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mark_davo

Listed below are comments made by mark_davo between Friday, 2nd May 2008 and Friday, 28th August 2009.

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What can music teach telly? 5:25pm on 28 Aug 2009 I personally think TV production companies need new models for how they distribute their shows. They should sell their shows to a wide range of international broadcasters all at once, and agree on a week (or maybe fortnight period) when the shows will broadcast. This would allow TV networks to gain bigger audiences, and also save production companies from having to rely purely on domestic TV ratings to decide if they renew their show.
It would also mean iTunes, etc. could make these shows available to download to international audiences immediately. Again, increasing income for production companies.

The internet is an international marketplace. People read about their favourite shows online, and like to be able to discuss the latest episode with people round the world. TV shows need to recognise this, and get their products out to international markets as soon as they can, allowing people to at least have the choice to download/watch them legally.
The End of Fortress Journalism 1:36pm on 17 Jul 2009 The instant access to news stories means that getting elusive 'exlusives' and breaking news first is no longer that important. Rather people are turning to news sources for the way the news is presented. And the personalised nature of today's information means there is no one form that will reign supreme.
I remember reading that a significant proportion of young Americans tune into Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" as their primary news source for example. It does mean having journalists who can write, present, and investigate stories will still be highly sought out, but I feel those with only one of those skills will become less desirable.
Freethinkers welcome! 5:25pm on 21 Jan 2009 "Free-thinkers" That's an interesting piece of doublespeak. Like Christians calling atheists 'heretics' or 'heathens'.

I was honestly more impressed he mentioned Muslims in the positive sense, especially to Bush's referral to the 'crusades' after 9/11. You can argue about whether atheists were out in the cold during the Bush years, but it would be folly to suggest they received anywhere near the treatment of Muslims in America.

The whole idea of "Obama is a Muslim" was the most disgraceful part of the presidential campaign. Aside from the lies that were perpetuated about the new President's past, the underlying idea of Muslim=evil is a real problem in America.

Having scientific ideas knocked down may be frustrating (global warming, stem cell research, etc.), but it's not as though atheists don't have a very strong voice in the media to answer those claims.
'Events dear boy, events!' 8:35pm on 31 Aug 2008 "Her creationist views are bound to become an issue (can you really have a president who denies basic truths about the world?)."

In response to those two statements: they're not bound to become an issue, simply because so many people in America believe in creationism, or simply won't care that much what Palin's views are on the issue. Liberals may decide to attack her on the issue, but if they do so, they risk attacking many Christian Obama supporters who won't appreciate their faith being attacked (regardless of their particular views on how the earth came into being).

And yes you can have a President who denies basic truths. In fact isn't that kind of their job? "No we're not in a recession"; "Climate Change isn't that big a deal"; "Energy Crisis? What Energy Crisis?"; "We're winning in Iraq"
I can guarantee her views on creation will not be a major factor (or indeed even a minor one) in the election. I'd be willing to bet they're never mentioned in any Obama/Biden campaign ads.
Crime: Lies and statistics 6:19pm on 17 Jul 2008 May I may one of the few people to actually believe these statistics.
As for the anecdotal evidence about lost purses in the comments - let me ask you this question: Has the way police record crimes like this changed in the last 5/10 years? If not, surely such crimes would not have been recorded 5/10 years ago.
Indeed let me suggest, with all the paperwork police complain about nowadays, crime has never been better recorded.

If every available statistic says crime is going down, I'm inclined to believe it. Regardless of certain individuals experiences.
BBC iPlayer 2.0: Sneak Preview 2:02pm on 26 Jun 2008 All of the above sound like great additions. Although it would it be possible to add a comments section to programmes? Or at the very least a link to the appropriate place in the BBC forums to discuss the latest episode of Doctor Who/The Apprentice/I'd Do Anything.

Also you mentioned creating RSS feeds for 'mashups'. Does that mean I could create a personalised RSS feed for the latest series of Torchwood/Top Gear/Ashes to Ashes? Rather than having to create separate feeds for each of these shows. If not, it should at least be possible to 'subscribe' to these shows, and have them appear on your personalised home page. (Much like getting Sky+ to automatically record your favourite series)

I also think the 'More Like These' bar should be changed to indicate what users who watched this programme also watched (much like amazon). Thereby giving users better quality recommendations.
Voter suppression? 7:20pm on 02 May 2008 "that millions of white Christians think that atheists are going to Hell: an equally cruel and divisive belief, and equally unsupported by scientific evidence."

Scientific evidence?! What a ridiculous thing to say. The question of athiest's ultimate destination is a theological question, not a scientific one. To call upon science for that particular answer is as ridiculous as calling upon it to tell us what is what 'love' is.

Also, I take issue with the fact Atheists care whether someone believes they are going to hell or not. If they don't believe such a place exists, why on earth would they care if someone thinks they are going there?

Also to equate such a belief with that of Wright's views on AIDS is insensitive, and intellectually barren.
The BBC is supposed to be an unbiased organization: not just politically but religiously as well. Your obvious skepticism of "millions of white Christians" and their beliefs seems to me to break that rule.

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