Movies Reviews

Banning women to beat calories

Actondco — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:50:36 +0000

Cledwyn Rowles remembers his "lowest ebb".

He knew he weighed over 30 stone, but did not know the exact figure.

Unable to find a set of scales which could accommodate him, Mr Rowles paid a visit to his local quarry.

An employee took pity on him, and allowed Mr Rowles to check his weight by standing on the weighbridge normally used by lorries.

He says: "It was then that I decided to take action and joined a group of men in a similar situation to myself."

Mr Rowles is among a small band of men who meet in a Leicester church hall every Tuesday.

They call themselves "The Big Blokes' Club", and feel that the all-male environment allows them to discuss issues freely.

Mr Rowles believes the weight-loss industry has been "collared by women", and the needs of men are being overlooked.

This view is shared by Paul Hebblethwaite, a cognitive behavioural therapist who is working with the group.

Mr Hebblethwaite says: "Men are usually not quite so good at expressing how they're feeling and what they are struggling with.

"Within a group of males they are going to feel safer, but also this group's been running for a long time so they have all got to know each other well and are beginning to share some really tough struggles.

"If there were females in the group I doubt somehow that they would be able to share at that level."

Fellow club member Pete Crane agrees.

But interestingly, he believes it can be all-male environments which lead to weight problems in the first place.

He says: "My biggest problem is that I drive a lorry, which is very male-oriented, and my hobby is riding motorbikes which is fairly male-oriented.

"There's very much an attitude of 'I can eat anything and I can drink anything'.

"That's not conducive to trying to lose weight, whereas getting some guys together to discuss things when they have got the same problems… is much more supportive."

Mr Rowles has shed two-and-a-half stone since joining the club and has his sights set on reaching 20 stone before he walks his daughter down the aisle next year.

He says: "Hopefully I'll get there with help from the guys at the Big Blokes' Club."

Portrait of the ‘meal for one’ society

Actondco — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:12:50 +0000

More people than ever in the UK are living alone, government statistics have found. One in three households now have just one member, compared to one in five at the start of the 1970s.

But that is just part of the picture, for along with the shift to single-living have come a number of other ways society has changed.

PROPERTY

The increase in single-occupancy properties has naturally had an impact on housing supply, says a spokesman for the National Housing Federation. This has meant more flats being built, or houses being converted into flats. But the impact may also have been felt on house prices generally. "There's such an under-supply of affordable housing in many parts of the country that anything that restricts the supply is going to have an effect on prices," he says.

READY MEALS

Nearly half the meals eaten in the UK are now eaten alone, research found last year. In the past 20 years, the number has soared from 4bn to 12bn, much of which is due to the explosion in "meals for one". One analyst said: "We have reached the situation where people no longer even buy dining tables because they have effectively become redundant." Half of all the money spent on ready meals in the EU is spent in the UK, a report last year found, with Brits shelling out £7,000 a minute on them.

COOL URBAN LIFESTYLE

The term metrosexual, usually applying to men who live in the city, love the style of urban living, care a lot about their appearance, and have the disposable income to indulge their passions (clothes, entertainment, technology, restaurants, nightclubs, low cost airlines, adventure holidays, alcohol). The female equivalent is, according to author Sasha Cagen, is the "quirkyalone" – women who celebrate being alone, and "resist the tyranny of coupledom".

ENTERTAINMENT

Bridget Jones is just the tip of an iceberg. Forget mainstream family entertainment, the words of books, films, and television now cater more than ever for the type of folk who live alone. The trend still has legs (with the second Bridget Jones film yet to be released), but with the passing of Ally McBeal and Sex and the City, its days may be numbered.

DATING

But the generation of people living alone is getting inventive about how to meet partners. As well as the ever-growing phenomenon of internet dating, you can meet potential dates by speed dating (where you spend just seconds with a loser before moving on to someone else), dating in the dark (where you don't find out how ugly people are until you've got to know the real them) and quiet dating (where you must write down what you want to say, if you are happy to be judged by your handwriting).

BREAKING UP

It's not all bright young things, however. One factor which is behind the increase in single-living is the break-up of relationships. Research indicates that by 2011, more than 60% of marriages will end in divorce. But with an increase in life expectancy for men, more of them will outlive their partners. By 2020, the percentage of men over the age of 60 living alone is expected to be about 30%. Ikea is just one of the firms cashing in on the growth in people living alone – it famously encouraged people who were disillusioned with their partner to make a fresh start (and buy a flat-load of Swedish furniture and knick-knacks in the process).

Add your comments on this story, using the form below.

If so many people are living alone, why are we then subjected to extortionate prices when travelling solo. Not everyone wishes to go on a package holiday. Especially when you do pay a single supplement and get the broom cupboard overlooking the carpark!
J. Jones, UK

So much for us sixties types who thought we would be living in communal settings. Perhaps people are less forgiving of a partner's faults and quirks these days than in the past. Polygamy and polyandry could become the vogue. You get tired of one, move on to the next, or you get them all ganging up on you.
Nick Bell, US

I love being single and have never viewed it as a second-best situation. I enjoy living on my own as I can choose when I want company, What I do hate is:
– the fact that property (especially new-build) is squarely aimed at "couples" on dual incomes and that single people are expected only to aspire to a 1-bed flat with no garage. It's very hard to afford a flexible property on a single income now;
- the fact that supermarkets think that people only cook from scratch for families of four and singles only need ready meals. Try buying one portion of mince for a chilli when there's only one of you! Not least because I've been there and done it, I'd have to think very hard before moving in with someone again.
Mark Antony, England

We are probably all guilty of looking for Miss World or Mr Universe in our potential dating conquests – without too much regard for the underlying personality. Then again it is hard to get to talk to somebody in a crowded bar with booming music!
Jake, Wales

