News you might have missed - November 2013

Political

Rob Ford-crack video: Toronto's crack-smoking mayor admits he smoked crack.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/11/05/rob_ford_crack_video_toronto_s_crack_smoking_mayor_admits_he_smoked_crack.html
I love Canadian politics...

Rob Ford denies "eating pussy" VIDEO: Toronto mayor shocks at impromptu press conference, leaves reporter speechless.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/11/14/rob_ford_denies_eating_pussy_toronto_mayor_ad.html

He's the gift that keeps on giving...

Toronto mayor Rob Ford loses more powers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24990650

I was beginning to feel sorry for him but then i watched the video of him running into a councillor and my sympathy declined...

British surveillance hearing: Parliament’s interrogation of U.K. spy agencies is a joke.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2013/11/british_surveillance_hearing_parliament_s_interrogation_of_u_k_spy_agencies.html

Well it was our first time in public...

National health insurance: Britain's system is great.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2013/11/10/national_health_insurance_britain_s_system_is_great.html
Americans shouldn't be afraid of socialised medicine

Police tried to spy on Cambridge students, secret footage shows

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/14/police-cambridge-university-secret-footage

Such a waste of resources...

My guide for election candidates (aka "How to get my vote if i don't know you")
http://viewfromtheshire.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-guide-for-election-candidates-aka.html?spref=fb

How to get my vote...

Tory Lord James of Blackheath wants mooning clampdown after schoolkids expose their backsides at him and wife

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-lord-james-blackheath-wants-2814187

Schoolboys will be schoolboys...

Vancouver Doorknob Ban: New law encourages universally accessible building starting in 2014.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/11/26/vancouver_doorknob_ban_new_law_encourages_universally_accessible_building.html

Canada leading the way...

LGBT

Could the EU soon have its second openly gay prime minister?
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/10/31/comment-could-the-eu-soon-have-its-second-openly-gay-prime-minister/

Luxembourg to become first country to have gay prime minister and gay deputy PM
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/11/14/luxembourg-to-become-first-country-to-have-gay-prime-minister-and-gay-deputy-pm/

One day this won't be news....

Irish Government confirms 2015 equal marriage referendum
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/11/05/irish-government-confirms-2015-equal-marriage-referendum/

Good news

HIV campaign disagrees with media link between David Dimbleby’s scorpion tattoo and gay men with HIV
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/11/13/gmfa-questions-link-between-the-david-dimbleby-scorpion-tattoo-and-hiv/

I thought the original story sounded suspect...

VERDICT: Methodist Pastor Has 30 Days To Renounce His Gay Children Or Be Defrocked
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/11/20/2972311/verdict-methodist-pastor-30-days-renounce-gay-children-defrocked/

The Methodists are much more welcoming in the UK

Anti-gay Christian B&B pair lose Supreme Court appeal

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/11/27/uk-anti-gay-christian-bb-pair-lose-supreme-court-appeal/

As i'd hoped...

Entertainment

Doctor Who: Mini Episode - The Night of the Doctor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p01lhhv4/Doctor_Who_Mini_Episode_The_Night_of_the_Doctor/

Just wow!

Doctor Who - Steven Moffat on The Night Of The Doctor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Steven-Moffat-on-The-Night-Of-The-Doctor

And there's more...

It's time for Cher
http://viewfromtheshire.blogspot.com/2013/11/its-time-for-cher.html

I've been finding Cher videos...

Ben Cohen on Strictly - All the dances
http://viewfromtheshire.blogspot.com/2013/11/ben-cohen-on-strictly-dances.html

For the Ben Cohen fans out there - all his dances on Strictly...

Science

Nazi anatomy history: The origins of conservatives’ anti-abortion claims that rape can’t cause pregnancy.
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/history/2013/11/nazi_anatomy_history_the_origins_of_conservatives_anti_abortion_claims_that.html

The banality of evil...

Climate Deniers Must Pay $90,000 For 'Not Acting Reasonably,' Court Rules http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/13/2934861/climate-deniers-pay-80000-court-fees/

The Republican Party Isn't Really the Anti-Science Party http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/11/the-republican-party-isnt-really-the-anti-science-party/281219/

Shows how both republicans and democrats can be defined as "anti-science"...

Promiscuous mice bear sexier smelling sons
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/24987344

Imagine the conversation:

"What do you do?"

"I investigate sexy mice."

"..."

Higher Education

Statement from the Board of the 1994 Group
http://www.1994group.co.uk/press-release.php?post_id=165

Big HE news --> The Board of the 1994 Group has decided that the Group has come to a natural end point

And finally…

Two straps on a backpack or one strap: What’s cool?
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/cool_story/2013/10/two_straps_on_a_backpack_or_one_strap_what_s_cool.html

Proper journalism - When did wearing a backpack using both straps become cool?

When Real Meets Unreal. So Amazing!
http://vitaminl.tv/video/1

Entrancing video...