Well, I've got that ususal Friday afternoon feeling. I can't be bothered to do any work at all. Thankfully, I don't have to do much since I've got to pack up my desk in preparation for moving to a different office over the weekend. It shouldn't take me that long to do it but I'm sure I can stretch it out a little bit.
Unfortunately, it may mean my daytime blogging activities become somewhat curtailed from Monday onwards. I'll have a nice desk by the window so I can spend hours just watching people go by but my screen is going to be more visible to people who shouldn't see me blogging than it is at the moment so I'm going to have to be more careful.
Friday, January 16, 2004
Thursday, January 15, 2004
League Tables
The big news on Breakfast this morning was how comprehensive schools are now performing as well as grammar schools. Blimey, I thought, that's good news. Then, of course, I listened to the whole story and realised what a load of crap it actually is.
In the latest set of school league tables, comprehensives are getting results as good as or higher than grammar schools in the 'value added' part of the table. Essentially, it means that pupils at these schools have shown a greater improvement in exam results when comparing tests taken at age 14 with the GCSE exams two years later.
Well, duh! Why is anyone surprised by this? Surely it's obvious that a comprehensive whose pupils only do averagely well at age fourteen have a much better chance to get their pupils to improve than a grammar school where the pupils were already gaining excellent grades? The grammar schools are still outperforming the comprehensives when it comes to the grades themselves so what is there to shout about?
This obsession with league tables is not good thing. A school and the education that it provides cannot be adequately portrayed by the few measures that are included in the tables and yet people are mislead into thinking it can. When it comes to statistics like this 'value added' bit it gets worse. Here is a statistic that was designed to portray schools that struggle with exam results in a better light and now that that is happening, all we hear is how these struggling schools are now comparable to the high flyers.
What we really need is an objective view of how good a school is overall. How its facilities rate, how good the academic education is, how well-rounded the overall education is, what the atmosphere of the school and its classrooms is like, the quality of its extra-curricular activities and a whole host of other factors. The problem is, of course, that so much of that view is not measurable so a published document won't ever really have everything you need to make the decision over whether it is the right school for your children. The only way to find out the things you want to know is to listen to the pupils already at the school and the reputation it has in the community.
Which is how it has always been done.
In the latest set of school league tables, comprehensives are getting results as good as or higher than grammar schools in the 'value added' part of the table. Essentially, it means that pupils at these schools have shown a greater improvement in exam results when comparing tests taken at age 14 with the GCSE exams two years later.
Well, duh! Why is anyone surprised by this? Surely it's obvious that a comprehensive whose pupils only do averagely well at age fourteen have a much better chance to get their pupils to improve than a grammar school where the pupils were already gaining excellent grades? The grammar schools are still outperforming the comprehensives when it comes to the grades themselves so what is there to shout about?
This obsession with league tables is not good thing. A school and the education that it provides cannot be adequately portrayed by the few measures that are included in the tables and yet people are mislead into thinking it can. When it comes to statistics like this 'value added' bit it gets worse. Here is a statistic that was designed to portray schools that struggle with exam results in a better light and now that that is happening, all we hear is how these struggling schools are now comparable to the high flyers.
What we really need is an objective view of how good a school is overall. How its facilities rate, how good the academic education is, how well-rounded the overall education is, what the atmosphere of the school and its classrooms is like, the quality of its extra-curricular activities and a whole host of other factors. The problem is, of course, that so much of that view is not measurable so a published document won't ever really have everything you need to make the decision over whether it is the right school for your children. The only way to find out the things you want to know is to listen to the pupils already at the school and the reputation it has in the community.
Which is how it has always been done.
Terror in the Skies?
Yesterday saw another indication of how the western world has gone security mad when a Sudanese man was arrested after he was found to have a few bullets in his coat pocket. The bullets hadn't been picked up by the security arrangements at Dulles Airport in Washington DC and now there is a big uproar about the whole thing.
What? Let's be realistic here, just for a minute. The man had a few bullets in his pocket. Surely arresting him under the Terrorism Act is just a little bit much? I mean, it's not as if he was a threat to the aircraft or its passengers and crew, was it? Unless he's the world spitting champion or something.
