[IMG: The bookcase is the new backdrop to one's intellectual standing] The bookcase is the new signifier of which side of the class divide you fall into. The upper class have libraries, the middle class have...
*This post contains mild but only mild spoilers* A long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away: Palpatine died, Vader redeemed himself at the price of his life, the Death Star was destroyed, and the Empire was overthrown. But of course, Star Wars fans know there is no happily ever after: Sideous will be [...]
This is the third and final lecture in Ian Christie's series The worlds of Powell and Pressburger: Stories about islands punctuate the careers of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, from Powell's breakthrough with Edge of the World (1936) to the Hebridean journey of I Know Where I'm Going! (1945), and the final act of their Tales of Hoffmann (1951). What can we learn about the imagination of these very different figures by tracing this motif ? This lecture draws on archival sources to show that these films are as rich and complex as art in any medium.
Michael Mullaney says the Liberal Democrats must be a party for all of Britain. "Face-to-face work is especially important for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. And they may find it harder to study in environments that are not conducive to learning. Remote learning must not allow these groups of students to become ever more remote." The former Conservative minister Chris Skidmore argues that universities must introduce extra financial and pastoral support to look after their remote students "In Polanyi's opinion, whenever the profit-making impulse becomes deadlocked with the need to shield people from its harmful side effects, voters are tempted by ...
Second paragraph of third chapter:I loved Tabitha very much. She was beautiful although so thin, and she would spend hours playing with me. We had a dollhouse that was like our own house, with a living room and a dining room and a big kitchen for the Marthas, and a father's study with a desk and bookshelves. All the little pretend books on the shelves were blank. I asked why there was nothing inside them—I had a dim feeling that there were supposed to be marks on those pages—and my mother said that books were decorations, like vases of flowers.I've ...
A Liberal Democrat press release brings the news... Responding to the Health Secretary's announcement that the NHSX app is now being piloted on the Isle of Wight, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: We must test, trace and isolate to keep people safe. Mass testing, contact tracing and isolation at the community level for those who test positive is the only safe way out of lockdown. While technology can help the tracing work, much of it must inevitably be people-based. Apps like NHSX may help but they carry risks, not least in terms of privacy and efficacy. ...
The Government is exploring the options for easing lockdown and will be announcing their plans next Sunday. The lifting of some restrictions will no doubt be welcomed by most people and we can expect some slightly late, but exuberant, VE Day celebrations. However, no-one should forget that, whatever the new normal is, it will make no difference to a large number of people. Everyone over the age of 70 was told to self-isolate for 12 weeks from 21st March, which takes us up to 13th June. In addition 1.5 million people have been ask to take the more stringent shielding ...
Mon 4th
16:27
Here is the emerging split on the right. Time will tell how deep it goes - and how that affects the ...
One of the things we learned definitely from the December general election was how united the right was compared with how divided the left had become. While the right was able to group around Boris and the Tories, those who wanted the Conservatives out of government were split several ways, most prominently between Lib Dems and Labour. The right remains mostly united today. The CoVid crisis has thus far strengthened the Tories with a rally round the flag effect kicking in. Yet underneath the surface is an emerging schism that, if it gets worse, will start to cause the Tories ...
To be honest, I had never heard of Zoom until the London lockdown began six weeks ago. But now I wonder how I would have got by without it. The university course I teach (at SOAS) moved entirely online for the summer term and Zoom is brilliant for class discussions. For lectures, I use Panopto. [...]
The current virus has temporarily reduced carbon emissions, but climate change is still important. Carbon offsetting is used to enable an organisation or person engaged in an activity that emits CO2 (or other Greenhouse Gas (GHG)), such as flying, to pay to support project(s) that reduce emissions so they can claim a neutral net effect on climate change. There is a wide range of such projects on offer commercially, an example being planting trees. The cost in £/ton of CO2 varies very widely, and the control and auditing of the validity of their claims is weak. Naturally, both organisations and ...
Deadline
While international focus has been on Covid-19, one could be excused for thinking all was quiet in Israel and Palestine. Benny Gantz, who got one more seat for his coalition than Netanyahu in the January elections, tried to form a government initially which included Arab and Centre Left support. He failed, as did Netanyahu with the far right. The two of them have now agreed terms for a centre-right coalition, in which Netanyahu becomes PM for the first 18 months and then Gantz follows. The Netanyahu/Gantz agreement specifies a timetable formally to annex East Jerusalem and the West Bank in ...
We may well have passed the peak of infection but we have a long way to go before we are completely out of the woods. Despite that it seems likely that Boris Johnson is going to outline a road map out of lockdown later this week which, if implemented prematurely could see another round of infections and more deaths. It would help of course if UK Ministers understood their own directives on this issue. As the Independent reports, Matt Hancock, who has responsibility for health in England, sowed some confusion over the weekend about whether those aged over 70 should ...
