The James Kilgour BlogA Life Blog.

Controversy has erupted, after the BBC 2 radio broadcast of the Russell Brand show, featuring Jonathan Ross.

They made a call to Andrew Sachs, (one of the stars of Faulty Towers), and said that Brand had slept with his Granddaughter, along with other comments.

Announced last night, Brand has resigned from his £200,000 a year radio show on BBC 2, and Ross, (one of the biggest paid TV stars) has been suspended (with full pay).

After watching the clip form the show on YouTube, I can completely see why it was inappropriate and insulting to both Andrew and his Granddaughter, but I can also see the pretence of humour. If they had been directed towards a friend of Brand’s, or done as a set up with someone, it most likely would have been fine. The fact was, this was a 78 year old man.

Firing Brand and Ross perhaps would be going a  bit far, especially when this show was pre-recorded, and approved for broadcast. Obviously, some sanctions should be taken towards the “talent”, but the Directors of the BBC should take the ultimate rap.

JK

The X-Factor live shows are now really progressing, with the second act, Girlband, leaving the competition.

But, is the X-Factor really about the talent, or is it more to do with Sob-Stories?

We’ve got Daniel, who lost his wife, Rachel, the changed drug addict, Rachel, who just wants to be accepted in the UK, and the rest who if they “don’t do well tonight, I could go, and my dream would be shattered” blah blah blah. I’m so fed up with these people. They lived before the X-Factor, so no matter what they claim, they’ll live after.

Of course the entire show is geared towards sympathy. Those little pieces you see between acts, dive straight into tragedy, desperation and hope. I just wish Simon Cowell would stop focusing on getting votes and making money, and actually on talent. All these sad stories; such a bore.

JK

Today, BT has announced a ‘trial’ of fibre to the cabinets technology. In Muswell Hill, London, and Whitchurch, South Wales. Homes and businesses in the area will be able to enjoy broadband speeds of up to 40mb! The trial is due to start next year, and it’s definitely a step in the right way.

But why couldn’t they have done this earlier? What about the rest of us? In Japan and South Korea, users already enjoy 100mb broadband; costing the same as my 4mb! (Sky Unlimited, £10 per month).

The Internet is apparently on the brink of collapse, with the popularity of Youtube, BBC iPlayer and others. This would solve the issue, and make surfing the web amazingly fast. It would also lead to ‘Cloud Computing’, (the use of processing power of high performance computers elsewhere), which demands high speed Internet.

This is something I blogged about a few months ago. Hopefully BT’s trial will be proved successful!

JK

Camping. It’s something we’ve all done, whether as a kid, or as a cheap holiday. Pitch up a tent, somewhere nice, such as Cornwall, Devon or even the Cotswold’s, and enjoy a relaxing, active break.

But what makes a camping or caravanning holiday so good? For me, the camp site has to be really good, especially the local amenities. I’m a fan of golf, and so having a good course locally to where I’m staying is a big plus. Washing facilities are a must as well. Nothing is more annoying than not having a good, clean high quality shower to use, and also, a dishwasher. On holiday, why would you want to have to wash up plates manually? That defeats the point of a holiday being relaxing.

Other features that make a camping site enjoyable for me is having recreation halls, as well as “courses” to do, so that I can make friends with other campers. At a campsite in Devon that I visited recently, I learnt how to make paella. It was a fun experience, and I made friends with a family from Norfolk.

Of course, when the weather is hot enough, a swimming pool is a big bonus! Or at least a local leisure facility, where I can play badminton, or swim or even go to the gym. I’m a really active person, so for me, plenty of things need to be available to do. Great campsites also have amazing views, and places to go walking. In Wales for example, there are some absolutely stunning walks up in the mountains to enjoy. I come originally from Southern Wales, and I love going back to visit.

For choosing Campsites in the UK, I recommend the Camping and Caravanning Club’s Site Seeker, which allows you to search for sites that match your requirements.

JK

The X-Factor judges got more than they had planned for with Ariel. Looks like Simon Cowell was actually quivering in his boots, and this time not even about the singing. Some people just are academic enough… Simon prefers normal music, Ariel.

JK

This should be released as a single. It’s AMAZING! That Credit Crunch Stuff looks yum!

JK

Often, you see planes flying low to land or to takeoff at the airport,. It’s cool, to hear the booming noise of the engines, and to see the detail of the fuselage. The guy on this video though, got a bit more than what he expected. Notice how he nearly has a heart attack:

Note: Strong Language

JK

Digital Rights Management gives the Music Stores the ability to control the music we pay for. One click, and the track can instantly be disabled, and with one click, our possible usage limited and restricted. Apple for example, limits most iTunes downloads to only being played on 5 computers, and transferred to iPods. Napster, limits most tracks downloaded on it’s basic subscription package to only being played on three computers, and no portable media players.

But is this legal? Is this fair? DRM controls things that we have bought. Imagine if you were to wake up, and find that your toaster, no longer accepts bread unless it is of a particular brand. Or what about if your radio refuses to play anything other that a certain station. Is that what you paid for?

My problem, is what about if one of the online music stores goes bust. What happens if they deactivate their DRM licensing server. Where does that leave the consumer?

Music should be provided to the consumer, so that they we can do what we want with it. If we want it on a cd, or on a MP3 player of our choice, we should have that option. Not the record labels or the music venders.

JK

Ugly Betty has hit off a new series over in America, and I can’t wait for it to come Transatlantic.

Ugly Betty is one of my favourite American imports, (along with Friends and Everybody Loves Raymond).

So what makes is so good? It’s a hard question, and not everyone would agree on it’s brilliance. But I’m sure it’s the mix of comedy and the spirit of support for Betty that the program just inspires.

Of course, some of the storylines are far from belief, and everything from the clothes tot eh set design is garish, but still. That actually seems to be a bonus.

So continue Ugly Betty! I’m rooting for you, and hurry up over here to England!

JK