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INKYTEXT 326
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"Hydrogen is not the most plentiful substance in the universe. Stupidity is."
(Frank Zappa)
Issue No 326 Friday 14th January 2000
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Editorial correspondence should be sent to InkyText@lancaster.ac.uk
Subscription requests to Inkytext-distribution-request@lists.lancs.ac.uk
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
STOP PRESS
Bill Gates has resigned as Chief Executive of Microsoft in order to
head the Software Development team. He will remain as Chair. He will be
replaced by Steve Balmer.
AGENDA BEACON
Minutes and Matters Arising
1. Editorial Zone: Soluble Fish - nope - sorry, not yet.
2. News Zone: Funeral, UMAG, NERC, HEFCE, Poetry wanted.
3. Paris Itinerary for Stuart and Joan Riley
4. Readers' Letters Zone: Proust cast, Short Loan, God and the Wizard of Oz,
Paris, WWW1, Getting things noticed on the Web.
5. Small Ad Zone: Conflict resolution, Macintosh and printer, Music
Books, The Chrysalids, Atkinson's Coffee, Host families, Politics and
Religion, Cottage to let, Mondeo ST24 for sale, Modern Architecture,
Free settee, Spotlight club.
MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING
---------------------------
Mrs Flude's death was not announced in last week's Lancaster Guardian
because the post-mortem death certificate was not received until after
the newspaper had gone to press.
The Press Office points out that the Press Officer was absent with
'flu until this week and her assistant was at a funeral the previous
week. She considers our comments unfair (see Readers's Letters).
Entirely sympathize, and it was not really the Press Office or anyone
else in particular I was getting at. But there clearly need to be back-
up facilities in place for such circumstances. Perhaps Personnel or the
Secretary's department should have access to a mailing list. Or they
could even send something via Alasdair McKee or the Postmaster.
Nick Bardsley complains that imperfect editorial pruning/ censorship
makes it seem that he can't write Engliish - which is emphatically not
the case. Apologies.
BBC RADIO 4 this morning speculated on whether Proust is toppling
Delia from the best sellers list... Later this year BBC 2 is showing
"How Proust Can Change Your Life" starring Ralph Fiennes and Felicity
Kendal "in a witty and mischievous film, which distils Marcel Proust’s
mammoth work to provide a practical self-help guide to life today,
based on Alain De Botton'’s literary best-seller from last year".
Prudence and modesty make one hesitate to correct other people's
spellings but it is worth noting that 'to inter' and 'to intern' are
not synonyms, nor are their cognate nouns. Also cemetEry. And the
Chaplaincy Centre door hinges urgently need oiling.
You remember the casualty doctor in Edinburgh who saved my life in the
summer - monstrously pregnant and with freckled breasts that were the
only thing I was conscious of for an hour. Making the Holby crew seem
indecisive and wimpish. You can see her photo in the Daily Mail for 1st
January 2000, where she grins broadly at the Prince of Wales visiting
Casualty in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Hogmanay. She's no longer
pregnant.
1. EDITORIAL: SOLUBLE FISH (Nope - sorry, not yet. No room)
-----------------------------------------------------------
2. NEWS
-------
A VAST CONGREGATION OF SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE attended the funeral of
Mrs Christine Flude on Tuesday, overflowing and preventing the closure
of the Chaplaincy Centre's doors. Mourners included the distinguished
educationalist, mathematician and former mayor of Manchester Dame
Kathleen Ollerenshaw, famous for her work on pandiagonal magic squares,
a long-standing family friend. The Vice-Chancellor, Deputy VC and
Academic Registrar were also present. The very inclusive service was
led by the Rev Di Williams. Prof Payne spoke, Christine's daughters
jointly read the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, and a meditation was
accompanied by the voice of Charlotte Church singing Pie Jesu.
