Category Archives: statistics

Disadvantaged Students and Educational Innovation

“…in 2014, only 36.5 per cent of disadvantaged pupils achieved 5 A*-C including English and maths GCSEs, compared with 64.0 per cent of other pupils.”1 Bright Futures Educational Trust2 controls South Shore Academy, Blackpool. Achieving 5 Grade ‘A*-Cs’ is remote … Continue reading

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American Mass Shootings: Entertainment for Psychopaths?

“Mass Shooting Tracker: four or more persons shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time.”1 The invasion of Ukraine began on February 24th 2022. In the USA, on that day, there were two mass shootings with … Continue reading

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Jeff Bezos and Charity

Jeff Bezos is a multi-billionaire1 and gives large amounts of money to various charities. The most recent of which is $123 million for fighting homelessness.2 This is an eye-catching amount. Some might regard it as stupendous. But is it? Bezos … Continue reading

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Criminal Bankers and Their Keep-Out-Of-Jail Card

“….more than 17,600 other record[s]… allegedly show how senior banking officials allowed fraudsters to move money [£1.5 trillion] between accounts in the knowledge that the funds were being generated or used criminally. Five global banks were named in the investigation: … Continue reading

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Premium Bonds Ride Again

Premium Bonds were introduced by Harold MacMillan in 1956.1 His insight was inventing a gamble where you could get your stake back, in full: Neo-gambling, as it were. MacMillan’s Premium – note the word – Bonds had monthly ‘prizes’ instead … Continue reading

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Book Review: Mike Davis ~ Planet of Slums (2006)

For a smug Westerner like me this book is a punch in the face. Britain is currently, September 2022, obsessed by massive increases in energy bills. I too whine and demand support from the government to maintain my entitlements. Clearly, … Continue reading

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Rishi Sunak: Scourge of the Middle Classes

Chancellor Sunak has increased taxation from income, which will alienate Conservative middle-class voters. Problem? No way. Adroit political footwork and the magic of inflation will square the political circle. Quietly, without fanfare, and with deadly efficiency Sunak created additional income … Continue reading

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Life Expectancy, Health Care and Lifestyle Choices

The USA spends the greatest amount of money per capita on health care. This hasn’t translated into the highest life expectancy. Their life expectancy lags behind poorer countries. Pure medical solutions compete with the lifestyles of their population. If a … Continue reading

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Institutional Police Racism and Section 60 ‘Stop and Search’

In a bid to help the police tackle knife crime, in 2019 the government relaxed guidance on Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, enabling police to stop and search people without suspicion or ‘reasonable grounds’. … Continue reading

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Thirteen Ships and Thirty-six Admirals: The Royal Navy, 2022

“Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves:“Britons never will be slaves.”1 The Royal Navy guaranteed British independence for centuries. The last successful invasion of Britain was in 1688 by the Dutch, who’d made sure they got a good reception when they … Continue reading

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