All these strikes getting you down? Maybe there is a better way.......

With the latest strike action now over in London, more people are as annoyed as ever. With Four tube strikes, two fire strikes and countless BA strikes in just the last 6 months. Does anyone else feel like they are being held to ransom by the unions? or is it just me?

If only my union agreed with me about my need for higher pay, lesser hours, and the new extension to my house. Which might I add includes the indoor swimming pool I feel I deserve, then maybe, just maybe I'd be on strike too!! As I don't think that will happen in this lifetime, then I will stick to my moral upbringing and go to work everyday as I'm suppose to. Feeling under appreciated and overworked as normal, while exercising my English born right to moan and complain about it as regularly as I see fit.

Now I'm not saying that the parties involved don't have a valid argument.  But is striking really the answer in today's climate? I don't have the answers, and I'm sure your all informed about the pros and cons of the strike actions by now, and I'm sure you have formed your own individual opinions.

I must say I am pleased that that the powers-that-may-be aren't rolling over and letting the unions dictate conditions. I do however wonder where this will end?? With more longer strikes planned on the tubes, and  talks with the BA and the Fire Fighters unions still pending, it's hard to see an end in sight. 

Maybe it won't end? and maybe we need a stalemate to occur so we can start thinking of better ways to settle our disputes. I mean has anyone thought about drawing cards? Highest card wins! How about some kind of race or challenge?? Or maybe we should both put both leader of the opposing parties in a cage to fight it out old skool styley! We could even make it a pay per view? We could plough the money back into the financial black hole that is our education system, and the NHS. 

I'd pay to watch that. Would you???

Unlucky Poulter leads the Brits in Dubai

After his impressive win in the UBS Hong Kong Open just last week, Ian Poulter really is in impeccable form. A solid 14 under par score earning him a play off spot. Falling at the last hurdle after accidentally dropping his ball on his "lucky" diamond encrusted ball marker, causing it to flip up costing him a 1 stroke penalty, and eventually the play off. Awarding Robert Karlsson the Dubai World Championship top spot.

As disappointed as he may be for not making it back-to-back tournament wins, Ian Poulter should be able to take some positives away with him.The most important I feel, is that he can hold his head high after the honesty and integrity he showed after calling his own penalty after his mishap. Showing the whole world that British golf is clean, with honesty and integrity an affluent part of today's game.

Advancing to number six in the world rankings, Ian Poulter is showing the world he is the man to watch. Although with impressive and solid performance from Lee Westwood (-13), Rory McIlroy (-12), and Paul Casey (-11), Ian Poulter really has got his work cut out at the Chevron World Challenge.

Surely impatience can be a virtue too?

Today I read an article on my way home called "Patience is a virtue that the internet denies the young" by Lucy Tobin. This got me thinking back to when I was a child, hearing the words I heard countless times from my father as he said "don't do that! be patient...". Often as he stood over me as I bashed something in frustration, as it wasn't working properly, or I couldn't fix something I had broken earlier. Thinking more about it, having patience definitely has helped me working in such a stressful environment. But I did start to wonder, is patience really a virtue? 


By definition; a virtue is a behaviour showing high moral standards. So if patiences really is a virtue then that must mean impatience is a vice?? Is "not wanting to wait" for something really immoral? or a weakness in character? So could it be argued that impatience can be as much of a virtue than its antonym.


In today's culture nothing can be fast enough, computers, phones, broadband speeds all constantly evolving to give us what we want, as quickly as possible. After all life is too short! isn't it? I mean if we didn't have the urge to get the information we need/want as quickly as possible, would we still be the thriving society we are today? Maybe, maybe not. I guess that will remain one of life's unanswered questions. 


I'm sure that we can all name instances where patience really is for the better. For instance, I'm sure you'll all agree that patience is definitely a quality that a surgeon should possess. But what about impatience? Surely impatience has done good in the past? So my challenge to you is to think of one instance where this is true, and post a comment below. Lets see if we can form a valid argument to convince the world that impatience can = progress! 

Who knew University was such a Riot!!

Surely everyone has heard about the recent protest that unfortunately turned violent. Obviously if I was in their situation I might be a bit pissed that all of a sudden my fees will double and I'd be forced into more debt than I first thought. However, I cant help but think they are forgetting a few vital points. Firstly they aren't going to be out of pocket now, they won't be paying the fees back till they are earning a good wage and can afford it. I would hope that today's students are clever enough to have researched this, and if not; maybe higher education is one step to far for them! That aside, it does seem rather arrogant to demand free further education. Yes some country's in Europe do provide further education for free, but most country's in the world don't. Maybe if we was to give every school leaver a shot at obtaining a free credible degree, then Tesco and Asda would have a higher standard of customer service. Not that this would effect me personally, as I shop at Sainsburys. 


Seriously though think about it with me for a moment. There are already a high proportion of graduates unable to get work in the field they studied. This is only going to get harder and harder with job cuts and saving happening in the public sector while we recover from the recession. This means there are already a high amount of graduates NOT paying back the loans and fees which the government has subsidised, as they aren't  in well enough paying jobs. So if degrees were to be made completely free then this figure is going to rise substantially! What is this hole going to be filled with?? You guessed it, more tax payers money. Meaning their taxes will go up, my taxes will go up and your taxes will go up! If these people don't end up using the new knowledge and skills they have learnt, surely this is a massive waste of time and money? or at best "inefficient" (seems to be a buzz word at the moment)?


The argument that people will be put of of university by raising fees I agree with. However its because of that I agree with the raise in fees. It will mean that students will genuinely have drive and passion to succeed, as they know they will have to be successful to get in a position to pay back the fees. If they have drive and passion then they will challenge each other, work hard to compete with colleagues, but most of all enjoy there time there for the right reasons. Yes going out, meeting new people, and enjoying life is important to grow as an individual, but this shouldn't be the main reason or focus of student life. 


I'm 99.9% of the students protesting had every intention of it being peaceful and productive. I do feel for the students, as now the violence has far shadowed the underlying protest. I just hope that next time this can be solved by good old fashioned student debate.