Clare's Lair

2003-08-13T16:12:00.000Z

Aw. Just came across some very nice pictures of the baby Llama at Mudchute City Farm, and the other animals here.

2003-08-05T19:04:00.000Z

Shoutcast - lots of streaming radio stations

2003-07-22T11:04:00.000Z

It's time to start blogging again.

Not least because I face the prospect of unemployment in a matter of weeks.

I stopped properly blogging here because I was keen to get the London Student blog up and running, but as I finish there at the end of the month it will no longer be my baby.

So lot's has changed since I was here a year ago, trying to do my dissertation and failing. Later I might update my links, and I might rant about just how angry the BBC/Govt/Dr Kelly row has made me (I blame Labour).

Yay!

2003-05-13T21:51:00.000Z

Well, haven't been on a proper surf for some time now, amazing what you come across.

This is h2g2 - I vaguely remember reading a mention of it in Douglas Adams' fantastic pothumous collection The Salmon of Doubt. An edited stack of stuff put in by people just like you and me, the wonders within can only be imagined at this stage...

Also looked up the Wodehouse society who worship the great PG. Having thus far enjoyed four books, whose titles escape me at the moment but no doubt I shall add them in if I ever do concentrate on creating an online Amazon bookshop (does it make money for anyone?).

2003-04-20T19:04:00.000Z

Happy Easter

And even if you don't celebrate it in the Christian sense, you can still Save Sallies Bunnies. These rabbits in Watford are under threat by neighbourly and council meanness. Sign the petition now.

2003-04-09T17:45:00.000Z

See what Care Bear you are.

2003-04-02T21:55:00.000Z

Ooh, who has a new camera?

This is the evil potato.

Nearly as scary as the squid...

Scarier

2003-04-02T21:50:00.000Z

God! Meet the Collossal Squid!

The researchers say: "This animal, armed as it is with the hooks and the beak that it has, not only is colossal in size but is going to be a phenomenal predator and something you are not going to want to meet in the water." We're doomed!

I love giant squid stories...

2003-03-17T23:14:00.000Z

Sorry I haven't been on here for AGES. But I've been busy.

I've got a job now y'know.

Anyway, it looks like we're going to war tomorrow. And I really, really don't know why.

So I'll be at Parliament Square at 6pm. Be there too, if you're in London.

2003-01-13T21:53:00.000Z

crime watching
week 81
january 11th - 17th
Written for Bright by Annette White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

television programmes
classics, "Must See Films" on tv
None this week.

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
Tuesday January 14th, 22.30, C4 Buried
New prison drama in which Lee Kingley believes himself to be morally innocent of the crime for which he is serving ten years.
Directors: Kenny Glenaan, Morag McKinnon Producer: Kath Mattock

criminal justice programmes
Saturday January 11th, 19.00, C4 Abused and Catholic
[repeated Tuesday, 03.00]
Report on the incidents of child sex abuse by Catholic priests and their cover-up by the Church.
Director: Mark Dowd

Sunday January 12th, 23.15, C5 Murder Detectives

Sunday January 12th, 23.50, C5 Arrest and Trial

Monday January 13th and Wednesday 15th, 19.55, C4
Great Britain
Series of short films about the seamier aspects of contemporary life. The first programme featured here is about hit-and-run driving, while the second deals with people relieving themselves in the street and rejoices in the title of Uri-Nation.

Tuesday January 14th, 02.35, C4 Unreported World
Repeat of a documentary on gang culture in El Salvador.

Tuesday January 14th. 20.00, BBC2 Crooked Britain
The first in a series on crime in the UK concentrates on counterfeit cigarettes.
Producer: Ian Overton

Tuesday January 14th, 22.55, C5 Charles Bronson:
Britain's Hardest Man

Tuesday January 14th, 23.20, BBC2 Shayler's Secrets
Portrait of the man who is serving six months for breaking the Official Secrets Act.
Producer: Christopher Terrill

Wednesday January 15th, 19.30, BBC1 Kenyon Confronts
The investigative journalist goes undercover amongst the fugitive British criminals in Cyprus, where they have been forced to go after Spain's "Costa del Crime" was shut down.
Director: Derek Jones

Wednesday January 15th, 23.35, BBC1 Poison Pen
Documentary about a letter-writing campaign which terrorised a part of North Yorkshire for 20 years, until the culprit was finally caught by forensic methods.
Director: Norman Hull Producer: Claire Kavanagh

Thursday January 16th, 21.50, BBC2 Easy Money
Fraud and Corruption.
Directors: Rob Davis, Alastair Cook

real life documentaries/docusoaps
None this week.

social issues documentaries
None this week.

crime dramas/serials
Saturday January 11th, 14.10, BBC2 Ironside

Saturday January 11th, 15.00, BBC2 A Perry Mason Mystery

Saturday January 11th, 15.00, ITV Nash Bridges
Saturday January 11th, 16.25, BBC2 Columbo

Saturday January 11th and Sunday 12th, 21.00, BBC1
Messiah 2
Gory story of serial killings.
Director: David Richards Producer: Joshua St Johnston

Saturday January 11th, 21.00, ITV Taggart

Sunday January 12th, 20.00, ITV Heartbeat
Director: Paul Walker
Weekdays, 10.00, C5 Starsky and Hutch

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 Magnum PI

Weekdays, 14.25, C5 Columbo

Weekdays, 14.35, BBC1 Murder, She Wrote

Monday January 13th, 21.00, BBC1 Merseybeat

Tuesday January 14th, 21.00, BBC1 Red Cap

Tuesday January 14th, 21.00, C5 A Mind to Kill

Tuesday January 14th, 23.35, C4 NYPD Blue
Return of the excellent police drama.

Wednesday January 15th and Thursday 16th, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Fraser MacDonald Producer: Susan Mather

Wednesday January 15th, 21.00, ITV Footballers' Wives
A body has been found in a swimming pool.
Director: Julie Edwards Producer: Claire Phillips

Thursday January 16th, 21.00, BBC1 Trust
Legal eagle series.
Director: John Strickland Producer: Jake Lushington

Thursday January 16th, 21.00, ITV Serious and Organised
The brothers discover a trade in human organs.

Friday January 17th, 20.30, ITV Midsomer Murders
Casting her eyes around for some crimson while indulging in a spot of watercolours in picturesque Midsomer Florey, Mrs Barnaby discovers a dead body.
Director: Peter Smith Producer: Brian True-May

0ther programmes of interest
Monday January 13th, 22.35, BBC1 Total Cops
Clip compilation from old cop shows such as The Sweeney and Prime Suspects.

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during january
In Brookside, little Anthony is in a secure unit after admitting the murder of Imelda. His court hearing has begun. Tim the tearaway had been trading drugs in order to finance treatment for his wife who is in a coma, but then he thought better of it after seeing the effects of the drug on a victim. In Coronation Street, evil Richard carefully plans his next murder so that someone else will be blamed, and then dispatches his victim with a crowbar. Ken Barlow has pleaded guilty to thumping Aidan but allowed the sudden revelation of his wife's infidelity to influence his speech to the court, which came out all bitter and twisted. Nevertheless he received a conditional discharge. No crimes on Eastenders, but the Radio Times lists all the major crimes ever committed on that soap, to contrast with the present murder spree in Weatherfield. In Emmerdale, Louise's stalker turned out to be her very own obsessive boyfriend, who was a bounder and a gangster to boot. So far she has managed to conceal her guilt, but during the coroner's inquest the police begin to suspect her. Just as she is about to confess, an alibi materialises from an unexpected source. In The Archers, Caroline and Oliver return from holiday to find that there has been an intruder at Grange Farm.
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
None this week.

criminal justice programmes
Monday January 13th, 11.00, Radio 4 Within These Walls
A visit to Lancaster Castle where witches were imprisoned, Catholics tortured and lots of criminals sentenced to death, and which still has a working court and prison. Producer: Lindsay Leonard

social issues documentaries
None this week.

crime dramas/serials
Saturday January 11th, 14.30, Radio 4 The Saturday Play: His Dark Materials - The Subtle Knife
When a boy accidentally kills a man, he escapes into a parallel universe.
Director: Janet Whitaker

Tuesday January 14th, 23.00, Radio 4 I Think I've Got a Problem
A man who can't stop himself from singing incites a near-riot at a football match and is sentenced to community service.
Director: Chris Neill Producers: Torquil MacLeod, Julian Mayers

other programmes of interest
Friday January 17th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenny Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends. Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

annette's personal choice of the week
Thursday January 16th, 20.00, Radio 4 The Dark Origins of Britain
This programme promises to shed new light on the dark ages, revealing an even darker truth than previously thought. It challenges the current historical position that successive waves of Germanic invaders drove the Celtic natives to the fringes of Britain. (You know the Welsh? They were the Irish who could not swim.) Instead, it says, and backs this up with DNA evidence, the Celts were happy to remain here and adopt Anglo-Saxon culture. This would explain the prevalence of Welsh teachers in English schools, the Irish chappies who are always offering to re-tarmac our drives, and the fact that there is always a Scots piper at every wedding. They were here all along.

crime writing in the tv guides
A selection of deaths from Eastenders are featured, Alison Graham complains that NYPD Blue is on too late and Bad Girls gets a mention alongside a feature on Crossroads’ new attempt to bring in a gay audience with a host of glamorous new stars. This includes Linda Robson who goes from playing a criminals’ wife to a criminal herself.

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.
saturday january 11th
14.10 BBC2 Ironside
14.30 BBCR4 The Saturday Play: His Dark
Materials - The Subtle Knife
15.00 BBC2 A Perry Mason Mystery
15.00 ITV Nash Bridges
16.25 BBC2 Columbo
19.00 C4 Abused and Catholic
21.00 BBC1 Messiah 2
21.00 ITV Taggart

sunday january 12th
20.00 ITV Heartbeat
21.00 BBC1 Messiah 2
23.15 C5 Murder Detectives
23.50 C5 Arrest and Trial

monday january 13th
10.00 C5 Starsky and Hutch
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
11.00 BBCR4 Within These Walls
14.25 C5 Columbo
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
19.55 C4 Great Britain
21.00 BBC1 Merseybeat
22.35 BBC1 Total Cops

tuesday january 14th
02.35 C4 Unreported World
03.00 C4 Abused and Catholic
10.00 C5 Starsky and Hutch
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.25 C5 Columbo
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
20.00 BBC2 Crooked Britain
21.00 BBC1 Red Cap
21.00 C5 A Mind to Kill
22.30 C4 Buried
22.55 C5 Charles Bronson: Britain's
Hardest Man
23.00 BBCR4 I Think I've Got a Problem
23.20 BBC2 Shayler's Secrets
23.35 C4 NYPD Blue

wednesday january 15th
10.00 C5 Starsky and Hutch
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.25 C5 Columbo
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
19.30 BBC1 Kenyon Confronts
19.55 C4 Great Britain
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 ITV Footballers' Wives
23.35 BBC1 Poison Pen

thursday january 16th
10.00 C5 Starsky and Hutch
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.25 C5 Columbo
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
20.00 ITV The Bill
20.00 BBCR4 The Dark Origins of Britain
21.00 BBC1 Trust
21.00 ITV Serious and Organised
21.50 BBC2 Easy Money
friday january 17th
10.00 C5 Starsky and Hutch
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.25 C5 Columbo
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
20.30 ITV Midsomer Murders

2002-12-31T14:25:00.000Z

Happy New Year!

2002-12-31T14:19:00.000Z

2002-12-29T22:56:00.000Z

Are you looking for Crime programmes?

I'm still getting lots of searches for crime stuff. Well, it's not here any more but don't fear!

It's all here - the new Payback site, Bright.

Go now.

2002-12-29T15:17:00.000Z

**** JSA Training - private tuition in Stoke-on-Trent ****

2002-11-24T17:52:00.000Z

2002-11-13T18:23:00.000Z

This is fantastic!!!

2002-10-25T09:51:00.000Z

Continuing the tradition of just a few, select nuggets on this weblog for those who care to visit, here's one from our favourite pigeon-killer, Red Ken:

>>> KEN'S REPTILES THRIVE IN WARMER LONDON

Yesterday the papers warned that the next 3,000 years would be
predominantly rainy. Today the news is even worse - at least for
Londoners. Global warming will be exacerbated by an "urban heat
island" effect in the capital because of the number of buildings
packed closely together, a conference on climate change has warned.
Air quality will fall, the Tube will become unbearably hot, and
floods will afflict large parts of the city.

But London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, has some more cheerful news. The
warmer conditions have already allowed edible French frogs to breed
in his garden. "I shall soon have enough for a dinner party of four,"
he told the conference. "You are welcome to join me."

