Monthly Archives: October 2017

For some reason, my Google Books homepage suggested that I would like to read this 1814 translation of three political narratives from the original Italian, bound together: Memoir of the Queen of Etruria, Written by Herself and An Authentic Narrative … Continue reading →

Mon, 12:56: RT @BrettArends: Today’s math question. How did Russia’s massive interference NOT swing an election decided by 0.06% of voters? Mon, 15:00: RT @p_loughnane: Reports of Catalan leaders turning up in Brussels has been putting me in mind of … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter (which is actually Chapter 10, as the book keeps continuous numbering from Vol 1): The Daily Mirror's Sunday magazine tracked down his [David Tennant's] old English teacher, Moira Robertson, who explained how the Tom Baker … Continue reading →

Sun, 17:17: Sunday reading https://t.co/eVX0lNE0Mr Sun, 20:29: RT @MSmithsonPB: Very good point you former CON minister peer https://t.co/m6JmydzE5W Sun, 20:48: The World’s Tightest Cluster of People https://t.co/opMcf3wBpN Recalculated. Sun, 21:06: RT @stephenkb: As so often with “no deal plans”, many … Continue reading →

Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) A Man of Parts, by David Lodge Last books finished The Last Castle, by Jack Vance The Past Through Tomorrow, by Robert A. Heinlein Running Through Corridors 2: … Continue reading →

Sat, 12:56: Slate endorses these honest home cooking tips. https://t.co/aIoIMtWy6D All so true. Sat, 13:00: RT @irishwol: “Madrid refuses” is the summary of this whole process really. https://t.co/rPh2UpoYGZ Sat, 17:29: My votes for the 2017 Graphic Story, Series and Dramatic … Continue reading →

As with yesterday's entry, I'm presenting these without much commentary, except for Best Series. Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form 1. Black Mirror: "San Junipero" – I thought this was brilliant and moving. It came second both in votes and nominations. … Continue reading →

Fri, 12:56: Albert Einstein’s happiness note sold for $1.6m https://t.co/hsTRwJhbHT “A calm and humble life will bring more happiness than the pursuit… Fri, 14:26: A giant. @ Nelson Mandela Square https://t.co/4tLux5opmF Fri, 15:57: RT @BBCBreaking: Catalan parliament votes to declare … Continue reading →

More for my own records than anything else, these were my votes in the short fiction categories. I did not keep good notes of the two shorter categories but can say a bit more about Best Novelette. Best Short Story … Continue reading →

Thu, 12:17: Getting a criminal record (my own) https://t.co/13eXoaAB65 Thu, 12:56: Council of Europe threatens to expel Azerbaijan over Mammadov case https://t.co/tLhN9D8fsX Good. Thu, 16:05: RT @JohnOBrennan2: Observe the Sons of Ulster marching towards the Brexit cliff-edge. And demanding UK … Continue reading →

76 days on from the awards, I think it's OK to reveal my own preferences in the category that was hardest hit by the recent unpleasantness, with No Award (rightly) winning in 2015 and 2016. Thanks to the new arrangements, … Continue reading →

Wed, 12:20: RT @LindaMcAvanMEP: On World Polio Day the eradication of polio is closer than ever thanks to the work of @eu_echo @WHO @UNICEF @Rotary #en… Wed, 12:56: Revenge by red notice: how Azerbaijan targets its critics abroad https://t.co/6gCB3LWrMs Yuck. … Continue reading →

Residents of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic jurisdictions may not be familiar with the concept of a certificate to confirm your criminal record, or preferably the lack thereof. In countries with a more Napoleonic tradition of bureaucracy, where residents must register at … Continue reading →

As the Hugo administrator this year, I refrained from posting my own reviews of the finalists in the spring. But we're now 75 days on from the ceremony, and I think enough time has passed for you all to point … Continue reading →