REPORTS THAT SOME MEMBERS OF UMAG were angry/unhappy about our 'loss
of confidence' report in 324. No use blaming the Editor - I was in
hospital at the time, and even now have more immediate worries than the
university's finances. There is clearly a major problem of
awareness/self-perception/ presentation, for senior members of APC and
Council have since congratulated me on the report. Truth, ultimately
unknowable, often matters less than perceptions of it. Or indeed
misconceptions. Major financial analysis of our accounts by Inkytext
City advisors next time. Note that the 2.65% increase in our income
must be seen in relation to the additional 4.1% increase in staffing
costs (pretty much a stand-off).
GOOD NEWS ABOUT ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS with industry being realised and
in the pipeline. Some major deevelopments possible and APC/UMAG will
this afternoon be discussing a new development appeal (*slight groan*).
Claims that the recent Open Day for business has generated perhaps 700K
or so of new business.
FINANCE COMMITEE heard that a "satisfactory settlement with Laing’s
about the Library Extension, on terms considerably lower than the
amount originally claimed by them" had been reached. A longer
negotiation would take place with the professional team, and the
university was obtaining advice on how to pursue the case. In the case
of the Ruskin Library, defects were still being remedied, but the
university view was that its position was even stronger than with the
Library Extension
AN AWAYDAY THIS AFTERNOON (a day and a half really) at the Bellsfield
Hotel, Windermere for members of APC and UMAG, who it must be hoped will
resolve any differences and return united.
THE ONLY Y2K BUG: THE Y2K COMMITEE MET ON WEDNESDAY to congratulate
itself and lay itself down. (Perhaps it should also have made some
critical remarks about UNIAC and the Audit Committee.) The meeting was
scheduled to take place in B60 University House. Unfortunately, and
unknown to the room bookings computer, this room has become part of Mr
McG's reorganisation and now houses Salary and Wages. (The committee
met instead in the conference centre but is understood not to have paid
for it.)
HEFCE's 23 December circular announced an investigation of the fee
bands for Education, Sports science, Leisure studies, Psychology
Communication, cultural and media studies, Modern foreign languages.
National modern language bodies are reported to be extremely confident
that the subject will be raised into the semi-laboratory band. Sir
Brian Fender wrote:
"This process has been time-consuming for institutions, and for the
advisory panels. The essence of the HEFCE funding method is that it can
only be broad brush; within a particular institution, priorities have
to be decided by the management. Nevertheless, we have conducted
subject reviews in order that we may better reflect the overall costs
of a discipline. In particular, we have reviewed subjects where the
cost may be obscured within a larger cost centre (for example, modern
foreign languages); or where the range and costs of provision and the
numbers of students were so large that an institution’s overall funding
could be significantly affected (for example, psychology). The reviews
also allowed a benchmarking of provision, which was of value to some
institutions in their own internal allocation system."
However he also warns -no more subjects will be considered.
WEDNESDAY's UMAG HEARD THAT NERC officers are preparing a paper for
the NERC Council seeking additional funding for the relocation of ITE
to the Bailrigg Campus. The NERC Council will meet on January 27th. The
Vice-Chancellor, and the Director of NERC will meet with the Chief
Executive of HEFCE on January 18th to assess possibilities for HEFCE
support for the LEC developments, including through the Poor Estates
initiative for the relocation of the Field Station and for
refurbishment of existing space for both ITE and IEBS. It is unlikely
that decisions from either NERC or HEFCE will be available by the date
of the Senate meeting on January 19th and there was therefore no new
information to add to the papers which had been considered by APC and
Council and which will be considered by Senate.
Also reports that the Project Management Group for the project had now
been charged with preparation of design plans and costs within the
financial limits set by the University Council and that these are
required to be available in time to support the NERC request to its
Council and to enable option and risk appraisals by F&GP on February
18th.
ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON those members of Chemistry transferring to
Sheffield were interviewed individually by the VC, Deputy VC and
Personnel Officer to discuss arrangements. At least one raised the
question of redundancy payments. It is clear that questions about
removal fees and travel and subsistence costs during the transfer
period have not yet been resolved, and it seems that we are hoping that
Sheffield will assume these.