From The Guardian

Also this week, I recieved a funny press release from Ken's office all about how Trafalgar Square would be closed for New Year's Eve. Necessarily in the 'Notes to Editors' at the end, it said "The Norwegian Christmas Tree will not be affected." Phew.

2002-09-27T22:07:00.000Z

A happy ending

Finally, some pictures of Frank sans cast :)

2002-09-27T10:03:00.000Z

Goddammit!

If I'd only kept this up, I too could have been in the running for the Guardian's Best Blog competition.

Never mind... Scary Duck was indeed a deserving winner -

2002-09-04T17:37:00.000Z

crime watching
week 62
august 31st – september 6th
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

television programmes
classics, "Must See Films" on tv
None this week.

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
None this week

criminal justice programmes
Sunday September 1st, 22.55, C5 The World’s Most Astounding Undercover Stings
Last week’s Caught in the Act was obviously not glamorous enough for Channel
5, who have felt the need to repackage it with what may turn out to be the
year’s silliest title. Expect not to be astounded.

Thursday September 5th, 20.00, C5 Murder Detectives

Thursday September 5th, 20.30, C5 Arrest and Trial

Thursday September 5th, 21.00, BBC1 Hot Pursuit
Looking at whether a change in Scottish policy can reduce the number of deaths during police car chases.
Director: Tom Porter

real life documentaries/docusoaps
Thursday September 5th, 23.35, C4 Hollywood Vice

social issues documentaries
Wednesday September 4th, 19.30, BBC2 East
Two months in the life of a 24-year old homeless man.
Producer: Sukhjinder
Takhar

crime dramas/serials
Saturday August 31st, 13.10, BBC2 Columbo

Saturday August 31st, 14.40, BBC2 Quincy

Saturday August 31st, 15.25, BBC2 Perry Mason

Saturday August 31st, 21.30, C5 CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation
Related website: www.channel5.co.uk/csi

Saturday August 31st, 22.20, C5 Law and Order
[repeated Monday September 2nd, 22.50]

Monday September 2nd, 12.50, Tuesday 3rd, 12.30, Wednesday 4th,
12.50 and 22.55, C4 Ally McBeal
If the scheduling doesn’t drive you up the wall, then surely the latest silly twist in
the Wednesday night plot will: Ally decides to DNA test her new daughter.

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 Magnum PI

Weekdays, 14.35, BBC1 Murder, She Wrote

Monday September 2nd and Tuesday 3rd, 21.00, BBC1
Waking the Dead
A serial killer is in jail, and for some reason someone is stalking his surviving victim.
Director: Edward Bennett Producer: Victoria Fea

Tuesday September 3rd, 14.05, BBC1 Doctors
Jude becomes a police surgeon, but soon runs into problems. Predictably.

Tuesday September 3rd, 22.00, BBC2 Porridge

Tuesday September 3rd and Wednesday 4th, 20.00, ITV
The Bill
Director: Jamie Payne Producer: Susan Mather
Related website: www.thebill.com

Wednesday September 4th, 00.10, C4 Oz
Grit your teeth as the horror continues.

Wednesday September 4th, 09.00, C4 Little House on the
Prairie
Lawyers come to the prairie, and are soon causing trouble, the scamps.

Friday September 6th, 21.00, C5 A Mind to Kill
Director: Euros Lyn Producers: Mike
Parker and Ed Thomas

0ther programmes of interest
Monday September 2nd, 20.00, C5 Ancient Murder
Mystery
‘Murder’ is clearly the word that brings in a million viewers, at least in the view of C5, because on closer inspection this documentary appears actually to be a study of an ancient skull that may provide the missing link between apes and humans.
Producer: William Hicklin

Thursday September 5th, 22.30, ITV The John Thaw Story
Biography of the actor with a penchant for crime drama.

clare's personal choice of the week
Sunday September 1st, 21.00, C4 Notting Hill
It’s that low point before the new season for schedulers, when there’s nothing to fill the airwaves but the dregs left in the back of the old season’s cupboard. But far be it from me to suggest that this explains the outrageous deluge of 9/11 documentaries over a week before the anniversary. So escape the depressing second by second raking over of misery with this film that won’t fail to charm you, no matter how hard you resist.
Director: Roger Mitchell

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during august
In Brookside, the police find something in Marty’s garden… Meanwhile Little Mo continues to have a terrible life in Eastenders, whether or not she is in jail. Which, for now, she is not. And in Coronation Street, the opening of a bail hostel is threatening real estate value!
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes

must hear radio
None this week

criminal justice programmes
None this week
social issues documentaries
Monday September 2nd, 20.00, Radio 4 Forging a Future
A look at the Kids Company in South-East London.
Producer: Angela Hind

crime dramas/serials
Saturday August 31st, 14.30, Radio 4 Afternoon Play:
Greyfriars
A policeman and his dog battle thieves in mid-19th century Edinburgh.
Director: David Ian Neville

Wednesday September 4th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play:
An Oddbody
A respectable and healthy woman in her 70s dies under mysterious circumstances.
Director: Rosemary Watts

other programmes of interest
Sunday September 1st, 20.30, Radio 4 Word of Mouth
Hungerford’s Burden
Relevant in the wake of the events in Soham, this programme looks at the effect a tragedy has on a place when its name is forever associated with grief.
Producer: Laurence Grissell

Friday September 6th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenny Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends. Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

crime writing in the TV guides
None this week

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday august 31st
13.10 BBC2 Columbo
14.30 BBCR4 Afternoon Play: Greyfriars
14.40 BBC2 Quincy
15.25 BBC2 Perry Mason
21.30 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
22.20 C5 Law and Order

sunday september 1st
15.00 ITV Nash Bridges
20.30 BBCR4 Word of Mouth
21.00 C4 Notting Hill
22.55 C5 The World’s Most Astounding
Undercover Stings

monday september 2nd
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
12.50 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 C5 Ancient Murder Mystery
20.00 BBCR4 Forging a Future
21.00 BBC1 Waking the Dead
22.50 C5 Law and Order ®

tuesday september 3rd
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.05 BBC1 Doctors
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
12.30 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 BBC1 Waking the Dead
22.00 BBC2 Porridge

wednesday september 4th
00.10 C4 Oz
09.00 C4 Little House on the Prairie
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
12.50 C4 Ally McBeal
14.15 BBCR4 Afternoon Play: An Oddbody
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
19.30 BBC2 East
20.00 ITV The Bill
22.55 C4 Ally McBeal

thursday september 5th
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
20.00 C5 Murder Detectives
20.30 C5 Arrest and Trial
21.00 BBC1 Hot Pursuit
22.30 ITV The John Thaw Story
23.35 C4 Hollywood Vice

friday september 6th
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.35 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
21.00 C5 A Mind to Kill

2002-09-04T14:51:00.000Z

A Yorkshire woman is to recieve up to £100,000 after being mauled by a cheetah cited as "tame as a kitten" in a holiday brochure. As the creature was causing 22-stitches worth of injuries to the gullible Northerner, the park ranger said "look, he's playing with you".

This story has prompted website Roll on Friday to produce a handy 'Spot the Difference' guide.

2002-08-28T15:06:00.000Z

Good grief. What was I thinking? This is surely the best test site there is!

2002-08-28T15:04:00.000Z

But oh no! It's all gone wrong!

Life is fairly pointless to for me. It's a constant cycle of getting captured by Bowser, getting rescued by men who lust after me either due to my looks or wealth, and baking cakes. Any involvement I have in a game is fairly limited. I reinforce the bad stereotype that women are helpless beings. I am made of sugar and spice and everything nice, yet incapable of inteligent thought. Such is the life of Peach.

What Super Mario Bros character are you?

2002-08-28T14:57:00.000Z

Hooray. For my new job it seemed like a good idea to get people doing stupid tests. This site has a fairly good collection, though I suspect there are better. At least it has the classic Which Kind of Muppet Are You.

2002-08-27T10:37:00.000Z

It's back!

For two weeks only, your indispensible guide to TV's crime...

2002-08-27T10:35:00.000Z

crime watching
week 61
august 24th – 30th
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

television programmes
classics, "Must See Films" on tv
None this week.

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
None this week

criminal justice programmes
Saturday August 24th, 19.40, C5 Caught in the Act
CCTV snares thieves and fraudsters. Which is what it was intended for all along, as this groundbreaking documentary reveals.

Sunday August 25th, 22.55, BBC2 Arrest and Trial

Sunday August 25th, 23.25, C5 Murder Detectives

Tuesday August 27th, 23.15, C5 The World’s Most
Wanted Woman
Elaine Parent, who stole people’s identities, is the worst female criminal on the loose in the whole world, claim Channel 5.
Producer: Tim Tate

Thursday August 29th, 21.05, BBC1 Crimewatch UK
Contact: 0500 600600, e-mail cwuk@bbc.co.uk
Director: Phil Chivers
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/crime
[updated at 22.35]

real life documentaries/docusoaps
None this week

social issues documentaries
None this week

crime dramas/serials
Saturday August 24th, 13.10, BBC2 Columbo

Saturday August 24th, 14.40, BBC2 Quincy

Saturday August 24th, 15.30, BBC2 Perry Mason

Saturday August 24th, 21.15 and Sunday 25th, 21.00, BBC1 Messiah 2
Grim psychological serial killing thriller. With horrifically gory murders!
Director: David Richards Producer: Joshua St Johnson

Saturday August 24th, 21.00, C5 CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation
Related website: www.channel5.co.uk/csi

Saturday August 24th, 21.50, C5 Law and Order

Saturday August 24th, 22.50, C5 Homicide: Life on the Streets
Continuation of the sordid storyline in Law and Order under a different name –
very confusing.

Sunday August 25th, 19.10, C5 Martial Law
Woo! Double episode! Nearly two whole hours of Martial Law! Woo!

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 Magnum PI

Monday August 26th, 21.00, BBC1 Merseybeat
Ending the series in which policemen aren’t as nice as they could be.
Director: Adrian Bean Producer: Kay Patrick
Related Website: www.bbc.co.uk/merseybeat

Monday August 26th, 22.30, C4 Six Feet Under
The murder of a gay man forces David to consider opening up about his sexuality. Which seems a little bit pointless, as every character in this cult series knows anyway.

Tuesday August 27th, and Thursday 29th, 14.30, C5
McMillan and Wife
Police murder scandal.

Tuesday August 27th, 13.00, Wednesday 28th, 12.30 and 22.40,
Thursday 29th, 12.45 and Friday 30th, 12.35, C4
Ally McBeal
Nooo! Ally sacks the lovely Jenny on Wednesday night in a sure sign that she has
gone completely mad. Not surprising though, when the child you never knew
about after an improbably lab mix-up appears. Never thought I’d say it, but you
can start to see why it got axed…

Weekdays (except Monday), 14.10, BBC1 Murder, She Wrote

Tuesday August 27th, Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th, 20.00, ITV
The Bill
The never-ending police soap goes from strength to strength with three episodes this week.
Director: Jamie Payne Producer: Susan Mather
Related website: www.thebill.com

Wednesday August 28th, 00.10, C4 Oz
Grit your teeth as the horror continues.

Friday August 30th, 21.00, C5 A Mind to Kill
Director: Dai Evans Producers: Mike Parker/
Fizzy Oppe

0ther programmes of interest
Monday August 26th, 21.30, BBC2 Liar
Only potentially of interest: this quiz makes six members of the public pretend they have been to prison – which story will the audience find most convincing?

clare's personal choice of the week
Monday August 26th, 22.00, BBC2 Clueless
What better to do on a Bank Holiday Monday than remind yourself of those happy summers of your youth when you wished you could be an American teenager leading a fabulous, witty romantic life. So watch Dirty Dancing on C4 at 19.05, followed by Clueless and you’ll be very, very happy indeed.
Director: Amy Heckerling

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during august
Most dramatically, Marty is arrested after a police search in Brookside. Meanwhile Little Mo continues to have a terrible life in Eastenders, whether or not she is in jail. Which, for now, she is not.
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes

must hear radio
Monday August 26th, 20.00, Radio 4 Life Sentence
This could be very interesting. How a prisoner who spent much of his life imprisoned on Cape Town’s Robben Island now returns as a tour guide.
Producer: Sarah Conkey

criminal justice programmes
None this week
social issues documentaries
Saturday August 24th, 22.15 and Wednesday 28th, 20.00, Radio 4 The Commission
Repeated debate on drinking and on Wednesday a look at corporate responsibility.
Producer: Sara Nathan

Monday August 26th, 15.45, Radio 4 Fresh Air Kids
Teenage drug taking in Liverpool.
Producer: Bella Bannerman

crime dramas/serials
Wednesday August 28th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play:
An Oddbody
Amateur sleuth series.
Director: Rosemary Watts

other programmes of interest
Monday August 26th, 09.30, Radio 4 With Reference To…
How police use recordings of dialects from the 50s.
Producer: Andrew Luck-Baker

Monday August 26th, 20.00, Radio 4 Life Sentence
Sophiwa Sobuwa was 17 when he was sentenced to 48 years on Robben Island, the notorious maximum security prison near Cape Town. Although he was released in 1991, he returns every day as a museum guide.
Producer : Sara Conkey

Thursday August 29th, 11.30, Radio 4 With Great Pleasure
Find out what Anne Owers, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, likes to read (apart from Crimewatching of course)
Producer: Jolyon Jenkins

Friday August 30th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenny Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends. Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

crime writing in the TV guides
The Radio Times has an intriguing article about a new American quiz that pits convicted criminals against each other for ‘the rare opportunity to compensate victims for past crimes committed against them’ by being chased through woods by dogs. ‘Rapists are not welcome although manslaughter is fine’. Very, very bizarre. See www.dangerisland.tv to find out more. Messiah II, the gory murder drama, prompts an article on why we have an ever growing desire to see the explicit detail of horrific murders – I wonder how we could let them know we don’t?

