Category Archives: Words and books and cultural stuff
etymology of ‘beer’ and ‘ale’
Ken writes: Oh man I just stumbled across a series of posts on the etymology of the words ‘beer’ and ‘ale’ which are obligatory reading for anyone interested in such questions. I wrote a little post on the subject a … Continue reading
Filed under beer, Ken, Words and books and cultural stuff
Siri and the Scots
Ken writes: Apple has released a new iPhone which has a voice operated personal assistant application called Siri. Well, it turns out it’s not going down too well in Scotland (see also here). It reminded me of this prescient skit: … Continue reading
Filed under Ken, Lucky Dip, Words and books and cultural stuff
Only posting to keep up with NaBloPoMo? Of course not…
Dot writes: they’re “upgrading the concourse” on Pearse Station, which means (a) lots of billboards showing digital pictures of a new, shiny station that looks strangely like the old station only with smaller people; (b) scaffolding. The scaffolding has a … Continue reading
Filed under Lucky Dip, Words and books and cultural stuff
Picture book geography
Dot writes: I have a little game I play when I read picture books to the boys. Actually, it’s more of a hypersensitivity that I’ve developed, like when you learn to notice the blip that appears in the corner of … Continue reading
Filed under Words and books and cultural stuff
Some more thoughts on Behaviourism
Ken writes: I’ve been trying for some time to write a post on Behavourism because it’s something that holds a perennial fascination for me. I have a number of B F Skinner’s books on the go About Behaviourism, Science and … Continue reading
Filed under Philosophy, Words and books and cultural stuff
Gaelic Orthography
Ken writes: When I lived in Fife, I tried to learn Scots Gaelic but I got nowhere partly because the teacher seemed to spend most of the class time nattering in English. But partly also because she wouldn’t explain the … Continue reading
Filed under Ken, Words and books and cultural stuff
Presentation
Dot writes: there are still a few things I try to do the way the Baby Whisperer told me to, and one of them is Fighting the Whinge. “Muuuuum, I want miiiiiiilk!” “How do you ask nicely?” “Pleeeeeeeease!” “Can you … Continue reading
Confidential but not private
Dot writes: today we got an email from an insurance broker which ended in a lengthy disclaimer: This e-mail and any attachments are CONFIDENTIAL and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail … Continue reading
Filed under Lucky Dip, Words and books and cultural stuff
The language of beer
Ken writes: Beer has many ways to capture a man’s attention as you know, but one of the things that specially endears the hobby to me is the obscure vocabulary that goes along with brewing, or zymurgy as it is … Continue reading
Filed under beer, Ken, Words and books and cultural stuff
