Eye, Heart, Paris

.......and so should you, here are a few reasons why:

These photos are from my 2007 Winter weekend trip to Paris, compiled by Daniel Castro Garcia, Thomas Saxby, Alberto Rodriguez Farina and my good self. 

your career ladder

1. Birth

2. Education

3. Work experience

4. Job

5. Retirement

6. Death


At 23, I think I should be classed as somewhere between stages 3 and 4 on the career ladder. Sadly the jump from 3 to 4 seems to be as easy as climbing Everest.

How important is work experience/internships to the modern graduate? To me it seems as crucial as the degree itself, although the higher education system has been trivialised thanks to Mr Blair, but that is another story soon to be told.

The inevitable slump the average graduate seems to find himself in makes limbo seem like the higher power, however, there is an easy way out of this middle ground. If you have financial backing and more time on your hands than an OAP, then an internship could be for you.

A degree is not good enough nowadays to get yourself started in a career; you need to have an endless list of work experience placements and be able to demonstrate that you already have the skills necessary to begin the role. It seems as though in house training is a thing of the past for the majority of entry-level jobs. Companies are worried graduates will work for a few months, learn the trade and then move on in search of a higher wage elsewhere. Are we supposed to be made to feel as though these companies are doing us a favour?

I have been looking for a job in journalism/publishing/pr for almost a year now and am either under-qualified or not even given the respect of a reply from the thousands of applications I have filled out over this time. Frustration is an understatement - depression to be looming. A little melodramatic perhaps but come on; there must be something suitable out there, no?

Anyways, enough of my own personal hell, and back to the real issue at hand. I am sure there are thousands of more than apt people who are simply over-looked for the simple reason they are totally unable to gain work experience in the field they wish to work in. For example, newspapers and magazines offer thousands of work experience places every year to 'give people the opportunity' to get some experience in the field. This just seems to be a situation where they need jobs done that assistants and journalists are not willing to do. Enter the workey. Thinking they are privileged to be working at a daily broadsheet they will sit at their desk researching articles for the highly paid staff writers while mummy and daddy pump hundreds of pounds into their accounts every month for them to live their dream city lives. How many of you can say that you're in the same 'privileged' position to be able to do this? Not many, I’m sure.

I always seemed to think that exploitation of workers had been abolished by the Human Rights Act, but from my experience it is still rife among many of the most well-respected organisations we all seem to hold in such high regard.

It may seem as though I am bitter and frustrated that I have not yet been given the opportunity within my field but there are higher agendas I am more concerned about.

Who are the people most able to take on these work experience placements? you’re average student who has to work over the holidays to save money to pay for their rent, or the kids that are given daddy’s credit card to ‘make the most of their university experience’ – how can people like this be given a free ride into their dream jobs? Unfair is an understatement. It’s not their fault or their parents fault, everyone’s been dealt their hand in life and its how they deal with it that actually matters. I know people from both sides of the spectrum and some are thriving while others are struggling, whether they have wasted their opportunities or have not been given an opportunity.

The people who are to blame are the companies involved. instead of realising that there are people more than qualified even though they do not have the relevant work experience they will continue to choose those who they deem able to walk into the job and not ‘waste money on training’. everyone should be judged on their own merits and pre-requisites such as work experience should be looked at but not relied upon to judge whether a graduate is able to succeed in the position or not.

Believe in yourself and find your way in life, do not consider your dull, mindless jobs as a waste of time and useless in terms of your career. For me, they prove more than any unpaid work experience that carries no weight or responsibilities. Humility is something you can't demonstrate on a CV.

slurry cup

i am sure we all agree that footballers earn way too much money. i could safely say that point is uncontestable. £150,000 a week is more than most people will earn in a lifetime. i find it embarrasing to be fueling this fire, however i have the disease, i was drawn into it from an early age and cannot be rescued - but so is life!

we are now starting to feel the effects of our capitalist ways - governments forced to use our money to bail out greedy banks, our houses losing value as quickly as usain bolt-'ing' down the track. 'tis not a good time.

Michel Platini decided to add his 2 cents worth today after Football Association chairman Lord Triesman claimed English clubs currently owe £3 billion in debt. Triesman wants to push the idea of a salary cap to try and relieve the financial troubles of the indebted clubs. In theory this seems to be a just and fair idea, although I am no expert on football finances - neither is Platini!

"We have to speak about the number of contracts in the clubs, we can speak about salary but I am not an expert, I am an expert of football of the game," Platini told Sky Sports News.

First of all, Platini was a player, nothing more, nothing less. He is now one of the most powerful men in football and has a lot of influence in the game. Backing from Platini will only spur Triesman on to try and enforce these plans.

I pose the question: is it fair to cap anyone's salary? Is this not totally against a capitalst society's ideals? how can they justify preventing someone from earning more money in any given environment. Why do they not cap the bonuses of City bankers? Why do they not cap the earnings of the Royal family? Why do they not cap the earnings of a local council street cleaner?

Because it is not fair, that's why. one rule for all.
The Premiership is the best league in the world, with the best players and the best football. would this continue to be the case if a salary cap was to be introduced? I think not. Footballers must own up to their own greed and take responsibility for this fact as their clubs fall further and further into debt while there proverbial mattresses are touching the ceilings on a bed of uncountable cash. Example, why would Emmanuel Adebayor want £100,000 a week? If i were to tell my boss i wanted them to triple my wages i would be sacked on the spot. What makes him so special? One good season doesn't make you invincible! Settle down before you hurt yourself young man. Ideas above your station? Perhaps

I must say though that the popularity of football as a spectator sport has changed and grown immensely in the last 40 years which is one of the main causes for these inflated wages. footballers have now become stars and celebrities int heir own right and the game seems to be taking a more superficial direction.

An interview with Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday revealed his ambitions as a film star when his career is over.....do we really care......should we really care? - NO

I find the integrity of football (and footballers) is falling by the wayside, appearing more as an intangeable entity rather than a passtime to be enjoyed and admired. Wage caps are not the answer but a re-assessment of players' and agents' greed is a necessity.

1st and foremost

for the few who will actually read this, welcome and thank-you.

name: Luis
occupation: soul searcher
reason for blog: venting frustration, ideas and general likes and dislikes, however, as time passes you will begin to understand where this is leading - as will i!

*cue mastermind music*

enjoy