As I've said before on here, I think there is something seriously wrong with me...
Monday, June 18, 2007
And the sky full of stars...
I drive past the airport every day on my way to and from uni. When I am driving home at night, I like to watch the lights of the planes coming in to land. For some strange reason, the shape of the lights - like an elongated star with the side "arms" cut off - reminds me of a Minbari war cruiser from Babylon 5.
As I've said before on here, I think there is something seriously wrong with me...
As I've said before on here, I think there is something seriously wrong with me...
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in!
Hear Frente's version here.My mummy told me something
a little kid should know.
It's all about the devil
and I've learned to hate him so.
She said he causes trouble
when you let him in the room.
He will never ever leave you
if your heart is filled with gloom.
So let the sun shine in
face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose
and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in
face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.
When you are unhappy,
the devil wears a grin
But oh, he starts to running
when the light comes pouring in
I know he'll be unhappy
'Cause I'll never wear a frown
Maybe if we keep on smiling
He'll get tired of hanging 'round.
If I forget to say my prayers
the devil wears a grin.
But he feels so awful awful
when he sees me on my knees
So if you're full of trouble
and you never seem to win,
Just open up your heart and let the sun shine in.
So let the sun shine in
face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose
and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in
face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.
Friday, June 15, 2007
New links
If you peruse my list of links extremely carefully on a regular basis, you might have noticed a couple of changes. I've removed a couple of blogs which I no longer read or which have closed down, and I've added two new links.
In other news, I've decided to change the date of my post on "the look" so it remains at the top of the page for a bit longer. I rather like opening my blog to find Mr Darcy gazing at me. Matt seems to have an issue with that, for some strange reason...
- To Live Is Christ by the lovely Georgina (who I met in person before reading her blog!)
- True Lies by the talented preacher Stan Lie (who married a friend from my church - the lovely Clare)
In other news, I've decided to change the date of my post on "the look" so it remains at the top of the page for a bit longer. I rather like opening my blog to find Mr Darcy gazing at me. Matt seems to have an issue with that, for some strange reason...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
It's Happy, Drug Free Bunny!
I've moved this back up to the top because yesterday I received a whole bunch of Drug Free Bunny stickers! I'm very excited! It seems that when I linked to the website, Google alerted the site's owner, Aaron Yeats, who then asked for my address to send me some stickers. Aaron is from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Texas Alliance, and apparently Drug Free Bunny has been a big success. Hurrah for bunnies!
---
I've been a big fan of Happy Bunny ever since I saw the classic "love sucks" cartoon,* but the Drug Free Bunny website is just incredibly cool! Great to see that my favourite sarcastic and rude cartoon character also has a social conscience.
Here are some highlights:
It's Happy Bunny! really is the coolest bunny around.
*Phil, the guy who sits at the next desk in the FASS, commented today that I used to have something above my desk which proclaimed "Love Sucks." He wondered whether my removing this badge was related to "a change in the air" or something like that. Perhaps. I certainly can't say that boys suck anymore. Well, at least I have to acknowledge that there is one significant exception! Still love this bunny though...
---
I've been a big fan of Happy Bunny ever since I saw the classic "love sucks" cartoon,* but the Drug Free Bunny website is just incredibly cool! Great to see that my favourite sarcastic and rude cartoon character also has a social conscience.
Here are some highlights:
Alcohol makes you say and do stupid things that you'll regret later. It also makes you fat, gives you zits, or even worse, it messes with your brain development.
Smoking loads your lungs with tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide and more than 200 other poisons. That can really hurt your game. Besides, nobody wants to kiss a smoker.
Meth rots your teeth, gives you diarrhea, and makes you scratch so much you get scabs all over. What would you expect from a drug made from gross stuff like battery acid, drain cleaner and antifreeze?
Using drugs, alcohol and tobacco doesn’t make you cool and won’t solve your problems — they’ll just create other problems.
It's Happy Bunny! really is the coolest bunny around.
*Phil, the guy who sits at the next desk in the FASS, commented today that I used to have something above my desk which proclaimed "Love Sucks." He wondered whether my removing this badge was related to "a change in the air" or something like that. Perhaps. I certainly can't say that boys suck anymore. Well, at least I have to acknowledge that there is one significant exception! Still love this bunny though...
Inside and outside the blogosphere
Out of the blogs that I read fairly regularly (and have links to in my sidebar) nine belong to people I either haven't met or didn't know before I started reading their blogs. I began my adventures in the blogosphere by reading Karen's blog (she had a link to it in her email updates), and as I'm a PhD student always in need of procrastination avenues, I started reading other blogs that she linked to. Karen has a fantastic list of blogs - I recommend checking some of them out!