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday august 24th
13.10 BBC2 Columbo
14.40 BBC2 Quincy
15.30 BBC2 Perry Mason
19.40 C5 Caught in the Act
21.00 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
21.50 C5 Law and Order
21.15 BBC1 Messiah 2
22.15 BBCR4 The Commission
22.50 C5 Homicide: Life on the Streets

sunday august 25th
19.10 C5 Martial Law
21.00 BBC1 Messiah 2
22.55 C5 Arrest and Trial
23.25 C5 Murder Detectives

monday august 26th
09.30 BBCR4 With Reference To. . .
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
15.45 BBCR4 Fresh Air Kids
20.00 BBCR4 Life Sentence
21.00 BBC1 Merseybeat
21.30 BBC2 Liar
21.30 BBCR4 With Reference To…
22.00 BBC2 Clueless
22.30 C4 Six Feet Under

tuesday august 27th
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
13.00 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
14.30 C5 McMillan and Wife
20.00 ITV The Bill
23.15 C5 The World’s Most Wanted
Woman

wednesday august 28th
00.10 C4 Oz
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
12.30 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
14.15 BBCR4 Afternoon Play: An Oddbody
20.00 ITV The Bill
20.00 BBCR4 The Commission
22.40 C4 Ally McBeal

thursday august 29th
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
11.30 BBCR4 With Great Pleasure
12.45 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
14.30 C5 McMillan and Wife
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.05 BBC1 Crimewatch UK
22.35 BBC1 Crimewatch UK update

friday august 30th
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
12.35 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Murder, She Wrote
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
21.00 C5 A Mind to Kill

2002-08-13T17:02:00.000Z

I met the Famous Grouse.

Is that not cool?

That may be him.

2002-07-19T09:43:00.000Z

It's probably obvious from the drop in posts that I have a job now, and therefore the persuit of pleasure in blogging has gone second to the pleasures of blagging free things, going to lunch and generally not being in the library. Hooray.

But here's some links that I want to look at later, and thus you may wish to look too. From the Sitepoint newsletter

Tracker analysis

Protect your ideas

Deleted domains

And this is interesting - Yahoo changes your words

2002-07-12T17:15:00.000Z

Hehe.

Create yourself in lego.

2002-07-03T11:29:00.000Z

Bless.

As well as reading about Tina on this page you can find out all about jealous Tuppit, the cat who has caused £3000 worth of damage to her house out of pure hatred for Dave.

2002-06-29T22:20:00.000Z

Heh heh. Cool. Heh heh.

2002-06-29T21:59:00.000Z

Please visit my Mum's new Blog!

Roman's Revisited

Especially of interest if you happen to have an interest in the Ancients.

2002-06-29T19:33:00.000Z

Aw.

Hello Bob

2002-06-28T17:47:00.000Z

Bye bye Frank

Frank is moving away this week, so it's your last chance to try and catch a glimpse of him at Cat Hospital

2002-06-27T10:34:00.000Z

crime watching
week 53
june 29th – 5th july
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White and Annette White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings. Some programmes may run late because of the World Cup Final on Sunday, and Wimbledon every day.

television programmes
classics, "Must See TV"
None this week

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
None this week

criminal justice programmes
Sunday June 30th, 23.05, C5 Arrest and Trial

Monday July 1st, 02.55, C4 Murder in Paradise

Monday July 1st, 23.00, ITV Real Crime: Starring
John Bindon

Tuesday July 2nd, 05.00, BBC2 Working in Retail
Crime and prevention.

Tuesday July 2nd, 23.00, ITV Real Crime: Kenny
Noye
Road-rage murderer was already well known to the police.
Tuesday July 2nd, 22.45, C5 Serial Killers

social issues documentaries
Tuesday July 2nd, 22.35, BBC1 A Good Smack?
As Scotland introduces a new law to prevent adults smacking children under the
age of three, the pros and cons are explored.

real life documentaries/'docusoaps'.
Tuesday July 2nd, 03.50, C4 Sex Crime Investigators

crime dramas/serials
Saturday June 29th, 20.20, BBC1 Casualty.
Did Lara kill the police officer?
Director: Jeremy Webb Producer: Tim Holloway
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/casualty

Saturday June 29th, 21.10, C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
[Repeated Monday July 1st , 23.55]
Related website: www.cbs.com/primetime/csi

Saturday June 29th, 22.05, C5 Law and Order
[Repeated Sunday 30th, 23.40]
Related website: www.studiosusa.com/laworder

Sunday June 30th, 03.50, C4 En Malas Companias
16-year-old fights back against homophobic police.
Sunday June 30th, 12.00, BBC2 Murder, She Wrote

Sunday July 30th, 19.10, C5 Martial Law

Sunday June 30th,20.00, ITV Where the Heart Is
Hit-and-run motorcyclist is pursued by nurses.
Director: Clive Arnold Producer: Ian Hopkins

Sunday July 30th. 21.00, BBC1 Nice Guy Eddie
Director: Alan Macmillan Producer: Paddy Higson

Sunday June 30th, 21.00, ITV Midsomer Murders
Family feuds, sexual liaisons and lethal homebrew.
Director: David Tucker Producer: Brian True-May

Weekdays (except Fridays), 14.20, and Wednesday, July 3rd, 23.05, C4
Ally McBeal

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 Magnum PI

Monday July 1st, 20.30, BBC1 Merseybeat
Director: Rob Evans Producer: Kay Patrick
Monday July 1st, and Tuesday 2nd, 21.00, ITV Lenny Blue
Ray Winstone plays an uncompromising cop who gets the chance to put an arch-enemy behind bars.
Director: Andy Wilson Producer: David Boulter

Tuesday July 2nd, and Thursday 4th, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Ian White Producer: Baz Taylor
Related website: www.thebill.com

Tuesday July 2nd, 23.40, C5 La Femme Nikita
A white-slavery ring is infiltrated.

Thursday July 4th, 21.00, ITV A and E
Doctors are held hostage at gunpoint.
Director: Christopher King Producer: Richard Broke

Other programmes of interest
Tuesday July 2nd, 20.00, C5 Undercover
Sarah Lockett talks about her stalking ordeal.
Director: Cathal Watters Producer: David Harvey

Friday July 5th, 22.30, ITV Crime Fighters

clare's and annette's personal choice of the week
Sunday June 30th, 20.00, BBC1 Talking With Animals
Did you know prairie dogs could describe scientists to each other, distinguishing between one in a white coat and one in a hat? So always make sure you dress well in front of a prairie dog. Such exciting discoveries are made by the lovely Charlotte Uhlenbroek, who is also guilty of mean trickery when a male bower bird falls in love with her robot bower bird.
Producer: Lizzie Bewick.

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during july
Little Mo is suffering in jail in Eastenders. In Coronation Street, ex-con Joe looks to become respectable in the production of ladies' underwear, while evil wife-murderer Richard is still evading justice. In Brookside the police are closing in on Anthony. Emmerdale’s car crime network finally blows up in Scott’s face, and Chloe is horrified that she has been living as a gangster’s moll, whereas ozzie barmaid Louise accepts boyfriend Ray's nefarious lifestyle.

Related websites:
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
Tuesday July 2nd, 20.00, Radio 4 File on Four
Is the British justice system unfairly weighted against mothers accused of harming or killing their babies?

criminal justice programmes
Sunday June 30th, 20.30, and Friday July 5th, 16.00, Radio 4
Law in Action

social issues documentaries
Tuesday 2nd July, 21.00, and repeated Wednesday 3rd, 16.30,
Radio 4 Life as a Teenager
Includes advice on teenage behaviour that should be of concern to parents.

crime dramas/serials
Saturday June 29th, 14.30, Radio 4 Saturday Play: A
Question of Proof
Director: Jane Morgan

Monday July 1st, 11.30, Radio 4 The Little World
of Don Camillo
The priest turns sleuth to find the murderer of a fascist.
Director: Chris Wallis

Wednesday July 3rd, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play:
McLevy
Director: Patrick Rayner

Thursday July 4th, 23.00, Radio 4 The Cry of the Owl
Detective in missing person mystery.
Director: Marion Nancarrow

other programmes of interest
Friday July 5th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenni Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends. Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

crime writing in the TV guides
The Radio Times has an interview with Ray Winstone who plays disillusioned copper Lenny Milton in the new drama series, Lenny Blue, dealing with "scumbag" drug dealers.

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday june 29th
14.30 BBCR4 Saturday Play: A Question of Proof
20.20 BBC1 Casualty
21.10 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
23.05 C5 Law and Order

sunday june 30th
03.50 C4 En Malas Companias
12.00 BBC2 Murder, She Wrote
19.10 C5 Martial Law
20.00 BBC1 Talking With Animals
20.00 ITV Where the Heart is
20.30 BBCR4 Law in Action
21.00 BBC1 Nice Guy Eddie
21.00 ITV Midsomer Murders
23.05 C5 Arrest and Trial
23.40 C5 Law and Order

monday july 1st
02.55 C4 Murder in Paradise
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
11.30 BBCR4 The Little World of Don Camillo
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.30 BBC1 Merseybeat
21.00 ITV Lenny Blue
23.00 ITV Real Crime: John Bindon
22.55 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

tuesday july 2nd
03.50 C4 Sex Crimes Investigators
05.00 BBC2 Working in Retail
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 ITV The Bill
20.00 C5 UK Undercover
20.00 BBCR4 File on 4
21.00 ITV Lenny Blue
21.00 BBCR4 Life as a Teenager
22.35 BBC1 A Good Smack?
23.00 ITV Real Crime: Kenny Noye
22.45 C5 Serial Killers
23.40 C5 Le Femme Nikita

wednesday july 3rd
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.15 BBCR4 McLevy
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
16.30 BBCR4 Life as a Teenager
23.05 C4 Ally McBeal

thursday july 4th
01.35 BBC1 Airport
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 ITV The Bill
20.30 BBC1 Airport
21.00 ITV A and E
23.00 BBCR4 The Cry of the Owl

friday july 5th
11.00 C5 Magnum PI
16.00 BBCR4 Law in Action
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
22.30 ITV Crime Fighters

2002-06-26T12:00:00.000Z

The Lair may be quiet these days, but you can't say quality's going down. This is great.

PriceWaterhouseCooper are apparently spending £10 million on a rebrand. To be called Monday.

They say it conjures up images of toast and coffee. 2 billion commuters say...

2002-06-23T21:37:00.000Z

Yesterday we saved a piglet. Well, we raised the alarm for a week-old piglet stuck in a fence. It lived.
This drama at the end of a week living in the charming rustic atmosphere of the Isle of Dogs. Only a few dogs, but lots else…

The water in Clippers Quay is extremely clean and when the shadows are right, you can see right to the bottom. This cleanliness of the Thames, apparently better than at any time since the Industrial Revolution, has encouraged wildlife to these sheltered waters. Clippers Quay is a little outlet below Millwall Dock, which was opened in the 1860s, one of the last major docks to be opened. According to a map of 1984, Clippers Quay is far newer, probably built to be surrounded by new houses in the late ‘80s.

On Clippers Quay you can see coots, ducks and geese, all with their babies at this time of year. One of the coot pair’s nests is sinking, but luckily it seems as if their eggs hatched just in time and four tiny red chicks bob around, protected by their hissing parents. You can also spot crabs during the day.

