A meme going around Facebook - slightly edited for annonymity.
1. I love music. My cd collection is rapidly spiralling out of control, and the discovery of emusic was the death knell to any prospect of recovery.
2. The most obscure cd I own is probably "The Snow Goose" by Camel.
3. I don't read nearly as much as I used to. I can still easily read over 10 books in a weekend though. I have run out of space for books.
4. I have been known to blog anonymously upon rare occasions. I have tried to resist the lure of Twitter.
5. I managed to break my nose. At this point it is the only bone of mine that has ever been broken.
6. The book I'm looking forward to most this year is book 12 in "The Wheel of Time".
7. The cruelest thing my parents could do to me as a baby was put me in a baby grow. I hate having things on my feet, and I still prefer not to wear shoes if at all possible.
8. I love evening dresses, and just never get a chance to wear them.
9. My PhD probably had a year added onto it due to the pernacious influence of Baldurs Gate 2, and the myriad forms of Civilization. Damn you Sid Meier and Bioware.
10. My labrador is named after a character from the Silmarillion. My home PC is named after one of the elven races. I have read "the Lord of the Rings" more times then I care to admit. I can expond for hours on all the flaws in the Jackson movies. That hasn't stopped me watching them more times then I care to admit.
11. My favourite movie is "Arsenic and Old Lace". Something about little old ladies being serial killers just appeals to me, I guess!
12. I make a seriously good tiramisu.
13. I only got my ears pierced in my late 20's, and that was only due to a friends nagging.
14. My hair is currently the longest it's ever been.
15. I still miss my grandmother.
16. I'm going to be an aunt this year! This is incredibly exciting.
17. I hate having my photo taken. The words "short" and "fat" always leap to mind.
18. I hate Valentines Day.
19. I can make pancakes at 1 am...
20. I'm fairly obsessive about some things; cd's are alphabeticised, books are vaguely sorted by height and author. Do not interfere with my organisation!
21. By the end of my PhD I was drinking around 2 litres of Coke a day. I am now down to practically nothing.
22. There are some pieces of music and songs that are practically guaranteed to make me weep.
23. I have never smoked.
24. I am a very good proof reader. I can spot a split infinitive at 10 paces.
25. My favourite piece of electronic equipment is my iPod.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Things that annoy me
I'm very sure that I've mentioned some of these before.
(1) Proof reading a document for the second or third time for someone, and realising that many of the changes you are making were made the first and second time you proofed that document. Just make the changes already!!!
(2) The really annoying habit of some drivers in this town to drive with their hazard lights on. It is as if they think that this provides them with immunity against driving properly. Driving with hazard lights on does not mean you can drive like an idiot. Morons.
(1) Proof reading a document for the second or third time for someone, and realising that many of the changes you are making were made the first and second time you proofed that document. Just make the changes already!!!
(2) The really annoying habit of some drivers in this town to drive with their hazard lights on. It is as if they think that this provides them with immunity against driving properly. Driving with hazard lights on does not mean you can drive like an idiot. Morons.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Done stuff
Things I have done are in bold
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Academic freedom
I mentioned that the CSIR in South Africa was having a conference last week, and bemoaned the lack of media publicity about it. I probably spoke to soon, as a media frenzy broke out shortly after that. One of the keynote speakers, Dr Anthony Turton, had his talk withdrawn, and was subsequently suspended by the CSIR pending an internal investigation. The content of his talk is still freely available off the CSIR webpage, so it is a bit baffling as to why the CSIR felt the need to withdraw the talk at the last minute, particularly as it apparently, according to the media, had been circulated for some time before the conference.
The official version is that there were some unsubstantiated facts in the talk, and that some of the figures used, which showed some of the victims of the recent xenophobic violence in South Africa, may have caused distress. Dr Turton was suspended due to his decision to talk directly to the media, rather then following internal CSIR channels. At this point it’s rather moot as to what the reasons are, as the CSIR is now stuck between a rock and a hard place. This has now been portrayed as a freedom of speech issue, and an example of censorship by the CSIR and government. My gut feeling as to the “unsubstantiated claims” that the CSIR was reluctant to have presented is the data showing the level of government funding, and staff employment at the CSIR. This work was published in the South African Journal of Science in 2006, and part of it was reproduced as Figure 1 in Dr Turtons talk. The drop in funding is actually incredibly scary. Science in SA is in a fairly precarious state as it is – if a council that should be the premier research institute is battling to attract funding, what hope is there for the rest of us scientists in this country?
