Apparently Starmer and Reeves have told their mps it will be a difficult budget but they are to protect the NHS and public services with no return to austerity whilst reducing borrowing
That is not possible without huge rises in taxes for everyone
It was always going to be thus. This is why the "no new taxes" was a foolish pre-election ambition. Considering "growth" has been rubbish since 2008, particularly since Brexit, anticipating services could be funded out of growth was unrealistic. And as for service cuts, Reform in Kent have discovered that is an impossible circle to square. We either want expensive services and correlating high taxation or we want to dispense with services and taxes.
COVID furlough free money was absurd. There should have been a medium term mechanism for beneficiaries to repay what COVID emergency assistance cost via general taxation. I've recently finished paying back my Welsh Government COVID business loan.
(For the record: I'm not sure what I would do, were I able to vote in that election, but it would depend partly on how strong the New York City Council is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Council A subject on which I am not well informed.)
(For the record: I'm not sure what I would do, were I able to vote in that election, but it would depend partly on how strong the New York City Council is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Council A subject on which I am not well informed.)
A Republican, a slime ball or a cultural and fiscal Marxist? Absolutely no question, the Marxist every day of the week.
(For the record: I'm not sure what I would do, were I able to vote in that election, but it would depend partly on how strong the New York City Council is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Council A subject on which I am not well informed.)
I disagree with Mandami on almost every issue, but would vote for him over Cuomo every day of the week.
(For the record: I'm not sure what I would do, were I able to vote in that election, but it would depend partly on how strong the New York City Council is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Council A subject on which I am not well informed.)
I disagree with Mandami on almost every issue, but would vote for him over Cuomo every day of the week.
Ditto. Some of his policies are crazy, but he clearly cares about NY and seems likely to do his best for the city. Which makes him a significant upgrade over Cuomo.
I can understand why Mayor Harrell doesn't say that in his ads; he's both following an old tradition, and using it to make political gains -- with more authenticity Kamala Harris had in her campaigns.
Yes, a Scottish currency would be weak. On the other hand if Scotland was allowed an independence vote, Westminster and the UK government implemented it and then Edinburgh decided to join the EU and Euro then that wouldn't be really a vote for full independence anyway
The original Union was all about access to markets - the English colonies in America. 'Independence' is better viewed as access to other markets by another form of Union. The decision will be whether the EU is a better long term bet than rUK. Probably not clear enough for the Independent curious.
No it was because Scotland needed a bailout after the Darien Scheme failed
Which was a result of being excluded from the markets of our King’s/Lord Protector’s other country.
I think an independent Scotland would apply to join the Euro. This fact is one of those that rules out any wildcat referenda as Spain would veto an independent Scotland joining that hasn't gone through the correct hoops with it's ex parent country. But if they had a Westminster allowed referendum they'd get in after a few years
It would be rather strange to abandon the UK Single Market in favour of the European one, given the relative integration of trade between Scotland and those two.
No stranger than Brexit.
Yes, imagine the customs declarations needed for exports of electricity, water or insurance contracts.
I think you'll struggle to find rule by anyone that doesn't protect elite interests - the only question is who is the elite, and how corrupt is the influence peddling?
Apparently Starmer and Reeves have told their mps it will be a difficult budget but they are to protect the NHS and public services with no return to austerity whilst reducing borrowing
That is not possible without huge rises in taxes for everyone
Or growth. I kid, I kid.
There are a sizeable number of people in politics who genuinely want no growth. They actively want to stop economic growth.
Absofrigginglutely.
Growth is anathema to many people.
Other people's growth is.
They're usually more than happy to make and keep money personally, oddly enough,.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
Apparently Starmer and Reeves have told their mps it will be a difficult budget but they are to protect the NHS and public services with no return to austerity whilst reducing borrowing
That is not possible without huge rises in taxes for everyone
Or growth. I kid, I kid.
I’m sure the UK will see growth in emigration next year.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
Especially as the latest polls have Silwa within shouting distance of Cuomo and Mamdami.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
Especially as the latest polls have Silwa within shouting distance of Cuomo and Mamdami.
Silwa got 28% last time, on a very poor turnout. It’s not difficult to see how he might be in with a chance if the Dem vote splits in half.
There’s probably quite a few Dems who consider the Republican the “least worst” of the three of them.
