I stumbled upon an article some weeks back, I cannot for the life of me remember where, about memory, or more precisely about why animals have developed such a capability in the first place. It is, when you stand back and think about it, a fairly odd thing to be able to do, to summon up mental images of things that you have previously heard, or ( Read more... )

The only problem with going on holiday is, of course, having to come back. I landed at Gatwick, which was OK, I quite like Gatwick, with all its buzz and bustle, but then I had to face getting on the train to Worthing, and my whole spirit crumpled. I sat in the Bridge Bar, moodily watching the happy travelers with their cheerful faces, and their ( Read more... )

In pursuance of my strategy of making visits at random to major European capitals, and as previously trailed in this very weblog, I decided to spend New Year in Budapest, which is in fact where I now find myself, propping up the bar in a suitably dark and smoky outlet of the Gosser Brauerei. Much to my gratification, the two people opposite me are ( Read more... )

I should, I suppose, be busy preparing work package summaries, and putting them in to Microsoft Project, what with this being my last day of work this year. Instead, I am listening to Lynn Miles cooing away in the background, whilst sending out e-cards to all my ex-friends, with an animated talking piglet in them. They say it is better to give than ( Read more... )

I suppose I should post something, even if only in order to reassure people that I am still alive. Although I suspect that most of those who have any interest in the subject are already apprised of this fact, by other means ( Read more... )

As Chessie pointed out to me the other day, so far the only two objects we have collaboratively made in Second Life are a Lazyboy reclining chair, and a large bed. Obviously Chessie has made hundreds of objects on her own, these are just the two objects that I happen to have been involved with. "Do you see a pattern here?" she asked, innocently ( Read more... )

For some reason, possibly because I am surprisingly dim, it never really dawned on me that England had any laws, apart from obvious practical ones about not parking on zebra crossings, and not taking other people's stuff without their permission. I suppose I have a fairly pragmatic view of the role of the state in enforcing behaviours, namely that ( Read more... )

Chessie and I were standing in the garden outside our Second Life house, deeply engrossed in putting the final touches to our new 'Jack In The Box' product (availability Q4/06, POA), when our new neighbour strolled over to say hello. As is normal in SL, we had been made aware of his arrival by the fact that an enormous three-storey house had ( Read more... )

I must confess to having been somewhat taken aback by being called a geek, for some reason it had never previously occurred to me that I might be one. I had a clear picture in my mind of what geeks were like, they were short and hairy, and wore spectacles, and had thin and brittle legs, like sparrows. They were usually to be found hidden away in ( Read more... )

To: Supreme Deity ( Read more... )