I was a little horrified to read an article by a journalist about how her 13 year old daughter went on the student march about fees.
No I'm not going into the rights or wrongs of the issue but I'm just recording my thoughts about some parenting.
This young lady asked her mother whether or not she could go on this march (silly term as they are not marching but walking!).
I suppose student walk doesn't have the same ring about it.
Any rate I digress. According to the mother the daughter had little idea about the pros and cons of the debate but just wanted to go "because all my friends are going"
The headteacher had told the pupils that they could have time off to go on the march if they had a note from their parents/guardians.
Am I the only one who can see the foolishness of this?
For heaven sake we have a headteacher and parents allowing children (yes children!) to go on a march where there is likely to be disruptive elements present.
Apart from the fact that the protest is being diluted by having persons present who probably do not fully understand the issues what about the safety of the children?
It strikes me that both the headteacher and the parents need to have their heads examined!
Protest by all means but lets be sensible about it!
Joke for today:- Advice to teenagers. Leave home nowwhile you still know everything.
On this day; 14th January
In 1963 De Gaulle says non to Britain joining the EEC
In 1989 British Muslims burned copies of Salman Rushdie's book "The Satanic Verses"
John F.Beaumont
Friday, 14 January 2011
Thursday, 13 January 2011
A Geddes Reader for Macular Degeneration
There is an interesting article in this month's The Oldie by Jodi Cudlipp about macular degeneration of the eyes.
Macular degeneration can affect the eyes of anyone over the age of 55 years.
Whilst not painful it is a great lifechanger as reading becomes very difficult.
The interesting thing is that very little was achieved at overcoming this problem until two men met at a meeting of the Edinburgh Macular Degeneration Society.
One of the men, Les Geddes is a clever inventor and the other gentleman, George Kay is good at marketing.
In the past to overcome the problem A device called a CCTV had to be purchased. This item is very expensive.
Now Messrs Geddes and Kay have produced a reader which costs only £65.
The reason this product is much cheaper is that retired engineers are giving their services free.
It's a nice story how people can come together to solve a problem which is very pressing for others.
If interested you can get further information on 0131 258 6482 or email geddesreader@hotmail.co.uk. No I've no connection and I'm not getting commission!!
Joke for today:- A man goes to an optician and says he keeps seeing spots before his eyes. "Have you seen a doctor? ask the optician. No replied the man "just spots"
On this day:-13th January
In 1926 Wyatt Earp died.
In 1979 Concorde began regular flights to Washington and Dallas.
John F.Beaumont
Macular degeneration can affect the eyes of anyone over the age of 55 years.
Whilst not painful it is a great lifechanger as reading becomes very difficult.
The interesting thing is that very little was achieved at overcoming this problem until two men met at a meeting of the Edinburgh Macular Degeneration Society.
One of the men, Les Geddes is a clever inventor and the other gentleman, George Kay is good at marketing.
In the past to overcome the problem A device called a CCTV had to be purchased. This item is very expensive.
Now Messrs Geddes and Kay have produced a reader which costs only £65.
The reason this product is much cheaper is that retired engineers are giving their services free.
It's a nice story how people can come together to solve a problem which is very pressing for others.
If interested you can get further information on 0131 258 6482 or email geddesreader@hotmail.co.uk. No I've no connection and I'm not getting commission!!
Joke for today:- A man goes to an optician and says he keeps seeing spots before his eyes. "Have you seen a doctor? ask the optician. No replied the man "just spots"
On this day:-13th January
In 1926 Wyatt Earp died.
In 1979 Concorde began regular flights to Washington and Dallas.
John F.Beaumont
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Doctors Surgeries.
I had to make an appointment to see my doctor for, hopefully, a minor complaint.
The first appointment available was over 2 weeks away.
This got me thinking about how things have changed in doctor's surgeries.
When I was a lad back in the late 40's and early 50's you just went to the surgery,sat in the waiting room and when it was your turn you went in to see the doctor.
No receptionist, no nurse etc. The doctor just went to his/her filing cabinet and got out your notes.
There were two surgeries a day, one in the morning and the other in the evening for the workers returning home.
Even in the mid 60's when I was first married the same system was in place.
During the day the doctor would visit those who could not make it to the surgery.
The appointment was normally made with the doctor's wife.
Compare it with today's surgery. In my doctor's practice there are 6 doctors, about the same number of receptionists, three or four nurses, 2 or 3 phlebotomists, practice manager, assistant practice manager, 2 secretaries and at least one counsellor.
Great and it now takes two weeks to see the doctor instead of 2 hours at most.
