Monthly Archives: December 2012

Happy Holidays, you lot

Posted on 22 December 2012 by Richard Wintle

I’ve not much to say at the moment, except “Happy Holidays” to anyone who may be reading. It’s been not even a year since this blog appeared here at Occam’s Typewriter. I’ll be heading out tomorrow to where my relatives … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, Christmas, Happy New Year, holiday season, new year's, Photography | Comments Off on Happy Holidays, you lot

For Your Consideration

Posted on 21 December 2012 by Henry Gee

The discovery earlier today that my SF trilogy The Sigil has been nominated in the ‘Best Novel’ category of the British Science Fiction Association awards cheered an otherwise dull afternoon, quite. I believe that this is for the longlist, and … Continue reading →

Posted in british science fiction association, kim stanley robinson, Science-fiction, the sigil, welcome to the alpaca lips, whole roast llama stuffed with hummingbirds, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on For Your Consideration

Christmas Letters and Acronym Soup

Posted on 21 December 2012 by Athene Donald

It’s the time of year for writing those Chrismassy round robin letters – or rather it’s a week or two past it, but I am late as usual. I never write simply a single letter and copy it, but try … Continue reading →

Posted in committee membership, committee work, ERC, Research, Science Culture | Comments Off on Christmas Letters and Acronym Soup

It’s the end of the world as we know it

Posted on 21 December 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Is everyone having a nice apocalypse? Jolly good – now let’s talk about what happens next! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The professor who taught microbial genetics during my undergrad degree was hilarious.

Posted in blog buddies, book review, current affairs, plagues, Silliness, technology, television, virology | Comments Off on It’s the end of the world as we know it

In which a classic tale of DNA and discovery is recast

Posted on 20 December 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

As for many people in the molecular biology profession, my first reading of The Double Helix by James Watson was a revelation. I can’t recall how old I was – probably in my late teens. I had already decided I … Continue reading →

Posted in Lablit, Nostalgia, The profession of science, Women in science, Writing | Comments Off on In which a classic tale of DNA and discovery is recast

Temporospatial trends in germophobia

Posted on 18 December 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

One of the cultural differences I noticed soon after I moved from Britain to Canada is how people treat you if you say you have a cold or other minor ailment. In the UK, my experience is that friends, family, … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Medicine, personal, UK, virology | Comments Off on Temporospatial trends in germophobia

The truth about pesticides and bees?

Posted on 17 December 2012 by Philip Strange

Each week Riverford Organic delivers a vegetable box to our door. Nestling among the mosaic of vegetables is a newsletter from the Riverford boss, Guy Watson.  This summer he has moaned, justifiably, about the state of the weather and the … Continue reading →

Posted in agrochemical, bees, buglife, bumblebees, companies, environmental audit committee, friends of the earth, honeybees, insecticides, insects, neonicotinoids, Science policy, soil association | Comments Off on The truth about pesticides and bees?

Come on America, let’s talk about Fear.

Posted on 16 December 2012 by Sylvia McLain

I don’t own a gun. I don’t own a gun not because I am *against* guns per se, but guns scare me. Research has indicated that if you carry a gun for protection you are more likely to be shot. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbine, gun control, Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Elementary | Comments Off on Come on America, let’s talk about Fear.

Hobbitry

Posted on 15 December 2012 by Henry Gee

I’m literally just back from the Cromer Enormoplex where I was subjected to saw The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, so what follows is very much a second impression: Howard Shore’s soundtrack is still ringing in mes oreilles. There might also … Continue reading →

Posted in Apparitions, Cinema, Silliness, Technicrox, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Hobbitry

So You Don’t Know What You Want To Do Next?

Posted on 14 December 2012 by Athene Donald

You are not alone! I suspect that most PhD students are uncertain, and if they think they know, it is probably because they assume, without necessarily considering the question at any length, that they will just continue on the academic … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, experience, luck, PhD | Comments Off on So You Don’t Know What You Want To Do Next?