At night the birds go to sleep and the fish come out. They are all about six to eight inches and sandy, black or stripey. All the fish are very keen on breadcrumbs. In the middle of the water bigger fish jump out to snap at bread, but we haven’t seen them properly. On the bottom are flatfish, which may be called dabs or flounders. And that East End staple, eels, though these are probably too small to eat; usually just a little longer than the fish. They move around like little snakes around the bottom.

The cats make up for the inherent discrimination on the Isle of Dogs by being particularly well bred. A grey Siamese kitten regularly stalks the birds, but rarely gets anywhere, most birds being twice his size. Fred, a huge striped cat, too fine to be a tabby, is undoubted king of the Quay and patrols the area, while a friendly black and white cat makes up for her lack of pedigree by having an especially attractive fishbone collar.

Should you ever wish for a spot of countryside, step across East Ferry Road and find yourself in a field populated by sheep, red cows and little goats. This is Mudchute City Farm, Britain’s biggest city farm, they say. It is built on hills created from the dumped mud of docks. It gives the people of the Isle of Dogs the chance to see pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, geese, cows and even llamas. Where llamas come in the great scheme of British farming is anyone’s guess but nobody minds as they bring a touch of exoticism to the proceedings. These animals eat more bread on the weekends than anyone would think possible, but they don’t seem to mind.

We found the piglet on Saturday night, when there were no people around. We finally found a family who look after the farm at times like these and they went over with us. The pig had escaped but was bleeding round its mouth; and promptly got itself stuck again. It was OK though, after a good rinse round its mouth. These piglets are only a week old and very sweet, though you would probably not want to be in charge of the welfare of such suicidal squeaking scamps.

That’s enough for now; soon there should be pictures of the creatures here. Apart from moving, washing up and endless unpacking, I have been looking at the creatures, and not blogging. And reading Frank McCourt’s ‘Angela’s Ashes’ which probably explains my desire to narrate incessantly about my surroundings. Luckily ‘tis not a peatbog :)

2002-06-14T18:27:00.000Z

Finally got round to looking at the Guinness website. Have a look at the recipes :)

2002-06-14T17:20:00.000Z

crime watching
week 51
june 15th - 21st
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings. Football will interfere with the schedules for as long as England and Ireland stay in the World Cup: matches are on Sunday - Tuesday mornings and Friday morning, but only a few daytime programmes listed should will be affected.

television programmes
classics, "Must See TV"
None this week

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
None this week

criminal justice programmes
Sunday June 16th, 23.00, C5 Hard Bastards
Talking to Ronnie Field, who spent half his life in prison.
Director: Suzanne Foster Producer: Toni Williamson

Monday June 17th, 02.15, C4 Killing Christine

Monday June 17th, 03.15, C4 Psychopath
The scientific truth behind Hollywood's favourite character trait.

Tuesday June 18th, 21.30, BBC1 Kenyon Confronts
Drug dealing and fraudulent therapists included in a platter for your judgement.
Director: Derek Jones Producer: Darren Kemp

Tuesday June 18th, 22.40, C5 Serial Killers

Thursday June 20th, 21.00, BBC2 The Hunt for Britain’s Paedophiles
Concluding the hard-hitting and disturbing series.
Producer: Ben Rumney
social issues documentaries
None this week.

real life documentaries/'docusoaps'.
None this week.

crime dramas/serials
Saturday June 15th, 21.00, C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
[Repeated Monday 17th, 23.30]
Related website: www.cbs.com/primetime/csi

Saturday June 15th, 22.05, C5 Law and Order
Mike is arrested for murder and claims his innocence.
[Repeated Sunday 16th, 23.30]
Related website: www.studiosusa.com/laworder

Sunday June 16th, 21.00, BBC1 Nice Guy Eddie
New drama starring Ricky Tomlinson as a private detective.
Director: Douglas MacKinnon Producer: Paddy Higson

Sunday June 16th, 21.00, ITV Midsomer Murders
Director: Sarah Hellings Producer: Brian True-May

Sunday June 16th, 19.10, C5 Martial Law

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 TJ Hooker

Wednesday 19th & Thursday 20th, 14.10, ITV
Heartbeat

Weekdays (except Monday), 14.20, and Wednesday 19th, 23.05, C4
Ally McBeal

Tuesday June 18th, 20.30, C4 A Touch of Frost

Tuesday June 18th, 23.10, C4 Oz
American prisoners attempt to fill the Bad Girls gap.

Wednesday June 19th, 21.00, BBC2 Murder
The final part of the acclaimed drama starring Julie Walters.
Director: Beeban Kidron Producer: Rebecca de Souza

Wednesday June 19th and Thursday 20th, 21.00, ITV
Trial and Retribution
Return of Lynda La Plante's police drama.
Director: Aisling Walsh Producer: Lynda La Plante

Thursday June 20th, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Michael Ferguson Producer: Tom Cotter
Related website: www.thebill.com

Other programmes of interest
None this week

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during june
Little Mo is suffering in jail in Eastenders, and Kat has a desperate plan to set up Trevor - will it lead to tragedy? The community try to have Janine thrown out, which only leads to her attempting suicide and landing everyone in it. In Coronation Street Richard does a Brookie and buries his ex-spouse under the patio, while ex-prisoner Joe becomes a fixture on the street. In Brookside the police are closing in on Anthony.

Related websites:
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
Tuesday June 18th, 20.00, Radio 4 File on Four
Julian O' Halloran investigates Britain's jails, and asks whether too many people are being locked up because of political pressures.
Producer: Jim Booth

criminal justice programmes
Sunday June 16th, 20.30, and Friday 21st, 16.00, Radio 4
Law in Action

social issues documentaries
None this week.

crime dramas/serials
Saturday June 15th, 14.30, Radio 4 The Saturday Play: Madeleine
Drama based on one of Scotland's most infamous Victorian murder mysteries.
Director: Kate McAll

Monday June 17th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play:
The Case of the Vanishing Author
Literary legends unite to find the missing Agatha Christie.
Director: David Blount

Wednesday June 19th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play: McLevy
Director: Patrick Raynor

Friday June 21st, 21.00, Radio 4 The Friday Play: Black Maria
Rounding off a busy week for crime drama is this true story of murderer Maria
Manning, who spent her time in jail sewing black dresses to impress the public at her trial, and eventual execution.
Director: Virginia Crompton.

other programmes of interest
Monday June 17th, 20.00, Radio 4 Rochdale, Redundancy and Redress
Cases from the Rochdale Law Centre.
Producer: Sally Chesworth

Friday June 21st, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenni Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends.
Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

clare's personal choice of the week
Sunday June 16th, 06.35, Radio 4 Living World
Hedgehog hunting with radio trackers; and if you're up early enough to hear this you can probably pick up some tips and go to see their courting antics yourself.

crime writing in the TV guides
The Radio Times has a feature about TV's most realistic cops. And don't forget to check out www.bbc.co.uk/crime as it develops.

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday june 15th
14.30 BBCR4 Madeleine
21.00 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
22.05 C5 Law and Order

sunday june 16th
06.35 BBCR4 Living World
19.10 C5 Martial Law
20.30 BBCR4 Law in Action
21.00 BBC1 Nice Guy Eddie
21.00 ITV Midsomer Murders
23.00 C5 Hard Bastards
23.30 C5 Law and Order

monday june 17th
02.15 C4 Killing Christine
03.15 C4 Psychopath
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.15 BBCR4 The Case of the Vanishing Author
20.00 BBCR4 Rochdale, Redundancy and
Redress
23.30 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

tuesday june 18th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 BBCR4 File on Four
20.30 ITV A Touch of Frost
21.30 BBC1 Kenyon Confronts
23.10 C4 Oz
22.40 C5 Serial killers

wednesday june 19th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.15 BBCR4 McLevy
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
21.00 BBC2 Murder
21.00 ITV Trial and Retribution
23.05 C4 Ally McBeal

thursday june 20th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 BBC2 The Hunt for Britain’s
Paedophiles
21.00 ITV Trial and Retribution

friday june 21st
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
16.00 BBCR4 Law in Action
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
21.00 BBCR4 The Friday Play Black Maria

2002-06-13T12:13:00.000Z

Hehe. This from the Wrap

>>> FLEET STREET FIGHTS BACK

Charles Clarke must have known that prodding the Fleet Street beast
yesterday would get him into an awful lot of trouble. The tabloids
are very, very angry with the Labour chairman, and the broadsheets
mostly condescending. The Mirror's Paul Routledge has worked himself
up into a fury: "He calls us 'pious media hypocrites'. I call him a
stupid, blinkered, self-important tub of lard." Mr Routledge will,
however, be treating the tub of lard to a gin and tonic next time he
bumps into him at Westminster. "This is business, Charles. Nothing
personal, you understand."

"Charles, you're talking self-serving bilge," agrees the Sun. "The
FACT is New Labour HAS run up a long list of dodgy-looking deals."
The Mail prints a sardonic apology for ever having reported the
Bernie Ecclestone affair, Peter Mandelson's mortgage, the donations
from Lakshmi Mittal and Richard Desmond, Stephen Byers' doomed
career, Keith Vaz's conduct and the other "reports got up by the
Press".

The Telegraph says the "organised mendacity" of the government only
makes press scrutiny more necessary; the Independent reminds Mr
Clarke that the media's interest in the "financial arrangements" of
politicians exposed the cash for questions affair during the Tory
administration.

But the man indelibly associated with spin is Alistair Campbell,
according to the Guardian's Michael White. Some say he has "lost his
tabloid edge" and no longer kills stories as effectively as he used
to. Will he be the next head to fall?

"Labour has only recently begun to grasp the extent to which it has
damaged itself by its own political methods," argues the Guardian.
'[It] needs to retain some dignity ... even in the face of huge
provocation from the media mob."

Only the FT appears to have taken Mr Clarke's criticism to heart.
"Cynicism ... encourages the rise of the sort of populist demagogues
seen in several other European countries." But the paper is resigned
to the "muck-raking and sensationalism" that goes with a free press:
the public, it says, are "mystified" by the tales of Westminster
spin, but only a tangible improvement in public services will dispel
them.

The Independent is not giving up the chase just yet. It says on its
front page that Labour whips intend to "neuter" the troublesome
chairman of the transport select committee, Gwyneth Dunwoody, by
removing the MPs who support her from the committee.

* A cliffhanger for Campbell
* A necessary dignity
* Mirror: Chairman Miaow
* Independent: Labour should stop trying to shoot the messengers and
clean up its act

2002-06-12T21:34:00.000Z

Another review

Suede - Dog Man Star

Quite like this one!

2002-06-12T21:33:00.000Z

Those pictures below are just hanging around, and I thought the page was a bit short. Hope you like em :)

2002-06-12T20:42:00.000Z

2002-06-12T20:21:00.000Z

2002-06-12T19:42:00.000Z

2002-06-12T19:18:00.000Z

Smile Review

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

2002-06-08T23:14:00.000Z

Smile review: Fairy Tales by Oscar Wilde

These fairy tales are far from light reading and those who know Wilde only from his comedies will be left surprised and moved.
Anyone who has seen the film Wilde will have heard the Happy Prince, threaded through the film and following his downfall. As with much of his writing there is a religious allusion in this tale, but many more are simply based not on the tragedy of Christ but of life itself.
The Nightingale and the Rose - a story of light-heated undergraduate love for which a nightingale sacrifices himself in good, futile faith - is one of the most beautiful and tragic stories I have ever read. It may not be eclipsed by the Infanta's Birthday, but you will again be left staggered by the careless neglect that ruins the life of the Infanta's 'entertainment'.
These stories left me with a sense of sadness, but just as the saddest things are often the most beautiful, so Wilde's prose in these stories is perfect.
If you lack the time to read The Picture of Dorian Gray but you want to see Wilde's genius transcend 'triviality', then this is the place to start. His stories are beautiful.

2002-06-08T21:31:00.000Z

Smile: not only a lovely, lovely bank but now they give you Snile miles for writing reviews of things. Much more rewarding than Amazon.

So, I'm submitting this review of Peter Akroyd's London to collect a mile. Here's the review - you can read the comments.

Akroyd's book is definitely one of the most lively accounts of London to have
been written in modern times.

Without making assumptions without evidence, the book creates a fantastic sense of London throughout the ages. It is excellently researched and has a useful chapter on sources. You can focus on the eras you are most interested in and I found myself rereading much of, though haven't finished exploring its full extent.

Akroyd's other recent hit has been the biography of Dickens, and in some ways you can see his interest with the author through this work. Dickens enlightened unknown corners of London to his Victorian readers in his essays and in the same way Akroyd illuminates past and present London.

London is not the best book for looking up a quick fact, but for that there are plenty of reference books on the city. This book will give you the personal touch in a form that hasn't been done so successfully since Dorothy George's 1925 classic London Life in the Eighteenth Century. Fascinating, whether or not you live in the capital.

