-
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: October 2017
The Queen of Etruria and Pope Pius VII
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
Comments Off on The Queen of Etruria and Pope Pius VII
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
Space Helmet for a Cow: The True, Mad Story of Doctor Who, vol 2, 1990-2013 by Paul Kirkley
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
Comments Off on Space Helmet for a Cow: The True, Mad Story of Doctor Who, vol 2, 1990-2013 by Paul Kirkley
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
Sunday 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
Comments Off on Sunday reading
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
My votes for the 2017 Graphic Story, Series and Dramatic Presentation Hugos
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
Comments Off on My votes for the 2017 Graphic Story, Series and Dramatic Presentation Hugos
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
The 2017 short fiction Hugos – how I voted
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
Comments Off on The 2017 short fiction Hugos – how I voted
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
The 2017 Hugo for Best Related Work: how I voted
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
Comments Off on The 2017 Hugo for Best Related Work: how I voted
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
Getting a criminal record (my own)
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
Comments Off on Getting a criminal record (my own)
The 2017 Hugo Best Novel finalists
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
My tweets
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
Living former Presidents and Vice-Presidents
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
Comments Off on Living former Presidents and Vice-Presidents
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
What Made Now In Northern Ireland, ed. Maurna Crozier and Richard Froggatt
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
Comments Off on What Made Now In Northern Ireland, ed. Maurna Crozier and Richard Froggatt
My tweets
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
Sunday 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
Comments Off on Sunday reading
Replacement of Mouse Balls
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
Comments Off on Replacement of Mouse Balls
My tweets
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
Cimarron, or how to erase feminism
Cimarron won the Academy Award for Outstanding Production in 1931, beating East Lynne, The Front Page, Skippy and Trader Horn. I haven’t seen or heard of any of the others. I have seen City Lights, which was released in the … Continue reading
My tweets
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
Comments Off on My tweets
People Watching: the Desmond Morris Guide to Body Language
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
Comments Off on People Watching: the Desmond Morris Guide to Body Language
The Top 40 #EUInfluencer (s)
(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
Comments Off on The Top 40 #EUInfluencer (s)
My tweets
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
Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahnemann
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
Comments Off on Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahnemann
My tweets
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
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, by Erving Goffman
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