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Opinions - The BBC Dipping into Youtube for Viewers By Mo UPDATED BBC's BBC Phil Hayton Denies All knowlege
	The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known simply as the BBC, is the world's largest broadcasting corporation. It has 28,000 employees in the United Kingdom alone and an annual budget of more than £4 billion. Founded on 18 October 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company Ltd, it was subsequently granted a Royal Charter and Read more...

Opinions - Response to The BBC Dipping into YouTube for Viewers By Martin Deane
	Fire away Mo! Seconds out, round two. I actually have a soft spot for the Beeb but no, it's not my unrequited love for Neighbours or the Archers. Forgive me for lumping them together, apparently they're different despite hugely annoying theme tunes, but you may not know where I'm coming from yet. This is despite not having a TV licence which is how the BBC funds itself Read more...

Opinions - Lies And War Crimes By Michelle Dee
	The words "weapons of mass destruction" were noticeably absent from the speech by George W. Bush on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. The apocalyptic rhetoric used to firstly motivate the political will then move the might of the military forces was replaced by talk of regime change and removing Saddam Hussein from power. It is illegal to go to war in order to Read more...

Opinions - Censored By D R Callaghan
	A few minutes ago I used the readers comments facility in the online Hull Daily Mail to comment on the main story about the killing of Simon Murden. My comment: Ironic is it not? that the police are unable to crack down on the alcohol-fuelled yobs terrorising families, shopkeepers and the elderly, yet when faced with a young man who needs medical attention they can pump six bullets into him Read more...

Opinions - The Sexuality of the 9/11 Attacks By Christopher Skolik
	The Pentagon is itself a potent symbol of manhood and military virility. It goes without saying that was an act of violent homoerotic self extinction and assault-as if the terrorists could not survive such an act of homoerotic penetration, their out dated belief system and self ideation would not allow it-no matter how metaphorical the act. Only the unification of sex and death could breach that gap. Read more...

Opinions - Iraq War Theme Park By Christopher Skolik
	War seems to be a human necessity, a requirement on some basic level. To counteract the dangers of random disorganised war springing up I suggest we turn Iraq into a fully functioning war zone theme park -all the benefits of paint balling but with the relief of tension that only live ammunition and Read more...

Opinions - Notes Toward a Chavology By Christopher Skolik
	The local Hull 'chav' lad needs profiling and placing in his rightful context. Fiercely proud of his 'thickness'- intelligence is not to be trusted, it might unleash all kinds of awful weirdness upon his world, a world he clings to with the whitened knuckles of the drowning man, the perennial cry of 'Don't get clever with me' echoes across council estates of the north ... Read more...

Opinions - Maureen Lipman at Pave By Sean
	Just saw Maureen Lipman at a reading at the Pave. It took two attempts to gain entrance. At the first attempt i was turned away on the grounds that it was a private function - apparently i didn't look 'Avenues' enough. I'm Avenues enough to have my taxes pay for it, mind. I just got in in time to catch a couple of 'anecdotes' which mocked the poverty of working Read more...

Opinions - All At Sea Or Way Out West? (Orwellian Nightmare Or Whitehall Farce?) By D R Callaghan
	Admiral Sir Alan West wants us to 'snitch' on our neighbours, friends and even on our own family. Who's he? I hear you ask. He's none other than the Government's new 'Security Minister'. Isn't it comforting to know that we now have a 'Security Minister' (Big Brother?) looking after our 'way of life'? The former First Sea Lord also warned that Britain faces a 15-year battle Read more...

Opinions - Candle In The Wind By Jim Higo
	Who'd want to be a Bosnian landmine victim? Terrible injuries, lost limbs, scarred for life and then to cap it all, when you thought it couldn't get any worse, you get a visit from Princess Diana. Just when it seemed your life had reached its absolute nadir, you see her coming at you with those big eyes, like a spaced out Desert Orchid. Read more...

Opinions - Depart For New Earth By David Sloan
	Depart for new earth AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Professor Stephen Hawking said recently that for the human race to survive we must gain a foothold on another planet, and as if by divine intervention our astronomers soon found another earth-like planet in the heavens. It has a mass five times that of earth and is probably made of the same sort of rock with Read more...