This article was spot on. I am single, live on my own and now all my darkest thoughts are confirmed. Misery…
Chris McCahill, Britain

I love living on my own, and seeing as I have such a small flat, wouldn't have it any other way. I love the feeling of being able to listen to the music I want, eat when I like and stay up all night writing if I so choose. I don't miss co-habiting or sharing with a group of friends, because catching up with your man/mates is what going out's for. As for that misery guts Bridget Jones you've got at the top of this article, she should relish her time alone while she has it. Oh, and join a gym instead of subjecting us to her calorie intake.
Emerald, London, UK

I agree with this article. I am 31 years old and live alone. I do not have a dining room table and I believe that I am still single because no one understands me except IKEA.
Jamison Maeda, United States

But Ikea is a store that is designed for couples! Try paying for a shed load of stuff and leaving it by the very crowded pick up area while getting the car.
Shaun, UK

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Minister’s shock at freak tragedy

Actondco — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:47:48 +0000

A church minister is "devastated" by the death of a friend who slipped and landed on a knife sitting upright in a dishwasher.

The freak accident happened at the Church of Scotland manse of the Rev Sharon Colvin in Dunrobin Road, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, on Tuesday.

Jane McDonald, 31, was taken to the town's Monklands General Hospital, but she died shortly after admission.

In a statement issued by the Church of Scotland, Ms Colvin said she was shocked by Ms McDonald's death.

She said: "I was devastated by the tragedy which involved a member of my extended family – not a lodger – who had been staying for a while at the manse."

Ms Colvin said that when the accident occurred she co-operated with the ambulance controllers over the telephone.

She said: "My ex-husband and I have four grown up children and three grandchildren.

"I am now staying with friends and will not be preaching on Sunday.

Similar accident

"Alternative arrangements have been made to cover my own church service on Sunday and the service at which I would have preached."

Six years ago a 12-year-old boy in Northampton was killed following a similar accident.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said the case illustrated there was a danger from dishwashers.

He advised the public to ensure knives always pointed down in dishwashers, despite some manufacturers arguing otherwise.

EU investigating Coca Cola

Actondco — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:47:21 +0000

World: Europe

EU investigating Coca Cola

The Coca Cola company is under investigation by the European Commission for alleged unfair trading practices.

A series of raids on the company's offices in Europe follow allegations that it has offered shopkeepers in Germany, Austria and Denmark incentives to sell more of its products — and to stop selling those of its competitors.

Coca Cola has confirmed that the EU made what it described as unannounced visits to several of its offices.

A spokesman said Coca Cola was cooperating fully with the investigation and did not believe it had done anything wrong.

The BBC Europe correspondent say the probe comes at a bad time for Coca Cola, only a month after a health scare which led to the removal of its drinks from shops in several European countries.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

Portugal withdraws Coca Cola products

Actondco — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:42:47 +0000

World: Europe

Portugal withdraws Coca Cola products

The authorities in Portugal have ordered the withdrawal from sale of a batch of 50,000 cans of Coca-Cola after members of the public reported finding contamination in the drink.

Coca-Cola's Portuguese representatives said carbon particles had seeped from a filter at a water treatment plant but were not a health risk.

Portugal is the latest country to withdraw Coca-Cola products from sale.

Health concerns began about the company's drinks when more than 100 people in Belgium and France fell ill.

Coca-Cola took out big newspaper advertisements on Tuesday to apologise for the health scare which was blamed on errors in two factories.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

27 May 2004

Actondco — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:18:43 +0000

Find out what you had to say about the topics discussed on Question Time, broadcast on 27 May from Newbury.

The topics discussed this week were:

Abu Hamza Childhood obesity Poll tax British art Royal Mail Princess Michael of Kent General comments on the programme

The following comments reflect the balance of the opinion we have received:

Abu Hamza

Audience question: Why did it take an extradition request from the US to trigger the arrest of Abu Hamza?

You said:

Text: Citizenship is not a status that can be withdrawn in the same way as a driving licence.
Sam, Manchester

Hamza allegedly kidnapped British citizens in the Yemen. The only reason he is being deported to the US is so there can be a show trial of a hook-handed, one-eyed, "mad Muslim", before the US elections.
Simon Findlay, Perth

Text: Abu Hamza should be deported at once to stand trial but will he want the protection of British law now?
Mike, Sunderland

Text: Does anyone seriously think he will ever be deported?
Chrissy, Potters Bar

Abu Hamza should be deported as a threat to our great country and should not be allowed to preach his abhorrent and vile diatribe against the West. We must uphold our law and the rule of this country.
Nick France, Swanscombe

Text: Arrest everyone who is suspected of terrorist activities and hold them to account.
Tom, Bath

I think the suggestion that Abu Hamza should not be allowed due process is absurd. If we go down that road we are seen by the world as having the same draconian system as many of the countries which we have taken action against, eg. Afghanistan.
Mark Sanderson, Glasgow

Text: Why now? A handy distraction from the evil things we are currently seeing?
Lesley, Lancashire

Isn't this just a case of Blair ignoring British opinion – again – and then when America says "jump" he turns round and asks "how high"?
Tim, London

Text: If Hamza is responsible for the death of UK citizens why isn't he being tried here?
Taz, Newcastle

Abu Hamza should be tried for treason. Janet Street-Porter should climb off whatever bandwagon she has decided to climb on and look at the bigger picture. The man has encouraged people to commit crimes against our country.
Jamie Bryant, Livingston

Text: Who will foot the bill for Abu Hamza's arrest – the USA or the UK?
Camilla, Milton Keynes

Text: We are too soft on people like Abu Hamza because we're fearful of being called racist.
Dave, Reading

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Childhood obesity

Audience question: Who should be responsible for a child's weight, the parents or the state?