Where is the progress?
Agreed there have been massive leaps in technology but surely that should improve times not extend them.
I think the National Health Service is out of control especially as I didn't mention all the hierarchy of persons controlling the surgeries.
Let's have a joke:- A man walks into a doctor's surgery. I haven't seen you for a long time says the doctor. I know replies the man I've been ill.
On this day:- January 12th
Boeing 747 makes its maiden transatlantic flight in 1970.
In 1948 the first British supermarket was opened.
John F.Beaumont
The first appointment available was over 2 weeks away.
This got me thinking about how things have changed in doctor's surgeries.
When I was a lad back in the late 40's and early 50's you just went to the surgery,sat in the waiting room and when it was your turn you went in to see the doctor.
No receptionist, no nurse etc. The doctor just went to his/her filing cabinet and got out your notes.
There were two surgeries a day, one in the morning and the other in the evening for the workers returning home.
Even in the mid 60's when I was first married the same system was in place.
During the day the doctor would visit those who could not make it to the surgery.
The appointment was normally made with the doctor's wife.
Compare it with today's surgery. In my doctor's practice there are 6 doctors, about the same number of receptionists, three or four nurses, 2 or 3 phlebotomists, practice manager, assistant practice manager, 2 secretaries and at least one counsellor.
Great and it now takes two weeks to see the doctor instead of 2 hours at most.
Where is the progress?
Agreed there have been massive leaps in technology but surely that should improve times not extend them.
I think the National Health Service is out of control especially as I didn't mention all the hierarchy of persons controlling the surgeries.
Let's have a joke:- A man walks into a doctor's surgery. I haven't seen you for a long time says the doctor. I know replies the man I've been ill.
On this day:- January 12th
Boeing 747 makes its maiden transatlantic flight in 1970.
In 1948 the first British supermarket was opened.
John F.Beaumont
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
ATM machines and Public Toilets
Oh dear,
I see a survey has been done on cash machines (ATM's) and the results show that there is as much bacteria on the machines as there is in public toilets.
Why oh why aren't people more hygienic?
I have noticed that often in the gents someone comes out from a cubicle and just walks straight out!
We all know what they have been doing in there so I often feel like challenging them and pointing out where the wash basins are.
I would probably get a punch on the nose if I did.
Because of the above I never take peanuts or crisps etc found on the bars in pubs since similar high levels of urine based bacteria have been found on them.
As my mother always used to say "you have to eat a speck of dirt sometimes" but I'm not taking any chances.
Aren't I being cheerful today!
Let us have a joke:-Why do they sterilise needles used for lethal injections?
On this day: 11th January (today we are 11/1/11)
In 1989 President Ronald Regan left office.
In 1922 insulin is first used with success in treating diabetes.
John F.Beaumont
I see a survey has been done on cash machines (ATM's) and the results show that there is as much bacteria on the machines as there is in public toilets.
Why oh why aren't people more hygienic?
I have noticed that often in the gents someone comes out from a cubicle and just walks straight out!
We all know what they have been doing in there so I often feel like challenging them and pointing out where the wash basins are.
I would probably get a punch on the nose if I did.
Because of the above I never take peanuts or crisps etc found on the bars in pubs since similar high levels of urine based bacteria have been found on them.
As my mother always used to say "you have to eat a speck of dirt sometimes" but I'm not taking any chances.
Aren't I being cheerful today!
Let us have a joke:-Why do they sterilise needles used for lethal injections?
On this day: 11th January (today we are 11/1/11)
In 1989 President Ronald Regan left office.
In 1922 insulin is first used with success in treating diabetes.
John F.Beaumont
Monday, 10 January 2011
Give 'em the honey mummy
I was very interested to read about the use of honey as a healing aid.
According to Dr Stuttaford writing in The Oldie there is some proof that honey not only is good to eat but also has some therapeutic value as a skin balm.
Some years ago an obstetrician used to advise women to apply honey where they had been torn and stitched.
Apparently, whist very messy for the patient, the effects were just as successful if not more so than the prescribed antibiotics.
Professor Peter Molan of Waikato University found some years ago that honey collected from bees that had been fed off pollen from the Manuka tree had exceptional antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Manuka tree is indigenous to New Zealand.
This has resulted in many creams, gels and soaps based on this honey.
So nature knows best!
Joke for today:- A patient tells his doctor that the medicine he had been given was great but the only disadvantage was that it caused him to walk like a crab. "Oh that will be the side effects" says the doctor.
On this day:- 10th January
In 1927 Johnny Ray was born and in 1945 so was Rod Stewart
In 1917 Buffalo Bill died.
