What’s in a name? An H, an i, two g’s and an s

At the Guardian. See also Chapter 8.5 of Smashing Physics.

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MMR and me

I have a doctorate in physics. My wife has one in chemistry. We have an 11-year-old son, who should have got his MMR jab in 2003

A lot has been written about the MMR scare of just over a decade ago. More is being written now because children who were not immunised back then are getting measles. The scare has been thoroughly debunked by people who took risks and did a lot of work. I’m not going to add anything to that.

But I do want to add a personal story. It’s no big deal, but it might be helpful to some people. So here we go.

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(Don’t) Respect my Authority

A venue, a role, an award, can lend authority. But it’s only a loan.

At the Guardian.

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Iain M Banks, and what we might be when we have nothing to fear

The Culture is wonderful. And, sadly, still fiction

At the Guardian.

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