Complaints about Jeremy Clarkson’s ‘Killing Prostitutes”

Lately many insensitive comments from Ross, Brand, Good and Now Clarkson (not surprising really) from the BBC, who get paid loads for this stuff.

Do the BBC use insensitive and sensational’ to boost the ratings? An all time low in humour, as usual from Clarkson. Don’t they have any control over him?

From the BBC

“Clarkson joke sparks complaints

Clarkson jokes about lorry drivers killing sex workers

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has prompted more than 500 people to complain to the BBC about a joke he made on Sunday’s motoring show.

Clarkson, 48, was taking part in a lorry-driving task, when he joked about lorry drivers killing sex workers.

“Change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That’s a lot of effort in a day,” he said.

The BBC said the joke had made “ridiculous an unfair urban myth”.

Forklift truck driver Steve Wright was jailed in February for killing five prostitutes in Ipswich.

‘Urban myth’

Clarkson’s joke, made before the watershed, has now sparked 517 complaints.

But a BBC spokesman said that by Monday morning – before the incident had been reported on by newspapers and websites – there had been 188 complaints.

Sunday’s programme, which aired on BBC Two at 2000 GMT, was watched by around seven million viewers”

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7707641.stm

the General Response from the BBC:

Top Gear, Joke about lorry drivers killing prostitutes, BBC Two, 2 November 2008.Publication date: 5 November 2008
Complaint

We received complaints from viewers who were unhappy with comments made by Jeremy Clarkson that featured in Top Gear on Sunday 2nd November 2008.

The BBC’s response

“Top Gear is BBC Two’s long-running motoring show and its audience has clear expectations of Jeremy Clarkson’s long-established and frequently provocative on-screen persona and exaggerated humour.

These references did not go out without the BBC giving them careful consideration and we did not intend to cause offence.

We took the view that their inclusion was justified as we were taking an urban myth about the world of lorry driving, and then exaggerating it to an absurd level. The comments should be seen within the context of the programme”.

St Botolphs

Just what are they doing?

A beautiful historical church surrounded by a Mess of Ugly Buildings and Roads.

Forwarded Message – Lorries & Cyclists

“Tuesday 11th November will also see the Met stage a major joint operation with City of London Police and TfL to raise awareness. Two lorries will be used in a practical demonstration, held during the morning rush hour at Spital Square, E1, where cyclists will be invited to sit inside the lorry’s cab to see the limited vision of a lorry driver.If a cyclist is on the nearside of a lorry when it changes direction, lorry drivers can be blind to their presence and a collision can occur. Through raising awareness with both groups police hope to make the roads safer for everyone.”-

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Good but roads will be safer if the lorries went somewhere else!

We do need to be OFF THE ROAD!

Women Patentees

In view of the fact that the media is already ‘dumbing down’ Michelle Obama (who happens to be a lawyer) as another clothes horse, such as Jackie O, I thought I’d show you a
few patents designed for bicycles, by women, in the 1800s. Gasp!

This was done by Clarissa Jay of Adelaide, Australia in 1897 as a means of fixing an umbrella to a bicycle. (Geoff Hoone/The Boneshaker Mag 2008)

And this one, by Lady Mabel Lindley, of Abingdon, Oxon – a vehicle to carry bicycles. This patent was also dated 1897.

Women in the 1800s had lots of restrictions. Land that they owned reverted to her husband on marriage, so he had all the dosh! Before the Woman’s Property Act, they weren’t even allowed to earn their money from their job, so they wouldn’t have earned money from their inventions.

Instead what they did, was to create the patent but get their husband to register it. Finally, when the restrictions were allowed, the flood gates opened!

Even now in the 21st century, though we work, we are still being demeaned, just like Obama. Note that no one cares about how the President dresses! Then as soon as we open our mouths and give an opinion, it’s a faux pas! You just can’t win!

Just to let you know I am wearing a purple suit with a hat – just to keep in line with the 21st century! I will try and get the botox injections to go with it (I have been saving up for ages!).
I can only just about cope with Copenhagenchic, but trust me, there are more important things in the world than my clothes…. although, on a cold, wet crappy day, I will want the best woolly coat ..although I will raid the charity shop, not Prada, for it!

