Owner: Newsjiffy URL:http://brennybaby.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:58:03 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: I am a MA Journalism student at Westminster University.
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One Month Ban For Driving At One Hundred Miles Per Hour 2008-03-10 15:42:00 Sky News reports on a twenty-eight day ban given to a man who drove at 100 mph, with his children hanging out of the windows.Why this moron was not banned from driving for life, I do not know. Perhaps if someone had been killed, the reaction would have been different. But he must have known he was endangering the lives of other road users and his children.Are Bedlington magistrates seriously unable to keep Colin Goodall, who I will name because he is a pillock, off the road for longer?Given that Damien Duff was banned for 42 days (another piddling sentence) for driving at the same speed, I reckon not.Anyone driving along the A189 near Cramlington, where Duff and Goodall decides to endanger themselves and others, should watch out.Still, Colin Goodall has a supporter. Cars dont just spin out Read more:Month
, Driving
, Hundred
, Miles
Private Eye: Number Crunching 2008-03-09 17:25:00 Next time you are lucky enough to be devouring Private
Eye, take a look at the red Number
Crunching boxes scattered on the pages.Today's issue states:2 Days it took MOD to get Prince Harry back from frontline in Afghanistan after his cover has blown.25 Days it took MOD to get basic equipment to frontline in Afghanistan, as a result of which Captain James Philippson was unlawfully killed.It's also clear that Nick Robinson is an easy target for MP's.75 MP's who have signed early day motion "deploring innuendo" about parlimentary allowances by BBC political editor Nick Robinson and demanding he reveal his own expenses.5 MP's who have signed early-day motion calling for "through examination" of parlimentary allowance system.You can learn so much from Private Eye, in most newsagents (but not Sa
Computer games 2008-03-09 17:05:00 I haven't played computer games for ages.Partly because I never had the patience to sit for hours sending my wizard through the Door of Bottom's Jelly in order to find the Staff of Victory, and partly because I don't like spending hours in front of a computer during my leisure time.When I was younger, I used to play the Sony Playstation 2 with games like Street Fighter and Driver 2, but during the last couple of years I've only played PC games.This is because a console requires more space, and I didn't have room for one during my last year in Brighton, when I lived in a minuite room in Roedale Road.I prefer computer games that let me be creative, such as Sim City 3000 and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.It's quite fun to drive around San Andreas at top speed pursued by police helicopters, or Read more:Computer
The Observer Magazine: 50 Most Powerful Blogs 2008-03-09 09:39:00 Today the fifty most powerful blogs are listed in The Observer
.Topping the list is the Huffington Post, written by Arianna Huffington, followed by BoingBoing and technical blog TechCrunch.I wonder if this blog will one day grace a future list.Newsjiffy currently gets between 80 and 170 hits a day, so around 800 hits per week. Chez Pim, a blog on food by Pim Techamuanvivit, gets 10,000 hits each week.It seems I have a long way to go.The Observer Magazine
also has an interview with Nick Denton of Gawker, a gossip blog.You can suggest alternatives at Bobbie Johnson's article.One comment says:As for the list of blogs, it reads like something someone who doesn't read blogs would draw up, which is probably quite useful for readers of a print newspaper.This seems unfair-why should people only rea Read more:Blogs
Travel Journalism Lecture 2008-03-08 16:49:00 Yesterday afternoon we had a lecture on travel journalism from Andrew Grant-Adamson.It was a good lecture with some nice jokes, and I'd like to write travel journalism in the future.Andrew mentioned AA Gill's desire "to interview a place as if it were a person." and he made clear that travel journalism doesn't have to be far-flung or in a beautiful place.Not sure if I'll choose if as my module, as I'd like to specialise in financial news. Read more:Travel
Harry Hill's TV Burp: Addicted To Bread, Allergic To Bread 2008-03-08 14:01:00 Freaky Eaters provided more ammunition for Harry
Hill this week.Joanne Stafford only eats bread , giving Harry the opportunity to turn to his side and gurn "B-r-r-r-e-a-d".One of her friends tells Freaky Eaters that "if they stopped making bread, she would die" although we later find out Joanne is allergic to bread.However, Harry didn't comment on the waste of food, where a can full of spaghetti was tipped into a bin.He did comment on American Entrepreneurs and its likeness to Dragon's Den, as well as a creaking card on Coronation Street.Sadly Brian from Big Brother was on the show again, this time pretending to have sex with Harry. Both were wearing suits of armour.It wasn't a dream, either.Paul Burrell was another butt, and Harry poked fun at his innuendo "Would you like to step forward Read more:Addicted
, Bread
, Allergic
