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by Mike Sales
17 Mar 2024, 12:00pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 31
Views: 781

Re: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?

reohn2 wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 11:36am Will the doing of 14years of disasterous government ever be put right and the country be anywhere near leveled up?
I'll be honest I've never been more cynical of either of the two major parties likely to form a UK government,I'm 71 and I can't see the country ever,in my lifetime,getting back on it's feet and being a truly democratic country that cares for poorest and makes the rich pay their fair share.
Lierally the fabric of society is crumbling about us as the rich get ever richer and the poorest of trampled on,it truly is depessing.
It will be a big job, but we have done it before.
In 1945 the country was devastated and in debt, with many remaining slums.
We built a revolutionary health service which we still treasure, and 2.5m Council houses to decent standards, many of which were sold off cheap by a succeeding administration. They are often now exploited for private profit.
Since then our productivity has grown and we have a living standard (for many) which was undreamed of in the forties. Some of that should be used to build a better, fairer country.

It will take political will and public spirit. Have we still got that?
by Mike Sales
16 Mar 2024, 9:23pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should the BBC be privatised?
Replies: 114
Views: 4346

Re: Should the BBC be privatised?

toontra wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 9:12pm I'm not sure you can consider BBC radio in isolation. Without BBC TV the BBC radio stations wouldn't exist.

Personally I don't begrudge the license fee. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to afford it, and I can't ABIDE commercials. I find them insulting to the intelligence to the point I won't watch live commercial TV. I "record" anything I want to watch so I can FF through the ads.

I've enjoyed and learnt so much from BBC radio over the years that I suffer the promos without too much bother. They are in a totally different league to the utter dross you're subjected to on commercial radio.
If the barbarians destroy Radio 4 as well as the NHS I will know that I have outlived my time.
These are British values which need protecting from the current extremist Government.
by Mike Sales
16 Mar 2024, 8:55pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should the BBC be privatised?
Replies: 114
Views: 4346

Re: Should the BBC be privatised?

Psamathe wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 8:38pm
Mike Sales wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 7:56pm
Psamathe wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 7:37pm
What prompted me to post was 2 mins such ads at the start of a BBC podcast and I don't regard 2 mins of ads as short. And even less justified when pushing content completely unrelated to the podcast you are listening to. BBC are starting to over advertise and for me this highlights the "no ads" others have raised as no longer the case.

Ian
Podcast?
Two minutes?
How many minutes of commercials in a 1 hour show?
Typically there is an allowance of 13 to fourteen minutes of advertising, promotional messages and the like in each broadcast hour and in fact the content makers create content that is 23 minutes per half hour and 46 minutes per hour to accommodate this.4 Oct 2023
Yes. It's BBC. I pay ie it's not advertising funded. Independent podcasts sometimes ask for donations to cover costs. Some podcasts I listen to have an ad free subscription version as well as a free version with/funded by advertising again to cover costs. BBC is license fee funded so they have no need to be pushing stuff through ads.

Comparing to TV commercials is not a sensible comparison as TV program making is expensive and commercial stations depend on ad revenue. BBC mostly license fee funded and we are discussing audio content already created anyway for radio.

Ian
I make a distinction between a trailer and an advertisement which you refuse to recognise.
Of course a commercial broadcasting channel has to depend on large chunks of commercials. As I made clear, I find this touting to sell rubbish, these slickly produced lies, something I would rather not have to sit through when enjoying a programme. This is exactly why I prefer channels uninterrupted by such advertising.
Trailers on the Beeb are not constantly wedged into the flow of a narrative or argument. On channels paid for by the moneymakers commerce pushes its lies in at frequent intervals. This must detract from the message broadcast.
I've just listened to Archive on Four about Brendan Behan. His Borstal Boy was the first book I ever bought with my own money. The show was unspoilt by ads for soap powder or insurance, or even trailers for other programmes
by Mike Sales
16 Mar 2024, 7:56pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should the BBC be privatised?
Replies: 114
Views: 4346

Re: Should the BBC be privatised?

Psamathe wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 7:37pm
What prompted me to post was 2 mins such ads at the start of a BBC podcast and I don't regard 2 mins of ads as short. And even less justified when pushing content completely unrelated to the podcast you are listening to. BBC are starting to over advertise and for me this highlights the "no ads" others have raised as no longer the case.

Ian
Podcast?
Two minutes?
How many minutes of commercials in a 1 hour show?
Typically there is an allowance of 13 to fourteen minutes of advertising, promotional messages and the like in each broadcast hour and in fact the content makers create content that is 23 minutes per half hour and 46 minutes per hour to accommodate this.4 Oct 2023
by Mike Sales
16 Mar 2024, 5:51pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should the BBC be privatised?
Replies: 114
Views: 4346

Re: Should the BBC be privatised?