Two people have the same name and Number 10 emailed the wrong one. It could happen to anyone with the brain power of a Number 10 employee and no automatic protections. Stay safe everyone.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
Especially as the latest polls have Silwa within shouting distance of Cuomo and Mamdami.
Silwa got 28% last time, on a very poor turnout. It’s not difficult to see how he might be in with a chance if the Dem vote splits in half.
There’s probably quite a few Dems who consider the Republican the “least worst” of the three of them.
Polling shows Silwa's supporters more enthused than Cuomo or Mamdami supporters. (Indeed, Cuomo supporters mostly don't like him much, they just worry about Mamdami.)
The same people advocating for the withdrawal from the ECHR are the same people who advocated voting to leave the EU. It's another case of Big Yellow Taxi syndrome*.
Cuomo is 12/1 against with Betfred. The bookies are much smaller about Mamdani so if you are looking for value on Betfair, don't ignore the favourite. 1.1 might look short but it is a lot bigger than 1/25.
Two people have the same name and Number 10 emailed the wrong one. It could happen to anyone with the brain power of a Number 10 employee and no automatic protections. Stay safe everyone.
We’ve all been there and done that, but there really should be email server configuration to stop it happening somewhere sensitive like No.10.
Any email going outside the organisation, and not to a whitelist of known government entities/domains, should be flagged to an administrator with appropriate security clearance to check and approve.
This stuff isn’t difficult with a competent IT staff and the political will to actually implement it.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
Especially as the latest polls have Silwa within shouting distance of Cuomo and Mamdami.
Silwa got 28% last time, on a very poor turnout. It’s not difficult to see how he might be in with a chance if the Dem vote splits in half.
There’s probably quite a few Dems who consider the Republican the “least worst” of the three of them.
Polling shows Silwa's supporters more enthused than Cuomo or Mamdami supporters. (Indeed, Cuomo supporters mostly don't like him much, they just worry about Mamdami.)
I’m sure Silwa’s supporters are enthused, I’m just not too sure there’s that many of them if turnout is high.
Mamdani’s supporters are very enthused (see Jeremy Corbyn supporters for a UK example) and he’s rightly the clear favourite.
Cuomo’s supporters seem more anti-Mamdani than pro-Cuomo, even they know that the former major isn’t the best candidate!
Have you had any further thoughts on the Virginia Gov race? I’m seeing a lot of online support for Earle-Sears, but reckon it’s probably 50/50, Spanburger’s chances not being helped by Joe Jones who really should have withdrawn from his AG run.
Two people have the same name and Number 10 emailed the wrong one. It could happen to anyone with the brain power of a Number 10 employee and no automatic protections. Stay safe everyone.
We’ve all been there and done that, but there really should be email server configuration to stop it happening somewhere sensitive like No.10.
Any email going outside the organisation, and not to a whitelist of known government entities/domains, should be flagged to an administrator with appropriate security clearance to check and approve.
This stuff isn’t difficult with a competent IT staff and the political will to actually implement it.
Thanks goodness there isn't a plan for everyone in Government to have access to every citizen's personal data.
I think an independent Scotland would apply to join the Euro. This fact is one of those that rules out any wildcat referenda as Spain would veto an independent Scotland joining that hasn't gone through the correct hoops with it's ex parent country. But if they had a Westminster allowed referendum they'd get in after a few years
It would be rather strange to abandon the UK Single Market in favour of the European one, given the relative integration of trade between Scotland and those two.
No stranger than Brexit.
Yes, imagine the customs declarations needed for exports of electricity, water or insurance contracts.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
I think an independent Scotland would apply to join the Euro. This fact is one of those that rules out any wildcat referenda as Spain would veto an independent Scotland joining that hasn't gone through the correct hoops with it's ex parent country. But if they had a Westminster allowed referendum they'd get in after a few years
It would be rather strange to abandon the UK Single Market in favour of the European one, given the relative integration of trade between Scotland and those two.
No stranger than Brexit.
Yes, imagine the customs declarations needed for exports of electricity, water or insurance contracts.
Scotland doesn’t export water to England (or vice versa) and as it has a substantial surplus of electricity England would be the supplicant.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
Especially as the latest polls have Silwa within shouting distance of Cuomo and Mamdami.
Silwa got 28% last time, on a very poor turnout. It’s not difficult to see how he might be in with a chance if the Dem vote splits in half.
There’s probably quite a few Dems who consider the Republican the “least worst” of the three of them.