According to Dr Stuttaford writing in The Oldie there is some proof that honey not only is good to eat but also has some therapeutic value as a skin balm.
Some years ago an obstetrician used to advise women to apply honey where they had been torn and stitched.
Apparently, whist very messy for the patient, the effects were just as successful if not more so than the prescribed antibiotics.
Professor Peter Molan of Waikato University found some years ago that honey collected from bees that had been fed off pollen from the Manuka tree had exceptional antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Manuka tree is indigenous to New Zealand.
This has resulted in many creams, gels and soaps based on this honey.
So nature knows best!
Joke for today:- A patient tells his doctor that the medicine he had been given was great but the only disadvantage was that it caused him to walk like a crab. "Oh that will be the side effects" says the doctor.
On this day:- 10th January
In 1927 Johnny Ray was born and in 1945 so was Rod Stewart
In 1917 Buffalo Bill died.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
The Kegworth Air Disaster
It is 22 years ago today the a Boeing 737 crashed on the M1 motorway killing 44 people.
As I live quite close to Kegworth I'm surprised that more effort of remembrance isn't made.
It was very sad as it would appear human error helped cause the crash.
It was a very new plane. I think if memory serves me right it was only 2 weeks old.
What happened is that one of the engines caught fire on the way from London to Ireland and the pilot decided to divert to East Midlands Airport as that was fairly near and the company's main base.
The trouble was that in the confusion the wrong engine was shut down and the aircraft crashed on the motorway which is right next to East Midlands.
I understand that the airport fire brigade stopped the casualty list from being much higher by crashing through the perimeter fence to get to the site more quickly.
Fortunately there were no casualties on the motorway since I believe traffic had been stopped further back by the police.
On this day (8th January) the following also happened.
In 1642 Death of Galileo
In 1942 German troops began the retreat from Leningrad.
In 1935 Elvis Presley was born
John F.Beaumont
As I live quite close to Kegworth I'm surprised that more effort of remembrance isn't made.
It was very sad as it would appear human error helped cause the crash.
It was a very new plane. I think if memory serves me right it was only 2 weeks old.
What happened is that one of the engines caught fire on the way from London to Ireland and the pilot decided to divert to East Midlands Airport as that was fairly near and the company's main base.
The trouble was that in the confusion the wrong engine was shut down and the aircraft crashed on the motorway which is right next to East Midlands.
I understand that the airport fire brigade stopped the casualty list from being much higher by crashing through the perimeter fence to get to the site more quickly.
Fortunately there were no casualties on the motorway since I believe traffic had been stopped further back by the police.
On this day (8th January) the following also happened.
In 1642 Death of Galileo
In 1942 German troops began the retreat from Leningrad.
In 1935 Elvis Presley was born
John F.Beaumont
Friday, 7 January 2011
The Rewards for Spending More.
In the paper yesterday there was an article about a quango chief who ordered his staff to think up ways they could spend £1 million of public money.
Sir Andrew Cahn the gentleman in question wanted The UK Trade and Investment (the government's business promotion body) "to get money out of the door"
In a time of austerity he stated that the organisation was "heading for an underspend and wants to get money out of the door"
Whilst this gentleman was cought with his pants down (or rather his emails were published in the public domain) this is hardly an isolated instance.
When I was in business it was quite common for departments to make sure they spent all their budget since they feared that they would receive a smaller budgt the next year if they underspent.
This is crazy when you think about it. Surely it would be better to reward departments which underspent rather than penalise them.
The culture needs changing!
Joke for today:- Use the word information in a sentence. Geese always fly information.
On this day:- 7th January
In 1789 George Washington was elected the first USA president
In 1989 Emperor Hirohito of Japan died.
John F.Beaumont
Sir Andrew Cahn the gentleman in question wanted The UK Trade and Investment (the government's business promotion body) "to get money out of the door"
In a time of austerity he stated that the organisation was "heading for an underspend and wants to get money out of the door"
Whilst this gentleman was cought with his pants down (or rather his emails were published in the public domain) this is hardly an isolated instance.
When I was in business it was quite common for departments to make sure they spent all their budget since they feared that they would receive a smaller budgt the next year if they underspent.
This is crazy when you think about it. Surely it would be better to reward departments which underspent rather than penalise them.
The culture needs changing!
Joke for today:- Use the word information in a sentence. Geese always fly information.
On this day:- 7th January
In 1789 George Washington was elected the first USA president
In 1989 Emperor Hirohito of Japan died.
John F.Beaumont
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