Tree Reflection

Winter trees reflected in the large lake, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK.  Very 'Claude Monet'.  The full-size version makes a nice desktop background and can be downloaded from here.  Photo taken on 2009-01-31.

Google warns that Google may harm Your Computer

Zoe just pointed out to me that Google is currently flagging all search results as potentially harmful to your computer, even Google itself!  It looks as if something must be wrong with their malware checking.

Update on Sat 2009-01-31 by Tristram Brelstaff

This is no longer happening now.

Update on Thu 2009-02-05 by Tristram Brelstaff

See here for Google's own explanation.

Robin

A robin (Erithacus rubecula).  Photo taken beside the middle lake, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-01-31.

Thinking in Afrikaans

I went to a shop yesterday and was served by a woman with a distinctly South African accent.  She made a intriguing mistake while serving me.  The cash register showed the correct change to be "£3.81" but she was about to hand me "£3.18" when she corrected herself, saying "I'm thinking in Afrikaans".   Is there something about the way numbers are represented in Afrikaans that could lead to such errors.  Or was the remark just a racist denigration of the intelligence of Afrikaners?

Influence of Politics and Religion on the Hair and Beard

A chapter summary from Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay (from volume one of the 1852 edition):

Early modes of wearing the hair and beard—Excommunication and outlawry decreed against curls—Louis VII.’s submission thereto the cause of the long wars between England and France—Charles V. of Spain and his courtiers—Peter the Great—His tax upon beards—Revival of beards and moustaches after the French Revolution of 1830—The King of Bavaria (1838) orders all civilians wearing moustaches to be arrested and shaved—Examples from Bayeux tapestry

While we are on the subject of religion and beards, a week ago a boy from Bangladesh asked me if I had a beard because of my religion.  I answered "No.  I grew it because I am lazy", but then I added "You could say that laziness is my religion".