Polling shows Silwa's supporters more enthused than Cuomo or Mamdami supporters. (Indeed, Cuomo supporters mostly don't like him much, they just worry about Mamdami.)
I’m sure Silwa’s supporters are enthused, I’m just not too sure there’s that many of them if turnout is high.
Mamdani’s supporters are very enthused (see Jeremy Corbyn supporters for a UK example) and he’s rightly the clear favourite.
Cuomo’s supporters seem more anti-Mamdani than pro-Cuomo, even they know that the former major isn’t the best candidate!
Have you had any further thoughts on the Virginia Gov race? I’m seeing a lot of online support for Earle-Sears, but reckon it’s probably 50/50, Spanburger’s chances not being helped by Joe Jones who really should have withdrawn from his AG run.
I think the Dems will win the Governorship easily in Virginia (in fact I have header on the mid-mid-terms that will be published later). I hope the Dem AG candidate is defeated.
On the previous topic Trump's polling is at a record low, even for him, and the gubernatorial elections in both New Jersey and Virginia are looking very good for the Democrats. Winning both of those would make many Republican Congressmen extremely nervous about next year. In New York Trump is asking his supporters to vote for Cuomo rather than the Republican. Presumably one crook favouring another but also a measure of his desperation.
The results today will hopefully be a precursor to the loss of Congress next year. The courts have completely failed in their duties to protect the rule of law and the Constitution. It remains to be seen whether Congress can bring an out of control President to heel.
On topic Trump's polling is at a record low, even for him, and the gubernatorial elections in both New Jersey and Virginia are looking very good for the Democrats. Winning both of those would make many Republican Congressmen extremely nervous about next year. In New York Trump is asking his supporters to vote for Cuomo rather than the Republican. Presumably one crook favouring another but also a measure of his desperation.
The results today will hopefully be a precursor to the loss of Congress next year. The courts have completely failed in their duties to protect the rule of law and the Constitution. It remains to be seen whether Congress can bring an out of control President to heel.
TL/DR; More local history, otherwise Michael Gove's ‘Tudors & Nazis’ (and some random topics of a teacher's own choosing) syllabus to remain.
And a preference for triple over double science to return, so job security for the pb physics teachers amidst a national shortage!
How local? Would this mean regional GCSEs in history?
Comments:
1) The idea of more local history is an excellent idea and should have been brought in long ago. It would go a long way towards addressing my concerns about the one-size-fits-all nature of the curriculum.
2) However, unless it is balanced by taking stuff *out* of the grossly overstuffed existing curriculum it simply isn’t going to be possible.
3) This is particularly true with GCSEs. Phillipson is probably right to rule out meddling with them if she feels the need to keep them (personally I’m not convinced of their utility) because although they’re a complete fiasco due to Spielman, Gibb and Gove having half a brain cell between them more meddling would probably make things worse rather than better. But since a large number of schools deliver them over three years due to the sheer amount of content that needs covering there is no realistic way of adding yet more content at KS3. I might add - just demanding a three year KS3 from all schools is going to cause significant upheaval.
4) Three Separate Sciences taught by specialist teachers in all schools. Great idea, no quarrel with that. One tiny question - where are the teachers in question going to come from? Schools aren’t abandoning physics because they want to, or only because of budgets. This is an ongoing issue since I was at school and Newent was one of four comprehensives in Gloucestershire to still offer the three separate sciences as standard at GCSE (the others being Balcarras in Cheltenham, Cirencester Deer Park and whatever Tewkesbury was calling itself that week) because people simply couldn’t find enough physics teachers. Solve that problem and the other will solve itself.
5) A new test for English in year 8. Fucking crazy. No other words for it. We have too many exams as it is, and as is brutally obvious to anyone looking at the idiots in charge of our government all of whom have passed a great many exams an ability to pass exams is not at all the same thing as having an intellect. It would be better instead to hire more English teachers in order to dramatically reduce class sizes. Unfortunately, due to the disaster of Gove’s reforms it’s now for the first time ever a shortage subject.
