Monthly Archives: July 2017

Non-fiction: 5 (YTD 30) 1688: A Global History, by John E. Wills New Europe, by Michael Palin The Etymologicon, by Mark Forsyth Austerity Britain, 1945-1951 by David Kynaston Common People: The History of an English Family, by Alison Light Fiction … Continue reading →

So, having recommended Blink so strongly last week, I watched it again at the weekend, and I stand by my recommendation. Of course I remembered that Louis Mahoney, who plays Old Billy also appeared twice in Old Who, as a … Continue reading →

Sun, 13:20: RT @alihinspain: The looming ultimatum: Varadkar’s warning shot https://t.co/w5P0iexoFI via @sluggerotoole Sun, 15:20: RT @juliehinukeu: The looming ultimatum: Varadkar’s warning shot https://t.co/9LpCkVSlWu via @sluggerotoole Sun, 15:35: Excursion, 21-22 July (lots of pictures) https://t.co/coqI9kfHBd Sun, 16:01: The most remarkable … Continue reading →

Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, by Erving Goffman The Help, by Kathryn Stockett Last books finished Common People: The History of an English Family, by Alison … Continue reading →

21 July is Belgium's National Day, so we went on an excursion to the southeast of the country where visitors are made to feel welcome. We started off in the small town of Florenville, where one of our number (not … Continue reading →

Sat, 20:48: Charlie Gard: The Facts https://t.co/N48l2nAml1 Definitive. Sat, 22:24: My thoughts on the Irish dimension of Brexit, https://t.co/UicSj9fwsk Sun, 09:03: RT @lukevzahner: The Desperation of Our Diplomats, via @nytimes https://t.co/OSOA4oNkwl Sun, 10:26: RT @sundersays: What are the Jews like … Continue reading →

Fri, 12:35: Deep Roy scared the heck out of me when I was 9, as Mr Sin in Talons of Weng Chiang. Nice to meet him for real! https://t.co/0QGr5A2Itz Fri, 12:46: RT @0tralala: @nwbrux Well envious. Deep Roy is cool. … Continue reading →

Thu, 20:48: More proposed changes to the Hugo Awards https://t.co/Am3VC0aaTn …Best Novel, Best Related Work, Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form). Thu, 20:54: Arthur C. Clarke award night! (at @Foyles in Soho, Greater London) https://t.co/xFHJIy7fI0 Thu, 21:00: This remark was also … Continue reading →

Wed, 16:05: Azerbaijan: The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Nothing https://t.co/RiWiq8AiYq Great piece. Wed, 17:17: I am no fan of Misha’s, but nobody should be made stateless. https://t.co/WBsFEkBhXa Thu, 11:51: Fascinating life story. https://t.co/syWC4y999a

Tue, 12:56: Deborah Watling obituary https://t.co/kesY5Oo3Ru Very nice by @TobyHadoke. Tue, 16:05: Three Stage Voting and the Hugos https://t.co/aSbcNQyckq Wise analysis. Tue, 18:35: RT @jonathancoe: The Good Life wouldn’t work today as comedy. Tom & Barbara would be Remainers, Margot … Continue reading →

October 2002, aged three and a bit Planting the municipal tree in February 2006 With new cousin, May 2009 Helping with catering for guests, August 2010 Finding the municipal tree again in 2013 Posing in suit for high school graduation … Continue reading →

Mon, 12:56: 9 dangerous toys that prove kids were just tougher before 1990 https://t.co/onnyv1VwXv Those were the days! Mon, 16:05: For whom does the bell toll? https://t.co/BRs1GrAV4b Good (Greek Cypriot) analysis. Mon, 18:22: Doctor Who: advice for someone who hasn’t … Continue reading →

Dear Chris, You asked me: Friend in US wants to start watching Dr Who now there is a female doctor. Which are the seminal episodes she should watch in advance? Is there one episode per season she should watch? Unless … Continue reading →

Sun, 13:33: The 2017 WSFS Business Meeting: Deterring Slates https://t.co/7cg98n7bHN Sun, 21:09: Sunday reading https://t.co/m30DWzDdP2 Mon, 08:05: So, just missed two trains (again) because @DeLijn has decided that the 337 will stop much further from Leuven station. Thanks, @delijn! Mon, … Continue reading →

Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) Common People: The History of an English Family, by Alison Light Last books finished Decide Your Destiny: The Crystal Snare, by Richard Dungworth Decide Your Destiny: War of … Continue reading →

