Leaderboard

The violence? Complete condemnation. Do I think the demo was hijacked by non-students? Yep. Do I think the police are completely innocent? Judging by previous demos, I sincerely doubt it. So, completely wrong but just a one-night sideshow to a long-term issue. A couple graduate from uni to be ?80,000 in debt in fees and loans. They start paying it back at ?21k - so before they've even earned an average wage then. Just imagine your first mortgage at, say, ?80,000. Well, instead of that, you know have the equivalent of ?160,000 debt to pay. There's no way someone from a poor-to-average background can cope with that. Despite the supposed safeguards, it's one in the eye for the man in the street to benefit the rich. When I hear about how the taxpayer has to pay for fees, there seems little mention that the taxpayer includes graduates. They're already paying! Often at a higher rate - do they get a discount for paying twice? The whole country benefits from an educated society, especially these days, where we just aren't able to compete in terms of manufacturing or agriculture. Our brains are our future. My solution? Although we need a more educated society, we don't need rakes of English Lit or History graduates. They do teach 'how to think' but a one-year course in Critical Thinking with an emphasis on literature, history, American studies etc would do that. You want longer? Then unless you're a genius, you pay for it. But we just can't have enough scientists, engineers and IT professionals. Even a surplus is welcome (they'll be numerate, critical thinkers, so can easily go into financial management, project admin or similar careers). So cheap, or even free, degrees where the country needs your skills. You want to spend three years studying a hobby? Okay, pay for it yourself then, unless you're at the very top of your field (we still need eminent sociologists, so pay for the top quality - we just don't need so many that will never use their knowledge after leaving uni). We also don't need many people to have the kind of degrees we have. Social workers for instance never used to need a degree. What they need is possibly a year of intense training, then substantial in-house training on top of that. But of course, the big issue is: the Lib Dems pledged no increase in fees. I actually lean towards their policies (as well as being a senior lecturer at uni) but won't be voting for them next time round. One of their key features was the introduction of a new style of politics where people could start trusting MPs. Who would trust a Lib Dem now?

Where did i say that? My point is simply that aggressive policing can exacerbate the situation. It was a response to your suggestion of water canons and "a good kicking" as potential solutions to the problem. The article that i linked gives an idea of how angry aggressive policing can make peaceful protesters. Surely you accept that society benefits from having trained doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers? I would take it further and say that we all benefit from having artists, historians, theologians and sociologists - educated people in general. Grudgingly, i even accept the need for lawyers, economists and accountants. If these people end up earning significantly more than you then they will subsidise the roads you drive on under our system of progressive taxation. No man is an island and we have to pool money together in order to improve the lot of the population at large. I don't benefit from some stranger undergoing heart surgery on the NHS and i may never need to use that service myself but i certainly don't object to my taxes being used for that purpose. I applaud them for their efforts and lament that they didn't go far enough! The fact that the royal couple were out in central London in the middle of a large student protest is a testament to the stupidity of that pointless, inbred family. I was at the Laphroaig distillery recently and was informed that the Duke of Rothesay has a standing order for 6 bottles of 18 year-old every month at a cost of ?300 to the British taxpayer. If you want to get your knickers in a twist about wasting money than i suggest that he is a more suitable target for your ire than the students.

I'm not a master of English, no where near it infact, however I'm sure it should be "why" not "how".

the one you want iirc is cool caley by andynkaj. it was the last 10 seconds or so on that one ie this one actually good to watch that again... a few faces in there were a bit of a surprise McSwegan actually on during a game Pantyliner scoring + i think it was barrys et winner against the arabs

I have gone along to number of protests feeling calm and peaceful until i was confronted with the kind of police tactics described in this article. As for the cause, i think it is just. We have a system of progressive taxation in this country and that binds us as a society. By attempting to reduce everything to a service which involves payment on an individual basis, the government undermines that society. The argument that "not everyone uses university so why should everyone pay for it" just doesn't work. Aside from the obvious fact the country as a whole requires people to be educated to certain level in order to function, there are also range of different things we contribute to on a collective basis that not all of us use. We don't exist as individuals cut off from the rest of the world and we wouldn't survive as a species if we did. Stan,So it's all down to the police being heavy handed? Well silly me, I could have sworn it was a "student" who threw the extinguisher off the roof. I suppose the guy hitting the police with an iron bar had every right to act like this. What do you suggest the police do? Let the pondlife run riot smashing up shops and government buildings. Causing millions of pounds of damage should send the right message to the country. By all means protest but do it sensibly. As for the comment about everybody paying for Uni, why should I pay for some layabout to go to Uni? Will they pay for my road tax? When they are highly paid professionals will they repay me? No they won't. You get nothing for nothing and I had to work for what I have so why shouldn't they? While we are discussing this, what is your take on the "students" attacking the car of Prince Charles and his good lady? I suppose that was the police's fault as well. They were nothing to do with the "protest" and should not have been attacked like that.

