More Comment – Page 526
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CommentIn for nasty weather
The financial storm that has been blowing through the banking world for the past year turned into a category-five tornado this week.
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Parallel universes
Is it me or are you living in a different world than that described by the national statisticians?Today we are asked to accept that retail sales increased in August led by a jump in sales of shoes and clothes.What have we got here? Do we have a consumer addiction problem? ...
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How crisis can liberate thinking
I was speaking earlier this morning to the head of a top 50 house builder, a man with years of experience and someone's who opinions are worthy of respect.He is as baffled as the next person about where things are going. Each week brings a whole new set of uncertainties ...
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Job vacancies in construction drop to decade low
The latest jobless figures showing a leap of 81,000 people unemployed over the past quarter will come as little surprise to most people in the construction industry. They are seeing life getting tougher by the day, especially those with any links to house building.The major house builders have axed about ...
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What we can learn from wrong numbers
Anecdotal evidence is useful, if a bit unreliable. But it can help to substantiate the numbers and provide a context. And sometimes it can lead you to ask questions.Here is an example. I recently moved and have a new work telephone number. Right from the off I started receiving ...
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A lesson from history: realise the pain early when recession looms
I am in the midst of looking at endless numbers on house building and house builders for the annual Housing Market Intelligence report. I'll admit things are a bit slippy at moment. Trying to put meaning to the numbers is a bit like trying to pin a donkey's tail on ...
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CommentMy digital life - Chris Self
The schools specialist may prefer dinner parties to Facebook and his green leather bookmark to weblinks, but he still marvels at kids’ capacity to use the latest technology
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CommentPayback time
The government’s housing rescue package is too little too late, says Michael Gove, and it has left the public to pick up the tab for past mistakes
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CommentBuilding buys a pint … for The Edukators
Chosen watering hole: Five & Lime, Guildford Ambience: Bohemian student cocktail bar Topics: BSF, bonding and the blues. Drinks drunk: 4 pints of San Miguel lager, 2 pints San Miguel shandy, 2 glasses of white wine
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CommentTime and space
This week’s report from construction’s hidden world tracks down Sunand Prasad and Jarvis Cocker on route to the Arctic, takes the air in Dubai and uncovers a strange transformation in Edinburgh
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CommentThey’ve finally got it
The government is certainly making political capital out of its successes, with ministers opening new schools up and down the country
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CommentCJP Builders vs William Verry: Some verry fine distinctions
This case highlights the importance of adjudicators giving parties the chance to be heard. But in other cases they are right to disregard submissions
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CommentCEDR adjudicators: Fast relief for aches and pain
Here’s a new cure for those heated disputes: wait until adjudication comes to an end, don’t tell the parties who’s won what, then ask if they fancy a bit of mediation. Hey, it works
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Construction Act: Pay up or else
Today is the last day to respond to the draft bill amending the Construction Act. The bill tries to clarify payment procedures – but will it lead to a battle of notices?
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CommentHow much is a life worth?
Companies convicted under the Corporate Manslaughter Act face fines of up to 10% of turnover, but this doesn’t necessarily amount to much, says Jan Burgess
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CommentPitt is miscast in his latest
Forget Seven Years in Tibet, if Brad Pitt is serious about a career in architecture he’d better start thinking about seven years in the classroom, says Tarek Merlin
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CommentWebmaster review: Ian Ritchie Architects website
Architect Ian Ritchie grabbed the headlines by pulling out of the design team for the Olympic village, but can ianritchiearchitects.co.uk make a big impression too?
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CommentThe cycle of life
Just to say how much I enjoyed your article on Herne Hill (15 August, page 36).
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Construction matters
The House of Commons thinks that Construction Matters. Of course it does, and of the 55 conclusions and recommendations in its report, the crucial item is number 20.
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Training regime
Panic and short-termism could cripple the UK’s construction industry in years to come unless it looks beyond the credit crunch and continues to invest in skill development during the downturn.