Opinions - Trees Are Bastards By Sally Satan
	Now amidst all the current chatter of climate change inevitably being a Bad Thing, the still small voice of calm must be heard. How many people do you know who have died recently as a direct result of climate change? Exactly. None. And yet we go on, beating ourselves up for being human and not animal or mineral, and for ruining the planet. But we should Read more...

Opinions - The Reception of Wisdom By Kenton Hall
	There is a story that I tell. I likely tell it far too often and one of these days, a friend or family member is going to sneak up behind me and garrotte me with a length of fishing line. No, it's not the one about that. Or that one, either. Now that I think about it, there are many stories that I tell too often. However, the story I am referring to today recalls the moment Read more...

Opinions - Divided We Fall By Lee Cassanell

	"The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them" Karl Marx So Tony Blair's pledge to end poverty has taken a kick in the teeth after the news that 300,000 (or 200,000 or 100,000 depending on which paper or website you read) more children have slipped below the line. Read more...

Opinions - Real Men Do Not Need Real Doll.com By Jo Allison
	At age 12, little girls and boys should put Barbie and Ken back to sleep safely in their plastic boxes, as adults move on from pretend friends, to actual ones. But for a select group of scary cyborg-lovers who prefer plastic to flesh, life size Real Dolls made from 100% silicone are the next step up from Barbie dolls. They make the perfect playmates, so I'm told. But who exactly Read more...

Opinions - Goody, Goody, Yum, Yum - Racism and Jade Goody By Lee Cassanell
	We all decry prejudice, yet are all prejudiced; Herbert Spencer The problem with racism is there is currently no well known or vicious enough word that another race can use to discriminate against white people. In fact during an extensive search of the internet the only even mildly offensive term I could find was "Honky" and if you are white and offended Read more...

Opinions - In Response To Fiona Carr's Hands On Our Arts By Esther Windsor
	I am writing in response to Fiona Carr's recent article Hands On Our Arts in the Opinions section of thisisull.com : /opinions/1605225053_fionacarr.html to say that Hull Time Based Arts is alive and well. In the article discussing funding of art and cultural services in Hull she says 'We have seen the collapse of Hull Art Lab, we saw Hull Time Based Arts Read more...

Opinions - In Response to The Mental Alchemist's Save Our Free School Meals
	Original article: 1006006399_saveschoolmeals.html Mental Alchemist shows an unerring ability to turn gold into lead with the mixture of inaccuracy, sloppy thinking, and basic political illiteracy. To start at the most basic there is not a Liberal Party Cabinet on Hull City Council. Indeed, despite all the treachery and re-branding exercises, there is not even a Liberal on the Council. Read more...

Opinions - Hands On Our Arts By Fiona Carr
	ThisisUll has good arts coverage and a clear interest in the vibrancy of the cultural scene, even if it seems a bit indie/ethnic leaning. It may well be that nobody is interested in the Art galleries and museums, or the City Hall/New Theatre though there was a time events were featured on these pages around 2004. However it is astonishing not one Read more...

Opinions - In support of Jack 'Last' Straw By Pablo Luis Gonzàlez
	I watched in disbelief as people walked around dressed in a most shameful and obscene diversity of clothes: A young woman in faded blue jeans, brown boots and low cut yellow top. A man in a dark blue suit and tie. A woman wearing the niqab. A young woman in dark blue jeans, green jacket and sporting a disdainful smile. A man in a dark suit and red tie. Read more...

Opinions - Response to Michelle Dee's Gigging in Hull By Darren Bunting Music HQ

	I enjoyed your article on thisisull about the local bands / promoters / scene at the moment and as a musician and promoter I agreed with 99% of what you said. The only thing I would argue/add would be that there are some promoters and venues who do try and make the effort for the artists (my gigs being one I hope LOL) where acts get Read more...

Opinions - Response to Michelle Dee's Gigging in Hull By Dj Mak

	In response to my good friend Michelle Dee's Gigging In Hull piece on ThisisUll.com I thought it be right for me to explain the stance and ethos of The Sesh at The Linnet & Lark on Princes Ave. The night was started nearly four years ago - 4th Birthday Celebrations in October -and was set up by myself with the help of Martin Knight of The Favours Read more...

