I'm an information broker not an author so the thought of me sitting here and writing something "from scratch" is a bit scary but it's been on my mind so I'll write it.
The scene
Amsterdam' s Schiphol airport, boarding has just been announced for three different flights, two of which are running a little late – nothing to worry about but the queue to get through security is fairly long whereas normally it's only one set of passengers at a time.
Security opens as many checkpoints as possible given that it's gone 21:00 and the number of staff is reduced to match fewer flights.
Young man a couple of places in front of me arrives at the X-ray machine.
He has not taken his laptop out of his bag to have it screened separately as instructed by posters and disembodied voice!
He has not removed his belt.
He has not removed his jacket and placed it in a separate "basket".
He sets off the walk-through machine because he's left his keys in his pocket.
And then he looks surprised when the security people take everything out of his bag and do a fairly thorough pat-down on him!
I just wanted to tell him exactly what I thought of his stupidity. Being the worse for wear because of alcohol or drugs after a day or two in Amsterdam is no excuse for holding up 100 people who are already going to be late home!
And when I had to wait half an hour for a train at Luton having missed the train I intended to catch I didn't just want to have a verbal rant at him!
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Full of Life
A campaign to celebrate the opportunities, achievements, and aspirations of older people.
Campaign website
Hazel's comment:
Actually contains some good ideas although how many people will be acknowledging "UK Older People’s Day" on 1 October I do not know. If you're 50 or over, and I know that several readers of this blog as well as its author fall into that category, then you are "an older person". Ouch! I don't feel older.
Linking ideas, I was reading in the newspaper only yesterday that by 2060 there will be only two working people for every person in Europe aged over 65.
State pensions are struggling to cope with four people of working age to everyone over 65 so I don't know what pensions will look like in 50 years. Maybe the "cut off" for work will need to rise to 70 or 80 or ??? as my husband is fond of saying "think of a figure and double it". I'm alright, Jack (just) but what about future generations? And in the UK the present government borrowing just to stay afloat is really rather frightening!
Campaign website
Hazel's comment:
Actually contains some good ideas although how many people will be acknowledging "UK Older People’s Day" on 1 October I do not know. If you're 50 or over, and I know that several readers of this blog as well as its author fall into that category, then you are "an older person". Ouch! I don't feel older.
Linking ideas, I was reading in the newspaper only yesterday that by 2060 there will be only two working people for every person in Europe aged over 65.
State pensions are struggling to cope with four people of working age to everyone over 65 so I don't know what pensions will look like in 50 years. Maybe the "cut off" for work will need to rise to 70 or 80 or ??? as my husband is fond of saying "think of a figure and double it". I'm alright, Jack (just) but what about future generations? And in the UK the present government borrowing just to stay afloat is really rather frightening!
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Assessing Neighbourhood-level Data for Target Setting
This report, published on 19 August, from the Department of Communities and Local Government, assesses key small area datasets for target setting, performance monitoring and wider contextual analysis. It is one of two reports published from the Neighbourhood-level Indicator Datasets project, which is aimed at local authorities and their partners wishing to use neighbourhood-level data.
ISBN: 9-781-40980-113-9
Assessing Neighbourhood-Level Data for Target Setting (PDF, 399 kb , 84pp) is only available online (other than alternative formats e.g. Braille or audio)
Hazel's comment:
Bless you DCLG for saving me a little bit of time -- no need to do more than check that the link to the download works without having to actually download it and check the number of pages (which for those of us who need to decide whether to print or read online is often the deciding factor).
ISBN: 9-781-40980-113-9
Assessing Neighbourhood-Level Data for Target Setting (PDF, 399 kb , 84pp) is only available online (other than alternative formats e.g. Braille or audio)
Hazel's comment:
Bless you DCLG for saving me a little bit of time -- no need to do more than check that the link to the download works without having to actually download it and check the number of pages (which for those of us who need to decide whether to print or read online is often the deciding factor).
Monday, 25 August 2008
Why would anyone choose Linux when they already have Windows?
by Mark Kaelin via TechRepublic Blog 18 August
I know there is a great debate taking place about which operating system is better.
