The wisdom of children- December 7, 2006 Father Christmas: What would you like for Christmas young lady Niece Ellen: A plastic box and a cheese sandwich Perplexed grandmother: Why do you keep weeing on the floor Small child: To make mummy angry Parent: What would you like to get your cousin for Christmas Small Child: Can we wrap my little brother up and give himhttp://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/the_wisdom_of_children.html Gowers review- December 6, 2006 In an early post, I'd talked about the Gowers Review that was considering extending the copyright term for recorded artists to over 50 years. He chosen not to do that and the BPI are not happy about it. The extended link has their press release about the matter.http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/gowers_review.html You witness- December 6, 2006 Make your own news, or rather, report your own news. Making up the news would of course be a terrible thing and it doesn't happen. Ask any journalist.http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/you_witness.html London to Brighton - a must see- December 6, 2006 Well I got to see London to Brighton yesterday. It drowns you in unpleasantness. It was even bleaker than a David Davis speech. You must see it.http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/london_to_brighton_a_must_see.html Tony Lloyd is the new PLP chair- December 5, 2006 Tony Lloyd has just defeated Ann Clwyd in the election for Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party. The result was Lloyd 169, Clwyd 156 with one spoilt paper.http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/tony_lloyd_is_the_new_plp_chai.html Shellfish wars- December 5, 2006 If ever there was a story that shows how a globalised economy needs regulating, it is the Young's prawns saga. Here is a company that collect prawns in Scottish waters. They have decided that to remain economically lean they will ship the prawns to Thailand for peeling and then ship them back for sale in the UK market. This will devastate a Scottish coastal village and must significantly increase carbon emissions. It's hardly a model of sustainability is it So how do you ensure a company like..http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/shellfish_wars.html NASA- December 5, 2006 They're only building a flippin' moon base. How cool is thathttp://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/nasa.html How do you make a great film for 80,000- December 4, 2006 I'm really looking forward to seeing London to Brighon this week. From all the reviews, Paul Williams and Christopher Ross (inspired by Ben Moulden) are going to make a massive difference to the British film industry. They've had to struggle to make this film for a staggering 80k. I hope it was worth it for them. I'll tell you what the film is like when I've seen it but just to support up an coming British talent, I think you should see it too. The first week box office takings are life or...http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/how_do_you_make_a_film_for_800.html Quick poll- December 4, 2006 Following on from the News of the World article, I'm going to investigate this issue further. What do you think though Should councils disclose the income they get from mobile phone companiesYes - it's in the public interest No - it's commercially sensitivehttp://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/quick_poll.html News of the World- December 4, 2006 The News of the World carries a great piece of investigative journalism in the current issue. They used the Freedom of Information Act to draw up a list of the councils who derive an income from phone masts. My own council, Sandwell, generates 119,000 a year from mobile companies. This appears to be the highest in the region, although Birmingham did not disclose the figures. They should, it's in the public interest. Though Sandwell raised the most income, at least they did not license masts..http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/archives/2006/12/news_of_the_world.html |