Sharp change of direction for physicists

Leading particle physicists have recently announced they have given up the search for the Higgs bosun, to focus instead on seeking evidence of the elusive Higgs ninja. The Higgs ninja is believed to be responsible for mass, via a process of sneaking around and gluing particles together when no one is looking.

Of their reasons for switching focus one spokesperson has been quoted as saying "We simply don't believe a pirate force could have evaded detection all these years" and more pertinently that "Very few subatomic particles show evidence of having been boarded."

Some news of a personal sort

Mainly that I at last was assessed at my placement and came out better than had been my expectation, a tremendous relief. Even to say as happened last time with different person that I might proceed into the full librarian degree.

Very surprisingly to me, was rated quite competent. I thought I had been passable at best. If this keeps up, may have to accept a reassessment of myself as 'not entirely incapable / worthless'. That could be nice.

Still, that assessment aside there are still some things which need to be taken care of before I am done. Two last days at placement. A final cataloguing exam next week. Two last assignments to be turned in. It is mainly the assignments I worry about, am stressed by. Assignments have never been something I handled well, so if I fall down anywhere it will be there.

We hope, hope.

Rating stories

While talking with mantic_angel earlier and considering webcomics we read in light of how white they are, it ocurred to me that if I am going to be doing the thing of applying media ratings to stories read there would be not much more trouble in keeping some note of representation. Things like race, disability, gender, ...

It would not affect the rating given, since there is no provision for that, but I suspect I would find it enlightening. Probably disheartening too. Likely to be tricky too, since in some (many?) cases interpretation would play a role, and looking at anything where I am ignorant there is likely to be a lot of details missed out on. Even for things I could claim as 'mine' this is far from something I would consider myself adept at.

I guess 'tis fortunate the whole thing, ratings and all, is mainly for myself an exercise in observation and awareness. If they'd had any practical use it would be for something such as applying those conclusions to be a guide for use in the raising of a child and access to media, but I don't have any intentions of strictness in that regard. Is just, something I am doing for enjoyment which may inform later perspectives.