6 Dec 2013

And Then A Little More Reportage….

Top of the news, occupying every available moment today and I suspect the next several weeks, is that a ninety-five year old man has died. The one saving grace is, to date, the words ‘unexpectedly’ and/or ‘suddenly’ haven’t been used. Media folk, thanks for letting us know. We know now, he was ninety-five, that’s a good innings, he lived in a land far, far, far away and was quite possibly a jolly nice chap but he’s gone, let him go and let’s move on please. {The BBC news is on right now and, no, they’re most definitely not ‘moving on’.}

And the storms? Two pieces of ace reporting caught my attention today. The first was sent to my fireside via TV. “Let’s look at some of the damage that’s been carried out.” Let’s hope the wind had planning permission eh?

My heat-felt thanks to local radio for the following from a reporter reporting from an East coast town. “I’m in a shop down here on the harbour that was flooded last night. This shop’s called the Deep Blue Fried Fishery and I’m with the owner. So, what do you sell in your shop then?”  You didn’t spot the clue in the shops name then.

One wonders how they’re reporting these horrendous winds and super high-tides in the Philippines.

Yesterday, despite BBC warnings to stay home as it was windy, we went for a drive along a few highways and byways. You know what? On our rout, not a windmill was turning. Two things crossed my mind, one, I’m guessing, impractical. Why don’t they capture the wind and release it at a more manageable rate later? They could keep it in the same locker they’ve got all that Co2, all those moonbeams and rainbow light and that unicorn horn dust. Okay, that’s that one out of the way.

Secondly, I thought the blades would be designed to automatically feather, is that the right word? change blade angle dependant on wind speed so as to keep generating even in extremely windy conditions . As like wot they do with yacht sails. No? Or a slipping break system to achieve the same result? No? Obviously not.

Being stopped, least they were quiet. Seems the noise is finally getting traction. Compensation claims would seem to be the next logical step. Bummer.

Anyhoo, as the storms pass by, check out Mr Gregory and his take on storms. You gotta love it.

Below is a repeat of this quote, or at least a variant thereof;

Quote;  Hunter S. Thompson.

"The news business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

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