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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

Commercial Thermometer [SocioPolitico]

Yes, the local branch of Waitrose (grocery store) here in Southampton had a fine display of easter bunnies and chocolate easter eggs today, January 3rd. And a happy new year to you, too!

posted at 9:59 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Lord of the Rings Prequel? [BiblioPoesis]

As it happens I am in the middle of reading Seamus Heaney's fine translation of 'Beowulf' [UK|US], but the news that a manuscript for Tolkien's formerly unknown translation has been found and will be published makes my literary mouth water. [Updated Jan 20, 2003: New link as old one had expired]

posted at 10:21 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Pensions, Kites and Ghosts [PhotoTravel]

Huge congratulations to my good friend and former Hursley colleague Dave Mitchell on being elected a director of the IBM UK Pension Fund - capable hands under the control of a wise mind are something every organisation needs. Some of you may be aware of the ongoing concerns of a number of current and future IBM pensioners over the management of the funds in the UK and having Dave on the Board is something many had hoped for.

Dave also wrote to tell me about his new hobby taking aerial photographs from kites (KAP). One of the links he sent, to Cris Benton's web site, reminded me of one of my (few) aerial photographs, taken landing at SFO last December and shown to the left. This picture shows the ghost-town of Drawbridge, located in the far south end of San Francisco Bay near San Jose. An opportunistic den of iniquity, it was left largely untouched by the law at the turn of the century by being on an island in the bay on the boundary of two counties. Now, a century on, it is sinking slowly into the mud. The amazing colours come from the algae growing in the water of salt evaporation ponds.

posted at 5:28 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |