In the UK | Keys Corner

Those Joneses…

By John, on August 25th, 2004

Keeping up with the Joneses. In other words, rushing out to buy the latest BMW because they’ve just invested in a new Audi. That we know about and understand.

But did you realise that the Joneses can be a real headache if you are trying to sell your house and the Joneses park . . . → Read More: Those Joneses…

The Guardian explains how the British Government has put itself in the ridiculous position of claiming that although 96% of the students pass their A-levels, compared with 70% 20 years ago, standards are increasing.

Previously, a fixed percentage were passed or got a specific grade. Now the marking level is supposed to be . . . → Read More: More on A-Level marking

An advanced examination, that everyone passes

By John, on August 19th, 2004

The results of the British A-levels are to be published later today, and the Guardian has revealed that 96% of the students will pass the exams, with over 20% obtaining the highest pass mark, an “A” grade. If this is true, this will be the 22nd time in a row, that the percentage of . . . → Read More: An advanced examination, that everyone passes

UK House price development

By John, on August 16th, 2004

The Halifax and Bank of Scotland (HBOS) publish a set of regularly updated excel sheets, showing how UK house prices have developed since as far back as 1983. Probably only of interest if you live in the UK, or like us, used to. (They make depressing reading, if you invested in the Geman property . . . → Read More: UK House price development

Lacking a sense of humour

By John, on July 29th, 2004

The British government is not amused. Linguistics student Tom Scott has set up a parody of their web site with instructions to the public on how to prepare for a terrorist attack.

UK is worth 211 Bill Gates

By John, on July 24th, 2004

It’s an interesting comparision, that the Guardian makes today:

After putting a price tag on all our buildings, equipment and other assets, the Office for National Statistics said the country was worth �5.3 trillion at the end of 2003. Or to be more precise: �5,344bn or �5,344,000m. Of course the mind boggles. For . . . → Read More: UK is worth 211 Bill Gates

Work out at your local supermarket

By John, on May 1st, 2004

The BBC reports that the British supermarket Tesco are introducing shopping trolleys next week (made by the German company, Wanzl) which monitor the shopper’s heart rate and the rate at which calories are being burnt as the trolley is pushed round the store. The shopper can even set the amount of resistance the trolley . . . → Read More: Work out at your local supermarket