Considering starting a higher education blog - I spend so much time thinking about it and reading about it that it might be useful to formulate some stuff more fully. Especially since the standard of HE reporting in UK newspapers is universally poor (basically, churnalism spewed out at a high rate to feed the hungry commenters on the Guardian, and ( Read more... )

Have been trying to collect my thoughts on NCHum - without simply ridiculing The Hair of Grayling. My instinct is that not only will it struggle, but also it is a Bad Thing. Why?

TL:DR

( Read more... )

Summary of last year: More Of The Same

NY Resolutions:
All the usual stuff (work more, eat less) but can essentially be boiled down to
1) Finish thesis
2) Be more awesome
3) Stop reading the comments on the Guardian website

1. Sit up straight
2. Take the stairs (already broken this one, but never mind)
3. Lose weight, be more healthy, do more exercise, finish PhD, find out how to be happy
4. Stop burning the onions

via gair; off the top of my head, as instructed (and without looking at anyone else's list!)

( list )

( boring stuff about writing )

What is the best sort of plain chocolate?

( links and waffle )

Have been comfort-rereading Diana Wynne Jones and on checking to see whether any new books are in the offing (after the, I thought rather slight, House of Many Ways) - lo and behold, Enchanted Glass - which sounds like an idea spinning wildly off from Ted Mallory's glass windows in Deep Secret (and curiously, I read this for the however-manyth time ( Read more... )

Speculative zoology