I have been blocked by Nick Rushton, Conservative leader of Leicestershire County Council

How very strange!

On Tuesday I reprinted Nick Rushton's statement in full. (He explained that his Twitter account had been taken over by a hacker who had misused that access to follow a number of risque accounts and Harborough Conservatives.)

Today I find I have been blocked by him.

What is the point of issuing a statement if you don't want people to reproduce it?

I would have thought that, following the saga of their previous leader David Parsons, Leicestershire Conservatives would have realised the imporance of open government.

But even if you not been blocked, this is what you see...

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Six of the Best 566

MediaMasters has a cracking interview on Labour and political communication with Gordon Brown's former spin doctor Damian McBride.

"Recess is a lot more than just a free break for kids to play after lunch period. That free, unstructured play time allows kids to exercise and helps them focus better when they are in class. Now a school in Texas says it took a risk by giving students four recess periods a day, but the risk has paid off beautifully." Elizabeth Licata brings news from Fort Worth.

Lion & Unicorn on cautious welcomes.

"It’s time we authors were paid, not in promises of better sales and high profiles, but in money. Yes, actual cash. Is that too much to ask?" Guy Walters complains that literary festivals expect writers to work for nothing.

Andrew Hickey pays tribute to the great Roy Wood and in particular his LP Boulders, which was recorded earlier but released in 1973.

The names proposed for Crossrail's stations are all wrong, argues John Elledge.

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David Bowie, economics and education

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I have come across two reactions to the death of David Bowie that take us well beyond the world of music.

Stumbling and Mumbling - written by Chris Dillow and always interesting - quotes Danny Finkelstein before rightly taking issue with him:

He [Finkelstein] writes: 

David Bowie – undoubtedly one of the artistic geniuses of the past 50 years – was the great product and great producer of consumer capitalism…He was subversive because capitalism is subversive, overturning the status quo, restless, and profoundly democratic. 

I disagree. It is markets that are subversive; capitalists would much rather keep the status quo and the profits rolling in. Danny says that Bowie “was possible because in a consumer capitalist society nobody can ultimately stop anybody doing anything.” But surely the word “capitalist” is superfluous in that sentence?

Chris goes on to draw a very different moral from Bowie's career:

He only became wealthy after setting up his own management company. This tells us a lot. People don’t become rich by merely by being creative. They get rich from ownership rights: in was only when Bowie claimed these that he prospered. In this sense, capitalism is a means of exploitation. 

The conflation of capitalism with markets irritates me because I suspect it is a means whereby the right smuggles in support for inequality. Many of the virtues it claims for capitalism are in fact the virtues of markets, and in conflating the two the right thus gives the impression that the case for capitalism is stronger than it in fact is.

Kevin Maguire, writing on Politics Home, also questions modern pieties (and incidentally introduces our Trivial Fact of the Day):

There’s a lesson in the likelihood that a young David Bowie would today be considered an unfortunate teenager failed by his school, with Bromley Technical High’s staff fearing a dreaded visit from Ofsted’s inspectors. 

His single O Level, in art – a subject taught by fellow rocker Peter Frampton’s father, Owen, self-evidently an inspirational schoolmaster – fell a long way short of the five good GCSEs, including English and Maths, or its equivalent, that is considered by many of us, never mind officialdom, as a pretty good yardstick ...

I raise Bowie’s less than sparkling academic qualifications not to dismiss the importance of GCSEs, NVQs, Baccalaureates, Highers, A Levels, Degrees or A N Other certificate you care to name if it signifies achievement. Everybody, from pupils and parents to teachers and Education Secretaries, deserves applause if they’re striving to raise standards and, especially, improve the prospects of kids from poorer homes who too often are left behind. 

But Bowie, the boy from Brixton born into a working class home who finished school with that single O Level, is a reminder that passing exams isn’t everything; a dearth of formal qualifications is not the end of the world.

I do wonder how many of today's IT millionaires were chided for "messing about with computers" by their teachers in the 1980s.

