Early to rise, early to read research papers
Due to a recent bout of jet lag,1 I have found myself this week waking up at 5am. So I am experimenting with reading a paper first thing in the morning.
Taste in research, and the paradox of deciding what not to work on
A large part of taste in research is deciding what not to work on. You might choose not to apply method X, even though you don’t really understand it, because it has a reputation for being fiddly and difficult to get right. You might cho...
Mnemonic poetry and Guy Fawkes night
I walked home past several people setting off sparklers and fireworks in the meadows. In Edinburgh celebrations of Guy Fawkes night are not elaborate, but you can smell the gunpowder.
Business Cards and Me
Just before I went to my first conference, I thought, “Hey, I guess I should be professional now!” and printed out business cards on the best card stock that I could find at Staples. Apparently, of the hundreds of people who attended NIP...
A Threat to the British Monarchy
I’d like to talk frankly about a real threat to the British monarchy.
Principal Component Model of Coffee Shops
I spend a lot of time in coffee shops. I’m writing in Amsterdam, so let me clarify that I do mean coffee. I like coffee shops because: a) I like coffee, b) I find them relaxing, and c) and it is a way to be around people without the awkw...
A Suggestion for Scotland
This will be a big year for the United Kingdom. In September, Scotland will hold a referendum to decide whether to remain in the UK or to become an independent country. For several years, support for independence has remained steady at a...
Ubiquitous capture and the ideas file
Ubiquitous capture is a great term from Getting Things Done. Like the best ideas from GTD, it is simple, obvious in retrospect, but changes everything. Ubiquitous capture means: When you think of something, you should write it down, righ...
Academic ranks in the US and UK
The US and the UK both have a series of ranks for academics, but the names of the job titles are somewhat different.
Kitten
Imagine that, by some puckish magic, overnight you gained all the strength and skill of a professional acrobat. Yesterday, you’d trip walking down the street; today, you can skip across a tightrope. All your friends are bewildered at you...