The inside story of Labour’s election shock | Politics | The Guardian
When a snap election was called, a divided Labour sprang into action to defy predictions of a wipeout and upturn the political consensus. The key players tell Heather Stewart how it all happened

The making of the Maybot: a year of mindless slogans, U-turns and denials | Politics | The Guardian
After going to visit the Queen, the Maybot made her way slowly towards the wooden lectern set up outside the front door of No 10. Her wheels often found it difficult to cope with uneven surfaces. A helicopter hovering overhead made it difficult to pick out the Supreme Leader’s words. No matter. She didn’t really have anything of interest to say. “I will now form a government,” the Maybot murmured in a catatonic monotone. “A government that can provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country.” Government. Certainty. Forward. Not the three words that were on anyone else’s tongue. It was as if she had been awoken from a seven-week cryogenic state and had decided to mix things up just for the hell of it.

The Influence of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali on René Descartes
A close examination of their methodologies and results gives reason to believe that Descartes was indeed influenced by al-Ghazali.

How Booking.com manipulates you
Many websites and applications these days are designed to trick you into doing things that their creators want. YouTube autoplays more videos to keep us from leaving. Instagram shows new likes one at a time, to keep us checking for more. Facebook wants to show whatever keeps us scrolling. Snapchat turns conversations into streaks we don’t want to lose. Our media turns events into breaking news to keep us watching. But one of the most manipulative websites I’ve ever come across is Booking.com, the large hotel search & booking service.

The Secret to Beautiful Presentations – </dev> diaries
Great speakers don’t need slides. Good speakers can make any slides work. OK speakers are perceived as good with good slides or bad with bad slides.

Belgium criticised for inviting Sudanese ‘secret agents’ to Brussels to identify migrants
“It’s revolting to see Theo Francken work with the Sudanese government to send refugees back to that oppressive country,” Human Rights Watch’s Andrew Stroehlein told The Telegraph. “Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been a fugitive from the International Criminal Court since 2009, wanted on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. This is Belgium’s new partner?”