Category Archives: Froth

In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Frank Norman

It’s the last trumpet. It’s been an intense few months up on the Ridgeway; preparations for our big change have gathered pace. At first things went slowly – infuriatingly slowly –  but as the years crept on so we felt … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | 4 Comments

Advanced photo technology

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Frank Norman

I do love the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, but when it comes to stories about science and technology or popular culture the presenters can be exasperating. This morning John Humphrey kept calling Philae the “Mars explorer” and seemingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | Comments Off on Advanced photo technology

M and S

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Frank Norman

I am back at work after a three-week break. I had a good holiday, visiting Manila and Singapore.  I really managed to switch off, totally ignoring the temptation to look at my email or Twitter. The part of my brain … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | Tagged | 5 Comments

A fruitful New Year

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Frank Norman

In England we don’t have much in the way of colourful New Year traditions. The Scots famously make more of the season, which they call Hogmanay, but in England the traditional choices are: Go out to a pub and get … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Righting authorship wrongs

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Frank Norman

I had never heard of Dalton Trumbo until today, and I daresay you haven’t heard of him either. He was a member of the “Hollywood Ten,” which was a group of writers and directors who were blacklisted after being deemed … Continue reading →

Posted in Authorship, Froth | 4 Comments

Numbers that limit us

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Frank Norman

The first big number that I remember learning about was Avogadro’s number, N, which is 6.022 x 1023 and represents the number of molecules in one gram-molecule of oxygen. My first chemistry teacher at school, Mr Horkan, was Russian-born and … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth, Research data | 2 Comments

A tour of Kings Cross / St Pancras

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Frank Norman

One of the sessions at Science Online London this year was about “offline communities in online networking“.  There are all kinds of groups around that either started as online groups or that use online tools to organise themselves and gain … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

News can be very odd sometimes

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Frank Norman

Three news stories this week made my jaw drop, my eyes widen, and my reservoirs of mirth overflow (though not all at once). Maybe they shouldn’t make me laugh but these stories are just rather odd. Rome earthquake The BBC … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | 7 Comments

The importance of the ephemeral

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Frank Norman

I was given a new digital radio for Christmas, and now have radios installed in every room of my flat, meaning I can listen to my beloved Radio 4 wherever I am. This morning I was interested to hear John … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogology, Froth | 8 Comments

Hurtling towards Christmas

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Frank Norman

We are speeding towards 25 December, being sucked inexorably into the black hole of Christmas – that infinite mass of festivity and self-indulgence that you can only escape from if you are equipped with the Scrooge-on factor. Usually I like … Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | 7 Comments