gdp's Comments

The Comment Factory : Islamophobia is a plague, says an atheist Jew

Wed, 27 Aug 2014 15:16:01 +0000

I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and
check again here frequently. I am quite certain I'll learn plenty of new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!

The Comment Factory : Islamophobia is a plague, says an atheist Jew

Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:20:10 +0000

It's genuinely very difficult in this full of activity life to
listen news on Television, therefore I only use world wide web for that reason, and get the hottest information.

The Comment Factory : The Australian government's new Internet filter program sets a worrying precedent for the democratic

Thu, 7 Aug 2014 21:24:25 +0000

They're very natural, so lemons are a great way of bleaching the skin and
helping to reduce the appearance of your acne scars. You can rub a little portion of garlic on your acne, more than once in a day.
Searching gonna college or any other public spot, they even make light gold necklaces since
they are not limited for you to be worn throughout parties simply.

The Comment Factory : Rebuilding life in Gaza amid frustration and anger

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:42:27 +0000

It's never good to hear that your family smell destruction as they walk down the street. I have no doubts that the wreckage is an unforgettable sight and, for many Palestinians, those places will be the very grounds of their deaths. It's horrible. Please expand, however, on your final line. To 'reinstate a sense of peace and hope (one that rarely ever existed in the first place) among the Palestinians' would mean that that there was a sense of peace and hope there in the first place - even if it was rare. Are you therefore saying there was indeed a sense of peace and hope previously - and are you also speaking for all Palestinians when you talk of this? It's not something i'm lead to believe..... Thanks

The Comment Factory : Leave Kate Winslet alone

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:41:42 +0000

Nice piece rachel

The Comment Factory : British society is riven by misplaced fear, and it's the media's fault

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:08:47 +0000

Tom, my office is also full of dire chat, constant phrases defining the misery of the nation and I know that my office is but one of thousands which has felt the brunt of the recession - ie. redundancies and fear. Some people even live off this fear, i'm not an economic expert either, but short-selling seems to do people in business a world of good (if they're the ones starting the fear in the first place). But i also read, when this first hit, how fear is inevitable in the cycle of recession, boom and (serious) bust. Alternatively, check this out: http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/12/recession-... At least we can be in it and come out of it together.

The Comment Factory : Educators teaching English should utilize literature as a tool

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:55:10 +0000

Hi Anna, thanks for reminding me of the TESL point of your article. I agree that dealing with the literature and discussing it is extremely important, maybe there should be as much emphasis on the structure of the language as the literature surrounding it. As for the project in London I'll try to answer your questions in order (as long as I'm not being naive and they're actually rhetorical!). Firstly, we'll only know how many of the youngsters use them at the end of the project. Who knows whether they see the point of using them, it's always difficult to make a judgment on that without surveys or data, but although the kids may be under-educated, they're not ignorant of that fact that getting something for free is always good! I do completely agree though, it's up to the educators in the class to encourage them to go (I did see a few school groups at the theatre a couple fo weeks ago) and there also has to be a way that the literature touches their lives in ways that they associate with - i think this point is intrinsic to your article/argument.

The Comment Factory : Educators teaching English should utilize literature as a tool

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:08:20 +0000

Hi Anna, I studied English Literature at uni and completely agree with your views on the importance of literature and the English language. I'm not so sure however on the point that teenagers "don’t really care about government or world-historic events." Furthermore, i also don't necessarily agree that "poetry, playwriting and novels" are viewed by the higher authorities as "esoteric and redundant". For example, although it was a rushed measure, a new injection of money into London's theatres has created an opportunity for youngsters to go to the theatre and indeed learn about Brecht and Shakespeare without even paying a penny. Please see this: http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/2185... So, do you only suggest an open-class discussion on literature or is there something more that can be done on a government and grass-roots level?

The Comment Factory : The Australian government's new Internet filter program sets a worrying precedent for the democratic

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:50:41 +0000

Really liked this article Julian. Being in England it's good to find out what's really of importance in Australia. Do you think that they don't publish the list is because they don't want it to have the reverse effect, a type of 'red-button' effect ie. "Don't go here, this is a bad site" - which leads people to going to the site?

The Comment Factory : Britain's education system needs to learn how to nurture not just instruct

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:18:09 +0000

How many times Jordy, I was trying to get the toothpaste out of the tube...

The Comment Factory : Britain's education system needs to learn how to nurture not just instruct

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:48:56 +0000

Cool, well thanks for explaining. I think what you're doing is awesome by the way. If you're helping children to develop, whether disabled or not, it is something to be proud of. I'm working in London and following thecommentfactory!

The Comment Factory : Britain's education system needs to learn how to nurture not just instruct

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 17:10:31 +0000

Sally! Great to see that you're a) in London and b) writing for the Comment Facory (as if you had any choice! heh). I have the poor feeling throughout this article that left-handers generally have a 'learning setback' or are you referring to the disabled kids you work with specifically? Let's not forget that Barack Obama is left handed! Also, i'm afraid i disagree with your statement "In Britain, they expect children to leave their shit at the door and come to school regardless of all their home problems – getting beat, sexually abused, or completely neglected". Even though the state of some schools across the UK is terrible including constant truancy and poor supplies, a number of schools have teachers who act as private mentors in a social work type capacity. From my own experience my teachers were concerned about my well-being and the fact that i embraced a diverse range of activities; perhaps this could be a solution to those who have issues at home - to encourage them to participate in activies away from home to act as "stimulus and emotional warmth" as you correctly put it. Having said all that, I never knew how you did get into UCLA and will always remember how you taught me to wave - sik! M