Ladymuck

Nope - sounds like a fair cop to me. Pay up now before they double the fine.

Hmmmm...a sweeping statement if ever I saw one...and you who spoke of an "absurd over-reaction" earlier? The temerity! *whacks MitchK over head with rolled-up copy of The Guardian*

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why do you say that, LM? As far as I know BECTA > was only responsible for school IT procurement. > That will either fall back to schools or back to > the DoE itself. Sorry Loz ? I had somehow missed your previous post. BECTA are involved in more than merely IT procurement. They have set up various schemes designed to make IT more accessible to people (especially children) from disadvantaged backgrounds. These not only include the poorest, but (e.g.) also children with special physical needs as the packages are customised to particular requirements. Without these programmes such people would suffer further disadvantage. In addition, recent arrangements were made with the aim of providing laptops and broadband to some 200,000 children from low income families with further support for people with disabilities (including those with profound needs) who would otherwise be unable to work with traditional equipment. The impact of these programmes was expected to be far reaching not only in terms of making IT more inclusive but also in terms of (e.g.) increasing parental participation and reducing the digital gap between the wealthy/poor. I acknowledge that QUANGOs in general have over the years been accused of bureaucratic waste etc., but my interest in the scrapping of BECTA lies in relation to concerns over who would now take over the current and proposed new schemes set up by BECTA. No one knows whether they will be honoured by the schools themselves or the Department for Education ? if at all. Snippets extracted from various articles: "Hundreds of millions of pounds have already been saved as a result of the work of a number of education quangos which would not otherwise have been achieved by leaving individual schools to their own devices. The chancellor has failed to recognise that quangos are not all bad. Some of the organisations whose funding has today been slashed are better placed than individual schools on their own to achieve the value for money the government craves." Full article here. Interestingly,a poll undertaken by The Guardian showed that "teachers have voted Becta as the most valuable organisation among a list of six national bodies (49% voted it the most valuable, compared with just 3.9% for the QCDA). Interestingly, though, when teachers were asked who should be responsible for procuring technology, only 9.6% have so far voted for Becta, while 40.5% voted for independent schools." Full article here.

Thanks for the latest article Loz - I hadn't seen it. To be honest, I took the statement as being a fact. Maybe I shouldn't have.

MitchK Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- >It's just another > pointless Quango. Shutting it down doesn't mean > they're sacking teachers or closing schools. No, but the fact that frontline services may not be affected does not necessarily make the axing of Becta a good thing either. As for being pointless, I guess that's a matter of opinion and depends on where one's priorities lie (I recall viewing the Potato Council with derision some years back). Notwithstanding this, following the announcement of their fate, Becta issued a statement to the press stating that the quango "saved schools more money than it cost to run the organisation".

...and BREATHE... Check out the most expensive bicycle in the world. Apparently it costs around $100,000. It is made with 24 carat gold and Swarovski crystals. Wonder if it would make it up Sydenham Hill? http://www.mostinterestingfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/most-expensive-bicycle.jpg

It's a really good question Brendan. Sorry, I don't know the answer, but don't forget to take into account factors such as greater burden on NHS: people made redundant often suffer mental health problems (e.g. depression), and if long-term this may in turn lead to physical illness too.

*sniggers*

Now what? The "sh!t cyclists/car/van/lorry/bus/cab drivers etc. etc." are (thankfully) in the minority. Don't think I'd be here if they weren't.

MitchK Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What an absurd over-reaction. Perhaps. I prefer to refer to it as passion though.

Damn...meant to attach this article.

Oh dear, oh dear. BECTA is going to be scrapped. Whilst I acknowledge that cuts, cuts and more cuts are realistically unavoidable (nay - necessary) if we have any chance of getting out of this financial quagmire, it pains me to see that education is going to be affected in this way. Whilst abandoning BECTA may be viewed as desirable in terms of helping to reduce the deficit, it certainly is not going to promote this "fairness" which both parties were so vociferous about immediately prior to the election. A quality education is absolutely crucial for a more equal and thus fairer society. It plays a critical role in determining an individual?s position in the employment market and life generally. This means that it is probably one of the most important factors in achieving a fairer Britain. I am exceedingly disappointed. In fact, in my opinion, it's terrible news for the poorest.

katie1997 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have been in the same position as you, although > not Lagos, and I went on my own. Did you leave behind a partner/hubby at the time? If so did he mind (or not)? Or were you on your own anyway? (Sorry, a bit personal - feel free to ignore). > PS. I miss my chauffeur but would rather have him > here in London - imagine it?! :)) A bit like Lady Penelope and Parker?:))

jimmy two times Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks for Fcuk all EDF. The Kuntz cut my gas off > the other day.......hang on......we are talking > about the same EDF aint we? Oh welcome back Hatchet Boy!! (Football Focus thread readers will understand this!). Lovely to see you back on form.:)).

