Words Matter. Phrasing Matters
On the BBC Radio 3 news this morning:
As part of the Brexit extension process, Britain is obliged to take part in the EU elections.
Instead of making it sound like a burden is being placed upon us, how about saying something like:
As part of the European Union’s democratic processes, Britain, like all member states, enjoys the right to hold elections for members of the European Parliament.
How you express things affects how people think about them.
Job Changing
I started at SAHSU in Imperial College London in March of last year. I finished there today. Well, yesterday: today was my last day of employment, but I had holiday entitlement to use up. It was a fixed-term contract for a year initially, and they were able to extend it by a month or so, but there was no more funding, and without funding, no job.
So I’m job-hunting again. I had an interview yesterday, and they’ve asked me back for another one next week. I have one with another company next week too, so there are jobs out there. I just need to find the right one.
So if you happen to know of anyone who’s looking for an experienced Java developer with a side-order of Python, and various other skills, point them my way.
Not to make a political point from today’s black-hole news — I would never do a thing like that — but isn’t it great what humans can accomplish when we collaborate between nations?
Far better than, say, building walls between nations, or breaking international treaties.
Congratulations to the Event Horizon Telescope team. The first ever picture of a black hole. In this case, the supermassive one at the centre of the M87 galaxy.
Parrots! In Hackney!
There were four parrots in the tree across the road. You can see three of them here. Not great photo quality, unfortunately.
My daughter tells me there was a story about them escaping from the zoo recently. I couldn’t find that, but here’s a story with much better pictures about London’s feral parrots.
I hope everyone’s not petitioned out, because we need this: To establish a Public Inquiry into the conduct of the 2016 EU Referendum.
There will be a public enquiry about Brexit and how it was mishandled, eventually. But it could be years from now. Sooner is better.
EU Citizens
It’s sad when even pro-European organisations get things wrong about us.
Last week I signed up for, and tweeted about, a programme designed to encourage people to vote in the EU parliamentary elections:
The European Parliament’s outreach team (or “institutional, non-partisan communication action”) is encouraging us to sign up at This Time I’m Voting. I will be, as I always do — assuming, of course, that we in the UK are able to. https://t.co/cB4TVpTBZ6
— Martin McCallion (@devilgate) March 25, 2019
Today I got an email from “This Time I’m Voting,” containing the following text:
If you are one of the 3.5 million EU nationals still living here in the UK
…
Therefore, whether you are British or an EU citizen
…
Last time I looked there are around 67 million EU nationals living in the UK. At least until next week, and hopefully for a long time after that. I mean, that’s kind of the point of this whole struggle we’re having, isn’t it?
The fact that (some) people in the UK fail to identify as EU citizens is partly what has got us into this mess.
Marina's on Fire Again
Marina Hyde may have written her greatest line (so far):
the Commons decision to take the prime minister into special measures
The whole piece is, as ever, glorious.
Aw man. Ranking Roger has died. Only 56: too young.
New passport arrived. The proper, dignified burgundy colour.
That’s me set as an EU citizen till 2029.
That’s how it works, right?
The European Parliament’s outreach team (or “institutional, non-partisan communication action”) is encouraging us to sign up at This Time I’m Voting. I will be, as I always do — assuming, of course, that we in the UK are able to.
I’m approximating the colours of the flag today. And my tiny banner is ready to go. Off into town for the #PeopleVoteMarch.
(Error loading gallery)The petition has crossed the three million mark.
Rafael Behr has a great piece in The Guardian about May being finished.
It even has a Hamilton reference.
Parliamentary petitions, including “Revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU,” have a “Show on a map” feature. I note without comment that the second-most signatures of any London constituency are currently in Islington North. Its MP is one J Corbyn.
As the big “Revoke Article 50″ petition approaches 600,000 signatures:
Petitions is down for maintenance
We know about it and we’re working on it.
Please try again later.
I think we broke parliament.uk. Which feels like some kind of metaphor.
Good thread from Mitch Benn (@MitchBenn) here, setting out how the conversation around Europe could improve if Brexit is stopped. Just six tweets. Go read.
OK/Cancel
The other day I was explaining to my daughter why I thought a second referendum would be right and democratic. I reached for an analogy, and came up with the idea that you don’t (usually) do something as serious as deleting a file without getting a confirmation dialogue to confirm that you really mean to go ahead.
So now I’m planning on making a banner with some version of the image below for the “Put it to the People” march on Saturday. Just trying to perfect the wording. All suggestions gratefully considered.
Not shown: my Unix-based joke alternative, which would be something like:
# Leavers be all like:
rm -rf britains-special-place-in-the-eu/
Though maybe “Abort, Retry, Fail” would be more in keeping with the times.