Greg's introduction to his paintings:
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
paintings of the land and sea
Check out Greg Humphries' paintings - I particularly like Sulis Minerva Invocation and Godrevy No 1 (Winter).
Greg's introduction to his paintings:
Greg's introduction to his paintings:
Friday, August 26, 2005
Michaela's poems
Michaela's poems - these pass the test of a true poem - they make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
I especially liked Sunna-Rise (particularly effective use of anapaests), Od, Ninth Night, and Masks, but they're all excellent.
I especially liked Sunna-Rise (particularly effective use of anapaests), Od, Ninth Night, and Masks, but they're all excellent.
the Mappined Life
Humans become zoo exhibit - well I suppose it's about time the human species realised that we're just another species of animal.
What is with those fig leaves though? They should have done it in the nude.
And they should only have been allowed a Mappin terrace...
What is with those fig leaves though? They should have done it in the nude.
And they should only have been allowed a Mappin terrace...
more IQ nonsense
'Men cleverer than women' claim
All that this particular research shows is that for the IQ test used, there is a slight variation in the success of those taking it. On average men scored 5 points more on this test. So what? I tried out several tests the other day and there was a variation of 15 points in my score depending on what test I did. When I took a general test in German I got 133 and I had done the same one earlier in English and got 126. I tried a culture-fair test and got 115 (and I couldn't even answer half the questions as it was very spatially-oriented). And I got 130 for a verbally-oriented test.
I guess these researchers have tested the results for statistical significance and concluded that they are significant, but even so I think all it shows is that men are good at passing IQ tests. All they were testing for were verbal and spatial skills, nothing about social or emotional skills. I think these men are just insecure about women's academic performance.
Men - know your limits.
All that this particular research shows is that for the IQ test used, there is a slight variation in the success of those taking it. On average men scored 5 points more on this test. So what? I tried out several tests the other day and there was a variation of 15 points in my score depending on what test I did. When I took a general test in German I got 133 and I had done the same one earlier in English and got 126. I tried a culture-fair test and got 115 (and I couldn't even answer half the questions as it was very spatially-oriented). And I got 130 for a verbally-oriented test.
I guess these researchers have tested the results for statistical significance and concluded that they are significant, but even so I think all it shows is that men are good at passing IQ tests. All they were testing for were verbal and spatial skills, nothing about social or emotional skills. I think these men are just insecure about women's academic performance.
Men - know your limits.
the real 13th warrior
Risala: Ibn Fadlan's Account of the Rus (thanks to thesilvereel for pointing out this website)
I had come across Ibn Fadhlan before so I was quite intrigued when I saw 13th Warrior as the beginning of it was obviously based on his account of a Viking funeral.
The latter part of the film, with the Wendels being weird and scary in caves, is pure fantasy. For a start, there was no universal neolithic worship of a great mother goddess figure (ooh, there, I've said it now!), and if there had been, it wouldn't have involved sacrifice like that. Weird sacrificial practices were more of an Iron Age thing.
Still, it's a clever reworking of the story of Beowulf, with Grendel being the Wendels and Grendel's mother being the scary cave idol.
I had come across Ibn Fadhlan before so I was quite intrigued when I saw 13th Warrior as the beginning of it was obviously based on his account of a Viking funeral.
The latter part of the film, with the Wendels being weird and scary in caves, is pure fantasy. For a start, there was no universal neolithic worship of a great mother goddess figure (ooh, there, I've said it now!), and if there had been, it wouldn't have involved sacrifice like that. Weird sacrificial practices were more of an Iron Age thing.
Still, it's a clever reworking of the story of Beowulf, with Grendel being the Wendels and Grendel's mother being the scary cave idol.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
geekiness quotient
I am 28.59661% geeky. This makes me a total geek apparently.
