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My old new little friend – the Voigtländer VF-101

Posted on 6 May 2013 by Richard Wintle

Oh, goodness me. I’ve gone and bought a handful of old film cameras on Ebay. Six, exactly – purchased on the cheap with the understanding that they might not work. I think I’ve done alright – three apparently just fine, one with a minor but non-fatal issue, and two that are clearly defunct, at least until someone more skille Continue reading →

Posted in camera, Film, Hobbies, Photography, rangefinder, VF-101, Voigtländer | Comments Off on My old new little friend – the Voigtländer VF-101

It Has Not Escaped Our Notice #94

Posted on 6 May 2013 by Henry Gee

In an anguished missive accompanying this picture, Professor Trellis of North Wales writes:

Have you noticed how existential DIY megamarts get on Bank Holiday weekends? All I wanted to do was get a new hasp for the shed door, and when I got it home I discovered the attached emblazoned on the wrapper…

JG dodgy barcode_5484

Either they need to get their collective Continue reading →

Posted in Professor Trellis of North Wales, quantum uncertainty, Silliness | Comments Off on It Has Not Escaped Our Notice #94

Let me give you some advice….

Posted on 5 May 2013 by Sylvia McLain

on advice

If I were to offer a new academic advice it would be to not be afraid to take advice from your colleagues; especially with respect to writing. I was talking to one of my collaborators the other day and they told me ‘I never let anyone in the Department read my grants before I submit them; I am too scared‘. I can definitely u Continue reading →

Posted in advice, science writing | Comments Off on Let me give you some advice….

Crawling around the back yard

Posted on 3 May 2013 by Richard Wintle

This is the kind of thing that happens when I’m waiting around all day for a plumber to appear to fix a leaky valve in the upstairs bathroom:

Earthworm

Yes, that’s a perfectly ordinary Earthworm, wriggling into the earth under a border stone in the back yard. Having run out of other things to occupy my time (ok, I confess – that should pro Continue reading →

Posted in backyard, nature, Photography | Comments Off on Crawling around the back yard

Once Absence of Impact used to be the Fashionable Thing to Claim

Posted on 2 May 2013 by Athene Donald

Up and down the land, academics from Vice Chancellors down are sweating over 3 letters: REF. This dread acronym, standing for the Research Excellence Framework, must be absorbing a fantastic number of hours of time for many people and it is not something to be taken lightly. Many millions of pounds are at stake, as well as departmental honour. Some Continue reading →

Posted in History of Science, impact, Jan Golinski, REF, Research, Science Culture | Comments Off on Once Absence of Impact used to be the Fashionable Thing to Claim

Now I Am Old, I Shall Play Purple

Posted on 1 May 2013 by Henry Gee

This is the first generation of the truly ageing rock star. The Stones are still at it, fifty years on (proprietors M. Jagger & K. Richards, both 69.) David Bowie (66) has just released a new record which is reportedly excellent (I haven’t heard it myself. Continue reading →

Posted in deep purple, jon lord, Music, now what?!, review | Comments Off on Now I Am Old, I Shall Play Purple

The Maison Des Girrafes Caption Competition #51

Posted on 1 May 2013 by Henry Gee

Suggestions welcome for suitably surreal titles for this bizarre installation recently discovered at the Maison Des Girrafes. You know the sort of thing: things like Oh Calcutta! Calcutta! or The Ghost Of Professor Trellis of North Wales, Which Can Also Be Used As A Sink Tidy.

Continue reading →
Posted in Apparitions, installation, Silliness, surrealism | Comments Off on The Maison Des Girrafes Caption Competition #51

What’s in a name?

Posted on 30 April 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I had a boyfriend back in the day who wrote music semi-professionally. The best bit of composing a piece of music, according to the boy, was the creative process with another person – that toing and froing of thoughts and ideas that synthesized a great tune. His least favourite part was what happened after. Deciding who wrote what bit of Continue reading →

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In which it all goes a bit Hitchcock

Posted on 29 April 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

As I approach the door and reach for the knob, I find that my heart rate has accelerated. Behind me, one of our research nurses cowers a few paces back: she needs to get inside, but – quite understandably – doesn’t want to go in first. This, then, is one of the many aspects of being in charge of a lab that isn’t listed in the job description.

I kno Continue reading →

Posted in Silliness, The profession of science | Comments Off on In which it all goes a bit Hitchcock

Dogsplaining #6

Posted on 28 April 2013 by Henry Gee

Heidi the Golden Retriever explains the Taniyama-Shimura Conjecture using only her eyebrows.
IMG_6965

Posted in Silliness | Comments Off on Dogsplaining #6