Recently in Jottings Category

Amongst the stream of articles that turn up through my RSS reader was one for pulled pork, aka cochinita pibil. Eric Guthey had told me how great pulled pork could be, so I thought "why not?". So, off to Mexican Specialties for some achiote paste and 24 hours later I had some of the most delicious pork ever.

This recipe is definitely a keeper.

I should say that my darling wife made some picked red onions to go with the pork. It was the perfect accompaniment.

Fred (born 6 Oct 1997), gone but not forgotten.

• Fitting into a photocopier box (with Ginger and room to spare).
• Walking along the fence for the first time with question-mark tails, and wondering if they'll every come back.
• Chasing around in a circle after a stick.
• Being hit by a car, and wondering if he'll survive. He was so wet and bloody.
• Sleeping on the bed (and especially on top of Lisa)
• Laying on the couch back.
• Sitting in the window looking at the world.
• Catching some sun. He always knew where the heat was.
• Spending time (days) at Maureen's. She misses him too.
• Being very quiet and stealthy.
• Catching birds and rats. A skilled and efficient hunter (when he wanted to be).
• Catching worms (just the once), his (and Ginger's first catch).
• Making us worry; waiting for days for him to turn up (around Maureen's probably); but only in summer.
• Taking over Ginger's place in the letter tray.
• Sleeping on Lisa's in-progress quilts.
• Trotting across the grass; watching him from the living-room window.
• Splashing water all over the place when drinking; dewy droplets on his nose.
• The little scar by his eye.
• His black, black paws.
• His super fine fur that was almost un-combable.
• The funny little trill he would make when hungry.
• Standing on his rear legs, at the bench when food was being served.
• Eventually deciding that sitting on/with people was okay (only in the last eight months).
• Being a old gentleman, and climbing onto furniture, rather than jumping.

You're sadly (and fondly) missed Fred.

I have a large number of documents that I need to 're-style' before I import them into nVivo. I can import the necessary style into each document one-by-one, but I've been looking for a way to apply styles across multiple files (either all at once, or automatically/programmatically).

As I trawled the web looking for a solution, I can across this amusing rant against the font Trajan. Indeed, there is an entire website devoted to retiring Trajan.

Andrew is getting fit and I'm envious

Jaffa Pete is thought provoking

I've decided to step down from my role in the GSE. It's a shame, because I enjoy it so much. However, there are so many competing demands for my time, that I can't give the GSE the attention it deserves.

Que sera.

So, once I'm back from the conference in Europe I'll return to my home department.

Ginger (born 6 Oct 1997), gone but not forgotten.

• Coming home from the Humane Society in a photocopier paper box (with Fred)
• The first catch -- earth worms.
• The great expedition (with Fred) -- walking along the fence and into other gardens. Tails held high.
• Confusion -- catching a fly and not knowing what to do with it.
• Going though the cat-flaps at full speed -- bang! bang!
• Running into the closed ranch sliders.
• Eating biscuits with such vigour that they explode in his mouth and go everywhere.
• Sleeping on Lisa's head.
• Jumping of the dresser on to the bed.
• Sleeping in the laundry (or the clean cloths).
• Digging in the litter tray (in the middle of the night, for what seems like ages)
• Chasing a piece of rope around and around the garden.
• Helping to make the bed, by playing under the sheets.
• Sleeping on my tummy whilst watching TV
• Trying to fit into any box (regardless of how small) -- harking back to his kitten days.
• Sleeping in Lisa's in-tray
• Watching the world go by from his basket on the deck.
• His tiny front teeth
• Nudging hard when he wants food

I've just come across Saku Mantere's blog, and I'm left wondering How does he do it?

He put's so much effort into his writing and research, and yet he manages to be so productive in other areas of his life (music, watches, astronomy, and so on).

Maybe I should stop being a lazy so-and-so, and just get on with things. Which is a timely thought as Giles Burch presented me with my NEO reports today.

For those who might be interested here are the edited highlights...

Problem solving skills
Ability to organise thoughts ... typical of the average person ...
Open-mindedness and originality ... curious and inquisitive you are usually comfortable in exploring new ideas and inventive solutions ...
Confidence in problem solving ... [you] proceed confidently through problems with only an occasional doubt ...

Planning, organising, and implementing skills
Action orientation ... easy going and slower to become frustrated than most ... often bored with the familiar and routine ... adventurous and versatile ... often involved in a wide variety of activities ... Some will see you as disinterested ... a realist who makes decisions based on logic rather than emotional appeal ... little sympathy for those who are unwilling to try .. Usually enthusiastic
Conscientiousness ... as competent and sensible as most people ...you are too easily discouraged and often quit trying much sooner than will the typical person¹ ...
Openness to possibilities and alternatives ... You are intellectually curious about a wide variety of topics ... somewhat idealistic.

Style of relating to others
Outgoingness ... on the reserved side .. somewhat detached ... more of a loner than a people person ... you like to be in control
Accommodation ... typically modest ... more results orientated than compassionate under most circumstances
Trust .. midway between skeptism and trust
Quality of relationships ... open-minded and tolerant of the views of others

Personal style
Level of emotionality ... typical ...
Patterns of emotion ... neither great concern nor optimism about the future ... seldom angry ... you retain a clarity of thought and action under stress and difficulty
Control of emotions ... typically procrastinate starting tasks ... [You] balance prudent deliberation with quick action
Outlook on life ... willing to question the way things are ... while you enjoy some art forms, you are unlikely to be artistically sophisticated ... you tend to view the glass as half full

Looking at the individual factors what stands out. On the big-five I am:

• Low on emotional reactions,
• Average on interpersonal patterns,
• High on openness to change,
• Average on agreeableness, and work ethic.

However, the individual facets tell a more wide-ranging story. I am:

• Very low on frustration/quickness to anger
• Low on sensitivity to stress, warmth, and outgoingness
• High on assertiveness, excitement seeking, and positive emotions, imagination, willingness to experiment, intellectual curiosity, tolerance for diversity.
• Very low in candour (I play my cards close to my chest), and sympathy. The full clinical report may well tell a different type of story.
• Low on need to achieve, and deliberateness
• Very low on self discipline¹

Anyway, I think this is good picture of me. Some (Giles) will be interested in what I haven't mentioned here.

¹ This is a bit of a surprise--the NEO doesn't seem to have picked up on my tendency to be somewhat mono-maniacal and focused. Maybe it's a reflection of the hole I feel I'm in at the moment with my PhD.

Of late, I've been reading a number of things by Theodore Schatzki. In particular, I have just finished reading:

Schatzki, T. R. (2002). The site of the social: A philosophical account of the constitution of social life and change. University Park: PA: Pennsylvania State University Press.

I am continually struck by the subtle, but important, differences in the use of language in difference 'genres' of academic writing. This fact will come as no surprise to those who study discourse.

Schatzki, has a propensity to use two words that I rarely come across in my usual reading. He likes qua and pace.

Qua:
In so far as; as; in the capacity of
Example:
When considering people qua strategists, one needs to distinguish 'strategic practices'.

Pace
With due deference to; despite
Example:
Pace, those who study discourse, discourse is just another practice.

I wonder how pretentious it would be to use those words in my own writing -- after all they aren't really part of my 'genre'.

Chintaka put me on to Going Private. He rate's this as the best blog on Private Equity. It certainly is worth a read.

I see my brother now has his website up and working. It's called askBillSmith.com. I really like his logo (and the t-shirts look great too).