Is it closer from Manors station to the Newcastle University buildings or is it closer from the Central Station? This may seem to be a strange question but has some relevance if you want to take a train from the Morpeth into the city. The answer seems obvious. The train stops at Manors before it … Continue reading Pesky intuitions
What does freedom mean?
This is another blog arising from the book ‘The world until yesterday’ by Jared Diamond. It is a great book and I would highly recommend that you read it if you have any interest in the development of humanity. Freedom is a subject that also interests me. It is a difficult concept to define. It … Continue reading What does freedom mean?
Evolving people
Early human remains have been discovered in Europe dating back to over seven million years. This may be stretching a point. They are the remains of an ape-like creature with human-like teeth found in both Bulgaria and Greece yet the inference is enormous. This discovery turns our current thinking of human evolution on its head. … Continue reading Evolving people
Elephants revisited
The only obvious elephant in the room was the one in the Dali picture, the one with the naked woman, tigers and a pomegranate (and an elephant). It is a picture that is filled with religious guilt, or am I just being pretentious? Our elephant is trust and it would seem we are well on … Continue reading Elephants revisited
The public cause
The public cause takes priority over individual needs according to Lieutenant D’Agosto of the New York Police Homicide Division. Okay, so he is a made up character from the Prendergast series by Preston and Child but is he really speaking the truth? Life is complicated, at one end lies totalitarianism and at the other liberalism. … Continue reading The public cause
Greater clarity
I need to provide greater clarity. I have heard this enough times now to know it's true. People are wanting more from me. I am in a bit of a dilemma though. I want to be clear. I want to give enough detail that provides direction but not too much to stifle creative thinking. Some … Continue reading Greater clarity
Delivering the goods
Me and trains. I do like them, I confess. I outed as a train spotter a long time ago. In truth it is the engines, the locomotives that I like, especially diesel. Perhaps that is too much information. My fascination spills over into my television viewing habits. I enjoyed ‘A slow train across Africa’ with … Continue reading Delivering the goods
Far from Home Counties
I can’t remember the last time I ever was in Gerrards Cross. To be honest I am not sure I have ever been there but I used to live in Oxford which is not more than a stone’s throw away and so I would be surprised if I hadn’t. Anyway, it didn’t ring a bell … Continue reading Far from Home Counties
People’s differences and evolution
Can everything be explained by evolution? It is a subject that has fascinated me ever since my formative years as a young and fresh faced zoology undergraduate. Not that my degree has ever really been put into practice but it is something I think about a lot. Evolution is something that is widely appreciated yet, … Continue reading People’s differences and evolution
Random benchmarking
Is comparison with another organisation ever worthwhile? I am not so sure. Every now and then the question of benchmarking raises its ugly head. Ugly to me that is. Tom and I have ended up having a conversation over its merits. Benchmarking in itself is not bad. It is what is done in the name … Continue reading Random benchmarking
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 