Monday morning catch-up

So much I wanted to post on this weekend but not enough time, so here's a catch-up post:

1. Over 25% of A-level students get A grade and something like a third of prospective entrants to University mathematics courses fail a maths exam.


2. The Times reports that: "A devastating official report suppressed by ministers has revealed that soldiers’ lives are being put at risk by “endemic” failures at the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The secret dossier blames “political fudge” and Whitehall incompetence for the plight of soldiers in Afghanistan who are provided with inadequate frontline kit."


3. My Own Doubts riffs on a theme I have touched on before as he explains why, contrary to the agreed media narrative, racism is a problem of the "left" not the "right".


4. The Spectator think that there is a "stench of realpolitik" about the release of al-Megrahi.


5. The Telegraph reported that:

"Britain's payments to the European Union will soar by almost 60 per cent next year, according to figures "buried" in government documents.

The Treasury statistics show that the UK's net contribution to the EU will increase from £4.1 billion this year to £6.4 billion in 2010/11.

The figures were published in the Treasury's annual Community Finances statement, which was slipped out last month just before parliament broke up for its summer recess. "

Do read this story as it reminds us of Tony Blair's duplicity and Gordon Brown's capitulation over the UK rebate.


6. This Telegraph article from last year may give us pointers on how Gordon Brown will look to raise money if he manages to somehow win (or avoid) the general election - raiding private pension funds in the name of serving the collective welfare.


7. The Mirror reported that: "John Prescott has landed his most bizarre job yet - as professor of climate change at a Chinese university.


8. A site that is becoming a daily must read for me,Beeb Bias Craig, takes Michael Crick to task for anti-Conservative bias in two wee researched articles - here and here.

9. The Mail reports that: "Traditional lightbulbs will disappear from our shops in just ten days.

All conventional pearl, incandescent lightbulbs are being banned by the European Union to slash energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions.

The move covers every type of frosted traditional bulb, from the 60 watt pearl bulbs used in table lamps to more specialised opaque 25 and 40 watt bulbs shaped like golf balls and candles.

Clear and frosted 100 watt lightbulbs will also not be on sale from September 1."