Previously: 2005 and 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Kicking this year off with a selection from The Big Book of Dick(TM), a birthday present from a friend with an equally tawdry/literary sensibility. I’ve never never actually read any Philip K. Dick before, so looking forward to it. As before, this post will be updated throughout theContinue reading “Books I’ve Read, 2011”
Author Archives: Alex
Where you come from, where you go
I went to New York last week, mostly for work, but I had two free days at the end to explore the city. I took, as always, a Lonely Planet guidebook, but most of the time I built a list of places to go from going online. It strikes me now how easy the world has become,Continue reading “Where you come from, where you go”
A week with the iPad and my family
Normally I spend my time surrounded by people who are completely comfortable with technology. They are – we are – people who work at computers all day long. That’s not a small thing. It changes your perceptions of how you approach problems, how you find information, how you communicate, how you get from A toContinue reading “A week with the iPad and my family”
Today was the first day of Autumn
Two weeks ago: This is last week of the holidays (passing two schools on my way to work, I’m still attuned to the calendar). The kids will be getting their new uniform, the nylon stiff and the shirt folds still sharp. I am getting my old jumpers out; I feel the cold first in myContinue reading “Today was the first day of Autumn”
Six things I have learned from cycling home
The clunk of the crank and the spin of the wheels with sun in their spokes; the way your legs move like you’re running but your feet never touch the ground. Stopped traffic, the smooth swoop of a fast corner and with it the freedom of the city. I cycled quite a lot when IContinue reading “Six things I have learned from cycling home”
There is good in everything
All you need to do is slow it down, as this Justin Bieber track, running 800% slower than it should do, shows: Related, the way the Inception soundtrack works: What to call these? Audio timelapses?
The history of school history
A few years ago, my Mum took early retirement and went back to university to study for an MA (even going so far as to live in halls again…); she liked it so much[1], she went on to study for a PhD. With that under her belt, she’s now working at the Institute of HistoricalContinue reading “The history of school history”
Added to the wishlist: On Roads
[Book] Having moved from the North to the Home counties when I was 11, then to York for University, then Norwich, and then London, I grew up on the M1, M6 and A1. Asylum’s lovely review of On Roads meant it headed straight to the wishlist: “On Roads deals mainly with the motorway era, beginningContinue reading “Added to the wishlist: On Roads”
Taiwan Hsinpu Persimmon Garden
Nice to see Taiwan featured on the Flickr blog today. Pictures of the Hsinpu Persimmon Garden; what a perfect name. [also gives me a chance to test WordPress’ Tumblr-style reblog feature] Photos from olvwu | 莫方 , sunshine莊信賢影像世界, PAPA GO!!!, nans0410 and Sunny Life. … Read More via Flickr Blog
The Japanese food you need to eat: Ramen
You know what you should eat if you go to Japan? Ramen, especially if you go in the Spring or Autumn (the best seasons to visit Japan, perhaps because they’re well suited to ramen). So what is it? A giant bowl of thick broth with noodles, sliced meat and other goodness. This article from theContinue reading “The Japanese food you need to eat: Ramen”
The Wired Jester 