You said:

I have two children, a four and a half year old and a 22 month old. I would have said the child's diet should be the responsibility of the parent; however, last week I changed my mind. My children have always eaten a very healthy diet. Our meals are taken together, and eaten at regular times. My husband arrives home at a time for us to eat a family meal EVERY evening and the meal is cooked from scratch from fresh, not frozen or packaged, foods. We eat as much organic food as we can afford. We do not add salt to our cooking. We use olive oil or sesame oil, whole grain breads, lots of fruit and veg. In short we have a healthy diet, and our children eat the same foods as my husband and I. My children only drink water, and fresh not from concentrate fruit juices, no milk due to allergies. They have never tasted fizzy drinks or sweetened cordials. They have never eaten a packet of crisps. Last week at my son's state-funded playgroup at the local community education centre, he and the other children were given as a snack A PACKET OF CRISPS. In the same week they were also given as snacks a Kit Kat and a jam tart. On the other two days they were given fruit. I spoke with a person from the care commission who informed me that he looked to see if the snacks offered were balanced, and he considered them to be so. In this situation how can parents be held responsible for their child's diet
Kerrey-Lyn Mitchell, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Our children always complain that there is not enough physical education at school. They always have 3 lessons of world studies every week learning about topics such as the Muslim faith and other religions. But only 1 hour of PE!!. What can we do with this soft culture we live trying to please every faith in the world, except the Christian faith.
Ray Hutchings, Amersham

I used to go to school in Sweden and during lunch times there was fresh orange juice, cheese, grated carrots, bacon and mashed potatoes etc available for the pupil to collect not dished out by an uninterested canteen lady. In addition if you wanted second or third helpings it was not a problem. This was in the early 70's All this was free of charge (due to high taxation rates I assume). Could we not do the same in the UK or TRY to improve on food quality served in schools?
Rory Trappe, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Text: I don't recall there being too many fat kids during the years of rationing.
Mrs T Flint

Would it not be feasible to give fruit and veg vouchers to impoverished families with young children, to encourage healthy eating, rather like milk vouchers are already given?
Susan West, Milton Keynes

Text: What a shame we don't highlight starvation like we do obesity.
Paul, Bedford

Blame the parents, not the government, for not feeding their children properly.
John Mealand, Essex

Parents need to take responsibility for their children's health. If the children want fatty foods, just don't buy them. If they spend their pocket money on sweets, stop it.
Georgina Bass, Bideford

Text: Here we go again, careless parents blaming others.
Tracey, Newcastle

Yet again the obesity debate comes back to: "Children should walk to school so that obese middle-aged business men/women can drive to work 10 minutes quicker". Keep the pressure on adults: how many fit and slim parents have obese children? Where does it all start?
Paul Caldwell, Leeds

Text: Nothing to do with the state, it's the parents' fault.
Dave, Somerset

Food manufacturers are allowed to position foods as being "healthy" when they're not. "Sugar free" seems to mean "laden with saccharin instead". "No artificial colours" appears to mean "artificial something else". Until we can get the marketing out of food labelling there is no hope for parents to provide their kids with a healthy diet.
Karen, London

Text: Parents need to learn to say no.
Rob, Newcastle

Don't give planning permission to any more fast food chains, there are too many already and they all entice kids in with free toys. Get rid of choices for school dinners, healthy options only. Get rid of coke machines etc in schools, bring in water coolers instead.

Walking to school; what a great idea! I only ever walked to school and I only left school 10 years ago; times have changed in the last 10 years.

Get rid of confectionary/junk food companies rewarding kids to eat bad food by collecting tokens to exchange for sports kit etc.
Rachel, Bracknell

Text: Ban car parking at schools and make children walk.
Keith, Bury

I cannot understand why the government has to be responsible for what parents put in their children's mouths or indeed the daily activity their children undertake. Let parents take responsibility for their offspring and stop passing the buck!
Ben, Luton

Text: There is not enough emphasis in schools on sport and physical exercise; we need to reverse the couch potato culture.
Manish, Bath

Thank goodness that a food technology teacher made that point. As a teacher of ICT, I have heard this said by more than five other food technology teachers in different schools all with equal annoyance.
Ian Murray, Ross-on-Wye

Text: Fat food is addictive – you must have strong willpower and the kids these days certainly lack that.
Inese, London

Janet mentioned doubling VAT on crisps. Surely this would act as an incentive for the government to have more crisps sold? Shouldn't the tax implication be transferred to the producer/manufacturer?
Matt McConnon, London

Text: On one side we have kids getting obese and on the other increasing eating disorders through fear of getting fat!
J Cox, Essex

Why is it always down to the schools? Parents feed these children from birth. If a child is fed crisps and sweet drinks from eight months to one year old, how is that the responsibility of the schools? Schools cannot possibly fit in more PE with the restraints of a curriculum so loaded with maths, English and science.
Vicki Plume, Hertford

Text: Parents are simply too lazy to take responsibility for their children's health.
Tracey

We used to have a tax on "luxury" foods called VAT; this has now been extended so far that we are having to talk about adding MORE tax. Also, let's not forget that burgers, sausages, minced beef etc. are the only foods many families can afford.
Ian Stolworthy, Haverhill

Text: Taxing foods is a silly idea, it already costs too much for buyers and taxpayers!
Tod, Exeter

This government needs to increase money and tax support for sporting and youth organisations, like here in Holland, which has amazing sports facilities at every level. Also ensure that parents stop being lazy by taking children to school in the car; make them walk.
Robert Brannan, Eindhoven