Jack Wallen, host of the Linux and Open Source blog, started a lengthy discussion asking the question: Why would you choose Windows over Linux?
I thought that was kind of funny, because recently I have been asking myself the opposite question: Who would choose to switch to Linux?
Read the full article
and rejoice, as I did, in an analogy that Mark uses:
I know there is a great debate taking place about which operating system is better.
Jack Wallen, host of the Linux and Open Source blog, started a lengthy discussion asking the question: Why would you choose Windows over Linux?
I thought that was kind of funny, because recently I have been asking myself the opposite question: Who would choose to switch to Linux?
Read the full article
and rejoice, as I did, in an analogy that Mark uses:
I have no knowledge of the operating system that runs my microwave oven. I don’t have to install the popcorn application — it is already there, and it works just fine. I don’t care who made it, I don’t care if it is open source, and I don’t spend time on PopcornRepublic discussing the merits of one popcorn application over another. It doesn’t matter — what matters is that I get a good bag of popcorn.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Academic who rubbished northern cities turns ire on London
via guardian.co.uk Society by Toby Helm on 8/16/08
After condemning regeneration policies in Liverpool and Hull, critic saves sharpest barbs for 'rip-off capital'
Read the full article
After condemning regeneration policies in Liverpool and Hull, critic saves sharpest barbs for 'rip-off capital'
Read the full article
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Jim Knight on plans to close schools that fail to get a third of pupils thro...
via guardian.co.uk Education on 18 August
Schools Minister Jim Knight on plans to close schools that fail to get a third of pupils through five good GCSEs.
Read the full article (NB: I read it when I first picked it for blogging but it wouldn't link when I edited.)
Hazel's comment:
The Minister has pledged: "By 2011, all our schools will be at the required level". Excuse my cynicism but just how does he expect to achieve that? By closing all schools that don't reach the required standards and .... what?
One answer that is being bandied about is that they'll all be turned into Academies but by 2011? I doubt it.
Merge schools so that school A disappears but becomes a campus of the new school AB where B was already meeting the requirement? I can't see how that will do anything except reduce the average for the new school AB.
Accept the fact that there are children congregating in one geographic area or school who are not going to reach the required standard without removing all the "it's because s/he is black, a refugee, comes from a broken home" and start expecting that young people will achieve but not if schools are labelled failing when they aren't. They are doing the very best that they can under difficult circumstances but can't improve by attracting good staff if they're labelled in this way.
Schools Minister Jim Knight on plans to close schools that fail to get a third of pupils through five good GCSEs.
Read the full article (NB: I read it when I first picked it for blogging but it wouldn't link when I edited.)
Hazel's comment:
The Minister has pledged: "By 2011, all our schools will be at the required level". Excuse my cynicism but just how does he expect to achieve that? By closing all schools that don't reach the required standards and .... what?
One answer that is being bandied about is that they'll all be turned into Academies but by 2011? I doubt it.
Merge schools so that school A disappears but becomes a campus of the new school AB where B was already meeting the requirement? I can't see how that will do anything except reduce the average for the new school AB.
Accept the fact that there are children congregating in one geographic area or school who are not going to reach the required standard without removing all the "it's because s/he is black, a refugee, comes from a broken home" and start expecting that young people will achieve but not if schools are labelled failing when they aren't. They are doing the very best that they can under difficult circumstances but can't improve by attracting good staff if they're labelled in this way.
Domestic violence laws fail to increase convictions
via Current Awareness by sally on 18 August
"Labour's flagship reforms to protect women from domestic violence have failed to increase criminal convictions, a government study has found."
Full story
The Independent 16 August 2008
Hazel's comment:
Where would I be without the Inner Temple Library and its wonderful picking up of stories that I miss completely?
"Labour's flagship reforms to protect women from domestic violence have failed to increase criminal convictions, a government study has found."
Full story
The Independent 16 August 2008
Hazel's comment:
Where would I be without the Inner Temple Library and its wonderful picking up of stories that I miss completely?
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