Night Off
In spite of remnants of lurgy still dogging me I stole the chance last night to have a night off from children. People who know me know I am a frequent visitor at PZ Myers's blog Pharyngula which is a hotbed of information and discussion on topics of science in education, evolution, anti-creationism, bacon and atheism. PZ has been in Ireland for a few days and in spite of him coming all the way over to my own country it seemed like I was not going to get a chance to see him in person. However on Tuesday I spotted a very quiet anouncement that he was coming to Cork ANd that he was speaking on the subject of education along with Paul Rowe from Educate Together (which would take a long time to explain but in summary they are the charitable foundation that is patron of DD's school) someone I would have gone to see in his own right but PZ was the attraction that led me to inveigling Mr Wol into doing to kids bedtime (sans milk poo BB!) - and double triple thanks to irishkate for coming to help out.
The talk was fascinating and the questions fascinatinger. PZ did not speak for very long. About 20 minutes, but was cogent and to the point. Paul Rowe spoke for nearly an hour and got more questions too which I think was an achievement. I sat in the front row because, having been on the other side of the speakers' table the front row does not seem all that scary anymore. I threw Strepsils down my neck at regular intervals to stop the spasmodic and very loud cough and was unexpectedly joined by alaimacerc so I had someone to sit with which was nice. I forgot to take any pictures though. Bah! I did get to congratulate PZ on achieving the full set of Godless Colleges in this one visit to Ireland and to shake his hand and say 'hi' from rare commenter Sammywol. then went to have chinwag with Paul Rowe about prospects for DD getting an Educate Together secondary school - slim to none sadly :(
Arrived home to find Mr Wol sick and BB safely asleep. Oh boo! Oh JOY! respectively.
The talk was fascinating and the questions fascinatinger. PZ did not speak for very long. About 20 minutes, but was cogent and to the point. Paul Rowe spoke for nearly an hour and got more questions too which I think was an achievement. I sat in the front row because, having been on the other side of the speakers' table the front row does not seem all that scary anymore. I threw Strepsils down my neck at regular intervals to stop the spasmodic and very loud cough and was unexpectedly joined by alaimacerc so I had someone to sit with which was nice. I forgot to take any pictures though. Bah! I did get to congratulate PZ on achieving the full set of Godless Colleges in this one visit to Ireland and to shake his hand and say 'hi' from rare commenter Sammywol. then went to have chinwag with Paul Rowe about prospects for DD getting an Educate Together secondary school - slim to none sadly :(
Arrived home to find Mr Wol sick and BB safely asleep. Oh boo! Oh JOY! respectively.