A lot of the problem is due to the failure of the government to support the family. Families have been penalised through the tax system which now makes it necessary for both partners to work to pay for the ever-increasing burden, thus supporting latch-key children.
Alan Howard, Harpenden

Text: Put health warnings on fatty food similar to tobacco products.
Alan, Essex

I am becoming more and more incensed by the increasing burden placed upon teachers to deliver knowledge and skills to children which previously would have been considered the role of the parents. While I readily accept that education undoubtedly plays an important part in this, as a primary school teacher, I believe that many children's values are already instilled by the time they arrive at school and it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that these are appropriate.
J Lewis, Liverpool

Honesty from Peter Hain – they got something wrong – I take my hat off to him. One can only hope this is contagious.
Paul Batty, Sheffield

My child gets free school meals. These invariably contain a drink that is nothing more than a blend of sugar and chemicals, and a chocolate bar, and crisps. There is no alternative to these lunches other than "buy your own". Schools also seem to give children food a lot of the time without consulting the parents, and not always healthy food either. Sweets are used as treats to encourage children. As someone who restricts the diet of my child, I find this extremely annoying. I have banned all fizzy drinks, sweeteners, and artificial colours from my house, and I don't want school providing them.
E M, Lincs

Get rid of child allowance and give kids free school meals, ensuring nutrition and a quality meal.
Dave, Lakenheath

Obesity in children has a lot to do with lack of time to make proper meals. In years gone by, mothers tended not to go out to work. Now they do and rely more and more on feeding children high calorie, fast-food carry-outs and ready-made meals.
William Mcintyre, Falkirk

How can anyone ask if parents or teachers are responsible for a three-year-old dying of obesity when a three-year-old hasn't started school yet? Teachers haven't even had an input!
Sue Knight, Uxbridge

Peter Hain – CONGRATULATIONS! You'll probably be sacked tomorrow, but someone needs to admit that political correctness has eroded parental control to the extent that our children's health is at risk as a result.
Sam Alexander, Norwich

In my day, not so long ago, when we did what the lady in the audience called "food technology", we said we were doing cooking lessons and we knew what we were doing.
D Llewellyn, Stockport

If only 3,500 people are killed on our roads and with 30,000 killed due to obesity, why on earth does the government not put cameras at the end of supermarket checkouts to catch those buying dangerous foods?
Red Neale, Dorset

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Poll tax

Audience question: Are the Conservatives right to consider bringing back elements of the poll tax, when it caused so much misery the first time around?

You said:

Text: Anything would be better than the poll tax.
Jo, Bucks

Text: The poll tax was the fairest way.
SR, Glasgow

It is absolutely facile of the Lib Dems to assert that local income tax is a panacea to the problems of council tax. I have a good income but I also have a huge mortgage and maintenance payments to make. Surely the logic of their argument on ability to pay is that all tax payment should ultimately be means tested
Martin Hughes, St Helens

Text: They should base a poll tax on the weight of your child!
Rob, Reading

Why don't they have a vote by the public on this? I would rather pay another 3% tax – it is a fairer way according to who earns what, plus the government would be guaranteed the payment.
Gary Wakeman, London

Text: Why should the so-called rich pay more for the same services than the poor?
Chris, Herts

I would like to see all VAT revenues and all stamp duty revenues for a location going to the local government, creating a link to spending on individual incomes. Obviously, this is just redistribution of some existing funds so without current local charges, then I would accept higher national income tax. There may need to be a review of activities which are funded locally or nationally. Have any of the parties considered similar arrangements? If not, what is the best way to encourage them to do so?
Pete Larsen, Edinburgh

Text: Don't we pay enough tax in this country? Surely we should monitor where it is going more closely.
Tina, London

What I object to about local taxes (whatever they are) is that we are located in the catchment area for a very poor school. Why should we pay excessive local taxes to consign my children to a sub-standard education? We have decided to take the hit and pay for private education for our children. In effect this means that we are being taxed even more!
Paul Rowlands, Bracknell

Text: How can you judge the amount of local services a family uses based on the value of their house?
Jim, Hampshire

Text: There is too much tax already!
Paul, Berks

If Janet Street-Porter thinks payments should reflect uptake of services I quite agree. In my area the department with the biggest budget is the social work department. Those benefiting are often those with the least ability, or least intention, of paying.
William Mcintyre, Falkirk

When we have a national housing shortage, isn't it a good thing that people who are prepared to house share are encouraged with a lower rate of council tax?
Peter, London

Text: Reintroducing the poll tax would be as daft as id cards.
Chris, Southend

The problem is not limited to the Council Tax, but is an overall problem with a highly complex Tax and credit system. So many different organisations asses your income and decide either what to give you or what to take away. The new Child Tax Credit is an example of a costly system to asses. The whole system should be dramatically simplified and totally based on income. It should be assessed by one organisation which collects from those over a certain level and gives back to those below that point.
Brian Orpin, Livingston

The idea of a local income tax has its difficulties and there will be problems. Collection, I think, will be complicated and local councils will face a shortfall of funds if people pay only what they can afford. At present we all pay the same amount despite what we earn or the income that we have. Pensioners on a fixed income are especially hit as has been well documented by their actions in some cases.
Steve Fuller, Hove, East Sussex

Local taxation is very simple to solve: scrap it. Raise the money from general taxation that already has all the necessary provisions and allowances for the protection of the poor or low paid. There is absolutely no possible reason to base tax on houses, which have no relationship to earnings. Local income tax only is equally daft requiring a vast duplication of the Inland Revenue. Scrapping local taxes would make good savings on all the army of local tax assessors, calculators and collectors.
James SG, London

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British art

Audience question: Does the panel consider the fire that destroyed an old bath, a derelict beach hut and a two-man tent is bad news for British art?

