I note that the beatification of George Best lasted all of 24 hours. One of today’s tabloid “newspapers” alleges that he had at least two “secret” children. Given his lifestyle, are we surprised? Does it matter? No, and no.Meanwhile, the floral tributes pour in, and a Diana-like mountain of flowers, pictures, scarves etc grows outside… Continue reading Floral Tributes again
BBC NEWS | Education | Term-time working ‘lowers grades’ The department of the bleeding obvious has clearly been working overtime of late. I suppose the statistics will be useful in the debate about student funding, but surely no-one can be surprised by this?
This morning, like most other Sunday mornings, I bought my Sunday paper (the Observer, since you ask) at our local newsagent. As on every other occasion I have bought a paper there, he asked if I wanted a bag for it. As always, I declined – I’ve given up pointing out the waste this habit… Continue reading Do you want a bag for that?
Britain, UK news from The Times and The Sunday Times – Times Online:Another despatch from the department of the bleeding obvious. It clearly was a very onerous task to discover that “high street cafes are convivial places where people go to enjoy others’ company.” Who knew? I always go to to them to play ice… Continue reading Coffee drinkers enjoy drinking coffee shock horror
One of the surer signs of advancing age is that you find yourself saying things you remember your parents saying. I’ve long been detached from the pop music scene, but yesterday marked a new level of dissociation. In the never-ending fight against flab, I went to the gym. There is always something blaring out of… Continue reading You call that music?
Guardian Unlimited Books | News | Author John Fowles dies aged 79 I was sad to read of the death of Fowles. The French Lieutenant’s Woman will go down as one of the most engaging postwar British novels, notable especially for a postmodern twist: alternative endings, presented by an intrusive narrator. That novel is a… Continue reading John Fowles
Literature-Map – The tourist map of literatureThis is an interesting concept. Key in a writer’s name and watch the map develop. An interesting way of finding new authors similar to ones you already like, methinks.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft scans British Library Reading stufff like this makes you wonder how long the printed book has got left. But the book has a great resilience, and I can’t imagine a time when it would be more pleasant to sit under a tree on a summer’s day with a hand… Continue reading End of the book?
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blunkett resigns from the CabinetBlimey! Cabinet minister does honourable thing shock horror…
BBC NEWS | England | Lancashire | Jail for eBay phishing fraudster A long time ago, in another lifetime, I taught this man. The last thing I recall him saying to me was that he was going to be famous one day. Well, he made it.