The official version is that there were some unsubstantiated facts in the talk, and that some of the figures used, which showed some of the victims of the recent xenophobic violence in South Africa, may have caused distress. Dr Turton was suspended due to his decision to talk directly to the media, rather then following internal CSIR channels. At this point it’s rather moot as to what the reasons are, as the CSIR is now stuck between a rock and a hard place. This has now been portrayed as a freedom of speech issue, and an example of censorship by the CSIR and government. My gut feeling as to the “unsubstantiated claims” that the CSIR was reluctant to have presented is the data showing the level of government funding, and staff employment at the CSIR. This work was published in the South African Journal of Science in 2006, and part of it was reproduced as Figure 1 in Dr Turtons talk. The drop in funding is actually incredibly scary. Science in SA is in a fairly precarious state as it is – if a council that should be the premier research institute is battling to attract funding, what hope is there for the rest of us scientists in this country?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Cynicism
Our big boss at work has decided to set up meetings with each of the groups. It's probably not a good sign when the first response of most people is to wonder how many times the meeting will be shifted before it finally happens.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
South African Science
The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) in South Africa is (theoretically) the flagship for South African science, as well as for African science. It's currently having a conference highlighting its research. Number of newspaper / web articles on this - One... Unfortunately, science isn't an attractive career here for a variety of reasons. Things like this don't help though.
SA politics, II
And as I post the previous point, I check the news only to see that the provisional election date is the 25 March. It will be interesting to see if this will be the case next year
South African Politics
South Africa is holding its presidential elections next year. This is probably of less importance to most of the world then the most recent one held in the United States, but it holds the potential to be one of the most significant held in Africa in recent years. It’s an unfortunate reality that liberation movements in Africa have often come to resemble the worst aspects of the governments that they sort to replace. Often, the promise rapidly degenerates into dictatorship and one party rule. One just needs to look north of the Limpopo river to see a textbook example in the rule of Zanu-PF and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. South Africa has, thus far, managed to escape the threat of an elder statesman hanging onto power through the decision of Nelson Mandela to serve only one term as President, and then the recent recalling of Thabo Mbeki as President. Currently we have an acting President, Kgalema Motlanthe, with the likelihood that he will be replaced by the President of the ANC, Jacob Zuma.
However, it looked like South Africa would be governed by the ANC for the foreseeable future. Having one political party dominate for an extended period of time is not healthy for any democracy – hence the strong likelihood that the Labour government in the UK will be replaced by a Conservative government after their next election. The chief opposition party in SA, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is still predominately white, and, realistically speaking, will never be a viable opposition party in the sense of being able to beat the ANC in an election. However, the recent recall of Thabo Mbeki has contributed towards the formation of a new party, COPE, mainly comprised of disenchanted former ANC heavyweights, led by the former premier of Gauteng, Tokyo Sekwale, and Mosioua Lekota, the former Minister of Defence. The big question is whether they will be able to pull sufficient votes from ANC supporters in rural areas to put a dent in the ANC majority. It is highly unlikely that they will be able to do more then that, however, reducing the ANC majority will send a message to the ANC that they are not entitled to be in power for ever. The big losers in my opinion however are likely to be the DA. There are a significant proportion of voters who will vote for a party other then the ANC in order to have some semblance of opposition. A predominately white party will inevitably become nothing more then a curiosity in South Africa. A strong opposition party in South Africa is a necessity if South Africa is to survive as a democracy. It remains to be seen if COPE can become that.
However, it looked like South Africa would be governed by the ANC for the foreseeable future. Having one political party dominate for an extended period of time is not healthy for any democracy – hence the strong likelihood that the Labour government in the UK will be replaced by a Conservative government after their next election. The chief opposition party in SA, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is still predominately white, and, realistically speaking, will never be a viable opposition party in the sense of being able to beat the ANC in an election. However, the recent recall of Thabo Mbeki has contributed towards the formation of a new party, COPE, mainly comprised of disenchanted former ANC heavyweights, led by the former premier of Gauteng, Tokyo Sekwale, and Mosioua Lekota, the former Minister of Defence. The big question is whether they will be able to pull sufficient votes from ANC supporters in rural areas to put a dent in the ANC majority. It is highly unlikely that they will be able to do more then that, however, reducing the ANC majority will send a message to the ANC that they are not entitled to be in power for ever. The big losers in my opinion however are likely to be the DA. There are a significant proportion of voters who will vote for a party other then the ANC in order to have some semblance of opposition. A predominately white party will inevitably become nothing more then a curiosity in South Africa. A strong opposition party in South Africa is a necessity if South Africa is to survive as a democracy. It remains to be seen if COPE can become that.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sundry irritations
Idiots who don't pay attention when driving. I had a minor bumper bashing on Friday - thankfully no serious damage, but it's still a bit frustrating. My chief peeve was the fact that the idiot responsible just sat in his car, as though I should just drive off without checking for damage.