Psamathe wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 5:36pm With a lot of stuff eg apps, podcasts, etc. if you watch/use/listen for free you get ads but if you pay a subscription you get rid of the ads. BBC seems an exception where you pay AND still get the ads!

Ian
“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”
as Humpty Dumpty said.
What I was objecting to are those advertisements which tell you lies to extract your money. I detest those conmen.
Trailers which alert you to a programme you might like to watch for no extra charge are a different kettle of fish to me. They are usually short and useful. They seldom mislead.
I am thinking chiefly of Radio 4 trailers, which are most of those I hear.
by Mike Sales
16 Mar 2024, 12:45pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Witnessing the end of the NHS
Replies: 213
Views: 18494

Re: Witnessing the end of the NHS

Now this may come as a shock to some of you, but it turns out that some of the chappies running England may be on the fiddle. Union group UNITE have released a list of 70 MPs with proven links to private healthcare providers – and here’s the rum bit – all of these MPs voted in favour of the recent Health & Social Care Act, a bill that went a long way towards privatising swathes of the NHS. So… are you trying to say that… that they voted for something that would make them a bit richer…? But isn’t that kind of criminal? At all? Apparently not, although we’re buggered if we know why not.

You can see the full list over here – Cameron’s at the top, naturally, along with guest appearances from fellow ‘humans’ I.D.S., William ‘Dolphin Square’* Hague and lyin’ Liam Fox.
https://www.theransomnote.com/commentar ... e-emerges/

The racist Hester's company TPP has received £400m from the NHS and other government bodies since 2016.
He paid the £16000 cost of one of Sunak's helicopter rides, and he can well afford £15m to the Tories to keep the contracts coming.
He says that he has lately had 'some quite long conversations with Rishi about AI'
by Mike Sales
16 Mar 2024, 12:30pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should the BBC be privatised?
Replies: 114
Views: 4346

Re: Should the BBC be privatised?

Psamathe wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 12:09pm
reohn2 wrote:Pleeze will someone point me to a commercial radio station that can lick the BBC's boots?
...
The BBC ain't perfect,but it's better than the rest,and no adverts! :wink:
Over the last few weeks been seeing/listening to a bit of BBC and the number of ads are staggering. Just listening to a BBC podcast and 1st two minutes was solid ads ie 2 mins before you get to the start of the program you wnated to listen to.

OK, they are not paid commercials but they are ads for stuff you have no interest in. eg Listening to a science podcast program and I have no interest in a "Dear Daughter" podcast (something about what a Mum wishes to tell her daughter about life".

Ads (of any type) are of no interest to me so makes no different if those ads are for perfume, washing powder or other completely different genre broadcast programs.

Ian
I think there is an essential difference between BBC trailers and commercials on other channels.
I detest commercials: they are telling me lies to extract my money. I hate their weasel wording, skating round the advertising standards law, and their false jollity or whatever tone they choose to adopt to convince me that their product will make life better. They have a large budget for a few moments of airtime, but to me the overall impression is of falsity
In contrast trailers are relatively honest, made by those who made the show, and are just trying to attract you to a particular programme.
Am I mistaken, but it seems to me that the ad breaks on the newer commercial channels are rather longer than those on the older channels?
by Mike Sales
15 Mar 2024, 5:45pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: The "Royals" Thread
Replies: 1350
Views: 54535

Re: The "Royals" Thread

I steer away from 'news' items about the doings of these drones.
Some people seem to find the pantomime of these puppets important and interesting, but I can never remember which is which. The only one I can distinguish is 'Randy Andy', because of the mnenomic of his name, but could not tell you his 'title' or how he is related to the other idlers.
by Mike Sales
4 Mar 2024, 1:47pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: "The Political Influence of Motorists"
Replies: 28
Views: 1655

"The Political Influence of Motorists"

Radio 4 will transmit an 'Analysis' programme tonight with the above title.
Might be interesting
A listing says 'Both of the main parties in England want to be the motorists' friend, but is 'driver power' as strong as politicians fear, and how will car electrification change things?'
by Mike Sales
4 Mar 2024, 9:54am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use
Replies: 44
Views: 3361

Re: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use

Jdsk wrote: 4 Mar 2024, 9:49am
Mike Sales wrote: 4 Mar 2024, 9:41am ...
If this is addressed to me I would point out that I am always clear that I refer to certain groups of drivers who identify themselves by the views they express. Not to be able to refer to those views would prevent refutation.
Perhaps I need to say that I am sure that the drivers who read this forum are much more enlightened and always drive immaculately around us.
I can only suggest rereading your own posts, for example in this thread.