Motorists blocking entrances, despite Health & Safety

Ever on the trails of Walthamstow’s hypocrisy, http://www.crapwalthamhamforest.com had spied sinful churchgoers (motorists) a) blocking the church entrance b) and other on Double Yellow lines (with some rather ungodly language directed at the photographer who exposed the cardinal sin. If you go to church, you should lead by example I say.

Now this was very brave of the photographer (although I would probably do it when the driver wasn’t there – you know how ‘rough’ they can be, when they’ve been ‘rumbled’.

Only last week at my work, a white male motorist of say 55 (old enough to know better) was unable to get into the car park because it was full and so parked, lazily and selfishly, in the front entrance, blocking the place so creating a massive fire hazard, not to mention that disabled people would not be able to get out. I did speak to the driver who said ‘he was a bit silly’ but I made it quite clear (politely though!) that he could risk lives. I suggested that he parked elsewhere, if this happened again, or he could reserve a space instead. I may see if I can get my boss to put a sign saying ‘Do not (bloody!) block the entrance). (with motorists, you really have to spell the obvious).

Going back to Crapwalthamforest’s site, it was disappointing that the church didn’t have any bicycle stands, so it isn’t just work places, shops or doctors surgeries that often don’t have any.

The constant and relentless brainwashing that ‘the car is king’ still surrounds us.

Fireworks, and why I didn’t take the bike!

As you know, I went up to Waterloo at the weekend to see the fireworks (it was free!). There weren’t any roasted chestnuts. I have never been to a fireworks with none of these. I do like them so was a bit disappointed. Oh well, I expect that happens if it is a free one.

J and I found a place at the Royal Festival Hall and watched the fireworks light from the barges. I think next time we will find a place on a bridge as there were lots of trees in the way.

I actually didn’t take my bike and it was weird. I deliberately didn’t take a bike because I didn’t want to leave it tied up in London for ages. Crooks, being predictable, know you are at the fireworks and they waste no time in stealing them. So this time, they went empty handed.. well, my bike that is. It was really good to ‘beat ’em’. Even having an expensive lock is useless on Fireworks or other event night. I am getting more streetwise aren’t I?

I did notice some benefits of using the bus;

1) It went past all the dangerous areas, like Bow safely. It was really nice not to constantly worry if something is going to go into you although I did worry about whether it was going to run over cyclists or even stop in a cycle space. I wanted to take some pics but I was on the wrong side.
2) Even if you miss one, there are several in half an hour
3)It’s only a £1 with an oyster card
4) You don’t get wet
5) You can look at the window and be nosy.

Some disadvantages

1) Sometimes it is slower or about the same time as using the bike
2) It’s a hassle finding a shop or underground station just to top up your card
3) People look miserable. You would think they’re at a funeral!
4) They can be a bit bumpy
5) They can be crowded
6) It’s easy to lose or forget things if you have lots of stuff.

I was quite surprised not to see any fold up bikes on the bus.

I may use it occasionally as it is a lot more relaxing.

After the fireworks we went to the Poetry Cafe and had a look round the poetry magazines.

Aldgate ‘No Go’ Area For Cyclists

Here is my latest Youtube Video of that treacherous bike-phobic route!

I will take more videos as my blog progresses. There’s never a dull moment here and you never know, a vehicle, could do a hit and run… and I have got the b+stard on Video..and could be given to the police as evidence!

An American Bike in London

At the weekend I saw a shop that had an American bike in London. The shop was called ‘Buddha on a Bicycle’. (Apparently they made up the name ‘after a dream’)

I have put the video of the bike on my other blog http://www.thevintagecyclist.wordpress.com or
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_VAaATHmx1I – A 1950s Roadster.

It looks great.

Bike Jacking

I’ve been reading on bikecommuters.com, that a cyclist was bike jacked, and they wondered what to do.

The best bit of advice was to give the bike to the assailant because your own life is worth more than a piece of metal (even if it is your precious bike!).

However, I did wonder about using martial arts. Though it is, in principal, a good idea, I think that if you have a black belt, if you karate chop someone, as it were, it means that that is an ‘offensive weapon’ in law, so ie a bit ‘unbalanced’ even though the assailent deserves it, it’s you who would get in trouble. I’d be very careful.

I would suggest looking out for identifying features, clothes, shoes etc too.

I am glad the website raised awareness of this issue. Normally, what happens in the US, we get here.