Headhunter

Classic video - those crazy Belgians!! Happy memories, bit of a Lynchian-Eraserhead kinda vibe going through it.

However, thanks to my other half making a comment about Bill Bailey (who does the Hokey Cokey in German in ze Kraftwerk stylee) I won't quite be able to look at it in the same light again...

Einstein-a-go-go

From bbc.co.uk

A report this week says that fewer pupils are taking A-level physics, as compared to 1982. No surprise there, then. You could say that fewer people watch BBC1 now than in 1982 - more choice means people will take advantage of those choices. You could also say that people will take the easiest route, and, fair to say, physics is not an easy route. Also, physics still suffers from the tweed jacket, beardy-weirdy image. Einstein is the biggest icon (as can be seen from my chosen image), and he matches the "mad professor" image which is hard to shake.

But, in the same week, another report shows that many graduates are in low paid, dead-end jobs, unrelated to their degree. The fuller report indicated that unemployment was low for

Medicine & Dentistry (0%, surprise surprise!), Veterinary Science (3%) and Education (3%), rising to 10% for Creative Arts & Design. Physical sciences fared well, although it was noted that lower numbers of students take these subjects.

An old report backs this. Chemistry and Physics graduates earn more than History graduates. Whilst the vocational degrees (medicine, dentistry, law) obviously earn more, the sciences are good for employment rates. Surfing degrees (honest!) - not so good.

So what's my point? Firstly, that the government gives up this 50% target for University education. This is not intellectual snobbery - far from it. It is a way of massaging the unemployment figures which benefits few - resulting in massive debt, depression and unemployment. The aim was admirable: to remove the class barrier of going to Uni. But that barrier was long gone, in reality. If there was a barrier, it was in the schools, not at the Universities. Secondly, that the goverment (if it must meddle) looks to business to find out which graduates they actually want - and cap the trendy degrees, perhaps subsidising the needed degrees. There is a danger in this, however. I completely believe in the value of a wide-ranging experience, in the value of Arts degrees, in education AS eduation....so perhaps the government should stop meddling, and stop setting ridiculous targets.

End of week rant over. Back to fluffiness soon.

In a Big Country

Loch Lubnaig from Ben Sheann

We had a day away yesterday in the part of central Scotland that becomes the Highlands. Even in the height of our summer, it's green and lush, and on a nice day (as yesterday was, partly) the views are spectacular. Our mountains are not high, but that means that they are pretty accessible. I'm not a great hill-walker myself, but can appreciate why people are fond of it.

Anyway, our trip was to catch up with friends of the family. This made us realise how similar our mothers are: both married (relatively) late and as a result were independent single women (at a time when this was less common). As a result, they both travelled a good amount, and made friends on these trips that have lasted a lifetime. In yesterday's case, these friends went back 46 years. I can only hope that my friendships last so long and with such obvious affection.

Beyond the Sea

Fishing boat coming into harbour, from Armin's World Tour

This week, the BBC have been running programs on the theme of the sea. Living on an island as we do here, the sea is very important - but living in the north-east of Scotland, it's a livelihood. So many towns in the north-east depend on the fishing trade, and until Aberdeen reinvented itself as the Oil Capital of Europe (trademark), it was a fishing town like the rest. The Cod Crusaders are a group fighting to save the Scottish Fishing Industry, in the light of EU proposals (see their web-site for more information).

Hence "Trawlermen". This programme followed two Peterhead fishing boats through one "tour of duty", through trials and tribulations, storms, nets ripping, no catch - and worst of all, a Buchan chav who couldn't stand the pace.

This compulsive viewing should have made any viewer grateful for the fish on their plate.

Pop Musik

T.Rex do "Get It On" on Top of the Pops

So Top of the Pops ended on Sunday...oh, so many happy memories - and not a few scary ones.

This appearance was a bit before my time, but a classic (revisited) and is worthwhile watching for the audience dancing. And their fashions. Wow, folks used to get real dressed up in them days, huh?

Y'see, it all used to be different. I remember the days of listening, with bated breath, to the chart rundown on a Tuesday luncthime (when the number 1 was revealed), then there was TOTP on the Thursday (with a chance to watch your fave band miming) followed by the full chart show on Radio 1 on Sunday. A chance to try to (illegally!) tape your favourite song, with someone like Tommy Vance wittering over the beginning/end of it ("there we go, beautiful guitar work by Phil Manzanera" I remember having taped over the end of a Roxy Music offering). Now we have MTV, iTunes and YouTube.

RIP TOTP.

The Drugs Don't Work

A long-delayed edit to the last post. Since it was written, Landis has tested positive for testosterone. A blot on Le Tour in general, on top of the previously described problems for Basso and Ullrich, although Landis has denied any impropriety.

After all these years, an American Tour winner has finally tested positive for drugs. Unfortunately for the French, this winner was not Lance Armstrong. I guess you could argue (and many have) that he is too rich/smart/cunning to be caught, but the simple truth is probably that he hasn't taken any. The fact that Landis has tested positive may strengthen Armstrong's legacy even further.

Meanwhile I hope that Landis is innocent - for the good of sport in general, and cycling in particular.

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