So, Brave New World. In many senses, it was – the first time I’d been to a conference without a plethora of Oxford colleagues to accompany me.
I went up to Manchester a day early, on the Tuesday, to allow for the journey. As such, I had to go out for a meal on my own – and in the end walked back up the curry mile to Tesco (about 20 mins), unaware there was another branch just 5 mins away to the south.
I stocked up on some bread, crisps and bananas to last me through the two days, but after eating my pasta and salad I met Ryan – an American student from Leuven – and then his colleague Sylvie. We were going to find a pub that served food and showed football. It turned out Glass (nearby, to the south) were only doing the latter, but we had a couple of rounds as we watched France beat Spain. Then we got Domino’s on the way home and shared it in our kitchen.
The conference wasn’t due to start until noon on the Wednesday, so having missed a breakfast we hadn’t been told about Ryan and I went to the local Tesco for some food, and entertained ourselves by reading over our papers until lunchtime. It was there we first started meeting the main batch of people – including Dean (who I knew from Nuffield seminars, and Warwick) and Kerstin (who I knew from the PSA conference). It was only advertised as a ‘light lunch’, i.e. sandwiches, but I could have had much more given the amount left.
Henry Shue kicked off proceedings with a paper on terrorism, taking an even more anti- line than his 1978 P&PA article. Then I was up, with Dean and one other student, in the first graduate panel. Thankfully it went quite well (I think), and I was particularly grateful to Tom (from UCL), as well as James, Kerstin and Alan Hamlin for questions.
The conference dinner was at a nearby Greek restaurant (Kosmos) that night. Having got there early, I ended up sat next to Kimberley, which was of course a pleasant evening – though I feel perhaps I should have done more to socialise with people I didn’t already know.
The chance came, of course, with Glass (again) afterwards, and then – via a dodgy off-licence (serving at 11:30) we went back to some kind of common room, where we stayed drinking and chatting – largely me, Dean and Ryan trying to convince Kerstin of the beauty of football – until 2am.
The next morning, I somehow managed to rise at 7:30, and therefore in time for breakfast, and make it to Kerstin’s talk at 9:30. I think she was worse for wear too, but managed to hide it well. Unfortunately Tom, who I’d wanted to see in the next session, had had to withdraw. Hopefully he’ll send me his paper. The final session looked less promising, but turned up perhaps my favourite paper of the conference, on animal rights.
Finally, Susna Mendus closed the formal event with a paper on Machiavelli, value pluralism and terrorism. Discussion moved on to a nearby pub, but Kimberley and I had to catch a train back to Oxford. My suitcase was by now even heavier than when I went, so it was some effort to lug it back to the station (from the bus stop), and we were both quite tired after everything, but we made the 19:24. The three hour train journey passed much more pleasantly with the addition of company – Kimberley was even able to point out the house she and Christophe had just bought in Banbury.
When I got back, I dragged my case back to college, mainly because I needed to print off an article (which turned out not to be online). Thankfully I found a shopping trolley abandoned outside college, so was able to use that to wheel my case to the bus stop, and then back home.
Maybe not a particularly productive conference, since I’d been in a three person panel I only got three questions on my 20 minute paper, but an enjoyable one that involved a nice blend of meeting new people and getting better acquainted with some I’d met before. I definitely hope to go back next year.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Brave New World
I'm away until Thursday night at the Brave New World conference. See the schedule here (I'm in the first panel).
Monday, June 26, 2006
Personality Test 2
One of the things I talked to Fiona Beer about over dinner the other day was this personality test. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember the details too well, but she studies psychology so was able to explain a lot more about the tests and personality types.
