I’ve changed the title of this thread – “Little things for which I have an irrational loathing” is clumsy, and also, I’ve decided, inaccurate. Contemplating these loathsome things, I came to the conclusion that my loathing was not irrational, but actually entirely justifiable and correct, and that anyone who disagreed with me was wrong. Hence… Continue reading Little Things I loathe No 2
EducationGuardian.co.uk | comment | We are not amuth’dHere’s a lovely piece by the always entertaining John Sutherland. It is distressing that so much unintelligible gibberish gets passed off as learned criticism these days. I always pass on to students the words of Nobel-winning scientist Peter Medawar:“No-one who sincerely believes he has something important to say… Continue reading Not amuth’d
Telegraph | Education | I cheat us all by doing my pupils’ workMost people who work in education are aware of the situation described here. It’s now reaching epidemic proportions. I’m coming across more and more undergraduates with apparently good A levels who flounder hopelessly when asked to take part in any kind of academic… Continue reading The cheating epidemic
The Observer | Review | The future’s in the pastHere’s a marvellous piece by the ridiculously multi-talented Stephen Fry on the importance of History. Should be compulsory reading for all with any influence on education policy.
…of what I expect will be a very long series. First up, then – personalised number plates. I remember explaining the British number plate system to a German friend, and almost causing him to choke on his beer when I revealed how much people will pay for a particularly apt plate. I suppose if you… Continue reading Little things for which I have an irrational loathing. Number 1
For reasons which are actually mundane, but which I won’t reveal in order to maintain an air of spurious mystery, I have to visit Birmingham twice a year. Once again this time, I stayed at Jonathan’s, and it is a strange experience. Jonathan’s presents itself as a Victorian “experience”- and it is – but far… Continue reading A real pea-souper, and no mistake, guv’nor…
The growing influence of blogs in public policy is well-documented. Norman Geras and the Euston Manifesto is a blog phenonomenon. More evidence that blogs are changing things is the appearance of Alasdair Gray’s blog. Here’s a leading writer and artist publishing thoughts and new material freely to the web. This, it seems to me, is… Continue reading Blog Power
Those pesky detainees, eh? What to do when they insist on pulling publicity stunts? I have a modest proposal. We all know these are very dangerous men, locked up for years because they are terrorists conducting a secret war against America – so secret in fact, that we can’t possibly allow any of the evidence… Continue reading Exterminate all the brutes
Potter Author ‘The Best Living Writer’ – Yahoo! News UK If she beat “Salmon Rushdie” then this is obviously fishy…
As I write this, I’m listening to Jacob Heringman playing Dowland. It’s sublime. Dowland is, to me, the greatest. His Lachrimae Antiquae Novae will accompany my body when it’s consigned to the earth or the flames. So, I was a little startled when ‘er indoors alerted me to this. With that marvellous gift for oversimplification… Continue reading Sting 0 Dowland 6