Nothing In Particular

[pre65]

And Phil, a contractor would generally not regard the offer of a permanent position as a benefit,

Was I not talking about "project managers" ?

Or do you take them to be "contractors" ?

Well you said external person on a contract, so if it walks like a duck...

Quack quack.

[jack]

And Phil, a contractor would generally not regard the offer of a permanent position as a benefit,

Was I not talking about "project managers" ?

Or do you take them to be "contractors" ?

Loads of project managers are contractors - as I mentioned, it's a mindset thing and little to do with the nature of the role.

If you're good, you'll always find interesting work. If you're a permie and happy with 25 days holiday a year, that's fine.

If you're a project manager who likes to spend the winter months as a ski guide, then that's easy as a contractor. It gives the individual great flexibility.

Statement: I was a contractor for a good few years in the '90s and early 2000s. At the time it suited my chosen lifestyle perfectly. In the early 2000s I was headhunted by a company that "made me an offer I couldn't refuse" which included paying off all my tax liabilities (contractors often have complex tax affairs).

Having become a permie, I've remained one - the transition from permie->contractor is far easier than the inverse.

[Daniel Quinn]

There’s a book by yanis (Greek economist whose full name I’ve forgotten and if I could I can’t be arsed spelling)

It’s about an alternate future exsisting alongside the neo liberal one we all suffer. It’s brilliant and thought provoking.

In the alternate future we wouldn’t have consultants.

[vinylnvalves]

Since the golden handcuffs came off with the closure of the final salary pension scheme, I should have taken the money and ran to be a contractor working for the old company, like so many of my peer group did. However the uncertainty of covid and my potential health issues, has meant I have stayed a “permi”. As the insurance to cover a couple of years off sick, which I currently, get, and may need based on previous experience, isn’t affordable. Contractors rates aren’t great in engineering currently £40 per hr if you lucky, which doesn’t cover the risk.

[vinylnvalves]

The big benefit I haven’t factored in I suppose would be getting paid the extra when you work a 50hr week, over your contracted 37 hrs. However if it’s money you want don’t be an engineer- be a management consultant, and if it’s holiday- be a teacher. We have come full circle- maybe time to end this thread.

[Ray P]

I enjoyed a nice 5mile walk this afternoon and it certainly felt warm in my jacket, not surprising when just a few miles away recorded a new UK temperature record for New Years Eve at 15.8C

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-59840877

Merryfield is actually an active airfield, originally built during WW2, and is essentially a stand-by satellite site for the RN air base at Yeovilton.

[pre65]

Merryfield is actually an active airfield, originally built during WW2, and is essentially a stand-by satellite site for the RN air base at Yeovilton.

Loads of rockets on site then.

[Ray P]

Loads of rockets on site then.

No, but B52's operate there

[jack]

...and, a few years later...

[Ray P]

All going to plan so far, the sunshield has been deployed - next step is to tension it.



https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbL ... its=metric

Fingers still crossed.

[Ray P]

July 20th 1969, one of the most memorable days in my life!

Just started watching ths and thought it might be of interest to some of you caps.

[pre65]

I reported 75 fraudulent items (from a hacked user) to Ebay this morning and they (Ebay) removed them within 30 minutes.

That's a record.

[pre65]

This might be a question for Nick.

A friend of Jeans has got a Porsche Boxster, and she says it's got "funny wheels" that don't have valves and therefore no means of pumping the tyres up.

Does that make any sense ?

[Nick]

No to me. If its a 987 or later its got no spare, but the wheels and valves are AFAIK standard. Some have TPMS but not all.

[Ray P]

This might be a question for Nick.

A friend of Jeans has got a Porsche Boxster, and she says it's got "funny wheels" that don't have valves and therefore no means of pumping the tyres up.

Does that make any sense ?

Like this Phil?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_P1