David Lammy, the Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills, has this week come out in support of a scheme for compulsory civic service for students. Based on a report by the think tank Demos, university students would be required to complete 100 hours of community service in return for the state subsidy of their education in the form of loans and grants. Mr Lammy stated: “In a consumerist age young people need more opportunities to develop an ethic of service to others.” (more)

According to Lord Browne’s report into tuition fees a degree is now worth ‘just’ £2,500 a year to ‘graduates’. This equates to £100,000 over a lifetime, after tax. This figure, however, doesn’t include student debt. So, is university worth it, from a purely financial point of view when student debt is included? (more)

There is pain. Then there is ‘dog biting you flush in the balls’ pain.

There’s a bit of a hoo-hah on Twitter about the revelation that – and you might want to sit down before hearing this – A NEWSPAPER EDITOR HAS EMPLOYED HIS OWN DAUGHTER! That’s right, The Guardian’s editor, Alan Rusbridger pulled a few strings and got his daughter a job. Prior to Rusbridger’s disgraceful actions, journalism had of course been a nepotism-free zone. Journalists were recruited entirely on merit rather than lineage, in this happy age of flying pigs. (more)

Poor fuckers.