Interesting Links for 25-03-2019

[andrewducker]

Brexit: Minister warns MPs they face general election if they vote to remain in customs union or single market

(tags:politics uk europe Conservatives )

Smear test: Fear, pain and misunderstanding keep women from undergoing a life-saving procedure

(tags:health women pain )

Cervical screening: How enduring use of 150-year-old speculum puts women off smear tests

(tags:women health history medicine )

Why are nets appearing over trees and hedges?

(tags:nature uk building )

The Disney-Fox giant in five charts

(tags:Disney fox tv business )

Margaret Atwood on MeToo and what kind of feminist she isn't

(tags:feminism margaretatwood society )

Wales set to follow Scotland's lead in introducing smacking ban

(tags:wales scotland children abuse violence law )

UK's big broadband providers give shoddy service

(tags:uk internet )

Good Morning Britain now happy to give publicity to transphobic harassers

(tags:tv uk lgbt transgender )

Your Kids Can Now Watch Astronauts Reading Stories From Space

(tags:space astronauts reading videos )

74% of coal power plants now pricier than solar or wind

(tags:renewables solarpower windpower coal thefuture )

Comments

[danieldwilliam]

I am not certain that a General Election would give us much certainty.

[alithea]

I really don't think it would

[andrewducker]

And if it did, it wouldn't be good.

[danieldwilliam]

Not sure that it wouldn't be good.

There's a scenario where Labour and the Tories stand still in England and Wales, the DUP lose a seat to the SDLP and the SNP gain a dozen seats in Scotland.

[andrewducker]

That's rather my point. That outcome doesn't provide certainty, but does make things better. Anything which gave a certain outcome would almost certainly be making things worse.

[danieldwilliam]

Ah - yes, I see. I agree. Short of the SNP winning everyseat north of Thannet the more certainty the less likely I am to personally like the outcome.

[andrewducker]

I'm mostly keeping my fingers crossed about tonight and the indicative votes.

[alithea]

Oooh, thanks for the stories from space link - I've just messaged that to a friend whose daughter wants to be an astronaut when she grows up :)

[strange_complex]

Same, but substituting 'sister' for 'friend'! :-)

[purplerabbits]

Another reason some people with a cervix are reluctant to have smear tests is that everything says women or worse "ladies" and they are not women :-(