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True stories of the 1975 EEC Referendum
Society, Politics & Law

True stories of the 1975 EEC Referendum

...out - but not all the cabinet were convinced. It was Tony Benn who persuaded Wilson that the correct way to act would be to seek the will of the people: "I felt that a decision of such constitutional importance could not be contemplated without the explicit consent of the electorate in a general election or referendum. This view initially found no support when I put it to...
What is happening in Brazil?
Society, Politics & Law

What is happening in Brazil?

...out the latest explosive news. What's Happened Most Recently? The turbulence started earlier this month when federal police brought in Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president between 2003 and 2010, for questioning. Next, sitting president Dilma Rouseff appointed Lula her chief of staff, in what appears to be a move to shield him against prosecution. “Operation...
Who are otherkin - and how should we view them?
Society, Politics & Law

Who are otherkin - and how should we view them?

...out, I found a large number of people with a large number of self-identifications.” The term ‘otherkin’ was coined by a contributor to Elkind Digest. “I got tired of typing elf/dragon/orc/etc-kin and just used otherkin,” wrote Torin. As access to the internet spread beyond the professional middle classes, the otherkin community multiplied and diversified. “The...
Death on the tracks: A 19th century train crash
History & The Arts

Death on the tracks: A 19th century train crash

...out giving the signal to stop, but they were then going at the rate of fifteen or sixteen miles an hour. This man gave the signal with his hand. Upon this he shut off the steam, opened the whistle, and told the fireman to put on the break, as he was afraid there was something the matter. Shortly afterwards he told the fireman to jump off, having reversed the engine, as he...
Does maths offer a better model for multi-candidate elections?
Science, Maths & Technology

Does maths offer a better model for multi-candidate elections?

...out as the winner? Condorcet and Borda Two French noblemen of the 1700s thought about how to organize multi-candidate elections: the Marqis de Condorcet and Jean-Charles de Borda. (Condorcet was friends with Thomas Jefferson, who appears to have paid little attention to Condorcet’s writings about voting.) Condorcet suggested that, if an absolute majority – more than...
Using digital tools to save languages
Languages

Using digital tools to save languages

...out of the blue, she started telling me stories. After the first one, I had this gut feeling that I had to record it, even though I didn’t know how I would use it. So I covertly took out my camera and started shooting. My grandma didn’t just narrate the stories—she made herself part of them. Relating a sad episode that the characters were going through would make...
Stephen Hawking: The tributes
Science, Maths & Technology

Stephen Hawking: The tributes

...out, and how it became such a big deal in the UK. It was amazing how widely read and discussed it was, particularly given its content (stuff that is usually portrayed as being really difficult and/or boring). It was a fantastic example of how even the most complex and challenging ideas can capture the imagination, when they’re explained in the right way. Above and...
The Rise and Fall of the Slave Trade
History & The Arts

The Rise and Fall of the Slave Trade

...out more about The Open University's Social Science courses and qualifications [Actors portray William of Somerly inspecting his plantation] In this still from the OU/BBC series The Slavery Business, William Beckford of Somerley (Richard Dillane, on horseback, left) inspects his sugar plantation in Jamaica Slavery – the ownership and control of one human being by...