Thomas Kuhn defines research as “a strenuous and devoted attempt to force nature into the conceptual boxes supplied by professional education.” To me, it seems a fairly reasonable, if somewhat cynical, way of looking at it.
There are two implications within the statement that strike me as interesting. The first is the assertion of nature. The [...]

Axolotls, I love those little guys.

At almost terminally long last, I have come up with a draft of my paper on moral arguments for and against foreign aid. While a paper of 2500 words cannot begin to engage with the specifics of the broad moral conversation, I think it at least summarizes positions in an interesting way and highlights some [...]

Those interested in chocolate, or who delight in seeing fraudsters uncovered, should have a look at this exposé on Noka Chocolates from DallasFood.org. (via BoingBoing) The ten part series might be a bit excessive, but you get the idea pretty quickly.
Apparently, a couple of accountants (Katrina Merrem and Noah Houghton) have been buying bulk chocolate [...]

Does anyone in Oxford have a hot glue gun that I could borrow?
There are a couple of places where the upper body of my shoes is peeling back from the plastic sole. I’ve gone to some shoe repair places in Oxford, but they all say that they do not repair trainers. I’ve only had these [...]

These photos are in addition to those that have already been posted on Photo.net and Facebook.

Arches in the Courtyard of Favourites, Topkapi Palace.

The Golden Horn: Istanbul’s strategic natural harbour.

An unstable place to buy a fish sandwich.

The Blue Mosque in the evening.

Sleeping Turkish cats, at around 10:00am on our last morning.