badgerx16

post

vanguard

bird

(of ) Spades

Heseltine

With respect to exams being harder /easier, you are comparing apples with pears. The curriculum is different now, and with this change of emphasis some things that were 'A' level are now 'O' level ( equivalent ), and vice versa. Things are 'easy' if you understand them, and 'hard' if you don't - ( much like watching Mastermind or University Challenge ). Also, the exam regime itself is different; much more of the work that counts to the exam is modular, and can be reviewed and amended before being submitted for final assessment, as opposed to 'pure' exams which are taken on the day and are inviolate. ( On the whole I think this is a better way of doing things,- how many 'real world' workplace learning experiences are handled without reference to manuals or colleagues ? ). What is important is not so much the retention of knowledge as the posession of skills to analyse and assess, and to apply pratical experience to situations as they arise.

SlipKnot ( RIP Paul Gray )

Listen to any of the new Tory front-benchers being interviewed and count the number of times they use prefix "modern progressive" before mentioning "conservative". Francis Maude was on R4 this morning, and I swear he got it into double figures in just 4 minutes. They'll claim to be 'liberal' next - oops, some of them are !

TBH, the target of 50% of 18 year-olds going to uni is fatuous and misguided. As long as the system is geared towards ability, and presents a level playing field regardless of social classification, the brightest and best should get all the support they need, in courses that are of 'value'. There should be more technically/practically focussed opportunities for those who fall short of uni standard, or who simply prefer not to go. Back this up with apprenticeships and the majority of late teens should be set up for their working lives.

So what happened between 1980-87 & 1991-96 ? Wasn't Ken Clarke around then ? Or was that all down to Leon Britten, Geoffrey Howe, Norman Lamont, & Nigel Lawson ?

And so we come back to the 'how much public money was required to bailout the capitalist bankers and try to deal with a GLOBAL recession ?' line of debate.

Between 1997 & 2001 we ran a budget surplus, ( but I am sure that was the residual effect of the Major regime ) And have you checked out the annual deficits during Maggie's and Major's reigns ?

Gallium Arsenide

I feel I have to stand up for my kind - Badgers are not to blame for the collapse in bee populations, ( unless it's their mobile phones ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_collapse_disorder http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/are-mobile-phones-wiping-out-our-bees-444768.html

over

F@%$ing caravanners

Ardman

The capacity before the South-West corner was opened was only @9000, it is now up to @12000. Now they can afford to finish the job, the total, when completed, will be 16000, still too small for the Prem, but they know they aren't stopping.

rinse

buttressed

overrated

It'll be interesting how Ollie restructures the team, as to be honest, this is a bit of an unexpected outcome, and the squad is weak, even when measured against other previously promoted 'minnows' such as Burnley. He's got Charlie Adam, who is likely to develop into a 'proper' Premiership player, and Brett, who actually has Prem experience, ( though he is slower now as his injuries have taken their toll, and he struggles to last more than 60 minutes ). But the loanees, such as DJ Cambell, Dobbie, and Coleman will go back, ( although I can see Everton loaning Coleman back to them next season ). Also, players such as Ben Burgess and Euell are patently not up to scratch. Still, it will be a real rollercoaster season, and there's nowhere better for rollercoasters than Blackpool ! They have apparently already sold out the planned allocation of season tickets, on the expectation of a Wembley win !

lisa ( old Apple computing link )

I shall have to be extra quiet at work on Monday, assuming they don't pull sickies with their hangovers.

:smt103:smt036