John Drake Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Robert Fisk must have got out of the wrong side of the bed when he wrote this. Seems way over the top to me, but maybe that's because I wholeheartedly disagree with him. The poppy has become a symbol of racism – I have never worn one, and now I never will http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/poppy-symbol-of-racism-never-worn-one-never-will-robert-fisk-remembrance-day-first-world-war-second-a7394976.html If you want to wear a poppy, wear one. If you don't, then don't. Not sure why there has to be such a song and dance about it from either side. The RBL's position, as has already been posted earlier in this thread, seems eminently restrained and sensible to me. Very British, in fact (or what used to be considered 'British' - now we seem to have to get our knickers in a twist over everything). . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Drake Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Meanwhile... Parliamentary Group welcomes Rugby League remembrance plans http://www.totalrl.com/parliamentary-group-welcomes-rugby-league-remembrance-plans/ . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Pretty sure it has actually been going on since the end of WW1 mate. Not on football shirts it hasn't "Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff9of13 Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 ###### employment agencies! A scourge on modern life. I was contacted by one last week regarding an IT contracting job last week. Now the first thing you normally agree is the rate for the role. I told them my preferred rate, but they responded that it was a little high, so I came down a bit and we agreed a figure and took it from there. I then had two technical interviews by phone and finally a face to face yesterday morning in Wimbledon. They first called me at 10ish on Tuesday morning to say the interview was in Wimbledon at 4pm that afternoon and was that OK, so as I live north of Liverpool the answer was no, it's not OK. They called this morning to offer me the job - great, so an e-mail was sent to ask confirmation only to get a phone call - would I accept a much lower rate! No, you numpties, we talked about that over a week ago. I Stood my ground, telling them it's non-negotiable and, given the role is actually more consulting than just development, they were getting a very good deal at the rate we had first said. An afternoon of tooing and froing by e-mail and phone they have finally accepted the rate first agreed. Talk about unnecessary hassle. Anyway, I'm back in the realms of the employed - which is good, I suppose. "it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckn Posted November 10, 2016 Author Share Posted November 10, 2016 ###### employment agencies! A scourge on modern life. I was contacted by one last week regarding an IT contracting job last week. Now the first thing you normally agree is the rate for the role. I told them my preferred rate, but they responded that it was a little high, so I came down a bit and we agreed a figure and took it from there. I then had two technical interviews by phone and finally a face to face yesterday morning in Wimbledon. They first called me at 10ish on Tuesday morning to say the interview was in Wimbledon at 4pm that afternoon and was that OK, so as I live north of Liverpool the answer was no, it's not OK. They called this morning to offer me the job - great, so an e-mail was sent to ask confirmation only to get a phone call - would I accept a much lower rate! No, you numpties, we talked about that over a week ago. I Stood my ground, telling them it's non-negotiable and, given the role is actually more consulting than just development, they were getting a very good deal at the rate we had first said. An afternoon of tooing and froing by e-mail and phone they have finally accepted the rate first agreed. Talk about unnecessary hassle. Anyway, I'm back in the realms of the employed - which is good, I suppose. Excellent news! Agencies can be very deceitful. I'd have no doubts they were also telling the company that you were demanding more money. You cut your rate, the company pays more, the agency takes both the cut and increase as extra profit. "When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff9of13 Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Excellent news! Agencies can be very deceitful. I'd have no doubts they were also telling the company that you were demanding more money. You cut your rate, the company pays more, the agency takes both the cut and increase as extra profit. My thoughts exactly. I wish I had got the contact details of the PM of the client company as I would have given him a call. "it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getdownmonkeyman Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 The majority of agencies are absolute cockroaches. I have had dealings with tens of them, I trust one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Tim Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Having seen the fees that agencies charge for placing a candidate I try and avoid them at all costs. I do have them regularly contact me to ask if I am looking for new team members, to which I say that I am happy for them to send me the CVs and if they are successful I would be happy to recognise their contribution with £100 of shopping vouchers (which is what they offer me for referring friends and colleagues for them to place in roles) - they always seem to decline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedford Roughyed Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 My company gives £1000 (after tax) if I nominate someone who gets recruited. They want to avoid agencies if at all possible. With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Tim Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 My company gives £1000 (after tax) if I nominate someone who gets recruited. They want to avoid agencies if at all possible. Similar process here, though depends on the level of the new person but can be up to $3500 (or £ equivalent), which gives an idea of how much agencies charge. I've seen agencies charging 30% of total annual package of new person for placing them, usually payable long before the person has even completed their probation period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerjon Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 I've seen agencies charging 30% of total annual package of new person for placing them, usually payable long before the person has even completed their probation period. Yup. Want me to name some charities that use the services of such agencies? Thus paying out £20,000 on a £60,000 salary post? Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff9of13 Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 People who drive through a 40mph zone at 30. But then when you reach a 30 or even 20 zone continue at exactly the same speed...are they on autopilot? AND this 'careful' driver didn't even indicate on 2 roundabouts, I better not get stuck behind them tonight! If I were a copper I'd do 'em for driving without due care and attention - obviously oblivious to the speed limit signs. "it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartofGold Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 People who drive through a 40mph zone at 30. But then when you reach a 30 or even 20 zone continue at exactly the same speed...are they on autopilot? AND this 'careful' driver didn't even indicate on 2 roundabouts, I better not get stuck behind them tonight! Gah this drives me insane. It must be autopilot, not one part of their brain is paying any attention to driving. Worse than this for me is a local single carriage way. The speed limit is 60. There are two speed cameras on it between our town and the next. On a daily basis I am travelling behind a driver who sees the camera and SLAMS on the brakes and slows down to either 40 or worse 30. How did these people pass the test? In the blink of an eye it could all be taken away. Be grateful always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Tim Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Yup. Want