tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post1946906555825757496..comments2024-03-26T11:27:35.814-07:00Comments on Tom Stephenson: A: a hunter-gathererUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-89690645648519806202013-01-17T07:21:15.981-08:002013-01-17T07:21:15.981-08:00You know, the folk who are running my place (and i...You know, the folk who are running my place (and it sounds like they are running your place too) coasted into their positions on a free education and are now imposing these 'personal statements' and university debts on said Green-eyed Girls.<br />It shits me. I explain this to all my students because I want them to question their fees and get cranky too.sarah toahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412812914705725798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-49499920444281326532013-01-17T03:22:47.529-08:002013-01-17T03:22:47.529-08:00... a story which doesn't involve me, unfortun...... a story which doesn't involve me, unfortunately.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-57533719908287639092013-01-17T02:18:15.037-08:002013-01-17T02:18:15.037-08:00That's quite a wide spectrum - she probably ne...That's quite a wide spectrum - she probably needs one these days.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-24599542246943035022013-01-17T02:17:10.288-08:002013-01-17T02:17:10.288-08:00In those days, Scotch Eggs were poor man's foo...In those days, Scotch Eggs were poor man's food - like oysters were 200 years before that.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-66035668025576560552013-01-17T02:16:13.061-08:002013-01-17T02:16:13.061-08:00We had 'career advisors' who came in for o...We had 'career advisors' who came in for one day just before we left school. I spent 3 minutes with one, who quickly understood that I was going to be an 'artist', and therefore become unhelpable. The good thing about being an 'artist' is that - traditionally - we cannot be slotted into any specific social strata that governs your 'class' in Britain - even the north/south divide no longer exists, since they closed down the coal-mines - and all heavy industry.<br /><br />Germany now owns Rolls Royce, doesn't it?Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-4476961135449948742013-01-17T02:10:33.443-08:002013-01-17T02:10:33.443-08:00True, Broad. Us Brits are becoming the nation of ...True, Broad. Us Brits are becoming the nation of shop-keepers that Hitler always said we were. There is true innovation potential in this country, but we cannot compete with Malaysia and China when it comes to production. Idiotic government policy now encourages 'entrepeneurialism' (however you spell it), and the new middle-class have lost the use of their hands for social reasons.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-13960287924557736952013-01-17T02:06:55.731-08:002013-01-17T02:06:55.731-08:00Many of the Poles who came here a few years ago ar...Many of the Poles who came here a few years ago are returning home for that reason. The Chinese are becoming more plentiful, and are possibly a vanguard for times to come. The Bulgarians and Hungarians who scare Cro so much have always wandered the face of the earth, but these days, very few people get their knives re-sharpened by a street-vendor, and roadside dancing displays seem to have gone out of fashion, especially since they banned bear-baiting.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-52882291534744983692013-01-17T02:02:42.117-08:002013-01-17T02:02:42.117-08:00Every time a big supermarket chain inflicts anothe...Every time a big supermarket chain inflicts another store on a town high street, they say they are creating x amount of jobs in the area - positions for shelf-stackers with PhDs.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-3337976394686500292013-01-17T01:58:48.221-08:002013-01-17T01:58:48.221-08:00My folk left London during the Blitz, and came to ...My folk left London during the Blitz, and came to live in Somerset. Fruit of your loins - Fruit de Mer?Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-67089596861647508082013-01-17T01:56:46.737-08:002013-01-17T01:56:46.737-08:00Red-brick?Red-brick?Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-87937021596565766502013-01-17T01:55:39.305-08:002013-01-17T01:55:39.305-08:00Yes, I heard that program. I fear the lad spent m...Yes, I heard that program. I fear the lad spent most of his school days throwing tables out of windows, though. I - particularly when dealing with beautiful young bar-maids - sometimes wish I could put the clock back about 35 years, but youth, as they say, is wasted on the young. Ferraris are wasted on the elderly too, but that's yet another story.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-12798401927449433872013-01-17T01:52:21.449-08:002013-01-17T01:52:21.449-08:00Any photos?Any photos?Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-9232608784507248062013-01-17T01:49:49.442-08:002013-01-17T01:49:49.442-08:00I caught a snippet on the radio yesterday, in betw...I caught a snippet on the radio yesterday, in between flitting in and out of different rooms in my house. Yes I am so grateful that I was able to get a job and work hard to be able to afford to buy a place to live. Anyway, there was a young lad (22) who had never had a job since leaving school at 16. He was not the most articulate young lad, but he hasn't given up trying to find work, and sounded like he had the ability to learn a job if he was given a chance. <br /><br />In 1964 I had the pick of jobs, could walk out of one and into another. I can't see a future for our young generation. It's a pity we can't turn the clock back to the good old days, maybe not that far back, about fifty years would do it. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-59608127633619600972013-01-17T00:08:15.921-08:002013-01-17T00:08:15.921-08:00This puts things in a perspective, doesn't it?...This puts things in a perspective, doesn't it? And draws a line from the beginning of your post (people complaining) to the insight that quite a lot of us are living really well. Brittahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688373434576442657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-18064082352151361232013-01-16T15:54:04.466-08:002013-01-16T15:54:04.466-08:00Coincidence! Just as you are blogging about a pers...Coincidence! Just as you are blogging about a personal statement to get into university, I saw an internet report about the 'best ever cover letter' by a guy named Matthew Ross. Google it if you are interested. He is applying for an internship and he's got some balls!Irishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12550611275677498097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-63502127456910873302013-01-16T15:02:16.781-08:002013-01-16T15:02:16.781-08:00I'm going to respond to all these comments tom...I'm going to respond to all these comments tomorrow, if that's alright with you. I walked past a young junkie who was sitting on the pavement and freezing to death tonight (it's minus 4 here), then - as I was about to tuck into my dinner - I wondered both whether or not he was still there, and how long he would survive. <br /><br />I shamed myself into going back out to find him, and there he was, head down, bloody nose, and wrapped in cardboard boxes. I bought him some dinner and gave him a space-blanket I had kept in the back of my car, just in case I had to look after someone involved in a car crash. It occurred to me that - actually - he was that car crash, albeit in slow-motion.