An interesting and informative newsletter from the Today Programme’s experience in Africa. Threatened with what seems like abduction, clear officious obstruction, and the challenges of preparing a live broadcast from Lagos, a “smokey, congested, fume filled arena of traffic jams, power cuts, crime, corruption and mile upon mile of depravation and decay“. Mike Thomson’s newsletter, […]
The FT is reporting that Singapore is threatening to sue a weblogger (more here too )following unfavourable comments about a government agency (via Roger Darlington). I visited Singapore last year, and whilst I enjoyed our stay there - especially catching up with friends - the culture of government is more akin to business than democracy. […]
I like things to be as they should be. I hate seeing people do a bad job, and I hate it when - by not getting feedback - people continue doing so entirely oblivious to the frustration and fury I feel, especially if I’m being taken for granted. So I’ve started getting a bit more of […]
The National Trust has launched a campaign to save Wembury Point (on the south coast of Devon, just to the east of Plymouth) from commercial development. I have spent many weeks on holiday there at Churchwood Valley, most recently in October 2003 (We also managed to go and visit the remarkable Eden Project). So I have […]
A marvellous sketch from Francis Crick’s notebook, giving his first impression of DNA (via boingboing). It’s fascinating to see the origin of ideas in such a way, and the wider project to open up the archives of prominent scientists is a stunning example of just how powerful a medium the Internet really can be.
Prospect has an interesting article titled Escape from the Universe: The universe is destined to end. Before it does, could an advanced civilisation escape via a “wormhole” into a parallel universe? The idea seems like science fiction, but it is consistent with the laws of physics and biology. Here’s how to do it. Excellent stuff from […]
Early last week, I wrote a letter to Glasgow Council regarding some works that had been left in a bit of a mess outside our flat. I’m pleased to report that this morning I received a response back from the Head of Maintenance and Design.
As friends and family will know, Frances and I are hoping to buy a house in Glasgow sometime quite soon. We’re ready to buy quite quickly (proceeds from our house sale at the ready, and demonstrable regular income), and we don’t have a chain behind us. In London, Estate Agents would be crawling over us: […]
I recently wrote to Glasgow Council Land Services to complain about some road works that had been left unfinished for over a month. I’ve developed something of a bee in my bonnet about sloppy work (I’ve complained previously, when in London, and intend to soon write about the deplorable state of road lane markings in Glasgow). […]
The unfolding disaster in Asia has stunned the world. At a time like this, it’s important that people dig into their pockets and donate to one of the many charities working to help alleviate the immediate, and longer-term problems faced by the people in the area. I’d ask readers consider donating to one of the many […]
