Ok, timeout, I’m confused: CaptJon said, “And why is your line of thinking never extended to those most useful of subjects classics, art history, linguistics, music, politics etc?” i.e. asking Flash why he doesn’t class them as mickey mouse degrees, yes?

And no, linguisitcs is not the learning of languages; it’s the science of human language. What you have there is me being unintentionally patronising and assuming that CaptJon had confused linguistics with languages degree as there aren’t many linguisitcs degrees about. My bad. ;)

Also, there’s this false belief that university is full of people doing these ‘mickey mouse’ degrees.

True. The majority of degrees, as far as I know, are proper degrees. However, I’m pretty sure that a lot of them could be better catered for via apprenticeships. Not all, but a lot.

I’m also pretty sure it doesn’t cost £9000 a year to teach someone (probably one in a class of 50) a subject that doesn’t involve much practical stuff (e.g. engineering or medicine).

I don’t believe it does and I would have major problems with a lot of degrees charging £9000 just because they can. However, remember that the role of universities is not strictly the education of students, but rather the furtherance of knowledge and learning i.e. research, which does cost money. Lots of money.

And why is your line of thinking never extended to those most useful of subjects classics, art history, linguistics, music, politics etc?

Linguistics?! One massive citicism of the UK in the international market is our general inability to speak languages. Languages are an incredibly useful degree to have.

why does this “education” have to take place at university?

It doesn’t, but that’s a whole nother debate isn’t it?

It is another debate, true. But for all the people who complain about being put off from university and how this is unfair, getting educated via the workplace is a viable option. If not having a degree meant not being allowed/able to get a job then yes, subsidise it. But it doesn’t, so why should we subsidise it?

[/quote]Alpha1653 – You’re missing the point!

Why should they have to pay for their own education, when your tax money could pay for it instead?

Errr…I don’t think I am missing the point actually. Why should the tax I pay contribute to someone’s non-obligatory education? I accept that having an educated population benefits wider society but Flash hit the nail on the head: why does this “education” have to take place at university? I’d be far happier if my taxes were spent on increasing the standard of our frankly dire state school education which would result in FAR more people having a higher overall level of education. And wouldn’t society benefit more would be students went straight into apprenticeships and the work place to be educated in a trade?

As for making the wealthy pay more taxes…do you not think that 40% at £37,500+ is enough already? Or 50% at £150,000+??

Ok, maybe I’m distilling this down a little too much but here’s my take on it. Everyone should have the right to go to university irrespective of their financial situation in order to study a degree, right? However, this costs money, right? Where’s the problem in getting those who are so desperate to go to university to pay for it or to shoulder the debt? If they want it, then pay for it. But how many people go to university because they like the idea of studying a little, but mostly because they’re attracted to the idea of a 3 year party? Maybe this will make a lot of people reassess whether or not they really need to go to university, get rid of worthless degrees and make having a degree a little bit special like it used to be…

As for students rioting, what’s the point? If they’re causing trouble, then treat like with like and baton charge them. Simple.

Or go for one of the new ultra-lightweight survival cheeses that are starting to appear.

You mean Baby bel? They’ve been around for years. However, their funky waxy packaging means they’re ideal for a survival situation. Plus, you could use the red stuff as a fire lighter if needs be. Incidentally, cotton wool coated with a little vaseline makes a great fire lighter…

May I refer the honourable Samurai to my previous post:

“…take an OS map so that if you do have to call for help you can give a grid of your location. Goes without saying that you need to be able to map read before…”

As for cheese, that entirely depends on the type. Afterall, edam would be rubbish. However, you could use a big block of cheddar to fashion just about any MTB component out there…god knows most manufacturers have tried it at some point.

Don’t Rely on technological solutions. They go wrong when you need them most. Rely on whats between your ears

Agree with that. But there’s no harm having them in your bag to make your life easier!

Are you allowed to listen in to military nets?!

Cheers – I am going to invest in that – like the “enormous strobe” idea too!

Yep, works a treat too apparently. Got a presentation on survival tips at work the other day…very interesting.

Good find on the survival bag front, haven’t seen that one before. I totally agree on the belay jacket and hat. Oh yeah, dry bag your kit so it doesn’t get wet. And if I was going out for anything more than a few hours and it was cold, I’d take my jack flask which will keep a brew hot for about 8 hours.

One last one: if you’re going off the beaten track, even if you know the route, take an OS map so that if you do have to call for help you can give a grid of your location. Goes without saying that you need to be able to map read before…

White would match the frame graphics. I’ve got white forks on my current bike and it looks awesome!

The problem with taking big bulky bits of kit that might be awesome is that when faced with having to carry it all day, most people will be tempted to chin it and leave it behind. Therefore, space blankets are good.

Incidentally, if you have a head torch that has a strobe mode with a red filter then if you place the torch in the middle of the blanket then it all becomes one MASSIVE reflected strobe which increases the chance of being found if you’re in real trouble.

Quite simple really: if you want to go to university to better yourself and ultimately benefit from a higher salary at the end of your degree then pay for it, invest in yourself, either by immediate personal contribution or by taking a loan that you pay back when you’re earning. To the argument that we need students to create a rounded society, correct. But not in the numbers that there are currently. We also need workers to support industry, apprentices for trade skills etc. If the Government tries to subsidise every student out there, then we’re ****…how many students go to uni for the experience/independence and couldn’t give a monkies about what degree they do? Answer: lots. Why doesn’t the Government force students to pay more and invest the money they would have spent on students in normal state schools to raise the (currently frankly appalling) level of state education where everyone can benefit from it?

Spending 3 days gambling from 8am to 11pm. Currently £50 down and going strong!

Ah whoops. They weren’t stolen…they got moved during a clean up and noone realised as they were in a box. And the shed door got broken without anyone realising. The police were quite understanding…!

Coronation Tap!! Just around the corner from the Mall and does some awesome cider that will take your head off. Plus you can get a “I’ve been corried” badge. I’ve spent many an evening in there. I think.

Not the brightest but sufficient if you’re on a budget:

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16345&category_id=253

I’ve got a set of Ayups on my bars and this on my helmet. Does the job.

Sofatester, I like your style. The cricket bat option was tempered down from what I originally wanted to do to him which involved his testicles and my kukhri.

They were from a 2007 Spesh Stumpjumper which I sold today – luckily I moved the frame to my garage to pack it up but left the forks in the shed. They’re black with 2010 decals, QR drop outs and the old style disc mount i.e. not post mount. I’m raging!

In fact, here’s an incentive: I’ll let whoever tracks this bastard down keep the forks as long as I get his address.