Category Archives: personal

Stuff about me (Bernard HP Gilroy), instead of or in addition to stuff about education.

My summer reading

Just to put it in one place, here’s what I’ve read and what I hope to read this summer. Already Read Neverwhere by Niel Gaiman The Engineer Trilogy by K. J. Parker Devices and Desires Evil for Evil The Escapement … Continue reading

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Quote of the Day

From a post by Steve Benen over at Political Animal: In human history, it’s never been easier to get — and stay — well informed. Folks just have to take some responsibility. If they don’t, the result can be a … Continue reading

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Review: Inception

Inception a Christopher Nolan Film Arbitrary 5-Point rating: 5 out of 5 Inception is a weird, ambitious, action-packed sci fi thriller-cum-heist flick.  It is, in its own way, as ambitious as The Matrix and suffers from the comparison only in … Continue reading

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The Perils of Positive Thinking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo I think the major point — that a unquestioning devotion to “positive thinking” is both dangerous and immoral — is a good one. We definitely allow suffering because we think everyone has a shot, so if they’re suffering, it … Continue reading

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Why I have no respect for design behaviors at Microsoft

I’ve received my new laptop and am working on getting it outfitted and up to speed.  (This process, by the way, is distressingly like moving to a new home and is equally as frustrating and potentially as traumatizing.)  After logging … Continue reading

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Days of miracle and wonder, indeed

For about ten years, I’ve been running a project in my Honors Physics course called Days of Miracle and Wonder (yes, title taken from a Paul Simon song).  In it, the students are asked to create a business case for … Continue reading

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I might just be succumbing to the lure of reliving my misspent youth…

… but this looks awesome.

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Seconded…

This piece from the Atlantic captures my feeling pretty close to exactly, re: the recent Rand Paul flap on the Civil Rights Act and his alleged “courage”.  In particular, the conclusion: Now, after the police dogs, night-sticks and fire-hoses have … Continue reading

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Too true…

This captures my experience grading entirely… PhD comics:

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Brilliant remix of the Dark Knight Trailer…

… using footage from — amazingly! — the Toy Story franchise! via Ezra Klein

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