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Tag Archives: Express & Star
Hawking rubbish
I really shouldn’t respond to this kind of thing, but the stupidity and utter ignorance of this one is really, really annoying me. I’m not a birder, I’m not even a member of the RSPB. However, all regular readers will … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged agriculture, biodiversity, cats, corvid, Cycle rides, cycling, decline, Express & Star, Farming, habitat, hawk, J Mallen, magpie, population, predator, raptor, Silly, songbirds, sparrow hawk, Wildlife
9 Comments
Snouts in the trough
I note from today’s Express & Star (3rd January 2012) that the plan to increase Walsall Councillors Personal Allowances has again reared it’s ugly head. It seams that soon, the cabinet will vote wether to give themselves a juicy pay … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged austerity, Cheap tat, Councillor Aloowance, Express & Star, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, pay increase, Personal Allowance, Politics, Sean Coughlan, Silly, Social Services, The Plastic Hippo, Tim Oliver, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
10 Comments
Oops, I nearly forgot…
I’ve been meaning to say for a few days now that for anyone visiting Chasewater at the moment, the eastern dam route has reopened to pedestrians and cyclists. This means that for the first time in 12 months, park users … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged boxing day, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cycle rides, cycling, Dam, Express & Star, Graham Evans, local blogs, Local politics, planning, Reopening, Reservoir, sailing club, Staffordshire, Wildlife
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If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
I note today with some concern from a report in the Express & Star that Walsall Council is talking about moving the Local History Centre and Archives, as well as the local history museum, into a new custom-built centre near … Continue reading
Posted in Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, Express & Star, Leisure Services, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, move to new site, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Leather Museum, Walsall Local History Centre, Walsall Local History Museum, Walsall politics
2 Comments
Interesting proposal for Staffordshire Hoard fans
I notice an interesting proposal has been put forward from Brownhills Blog reader and Clayhanger Kid Brian Stringer, to erect an information point near to where the Staffordshire Hoard was found in Brownhills. This doesn’t sound like a bad idea … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills Hoard, Brownhills local history, campaign, Express & Star, Hammerwich, Hammerwich parish map, information, Local History, Local politics, monument, Ogley Hay, Sandhills, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Staffordshire hoard, Warrenhuse, West Midlands
2 Comments
Stay pressed
In the wake of the continuing closure of local papers, this time in Cannock and South Staffordshire, there’s a very interesting article written by good friend of the Brownhills Blog, Stuart Williams, over at he is revitalised Bloxwich Telegraph. I … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Blowich Telegraph, Bloxidge Tallygraph, Brownhills, Cheap tat, Common people, Connect Cannock, Express & Star, Jayne Howarth, local blogs, local journalism, local press, New media, press decline, Stuart Williams, The Plastic Hippo, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Observer, WV11
5 Comments
Cash robbery at Crash! Bang! Wallop! centre in Brownhills
Bob’s note: This story is from 2011. No idea what it’s being shared again. It’s not current. Cheers Bob This is a nasty one – if anyone has any information, please do come forward and contact Walsall Police or Crimestoppers. … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Crah bang wallop, Express & Star, Lindon Road, play centre, Raid, Robbery, Shire Oak, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police
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Walsall Wood Library under threat
I notice from Monday’s Express & Star that Walsall council – fresh from their self congratulation over the promise not to close any libraries ‘…in this financial year’, seem to be tentatively floating the idea of moving Walsall Wood’s Library … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Cheap tat, Closure, Express & Star, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Mike Flower, Oak Park, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Library
5 Comments
Chasewater: Plugging away
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of days, you’ve probably noticed a host of stories about the ‘plug being put back in at Chasewater’ and a lot of self-congratulatory claptrap from the dam team, largely … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged BBC, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, culvert, Cycle rides, cycling, Express & Star, Graham Evans, local blogs, Local politics, New Photos, planning, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Wildlife
2 Comments
Armed robbery last night in Brownhills?
Apparently, there was a robbery incident in Brownhills last night. Anyone got any information, please? Brownhillsbob at googlemail dot com. Thanks. Added 1:25pm: It was a raid on the commercial scrap yard at Springhill, between Barracks Lane and Lichfield Road. … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Armed, Brownhills, Express & Star, Facebook, Helicopter, Police, Raid, Robbery, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
Ticket to raid?
I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that the parking system in Walsall, and it’s enforcement, is a scam directed at easy targets for maximum profit. Chuckery resident TraceyQ, a well respected, community spirited, long time friend of this blog, who … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged APCOA, Chuckery, easy pickings, Express & Star, fines, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, on street parking, Parking, parking enforcement, parking fines, PCN, penalty notice, Politics, Silly, Tesco Development, TraceyQ, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
6 Comments
Synchronicity…
It’s funny how some things coincide. Last Monday (5th September) on my 365daysofbiking Tumblr, I posted a photograph of the now-closed Mango Tree restaurant on the Chester Road, near Stonnall. In a coincidence of extraordinary happenstance, later in the week … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged #30daysofbiking, #365daysofbiking, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cafe, Chester Road, curry, Derelict, Express & Star, Facebook, local blogs, Local History, Mango Tree, Mike Parkes, New Photos, new restaurant, Old transport Cafes, Panoramio, Pigblog, planning, Redevelopment, Saffron, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Stymaster, tumblr, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
The madness of King Bird
If I’m honest, the world-weary citizens of Walsall long ago tired of local politics. Voter turnouts are low at local elections, and fed up of never really seeing any improvements in their local areas despite years of multi-whatever committees, LNP’s, … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Cheap tat, Conservative, Derelict, Express & Star, King Bird, Labour, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, Tim Oliver, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
18 Comments
On borrowed time…
Since there’s been a welcome focus on the treatment of our local architectural heritage in the days since the Jabez Cliff fire in Walsall, I thought I’d once again delve into the urban exploration community and their activities in Walsall. … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 28dayslater, arson, BOAK, Cheap tat, civic failure, Derelict, Dweeb, Express & Star, Fire, Guardians office, Jabez Cliff, Leatherworks, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mellish Road church, Mike Bird, New Photos, planning, Politics, Ravenscraig, Redevelopment, rookinella, Silly, urban exploration, Urbex, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Union, Workhouse
10 Comments
Hide and seek
This week, we lost another historic building to a fire in Walsall. I covered the event here. on my 365daysofbiking Tumblr and one of the side effects on YouTube. The Stymaster lamented it, as did the Hippo. Today, there’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Andy Dennis, arson, donebythehandsofabrokenartist, Express & Star, Fire, Flicker, heritage, Hev Ince, Imran Azam, Indy 500, Jabez Cliff, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, old buildings, Pigblog, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shannon's Mill, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The Stymaster, Twitter, Urbex, Vandalism, VERY URGENT photography, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
18 Comments
Medium rare (via The Plastic Hippo)
This evening, I was planning to write on the subject of the terrible fire at the former Jabez Cliff works (indeed, I mentioned it on my 365daysofcycling mini-blog) but the Plastic Hippo has once again beaten my tardy arse to it, and … Continue reading
Posted in cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged arson, Cycle rides, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, heritage, Jabez Cliff, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, old buildings, Pigblog, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shannon's Mill, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The Stymaster, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
7 Comments
Another former pub goes up in smoke
After reporting the thankfully apparently minor fire that occurred at the long-closed Rising Sun pub in Brownhills West on Friday, 5th August 2011, it seems that conflagration in former hostelries is contagious. The following Sunday, 7th August 2011, the old … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged A5, arson, Brownhills, Cheap tat, closed pubs, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, Fleur de lys, Local History, New Photos, Old pubs, Pubs, Restaurant, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Water Margin, Watling Street
2 Comments