You said:

If the insurers pay out millions for the destroyed works of Damien Hirst etc. they must be mad. Conceptual art is all about the concept. Concepts, unlike old masters can't be destroyed by fire. Once conceptualised, they can be easily replaced.
William McIntyre, Falkirk

I cannot understand why your panel were asked to discuss the loss of art works in a warehouse fire, when surely we should be discussing why a committed young fire-fighter lost his life leaving a widow and two young children.
Ann, Rhymney, Tredegar

Text: Good riddance to a pile of junk!
Sean, Newcastle

Wouldn't you rather have art which makes people think, and feel emotions, than just pretty pictures which are nice to look at? Stop looking at the descriptions, start looking at the art.
Jack D, Worthing

Text: The burned building might be considered as modern art!
Ian, Haywards Heath

My house is a work of art! Perhaps I should insure it for billions of pounds because I have at least four unmade beds here and a large garden shed which has seen better days!! The fact it is still standing is the eighth wonder of the world!! Seriously though, it is terrible that someone has had their valuable, irreplaceable in some cases, collection destroyed in this way however much I feel that some of it was just complete rubbish.
Maggie Knight, Plymouth

Text: I would have more sympathy if Saatchi had displayed them instead of locking them away.
Alan, Essex

It seems to me that conceptual art is only as valid as the size of the name that created it. If I had created the "tent art", it would have been ridiculed as a joke. If an established name creates the piece, it is described as simply brilliant! It is not the art that inspires, more the credibility and desirability of the artist.
Colin Day, Brentwood

Text: What is art if it doesn't strike an emotion?
Paul, Reading

I began to respect Tracy Emin as a brilliant artist when she pointed out this week that she feels more angry about children being killed in Iraq than the destruction of her work.
Maya Martinez, London

Text: Art isn't just paintings!
Steve, Reading

Why is it that whenever someone has a criticism of modern art Janet Street-Porter refers to them as a philistine? Modern art is in the eye of the beholder – I don't value Janet Street-Porter's opinion any more than I respect anyone else's – I don't see why if one person expresses an artistic opinion of their own that is contrary to Janet's they must be a philistine – surely you can disagree with Janet and still have a valid opinion?
Martin Gollogly, Birmingham

Art? Nah, it's the "Emperor's New Clothes" syndrome. So a tent and a pile of other junk burned down and the "la-di-dah luvvies" think it's a great loss to the nation. Unbelievably it never meant anything to the average hardworking person living in a two-up-two-down, fighting to stay in the black. I have some "installation" dog mess outside my front door, £20,000 darling? No rush, the council will not be round to clean it up in a hurry.
Smudge, Middlesbrough

Text: Who are any of us to decide what "art" is? Long live the artist in all of us.
Phil, Hampshire

It's odd that a lot of people still find it hard to tell the difference between conceptualist installations and art. Conceptualist works may be interesting, challenging or even moving. But if I (a non-artist) could have produced a work (as distinct from having the idea for it) then it's probably a conceptualist work. If, on the other hand, it was produced with skill beyond the ability of most people, it's probably art.
Adrian, London

Text: I've a pile of ironing – is that a winner?!
Jane, Fife

Text: I saw Tracey's tent and it was beautiful.
Fraser, Edinburgh

Text: How can a tent be compared with Picasso?
Liz, Brighton

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Royal Mail

Audience question: How can the Royal Mail justify making such a profit when it fails to reach any targets and the service is unreliable and a shambles?

You said:

The postmen delivering mail are not to blame but since Mrs Thatcher closed so many offices and the Post Office is more interested in promoting other activities, such as insurance etc, entering a Post Office is no longer a pleasure. There was a wonderful Post Office near St Bart's Hospital which was a pleasure to visit but that was sold off and you now have to queue in an awful and cluttered post office off Cheapside. I recently found letters my mother wrote to my father in 1945/1946 towards the end of the 2nd World War [my father was in Trieste] and my mother was dismayed when a letter from him took 12 days to reach London. I sent some calendars to friends in Italy after Christmas and they took 18 days.
Patricia Clark, London

I just wanted to comment on the issue of junk mail, I do not particularly like getting junk mail but, Posties get extra money for delivering junk mail, and quite frankly the morale in the postal service is quite shocking and I feel that the posties are doing a wonderful job and deserve our praise and if that means getting junk mail then so be it.
Aileen, Perth

I think the Royal Mail have lost sight of who the customers are. I run my business from home and, when the single delivery is adopted in this area, I have three choices: The first is to wait until whatever time the post arrives – secondly, I have been told I can collect from the sorting office, which means a 15/20 minute journey each morning, and a 4 mile trip and, lastly, I can pay a substantial amount to have an early timed delivery (I gather this is about £100 a week.) Imagine what my customers would say if I told them they have to come and collect their work from me, or pay an extra large amount to have it delivered.
Martin Smethers, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire

What's so wrong with Royal Mail? I've never had any problems with them! They do a great job – stop moaning!
G Wild, Peterborough

I paid for a mail-forwarding service three weeks ago – not one item has been redirected! Good thing I cleaned the oven for the new owner! Seriously, my partner worked at a sorting office until February – he was so disgusted by the inefficiency that he resigned. I have sent myself a letter to my old address every day since moving, and not one has been forwarded as I have paid for. Adam Crozier should be called to account.
Sam Alexander, Norwich

Text: I think the Royal Mail is great. Try having to collect your mail.
Suzie

Postal services worldwide (not just in Britain) are the only business I can think of that ask you to pay for something and do not guarantee that you get anything in return. In order to guarantee that you get what you pay for, you have to pay extra, i.e. pay for recorded delivery, insurance etc. Can you imagine, for example, buying a washing machine, and then paying extra to guarantee that it works?
Rita Kitto, Geneva

