The Weekly Waffle is back in the hands of our editor, Peter, and this weeks questions include University Fee’s, Twitter and Nuclear Power.
Article – Student loans and University fee’s are once again in the news as leading accountants state that students can expect to pay off over double of what they borrow, over a thirty year period. Do you think this will have an adverse effect on individuals seeking higher education? Would this effect your decision if you were thinking about going to university?
BillyMawa: I think the the changes to fees and loads will affect a person’s decision to pursue education. I have often flirted with the idea of going back to uni to earn my MSc and, possibly PhD. This is now never going to be possible because I can’t afford to even study part time and pay the fees. This is a real shame. I understand that we are in a deep economic crisis, but we are also crying out for doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers and so on and, instead of making higher and further education accessible, which is what it should be, we’re going back to an era where only the privileged can afford to study. This is a common rant of mine!
JayMotty: Although I think everyone should be afforded the opportunity to go to University I do feel too many people choose it as an easy option, I went to uni at tthe age of 27 and it wasn’t a decision I took lightly. I understand the anger many students feel but if it makes more people choose uni for a reason, rather than becuase they don’t know what else to do it could be a good thing. It wouldn’t have put me off one bit and it’s a lot of debt but then again so is the amount of money I owe now.
Max: Yes, it will undoubtedly have an effect with students wanting to do subjects like arts and humanities based as they are the ones that may find it more difficult to find a job that relates to their studies, particularly since the current government is also cutting funding to the arts meaning there will be less jobs to go around in the future. If I were making a decision now about going to study, I would definitely think twice about it and consider my job prospects with or without a degree. I did Chemistry so when I was graduating years ago, there were good prospects for scientists. I also went on to do a PhD. The jobs market is a little better for scientists and also there are opportunities abroad for science graduates, so if I were a student now and decided to take the risk of high fees and graduate in a science, I might end up being part of a future brain drain to countries like Netherlands or Germany, where the scientists are much better paid and in Germany in particular the chemical industry has not been decimated the way it was here during 80’s and early 90’s.
Article – Twitter has come under fire recently as it has been accused of stopping third party developers from making Twitter clients so they can make more money. Biz Stone (Twitter Co-founder) has stated it is only to help improve the user experience as there are currently too many out there. So what do you think? Attempt to make money or improve user experience?
JasDunham: There are enough clients out there for people to choose from. Desktop, web-based, mobile. People can find one that’s available now and go with it. Twitter’s user experience is seriously lacking compared to Facebook, so I think they need to focus on us. How many times has Twitter been down? More than I can count? How many times has FB been down? Once.
BlissBubbley: I’ve tried quite a few of the different twitter apps and find myself relying on other people’s experiences for using them as there are lots of different choices. I found it weird that when Ubertwitter went down there wasn’t much competition and Blackberry users had to wait for a new one to be released. Some of the apps though are not at all user friendly but I do think this is all money based sadly.
JayMotty: It’s obviously an attempt to make money but so what? They’re entitled to run twitter how they want as they’re the ones who created it. Although it’s disappointing I can’t say I blame them and I dont for one minute buy into the whole “improve user experience” is obviously nonsense.
With the after effects of the terrible natural disasters in Japan still being broadcast world wide, the whole world watches as the threat of Nuclear disaster looms over the country. Nuclear power obviously has its efficiencies, but it comes coupled with a potentially massive threat of meltdown. So my questions is, is Nuclear power worth it in your opinion?
BillyMawa: In a world where we need to find alternative sources of energy, we must stay open to things like nuclear power. Having said that, I was living in West Germany when Chernobyl went into meltdown and, because of the direction of the wind, we had to remain in doors, close windows, etc. Of course, this was completely over the top and we would, indeed, have been fine. But it was scary. In time, we’ll be able to safely harness both the power and terror that comes with nuclear power. Until then, it’ll always be on a knife edge, similar to man’s first dalliance with fire, I expect!
JayMotty: Nuclear power has a lot of advantages and the whole “nuclear meltdown” story is sensationalist drivel. Do you know around 100 people a week die in coal mines around the world? Yet this isn’t given the same scaremongering headlines that anything associated with nuclear power is. It’s completely worth it in my opinion and you should check out this article and some of the comments.
Max: The short answer is, who runs it, if it’s for profit and hence how much can we trust a private company in spending money on safety and further research into it and spend profits to improve safety technology, under this government of little control over the big companies, I would not want a proliferation of nuclear plants.
After all the restrictions that have been added to cigarettes, such as the smoking ban, advertisement banning and now the moving of display cases to under the counter; Do you think its time we started looking at the cheapness of alcohol?
JasDunham: That’s trading one vice for another. If I were in marketing in the alcohol industry, I’d certainly use this to my advantage. It’s rare, if you think about it, to see people who smoke, but don’t drink. Most of the smokers I know who smoke also drink. Though, many of my friends who drink don’t smoke. Alcohol industry can step forward and try to ramp up business in the light of the tobacco restrictions. It’d be a smart move.
Parnaeus: I think that the price of alcohol definitely has to go up. Some alcoholic drinks are quite expensive as it is though. If prices were brought up, you would buy less, and not be as eager to spend as much money. I think that the price of alco-pops should definitely go up, because they’re very cheap and a lot of people buy them to get drunk easily at parties. I also think that the ‘Drink Responsibly’ slogan should be more noticeable in adverts etc to keep the message up.
BlissBubbley: It doesn’t matter how much that you price alcohol at people will still drink it if they want it. They will only stop drinking or smoking when they want to. Hiding cigarette’s from view doesn’t mean that people won’t still want them.
If Hollywood were going to make a blockbuster film about your life, who would play the lead? and who would play the parts of your family members?
JasDunham: I’d have to pick Joseph Gordon Levitt or Adam Brody. My dad would be played by John Lithgow or Peter Gallagher. My mom would be played by Diane Lane or maybe Jessica Lange. Brother (Josh, 26) would be played by Chris Evans. My brother Ryan (24) could be Ryan Gosling.
BlissBubbley: No one would want to make a movie about my life. How dull. In total dreamland if I could have any actors/actresses alive or dead I’d be played by Sandra Bullock, my Mum would be played by Susan Sarandon and my Dad by David Niven.
BillyMawa: Two weeks ago, someone told me that I looked like Alan Carr in drag, so I suppose that answers that question, really!! If I could pick, though, I’d like someone known for being a bit random, with a sharp, dry, off the wall sense of humour – like my good self – maybe Jane Horrocks? I’d quite like my husband to be Trevor Eve. Quite literally, in fact. My cat would be played by the Devil himself!!
JayMotty: If a film were made about my life I’d have Chris Rock playing me as when I was younger people used to compare me to him -we didn’t have many black people in my town. Although he’s a lot older than me he looks young and if he could master the mancunian accent he’d be fine. I’d have David Walliams and Matt Lucas play my entire family as they’d definitely bring out the laughs which my family usually do- often unintentionally.
Parnaeus: Ellen Page would play me maybe, because she’s quite quirky, but I have no idea who would play my family. They’re quite ‘original’ characters, so they would be hard to cast.
Peter: I’d say Nick Frost would have to play me as we are both on the oval side. My wife Natalie would be played by Catherine Tate or Tina Fey as she is hilarious. I would love my mum to be played by Helen Mirren and my dad by Brian Blessed just so I could have him shout ‘Gordon’s Alive!!!’ every five minutes.