Has the whole question of airport and airline security been blown out of proportion to such an extent that something like this can be seen as a security threat? As much as I'd like to say no I fear that I'd be wrong.
What? Let's be realistic here, just for a minute. The man had a few bullets in his pocket. Surely arresting him under the Terrorism Act is just a little bit much? I mean, it's not as if he was a threat to the aircraft or its passengers and crew, was it? Unless he's the world spitting champion or something.
Has the whole question of airport and airline security been blown out of proportion to such an extent that something like this can be seen as a security threat? As much as I'd like to say no I fear that I'd be wrong.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Current Affairs
When I first thought about writing a blog, one of the things I wanted to do was set out my views on whatever was happening in the news. However, I've never really done that, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, as a result of the Iraq war and the Dr Kelly affair I was becoming less interested in current affairs anyway and stopped forming opinions on it. Secondly, I was having trouble translating those opinions from the vague thoughts and ideas in my head into words on the screen and so I didn't do it.
I'm going to try and change that over the next few days or weeks. If I ever want to take thoughts out of my head and put them in a book then I need the practice and besides, I think I should be more aware of what's going on in the world than I have been of late. So, starting tomorrow, I'm going to write some topical posts and see if I really can write what I think.
I'm going to try and change that over the next few days or weeks. If I ever want to take thoughts out of my head and put them in a book then I need the practice and besides, I think I should be more aware of what's going on in the world than I have been of late. So, starting tomorrow, I'm going to write some topical posts and see if I really can write what I think.
Freie Blaue Himmel
Thanks to this search hit from somewhere in Germany I have been able to look at Google's translated version of Clear Blue Skies. Freie Blaue Himmel is quite a good read (assuming you know German), even if I do say so myself. One problem with it, though is that certain words (e.g. festive, hectic, whoever) can't be translated by Google and hence are just left in English. So, Google isn't perfect, after all. It also doesn't seem to read the closing tag for italics so most of the page is on a slant.
Still, it certainly is interesting to see things I've written in a foreign language.
Still, it certainly is interesting to see things I've written in a foreign language.
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
New Links
As you may have noticed, I have added a few new blogs on my sidebar. They are blogs I've been reading for a little while now so I thought it was about time I put them up there. Let me introduce you.
First of all we have Autoblography, written by Stuart. Does a very nice virtual coffee (or any other beverage under the sun, really) on a Monday so pop by next week and put in your order.
Then there's Not You, The Other One, posts on all sorts of subjects but most often about her (lack of a) sex life at the moment. However, she is trying to do something about that so keep an eye on developments.
Of course, Ron's World probably doesn't need any introduction for most of you but if you've never come across the phenomenon that is RW then think of a conversation you've had in the pub with a load of your mates that starts off all deep and meaningful but quickly degenerates into a series of smutty jokes and innuendo and you'll know what to expect from Ron's comment threads. I love 'em.
Last on the list is Tom Watson, MP for West Bromwich East. While I may not agree with his political affiliations, he writes in an open, honest and often amusing way and it is good to have an insight into the mind of someone within parliament. He doesn't just write about politics or tow the party line, either. Hopefully, other MPs, from across the political spectrum will take up his lead and start writing blogs, too.
So there you have it, four very different blogs, all of them (I believe) worth reading. Why not go along and see if you agree with me?
First of all we have Autoblography, written by Stuart. Does a very nice virtual coffee (or any other beverage under the sun, really) on a Monday so pop by next week and put in your order.
Then there's Not You, The Other One, posts on all sorts of subjects but most often about her (lack of a) sex life at the moment. However, she is trying to do something about that so keep an eye on developments.
Of course, Ron's World probably doesn't need any introduction for most of you but if you've never come across the phenomenon that is RW then think of a conversation you've had in the pub with a load of your mates that starts off all deep and meaningful but quickly degenerates into a series of smutty jokes and innuendo and you'll know what to expect from Ron's comment threads. I love 'em.
