Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

fred - i KNOW you aren't so naive as to think that labour (or any other political party) has altruistic motives when it comes to power ...... it is unavoidable, but not reprehensible, that those in power wish to stay that way, and those that influence them, will do their darnedest to ensure that their own agenda is catered for

PO Face, what on earth are you talking about.

This spells DANGER..........

UK house prices to rise by a quarter with London average to hit £500,000 by 2018 - CEBR

House prices across Britain will soar by nearly a quarter to record levels over the coming five years with homes in London averaging more than half a million pounds in 2018.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said prices across the country to rise 23.7pc to a record of £278,000 in five years. Photo: PA
By Steve Hawkes, Consumer Affairs Editor
2:26PM BST 30 Sep 2013

A think tank has upgraded its forecasts in figures that will trigger yet more concern about the long-term effects of the Government's Help to Buy cheap credit scheme to kick-start the property market.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said prices across the country will rise 2.9 per cent to an average of £225,000 this year, followed by a 3.9 per cent jump in 2014. Between now and 2018, the average UK price will jump 23.7 per cent to a record of £278,000.

In London house prices will leap 43.5 per cent by 2018, pushing average values in the capital up to a staggering £566,000.

The figures came as the Bank of England revealed the number of mortgage approvals hit their highest level for five-and-a-half years in August and estate agent Haart predicted housing transactions will rise by up to 15 per cent over the next 12 months.

CEBR economist Daniel Solomon said the Government's Help to Buy scheme had provided a "shot in the arm" to the market. But he insisted that talk of a house price bubble was "premature" and that a housing shortage was a bigger factor.

He said: "This is not a case of houses being built on sand. The housing market recovery we are seeing rests on firm economic and demographic foundations. At least for now."

He added: "Even London's prodigious house price growth, expected to be 6.9 per cent this year, is being driven by the fundamental fact that people want to live in the capital with its employment and cultural opportunities."

The CEBR bases its average prices on official figures from the Office for National Statistics. Last week the Nationwide said average prices were £172,000, but its figures are based on the building society's own completions.

The CEBR's study showed that over the coming five years, house prices should rise by 27 per cent in the East of England and Scotland. In the South-East home owners will enjoy a near 28 per cent rise.

Critics of the Government's Help to Buy scheme are almost certain to use the CEBR findings as proof another damaging property bubble is on the cards. Prime Minster David Cameron this weekend brought forward the second phase of Help to Buy - offering taxpayer-subsidised mortgages - by three months. Business secretary Vince Cable had questioned whether the second phase should ever be introduced.

Matt Pointon of Capital Economics said: "If the second part of Help to Buy really does take off there is a risk we will see a new bubble, but we doubt many lenders will want to take part." He added: "In our view there is still a risk of a correction in house prices, earnings are still falling and house prices are quite pricey as it is."

Last week Nationwide said annual house price inflation was running at 5 per cent, with London prices rising by 10 per cent, an increase of more than £30,000. Nationwide said that in three London boroughs, Westminster, Islington and Hackney, house prices had more than doubled since 2003.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/houseprices/10344481/UK-house-prices-to-rise-by-a-quarter-with-London-average-to-hit-500000-by-2018-CEBR.html

relates to part of 30207

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btw fred, i have no prob at all with "proper" arts courses at proper universities .... the problem lies with children (and their parents) having been conned by successive gov'ts that there is some value and path to eldorado in taking some rubbish degree in say media studies at little piddleton university ..... the truth of the matter is that many of these children would have been far better served by being offered what i think are called vocational courses at school, ideally with links to local companies where field experience in the real world can be gained

Cynic, so its ok for posh kids to take a rubbish degree in say media studies at some larger funded Uni but not kids from poorer backgrounds, Ohhh no they have to follow the vocational route.

Just about sums up what the Tories stands for that and why they are way out of touch and will never govern again.

'Its good enough for my kids but not yours attitude'.

obviously it suited you to misinterpret what i wrote ......

a rubbish degree in a rubbish course is precisely that wherever it may be gained
that you can buy your way into a good university is also total rubbish, though it almost certainly would not suit your purblind prejudices to admit that

if you aren't academically inclined, and many are not and it does not necessarily mean you are thick either, then a course+apprenticeship in any number of fields would unquestionably be a far better route

such a shame that you are so totally blinkered and prejudiced as to be unable to even think sensibly

And your a patronising stuck up Po Face.

That you can buy your way into a poor university is also total rubbish. But you can buy your way into a priveledged school before hand and prejudice the selection process.

If you aren't academically inclined, and many are not and it does not necessarily mean you are poor either.

Such a shame that public school has blinkered you into thinking you have a right to this you have a right to that you have a right to govern.

YOU HAVENT.

what a total waste of space you are, and assuredly not worth wasting breath upon .... i hope that any children you may have at least have learnt to think for themselves and do not just spew and thus perpetuate their father's nonsense and blind and unfounded prejudices, which i fear you may have learnt from your own

fred's views may differ quite radically from my own, but at least it is a possible to have a sensible discussion with him

And you act like the big sulky petulant child from the boys boarding school.
....................................................

fred - i KNOW you aren't so naive as to think that labour (or any other political party) has altruistic motives when it comes to power ...... it is unavoidable, but not reprehensible, that those in power wish to stay that way, and those that influence them, will do their darnedest to ensure that their own agenda is catered for


Cynic,

A democracy can be thought of as government by a body which reflects the interests and development of society as a whole.

I am sorry to disappoint you, but I do think the Labour party is motivated by a great degree of altruism and actions generally for the welfare and needs of a society as a whole, while the tory party in general and especially in its present positioning a reactionary party, whose spoken ideologies and actions are modified by changes, which they see as probably gainful for themselves and those who can support them.

