I learned two things from Aaron Swartz’s 2010 Review of Books.

1. The guy can read.
2. I can make use of that; five books added to my wishlist.¹

OK, so that’s barely more than 4% of the stack he got through, but I’m not competing. And I should maybe try and do some more reviews myself, as a b...

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I used to be a fully paid-up card-carrying skeptic, eager to confront and attempt to correct scientific silliness wherever it raised its muddled head. I conferred, I debated, I pointed and counterpointed, null hypothesized and t-tested, and all to no avail. Now I generally save my breath to cool m...

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Catching up with my electronic “life” after a period of enforced non-connection used to worry me. Had I avoided infection by the latest viral fancy? Did one of my favourite sites feature something incredible, something I just had to share? What if someone had posted something really interesting to t...

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I think it is important that women and girls get the best possible education. I think it is important that everyone get a good, nutritious diet. Education in a school garden? Good. Education for girls in a school garden? Better. Education that reaches beyond the school, “to provide food and ornament...

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Hats off to Birke Baehr. The young man has courage, and convictions, and he displayed both talking to a huge crowd at an independent Ted event in Asheville, North Carolina. ¹ So much so that he ended up featured on the mother ship at Ted.com, which is how I came to see his performance.

It was a great performance too. He had clearly rehearsed. He knew his stuff. He engaged with the audience. His graphics were clear. Heck, I have ² colleagues who could use a lesson from Birke.

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