Text: Ban junk mail.
Chris

What I fail to understand is why the volume of mail is going up when the majority of communiqués are done by e-mail.
Wulstan Earley, London

Text: Competition can only work by paying people lower wages. Is that progress?
Bill, Warrington

Here in London we used to have a decent postal service. As soon as we received notice that they were ending the second delivery it became atrocious. I have missed many bills, we receive mail perhaps twice a week, first class takes up to a week to arrive, and two packages sent by my parents from the US have not arrived. I no longer have any faith in the post, and ask people to e-mail me instead.
Saskia, London

Text: I think Janet is pushing the envelope!
William, Sunderland

People should think themselves lucky if they get only one mail delivery. Our postman delivers our mail to our next-door neighbour because he can't be bothered to drive 500 yards up the lane. Complaining to the Post Office has made no difference. The panel feel sorry for the postman; if they had mine their view would be different.
Lee, Harpenden

Text: How bad would it be if we didn't have e-mail.
Paul, Windsor

My postman has to deliver junk mail through my letterbox daily even if there are no letters for me that day. This adds to his workload, thereby stopping him from efficiently delivering vital mail on time.
C M Tighe, Wigan

Text: The junk mail industry alone keeps the money rolling in.
LM

My father, who managed the most successful Christmas post ever back in 1989, puts the problem down to the fact that there are very few professional managers left in the service and with wages so low it is impossible to recruit the calibre of staff required to do the skilled jobs. The solution is, contrary to what Peter Hain says, political – put up the price of the post and allow adequate investment in both people and equipment.
Robert, Lewisham

Text: The postal delivery in my area is excellent.
Jane, Burgess Hill

What second delivery? We have not had one for 20 years.
Bryan Dexter, Carlisle

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Princess Michael of Kent

Audience question: If she cannot conduct herself appropriately and show respect to others, should Princess Michael of Kent be allowed to carry a royal title and therefore represent this country?

You said:

If she did make a remark about the colonies then it seems to me that she was talking to the noisy party as Americans, not in any racist way as jokes about our former colony America are common in the UK. I also doubt the account as one of the party interviewed on TV this morning quoted her as saying: "Enough already", a New York phrase not a British one. Finally, it is surely racist to assume the worst of a white person in that there is a prejudice to believe that in a quarrel they will be racist unless proved otherwise.
Edwin, Marlborough

I think debating what Princess Margaret did or didn't say is a waste of time as it is something we cannot do anything about.
Julie Keeling

Princess Michael of Kent is the victim here of outlandishly loud and badly behaved other diners. A decent restaurant would have ejected them. Hopefully the publicity will deter others using such a place.
James SG, London

Does Phil Willis understand that Princess Michael of Kent's alleged comments were intended to offend? I personally don't want to live in a world were everyone thinks and acts according to rules; how very dull that would be!
Chris Dennis, Harrogate

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General comments on the programme

You said:

I enjoyed last night's show, particularly for the honesty of Peter Hain. I am a Labour supporter and I think Blair has had a tough time of it with the press. However, should Blair ever decide enough is enough then Hain would be as good a leader as anyone.
Stuart Jones, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

I think Question Time needs to seriously re-think its policy of allowing "popular"(?) figures such as Julian Fellowes onto the panel. His comments on extradition were ill-informed claptrap while Peter Hain was trying to explain a complicated issue in calm and rational terms.
Robert Crosby, Nottingham

Please don't have that awful Street-Porter woman on again. She was so rude to everybody (except the Lib Dem), even laughing in contempt at the audience. We need informed people on the panel, who apart from her were excellent, as opposed to people who think Abu Hamza should be treated with care and respect!
Jon Harrison, York

Janet Street Porter's meanderings about rights Hamza was due etc etc was the best advertisement for the far right and the BNP I have ever heard in my live.
Nicholas Williams BSc.Econs, London, UK

Julian Fellowes, why aren't you an MP?
Max Hughes, Wolverhampton

My, how a leopard can change its spots! My husband and I remember the Peter Hain from decades back when he was nothing but a trouble-maker; repeatedly in the headlines demonstrating for the latest cause. Let's hope, for our sake, he really has changed his ways (and his spots).
Margaret, Attleborough

Janet Street-Porter is anxious to protect Hamza's right to free speech, even though that seems to amount mostly to calling for the deaths of Jews and Americans. But hamburger ads should be banned. Great sense of priorities.
James Hilley, London

Perhaps we should have a panel of 30 everyday people and an audience of MPs, celebrities, etc. We might get more of an insight into our society.
R Gavigan, Chichester

For the record, I have been a socialist all of my life, and remain so – but I would like to salute Julian Fellowes for his comments on Question Time. No doubt you will never see this Julian, but I for one think you are an intelligent man who speaks a lot of sense.
H Smith, Manchester

At last! A Question Time without ANY discussion about Iraq or the Middle East. Well done.
Maddy, Guernsey

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Disclaimer: The BBC will put up as many of your comments as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.

Coca-Cola threat to quit schools

Actondco — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:31:04 +0000

Coca-Cola warned the education secretary it might withdraw its vending machines network from schools over her ban on "junk food", letters show.

The company told her last November that the proposed ending of fizzy drinks sales would make the business unviable.

It said schools would lose money and pupils would suffer from the removal of such "a highly efficient country-wide beverage distribution system".

The minister, Ruth Kelly, declined Coca-Cola's request for a meeting.

She noted that the company was represented in an industry delegation that met one of her officials.