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Disused railway stations in North Yorkshire

Recent videos in this series have covered Aberdeenshire and Lancashire.

You can find the earlier ones listed in the Lancashire post.

One day soon I will give them their own label.

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Penerimaan Calon Tenaga Non PNS Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Tahun 2016

Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa dimulai dengan berdirinya Yayasan Pendidikan Tirtayasa pada tanggal 1 oktober 1980 berdasarkan Akte Notaris No: 1 Tahun 1980, kemudian dilakukan penyempurnaan dan dikukuhkan kembali dengan akte Notaris Ny. R.Arie Soetardjo, Nomor 1, Tanggal 3 Maret 1986.

Kata Tirtayasa (Bahasa Sansekerta yang berarti Air Mengalir) diambil dari nama Pahlawan Nasional yang berasal dari Banten, yaitu Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (Kepres RI Nomor: 045/TK/1070). Nama Asli Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa adalah Abul Fatih Abdul Fatah, pewaris ke-IV tahta Kesultanan Banten. Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa dianugerahi tanda jasa Pahlawan Nasional karena dengan gigih menentang penjajahan Belanda dan berhasil membawa kejayaan dan keemasan Kesultanan Banten.

Lowongan kerja Januari 2016 Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa - Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa sebagai perguruan tinggi negeri yang baru terus berupaya melakukan perubahan-perubahan dan perbaikan-perbaikan, baik dibidang kelembagaan, akademik, maupun dibidang kemahasiswaan dan kerjasama.

Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa saat ini menyelenggarakan program pendidikan akademik dan program pendidikan vokasi. Program Pendidikan Akademik terdiri atas Program Pendidikan Sarjana(S1) sebanyak 6 fakultas dan 1 Program Pendidikan Megister ( Pascasarjana), yaitu (1) Fakultas Hukum, (2) Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, (3) Fakultas Teknik, (4) Fakultas Pertanian, (5) Fakultas Ekonomi, (6) Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, dan (7) Pascasarjana. Jurusan/Program Studi yang saat ini dimiliki sebanyak 21 Prodi untuk Program Sarjana dan 3 Prodi untuk Program Megister dan Program Diploma III Ekonomi.

Penerimaan Calon Tenaga Non PNS 

Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Tahun 2016

Berdasarkan Pengumuman Rektor dengan Nomor 010/UN43/KP/2016 Tentang Penerimaan Calon Dosen Kontrak, Tenaga Laboran, dan Pustakawan di Lingkungan Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Tahun 2016, Untirta mengundang seluruh calon peserta dengan kualifikasi sebagai berikut:

Tenaga Kependidikan :

• D3 Teknik Elektro
• D3 Teknik Mesin
• D3 Teknik Industri
• D3 Teknik Metalurgi
• D3 Teknik kimia
• D3 Teknik Sipil
• D3 Perpustakaan

Dosen / Tenaga Pendidik :

• S2 Pendidikan Luar Biasa
• S2 PPKN
• S2 Pend Sosiologi
• S2 Bimbingan konseling
• S2 Pend. Teknik Mesin / Pend Otomotif / Pend Kejuruan / Teknik Otomotif / Teknik Mesin
• S2 Pend Elektro / Pend Kejuruan / Teknik Elektro
• S2 Pend Biologi
• S2 Ilmu Pemerintahan
• S2 Teknologi Hasil Pertanian / Perikanan
• S2 Teknologi Perikanan Laut
• S2 Pengelolaaan Sumber Daya Perairan
• S2 Akuntansi
• S2 Akuntansi (Konsentrasi Perpajakan)
• S2 Manajemen (Konsentrasi Manajemen Pemasaran)
• S2 Manajemen (Konsentrasi Manajemen Perbankan)
• S2 Ekonomi
• S2 Ekonomi Islam / Syariah

Info loker 2016 lainnya : Lowongan Kerja PT Citilink Indonesia

Tata Cara Pengajuan Lamaran : 

