14 Comments
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Whitley Based's avatar

This is great Nick, really enjoyable and some good insights. I'm looking forward greatly to the Powell one, which I'll have to listen to on Saturday as I'll be on a long haul flight when it's on live.

Off-topic slightly, but I completely agree on grammar schools. I have the same story as you - parents were both bright working class kids, from Sunderland and North Shields respectively, who got into grammars, and my dad went on to do engineering at Durham University in the late 50s when that really meant something. I got dumped in a crap Tyneside high school that was like a cross between prison and a zoo, and spent years just keeping my head down. It still annoys me.

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Nick Dixon's avatar

Thanks!

Wow, we are THE SAME.

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Whitley Based's avatar

Ha! And my name is Nick too. Which was considered unspeakably posh at my schools, I think I only met one other Nicholas before I went to university.

I remarked to a friend recently that in the 70s & 80s almost all lads were called Paul, Steve or Dave. There were none of your Alfies, Joshuas, or Ollies then. As soon as I could I tried to get people to call me Nick rather than Nicholas or Nicky, as it seemed less posh and thus - most importantly - less likely to attract bullying.

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Susan's avatar

Great livestream, really enjoyed it, and interesting subjects discussed.

Sorry I missed it live though.

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Nick Dixon's avatar

Thanks! Thinking of doing another one in Thursday.

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Lynwen Brown's avatar

I missed a livestream. Doh!

If I was there live I would have chirped in on grammar schools. I went to the grammar school that my dad and aunts went to, but just for two years. Welsh Nationalists brought my first class education to a premature end and I ended up in a second rate comp. I often wonder what dizzy heights I might have achieved if the Welsh Communists hadn't interfered!

Entertaining livestream though. I'll look out for the next.

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Nick Dixon's avatar

I hate those people so much—the Welsh. No I mean the commies who destroy great schools.

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Martin's avatar

Watched it on YT and I agree it went well. Cummings is an odd one. Has some good insights but failed to realize that the tories would betray him when expedient. He's too confident in technocracy. We've shown that it doesn't work and experts should be advisors, not deciders.

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Dr Quackenbusch's avatar

Well done on the Live Stream, Nick - you really nailed it! You are a natural for reaction videos too.

One question: where was Dominic Cummings speaking? He looks like he’s speaking at the local golf club after playing 18 rounds.

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Nick Dixon's avatar

Thanks! Weird it took me so long as now it will take years to build it.

It’s the Pharos Foundation but don’t know the venue.

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Hugh Jarrett's avatar

Gutted I missed this live and am now in the legion of the non-elite.😂 Dominic does speak a lot of sense but I’m not sure I entirely trust him. It’s more of a feeling than having any real evidence to support that.

Anyway, I like the live stream format and think there’s potential for regular episodes. I guess it depends as to how much it would start crossing over into content you’d be doing on The Lotus Eaters.

Also good to hear that you’re feeling well at the moment!

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Nick Dixon's avatar

That’s why I’m only going to do occasional days on LE.

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Steve's avatar

I got an email telling me you were going to do it but then when I went back I couldn't find the email and i couldn't see anything on your substack either!

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Nick Dixon's avatar

That’s interesting as I didn’t send an email. Maybe it came from my substack note?

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