Rising Sun: damage not as bad as suspected
Just took a spin out up to the Rising Sun to check out the damage. Despite the grim tone of the original article, superficially there’s little outward evidence of serious structural damage. Might be worse at the back; I didn’t … Continue reading
The sun sets on another pub
So, farewell then, to the Rising Sun. It appears that on Friday night idiots broke into the old, derelict pub and started a fire that caused considerable damage. Yet again it appears a piece of our collective history has fallen … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged arson, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills West, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Redevelopment, Rising Sun, Silly, smoking ban, Vandalism
25 Comments
A pressing issue
On Saturday, 16th July 2011, Express & Star columnist Dan Wainwright ran his usual column about local government in the region. Even though Walsall Council is gripped by a Single Status pay controversy, as is Dudley, and other notable stuff … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Cheap tat, Daily Mail, Dan Wainwright, Eric Pickles, Express & Star, Lazy Journalism, local blogs, Local politics, media, Peter Rhodes, Politics, Rebekah Brooks, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The YamYam, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Neighbourhoods, Walsall politics, walsall Wildlife
1 Comment
Toxic assets: Brownhills Businesss Park housing plan withdrawn
I noted with some amusement on Friday that the planned scheme to build nearly a hundred dwellings on the business park on the corner of Lindon Road and Coppice Road in Walsall Wood had been abandoned. This project has been … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ashtenne Industrial Fund, Brownhills, Brownhills business park, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Road Housing Development, Effluent Disposal Limited, Express & Star, Industrial Effluent, Local History, Local politics, planning, Planning appeal, Planning Inspectorate, Redevelopment, Silly, Toxic waste, Veolia, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood Colliery
4 Comments
Brownhills Canal Festival this Sunday
I notice yet again that it’s time for the Brownhills Canal Festival. Always a great event, it takes place this Sunday, 26th June, from 10am till 4pm, and I’m keen to support it however I can. Despite offering free promotional … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills canal festival, Brownhills Canal Festival 2010, Brownhills Canal Festival 2011, Brownhills events, Brownhills local history, Canal, canal boats, canal festival, Doug Birch, Express & Star, planning, Silly, Things to do, Walsall
8 Comments
The Swan pub to live again
I missed this originally, but after a bin-dive into the recycling bin, I can now bring you news that the The Swan, on Pelsall Road, Brownhills, has been saved from ruin and will reopen at some point in July. This … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Craig Huges, Derelict, Express & Star, Geoff Taylor, Jane Taylor, Local History, Pelsall Road, planning, Pub reopening, Pubs, Redevelopment, Reopening, Swan Inn, Swan Reopening, The Swan
10 Comments
Some good news for once
Another press release from Jo Hunt at West Midlands Police. Whilst the mobility scooter thieves who struck in Brownhills last week have yet to have their collars felt, it’s nice to note that there are some remarkably kind and generous … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, crime, Crimestoppers, Express & Star, Fourth Avenue, Jo Hunt, John Richardson, Mobility scooter theft, PC Julie Armstrong, Police appeal, scooter, Stolen, Theft, Vandalism, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
Brownhills – let’s talk it up…
Here’s an interesting experiment. Features writer for the Express & Star, Chris Davies, is writing a piece about life in Walsall, and would like recommendations for good Brownhills businesses, places to go, historic stories etc. for a positive feature on … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local music, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bloxidge Tallygraph, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Chasewater, Chris Davies, Clayhanger, Express & Star, local blogs, Local History, local journalism, Pubs, Shire Oak, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
10 Comments
Scumbags yet to be caught…
It was good to see that on Friday, the Express & Star and subsequently the Birmingham Mail caught up with the awful story of the mobility scooter being stolen from Brownhills. The commonality of the language used in both articles … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Birmingham Mail, Brownhills, crime, Crimestoppers, Elizabeth Joyce, Express & Star, Fourth Avenue, John Richardson, Mobility scooter theft, PC Julie Armstrong, Police appeal, scooter, Stolen, Theft, Vandalism, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
Electile Dysfunction
