Thursday, 14 July 2011

Talking Dick

What with real life and the Stony Stratford shindig butting in and taking up a lot of my time, my drafts area has been building up with things I want to write about with no window available to do so.

Normality will no doubt resume at some point but, in the meantime, tonight I'll be appearing on TalkSport radio at around 10:15pm to discuss our event and the Stony Stratford ban in general.

As is usual, there is someone lined up to represent the opposing point of view. TalkSport have chosen Councillor Paul Bartlett ... you may have heard of him.


75 comments:

SadButMadLad said...

Have fun! :-)

captcha = sarin

Nick said...

I have no doubt, whatsoever, that you will batter the mental pigmy with a reasoned argument.
These people cannot, and must not be allowed to win against reason, no matter what buzz words or faux science they use.
I wish you the best of luck.

I, also, look forward to meeting you all on Saturday and will definitely buy you a pint for your efforts. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to say “NO”.

Unknown said...

DP I'm on the case and will be recording your showdown with the ugly of the good, the band and the...well you know the rest but do read Leggy's latest.

Verification word wasw motli...makes me think of Motley Crew for some reason?

handymanphil said...

Official Weigh in:-
Basher Bartlett...... 15st 10lb
Puddlecote Pugilist.. 11st 6lb
Preview

"How do you see this going'arry?"
"Well Frank, Basher Bartlett will come out spittin' fire & vehemence, but he'll soon run out of puff, probabbly need his inhaler after the second round"
"Yeah but 'arry, the Puddlecote Pugilist is about 4 stone lighter than Basher B, it's not a contest if......."
"Frank, you have to remember that the Puddlecote Pugilist is quick on his feet, lightning fast hands and thinks on his feet, 'BB' won't know what's hit him by the 3rd"
"Uugh?"
"This will be like Liston v Clay, the towel will go in by the 7th-you've only been in the ring frank, I've watched them all Frank! Now be a good sport now, the Basher hasn't got a 'Second' to actually throw the towel in for him-off you go!"

GAME ON!

Anonymous said...

It's fat ugly people like Bartlet that makes Stony Stratford look unsightly. Good luck Dick and give him your best shot.

Unknown said...

@Handymanphil Bloody love the analogy.

Pat Nurse MA said...

Oooh - make sure you post a link DP - heh heh heh

Mark Wadsworth said...

Best of luck tonight, I hope you are ready and armed with a few choice idiotic quotes from him to throw back in his face.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Remember - don't respond to anything he say to you or to the interviewer, you'll just get wound up.

You're not trying to convince him or the interviewer of anything, that's futile - you are talking to the general public! Make the most of it.

Michael Fowke said...

Good luck. It's just a shame that neither James Whale nor Mike Dickin are still at TalkSport.

Anonymous said...

Don't ask him about his disgusting father if you get the chance.

Ask him whether he goes to the pub more frequently since the ban, wait for his positive response, then ask whether it's terribly good for a father of two to spend so much time in the pub :-)

Actually, we shouldn't be positing Oedipus here as he'll be going over your blog with a fine-toothed comb - not that it looks that he'd need a comb at all.

Anonymous said...

Dear Dick,
Give our fondest regards to the Bartlet chappy
For and on behalf of
East Manchester's
Elderly,poor,disabled,war veterans,
widows,widowers,separated,
friendless,forgotten and unwanted.
Tell him, cheers, for destroying our
social fabric,our way of life,
our culture,our heritage,the legacy left to us by a million dead in a hundred wars,
thousands of rat infested boarded up taverns,venues which once gave us solace against the backdrop of grimy mills and worthless politicians
Tell the worthless self opinionated
stoat,tin pot dictators will always get their just reward.


A stranded Goth

delcretin said...

So you'll be challenging this cretin on talksport eh? The fact that reasoned argument no longer matters on this subject has reduced the format to just that: a sporting challenge. Why do councillors always manage to peak so early to the level of their own incompetence? Good luck. MW's advise approved!

scorpy66 said...

Good work and good luck! I'm tempted to feel a teensy bit sorry for Mr Bartlett... but he is clearly on a mission to expose himself as public prick of the month, and you, DP, are a great gentleman to help him so. :D

Woman on a Raft said...

Have a good evening.

Smoking Hot said...

No mercy, Dick ... none! ok?

Unknown said...

Dick, if you be yourself and talk straight talk like you do on the blog without resorting to profanities then you WILL be the most talked about blogger in the land. You know that you have the power to do this.

Good luck my friend, as if you need luck when you have truth on your side.

