Saturday, April 26, 2003
If you, like, care
"A programme will be transmitted on BBC1 on Monday 28 April from
1930 to 2000 about the Capital of Culture 2008 competition. Oxford
is one of six UK cities shortlisted, and the University and its
colleges, together with Oxford Brookes, are closely involved in
the bid, and are working with the City of Oxford and the County
of Oxfordshire.
The programme is being accompanied by an opportunity for all
members of the public to vote for their choice of city to become
European Capital of Culture 2008. It is possible to vote
electronically between Tuesday 22 April and Monday 28 April by
clicking on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/clashofthecities, or
by phoning 09011 903040 on the evening of 28 April.
The vote is likely to get considerable publicity so it is
important for the reputation of Oxford and its universities - as
well as for our prospects in the Capital of Culture competition -
that we maximise the vote for Oxford. More about Oxford's bid -
which as you know we believe is 'the best bid for Britain' - can
be found on the Oxford Inspires website:
http://www.oxfordinspires.org
Yours sincerely
David Holmes
Registrar
*****************************************
David Holmes
Registrar
University of Oxford
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford OX1 2JD
"A programme will be transmitted on BBC1 on Monday 28 April from
1930 to 2000 about the Capital of Culture 2008 competition. Oxford
is one of six UK cities shortlisted, and the University and its
colleges, together with Oxford Brookes, are closely involved in
the bid, and are working with the City of Oxford and the County
of Oxfordshire.
The programme is being accompanied by an opportunity for all
members of the public to vote for their choice of city to become
European Capital of Culture 2008. It is possible to vote
electronically between Tuesday 22 April and Monday 28 April by
clicking on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/clashofthecities, or
by phoning 09011 903040 on the evening of 28 April.
The vote is likely to get considerable publicity so it is
important for the reputation of Oxford and its universities - as
well as for our prospects in the Capital of Culture competition -
that we maximise the vote for Oxford. More about Oxford's bid -
which as you know we believe is 'the best bid for Britain' - can
be found on the Oxford Inspires website:
http://www.oxfordinspires.org
Yours sincerely
David Holmes
Registrar
*****************************************
David Holmes
Registrar
University of Oxford
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford OX1 2JD
The Onion hits an unusally intellectual line with this cartoon:
"How much do we love our mommy? Not as much as our wire mommy" certainly seems a reference to famous attachment studies in monkeys looking at how they react to, e.g., the choice between a wire-frame "mother" which feeds them, and a fur-covered "mother"...
"How much do we love our mommy? Not as much as our wire mommy" certainly seems a reference to famous attachment studies in monkeys looking at how they react to, e.g., the choice between a wire-frame "mother" which feeds them, and a fur-covered "mother"...
How have I not found this before? Blond Republican Sex Kitten - Ainsley Hayes Quotes -
""Lying's an awfully strong word... Yes, he's lying."
""Lying's an awfully strong word... Yes, he's lying."
Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector, has doubts about the Galloway accusations. Fair enough - there are a lot of questions out there. However, I'm intrigued by this:
"Having been on the receiving end of smear campaigns designed to assassinate the character of someone in opposition to the powers that be..."
I haven't kept track of his whole career (and there have been similar accusations thrown around the blogosphere, if he'd looked very carefully). But the only thing that rings a bell in this regard is an arrest in a "sting" relating to the use of chat-rooms. This was disclosed rather late in the day. But leaking information about an arrest at a convenient moment (even if it's what happened) isn't the same as making something up...
"Having been on the receiving end of smear campaigns designed to assassinate the character of someone in opposition to the powers that be..."
I haven't kept track of his whole career (and there have been similar accusations thrown around the blogosphere, if he'd looked very carefully). But the only thing that rings a bell in this regard is an arrest in a "sting" relating to the use of chat-rooms. This was disclosed rather late in the day. But leaking information about an arrest at a convenient moment (even if it's what happened) isn't the same as making something up...
lori smith has a cute little story up (no perma-link):
"Friday 11th April
There is a small story in Auto Express this week saying that an Italian showgirl has taken out adverts in the press asking for the return of her stolen Porsche. If it's returned intact with a full tank of petrol she is offering to sleep with the thief! Now that's initiative. I'd love to see the guy's face if he returns it but forgets to re-fuel on the way. "
She also has a link to the immortally titled My Boyfriend is a Twat.Com..
"Friday 11th April
There is a small story in Auto Express this week saying that an Italian showgirl has taken out adverts in the press asking for the return of her stolen Porsche. If it's returned intact with a full tank of petrol she is offering to sleep with the thief! Now that's initiative. I'd love to see the guy's face if he returns it but forgets to re-fuel on the way. "
She also has a link to the immortally titled My Boyfriend is a Twat.Com..
Cool - Snopes Urban Legends Reference Page have certified this true. If you're near a store, get free ice-cream...
"Hey, whaddya know! One of these annoying pieces of mail is not only actually true, but it's about something good as well.
Baskin-Robbins is holding their annual "Free Scoop Night" from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2003. The ice cream on the house, and for every scoop given away Baskin-Robbins makes a donation to First Book to provide new books for underprivileged kids. Come early, come often!