2002-06-07T14:12:00.000Z

One nil one nil one nil one nil, one nil, one nil, one nil, one niiiiiiilllllllllllllllllll

2002-06-06T21:55:00.000Z

Huh huh heh

Oh!! Couldn't post a juvenile comment on Ian's site, whose Word of the Day amused me, and probably all other Father Ted fans out there...

The Word of the Day for June 6 is:

feckless • FEK-luss • (adjective)
1 : weak, ineffective
*2 : worthless, irresponsible

Example sentence:
"Jill's fiancé is charming but rather feckless, I'm afraid," said Nicole with a disapproving shake of her head.

Did you know?
Here is a fascinating word fact for you: someone "feckless" is lacking in "feck." Now then, you may ask, what the heck is "feck"? In fact, "feck" means "value" ("No feck would come from it") or "quantity" ("A whole feck of them came"). This alteration of the Middle English "effect" originated (and most often occurs) in Scots, and its original meaning was essentially "a majority." So something without "feck" is without value or effect—that is, "useless," or, alternatively, "irresponsible." In the past, "feckful" (meaning "efficient," "sturdy," or "powerful") made an occasional appearance. But in this case, the weak has outlived the strong: "feckless" is a commonly used English word, but "feckful" has fallen out of use.

Feck!

2002-06-06T21:46:00.000Z

The HTML master!

Gosh. So I changed the HTML on my blogtags - how clever is that? Yes, I know, some people can just do that but it took a while..

So do we like the italic post-tags, or is that too much italic? Tell me:)

2002-06-06T21:12:00.000Z

New Admirable Blog

As ever, this clinches it really because it has a cat on, but it's a nice site nevertheless, with lots of pictures. And the poor girl got cut off from the web by a nasty provider so I feel for her.

2002-06-06T20:53:00.000Z

bring out the bunting! it's…
crime watching week 50
june 8th - 14th
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.
television programmes
classics, "Must See TV"
None this week

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
None this week

criminal justice programmes
Sunday June 9th, 23.05, C5 Hard Bastards
When will it end? Kate Kray continues her tour of the coolest people in the world.
Director: Suzanne Foster Producer: Toni Williamson

Tuesday June 11th, 23.05, C5 Serial Killers

Tuesday June 11th, 21.30, BBC1 Kenyon Confronts
A look at horserace-fixing.
Producer: Gary Hone

Wednesday June 12th, 01.35, C4 Blue Murder

Thursday June 13th, 21.00, BBC2 The Hunt for Britain’s Paedophiles
Examining the trial of members of a major paedophile ring.
Producer: Ben Rumney

social issues documentaries
Tuesday June 11th, 21.00, C4 Cutting Edge
Inside a Hull comprehensive where the children run riot for the benefit of the cameras.
Producer: Monica Garney

real life documentaries/'docusoaps'.
None this week.

crime dramas/serials
Saturday June 8th and Sunday 8th, 21.05, BBC1 Fields of Gold
We don't usually include tales of international conspiracy but this drama, starring
Anna Friel, does involve some 'mysterious deaths'. It is co-written by Guardian
editor Alan Rusbridger and should be an exciting look into the fevered
imagination of someone whose job it is to untangle government and corporate
scandals.
Director: Bill Anderson Producer: Liza Marshall

Saturday June 8th, 21.00, C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
[Repeated Monday 10th, 23.40]
Related website: www.cbs.com/primetime/csi

Saturday June 8th, 21.55, C5 Law and Order
Parole issues with a serial rapist.
[Repeated Sunday 9th, 23.35]
Related website: www.studiosusa.com/laworder

Sunday June 9th, 19.05, C5 Martial Law

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 TJ Hooker

Monday June 10th and Wednesday 12th, 14.20, Tuesday 11th, 14.15, and Wednesday June 12th, 23.05, C4 Ally McBeal

Tuesday June 11th, 23.05, C4 Oz

Tuesday June 11th, 20.30, C4 A Touch of Frost

Wednesday June 12th, 21.00, BBC2 Murder
From the point of view of the case detective.
Director: Beeban Kidron Producer: Rebecca de Souza

Wednesday June 12th, 21.00, ITV The Law
Bit confusing this. If England win today against Nigeria, ITV will rerun the whole match and you won't see this new detective drama. If they lose, you'll feel sad but at least you'll get to see the lovely Joe McFadden starring as a detective.
Director: Juliet May Producer: May Gibson

Thursday June 13th, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Michael Ferguson Producer: Tom Cotter
Related website: www.thebill.com

Thursday June 13th, 21.00, ITV Bad Girls
Look out for Marion's star appearance in this final episode of the series: clad in leopard-skin and heels she will surely be regarded by her fellow prisoners as a mini-god as she chats on the payphone about alternative sentencing policies. But are the followers of her new cult (let's call it Payback) involved in a disastrous and explosive escape plan?
Director: Jim O' Hanlon Producer: Claire Phillips
Related website: www.badgirls.co.uk - with factsheets from the CCJS.

Friday June 14th, 14.40, BBC1 Diagnosis Murder

Friday June 14th, 20.30, BBC1 My Hero
Ardal O' Hanlon joins the neighbourhood watch.
Director: John Stroud

Other programmes of interest
Saturday June 8th, 19.15, BBC2 Omnibus: Who Killed Caravaggio?
Andrew Graham-Dixon investigates the mysterious death of one of Italy's most
famous painters in 1610.
Director: Roger Parsons

Saturday June 8th, 22.55, C5 Tyson: The Baddest Man on the Planet
The baddest? As in badder than Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein? In which case
surely we should be waging a War Against Tyson, instead of celebrating his life
with a documentary titled by a schoolgirl.

clare's personal choice of the week
Friday June 14th, 23.10, C4 Jackass
In the absence of any programmes celebrating 50 Crimewatchings, there can only be a recommendation to everyone to relax in front of this very silly programme, which is sometimes, but not always, hilarious, featuring as it does stunts by a feckless American called Johnny Knoxville and his friends. Quickly becoming a cult hit, it's worth watching if only so you can snigger with others over it round the 'water cooler'.

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during june
Little Mo is suffering in jail in Eastenders, and Kat has a desperate plan to set up Trevor - will it lead to tragedy? The community try to have Janine thrown out, which only leads to her attempting suicide and landing everyone in it. In Coronation Street Richard does a Brookie and buries his ex-spouse under the patio. In Brookside the police return to do a reconstruction of Imelda's last movements, to the horror of little Anthony.

Related websites:
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
None this week.

criminal justice programmes
Tuesday June 11th, 09.00 and 21.30, Radio 4 Unreliable Evidence
Producer: Bruce Hyman

Sunday June 9th, 20.30, and Friday 14th, 16.00, Radio 4
Law in Action

social issues documentaries
Tuesday June 11th, 09.30, Radio 4 Gappers
Tracking a volunteer at a Swansea hostel.
Producers: Rachael Pink and Sara Parker

crime dramas/serials
Friday June 14th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play: McLevy
Director: Patrick Raynor

other programmes of interest
Friday June 14th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenni Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends.
Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

crime writing in the TV guides
None this week, so go to the BBC's new Crime website: www.bbc.co.uk/crime, which is the new home of Crimewatch as well as having forums, news and links.
daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday june 8th
19.15 BBC2 Omnibus: Who Killed Caravaggio?
21.00 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
21.05 BBC1 Fields of Gold
21.55 C5 Law and Order
22.55 C5 Tyson: the Baddest Man on the
Planet

sunday june 9th
19.05 C5 Martial Law
20.30 BBCR4 Law in Action
21.05 BBC1 Fields of Gold
23.05 C5 Hard Bastards
23.35 C5 Law and Order

monday june 10th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.20 ITV Ally McBeal
23.40 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

tuesday june 11th
09.00 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
09.30 BBCR4 Gappers
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.15 C4 Ally McBeal
20.30 ITV A Touch of Frost
21.30 BBC1 Kenyon Confronts
21.30 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
23.05 C4 Oz
23.05 C5 Serial killers

wednesday june 12th
01.35 C4 Blue Murder
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
21.00 BBC2 Murder
21.00 ITV The Law (subject to football)
23.05 C4 Ally McBeal

thursday june 13th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
21.00 BBC2 The Hunt for Britain’s
Paedophiles
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 ITV Bad Girls

friday june 14th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.15 BBCR4 Afternoon Play McLevy
14.40 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
16.00 BBCR4 Law in Action
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
20.30 BBC1 My Hero
23.10 C4 Jackass

2002-06-06T20:48:00.000Z

Goddamit!

According to Sitepoint, AOL are to adopt Netscape as their browser-runner of choice.

Why? Oh Why?

So this website will look rubbish to 20% of Americans. Unlike many Britons, this does bother me.

2002-06-06T20:46:00.000Z

Bless

Check out the world's smallest website

Bet you could get smaller than that...

2002-06-05T20:51:00.000Z

What's Your Style? Find out @ She's Crafty

Oh yeah...

2002-06-05T20:48:00.000Z

Would you survive a horror movie? Find out @ She's Crafty

What?

2002-06-03T18:18:00.000Z

Excitement to be had looking at Thames Clippers - an extremely cheap, pretty fast way of commuting down the Thames. Will definitely be trying that.

2002-06-03T18:15:00.000Z

Hmm.. a whole new browser. This is AOL - and we think it's OK so far. It seems (I heard) to follow all the rules of Internet Explorer but fills your screen up with rather more stuff. At least you can format with blogger in it though.

Down with Netscape!
Down with Opera!!

(Only kidding!)

2002-05-31T16:49:00.000Z

crime watching
week 49: june 1st - 7th
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

television programmes
classics, "Must See TV"
None this week

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
None this week

criminal justice programmes
Saturday June 1st, 19.20, BBC2 Omnibus: Murder in the Forest
Writer Edna O' Brian looks at the true story behind her latest novel.
Producer: Nadia Haggar

Saturday June 1st, 22.55, C5 Murder Detectives

Sunday June 2nd, 23.15, C5 Hard Bastards
Director/Producer: Toni Williamson

Wednesday June 5th, 21.00, BBC1 Crimewatch UK
Contacts: Call 0500 600600 or e-mail cwuk@bbc.co.uk.
[updated at 22.35]

Thursday June 6th, 21.00, BBC2 The Hunt for Britain's
Paedophiles
A look at the work of Scotland Yard's Paedophile Unit. Many of the producers of this programme, made over two years, had to have counseling and while those who have seen this were admiring of it, it's not one to watch if you're feeling sensitive. It contains footage of child abuse and interviews with victims.
Producer: Bob Long

Thursday June 6th, 13.30, C5 Oprah
Oprah talks to the husband of Andrea Yates, serving a life sentence for the murder of their five children.

Friday June 7th, 23.30, ITV London's Scariest Mysteries

social issues documentaries
Tuesday June 4th, 21.00, C4 Cutting Edge
Inside a Hull comprehensive where the children run riot for the benefit of the cameras.
Producer: Monica Garney

real life documentaries/'docusoaps'.
Wednesday June 5th, 00.20, C4 Tourist Police

crime dramas/serials
Saturday June 1st, 09.45, BBC1 Perry Mason

Saturday June 1st, 11.15, BBC1 Quincy

Saturday June 1st, 21.00, C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
[Repeated Monday 3rd, 23.15]
Related website: www.cbs.com/primetime/csi

Saturday June 1st, 21.55, C5 Law and Order
Parole issues with a serial rapist.
[Repeated Sunday 2nd, 23.50]
Related website: www.studiosusa.com/laworder

Sunday June 2nd, 20.00, ITV Where the Heart is
Karen is attacked.
Director: Clive Arnold

Sunday June 2nd, 21.00, ITV Agatha Christie's Poirot
Stars David Suchet
Director: Tom Clegg Producer: Brian Eastman

Sunday June 2nd, 19.10, C5 Martial Law

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 TJ Hooker

Weekdays (except Monday), 14.20, and Wednesday June 5th, 23.05, C4 Ally McBeal

Tuesday June 4th, 23.10, C4 Oz

Wednesday June 5th, 14.10, BBC1 Diagnosis Murder

Wednesday June 5th, 21.00, BBC2 Murder
Director: Beeban Kidron Producer: Rebecca de Souza

Thursday June 6th, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Michael Ferguson Producer: Tom Cotter
Related website: www.thebill.com

Thursday June 6th, 21.00, ITV Bad Girls
Director: Diana Patrick Producer: Claire Phillips
Related website: www.badgirls.co.uk - with factsheets from the CCJS.

