[blogfocus thursday] bookended by classicists

1 The thinking man's blogger, Heraclites, [please note - Tiberius], says most people would agree that one of the key political issues is this:

"How can talented children from poor backgrounds have the same opportunity as those from wealthier backgrounds?" To assess where we are in terms of this goal, we can look at data on social mobility. The problem is, the data can only be interpreted in conjunction with data about heritability of talent.

Say, for the sake of argument, that “ability” is 100% inherited and has no environmental component.

Another reason to check out this blog is that it is a watering hole for the excellent Nigel Sedgwick, whom I miss.

2 Martin Kelly is back and breathing fire:

"Do not read further if you want balanced commentary and thoughtful nuance." Thus does the Eastern European correspondent of 'The Economist' headline his reproduction of his most recent wordvomit concerning Beast Putin.

I am perfectly prepared to go toe to toe with Lucas about Russia, in a time and place of his choosing - does he have the guts to go for it?

3 Robert Sharp reflects on the contest that is Eurovision:

After watching the annual song contest, beamed to us this year from Helsinki, I cannot help but think that we British are very different from the rest of our European neighbours. There must be something in the water. I thought the commentary of our own national treasure, the Irishman Terry Wogan, epitomised these differences — although perhaps not in the way he might expect.

Year after year, he and we mock Eurovision with glee, pointing out how seriously everyone takes the contest, while we participate with our tongues in our cheek. This year, however, that same attitude boomeranged back to slap us in the face.

4 Char has discovered this nifty thing about birthdays. If you want sheer unbridled joy in a blog - Char's your girl:

I just found this really nifty thing over on one of my fave bloggity reads... Do you know what day you were born? Not date silly! What day of the week? Don't worry, neither did I. Wanna find out? Sure you do. Go and have a look.

5 MJW is another from the stable of britpolit bloggers and he does it well:

I’m glad that the Government has finally come out and admitted that there is a possible future for nuclear power. I know there is a huge anti-nuclear lobby out there who’ll scream blue murder at this and there is also a closely related and increasingly rabid green lobby that will see it as a missed opportunity to push renewable energy sources no matter if they are still some way from being a serious practical solution to the UK’s energy needs.

6 Six for the price of one today with Bob from Brockley and while you're there - check out the post below it as well:

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed in the last couple of days.

Paul Anderson posted a couple of great blues videos from YouTube.

The Bristol Blogger on the strange death of anarchist England (on the BNP and Indymedia)

Jonathan Freedland finds reasons to be optimistic about the Ehud Olmert debacle

Hak Mao on Scottish so-called socialists

A good old lefty joke at Red Left Review

Added at the end of a long Friday afternoon:

Chris D re-assures us that mid-life crises are the beginnings of true knowledge (with quotes from Adam Smith to prove it). So that's OK then. Have a good weekend.

7 Beaman gives us the tale of Malcolm, which Wife in the North might find interesting::

The terrible image of a cat dangling from the fence, caught on a nail or wooden lattice, swamped my mind. I visualised the animal scrapping desperately at the wall, trying to free its leg or tail from some flagitious fixture. The squeaking could only be the whimpering of the poor beast in abominable pain. There was only one thing to do.

I jumped out of bed as quickly as I used to on Christmas mornings as a child. Unfortunately I had forgotten the pile of books that decorate my floor and tumbled over. I got up, brushed myself down and without bothering with the task of putting underwear and clothes on, rushed to the window and ripped the curtains open.

8 To book-end this evening's focus on a classical note, football is a classic sport, as Electro-Kevin would tell you:

The phrase 'bread and circuses' was first penned by the Roman poet Juvenal to describe how low cost/low quality food and entertainment was used to keep the masses happy whilst the Arts, public works projects, human rights and democracy were degraded - does some of that sound familiar to you ? Are we all trapped in Juvenal's play, Satiracal X ? It seems an essential attribute for politicians to have is an interest in 'the beautiful game' and I wonder if this is because football is so good or if it is simply because football is so powerful at this time?

Hope to see you Saturday evening.