Recommendations

The exchange of letters was obtained by the BBC's Freedom of Information Unit.

The background was the proposed ban, announced by Ms Kelly at the Labour conference.

This week, the School Food Trust, set up to advise on children's eating habits, recommended that the only drinks available should be fresh or bottled water, skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, pure fruit juices, yoghurt and milk drinks or combination drinks such as smoothies, low calorie hot chocolate, tea and coffee.

Coca-Cola's letter argued that many soft drinks provided "significant nutritional and functional benefits".

As an example, one "no added sugar" product – which contains two artificial sweeteners – was fortified with vitamins and minerals.

The fruit and water mixture, it said, provided one of the recommended "five a day" servings of fruit and vegetables.

Behaviour

The company queried the assumption that if pupils were offered a restricted choice they would purchase something healthy rather than nothing at all.

The risk, it said, was that they might instead put off having a drink "until a more popular choice was available" – with a significant impact on their hydration, concentration and performance.

The letter said its commercial experience suggested that in the longer term its existing business model would not be viable or profitable.

"We would, in addition, almost certainly be unable to deliver the significant revenue gain that many schools currently enjoy from vending."

Withdrawing its machines – which were in schools at their request – was "a real possibility".

"The removal of such a highly efficient country-wide beverage distribution system could have an impact not only on pupils' hydration, but also on pupil behaviour" – as they were likely to buy products outside school "before, during and after the school day".

Coca-Cola offers about 20 brands including carbonated and still, regular, low and no added sugar drinks, water, juice and juice-based drinks, sports and energy drinks and cordials.

It argues that low or no added sugar drinks should be included in official recommendations, along with low salt snacks, as "proven tools to tackle obesity".

The School Food Trust rejected that argument.

Hot dinners?

Actondco — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:39:56 +0000

Is a combination of legislation and a locked gate really the only solution to teaching children healthy eating?

According to the School Food Trust (SFT) the number of outlets competing for school dinner money is at an unprecedented level and most of them are more burger bar than salad bar.

There is an average of 23 junk food outlets per school, according to the Trust's survey, although some towns fare worse than others. Brighton and Hove top the table with 46, a figure that the SFT refer to as "button-popping".

The School Food Trust recommends a 'stay-on-site' policy for schools and action by local authorities to limit the number and type of food outlets in the vicinity.

That's that then, problem solved. No more queues outside the chip shop, no more "two children only" signs in the sweet shop and everyone gets their high street back at lunchtime.

Well, not quite.

No plans

None of the councils that we have spoken to has any plans to limit food outlets.

Their representative body, the Local Government Association, recently ridiculed the whole idea: "No council has used this power because there is no evidence that it makes the slightest bit of difference to obesity", said their spokesman.

In fact most of the schools that we have spoken to do have a 'closed gate' policy at lunchtimes.

Those that don't cite various reasons for the policy; many limit the number of children allowed out, with only the oldest able to buy food off site, a few claim a lack of space and an inability to supervise large numbers of children across the lunch break and others simply believe that pupils should have the freedom to choose.

Government to blame?

One head of a Kent school asked to remain anonymous but points the finger of blame squarely at the government.

"The government has assumed that the way to effect change is through regulation, but market forces operate in schools the same as anywhere else. If schools offer attractive food at attractive prices, children will buy it."

He goes on, "when the new healthy menus came out, children reacted with their feet and went off site to buy lunch – which sometimes consisted of three doughnuts for 99p bought from Sainsbury's."

The government target of halting the rise of obesity in under-11s by 2010 is under increasing pressure and they are looking into the SFT's recommendations.

Almost one in seven children (13.4%) aged between two and 10 is obese, an increase of a third in a decade.

The proportion of obese under-16s is predicted to reach 20% by 2010 if nothing is done.

Obesity warning

In the South East half of the Primary Care Trusts have above average numbers of obese and overweight children in year 6 classes.

In Eastern and Coastal Kent just under a third of 11 year olds fall into one of those two categories, in Medway some 20% of 11 year olds are obese.

Meanwhile Brighton and Hove, the top 'Temptation Town' in the SFT's league table is actually below the national average – perhaps not quite as tempting as first thought.

Headteacher's solution

One person who is clear about the solution is Clarissa Williams, President of the National Association of Head Teachers.

Clarissa ran a school for 22 years and saw no reason to allow pupils off-site at lunchtimes.

She even paid her sixth-formers to keep an eye on the younger pupils to help their supervision.

Along with restricting the access to unhealthy food options, she says the other benefits of keeping the pupils on-site included an improvement in relations with the local residents and a reduction in litter.

However, whilst a number of people are supportive of the School Food Trust's "closed gate" policy, we could not find any takers amongst the region's local councils to use legislation to restrict either junk food shops or mobile outlets like burger and ice cream vans around schools.

It would seem, whether the gates are closed or open, that if the kids cannot get out to the food, there is nothing to stop the food coming to them.

Should children be allowed out in school hours? Should we limit their access to junk food outlets?

Text us on 07786 209252 on Sunday or email anytime politicsshowsoutheast@bbc.co.uk or via the link below.

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The earlier we receive your comments the more likely we are to get them on air.

You don't have to wait until the show has started!

Also on the programme

(NOT QUITE) LAST POST

Earlier this series we followed Julie Sedgewick of Dover on her journey to reach a Post Office.

Julie struggled because her nearest office had been closed under the last round of Post Office cuts and, as a wheelchair user, her route to the remaining service was hampered by steep hills and a narrow bridge.

Julie's new champion

Judy Brown, a severely disabled Hastings woman has won the go-ahead to mount a full High Court test case battle against the widespread closure of local post offices, which she says threatens among other things the only post office she can get to.