Jika Anda memenuhi kualifikasi pakerjaan dan berminat untuk melamar perkerjaan ini, silakan kirimkan lamaran yang ditujukan kepada Menteri Riset, Teknologi dan Pendidikan Tinggi melalui Rektor Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa dan dikirimkan ke PO BOX 2801 Serang 42124, paling lambat tanggal 18 Januari 2016 cap pos

Kelengkapan berkas lamaran dan info selengkapnya silakan lihat di http://untirta.ac.id/berita/1247

Informasi lebih lanjut, silakan lihat sumber resmi berikut ini :
Info Lowongan Kerja 2016

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Penerimaan Calon Pegawai TKT Universitas Terbuka Tahun 2016

Info Loker Januari 2016 Pegawai Non PNS BLU-UT - Universitas Terbuka adalah Perguruan Tinggi Negeri (PTN) ke-45 di Indonesia yang menerapkan sistem belajar terbuka dan jarak jauh. Sistem belajar ini terbukti efektif untuk meningkatkan daya jangkau dan pemerataan kesempatan pendidikan tinggi yang berkualitas bagi semua warga negara Indonesia, termasuk mereka yang tinggal di daerah-daerah terpencil, baik di seluruh nusantara maupun di berbagai belahan dunia.

Perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi yang demikian cepat menuntut kita untuk terus meningkatkan potensi sumber daya manusia (SDM) yang menunjang produktivitas. Namun, keterbatasan tempat dan waktu menjadi kendala utama bagi banyak orang dalam mengembangkan diri dan meningkatkan karir.

Penerimaan Calon Pegawai BLU-UT - Sejak diresmikan pada tahun 1984, UT mendapatkan mandat dari pemerintah untuk memberikan kesempatan yang sangat luas kepada semua warga negara Indonesia, baik yang baru lulus SLTA maupun yang sudah bekerja untuk mengikuti pendidikan tinggi tanpa memandang latar belakang sosial, ekonomi, umur, dan tempat tinggal mereka. Sistem pembelajaran UT memungkinkan belajar yang fleksibel kepada mereka yang tidak memperoleh kesempatan mengikuti sistem pendidikan tinggi dengan cara tatap muka.

Dengan jumlah mahasiswa aktif lebih dari 460.000, UT tergolong dalam “The Top Ten Mega University of the World” dan salah satu anggota sekaligus pendiri “The Global Mega-University Network (GMUNET). GMUNET didirikan pada tahun 2003 merupakan jaringan universitas terbuka seluruh dunia dengan jumlah mahasiswa yang terdaftar lebih dari 100.000 orang

Info Lowongan Kerja Januari 2016

Penerimaan Calon Pegawai TKT Universitas Terbuka

Universitas Terbuka akan menerima Calon Pegawai Non PNS Badan Layanan Umum Universitas Terbuka sejumlah 10 orang untuk ditempatkan di Kantor UT-Pusat, dengan rincian sebagai berikut:

No	Tingkat Pend.	Kualifikasi Akademik	Kode Kualifikasi	JML	IPK Min.
1	S1/DIII	Ilmu Perpustakaan	PERPUS	1	2,75
2	S1/DIII	– Teknik Informatika – Sistem Informasi – Ilmu Komputer – Teknik Komputer – Manajemen Informatika	KOMP-2	8	2,75
3	S1/DIII	– Komunikasi – Psikologi – Sastra Inggris & Indonesia (Non Pendidikan)	Front Desk	3	2,75

Tata Cara Pengajuan Lamaran : 

Waktu : Penerimaan pendaftaran sampai tanggal 31 Januari 2016.

Tempat pengiriman berkas :

Berkas lamaran dapat diantar langsung atau dikirim melalui Kantor Pos (cap pos) ditujukan kepada Rektor Universitas Terbuka melalui Bagian Kepegawaian Jalan Cabe Raya, Pondok Cabe, Pamulang, Tangerang Selatan 15418 paling lambat diterima oleh Bagian Kepegawaian Universitas Terbuka hari/tanggal Senin, 1 Februari 2016 (cap pos) Pukul 15.00 WIB.

