Quote of the Week

"When the train of history hits a curve, the intellectuals fall off.” 

Karl Marx.

New Addition to the Family

LP said to  the other week:

"I have a hypothesis. It is that our family needs a cat. A hypothesis means I have an idea and that we need to test it..."

Thank you Dinosaur Train, for educating my child. But as hypotheses go, it's not one I want to test. However, on a visit to the pet shop at the weekend, just as a way of entertaining the kids for 5 minutes, we found a suitable replacement for a cat. So, may I now present to you, Don (the hypothesis).

He's a Netherland Dwarf, born on the 8th of Feb (so a little over 1 month old), and he weighs in at a miniscule 220grams. I was opting for Don the Dutch, or Don the Dwarf, but Don Hypothesis seems to have stuck.

I'll post some better pics with the kids soon.

Quote of the Week

I have been working through a whole bunch of books I've had on my wishlist for years on my kindle. Mostly because they're free. I've made it along the line to Machiavelli. I need go no further to defend the writing's modern day significance after I read the following:

It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things, because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.

Machiavelli "The Prince".
Chapter VI Concerning New Principalities which are acquired by one's own arms and ability.

I see Machiavelli tried to start a union too!

#overlyhonestmethods

I have never really been attracted to Twitter, but the hashtag #overlyhonestmethods has seriously got me thinking about it. Either way, I can see myself losing some time trawling through the posts made, and also those on the related #overlyhonestreviews.

Brought to my attention by this article on io9, with a selection of the better ones posted on this blog, and more here.

Cross posted from my new Science Blog. Yes really.