The categories are:
+ Geekish Tendencies..............>=09%
++ Geek...........................>=15%
+++ Total Geek....................>=25%
++++ Major Geek...................>=35%
+++++ Super Geek..................>=45%
++++++ Extreme Geek...............>=55%
+++++++ Geek God..................>=65%
++++++++ Dysfunctional Geek.......>=75%
www.innergeek.us
The categories are:
+ Geekish Tendencies..............>=09%
++ Geek...........................>=15%
+++ Total Geek....................>=25%
++++ Major Geek...................>=35%
+++++ Super Geek..................>=45%
++++++ Extreme Geek...............>=55%
+++++++ Geek God..................>=65%
++++++++ Dysfunctional Geek.......>=75%
www.innergeek.us
incompetence
New claims emerge over Menezes death - Guardian special reports
It appears that the initial account that emerged of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes was almost totally false:
far from leaping a ticket barrier and fleeing from police, as was initially reported, he was filmed on CCTV calmly entering the station and picking up a free newspaper before boarding the train.
Also a surveillance officer had successfully restrained and immobilised him before he was shot.
The police failed to identify him as he left the house because one of them was relieving himself at the time.
It's a total cock-up.
It appears that the initial account that emerged of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes was almost totally false:
far from leaping a ticket barrier and fleeing from police, as was initially reported, he was filmed on CCTV calmly entering the station and picking up a free newspaper before boarding the train.
Also a surveillance officer had successfully restrained and immobilised him before he was shot.
The police failed to identify him as he left the house because one of them was relieving himself at the time.
It's a total cock-up.
the UN shows its teeth
Expulsions illegal, UN tells Clarke (Guardian)
The new counter-terrorism measures proposed by the government seem rather draconian. The UK will
"exclude or deport non-UK citizens [for] writing, producing, publishing or distributing material; public speaking including preaching; running a website; using a position of responsibility such as teacher, community or youth leader to express views which 'foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs; seek to provoke others to terrorist acts ... or foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK'"
First of all this creates a two-tier justice system - one law for UK citizens and another for non-UK citizens. What if a person who was born and bred in the UK converted to Islam and started fomenting terrorism? What about the hateful activities of the BNP and other fascists?
Secondly, they can't just deport people for a first offence - couldn't they prosecute or imprison them first? Especially if they are going to deport them to countries which use torture, which is why the UN have got involved. Obviously the government needs to do something to prevent atrocities like 7th July from happening again, but measures like this will just polarise the situation and do nothing to create mutual trust and understanding.
There are people trying to build bridges between the Muslim community and the "rest of us". And there are plenty of moderate Muslims pointing out that suicide-bombing is not condoned by the Koran, which forbids suicide and isn't too keen on killing people. The government should be engaging and listening, and be seen to be engaging and listening.
The new counter-terrorism measures proposed by the government seem rather draconian. The UK will
"exclude or deport non-UK citizens [for] writing, producing, publishing or distributing material; public speaking including preaching; running a website; using a position of responsibility such as teacher, community or youth leader to express views which 'foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs; seek to provoke others to terrorist acts ... or foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK'"
First of all this creates a two-tier justice system - one law for UK citizens and another for non-UK citizens. What if a person who was born and bred in the UK converted to Islam and started fomenting terrorism? What about the hateful activities of the BNP and other fascists?
Secondly, they can't just deport people for a first offence - couldn't they prosecute or imprison them first? Especially if they are going to deport them to countries which use torture, which is why the UN have got involved. Obviously the government needs to do something to prevent atrocities like 7th July from happening again, but measures like this will just polarise the situation and do nothing to create mutual trust and understanding.
There are people trying to build bridges between the Muslim community and the "rest of us". And there are plenty of moderate Muslims pointing out that suicide-bombing is not condoned by the Koran, which forbids suicide and isn't too keen on killing people. The government should be engaging and listening, and be seen to be engaging and listening.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
harrumph
Installed the Trackback service recommended by Blogger and it appeared to have deleted all the comments on my blog. This was worrying.
Haloscan help forum had the answer - it hadn't actually deleted the old comments, it had just hidden them.
Here's how I did the code - the best way is to hide the Haloscan commenting service (which doesn't have the facility to delete spam comments) and reinstate the Blogger comments service, whilst retaining the Trackback facility.
Haloscan help forum had the answer - it hadn't actually deleted the old comments, it had just hidden them.
Here's how I did the code - the best way is to hide the Haloscan commenting service (which doesn't have the facility to delete spam comments) and reinstate the Blogger comments service, whilst retaining the Trackback facility.