Horsebox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Oh! Hi, Laydee Muck. Time fer a tune up? http://skateandannoy.com/aa-sna-uploads/2007/06/barbie.jpg bie.jpg Hee hee Horsebox - but it's actually closer to this: http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/AB05428.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=38FCB2103A208D77D3B68CB4BEA6E169C89AAA9AED7F92E10351FD8F2A8AC0F9

And something which made me laugh so much I nearly came off my bike. I was in that really busy part of Kensington (where all those fast flowing lanes come together) headed for Knightsbridge. Unfortunately I missed the relevant roadsign and worried over whether I had crossed into the correct lane. Anyway, when at the red lights I approached a taxi-driver for confirmation. Well, he looked at me (and my bike) quite incredulously and then piped up: "What? You aint going on that thing are you? You're off your fucking trolley mate...fuck me girl...you got balls though I'll give you that...bad enough in this cab at this time of day...fuck me..." The lights then changed, he signalled to me that I was indeed in the correct lane, and as he pulled away I could still hear him talking to himself..."off her fucking head...fucking mental..." I then caught up with him at the next set of lights as he was just pulling away when he gave me that incredulous look once more and shouted out: "You're fucking serious aint ya...well good luck to ya mate...you're gonna need it...fucking mental". Made me laugh all the way to Knightsbridge (and back again).

Something which made me smile a while back. I was stationary at a red set of lights. Immediately next to me was a (rather dishy!) motorcyclist. As the lights switched to "amber", he turned towards me, flashed me the most beautiful smile and said cheekily: "RACE YOU"! (following which he roared off into the distance)

I must admit that I wasn't convinced by her statement on Question Time that she had changed her mind...didn't strike me as genuine. She's a well-educated, erudite woman and has been in politics for many years now - in prestigious positions too. What has made her change her mind? Did she not understand the situation in the first place? Was she mistaken? She needs, at the very least to give an explanation for her previous voting record on gay rights and the reason(s) for the change of heart if she is to convince the protesting public that her latest statement is not just about maintaining her role as Equalities Minister.

You are so right GG. xx

As many of you will know, Theresa May's appointment as Equalities Minister has been heavily criticised by gay rights' activists on the basis that previous votes cast by her are not consistent with those of someone in the position of Equalities Minister. Many have called for her resignation/removal from office. The Equalities Minister (also Home Secretary) yesterday stated on BBC Question Time that she has now changed her stance on gay adoption. So, should we accept that she has genuinely seen the light and allow her to maintain her position as Equalities Minister, or should she resign/be dismissed? The "Sack New Homophobic Equality Minister" petition on Facebook lists close to 70,000 members and the "Sack Theresa" website contains almost 30,000 signatures.

Thank you Horsebox. I think I get it now. Phew...

Oh hang on...pea brain has just gone...."ping"! Can this feature only be activated by the poster him/herself or can any poster choose to hide/show a particular poster's posts. In other words: if say the poster "Administrator" wished, for some inexplicable;-) reason, to avoid "Ladymuck's" posts, could "Administrator" switch off all of my posts? In which case, would my posts be hidden from view to "Administrator" only or to all and sundry? Sorry - I'm not the brightest when it comes to computer stuff.

Thank you HAL9000. But surely then, it's a hindrance because users can no longer simply scan through anymore without having to stop onto this new feature and click onto it. I mean, why would someone go on a forum like this one and not wish to scan through the posts? And why would a poster "activate" this feature on one of their posts? I would have thought that the whole point of posting was for the public to view that post. It just doesn't make sense to my pea brain. Sorry Admin. I realise you meant well and I don't wish to appear ungrateful (honest), but I don't see the point of it.:(

*retreats to the cycling thread*

Talking of HGVs being responsible for the majority of cycling fatalities, Lambeth Council have been placing their lorry drivers on cycle awareness training courses designed especially for lorry drivers for some months now. The course includes actually getting on bikes and experiencing what it's like to be a cyclist. They have now extended the scheme to all their drivers of essential cars and say that their next step is to train bus and lorry drivers as accredited cycle instructors so that they, in turn, may eventually deliver instruction themselves. Good or what!