In the Dark

I thought I’d reblog the following post from Andy Lawrence. I think it will be of interest to readers here because it relates to a very important issue. If you would like to read the full article please follow the link to Andy’s original post…

Yesterday I saw a Twitter link to  a New York Times article about an astronomer suing the University of Kentucky, claiming he was rejected as a job applicant because of his religious faith. This piqued my interest. When I got there I found it was someone I know reasonably well on a professional level – Martin Gaskell. Martin graduated from the Edinburgh astrophysics degree the year before me – 1975 – and is a well known AGN researcher. He is an i … Read More

via The e-Astronomer

I couldn’t resist reposting this. It’s hilarious.

(Note: this post is `just for fun;' no premeds, doctors, researchers, or nobel laureates were meant to be offended in the writing of this post.) The bane of many American physics grad students is teaching introductory physics to premed students. Due to the nature of med school admissions, one ends up with classrooms full of students who cannot afford to get anything less than an A+++ if they hope to make it to (Ivy League) Med School. Further, du … Read More

via An American Physics Student in England

I thought I’d re-post this poem by WH Auden which I put up about a year ago on the anniversary of the outbreak of World War 2. We’re in a different kind of struggle now, but his words are no less apt for that.

It’s now exactly 70 years since the start of World War Two, as it was on this date in 1939 that Germany invaded Poland. On hearing the news, WH Auden composed this poem. Although the poet himself grew to dislike it, it became one of his most famous poems and has many resonances still in today’s world. September 1st, 1939 I sit in one of the dives On Fifty-second Street Uncertain and afraid As the clever hopes expire Of a low dishonest decade: Wav … Read More

via In the Dark

Well, dear readers, I have a huge amount to do before the new academic year starts next week, including three days of purgatory this week in darkest Swindon serving on the STFC Astronomy Grants Panel. So, to cut distractions down to a minimum, I’ve decided to impose a blogging ban on myself until a light appears at the end of this particular tunnel.

Normal services will be resumed as soon as possible but, for the time being, there will now follow a short intermission.