mercuryg

It's an interesting topic; I see social media getting a bad press sometimes. Of course there are people who use it to abuse, insult and exploit others, but the bigger picture is that this is very much the way ahead. I'm not a fan of Twitter, it is largely celebrities (or their publicists) keeping their name in the public eye - although it is can be useful for (often inaccurate) news snippets - but the likes of LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+ play a large part in my professional life, as well as my personal one. In business terms it's vital, and Maggie has it right in that it is, in many ways, the digital age version of Word-of-Mouth.For example, I've picked up clients as far afield as Japan, Indonesia, Australia, you name it, thanks to one person telling another that I'm the man for the job. This business could not have been sustained without the internet, and without social media. Yet, and it continues to surprise me, many major players - especially in the world of sport - have yet to realise its significance. I am, as many of you know, a massive Formula One and Motor Racing fan; whether you like it or not, F1 is one of the biggest global sports (or shows, if you like.....) of the moment. However, FOM - the company that controls the commercial side of things, Ecclestone's outfit - considers Social Media to be a 'passing fad' (those are Bernie's exact words) and rather than embracing YouTube as a source of showing snippets of exciting stuff, goes all out to take down anything that is posted regards the sport. Indeed, some years ago I was Editor in Chief of a sadly defunct F1 website (we were the biggest non-print publication related site in existence at one time); we used to have a 'live feed' from qualifying, with real time updating of the lap times. We got a visit from Bernie's lawyers, ordering us to stop, as FOM 'owns' the lap times until after the session has finished, and only licensed parties (at a massive fee) were entitled to show them. We offered to portray times 1/1000th of a second either way of the actual time; this too was prohibited. Why? We were broadcasting to people in Iran, Iraq, and many other countries where TV was inaccessible (and the internet actually illegal) for the benefit of far flung fans? Only now, years later, has the sport actually realised that hang on, all these teams and drivers have websites.......get with the game Bernard, this is the 21st century!

John Smiths anywhere, it's like water! For anyone who savours decent ale pop to the Lion and try the American Pumpkin Ale that is on at the moment. It's a wonderful 6.5% and rather lovely. At least, I think it was, I can't really remember.

I went out of my way to wave at the camera yesterday. Those driving past must have thought me a bit odd.

Lovely morning out there....

Hey that's cool! I shall wave at the camera later on!

"a lot of the talent that the youth of our country possess is being wasted in their futile quest for a degree." Willy J I believe you are absolutely right. It's not for everyone. (It wasn't for me!)

"Lot of the problem is lack of discipline." Couldn't agree more. This is going to sound like an overtly sexist comment, and in general it is, but I reckon a distinct lack of male teachers these days has a lot to do with this. On the Jobcentre point, I had the pleasure of signing on for a while. In my initial assessment I was asked if there were any jobs I could specifically not do, and why: 'those where you spend all the time on a telephone' I replied 'because I'm largely deaf'. Great, said the kid, let's have a look; oh, this looks perfect for you, it's in a call centre.......

That's admirable, and I understand why my comments annoyed you. Without knowing everyone's background any remotely, potentially controversial comment is going to get someone's back up, so apologies once again. "Thats why I believe the kids are failing modern technology makes them lazy." Yes! Absolutely; while the digital age has ushered in some very important advances it has also led to a degree of apathy and laziness. I had a conversation recently with a young lady who, having attended an interview to start working for a major pub chain, could not understand why the wanted her to have a basic idea of how to add and subtract.......The problem with spellcheckers, also, is that they are not comprehensive. A large chunk of my work is in proofreading documents that have already been given the green light by Microsoft Word, and yet are indescribably awful. The English language can be contradictory at the worst of times. Another example: a guy I know is redoing his maths and english gcse's right now; he had to ask me what 3 divide by 6 is. he's 32.

I didn't say worthless, Tony, and did apologise in advance for inadvertently insulting anyone for their choice of subject; I used pointless as my term, and perhaps should not have bracketed a broad subject as sociology in that area. I don't know the age of your wife, and wouldn't deign to ask, but would be interested to know when she undertook her university education. The point I was trying to make is that todays education - not just at University level - is letting young people down. You also make a point that I made, about doing a degree that you enjoy. I embarked on an art degree, and your son is doing what he wants; that's entirely admirable, and I wish him well in his endeavours in Australia. Unfortunately, because you, your wife and son (and myself I might add) have done well thanks to our chosen routes, doesn't mean that all will. There were 35 people on my degree course at Northumbria (History of Modern Art, Design and Film). I kept in touch with ten or twelve. After three years at University, and with good graded, how many of those do you think got jobs within a year of graduation? Three. Only one, I might add, was in a relevant field. The university education system has become diluted; after all, practically every Polytechnic now attains University status. I'm not suggesting we return to the elitist days of old, but that something needs to be done to ensure the youngsters of day - at Uni and before - have a fair crack of the whip. I don't believe they do. Put it this way: I've worked with post A-level students with great grades whose command of English was very, very poor, whose numeracy was practically non-existent, and who were going on to University on the back of those letters on the certificate. A couple prospered, the rest struggled. It's not how it should be. I'm impressed, by the way, with your wife's command of Latin, a language of greater importance than most realise, and while my French is passable, I have enough trouble listening to people in English! To sum up, I'm not being ignorant, I speak from broad experience, and I apologise for offending you.

