Month: July 2007

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Scouting is ‘A Good Thing’

Reading through the various websites and newspapers yesterday and today, it seems that the general opinion is that Scouting is a good thing! Wow what a shocker! It's nice that the positive aspects are being promoted and not just the usual piss takes. Not a mention of Dyb Dyb Dyb (stands for Do Your Best. Dob stands for Do Our Best – now you know!). Not that those phrases have been used for nearly 40 years!
The Scout Association's PR machine is doing really well in this our centenary year and with the Jamboree going on.
The general opinion is that Scouting is a good influence on young people and is a good influence. I'm sure BP must be impressed! 
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School Holidays

Well, we broke up on Friday and now have six week of holidays. Except we don’t!
In a school, there are three types of contracts.
  1. Teacher. You are employed on a full time (or part time), 52 weeks per year contract and get 13 weeks holiday.  You are not expected to work in the holidays (although to be fair some do).
  2. Full time support staff. You are employed on a full time, 52 weeks per year contract and get roughly 6 – 8 weeks holiday depending on length of service. You have to work in the holidays.
  3. Part time support staff. You are employed on a part time, 39 weeks a year contract (term time) and technically get no holidays as you are not employed for those weeks. However staff are paid over the full year.
The majority of non teaching staff are part time. In fact there are only 4/5 people, including me, in my school who are full time (one person remains to be seen!).

So why is it the majority of non teaching staff are part time? Cost of course, it’s a lot cheaper to not pay people for 13 weeks a year.
The other side of the coin is why are teachers paid for 52 weeks a year? I guess it’s all down the power of the teaching unions and the lack of power and interest from the unions representing the support staff.
Oh well, at least I’ve got a few quiet weeks before my hols!

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Virgin Lose the Cross Country Francise

Wow! Virgin have lost the Cross Country franchise to Arriva!

One thing that struck me straight away is that they're promising to reintroduce HSTs! That's something Virgin were determined not to do and when they've hired one in they've apologised about the fact!
I'll be fascinated to see if they improve the services and also the number of seats on the trains!
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Ink Costs

There is a full page advert in today's Sunday Telegraph from HP extolling the benefits of buying genuine HP ink cartridges over recycled ones!
The thing that they forget is that the cost of their cartridges are so damn expensive! I seem to remember reading once that ink for printers is more expensive than gold!
Cut the prices and stop spending money on full page adverts HP!!!
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Terrorism, London, Glasgow, Chesterton & Bradwell!

Well it appear that some of the suspects from the weekends attacks in London and Glasgow lived in my area. In fact only a mile or so from where I live and very close to friends of mine!

What is it that makes doctors with a family want to blow people up and injure them? It can't be because they're Muslim, because Islam is supposed to be a peaceful religion. Like all religions I suppose, people interpret things in a way that suits them. Never heard of a Buddhist terrorist mind!

I feel sorry for the kiddies of these people. If they are involved (and we must assume innocent until proven guilty), what will it mean to them? Mummy and Daddy tried to blow people up!

Also, it seems that the local F***wits are out in force again by hurling abuse to any person who may be Muslim – makes you proud doesn't it? 😉

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Smoking

Well it's finally happened, smoking in public places is finally banned in England. Nice to see we're behind Ireland, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland though.
It will be nice to go into a pub or pub / restaurant without coming out smelling like an ashtray! There is an argument by the pro smoking lobby that it infringes their human rite to smoke. Tough! It's my right not have smoke blown at me. Even if there are non smoking sections, smoke always drifts.
It will be interesting to see what people say in the press over the next few days / weeks!