Tom Roper's Weblog

Pitman's Derby

210 Newcastle: Rising Shadow
320 Newcastle: Nosferatu
340 Windsor: Aahyason
345 The Curragh: Peeping Fawn

Usque conabor

I'm not sure I would ever use my old school motto in a speech; it doesn't seem to me to strike the right note. Mind you, mine, from the Perse school, was 'qui facit per alium, facit per se', that is to say who does things for others, does them for himself, an example of the cynical principle of enlightened self-interest. This Smilesian self-help tone fits the school nicely, for it was founded by Stephen Perse, 1547/8–1615, a  money-lender and property speculator.
There was another punning tag, used in the strapline of the school magazine  The Pelican, I think from Herodotus. I haven't been able to find the reference in the  Perseus digital library, but in translation it went, 'be counsellors of this world to me, O Persians' (hence Perseans).

Gorse

My copy of Black Spring Press's edition of the Gorse Trilogy arrived on Saturday, I raced to LibraryThing to add it, but found someone else had got there first. No matter, it is wonderful to have it, still smelling of pumice (™G. Valerius Catullus).
I ought to say something about Russell May, who introduced me to Hamilton about thirty-five years ago. He turned me on to Hamilton's anti-fascism, his ear for pub dialogue, and his insight into evil and exploitation. I met Russell in the Cross Keys, a Cambridge pub a few yard away from my childhood home: the first time I saw him he was deep in conversation with Roger Law who, as part of Fluck and Law, was later to create Spitting Image. Russell died a few years ago.

Technorati Tags: patrickhamil

The last word on age in Facebook

I promise to say no more on the matter. This man has said it all:

http://www.creativebinge.co.uk/blog/what-will-facebook-look-like-in-40-years/

Technorati Tags: facebook, ageism

Royal Ascot: day 5, Golden Jubilee stakes

230 Chesham Stakes: Feared in Flight
305 Hardwicke Stakes: Maraheel
345 Golden Jubilee Stakes: Asset
425 Wokingham Heritage Handicap: Zidane
500 Duke of Edinbrugh Heritage Handicap: Ogee
535 Queen Alexandra Stakes: Golden Quest

Royal Ascot: fourth day, Coronation Stakes

230 Albany Stakes: You'resothrilling
305 King Edward VII Stakes: Salford Mill
345 Coronation Stakes: Rahiyah
420 Wolferton Handicap: Emirates Sykline
455 Queen's Vase: Mahler
530 Buckingham Palace Handicap: Eisteddfod

The oldest man on Facebook

More on the "why do you have a facebook dude " discussion: I feel honoured, though I am sure it is untrue, by the allegation that I am the oldest man on Facebook, but as Facebook has been recruiting what someone euphemistically called a "higher demographic," I am sure it cannot be true. Even if the young man who said "you're like 70 dude get off facebook" was right about my age, I am sure there would be older people.

Latest instalment: a message saying, "you are the oldest person on facebook. go have a heartattack you loner goof"

I see son of blog people: L'Affaire Gorman in the Times Higher

I have refrained from involving myself in L' Affaire Gorman II, the  debate about Michael Gorman's remarks in his blog posts, Web 2.0: the sleep of reason  and The siren song of the Internet, because I'm not sure what I can add and in any case T.Scott Plutchak says it far better than I could.
For the earlier controversy, see here: http://tomroper.typepad.com/tr/2005/03/michael_gorman.html

Today the Times Higher Education Supplement has got wind of it, and runs an article on page 2, with comments from Jenny Fry of the Oxford Internet Institute, Will Murray of JISC's Plagiarism Advisory Service, Nicola Pratt of UEA, Ben Fairweather of De Montfort and  Andrew Keen. They don't quote any of  Michael Gorman's professional peers, that is to say librarians.
It's not online yet, and much of the THES content is subscriber-only, but perhaps it will be available tomorrow.

Royal Ascot: third day, Gold Cup

230 Norfolk Stakes: Spirit of Sharjah
305 Ribblesdale Stakes: All My Loving
345 Gold Cup: Yeats
420 King George V Stakes: Colorado Rapid
455 Hampton Court Stakes: Tranquil Tiger
530 King George V Stakes: Eradicate

My record for the past two days is not inspiring: 12 selections, 0 winners, 2 placed

Royal Ascot: second day, Prince of Wales Stakes

230 Jersey Stakes: Major Cadeaux
305 Windsor Forest Stakes: Satwa Queen
345 Prince of Wales's Stakes: Notnowcato 
420 Royal Hunt Cup: Trafalgar Square
455 Queen Mary Stakes: Sweepstake 
530 Sandringham Rated Fillies Handicap: Lady Grace