<br /><br />I told him that if I saw him the next day, I would buy him the caravan he told me he had bought for £20, which still had £10 outstanding left to pay on it.<br /><br />Funny, but £10 is just enough to buy a little bag of those brown crystals. I wonder if he will survive this cold-snap?Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-37958755108051757532013-01-16T11:27:32.235-08:002013-01-16T11:27:32.235-08:00In 9th grade (14 years old) earlier this year, my ...In 9th grade (14 years old) earlier this year, my granddaughter took a test assessing her career direction strenghts, or what I should be when I grow up. If I find it I will write about the spectrum presented. Hers went from graphic designer to Physician Assistant. No doubt rubbish, but interesting.Joanne Noragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834682329952369721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-6869526919846034582013-01-16T09:35:44.992-08:002013-01-16T09:35:44.992-08:00I remember just how my grandparents enjoyed their ...I remember just how my grandparents enjoyed their food.<br />One "square" meal one light meal<br />Nothing fancy<br />Grateful for everything<br /><br />Alcohol was an occasional treat, as was a roast dinner.<br />A winter coat lasted 5 years<br />Books were loaned from the library and not bought,<br /><br />Yes they were damn lucky<br />John Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-19792942498580882632013-01-16T09:22:03.635-08:002013-01-16T09:22:03.635-08:00Just have to add: I am translating from English to...Just have to add: I am translating from English to German - not such a word&grammar-mess as the other way round :-) Brittahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688373434576442657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-90904682341525554832013-01-16T08:55:37.517-08:002013-01-16T08:55:37.517-08:00Dear Tom,
as a study adviser I had to discuss the...Dear Tom, <br />as a study adviser I had to discuss the question every day - ("had" because since two years I am free-lancing translator today)- and for the young people it it not easy to choose, not easy to pay, not easy to do. It seems that one can only choose between 'fun in studying now - but future very uncertain' and 'no fun now - and maybe a good job.' Maybe. And I hate to think what will become of a society that does not value arts/humanities and gives all the power to MBAs - they work as 'controller' everywhere and really hit the substance out of people's work (e.g. we had one hour for advising - students could come as often as they liked - and nowadays, if you do it earnestly, I would have 25 minutes for advising, and 35 minutes for statistics. Daft!) When I was studying at university I got a bursary - we had to pay the money back in small amounts as soon as we earned our own money, and I think that is OK and fair. Brittahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688373434576442657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-25228804472162614962013-01-16T08:13:09.072-08:002013-01-16T08:13:09.072-08:00Somewhere along the way those of us in the West go...Somewhere along the way those of us in the West got it into our heads that work that you did with your hands was a bad thing. We, or rather the 'Powers that Be', decided that we would stop making real hands on 'things' and perform services and design packages for people elsewhere. So now most young people don't know how to do anything with their hands other than use keyboards and joysticks. Two of my sons have left the countries of their birth to teach English in foreign lands. The third is now in Canada and looking. We were the lucky generation, Tom -- no doubt about it...The Broadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04976467218216864644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-78544136182756084612013-01-16T07:24:57.892-08:002013-01-16T07:24:57.892-08:00P.S. Students are regularly on the streets of Bud...P.S. Students are regularly on the streets of Budapest these days in protests over tuition fees at universities. In addition, youth unemployment is soaring and many young people see their futures abroad!!! The grass is by no means greener on the other side we often say as they set their sights on the UK!!!Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-67835457376194202602013-01-16T07:21:44.608-08:002013-01-16T07:21:44.608-08:00Hello Tom:
Well, we certainly get asked the questi...Hello Tom:<br />Well, we certainly get asked the question from time to time!! Of course, as the 'Peter Pan and Wendy' that we are, we have absolutely no intention of growing up at all!!!<br /><br />We do find the whole idea of young people saddled with enormous debts due to educational fees most depressing and count ourselves very fortunate indeed to have had a 'free' education.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-53417796278233808932013-01-16T07:09:54.523-08:002013-01-16T07:09:54.523-08:00Interesting read Tom - and yet I read in today'...Interesting read Tom - and yet I read in today's Yorkshire Post that many Universities are highly undersubscribed for next year. I imagine this is a combination of heavy fees to pay and not much prospect of a job at the end. My grandson has an M Sc in Maths but still hasn't found a job.<br />On the subject of being better off than our parents - we have got to be haven't we? My mum and dad never owned their own house, never had a car, worked hard all their lives and then struggled to leave £1000 when they died so that the three of us had a 'legacy' - in all three cases the amount we received was less than a month's salary at the time. But they had their pride. And hearing my mother talk about the poverty her grandparents endured was a real eye-opener. But now something has gone wrong hasn't it with the present generation?The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-72145745253221600912013-01-16T06:13:29.581-08:002013-01-16T06:13:29.581-08:00Arleen. My oldest son left Oxford with huge debts....Arleen. My oldest son left Oxford with huge debts. He is now 42, and has only just been able to buy his own (quite meagre) home!Cro Magnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840670227576695352noreply@blogger.com