Tom Rank
@tomrank.bsky.social
Reflections on literature, education - and other ramblings. Was @literaryconnect in the other place 😀
http://www.literaryconnections.co.uk/
http://www.literaryconnections.co.uk/
Reposted by Tom Rank
EVs are already incredibly expensive for those who can't charge at home. Why make the disparity even greater?
November 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
EVs are already incredibly expensive for those who can't charge at home. Why make the disparity even greater?
Reposted by Tom Rank
Bad news for anyone thinking of responding to the consultation on the new electric vehicle duty.
The consultation opens today, and closes last March.
The consultation opens today, and closes last March.
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Bad news for anyone thinking of responding to the consultation on the new electric vehicle duty.
The consultation opens today, and closes last March.
The consultation opens today, and closes last March.
Reposted by Tom Rank
An easy way to resolve the issue of CEO pay, especially given that MATs are (exempt) charities would be to fix them at a ceiling of x times the lowest fte salary in the MAT. It's been suggested numerous times and I don't really know why the govt doesn't do it.
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
An easy way to resolve the issue of CEO pay, especially given that MATs are (exempt) charities would be to fix them at a ceiling of x times the lowest fte salary in the MAT. It's been suggested numerous times and I don't really know why the govt doesn't do it.
Reposted by Tom Rank
Not photographs. Taking a SELFY on a phone creates a mirror image, if the camera app is set to save it like that; it's so you get the same mirrored image you saw while taking it. (mirrored image is easier because we're used to looking at a mirror). My app has a setting to choose how it is saved..
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Not photographs. Taking a SELFY on a phone creates a mirror image, if the camera app is set to save it like that; it's so you get the same mirrored image you saw while taking it. (mirrored image is easier because we're used to looking at a mirror). My app has a setting to choose how it is saved..
Reposted by Tom Rank
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
November 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
Reposted by Tom Rank
By the way, note that the description of Biden as being "in obvious mental decline" was left in the speech, while the description of Trump as the "most openly corrupt president in American history" was removed:
Note that the BBC openly admits in an email to me that the removal of this claim about Trump's world-historical corruption was done "on legal advice."
Translation: Trump's threat of a lawsuit, no matter how bogus, has now been rewarded.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Translation: Trump's threat of a lawsuit, no matter how bogus, has now been rewarded.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
November 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
By the way, note that the description of Biden as being "in obvious mental decline" was left in the speech, while the description of Trump as the "most openly corrupt president in American history" was removed:
Love the new look of @natefeed.bsky.social 's Teaching English magazine, which arrived today. More pages, too, and I like the realism of that quotation on the cover: 'Not by being perfect but by showing up.'
November 26, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Love the new look of @natefeed.bsky.social 's Teaching English magazine, which arrived today. More pages, too, and I like the realism of that quotation on the cover: 'Not by being perfect but by showing up.'
Reposted by Tom Rank
Nice summary of the details and potentially good news for those of us that have disconnectedthe gas; at least in the short term. All eyes on the Warm Homes Plan now. 👀
We've got some Nesta reaction to the Budget up, underpinned by some brilliant speedy analysis by my colleague Dan Lewis.
📉 What does the budget mean for energy bills?
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-do...
@nestauk.bsky.social
📉 What does the budget mean for energy bills?
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-do...
@nestauk.bsky.social
What does the Budget mean for energy bills?
Major changes to energy bills in the Budget will affect households across the country
www.nesta.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Nice summary of the details and potentially good news for those of us that have disconnectedthe gas; at least in the short term. All eyes on the Warm Homes Plan now. 👀
Reposted by Tom Rank
‘Raid’? Really? In the FT?
Property income tax to rise as raid on expensive homes is confirmed on.ft.com/3LYc0CZ
Property income tax to rise as raid on expensive homes is confirmed
From April 2027, a 2 percentage point increase will be applied to basic, higher and additional rates
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM
‘Raid’? Really? In the FT?
