News you might have missed: April 2014

From tuition fees to trans politicians, and Steph & Dom to Cameron Diaz…

Here's the news you might have missed in April... 

 

Politics

Labour's plan to reduce tuition fees is a tax cut for bankers and lawyers
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timwigmore/100265579/labours-plan-to-reduce-tuition-fees-is-a-tax-cut-for-bankers-and-lawyers/?fb

Tuition fees are only completely paid back by the richest graduates and therefore a cut in fees only helps the richest graduates - that won't stop lots of people finding the policy attractive though...

MP Robert Syms calls for end to Poole 'sex doll' parties
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-26918706?SThisFB

Poole has gone down hill since my nan lived there... "MP Robert Syms calls for end to Poole 'sex doll' parties"

Threat to British number plates? Think again
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-26975209

Misleading Daily Express headline - who would have guessed!

Grayling accused of obstructing prison sex inquiry
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/04/23/grayling-accused-of-obstructing-prison-sex-inquiry

"The justice secretary is also understood to have demanded that condoms be removed from prisons and was only stopped when officials stepped in to advise him on the devastating public health implications of the move." At least he was stopped

Openly trans politicians standing for (re)election on 22nd May
http://www.complicity.co.uk/blog/2014/04/openly-trans-politicians-standing-for-reelection-on-22nd-may/

Good to see the range of parties included here

Germany European Election posters
http://viewfromtheshire.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/germany-european-election-posters.html

Euro election posters - Berlin style Much more visible and eye-catching than any UK equivalents!

LGBT

Big Bang's Sara Gilbert marries songwriter Linda Perry
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26832563

A happy couple...

Kuwait: Parliamentary panel offers to ‘help gays and cross-dressers end their suffering’

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/06/kuwait-parliamentary-panel-offers-to-help-gays-and-cross-dressers-end-their-suffering/

A relatively positive (if not actually positive) statement from the Middle East

Gay men's blood: Jeremy Hunt says donation is 'devolved matter'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26872539

Its a shame that the gay blood ban is caught up in a devolution arguement

Malta: Parliament approves civil unions and adoption for gay couples
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/14/malta-parliament-approves-civil-unions-and-adoption-for-gay-couples/

Good news from Malta

Cameron Diaz: I have been with a lady before
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/29/cameron-diaz-i-have-been-with-a-lady-before/

Publicity stunt or coming out?

Entertainment

Gogglebox's posh couple Steph and Dom Parker offered chat show
http://metro.co.uk/2014/04/03/goggleboxs-posh-couple-steph-and-dom-parker-offered-chat-show-4687476/

Potentially TV gold...

Bake It Big Tour | Glenn Cosby
http://glenncosby.co.uk/my-tour/

I have plenty of friends who "bake it big"... including Paul, Christian, Dominic, Gary...

Education

Gowns and mortarboards ‘could be compulsory’ under Gove
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/gowns-and-mortarboards-could-be-compulsory-under-gove/2012382.article

Totally believable! [posted on 1^st April 2014]

Who’s afraid of student loans?
http://www.wonkhe.com/2014/04/24/whos-afraid-of-student-loans/

An interesting post showing that minor changes to assumptions about the future can significantly reduce the expected costs to the government of student loans. In other words, it is hard to predict the future with confidence and therefore hard to make evidence-based policy decisions on expected costs and benefits

Science

NSA knew about, exploited Heartbleed for years
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/04/11/nsa_knew_about_exploited_heartbleed_for_years_bloomberg_report.html

Am not surprised...

And finally…

Go see Blythe Spirit!
http://viewfromtheshire.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/go-see-blythe-spirit.html

Read my review of Blythe Spirit. I loved it!