RUSKIN BUILDING: The Director of Estates reported to the last Estate
Committee that there were four problem areas still to be rectified –
boiler flues, environmental conditions in the archive room, the
sprinkler system and natural light levels which were affecting the
display walls. The University considered these as defects either in
construction or design and, as such, the responsibility of the
architect. They would be pursuing them with vigour. The Committee noted
that the building was not meeting recommended performance criteria and,
if this situation were not rectified, there could be long-term risk to
the works housed within it. Pro-VC Whitaker has joined the Ruskin
Committee.
PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITY: Thanks to the beneficence and wisdom of The
Bailrigg Fund, initial funding has been provided to launch a "Poems on
Campus" scheme. (Londoners may recognise the idea from "Poems on the
Underground", and there is apparently a similar scheme about to start
in doctor's surgeries nationally.)
The scheme is being run by the Dept of Creative Writing and the School
of Independent Studies. We are looking for poems of any type, on any
subject, probably in English or something like it, with a maximum of 12
lines. This maximum is perhaps negotiable if there is a good reason -
for example, if each line only has one word in it; however, as the
paper size is fixed, shorter poems will display better.
The succesful poems will be laminated on A3 and displayed in frames on
walls around the University (launderettes, bars, cafes, Students Union,
departments etc......) Poems will be sought 3 times each year
(probably), so if you miss out this time, don't despair - we will
always need new writing. The deadline for the first submissions is
February 29th 2000. Send your children to George Green, Dept of
Independent Studies, Lonsdale College, or send as an email attachment
to g.green@lancaster.ac.uk.
3. PARIS ITINERARY FOR STUART AND JOAN RILEY: (I) FOOD
------------------------------------------------------
End of Feb, you say, and 4 days including a weekend. Excellent -
though a pity it's not the start of a month since the national museums
are free on the first Sunday. Two warnings. First: it's common in Paris
in February to experience snow, or a bitter Siberian cold spell such as
you have never known. All to do with being so far from the sea and in a
plain, I hear. In that case drastic indoor and underground measures may
be needed. Let's hope its precociously spring-like.
Second warning: do take enough money. (No need for cash - just take
your Switch card and preferably Barclaycard.) With the pound at 10.10
at the moment France is amazing value, and Paris is far cheaper than
London anyhow. But the French do like to spend more on some things than
we do - health and food being key examples - and it would be a shame to
stint yourself. I recall your first visit to Heathcote's Brasserie when
you seemed unduly shocked by the price.
How often do you eat? It's normal in France to have a serious lunch,
but I imagine you'd prefer not to waste time and just have a salad or
sandwich (and maybe a tarte) at lunch, and to dine in the evening.
However so many places offer a cheap menu only at lunchtimes on
weekdays - and the price difference can be dramatic - that I think you
should lunch properly once. On a weekday.
For that I above all recommend what's supposed to be the oldest house
in Paris, Auberge Nicolas Flamel, 51 rue de Montmorency, a very narrow,
slightly louche street, just up from the Metro Rambuteau and the
Pompidou centre. Marvellous man, lush place, amazing value menus at
lunch - more refined and imaginative cooking than you normally get in
the 6-8 quid range plus drinks. NB: over 25 pounds each in the evening.
Now the big evening. You'll have one major meal and eat more
economically on the other 3 evenings. By nature, upbringing, habit and
masochism I am economical to the point of austerity so I'm not going to
recommend anything grand. In fact on the contrary. If however this trip
is something very special you might really want to try a once-only
how-the-other-half-live type meal. If so, say and I'll suggest a few I
dream of - but remember that there we would be talking of 100 pounds a
head or so plus wines. A compromise might be tea at the Ritz, say, to
imagine Proust, Jonathan Aiken, the Hamiltons, Diana and Dodi. Or
perhaps just a coffee! (Place Vendome, 1er arrondissment.)
