THE STIRRER'S RATED AND SLATED -

WHAT'S BEEN PUSHING OUR BELL THIS WEEK

13-08-2006

Yes, it's time for The Stirrer's weekly attempt at trendsetting -what's hot, what's not in Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond.

Rated - Martin O'Neill, Time Trumpet (again) The Old Joint Stock

Slated - That bloomin tourist office in New Street, credulous journalists taking the government at its word on terror.

RATED:

1) Martin O'Neill. As a Baggies fan, the news that Villa have a decent manager at last obviously comes as something of a body blow. We'd been able to rely on consistent mediocrity under O'Leary. In truth, it's great for this area that we have a bloke of his stature around, and I'm a firm believer that a successful Villa will put the pressure on Blues, Albion and Wolves to up their game.

2) Time Trumpet. Armando Ianucci's latest comedy triumph. Okay, episode two wasn't as momentous at the first one, but it's still pretty darn groovy.

3) The Old Joint Stock. After my recent laments about Brum's dismal city centre boozers, here's one notable exception. Proper town buzz, decent beers, nice surroundings. How come it takes a bunch of cockneys (Fullers) to show us how to do it?

SLATED:

1) That poxy tourist information greenhouse in New Street.We asked earlier this week : Is This The Least Welcoming Tourist Office in Britain? Birmingham Council still haven't told us if and when the smashed glass is going to be repaired or if it's ever going to look welcoming to the public walking towards the station.

2) Credulous journalists. If the police and security services have foiled a terror plot, brilliant. But nothing has yet been proved. Journalists should be sceptical and enquiring, not adjuncts of the government's PR machine.