Recently updated blogs

Wandering around The Royal Exchange in The City of London on a quiet Sunday afternoon I happened to notice what might be the tiniest light well I have ever seen. I'd say its approx 40cm x 30cm. It is one of many interesting details around this island of commerce... But before I show you some nice things, let's consider the window display next door at No.31 where unsold pies and …

God Damn the FerrymanMy annual reminder that two things in life don't work. Goretex and cardboard ID Cards. Despite having the "best in test" mountain raincoat, water ingress starts at about mile 4. Despite having my National Trust card in the inner sleeve of my phone case, I am completing a request for a replacement. Dog eared doesn't begin to describe its current state. The phone is still working.I knew …

We’re always excited to share news about Aberdeen’s vibrant arts scene, and even though we’re on holiday this week, we couldn’t resist bringing this one to your attention. We love shining a light on the smaller, intimate shows that often fly under the radar, and Bodies at Rest, a solo exhibition by Michael Hautemulle at the Arkade Gallery, is exactly the kind of event we want to share with you.Until …

Rachel Reeves has said there is a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances, and that she’ll have to raise tax to fill it. Labour are heavily constrained by their pre-election promises, and that makes raising £22bn a challenging endeavour. But certainly not impossible. This is an updated version of my August article. I’ve previously […] Source

Last week the IPPR’s Commission on Health and Prosperity published its final report. The report not only makes a number of important recommendations for future health policy, but it also focuses on how better health can also improve economic outcomes. I must admit, when I was first asked to be a member of that Commission, I did have a minor concern about this. I felt that the argument for better …

We learned something new today, so perhaps you will, too: The acronym for the colors of the rainbow in Norwegian is ROGGBIF, which Oslo-based Studio Sløyd has used to title its new collection of stools, as multi-colored and joyful as you’d expect from such a moniker. Comprising 24 different playful shapes, each is designed to explore applications of a newly created dyed wood technique, which founders Herman Ødegaard, Mikkel Jøraandstad, …

Back on British soil for the first time in four and half years; I’ve not been back since the day I moved to Sweden. People seem amazed when I tell them that. “Don’t you miss it?” Not in the slightest. The reasons why were apparent as soon as I passed passport control in Brussels. Gone are the extortionate but at least welcoming and agreeable array of concessions where one might …

Things are being a bit too eventful in the Bostoniensis household.But first: I'm ambulatory again. Starting about starting about two weeks ago my pain finally started ebbing – a mere five weeks after my epidural – and by about a week ago I was better enough to start doing some things for myself again and also wash my hair.I'm not actually certain how much of this benefit is from the …

This weathervane was photographed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.A view of Carpenters Court, in frontof Carpenters' HallCarpenters' Hall is a historic landmark in Philadelphia, about a block away from Independence Hall. It was the site of the First Continental Congress in 1774, and also it was where Franklin installed his Library Company. It is open to the public and FREE since 1857 when it was the first private US building open as …

These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are the ultimate fall treat. This recipe is a variation on our Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls, which many of you have deemed the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever had! (Check out the comments to see how many folks who have long hunted for the perfect soft cinnamon roll love this recipe!) These ... View Post

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a key component of Tier 1 instruction; however, it’s essential to understand that UDL is a framework or lens, not a checklist. It may be helpful to conceptualize UDL through a desk and chair example. Imagine our goal is to help all students use this piece of furniture for learning. Read the following post or watch my video below for more details! AccessibleOne question …

I’m happy to present the eighth title in the Grammaticus Free Library series: “An Alpine Divorce”, an exciting crime story written by the Scottish-Canadian writer Robert Barr (1849–1912). It’s about a husband and wife who grew to hate each other with passion. While on holidays in the Swiss Alps, their marriage comes to its tragic and final end.

At the Planned Parenthood Book Sale last year, I found two groups of science fiction and fantasy magazines tied together, for sale for a few dollars per bundle. This week I pulled out one of those and read some stories from it.These stories come from the October/November 2000 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. "Dreamseed" by Carolyn Ives GilmanThis is a novelette about the discovery of a …

GMless games are a weird niche. Tabletop role-playing started with Game Masters, all the way back in Braunstein. Decades later, that is still how the vast majority play. The percentage of us exploring role-playing games without a GM is a tiny, tiny slice of that culture. But guess what? It’s not even one weird niche: it’s two separate niches. There are a million possible ways to make GMless games, but …

So we go on. Back to the unpredictable east coast, one last go for a big Bass, a creature we haven’t been able to track down with any consistency and tonight we’d opted to fish the most awkward beach we know. So we set up at the ‘cauldron’ both of us with a bass rig each baited with ragworm and a ‘big bait’ rig, squid in my case. The evening …