If you want creative gastronomy and a small restaurant, I'm tempted to
point you towards one of these places Jeremy Meades raves about in the
Times (1/3 of London prices etc). In particular the Ambassade
d'Auvergne - 22, rue du Grenier Saint-Lazare (even nearer to the
Pompidou centre). Robust cooking from the Massif Central and about 17
pounds for the set menu, 25 a la carte, plus wines.
Actually, however, I really think the big night should be in an
archetypically Parisian place - and that means one of the grandes
brasseries - a vast and noisy room with hundreds of bow-tied waiters in
ankle-length leather aprons racing about and being bossed by MDs in
DJs.
I was once told that in Paris there are restaurants for wives and
others for mistresses. Some even recommend types of place for a last
meal with an ex or a first meal with a prospective new lover. You are,
as, contrary to widespread belief, I am too, (well... almost - and so
far...) a model of uxorious rectitude. We therefore require a totally
reliable family restaurant, the kind of place you can take your granny
and the grandchildren yet see all around you lovers and party-goers
returning from the theatre or about to hit Paris-by-night.
I'm slightly concerned about you getting back to where you are staying
late in the evening. Not by metro I think, especially since you'd be
changing at Republique or Bastille. And though evening buses have
enormously improved the odds are against there being a route one wants.
I think taxis are really indicated. But it's prolly perfectly safe to
walk up the (very long and residential) Boulevard Beaumarchais so I'm
thinking of sending you to somewhere near (and the taxi wouldn't cost
much either).
For that reason I'm going to offer you a choice of two places. The
first has been going for over a hundred years and is totally Parisian,
with magnificent wood panelling and glass. It is BOFINGER, 5, rue de la
Bastille, just off the eponymous Place; telephone (from Britain) 00 33
1 42 72 87 82. They do a menu at 169 FF and I think that still includes
a half-bottle of wine per head. A la carte it'll be more like 250 F and
up.
For the other you head UP the boulevard towards the Republique. It is
the most famous Alsatian restaurant in Paris, another institution: Chez
Jenny, 39 boulevard du Temple. (Tel: 01 42 74 75 75 Fax: 01 42 74 38
69). The _formule_ at 179 FF includes a half-bottle and coffee.
Attention: 3-course set menus in places like these are very short and
may seem disappointingly dull (though the food's good). You can prolly
eat almost as cheaply from the carte, and sample the house speciality,
if you have soup for example, but the cost will be raised by the wine.
You must of course also order water: only the English sit at table with
wine but no water. Personally I recommend Badoit, but it is very fizzy
and salty and not suitable for some on health grounds. The law requires
you to be served with free tap water if you ask for it, but almost no
one does.
The rest of the time - serendipity. If you're hungry and see a place
you like that's not too full and smoky - go for it. The chains should
not be ignored - La Bonne Brioche is fine and far cheaper than here.
Nor am I joking about McDonalds, which are modified to French tastes.
Sit inside of course - on the terrace in cafes you pay a premium price
for the street spectacle. And think about what Parisian things you're
going to have: hot chocolate, tea with milk, a pastis, mineral water or
lemonade with fruit syrup, etc.
Routes and activities next time. Meanwhile get on the web and print
yourself some detailed large-scale plans of the maze of streets at the
end of the Marais around your hotel. I recommend the transport website
www.ratp.fr or simply the yellow pages www.pagesjaunes.fr or even just
www.pariscope.fr - but not during office hours!!
4. READERS' LETTERS
-------------------
Does the fact that I initially took the cast details for the Film of
the Millennium to be a humorous piece of fantasy wish-fulfilment mean:
a) I should get out more
b) I should stay in more
c) I should time and again go to bed early?
Bob Samuels
The Open University
[NOTE: Know exactly what you mean. Delighted to see that you are
recovered. All best wishes. (Ed)]
-------------------------------------
I am afraid that I have just come back today (Tuesday) after the flu,
and Donna was attending her Grandfather's funeral last Friday when the
message from Personnel came. She got a message out as soon as she could
Monday morning. David Whitton kindly sent me information about
Christine, and I have apologised for not being here and asked him if I
may use it in LU News.
