Well at least I know exactly what I’m going to talk about at QED. Oh yes. Suddenly as of today there was only one possible topic.
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7 comments
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Stewart
January 17, 2012 at 5:29 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
It’s probably coincidence (all these extreme cases in different places within days of each other), but it really does feel like a big backlash against our freedom of speech. Looking back, we’ll probably realise that’s what it was.
Kylie Sturgess
January 17, 2012 at 5:33 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hope you enjoy the convention! It was a lot of fun last year (and the restaurant downstairs is open with wifi until the very tiny hours).
Steersman
January 17, 2012 at 5:42 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I hope there’s plenty of security there with lots of cameras. And a ready willingness to expeditiously remove anyone showing up in a burka.
maureen.brian
January 18, 2012 at 12:59 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
And you have Steve Jones there with you! You can pick his brain on why UCL gets worse rather than better at coping with religious nuts and their intimidation or, in his case, taking people on to study biology who want the “without evolution, please” recipe.
Ian MacDougall
January 18, 2012 at 3:26 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Ophelia:
You are right. The megalomania of the righteous-in-religion trumps all else at the moment for a discussion topic. Particularly how to handle it.
raymoscow
January 18, 2012 at 10:11 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I had a residential course in that hotel last year.
The hotel bar is terrible (crap beers but really expensive), but there is a nice pub just across the street, with real ales, traditional atmosphere and nice people.
raymoscow
January 19, 2012 at 6:30 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Sorry — I got my hotels mixed up. I haven’t stayed in this hotel (Mecure Manchester Picadilly), and its bar might be fine. I still recommend the nearby pub (The Bull Head on London Road, across from Picadilly train station.)
I hope to attend the QED conference, too.