I stumbled across a new web show/podcast from former CNET editor Rich DeMuro. I used to watch him on The Queue when I was first getting into CNET podcasts, so was disappointed that he left so soon after I tuned in. Now he is running his own video show called the Synched Up Show. He writes and produces it himself, which is an impressive feat, considering there were ten episodes …

Just popped over to the official FKM site and saw this post that is asking for helmet designs. Now that Franck is in the US, he fancies a change and wants some help redesigning his helmet, with the one stipulation that it has to reflect the colours already in place: The famous fuschia, white, gold, silver, black, playing on effects mat and shiny... Come on, now, it's pink, and we …

I have finally got around to making a word cloud for Smarter Than Your Average, using the great technology over at Wordle. All you have to do is enter the URL of your blog and it creates a cloud of the words on the homepage. I'm not particularly impressed that Whopper is in such large writing. Damn that April Fool story.

I think I might have found it! I've been going on and on about the need for a decent to-do list for a very long time. I've tried 37 Signals products, Remember the Milk, all that stuff. Nothing seemed to work. Now, I've found one, and it's called: Doris. Yeah, I don't really get the name either, but it's pretty useful. You can group your list items into as many …

I have recently been enjoying catching up with a web series called Pink. The 'webisodes' are available on the site, on YouTube, or as a podcast. It's a clever show, told in flashbacks and flashforwards (a little more understandable than LOST though!). The story surrounds a contract killer who is allowed out of jail on an assignment, but who would rather be finding love and settling down. Through the flashbacks, …

You know those really annoying games where you have to look after a pet - kinda like a Tamagotchi but more demanding? Well, if you've got a Nintendo DS, there's a less annoying Baby Panda version! Now to our regularly scheduled programming: Credit: A Pandographer (Cassie)/Flickr And finally, cuteness:

I am not a fan of April Fool's day, particularly now that things on the internet are so hard to believe anyway. You have to take everything with a pinch of salt, and so these days the jokes are either really obvious, or so obscure that I don't get them anyway. I remember one joke from several years ago, a good one, in fact. The local newspaper issued a fake …

Franck's keeping positive: I am disappointed by the outcome but still satisfied because we have worked well. We came to learn a difficult circuit. 12 hours here is worth 24 hours in Le Mans! The new Audi was within reach on land which is not in favor of the 908, very responsive. The team worked hard all winter and that's what makes me optimistic for the future. He's got two …

Argh, it was just so disappointing. I was looking forward to posting a picture of Franck on the podium but he looked so utterly miserable, I couldn't bear it. They got off to a really bad start, when the car had to begin the race from the pitlane after developing problems. Franck was the first behind the wheel and had soon made his way up to third. The number #7 …

The short answer: There were three Baby Panda Thursdays in a row on this blog. The long answer: I wrote The BBC Blog for a month and it was great fun. A lot of it was repeating press releases, and although it was good learning about things as I wrote them, and sourced pictures for them, there's no reason I can't just subscribe to the BBC Press Office feed and …

Finally the race arrives, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready to see Franck in action. The 12 Hours of Sebring kicks off today, and if you want to follow along, then I would highly recommend Sidepodcast.com (well, I would, wouldn't I?). A live thread will be available ahead of the race, and chances are there will be many more knowledgeable people than me. What else can I …

Way back when, Twitter was hugely unstable and we all defected to identi.ca. Now, Twitter has bolstered it's infrastructure, and even with the mass invasion it still seems to be holding up nicely. So, I started watching people on Twitter, then I set up my identica username on the site and shared the dents/tweets across both platforms. Now I'm starting to think that Twitter is the place to be, and …

The BBC Internet Blog featured a three-part post covering all the details of their moderation process regarding comments, emails, and forums. It's a fascinating look at why they have to do what they do, and the editorial decisions behind blocking some of the more questionable content. The first part takes a closer look at defamation of character and how the law dictates what can be published and what can't. In …

Qualifying was a surprise for all involved as Scott Dixon took pole position with de Ferran Motorsports' Acura. The petrol powered car dominated the works diesel of both Audi and Peugeot, although the split to second place Tom Kristensen was barely a tenth of a second. The entire top five was only split by 0.28, with Klien picking up third for Peugeot. Franck's car was fifth, although it was Bourdais …

The human resources at the BBC - called BBC People - have a new director. Lucy Adams will take up the post on 1st June replacing Stephen Kelly who has moved to another company. Adams comes to the BBC from Eversheds LLP, and has been Director of HR at a couple of companies previously. The Director role at the Beeb encompasses training, motivation, change management and recruitment, and Adams will …

Three Baby Panda Thursdays in a row! I really must blog more. To celebrate, though, here are two Baby Panda pictures. Credit: Tammy/Flickr Credit: Jesse Starr/Flickr

It turns out testing can be a topsy-turvy experience. On the second day, Peugeot jumped ahead, although it wasn't Franck's car topping the times. All times were at least a second slower than Monday, but Nicolas Minassian led the way just three tenths ahead of Allan McNish. Unfortunately, it Bourdais had an off and didn't manage to set a time. Uh oh. Le Seb didn't get very far at all, …