The Press Office tries to get information out quickly and in an
appropriate way. I do not think that to say 'It seems to be a mark of
the regard that the university has for its human resources as opposed
to its finance', is at all fair. I think you are referring to the bus
crash and information then was intended to stop other students and
their parents panicking.
Vicky Tyrrell
--------------------------
I borrowed a book just before Xmas, and handed it back a day late,
accruing a 9 pound fine. The nice bit is that it was my own book! It
was a new book which I had put into the collection for my students to
read, as the copy ordered for the library had not arrived at the
beginning of the year (I got it out from Short Loan in order to review
it for a journal). The library is one of my favourite charities, so I
am perfectly happy with the donation, and the person who issued the
book to me made it very clear what would happen if I forgot to bring it
back on time. So it really is my own fault. Am I the first?
Mick Short
----------------------
Thank you for your comments and suggestions about our proposed trip to
Paris. We will be there late February and staying over a weekend. We
await your offered itinerary.
Stuart and Joan Riley
PS as we discussed your previous response over lunch in the presence
of our daughter she commented, "Who is this Inkytext you talk about
with such awe; is he God or the Wizard of Oz?" Which do you prefer?
--------------------------------
I am exploring putting a page for our choral society on the web. But I
ask the question 'will anyone find it?' I have noticed that DMOZ are
setting up a directory with voluntary sub-category editors, which so
far goes UK/England/Lancashire/Lancaster. It thus avoids Lancaster,
Penn. travel agents. AltaVista & Lycos use it, and it seems to pop-up
quite readily if Lancaster is a key word. I am hoping that
sub-categories like /societies or /music/choral may appear. I also
notice some advertisement carrying sites setting up to perform a
similar function for Lancaster. I wonder if someone much more
knowledgeable in these matters could address the question 'how can
voluntary societies in Lancaster achieve effective searchability on the
web?'
A few still around will remember Charles Carter's questionnaire of
1970 ish which asked, not how many papers have you published this week,
but what have you done to serve the Lancaster community this year.
Pretend things are still like that.
Michael Jackson
-------------------
"just after WWW1"
Is there another World Wide Web to come?
Is this Freudian or Gatesian?! 8^}
Brian Robinson
--------------------------------
5. SMALL ADS
------------
Philip Martin Books, specialists in music books, sheet music and
scores, will be visiting the university between about 11 a.m. and 4
p.m. on Tuesday 18 January. A large selection of their stock will be on
sale in the foyer of the Music Department. All welcome.
------------
ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROJECT:
Introduction to Conflict Resolution
Basic workshop, 28th-30th January 2000
Friends' Meeting House, Lancaster
AVP was developed in New York state prisons to allow inmates to look
at their behaviour and to explore new ways of resolving conflict. In
Britain, volunteers run workshops to allow all kinds of people to do
the same.
The workshops are for anybody who has niggly little resentments that
become grudges, anybody who has difficulty with anger, anybody who
can't say 'no', anybody who is bullied and anybody who wants an
alternative to violence.
Cost: £15 to £50 depending on income For more information, contact
Helen: email h.bennett@lancaster.ac.uk or telephone (01524) 843852
--------------------
The Grand Theatre Lancaster presents
The Lancaster Footlights Youth Group production
of
'The Chrysalids'
A futuristic play of morals by David Harrower based on the John
Wyndham novel.
Thursday Jan. 20th, Friday Jan. 21st and Saturday Jan. 22nd at 7.30pm
Tickets 4 pounds 50, concessions 3 pounds 50.
For booking contact the box office on Lancaster 64695.