There was a time, not so long ago, that any news interview conducted outside the Westminster Parliament would be punctuated by a loud and long cry, "Stoooopppp Breeeexiiiit". Brexit was not stopped. December 2019 saw a Tory government returned to power, transformed from a handcuffed minority to a stomping majority. The Liberal Democrats did not benefit in any huge way from the Stop Brexit stance, lost one seat overall, and a certain person did not stand before us as the next Prime Minister. We could focus on a post-mortem – all the events that led to that outcome – refining ...
Sun, 12:56: A Reconsideration of Anatomical Docking Maneuvers in a Zero-G Environment https://t.co/o89bc7PjJu A song about sex in space. Sun, 14:48: On anxiety, depression and patience https://t.co/vgoqNXGm5j Brave stuff from @politicobadger. Sun, 16:00: The Giver, by Lois Lowry https://t.co/XOIZ7M3crC Sun, 18:24: RT @tunkuv: "China wants four more years of Trump," writes Pete Buttigieg https://t.co/yQN40R6y7Y Sun, 20:48: Paul Moved Into My Apartment Seeking a Fresh Start. Then He Died. https://t.co/L8ZAbkYVEu Good writing. Mon, 08:34: RT @Sophie_Wilmes: Ce lundi 4 mai, nous entamons la toute première phase du #déconfinement en Belgique. Bref rappel de ce que cela signifie... Mon, 09:44: RT @SimonFraser00: ...
I've talked before about why the Not Enough Champagne podcast makes for a great listen for Liberal Democrats who want to hear other voices from the centre-left. It also has the best podcast theme tune out there. In a recent episode, they kindly reviewed my new book Bad News. Listen to what they made of it, focusing on the sections about political news and the similarities between me and Terry Pratchett (!): Bad News: what the headlines don't tell us is a popular guide that helps you make sense of the news wherever it appears - print, broadcast or ...
Outdoor bathing at Ainsdale from a display at Ainsdale Discovery Centre. The Liverpool Echo has the article on its website – see link below:- This article will bring back memories for many a Merseysider and indeed visitors to the once popular lidos around the coast of what are now Sefton and Wirral Boroughs. My dear old friend Charles (Uncle Albert) Walker, sadly no longer with us, would often talk of his exploits around New Brighton Baths in the late 1940's. My own recollection of outdoor an swimming pool and how cold they were is from Prestatyn Holiday Camp in ...
England would have managed its response to the Covid-19 epidemic better if our local government had been stronger, and encouraged to play a larger role. Liberal Democrats should now be arguing, even more vigorously than usual, that over-centralization leads to failure on the ground. The first wave of testing centres was outsourced by the government, through a non-competitive contracting process, to one of our largest consultancy firms. The consultants' understanding of regional and local geography was evidently limited, and their assumption that all health workers would have their own cars and would be willing to drive long distances for several ...
Responding to reports that the Government is seeking to join the EU pandemic early warning system, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: "This is a positive step from the Government. The UK should always cooperate with our partners in the EU when it is in the national interest. "It was extremely disappointing that the Government failed to take up the opportunity to work with the EU to provide front-line workers with PPE. It is also deeply concerning that the Conservatives appear hellbent on sticking to their own arbitrary deadline to have a Brexit deal negotiated by the end of ...
Mon 4th
07:33
Household Recycling Centres reopen at 9am tomorrow morning, including Craven Arms - expect queues #c...
Household Recycling Centres (HRCs), colloquially known to us as tips, reopen in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin tomorrow morning at 9am. This is a welcome move as it is inevitable the longer they are closed, the more fly-tipping we will see. Most fly-tipping is on private land so is not reported to the council. Like everything these days, the HRCs will be subject to social distancing. They will be open 9am-5pm, seven days a week. No vans allowed. Expect long queues, especially in the first few days of reopening and over the bank holiday weekend. Normal bin days this week. ...
My subconscious is telling me that it's a Bank Holiday Monday. Sadly, it isn't... 2 big stories Whilst the Government talk about relaxing restrictions, the public seem likely to vote to demur from a return to normality. With less than 10% support for reopening pubs, stadiums and nightclubs, and just 11% support reopening restaurants, it's clear that, even if you allow such things to reopen, there just won't be enough potential custom to allow them to survive, let alone thrive. In another sign that any economic recovery is going to faltering at best, a report compiled by Deloitte indicates that ...
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - WEEKLY ROAD REPORT Please note that most works are subject to change and late completion due to the restrictive measures in place following UK and Scottish Government advice that only emergency/urgent works and those considered essential should take place during this period. REPORT FOR WEST END WARD - WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 4 MAY 2020 Perth Road (at Seabraes) - temporary traffic lights on Sunday 10 May for Scottish Water works.
