Monthly Archives: August 2003

where are all the grandparents?

I suppose the American extended family we know most intimately here in Saffron Walden is the Doonesburies. Talking with my daughter the other day, we suddenly realised that there is a strange shortage of granny interaction there. I mean, Joanie … Continue reading Continue reading

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a test of readership

I have got a perfectly horrible story up on the Guardian’s web site this morning. It’s not original, of course: I found a pointer on Rafe Coburn’s site, I think. But it’s news to the English; and I’ll be interested … Continue reading Continue reading

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this modern world

Kevin Drum has just lived through the perfect summary of the modern economy. Two years ago, he brought a Minolta colour laser printer for $1000. over the last few weeks, all the consumables ran out: four ink cartridges, a fuser … Continue reading Continue reading

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rave reviews

If any readers are anywhere near Manchester tonight, they should rush off to Ratdog. I had no very high hopes of them last night, but they were lovely: slick, imaginative, and interested in their work. They played a set consisting … Continue reading Continue reading

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a long strange trip

The first time I saw Bob Weir play was around 29 years ago, at the Alexandra Palace, though I was, God knows, in no condition to trust the evidence of my eyes at the time or for about eight hours … Continue reading Continue reading

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a glimpse of the future

If you want to know where the debate on altruism, group seleciton, and sociobiology is going for the next decasdee, these papers would be a good place to start. Continue reading

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The, like, great chain of being

If you can understand this, it’s too late to save you. Continue reading

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Righteous preaching

Things my friend the vicar would say if he had only thought of them: “You cannot wave your unread bible and scare me. I know its larger story and I will tear you a new biblical asshole.” From the rather … Continue reading Continue reading

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richer than anyone in history

One of the minor wonders of the Empire is that a rich man in America can not only muy more things than the richest men of the past could dream of; he can buy servants that were once the prerogative … Continue reading Continue reading

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He’s on our side

Just a throwaway link from tnh but this is a lovely piece of work, and shows what libraries can do on the web if they are so inclined. It makes a good illustrated primer to one thesis in Dr Longley’s … Continue reading Continue reading

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