Tue, 12:19: UK push to shape Michel Barnier’s mandate for Brexit trade talks https://t.co/5yPtVRMvru Yeah, cos it’s always someone else’s fault. Tue, 12:56: Working to Rule https://t.co/1htK5NlZHR @MariaFarrell on how the UK has betrayed her trust. Tue, 15:30: Living former … Continue reading →

Last week’s photograph of former presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush Sr, George Bush Jr, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama was a striking reminder that, for only the fourth time in history, there are five living ex-Presidents of the United States. … Continue reading →

Mon, 12:56: Thread. https://t.co/mOYcQMbHCM Mon, 12:58: RT @UNGeneva: ⏭️70th anniv. of Univ.Decl.of #HumanRights>Read 1 art. of #Standup4HumanRights Record yourself & Share w/ yr friends https://… Mon, 16:05: RT @MarrShow: Actor Andrew Garfield on his British polio survivor film #Breathe. A … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of Chapter 3 (Paul Bew, "Politics and the writing of Irish history: The Irish case"): These issues first received serious historiographical treatment in the nineteenth century from two great scholars, James Anthony Froude (1818-1894) and William Edward Hartpole … Continue reading →

Sun, 13:39: RT @Nyssa1968: How you tell a story is part of the story told. Always worth remembering. https://t.co/Ms1FUkAK20 Sun, 13:39: RT @dellamirandola0: People diss the Blair and Cameron concern w/image but this is why it matters: leaders need that … Continue reading →

Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) The Past Through Tomorrow, by Robert A. Heinlein Running Through Corridors 2: Rob and Toby’s Marathon Watch of Doctor Who, the 70s, by Toby Hadoke and Robert Shearman … Continue reading →

An old one but a good one. If a mouse fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Mouse balls are now available as FRU (Field Replacement Units). Because of the delicate nature of … Continue reading →

Sat, 12:56: RT @DailyOscarWilde: A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it. Sat, 15:02: Cimarron, or how to erase feminism https://t.co/d4aMUsKN4S Sat, 15:27: Just behind me in the queue for pictures with @Jenna_Coleman_ . https://t.co/N5NbOYOpzj Sat, … Continue reading →

Fri, 12:56: RT @APCOBXLInsider: https://t.co/Ebv0oXfMPx our very own @nwbrux is number 37 on the @EURACTIV #EUInfluencers list Fri, 15:08: Sad news. https://t.co/xfeHs2KF8Z Fri, 16:05: RT @ajeganov: 37th of 40 top #EUinfluencers: @nwbrux of @APCOworldwide, dressed up as @carlbildt for the … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: As a species we are strongly imitative and it is impossible for a healthy individual to grow up and live in a community without becoming infected with its typical-action patterns. The way we walk and … Continue reading →

(Picture by Harold Tor) At a glittering (well, actually somewhat overheated) ceremony on Thursday night, the list of the top forty EU Digital Influencers, as calculated by a rigorous and scientifically determined algorithm, was announced by EurActiv and ZN Consulting. … Continue reading →

Thu, 12:56: Brexiteers are not being honest about negotiations because they are panicking https://t.co/L9Zn8JsJ4J Lucid by @RCorbettMEP. Thu, 16:05: This is what the Brexit cliff edge looks like https://t.co/p3L2sjpzZp And @POLITICOEurope doesn’t even mention the Irish border… Thu, 17:23: Who … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: System 2 also has a natural speed. You expend some mental energy in random thoughts and in monitoring what goes on around you even when your mind does nothing in particular, but there is little … Continue reading →

Wed, 18:03: The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, by Erving Goffman https://t.co/YCPyKcabMJ Wed, 19:16: RT @CER_Grant: After BXL meets I conclude deal on Art 50 likely in Dec. Real battle will be over future rels, next year. EU will … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: In our Anglo-American society — a relatively indoor one — when a performance is given it is usually given in a highly bounded region, to which boundaries with respect to time are often added. The … Continue reading →