Yes there are , Sir Ian Wood is rumoured to be taking over as Chairman . I didn't realise you were on speaking terms to everyone in Aberdeen RossP Not everyone, but I am on speaking terms with one of the caretaker bosses for Aberdeen, several of their first team, their Head of Youth Development and many of their Administration staff. Add that to the many Dons fans I work with, play football with and go for pints with; in addition to the Northsound/P&J Sports desk staff that my partner works with. Not one has ever mentioned this outlandish rumour about Sir Ian Wood becoming Chairman. Hell, even a quick search of AFC Chat brings up nothing about it! But then... you might have better connections than I.

Doresboy in Chicago GordyfromSneck in Transylvania A number plate floating around Chicago .... Oz647 in Bahamas P&B's kids in Orlando Dobber in Gambia Myself and the wife at Niagara Falls Yngwie in Egypt Cant remember ... but its Brazil the original pic we were sent from the Sportsman's bar in Singapore

Oh no, another one. Don't remind me It is also the birthday of more celubrious individuals. Sammy Davis Junior 1925 Kim Bassinger 1953 Sinéad O'Connor 1966 And some less fortunate ones expired on this day as well. Omar I, 2nd kalief of Islam, murdered Mary Queen of Scots was born today 1542, incidentally beheaded in 1587 on Feb8th, another famous day. Gary Thain, New Zealand bassist (Uriah Heep) died 1975 John Lennon was excecuted by Mark David Chapman on this day in 1980 And would you believe it, in 1969, On trial in Canada on drug possession charges, Jimi Hendrix told a Toronto court that he had only smoked pot four times in his life, snorted cocaine twice and took LSD no more than five times. Telling the jury that he had now 'outgrown' drugs. They find the guitarist not guilty.......yeah, you tell em Jimi. 1864 The Clifton Suspension Bridge over the River Avon at Bristol, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was opened. and.........ICT have played 2 games on this date, losing 2-1 at home to Partick in 2001 and beating Hibs 2-0 in Inverness in 2007. Wyness scored for Inverness but a late Hardie double won the points for Partick, while in 2007 a Marius Niculae brace defeated Hibs in front of 4224 fans in Inverness. And..........On the Roman Catholic Church calendar of holy days, December 8th is celebrated as a holy day of obligation, commemorating the Immaculate Conception of theMann4thejob. The observance of this feast began with a Papal encyclical by Pope Pius IX, when he formally defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, INEFFABILIS DEUS, on December 8, 1854.

basra 2008 bonfire night (i know it was day time but you know what i mean)

Having a pint with Lord Lucan while watching Madeliene McCann playing on her bicycle probably...

clink well if you ask me im with the government on this one, granted that the fees are expensive but the response from students has been totally out of proportion . to try to explain away throwing a fire extinguisher from the roof of a building at a crowd.sorry but no more directl to your question though , i sometimes regret not going to uni, i feel i have missed out on some aspects of life and experiences but then when i look at where i am today i am glad. i could have spent up to 7 years in uni and be in the early stages of my career where as im 8 years into it now and slowly but surely working my way up, earning more than a lot of graduates who may be better qualified but unable to get work still leaves them struggling clink that was my 2 pence worth

Though long and hard about replying to this statement but thought better of it This thread should be closed as its nothing but speculation One thing i will say though is that all clubs have a minority of imbeciles who spoil it for everyone else, i'm not saying for one minute that this incident happened but Section G have a history of being involved in unsavoury incidents dougal

You crossed the line there.

Q. how do you like going to away matches? A. fortnightly

Don't think you are missing something, weren't Caledonian and now ICT known as the Rangers of the North??? I could be wrong but Caley have always played in blue and now predominantly blue in ICT's case I personally wouldn't purchase this product but i could think of a fair number of posters on this site who definitely would dougal