Tell it as it is, not as they think it is.

westcoast2 said...

Stay cool and relaxed. Let the councillor show himself up and help him along the way. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

The smoking ban has caused cigarette litter to double on Britains streets. It is this, Labours draconian smoking ban law that has created the big litter problem in the first place!!

A sensible amendment, allowing smoking rooms in certain pubs and clubs welcoming smokers back to a society where they are included, should be the way forward.

Amending the ban would result in significant reduction of cigarette litter outside.

There is no justification for ANY total smoking ban, be it inside or outside.Such measure go well beyond discouraging smoking and mean smokers are persecuted.
Give em hell on Saturday. This must not be.
:)

frosty said...

Good luck Dick rip him a new one!

George Speller said...

Listening . . . looks like they don't need any help from you, Dick!
Tee hee!

Paul said...

What do you drink, Dick? Lout? Pint of it goes to the humble blogger, please. You're not polished, but you're real.

irritable bile syndrome said...

Just caught this comment and tuned in.... Have Dick coming in my ears as I type.

Twenty_Rothmans said...

>Stay cool and relaxed. Let the councillor show himself up and help him along the way.

Or even show up at all.

Well done Dick, see you on Saturday.

Paul said...

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Councillor Bartlett hasn't turned up (yet!)! Perhaps he should go back to hating his da.

Clarissa said...

A pity that Councillor Bartlett wasn't answering his phone...

Dick Puddlecote said...

Oooh, and I had so much to say to you, Bartlett! ;)

Smoking Hot said...

Bah! ... he ran away!

Paul said...

D'you know, I don't ever so much get the feeling that Bartlett has realised what an utter dick he has made of himself and that he will go down in infamy for this.

Which is probably why the anti-drink lobby have left him out to dry.

Dick Puddlecote: A fine show from yourself, sir. :-)

Captain Ranty said...

Well done old mate!

I was a damn sight more nervous last time I was on the radio arguing with an anti.

Good job!!

CR.

Dick Puddlecote said...

I was gutted he wimped out, CR. :(

Anonymous said...

Bartlett is on now - what a tw*t.

Smoking Hot said...

Yay ... he's arrived! Sounds a prat but thats no surprise!

Anonymous said...

How did that raving loon ever get elected!

irritable bile syndrome said...

Thought you came across really well Dick. Bartlett's on right now, and his argument is absolutely barking. I wonder if he waited till you'd had your time on the air before he dared go on himself... Peoples lives are in danger! LOLLLLOLL

Smoking Hot said...

Ha ha ha ha what a moron!

Dick Puddlecote said...

Stop it, Bartlett, I'm pissing myself and there's curry coming. :)

Captain Ranty said...

What a pissflap!

He has absolutely no brain whatsoever.

No wonder the country is fucked.

CR.

Anonymous said...

So he's turned up!

Off goes the mouth. "Only concerned about the health of the people - children being burned - spit and germs - blather blather."

Have sent in a couple of emails.

Anonymous said...

Talksport are still pleading for someone - anyone - to contact them and support the ban...

Paul said...

Please, I beg you on my life (well, not really), I hope someone is recording this. I'm going to need a laugh tomorrow. :-)

irritable bile syndrome said...

The guy's a fucking loony. (A man's just come on and called him a nazi)
Any doubts I had about going all the way down there have evaporated. I get a chance, will do Listen again and record it for posterity.

Paul said...

No, honestly, make sure you get the whole thing. It will need to be appreciated, preferably with lots of smoking. (I'm a non-smoker, but I'm with you in spirit.)

Dick Puddlecote said...

Paul, I asked someone to record it earlier and another has e-mailed me to say they're doing it too.

I want to listen myself as it was a quiet line when I was on.

Paul said...

Great stuff. You should never, ever trust those "Listen Again" thingamabobs though. Too many experiences with the BBC suddenly making things unavailable to count.

frosty said...

Oh shit i turned off cos i didnt think Bartlett would turn up!
Anyway well done Dick you did a fine job from what i heard it must of took alot of cojones to go on, respect.

irritable bile syndrome said...

Well, I won't bother then! :P

Never Done Listen again except BBC, so have bookmarked it for tomorrow. Still be good to post the fuckwit to youtube so he can be exposed to the world.

BTW: is anyone else going to SS tomorrow for saturday's jolly?

Anonymous said...

Here's another nutter! But, notice that he is useful idiot! Let's get back inside!

Dick Puddlecote said...

Isn't it great that ASH back such a lunatic? Says a lot about them, I think.