I've found a much simpler one that still seems to give pretty accurate results, however:
I've found a much simpler one that still seems to give pretty accurate results, however:
| Your Personality Is |
You are both logical and creative. You are full of ideas.You are so rational that you analyze everything. This drives people a little crazy! Intelligence is important to you. You always like to be around smart people.In fact, you're often a little short with people who don't impress you mentally. You seem distant to some - but it's usually because you're deep in thought.Those who understand you best are fellow Rationals. In love, you tend to approach things with logic. You seek a compatible mate - who is also very intelligent. At work, you tend to gravitate toward idea building careers - like programming, medicine, or academia. With others, you are very honest and direct. People often can't take your criticism well. As far as your looks go, you're coasting on what you were born with. You think fashion is silly. On weekends, you spend most of your time thinking, experimenting with new ideas, or learning new things. |
Sunday, June 25, 2006
England 1-0 Ecuador
Although I intended to spend most of Sunday working, we warmed up for the game by playing a bit of 2 on 2 football ourselves. Somehow David B and I took a 4-0 lead, only to lose 9-4 against Ed and Dom.
The England match itself never looked to be such an exciting affair - it always seemed one goal might nick it, and so it was. Amazingly Beckham seems to think that one free kick in 4 years has justified his place.
Personally I'd be happy to see Lennon replace him on the right, and Carrick or Hargreaves to drop Frank 'shots but doesn't score' Lampard out since he's clearly misfiring and hindering Gerrard's game. Still, it's probably too late for such tinkering, so I guess we have to stick with the experienced players we have.
On the bright side, both Carrick and Hargreaves have done well when called into the holding midfield role. The two Coles and Gerrard are the only others who've really impressed me, though Terry does seem to be improving (he's never produced his club form at international level, imho)
I don't think Rooney up-front alone was particularly successful though. While he did adapt to the system somewhat, he prefers to drop off another striker, and playing him with his back to goal seems to neutralise a lot of his threat. Crouch is the obvious answer - if it were up to me, at the expense of Lampard. Though with Walcott still untried, that wouldn't leave many attacking options on the bench.
The England match itself never looked to be such an exciting affair - it always seemed one goal might nick it, and so it was. Amazingly Beckham seems to think that one free kick in 4 years has justified his place.
Personally I'd be happy to see Lennon replace him on the right, and Carrick or Hargreaves to drop Frank 'shots but doesn't score' Lampard out since he's clearly misfiring and hindering Gerrard's game. Still, it's probably too late for such tinkering, so I guess we have to stick with the experienced players we have.
On the bright side, both Carrick and Hargreaves have done well when called into the holding midfield role. The two Coles and Gerrard are the only others who've really impressed me, though Terry does seem to be improving (he's never produced his club form at international level, imho)
I don't think Rooney up-front alone was particularly successful though. While he did adapt to the system somewhat, he prefers to drop off another striker, and playing him with his back to goal seems to neutralise a lot of his threat. Crouch is the obvious answer - if it were up to me, at the expense of Lampard. Though with Walcott still untried, that wouldn't leave many attacking options on the bench.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Dad & Joe
My dad and uncle Jo came to visit today. Since Joe's a bit old and arthritic, we couldn't do much in the way of a normal walking tour, so instead we went punting - I did most of the work, my dad had a go but kept yelling at me to steer with the paddle!
We had a pub lunch, look round college and went and bought a suit (conference next week, then interviews...) Hope it was a good choice, from Next Clearance.
We had a pub lunch, look round college and went and bought a suit (conference next week, then interviews...) Hope it was a good choice, from Next Clearance.
End of Year
After our GCR party Thursday night, I didn't really want another heavy night; but the department's post-exam graduate party soon turned into a session in Far From the Madding Crowd with Maria and Oli (and some of their friends), where I stayed for the rest of the night - and a quick nightcap in Maria's flat. It was good to see them both again, it's been too long.
There weren't many theorists at the party, but I did chat to my supervisor and Milan. Plus one of the things I learned was my friend Julia has a lectureship at Univ next year. Hope I can get one of the ones I'm applying for too...
There weren't many theorists at the party, but I did chat to my supervisor and Milan. Plus one of the things I learned was my friend Julia has a lectureship at Univ next year. Hope I can get one of the ones I'm applying for too...
Friday, June 23, 2006
Crouch
Peter Crouch states the obvious:
[P]eople will try and compare me to Michael [Owen] but I am a different type of player.