It’s almost a year to the day since I wrote this post, urging readers to take up their democratic right and vote. I thought about this again today, on the eve of local elections and the referendum on the Alternate … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged AV referendum, ballot, Brownhills, David Cameron, Democratic process, Express & Star, local blogs, Local Elections, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, Silly, Social Services, Tesco, Tesco Development, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
11 Comments
Clayhanger canal incident rumours circulate
I realise that there was an incident at Clayhanger Bridge yesterday afternoon (26th April 2011) that has caused some understandable gossip and rumour in the area. The good news is that, contrary to what you may have heard, nobody died. … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged appeal for information, body in canal, Brownhills, Canal, Clayhanger, Clayhanger body, Clayhanger Bridge, drowning, Express & Star, Facebook, man in canal, Police, Twitter, West Midlands Police
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The Wall
I see that the Express & Star have finally jumped the shark. They’re introducing a paywall, so that most of their online daily content is subscriber only. In short, there’s very little on their website that you’ll be able to … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged bloggers, Cheap tat, Express & Star, hyperlocal, journalism standards, journalistic suicide, local blogs, local journalism, local newspapers, paywall, Silly, The YamYam, Twitter
6 Comments
Welcome back – The YamYam returns…
Just a quick note to point out that popular local news and opinion site, The YamYam has returned. Thanks in no small part to the dedicated work of Mark Blackstock, the curator, @Hapdaniel a real live web wizard and … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Express & Star, Hapdaniel, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mark Blackstock, The YamYam, Tim Brown, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Blogs, Walsall Council, Walsall local news, Walsall politics
1 Comment
Petering out
Hey Mr. Rhodes – there’s a world of difference between Wikileaks and Wikipedia. Although there are many suspect things put up on Wikipedia, Bradley Manning, isn’t as far as I can tell, suspected of posting any of them. JFGI.
I have nothing to add…
…except this is all a bit surreal. Nice pic of The Edditer, though.
Posted in Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged apps, Chris Davies, ConnectCannock, Express & Star, Favouite apps, Ian Mellet, iPhone, local blogs, Silly, Steph Jennings, Stuart Williams, WV13
3 Comments
Payne killer
I see Ian Payne has crawled out of the darkness to issue judgment once more, yet again bombarding the press with his latest fatwa. It seems that our erstwhile Richard Littlecock is now qualified to judge the mental health of … Continue reading
Posted in Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Any Questions, Express & Star, Express & Star letters, Ian Payne, Kelvin MacKenzie, Labour, Liberal Left, Lichfield, PC, Political Correctness, Radio 4, Walsall, Walsall Chronicle
6 Comments
Hit and myth
I was amused to note tonight that after my ribbing here a few days ago, Peter Rhodes, columnist in the Express & Star, was man enough to acknowledge his vectoring of the hanged outlaw myth. It takes balls to do … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged columists, crap journalism, Express & Star, horse theif myth, Hung Ancestor, Peter Rhodes, Remus Rodham Debunked, Silly, Snopes, Truthorfiction, Urban Myths, Walsall
1 Comment
Ramblings of a Mad Old Baggage: A hoax scam
Whilst I was grumbling about urban myths being propagated by Peter Rhodes the other day, that excellent local blogger Linda Mason has crafted a fine blog post about such dissemination elsewhere. Neighbourhood watch newsletters are notorious vectors of urban myths, … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged blue star acid, Brownhills, Burglars code, cashback scam, Coriolis effect, Express & Star, Hairy Hitchiker, Hoax, Linda Mason, local blogs, LSD tattoos, LSD transfers, neighbourhood watch, Newsletter, Ramblings of a Mad Old Baggage, Scam, Silly, Snopes, urban legend, Urban myth, water drain swirl
1 Comment
Somewhere, in the distance…
Today is the last day of that wonderful Walsall institution, The YamYam. Yes, I’m afraid that the site that was instrumental and continual in support for The Brownhills Blog, is being mothballed as Mark, the chap behind this king of … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged aggregator, Andy Holyhead, Blogging, blogs, Bob Piper, Brownhills, Derek Bennett, end of an era, Express & Star, hyperlocal, Jayne Howarth, local blogs, Local politics, Localism, Mark Blackstock, Pheasey Views, Stuart Williams, The Plastic Hippo, The YamYam, The YamYam closure, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Online, Walsall politics
4 Comments
Peter Rhodes: a keen advocate for recycling
I noted with some amusement on Friday last that whilst Peter Rhodes, columnist in the Express & Star, continued his tradition of shamelessly handcrafting a column out of crap jokes, recycled tidbits from the middlebrow tabloids and sub-Littlejohn shock sludge, … Continue reading
Why am I not surprised?