Rival ice cream outlet Ben & Jerry's will be holding their Free Cone Day a day earlier, between noon and 8:00 PM on 29 April 2003. "
"Hey, whaddya know! One of these annoying pieces of mail is not only actually true, but it's about something good as well.
Baskin-Robbins is holding their annual "Free Scoop Night" from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2003. The ice cream on the house, and for every scoop given away Baskin-Robbins makes a donation to First Book to provide new books for underprivileged kids. Come early, come often!
Rival ice cream outlet Ben & Jerry's will be holding their Free Cone Day a day earlier, between noon and 8:00 PM on 29 April 2003. "
Via What's new newsletter-
"HOMEOPATHY: JAMES RANDI FLAUNTS HIS PSYCHIC POWERS. The BBC
program Horizon did a thorough job of debunking homeopathy last
year, with legendary debunker James Randi devising a simple test,
which of course the homeopathists failed miserably. However, an
Australian psychic saw right through it. Randi, she explained,
is a secret psychic who used his awesome power to either alter
the test results or the perception of the results. "Damn!" Randi
replied, "You got me, Marylou." He warned her he would "make your
hair fall out," and if she persisted, "give you a rash all over
your body." Whew! You don't want to mess around with psychics.
Meanwhile, according to the Daily Mail, the UK is dumping more
than a million pounds into research on alternative medicine,
including homeopathy, at the urging of Prince Charles."
"HOMEOPATHY: JAMES RANDI FLAUNTS HIS PSYCHIC POWERS. The BBC
program Horizon did a thorough job of debunking homeopathy last
year, with legendary debunker James Randi devising a simple test,
which of course the homeopathists failed miserably. However, an
Australian psychic saw right through it. Randi, she explained,
is a secret psychic who used his awesome power to either alter
the test results or the perception of the results. "Damn!" Randi
replied, "You got me, Marylou." He warned her he would "make your
hair fall out," and if she persisted, "give you a rash all over
your body." Whew! You don't want to mess around with psychics.
Meanwhile, according to the Daily Mail, the UK is dumping more
than a million pounds into research on alternative medicine,
including homeopathy, at the urging of Prince Charles."
Friday, April 25, 2003
For Londoners, something the Times had in their City Diary the other day:
"The historic cobbled courtyard of The Breqery in Chiswell Street in the City is to be converted into a Cuban jazz venue during the summer months. Encouraged by the recent spate of sunny weather, Whitbread has decided to erect a marquee bedecked with palm trees that can be hired out complete with jazz trio, tequila girls and a cigar-rolling woman flown in form Havana"
"The historic cobbled courtyard of The Breqery in Chiswell Street in the City is to be converted into a Cuban jazz venue during the summer months. Encouraged by the recent spate of sunny weather, Whitbread has decided to erect a marquee bedecked with palm trees that can be hired out complete with jazz trio, tequila girls and a cigar-rolling woman flown in form Havana"
Hoystory.com has a chart up showing the names and jail terms of journalists and activists cuddly old Castro has banged up recently. It's a pretty long list.
Via lots of places.
Via lots of places.
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Josh Chafetz argues that a British citizen giving aid and comfort to another country wouldn't be committing treason if this occurred between wars, rather than during them.
Speaking purely hypothetically, I don't think that someone who was an "adherent to the King's Enemies in his Realm, giving them Aid and Comfort in the Realm, or elsewhere," could avoid accusations of treason merely because Britain wasn't at war at the time.
a) The original statute almost certainly wouldn't have been interpreted that way.
b) As a matter of logic, your enemies can be your enemies without current hostilities being underway - the Cambridge spies were traitors though we weren't at war with Russia when they began their activities (and though we allied with them in the war).
c) And, most relevantly, if, between two wars, you have a ceasefire agreement with another country (an agreement they are violating, by the by), then they remain your enemy. Only after a peace treaty do normal relations resume.
Hence in a situation resembling that described, it would seem the argument fails - this is arguably not a defence. Of course, I am not a lawyer...
Speaking purely hypothetically, I don't think that someone who was an "adherent to the King's Enemies in his Realm, giving them Aid and Comfort in the Realm, or elsewhere," could avoid accusations of treason merely because Britain wasn't at war at the time.
a) The original statute almost certainly wouldn't have been interpreted that way.
b) As a matter of logic, your enemies can be your enemies without current hostilities being underway - the Cambridge spies were traitors though we weren't at war with Russia when they began their activities (and though we allied with them in the war).
c) And, most relevantly, if, between two wars, you have a ceasefire agreement with another country (an agreement they are violating, by the by), then they remain your enemy. Only after a peace treaty do normal relations resume.
Hence in a situation resembling that described, it would seem the argument fails - this is arguably not a defence. Of course, I am not a lawyer...
What concept. The Onion | Christopher Hitchens Forcibly Removed From Trailer Park After Drunken Confrontation With Common-Law Wife
Sadly, lacks a decent satire on his recent views. But good fun.
Sadly, lacks a decent satire on his recent views. But good fun.