Forgive me if this post is a little long winded, for Tony has touched on a couple of points that I would like to comment on. First, I must say kudos for taking up the cudgel and joining the union for the reason you give, a very valid one indeed. More poignant for me is the bit about a good education for kids. I didn't go to university the requisite way - after leaving school - but later in life, about which more later. I was lucky enough, if you want to put it that way, to go to college, get an HND and get a job - a pretty mundane one, but it was a job. I then went on to qualify as an accountant, which gave me a fall back for later (although I subsequently left it off my cv because I hated it so much!) This brings me on to the first point. As a professional copywriter I often help people out; not everyone is a great writer, and that's to be expected, but a couple of years back I was given a broad shock. Within a few days two friends, both around 30 years, were telling me they applied for job after job, but never even got replies. I suggested their cv's may need a little work, and a decent cover letter might be a benefit, and offered to help them out. Both, they told me, had good cv's because they had been created at a Jobcentre (or whatever it's called now) approved day course (compulsory I believe) and 'approved' by the tutor (the same one, as it happens - I may have told this story before, so apologies for repeating myself). What I read when they presented the documents to me was frankly atrocious.revised.doc The attached is the better of the two, and has all personal info removed. Frankly, this cv would go straight in the bin; sad sign of the times it is, but with many applicants for each post the process has to start somewhere. Unfortunately I didn't keep the cover letter; it would have led to the cv itself being discarded before it had a chance. The lad in question is a personable, articulate, bright, hard working guy with a good attitude; yet read that first line - a government approved tutor gave that the OK! Did he actually read it? If this is the level of support jobseekers are getting, it's no wonder they find things difficult. Furthermore, if this is the standard of written English (my friend had a grade B GCSE English language) then there's something very wrong. I'm not advocating perfection, but a little more attention to grammar and no text speak! Now, onto the university bit; I went to Uni in my early thirties as I needed a break from working for various reasons; I chose an arts course, something of interest rather than of particular use career-wise, as I had fall back options. The standard of tuition (when there actually was any) was pathetic. It didn't matter for me - I was doing it for fun - but for the youngsters racking up nine grand a year (and I agree, Tony, they possibly never will pay it back) it was disgusting. I know of many youngsters with good grades in degrees, yet the subjects are pointless: Media Studies, Sociology, History of Art, Music Technology et al; forgive me if I'm inadvertently insulting anyone's university bound children here, but the point I'm trying to make is this: whatever anyone says, the worth of a degree HAS been devalued. Work experience, if one can get it, appeals to employers much more. An example: a friend of mine's daughter, at 16, a local lass, got a job answering the phone and making tea at a solicitors office, after school, for a couple of hours, with longer hours in the holiday period. A year and a bit on, she has a permanent job with them, and they are putting her through a range of courses to further her experience. Lucky? Yes, very, but any one of her friends could have gone out and looked for that job. She did, and she found it. The upshot of all this? Choose a degree that pertains to a valuable career option, or take a few years to work out what you really want to do. And let's please do something to upgrade the standard or the three r's in our schools.

Tony, is that the postcard they have behind the bar? I gave them it, if so! In fact, the picture is reproduced and on the wall somewhere in bigger format so may be better to look at that version.

Gemma, It's outside my house but that's probably a bit distant for you, I'm in Choppington, near the Swan. It's full of crap but can clear some space for him if it's of any use.

gemma I have a garage, he's welcome to stick his bike in it if need be!

Break in and lay claim!

Happy Birthday Malcolm! Not many more to come now, eh?

Lol I don't think so; I have heard from many sources tales of the Nail being moved, but believe Symptoms has it right and, in fact, the street is not quite as it was back then.

But Keith, you miss the point (pun intended): http://www.outerworlds.com/likeness/aliens/aliens.html

I think my answer is far more accurate. He does undoubtedly look like a baboon.

I currently use a tiny alcatel. It does the job.

This is a subject that has always puzzled me, as many people have told me it has been moved. I have a number of postcards from across the years - back to the late 19th century - that show it in the same place as it is now. Perhaps it was moved prior to then, but if so, why? It's certainly an interesting construction. Maybe it's evidence of Ancient Aliens. Yes, that's the obvious conclusion.

Easy one Keith, Mike Nesmith of the Monkees (who's mother invented liquid paper, which is useless on a computer screen), who famously wore that stupid hat, looks like a Baboon, and is actually Christ the Redeemer.

"Racialist is one of these loony left substitute for thought labels." And what is a 'tribalist'? (joking) I'm not sure you're getting the point I'm making to some degree; UKIP has a following now primarily because it is outspoken about immigration. Believe it or not, few of the average Joe's on the street could care less about the EU, but they don't want 'them coming over here and taking our jobs'. UKIP has centred on this - cleverly so, and rightly so to a degree - but it fills the likes of myself, a sceptic if you like, with a distinct sense of unease. What is their true agenda? I've read, scoured, listened, and I fail to see a point of real focus. Don't get me wrong, in a general election tomorrow they would likely get my vote - see Keith's comment's for similar reasons - but they are too loosely formed for my ultimate interest.

"Unless you can get a business that can compete with Sky, Virgin etc." How people can afford such things is beyond me. I very much doubt a Toby would succeed, given the competition half a mile down the street. Something for kids is a great idea, but who pays for it?

"That's the UKIP position, plain and simple." I'm not sure that UKIP's position is plain and simple, which is why I'm wary of them. UKIP has taken the immigration problem as it's public standpoint, because it knows that there are pockets of the population who believe it to be the single biggest problem affecting the country (or who are simply inherently racist, to be frank). It's not. I agree with you about Labour and dishonest policies, but do you actually believe that UKIP would perform everything it says? I'm afraid I see them as just another party, saying what people want to hear, but have no confidence they can deliver.

I think you missed my point. I know of a number of people who have done this, without actually understanding the bit about donation, and what you are donating to. For the record, I haven't done it, and will not be donating, not because I'm a miserable old git, but because I already contribute to a chosen charity on a regular basis. I can't afford to join in with every charity chain letter that comes along. For those who have done it, good for you, and so on.