That sounds interesting, but unfortunately I can't access it from the UK "as it is part of our international service and is not funded by the licence fee." That's right; I pay for a licence to watch TV (well, to fund the BBC), but since I didn't technically pay for that particular editorial content, I don't get to see it.

Anyways, your post appears to actually be about helmets and may encourage replies which put this thread in danger of violating its mission statement. Odd as it is to suddenly find myself vigilent about topicality, to avoid a lock that's one topic I need to steer clear of, unless given dispensation by a moderator.

The BBC, on the other hand, I'd be happy to briefly alight upon.

A lot of people here don't like what they consider to be extortion, as even if you never view their programming you have to pay to watch TV at all. Actually, that covers live TV; things like iPlayer – a kind of Tivo – are currently exempt.

I don't really mind coughing up, as much as one can not mind paying a bill (£144.50 this year); it's nice to have an oasis of noncommercial television* and I find it worth supporting. If only the programming was better value. I feel they try too hard to ape what they see as the competition, rather than provide a quality alternative. They have some great stuff! Just not enough of it. It's also far too pro-establishment for my taste, but that's probably to be expected from state television.


* except for lots of promos and commercials for themselves. Perfect Day and free running are classics. People hugging things is beautifully shot and wonderfully quirky. (That's BBC radio, which is exempt from the fee.)

The BBC also stands accused of unleashing teletubbies on the world to entertain small people.



Finally, here's Bicycle Repairman. Probably wouldn't belong in a Best of the Flying Circus compilation, but it's a way of riding a bike through this post.