Latest posts

Did Tolkien Support The Canaries?

Posted on 4 August 2011 by Henry Gee

As both of you probably know, I edit Mallorn, the Journal of the Tolkien Society. I also support Norwich City FC. Being short of an envoi for the issue of Mallorn I’m currently putting together (Oh Joy! When I finish, I can shout ‘Elvish Has Left The Building!) I used my editorial prerogative to indulge two of my passions together, so w Continue reading →

Posted in Football, hobbits, lord of the rings, tolkien, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Did Tolkien Support The Canaries?

A week in the Library

Posted on 3 August 2011 by Frank Norman

From time to time people ask me what I do all day. Sometimes it’s school students spending a week with us on work experience who do the asking, sometimes it’s my boss at my annual appraisal, sometimes it’s just random people I meet. Sometimes I wonder myself, especially when my to-do list seems just as long at the end of a day as Continue reading →

Posted in Libday7, Libraries and librarians | Comments Off on A week in the Library

This.

Posted on 3 August 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

(“Federal scientist unfairly silenced, union says” – CBC News)

I wonder how long this whole social media experiment of direct communication with The People will last…

(My favourite comment on the cat photo album: “Please don’t eat this one, Prime Minister”. Yes, Our Glorious Leader apparently has nothing b Continue reading →

Posted in bad people, Canada, communication, current affairs, environment, furry friends, Politics, science | Comments Off on This.

Do You Recognize this Person?

Posted on 3 August 2011 by Athene Donald

Since it is the vacation, and few committee meetings are being held, I thought now might be a good moment to revisit the characteristics of Committee Chairs I promised a little while ago . Given the timing, my colleagues are least likely to think I am referring to any one in particular in anything I write, because I won’t have been shut away in a r Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, decision-making, efficiency, Science Culture | Comments Off on Do You Recognize this Person?

In which my heart goes out to Postdoc B

Posted on 2 August 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

What a difference a few words make.

Compare this:

With this:

Continue reading →
Posted in careers, staring into the abyss, The profession of science, Women in science | Comments Off on In which my heart goes out to Postdoc B

The Carnival Is Coming!

Posted on 2 August 2011 by Henry Gee

This month’s Carnival of Evolution is over at the Sandwalk. Go look, read, and enjoy. There’s a lot to get your neural-crest-derived hard tissues teeth into. I’ll be hosting September’s edition here at the End of the Pier, and would welcome all your suggestions, no matter how pungent, erumpent, eldritch or chthonic, notwiths Continue reading →

Posted in Apparitions, Blogkeeping, carnival of evolution, chthonic, eldritch, erumpent, Research, sandwalk, Science Is Vital, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on The Carnival Is Coming!

The Dread Day Dawns [22]

Posted on 1 August 2011 by Austin

As a few people over on Facebook have noticed, today is my birthday.

And as a few people around here will have worked out from an earlier post, this birthday is Officially A Biggie (people tell me).

Continue reading →
Posted in Family business, Getting old, Grumbling | Comments Off on The Dread Day Dawns [22]

Bridges on the River Fraser: a bike tour of Richmond, New Westminster, Burnaby, and Vancouver

Posted on 31 July 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

When I was training for the Vancouver-Seattle ride last year, my Sunday training usually involved a really nice loop from my house, over the river into Richmond, along River Road, back over the river to New Westminster, and then back through Burnaby on the Central Valley Greenway bike path. I loved the route, but was too focused on keeping my avera Continue reading →

Posted in cycling, exercise, photos, Vancouver | Comments Off on Bridges on the River Fraser: a bike tour of Richmond, New Westminster, Burnaby, and Vancouver

Chile-ing out–part 2

Posted on 31 July 2011 by Steve Caplan

As we here in the American middle west gear up for another heat wave, with heat indices slated to range from 105-115 deg. F (due to the unusual humidity), I thought that I would share another few images of my 1996 trip to southern Chile, during a 6-week break from my Ph.D. research.

Continue reading →
Posted in Chile, lava, out-of-shape-scientist, science, student, travel, vacation, Villarica, volcano | Comments Off on Chile-ing out–part 2

Rhythms of Life

Posted on 31 July 2011 by Stephen

Some say April is the cruellest month but I found July to be more punishing.

You might think that, for university staff like myself, July would bring respite from the tiresome enslavement of exam and project marking that fills all of June. At the end of that gruelling month the students are granted their grades and degrees and finally quit the camp Continue reading →

Posted in Holiday, Life, Scientific Life | Comments Off on Rhythms of Life