redfiona99

Education:

Teaching to the test gives 'hollow understanding' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-41580550 From 2017, from the head of Ofsted, who maybe ought to be able to do something more about it than the rest of us, but apparently, didn't.

Miscellaneous:

Colin Kaepernick: From one man kneeling to a movement dividing a country - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/41530732 From 2017 but interesting as a capsule of then.

The man diagnosed with pathological laughter - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-40629897

Two sisters, a mountain trek and a wobbly wire bridge - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-41527080

Why is heroin killing so many people? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/Heroin UK version of the problem.

Sport:

Baseball:

Ichiro retires after emotional finale in Tokyo - https://www.mlb.com/news/ichiro-in-lineup-for-opening-series-finale From 2019

Football:

Portsmouth owner Eisner's journey from Disney to Pompey - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41509530 From 2017, and football being football, I have no idea who the Portsmouth owner is now.

Rugby League:

Regan Grace: From union heartland to starring for Wales in rugby league - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40740642 From 2017. He still plays for Saints, and tries still frequently get tagged with 'Amazing Grace'.

Healthcare:

'We couldn't see an NHS dentist so we pulled out our own teeth' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41113507 From 2017 but I doubt the situation has improved.

Law and order:

Violence against sex workers: 'He was there to kill me' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41148875

Miscellaneous:

The 97-Year-Old Park Ranger Who Doesn’t Have Time for Foolishness - https://www.glamour.com/story/women-of-the-year-2018-betty-reid-soskin

The refugee doctors learning to speak Glaswegian - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41160013

How Falluja can't forget - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/Falluja

The father who saved his children from IS in Syria - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41111497

Can modern makeover save smallest Swiss village? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41114730

Toy ship sails from Scotland to Scandinavia - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41159979 A Norwegian tall ship has given it a lift to Cape Verde.

Photography:

Portrait of Britain: Displaying the UK's diversity - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-41108616

Helping communities with the power of photography - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-41100630

Sports:

10 of the world’s most beautiful sports arenas - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/720f5eed-717c-499c-a88c-439adce3617f

Baseball:

Red Sox 'cheated using Apple Watch' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41169907 I think this is one of those sports-specific things, because I am still not sure what they did that was wrong. Or rather, I gather it is immoral in baseball but I am not sure why.

Technology:

The hidden history of cyber-crime forums - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-40671091

Animals:

New grass snake identified in the UK - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40853286

Architecture:

Listed buildings: New additions mark 70 years of preservation - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40812611 From 2017

Art:

Walls of water: Hokusai and the Great Wave of Camberwell - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-40830628

History:

Partition of India: The partition of India and the birth of Pakistan shaped the lives of generations of families.

In the era of the Raj, India was the jewel in Britain's imperial crown, but in 1947 everything changed. -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-d88680d1-26f2-4863-be95-83298fd01e02

Miscellaneous:

Now Hiring: A Company Offers Drug Treatment And A Job To Addicted Applicants - https://www.npr.org/2018/07/27/631557443/now-hiring-a-company-offers-drug-treatment-and-a-job-to-addicted-applicants

Politics:
Both from 2017

Why Is Donald Trump Still So Horribly Witless About the World? - https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/why-is-donald-trump-still-so-horribly-witless-about-the-world

There Is No Way to Survive the Trump White House: The tenures of Reince Priebus and Anthony Scaramucci represent two opposite, but equally ineffective, strategies for surviving the Trump White House - https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/there-is-no-way-to-survive-the-trump-white-house-253401/

Science:

The Swedish physicist revolutionising birth control- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40629994 I have the gravest of grave doubts.

Sport:
Athletics:

Usain Bolt: Eight-time Olympic champion's career in 9.58 charts - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/40779741

Baseball:

Team named for legendary Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson wins DC Little League championship- https://wjla.com/news/local/mamie-peanut-johnson-dc-little-league-championship From 2018

Football:

Premier League is 25 years old: Facts and figures behind the first quarter-century - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40704646 From 2017

How the hell did that happen? Australia v Japan is the one I'm talking about.

So mostly I've been watching football and getting a bit tipsikated with the fencers. Won the Rat bar quiz last night, but was accused of cheating by some of the other teams, which we didn't. I'm giving serious thought to asking my pub quiz team to come down next Sunday, which is the last Rat bar quiz ever, and laying a little smackdown.

Watched Dr. Who "The Satan Pit", I don't think it was as good as part one ( Although )

Rather worryingly, the only person who I thought was off was David Tennant. I'm developing a distinct antipathy towards his Doctor, which isn't a good sign. ( The one thing he did get right though )

Was watching baseball and they were trying to pretend that one of the relief pitchers who only tie to football is that he shares a sponsor with Eddie Pope and Claudio Reyna was actually really into it. Unfortunately then the relief pitcher opened his mouth and said that he wasn't worried about the USA - Czech Republic match, and that the match he was really worried about was USA - Italy. Anyone who isn't worried about his national team's match against the Czech Republic blatently knows nothing.

Trindad and Tobago's draw against Sweden certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons, and I can't say I didn't cackle with glee. This is what Sweden gets for rigging the result that knocked Italy out, it is karma or some such. I'm so glad Shaka Hislop got to play because, as we all know, he da man!

There was also a distinct joy in seeing defenders from Gillingham and Wrexham keeping out a strike force combining players from Juventus and Barcelona.