Last on the list is Tom Watson, MP for West Bromwich East. While I may not agree with his political affiliations, he writes in an open, honest and often amusing way and it is good to have an insight into the mind of someone within parliament. He doesn't just write about politics or tow the party line, either. Hopefully, other MPs, from across the political spectrum will take up his lead and start writing blogs, too.
So there you have it, four very different blogs, all of them (I believe) worth reading. Why not go along and see if you agree with me?
Impatience
Why is it that people feel the need to press the button, repeatedly, at a pedestrian crossing when the fact that WAIT is lit is testament to the fact that someone has already pushed it. It's the same when you're waiting for a lift. You press the button to call the lift and then someone else will come along and press it three or four times in quick succession.
Why do they do that? Do they really think that the lights will change/lift will arrive any sooner because of their action? Why can't everyone just be patient and let things happen in their own time?
Why do they do that? Do they really think that the lights will change/lift will arrive any sooner because of their action? Why can't everyone just be patient and let things happen in their own time?
Bloggervertising
Going back to the subject of adverts briefly, I was watching Spitfire Ace on Channel 4 last night (which was very good, by the way) and saw one of the latest First Direct adverts, the one with the vicar and his wife, and I thought to myself "Blue Witch could do that" (advertise First Direct, not be the vicar's wife :-) ). That got me thinking about what products or services other bloggers would advertise.
Some are obvious. Elsie would probably endorse the products for sale at Italian Heels and for Annie Mole it would have to be London Underground (please note that Annie does not work for LU ;-) )
Diamond Geezer would advertise something to do with London, though I'm not exactly sure what and Stuart would front the campaign for Starbucks or some other coffee shop chain.
What about anyone else? Get your thinking caps on and let me know what you think you, or any other blogger, would advertise.
Some are obvious. Elsie would probably endorse the products for sale at Italian Heels and for Annie Mole it would have to be London Underground (please note that Annie does not work for LU ;-) )
Diamond Geezer would advertise something to do with London, though I'm not exactly sure what and Stuart would front the campaign for Starbucks or some other coffee shop chain.
What about anyone else? Get your thinking caps on and let me know what you think you, or any other blogger, would advertise.
Monday, January 12, 2004
Dreaming
Following on from BW's post about blogland dreams, I had a blogging-connected dream on Saturday night. I don't usually remember dreams in vivid detail - more often than not all I can recall are vague sensations and perhaps the odd specific action - but this one was clearer than most.
I was walking with someone down the hill from my parents home in Stevenage towards the station when I suddenly became aware (whether by being told or what I don't know) that there was an awards ceremony for blogs taking place in a local theatre. The theatre, which doesn't really exist was small and called the 'Monty Python Comedy Theatre'. Inside it wasn't like any theatre I've ever seen. Instead it was more like a large, very brightly lit hall with a very long stage and the audience crowded around tables in front of it. There were a load of people on the stage, too but there wasn't a lot of award giving going on, just people juggling and fooling around, I think.
It was about this time that I realised that my companion was Charlotte from Sex And The City. But in my dream she was also a blogger and she had also been in Germany at the same time as me. It seems very odd now but, of course in the dream it was perfectly natural, though I was a little puzzled about why other people in the audience were looking at her a lot. We were stood at the back of the hall and I looked around wondering if I could spot Elsie in the crowd (because she's the only one of my readers I've seen a photo of) but I couldn't see her.
Then I woke up.
I know the root of the awards ceremony and the looking for Elsie thing, since on Friday I both nominated a couple of blogs in the Bloggies and saw Elsie's photo on Ron's World but as to the rest of it, I have no idea. Do you?
I was walking with someone down the hill from my parents home in Stevenage towards the station when I suddenly became aware (whether by being told or what I don't know) that there was an awards ceremony for blogs taking place in a local theatre. The theatre, which doesn't really exist was small and called the 'Monty Python Comedy Theatre'. Inside it wasn't like any theatre I've ever seen. Instead it was more like a large, very brightly lit hall with a very long stage and the audience crowded around tables in front of it. There were a load of people on the stage, too but there wasn't a lot of award giving going on, just people juggling and fooling around, I think.