Lawyers responsible for our patent who managed to submit it with completely the wrong set of figures. I spent hours last week fixing them all, and now the majority of our figure legends don't match the figures.
The water quality at work. This has been a continual problem for several months now, and still doesn't seem to be anywhere near getting resolved. Of course, this affects the water that we drink during the day, and the purified water we use in all our cultures and chemical solutions. Sigh.
Facebook chat. Why, oh why, oh why doesn't it indicate that you have a new chat message when you're working in a different tab? Would this be so difficult to sort out?
My complete inability to get a simple cloning strategy to work.
Sigh. Next year can not come soon enough.
Lawyers responsible for our patent who managed to submit it with completely the wrong set of figures. I spent hours last week fixing them all, and now the majority of our figure legends don't match the figures.
The water quality at work. This has been a continual problem for several months now, and still doesn't seem to be anywhere near getting resolved. Of course, this affects the water that we drink during the day, and the purified water we use in all our cultures and chemical solutions. Sigh.
Facebook chat. Why, oh why, oh why doesn't it indicate that you have a new chat message when you're working in a different tab? Would this be so difficult to sort out?
My complete inability to get a simple cloning strategy to work.
Sigh. Next year can not come soon enough.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Reflection
A friend of mine sent me this statement that someone else said to them:
“Christians are only saved when they die for someone else. Christians need to take the pain/punishment for someone else.”
On first glance this struck me as something I disagree with. Ultimately, that whole statement has messianic overtones, but there was only one Messiah, and we can never hope to live up to His standard. Also, while we are called to die to self, to die for someone else isn’t a prerequisite to be a Christian (that has echoes of the human sacrifice practiced by the Aztec religion). However, in the context that taking on someone elses burdens often implies dying to self, the statement has some validity.
Anyway, I did a quick scan for some relevant verses, and these ones struck me (all from the NIV).
John 10:10-12
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
John 15:12-14
12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.
1 John 3:15-17
15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
So maybe the initial statement needs to be re-worked a bit. Firstly, we are required to give up everything, even our life if necessary, if it will help someone else. However, not everyone will be called to that level of self-sacrifice. No one would be able to argue that Mother Theresa of Calcutta is any less of a Christian then St Maximillian Kolbe, who did give up his own life to save a stranger. There are many Christians who will never die to save someone else’s life. Yet in terms of a death to self, of a giving of ones being, of all ones possessions to help a stranger, isn’t that in many instances a fate that many people would regard as worse then death?
I think I may to think about this a bit more…
“Christians are only saved when they die for someone else. Christians need to take the pain/punishment for someone else.”
On first glance this struck me as something I disagree with. Ultimately, that whole statement has messianic overtones, but there was only one Messiah, and we can never hope to live up to His standard. Also, while we are called to die to self, to die for someone else isn’t a prerequisite to be a Christian (that has echoes of the human sacrifice practiced by the Aztec religion). However, in the context that taking on someone elses burdens often implies dying to self, the statement has some validity.
Anyway, I did a quick scan for some relevant verses, and these ones struck me (all from the NIV).
John 10:10-12
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
John 15:12-14
12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.
1 John 3:15-17
15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
So maybe the initial statement needs to be re-worked a bit. Firstly, we are required to give up everything, even our life if necessary, if it will help someone else. However, not everyone will be called to that level of self-sacrifice. No one would be able to argue that Mother Theresa of Calcutta is any less of a Christian then St Maximillian Kolbe, who did give up his own life to save a stranger. There are many Christians who will never die to save someone else’s life. Yet in terms of a death to self, of a giving of ones being, of all ones possessions to help a stranger, isn’t that in many instances a fate that many people would regard as worse then death?
I think I may to think about this a bit more…
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