It was said, of Sherlock Holmes' smarter brother Mycroft, that he would rather be considered wrong than expend the effort of proving himself right. In fact, it was Sherlock himself who said this, whilst on the way to consult him regarding some particularly puzzling and intractable case. Mycroft was, as usual, to be found sitting in an armchair at ( Read more... )

Despite my having been possessed by a child-like fascination with electronic gadgets and devices from an early age, and having continued to festoon myself with a selection of them whenever I go out, I have to admit that I am finding them increasingly puzzling. Obviously not the devices themselves, it is generally quite easy to understand how they ( Read more... )

Well, I seem to be back at work. In fact, as it turns out I have been back at work since the beginning of the month, although I wasn't aware of this, since no-one ever tells me anything. However I spent last week meeting all my new colleagues, and they assured me that I had definitely been working with them for some time now, and expressed some ( Read more... )

It is evident, from the comments people have made in response to my occasional posts on social issues, that my generally optimistic view on the current state of the world, and my belief that people are by nature tolerant and friendly, are generally regarded as being foolishly, and possibly dangerously, naive. This really puzzles me, since I cannot ( Read more... )

There is nothing that irritates a pig more than not being able to have an opinion about something, so I was pleased that the Times eventually published the actual text of the Pope's speech, the one that has caused so much offence, thereby allowing me to make up my own mind about what it was he had said. I do increasingly find that the 'news', as ( Read more... )

"I'm actually a midwife" the barmaid informed me earnestly, whilst waiting for my pint to settle. "I'm only here because ... ummm". She trailed off, and her expression took on a puzzled and somewhat abstracted air, as if this was the first time that she had considered the issue. Evidently unable to come up with an explanation for her presence ( Read more... )

I have, for some time now, been running a little web server on badger, the trusty Linux box which sits next to me here in the computer room. Actually, to be honest, although I call it a computer room, the inventory supplied by the letting agents describes it as a Second Bedroom (Small), and notes, as evidence of this, the presence of a bed in it. ( Read more... )

There is a saying to the effect that if you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans. I was reminded of this whilst reading an article about the results of a recent study by a lecturer at Bath University, in which he demonstrated that the wearing of a protective helmet whilst cycling, far from enhancing one's safety, actually puts one in ( Read more... )

Well, as instructed, I have investigated lulu.com, and it appears that I could indeed, if I so wished, construct a book. I could even arrange for it to be made available for purchase online, and specify exactly the size and quality of paper it should be printed upon, and how it should be bound and decorated. And all, it would seem, at negligible ( Read more... )

"You watch the television news in the morning?" I was asked, apropos of my web log entry of yesterday ( Read more... )