It was about this time that I realised that my companion was Charlotte from Sex And The City. But in my dream she was also a blogger and she had also been in Germany at the same time as me. It seems very odd now but, of course in the dream it was perfectly natural, though I was a little puzzled about why other people in the audience were looking at her a lot. We were stood at the back of the hall and I looked around wondering if I could spot Elsie in the crowd (because she's the only one of my readers I've seen a photo of) but I couldn't see her.
Then I woke up.
I know the root of the awards ceremony and the looking for Elsie thing, since on Friday I both nominated a couple of blogs in the Bloggies and saw Elsie's photo on Ron's World but as to the rest of it, I have no idea. Do you?
Sorting - Spare Room Boxes
I was going to post this yesterday evening but, although I could connect to the internet, I couldn't get any further than that - not even to my ISP's homepage. So, you get it as an extra post today instead.
On Saturday we continued with the sorting out and tackled three boxes of assorted stuff that have been carefully hidden away in the cupboards in the spare room since we moved in over eighteen months ago. One of them was half full of well preserved tissue paper that has been kept for the express purpose of wrapping all of the breakables when we move so that left two and a half boxes. I think we managed to part with about half of it and squeezed the rest of it into just one box. So we now have an extra two boxes to use for packing - a job well done, I'd say.
Amongst it all I have gotten rid of various old letters from various friends (including an old girlfriend). I knew the letters were there because I can remember reading one or two as I was packing them the last time we moved. I read a few more of them this time and I was struck by a touch of sadness because I'm no longer in contact with most of the writers. Life moves on and people drift apart, I suppose.
Along with the letters, I chucked out an alarm clock, 2 santa hats, a mapcase with holes in it (hence pointless for using to keep maps dry), a couple of pairs of mangy old hiking socks, my camera (it doesn't work and is now well out of warranty), my glasses (I never wore them and I probably need a new prescription by now), an Arsenal scarf and some reflective bands for cyclists (which were in a terrible state). Plus a whole lot of other, more non-descript junk.
I'm quite surprised by how ruthless I've been over it all. I mean, I've kept all of this stuff through two moves even though I knew I'd probably never use any of it again so why am I reacting differently this time? Maybe it's because we're now moving to our own place and I want to take more pride in it than I have in either of the flats I've lived in since I left home and that means not filling it with junk I'm never going to need. At least, not from the day we move in, anyway. ;-)
On Saturday we continued with the sorting out and tackled three boxes of assorted stuff that have been carefully hidden away in the cupboards in the spare room since we moved in over eighteen months ago. One of them was half full of well preserved tissue paper that has been kept for the express purpose of wrapping all of the breakables when we move so that left two and a half boxes. I think we managed to part with about half of it and squeezed the rest of it into just one box. So we now have an extra two boxes to use for packing - a job well done, I'd say.
Amongst it all I have gotten rid of various old letters from various friends (including an old girlfriend). I knew the letters were there because I can remember reading one or two as I was packing them the last time we moved. I read a few more of them this time and I was struck by a touch of sadness because I'm no longer in contact with most of the writers. Life moves on and people drift apart, I suppose.
Along with the letters, I chucked out an alarm clock, 2 santa hats, a mapcase with holes in it (hence pointless for using to keep maps dry), a couple of pairs of mangy old hiking socks, my camera (it doesn't work and is now well out of warranty), my glasses (I never wore them and I probably need a new prescription by now), an Arsenal scarf and some reflective bands for cyclists (which were in a terrible state). Plus a whole lot of other, more non-descript junk.
I'm quite surprised by how ruthless I've been over it all. I mean, I've kept all of this stuff through two moves even though I knew I'd probably never use any of it again so why am I reacting differently this time? Maybe it's because we're now moving to our own place and I want to take more pride in it than I have in either of the flats I've lived in since I left home and that means not filling it with junk I'm never going to need. At least, not from the day we move in, anyway. ;-)
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