All posts tagged: Digs

Fury as watchdog digs in on ‘low expectations’ barb

Fury as watchdog digs in on ‘low expectations’ barb

Ofsted chief inspector Martyn Oliver has been blasted for an “incendiary” speech to school leaders, as headteachers insist schools’ contexts are not being adequately considered in inspections. Oliver told the ASCL conference on Friday he would “never acquiesce to the quiet curse of low expectations that would see Ofsted prioritise context over outcomes for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children”. He claimed that where disadvantaged and vulnerable children are underperforming, critics “argue we should recognise the work and the effort – and downplay disappointing outcomes. “Of course we will recognise the work, celebrate where that school is doing well and identify the contextual challenges being faced. But we can never downplay the disappointing outcomes.” The comments have been widely condemned by leaders and unions, amid growing frustration at Ofsted’s use of national averages in new report cards. Leaders claim the new framework is unfair on schools with higher levels of disadvantage and SEND. But Ofsted argued this week the entire point of Oliver’s speech was to “take-on the claims that Ofsted is not doing enough …

L.A.’s next must-try sushi bar? Osusume Fumio opens in storied digs

L.A.’s next must-try sushi bar? Osusume Fumio opens in storied digs

Nothing quite resembles a skilled sushi chef deep in the flow of forming piece after piece of nigiri: elbows out, fingers and palms sculpting, eyes in soft focus while the mind inhabits the hands. Individuality shows up in the slightest gestures. Standing alone behind his seven-seat bar, Fumio Azumi has an endearing habit of cocking his head for an instant when he’s nearly done melding fish and rice. He looks like he’s listening at a door to make sure his child has fallen asleep. Chef Fumio Azumi prepares nigiri sushi at Osusume Fumio with a selection of the day’s fresh fish and wasabi. Azumi has been a quietly engaging presence in Los Angeles restaurants for two decades, but Osusume Fumio, the tiny place he opened in Atwater Village four months ago with his wife, Natsuko Aizawa Azumi, is his solo debut behind a sushi counter. Their space is austere, nearly blank, but once you’re sitting in front of Azumi, you feel the intent he brings to his craft. Value, quality, charisma: He achieves a balance …

Northeast US Digs Out From Brutal Snowfall as Second Storm May Near

Northeast US Digs Out From Brutal Snowfall as Second Storm May Near

Neighbors, government workers and a powerful railroad snow-clearing machine nicknamed “Darth Vader” have been digging out from a brutal storm that forecasters are calling the strongest in a decade. It dumped more than two feet of snow across much of the northeastern United States, and a record three feet in Warwick, Rhode Island. Two Brooklyn dads say the city rushed kids back to school Lerone Davis, who works nights as a first responder, said it would’ve been safer for children to have an extra day at home because the streets are still piled high with snow. “Finally I was thinking, ‘OK I’ll park the car and relax for a little bit,’ but then I had to jump right back into it,” he said, standing with another father outside his kid’s Brooklyn day care, which follows the city’s decision to reopen Tuesday. Both dads said they weren’t thrilled. “Not having to worry about getting to school, battling with snow and everything, I think makes a little bit more sense,” Davis said. “Plus, they have snow days …

‘Everybody Digs Bill Evans’ Film Clip, Director Interview: Berlin 2026

‘Everybody Digs Bill Evans’ Film Clip, Director Interview: Berlin 2026

At the height of his career, legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans’ bassist and musical soulmate Scott LaFaro died in a tragic car crash in 1961. British documentary director Grant Gee’s (The Gold Machine, Joy Division) fiction feature debut Everybody Digs Bill Evans, starring Norwegian actor and Joachim Trier regular Anders Danielsen Lie (Sentimental Value, The Worst Person in the World), Laurie Metcalf, and Bill Pullman, tells the story of what came next. Premiering in the Berlin International Film Festival‘s competition lineup on Friday, the movie, based on a Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul, Viva) screenplay, also features Barry Ward and Valene Kane. The cinematographer is Piers McGrail, the editor is Adam Biskupski. “Numb with grief, Evans stops playing for the first time since childhood,” reads a synopsis for the film. “Cutting between Bill’s present and future, his sobriety and intoxication, and his relationships with his family and on-again/off-again girlfriend, who shares his taste in music and hard drugs, Everybody Digs Bill Evans portrays the inner life and personal impact of a troubled musical genius as …