Mad Max in the London Suburbs? 2008-03-07 16:49:00 I have no idea what is wrong with some people.Tonight I saw Stephen Berkoff speak at Harrow Arts Centre, and managed to get a swift interview with him just before his cab arrived.I was going to interview him before the two hour talk, but Berkoff wanted to leave it until afterwards.Anyway, I want to talk about before I got to Harrow Arts Centre, when some children decided to chase me in a motorised go-kart.This occured just round the corner, in Headstone Lane, a H14 bus ride away from Harrow Bus Station.If I hadn't managed to run across two lanes of traffic, no doubt they'd have knocked me down and taken my wallet.I was reminded of the film Mad Max
2: The Road Warrior, which I used to watch on Wednesday afternoons when I was home early from school years ago.Mel Gibson plays Max Rockatansky, Read more:Suburbs
Ashes To Ashes Episode Five: Just because you're gay I won't turn you away 2008-03-06 16:05:00 The Eighties weren't exactly the decade of tolerance.The murderous antics of a homosexual gangster gives Alex Drake the opportunity to scare her narrow-minded team, although Gene Hunt has learnt when to stop being mouthy and when to slam his Audi around London.Although the wicked Section 28, which Nick Cohen describes as a "small war against gays" wasn't brought in until 1988, it's easy to see how the bill would have been popular among the male officers at Alex Drake's virtual nick.Gene Hunt and most of his team (apart from the New Romantic Shaz Granger)are unable to comprehend homosexuality and fall back on spitting "poofters" out of their mouths while hugging one another after a football game.It's therefore nice to see Ray Carling confront his sexuality in gay club Nirvana, watched by a Read more:Episode
Identity Card Plans Revised By British Government 2008-03-06 05:27:00 Given the recent data problems facing the Government
, it seems that the are trying to re-work their identity card plans.The introduction of biometric passports will be delayed from 2010 to 2012, and you won't have to get an identity card at the same time.Non-EU Nationals will still be issued with compulsory identity cards this year.This is one year before people with high-security roles, for some odd reason. Do the Government view people from Africa or South America as more likely to committ terrorism than an airline pilot or army explosives expert?However many concessions the Government make, I won't support the plans and will avoid registering.People will come up with a way to fake ID cards just like they did to get round chip and pin. The money that the scheme costs should be spent on f Read more:British
Compressor and WNOL website 2008-03-03 15:43:00 This morning I attended a three hour workshop teaching me how to use Compressor
, a tool which is a audio and video compressing tool than can be used with Final Cut software.I also learnt how to convert files in Final Cut Pro.I am currently compressing files created by my colleagues on the broadcast pathway, and despite the limited number of computers with Compressor, the late hour and how tiring being a webmaster is, am trying to keep my spirits up. Receiving payment from the NUJ did help with this.Aaron Kay taught the class and did a good job of explaining the software.I am also starting to write profile pieces for the Student Union elections at Westminster University. On Thursday 7th March I stop being Webmaster and will become a reporter. I feel that I am picking up useful software and Read more:website
Jacqui Smith Refuses To Review Britain's Gun Laws: Celebrate The Pellet? 2008-03-02 16:46:00 I find it sad that Jacqui Smith
refuses to review the UK's gun laws.It's not surprising that Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has accused her of being complacent.Airguns can kill and one variety, the Brocock air cartridge pistol, can even be adapted to fire live bullets.I feel airguns should be banned across the United Kingdom and salute Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan's proposals two years ago to ban airguns in Scotland.Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime; remember that? Has it been replaced by the wishy washy slogan shielding Gordon Brown from the audience at Labour's Spring Conference: "New Labour Your Britain
"?How many shopkeepers can tell the difference between an airgun and a real gun? Given that children have been stopped by armed police for playing with water pisto Read more:Refuses
, Celebrate
League table result fourth most e-mailed story on BBC 2008-03-02 15:13:00 A rather odd result for the fourth
most e-mailed story
on BBC News.The results for Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School in Liverpool seem to be very popular.Perhaps the school is including the link in an e-mail. Read more:League
Iain Dale's February Political Performance Index 2008-03-02 05:28:00 Iain Dale says:Each month I invite you to take part in compiling the Political PerformanceIndex
, which gives you the chance to rate how the top 40 politicians in the country perfored over the last month.You can take the survey reflecting on Feburary here. Read more:February
