News you might have missed: June 2015

From legal highs to election reflections, and marriage equality to Star Wars dialogue...

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

Politics

Things you own which the legal highs bill is going to make illegal
http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2015/06/01/things-you-own-which-the-legal-highs-bill-is-going-to-make-i

The Government is set to ban flowers because when you smell them, you have an emotional reaction! Down with this sort of thing!

The Guardian account of how it all went wrong for LAB/EdM

http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2015/06/03/this-mornings-must-read-the-guardian-account-of-how-it-all-went-wrong-for-labedm/

Well worth a read

Welsh Government abandon evidence-based policy on e-cigs

http://peterblack.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/welsh-government-abandon-evidence-based.html

Not surprising

For The Love Of Europe

http://jaekaygoesforth.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/for-love-of-europe.html

I agree – we should reform the EU, not leave it

We can still save TTIP – but we have to get rid of these secret corporate courts

http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2015/06/10/comment-we-can-still-save-ttip-if-we-get-rid-of-it-s-provisi

I agree – TTIP has the potential to be good for the UK

How to lose a seat: a Conservative perspective

http://www.markpack.org.uk/132761/how-to-lose-a-seat-a-conservative-perspective/

Lessons for all parties

LGBT

Kazakhstan rejects 'homosexual propaganda' law
http://sosogay.co.uk/2015/kazakhstan-rejects-homosexual-propaganda-law/

A good sign

Architect of Russia’s anti-gay law now wants to ban topless men

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/01/architect-of-russias-anti-gay-law-now-wants-to-ban-topless-men/

Lol!

Kenyan governor says homosexuality ‘will not be tolerated’

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/03/kenyan-governor-says-homosexuality-will-not-be-tolerated/

Not unexpected sadly

UKIP rejected from Pride in London

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/05/pride-in-london-refuse-ukips-application-to-march/

A wrong decision

LGBT* in Ukip and Pride

http://stephensliberaljournal.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/lgbt-in-ukip-and-pride.html

I totally agree

‘Spousal veto’ to be scrutinised by new equalities committee

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/14/spousal-veto-to-be-scrutinised-by-new-equalities-committee/

The veto should go

Gay Marriage Has Not—and Will Not—Cause Assimilation

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/06/18/gay_marriage_isn_t_about_assimilation_it_s_radical_and_challenging.html

Assimilation is not inevitable

Fox News reacts to the SCOTUS gay marriage decision.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/06/26/fox_news_reacts_to_the_scotus_gay_marriage_decision.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_fb_bot

"Of course, there’s nothing like being in the minority to make Fox News concerned about the rights of the minority."

Supreme Court gay marriage: John Roberts’ dissent in Obergefell is heartless.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_breakfast_table/features/2015/scotus_roundup/supreme_court_gay_marriage_john_roberts_dissent_in_obergefell_is_heartless.html

Totally agree with this --> "I say that gratuitous interference in other people’s lives is bigotry. The fact that it is often religiously motivated does not make it less so. The United States is not a theocracy, and religious disapproval of harmless practices is not a proper basis for prohibiting such practices, especially if the practices are highly valued by their practitioners."

Shame in Turkey as police clear Pride with tear gas and water cannon
http://sosogay.co.uk/2015/shame-turkey-police-clear-pride-tear-gas-water-cannon/

Sad scenes...

Education

Education exports to rise by two-thirds, says Jo Johnson

http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/jun/01/education-exports-to-rise-by-two-thirds-says-jo-johnson?CMP=share_btn_fb

So there is a huge target but no new policies to achieve it - am not surprised!

The future of quality assessment; a bigger role for the state? Dismantling brand UK?

https://derfelowen.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/the-future-of-quality-assessment-a-bigger-role-for-the-state-dismantling-brand-uk/

Some interesting thoughts

Sajid Javid’s NUS wars

http://www.wonkhe.com/blogs/sajid-javids-nus-wars/

The anti-NUS students from the late 1980s are now running the government…

Contemplating a Brexit for UK HE

http://www.wonkhe.com/blogs/contemplating-a-brexit-for-uk-he/

The arguments to stay need to be better

TTIP and higher education policy

http://www.wonkhe.com/blogs/ttip-and-he/

A good summary of the potential impact of TTIP on higher education

Entertainment

Pong and Doom enter first video game Hall of Fame
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33005297?SThisFB

There are some classics here

Letters of Note on Twitter: ""New rubbish dialogue reaches me every other day..." Alec Guinness in 75/76, writing to a friend about Star Wars:
https://twitter.com/lettersofnote/status/288269289000140800

Alec Guiness writing about Star Wars in 1975/76: "New rubbish dialogue reaches me every other day..."

BBC dealt another blow after losing control of TV rights for Olympics
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jun/29/bbc-loses-control-olympic-tv-rights-discovery-eurosport?CMP=share_btn_fb

Change is coming...

Science

Facebook Rainbow Profile Photos: The Latest Big Data Experiment?
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/06/were-all-those-rainbow-profile-photos-another-facebook-experiment/397088/

I expect Facebook to extract as much data as it can from its users, including studying the spread of rainbow filters

Queer Laboratory Life: Recognising the work of LGBT scientists
http://www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2015/jun/29/queer-laboratory-life-recognising-the-work-of-lgbt-scientists?CMP=share_btn_fb

An interesting look at LGBT scientists and the issues they face

And finally…

Iranian-born Eurovision singer comes out in raunchy music video

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/08/watch-iranian-born-eurovision-singer-comes-out-in-raunchy-music-video/

And produces a passionate video calling for human rights for all 

Which Labour Leadership Candidate Are You?
http://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/which-labour-leadership-candidate-are-you?utm_term=.ueWXnLLjN

Could have been worse!