worldwide opinions

Would three years later be considered too long to ...

2009-11-14T11:05:00.022+00:00

Would three years later be considered too long to leave a comment?!

So this is where you are hanging out Steg ;-)

Now, on this subject which is close to my heart I have to say that there are elements of the original Observer article I actually agree with! Just lately and with son finally getting to the "teen" years even though he is 15 I have felt it very hard to enforce some sense of discipline. And would like to see more readily available help with parenting. However, to be fair, I am being very hard on myself and this is partly to do with my own issues rather anything specific to parenting, and he is actually not that bad. Just not up to my expected standards.

True enough Steg that there are parents out there who are more interested in themselves and should get their act in order but I don't know there is anything in the pattern whether it is as a result of the hippy generation. I rather think it is a case of there has always been crap parents and crap parenting or lack of it whatever the family make-up.

Interesting what Lord Matt says about dealing with the outside bodies as the father and not accepting being ignored. I agree that there are patterns of behaviour that need to be re-written ..... my dearest Mr Doris is not the biological father of our two children but he is the best parent they could ever have and frequently deals with outside bodies concerning the kids. We have the added anomaly that one of the kids looks visually different to both of us which makes any outside body blink twice at our family make-up but Mr Doris is so blase and gets on with it that they just have to too. So I think fathers do need to just get on with it.

And with what Kate is saying about single parent families I quite agree - I was a single parent for eight years and in the time had two lovely children who would be a credit to anyone. And yet single parents are damned as if the troubles of the youth of today are all our fault. Unfortunately the teen years take their toll and this is where we could do with more support. I took parenting classes at the beginning of my daughter's teen years which were invaluable but not the panacea I had hoped because growing up can take an emotional toll of a child despite what I tried, but at least the classes helped me cope at the time. But I had access to them because son was younger and I had access to health visitors. But there comes a point were it feels like you are out on your own and even though I had the experience of one child growing through those teenage years each child is different and these are a whole 'nother set of issues.

So Steggy - when are you going to write something new? :-)

You've hit the nail on the head! Politicians l...

2009-11-10T15:10:24.372+00:00

You've hit the nail on the head! Politicians like Hazel Blears would dearly like to be able to control new media, but they can't, so they attack it in the hope people will believe their wild accusations and stick to approved outlets.

"people with disdain for the political system and politicians"

She says that as though it's a bad thing ...

Ah! Hazel Blears..a symptom of a ruling elite, run...

2009-11-10T14:57:33.555+00:00

Ah! Hazel Blears..a symptom of a ruling elite, running scared of a media that they are desperate to control.

This was born out last year when she commented that "Political blogs are fuelling a culture of cynicism about politics", and a "spreading corrosive cynicism" in political discussion, accusing them of fuelling disengagement by focusing on "unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy" and of being written by "people with disdain for the political system and politicians".

http://thetaoofblog-pablothehat.blogspot.com/2008/11/communities-secretary-hazel-blears.html

Please Hazel..change the spark plugs, the oil and have someone look at the exhaust as it is starting to sound like a castrato town crier, telling the good people the news that Mugabee has been re-elected.

That should be 16-18, not 15 - I'm blaming an unfa...

2008-09-16T15:41:00.000+00:00

That should be 16-18, not 15 - I'm blaming an unfamiliar keyboard.

State religious schools have the same advantage he...

2008-09-16T15:40:00.000+00:00

State religious schools have the same advantage here too. Our local village school was taken over by a religious organisation about 5 years ago, and yes, they do get more funding than the mainstream schools, including keeping their 6th form (for kids 15-18) open while the schools in the nearest town are losing theirs. Plus, at a time when the government are saying they want to give parents more choice, we have less. Very few people would have chosen to send their kids to a church school, but we have no choice because it's the only one.

I agree completely; there is no place for creation...

2008-09-16T11:57:00.000+00:00

I agree completely; there is no place for creationism in a Science classroom. The acceptance of a scientific theory is an aggressively competitive process; other scientists will do all they can do disprove a theory and its originator may even play devil's advocate to test a theory's veracity. Creationists usually don't take kindly to having their ideas challenged; it's all about faith. Creationism is clearly not a scientific theory, so how can it be allowed equal time at school, or any time at all for that matter.

Creationism is taught in religious schools. That might be the choice of parents who want a religious education for their children, but these schools are partially funded by the government, and often receive levels of funding far above disadvataged state schools. Of course let them make that choice if they wish, but not at the tax payer's expense.