At the risk of irritating the anglers again, it seems like Bob, the copper carp dangling from the Walsall Wood angler’s pole has gone missing again. I’m pretty sure the fish was there earlier in the week – I’ve been … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Express & Star, Fisherman sculpture, Local History, Local politics, missing fish, Politics, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, walsall wood fish theft, Walsall Wood sculpture
7 Comments
Another triumph for investigative journalism
I am indebted to reader Neil, who supplied the scan of last Wednesday’s Express & Star article about the planning application to convert the peaceful wildlife haven of Ryders Mere into a commercial leisure fishery. Regrettably, I missed this one, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged birding, Brownhills, Chaz Mason, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Marsh Log, Commercial Angling, Express & Star, local blogs, Local jourtnalism, Local politics, Local Wildlife, Parkhill Estates, planning, Railswood, Redevelopment, Ryders Hayes, Ryders Hayes Lane, Ryders Mere, Silly, SSSI, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Wildlife
4 Comments
Wake up Walsall (via The Plastic Hippo)
The sharp-eyed amongst you will have noticed that yesterday, Ian Payne commented on the post I made about him in which I expressed my sincerely held opinions about his latest missives to the local press. It seems that, as Jones … Continue reading
The importance of local knowledge
I notice the good folks at the Express & Star still seem to be having trouble with accuracy on their local patch. This puff piece, pointlessly punted for Walsall Council’s Arboretum revamp project would be fine if the hapless hack … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council
Tagged Arboretum regeneration, Arboretum revamp, Bandstand, Express & Star, flickr, Gazebo, Local History, Local politics, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Rugeley Power Station, south staffordshire water, tonym666, Walsall, Walsall Arboretum, Walsall Council
1 Comment
Because they’re worth it
Next time Walsall Council leader Mike ‘Blofeld’ Bird or his two-hundred thousand pounds per year Chief Executive Paul Sheehan appear in the media preaching about hard times, corporate governance and their worth to the citizens of Walsall, reflect on this. … Continue reading
Posted in Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Cheap tat, Contract, Costa, Express & Star, Local politics, Lost artwork, Mike Bird, New Art Gallery, Politics, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
16 Comments
A short message for Ian Payne
Hello Ian. I see you’ve been carpet-bombing the local press again with your latest work, a dismal why-oh-why whinge, a pathetic attempt at Dickensian fictional imagery that fell someway short of a penny dreadful. I won’t repeat it here, because that … Continue reading
I think you’ll find it doesn’t work like that
This has to be a windup. Spotted on the Express & Star letters page, Wednesday, 24th November 2010. Before branding others ‘fools’, perhaps it would be a good idea to think about how stuff works. Comedy gold. Does the extra … Continue reading
Now, where did they get that from…
Today, I noted that the Express & Star (motto: ‘that’ll do Ted, it’ll only be holding chips tomorrow’) were rightly having a whinge about the cost of graffiti vandalism, something I’ve had occasion to moan about myself. Fair enough, move … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills graffiti, Express & Star, Graffiti, Graffiti art, Housing 21, Local politics, Malpas, Redevelopment, Silly, Street Art, tagging, Vandalism, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall Youth Arts
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