Franck has left a note on his official website, that shows his excitement over the upcoming race: Sebring is coming YYYEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH! He adds he was getting tired of the gym and wants to start racing again, and that he's "super ultra motivated" for the first race of the new year. In other, more disappointing news, Audi led the first official test day. Both Peugeot and Audi have completed private tests, …

Some of the new blogs that have been released recently (for instance, Jake Humphrey's new blog on the F1 section of the site) had a new look that didn't match the existing columns. Now it seems as though the other blogs will be moved over to the new design gradually, with the internet blog one of the first to move. The new look is much cleaner and matches the rest …

Radio 4 has announced they'll be bringing the weekly children's show Go4it to an end, with the intent of making the station more family-friendly in general. In order to keep up the children's broadcasting though, Radio 7 will change their schedule to include a breakfast show for kids, every day. The CBeebies show on Radio 7 will move to an early morning slot (5-8am) every single day, from April. One …

I have never watched a minute of this show, but it's certainly very popular, as it's been recommissioned for a fifth series. Waterloo Road covers stories in and around a school, including both the adults and the teens attending. For the new series, the school is being merged with another, which will no doubt create a raft of new story arcs and characters. Eva Pope returns, and although there are …

In slightly worrying news, Peugeot Sport have admitted that their participation in the Sebring 12 Hours is simply a test for Le Mans 24 Hours later in the year. It's not unusual for teams to use the race as a practice run for Le Mans, but to be so open about it isn't a good sign, really. It may be that they are simply playing down the prospect of a …

There have been a few tweaks on the site that are worth mentioning, the first is on the news homepage. The ticker at the top of the front page has changed slightly to display both latest news and breaking new. There is also more control over the ticker, with a pause button plus forward and back controls. The idea is that the more important breaking news stories will show with …

A new natural history programme for BBC One is going to take a look at the earth through the eyes of birds. Called Earth Flight, the series of five episodes will travel with various birds as they make their journeys across the earth. From the press release: Using cutting edge new filming techniques to show everything in exquisite detail, viewers have a uniquely privileged perspective flying 9,000 metres high over …

Radio 2 is introducing a new line-up of presenters to Saturdays, bringing in Paul O'Grady, Emma Forbes and Alan Carr. They are also changing the schedules around to spice things up, with Sunday afternoons changing as well. O'Grady also makes the transition to Sundays, with Johnnie Walker appearing on Sunday afternoons. Paul hosted a popular Christmas Day show in 2008, playing a range of music, and he has also covered …

Jana Bennet - Director of BBC Worldwide - announced late last year that commissioning at the Beeb was to undergo a restructuring of sorts. The idea is to split roles into more genre-based divisions, allowing for specialists to get their knowledge across. These are the confirmations we know so far, and I will add more as they are revealed. Alan Tyler - Executive Editor, Entertainment Commissioning (from Head of Comedy …

The Wire was broadcast for five seasons in the US, produced by HBO to rave reviews from the critics. A total of 60 episodes were released between 2002 and 2008, and now UK viewers will get a chance to catch every season. BBC Two has confirmed they will screen the series, with transmission dates forthcoming very soon. The show is about crime in Baltimore, and takes the unusual step of …

The BBC and ITV have released a joint statement, announcing they've signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help save regional news. The potential partnership would secure the future of regional news on ITV, although no specific details have been released. A couple of possibilities have been discussed, including the two broadcasters sharing locations, facilities, resources and media - with most of the items coming from the BBC side, available for …

Today we've got pandas doing what they do best - eating. Also, if you like Baby Panda Thursday, consider visiting new URL! Yes, alright, for now it just points to the category page of this very site, but this is how phenomenons start!

Director of BBC Sport, Roger Mosey, recently gave a talk at Westminster University, and has posted a portion of it on the Sports Editors blog. The talk/article confronts those who question the BBC's dedication to sporting events, especially considering the addition of high profile sports such as Formula 1, and the 2012 Olympics. However, Mosey has a couple of good arguments up his sleeve: We value our relationships with rightsholders …

Seetha Kumar, Controller of BBC Online, has published a list of 10 guidelines that should be used when creating, and maintaining, BBC sites in the future. The principles are there to encourage editors to see their project as part of a bigger picture, that engages the audience and doesn't isolate them. It sounds too good to be true, but the 10 steps are pretty all encompassing. Here is a rundown …

Raymond Blanc will be back for a third series of The Restaurant, although there is no word on when. The show gives nine couples the chance to compete with the ultimate prize being a business opportunity with Blanc. The winning couple open a restaurant with the chef, but only after proving that they have what it takes to create winning menus, great atmosphere, and generate a profit. Blanc issues the …

For the first time in their six years of broadcasting, Radio 1's sister station 1Xtra is to go on tour. The Breakfast Show will be in five different cities over the course of a week from 16th-20th March. The show goes out live each morning from 8-11am. It's presented by Trevor Nelson and Gemma Cairney, and will feature performances from special guests. From the BBC Press Release, here are the …

