If you've been following the news, you'll probably have seen the stories around videos of children bullying each other and teachers being uploaded to YouTube - there was a Panorama special on it recently as well.

This has led to delegates at the Professional Association of Teachers annual conference calling for YouTube and similar sites to be shut down in an attempt to stop the bullying, which has gone as far as death threats against particular teachers.

Lynne Featherstone MP has made an interesting blog post about the matter here, but I'd also like to hear from the many teachers I have on my f/list (and from anyone else, of course).

Personally, I doubt that 'closing YouTube' is even possible, and probably not desirable, either - stopping people from seeing a problem doesn't make it go away. However, I sit at a nice quiet desk every day and don't have to face thirty screaming kids, so I'm not best qualified to comment.

ETA: Thanks to all the tech types who've commented. I'd really love to hear from some teachers now. I'll turn on anonymous commenting so you can post your thoughts without attaching your name to them, if you want.

I've only just got round to seeing this and it's great! Worth a watch if you like watching well edited film mashups on YouTube or if you're interested in copyright issues.

Date:	2007-05-10 17:23
Subject:	That's FIVE POINT THREE ONE BILLION
Security:	Public
Mood:	£5.31 billion!
Music:	Red Light Spells Danger.

The cost of the ID card scheme appears to have risen to a rather hefty £5.31 BILLION. Not that the Government have been trying to use any other stories today to bury this piece of bad news, of course...

And that's just the Labour estimate!

Here's a meme: 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

Here's why: For great justice!

Date:	2007-04-12 14:43
Subject:	Two elephants walk off a cliff...boom boom
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet. "My dog is cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?"
"Well," said the vet, "let's have a look at him". So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then he checks his teeth. Finally, he says, "I'm going to have to put him down." "What? Because he's cross-eyed?"
"No, because he's really heavy".

(Nabbed from truly_bad_jokes)

Date:	2007-04-10 03:17
Subject:	Spellchecker fun
Security:	Public
Mood:	so hungry
Music:	My stomach rumbling

Cisco : Do you mean 'Disco'?

Well, no, but I think this could be fun! So your backbone server's just gone down? Who cares? Let's party!

Date:	2006-12-22 11:42
Subject:	Christmas Calculus
Security:	Public
Mood:	sad
Music:	I need some rock, definitely.

http://valrus.livejournal.com/159270.html

Via discoflamingo.

Because it's on the PM's very own website!

You have until 15th Feb 2007 to sign up, which means it's perfect Xmas Dinner conversational fodder! :-D

Date:	2006-06-25 10:36
Subject:	,Also, because I forgot...
Security:	Public
Mood:	busy
Music:	Faster Pussycat IMH

Thanks to everyone who has wished me luck over the next couple of weeks, and extra thanks for helpful links on Mandriva (or Manbeaver, as it's somewhat inevitably now been rechristened....)

What kind of monkey can fly?


A hot air baboon!

Date:	2006-06-21 01:45
Subject:	Saved from a rant.
Security:	Public
Mood:	silly and curious
Music:	IMH, SWON, Sexecution

By the wonder of polls.....

Poll #752530 Net neutrality!
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

I know what net neutrality is.

I think net neutrality is....

Ticky?

I'm amused to note that, out of the various Danger Danger lineups, the one who looks the most vacant and gormless is, in fact, the one who's been in the band longest, writes most of the songs, and is basically the brains of the operation. Who'd a thunk it?

However, in other news, here's an interesting article about 'The Canonisation of St Bill' - how history is being rewritten in the light of Bill Gate's resignation as Chief Software Architect, with claims that he invented the PC etc. Worth a read.

And from the 'I am Jack's complete lack of surprise' camp, here come two stories which astound and amaze me - there's a security flaw in PayPal, meaning your credit card details can be accessed by fiends and bounders, and also it seems iPods may be being made by Chinese slave labour.

Finally: drunk people! You look *really, really stupid* when you dance!

Date:	2006-06-13 18:25
Subject:	Fair warms your heart...
Security:	Public
Mood:	procrastinatory
Music:	IMH, Twisted Sister - The Price

Check out this story from El Reg. The story itself is quite good, but the best bit is the Bootnote right at the bottom with the comments left by a temp. So many times have I wanted to do something like that.....

Also, who is poison_pinky? (And if you see this, please don't just comment saying 'Me!')

I also *completely* missed the Red20 gig, and am annoyed at myself cause I really wanted to go. Sorry lads! I hear you played a blinder :-)

On a slightly different note, I see Guns n Roses are playing the Arena in July. It's tempting, I have to say.....just to see what they sound like these days. Still, Arena means expensive, so it's probably a no.

An irresistible offer from a financial spammer: 'Supply considerable flavour to your liveliness!'

Well, how can I resist?