"090....."

I've just been reading about those rigged phone in competitions the BBC have been running. Nothing surprises me anymore. I'm well aware that things go on in corporations such as the BBC that we do not know about, but to know that the public have been cheated so blatantly is awful. I feel like I've lost my innocence all over again! I don't have much sympathy for people who waste lots of money entering these competitions, and voting in talent shows; they should surely know by now that they are a rip off. I was stung quite a while ago by one of those late night quizzes, before they were a little more regulated. You never get through, and they charge you for every phone call you make and encourage you to "keep trying". I didn't think I would get charged for the times I didn't get through, and ended up with a phone bill a tenner higher than it normally was. I was lucky it was just £10. I did (and still do) feel stupid though. They should scrap them all, and if they still want to have on-air competitions then bring back the "write your answer on a postcard" format. Isn't TV a big pile of poo lately? Dumbing down? It couldn't get much dumber.

Alan Johnston

I've removed the "Free Alan Johnston" button. It was a pleasure to do. If you want to read about Alan, the link to the BBC is http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/2007/alan_johnston/default.stm

Long live Alan Johnston. But let's not forget the hundreds of other hostages that languish in their prisons around the world.

Tears of joy

That's what was coming from my eyes when I awoke and heard the news this morning. It was so good to see Alan free at last. I think I'll probably be late for work this morning as I've been reading the news on the internet, listening to it on World Service, and watching it on the TV! Still, I'm not going to remove the buttons from my blogs until I see him back with his family in Scotland, or his friends in London. Good on you Alan. You've had so much to cope with and you look relatively well. I hope you feel okay too. It will take time to adjust and feel anywhere near normal again, but you will. Hurray!!