Here are a few more personal bits and
pieces that don't really fit into other categories well.
I completed my PhD in 1994 and have since wandered around the place, with
research positions at the University of Texas at Austin, Glasgow University
and Oxford University. I took a break from academia but have come to my
senses and returned!
Issues
Everyone has issues: I merely voice some of mine.
- Apostrophes: Don't just throw apostrophes in: it
doesn't help. "It's" is short for "it is," not "its" as in to imply
possession. This isn't hard. Yes I knew this before Eats, Shoots and
Leaves was published.
- One of the best sources on writing well is Strunk and White's
wonderful book, The Elements Of Style. It is available on-line
here.
- Don't just speak because you can -- the world is loud enough
already. Louder, in fact.
- Eschew obfuscation!
- Every system can be corrupted.
- The most annoying question of 2006 has to be "Did you get my
e-mail?".
Some ancestral advice I like:
- Focus.
- Life is not a rehearsal.
- Measure twice; cut once.
Hobbies
I used to do a lot of Taekwondo, but now I'm old and fat. I like designing
logos (Eden, TreeMap, SUBIT, ANRG, GNLab, Spectrum, CoSpec). I like the
Eden one the best.