RIP Sir Patrick Moore

In message , geoff writes

Exaggerating again is he?

He completed his PhD a couple of years back IIRC, maybe 3.

In article , Mike Tomlinson scribeth thus

Well the actual degrees don't, but science moves on. My degrees are well over 20 years old and some of what I was taught isn't just out of date, it's plain wrong.

Fairy Nuff.

In the sense that the knowledge base of any subject changes as new discoveries are made and old theories disproved, yes they do "go out of date".

Doesn't invalidate them, though. You still have them.

"the actual degrees don't" ...

IME all qualifications go "out of date", which is why, if you're sensible, you keep up to date in your chosen field either by formal education or just reading the specialist press.

Even as a driver, I need to learn a number of new rules each year as they make new laws.

But what value has it other than you probably don't resemble two short planks?

A presenter of a science programme really needs to be up to date with the subject matter if only as another check that they aren't spouting garbage. Some of the television production team may have a basic understanding but many have no scientific knowledge at all and struggle to change a light bulb.

Known in the trade as "Brolly Dollies", according to a fairly senior met office scientist at an IOP talk I went to a while ago. He did take the trouble to say it was used with humour rather than malice.

And my lad was still waiting for this term's, a couple of weeks ago

In article , Tim Streater scribeth thus

Just wonder if the same applied to A levels for Uni entry. Someone we know, her daughter took one at an early age and got a good a grade but shes now been told its out of date for a Uni application ?, seems odd...

Yeabut you don't "loose" the qualification as such do you?..

And my goodness, even doctors are now going to be revalidated!

And yet there does not (to the best of my knowledge) appear to be a "This Year's Driving Updates" page to help those who wish to do so.

Before the internet was widely available, it might have made sense to publish a fairly inexpensive annual update which could have been flogged as a "stocking filler". (Beats me what can beat a nice pair of legs... )

In the case of the latest new rule, yes I do *lose* it. They have introduced a "Certificate of professional competence" which has to be renewed by taking a total of 35 hours "relevant" training in a five year period. The first five year period for coach and bus drivers starts in September 2013, if you've not done the 35 hours by then, you're out on your ear. If you don't renew by the same date in 2018, same thing. Lorry drivers have until 2014 and 2019 respectively. New drivers have had to take this before they get their licence for a year or two now.

Pilots have similar rules.

I've also noticed that if you're looking for a job that requires a degree, then you're less likely to be considered the older your degree is. The "alphabet soup" in the advert charges, and if you don't have the right blend, your CV doesn't even get looked at.

I don't treat them as 'out of date', but if someone hasn't been in full time education for a decade or two, they can struggle. I usually recommend that they take a college Access course (1` year) to get them back up to speed.

It does not bother most drivers:-)

I for one would have to look up the rules on kids travelling in cars and the seatbelt laws to know what was legal. But that is not a problem as I do not have kids or a car. I suspect that I am up to date on the other changes since I passed my test

bloody good thing, imo. Certainly helps weed out the incompetents and cruisers who never learn anything new. Far too many got their Doctorate in Squishy Bits and sat on their arses for the next few decades until retirement to the sun.