Opinions - Gigging in Hull By Michelle Dee

	First up, I think that bands should limit themselves as to how many local gigs they play. Who is going to pay pounds to see a band at Adelphi or Piper when you can see them at the Sesh for free? Some of the bands are limiting themselves to only playing two or three local gigs a month which makes sense. Don't forget the old adage; absence Read more...

Opinions - Response To Michelle Dee's Review Of Phonic Voices At Urban Artz Festival By Paul Rush
	I just read your review of Phonic Voices at the Urban Arts Festival: 'Today it came in the form of Nicky a didgeridoo player from Phonic Voices music collective, with a uniquely special sound. It was a moment not to dissimilar to the one in the town of Hamlyn when a certain piper enticed all the rodents away, from the town. Nicky began to play her instrument Read more...

Opinions - Things Can Only Get Bitter By David Sloan
	I'm sick to death of listening to people moaning about New Labour. They've only recently been voted in for a third term in office with a large credible majority. So just what do people want? Yes, things have got better under New Labour. If you're a burglar, mugger, paedophile, illegal immigrant, rapist or terrorist, things have definitely got better. Under New Labour, Read more...

Opinions - It's Only A Game By Dave F
	Question - What do you call an Englishman in a World Cup Final??? Answer - Referee. Like most people in the country, I'm asking myself why... Why didn't we get through to the final? Why didn't Sven take better strikers? Why??? Actually, I'm asking myself why the England team turn to jelly at the mention of the word Penalty, and why we have to listen to excuses like Read more...

Opinions - Save Our Free School Meals By The Mental Alchemist
	Q. What do you get if you cross neo-liberal economic policy with a liberal party city council? A. No bloody change and the end of free school meals in Hull. I sat in stunned belief whilst watching Look North today, as it was announced that Hull City Council have put a price on the health and wellbeing of all our children, and it's less than £4 million. It actually cost the council a Read more...

Opinions - Response To The Grim Reaper's Article By Chris Wolds
	Hello thisisull team, I have just finished reading the piece written by the Grim Reaper titled Response To Arts Council Article. I read with interest what was there, just as I did the original article and the follow-ups. It puzzles me that these other comments have been published and those persons responsible for them have had their opinions aired. I have always seen this site as Read more...

Opinions - Money, School and Red-Tape: Education for Kids in Hull By Gregory Anderson
	Education in Hull is changing. Almost a third of our secondary schools are being demolished. Nearly £200m is to be invested in new schools. So let us not mince our words - the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project proclaims that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive reform of the secondary system and improvements in educational Read more...

Opinions - Response To Arts Council Article By The Grim Reaper
	We can guess it's a guy that wrote the anonymous letter regarding Lou Duffy Howard receiving money from the Arts Council for the Grassroots festival. As a matter of fact Duffy Howard and 'Full Flava' David Okwesia set up the Grassroots thing and we all work together in making it happen to benefit the local community. So to whoever wrote the letter I would just like to say Read more...

Opinions - Fickle Voters By Mark Pollard

	I watched a TV programme the other night about the seemingly endless, unaccounted and under-investigated murder of scores of young women by street gangs in Guatemala. As a father of three girls myself it was heart-breaking stuff that made me thankful to live in the UK; the 'scandal' of John Prescott shagging his secretary hardly seems to matter by comparison. Read more...

Opinions - If The Council Won't Sort This Out, We Will By Pete Stitt
	I felt it was only fair to give the readers of thisisull an update of non-events since the issue of Arts Council grants, Council and other funding for multicultural events was raised by one anonymous writer and half of the Kurdish community in Hull. I think we have waited long enough for 'stage two' of this saga. I sent several emails to Ken Branson, who I know to be an honourable man, and he Read more...

Opinions - Blair Is No Churchillian Statesman By David Sloan
	Every day now we read more and more New Labour sleaze stories. Cash for knighthoods, offshore accounts for ministers, weapons of mass destruction which never existed to name but a few. I could go on with tough on crime, and the causes of crime. When magistrates have now been told not to even jail offenders. You can rob, rape or kill by dangerous driving and expect no Read more...

