3 July, 2009
Photo update
Two updates today, both digging deep into the backlog:
First are photos taken in the grounds of Lancaster University in mid-May 2005, capturing the freshest Spring greens.
The other set is from New Year's Eve 2007, showing a few landmarks of Barnstaple, North Devon.
Less?
1 July, 2009
Not news
A newspaper's 'science' editor* makes a fool of himself in criticising real scientists' criticism of 'science' journalists.
He couldn't have illustrated the laziness and silliness of his profession better if he'd deliberately tried; I can't comment on the alleged venality.
*: the person who happened to have claimed that "optical character recognition [is] the technology behind CDs".
Less?
30 June, 2009
Björn again
Björn Ulvaeus, musician and, as I've just discovered, member of the Swedish Humanist Association, restates the simple principle that "religion and schools don't mix". He's not wrong.
It's hardly controversial to opine that people in favour of religious schools are themselves believers. Religion has a natural place in their homes and their children grow up with it.
And that's fine.
And, incidentally, that's my position too: I definitely don't oppose the right to practice religion
in private, 'merely' state-endorsement of religious expression in public.
But does this not make it all the more important for schools to be free of religious influence?
In a recent debate with principals from two religious schools I was accused of being driven by emotions masquerading as reason. But if we hypothesise for a moment that they are right, then surely the same is true of them. And if that's the case, who should we listen to? It is precisely to avoid such conflicts that schools should provide a safe haven from all ideologies, with the obvious codicil that children should learn as much about as many of them as possible from an objective point of view.
Less?
29 June, 2009
Different world
A Saturday evening/Sunday spent in Borrowdale with close friends is a very long way from a Monday morning in the office with, well, colleagues. And I don't mean 120 km by road.
Must do the former more often.
[Photos to follow.]
Less?
21 June, 2009
Yes, in my front yard's fine
I'm an individualist. You may have noticed by now.
I feel strongly that the state should exist to serve individuals, never the reverse; that government should be a service provider facilitating the lives of individuals, and that government should never force individuals to jump through (metaphorical...) hoops merely for administrative convenience. The job of the 'security' agencies is a difficult one, and should be.
However, none of this means I reject basic social responsibility: I also favour self-censorship ahead of freedom of speech, and consider that my right to behave as I wish, anonymously, extends only as far as doesn't affect others.
In today's Observer, David Mitchell, in his amusing but insufferably middle-class English way, writes about wheelie bin protesters. I agree.
A digression in the article's comments actually reinforces the point. Why do Daily Mail readers, stereotypical right-wing libertarians who constantly whine about 'the nanny state' and 'political correctness' (supposedly excessive attempts to avoid offending minorities), spend their entire lives claiming to be offended?
Less?
