Archives

Archive for December, 2005

Deciphering EU-Diplomacyspeak

If, whilst reading the reports about any EU negotiation, one ever comes across the words “French President Jacques Chirac praised the British Prime Minister” then it’s a pretty fair bet that Tony Blair has, once again, fucked up utterly.

20kg/44lbs

I’m sure you all know the situation: you get off the plane, head towards the luggage collection, and wait whilst the baggage handlers have a drink, a quick smoke and occasionally peer through those little plastic slats to watch you all standing impatiently – it’s a tedious job and seeing people who’ve just arrived from […]

Going Postal (Or Not)

For reasons beyond my ability to comprehend (so not that far), a kind and generous reader of this blog, who is surely handsome, witty, intelligent, caring and woefully ignored by the scientific publishing world, decided to send me a Christmas present.
Of course, I protested vigorously that it was entirely unnecessary; “No, no you really mustn’t, […]

Out Of The Frying Pan…

Right, that’s it. Enough is enough; I’m getting the hell out of here. Germany is a pleasant enough country, I’ll begrudgingly admit, but I’m planning to move back to Blighty. Or at least I think I am until I start reading stories like this:
“What more romantic hero could there be than the bold fireman, unflinching […]

Socialism, Taxation And The Redistribution Of Wealth

Note: This is a rough working draught and merely reflects my state of mind at the present; it may be subject to change. Actually, I’m not changing it, the next paragraph is perhaps the most eloquent I’ve ever written.
You’re a bunch of thieving, communist bastards. It’s my money, I worked for it, I worked fucking […]

Overheard in the lab

“Ein Pessimist ist ein Mensch, der sich den Kuss vom Bakteriologen erklären lässt.”
- Paul Hubschmid