Portillo On Thatcher: The Lady's Not For Spurning 2008-03-01 14:59:00 I've just watched a Sky+'d documentary on BBC4 fronted by the over exposed Michael Portillo.Looking at the Conservative Party and Margaret Thatcher
, it examines her often negative effect on the party she led for eleven years.As noted by Portillo, David Cameron is the only Conservative Party leader since 1990 that Margaret Thatcher has not commented on. He's also the one who has done most to modernise the party. The candidate she supported won the leadership election,usually against Kenneth Clarke, whose support for the Euro revolted Thatcher (and no doubt still does).Portillo speaks to William Hague for the first time since they were in the 2001 Shadow Cabinet, and the discussion seems quite friendly.He also discusses the ups and downs of Thatcher with Norman Lamont, John Whittingdale and
Nevada Health Scare: Reused syringes put 40,000 at risk 2008-03-01 14:45:00 Forty thousand Nevada
ns may have been exposed to HIV and Hepatitis strains B and C after visiting the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada between March 2004 and January 2008.The business was shut down on Thursday by city officals.Vistors between March 2004 and 11th January 2008 are urged to get tested for the diseases.ReviewJournal.com has more.The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada is a high-volume gastrointestinal practice where colonoscopies are frequently performed. Reuse of syringes and vials at the facility was a "common practice" undertaken by everyone from doctors to technicians, health officials said.Former patient Charles Rader is suing the clinc for damages over $10,000. Read more:Health
, Scare
Harry Hill's TV Burp: The Jamie Rap and exploding mash potato 2008-03-01 13:57:00 Tonight's TV Burp was impressive, inventive and coated with a layer of exploding mash potato.A strong opening had Harry
mock Eastenders and a dancing snake.Then Harry got down to the nitty gritty. Jamie
Oliver was parodied using the addition of audio to his spiel to create the Jamie Rap.Eastenders was once again roasted in its own cliches, while a scene from Lewis was TV Highlight Of The Week.Harry was also coated in jacket potato after a Holby City storyline where a microwave was blown up by one that had been overcooked.The one downside was an overlong and revoltingly unfunny series of reaction shots consisting of people saying the phrase "Ear cataracts".They even had gurning tosspot Jeremy Kyle on there in his trademark crumpled suit and faux-bad attitude.Aside from three minutes of "Ear
Catch A Fire: The story of Patrick Chamusso and life under apartheid 2008-03-01 06:47:00 Written by the son of former South African Communist Party leader Joe Slovo, Catch
A Fire is a powerful film about life for black South Africans under the apartheid regime.Protagonist Patrick
Chamusso is a factory foreman at Sasol Oil Refinery in Secunda, Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga), who also coaches fotball for local children during his free time.When African National Congress members set off an explosion at the refinery, South African Special Branch members led by Colonel Nic Vos arrest Patrick and interrogate him, using a variety of torture methods, including the arrest and assualt of his wife. This causes Chamusso to ask Vos "What kind of man are you who does this thing to a woman?"After Vos releases Patrick Chamusso due to lack of evidence, he travels to Maputo in Mozambique an Read more:story
Oxford Times to go compact 2008-03-01 06:37:00 This Friday's edition of the OxfordTimes
was the final broadsheet edition.To mark the occassion, a special supplement was included with reproductions of various pages including the front page of the first issue in 1862.There is also a page showing photographs of the various editors, from George Rippon to Derek Holmes.It is interesting to see how the paper developed from all-text pages with stories reading downwards only to the present day.The obituary of local resident and former newspaper owner Robert Maxwel is also included. Maxwell bailed out Oxford United and made his son Kevin Maxwell a chairman.Derek Hoimes says "Our research tells us that this is what our readers want."A compact paper is easier to store and easier to read while eating. It can also be read more easily on a blustery
Supernanny points out the obvious for Kellogg's 2008-03-01 06:07:00 I am sure you will all have seen the Kellogg
's boxes with Jo Frost (Supernanny) informing us that "Children who eat breakfast every morning do better at school than those who don't"What interests me about this endorsement is how rubbish it is.It doesn't endorse Kellogg's products specifically. Jo Frost's advice could apply to any cereal.It's also obvious. Anyone who has eaten recently will have the energy to concentrate as opposed to someone who is hungry.I look forward to more of Jo Frost's endorsements:*Supernanny could endorse the Metropolitan Police "Children who are safe from gun crime each day peform better than those who are at risk"*Supernanny could endorse Greenpeace "Children who can breathe properly and aren't at risk of floods do better than thoe who are"*Supernanny could endos
