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!

Festive update

The last few months have been rather hectic, and vacation free, so I was sorely in need of some time off come the Christmas break. We've managed to squeeze a lot into the time off, considering we've been dealing with gastro, and record breaking blizzards (45.6 cm in the city a record for snowfall in one day). All I can say is now that winter is here in earnest, my snowboard is primed and ready, although there has been a bit of a thaw the last day or two.

A video of Montreal after the snow storm here.

All this meant LP and I made a lazy igloo in the garden by blocking up the windows of the play house.

As always, pics under the cut. Click them to enlarge.

#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.