[P]eople will try and compare me to Michael [Owen] but I am a different type of player.
EoT TT06
Last night was our End of Term dinner, with a Midsummer Night's Dream theme. Although I wasn't particularly keen on the main course (mushroom) it was a good dinner, and a very fun night.As a member of the committee, I was sat on high table between Peter Beer and his wife Fiona, who both provided very good conversation. Hopefully high table dinners will be something I get more practice of next year.
After the bar, we went to Baby Love. Emily had blagged us free entry but scandalously after playing us half the Basement Jaxx singles collection, they played a 2 Many DJs mix CD twice. Perhaps we should go back to hiring DJs...
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Tea Lottery
I don't know how I got this email, but I was just invited to sign up to something called Tea O'Clock. They say:
At a time set by you, Tea O'clock will find out who in your office fancies a cuppa, compile your team's order and decide whose turn it is to make the drinks. It's fun, it's free and above all, it's fair!
The website makes clear:
we’ll send out an email to a randomly selected person telling them it’s their turn to make the drinks... It's like a national hot drink lottery where everyone's a winner.
See also their FAQs here.
It's a bit useless to me directly, since I neither work in an office nor drink tea; but I'm always interested to see examples that demonstrate people regard lotteries/random selection as fair means of allocation, even if this example seems confuse randomness with taking turns, which is plainly a different allocative rule.
At a time set by you, Tea O'clock will find out who in your office fancies a cuppa, compile your team's order and decide whose turn it is to make the drinks. It's fun, it's free and above all, it's fair!
The website makes clear:
we’ll send out an email to a randomly selected person telling them it’s their turn to make the drinks... It's like a national hot drink lottery where everyone's a winner.
See also their FAQs here.
It's a bit useless to me directly, since I neither work in an office nor drink tea; but I'm always interested to see examples that demonstrate people regard lotteries/random selection as fair means of allocation, even if this example seems confuse randomness with taking turns, which is plainly a different allocative rule.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Insurance: Who Pays?
When Djibril Cisse broke his leg, playing for France just before the World Cup, Rafa Benitez suggested Liverpool should be compensated by the national association or FIFA.
My immediate reaction was it'd be nice, but I wasn't sure I was convinced that someone else should pick up the bill. One might well say it should be up to the clubs to insure their own players for injuries in internationals. I was tempted then to go on a long rant about Dworkin, insurance markets, etc but haven't had time to get into it.
I still haven't got round to it, but I'm even more tempted to after hearing that Newcastle will be compensated, by the FA, for Owen's injury. I could, of course, add some complaint about how like cases aren't currently treated alike, and leaving these matters to each individual association is to result in what Dworkin calls 'patchwork principles'.
If I get time this summer, I'd really like to have a thorough go through his quasi-Luck Egalitarian arguments about equality.
My immediate reaction was it'd be nice, but I wasn't sure I was convinced that someone else should pick up the bill. One might well say it should be up to the clubs to insure their own players for injuries in internationals. I was tempted then to go on a long rant about Dworkin, insurance markets, etc but haven't had time to get into it.
I still haven't got round to it, but I'm even more tempted to after hearing that Newcastle will be compensated, by the FA, for Owen's injury. I could, of course, add some complaint about how like cases aren't currently treated alike, and leaving these matters to each individual association is to result in what Dworkin calls 'patchwork principles'.
If I get time this summer, I'd really like to have a thorough go through his quasi-Luck Egalitarian arguments about equality.
Football & Music
Colchester Heading Down?
After doing so well to win promotion to the Championship last season, Colchester United have now lost one of their star performers Neil Danns to Birmingham. Along with uncertainty over manager Phil Parkinson, who was strongly linked with Hull and tendered his resignation, things aren't looking too rosy at the Us. Already looking like it will be straight back down then...
UPDATE: And now their first match sees a reunion with Danns, as the Us travel to St andrews.
UPDATE: And now their first match sees a reunion with Danns, as the Us travel to St andrews.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
TOTP Axed
First Grandstand, now Top Of The Pops.
