This is a rad thread for an unrad time of year.

The only thing I enjoy about this time of year is having a break from work. Plus the weather, means I just stay in and catch up on some reading.
Otherwise its a waste of money, especially for a nation which is already heavily in debt.
BadScrooge

In fairness these shenanegins are not limited to agencies. I know a couple of companies that don't really intend to appoint anybody, unless they happen across a real superstar. They keep advertising and interviewing though as it makes it look like they are doing well, and it keeps the HR people busy.
I work part time at a university, and the last two appointments for lecturers had 600 applications each.
The horror, the horror.

Ah now I see what Harry Redknapp was on about.

Snow doesnt scare me.
Sitting on a saddle with the piles does though :?

Spent three years in Norwich, six in oxford, one in london, and now back in the small wretched town I grew up in. This is not a permanent move, just I've started a business and need to protect the downside by living with folks.

Hertfordshire, about 3 inches here. All fell between 7 and 12 last night.

If its temporary, plan a great holiday for the summer, and get her to carry round postcards and images of the beaches.
If its permenant, leave the job.
In addition to what ART has said really, I've noticed the trend of "The more capable and accommodating (i.e. doing things way above and beyond your job description) you are, the more shit you'll get dumped on you" getting even stronger. Not sure why, I think its because there are more incompetent people around, who have gone through an education system that responds to moaning and disruption, sidelinging the diligent and conscientious. Nicholas Nassim Taleb has a good approach for this – be nice and friendly and open most of the time, but once in a while 'walk the walk' – do something unexpected and harsh, like destroy someone for no discernable reason in a meeting (preferably an a**shole).

HSBC are fairly good at keeping tabs on my cards. Whenever they see a number of larger than normal purchases, they give me a call.
Never been defrauded though.

why do you fear a revolution ernie lynch? with your silly ideas, and provocative nonsense, strikes me you will be in the vanguard, with a che guevara t-shirt and a solar powered mega-phone (with everyone else praying for an eclipse).

This is all very promising for the future of A and A. Real strength in depth.
Seeming as Xmas falls on a Friday this year, I think the real acid test will be the whether the troops can rally from family duties and sacrifice themselves to the A and A cause.

Lol at village idiot.

Exercies and keeping busy – focus on something you enjoy, like building up a bike, reading books, or planning a holiday (I'm doing all three). :lol:

28, Small business owner.

Junkyard, I dislike political oppression with a passion. I am no expert on the ANC story, but what I find odd is how uncomplicated Mandela is portrayed in the West – no mention is made of terrorism, but it did happen, and innocent civilians did die. I think questioning the Mandela consensus is not the same thing as endorsing Aparthied.

Got back from work at midnight yesterday, to be greeted by an abusive bunch of drunk teens at the train station. Why do I work to pay taxes to allow their scumbag parents to reproduce I wonder? After a quick call to the transport police, off to bed, now back up and off to work once more.
Cycling holiday abroad in the new year I think for me.

Ray Mears is one of the few people who has made a career in television that I would want to have a beer with.

The Zaskar looks as tight as a nut – congratulations that is going to be an awesome ride. I still pay out to maintain my 10 year old GT just because the frames make for such great riding.

Pretty barmaids.

I reckon I expend at least fifty percent more energy slogging through the winter mud. Which about makes up for the fifty percent more caloires through drinking I do in winter time. So yep its worth it.

I am convinced that having fit barmaids brings in an extra 30% revenue overall for a pub, sometimes more.

Mastiles is right, replace her with a younger BBC presenter – I would recommend Laura Tobin the weather girl.

Mr michael wright you the man.
We have a shell scheme plot, thanks for all those points they are a big help.

Budget is about 2 grand.
Maybe I could invite Cheryl Cole's half sister, I've heard she's living it up on a council estate in toon.

USP – we are a uni spin out company, and mainly focus on working with innovative early stage companies. I've been thinking of trying to create a Garage like atmosphere – as in HP google apple etc were started in garages. Or I might sell out and just hire a pretty blonde to entice the punters.

Meacock's not bad, still a poor man's Kirsty Young.

Yvette Copper, MP. I blame it all on growing up under Thatcher.

I forgot how entirely bolloxed you get riding in the mud.

I would write a letter to Virgin explaining this, asking for a full refund.
The man who threatened to headbutt the lady is also committing a crime of intimidation – I would have called the police as well as a guard.
In general behaviour on trains is becoming generally anti-social – loud phone calls, feet up on seats etc – but I've never seen any actual violence or intimidation that you've experienced.

Women and drink = lethal combination.

A lot of the whole crap towns phenomena can be put down to the 1960s. Whenever I drove off to University in oxford from hertfordshire, I would go through the following towns, all ruined by ugly 60s architecture:
-hemel hempstead (actually has a nice old town though)
-chesham (also takeaway alley)
-aylesbury (probably the worst of them all)
Saying that the countryside between them is great and there are some nice villages. The country has never really recovered from de-instrialisation and the loss of its empire – we are living as ghost people in ghost towns, wandering aimlessly looking for a wider purpose.

Harlow innit.

The media have jumped on this story, but in truth this kind of thing is increasingly common. We need to bring back some form of public humiliation – like the stocks, for these offences. But at root the problem is bad parenting and the promotion of a hedonistic, rights-based culture in every aspect of our society. Jeff Randall's article in today's Telegraph is very good on this.

Try listening to George Galloway on talksport. A different level entirely.

Yep networking is the only way to go. Traditional recruitment is bulls*it, just hr people trying to look busy so they don't lose their jobs – getting people in for interviews for jobs that don't exist.
I'm underemployed, but at least I have some cash coming in (beer means it soon goes out), although contract is only for one year and who knows if it will be renewed.

No doubt defoe and modric are big losses. But Spurs also have Palacious and Bentley, who want to prove themselves against Arsenal. I watched Arsenal crumble against West Ham and think they lack fight, which often matters more in derby games.
Beer o'clock – good call, surprising from a gooner.

Come on you Spurs!

Return tickets to Las Vegas start at £400.

If you work for a living, why do you kill yourself working, as Tuco says in the Good the bad and the ugly.
Friend of mine packed in practicing law and now teaches it at a London University. He doesn't have a phd, just a Masters – the BCL from Oxford.
Gets paid good money (49k) three years into it, and only has to go in three days a week. Cha ching. :D

That's why I don't buy it at the end of a recession. Look at the amount of people out of work on here. Don't believe the government or the mainstream papers for economic analysis. America is nowhere near out of its recession despite the announcement today as its growth has been entirely funded by the taxpayer – which means yet more long term debt. Remember newspapers are for the most part advertisements with words written on the back – they need to talk up the economy to survive.
We have done the same as the US and are digging our debt hole even deeper.
The result is massive long term currency depreciation which makes gold even more attractive as a source of value – you can't print more gold.

Around half of my friends are lawyers. They all seem to find it boring but make up for it with the socialising – they're constantly boozing.
Although not a lawyer I can imagine how bad the paranoia can be – on the whole I find them an Angsty bunch, gossipy and attention seeking.
I've found that work-wise, I enjoy myself when not in high-achiever type places. I work at a not particularly ambitious place, but on the whole the people I work with are pretty cool and relaxed.
Ah Ambizione! so cruel.