I have recently been having nostalgic thoughts about the Common Cold Unit. This was set up at the end of the Second World War to find a cure for the...er...common cold. They closed it down in 1990 because, although they could find plenty of causes for the common cold, they could not find a cure. Marek Kohn relates some of the details in an article called "Nasal Gazing".
I suppose you have to take your hat off to the common cold, if it is possible to doff one's cap to a random, mutating collection of viral infections. Modern science has managed to beat many diseases, but the simple common cold has remained unscathed.
I still seem to have the vestiges of one which has lasted well over a month. Nothing serious - just a underlying grogginess and stuffed up nose.
If you are at a loose end, you could do worse than look up some basic facts about the common cold.
That is all.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Working from home
Jo Christie-Smith receives today's Alex Wilcock award for sustained posting on the subject of working from home.
Fortunately, the company I work for has a very modern attitude to working from home. I do so about 3-4 times every fortnight.
Today, I needed no persuasion. I could have spent 180 minutes driving back and forward through the snow. Or I could have walked downstairs to my office and switched on my laptop.
With the snow looking about a foot deep in places, I chose the latter. Marvellous.
Fortunately, the company I work for has a very modern attitude to working from home. I do so about 3-4 times every fortnight.
Today, I needed no persuasion. I could have spent 180 minutes driving back and forward through the snow. Or I could have walked downstairs to my office and switched on my laptop.
With the snow looking about a foot deep in places, I chose the latter. Marvellous.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Blushes all round - "Paul Walter rocks my world" fan (?) site discovered
I have been asked by the "Hero worshipper in Chief" to mention this. There is a "Paul Walter rocks my world" page on http://www.facebook.com/.
Blush, blush. The thing has fifteen members! All of whom look like they might be models for that new BBC programme about researchers!
The thing appears to be rather onion-like in its layers of irony - I am unable to discern where the irony stops (if at all - most likely) and starts.
But it is hugely amusing and I am very gratified that anyone could have an interest in my "144 things done as a Newbury Town Councillor" and my 42 photographs of the litter in Station Road, Newbury.
Friendly fire - sadly familiar
The friendly fire incident, the video of which was on BBC Newsround today, is sickeningly familiar. I did a quick look up. The Scotsman reports:
During the first Gulf War in 1991, an American A-10 attacked British armoured personnel carriers - killing nine soldiers.
Oh dear. Also, an A-10, over ten years earlier.
Oh dear.
During the first Gulf War in 1991, an American A-10 attacked British armoured personnel carriers - killing nine soldiers.
Oh dear. Also, an A-10, over ten years earlier.
Oh dear.
Is this the worst programme in the history of the BBC?
"When will I be famous?"
...er....never.
Complete cobblers, would be a charitable way to describe this BBC1 Saturday night show, introduced by Graham Norton (even he can't save it).
Someone in the BBC thinks that they can get away with reviving "New Faces" if they give it the appearance of Dance Fever/Celebrity/Strictly Come naked. They are deluding themselves. This is the biggest load of rubbish ever broadcast by the BBC. Bar none.
The man in the ball last Saturday was terrible. I have seen it done much better twice. To have the minute of "dead air", while he put on his not-very-impressive Elvis suit, was just dire. And not only did they broadcast this embarrassment once, they reprised the whole sordid thing again later in the evening.
Oh dear. A preforming dog? A little kid singing? Come back Hughie Green, all is forgiven.
...er....never.
Complete cobblers, would be a charitable way to describe this BBC1 Saturday night show, introduced by Graham Norton (even he can't save it).
Someone in the BBC thinks that they can get away with reviving "New Faces" if they give it the appearance of Dance Fever/Celebrity/Strictly Come naked. They are deluding themselves. This is the biggest load of rubbish ever broadcast by the BBC. Bar none.
The man in the ball last Saturday was terrible. I have seen it done much better twice. To have the minute of "dead air", while he put on his not-very-impressive Elvis suit, was just dire. And not only did they broadcast this embarrassment once, they reprised the whole sordid thing again later in the evening.
Oh dear. A preforming dog? A little kid singing? Come back Hughie Green, all is forgiven.
Injuries sustained in the cause of Liberal Democracy
Strange. I have survived 20 odd years of Liberal campaigning without injury. Last night, I came a cropper on someone's doorstep (slightly gashed knee/strained wrist) and tonight I was left bleeding after being attacked by a holly bush.
They say bad luck comes in threes, so I am on the look-out.
They say bad luck comes in threes, so I am on the look-out.
Woman in underwear appears on Newbury's Telephone Exchange building
Yes, the long-awaited event in Newbury's history occurred this evening.
I was just walking out of the Corn Exchange when I noticed some people in fluorescent yellow jackets by the bank on the corner. Then I realised they were a film crew. I went round the corner and there it was...a headless woman in all her glory and underwear, projected on the full length of the approx. ten storey telephone exchange.
I saw a comely figure, being covered by the cameras, looking at me. I enquired: "Is that you?". "Do I look like I have boobs?" enquired, in return, the presenter of "How to look good naked", Mr Gok Wan.
Nevertheless, my wife was interviewed extensively by Mr Wan.
I was just walking out of the Corn Exchange when I noticed some people in fluorescent yellow jackets by the bank on the corner. Then I realised they were a film crew. I went round the corner and there it was...a headless woman in all her glory and underwear, projected on the full length of the approx. ten storey telephone exchange.
I saw a comely figure, being covered by the cameras, looking at me. I enquired: "Is that you?". "Do I look like I have boobs?" enquired, in return, the presenter of "How to look good naked", Mr Gok Wan.
Nevertheless, my wife was interviewed extensively by Mr Wan.
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