Moskowitz: I would have loved to have been at mar-a-lago while the girls were in the martini glasses, when they were trying to figure out what to do with the judge's order. You know, half the room was probably like, should we pay it? Should we not pay it? And then someone was like, oh, I have a great idea. Let let the subjects only get half their rations. https://x.com/Acyn/status/1985545534040637685
Moskowitz: I would have loved to have been at mar-a-lago while the girls were in the martini glasses, when they were trying to figure out what to do with the judge's order. You know, half the room was probably like, should we pay it? Should we not pay it? And then someone was like, oh, I have a great idea. Let let the subjects only get half their rations. https://x.com/Acyn/status/1985545534040637685
18-year old pleads guilty to “multiple felony counts, including attempted first-degree rape, sexual battery and assault by strangulation”, having been initially accused of far worse. He’s given a 78-year sentence, but doesn’t serve any of it as he’s under 19 and covered by a youthful offender scheme (16-17 when he committed the crimes). Instead, he has 100 hours of community service.
Locals suggest there’s favouritism from the judge, the lad’s father being an important member of the community.
Apparently Starmer and Reeves have told their mps it will be a difficult budget but they are to protect the NHS and public services with no return to austerity whilst reducing borrowing
That is not possible without huge rises in taxes for everyone
There's not going to be "huge tax rises for everyone".
The answer is 2p or 3p on the basic rate of income tax but with a large increase in the tax free allowance. They would be able to say that they have not increased tax for a large proportion of the population, whilst increasing the take from the high earners. Increasing the tax free allowance would help the lowest paid and take millions out of paying tax. I am already paying tax on my state pension.
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
I would probably vote for Silwa if I lived in New York city. Trump though was a Democrat of the Cuomo type throughout the 1990s
'Trump threatens federal funds for NYC if Mamdani wins mayoral race and backs Cuomo: ‘You must vote for him’
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
I would probably vote for Silwa if I lived in New York city. Trump though was a Democrat of the Cuomo type throughout the 1990s
That post is coherent, it's clearly written by a staffer not Trump himself.
This refinery was first hit on October 5th. I've seen suggestions that the Ukrainians have tried to hit it numerous times since then, but that air defence in the area is strong. So it's notable that another attack made it through.
This is another aspect to the Ukrainian campaign against the Russian electricity grid - they're expanding the number of targets that Russia has to try and protect.
Meanwhile Crimea seems to be where Russian air defence radar goes to be destroyed. A constant stream of reports of radar systems being destroyed there.
Comments
COVID furlough free money was absurd. There should have been a medium term mechanism for beneficiaries to repay what COVID emergency assistance cost via general taxation. I've recently finished paying back my Welsh Government COVID business loan.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-sentinel-record/20251026/281805700162488?srsltid=AfmBOop5lpLSL29-fJs5zq4mR84RDh1sdz-Eo3CNvefbVbhcYUc2KfR5
(For the record: I'm not sure what I would do, were I able to vote in that election, but it would depend partly on how strong the New York City Council is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Council
A subject on which I am not well informed.)
You gotta live eh?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://www.bruceforseattle.com/about/&psig=AOvVaw0Bk2F98iPrL8XT_n9xLd3-&ust=1762301556919000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=2ahUKEwjx08iDm9eQAxWEEjQIHUQKA78QjRx6BAgAEBs
I can understand why Mayor Harrell doesn't say that in his ads; he's both following an old tradition, and using it to make political gains -- with more authenticity Kamala Harris had in her campaigns.
And I should add that I think the increasing number of mixed race families in the US shows how much we have progressed, over my life time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Race_and_ethnicity
(I was rushing to get that done to beat the rain while I did some chores afterwards. I got them done but walked back to my apartment in the rain.)
Rule by judges protects elite interests
Thomas Fazi"
https://unherd.com/2025/11/will-we-ever-escape-the-echr
I mean claiming Putin has "no territorial claim over Ukraine" is one even the man himself might challenge.
They're usually more than happy to make and keep money personally, oddly enough,.
It's what they do.
https://x.com/bohuslavskakate/status/1985513647959949712
The Replublican candidate, Curtis Silwa, should rightly be somewhat miffed that Trump would endorse a failed Dem rather than himself, and there’s plenty of other Republicans who really want to see Mamdani elected so that the rest of the country can see what a communist looks like in practice.
Or perhaps the President’s playing 3D chess, and knows he’s so unpopular in NY that everyone will do the opposite of what he suggests!
