March 2004 - Social

DVD media types
by Syd Hancock 03 Apr '04

03 Apr '04

I've recently bought a multi-format dvd-burner (and for anyone who hasn't been looking, prices have plummeted lately). I am using a spindle of what are (AFAIK) good quality dvd-r format blanks. They seem fine. My question is, based on peoples' experiences, what are the advantages/disadvantages in using dvd+r format instead? Thanks Syd

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Discrimination in action?
by adam＠thebowery.co.uk 02 Apr '04

02 Apr '04

Hi all, I wanted to canvas some peoples opinions on the situation that I have just found myself in, specifically I want to know if you think I am being discriminated against or not, and if this is fair or unfair :) Ok, so most of you know me but anyhow I am 25 year old British national, I don't have much in the way of formal education qualifications because I was taken out of school at age 13 due to illness. I have found employment with a few good companies in the UK in the past few years etc. Last year I took a job with a small ISP who after I had been working with them for 6 months was acquired by a much larger ISP and the end result was that I no longer had a job. Since then I have been looking for work in East Anglia or relevant training. Just over a month ago there was an advert in Eastern Daily Press where City College Norwich was offering free a course covering the "CISCO network academy" program, this is basically going to get you a CCNA if you pay for the exams. Anyhow, it didn't work out because they claimed that they didn't have enough interest for them to run the course. Today, I am reading the Eastern Daily Press and I see a big advert with the title "Women into Networking" which is a free course, for people aged 19 or over which covers the "CISCO network academy" and also gives you the A+ certificate at the end of it. The course is receiving special funding from the government and the European Social Fund. Of course there is a big catch, "women only" now as Kirsty will be able to confirm, I am most definitely not a woman. Now I would like some opinions from people here about a. is this sexual discrimination? b. is this fair? c. am i justified in complaining about this? d. do you know of any good people to complain to? I am currently taking this up with the college, the job centre, the agencies who are providing funding to the course and local MPs and MEPs. I think I will contact the papers/tele/radio types next week. I also noted that the same/similar program ran in Sweden 2 years ago and was also promoted by the European Social Fund the ESF (UK part of) proclaim on the front page of their website "promoting employment oppurtunites for all" and how they manage their funding so that it provides equal opportunities for all. Thanks Adam -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li AFFS || http://www.affs.org.uk/ || Not a filesystem

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RE: [alug social] Discrimination in action?
by Jenny Hopkins 08 Mar '04

08 Mar '04

:-)))))))))) Jen > -----Original Message----- > From: Kirsten Naylor [mailto:wildduck@wildduck.org.uk] > Sent: 06 March 2004 13:02 > To: social(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Subject: Re: [alug social] Discrimination in action? > > > On Sat, 2004-03-06 at 06:02, Syd Hancock wrote: > > > You're young, you're intelligent and energetic, you have no children > > Well, no current children. But one might be along in nine > months or so. We're not sure either way atm. > > /Kirsten > ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________

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RE: [alug social] Discrimination in action?
by Jenny Hopkins 04 Mar '04

04 Mar '04

Adam, there are always many sides to most debates, but this is what my feelings are on this (hope it makes sense): > Today, I am reading the Eastern Daily Press and I see a big > advert with the > title "Women into Networking" which is a free course, for > people aged 19 or > over which covers the "CISCO network academy" and also gives > you the A+ > certificate at the end of it. The course is receiving special > funding from the government and the European Social Fund. Of > course there is a big catch, "women only" now as Kirsty will > be able to confirm, I am most definitely not a woman. > Now I would like some opinions from people here about > > a. is this sexual discrimination? Well, yes. > b. is this fair? > c. am i justified in complaining about this? It is perhaps trying to redress the balance of the last century. Women doing the same jobs as men are still promoted less and paid less. Often these women are struggling to keep a good job that requires full time commitment whilst running a home and family (as most men still leacve the majority of this to women even when both work full time). Women with IT skills are not as respected as their male contemporaries who can sometimes just have louder voices, larger egos and smaller brains. I speak from experience. We all know this. The people who set up the course will know this. It does not answer the problems that you have finding a similar course, but perhaps rather than complaining about this course it would be more prudent to look into ways of getting a course that does encompass you: get in touch with the people who set up this course and ask them where they got their funding, for example. > d. do you know of any good people to complain to? I am > currently taking this up with the college, the job centre, > the agencies who are providing funding to the course and > local MPs and MEPs. I think I will contact the > papers/tele/radio types next week. > Don't you think it would be a pity to take something away from the women you will benefit from the course? As I say, they have had an unfair time of it over the last 50 years, women in IT need a break. I can understand your frustration, though. You're not one of the ones with a loud voice and small brain :-) In my opinion, it is a bloody good thing to get more women into IT and more respected. I also think it is time to drop some of the shackles both men and women are starting to drag around because of what society has currently developed into. How about campaigning for jobsharing, irrespective of sex, for a start? We could all do with less pressure and there would also be enough work to go round. Next week: Women in Plumbing. :-) Jenny ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________

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