I've been thinking about air pollution a lot lately. Tower Bridge is shut for Not Falling Down Works, and the resultant tailbacks across South London seem to be making the air significantly worse than usual. Anecdotally, as I walk down to the Jamaica Road*, the air starts tasting weird and my throat starts feeling weird.** The onset of this (I've ( Read more... )

I am returned (came alongside at Tilbury around 2250 on Friday night)! Have spent the weekend hanging out with marnameow, dogrando, and uon, which has featured pizza and allotment and beer and so on. And failing to sleep properly. And tidying up / clearing things out. (I have a big pile of clothes & books for Freecycle/whatever; although Pete suggested a plan for ( Read more... )

Southwark Council subsidise a small quantity of free bike instruction for people who live/work in the borough. I checked, & they were happy to do an advanced observation-type lesson, so I thought I'd give it a go.
( writeup )

I read this New Yorker article about the Piraha tribe and language yesterday - long but fascinating.

I've never really bought the Chomsky universal grammar thing. More than anything else, it just seems to be unnecessarily complicated. Children are exposed to a lot of language from the moment they leave the womb; to me it would seem more ( Read more... )

Tories want to give council tenants money to buy in the private sector - how, exactly, do they get from "social housing as a transitory stage" to "transforming council estates so that people have a sense of local pride and ownership"? Surely the effect would be exactly the opposite - no impetus to care about the local surroundings because you ( Read more... )

I told ewtikins I'd make some notes of the stuff I've been telling people (notably uon) about learning to ride a bike in London. And then it got too long to be a comment really so I put it here.
( cycling in traffic )

Observed on my way to work this morning:

• An RV1 with a big notice on the back saying "FUELCELL NO EMISSIONS". It had an exhaust pipe on the top of its roof, occasionally spitting out what looked to be steam - it dissipated almost immediately. Hrm, looks like they've extended this project, & that is indeed just water vapour. Good stuff.
• A ( Read more... )

Lots of bike discussion lately. For the benefit, therefore, of cyclists & would-be cyclists amongst my London-based readership: cycle guide maps now available online (Java required). Also, Journeyplanner now handles bike-journey planning as well.

Battersea Power Station to be turned into immensely posh hotel, theatre, more posh hotels, etc etc. (currently awaiting planning permission from the council ( Read more... )

Gorgeous morning - was rather irritated that for logistical reasons to do with parent-visiting tonight I had to take the tube in so didn't get to cycle. The view out of my window today is superb - the Eye in particular is catching the sun on all its little cars & sparkling rather in the manner of a *really big* diamond ring. Mornings like this I ( Read more... )