-----------
VARIOUS OLD BUT WORKS-AS-NEW MACINTOSH EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Mac IIci 8/500 (with monitor/keyb/mouse) 200 pounds ImageWriter II 50 pounds
LaserWriter II NT 150 (thesis-quality print) External CD-ROM 50 pounds
14.4 kbps modem 15 28.8 kbps modem 40 pounds. Accompanied by all original
packaging, manuals, cables & disks. Will deliver and set up. Discount
on multi-purchase and good haggling. Contact Simon Slavin Fylde C42
x93569 mobile 07973 540817
-------------
INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL RESEARCH
THE POLITICAL AND THE RELIGIOUS READING GROUP READINGS
LENT TERM 2000-01-11
Week 1 Carl Schmitt
"Political Theology"
Week 2 Jacques Derrida
"Faith and Knowledge"
Week 3 Herder
"Humanity The End of Human Nature"
Week 4 Gillian Rose
"Love's Work"
Week 5 Francoise Dastur
"Death: an essay on finitude"
Week 6 Emmanuel Levinas
Time and the Other (pp. 1 -94)
Week 7 Georgio Agamben
"The Camp as Nomos of Modernity"
Week 8 Claude Lefort
"The Permanence of the Theologico-Political"
Week 9 Jean-Luc Nancy
"Of Divine Places"
Week 10 Walter Benjamin
"Critique of Violence"
&
"Capitalism and Religion"
Week 11 Martin Heidegger
"Letter on Humanism"
--------------
COTTAGE TO LET: One bedroom cottage to let (medium or short term). Wray
area. Well appointed, quiet location, stunning views. 25 mins to
university / Lancaster. 290 p.c.m. + utils. Contact Simon, 015242
63262.
-------------
ATKINSON'S, COFFEE MERCHANTS, of Lancaster deliver pre-weighed ground
coffee, and tea, to the campus on Tuesday mornings. If you would like
to take advantage of this very convenient service please phone them on
65470.
-------------
HOST FAMILIES REQUIRED: The Institute for English Language Education
are looking for families to host International students. You would be
expected to provide breakfast and dinner on weekdays and additionally
light lunch at week-ends. You will be paid 80 pounds per week per
student directly from the University.
If you live in the Lancaster/Morecambe area and would be interested please
contact Jacqui Sharpe, ext 594147 or e-mail j.sharpe@lancaster.ac.uk.
-----------
CAR FOR SALE: MONDEO ST24 R REG, LOTS OF EXTRAS, FOR FULL SPEC CONTACT
JACQUI SHARPE ON 594147 OR E-MAIL j.sharpe@lancaster.ac.uk 14,000 0N0
-----------------
LANCASTER CIVIC SOCIETY
The Society's January meeting will be a talk entitled
Modern Architecture in Historic Towns
by
TOBY JOHNSON
Associate, McCormac, Jamieson & Prichard,
architects of the Ruskin Library, Lancaster University
Wednesday 19 January 2000
7:30pm
Lancaster Town Hall
--------------
Re the proposed new capital building project. Perhaps someone in
University house has an edifice complex.
Alasdair Mckee
---------------------------------
BLUE SETTEE flowery pattern, three seater, good condition, clean,
removable covers slightly worn, FREE to anyone who can make good use.
It looks solid, but has a light metal frame and is easy to shift. Suit
student house. Contact 01524 32371 any time, new owner to collect
please.
-------------
New Century Spotlight
Lancaster's writers and performers speak up for themselves at the
Spotlight Club on Friday 21st January. Taking to the floor at
Lancaster's Yorkshire House will be a range of new and familiar faces,
including have-a-go poets taking their chance in the open mic spot.
This months' scheduled slots include comedy from Nigel Harrat, poetry
from Mary White and Michael Murphy, a monologue from Martin Ferguson,
and a short story from George Green.
There'll be plenty of music as well, with three women singers lending
their voices to the evening's entertainment. The finale music spot
features singer/guitarists Molly Baxter and Jennifer White (a.k.a.
Single White Female). Individually they are spellbinding performers
with a wide range of compelling material - recently they have been
developing into a formidable duo. Earlier in the evening local jazz
vocalist Sue Parish will present new folk and jazz material, written
and played by guitarist Jon Moore.
Doors open 8.30 pm, open-mic spots from 9.00 pm. Admission 3.00/
1.50 concessions. Free admission for performers. Further information
01524 62166 or 01524 847240.
--------