deanb Posted May 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Errm...err.. ,...THURSDAY!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Obstruction of justice is like destroying evidence, lying to police investigators, etc. Basically just fucking with the investigation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Yeah. Same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/owen-jones-hatred-of-those-on-benefits-is-dangerously-out-of-control-7763793.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Hatred is a bit strong. I will admit to a feeling of... frustration maybe resentment when about a third of my wages gets gobbled up and people who take advantage of the benefits system get hand outs. Those feelings are however tempered when I remind myself that I visited an orthodontist for free as a child. That my sisters and my nephew and niece are supported by that money, and that my university tuition fees were government funded. It's easy to look at extremes such as families like the Philpotts who do (imho) take the piss and exploit the system and get angry. How can you possibly care for 17 children? Never mind the financials, there simply aren't enough hours in the day to give that many kids the attention they need. I'm not suggesting that we should have a Chinese style limit on childbirth, but I think that what Jeremy Hunt said about "taking responsibility" is worth bearing in mind. If you can't afford to raise a child then you should think very carefully before bringing one into the world, not just keep banging them out while the state covers the cost. It's not people on benefits that I (personally) have an issue with. It'd people who exploit the system that wind me up. Of course, there aren't many news stories about honest people living quiet, normal lives on benefits or otherwise, because that's not going to sell papers or generate clicks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18114587 Well on with the whole having kids stuff this seems kinda neat idea. I'm confused on the "nanny state" comments with regards to it mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 He denied that a focus on parenting and childcare was a diversion from "big issues" like the economy. Since when is parenting and childcare not a big issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Well the economy is trillions of pounds. A baby is like, what, seven pounds? And these days they practically look after themselves. Stick them in front of an iPad n they'll be sorted. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 The problem with initiatives like these is that it is generally the earnest parents that will make the effort to go to them and it will probably not reach the people that would benefit most from it. Some of the parenting I see on a daily basis just makes me want to cry. The child isn't happy, the parent isn't happy and there is not a chance in hell it is going to reach its full potential. Something radical needs to be done to break the cycle of parents that have children for the wrong reasons and the culture of treating children like friends which just doesn't breed the authority needed to instil respect in the children. It ends up a right nightmare by the time they get to school and teachers get absolutely no support from the parents these days. Children arrive at school not knowing how to use cutlery and some can't even form sentences. This isn't lack of intelligence it's lack of proper interaction with the parents. Maybe it would help if the classes were mandatory, but I doubt that would be feasible. They also need to be throughout the life of the child. Maybe parents need to be taught how to support the child with the school not fight against it and how to cope with teenage tantrums and the perenial problem of sex information from 5 to 15. It's a lot of skills a parent need and unfortunately I'm not sure enough are willing to put the effort in to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 So this seems to be causing a stir of late. (anyway everyone knows who really needs to carry the torch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Does everyone think it's evil to sell your torch? I can't decide but to be honest I think there should only be one torch that's passed along it would solve the selling problem and isn't the whole point that the torch is passed along? I guess the flame is still being passed along but it still doesn't seem quite right. I'd have said I'd never sell mine but didn't one sell for £135k though they're not sure it's a genuine offer. Have to say it sounds ludicrously high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 Selling position in the relay or the physical torch itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 The torch itself. There's a couple of news stories floating about where people are auctioning off the torch. If you are a torch bearer you can pay £199 (I think) to keep the thing. I think most torch sellers are doing so for charity, which I guess is a "good thing". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope V2 Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2012/may/23/cameron-balls-muttering-idiot-video?CMP=twt_gu I heard this on the radio on my local news today. Is this common? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 (edited) Haha. Yeah. It's often referred to as Punch and Judy Politics. Lots of jeering and hoots from the back benchers. Edit: Do you get the god awful cheese-fest advert that is the American tourist boards effort to persuade us to come visit you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcfbdiiEQDM Edited May 24, 2012 by Thursday Next Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantelope V2 Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 I've never seen those before although we do see a lot of tourism boards advertising between states. I see ads on TV about visiting Louisiana or Colorado and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 I suppose the UK must do them for other countries. I bet it's wall to wall red jackets, bearskin hats and old buildings. Now here's an odd one... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17755552 Should the NHS fork out for gluten free food? I mean, coeliacs will argue that they need it for medical reasons, but then, I need food for medical reasons too, if I don't eat, I die. Personally, I think it is right that the NHS provide for people with specific dietary requirements, but the implementation here is all wrong. This should be handled by subsidising purchases of applicable foodstuffs in supermarkets, not by having the NHS source and deliver a pizza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 (edited) That ad had gay people in it! I've never seen a tourism ad for the US generally (which makes sense that they wouldn't advertise internally) but I have seen similar ads for other states and countries. *Edit* - Yeah, it seems like having the people buy their own food and giving them money to cover the increased cost would make more sense. Edited May 24, 2012 by TheMightyEthan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 How can you buy the torch? And yeah they like to have a fair go at each other now n then. BBC Parliament might be streamed if you're at all interested. I think your equivalent is C-span. In other news: Why are google so interested in UKs computing curriculum. I think it's great mind, wish I was taught more than "GCSE Office" but yeah...seems a bit odd. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/education/374827/google-to-fund-british-computer-science-teachers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted May 24, 2012 Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 Better curriculum means better employees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2012 Well I understand that part. It's the Google and the UK part I don't quite get. AFAIK they don't have any R&D over here, just a tax-reduced HQ in Ireland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Heart Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18207323 "It said 'Jew'. OFFENSIVE!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 It invites people to list why some people dislike Jews. "Some people are prejudiced against Jews because they think Jews are money grubbing Christ murderers." If the question is looking to test the students understanding of prejudice, then it could (maybe should) have said "Why are some people prejudiced?". To which the obvious answer is along the lines of "Some people are prejudiced because they are ignorant of the wider world and have an innate fear of what they don't understand. This fear leads them to be prejudiced against other groups." The question leads the student to focus on the role of the victim of prejudice, rather than what actually leads perpetrators to act in a prejudicial fashion. Basically, it's a poorly worded question. It's not a case of mollycoddling the Jews born out of some twisted collective guilt harboured over the past 60 odd years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Heart Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 It is already asking what you have said. The difference being that because it is concerning religious studies it needs to have some context/subject. Besides, if someone does just list things people dislike about Jews then they have misunderstood the question and their mark would reflect that. And the protest is not against the phrasing of the question, it is the chosen subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 There is no reason to single out Jews or any other one religious group. If you want it to be about religion, then ask "Why are some people prejudiced against religious groups?" It's absolutely about the phrasing. If the word had been Muslims or Buddhists or Scientologists it would have been pulled up just the same. Well, maybe not scientologists... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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