The British Film Institute have announced a partnership with the BBC Archive that will see a greater development of public access to their content. Utilising the massive infrastructure of broadband in the UK, plus the extent of which the BBC use it, the BFI want to allow everyone in the UK to see the archived material. Although there are no significant details released at the moment, the partnership has been …

Sweeney Todd star, Helena Bonham Carter, is making the transition from big screen to small to play children's author Enig Blyton in a one-off drama about the popular writer. The show will also star Matthew Macfadyen and Denis Lawson. Blyton remains one of the most popular author's for young children despite having been published for almost 80 years. From the adventures of the Famous Five and Secret Seven, to the …

After 20 years of profiling all the latest news from rural areas, Countryfile is moving to a new primetime slot on a Sunday evening. There will also be a shakeup of presenting, with long-time anchor John Craven moving to a more specific role. He will take a closer look at the big news stories regarding the countryside, whilst Julia Bradbury and Matt Baker will take on the lead roles. Bradbury …

I have never actually watched this Sunday night show, but what started out as a short series has now gained massive popularity for it's feel good nature. The BBC today confirmed that Lark Rise to Candleford will return for a third series, remaining in its family slot. The show is written by Bill Gallagher, as an adaptation of books by Flora Thompson, and has a host of stars attached. The …

As a direct result of the Russell Brand incident, the BBC have reviewed their policy of allowing on-screen/on-air talent having a large responsibility in the production team. They have now revised the guidelines, suggesting that neither talent nor their agents can be the last word in editorial standards or compliance, and cannot be listed as the Executive Producer. If this were the case, and it would have to be a …

I am not usually a fan of Red Pandas, because let's face it, they don't really look like a panda, do they? However, I will make the exception for this little guy: According to the Brisbane Times, he was allowed out into his natural habitat at Sydney Zoo yesterday, having been born only 12 weeks ago.

The Beeb have announced the schedules for two Sporting events, both starting on the 6th March. The Davis Cup sees Britain take on the Ukraine in Scotland, with the tie shown on BBC2 at midday. On Saturday, coverage moves to BBC1 starting at 1pm, and back to BBC2 at midday on Sunday. Sue Barker is set to present, with Greg Rusedski, Andrew Castle and Jonathan Overend in the commentary box. …

From Dan Meth: I love this. I don't watch films extensively, but I have seen quite a few of the above. I think Back to the Future should be all blue, Jurassic Park should start higher, but The Matrix is dead on. What do you reckon?

An investigation into last week's University Challenge final has resulted in winner's Corpus Christi having to hand the trophy over to the University of Manchester. A joint statement from the BBC and Granada reads: The University Challenge rules on student eligibility are that students taking part must be registered at their university or college for the duration of the recording of the series. Whilst obviously not intending to, Corpus Christi …

As media, and particularly music, becomes more and more digital, it seems as though subscription services are the way of the future. There are many sites out there that offer an all-you-can-eat style buffet service, allowing a monthly fee to provide access to all tracks behind the wall. Of course, once you cancel your subscription you are left with nothing, but as long as you continue to pay, you can …

Radio 1 had to issue an immediate on-air apology, after guest Bono uttered an expletive. Describing Coldplay front man Chris Martin as a w***** during a live lounge performance on the Jo Whiley show, meant a BBC spokeswoman had to apologise for the language. It doesn't look as though any complaints have been lodged, however. The BBC have been involved with promotion for the band's most recent music, with U2 …

After months of development, the BBC have launched their new Weather website, which is designed to have a lot more customisation, and be simpler to use. The first thing that strikes me is how much brighter and more welcoming the site appears, which is an intentional change. Of course, the design has also been implemented to ensure that the pages fit in with the rest of the new BBC look. …

Whilst not strictly BBC news, anything to do with Comic Relief tends to go hand in hand with the broadcaster. In this case, we have stars from radio and pop taking to the mountain to raise money. They have been talking up the challenge for long enough, and as of yesterday, the climbing had begun. What I am impressed with is the vast amount of coverage taking place. In previous …

The complaints over this episode range right across the spectrum. Some believe that the BBC should have made more of the fact it was the first soap episode in TV history to not feature a white person. Others think that drawing attention to it at all was simply making it an issue, when all that matters is the acting. Then there are those that thinking bringing up the Notting Hill …

I saw these on (eh-hem) Blue Peter, and although I'm not usually into circus-type theatre performances, I was blown away by this one. The troop also do other fun things, including general floor work, some acrobatics in a wheel, and utilising a sofa - of all things. Perhaps it is the urban feel of it that appeals to me, rather than the sparkly nature of something like Cirque du Soleil. …

I would never be able to do this sad story justice, so I will simply link to those that have done so already: BBC News - Actress Wendy Richard dies at 65 BBC Press Office - Tribute to Wendy Richards Guardian - TV world and charities pay tribute to 'the loveliest of ladies'

Yet another new face at the BBC, and this one is important for those of us obsessed with the BBC's new media and technology plans. As of the 1st April, John Linwood takes over the Chief Technology Officer role. The CTO is responsible for organising the entire technology strategy, including maintenance, relocation, infrastructure and development. Not an enviable task, I'm sure! Linwood previously worked at Yahoo!, and oversaw 1,600 staff …