-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- March 2003
- February 2003
- December 2002
- March 2002
- February 2002
- January 2002
- December 2001
- December 2000
- December 1999
- January 1999
Categories
Meta
Monthly Archives: May 2006
Nutter
Just had a call from a gentleman who needed to telk me that “je suis” is an anagram of “I Jesus”. Must check visibility of my phone number.
30 May 1996
Ten years ago today I stood in my last election. (My last election to date, that is – who knows what the future will bring.) The election was in the middle of the Northern Ireland peace process, for 110 members … Continue reading
Shapsugs
One of my colleagues has sent around this news item, with the heading “Ethnic Group of the Month”: ADYGEYA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH SHAPSUGS: Khazret Sovmen met on May 25 in Maikop with representatives of the Shapsug community from neighboring Krasnodar … Continue reading
May Books 11) Daughter of the Drow
11) Daughter of the Drow, by Elaine Cunningham Sorry, got a hundred pages into it and just can’t be bothered. Unattractive characters and derivative world. If I was still roleplaying it would probably grab me a bit more effectively. But … Continue reading
The Daleks
Over the last few weeks, an episode here and an episode there, I’ve been watching the first ever appearance of the Doctor’s ultimate foes, first broadcast in 1963-1964 in seven episodes. Great fun. I had of course read David Whitaker’s … Continue reading
Noted for reference
Walt Willis on Bob Shaw: They reached a position of great wealth and influence during the famines of the 1840’s, attaining a prestige in Ireland comparable with that of the Campbells in Glencoe, and ranking second only to Cromwell in … Continue reading
DW
That was a bit disappointing. I thought they got the 1950s atmosphere well, but didn’t think much of the rest. Apart from anything else, we already know that in 1953 the entire population of London did not turn into faceless … Continue reading
Curse of Fatal Death
Just cheered myself up by watching The Curse of Fatal Death. As well as several fun elements of continuity (“All these corridors look the same!”) (the music at the end is surely the incidental music from the end of Logopolis) … Continue reading
Bye bye weekend
I exaggerate a little. But not much. Had been hoping for a nice long weekend – this being a Catlick country, yesterday was a day off for Ascension Thursday (apparently the Merrykins get Monday off for some secular holiday). But … Continue reading
Chilling advice
A tale of graduate school burnout. Should be mandatory reading for anyone planning a master’s or PhD.
Fun correspondence
Emails received and sent this morning: From: XX To: nicholas.whyte@gmail.com Date: May 26, 2006 8:51 AM Subject: NORTH ANTRIM ELECTION RESULTS THE INFORMATIOM ON YOUR WEBSITE IS WRONG From: Nicholas Whyte To: XX Date: May 26, 2006 9:47 AM Subject: … Continue reading
The Tiptree furore
It’s a crazy debate. This was a longlist, not a shortlist, let alone an actual award. All it means is that one person thought the piece worthy of note. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t; I haven’t read it, and … Continue reading
BBC interview
Did a piece for BBC TV on Montenegro this morning. I understand likely times of broadcast are (in Europe only): 1430 Ireland/UK / 1530 Belgium, Saturday 27th, BBC World 1630 Ireland/UK / 1730 Belgium, Saturday 27th, BBC News 24 0930 … Continue reading
Bloggers on Montenegro
Don’t really have time to follow up on these interesting threads: Fistful of Euros Guardian (Ian Traynor) Guardian (Neil Clark’s response to Traynor) Harry’s response to Clark
July 2006 Fantasy and Science Fiction
I don’t actually read many sf magazines. I am a subscriber to Interzone (which arrived yesterday) and occasionally pick up F&SF or Asimov’s or Analog if I see them in the bookshop (rare) and have the impulse. Finding time to … Continue reading
Not quite an anniversary…
…on 4 March 1801, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson completed their terms as, respectively, the second President and the second Vice-President of the United States of America. It was a good day for Jefferson, who (like only Adams before him … Continue reading
One more country for my list
Rumours are that Montenegro has voted in favour of independence, with 56.3% in favour on a turnout of around 90% – comfortably over the thresholds. Interesting times… (the only comment I have found on-line so far is in Basque!)
New computer, new software
Well, I’m delighted with it so far – a Dell Dimension 8150, and I’ve been putting lots of CDs on it, and installing old and new software. Thanks for all your advice. But I’ve been hit by an unexpected snag: … Continue reading
Dancing spots before your eyes
links to this cool illusion, and ponders whether it would be perceived differently by people with dyslexia and/or autism. I dunno but it was fun to look at. HOwever now I have pink dots dancing in front of my eyes.
May Books 10) Moondust
10) Moondust, by Andrew Smith After reading James Hansen’s biography of Neil Armstrong, I mused that “If I want to read about the wider meaning of his mission and of space exploration, I will have to look somewhere else. And … Continue reading
My sekrit identity
You Livejournal users better be nice to me: According to the Irish News, I run the place!
Eurovision voting
Slovenia votes for Bosnia and Croatia Andorra votes for Spain Romania votes for Moldova and Russia Denmark votes for Finland and Sweden Latvia votes for Russia and Lithuania Portugal votes, to their eternal credit, for Ukraine. Sweden votes for Finland … Continue reading
Eurovision
Started watching this just over halfway in, so here are my thoughts, updated as it went on: 14 – Lithuania – full marks for cheek! But apart from the joke, not a great song. 15 – UK – Dreadful. Out … Continue reading
Quote from The Leopard
Late that night the shutters on the balcony of the town hall were flung open and Don Calogero appeared…To the invisible crowd in the shadows below he announced that the plebiscite at Donnafugata had had the following results: Voters: 515; … Continue reading