One of the ones that stood out was Craig's, These Infinite Spaces - I liked the title and the Pascal quote in his header. I also started reading Duncan's blog regularly, and then when he posted about his brother, Matt, starting up his own blog, I began to read that as well. And through one of those, I came across Stu's blog. Through Craig's blog I started to read Nixter's, and both Chris and Tim found my blog somehow (still haven't figured out how). Through Craig's blog I also found about about Mike and Christine and their fairytale internet romance, and started reading their blogs regularly.
I've now managed to meet four blog friends in person. I dragged Tim along to a Descartes lecture a couple of years back (I'm impressed that he managed to stay awake!). I met Duncan at a CASE seminar on September 11 in film (though I didn't realise it was Duncan from Drawn From Still Water until the next day, when he blogged about the seminar). Matt and I started emailing at the end of last year after someone insulted me on Matt's blog, then met in person for the first time at a Word by Word dinner in January. A couple of weeks later he suggested we meet up for coffee, and after a bit of a rocky start, we've now been going out for over two months (yay!) And yesterday, I finally got to meet the very lovely Nixter!
I have to give credit for this to Facebook. Fantastic website. I'd been catching up with a few friends from high school and primary school, including Liz D who I hadn't seen in years. Nixter and Craig were both in Liz's friends list, as they all go to church together. Obviously, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to stalk them on Facebook as well as Blogger. After chatting to Nixter a little about England (she's giving me tips about sightseeing), we organised to meet up for hot chocolate - Nixter, Liz and I - and we finally got to do that yesterday afternoon.
The Lindt cafe alone would have been an experience, but it was great to catch up with Liz and to meet Nixter in person. They are both very lovely girls, and I hope we manage to meet up again sometime soon.
One of the ones that stood out was Craig's, These Infinite Spaces - I liked the title and the Pascal quote in his header. I also started reading Duncan's blog regularly, and then when he posted about his brother, Matt, starting up his own blog, I began to read that as well. And through one of those, I came across Stu's blog. Through Craig's blog I started to read Nixter's, and both Chris and Tim found my blog somehow (still haven't figured out how). Through Craig's blog I also found about about Mike and Christine and their fairytale internet romance, and started reading their blogs regularly.
I've now managed to meet four blog friends in person. I dragged Tim along to a Descartes lecture a couple of years back (I'm impressed that he managed to stay awake!). I met Duncan at a CASE seminar on September 11 in film (though I didn't realise it was Duncan from Drawn From Still Water until the next day, when he blogged about the seminar). Matt and I started emailing at the end of last year after someone insulted me on Matt's blog, then met in person for the first time at a Word by Word dinner in January. A couple of weeks later he suggested we meet up for coffee, and after a bit of a rocky start, we've now been going out for over two months (yay!) And yesterday, I finally got to meet the very lovely Nixter!
I have to give credit for this to Facebook. Fantastic website. I'd been catching up with a few friends from high school and primary school, including Liz D who I hadn't seen in years. Nixter and Craig were both in Liz's friends list, as they all go to church together. Obviously, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to stalk them on Facebook as well as Blogger. After chatting to Nixter a little about England (she's giving me tips about sightseeing), we organised to meet up for hot chocolate - Nixter, Liz and I - and we finally got to do that yesterday afternoon.
The Lindt cafe alone would have been an experience, but it was great to catch up with Liz and to meet Nixter in person. They are both very lovely girls, and I hope we manage to meet up again sometime soon.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Email scam
From Dr. Mark Colby.
Address: 12 Kenneth Road
Tottenham London N8 9HG
Attn,
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although. Be so kind to contact me at your earliest convenient for a possible business deal involving money transfer of about £25,000,000 (Twenty-Five Million British Pounds).
In one of our peroidic auditing, I discorved a dormant accounts with holding balance of 25,000,000 (Twenty-Five Million British Pounds) which has not been operated for
the past three years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a foreigner by name Mr. Gregory.B.Wilson, and he died without a WILL.
I am presently in London working as an investment consultant with the above bank at their London office. And I am poised to work this deal out if we can do business.
As at this moment,I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. As we have not meet before,I will give you every details you
need to know regarding the business, and about me as we progress with the business.
So send me your nominate account information as states below where you like the money to be transfer so that I will write and apply an application for the release of the fund immediately into your account.
Beneficiary Name.......
Bank Name..............
Bank Address...........
Account Number.........
Swift Code.............
Routing Number.........
State & Country........
Your Tel/Fax Number....For easy communication.
I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Mark Colby.
Chief investment Consultant.
Allied Irish Bank (GB).
www.aibgb.co.uk
Address: 12 Kenneth Road
Tottenham London N8 9HG
Attn,
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although. Be so kind to contact me at your earliest convenient for a possible business deal involving money transfer of about £25,000,000 (Twenty-Five Million British Pounds).
