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.

Haze,

Is that Cameron dropping into the NE to stop it from flooding?

He looks and sounds more like King Canute every day.


-=-==

See you have lost your job clearing up the mess in No 10.

Hope they paid you the "living" wage on time!

Just about sums it up!

New Year but heaven help us still the same old Freda , does he not realise that there's probably no one to trust in any party anymore . We the British are at the mercy of whoever gets voted in good or bad . To be at the mercy of Merkels Merauders is too much man .

In Cologne the other night , do you think that if it had been the local right wingers , that the Riot Police would have been in attendance , is it a bit like Rotherham .

do you not find not strange that no arrests were made?
do you not find it strange that all these non-aryans were rushing around waving asylum papers?

sorry, but that whole sorry and sordid episode reeks of being staged by right wing action groups

What on earth makes you say that cynic ? your beginning to sound like Fred !!

Cynic ,

'Cover-up' over Cologne sex assaults blamed on migration sensitivities
Police and media have been accused of silence on wave of New Year's Eve assaults by men 'of north African or Arab appearance' because of fears of stirring social tensions

no; i just find the whole episode very strange and wrong for the reasons i posted above

i should have added, that there are always plenty of police around mainline stations and in the reeperbahn and similar places of dubious repute, and even more so on NY eve ..... so again, how come not a single arrest?

similar to many sales presentations or similar, listen (look) for what has NOT been said

Also, look at the newscast images of the crowds and the apparent making up those groups.

Consider the makeup of the groupings shown and consider against normal crowd mix.

But believe what you wish to.

Exams to be arranged around Ramadam! Next?

what rarity to find fred and i singing from the same hymn sheet


fred - just a small dissent; NY eve will always bring out a different mix of people, though what sort of idiot-man is it that would even consider taking his 15-year old daughter to such an area

That's because you are beginning to sound like what i would expect from Fred cynic ,now go and take some tablets !!!!! ..

These were not all places of dubious repute , and so what , are you going to say that women shouldn't walk around in Amsterdam City Centre at night either ? these places are full of people out having a good time ..

Read aldwickk's post above i agree that if there is problems they will be covered up .
---------------

Chris i hope your post is nonsense ,please tell me it is .

Exams to be taken earlier in the day to fit around Ramadan, exam boards say

The announcement follows comments by the children's commissioner, who said the exams time table could be delayed to accommodate Muslim pupils
By Javier Espinoza, Education Editor12:32PM GMT 06 Jan 2016 Comments1055 Comments
GCSE and A-level exams could be rejigged this summer to take into account the impact of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours, the exam boards have said.

Tests could be taken earlier in the day, when Muslim students are the least hungry, or even before the start of the exams season, before the holy month begins in early June - or set at a time to lessen the effect on Muslim students.
The news followed comments from the children's commissioner Anne Longfield, who said talks were being held around "delaying the exam timetable" to lessen the impact on taking tests for Muslim students.
Ramadan has been gradually moving into the summer exams season in England - which runs from the end of May and throughout most of June - over the last few years. This year the period when Muslims observe fasting will fall between June 6 and July 5, which coincides when many of the summer exams take place.
As the window available for students to sit papers is tight, exams would not be able to be delayed, but there is scope for movement within the regular schedule, it was suggested.


In a statement, the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents exam boards, said it consults on the timetable every year and considers comments from a wide range of groups, including schools, colleges and faith groups.
"The small window in which examinations can be taken, the large number of candidates taking examinations and the diverse range of subjects available to candidates, places significant limitations on the changes that can be accommodated for any one group," a JCQ spokesman said.
"However, JCQ meets the needs of various groups as far as possible. JCQ and the qualifications regulator Ofqual have previously met with Muslim groups to discuss the timetabling of examinations in light of Ramadan moving into the examination period.
"Where possible, large entry GCSE and GCE subjects are timetabled prior to the commencement of Ramadan and consideration given to whether they are timetabled in the morning or afternoon."


Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the union is meeting with Muslim faith leaders to discuss Ramadan, and plans to issue guidance to schools and colleges ahead of the exams.
"The guidance will be non-prescriptive and will not advise families or students on how they should address the question of fasting during Ramadan which we agree is a matter for the individuals concerned along with parents, carers and faith leaders.
"School and college leaders are very keen to work with communities to ensure young people are able to observe Ramadan without any detrimental impact on their examinations."
There has been pressure in the past to change the exams schedule to accommodate Muslims sitting tests. In 2014, members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers urged examiners to take account of Ramadan.
Separately, the JCQ had said it could run tests with the largest number of entrants in the morning to prevent Muslim students taking them when they are the most hungry.
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said the union had been campaigning about the issue for more than a year.
She said: "As educators we want all children to be able to achieve their best in exams that are so crucial to their future.
"We shall continue to raise awareness of best practice and how education staff can support students during Ramadan."


Reaction
Colin Hart of Christian Concern, a charity that represents 4,000 churches around the UK, said:
"[Exam boards] should let things be. What about students who have medical conditions? How can you start changing the rules for everybody just for those particular pupils who are Muslims, which is a minority.
"It is wrong to impose a Ramadan time table on pupils who are not Muslims. We don’t live in Saudi Arabia where they need to fit the exams around sharia principles.
"It’s wrong that imposing this festival on everybody else.
"When it comes to Easter holidays we have seen the complete erosion of Easter holidays . It used to be two weeks off and now it's only a few days before and after Easter weekend. No regard is given to Christian pupils for Easter.
"It seems like there is one rule for Muslims and another rule for Christians. The exam boards seems to be imposing Ramadan on everybody else."
Sir Iqbal Sacranie, founding secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said:
"The decision is fair and just. But this is not a special privilege and it is within the JCQ policy, which is welcomed and appreciated.
"People often accuse Muslims of demanding special rights and provisions. We don't want them.
"This is of particular relevance when it comes to accommodating faith communities for their religious festivals, particularly Muslim and Jewish communities, who follow the lunar calendar.
"Religious communities need to be able to celebrate their festivities without being burdened by examinations on these special days."
What is Ramadan?
The annual period of fasting, prayer and giving to charity that is at the heart of the observance of Islam. Muslims believe that the Prophet Mohammed received the final part of a series of revelations from God, which became the Koran, during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month of Ramadan. Followers mark this, the holiest month of the year, with a period of self-denial and purification.
Why do Muslims fast?
Fasting – known as “sawm” - during Ramadan is one of the so-called five pillars of Islam, or obligations described in Islamic texts, which many Muslims follow, alongside actions such as prayer, giving alms and making the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
What can you eat?
Nothing. Those observing the fast must abstain from all food or drink – as well as smoking and sex – between sunrise and sundown for a month.
Do all Muslims have to take part?
No. Children, the elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding women, anyone who is sick and anyone travelling on a journey is exempt.

ETC........

Cologne---I would guess this was not the first year that the Festive market had taken place at that location, and from what the police spokesman had to say it would appear that this was the first year incidents of mass sexual assaults had occurred. This was a Festive market why wouldn't/shouldn't a father take his 15 year old daughter there.


aldwickk is right, the silence from the media is deafening. The absence of news items relating to migrants entering Europe speaks volumes, it's still happening but they are not reporting it.
2517

jimmy - we'll agree to disagree on this one ..... i am deeply suspicious or even cynical

You will change over the next year or so when you see the damage she's done ...

Merkel is looking at the future economy and services of Germany, as well as attempting to show a respect of humanity.

Many will respect her for doing so!

Merkel is still working for the Stasi!

Fred confirms it with his approval of her actions.


Still, there's some good coming out of it...It's killed the €uropean projekt stone dead!