Reposted by Tom Rank
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Tom Rank
Top tip™️ for council officers: save time and effort by using the same application for Rishi Sunak chessboards and Rachel Reeves playgrounds
November 26, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Top tip™️ for council officers: save time and effort by using the same application for Rishi Sunak chessboards and Rachel Reeves playgrounds
Reposted by Tom Rank
This is a massively dumb way to fund things. Just fund local government properly through fiscal devolution, council tax reform, and social care reform. Oh, wait, you ducked all of those again....
November 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
This is a massively dumb way to fund things. Just fund local government properly through fiscal devolution, council tax reform, and social care reform. Oh, wait, you ducked all of those again....
Reposted by Tom Rank
Yep; not earth shattering. But we do need more council houses... Right To Buy was a dreadful policy as it depleted the social housing stock.
November 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Yep; not earth shattering. But we do need more council houses... Right To Buy was a dreadful policy as it depleted the social housing stock.
Reposted by Tom Rank
A landlord group that I'm on is upset about the extra 2% tax on rental income; the fear is that this will simply be passed to tenants and more landlords will sell up, also putting rents up.
We need more council houses so that people can still get somewhere to rent.
We need more council houses so that people can still get somewhere to rent.
November 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
A landlord group that I'm on is upset about the extra 2% tax on rental income; the fear is that this will simply be passed to tenants and more landlords will sell up, also putting rents up.
We need more council houses so that people can still get somewhere to rent.
We need more council houses so that people can still get somewhere to rent.
Reposted by Tom Rank
We’re very much enjoying reading the new format of @natefeed.bsky.social’s Teaching English magazine. Here’s our colleague Claire Pollard sharing her wisdom about giving new teachers the freedom to try out their own ideas
November 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
We’re very much enjoying reading the new format of @natefeed.bsky.social’s Teaching English magazine. Here’s our colleague Claire Pollard sharing her wisdom about giving new teachers the freedom to try out their own ideas
Reposted by Tom Rank
Reeves says petrol is still expensive.
So the 5p cut in fuel duty will be extended until 2026, she says.
Great. So polluters get to continue to poison us. Yet EV drivers get penalised with pay per mile.
🙃
Climate change. What’s that?
So the 5p cut in fuel duty will be extended until 2026, she says.
Great. So polluters get to continue to poison us. Yet EV drivers get penalised with pay per mile.
🙃
Climate change. What’s that?
November 26, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reeves says petrol is still expensive.
So the 5p cut in fuel duty will be extended until 2026, she says.
Great. So polluters get to continue to poison us. Yet EV drivers get penalised with pay per mile.
🙃
Climate change. What’s that?
So the 5p cut in fuel duty will be extended until 2026, she says.
Great. So polluters get to continue to poison us. Yet EV drivers get penalised with pay per mile.
🙃
Climate change. What’s that?
Reposted by Tom Rank
As federal subsidies for clean appliances expire, California spending $100 million to get window heat pumps into low-income homes
As Federal Support Withers, California Invests in Cheap Heat Pumps
The state is allocating more than $100 million to create demand for energy-efficient technologies that renters and low-income residents can afford.
bloom.bg
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
As federal subsidies for clean appliances expire, California spending $100 million to get window heat pumps into low-income homes
Reposted by Tom Rank
Every single person in Britain: "the chippy" or, if we're being fancy, "the chip shop"
The New York Times: "the french fry restaurant"
The New York Times: "the french fry restaurant"
new favourite New York Times term for a British thing just dropped
November 26, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Every single person in Britain: "the chippy" or, if we're being fancy, "the chip shop"
The New York Times: "the french fry restaurant"
The New York Times: "the french fry restaurant"
Reposted by Tom Rank
Considering how hard it is to get a dentist appointment these days, I think we could do with more sugar tax, not less.
www.nihr.ac.uk/news/sugar-t...
www.nihr.ac.uk/news/sugar-t...
November 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Considering how hard it is to get a dentist appointment these days, I think we could do with more sugar tax, not less.
www.nihr.ac.uk/news/sugar-t...
www.nihr.ac.uk/news/sugar-t...