The only Wiener I've heard of is a chap who campai...

2008-09-14T22:59:00.000+00:00

The only Wiener I've heard of is a chap who campaigned against the Nazis - so that's a really positive association. Much better than being named after a euphemism for boobs.

No, I'm not that Kate. I'm not into bimbo-esque, interbred men with huge, scary teeth, no matter how well connected they are.

LOLLLLLLLLLWell my Folks named me Wiener so is my ...

2008-09-14T08:56:00.000+00:00

LOLLLLLLLLL

Well my Folks named me Wiener so is my Nickname over there The Tube!!

;)) Peace*

p.s. yer not Kate Middleton thass Dating Prince William are U???

I know it's a cliché, but local authorities really...

2008-09-12T21:51:00.000+00:00

I know it's a cliché, but local authorities really do seem to believe they are above the law.

Out of infinite pain,a strange redemptioncomes for...

2008-08-17T01:10:00.000+00:00

Out of infinite pain,
a strange redemption
comes forth...

you live in his constituency and you have a choice...

2008-06-13T19:01:00.000+00:00

you live in his constituency and you have a choice

David Davis or kelvin Mackenzie? I'd vote tory - SHOCK!!

You echo my thoughts about the matter. It is quite...

2008-06-12T17:13:00.000+00:00

You echo my thoughts about the matter. It is quite scary to find myself agreeing with a Tory, never thought that would happen LOL

bit of an empty gesture really. he knows he's goin...

2008-06-12T16:33:00.000+00:00

bit of an empty gesture really. he knows he's going to win.

of course I think he's right. which is kind of scary really

too much pain.Please, let s talk about love, peace...

2008-05-25T18:38:00.000+00:00

too much pain.
Please, let s talk about love, peace and hope...

Yes, we canwith Hope, from Latin America

2008-05-22T18:22:00.000+00:00

Yes, we can

with Hope, from Latin America

The big problem is that parents lack knowledge. A...

2008-05-20T07:45:00.000+00:00

The big problem is that parents lack knowledge. As with anything that changes the world the generation that grew up in a different world must learn to live in the new one. We parents need to take the time to understand the Internet and talk to our children.

I agree with you completely. I cannot understand h...

2008-04-05T14:11:00.000+00:00

I agree with you completely. I cannot understand how we managed to create a whole generation of mostly unfit and selfish parents.
Following Darwin's rules we are bound for extinction, and we deserve it.
(When I say "we" I mean our society, not you or me, since we are obviously more sensible than most. However, we will unfortunately be wiped out with the rest. Such is the force of Nature and evolution.)

nice blog. don't make lower by yourself. stay tune...

2007-12-12T22:19:00.000+00:00

nice blog.
don't make lower by yourself.
stay tune in your touch

jacky

Too true! It's such a stupid thing to do that it w...

2007-11-21T14:08:00.000+00:00

Too true! It's such a stupid thing to do that it would be funny if the possible consequences weren't so serious.

Yes, the words "piss-up" and "brewery" spring to m...

2007-11-20T21:29:00.000+00:00

Yes, the words "piss-up" and "brewery" spring to mind.

A big hug from Costa Rica.

2007-06-28T02:21:00.000+00:00

A big hug from Costa Rica.

Follow up post to be found here: http://lordmatt.c...

2007-06-27T16:37:00.000+00:00

Follow up post to be found here: http://lordmatt.co.uk/item/860/

Above mentioned lady, Shamless Akrobati (Director ...

2007-06-08T23:08:00.000+00:00

Above mentioned lady, Shamless Akrobati (Director of Liberty, an organisation "fighting" for human rights), never "fights" a cause outside Britain - or the West. She knows, fighting the horrible human right abuses in Somalia, Sudan, Algeria ... you name it, is very DANGEROUS and DOESN'T PAY well.

She then better fight the Gov... The worst thing that can happen to her is to be elected ambassador to XYZstan, world bank, EIBRD, UN or some other place well paid by tax money. I bet we see her there in 5 years time.

wouldn't that ultimatley include EVERYONE?

2007-06-06T02:06:00.000+00:00

wouldn't that ultimatley include EVERYONE?

Yes, it's just one of the many bizarre proposals o...

2007-05-23T18:06:00.000+00:00

Yes, it's just one of the many bizarre proposals our government have come up with.

BTW, I had a look at your blog - kudos for coming from the same town as Phil Lynott! He was one of my musical heroes as a teenager.