Today, in News That Makes Me Headdesk...
* Alice Eve declares she's a nerd not a geek because she's specific in her knowledge...and what is she a nerd about? "Clothes, shoes, nails and jewellery. That’s the female version of nerdy, isn’t it?"
Really, Alice? Really?! And just in case you happen to be reading this and are confused, I'll answer the question: no Alice, the female version of nerdy is not a lot of knowledge about fashion and beauty issues. You are absolutely allowed to be a nerd about fashion and beauty, but so is everyone, regardless of gender. Because the female version of nerdy is exactly the same as the male version of nerdy - one person with a specific, in-depth knowledge about something (ANYTHING!) that interests them on a personal level, no matter how uncool it might seem to the vast majority of the population. This, by the way, is why a fair amount of women were annoyed by That Underwear Scene. Because Star Trek is not just for men.
* In Michael Gove's latest school shake-up, Pupils who fail to gain a C-grade or higher in their English and/or Maths GCSEs will be forced to keep retaking the exam until they reach that target. Or until they hit eighteen, whichever comes first. All of which sounds rather sensible, except that there seems to be no provision for special educational needs. Some kids just aren't going to be able to manage it through no fault of their own, and it's cruel to force them to try, when you could be focusing on things that they are good at.
Not to mention, I was only able to take four GCSEs because of my M.E.: Music, English Language, and Dual Science. Because my energy needed to be severely rationed, it was a planned decision that I miss out Maths at GCSE, because I knew I was capable of a higher qualification that would stand me in better stead for university. So I studied for an AS-level at home (which didn't go entirely as intended, since the modules I picked out were too new to have textbooks, but that's a whole other story!) and in my "recovery and application year" did an Open University Maths course that gave me a higher qualification to show to university interviewers. If I'd been stuck with this new regulation, I don't know what would have happened to me. I suspect I'd have either had to drop something else, or I'd have had to spread my GCSEs over years that should have been A-level years, and would have lost contact with my own peer group entirely. Not a fun thought.
* Accident investigators reveal that the MV Danio crashed into the Farne Islands in March because the captain forgot about England and essentially drew a straight line from Scotland to Belgium as his course. Whoops!
* And finally, Westminster Council has painted a nine-inch section of double-yellow lines that are barely big enough to prevent a toy car from parking...
Really, Alice? Really?! And just in case you happen to be reading this and are confused, I'll answer the question: no Alice, the female version of nerdy is not a lot of knowledge about fashion and beauty issues. You are absolutely allowed to be a nerd about fashion and beauty, but so is everyone, regardless of gender. Because the female version of nerdy is exactly the same as the male version of nerdy - one person with a specific, in-depth knowledge about something (ANYTHING!) that interests them on a personal level, no matter how uncool it might seem to the vast majority of the population. This, by the way, is why a fair amount of women were annoyed by That Underwear Scene. Because Star Trek is not just for men.
* In Michael Gove's latest school shake-up, Pupils who fail to gain a C-grade or higher in their English and/or Maths GCSEs will be forced to keep retaking the exam until they reach that target. Or until they hit eighteen, whichever comes first. All of which sounds rather sensible, except that there seems to be no provision for special educational needs. Some kids just aren't going to be able to manage it through no fault of their own, and it's cruel to force them to try, when you could be focusing on things that they are good at.
Not to mention, I was only able to take four GCSEs because of my M.E.: Music, English Language, and Dual Science. Because my energy needed to be severely rationed, it was a planned decision that I miss out Maths at GCSE, because I knew I was capable of a higher qualification that would stand me in better stead for university. So I studied for an AS-level at home (which didn't go entirely as intended, since the modules I picked out were too new to have textbooks, but that's a whole other story!) and in my "recovery and application year" did an Open University Maths course that gave me a higher qualification to show to university interviewers. If I'd been stuck with this new regulation, I don't know what would have happened to me. I suspect I'd have either had to drop something else, or I'd have had to spread my GCSEs over years that should have been A-level years, and would have lost contact with my own peer group entirely. Not a fun thought.
* Accident investigators reveal that the MV Danio crashed into the Farne Islands in March because the captain forgot about England and essentially drew a straight line from Scotland to Belgium as his course. Whoops!
* And finally, Westminster Council has painted a nine-inch section of double-yellow lines that are barely big enough to prevent a toy car from parking...