Opinions - Hull City Council 2006 - Changing Or Caging Us? By Gregory Anderson
	Hull City Council is changing. Having recently improved its rating infinity percent -from zero stars to one star - a new council seems to be evolving. Into what, you may ask? An aggressive political powerhouse to empower the people? Or an experiment of existential dustbin policy? Whatever this nameless Hullian perceives the council's policies to be, recent history says one thing is Read more...

Opinions - Wanadoo Offers Schadenfreude at 10p a minute By Greg Anderson
	Do you find junk mail bellicose nonsense? Same here. Amusing? At times, yes. Annoying? Always, I agree. So are you yet to experience the silent delight of receiving Wanadoo's broadband advertisement through your letterbox? Do you want to know how junk mail could make you smile? Read on. An established internet company, Wanadoo proclaim Read more...

Opinions - Response To Criticism Of The Night Shift And The Hull Blokes By Ian Ahmed Newton
	Regarding Steven Greendale's criticism of the Hull Blokes which I understand included some comments about one of my books, The Night Shift. I would say to Mr Greendale, that if you live in Hull, we have enough people outside this city who like to take a knock at those who are trying to promote the city. I also believe that we have many in power within this city who have also done little Read more...

Opinions - Response To Arts Council Article - People Rewriting Our History In Their Own Image By Pete Stitt
	I would like to thank the Editor of Hami Kurd magazine for waking me from a sort of self-imposed coma this week. I had walked away from the local asylum situation, completely disillusioned, as loads of middle class white (and ethnic minority) English individuals and organisations came flooding into the 'industry' when it became clear there were funding opportunities. Read more...

Opinions - Praise For Ian Newton's The Night Shift By Andy Brown
	I am formerly from Hull and my daughter still lives there. I keep up with events going on with help of your website. It's great. I saw that stuff about The Night Shift book by Ian Newton. My daughter sent me a copy for Christmas and all I can say is that this book almost gave me a hernia with laughter. I have never read a book so funny and so spot on about working night shifts. Read more...

Opinions - In response to Joe Hakim's Opinion: The King is Dead ... Again. By Kay
	Well, this post reminded me of a railway station at midnight, where the only inhabitants are drunken tramps spitting out a string of semi-coherent invective. I really don't see how you can criticise anyone else Joe, when you come off sounding like an unbalanced style-less dumbfuck. I bet your keyboard took a hammering there as you released your ultimate weapon . . . Read more...

Opinions - Response To Steven Greendale's Article By Mark Pollard
	To Steven Greendale: You're a bright lad, aren't you? Firstly, you accuse Anthony Newlyne of taking a poke at Ian Newton's book The Night Shift, when Newlyne's enjoyment of and respect for Newton's work is made quite clear despite the article being somewhat ironic in parts. How could you not have understood this, Mr Greendale? Can't you read properly? Secondly, you have a Read more...

Opinions - The King Is Dead...Again By Joe Hakim
	Well, I've just read Steve Regan's latest column, and I'm glad to see that the old cigar-chomping fuckwit hasn't let me down. I can still remember seeing his mug leering out from the top of his shitty sub-Gary Bushell column in the Hull Daily Mail, and by the look of it he hasn't managed to land his dream job as a Sun hack, but then again, even people who write for the tabloids need Read more...

Opinions - Hull By Wesy G

	Over the years, my experience of Hull has been limited to 80 minute slots of rugby or trips through to the P & O dock. Until recently. Via my job I have been working in East Hull for several months and have been surprised, disappointed, fulfilled and benefited in equal measure. Yes, the stereotypes of Hullers being cynical, defensive etc often hold true but to be honest Read more...

Opinions - Response To Steven Greendale's Article By Andrew Hampel
	Hull has always been groundbreaking. From Amy Johnson and William Wilberforce to the invention of LCDs and the Venn diagram. Not to forget the first Ferro concrete bridge and public crematorium. I could go on. It is for these reasons I am always saddened that the image of Hull often promoted by those from outside and even worse, inside the city, is Read more...

Opinions - Three Piece Bands By Rob Aarosin

	I thought I would send some feedback about an old article which I stumbled on whilst looking round your site. It relates to Nick Quantrill's Pave - Linnet and Lark 05 February 2004 music/pavenicklinet.html review (yes I know its old but I really thought I should comment on what was said), especially the part where he claimed there were/are not really any Read more...