Persyaratan pelamar :

• Usia setinggi-tingginya 35 tahun pada 31 Desember 2016.
• Ijazah terakreditasi minimal B sesuai tahun kelulusan, dengan menunjukkan sertifikat akreditasi jurusan dari kampus.
• Berwawasan luas dan kreatif.
• Sanggup bekerja diluar jam kantor.
• Mampu bekerja keras bersama tim.
• Memiliki kemampuan manajemen organisasi.

Kelengkapan Berkas lamaran dan info selengkapnya silakan lihat di http://www.ut.ac.id/pusatkarir/

Informasi lebih lanjut, silakan lihat sumber resmi berikut ini :
Info Lowongan Kerja 2016

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How to pronounce 'Bowie': A definitive guide

The great man told us in an interview with Jeremy Paxman in 1999...

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Lenny Harper gives evidence to the Jersey Care inquiry

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Lenny Harper, formally a senior police office on the island, has been giving evidence to the inquiry into the care system in Jersey.

BBC News has a report of his evidence. On the policing of Jersey he said:

Lenny Harper, who was appointed deputy chief officer of the force in 2003, told the inquiry there were approaching a dozen suspects who had been arrested and files were presented to the Law Officers Department but they were not charged by the attorney general. 

He said the police took possession of computers senior members of the IT Department "had bought on the police budgets with pornographic films on the computers and no charges were ever brought against them". 

He told the inquiry he could also remember at least four cases in which officers who had been suspended by the States of Jersey Police (SOJP) were reinstated by the States of Jersey.

And on child abuse on the island he

gave evidence about "a culture emerging in Jersey of systematic child abuse" which was "far worse" than a single paedophile ring. 

He said: "Children were in effect being loaned out to people taken on yachting trips" and there were allegations of abuse taking place outside of territorial waters which were not dealt with properly by the police.

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The Liberal Democrats and all-women shortlists

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I remember at a conference a few years ago attending a session on the future of the profession. The panel turned out to consist of four middle-aged men in suits,

Rather to my surprise, the wrongness of this hit me with the sort of force that hearing racist language did when I was a teenager.

Yes, I have had my consciousnesses raised.

Because of this I wrote some a couple of year ago that I am now attracted to the idea of all-women shortlists.

But I see two problems with the proposals to be discussed at the Liberal Democrat spring conference in York. You can find them in a blog post by Mark Pack.

The first is practical: would the proposals make a difference if they were implemented?

In 2010 we had women candidates fighting a raft of promising seats but failed to gain them. In 2015 we had them fighting seats vacated by sitting Lib Dem MPs and didn't win those either.

Do we have a clear enough idea of the seats we can realistically hope to gain, and therefore should place women candidates, in 2020?

The second problem I see lies in the proposal that we should "support diverse candidates with extra training and mentoring".

I suspect that what such candidates need is not training and mentoring so much as practical help with things like funding and child care.

No doubt we could all benefit from training and mentoring, but to single out diverse candidates as being in particular need of them risks reinforcing stereotypes rather than overcoming them.

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Six of the Best 565

Peter Kelner, interviewed in a podcast, looks at how Labour MPs might depose Jeremy Corbyn - something they will have to do if the party is to stand any chance at the next election.

Suddenly Basic Income is fashionable. Tom Streithorst asks if it could work.

April Peavey remembers when Pierre Boulez met Frank Zappa.

"Replacing the aggressive Irishmen in pubs and stoned out drug dealers, the countryside instead provides aggressive farmers and 'country folk' who have no wish to deal with 'London types'." Adam Scovell points out the importance of landscape in Withnail and I.

The Cottonopolis has some amazing pictures of Manchester's abandoned buildings.

"When I saw the rusted redundant railing on a forgotten walkway above the Ouse I thought about how you can live in a place for so long and still have new things to find, when forced from the usual ways and the beaten track." York Stories encounters a flooded river.

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