Yearly Archives: 2007

David Hume on Edwards I and II

Posted on April 29, 2007 by acb

Item Edward I’s firm line on multiculturalism: The king, sensible that nothing kept alive the ideas of military valour and of ancient glory so much as the traditional poetry of the people, which, assisted by the power of music and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | 1 Comment

Assorted Sunday evening links

Posted on April 29, 2007 by acb

The Times will prove this bishop’s a Liberal too The last Prince Henry surplus to requirements found an alternative to soldiering … I know these are haikus It’s late. I’m busy. They’re funny anyway. via Making Light, the only article … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blather | Comments Off on Assorted Sunday evening links

Gone, not fishing

Posted on April 23, 2007 by acb

I am going to cut off all access to the web from this computer until I finish the last chapter of the Swedish book. But, before I vanish, a link found by John Naughton, which I didn’t think would be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Another body part missing in Småland

Posted on April 8, 2007 by acb

From Svenska Dagbladet I learn that two young men had a fight on the dance floor in Jönköping, the spiritual home of the Christian Democratic Party. The younger of the two bit off the older one’s thumb: the older one, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Travel notes | Comments Off on Another body part missing in Småland

A very brief thought

Posted on April 8, 2007 by acb

Parked here for later use (I have to write and record a half-hour radio programme on children’s happiness by Wednesday afternoon; it will be Thursday evening’s Analysis for anyone who is interested.) There are two huge problems facing Europe, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in British politics | 2 Comments

Mechanical mindlesness.

Posted on April 1, 2007 by acb

There is of course a more sinister interpretation of the kind of drivel referenced in the post before this. The abstract nouns — framework, integration, hallmark, strategy, etc. — may not all mean meetings or may not just mean that. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in British politics | 3 Comments

a meeting of mindlessness

Posted on March 30, 2007 by acb

I was talking the other day to a politician who is, for all I know, a perfectly nice, competent person, doing their best at a difficult and important job. I have to take this on faith, though, because their minders … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in British politics | 6 Comments

Fear of Flying

Posted on March 24, 2007 by acb

My flight out of Skavsta left at 21.55, and I was tired enough to think it worthwhile to stand queuing for half an hour to get a decent seat to sleep in. I had headphones on and a Swedish book … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Travel notes | 2 Comments

Is Cannabis a parasite on humans?

Posted on March 18, 2007 by acb

Whatever the silliness and arrogance of his views on religion, the Dawkins of The Extended Phenotype continues to fascinate me. The idea that genes are selected as much for their effects on other phenotypes as on those of the bodies … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Science without worms | 11 Comments

Small nerdy note

Posted on March 14, 2007 by acb

While I am waiting 20 minutes for the PNAS site to let me back in, I might as well explain why I have been barred: I use scrapbook. It is an extremely useful Firefox extension that grabs whole web pages … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in nördig | Comments Off on Small nerdy note