Monday, March 26, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Drink, drugs, philosophy and knitting
Hi all,
Hope things are going well for "the McHughs" in New York. Things seem to be going well here, we came second in the quiz despite being a pretty depleted team. More impressively, we won the jackpot, which was a whole £13! It's always nice to win something but £3.25 each is quite hard to get excited about.
The Stirling weekend away was good fun, but pretty uneventful. We were in a beautiful place and Chris K., Tom C. and I had a nice walk on Saturday. Otherwise there was much drinking, eating (including some of Chris' special brownies), a little philosophy and lots of good banter. The staff were pretty restrained on Friday but let rip more on Saturday night. Unsurprisingly, Kent was still going strong at 5am... I am now officially the most boring person I know having spent more time knitting than drinking, going to bed early on Friday night and not indulging in Chris' cakes at any point over the weekend. I did go for a quick skinny dip on Sunday though, so I guess I'm not completely done for...
Anyway, there are photos of the weekend available on my flickr page (in which everyone is fully clothed, I'm afraid).
Ciao,
Lottie x
Hope things are going well for "the McHughs" in New York. Things seem to be going well here, we came second in the quiz despite being a pretty depleted team. More impressively, we won the jackpot, which was a whole £13! It's always nice to win something but £3.25 each is quite hard to get excited about.
The Stirling weekend away was good fun, but pretty uneventful. We were in a beautiful place and Chris K., Tom C. and I had a nice walk on Saturday. Otherwise there was much drinking, eating (including some of Chris' special brownies), a little philosophy and lots of good banter. The staff were pretty restrained on Friday but let rip more on Saturday night. Unsurprisingly, Kent was still going strong at 5am... I am now officially the most boring person I know having spent more time knitting than drinking, going to bed early on Friday night and not indulging in Chris' cakes at any point over the weekend. I did go for a quick skinny dip on Sunday though, so I guess I'm not completely done for...
Anyway, there are photos of the weekend available on my flickr page (in which everyone is fully clothed, I'm afraid).
Ciao,
Lottie x
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Ciao fools!
I've noticed that in recent times there has been a bit of a lack of activity on this here blog. Is this because nothing of interest has been happening? With Mr McHugh's impending departure to Noo Yawk I thought someone should try and revive it... I am expecting regular updates from you, McHugh (and it'd be nice to hear from Lisa too). In return I shall make sure that there are regular updates from this side of the pond.
At the moment there's not really that much to say. Things are continuing as normal over here. I'm gradually regaining an interest in philosophy but am still dedicating far more time to knitting than anything else; professors Roberts and Ward are finally getting a chance to destroy Noe in person on Monday; renegade scientist MacMorris appears to be working himself into an early grave and has recently recruited a suspected facist to his cause; the Italians have been celebrating the recent improvement in their rugby team's fortunes and everyone is preparing to celebrate the aforementioned departure of McHugh (I jest, of course, he shall be greatly missed during his operations abroad).
Anyway, it has been pointed out to me that I've been rather lax myself in updating both my flickr page and my photo wall. I can reassure you all that this is now in the process of being remedied. I've added several new sets on flickr and the physical prints should be winging their way to me in the next couple of days. You can all find pictures from the mexican party and our trip up Ben Lomond (amongst others) in the usual place.
At the moment there's not really that much to say. Things are continuing as normal over here. I'm gradually regaining an interest in philosophy but am still dedicating far more time to knitting than anything else; professors Roberts and Ward are finally getting a chance to destroy Noe in person on Monday; renegade scientist MacMorris appears to be working himself into an early grave and has recently recruited a suspected facist to his cause; the Italians have been celebrating the recent improvement in their rugby team's fortunes and everyone is preparing to celebrate the aforementioned departure of McHugh (I jest, of course, he shall be greatly missed during his operations abroad).
Anyway, it has been pointed out to me that I've been rather lax myself in updating both my flickr page and my photo wall. I can reassure you all that this is now in the process of being remedied. I've added several new sets on flickr and the physical prints should be winging their way to me in the next couple of days. You can all find pictures from the mexican party and our trip up Ben Lomond (amongst others) in the usual place.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
jesus camp
guys, here's Jesus Camp, the Oscar nominated documentary about Evangelical Christians in America. Watch it!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Monday, January 01, 2007
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Happy Boxing Day!
Hope you're all having a great festive season.
So far in my house we've had one big argument, two people crying, lots of tension over Scrabble (why did I think it would be a good idea to play it with my sister?), an excess of food and booze and plenty of dispute over what to watch on telly. So, a pretty standard Christmas :).
Hope you're all having a great time.
Merry Christmas!
Lottie x
So far in my house we've had one big argument, two people crying, lots of tension over Scrabble (why did I think it would be a good idea to play it with my sister?), an excess of food and booze and plenty of dispute over what to watch on telly. So, a pretty standard Christmas :).
Hope you're all having a great time.
Merry Christmas!
Lottie x
Monday, December 25, 2006
Season's greetings!
