“But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.” Spoken by Dr Stephen Maturin in the first of Patrick O’Brian‘s Aubrey & Maturin novels, Master and Commander. Stephen, part IrishContinue reading “The Monday Morning Quote #672”
Author Archives: Alun Rees
The Monday Morning Quote #671
“To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” Douglas Adams
Pandemic Doctor Abuse
A poll by the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested that more than a third of doctors have faced abuse from patients or their family and friends during the pandemic. The situation was worse for GPs where more than half of respondents said they had to deal with abuse in the past month. Among the main findings fromContinue reading “Pandemic Doctor Abuse”
The Monday Morning Quote #670
“The world is changed not by the self-regarding, but by men and women prepared to make fools of themselves.” P.D. James
The Monday Morning Quote #669
“Better keep yourself clear and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.“ George Bernard Shaw
This is how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells
From Nature’s daily email update, Nature Briefing. It is never less than an interesting read and reminds me why I took sciences at school in the first place. How the coronavirus infects cells — and why Delta is so dangerous. Scientists are unpicking the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2, the tricks it uses to evade detectionContinue reading “This is how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells”
Like boasting about farting in a lift…
From the always interesting and readable Tim Harford’s column, “The Undercover Economist”, in the FT on Saturday, “Five pandemic truths that defy institution”. #3. Masks matter, but not for the reason you think. ….only our innate tribalism can turn mask-wearing from a simple, promising precaution into the dividing line between saintly and the damned. CabinetContinue reading “Like boasting about farting in a lift…”
The Monday Morning Quote #668
“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energyContinue reading “The Monday Morning Quote #668”
“Three Seconds”
I was inspired when I read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson in the mid-70s and have had involvement with groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and some at a more local level. I have tolerated comments like “Saving the whale Al?”, “Isn’t it time you gave up that hippy stuff?” and “How can youContinue reading ““Three Seconds””
The Monday Morning Quote #667
I was moved by an article in the FT Weekend Magazine about the terror attack in Utoya, Norway 10 years ago. In it some survivors who had been wounded reflect on what they have learned. “Do not lose faith in yourself. You are good enough. Skilled enough. Strong enough. Dare to be vulnerable and sadContinue reading “The Monday Morning Quote #667”
The Incisal Edge 