Comments on: The Things I’ll Do For A Decent Pint of Guinness http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:37:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Random Travel Matters - Asymptotia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13032 Random Travel Matters - Asymptotia Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:20:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13032 [...] I was in Dublin and London again. Dublin mainly on a work mission, London on the way back for non-work. I was having panel deliberations once again on a range of physics topics pertaining to reviewing and recommending (sometimes) grant proposals for one of Ireland’s funding agencies. As I mentioned before (here and here), it is a truly fascinating process, and one that I think works very well overall. I come back from these things having learned a lot of interesting physics issues, and on balance am energized about physics on the whole due to the excellent discussions and arguments we have. Some of the panel members return to the task a number of times, and its rather nice to meet them again in exactly the same circumstances. It’s like we’ve been through some major experience together (a hostage-taking, prisoners of war, lost in space, trapped on desert island….) and this point of commonality makes us pleased to see each other. Everything is set up the same way every time, we know what our job is and we come in, lock ourselves away early in the morning, and brainstorm solidly until almost dinner time, pausing only to have a short lunch together in a nearby room, and for two brief coffee breaks. [...] […] I was in Dublin and London again. Dublin mainly on a work mission, London on the way back for non-work. I was having panel deliberations once again on a range of physics topics pertaining to reviewing and recommending (sometimes) grant proposals for one of Ireland’s funding agencies. As I mentioned before (here and here), it is a truly fascinating process, and one that I think works very well overall. I come back from these things having learned a lot of interesting physics issues, and on balance am energized about physics on the whole due to the excellent discussions and arguments we have. Some of the panel members return to the task a number of times, and its rather nice to meet them again in exactly the same circumstances. It’s like we’ve been through some major experience together (a hostage-taking, prisoners of war, lost in space, trapped on desert island….) and this point of commonality makes us pleased to see each other. Everything is set up the same way every time, we know what our job is and we come in, lock ourselves away early in the morning, and brainstorm solidly until almost dinner time, pausing only to have a short lunch together in a nearby room, and for two brief coffee breaks. […]

]]> By: Panel Matters - Asymptotia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13031 Panel Matters - Asymptotia Fri, 27 Oct 2006 09:53:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13031 [...] Day two of the panel work. Locked in a room again, looking at proposals. Yesterday we deliberated over who passed to the next stage, and who did not - a painful process at times. Today there’s a final part of the process to be performed. We are writing feedback to each applicant to give a little guidance on their proposals for the future. This is an important service to perform, as you can imagine by simply putting yourself in the shoes of the person applying for the grant. In a room full of international people, all with some pride in their wordsmithing abilities, jointly crafting sentences that reflect the salient points of the panel’s deliberations is often an amusing task. Last time I did this (earlier this year) I learned a good algorithm for getting right the use of “that” vs “which” - useful when writing with eight hour jetlag. I probably should have known it before. In addition, I’ve learned several arcane uses of hyphens, “however”, and other modifiers, but I’m sure I’ll forget those. [...] […] Day two of the panel work. Locked in a room again, looking at proposals. Yesterday we deliberated over who passed to the next stage, and who did not - a painful process at times. Today there’s a final part of the process to be performed. We are writing feedback to each applicant to give a little guidance on their proposals for the future. This is an important service to perform, as you can imagine by simply putting yourself in the shoes of the person applying for the grant. In a room full of international people, all with some pride in their wordsmithing abilities, jointly crafting sentences that reflect the salient points of the panel’s deliberations is often an amusing task. Last time I did this (earlier this year) I learned a good algorithm for getting right the use of “that” vs “which” - useful when writing with eight hour jetlag. I probably should have known it before. In addition, I’ve learned several arcane uses of hyphens, “however”, and other modifiers, but I’m sure I’ll forget those. […]

]]> By: Pause for a Pint of Guinness - Asymptotia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13030 Pause for a Pint of Guinness - Asymptotia Wed, 25 Oct 2006 22:46:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13030 [...] Guinness will be involved, I imagine (yeah!), although it will not be the primary focus. (The pint in the photo to the right is from a previous trip.) [...] […] Guinness will be involved, I imagine (yeah!), although it will not be the primary focus. (The pint in the photo to the right is from a previous trip.) […]

]]> By: Tales From The Industry, V | Cosmic Variance http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13020 Tales From The Industry, V | Cosmic Variance Thu, 09 Mar 2006 19:43:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13020 [...] Yesterday after returning from Dublin, I dumped off my luggage, freshened up and went out to the first public reading of the play I told you about in an earlier post (link here). The one I wrote with playwright Oliver Mayer, from the USC School of Theatre. [...] […] Yesterday after returning from Dublin, I dumped off my luggage, freshened up and went out to the first public reading of the play I told you about in an earlier post (link here). The one I wrote with playwright Oliver Mayer, from the USC School of Theatre. […]

]]> By: Donncha http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13029 Donncha Mon, 06 Mar 2006 22:32:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13029 Go on the Guinness brewery tour, down near Heuston Station. Get a pint from the source, and enjoy it in a top floor glass bar overlooking the city. Go on the Guinness brewery tour, down near Heuston Station. Get a pint from the source, and enjoy it in a top floor glass bar overlooking the city.

]]> By: Anne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13028 Anne Mon, 06 Mar 2006 20:51:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13028 Oh, how I love a properly poured pint of Guinness. Have one for me, too! Oh, how I love a properly poured pint of Guinness. Have one for me, too!

]]> By: Plato http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13027 Plato Mon, 06 Mar 2006 19:45:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13027 <i>It should be noted that the Scottish Gaels were actually descendants of Gaelic emigrants to Scotland. The word 'Scotus' is Latin for 'Irishman'. Scottish settlers who moved to Ireland (and especially Ulster) may already have been of Gaelic Irish descent</i> The Scottish Might have a difference of opinion?:) To the ancestors anyway.:) It should be noted that the Scottish Gaels were actually descendants of Gaelic emigrants to Scotland. The word ‘Scotus’ is Latin for ‘Irishman’. Scottish settlers who moved to Ireland (and especially Ulster) may already have been of Gaelic Irish descent

The Scottish Might have a difference of opinion?:) To the ancestors anyway.:)

]]> By: Plato http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13026 Plato Mon, 06 Mar 2006 19:37:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13026 Have one for the all the "GAELIC ANCESTORS." :) Have one for the all the “GAELIC ANCESTORS.” :)

]]> By: Kieran http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13025 Kieran Mon, 06 Mar 2006 19:13:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13025 If it's SFI you're consulting for, say hi to Eoin O'Sullivan for me. If it’s SFI you’re consulting for, say hi to Eoin O’Sullivan for me.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13024 Clifford Mon, 06 Mar 2006 18:56:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/06/the-things-ill-do-for-a-decent-pint-of-guinness/#comment-13024 Ok.... I'll force myself to have one for each of you.... So two extra and a regularly scheduled one for me..... Lovely. Anyone else I can have one for? I still have tomorrow night..... -cvj Ok…. I’ll force myself to have one for each of you…. So two extra and a regularly scheduled one for me….. Lovely.

Anyone else I can have one for? I still have tomorrow night…..

-cvj

]]>