For anyone who received an email from a Mr Chris Brand recently, which I think is probably anyone on the Edinburgh Philosophy postgrad page, here is a link to some background:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/results.cgi?search=dan+dennis
Here is the text of the reply I sent to him; please feel free to copy:
Dear Chris Brand,
Please do not spam me with any such email again. I have no wish to learn about your campaign to oblige universities to support homophobia and superstition.
Sincerely,
Conor McHugh
And, for those of you who did not get the email (which was sent to Dan Dennis and CCed to a bunch of other people), here it is:
Dear Dan Dennis, I was glad to learn via the Glasgow Herald (22 xii) of your support for academic free speech. Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help. NB matters are perhaps a bit more tricky than you might think, as I outlined for UK Christian Unions in a recent letter, pasted below. Yours sincerely, -- Chris Brand (MA Oxon [Psychology and Philosophy]).
------------------------------------------------------------To: The President, Exeter University Christian Union Re: 'Students Consult Lawyers After Refusal to Reinstate Exeter Christian Union'(http://www.christiantoday.com/article/students.consult.lawyers.after.refusal.to.reinstate.exeter.christian.union/8627.htm.
The saga started in May this year when one student felt the CU's requirement that CU members attest biblical principles was too "exclusive" for him -- probably in its not condoning homosexual behaviour. Full account: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=99353 and http://www.lawcf.org/lawreformdetail.php?ID=232.)
Edinburgh, 6th December 2006.
Dear James Harding,
It's great to gather from the media that UCCF and Exeter University Christian Union have the will to fight for freedom of belief, speech, expression and association in Britain's universities. Freedom is a most important cause, as is support for traditional family values; and both causes have been abandoned by many British academics over the past twenty years. Times Higher recently reported that 80% of British academics said universities had sacrificed the principle of academic freedom (26th October).
But I write principally to urge a little clever caution in view of press reports of your planned legal action. In particular, I suggest your legal team should not put much reliance on the 1986 Education (No. 2) Act, for this statute only *appears* to oblige universities to support free speech.
In 1998, Edinburgh University successfully argued (against me and my counsel) before a Scottish High Court judge that any duty that it had to support free speech took second place to its need to support its own reputation and income. In a particularly astonishing passage among complex legal proceedings, it was argued by the University that it had no more duty to support free speech than did *a biscuit factory* -- and this argument was essentially accepted. I honestly advise that UCCF lawyers look carefully at http://www.crispian.demon.co.uk/McDNLArch3b.htm for more (FIND 'Decision of Mr T. Gordon Coutts QC') to see what they would be up against.
Of course, Edinburgh University's attitude to free speech was and is disgraceful; but I imagine, in view of all the trouble that Exeter University has given your Christian Union so far, that Exeter will follow suit. One way forward could be to publicize the inadequacies of the 1986 statute via the media, for I'm sure there would be wide public sympathy once it was realized that British universities had spinelessly accepted legislation actually undermining their historic duty to defend free speech. Alternatively, it would be important, apparently, to gather evidence that allowing expression of 'homophobic' views would not diminish, and might actually enhance the reputation and income of a university.
Sorry if this is initially dispiriting; but I want you to win, not lose! You're welcome to let me know if there is anything else you feel I can do to help. I am yours sincerely,
-- Chris Brand (psychologist, author of 'The g Factor').
PS The latest from Edinburgh University is a compromise offer of accommodation for the Christian Union's (allegedly homophobic) PURE course so long as information (which the University would itself supply) is prominently displayed to the effect that some groups (telephone helplines supplied) think homosexuality is just fine. However, no such 'health warnings' were planned to oblige the Islamic Society to explain that its Hamas speakers were anti-Semitic, or to point biology students to creationist points of view about the origins of life. Rather than litter its clubs and courses with health warnings, the University would surely do better to put up a sign at its Old College HQ declaring 'Anything said in this university may be rubbish -- especially the University's own unprincipled and fast-changing views on freedom of speech.' The University's Student newspaper carried a fine letter (from Scott George McCombe, 5th December) pointing out the classic error of calling for 'free speech so long as it is responsible/sensitive/inoffensive/balanced etc.': for there is simply *no need* to provide 'freedom' for speech that wouldn't upset anyone -- a point that was made unavailingly to Edinburgh University as it aimed to placate its 'anti-racists' and feminazies back in 1996/7/8.
For anyone who received an email from a Mr Chris Brand recently, which I think is probably anyone on the Edinburgh Philosophy postgrad page, here is a link to some background:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/results.cgi?search=dan+dennis
Here is the text of the reply I sent to him; please feel free to copy:
Dear Chris Brand,
Please do not spam me with any such email again. I have no wish to learn about your campaign to oblige universities to support homophobia and superstition.
Sincerely,
Conor McHugh
And, for those of you who did not get the email (which was sent to Dan Dennis and CCed to a bunch of other people), here it is:
Dear Dan Dennis, I was glad to learn via the Glasgow Herald (22 xii) of your support for academic free speech. Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help. NB matters are perhaps a bit more tricky than you might think, as I outlined for UK Christian Unions in a recent letter, pasted below. Yours sincerely, -- Chris Brand (MA Oxon [Psychology and Philosophy]).
