The Glass Box for Thursday
The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme.
Just click on the "comment" link.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond.
If you want to post a comment about something that is on your mind but was not on the programme - use the link on the right to The Furrowed Brow. Also on the right, you'll find FAQ: try it. And why not visit The Beach?
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Oh dear. I have just read the e-mail and cannot believe it. You receive a complaint about the number of Scottish voices on Radio 4. Your solution? You keep (I assume) Dot and then add in Welsh choirs.
Choir - a group of many people
-s Plural, more than one of them.
If it is not too late, I would suggest that you keep Dot, who adds a ray of sunshine to the programme. Let us face it that is a rare thing in London SW19 these days. You should then find something to take up too much time to include the choirs.
If it is too late to take up this suggestion you might be advised to expect trouble.
H.
Am I early?
I thought that my watch might have been out of synch somewhat - I think it's a conspiracy - we are urged to gush and make comments on how fabulous the programme is, only to realise that sliced bread was better after all....
I was at a "gig" given by George Melly and the "Footwarmers". He was, by then, well past retiring age, and he remarked that one advantage of his much advanced years was his sex drive had considerably diminished.
"I no longer",he said, "feel as they I am chained to a lunatic"
The complaint about Scottish voices reminds me of the time when I had just moved back to Scotland after about five years spent living in Birmingham. There were complaints in one of the papers about Mary Marquis (a ±«Óãtv Scotland newsreader and presenter at the time that Eddie must know). Her accent was said to be too "English". After Brum, all I can I say is that it sounded reassuringly Scottish to me.
tomi
At least the late George Melly never claimed to be the illegitimate offspring of Fats Waller since presumably even he must have realised just how ghastly his imitations were of the that "inimitable" musician.
Naturally I'm sorry he had such distressing health problems but I don't think I shall miss him (as Mrs Blair might have said).
As a higher rate PAYE taxpayer, it is very good news to hear that the Government is considering collecting tax owed from those people's bank accounts. I have no problem paying my taxes, which are deducted before I see any of my earnings. However, I do object to doing this while others - usually much better off than I am - avoid paying what is rightfully due until the last minute, or avoid paying at all.
The establishment of a level playing field is long overdue.
Missed most of it but the George Melly bit hit the right chord...bought a tear to my eye..I have been a fan of his since the early seventies..Goodbye and God Bless you George.....Eddie and team, thanks for a sensitive piece.
Thank goodness this proposed garnishing - wonderful word - of underperforming tax payers' accounts won't effect those working in private equity. They're only too happy to pay their 10% on the nail.
"How CAN there be so many Scottish voices on Radio 4? Beyond belief! Let's not have accents determining who gets jobs please, that's wrong."
Hilarious! Do you this that person realises they've completely comtradicted themselves in the space of three sentences?
Must be a wind-up.
I didn't catch all of the George Melly piece. Was there any mention of Flook? Melly was one of the writers on the Trog cartoon along with fellow jazz & comedy legend Humphrey Lyttleton.
personally I thought the piece on George Melly was overlong (overly overlong even) but then I was not a fan of the man and I don;t like jazz, so that would be why.
Among some of my friends "George Melly" is euphemistic rhyming slang for "smelly". For example:
(On passing the open door of gents' public toilets) Eww, it's a bit George Melly in there!
c/f (On entering a sunny and multi-radiatored room) Phew, it'a bit George Michael in here!
"Wham!", you see (say it slowly).
Time I was asleep...
Returning from work by car the ‘ten to six’ letter slot under the PM programme’s old format provided a perfect overview of the day’s news, now although we are told that letters will be held over until Friday, odd ones are thrown in it seems to augment Eddie’s or his producer’s slant on certain issues. We now have the news as Eddie (or his producer) would like you to see it. Please return to the original format - let your listeners give their un-edited opinions each day and let the rest of us decide for ourselves.
Brian (13), the old format was never a perfect overview of the day's news. It was an overview of the PREVIOUS day's correspondence to the programme. And it was always put together by the presenter, with the usual editorial guidance...so nothing has changed. The idea that the opinions were un-edited is just daft. They went through the same process that happens now.
What is worth saying is that frequently, it was impossible to fill the four minutes alloted. Were it not for stalwarts such as yourself Brian we'd have had nothing to say some nights. So what we try to do now is a more considered overview of responses to the week's programme every Friday, and (this Blog is a prime example of it) provide more sophisticated - and bigger - venues for people to not only have their views expressed, but debate them with other listeners. I felt there was very little point in carrying on with the old daily letters slot if only two or three people - often the same people - were writing. Even if, as is so often the case with you, the letters were well written and incisive.
Ap (12) - I'm struggling with George Michael -no, not that way!
c"/f (On entering a sunny and multi-radiatored room) Phew, it'a bit George Michael in here!
"Wham!", you see (say it slowly)."
I 've said it slow, slowfast and medium -paced and still haven't a baldy what you mean. Enlighten me please.
Eddie (14),
I like the new format allright, and you sure don't have trouble filling the allotted time now, do you?.
I also remember being an occasional 'stalwart'.
Enjoying the twittering twaddle
xx
ed
RJD (15), The sun is out, the radiators are on, you are perspiring at a terrific rate... Still no idea?.. , Um, try saying it in a Geordie accent?...
RJD,
Schwül ?
Ap - I say, would it actually be that when a Geordie aays "It is rather warm" it comes out as "Waaam".
I've spent too long thinking about this and now Me heed's proppa knackin man.
Ed I - Are swearing at me or is that German for warm?
RJD, without the umlaut (my mistake) it's German for 'Gay', as in homosexual. I'm not sure how I made the link from waaam; it must have been from George Michael, and wasn't very funny ;-(
xx
ed
Why aye RJD.