For a brief flurry, a story on the BBC website lit up my Twitter feed. It was about children using mobile phones at school and hooked us in with the headline ‘Half of parents want mobile phones banned in schools'. You can read the article here. Of course, half don’t and so once again another … Continue reading Mobile phones in schools?
The New European
I am continuing my peregrinations into the printed media. On a periodic basis, though not as regularly as I would like, I have been visiting my local newsagent or supermarket to buy a newspaper. I have not gone for the same paper, instead buying those which I have not bought before or in a … Continue reading The New European
A representative organisation
I often chew the cud with an old friend of mine about what is wrong with the world of work. Whenever we are together the conversation somehow gets around to the role of women and minority groups and how to get greater diversity and representation in the workplace. It is not an easy subject yet … Continue reading A representative organisation
The most fantastic institution
A lot is said about our National Health Service. It is under enormous pressure, can’t get the staff and is short of money. These things may be true yet when it works well, which it does for most of the time it is one of the most fantastic institutions in the world. A few weeks … Continue reading The most fantastic institution
Advertising stereotypes
When I first heard that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it will ban adverts that promote gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm, or serious or widespread offence, I thought here we go, political correctness has gone mad. The more I think about it, however, the more I support their approach. According to … Continue reading Advertising stereotypes
The river Coquet
For some time now I have been thinking about a book I want to write. Fiction rather than non this time. It involves canoeing up the river Wansbeck, the river that runs through my hometown. I have the plot laid out and have even written it down but can’t find a way into the story. … Continue reading The river Coquet
Telegraph
I am continuing my foray into the world of the printed media in an attempt to spread my understanding of other people’s opinions and support the work of paid journalism. I’m not sure if I am making any difference but then again we all have to do our own bit. This time I lurched to … Continue reading Telegraph
Time to fight back
It’s time to fight back. Our data is being used to profit from us, influence us and even trick us. The question is what can we do about it? Well, we already have a lot of power under the law. We can demand from companies to treat our data in accordance with General Data Protection … Continue reading Time to fight back
A storm in a measuring cup
In all my years on Twitter, I have never been involved in such a storm. Yes, I have had spats over politics, who hasn’t? Most of the time these have been short yet intense, usually resulting in people getting abusive and giving up. I try never to be abusive or rude on Twitter. In my … Continue reading A storm in a measuring cup
Immortality
I thought I’d blogged about this before. I’ve mentioned living forever and why we die but not the fact that I have met someone who is determined to be one of the first people who will be immortal. I won’t name names just in case it doesn’t come true but you have to admire his … Continue reading Immortality