The Daily Teaser — 28-4-2014

Hmmm … 

Remember me saying I’d finished with the Government’s Work Programme, at the of the year?

It seems that the Government has a follow up scheme.

For those of us who’ve been through the Work Programme, we can now be made to go on the new Help To Work scheme.

We face three options:

• Signing on daily.
• Intensive training courses.
• Or a ‘volunteer’ Community Work placement.

Three options … or a reduction in benefits.

Personally … ?

Personally, I can’t see how that’s supposed to help.   I know that Job Centre staff do try and make an effort to suggest possible jobs: making a benefit claimant sign up daily won’t make those jobs crop up more frequently, nor will it give staff more tools to help.   It just gives them more more chance to repeat themselves.   What’s more, I believe the sanction’s been available for some thirty years: at least!

I’ve ALSO just done an intensive training course: the ECDL course.

And a Community Work placement is all very well and good: except we’d be volunteered for work we don’t necessarily have an aptitude for, or interest in … and don’t get paid for.

Do I think this scheme will work, or help?

No.

Are the provisions suggested, something Job centre staff can already insist claimants can do?   As far as I know, yes.

Given that … ?

Well, I don’t see it being much use.

Right … rant over: let’s move on … !

~≈Ê≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and bagging five out of five.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 28th April, 1926, saw the birth of novelist, Harper Lee.   Who played the character, Atticus Finch, in the 1962 film version of her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird … ?

Q2) Lee also assisted a close friend — and childhood neighbour — on his book, In Cold Blood.   Who WAS that friend … ?

Q3) 28th April, 1932, saw the announcement of a human vaccine for which disease … ?

Q4) 28th April, 1969, saw the resignation of the then President of France.   Who WAS that president … ?

Q5) Finally … 28th April, 1977, was the last day of the trial of the Red Army Faction: also known as whom … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 27th April, 1840, saw the first foundation stone laid, for the building that now houses the UK’s Houses of Parliament.   What IS that building … ?

A1) The Palace of Westminster.

Q2) 27th April, 1927, saw the formal founding of the Carabineros de Chile: Chile’s what … ?

A2) Police force and gendarmerie.

Q3) 27th April, 1945, saw Italian partisan’s arrest whom … ?

A3) Benito Mussolini.

Q4) 27th April is Independence Day, in two African countries: name either … 

A4) Togo and Sierra Leone.

Q5) Finally … 27th April, 2002, saw NASA — and others — receive the last signals from which space probe … ?

A5) Pioneer 10.

I’ll leave you with L’Ange de la mort et sa danse, from Igor Stravinsky’s Orpheus, which premiered on 28th April, 1948 … 

And with this thought from Sir Terry Pratchett …

“Let us consider me as a test case. As I have said, I would like to die peacefully with Thomas Tallis on my iPod before the disease takes me over and I hope that will not be for quite some time to come, because if I knew that I could die at any time I wanted, then suddenly every day would be as precious as a million pounds. If I knew that I could die, I would live. My life, my death, my choice.”

Terry Pratchett, 28 April 1948.

Have a good day.

*        I think a quote from Sir Terry seems appropriate, wouldn’t you say, Debbi … ?