<BlogItemCommentsEnabled>
<!-- hide Haloscan comment service
<a class="comment-link" href="http://www.haloscan.com/comments/nemeton/<$BlogItemNumber$>/" title="Comment" onclick="HaloScan('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); return false;">
<script type="text/javascript">postCount('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); </script></a> end hiding Haloscan comments-->
<-- this is the Trackback bit you want to keep -->
| <a class="comment-link" href="http://www.haloscan.com/tb/nemeton/<$BlogItemNumber$>/" title="Trackback" onclick="HaloScanTB('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); return false;"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); </script></a>
<!-- Trackback autodiscovery code
<rdf:Description
rdf:about="<$BlogItemPermalinkURL$>"
dc:identifier="<$BlogItemPermalinkURL$>"
dc:title="<$BlogItemTitle$>"
trackback:ping="http://haloscan.com/tb/nemeton/<$BlogItemNumber$>" />
</rdf:RDF>
-->
<!-- reinsert Blogger comment service -->
| <a href="<$BlogItemCommentCreate$>"
<$BlogItemCommentFormOnClick$>>
<$BlogItemCommentCount$> comments</a>
<!-- end of reinserting Blogger comments -->
</BlogItemCommentsEnabled>
<!-- hide Haloscan comment service
<a class="comment-link" href="http://www.haloscan.com/comments/nemeton/<$BlogItemNumber$>/" title="Comment" onclick="HaloScan('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); return false;">
<script type="text/javascript">postCount('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); </script></a> end hiding Haloscan comments-->
<-- this is the Trackback bit you want to keep -->
| <a class="comment-link" href="http://www.haloscan.com/tb/nemeton/<$BlogItemNumber$>/" title="Trackback" onclick="HaloScanTB('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); return false;"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('<$BlogItemNumber$>'); </script></a>
<!-- Trackback autodiscovery code
<rdf:Description
rdf:about="<$BlogItemPermalinkURL$>"
dc:identifier="<$BlogItemPermalinkURL$>"
dc:title="<$BlogItemTitle$>"
trackback:ping="http://haloscan.com/tb/nemeton/<$BlogItemNumber$>" />
</rdf:RDF>
-->
<!-- reinsert Blogger comment service -->
| <a href="<$BlogItemCommentCreate$>"
<$BlogItemCommentFormOnClick$>>
<$BlogItemCommentCount$> comments</a>
<!-- end of reinserting Blogger comments -->
</BlogItemCommentsEnabled>
currently reading
The Algebraist by Iain M Banks. Massively complex plot, but very interesting. I like the idea of the Dwellers.
Also reading The Reform of Time: Magic and Modernity by Maureen Perkins. Only just started this one but it aims to show how colonialist discourses about the indolence of indigenous peoples and the working classes were linked to notions of progress and the suppression of "superstition". I bought it in the Hay Cinema Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye.
Also reading The Reform of Time: Magic and Modernity by Maureen Perkins. Only just started this one but it aims to show how colonialist discourses about the indolence of indigenous peoples and the working classes were linked to notions of progress and the suppression of "superstition". I bought it in the Hay Cinema Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye.
search tool
Google Desktop 2 (Beta) - this is pretty neat and has a nice desktop bar with recently used items, news, pictures and stuff.
The only thing was, I had to download the university's proxy config, save a local version, and edit it so that it ignores localhost and 127.0.0.1 (which Google Desktop uses for its search).
There's an article with extensions and workarounds on O'Reilly as well.
The only thing was, I had to download the university's proxy config, save a local version, and edit it so that it ignores localhost and 127.0.0.1 (which Google Desktop uses for its search).
There's an article with extensions and workarounds on O'Reilly as well.
Google talk
Google starts online talk service (BBC News)
This looks pretty cool - you can use it for instant messaging but also actual voice chat. Also it's open-source and can be integrated into other applications.
Slight drawback: you have to be signed up for a GMail account to use it.
This looks pretty cool - you can use it for instant messaging but also actual voice chat. Also it's open-source and can be integrated into other applications.
Slight drawback: you have to be signed up for a GMail account to use it.
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