Monthly Archives: February 2011

Checking homeopathy – fat chance

In which I get distracted. And even more geeky. (You’ll see why – keep reading.) I am SO, SO BORED with homeopathy.

Posted in Annoyances, chess, Nerdishness, Pseudoscience | Comments Off on Checking homeopathy – fat chance

In which I ask my due

When has good writing become such a cheap commodity that people seem reluctant to pay for it? I still remember the first piece of proper science writing I ever did. The year was 2003, the place was Amsterdam, and my … Continue reading

Posted in Nostalgia, Writing | Comments Off on In which I ask my due

Expat scientists, Rare Disease Day 2011 and stupid politics

I received notification through Facebook (who says LinkedIn is only for professional conversations, and Facebook only for silly pet antics?) from a Portuguese former colleague from my French Ph.D. lab, who has since gone to live in Germany, England, and … Continue reading

Posted in Guest posts | Comments Off on Expat scientists, Rare Disease Day 2011 and stupid politics

A working vacation

Some time ago, one of my children asked me to explain what an oxymoron is, and I scrambled to find a good example. Well the title of this blog is a good one. Or is it? Years ago as Ph.

Posted in blackberry, cell phone, Mexico, ornithology, oxymoron, Research, science, technology, vacation | Comments Off on A working vacation

Unknown Again, Naturally

Just in case you’re around, I’ll be in London on 1st March, waffling directionlessly about various themes connected with my forthcoming tome. It’ll be a somewhat uninformed unformed ramble, so think of it as less of a lecture, more a … Continue reading

Posted in Apparitions, thinking, thinking about thinking, unknown, Writing, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Unknown Again, Naturally

Scientists are Human too

As I took a painkiller for a headache with my breakfast the other day, in advance of a first year lecture to 350 undergraduates, I was reminded of the words from the Yeoman of the Guard sung by the mournful … Continue reading

Posted in caring responsibilities, lecturing, parents, Science Culture, students | Comments Off on Scientists are Human too

Scientists need to ask ‘important’ questions – oh and stop “whingeing”

Scientists need to ask ‘important’ questions – oh and stop “whingeing” Science question time on Feb 16th – put on by the Biochemical Society, CaSE (Campaign for Science and Engineering) and the good folks from Imperial College was, I thought, … Continue reading

Posted in Mark Walport, Science Question Time, SciQT, UK Science policy | Comments Off on Scientists need to ask ‘important’ questions – oh and stop “whingeing”

Regression to the “mean”

They say that Steve Caplan is a mild-mannered scientist. But he pops into a phone-booth–no wait–that’s a thing of the past–he pops into the darkroom, and out comes Dr. Mean… Well, I do have a temper. Perhaps it’s slow to … Continue reading

Posted in author, egotism, humor, Research, science | Comments Off on Regression to the “mean”

More on dating

Places where I used to write the date: On cheques At the top of letters Lesson / lecture notes Lab books

Posted in education, science, Silliness, technology | Comments Off on More on dating

Hockey pool, week 19

I don’t usually display a chart of each person’s weekly points tally, but I’ve decided to include it today because it looked so nice when Ricardipus did it I thought it might make Thomas feel better I KICKED ASS for … Continue reading

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