Freerice.com: Educational tool and help for starving 2008-02-29 14:53:00 If you want to expand your vocabulary, impress the girl/boy of your dreams and help the starving, then visit Freerice.com and start answering questions.20 grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program around the world.Their sister site Poverty.com is also excellent for information on hunger, with a tally of hunger deaths this hour.975 people across the world died from hunger between 8:00pm and 8:56pm Read more:Educational
Youtube: Numberwang Board Game: Mitchell And Webb 2008-02-29 10:05:00 Last night's That Mitchel and Webb Look was a delight. Sadly I missed last week's show.Here is the Numberwang Board
Game sketch"How about playing Cucumberwang?""No, Timmy, cos that would be shit." Read more:Mitchell
The "John Lewis" list: Political Perks 2008-03-13 18:46:00 BBC News has the full "John Lewis
List" (Parliament's Additional Costs Claims Guide).I wish there was a list for Westminster journalism students.Did you know MP's can claim a recordable DVD player up to £270, a stereo system up to £750 and a wardrobe up to £700.Who spends £700 on a wardrobe? I wouldn't pay that much unless it led to Narnia.However, some sanity prevailsGarden furniture such as patio sets, loungers and barbecues are not allowed.Quite right, we wouldn't want to go overboard. No MP can do his job without a free recordable DVD player or an expensive wardrobe.But we need to set an example. Let's make them pay for their own barbecueFunny how firefighters, police officers and NHS workers don't get to claim any items.Or is ducking rubble and saving lives less important than pas
Bigsight.Org Has Vastly Improved 2008-03-13 17:19:00 I must confess I haven't logged into Bigsight for over a month.Been busy with my degree and Facebook,LibraryThing,Flickr,hi5,WAYN and Myspace are usually enough for my networking needs.I've logged in now, and some changes have been made.There is a Migration Map, which shows how far I have moved.No other social networking site has this.It is new and interesting.Photos and articles can now be added, making profiles more detailed and worth visiting.City network pages will also be added later.Why I logged in:I must confess, I am a sucker for e-mail reminders from social sites.I recieved one from Dan Birdwhistell and Ben Sinclair, Bigsight founders.So you shouldn't at all be surprised that 68 people have visited your bigsight page recently. I mean, way to be popular, buddy. As we've said befor
Ashes To Ashes: Episode Six: Post Offices and Panda Cars 2008-03-13 17:14:00 You can tell Alex Drake's fantasy world isn't recent, a Post Office is still open.That out of the way, I have to confess I'm getting tired of Ashes To Ashes.Tonight's episode was formulaic.Let's do a checklist:1. Alex Drake has visions. Check2. Shot of the black and white police station ceiling. Check.3. Luigi is racially abused by the police. Check.4. Alex visits her mother. Check5. Ray and Chris make Khybers of themselves. Check.6. Alex visits her godfather. Check.7. Gene and Alex argue. Check.A Post Office blag causes Gene to chase a motorbike, which gets away. The mannerism of one of the robbers leads Gene to Chas Cale, who is later released.When another suspect Billy Dale is killed, Alex goes after Chas and Joan Cale. She is locked in a freezer, the only exciting part of the episode.G Read more:Episode
, Offices
, Panda
New way to move files 2008-03-13 09:44:00 I am currently compressing files
for WNOL.We have changed the TV page, have a look.I am using my camera to transport files as they are over 60MB.Hopefully this has no adverse effects.
2008 Budget: More alcopops, Darling? 2008-03-12 15:59:00 Today at 12:30pm the Budget was announced.Cigarettes are going up by 11p-so more of a reason to quit for smokers. Beer is going up, as is wine, and, sadly, cider.However, alcopops aren't.Why drinks preferred by (mostly) sensible drinkers in pubs are going up and alcopops consumed by angry fourteen year olds are not, I have no idea.Shame that supermarket booze can't have its own tax-having seen teenagers stand across the road from Kenton Sainsburys with a trolley necking beer it seems that this suply route for underage drinking needs closing.Good to see new bands of duty for low-emitting cars In some areas, Alistair Darling seems a little coy.The chancellor said he might change the law to force utility companies to give a "fairer deal" to the five million customers who use pre-payment meter
Eddy Grant to play final tour 2008-03-12 15:52:00 Sad news for fellow reggae lovers-the latest Voice reveals Eddy Grant
's world tour will be the last part of his music career.The summer tour will be Grant's first in fifteen years.Starting on June 29th at the Glastonbury Festival, Grant will perform at the Dublin Oxygen Festival, T in the Park and the July Vienna Nuke Festival.
Free Mario Paint Composer 2008-03-16 12:49:00 Just been reading on Cookd and Bombd about the MarioPaint
Composer.A remake of the music system from the original Mario Paint for the Super NES, it is made by unFun Games.Support for composer.A drawing program allowing you to create basic tunes
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