------------------------------------------------------------To: The President, Exeter University Christian Union Re: 'Students Consult Lawyers After Refusal to Reinstate Exeter Christian Union'(http://www.christiantoday.com/article/students.consult.lawyers.after.refusal.to.reinstate.exeter.christian.union/8627.htm.
The saga started in May this year when one student felt the CU's requirement that CU members attest biblical principles was too "exclusive" for him -- probably in its not condoning homosexual behaviour. Full account: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=99353 and http://www.lawcf.org/lawreformdetail.php?ID=232.)
Edinburgh, 6th December 2006.
Dear James Harding,
It's great to gather from the media that UCCF and Exeter University Christian Union have the will to fight for freedom of belief, speech, expression and association in Britain's universities. Freedom is a most important cause, as is support for traditional family values; and both causes have been abandoned by many British academics over the past twenty years. Times Higher recently reported that 80% of British academics said universities had sacrificed the principle of academic freedom (26th October).
But I write principally to urge a little clever caution in view of press reports of your planned legal action. In particular, I suggest your legal team should not put much reliance on the 1986 Education (No. 2) Act, for this statute only *appears* to oblige universities to support free speech.
In 1998, Edinburgh University successfully argued (against me and my counsel) before a Scottish High Court judge that any duty that it had to support free speech took second place to its need to support its own reputation and income. In a particularly astonishing passage among complex legal proceedings, it was argued by the University that it had no more duty to support free speech than did *a biscuit factory* -- and this argument was essentially accepted. I honestly advise that UCCF lawyers look carefully at http://www.crispian.demon.co.uk/McDNLArch3b.htm for more (FIND 'Decision of Mr T. Gordon Coutts QC') to see what they would be up against.
Of course, Edinburgh University's attitude to free speech was and is disgraceful; but I imagine, in view of all the trouble that Exeter University has given your Christian Union so far, that Exeter will follow suit. One way forward could be to publicize the inadequacies of the 1986 statute via the media, for I'm sure there would be wide public sympathy once it was realized that British universities had spinelessly accepted legislation actually undermining their historic duty to defend free speech. Alternatively, it would be important, apparently, to gather evidence that allowing expression of 'homophobic' views would not diminish, and might actually enhance the reputation and income of a university.
Sorry if this is initially dispiriting; but I want you to win, not lose! You're welcome to let me know if there is anything else you feel I can do to help. I am yours sincerely,
-- Chris Brand (psychologist, author of 'The g Factor').
PS The latest from Edinburgh University is a compromise offer of accommodation for the Christian Union's (allegedly homophobic) PURE course so long as information (which the University would itself supply) is prominently displayed to the effect that some groups (telephone helplines supplied) think homosexuality is just fine. However, no such 'health warnings' were planned to oblige the Islamic Society to explain that its Hamas speakers were anti-Semitic, or to point biology students to creationist points of view about the origins of life. Rather than litter its clubs and courses with health warnings, the University would surely do better to put up a sign at its Old College HQ declaring 'Anything said in this university may be rubbish -- especially the University's own unprincipled and fast-changing views on freedom of speech.' The University's Student newspaper carried a fine letter (from Scott George McCombe, 5th December) pointing out the classic error of calling for 'free speech so long as it is responsible/sensitive/inoffensive/balanced etc.': for there is simply *no need* to provide 'freedom' for speech that wouldn't upset anyone -- a point that was made unavailingly to Edinburgh University as it aimed to placate its 'anti-racists' and feminazies back in 1996/7/8.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Mental Parental DIY
I returned home to discover that the toilet had been redecorated...
Yes, my mother has covered the walls entirely with Guardian wall charts. Now your trip to the loo can be educational: you can spend your time learning about types of goat or try to identify the type of spider that is sitting watching you pee.
P.S. I've finally got around to uploading pictures from the Chris/ Nicky bialthlon and from Zoe's birthday. You'll find them in the usual place.
Yes, my mother has covered the walls entirely with Guardian wall charts. Now your trip to the loo can be educational: you can spend your time learning about types of goat or try to identify the type of spider that is sitting watching you pee.P.S. I've finally got around to uploading pictures from the Chris/ Nicky bialthlon and from Zoe's birthday. You'll find them in the usual place.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Conor goes to Toronto to see "Il Mago"
Comrades, Conor's goin to Toronto next week. Now, since the only thing that happened in Toronto in the last decade or so is "Il Mago" Andrea Bargnani (notice how difficult it must be for the Canadians to pronounce his surname r-g-n) joinin their NBA team (yes, there is Barney too, but that's fiction), I think that Conor should spend his time in Toronto (where he'll rejoin his girlfriend after, what?, 4 months...) watchin bball. Yes, forget about xmas, love, the nearest relative of love, or the nyc of the north - just watch "Il Mago".
So here is the Raptors' schedule for the next couple of weeks.
So here is the Raptors' schedule for the next couple of weeks.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Benjamin Griffin
Here are a few pics of my new nephew, who is two days old today (Monday). I think you'll agree he takes after his uncle in every conceivable way.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
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