We use a lot of liquid nitrogen at work and the safety department were pointing out that gas monitors are not fitted in every location. management are resistant in the more open spaces as they cost £900 each but fortunately our Innovative Solutions Division (coffee club) have the answer - canaries. They are free once a breeding population is ( Read more... )

Our local Lib Dems are saying a vote for Labour is a vote for the Tories. Actually no it is not and if we all vote tactically every constituency will be a frozen two horse race which is worse, even, than a few ineffectual UKIP MPs getting voted in. It suggests to me that not only do the local party have no principles but also that they have ( Read more... )

You may have wondered why Britain is doing so well in the cycling but we have noted that our commentators have been giving away the secrets so that others will be able to copy in future games. Here are some of the reasons ( Read more... )

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Culled from Nature today.
"Baird knows that dung beetles can see polarized light and that when she places tiny hats on the beetles to block their view of the sky, they become extremely disoriented."
The idea of a scientist making tiny hats for dung beetles amused me, though the headline "Evil scientist tortures small animals" could, as usual, apply

It has just been announced that Steve Rawlings who was until recently the head of my sub department at Oxford has died in suspicious circumstances http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/12/oxford-university-steven-rawlings-found-deadRead more... )

To me the AV question is no brainer ( Read more... )

I did wonder why Keys and Gray were being sacked by Sky over off-air sexist comments since I assume they are all doing it but on TV this morning it was noted that Gray is suing another Murdoch organisation for phone tapping.

The entropy field was bad yesterday. The 3D printer broke down, a window shattered on the bus on the way home and we had to wait for the next one and a car broke down directly outside the house. The owner knocked on the door to apologise and to say he was going to walk home to get his breakdown cover details which was nice if a little strange. ( Read more... )

So we are back from our cruise to Greenland, Iceland and Norway. It confirmed most of my preconceptions. Cruising is mostly done by old people, I would say at least 80% were retired. People who cruise go on a lot of cruises. My favourite comment was from a woman at breakfast who in response to the all purpose opening conversation gambit of "This is ( Read more... )