In 2015 and 2016, the Hugo Awards suffered a serious crisis. At nomination stage, several hundred activists collectively voted for slates of candidates proposed by various individuals. The slates completely dominated several categories, and included a number of candidates which … Continue reading →

Sat, 16:38: Thread https://t.co/Ydw7u6ddF5 Sat, 17:59: RT @alexmassie: In which the indefatigable Mr Matthew Parris reignites The Spectator’s very civil civil war: https://t.co/XkYeIPHX3a Sat, 18:00: RT @mrjamesob: Surely not the Daily Mail that’s registered in Bermuda, run from Jersey & … Continue reading →

Fri, 15:45: Sad news as we lose another of the old guard. https://t.co/c8Gw6dJ6Id Fri, 17:23: RT @ClassicDrWho: In my youth I got invited by Deborah Watling to watch ep 1 of The Pirate Planet at her house! 😉 Full anecdote … Continue reading →

Thu, 15:44: Six months in, not a single one of Trump’s pledges for his first 100 days has been fulfilled. https://t.co/66foQQTax0 Thu, 16:05: How to beat the ticking Brexit clock: let British business leaders do the talking https://t.co/uUwfeRiy5V Miriam González … Continue reading →

I wrote previously about some of the minor tweaks and proposals to this year's WSFS Business Meeting. Today I'm going to tackle the Best Series and the Young Adult category (which won't be a Hugo, but will be awarded by … Continue reading →

Wed, 12:56: Real progress will be when we don’t have to celebrate a woman being cast as the Doctor https://t.co/WUs14lGOOB @UnaMcCormack nails it. Thu, 05:22: RT @apcoworldwide: The absence of a strong #PES partner in eastern EU members Poland & … Continue reading →

Tue, 12:56: Why Business Leaders Need to Read More Science Fiction https://t.co/cWJtdR4U6L @eliotpeper at @HarvardBiz explains. Tue, 18:53: RT @jonlis1: Relax everyone, it’s just £22 billion compensation we might have to pay the builders of Hinkley Point when we leave … Continue reading →

Mon, 13:47: RT @AndrewSparrow: Michel Barnier sits down with David Davis with huge wodge of notes. Davis – with nothing – https://t.co/1eLT5nXRfU https… Mon, 15:39: RT @epc_eu: EVENT | The new #Macedonian government – Plans and prospects for #EUaccession w/ … Continue reading →

Sun, 12:04: RT @worldcon75: We are happy to report that we have 3319 final ballot voters for the 2017 Hugo Awards! The third highest ever! Sun, 12:56: Brexit: the day the whistling ended https://t.co/PxggtVTBmB Glorious by @DavidAllanGreen. Sun, 16:53: Wimbledon … Continue reading →

Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) Austerity Britain, 1945-1951 by David Kynaston Etymologicon, by Mark Forsyth Last books finished Decide Your Destiny: The Spaceship Graveyard, by Colin Brake Decide Your Destiny: Alien Arena, by … Continue reading →

Sat, 12:55: The 2017 WSFS Business Meeting: reforming the Artist Hugos https://t.co/pqwv9YvbmX Sat, 15:01: RT @worldcon75: This is the final countdown! Online voting in #TheHugoAwards close at 23:59 Pacific Daylight Time TONIGHT, July 15! https:… Sat, 19:58: RT @angelurena: Everything’s … Continue reading →

Before I start – you have less than 24 hours to vote for this year's Hugo Awards! Go vote, then come back and read this! If you are a voter, you should have an email which includes your link to … Continue reading →

Fri, 12:56: An open letter to Glastonbury, from a victim. https://t.co/HnQHvgPPlC Amazing story about creating and maintaining safety. Fri, 19:01: RT @BBCNewsnight: Is there anything worse than getting burnt alive? “I’m afraid there is” – Nazanin Aklani who lost her … Continue reading →

Thu, 12:56: A Wrinkle In Time film coming https://t.co/Rtm8OqdJhV Looks very promising! Thu, 15:20: RT @worldcon75: Two days left! Online voting in #TheHugoAwards closes at 23:59 Pacific Daylight Time on 15 July 2017! https://t.co/ZbsOLGF… Thu, 18:35: HWJN / ح و … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: I told him what had happened, and he said, “That was a Ouija board!” Hawjan is a jinn who falls in love with a human girl, Sawsan; and wrestles with his own supernatural family and … Continue reading →