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Jeremy Cherfas

Jeremy Cherfas

Jeremy Cherfas

Jeremy Cherfas

Gorging on the social internet | Jeremy Cherfas

Testing web mention plugin at Grav.

I really love this page, because I wrote it. But I am also out of my depth. Way out.

But I need some data to play with, that's for sure.

Jeremy Cherfas

The Rory Stewart (or his editors @LRB) should know better.

Rory Stewart reviews ‘Aleppo Observed’ by Maurits H. van den Boogert · LRB 16 February 2017

Behind a paywall, alas, but trust me, this is a cut-and-paste quotation:

> And although van den Boogert is more disparaging of the Russells’ ichthyology – ‘based almost exclusively on what they were served at the consular table, and possibly what they observed in the stalls of the fish market’ – he cannot fail to be impressed by their catalogue of more than seven hundred Syrian plants, two of which, a sage and a milk-vetch, are now named the Phlomis Russeliana and the Astragalus
Russell.

Which just goes to show. You can walk across Afghanistan, be UK Minister of State for International Development, wear your extensive learning as lightly as you please and still screw up scientific names.

[Scientific names are strong proper names](https://www.jeremycherfas.net/blog/eagles-point-the-way), which take no *the*.

Jeremy Cherfas

Jeremy Cherfas

The nonsense of 'knowledge management'

From the abstract:

> Examines critically the origins and basis of 'knowledge management', its components and its development as a field of consultancy practice. Problems in the distinction between 'knowledge' and 'information' are explored, as well as Polanyi's concept of 'tacit knowing'. The concept is examined in the journal literature, the Web sites of consultancy companies, and in the presentation of business schools. The conclusion is reached that 'knowledge management' is an umbrella term for a variety of organizational activities, none of which are concerned with the management of knowledge. Those activities that are not concerned with the management of information are concerned with the management of work practices, in the expectation that changes in such areas as communication practice will enable information sharing.

Going through some very old blog posts, glad to discover this page is still alive.

Jeremy Cherfas

Latin name or scientific name, where do you stand? Either one is fine for me - just use it

AoBBlog asks the crucial questions: "what to call scientific binomials". Seems like they've come down in favour of "scientific name" rather than "Latin name". I'm fine with that, as long as people at least try to provide that name, rather than so-called "common" names. I've [ranted about that before](https://www.jeremycherfas.net/blog/i-love-latin), and doubtless will again. All we have to do now is to teach the world that scientific names are [strong proper names](https://www.jeremycherfas.net/blog/eagles-point-the-way)

Jeremy Cherfas

How is a cinematographer like a megachiropteran? Genius word mangling

I didn't understand all of this, but I can celebrate the conclusion.

Via Trivium http://chneukirchen.org/trivium/2017-02-27

Jeremy Cherfas

The Online Photographer: The Trough of No Value

> People sometimes ask me what the best method of preserving their pictures is, and my somewhat flip but I believe trenchant answer is, "be famous."

The idea that things are worthless or, worse, actually cost money to hang onto, means things that might be of value some day get discarded. Mike says craftsmanship will also help preserve things, including photographs, but the other thing you need is space, and preferably a permanent home.