For three years now I have kept track of the spam I have had to deal with at my stream of micro-posts. No more. I will still be keeping track, but there is no need to keep updating the sparkline I used to have in the sidebar. Instead, I will leave you with this final picture, which I may update in a...

I was very disappointed by the latest Thinking Allowed. Paul Freedman explained why, as his new book claims, Food Matters, but Laurie Taylor gave the distinguished perfesser a very gentle ride. Freedman said that academe denigrates and dismisses research into food, which it surely does. He then re...

I had a delicious lie-in this morning, and extra 40 minutes asleep. When I looked at my sleep stats, however, I had been robbed. Apple says I woke up at 6:59. I happen to know that I did not actually get out of bed until 7:40. I was awake, briefly, at around 6:59, but only to tap the Stop button. Th...

Twelve years ago today, I hosted an issue of Mendel’s Garden blog carnival here. Looking at it again today prompted some reflections.

There is no escaping the fact that 2021 was (still) not a normal year, and I am not sure any year will ever be exactly comparable to the Before Times. There is too much residual self-care going on for that. And yet, and yet … it was a pretty good year, and I say that knowing full well how privileged I am. I share a pleasant space with a person who is the love of my life and my best friend, we eat well, and want for nothing. We got our vaccinations and boosters, we were able to travel a bit, within Italy, and we stayed healthy throughout. So, much to be thankful for and to appreciate.