Category Archives: ranting

Napalm is not a good fire extinguisher

How not to look innocent when you’re accused of academic misconduct
Continue reading

Categories: academic life, ranting

It’s our language and we want it back!

It’s English. You can’t change it without our say-so.
Continue reading

Categories: ranting

AGU? Bah, humbug

Anyone who has noticed my latest Nature column will be aware that I have had to forgo the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco for yet another year. I suppose I can feel virtuous about not ramping up my already … Continue reading

Categories: academic life, ranting

The postdoc is willing, but the lab equipment is weak

Devotees of Star Wars will remember those classic scenes in the Empire Strikes back where the Millennium Falcon, having cleverly jinked and dodged around its Imperial pursuers, makes to leave them in its dust trails by engaging the hyperdrive system. … Continue reading

Categories: academic life, ranting

Is getting tenure Mission Impossible?

Over at Galactic Interactions, fellow Scibling Rob Knop has announced that he’s leaving academia for a job at Linden Labs, the people who run Second Life. Even though that particular phenomenon leaves me a little bemused – I have enough … Continue reading

Categories: academic life, ranting