Micheal Gove — the Minister for levelling up, the title actually includes the phrase, ‘levelling up!’ — is due to announce more funds for various UK regions: in an attempt to boost employment, and improve circumstances.
I’ve no problem with the idea: and welcome it.
But am sceptical about any funds that are being discussed: I think there’s a certain amount of number juggling and book cooking going on.
My problem — and it’s a minor one — is the term, levelling up.
Players of these games have in-game characters. Those characters can earn experience points for their actions: and will go up a level — become more powerful — once they’ve earned enough points.
They level up, in other words.
For me? The government use of the term is a bad choice.
I hear it, and I don’t think of government help for impoverished regions of the UK.
No.
I think Michael Gove’s* pretending to be a wizard, in a games of Dungeons and Dragons.
That’s not a reassuring thought.
Because it means asking what the Government’s playing at.
~≈§≈~
Let’s move on, shall we?
Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga†, Mum‡ and Debbi^ putting in their answers: with Olga And Debbi scoring five out of five, and Mum on three.
Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?
The quizmaster’s decisions about scores are final.
Thank you for coming: have a good day.
* The frightening idea … ? Is of Boris Johnson as a barbarian. Given they traditionally wear much, that’s not a pleasant thought …
† Sounds like it’s just as busy at your end, Olga! Good luck with all that! Don’t forget to point that literary festival at Debbi, Spanish noir will grab her!
From what I recall … ? The Southern states insisted on literacy testing: you couldn’t get away with it, today. At least, I hope you couldn’t!
(He’s doing well: the recent video’s clocked six likes and 24 views, in three days.)
‡ Hello, Mum!
^ It’s a tough one to find, I think, Debbi: I don’t know if it’s on Britbox, for example. It’s not on the iPlayer, even. (Enjoy the album!)
Q5) New York Yes, it is busy here, and I've just heard from the editor of the radio news programme that she still tested positive yesterday, so I'm not sure when she'll be able to come back. Well done to Jude. Very good for a very early effort. Oh, the BCNegra (https://www.barcelona.cat/bcnegra/ca) is not exclusively about Spanish noir. They bring and talk about all kinds of people, and they give an award, the Pepe Carvalho (Pepe Carvalho is a well-known character in a series by a writer from Barcelona, Manuel Vázquez Montalbán https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_V%C3%A1zquez_Montalb%C3%A1n), who is no longer with us), and this year the winner is Don Winslow, who is coming and taking part in one of the events (and they've had Andrea Camilleri, James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, Ian Rankin, P.D. James, Henning Mankell, Donna Leon...), There are many writers from here as well, of course, but it is pretty varied, and they do all kinds of activities (even one where they go to La Boqueria, the most famous food market here in Barcelona, and they talk about Comisario Montalbano (Andrea Camilleri's character) and also cook a Sicilian dish. I am quite intrigued by Virginia Feito, the author of Mrs March, who published it in English first, and it has become a bestseller, although she is from Madrid. Ah, and Irvine Welsh is visiting as well. Good luck with your meeting!
I love it when someone comments. But, having had anonymous comments I feel may be libellous, actionable or just plain offensive, over the years?
I’d appreciate you* leaving your name — with a link to your website or social-media profile†, for preference — before you post a comment.
Should you choose to use a pseudonym/name, I’d appreciate it if that name were to be polite and inoffensive. I’d rather you kept it clean, and relatively grown up. Comments left with a pseudonym will be posted at my discretion: I really prefer a link.
Contentious, actionable or abusive posts left anonymously will not be posted. Nor will comments using offensive pseudonyms or language, or that are abusive of other commenters.
Thank you.
* I know many value their online privacy. I respect that. But hope you respect my wish to see who’s commenting on my blog: and my wish for you to introduce your self to me, and to your fellow commentors.
† Your Facebook, X/Twitter, Blogger, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn profile are acceptable. I also like seeing folks webpages.
Q1) 1913
ReplyDeleteQ2) Grand Central Terminal
Q3) Harlem Line
Q4) Manhattan
Q5) New York
Yes, it is busy here, and I've just heard from the editor of the radio news programme that she still tested positive yesterday, so I'm not sure when she'll be able to come back.
Well done to Jude. Very good for a very early effort.
Oh, the BCNegra (https://www.barcelona.cat/bcnegra/ca) is not exclusively about Spanish noir. They bring and talk about all kinds of people, and they give an award, the Pepe Carvalho (Pepe Carvalho is a well-known character in a series by a writer from Barcelona, Manuel Vázquez Montalbán https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_V%C3%A1zquez_Montalb%C3%A1n), who is no longer with us), and this year the winner is Don Winslow, who is coming and taking part in one of the events (and they've had Andrea Camilleri, James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, Ian Rankin, P.D. James, Henning Mankell, Donna Leon...), There are many writers from here as well, of course, but it is pretty varied, and they do all kinds of activities (even one where they go to La Boqueria, the most famous food market here in Barcelona, and they talk about Comisario Montalbano (Andrea Camilleri's character) and also cook a Sicilian dish.
I am quite intrigued by Virginia Feito, the author of Mrs March, who published it in English first, and it has become a bestseller, although she is from Madrid. Ah, and Irvine Welsh is visiting as well.
Good luck with your meeting!
1 1913
ReplyDelete2 Grand Central Terminal
3 Harlem line
4 Manhatten
5 New York
Thanks, Paul! I'm trying not to think about cleaning all those bathrooms with my tongue! :) Eww ...!
ReplyDelete1. 1913
2. Grand Central Terminal
3. Harlem Line
4. Manhattan
5. New York