Jonathan
I think that we will have to agree to differ.
by Mike Sales
4 Mar 2024, 9:41am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use
Replies: 44
Views: 3361

Re: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use

Jdsk wrote: 4 Mar 2024, 9:10am It's perfectly possible to have a polite informed discussion about what is known and what isn't known about cycle helmets.

It does require some agreement about the ground rules for the discussion. I've proposed the ones that I would like on many occasions.

They don't include starting by classifying other people into camps and labelling them depending on what you think they think.

Jonathan
If this is addressed to me I would point out that I am always clear that I refer to certain groups of drivers who identify themselves by the views they express. Not to be able to refer to those views would prevent refutation.
Perhaps I need to say that I am sure that the drivers who read this forum are much more enlightened and always drive immaculately around us.
by Mike Sales
4 Mar 2024, 8:19am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use
Replies: 44
Views: 3361

Re: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use

pjclinch wrote: 3 Mar 2024, 4:54pm
Mike Sales wrote: 3 Mar 2024, 3:19pm Helmets are pushed by the velophobic. We have a moral duty to protect ourselves from the danger presented by motors, say the drivers. Then they would not have to be so careful around cyclists!
This ignores the fact that many pushing helmets are cyclists, indeed with the "keen" and "avid" sub-branches some of the loudest voices.

Pete.
We are all well aware of our vulnerability on the road and feeling the need for protection is utterly understandable.
It would be great if helmets were the answer to our problem.
I am addressing those cyclists when I argue here that helmets are not a good solution, and are in fact a diversion from better routes to safety, and an alibi for those who actually present the danger.
Some drivers are clear on why they think cycle helmets are a good idea, and some use the absence of a helmet as a reason that the injured cyclist is to blame for their own injury.
by Mike Sales
4 Mar 2024, 8:17am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use
Replies: 44
Views: 3361

Re: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use

pjclinch wrote: 3 Mar 2024, 4:54pm
Mike Sales wrote: 3 Mar 2024, 3:19pm Helmets are pushed by the velophobic. We have a moral duty to protect ourselves from the danger presented by motors, say the drivers. Then they would not have to be so careful around cyclists!
This ignores the fact that many pushing helmets are cyclists, indeed with the "keen" and "avid" sub-branches some of the loudest voices.

Pete.
I am well aware of cycling helmet pushers, as a reader of this forum how could I not be?
I did think of addressing them as I typed.
I was making a different point.
One of my aims in posting is always brevity, and to try to cover all aspects of a complex debate in a single post can be a mistake.
by Mike Sales
3 Mar 2024, 3:35pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Why are bike tyres so expensive?
Replies: 56
Views: 2763

Re: Why are bike tyres so expensive?

I wonder how many bikes are ridden enough to need their tyres replacing?
Many are left in the shed when they get a puncture, or a wheel gets bent on a kerb, and never did many miles anyway.
The replacement market must be mainly enthusiasts, many of whom are prepared to pay a high price for treats for their precious bike, which was probably rather more expensive than a BSO.
There are cheap, lumpish tyres. I remember seeing some in Wilkos.
by Mike Sales
3 Mar 2024, 3:19pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use
Replies: 44
Views: 3361

Re: Review of neck injuries and cycle helmet use

In Australia the helmet law produced a huge change in the proportion of cyclists wearing a helmet. It went from about a third to near one hundred per cent, which is understandable given the size of fines. A jump this size should have made it clear whether mass helmet wearing was saving cyclists' lives. The results ought to have been a convincing proof, if helmets worked, and would surely have been widely publicised . In fact the casualty rate scarcely changed, though the number of miles cycled decreased. The Australian casualty rate is two or three times ours still, and in that sunny, sporty nation rather fewer miles are ridden than here.
In the Netherlands helmets are rarely worn, and many more people ride bikes, to school, work and shopping. They become casualties at a rate a fraction of British cyclists.
Of course, you say, they have all those facilities. Yes, doesn't that show what works?
We can imitate dangerous Australia or safe Netherlands.
I could have selected other countries to illustrate. Curiously the Anglo-Saxon countries are the dangerous, helmeted ones. The more social democratic, North European states are bareheaded but safe.
The more we go on about helmets, the less energy and publicity is expended on what might help get many more people riding safely. Helmets are pushed by the velophobic. We have a moral duty to protect ourselves from the danger presented by motors, say the drivers. Then they would not have to be so careful around cyclists!