Interesting Links for 02-02-2015

[andrewducker]

• The BBC are only allowing men into the "World's Toughest Army" TV show
  (tags: bbc sexism viaJennieRigg )
• Unsurprisingly the most popular Kickstarter of all time includes both kittens and explosions
  (tags: kickstarter CrowdFunding games TheOatmeal )
• How do codes of conduct and safe spaces work, when there's supposed to be touching and songs about

Comments

[andrewducker]

Okay, so it seems that having been out of the flat on Friday evening, and all of Saturday, I spent Sunday catching up on two days worth of links...

[heron61]

For gifted children, being intelligent can have dark implications

I'm not sure about this - many gifted kids are certainly socially awkward, but much of what's described in this article sounds more like asperger or various other conditions that can certainly occur in gifted kids, but are in no way the same as being gifted.

Hot dog + Cookie dough = ......

I'm almost tempted to try this - however, I'd need to make my own cookie dough, since the commercial stuff all tastes really bad, and at that point, I think I'd rather make cookies. My experiment with bacon cinnamon rolls failed, so I think I'll pass.

Armed Gamergate-r Crashes Mother's Prius en route to Brianna Wu's House

Wow...

[cmcmck]

Oh believe it!

I was a gifted kid, working class and trans and ended up in a single sex grammar school (UK)- indeed, one our mutual friend will probably be familiar with. It's a fairly horrendous combination.

School was a nightmare of bullying and abuse, although uni in its various forms both undergrad and postgrad was probably the saving of me once I'd sorted out the other stuff.

[steer]

I'm not at all convinced by the article on A&E crisis caused by 111

[steer]

Or, in short, NHS 111 to blame for rise in A&E attendances is a really dreadful explanation for something that did, in fact, not happen.

[andrewducker]

Aha, that's really useful. Thanks!

[fanf]

On this topic there was a good program on Radio 4 last week about how a shortage of nurses has led to the crisis. A combination of losing half of the senior district nurses over the last decade, so there aren't enough to care for patients after they have been discharged; and staffing difficulties in hospitals exacerbated by the financial demands of getting Foundation Trust status and nurses switching to better-paid agency employment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/fileon4

[gonzo21]

Speaking of women being as tough as men, I think it is well past time that the women's Tennis players started playing 5 sets instead of 3.

They get equal prize money now, which is all for the good, but they really ought to be playing 5 set matches as well. I'm quite certain they're all fit enough, it feels... vaguely insulting that they're only playing best of 3, like, the game thinks they can't do 5 or something.

Would immeasurably improve the sport too.

[usmu]

Have to disagree. I'd prefer it if men started playing three set matches as that would diminish the amount of tennis played a great deal. That would improve the sport a great deal.

[alitheapipkin]

Yeah, the men only play 5 sets at the Grand Slams - I'd prefer to see all matches being best of 3 regardless too.

[a_pawson]

I'm the opposite - I'd rather see women play 5 sets at the slams as well. As a spectator, nothing beats the drama of a 5 set match. With best of 3 matches, the whole thing can often be over in an hour. With the longer matches, the momentum can shift one way and then the other as the game goes on.

Cutting university tuition fees to £6000 would help only the better off.

[drdoug]

Labour's policy on fees is a mess - see useful analysis here http://www.wonkhe.com/blogs/labour-higher-education-funding-policy-101/

Re: Cutting university tuition fees to £6000 would help only the better off.

[andrewducker]

Thanks!