Category Archives: Friday afternoon

On occupational hazards

Posted on 5 February 2021 by rpg

(First posted over at the day job.) On Christmas Day I received an email. It was addressed to my 7-year-old son, and it told him that his coronavirus test was positive. There were mixed emotions. I was amused at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday afternoon, Nonsense, Science, Silliness | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Weather with you

Posted on 21 April 2017 by rpg

Even before we moved to Gravesend, we knew of its “dodgy thermometer” from the weather forecasts on TV and radio. Gravesend was consistently the warmest place in the country, bucking the nation’s trends by a degree Celsius or two. In … Continue reading →

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On remembrance

Posted on 14 November 2014 by rpg

Thirty years ago—plus or minus a week—I visited Berlin for the first time. It was a school trip, organized by our physics teacher. We rode a train from Braunschweig to Helmstedt, where we picked up an East German engine and … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday afternoon, Personal | Tagged | 5 Comments

Standard Model

Posted on 23 February 2013 by rpg

As Tyrant for Life one of my (self-appointed, obviously) responsibilities is to keep an eye on the goings-on over at our outpost in the Gamma Quadrant. So it was that on Thursday lunchtime that I was catching up on the … Continue reading →

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One step beyond

Posted on 30 March 2012 by rpg

What did I really think when I made the decision to leave the lab and pursue a career using my other skills? To be honest, I don’t really know. I don’t really remember. “It seemed a good idea at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday afternoon, Me, Work | Tagged | 3 Comments

Who are you?

Posted on 12 August 2011 by rpg

I asked someone to send me a brief CV in relation to something I was doing for the day job. They took me at my word, and sent this haiku: I sit on my butt Hiding from controversy Dispensing wisdom … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday afternoon, you | Tagged , , , | 43 Comments

Ignobel behaviour

Posted on 11 March 2011 by rpg

Without further comment.

Posted in Friday afternoon | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

On Popper

Posted on 7 January 2011 by rpg

I have to say, I disagree with Jenny’s post, and I’m going to disprove the alternative hypothesis for eight minutes.

Posted in Friday afternoon | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments