Ups and downs 2

Haven't heard that for a while. All our bees are going to die, apparently. I was vaguely thinking of getting some bees, but possibly won't now (one of the many projects dying unborn).

Sore throat turned into cold, spent 5 hours yesterday asleep, unsurprisingly woke early this morning with no desire for any more. Had bath, honey and lemon and yet more paracetamol,
played with my Cities characters until I ran out of action points, still not 6am. Coughing and sneezing but not as bad as yesterday. Can't go to work early because I have to go via the library to return The Great Escape which I borrowed for Son- he watched it on TV but missed beginning and end. Off to London at some point today, time depending on the state of my desk here and the pleas of my London colleagues (who appreciate me far more than my local ones, it must be said!) Hotel tonight, early meeting tomorrow then another week over; without Wednesdays they go remarkably fast.

Got to the calculus bits of my course; determined to understand the idea at last! Newton v Leibniz bits always entertaining anyway.

Was going to comment on Dr Who but Andrew beat me to it.

Have been contemplating slippery slopes (I need to think about something on my walk home from work). Trying to think of good examples of cases where a "slippery slope" has actually been gone down. Definition difficult; I think it must involve cases where a change in the law/practice does itself make a more extreme change more likely, as compared to just reflecting a change in general opinion which had already occurred. For instance banning smoking in pubs in a couple of European countries probably actually contributes to the banning of smoking in other countries, leading to a potential Europe wide ban. But does banning smoking in pubs contribute to the likelihood of a ban on smoking in people's homes? Or does it just reflect a general mood against smoking which will be reflected in law just as far as that mood goes and no further?

Would allowing selection of embryos to exclude genetic conditions be a slippery slope to designer babies (whatever they might be?) These arguments always appear invalid, dependent on emotion rather than likelihood, but should we take then seriously at least to the extent of looking at the precedents? There's a certain logic to saying that if a technique is allowed for reason A then it is more likely to be allowed for reason B than if it were banned totally. But what we are looking at here is an extension of the law to reason B against the presumed wishes of the majority of the population (if it isn't against their presumed wishes presumably there is little cause for general outrage) . That's what I'm not able to think of good examples of.

The example of abortion rather demonstrates the opposite happening; the reduction of the circumstances in which it is allowed under the law. But maybe you could say that that's a slippery slope the other way; the increase in the survival rate ofbabies born very early leading to a general protection of those potential babies in law (something which, incidentally, I can't entirely see the logic of; sure if you can extract a fetus at 22 weeks and have it survive you might argue that that should be done as an alternative to killing it, but since you can't, why is the fact that a premature baby of that age able to survive (sometimes, just) a reason for insisting that the mother carry the fetus for another 16 weeks?)

Lots of woolly thinking around at the moment. Like the argument from certain disabled people that to live is better than to die and that if this had been available they would never have been born. Given that they have been born, no selection process can change that. If they are looking back and saying that, if everything else had been exactly the same but embryo selection had been around, then they would not have been born, then I suppose they are right. If their mother had taken the advice to take folic acid for a couple of months before trying to get pregnant, chances are they wouldn't have been born as well, but we don't get outrage about that. It's very difficult to imagine someone else being born in one's place and to grasp the idea that if they had been born then their life would have been just as valuable to them.

I wouldn't hesitate to ensure that any descendant of mine didn't have bipolar disorder. Not because I have any particular complaints about my quality of life but because I know that their chances of having an easy, or productive life and one with good relationships would be higher that way. The fact that I'm managing to muddle through quite well is no reason to make anyone else have to do the same.

Hmm. Very pop philosophical. Must be the time in the morning and the paracetamol. I shall go and make some tea.

And I must scream, as Harlan nearly said. I loved that story as a teenager, mainly because of the title. Bit of a twit in many ways but he could write.

Throat infection in my case, rather than being eaten by a giant jellyfish alien.

Other than croaking sorely, all is well, if a little chaotic. Spent the weekend sewing and playing Descent (board not computer game). Son is required to dress up for his German class this week (why I haven't quite established- I suspect they are learning the German for "doesn't he look ridiculous"). Anyway he decided to go with general public comment and enhance his Frodo appearance (his hair is getting a bit long now for the true resemblance but I got a look of scorn when I suggested cutting it) so I have been dyeing and altering clothes all weekend. I might post a picture in due course, if he lets me-I'm rather pleased with the result. Not tried clothes dye before- it is remarkably effective (I sort of imagined it would come out wishywashy and patchy but it's good bold colour.)

Have developed a vague interest in the football, mainly because in a culture that thinks Alan Sugar is an effective manager I'm all in favour of Sven's non- shouting approach. I hate managers who shout. And I feel rather indignant on behalf of a team who keeps winning games and still gets criticised rather nastily. We were listening to 5 live on the way back from Stafford last night and there was a brief interview with Mr Rooney (who I believe kicks the ball somewhere near the front). he commented near the end that although "you" say they were not playing well they felt pleased with that performance. Spluttering indignation afterwards from one of the noisier commentators; the England team obviously had a "siege mentality" and should have better things to do than "dig" at the journalists.

Tennis starts today anyway. And haven't watched last week's Dr Who yet.

Plans for trip to Small Isles nearly complete. Still have to buy several tons of midge repellant. Bought a very lightweight waterproof coat. All three of us are going in one tent, which given how few changes of clothes we are squeezing in could be exciting. Stopping off in Stafford on the way back so Son and I can go up to The Cast are Dice in Stoke, a new games convention aimed partly at BGG members- apparently I get a badge with my avatar on :-) Trying to rearrange Son's trip to his grandparents because I forgot about Continuum and he looked devastated when I suggested that he might only be able to go on the last day. Looks like Son and Beloved will both be away weekend of Manorcon in Birmingham so I may go to that on my own- it is advertising a St Petersburg tournament which is just my cup of tea. That makes three weekend conventions over the summer, which sounds good if unusual.

Down to London twice this week for meetings, which should hopefully mean that I can catch up on my maths a bit on the train; slowed down rather too much recently. Currently on methods of finding area and tangents pre-calculus- not astoundingly gripping.

New neighbours appear amazingly young. No wild parties yet though.

"A DfES spokesman said: "The government is committed to ensuring that children are provided with the healthy food and nutrients they require during the school day, not just to aid their physical health, but to ensure they can study hard and behave well."

Now that strikes me as rather creepy. Compulsory food to change behaviour. But am I being over sensitive? After all children will have the whole of their adult life to be autonomous beings; do they really need to be treated as such before the age of 18?

Son is already smarter than either of us; good job we deprived him of fish oil (and fruit and vegetables and a private education) or we would be crushed by inferiority complexes by now.

We are getting new next-door neighbours in a few days time- young and rich, apparently (they are buying the house outright and will be parking their Porsche and Freelander and whatever the other car was in front of it.) I shall miss the old ones (older and rich, also with a Porsche and Freelander and other cars but very nice with it. Solihull doesn't do variety.). Wonder if they will like the Green Thing? Unlike the old neighbours they have no dog so they will get the cats whether they like it or not, I suspect.

I shall report back when they move in.

Which was superb. Sunny and cold first few days, then sunny and warm. Islands were gorgeous, birds were cute, dolphins were exciting, cuckoos were infuriating. Campsite boiler had broken down so no hot water for a week (but I'm clean again now). New tent still huge- picnic table fitted inside with plenty of room around.

Thinking about next holiday, as always on return from last. Might take Son camping in Scotland for a week in the summer, since I seem to have a surfeit of leave.

No other thoughts- brain still gently rocking on the ocean.

Oh yes, saw X-Men 3 last night. Still enamoured of the franchise. Various surprising elements (although I gather they were all in the comic). To what extent does Magneto represent the State of Israel- discuss.

Trailers for various goodies- Son tells me Stormrider looks a long way adrift of the original book but it has a mega cast. Anthony Horowitz did the more interesting Robin of Sherwood scripts so I might try the books at some point. Will await Pirates otC2 with interest but not a great deal of hope.