It was a melt-in-your-clothes day as we went to the Universal Studios theme park. I skipped the rollercoaster rides but there was enough happening elsewhere; to my relief the accents were generically American ( Read more... )

I was flying recently and got the chance to see a few movies. For the record, Emirates censors movies horrifically: mild expletives are redubbed with ridiculously weak replacements, and written references to sex are pixelated. The 50s still exist in the air above us ( Read more... )

On my way home I encountered a pair of people playing Chess with giant pieces on the sidewalk. They were finishing the middlegame, with rooks, queens, and a bishop each, and the focus of the battle was a pawn on the "b" file (column). Each side was stacking up the pressure, with multiple pieces from each side aimed at the pawn ( Read more... )

Very interesting piece on paid essay writing for academia, which ignited a firestorm of internet argument. My view is that the main pressures come from admitting people who don't belong, and trying to keep them from failing (without actually teaching them); there's plenty of blame to go around ( Read more... )

I used to be really big on Facebook, adding everyone I met. I didn't expect deep friendships (though I made some really good friends that have lasted years), but I caught glimpses into other people's lives - lives that were different to mine ( Read more... )

I did a quick tally on my games expenditure, and it's way overboard... Every purchase is a small amount, but it has added up to an uncomfortable figure ( Read more... )

It's far easier and cheaper for cinemas when you book online, and yet they charge you for it. My economics knowledge tells me it's a matter of supply and demand; that is, we're too eager to let them take our money, but it still annoys the hell out of me.

I spotted Brandon Sanderson's newest addition to Robert Jordan's magnum opus in the library last week, and I snapped it up, despite there being two copies on the shelf ( Read more... )

So I read a news article on how Rubik's Cubes can be solved in 20 moves and I'm unimpressed ( Read more... )

I'm the last person to review scary horror movies - I prefer horror-ish action movies like Aliens. I did enjoy Ring (original version), but I suspect the Japanese cultural content swayed it for me ( Read more... )