Reposted by Tom Rank
Keir Starmer got a telling off yesterday for getting involved in a 6-7 rampage. news.sky.com/video/sir-ke...
Sir Keir Starmer apologises to head teacher for joining in on '6-7' dance
The Prime Minister led pupils in a version of the viral '6-7' dance meme whilst visiting Welland Academy in Peterborough. He was visiting the school to promote the expansion of the free school meals p...
news.sky.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Keir Starmer got a telling off yesterday for getting involved in a 6-7 rampage. news.sky.com/video/sir-ke...
Reposted by Tom Rank
Meanwhile, @tonythorne007.bsky.social explains for BBC Bitesize what 6-7 tells us about slang trends and young people. www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/art...
6-7 and the 'secret' language of kids - BBC Bitesize
Have you noticed your teens – or younger kids - laughing and doing a hand gesture every time the numbers 6 and 7 come up in sequence? Any idea what they’re actually saying or laughing at? As a parent ...
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Meanwhile, @tonythorne007.bsky.social explains for BBC Bitesize what 6-7 tells us about slang trends and young people. www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/art...
Reposted by Tom Rank
While the mainstream discussions are depressingly about *how* best to remove and stop immigrants, it’s a revolutionary act nowadays to say that immigration is actually a positive thing and an essential component of a thriving country, so please join me in doing so!
August 28, 2025 at 9:17 AM
While the mainstream discussions are depressingly about *how* best to remove and stop immigrants, it’s a revolutionary act nowadays to say that immigration is actually a positive thing and an essential component of a thriving country, so please join me in doing so!
Reposted by Tom Rank
So many of the problems with the UK asylum system - culture of disbelief, poor or nonexistent advice, endless delays, cruel accommodation policies - rolled into one awful case.
@diane-writer10.bsky.social always gets the human stories others miss or don’t care about
@diane-writer10.bsky.social always gets the human stories others miss or don’t care about
The life and limbo of a UK asylum seeker: one man’s harrowing 17-year wait for leave to remain
Ussu fled imprisonment and torture, only to find himself treated like a liar and outcast in the UK. Here’s how he survived homelessness and horrific injury in almost two decades without a decision
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
So many of the problems with the UK asylum system - culture of disbelief, poor or nonexistent advice, endless delays, cruel accommodation policies - rolled into one awful case.
@diane-writer10.bsky.social always gets the human stories others miss or don’t care about
@diane-writer10.bsky.social always gets the human stories others miss or don’t care about
Reposted by Tom Rank
ChatGPT took Press Gazette content then said that could not have happened:
World’s leading LLM said it could not have done the thing it did. pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/ch...
World’s leading LLM said it could not have done the thing it did. pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/ch...
ChatGPT took Press Gazette content then said that could not have happened
World's leading LLM said it could not have done the thing it did.
pressgazette.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 8:39 AM
ChatGPT took Press Gazette content then said that could not have happened:
World’s leading LLM said it could not have done the thing it did. pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/ch...
World’s leading LLM said it could not have done the thing it did. pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/ch...
Reposted by Tom Rank
✍️NEW on the Mainstream blog:
As the Budget looms, Labour have lost the art of making the moral case for policy - but this could change with the two-child benefit limit, writes @chrleft.bsky.social Director Hannah Rich (@hannahmerich.bsky.social).
Read it below:
As the Budget looms, Labour have lost the art of making the moral case for policy - but this could change with the two-child benefit limit, writes @chrleft.bsky.social Director Hannah Rich (@hannahmerich.bsky.social).
Read it below:
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
✍️NEW on the Mainstream blog:
As the Budget looms, Labour have lost the art of making the moral case for policy - but this could change with the two-child benefit limit, writes @chrleft.bsky.social Director Hannah Rich (@hannahmerich.bsky.social).
Read it below:
As the Budget looms, Labour have lost the art of making the moral case for policy - but this could change with the two-child benefit limit, writes @chrleft.bsky.social Director Hannah Rich (@hannahmerich.bsky.social).
Read it below: