Be careful with British higher education

The government basically wants universities to economise, there’s a suggestion of two year degrees.

A lady from the Russell Group (UK Ivy league) on channel 4 news made the point that it’s not as if British unis are operating in a mass of waste. She also said that in order to come effectively out of a recession, it is vital we have credible and high quality universities so that our young people can compete in the global job market. Government says to cut back and save cash – like families this Christmas.

Government, in this case David Lammy, the relevant minister, doesn’t get it; I agree with the Russell Group lady. Universities are not the same as families – the problem of money needs to be dealt with differently. The UK is not in a good position when it comes to competitive workers – we need to be beefing up this area not weakening it. Admittedly, many of our problems in these areas do not relate to our universities but it doesn’t make sense to weaken our position by lessening the effectiveness of our unis and trust me – cutting funding will weaken their effectiveness.

How about some inventive thinking so that people can be allowed to study effectively on a part time basis? More inventive on campus job opportunities for people in exchange for tuition? Some tax breaks for people who study for a period of time? Bonding people to work in the public sector for a minimum of 2 years after studying? Things can be done. There are some lazy officials out there I think.

Let something good come of this.

So they have convicted Tobin for killing that girl which is excellent. Now that justice has been done in that quarter let us turn our attention to an important matter.

Let us impart upon our daughters the importance of taking the utmost care of themselves. One thing my mother drummed into me? DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ACCEPT A RIDE FROM A MAN YOU DO NOT KNOW! Please let your daughters know this. It can save their lives.

Tax,tax, tax

Bills, bills, tax, tax. Mi ah suck salt troo wooden spoon!

Why is it that the only way this government sees its way out of any spending issue is to tax people who are already heavily taxed eh? Because they are weak and lazy that's why.

Intelligent wealthy people find ways to avoid paying as much tax as possible and they will continue to do so. It's the rest of us salaried workers who pay the taxes that run the country. Why don't they just do the work that needs to be done to ensure a fair payment of tax (in my opinion a flat rate of income tax only because calculating and collecting all the different taxes costs a lot to administer)? Because they are weak (they want to win votes and many unthinking people think taxing a wealthy people somehow does them some good. People it doesn't. If you are in a low paying job with not qualifications your position is not ameliorated by a wealthy person losing money). And because they are lazy. To fix to fiscal problems we have takes application, ingenuity and hard work. It is much easier for them to put a plaster over the chasm rather than build an appropriate bridge.

I do not agree with the majority of Brits that success and wealth should be taxed to the point of punishment. All of us should be encouraged to do well and once we are we will all benefit. I mean one of Alistair Darling's proposals is to tax patents on people's ideas! So what, you come up with a good idea, work on it and protect it with a patent and you are to be punished?

I've said it before and will say it again, if they carry on like this the country will run further into the ground. The only people left will be those who are shiftless and or dumb. The hardworking and intelligent will have all buggered off to Europe or America.

Is the music dying?

After watching about half an hour of music TV I had to ask myself this question. The proliferation of crap music and even crappier videos is depressing.

Some say that talent shows of the ilk of X-Factor have contributed to the crap. It contributes but is not the cause I think. I think marketing and recording people who want to make a quick buck, in conjunction with an increasingly dumb, young public are the cause of the problem.

Undoubtedly there is some good music out there but more and more, you get record companies who only want to make a quick buck plus young untalented people who just want to be famous inflicted on us. That lady who used to be on Fame Academy was quoted in a daily the other day as saying she was working with a talented young singer who won a national singing contest, sounded excellent but sadly couldn’t get a record deal. The companies apparently needed to be assured the public would like her – talent was definitely not enough. She had to go on a few years later to win the X-Factor in order to prove herself. Now, Leona may very well have found a deal without X-Factor but it’s a shame she couldn’t isn’t it?

Good sense in Iran

It’s nice that those guys who got lost in their boat have been released. From the media reports that had been floating all over the place it had seemed as though there might be a major international incident. However, it would seem the media were wrong and those anticipating a major dust up have been left disappointed. Well I am not. I am glad these guys have been freed and sent home. After all what else would you expect from reasonable people? Well now that reason has prevailed here perhaps it can prevail elsewhere? I wait with baited breath.