Entries by anne

Off-Topic: Farnworth Society of Women’s Suffrage

I expect most of you will be off-topic for the next 24 hours so here’s another random addition to the blog. Among my dad’s books, which I’m currently sorting through, there’s a volume of poetry with a red suede cover ? “Poems of Experience” by Ell…

Off-Topic On A Pilgrim’s Progress

As it?s the Season of Good Cheer I thought I?d go off-topic today. I?ve been using the holiday to sort through my dad?s old books as I?m planning to arrange them on my new bookshelves. How wildly exciting – new bookshelves!In fact many of these bo…

Fahrenheit 451: Midcentury Renway Bungalow

via wowhaus.co.uk I came across this quite by chance. My brother is visiting for Christmas and he showed me the wowhaus website for “interesting” and retro properties. As I scrolled through the properties I was stunned to see Montag, hero of Fahre…

Honey Bees’ Genetics Changed by Diet

via bbc.co.uk Another fascinating genetics story, reported by BBC Science. I’m not sure I fully understand this (in fact, I don’t!) but it appears that bees undergo epigenetic changes based on what they are fed as larvae. To be more specific, larv…

UK on the Brink of Gene Mapping Revolution?

via number10.gov.uk A new generation of UK genetic engineers will bring A Calculated Life and Jayna’s world closer to reality, with funding announced today for a 100M investment in DNA testing. Downing Street is unveiling plans to sequence the wh…

Have a Say: Paperback Cover Design

One Final Decision is now needed before A Calculated Life goes to print. Yes, real ink on real paper. Almost quaint yet so thrilling! And I’m wondering which of these three designs to go for. If you’d like a say in how my paperback looks then leav…

Nassim N Taleb on the Source of All Blunders

photo: Marcos Takamatsu I’m so excited. Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s follow-up to The Black Swan is now available in the UK ? entitled Antifragile: How to Live in a World We Don’t Understand. My hardback copy is winging its way to me. Hardback? Yes, I …

Manchester: Climate Change Winner or Loser?

Ah! It would be lovely, wouldn’t it ? if Manchester and the north west of England emerged as the new Florence and Tuscany of Europe? Just imagine cypress trees and vineyards scattered among the Pennine foothills and the Cheshire Gap. In A Calcul…