The Bewilderness

James Kelman embraces his Englishness

Our neighbours north of the border are tangling themselves up in knots trying to intellectualise positions that justify writing bad things about the English. Scotland is a colony and England (or Britain) is an Empire. James Kelman is the latest to trump the tartan and declare "I have nothing against the English, but..." Though, Kelman denies we are even a country: just a blind through which the puppet masters manipulate their real colony, Scotland. No doubt the Booker Prize that Kelman (or other non-English writers have won) is just a Machiavellian sense of misdirection.

Kelman argues that English critics just do not recognise the existence of a Scottish tradition, except in the most trite and insulting fashion. Yet, he also gets tired of being typecast as a Scot, or a Glaswegian or a representative of his country.

"Well, it's not supposed to be that at all," says Kelman. "Why would you think that? Why would you think that any Scottish writer has to represent Scottishness? Is Martin Amis supposed to represent Englishness? Or Ian McEwan?

"English writers make that criticism of me but they would never make that criticism of their own. It would never occur to them. When you say that to them they get a glazed look over their faces. They don't know what you're talking about.

James Kelman is moaning about his success as a famous writer from a small country. Moaning about your success is such an English trait that I have to say, Welcome Mr Kelman, you have fully embraced your Englishness! 

Optogenetics

A very positive development in the convergence between neural science and information technology is highlighted by the new science of optogenetics. Currently focused on animal models, this genetically engineers specific neurals cells in the brain so that they will react to light in engineered ways, stimulated by minute optical fibres. These practices promise possible new palliative methodologies for reversing the effects of age related cognitive degeneration, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other such cruel robberies.

So far researchers have only experimented upon flies, rats, mice, monkeys and worms. Tests on humans are at least five years off, but tinkering with the brains of mice has already suggested a new way to treat Parkinson's disease in people.

"This allows us to really start to speak the language of the brain," says Karl Deisseroth, a psychiatrist and professor of bioengineering at Stanford University who is one of the pioneers of the method.

Optogenetics works by zeroing in on selected sets of the brain's interconnected nerve cells, or neurons. Some neurons are thought to control memory, while others handle speech and still others the motion of muscles. Neurons send out signals to other neurons in the form of electrical "spikes" -- tiny electrical zaps that encode information or control muscles.

Another technique that affords us greater insight in the mind and allows us to move from the gross manipulation of the brain to a lighter, more precise understanding.

Self Service Libraries

When I visited my local library this evening and renewed my books, I found that they had switched from a counter to self-service, using touch pads and the barcodes on my cards. As this uses the same barcode system that has been in existence for fifteen years, the delay in changing how people like me take out books has depended upon some policy decision at Surrey County Council.

Scanners do come in a variety of formats, both barcode and RFID. A picture of a similar model to one that I used tonight can be found here, with the Codeco Mark 3 Library Self-Service Product. It means what it says. A quick Google search indicates that most self-service libraries are situated in academia and these are probably now being adopted in the municipal sector.

This has freed up more space in Bourne Hall library, which they have used for display purposes rather then additional shelves of books. Indeed, the whole library looked airier, more spacious and may well have had fewer books on display. Is this not the end result of all changes in library design?

I can see where this will take us next, althoughthe National University of Singapore has blazed a trail here since 1998:

To make it easier for our user to clear their fines, the Library has installed self-service fines payment booths in all the libraries. These booths are available as long as the Library is open. With effect from July 98, all library users must clear any outstanding fines before they can borrow another item.

Now I just need train companies to issue monthly season tickets from their self-service machines at mainline stations.