me to name some charities that use the services of such agencies? Thus paying out £20,000 on a £60,000 salary post? Indeed, fairly common from what I have seen and from junior roles up to very senior levels at 6 figure salaries, all for passing on a CV or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Yup. Want me to name some charities that use the services of such agencies? Thus paying out £20,000 on a £60,000 salary post? Many years ago now an agency organised an interview for me so along I go. It's going well until the question "what sort of salary would you be looking for?" "£20K" I reply, being prepared to go down to 18 if necessary. "Oh we were thinking in the region of 12" "I'm worth 20" I reply. Anyway I didn't get it and the agency weren't happy with me, tough, I got a position at £22K a couple of weeks later. "Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff9of13 Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 The worst employment agency story I have is of one bloke who wanted to charge me an introduction fee for a potential employer that I met when attending a training course! I of course told him where to go in no uncertain terms - he replied by threatening to get me blacklisted in the quite small, close knit Business Intelligence contractor world. It's no surprise that he is known as Tricky Dicky (a pretty close play on his actual name) in the trade. "it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckn Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 The worst employment agency story I have is of one bloke who wanted to charge me an introduction fee for a potential employer that I met when attending a training course! I of course told him where to go in no uncertain terms - he replied by threatening to get me blacklisted in the quite small, close knit Business Intelligence contractor world. It's no surprise that he is known as Tricky Dicky (a pretty close play on his actual name) in the trade. I had one agency take some permanent adverts I'd put through the NHS Jobs portal, advertise them themselves, get the very narrow niche skills individuals who might be tempted to apply interested with promises of excessive salaries, send me their CVs and follow it with a notice that they'd "introduced" these candidates to us therefore we could no longer hire them through NHS Jobs without paying their introduction fee. They did much like with you and get all blustery about suing if we dared not pay them the money despite us having no contract with them and the advert specifically stating that the role is not eligible for being filled by agency candidates. They stopped contacting me at that point but I did receive a LinkedIn request from the recruiter asking me to become a contact. It did one thing though, it added an extra name to my "avoid" list for decent agencies in future. "When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckn Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 There are some people on this forum who would make the Dalai Lama swear. "When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Tim Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 I had one agency take some permanent adverts I'd put through the NHS Jobs portal, advertise them themselves, get the very narrow niche skills individuals who might be tempted to apply interested with promises of excessive salaries, send me their CVs and follow it with a notice that they'd "introduced" these candidates to us therefore we could no longer hire them through NHS Jobs without paying their introduction fee. They did much like with you and get all blustery about suing if we dared not pay them the money despite us having no contract with them and the advert specifically stating that the role is not eligible for being filled by agency candidates. They stopped contacting me at that point but I did receive a LinkedIn request from the recruiter asking me to become a contact. It did one thing though, it added an extra name to my "avoid" list for decent agencies in future. I enjoy being contacted by the 'head hunters' who list themselves on Linkedin as having extensive experience in recruiting clinical professionals and that they strive to always find the right role for the individual....then you notice that they graduated from university 3 months ago and this is their first proper job (apart from working weekends at BHS and a paper-round) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 There are some people on this forum who would make the Dalai Lama swear. Agree entirely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Decimus Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 People who drive through a 40mph zone at 30. But then when you reach a 30 or even 20 zone continue at exactly the same speed...are they on autopilot? AND this 'careful' driver didn't even indicate on 2 roundabouts, I better not get stuck behind them tonight! Driving slow is as dangerous at times as driving fast IMO because of the way it influences other drivers. I often point out that you are marked down on your test for not aiming to get up to the speed limit. I know somebody who doesn't indicate but actually said good drivers will know where he's going. A Widnesian in Ireland blog What is the best system for Super League? An honest appraisal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckn Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Driving slow is as dangerous at times as driving fast IMO because of the way it influences other drivers. I often point out that you are marked down on your test for not aiming to get up to the speed limit. I know somebody who doesn't indicate but actually said good drivers will know where he's going. On that subject, a hell is reserved for people who drive cars slower than HGVs on dual/triple carriageway national speed limit roads. An especially Katie Hopkins and Piers Morgan hell for those who do so at rush hour. An even deeper Katie and Piers love scene for eternity hell for those who refuse to move out of the fast lane while driving at slower speeds than HGVs. Also, HGVs who take over a mile to overtake another HGV, especially at rush hour. The worst I had was one overtaking the same HGV for nearly five miles, moving forward on flats and downhill bits but going backwards in comparison on even slight inclines. "When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff9of13 Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 On that subject, a hell is reserved for people who drive cars slower than HGVs on dual/triple carriageway national speed limit roads. An especially Katie Hopkins and Piers Morgan hell for those who do so at rush hour. An even deeper Katie and Piers love scene for eternity hell for those who refuse to move out of the fast lane while driving at slower speeds than HGVs. Also, HGVs who take over a mile to overtake another HGV, especially at rush hour. The worst I had was one overtaking the same HGV for nearly five miles, moving forward on flats and downhill bits but going backwards in comparison on even slight inclines. The A40 good for that particular trick; some of them can keep it up for mile after mile with no perceptible progress. "it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 (edited) How to interpret car indicators: 1. The left indicator. If this is flashing, it means that it's flashing. 2. The right indicator. IF this is flashing, it means it's flashing. Edited November 12, 2016 by JohnM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckn Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 How to interpret car indicators: 1. The left indicator. If this is flashing, it means that it's flashing. 2. The right indicator. IF this is flashing, it means it's flashing. Too many people think like this and it's just wrong. If a car indicator is flashing then that's a risk flag that a trained driver can interpret. It's not an absolute signal of intent, it's a flag that the vehicle may do something. Drivers who don't indicate when they should are cretins who deserve no courtesy on the road at all. "When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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