In the brave new world of education, a “voluntary” contribution to the cost of a child’s education is actually compulsory. Sample:It read like a letter from a debt-collector. “Our accounts indicate you have not made a contribution,” it stated. “Our records indicate you have not contacted us.” In fact, it was a letter from a… Continue reading Voluntary = Compulsory
The mighty Normblog has a nice post about the way the notes in classic editions of novels give away plot details, assuming we have all read it before. Norm cites Nick Hornsby’s neat line about this: Even the snootiest critic/publisher/whatever must presumably accept that we must all, at some point, read a book for the… Continue reading Spoiling Charlotte
To the Lloyd’s Hotel, downtown Chorlton for a book launch by my friend and former colleague Robert Graham. His new collection of short stories, The Only Living Boy, was the main event, and a goodly crowd enjoyed his witty and self-deprecating chat, and his sensitive readings.I was moved to write a review on Amazon:This collection… Continue reading The Only Living Boy
I am immersing myself in things Malaysian at the moment, in preparation for the forthcoming Burgess conference in Kuala Lumpur. That’s one of the reasons I’ve changed my banner to a picture taken last year in Kuala Kangsar. So I was intrigued by this book: it must be the only English language detective story set… Continue reading Inspector Singh Investigates
This post is completely self-indulgent, though Petal will be interested. Boris is the head of our household. He had some kind of accident last year – exactly what we still don’t know – and for a while there, things looked grim. But he was soon back to his old self, bossing us about and demanding… Continue reading Boris the Bold
Partly posting this so I can get another picture of my second favourite animal species on the blog two days in succession, and partly to record my admiration for Dr Crippen, whose blog is well worth a look. Key quote:There have been deaths in Mexico. There has been one in the US. Our Indian partner… Continue reading Swine flu in proportion
The trickle of stories about the way MPs abuse the expenses system is now a flood. What’s noticeable is the entirely predictable excuse that all of them offer- we didn’t break any rules. They are so removed from the ordinary lives of their constituents that they can’t see that’s not the point. The rules (made… Continue reading They just don’t get it
If only…Still, the Onion is on top form with this story.Thanks to Charles for the tip.
Who’d have thought it? Er… isn’t he supposed to be infallible? You can’t get the staff these days, can you?
If you wake up to Radio 4, then you will enjoy this. If you don’t, you’ll have no idea what is so amusing about this film…