Under the Disability Equality Duty which came into force in December 2006, all public bodies should pay 'due regard' to the promotion of equality for disabled people in every area of their work.

In other words, people who work in the public sector have to consider the impact of their work on disabled people, and take action to tackle disability inequality.

However John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Business, has exempted the Royal Mail from the reporting commitments set out in the Act.

Mrs Brown argues that this exemption effectively takes the interests of the disabled out of the equation when decisions are taken on which office to close.

Newsletter

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The Politics Show for the South East, with Jon Sopel and Paul Siegert on Sunday 18 May at 1200 BST on BBC One.

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BBC NEWS | UK | Jubilee tour diary: Buckingham Palace

Actondco — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:56:42 +0000

Tuesday, 4 June, 2002, 09:23 GMT 10:23 UK Jubilee tour diary: Buckingham Palace
Nick Higham is following the Queen's Jubilee tour
The BBC's arts and media correspondent Nick Higham is following the Queen on her Jubilee tour of the UK.

This is the seventh in a series of dispatches from around the country.

Saturday 1 June

After the gates of Buckingham Palace opened at 4pm, the 12,000 lucky winners of the ballot for tickets for the BBC's Prom at the Palace began streaming through onto the lawns of the palace gardens.

There is tight security – police with binoculars on the palace roofs scan the crowd but this lot looked harmless enough: Predominantly middle-aged and elderly.

Most seem astonished to be here, as they sit on the grass, tucking into their smoked salmon roulade, their special jubilee chicken – a recipe featuring lots of lime and cooked up by a chef in the Buckingham Palace kitchen – and a half bottle of champagne.

Karen Long and Denis Dagress from Norwich, were among the first through the gates.

For them it's the start of a quintessentially English weekend.

After the concert they will drive back to Norwich.

On Sunday, Denis plans to go fishing while Karen plans to watch the England-Sweden match.

As I tiptoed through the couples on the grass, I heard one man say: "They should do this every year."

Concert costs

When I put that a little later to a senior palace official, his response takes me aback.

"Yes, they should shouldn't they?"

But they won't if only because they can't afford it.

Even though the staff have given their services free, tonight's concert and the pop concert on Monday are costing the BBC £3m.

Some cash will be raised from selling the programme rights overseas (it is being shown in 40 countries).

More will come from premium-rate phone lines which people had to ring for the ballot for tickets but all that money is going to charity.

Eight o'clock, and the Queen arrives with the Duke of Edinburgh, late.

Already seated in a special royal box are 16 other members of the royal family and Camilla Parker Bowles, carefully seated in the second row next to Sir Michael Peat, keeper of the Privy Purse (the Queen's finance director) and well away from both the Queen herself and Prince Charles.

Summer party spirit

But it's another step on Camilla's road to public acceptance.

The concert begins with a fanfare by Sir William Walton and played by the trumpeters of the royal marines and Handel's coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest, played and sung by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and chorus under Sir Andrew Davis.

As Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sings Summertime from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, a flight of birds flits through the trees, next to the palace lake.

The British have a taste for music-making in the open air (astonishing given our weather) and for music-making in country houses.

Never have the weather, the grandest of locations and an all-star cast come together quite so perfectly.

No concert like this is complete without Handel's music for the royal fireworks, although few have Michael Parkinson as their MC.

The fireworks go up on cue from the lake alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the stage.

Prince Charles conducts

Even the Queen seems impressed.

Hard to follow that?

Not if you're Angela Gheorghiu, prima donna par excellence, a woman whose reputation for artistic tantrums is matched only by the power and beauty of her voice.

She and husband Roberto Alagna sing a pair of arias culminating in the rousing duet and chorus Brindisi from Verdi's La Traviata.

After that, even the Queen joined in the singing of Land of Hope and Glory, as the Prince of Wales next to her, helped Sir Andrew Davis conduct the distant orchestra by vigorously waving his programme in the air.

Then the royal party left, the Queen to make an unscheduled appearance on a stage, hastily constructed in front of Buckingham Palace for the benefit of the thousands who watched the concert on giant TV screens in the Mall and Green Park and St James's Park.

Back in the palace garden meanwhile, the photographers were already sending back pictures of Camilla Parker Bowles for tomorrow morning's Sunday papers.

As the crowd poured out, they pronounced the evening a triumph.

"Not a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, a once-in-history occasion".

Another man said: "I thought it was marvellous and I'm not even English, I'm Dutch.

"We have nothing like this in Holland. All Europe should see this."

And with that, 12,000 people slipped away into the London night, while inside the palace gardens, 400 technicians began preparing to do it all again for Monday's pop concert.

Top UK stories now:

No rush to war, says Blair
10,000 chased for congestion fine
Omagh detectives make arrest
Beckham forgives Ferguson
Waiter jailed for underage sex
Britons 'baffled over euro rate'
Sleepy drivers who kill face jail
Man charged after boy stabbed
Links to more UK stories are at the foot of the page.

Same day, different wedding

Actondco — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:11:17 +0000

The twists and turns in the planning of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles' wedding have barely been out of the headlines since February.

A new date was set following a clash with the Pope's funeral, but they're not the only pair tying the knot on Saturday.

The BBC News website's Paula Dear talked to an "ordinary" couple marrying on the same day as the heir to the throne and his fiancée, to see how the weddings compared.

THE HAPPY COUPLES

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WEDDINGS AND VENUES

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CATERING ARRANGEMENTS

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DRESSES AND ACCESSORIES

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WITNESSES

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RINGS

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TITLES

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GUESTS

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MUSIC

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PHOTOS

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HONEYMOONS

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FAMILY UPSETS?

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WEDDING PLANS

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RELATIONSHIP HISTORY

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