That doesn’t mean that those involved any political party are not driven by ambition and personal reward.

The rewards don’t have to be necessarily the increase of personal wealth, which for some seems to be a dominating feature of the careers, (Blair), but can be personal acclaim, or enjoying the skills of the “game” they have chosen to play and win at. (Self esteem.)

There can be almost as much pleasure from honing one’s skills, improving oneself against oneself and then utilising the skills to gain for others, or oneself.

Multitude of other reasons but the reward is in succeeding and if one starts with altruistic positioning it is probable that overall the gains will be of benefit for the individuals and society as a whole.

=========

Just as memory, it was interesting that Harold Wilson stepped out of office when he realised he was developing dementia and his skill levels and processing were diminishing.

Although, I disagreed with many of his policies when he was PM, I though his motivation was altruistic, even if he was devious at times and admire him for standing down when he did. That was an altruistic act.

How many of the present mob in politics would do the same.

To try to remain in power for altruistic goals is not unreasonable, the manner in which acts to stay in often questionable.

Cynic,

I worked at a university in the 70 and 80s and it was the changes introduced by Thatcherism which "distorted" the universities and technology institutes.

It was Maggie Thatchers application of "market forces" which caused the universities to go into the market and pimp for "students" for further education and then designed courses "attractive" to overseas an homegrown adolescents.

The staff was not experienced in what was expected of them, or the courses they were proffering, many of the courses were ill-prepared.(Continuing until this day.)

But, is was the effect of smart arsed business managers and their applications being applied to accademia.

The academics were pissed off and decided to play the new "game" and did so at detriment to education.

I do agree that there was chaos in standardisation of qualifications and that should have been thought of.

Also, I labelled some courses as Mickey Mouse, but that often was due to my ignorance and when I saw the detail and complexities of the courses, my mind sometimes changed.

WHY PO FACE is so wrong about Media Studies.

he said earlier....... cynic- 30 Sep 2013 15:29 - 30209 of 30216

relates to part of 30207

==========

btw fred, i have no prob at all with "proper" arts courses at proper universities .... the problem lies with children (and their parents) having been conned by successive gov'ts that there is some value and path to eldorado in taking some rubbish degree in say media studies at little piddleton university.........ends

READ THIS..............

Media studies: a Mickey Mouse degree?

Media is vital to our lives, so it should be studied properly. And anyway, media studies graduates have a better-than-average chance of landing a job – so why are media degrees sometimes so scorned? Will Duffield reports.........

http://publicsphere.typepad.com/behindthespin/2006/06/media_studies_a.html

fred - you'll be telling me next that union leaders have themselves elected with the sole aim to look after the wellbeing of their members in close collaboration with the company and, of course, in the country's interest and that self-aggrandisement and similar does not come into it!

my major gripe about all and any university is that they and their degrees have been held up as the holy grail ...... i don't care who started that trend or even who allowed it to become self-perpetuating ..... the sad fact is that there are thousands of graduates who are flabbergasted that their useless degree from a 3rd rate uni is totally useless and of no interest to a prospective employer - and no, i do not think that just because you read geography your goal is or should be to teach same

the cynic might say that this myth was created to keep unemployment numbers down for as long as possible!

that many degrees could also be completed in 2 rather than 3 years is another issue

Bet you was the best caretaker that University ever had Fred, what did the students call you Mr Broom?

Despite this, some people still frown upon the value of a degree in media studies. The next time you encounter a scoffer, politely ask them what they know about media studies courses, the wide range of career opportunities, and the employment rates of media graduates. You will more often than not find critics have no idea what a media degree entails and are unaware of the practical value of a course..............................................

So Po Face whats your excuse???????????????????????

why am i wasting breath?
it happens that i went straight from school to work on the shop floor of a department store - or to be more precise, in the stock room

why am I whisteling......... AGAIN........

Despite this, some people still frown upon the value of a degree in media studies. The next time you encounter a scoffer, politely ask them what they know about media studies courses, the wide range of career opportunities, and the employment rates of media graduates. You will more often than not find critics have no idea what a media degree entails and are unaware of the practical value of a course..............................................

So Po Face whats your excuse???????????????????????

Cat got your tounge Po Face.....he he.

Cynic,

"the cynic might say that this myth was created to keep unemployment numbers down for as long as possible!"


That remark was commonly made like the the fact that the unemployment figures of the moment are distorted by increasing the schooling leaving age!

The valuation of degrees is problematic and influenced by the period of "changes" I have previously described. However, some of the larger and older universities escaped from the "smearing" and profited from the atmosphere created.

It distorted education, evaluation and expectancies of degree courses.

GF.

I think many courses arranged in the above period were ill-designed, that is the fault of the "administrators" and political "mandarins", not the students who were conned into applying for them.

Many of those courses are now defunct, but some have matured in effective training grounds within many fields and proving profitable.

There are many subjects being studied now which I have never heard of and one of my daughters has recently obtained another MA in a field which seems to be in the miniature of a subject.


Also, the advantages of a university or its equivalent is that it is mixing ground for all students of various backgrounds.

But I do think the changes to tuition fees and grants are detrimental and protective to the children of parents who have against those of have nots.

I think this is one coalition policy which annoys me more than any other.

=======

Is it time for a glass of something.

Im waiting Cynic hurry up.

I know quite a few people who did a media studies degree and one or two are quite famous plus the others are very wealthy off.

There isn't a wide range of opportunities for media students . The numbers studying far exceed the jobs available. Most would be better skipping university and saving their money.