Smoking Hot said...

True Dick and the ASH brigade seem to be turning up on the show now. l had to switch it off for fear of ruining my comp by banging my head on the keyboard!

l mean ffs ... one of them said that he can smell someone smoking from 50 yds away and if he could smell it he must be breathing it in!

Unknown said...

Dick, you did us smokers proud and I was heartened when the councillor did not debate with you but he did come on later and confirmed to me what a effing prat he is. He prattled on about health issues and was promptly pulled up about his main tennet, LITTER.

For my part I was held on hold till around half eleven and, after a few drinks and smokes, fucked up...but I did mention F3C a few times and think I got my point across.

When I've edited the recording then you all can decide.

It's late and bed becons. Night all.

TBY

Smoking Hot said...

True dat Junican ... they want smoking off the streets and want us to have smoking rooms! Rooms we should've had and were promised by Liebour in the first place!

Belinda said...

missed the show but look forward to the recording

Unknown said...

I just listened to my part in the descussion and it was not as bad as I painted it. Dick spoke with aplomb and was unhindered by Bartlett as he would not come on the show and debate with DP but he came on later and made a complete arse of himself. He proved posivitly that his strategy was not about 'butt' litter and his main problem was a health issue which was a non starter.

He's just another anti smoking zealot that tries to dress it up with a litter problem. But still, he's got his one day of fame.

TBY

Leg-iron said...

Just wiped the ash off my crystal ball...

I bet Barty will appear after the protest with the same pile of butts, and claim you all dropped them. Make sure you have portable ashtrays where the camera can see them. And don't let them film you stubbing one out in a councillor's eye.

He might even have a dead baby or two lying around for effect. Wouldn't put it past him.

Anonymous said...

I noticed that someone called 'Martin' appeared late on. Could this have been Martin Dockerall I wonder? He certainly had the right sort of convincing voice, and the right sort of 'concerned' attitude. And where did this guy from Canada appear from? I cannot imagine a guy in Canada just happening to tune in to Talksport in the UK. And how about the guy from Saudi Arabia? Same applies - but note that both had the same reasonable tone of concern. In both cases, it was not a question of whether or not SHS is harmful, it was about whether or not SHS harm should be tolerated in some places. ASH is very cute.

So maybe someone like Dave Atherton plus sundry others (very important) could produce a 'meta analysis' of SHS studies which show how harmless SHS is. I mean a definitive study. Such a study might well compare SHS harm with being struck by lightening or acquiring lung cancer or heart disease from traffic fumes.

Come to think about it, how many studies have been conducted into lung cancer from traffic fumes? Have there been any?

Mr A said...

Gah! Missed it! Still, sounds like you did us and yourself proud! Hopefully there will be a listen again option for this.

Could Stony Stratford be smokers' Stonewall? (As in the first sign of a concerted fight back for smokers' rights.... not a riot. Obviously.)

auntieban said...

Well done Dick! And like most bullies Bartlett is a cringing coward, otherwise he'd have faced up to you.

@Junican - Oxford scientist Dr. Kitty Little did a lot of research on diesel fumes and lung cancer. You might find this interesting:
Are Diesels More Dangerous than Cigarettes as a Cause of Lung Cancer?

Anonymous said...

Last thing tonight.

Such a meta-study would have to point out that for every putative person who might have suffered from SHS, thousands and thousands didn't. Therefore, those who did suffer must have something wrong with them to suffer so - I am thinking in particular about those who suffer from asthma.

It is time for the studies to be inverted. The reality is that these studies show that the risk of harm from SHS is so small that it is virtually non-existent - in which case, Barlett's argument totally collapses. It is a minuscule risk of a minuscule risk of a minor risk.

It should also be the case that any evidence of SHS harm risk (or even smoking itself) should not only be subject to 'peer review' but also subject to 'general' review - ie. published IN FULL, along with supporting evidence (questionnaires), and comments invited.

This is why the smoking ban should be reviewed by Parliament. Organisations against the ban should have the opportunity to reveal that SHS harm is a mirage - even accepting the studies. The WHO Framework on Tobacco Control must be put aside for this purpose, otherwise such a review would be automatically biased.

The more this goes on, the clearer it becomes for thinking people that there is something seriously wrong with the simplistic political view which allowed the smoking ban to get through parliament. MPs should have known that the whole idea of the ban was too simplistic and that, therefore, it was engineered.

Angry Exile said...

Haven't time to read the comments but in case someone hasn't already ask, do try to get a recording and put it up on the interwebs somewhere.