Not difficult to see the plan…
https://x.com/evgen1232007/status/1985452027376197682
There’s probably quite a few Dems who consider the Republican the “least worst” of the three of them.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/25593071.no-10-accidentally-leaks-internal-huntingdon-train-stabbing-emails/
Two people have the same name and Number 10 emailed the wrong one. It could happen to anyone with the brain power of a Number 10 employee and no automatic protections. Stay safe everyone.
* You don't know what you've got 'til its gone.
Any email going outside the organisation, and not to a whitelist of known government entities/domains, should be flagged to an administrator with appropriate security clearance to check and approve.
This stuff isn’t difficult with a competent IT staff and the political will to actually implement it.
Mamdani’s supporters are very enthused (see Jeremy Corbyn supporters for a UK example) and he’s rightly the clear favourite.
Cuomo’s supporters seem more anti-Mamdani than pro-Cuomo, even they know that the former major isn’t the best candidate!
Have you had any further thoughts on the Virginia Gov race? I’m seeing a lot of online support for Earle-Sears, but reckon it’s probably 50/50, Spanburger’s chances not being helped by Joe Jones who really should have withdrawn from his AG run.
Experience, and his approval ratings, suggest not.
A larger concern should be, what if Mamdani proves more competent than Trump ?
https://x.com/moklasen/status/1985310835061784790
Two tanks, two IFVs, and an MRAP, all stuck trying to cross a small river on the front line. Easy pickings for Ukranian drones.
The results today will hopefully be a precursor to the loss of Congress next year. The courts have completely failed in their duties to protect the rule of law and the Constitution. It remains to be seen whether Congress can bring an out of control President to heel.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/new-jersey-election-trump-ciattarelli-sherrill-analysis
1) The idea of more local history is an excellent idea and should have been brought in long ago. It would go a long way towards addressing my concerns about the one-size-fits-all nature of the curriculum.
2) However, unless it is balanced by taking stuff *out* of the grossly overstuffed existing curriculum it simply isn’t going to be possible.
3) This is particularly true with GCSEs. Phillipson is probably right to rule out meddling with them if she feels the need to keep them (personally I’m not convinced of their utility) because although they’re a complete fiasco due to Spielman, Gibb and Gove having half a brain cell between them more meddling would probably make things worse rather than better. But since a large number of schools deliver them over three years due to the sheer amount of content that needs covering there is no realistic way of adding yet more content at KS3. I might add - just demanding a three year KS3 from all schools is going to cause significant upheaval.
4) Three Separate Sciences taught by specialist teachers in all schools. Great idea, no quarrel with that. One tiny question - where are the teachers in question going to come from? Schools aren’t abandoning physics because they want to, or only because of budgets. This is an ongoing issue since I was at school and Newent was one of four comprehensives in Gloucestershire to still offer the three separate sciences as standard at GCSE (the others being Balcarras in Cheltenham, Cirencester Deer Park and whatever Tewkesbury was calling itself that week) because people simply couldn’t find enough physics teachers. Solve that problem and the other will solve itself.
5) A new test for English in year 8. Fucking crazy. No other words for it. We have too many exams as it is, and as is brutally obvious to anyone looking at the idiots in charge of our government all of whom have passed a great many exams an ability to pass exams is not at all the same thing as having an intellect. It would be better instead to hire more English teachers in order to dramatically reduce class sizes. Unfortunately, due to the disaster of Gove’s reforms it’s now for the first time ever a shortage subject.
Trump administration will tap emergency fund to pay partial food stamp benefits
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cglg632n719o
Moskowitz: I would have loved to have been at mar-a-lago while the girls were in the martini glasses, when they were trying to figure out what to do with the judge's order. You know, half the room was probably like, should we pay it? Should we not pay it? And then someone was like, oh, I have a great idea. Let let the subjects only get half their rations.
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1985545534040637685
18-year old pleads guilty to “multiple felony counts, including attempted first-degree rape, sexual battery and assault by strangulation”, having been initially accused of far worse. He’s given a 78-year sentence, but doesn’t serve any of it as he’s under 19 and covered by a youthful offender scheme (16-17 when he committed the crimes). Instead, he has 100 hours of community service.
Locals suggest there’s favouritism from the judge, the lad’s father being an important member of the community.
https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/1985557070733873516
NEW THREAD
This is another aspect to the Ukrainian campaign against the Russian electricity grid - they're expanding the number of targets that Russia has to try and protect.
Meanwhile Crimea seems to be where Russian air defence radar goes to be destroyed. A constant stream of reports of radar systems being destroyed there.