Other programmes of interest
None this week.

clare's personal choice of the week
Monday June 3rd, 19.30, BBC1 Party at the Palace
This week is all jubilee, football and Big Brother - nothing else, except that the programme makers seem to have come over all patriotic and there's an awful lot on the army too. So at least the Jubilee, as well as giving us all a holiday, includes a show that caters for all tastes; with a line-up that includes everyone from S Club 7 to Brian Wilson. So stop fighting over the remote control, sit the family down and enjoy the celebration of 50 years of pop music.
Director: Geoff Posner

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during june
Little Mo is suffering in jail in Eastenders, and the community try to have Janine thrown out. In Coronation Street Richard does a Brookie and buries his ex-spouse under the patio. But how long will it take for the police to come knocking?

Related websites:
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
None this week.

criminal justice programmes
Tuesday June 4th, 09.00 and 21.30, Radio 4 Unreliable Evidence
Clive Anderson discusses Lord Justice Auld's review of the criminal justice system with Lord Justice Judge and Peter Neyroud of the Thames Valley Police force.
Producers: Bruce Hyman and Barbara Loftus

social issues documentaries
None this week

crime dramas/serials
Wednesday June 6th, 23.00, Radio 4 La Crème de la Crime
Director: Adam Bromley

Friday June 7th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play: McLevy
Director: Patrick Raynor

Friday June 7th, 21.00, Radio 4 The Friday Play: The Calling
A murderer is on the loose.
Director: Stephen Wright

other programmes of interest
Friday June 7th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenni Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends.
Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

crime writing in the TV guides
There is an interesting article in the Radio Times debating the decision to screen footage of child abuse in The Hunt for Britain's Paedophiles.

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday june 1st
09.45 BBC1 Perry Mason
11.15 BBC1 Quincy
19.20 BBC2 Omnibus
21.00 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
21.55 C5 Law and Order
22.55 C5 Murder Detectives

sunday june 2nd
19.10 C5 Martial Law
20.00 ITV Where the Heart Is
21.00 ITV Agatha Christie's Poirot
23.15 C5 Hard Bastards
23.50 C5 Law and Order

monday june 3rd - jubilee holiday!
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
19.30 BBC1 Party at the Palace
23.15 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

tuesday june 4th - another jubilee holiday!!
09.00 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
21.30 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence ®
21.00 C4 Cutting Edge
23.10 C4 Oz

wednesday june 5th
00.20 C4 Tourist Police
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
21.00 BBC1 Crimewatch UK
21.00 BBC2 Murder
22.35 BBC1 Crimewatch UK Update
23.00 BBCR4 Crème de la Crime
23.05 C4 Ally McBeal

thursday june 6th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
13.30 C5 Oprah
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 ITV Bad Girls
21.00 BBC2 The Hunt for Britain's
Paedophiles

friday june 7th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.15 BBCR4 McLevy
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
21.00 BBCR4 The Calling
23.30 ITV London's Scariest Mysteries

2002-05-30T21:15:00.000Z

WRITERS WANTED!

Writers needed for student lifestyle website - SLG

Should preferably be UK students, but interesting feature ideas from anyone welcomed. No money, but a chance to expose yourself to a wide and lovely audience!

Write to Clare for more info.

Now, where else can I post this?

2002-05-29T20:46:00.000Z

Below is a draft article; might polish it up and offer it to someone.. but it's too tiring now :(

Comments welcome!

2002-05-29T20:44:00.000Z

The current system of student funding is unequal, and it will remain unequal while the biggest burden of debt is placed on the shoulders of the poorest. The Select Committee for Student Funding called for a system that was simple. The simplest, and most equitable, solution is Graduate Tax.

The graduate tax would be payable by all those with above average earnings for the rest of their working life, as a payback for the privilege of higher education.

In one possible system, all universities would submit a figure for living based on average rents and living costs for their vicinity. Upon receiving an offer for university, a prospective student would be entitled to receive this amount. They would be expected to be responsible for this amount of money and if they wished to top it up with further loans, credit cards or jobs this would be their choice. This would dispense with the need for hardship loans – only a tiny proportion of students actually in hardship ever get much further than balking at the complex, embarrassing and unreliable process: it is quicker and easier to apply for a credit card.

There would be no means tested element to student funding, for fees or living expenses. Why should there be? Parents are not expected to subsidise their eighteen year old child in jail or their twenty-two year old on the dole. The idea that rich parents should pay for Higher Education is a middle class assumption based on the idea that most students are rich: if the student population was truly equal there would be few fee payers anyway. Apart from this, the costs involved in recouping fees are vast – this system would dispense with the whole process of collecting fees from students or LEAs. It should not be up to the state to make generalized assumptions about a parent’s ability or desire to contribute to their child’s education; these assumptions have very frequently been proved wrong in the last three years.

So all students would be on a level playing field throughout their degree. Because we can no longer simply get a degree to be employable, we have to get experience. And John who has to work in a factory to make ends meet will not have the same opportunities in his chosen field after he graduates than Petunia whose father can get her an unpaid job in PR for the summer. While Margaret Hodge ‘sees nothing wrong’ with students working part time during their degrees, class divisions will perpetuate unless people are allowed to do their degrees in the same way.

And after the degree there will be no burden of debt. This once more gives everyone the same choice, because currently a student living at home and going to the University of Keele will have vastly less debt than a student who goes to London for their Higher Education. This is likely to limit many people’s choices, because society still puts people under pressure to be under as little debt as possible, unless it is for a mortgage. The payback will be through graduate tax, which will raise more funds than simply paying for one’s own tuition and survival. Money can be borrowed by the government, as outlined in the Barr plan, but will be paid by the graduate tax-paying population as a whole rather than the individual. Because once again, it will be those from lower income families who will borrow more and be paying back their debt for longer. Debt does put people off. Try giving your average sixteen year old the choice between a £30,000 debt or a tax once they are earning and see which makes them more likely to want to train to be a doctor.

People are always banging on to us about the investment we are making when we choose to go to university. Which is true. But what about what we give back? Apart from what universities and students contribute to the wealth, technology and workforce of the country, graduates are far less likely to drain the state in almost every way: look into jails, hospitals and dole offices and you will not find them full of graduates. Despite this we put more into the treasury’s kitty than most groups because, as we are occasionally told, we will earn more.

So why should we suffer as graduates? Why should the state be so very keen to put us at the bottom of the priority list. Gordon Brown spent much of the last budget speech outlining rights for minimum incomes for most groups, but students were not even mentioned. We don’t deserve any help at all because, as we have been told on various occasions by our own Minister, we will spend it all on beer. The state should be prepared to invest in us now, because we will pay it back. Call it a loan, call it graduate tax, I don’t care. Just don’t keep perpetuating the inequalities in society through this bizarre and complex system that only benefits the very richest.

One more point should be addressed. 50% of students should not go to university just for the sake of it. At the moment there are universities making a lucrative business out of stuffing their courses, oversubscribing them, because they get more money per head for each student they take from a lower income postcode. Many students do not see the extra support that this is supposed to be for. The many students that drop out because of poverty dilute those who drop out because they are on a worthless or badly taught degree. The system outlined above would eliminate drop-out rates because of hardship (because, believe it or not, we are intelligent, and thus largely capable of managing a reasonable amount of money without newting it away on beer) and would focus attention on poor colleges. Universities would then be penalized for drop out students and because college’s income would come from graduate tax they would be more obliged to meet the needs of students and ensure that they stay on. With greater funding universities could expand properly and provide quality education for 50%. At the moment many colleges are more like cattle markets and it simply isn’t fair because these are the same colleges that are presented as the main options to those from non-traditional backgrounds.

Everybody who wants it should be entitled to quality higher education and having had it they should be obliged to pay once they benefit from it. This is an equal system that benefits everyone, including the state.

Finally a plea. Recognise the problems of student funding without dismissing it as ‘anecdotal’ or a lark at the tax payers’ expense. Student hardship is very real and you only need to do simple sums to see why. We are not getting enough money to survive on. If a minister gets £118,000 and over 25s are considered poverty stricken if they earn less than £11,000, why are students expected to survive on between £2000 and £5000? Obviously, we cannot. Don’t let this experiment carry on any longer and stop treating students like worthless mutes. Otherwise we students might do something really scary at the next election. We might all go out and vote, and then where will you be, Mrs Hodge?

2002-05-29T20:43:00.000Z

Publishing temporarily unavailable - upgrade to Blogger Pro

I can't afford to blog...

2002-05-29T20:37:00.000Z

Cat's allergy intolerance

From The Daily Mail (eurgh), today, and a very sad double page spread advertising unwanted animals. But this bit is funny:

"Lucky, eight... she was tormented by her owner's other cats because she had a food allergy"

How did they know?

2002-05-29T10:16:00.000Z

BYERS RESIGNED!!

2002-05-29T10:12:00.000Z

Review
Town Without Pity
by Don Hale

Town Without Pity is a gripping book charting the six year campaign by Don Hale to overturn Britain’s worst miscarriage of justice case: that of Stephen Downing, jailed for 27 years for the murder of Wendy Sewell.

I first read about Stephen Downing in a magazine feature, perhaps three years ago. I distinctly remember the sadness I felt at this story of a young, naïve boy who was taken from the life he knew in Derbyshire into incarceration for a time that would eclipse his lifetime outside. I remember hoping against hope that the case would be resolved, but feeling depressingly pessimistic. By January 2002 I had become so drawn into this story that I went along to the court to see the murder verdict of 1973 overturned. And as hundreds of others had done, I was able to meet newspaper editor Don Hale and express to him my admiration for the bravery and commitment that he had shown in the dangerous and long-winded pursuit of justice.

This book goes through the whole tale, from the day when Stephen’s parents – who are huge heroes in this story – came to see Don in the hope that he might help free their son to that final day in the Court of Appeal.

If at times the narrative becomes a little like a detective story of the thirties, the details are meticulous and the story fascinating. Chillingly, the most likely murderers are still at large in Derbyshire and it is revealed that they may be linked to other murders, details with they were prepared to go to violent lengths to keep quiet.

At the centre of the story is Stephen Downing himself, and the tragedy of the years he has lost is only slightly tempered by his own gentle temperament and willingness to get on with his life. Many of the letters he wrote are printed in the book and one is left with a hope that his dreams and ambitions can still be fulfilled.

The most staggering element of the book is the sheer length of time that is covers. The pieces of the case seem to be together almost immediately, and indeed anyone could see that the conviction was questionable in 1973. But the mechanics of the state to block any evidence that it might have come to the wrong decision constantly hindered attempts to free Stephen. Another miscarriage of justice victim, Paddy Hill, frequently paraphrases the words of a QC involved in his case: “It is better that an innocent person stays in jail than the courts be brought into disrepute”. Nobody could read Town Without Pity without coming to damning conclusions about the state’s horrific tendency to treat people as insignificant parts of a machine when it suits them.

But the book ends with victory and Don quite rightly expresses his pride in what he achieved. Very few journalists have the patience to see a story through way beyond normal deadlines. The happy conclusion of this story was the result of years of work and Don has my admiration, as well as that of every journalist or aspiring journalist.

So should you buy this book? Certainly. It is one of the most exciting true stories you will read and will certainly leave you happy, sad, angry and inspired. Congratulations, Don!

2002-05-26T20:11:00.000Z

Phew.. enough anger for one evening.

Time now to write to my lovely Hollywood friend Rachel Who Never Writes, but Who Did.

Yay. :)

2002-05-26T20:09:00.000Z

STOP IT Dreamweaver, stop it.

Hateful, slow, crappy programme.

2002-05-26T20:08:00.000Z

Ick ick

Too many rightwingers updating their sites at the moment. You along thinking they're perfectly normal or sometimes just with a perverse curiosity cos it's only the rightwingers who self-identify quite so much in their titles, as if it's something to be proud of, and they're all the same.

Ick ick.

2002-05-25T21:42:00.000Z

Great - but what's the point??

Google's 'test things before they are ready' has a set predictor here

Quite clever on my block of animals (a simple test) except for coffee... hmm.

2002-05-25T18:55:00.000Z

Edinburgh Student folds

Very sad... but they plan to be back up and running by next term, so in that respect most student papers fold after the second term. What is pretty staggering is that as a 'financially independent' paper they managed to run up five figure debts.

That's not very financially independent is it?

2002-05-25T18:53:00.000Z

Town without Pity by Don Hale

Top book!!! Finished reading it now and plan to write a full review very soon....

2002-05-25T18:51:00.000Z

The campaign for one browser

Well.. experiments have been made with Opera and it has problems too... it gives you, for free! an extra box for your adverts. Not keen...

