(no subject)

Well, thank you all who left me birthday messages - much appreciated.

In the meantime, I am beginning to wonder what is going on here in London. Here we are, the early hours of February 5 and frankly, I'm too warm. Some famous Russian (so famous I don't know his name, but I believe it was during the Napoleonic Wars - or it could have been WWII... er...) said their greatest allies in war were Generals January and February. This on account of the appalling Winter weather and subzero temperatures*.

Well, if Britain ever had these generals, it is clear that General January popped in for three days last week, presumably to tender his resignation, and General February has gone AWOL sttraight from the word go. I'm guessing from the temperatures that General April is pulling in some serious overtime. Not only are the temperatures more of a level we would associate with April, but the accursed cherry tree at the end of our road (see journals passim) is beginning to blossom. That means that my only known allergy (that bloody tree) will get a longer and earlier run up on my sinuses than usual.

Curses.

In other news, I must remember never to mention my birthday at the office EVER again. The bill for cakes was truly astounding. I could have had three nights serious boozing for the same money. My boss, expectant mother that she is, took the opportunity to scarf back two huge slices of cheese cake and then complain about feeling queasy a couple of hours later.

How we laughed.

I was bullied by Suzi the office bombshell tm into wearing a badge proclaiming "I am 45" all day.

I sit before you a broken man.

* In fact it was Tolstoy, referring to Napoleon's campaign of 1812. The phrase was also used by Czar Nicholas I during the Crimean War in 1854.

(no subject)

Well, thank you all who left me birthday messages - much appreciated.

In the meantime, I am beginning to wonder what is going on here in London. Here we are, the early hours of February 5 and frankly, I'm too warm. Some famous Russian (so famous I don't know his name, but I believe it was during the Napoleonic Wars - or it could have been WWII... er...) said their greatest allies in war were Generals January and February. This on account of the appalling Winter weather and subzero temperatures*.

Well, if Britain ever had these generals, it is clear that General January popped in for three days last week, presumably to tender his resignation, and General February has gone AWOL sttraight from the word go. I'm guessing from the temperatures that General April is pulling in some serious overtime. Not only are the temperatures more of a level we would associate with April, but the accursed cherry tree at the end of our road (see journals passim) is beginning to blossom. That means that my only known allergy (that bloody tree) will get a longer and earlier run up on my sinuses than usual.

Curses.

In other news, I must remember never to mention my birthday at the office EVER again. The bill for cakes was truly astounding. I could have had three nights serious boozing for the same money. My boss, expectant mother that she is, took the opportunity to scarf back two huge slices of cheese cake and then complain about feeling queasy a couple of hours later.

How we laughed.

I was bullied by Suzi the office bombshell tm into wearing a badge proclaiming "I am 45" all day.

I sit before you a broken man.

* In fact it was Tolstoy, referring to Napoleon's campaign of 1812. The phrase was also used by Czar Nicholas I during the Crimean War in 1854.

Post-modern Prometheus

Well, talk about disappointing.

Horizon used to be one of my favourite pop-science programmes on TV. I don't get to see it too often these days, and clearly there's been a sea change in the BBC's production and editorial values. Frankly tonight's edition was poo, and I don't mean that in a good way.

I mean, really.

It starts off talking about computers and the problems with increased miniaturisation and the limits of silicon as expressed by Moore's Law (ie computers double their power every 18 months or so until they reach the limit of miniaturisation and stop). So far, so good. Then it moves on to talk about the concept of nanotechnology. I mean, yeah, this is what the punters want.

So they move on to explore the potential benefits of nanotechnology. Oh yes. We're getting there. Good stuff.

And now the potential downside. Self-replicating microscopic organic robots destroying life on earth - the so-called grey-goo. I'm hooked; this is the good stuff: tales of well-meant scientific endeavour run amok, and all so inevitable.

Enter a chap called Hendrik. Hendrik was the darling of modern physics - the one who raised the bench mark, set new limits. No one could keep up with him, and he was the man who came up with the first experiments that made biotechnology and hence nanotechnology a workable solution. All the makings of a great modern horror story.

Except that the bloke falsified his results and none of his ideas hold water now that people have cottoned on to the fact he's a fraud. Nanothechnology is still over the horizon and solidly in the realms of SF. Not as the programme would have had you believe at the start, something that could be here in 50 years.

There was a great story there, but not the one they told.

Poo. Of the runniest ring burn variety.

Post-modern Prometheus

Well, talk about disappointing.

Horizon used to be one of my favourite pop-science programmes on TV. I don't get to see it too often these days, and clearly there's been a sea change in the BBC's production and editorial values. Frankly tonight's edition was poo, and I don't mean that in a good way.

I mean, really.

It starts off talking about computers and the problems with increased miniaturisation and the limits of silicon as expressed by Moore's Law (ie computers double their power every 18 months or so until they reach the limit of miniaturisation and stop). So far, so good. Then it moves on to talk about the concept of nanotechnology. I mean, yeah, this is what the punters want.

So they move on to explore the potential benefits of nanotechnology. Oh yes. We're getting there. Good stuff.

And now the potential downside. Self-replicating microscopic organic robots destroying life on earth - the so-called grey-goo. I'm hooked; this is the good stuff: tales of well-meant scientific endeavour run amok, and all so inevitable.

Enter a chap called Hendrik. Hendrik was the darling of modern physics - the one who raised the bench mark, set new limits. No one could keep up with him, and he was the man who came up with the first experiments that made biotechnology and hence nanotechnology a workable solution. All the makings of a great modern horror story.

Except that the bloke falsified his results and none of his ideas hold water now that people have cottoned on to the fact he's a fraud. Nanothechnology is still over the horizon and solidly in the realms of SF. Not as the programme would have had you believe at the start, something that could be here in 50 years.

There was a great story there, but not the one they told.

Poo. Of the runniest ring burn variety.

(no subject)

Are you one of those people who believes that there used to be intelligent life on Mars, as evidenced by the face on Cydonia?

Whaddaya reckon to the Mars Lion, then?

(no subject)

Are you one of those people who believes that there used to be intelligent life on Mars, as evidenced by the face on Cydonia?

Whaddaya reckon to the Mars Lion, then?