In one of our peroidic auditing, I discorved a dormant accounts with holding balance of 25,000,000 (Twenty-Five Million British Pounds) which has not been operated for
the past three years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a foreigner by name Mr. Gregory.B.Wilson, and he died without a WILL.
I am presently in London working as an investment consultant with the above bank at their London office. And I am poised to work this deal out if we can do business.
As at this moment,I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. As we have not meet before,I will give you every details you
need to know regarding the business, and about me as we progress with the business.
So send me your nominate account information as states below where you like the money to be transfer so that I will write and apply an application for the release of the fund immediately into your account.
Beneficiary Name.......
Bank Name..............
Bank Address...........
Account Number.........
Swift Code.............
Routing Number.........
State & Country........
Your Tel/Fax Number....For easy communication.
I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Mark Colby.
Chief investment Consultant.
Allied Irish Bank (GB).
www.aibgb.co.uk
Unbelievable
I'm already in a bad mood with people today, and the responses to this piece have not made me feel any better. I just want to sit down and cry for the state of the world.
A young man named Anthony Succar has written an excellent piece for The Australian opposing embryonic stem cell research and calling for resources to be given instead to adult stem cell research which, to date, has shown much more promising results. He writes:
Considering that opponents of embryonic stem cell research are often condemned as having no compassion on those who the treatment will help, it is fascinating to read such an impassioned plea from one of those who would stand to benefit from the research, if it were successful. Some of the responses to this piece, however, are truly astounding:
It's just incredible...
A young man named Anthony Succar has written an excellent piece for The Australian opposing embryonic stem cell research and calling for resources to be given instead to adult stem cell research which, to date, has shown much more promising results. He writes:
ONE of the most frustrating experiences of life is the feeling of being used, exploited for the benefit of others while suffering loss or harm. It is a feeling of being violated and, while leaving self-esteem shattered, it kindles a deep sense of outrage.
This is how I feel every time I hear one of our politicians claiming that people who suffer from crippling diseases support embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning. When I was 14 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident that left me a C4-5 quadriplegic, paralysed from the neck down. With all the hardships I undergo everyday as a result of my disability it is even more unbearable being used as a marketing tool for the agenda of others.
Despite the rhetoric surrounding embryonic stem cell research, adult stem cell research has great potential to help people, with a record of documented results that excites great hope. Research is achieving substantial results using stem cells acquired from adults and umbilical-cord blood. Sadly, this inspiring research, which has filled countless people with hope, is being attacked by those brandishing alternative agendas, with the rise of embryonic stem cell research usurping the necessary resources for adult stem cell research to continue.
It is all the more heartbreaking knowing the frailest and most vulnerable in our society are being used by politicians and pharmaceutical companies to sell their lies. In addition to holding back authentic medical research, choosing an avenue with no foreseeable benefits over documented evidence of success, politicians have also opened the door for anyone to legally assault and destroy human life.
Considering that opponents of embryonic stem cell research are often condemned as having no compassion on those who the treatment will help, it is fascinating to read such an impassioned plea from one of those who would stand to benefit from the research, if it were successful. Some of the responses to this piece, however, are truly astounding:
There is only one key thing that explains your views on this subject. That is that you are catholic. You believe irrationally in an all powerful sky-god and the fact that people have a magical quality called a soul. This is because your holy-men told you that this is how things are.
The problem for you is that those who engage in medical research don’t believe in these things. But they are still engaging in their research to do good. Not so they can kill “babies”. They do good not because of the fear of going to an imaginary place called hell, but simply because they are good people.
Understand that most people do not share your irrational view of the world and suddenly people’s motives become a lot clearer.
A few undifferentiated cells is not a baby.
The Australian’s attempts to set itself up as the Catholic newspaper have surely reached rock bottom with the publication of this crap. You might enjoy being a quadriplegic Anthony, but millions of others don’t enjoy being disabled and desperately want the chance to be normal that stem cell research brings. Shame on The Australian for printing this and the moronic editorials defending Cardinal Pell.
The Australian has always taken a biased editorial view on stem cell research, utterly abandoning any pretence of balanced journalism.
How ridiculous to disparage medical researchers for holding out hope to people. No, not ridiculous: disgusting. Yes, there is hope in therapeutic cloning using pluripotent stem cells.
And it is ingenuine to claim that there’s sufficient evidence to abandon embryonic stem cells in favour of adult stem cells. Tell me, is an IT support analyst a valid source for expert opinion on the potential for stem cell therapies? It’s time that a scientifically literate journalist provided some unbiased reporting of the evidence base for each of these approaches. That might debunk some of the myths perpetuated by the theologically-motivated.
You ask me what I think… I think that this newspaper needs to lift its game, stop pushing a particular regilious line, and start representing all sides of this important debate. For now, The Australian does not deserve its name as the national broadsheet.
It's just incredible...
Monday, June 11, 2007
Richard Rorty is dead.