To be honest, in the few recent times I've seen it the best acts have often been those dug out from the archives (Gary Numan, Soft Cell, etc). Given the '80s were supposedly a bad decade for music, it's surprising so little in the current chart can match those.
Maybe they should just bring back TOTP 2?
To be honest, in the few recent times I've seen it the best acts have often been those dug out from the archives (Gary Numan, Soft Cell, etc). Given the '80s were supposedly a bad decade for music, it's surprising so little in the current chart can match those.
Maybe they should just bring back TOTP 2?
Monday, June 19, 2006
I'm Liberal
Found a site with loads of these distracting tests...
| Your Political Profile: |
| Overall: 20% Conservative, 80% Liberal |
| Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal |
| Personal Responsibility: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
| Fiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
| Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
| Defense and Crime: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal |
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Google Idol
In support of Milan's brother...
It is really good though. Both these finalists show you can do a lot better than many so-called professional videos on a low budget.
It is really good though. Both these finalists show you can do a lot better than many so-called professional videos on a low budget.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Sports Day
I was sorry I was unable to accept Omar's invitation to a house party in London today, although I'm sure it would have been fun, and I felt some duty to go (reciprocating for the fact he always visits Oxford), I also felt not just that I wanted to go but should go to the GCR sports day - both as a committee member and because I've been nagging our Soc Sec Emily to organise something down Barts all term.
It turns out only three people from college made it all the way down Cowley Road (the rest of you: you're all lame) but with a reasonable Barts contingent plus a few undergrads and visitors we had plenty of people. I played some volleyball, then won my first ever game of croquet (me and Ed vs Rosemary and Emily), before rounding the day off with some tennis and Pimms.
It turns out only three people from college made it all the way down Cowley Road (the rest of you: you're all lame) but with a reasonable Barts contingent plus a few undergrads and visitors we had plenty of people. I played some volleyball, then won my first ever game of croquet (me and Ed vs Rosemary and Emily), before rounding the day off with some tennis and Pimms.
LMH job
I've now officially been called for interview at Lincoln. I'm not being too hopeful, because not only do they want 3 x 10,000 word pieces of work (which I can barely cobble together), but I also know at least one of the other applicants already has a PhD.
On the plus side, my supervisor pointed me toward another job at LMH. This is less hours, and correspondingly less pay, but focuses only on political theory (a mixed blessing - more my area, but less diversity on my CV) and crucially wouldn't require me to suspend my student/AHRC status.
On the plus side, my supervisor pointed me toward another job at LMH. This is less hours, and correspondingly less pay, but focuses only on political theory (a mixed blessing - more my area, but less diversity on my CV) and crucially wouldn't require me to suspend my student/AHRC status.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Friday of 8th
The end of term no longer means too much, beyond my last tutorial (teaching). I celebrated, however, by having dinner with my future flatmates - Ed, Fiona and Cat - in our future flat. I hope we have many fun times ahead.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
England 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago
After missing half the game against Paraguay (due to my friends' visit), I was determined to see England v T&T. All the more so since Dan sensibly re-scheduled our graduate workshop to the University Club so we could all watch it - me, him, Julia, Sarah, Kieran and Christian & Miriam.
It wasn't a particularly entertaining game, and exciting only because of the nail-biting-inducing worry whether England would manage to score. It was obvious than Sven shared the anxiety, introducing Rooney with over half an hour to go, and even changing formation at the same time (as Lennon replaced Carragher).
Thankfully goals were duly scored by the Liverpool lads, Crouch and Gerrard. The former looks like England's best (fully fit) striker right now, while after Lampard's many misses in the match the latter really needs to be given licence to push forward.
It wasn't a particularly entertaining game, and exciting only because of the nail-biting-inducing worry whether England would manage to score. It was obvious than Sven shared the anxiety, introducing Rooney with over half an hour to go, and even changing formation at the same time (as Lennon replaced Carragher).
Thankfully goals were duly scored by the Liverpool lads, Crouch and Gerrard. The former looks like England's best (fully fit) striker right now, while after Lampard's many misses in the match the latter really needs to be given licence to push forward.
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