Monday 29 April 2013

Doing Applied Linguistics

A Guide for Students
Nicholas Groom and Jeanette Littlemore, 2011
(April 2013)
  


In which I announce a new project.
  

Friday 26 April 2013

Two Funerals…

1.    It’s what she would have wanted



I have no truck with the notion of an afterlife. If you do then good luck to you, but being of a somewhat lazy tendency myself I’ve always had to fight against my natural urge to put off until tomorrow what I really should be doing today. The prospect of putting off until the next life what I should be doing in this one strikes me as a step too far – I’d never get anything done.

Monday 22 April 2013

Turing's Cathedral

The Origins of the Digital Universe
George Dyson, 2012
(April 2013)
  


As semi-scholarly works of research go this is quite extraordinarily digressive. It is, in fact, all over the fucking shop. That’s not always a bad thing, in fact often it’s quite interesting, but equally as often it’s a very definite weakness.

Friday 19 April 2013

A Leisurely Stroke

This Year’s Hot New Metaphor

I am slightly too fond of the occasional high-falutin’ metaphor. I could, and probably have, go(ne) on about how they’re an essential function of how we explain – and maybe even perceive – the world around us, but more than anything else they’re useful. This is especially true in my position as a teacher and a trainer of teachers. We’re into that time of year when it’s all a little more hands-on, so if you’ll forgive me I’d like to give another one a test-run here. Thank you for your continued patience.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

A Pretty Mouth

Molly Tanzer, 2012
(April 2013)
  


Sod’s Law, isn’t it? You wait ages for a Lovecraft/Wodehouse mashup, featuring everyone’s favourite Gentleman’s Gentleman pitting his wits against eldritch forces, and then two come along at once.

Friday 12 April 2013

Kind of a Big Deal



Woop. Back in school, back in the classroom. For all that I go on about the annoyances of work and life in Japan, they are no more or less prevalent than they would be anywhere else, doing almost anything else. Truth is I love the important parts of my job and life in general is pretty good.
  

Wednesday 10 April 2013

The Wrong Goodbye

Chris F. Holm, 2012
(March 2013)



Now this is that pacey and fun urban fantasy I should have read. The sequel to Dead Harvest and it does everything you need it to. Angels, demons, magic, and a lovely pulpy, noir-ey vibe to the whole affair.

Monday 8 April 2013

The Boys Vol. 3 and 4

Vol. 3: Good for the Soul, Vol. 4: We Gotta Go Now
Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson (2008-2009)
(March 2013)



Coincidentally, I read these over the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day, or ‘St. Paddy’s Day’ as an American colleague referred to it when we were saying our goodbyes on the Friday. He was hoping I had a good one, and while I appreciated the sentiment the only reason I know it’s on March 17th is because I googled it just before writing this.

Friday 5 April 2013

Guest Post

Today we have a Special Guest! Say ‘good morning’ to Kamo-sensei!


*Hysterical cheers from live studio audience*

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Chunky


The fruit sank. The fruit always sinks. I am the baked goods equivalent of Captain E. Smith, but still the band plays on...