Archive for Wales
Powys [jatp]
Posted in pictures, Running, Travel, University life with tags Britain, Cymru, Gregynog, jatp, Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales on April 22, 2017 by xi'an
March(es) for Science
Posted in Statistics with tags American elections 2016, Cardiff, climate modelling, Greenland, March for Science, Science, trumpism, Wales on April 22, 2017 by xi'an
Today there are around 500 marches for Science organised around the World (incl. on in Kangerlussuaq, Qeqqata, Greenland!). Primarily to protest the unprecedented attacks of trumpism on science, scientific values, and scientists, and not only through budget cuts, agency closures, public data erasures, but also denegation of scientific expertise and data to advance financial and partisan interests against climate, water preservation, minorities rights, women equality, and international relations. Being now at a remote retreat in Northern Wales, I will walk virtually at the Cardiff March for Science.
The Richard Price Society
Posted in Books, pictures, Statistics, Travel, University life with tags ISBA, Richard Price, Richard Price Society, Thomas Bayes, Wales, Welsh on November 26, 2015 by xi'an
As an item of news coming to me via ISBA News, I learned of the Richard Price Society and of its endeavour to lobby for the Welsh government to purchase Richard Price‘s birthplace as an historical landmark. As discussed in a previous post, Price contributed so much to Bayes’ paper that one may wonder who made the major contribution. While I am not very much inclined in turning old buildings into museums, feel free to contact the Richard Price Society to support this action! Or to sign the petition there. Which I cannot resist but reproduce in Welsh:
Datblygwch Fferm Tynton yn Ganolfan Ymwelwyr a Gwybodaeth
Rydym yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gydnabod cyfraniad pwysig Dr Richard Price nid yn unig i’r Oes Oleuedig yn y ddeunawfed ganrif, ond hefyd i’r broses o greu’r byd modern yr ydym yn byw ynddo heddiw, a datblygu ei fan geni a chartref ei blentyndod yn ganolfan wybodaeth i ymwelwyr lle gall pobl o bob cenedl ac oed ddarganfod sut mae ei gyfraniadau sylweddol i ddiwinyddiaeth, mathemateg ac athroniaeth wedi dylanwadu ar y byd modern.
a mad afternoon!
Posted in pictures, Running, Travel with tags England, France, Ireland, Italy, Murrayfield, rugby, Six Nations 2015, Six Nations tournament, Twickenham, Wales on March 21, 2015 by xi'an
An insanely exciting final day and end to the 2015 Six Nations tournament! on the first game of the afternoon, Wales beat Italy in Rome by a sound 20-61!, turning them into likely champions. But then, right after, Ireland won against Scotland 10-40! In mythical Murrayfield. A feat that made them winners unless England won over France in Twickenham by at least 26 points. Which did not happen, in a completely demented rugby game, a game of antology where England dominated but France was much more inspired (if as messy as usual) than in the past games and fought fair and well, managing to loose 35-55 and hence block English victory of the Six Nations. Which can be considered as a victory of sorts…! Absolutely brilliant ending.
foxglove summer
Posted in Books, Kids, Travel with tags Ben Aaronnovitch, book review, England, foxglove, PC Peter Grant, Rivers of London, The Folly, unicorn, University of Warwick, Wales, Western Counties, Worcester on February 1, 2015 by xi'an
Here is the fifth instalment in the Peter Grant (or Rivers of London) series by Ben Aaronovitch. Thus entitled Foxglove summer, which meaning only became clear (to me) by the end of the book. I found it in my mailbox upon arrival in Warwick last Sunday. And rushed through the book during evenings, insomnia breaks and even a few breakfasts!
“It’s observable but not reliably observable. It can have a quantifiable effects, but resists any attempt to apply mathematical principles to it – no wonder Newton kept magic under wraps. It must have driven him mental. Or maybe not.” (p.297)
Either because the author has run out of ideas to centre a fifth novel on a part or aspect of London (even though the parks, including the London Zoo, were not particularly used in the previous novels), or because he could not set this new type of supernatural in a city (no spoilers!), this sequel takes place in the Western Counties, close to the Welsh border (and not so far from Brother Cadfael‘s Shrewbury!). It is also an opportunity to introduce brand new (local) characters which are enjoyable if a wee bit of a caricature! However, the inhabitants of the small village where the kidnapping investigation takes place are almost too sophisticated for Peter Grant who has to handle the enquiry all by himself, as his mentor is immobilised in London by the defection of Peter’s close colleague, Lindsey.
“We trooped off (…) down something that was not so much a path as a statistical variation in the density of the overgrowth.” (p.61)
As usual, the dialogues and monologues of Grant are the most enjoyable part of the story, along with a development of the long-in-the-coming love affair with the river goddess Beverley Brooks. And a much appreciated ambiguity in the attitude of Peter about the runaway Lindsey… The story itself reflects the limitations of a small village where one quickly repeats over and over the same trips and the same relations. Which gives a sensation of slow motion, even in the most exciting moments. The resolution of the enigma is borrowing too heavily to the fae and elves folklore, even though the final pages bring a few surprises. Nonetheless, the whole book was a page-turner for me, meaning I spent more time reading it this week than I intended or than was reasonable. No wonder for a series taking place in The Folly!