Anonymous said...

auntieban.

I was writing my last bit before I saw your link. I will look at it tomorrow. Cheers!

And well done, Dick!

handymanphil said...

Junican.....Dr Kitty Little was convinced that diesel fumes were a far bigger cause of cancer than SHS but ubfortunately died before completing her work.

http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=3361
Read also this (very enlightening!:
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/esp_icke06.htm

Anonymous said...

From Dave Atherton

Dickie dahling, sweetheart,

You were Wonderful!

It was a triumph!

Joking apart well done articulate and assured.

You said the phone as quiet, us artistes should not have to put up with such amateurs.

Anonymous said...

Junican

"Come to think about it, how many studies have been conducted into lung cancer from traffic fumes? Have there been any?"

Lots, they were there at the beginning.

"Smoking was something which the individual could do something about; air pollution was not,' explains Professor Berridge."

Everything I can find on the subject.
http://tinyurl.com/6gu4ezh


Fear of political embarrassment led to government cover up of link between air pollution and lung cancer

"Delegates attending an international conference in London today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Great London Smog of 1952, which caused an estimated 12,000 deaths, will hear how governments from the late 50s onwards deliberately downplayed the huge threat to public health caused by air pollution, and sought to shift the blame firmly onto cigarette smoking instead"

Anonymous said...

Just listened this morning. Thought you were very reasonable and suitably laid back aka dismissive of Bartlett's proposal. Let's face it, the most effective weapon against such a foaming, illogical extremist is laughter.

Unfortunately, the 'listen again' finished before Bartlett realised he was supposed to be on air so I didn't get to hear him or the cavalry which came to his rescue.

Good luck for tomorrow.

Jay

Anonymous said...

Well done Dick.

I did enjoy the contrast between you, as a normal, rational person and Councillor Bartlett, when he finally did turn up, as a raving, incoherent madman.

He reminded me of Renfield, so if one can be found,I suggest you take a butterfly net with you tomorrow.

Rose

Anonymous said...

Ha! Wasn't Bartlett great! Some of his fellow councillors need it to be "explained better". They are under pressure from their electorate who need it to be "explained better". Erm, don't think so, they all seem to understand, as we do, that he's just a plain turd!

He doesn't seem to feel it will get anywhere on Tues. but he's done us a great favour by strongly showing the make up of your average anti. Well done, Bartlett.

Anonymous said...

I wish it was pointed out to councillor bartlett that what he wants is people who smoke to stay in doors with the children and not smoke outside also the smoking ban was passed under a health bill not a HSE issue as they found no proof that SHS was a risk to none smokers. and covered up.he makes me so mad do gooders who know what is best for me. As a side note have you noticed how many young people now smoke since the war on smokers

Anonymous said...

Great interview, Dick. You came across brilliantly.
Paul Bartlett is clearly unhinged from all corners.
I can't join you all at SS tomorrow but I look forward to the updates on the blogs.
Have a drink and smoke for me and have a great time all of you.

Diane

budgie said...

You did good Dick - came across as being reasonable and normal...

But Bartlett stole the show. What a star! He excelled himself with a perfect comedy performance that surpassed all expectations. A triumph. The pratt simply does not know when to stop digging (perhaps we should have a whip round and present him with a new spade....)

This'll be mega on the net.

See you tomorrow!

The Filthy Engineer said...

I've just listened to the show. You came across well Dick. However the star of the show was councillor Bartlett. He came across as a frothing, egotistical, zealot of the worst kind. I actually had a fit of the giggles when he started.

Well done and good luck tommorrow.

handymanphil said...

The obvious reason why Basher Bartlett decided to 'come on the show' so late are twofold...
a)...he knows full well he cannot argue with reasoned logic
2)...he is well aware after this weeks uproar, that he is a 'lone pirate'
I very much doubt he will make an appearance tomorrow-do you? ;)

Bandit 1 said...

Round 1 to DP. Bartlett currently sitting dazed on his stool, unlikely to answer the bell for the 2nd.

Congrats and good work! I'm sure many listeners will have had their eyes opened by the contrast between yourself and the psycho councillor. You were calm, understated and natural: the proverbial voice of reason.

Though that voice was a little more poshe than I anticipated: for some reason I was expecting you to sound all Cockney Geezer :-)

ArtCo said...

Very good and reasoned interview Dick , well done.

Dick Puddlecote said...

Bandit1: That was my business telephone voice, when using it my mind knows not to say 'fuck' and such. ;)