Here’s an interesting little essay about the state of the newspaper world and how the internet is causing major upheavals. It explores various aspects of the crisis, even as North America is suddenly starting to lose some big, established newspapers. There are some wonderful comparisons with the point in history just after the printing press …
Category Archive: Reads
Mar
25
Dec
05
RIP, H.M.
One of the most important figures in the history of brain research—and to me, as a former student of brain and behaviour, one of the most tragic and moving—died earlier this week at the age of 82. Henry Gustav Molaison, better known in the psychological literature as H.M., had a brain operation at the age …
Nov
15
Consider Yourself Warned
Admittedly I’ve never owned a cat, so technically this is hearsay. How to Tell Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You Alayne? Judith?
Nov
11
Badge-Envy
The Tadpole Badge In my web meanderings, I’ve come across a club I think Laura and I should join: the Order of the Science Scouts of Exemplary Repute and Above Average Physique. More or less a gang of scientists—profs and students—at UBC, who have founded a growing collective to network, discuss science communication, socialize, and …
Aug
09
Donna Anna, Zerlina and 2,065 Jane Does v. the Estate of Don Giovanni
Evidence to support the notion that at least some lawyers have a sense of humour about the law. Or about music. Or something.
Jun
18
Back to my usually-scheduled trivia and rants…
Interesting article from smithsonian.com about the growing success of companies to synthesize in the lab gem-quality diamonds indistinguishable from natural stones. Normally I’d roll my eyes at technologists trying to recreate something natural, but I’ll make an exception in this case. The De Beers cartel has successfully hoodwinked the world into believing that diamonds are …
Apr
27
The end of Dmitri’s dilemma
As a follow up to my post about Vladimir Nabokov’s son’s dilemma, it seems as though Dmitri has come to a conclusion about whether or not to publish his father’s last story The Original of Laura.