2002-05-25T18:49:00.000Z

Sitemeter Surfing

Good grief, misspelling searcher's still at it

It's spelt Marie Claire

2002-05-25T18:47:00.000Z

Pi magazine, now my old magazine :( have come up with a great crop of articles when they should have been revising - worth having a look at! *glows with pride*

2002-05-25T18:40:00.000Z

Poor neglected Blog

Time for some much needed catch-up.

First, the Guardian, being lovely, reported on Hodgewatch yesterday, here - it was top story yesterday but sadly had little impact on signing figures, which creep through the 500s. However, we have enough for a pretty strong case against the Evil Minister. Go see!

2002-05-24T08:49:00.000Z

crime watching
week 48: may 25th – 31st
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

television programmes
classics, "Must See TV"
Sunday May 26th, 01.10, C4 Birdman of Alcatraz
True story about coping with life in the notorious jail. Burt Lancaster plays a killer
in solitary confinement who finds solace through the company of sparrows.
Director: John Frankenheimer.

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
None this week

criminal justice programmes
Saturday May 25th, 22.55, C5 Murder Detectives

Sunday May 26th, 21.00, BBC2 Hooligans
The series finishes with a look at foreign hooligans.
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/hooligans

Sunday May 26th, 22.35, C5 Hard Bastards
Director/Producer: Toni Williamson

Tuesday May 28th, 03.30, ITV Judge Judy

Tuesday May 28th, 23.15, C5 Serial Killers

Friday May 31st, 24.45, ITV The London Programme
How ritual killing is a possibility in the case of a boy found in the Thames.

social issues documentaries
Sunday 26th May, 18.15, ITV NYLON
Looks at the relationship between New York and London (see? Clever title!) and the cycle of poverty in the two cities.

Thursday May 30th, 21.00, C4 Cutting Edge
A somewhat unwise experiment in which a group of 11 and 12 year old boys are put into a house on their own to terrorise and traumatize each other, while psychologists and parents look on to make predictable comments. Amusingly the description says they were “given food and drink and training on how to prepare it”.
Director: Kim Flitcroft

real life documentaries/'docusoaps'.
Wednesday May 29th, 00.15, C4 Tourist Police

crime dramas/serials
Saturday May 25th, 21.00, C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
[Repeated Monday 27th, 23.35]
Related website: www.cbs.com/primetime/csi

Saturday May 25th, 21.55, C5 Law and Order
[Repeated Sunday 26th, 23.10]
Related website: www.studiosusa.com/laworder

Sunday 26th May, 15.45, ITV Nash Bridges

Sunday May 26th, 19.10, C5 Martial Law

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 TJ Hooker

Weekdays, 14.10, BBC1 Diagnosis Murder

Weekdays (except Fri), 14.10, ITV Heartbeat

Weekdays, 14.20, and Thursday 30th May, 00.10, C4 Ally McBeal

Weekdays, 14.55, BBC1 The Bench
You can’t move for crime programmes around the 2pm mark now (do people get a particular lust for blood after lunch? Is murder the new siesta?) and this is the latest to join the stable. Sadly replacing Doctors, which was great, but so is this. Set in a Welsh magistrates’ court, now - you might not think much goes on in Wales, but this is bound to show the true depths of depravity and car-parking offences in Anne Robinson’s favourite colony.

Tuesday May 28th, 21.00, BBC1 Murder in Mind

Tuesday May 28th, 23.05, C4 Oz
‘Gritty’ prison drama set in America.

Wednesday May 29th, 15.45, C5 Hart to Hart: Dill Death do Us Hart
Hart gets right to the hart of the matter with more harty puns. It’s a hart life, being a
detective. Har har.

Wednesday May 29th, 21.00, BBC2 Murder
Three part drama starring Julie Walters as a mother whose son is brutally murdered the day after his 21st birthday. It looks at the story from three angles, beginning with a tabloid journalist.
Director: Beeban Kidron Producer: Rebecca de Souza

Thursday May 30th, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Michael Ferguson Producer: Tom Cotter
Related website: www.thebill.com

Thursday May 30th, 21.00, ITV Bad Girls
Roisin goes into solitary confinement.
Director: Diana Patrick Producer: Claire Phillips
Related website: www.badgirls.co.uk - with factsheets from the CCJS.

Thursday May 30th, 21.00, C5 A Mind to Kill

Thursday May 30th, 22.00, BBC2 Porridge
Director/Producer: Sydney Lotterby

Friday May 31st, 20.30, ITV Inspector Morse
Director: Adrian Shergold Producer: David Lascelles

Other programmes of interest
None this week.

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during may
Little Mo returns to the dock in Eastenders to find out her sentence. What will she get for the attempted murder of Trevor? All the magazines are hinting that it won’t be a happy ending… so prepare for a mass of letters flooding into the BBC from concerned well-wishers. Meanwhile, Janine finally finds herself in a jail cell after being caught with a customer.
In Brookside, Ron is still having problems coping with life outside jail and in Coronation Street Richard does a Brookie and buries his ex-spouse under the patio. But how long will it take for the police to come knocking?
And in Emmerdale, Scott continues to run his own car-crime empire.

Related websites:
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
None this week.

criminal justice programmes
Tuesday May 28th, 09.00, Radio 4 Unreliable Evidence
Producers: Bruce Hyman and Barbara Loftus

social issues documentaries
None this week

crime dramas/serials
Monday May 27th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play: The Raft
A prisoner contemplates suicide in this recommended drama.
Director: Peter Leslie Wild

Wednesday May 29th, 23.00, Radio 4 La Crème de la Crime
Featuring Punt and Dennis’s creation: the author of A Nice Sit Down with Some Horrific Murders. Very Radio 4.
Director: Adam Bromley

Friday May 31st, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play: McLevy
Director: Patrick Raynor

other programmes of interest
Friday May 31st, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenni Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends.
Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

crime writing in the TV guides
8,500 people have written to Little Mo in jail – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/trial/letters.shtml.

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday may 25th
21.00 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
21.55 C5 Law and Order
22.55 C5 Murder Detectives

sunday may 26th
01.10 ITV Birdman of Alcatraz
15.45 ITV Nash Bridges
18.15 ITV NYLON
19.10 C5 Martial Law
21.00 BBC2 Hooligans
22.35 C5 Hard Bastards
23.10 C5 Law and Order

monday may 27th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.15 BBCR4 The Raft
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
14.55 BBC1 The Bench
23.35 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

tuesday may 28th
03.30 ITV Judge Judy
09.00 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
14.55 BBC1 The Bench
21.00 BBC1 Murder in Mind
23.05 C4 Oz
23.15 C5 Serial Killers

wednesday may 29th
00.15 C4 Tourist Police
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
14.55 BBC1 The Bench
15.45 C5 Til Death do us Hart
21.00 BBC2 Murder
23.00 BBCR4 Crème de la Crime

thursday may 30th
00.10 C4 Ally McBeal
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
14.10 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
14.55 BBC1 The Bench
22.00 BBC2 Porridge
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 ITV Bad Girls
21.00 C4 Cutting Edge
21.00 C5 A Mind to Kill

friday may 24th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.15 BBCR4 McLevy
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
14.40 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
14.55 BBC1 The Bench
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
20.30 ITV Inspector Morse
23.45 ITV The London Programme

2002-05-23T09:37:00.000Z

Poor neglected blog

:(

2002-05-21T09:28:00.000Z

An interesting article about Blogs.

2002-05-17T09:27:00.000Z

Hodge Listens

Or does she? 119 people thought not last night on Hodgewatch!!

2002-05-17T09:23:00.000Z

crime watching
week 47: may 18th to 24th
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

television programmes
classics, "Must See TV"

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
Tuesday May 21st and Wednesday 22nd, 21.00, BBC2
The Experiment
Was this a useful look at the effects of prison? Some might say this Big Brother behind bars saw the participants too concerned with making an affect to be a true picture, though teachers and parents with a group of unruly children might learn a lot from the failed tactics of the guards. In these final two episodes, the inmates escape but are then at a loss at what to do with their freedom.
Producer: Kuldip Dhadda

criminal justice programmes
Saturday May 18th, 22.55, C5 Murder Detectives

Sunday May 19th, 21.00, BBC2 Hooligans
Links between football hooligans and race rioters.
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/hooligans

Sunday May 19th, 22.55, C5 Hard Bastards
The endless remorse and guilt continues.
Director: Suzanne Foster Producer: Toni Williamson

Tuesday May 21st, 21.00, ITV Real Crime
Examining the double jeopardy rule which prevents a killer from being re-tried.
Producer: Jane Beacon

Tuesday May 21st, 20.00, C5 Post Mortem

Tuesday May 21st, 20.30, C5 Arrest and Trial

Wednesday May 22nd, 23.20, BBC2 Life Etc
Rosie Boycott talks to Ted Francis, who risked jail by giving Jeffrey Archer an alibi.

Thursday May 23rd, 21.50, BBC2 Crime Kids
Finishing this series with a look at the gang convicted of rape which included a 17 year old girl.
Director: Magnus Temple

social issues documentaries
None this week

real life documentaries/'docusoaps'.
Tuesday May 21st, 23.40, C4 Tourist Police
Spending time in a Thailand jail.

crime dramas/serials
Saturday May 18th, 17.15, BBC2 Malcolm in the Middle
Repeat: Lois is robbed.
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/cult/malcolm

Saturday May 18th, 21.00, C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
[Repeated Monday 20th, 23.50]
Related website: www.cbs.com/primetime/csi

Saturday May 18th, 21.55, C5 Law and Order
[Repeated Sunday 19th, 23.30]
Related website: www.studiosusa.com/laworder

Sunday May 19th, 19.10, C5 Martial Law

Weekdays (except Fri), 14.10, ITV Heartbeat

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 TJ Hooker

Monday May 20th, 21.00, ITV Helen West
The legal drama finishes.
Director: Myles Connell Producer: Alan Wright

Weekdays (except Monday), 14.20 and Wednesday May 22nd, 23.35, C4
Ally McBeal
The first series is now being shown on weekday afternoons.

Thursday May 23rd, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Michael Ferguson Producer: Tom Cotter
Related website: www.thebill.com

Thursday May 23rd, 21.00, ITV Bad Girls
Director: Diana Patrick Producer: Claire Phillips
Related website: www.badgirls.co.uk - with factsheets from the CCJS.

Friday May 24th, 20.30, ITV Inspector Morse
Director: Adrian Shergold Producer: David Lascelles

Other programmes of interest
None this week.

clare's personal choice of the week
Monday May 20th, 21.00, BBC1 Spooks
The week has been given over to the Chelsea Flower Show, the return of Big Brother and the Eurovision Song Contest, which is all very well. But there are also some quite good dramas about at the moment, and Spooks is one of them. A tense look at the personal and professional lives of a group of MI5 spies who just happen to be young and very attractive. In this episode they chase the instigators of race riots.
Director: Bharat Nalluri
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/spooks

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during may
Little Mo returns to the dock in Eastenders to find out her sentence. What will she get for the attempted murder of Trevor? All the magazines are hinting that it won’t be a happy ending… so prepare for a mass of letters flooding into the BBC from concerned well-wishers.
In Brookside, Ron is still having problems coping with life outside jail and in Coronation Street Richard does a Brookie and buries his ex-spouse under the patio. But how long will it take for the police to come knocking?
And in Emmerdale, Scott continues to run his own car-crime empire.

Related websites:
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
None this week.

criminal justice programmes
Tuesday May 21st, 09.00 and 21.30, Radio 4 Unreliable Evidence
Producers: Bruce Hyman and Barbara Loftus

social issues documentaries
None this week

crime dramas/serials
Wednesday May 22nd, 23.00, Radio 4 La Crème de la Crime
Director: Adam Bromley

Friday May 24th, 14.15, Radio 4 Afternoon Play: McLevy
Detectives follow a cat burglar.

other programmes of interest
Friday May 24th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenni Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends.
Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

crime writing in the TV guides
None this week

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday may 18th
17.15 BBC2 Malcolm in the Middle
21.00 BBC2 Dickens
21.00 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
21.55 C5 Law and Order
22.55 C5 Murder Detectives

sunday may 19th
19.10 C5 Martial Law
21.00 BBC2 Hooligans
22.55 C5 Hard Bastards
23.30 C5 Law and Order

monday may 20th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
21.00 BBC1 Spooks
21.00 ITV Helen West
23.50 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
tuesday may 21st
09.00 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 C5 Post Mortem
20.30 C5 Arrest and Trial
21.00 BBC2 The Experiment
21.00 ITV Real Crime
21.30 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
23.40 C4 Tourist Police

wednesday may 22nd
00.05 C5 La Femme Nikita
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
21.00 BBC2 The Experiment
23.35 C4 Ally McBeal
23.00 BBCR4 Crème de la Crime
23.20 BBC2 Life Etc

thursday may 23rd
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 ITV Bad Girls
21.50 BBC2 Crime Kids

friday may 24th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.15 BBCR4 McLevy
14.20 C4 Ally McBeal
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
20.30 ITV Inspector Morse

2002-05-17T09:19:00.000Z

Is Byers to finally be toppled by the Euro?

