It’s becoming more difficult to get out of bed in the morning as the year advances and the morning temperature drops. Well, it’s not so much difficult as demanding an effort of will. The temptation to stay under the duvet grows stronger. This is the price we pay for bright, crisp autumn days! Today, however, began dull and cloudy, with a bit of drizzle to boot, but by midday the sun had broken through.
On the news last night I noticed that one of their outside reporters, broadcasting from somewhere in London I think, was wearing a jumper under under his smart suit. Her still had his smart short and tie and it was clearly a well-chosen, stylish, lightweight jumper. But a jumper, nonetheless! He must have been taking lessons from France where, according to this report, “they’re approaching what they are calling “sobriété énergétique” (energy restraint) in the Frenchest way possible with turtle necks, the traditional uniform of the Left Bank intellectual. Economy minister Bruno Le Maire was first off the starting blocks, declaring on the radio that the nation would no longer see him in a collar and tie, but in roll neck sweaters: “That will help us make energy savings and show restraint.” Le Maire followed through the next day with a navy-blue fine-gauge number. He has since Instagrammed himself in a dove grey one, nonchalantly holding an espresso cup in his Normandy garden.” Even a Monsieur Macron has been photographed in such a sweater.
Meanwhile, according to this article, Greece is trying to attract pensioners away from Spain spend time in Greek resorts to escape their heating bills. There seems to be not mention of the limited 90 out of 180 days that we can Spend in Europe! It will be interesting though to see what kind of bargain flights they have on offer.
As we listen to the radio news and some pundit is introduced as being from some sort of organisation it is not unusual to hear Phil call out ‘Think-tank!” Now it seems that George Monbiot has been commenting on this plethora of think tanks which, he says, “refuse to reveal the sources of their funding, as lobbyists for hidden interests. We know from leaks and US reports that these include, in some cases, tobacco firms, oil firms and foreign oligarchs. But there is one question to which no one has provided a complete and satisfactory answer.”
His question more or less is ‘Why does the BBC promote them? He says such thinktanks have taken over the BBC. The response in letters to the Guardian has been interesting. I like the suggestion in this one:
“George Monbiot is spot-on. It’s the same here in the US with National Public Radio. The only remedy to this is for the BBC, NPR and all public broadcasters to deny time and space to any organisation that refuses to disclose who its financial benefactors are. Failing that, describing them as “secret organisations that won’t disclose their financial sources”should suffice to tell viewers and listeners that their opinions can’t be
Of course, it won’t happen. Liberals are reluctant to engage in the same aggressive fashion as conservatives.”
As for us, we would just like the BBC to acknowledge the political leanings of the think-tanks. Or they could be called “influencing how you think tanks”. That’s not likely to happen either!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment