Monthly Archives: August 2007

Jealousy

Posted on August 31, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

OK, so I know that it is very shallow of me, but I can’t help feeling a teeny bit jealous of Phil.    

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Hello

Posted on August 31, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

I notice that the last entry I wrote on the blog was on the 28th. This is just a note to say that I’m still here, but that things are a trifle busy. Nothing untoward, but I also need to wait … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Computer Workstation Ergonomics

Posted on August 28, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Jeff Atwood, over at Coding Horror, has a useful summary of best practice when it comes to computer workstation ergonomics. I have to admit, I don’t have the same position as the drawings show – I’m hunched over the keyboard … Continue reading →

Posted in Health and wellness | 2 Comments

Geek Humour

Posted on August 28, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

While it’s clearly a joke, the phrases uttered by the "designers" of this world-shattering piece of software are terrifyingly like the sort of crap marketing-speak that I’ve come to know and loathe.      Nicely done.

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Drains

Posted on August 27, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Geoff Manaugh, over at BLDGBLOG, has an interview with Michael Cook about drains illustrated with some spectacular photographs. Do go and read it and enjoy the view. 

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I Weep

Posted on August 27, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Oh, Education, where art thou?     (hat tip to A Gentleman’s C for the link) 

Posted in Society | 3 Comments

Eight Random Facts

Posted on August 27, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

I’ve been tagged by one of the memes currently doing the rounds of the Blogosphere. The vessel by which the meme reached me is J. Carter Wood, over at Obscene Desserts. The meme challenges me to name eight random facts about … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Real India and Gated Villas

Posted on August 26, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

A news story with Ballardian overtones in today’s Observer about members of India’s professional class protesting over the fact that the dust, heat and squalor of India is seeping into their gated communities. Some typically Ballardian motifs are on display: the … Continue reading →

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The Power of Machines

Posted on August 25, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Dan Dennett has a typically thought-provoking article in Technology Review looking at chess playing machines. One of the machines is IBM’s Deep Blue; the other machine has trillions of moving parts at the molecular level – the brain of Garry Kasparov. … Continue reading →

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Out-of-Body Experiences

Posted on August 25, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Vaughan, over at Mind Hacks, points us towards some experiments aimed at either inducing the sensation of being located out of one’s body or having one’s body image extended to incorporate inanimate objects. I’ve tried the Ramachandran experiment, and can attest … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 2 Comments

The Dead of Night

Posted on August 25, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

The Guardian has published an edited extract from a book called The Family That Couldn’t Sleep – A Venetian Medical Mystery, written by DT Max. Simultaneously fascinating and horrifying, it’s well worth reading. Oh, and the Guardian‘s links to the … Continue reading →

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The Political Compass

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Where do you fall on the Political Compass? It seems as though (with an Economic Left/Right score of -6.50 and a Social Libertarian/Authoritarian score of -7.49) I’m closer to Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama than I am to Tony Blair … Continue reading →

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Be Careful Out There

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Job seekers using the Monster.com online service have been targeted by a particularly vicious trojan. I expect that variations will shortly follow. Be careful about that odd email inviting you to download a toolbar extension for your web browser…  

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The Amazing Randi

Posted on August 23, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

The very wonderful and Canadian National Treasure known as James Randi recently paid a visit to Google HQ where his stream of consciousness was videoed.        

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Science and the Islamic World

Posted on August 23, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

That’s the main title of an excellent article, written by Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy, in Physics Today. He is chair and professor in the department of physics at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he has taught for 34 years, and … Continue reading →

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Darwin Award Entrant

Posted on August 23, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

Here’s a story about a teenager who is clearly aiming to get a Darwin Award. I find it slightly worrying that he was as old as fourteen. I had learned by the time I was seven that it was not … Continue reading →

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A Question of Identity

Posted on August 22, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

That’s the title of a fascinating article, written by Bob Harrison, about what makes a person. I see that he refers to the book Reasons and Persons by the philosopher Derek Parfit. It just so happens that I have that book sitting … Continue reading →

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The Enemies of Reason

Posted on August 22, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

I see that the second part of Richard Dawkins’ The Enemies of Reason is now up on Google Video. I despair at the gullibility of my species.

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Dark Road

Posted on August 21, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

And continuing on the music theme… I see that the wonderful Annie Lennox will have a new album out on October 1st: Songs of Mass Destruction. I shiver in anticipation (as Frankie says) already… 

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Bluebeard’s Castle

Posted on August 21, 2007 by Geoff Coupe

I watched parts of last night’s Prom concert, which was broadcast on BBC Four. I can’t say that I cared much for what I heard of Thomas Adès’ music, even though he is apparently "enjoying spectacular success this year".   The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 5 Comments