Surely there are ten million better reasons. Good grief.

2002-05-15T09:52:00.000Z

Win $5000!

So they say, though there's a long registration thing so I don't know if I can be be bothered just yet. Someone else may like to win though :)

2002-05-14T20:00:00.000Z

Hodgewatching

Hodge Watch has had over 50 signatures!!!

2002-05-13T13:00:00.000Z

When will Stephen Byers resign?

2002-05-12T19:44:00.000Z

Did you know there is a colony of scorpians living in Britain?

Well, they're about to be wiped out.

2002-05-12T19:40:00.000Z

When will Stephen Byers resign?

2002-05-12T19:03:00.000Z

Aw, ever in search of nice cat pictures - here's some

2002-05-11T17:01:00.000Z

Hodgewatching

London Student's campaign Hodgewatch launched this week, with the aim of drawing attention to the lack of attention that Higher Education Minister Margaret Hodge pays to those in Higher Education.

If you are a UK student please visit the site and make your voice heard! It is at http://www.hodgewatch.co.uk, so tell everyone you know as well.

These are the stats on it:
Since launching on May 10th the petition has had 16 signatures.
6 from University College London
5 from Essex University
2 from Greenwich University
1 from Bath University
1 from Imperial College
1 from London University (unspecified)

Yeh.. do you see how I adopted neutral e-mail forward voice for the above (before the stats)? This is so you can Tell A Friend with clever use of copy and pasting!

2002-05-11T16:49:00.000Z

Sitemeter Surfing

100 visitors this week!!

Clare's Lair has finally broken through the barrier.

Thank you to everyone who has visited - God bless you all :)

2002-05-10T18:50:00.000Z

Another train derailment

Six dead so far.

Horrific.

2002-05-10T09:40:00.000Z

Hehe, a nice e-mail today from William Altreuter. Last night while unable to blog I mentioned it on the Blogger discussion board: it's headed 'Occasional notes on a glamor professional' and I was confused to see that it was then all about law. Y'see here in England (I think) glamor professional would be a euphemism for topless model or anything else that I'm not going to write here for fear of The Wrong Sort of People being referred here, but mainly topless model. It seems that in America though, glamor professional should actually be taken to say glamorous professional.

William said 'Even in the US most people recognise I'm being ironic'.

Poor Americans, everyone thinks you don't understand irony cos you're too stupid or whatever and you know what? It gives you a great advantage because it means everybody around you who's not American doesn't get your irony or sarcasm or whatever. My lovely friend Rachel who never writes used to have great fun with this during her year in London; nobody ever understood she was taking the piss out of them and they'd carry on with their patronising stereotypical remarks about how all Americans are stupid and ridiculous. We're so rude to you, I don't know why you put up with it. It's not as if we don't have people as stupid as George Bush here and yet we think we're so damn clever. You might have bizarre beauty pageants but we have worm-charming contests and people who don't know why their toaster is broadcasting BBC World Service even though they live next to a transmitter.

It is just envy of course, we used to own you and now you've wandered off and become the most powerful country in the world and never, ever wish you were a colony again. Funny that.

But that wasn't my problem with William's site, I was just being thick and thought I might have clicked on the Sort of Site That Gets You Suspended from College. Luckily his site is merely a look at the most glamorous profession of them all, Law!

Go there now!

2002-05-10T09:24:00.000Z

Sorry for the lack of formatting down on the listings this week, but it's too much hasle too edit them only to have the browser shut down on me. Damn you cookies and Netscape!!

I wonder how much I can slag off Netscape without being sued? Obviously none of the views expressed in this Lair are the views of Blogger, Frank the Cat, or indeed Me.

2002-05-10T09:21:00.000Z

crime watching
week 46: may 11th to 17th
Written for Payback by Clare-Marie White.
NB Schedules may be subject to change so it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

television programmes
classics, "Must See TV"
Tuesday May 14th and Wednesday 15th, 21.00, BBC2 The Experiment
Sensationalism meets science in this four part fly-on-the-wall experiment which replicates the Stanford Prison Experiment (see below) and studies the effects of imprisonment and power. It may be a little too Machiavellian to achieve a true picture of what happens when ordinary people go to jail but should be interesting nonetheless.

programmes worth watching out for, which don't make it to MSTV status
Saturday May 11th, 22.00, BBC2 The Stanford Prison Experiment
Previewing The Experiment, this documentary looks at the original
prison experiment which ended in disaster after five days. The psychologist
leading the experiment warned other scientists never to try it again…
Director: Kim Duke

Thursday May 16th, 21.50, BBC2 Crime Kids
This follows what happened to two tearaways, 'Balaclava Boy' and 'Spider Boy' who were focused upon in the press ten years ago. While Gareth Brogden's story ended when he died in police custody at the age of eighteen, Tom Laws has spent half his life in jail. The film will follow him as he is released, goes through the probation system, attempts to hold down a job and soon goes on the run. It should be a very useful look at how the system works with young, persistent offenders.
Director: Kirsty Cunningham

criminal justice programmes
Saturday May 11th, 22.55, C5 Murder Detectives
DNA tests help investigators.

Sunday May 12th, 21.00, BBC2 Hooligans
Undercover investigation into English football violence.
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/hooligans

Sunday May 12th, 22.45, C5 Hard Bastards
Director: Suzanne Foster Producer: Toni Williamson

Tuesday May 14th, 21.00, ITV Real Crime
Producer: Jane Beacon

Tuesday May 14th, 20.00, C5 Post Mortem

Tuesday May 14th, 20.30, C5 Arrest and Trial

Tuesday May 14th, 23.35, C5 World's Nastiest Neighbours
How throwing privet into each other's gardens can lead to mayhem. Let
this useful and essential documentary be a warning to all of you who like to
put up obscene edifices in your backyard.

Wednesday May 15th, 21.00, BBC1 Crimewatch UK
Contact: 0500 600600 or cwuk@bbc.co.uk
Director: Stuart McDonald
[Updated at 22.35]

Thursday May 16th, 21.00, BBC1 Most Wanted - a Shops, Robbers and Videotape Special
There's no reason why calling this programme 'special' should make
anyone more likely to watch it, as it's still the same self-righteous and pointless
ranting over fuzzy videotapes.

Thursday May 16th, 21.00, BBC2 Horizon
Another chance to see that there is new evidence regarding the case of James Hanratty.

social issues documentaries
Sunday May 12th, 20.00, BBC2 Raised by the State
Prince's Trust board member David Akinsanya relates the difficult events of his life and reflects on whether the care system has changed since he was in it.

real life documentaries/'docusoaps'.
Tuesday May 14th, 23.40, C4 Tourist Police

crime dramas/serials
Saturday May 11th, 21.00, C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
[Repeated Monday 13th, 23.25]
Related website: www.cbs.com/primetime/csi

Saturday May 11th, 21.55, C5 Law and Order
[Repeated Sunday 12th, 23.15]
Related website: www.studiosusa.com/laworder

Saturday May 11th, 23.55, C5 Making the Cut

Sunday May 12th, 19.10, C5 Martial Law

Weekdays, 14.40, BBC1 Diagnosis Murder

Weekdays (except Fri), 14.10, ITV Heartbeat

Weekdays, 11.00, C5 TJ Hooker

Monday May 13th, 20.35, BBC2 Malcolm in the Middle
Lois is robbed.
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/cult/malcolm

Monday May 13th, 21.00, ITV Helen West

Tuesday May 14th, 20.30, ITV Barbara
Barbara joins a neighbourhood watch scheme.

Wednesday May 15th, 00.35, C5 La Femme Nikita

Wednesday May 15th, 21.00, C4 ER
There is an argument over a killer who wants to die on the operating table rather than the executioners chair.

Wednesday May 15th, 23.35, C4 Ally McBeal
Thursday May 16th, 20.00, ITV The Bill
Director: Graeme Harper Producer: Baz Taylor
Related website: www.thebill.com

Thursday May 16th, 21.00, ITV Bad Girls
Director: David Holroyd Producer: Claire Phillips
Related website: www.badgirls.co.uk - with factsheets from the CCJS.

Friday May 17th, 20.30, ITV Inspector Morse
Director: Adrian Shergold Producer: David Lascelles

Other programmes of interest
None this week.

clare's personal choice of the week
Saturday May 11th, 21.00, BBC1 Dickens
Peter Ackroyd, an excellent writer, presents this part-drama, part-documentary about the life of Dickens.
Director/Producer: Chris Granlaud
Related website: www.bbc.co.uk/dickens

criminal justice story lines in the main soaps during april/may
The focus of Eastenders has moved away from Little Mo and onto prostitution and baby-snatching.
In Brookside, Ron is having problems coping with life outside jail and in Emmerdale, Marc has been released from the Young Offenders Unit at a cost.

Related websites:
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
www.corrie.net
www.brookside.com
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers

radio programmes
must hear radio
None this week.

criminal justice programmes
Tuesday May 14th, 09.00 and 21.30, Radio 4 Unreliable Evidence
Producers: Bruce Hyman and Barbara Loftus

social issues documentaries
None this week

crime dramas/serials
Wednesday May 15th, 23.00, Radio 4 La Crème de la Crime
The crime comedy returns for a new series.

other programmes of interest
Friday May 17th, 16.30, Radio 4 The Message
Jenni Murray and guests engage in conversation about current media trends.
Producer: Cecile Wright
Related website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/themessage.

Friday May 17th, 19.15, Radio 4 Front Row
Looking at a new film about the murders of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur.

crime writing in the TV guides
There is a short feature on The Experiment in the Radio Times.

daily listings
NB As schedules may be subject to change, it's worth checking a daily paper or www.radiotimes.com for up-to-date listings.

saturday may 11th
21.00 BBC2 Dickens
22.00 BBC2 The Stanford Prison Experiment
21.00 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
21.55 C5 Law and Order
22.55 C5 Murder Detectives
23.55 C5 Making the Cut

sunday may 12th
20.00 BBC2 Raised by the State
21.00 BBC2 Hooligans
19.10 C5 Martial Law
22.45 C5 Hard Bastards
23.15 C5 Law and Order

monday may 13th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.40 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
20.35 BBC2 Malcolm in the Middle
21.00 ITV Helen West
23.25 C5 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

tuesday may 14th
09.00 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.40 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
20.00 C5 Post Mortem
20.30 C5 Arrest and Trial
20.30 ITV Barbara
21.00 BBC2 The Experiment
21.00 ITV Real Crime
21.30 BBCR4 Unreliable Evidence
23.40 C4 Tourist Police
23.35 C5 World's Nastiest Neighbours

wednesday may 15th
00.35 C5 La Femme Nikita
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.40 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
21.00 BBC1 Crimewatch UK
21.00 BBC2 The Experiment
21.00 C4 ER
22.35 BBC1 Crimewatch UK
23.00 BBCR4 Crème de la Crime
23.35 C4 Ally McBeal

thursday may 16th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.10 ITV Heartbeat
14.40 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
20.00 ITV The Bill
21.00 BBC1 Most Wanted
21.00 BBC2 Horizon
21.00 ITV Bad Girls
21.50 BBC2 Crime Kids

friday may 17th
11.00 C5 TJ Hooker
14.40 BBC1 Diagnosis Murder
16.30 BBCR4 The Message
19.15 BBCR4 Front Row
20.30 ITV Inspector Morse

2002-05-10T09:20:00.000Z

Toasters speak Russian

Villagers in Dorset are confused by their electrical appliances talking to them in a variety of tongues.

2002-05-10T09:07:00.000Z

Phew

Was anyone on Blogger last night finding they couldn't publish? It was giving out messages about being full. And there were so many important things to be said, now so forgotten...

2002-05-09T16:50:00.000Z

FREEEEDOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2002-05-08T16:40:00.000Z

Not panicking anymore

Do you know how hard revising is?? And so boring?

2002-05-08T15:19:00.000Z

How sad

As anyone who lives in Britain or has ever visited Britain will know, we don't DO coffee. But it seemed as if we were finally getting somewhere and I was pretty much accustomed to buying Latte instead of coffee because you know it's going to be better than the horrid filter stuff (except in Borders on Charing Cross road where they do special filtered coffee), even if it was a tad more expensive.

But then it all goes wrong. I'm currently drinking the nastiest sourest latte in the world. And it was supposed to cheer me up before facing The Library. And now I have no faith in latte anymore.