Click here.
One person commented:
Of course, it's much more of a tragedy that Paris Hilton was sent back to prison...
One person commented:
While every death brings sadness, when we lose a philosopher it is hard to argue that we've lost much. Philosophers may set to themselves the task of thinking all that is thinkable. After getting my philosophy degree and postgraduate flirtations, I am much more interested in what is doable than what is thinkable.
Of course, it's much more of a tragedy that Paris Hilton was sent back to prison...
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Can a Scientist Believe the Resurrection?
Tom Wright gives a lecture at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion - click here.
And lots of other cool stuff on the Institute's website.
And lots of other cool stuff on the Institute's website.
I'm just a girl (2)
Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed and it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me to hold your hand
'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights
Oh...I've had it up to here!
The moment that I step outside
So many reasons for me to run and hide
I can't do the little things I hold so dear
It's all those little things that I fear
'Cause I'm just a girl, I'd rather not be
'Cause they won't let me drive late at night
I'm just a girl, guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare with their eyes
I'm just a girl, take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh...I've had it up to here!
Oh...am I making myself clear?
I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl in the world...
That's all that you'll let me be!
I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb makes me worry some
I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?
What I've succumbed to is making me numb
I'm just a girl, my apologies
What I've become is so burdensome
I'm just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum there's no comparison
Oh...I've had it up to-
Oh...I've had it up to-
Oh...I've had it up to here!
- No Doubt
I'm exposed and it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me to hold your hand
'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights
Oh...I've had it up to here!
The moment that I step outside
So many reasons for me to run and hide
I can't do the little things I hold so dear
It's all those little things that I fear
'Cause I'm just a girl, I'd rather not be
'Cause they won't let me drive late at night
I'm just a girl, guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare with their eyes
I'm just a girl, take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh...I've had it up to here!
Oh...am I making myself clear?
I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl in the world...
That's all that you'll let me be!
I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb makes me worry some
I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?
What I've succumbed to is making me numb
I'm just a girl, my apologies
What I've become is so burdensome
I'm just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum there's no comparison
Oh...I've had it up to-
Oh...I've had it up to-
Oh...I've had it up to here!
- No Doubt
I'm just a girl (1)
I might be a little concerned with my hair
I might need comfort more than my share
I might seem to follow fashion but claim that I don't care
My heart is your best friend when it rules my head
I might want to talk a lot but don't ask me why
And I'll get impatient if you don't reply
I might always search for something wrong, I want you to deny
And if you love me just stay close and hold me when I cry
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
I'm not hard to handle, I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
I don't seek money but I want your time
'Cause I'd give my life for you, when you are mine
And it hurts me more than I can say when you pull away
But if you love me you should tell me everyday
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
I'm not hard to handle, I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
You might think I'm too demanding
But you're just not understanding
I might like to take advice, but go my own way
And it's when I hurt the most I swear I'm okay
And it's always when you least expect I say I want to stay
It might take just a single kiss to steal my heart away
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
You think I'm an X-File, but I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
I'm not hard to handle, I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
- Bachelor Girl
I might need comfort more than my share
I might seem to follow fashion but claim that I don't care
My heart is your best friend when it rules my head
I might want to talk a lot but don't ask me why
And I'll get impatient if you don't reply
I might always search for something wrong, I want you to deny
And if you love me just stay close and hold me when I cry
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
I'm not hard to handle, I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
I don't seek money but I want your time
'Cause I'd give my life for you, when you are mine
And it hurts me more than I can say when you pull away
But if you love me you should tell me everyday
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
I'm not hard to handle, I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
You might think I'm too demanding
But you're just not understanding
I might like to take advice, but go my own way
And it's when I hurt the most I swear I'm okay
And it's always when you least expect I say I want to stay
It might take just a single kiss to steal my heart away
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
You think I'm an X-File, but I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
Don't try to understand me, I'm just a girl
One of the greatest mysteries, you'll find in this world
I'm not hard to handle, I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl
- Bachelor Girl
There is something seriously wrong with me...
We are now in week 14 - the last week of classes for the session. Today I have my last tutorial for my Tuesday group in the first-year history of science subject I'm tutoring. I bribed my students to turn up by offering chocolate chip biscuits (home-made, too - they're really good!)
Anyway, we're looking at Thomas Kuhn today - scientific revolutions and how science progresses, etc. I had a bizarre dream last night. I was teaching this class, and not only did I forget the biscuits, but Karl Popper, Kuhn's arch-nemesis, turned up and and took over my class. He dominated the discussion and wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise! Keep in mind that Popper has been dead for 17 years, so if he did appear in my class, it would be a miracle. But aside from that, why wouldn't I want to hear from someone as famous in HPS as Karl Popper? I'm sure he'd do a better job teaching than me!All very strange. It makes me worry...
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