The Philosophical Cowboy gets results:
----- Original Message -----
From: Jane Barron
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 10:52 AM
Subject: FW: Grand Slam memorabilia
.....
I'm sure you will be delighted to hear that following several customer requests, we do have a Grand Slam wool mix v neck sweater coming in to stock shortly - hopefully by next week - this product is on the internet site (although I have had to add it without an image which will be available later this week).
Price is £39.99.
Regards
Jane
Jane Barron
Assistant Merchandise Manager
....
www.rfu.com
....
-----Original Message-----
From: You know who
Subject: Grand Slam memorabilia
My apologies if I'm directing this suggestion to the wrong person - I'm afraid I couldn't spot a more appropriate contact.
In light of the products currently on sale in the shop relating to the recent Grand Slam success, may I suggest that a popular item might be a v-neck jumper (the kind generally worn over shirts, etc) with embroidery mentioning not only the men's grand slam, but also the women's success and the Hong Kong sevens win. I know of a number of people who'd buy such a garment, and the last time England enjoyed such success (1991-2) a similar jumper was produced. Certainly, the acquaintance who's been waiting 10 years to replace his "double grand slam winners 1991-2" jumper, that he still wears to most matches, would be likely to buy one.
This slightly more formal type of garment is ideal for fans who feel slightly too old to wear t-shirts, or who occasionally find themselves "entertaining" at games, but still want to dress in a way that supports the team.
I look forward to an opportunity to purchase such an item.
Yours,
Etc.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jane Barron
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 10:52 AM
Subject: FW: Grand Slam memorabilia
.....
I'm sure you will be delighted to hear that following several customer requests, we do have a Grand Slam wool mix v neck sweater coming in to stock shortly - hopefully by next week - this product is on the internet site (although I have had to add it without an image which will be available later this week).
Price is £39.99.
Regards
Jane
Jane Barron
Assistant Merchandise Manager
....
www.rfu.com
....
-----Original Message-----
From: You know who
Subject: Grand Slam memorabilia
My apologies if I'm directing this suggestion to the wrong person - I'm afraid I couldn't spot a more appropriate contact.
In light of the products currently on sale in the shop relating to the recent Grand Slam success, may I suggest that a popular item might be a v-neck jumper (the kind generally worn over shirts, etc) with embroidery mentioning not only the men's grand slam, but also the women's success and the Hong Kong sevens win. I know of a number of people who'd buy such a garment, and the last time England enjoyed such success (1991-2) a similar jumper was produced. Certainly, the acquaintance who's been waiting 10 years to replace his "double grand slam winners 1991-2" jumper, that he still wears to most matches, would be likely to buy one.
This slightly more formal type of garment is ideal for fans who feel slightly too old to wear t-shirts, or who occasionally find themselves "entertaining" at games, but still want to dress in a way that supports the team.
I look forward to an opportunity to purchase such an item.
Yours,
Etc.
I think memepool have a pretty accurate handle on things:
"Just when you thought mankind could sink no lower, Anne Frank fanfic appears and soils us all."
(No, I haven't followed the link. Nor am I going to.)
"Just when you thought mankind could sink no lower, Anne Frank fanfic appears and soils us all."
(No, I haven't followed the link. Nor am I going to.)
Congrats to Peter Briffa on getting a proper article in the Times - very impressive. Though I suspect that he'll eventually receive the same chain letters that I got for a recent letter in there...
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Wow. According to The Register USA, for a while it was possible to read e-mails sent to Saddam. The web security on the main Iraqi government site was so poor, they could be read off the web-site due to a lack of access control.
Wired have exerpts...
Wired have exerpts...
How reassuring
"Workers are prepared to give away their passwords for a cheap pen, according to a somewhat unscientific - but still illuminating - survey published today.
The second annual survey into office scruples, conducted by the people organising this month's InfoSecurity Europe 2003 conference, found that office workers have learnt very little about IT security in the past year.
If anything, people are even more lax about security than they were a year ago, the survey found.
Nine in ten (90 per cent) of office workers at London's Waterloo Station gave away their computer password for a cheap pen, compared with 65 per cent last year."
Via Robotwisdom
"Workers are prepared to give away their passwords for a cheap pen, according to a somewhat unscientific - but still illuminating - survey published today.
The second annual survey into office scruples, conducted by the people organising this month's InfoSecurity Europe 2003 conference, found that office workers have learnt very little about IT security in the past year.
If anything, people are even more lax about security than they were a year ago, the survey found.
Nine in ten (90 per cent) of office workers at London's Waterloo Station gave away their computer password for a cheap pen, compared with 65 per cent last year."
Via Robotwisdom
Definitely for people more cultured than me* - daily Proust quotes
Via Eve Tushnet (via Rodney Welch)
* recent reading - Once More With Feeling, how we set out to make the best p0rn film ever; Fight Club; The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (a graphic novel); Broken Angels (a sci-fi novel that disturbingly name-checks John Pilger in the credits).
Via Eve Tushnet (via Rodney Welch)
* recent reading - Once More With Feeling, how we set out to make the best p0rn film ever; Fight Club; The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (a graphic novel); Broken Angels (a sci-fi novel that disturbingly name-checks John Pilger in the credits).
