And this is a lo-o-ong clip from High Anxiety. The best bit is perhaps about 3'30 in:
The Furrowed Brow.
You choose the topic. You talk seriously. If it's fun you're after try The Beach. Or an old Two Ronnies dvd.
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