Pat Stafford
@staffo.bsky.social
Secondary Maths teacher, UK trained but working overseas. Also interested in Python programming, recreational maths, cricket, board games, and other stuff too nerdy to admit to in public.
Have you met women?
December 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Have you met women?
Have you listened to her stuff with theaudience? It's very good
November 19, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Have you listened to her stuff with theaudience? It's very good
And you can't park on the road? The bit that's for cars?
November 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
And you can't park on the road? The bit that's for cars?
You do know that the path outside your house isn't your path, don't you?
November 14, 2025 at 10:05 AM
You do know that the path outside your house isn't your path, don't you?
The dictionary is responding to current usage, but that current usage is illogical (as your link acknowledges) which is why so many people think it's wrong. And let's face it, it is clearly wrong.
November 1, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The dictionary is responding to current usage, but that current usage is illogical (as your link acknowledges) which is why so many people think it's wrong. And let's face it, it is clearly wrong.
I hope "worse" was just an innocent typing mistake!
November 1, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I hope "worse" was just an innocent typing mistake!
It's up there with "I could care less", and "it's not that big of a deal" 😔
October 20, 2025 at 10:48 PM
It's up there with "I could care less", and "it's not that big of a deal" 😔
"Set foot" or "step", but never "step foot". Never.
October 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
"Set foot" or "step", but never "step foot". Never.
Also, I feel that clarity is more important than length. In fact I might go so far as to say I'd put elegance above length. "Obligated" adds length but does nothing for clarity, and reduces elegance. But always good to stay imformated on what other people think!
October 16, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Also, I feel that clarity is more important than length. In fact I might go so far as to say I'd put elegance above length. "Obligated" adds length but does nothing for clarity, and reduces elegance. But always good to stay imformated on what other people think!
If used universally there are some (not many) situations where it could introduce ambiguity. I've seen far more cases where omitting it causes a problem, which is why I became an Oxford Comma Cult Member several years ago.
October 16, 2025 at 7:51 PM
If used universally there are some (not many) situations where it could introduce ambiguity. I've seen far more cases where omitting it causes a problem, which is why I became an Oxford Comma Cult Member several years ago.
:) Yeah, sorry about that! Why on earth would I include an extra punctuation mark if all it did was remove ambiguity? (I'm talking about a general approach, not this specific example)
October 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
:) Yeah, sorry about that! Why on earth would I include an extra punctuation mark if all it did was remove ambiguity? (I'm talking about a general approach, not this specific example)
They could use "obliged", which would be correct, shorter, and more elegant.
October 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM
They could use "obliged", which would be correct, shorter, and more elegant.
Anyone know why some people insist on adding an extra 'a' and 't' to the word 'obliged'?
October 16, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Anyone know why some people insist on adding an extra 'a' and 't' to the word 'obliged'?
A year 11 girl I once taught came up with her own. She got as far as "Sit on his..." when I thought it best she stopped
September 18, 2025 at 10:48 PM
A year 11 girl I once taught came up with her own. She got as far as "Sit on his..." when I thought it best she stopped
I work in an international school in Asia. First day back yesterday. Big drop in the number of students going to US universities this year. Principal shared stories of staff holiday travel; nothing from the US (lots of US citizens among the teaching staff).
August 12, 2025 at 9:34 AM
I work in an international school in Asia. First day back yesterday. Big drop in the number of students going to US universities this year. Principal shared stories of staff holiday travel; nothing from the US (lots of US citizens among the teaching staff).
Leave it in a nearby woods that dog walkers use
July 8, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Leave it in a nearby woods that dog walkers use
Nice. But should it be Bathgate (14) and Kigali (15)?
April 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Nice. But should it be Bathgate (14) and Kigali (15)?
Not entirely true. Both China (PRC) and Taiwan (RoC) consider Taiwan and mainland China to be two parts of the same country. They disagree on who is the legitimate government.
April 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Not entirely true. Both China (PRC) and Taiwan (RoC) consider Taiwan and mainland China to be two parts of the same country. They disagree on who is the legitimate government.
(b), most likely
If they were arrested it would be because there was sufficient evidence that they had committed crimes
If they were arrested it would be because there was sufficient evidence that they had committed crimes
March 31, 2025 at 8:22 AM
(b), most likely
If they were arrested it would be because there was sufficient evidence that they had committed crimes
If they were arrested it would be because there was sufficient evidence that they had committed crimes
If you (or others) are interested in knowing more, can I suggest reading The Other Side of the Story, by Nury Vittachi.
March 31, 2025 at 6:08 AM
If you (or others) are interested in knowing more, can I suggest reading The Other Side of the Story, by Nury Vittachi.
Callum, I don't know you but will agree with you that it is indeed astounding. Western media reporting on Hong Kong is highly partisan. I live in HK and can confirm that it is nothing at all like the place that you will be told about. It's not perfect, but I'd much rather live here than the UK.
March 31, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Callum, I don't know you but will agree with you that it is indeed astounding. Western media reporting on Hong Kong is highly partisan. I live in HK and can confirm that it is nothing at all like the place that you will be told about. It's not perfect, but I'd much rather live here than the UK.
Is this post full of people who have never been to Hong Kong telling someone who is in Hong Kong what Hong Kong is really like?
March 31, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Is this post full of people who have never been to Hong Kong telling someone who is in Hong Kong what Hong Kong is really like?
This is all good, but the US and China are by far the biggest markets for Tesla. What's happening to sales in those countries?
February 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This is all good, but the US and China are by far the biggest markets for Tesla. What's happening to sales in those countries?