It's the former. I have four weeks' annual leave accrued because I haven't had the chance to take time off properly throughout the year. I plan to spend it on the couch.

This BBC news story about using gene therapy to treat Hunter syndrome is very timely.

This has surely been inevitable ever since CRISPR was developed.

In principle, is it that bad a thing? If it prevents people being born with Huntington's or early onset dementia, it strikes me as a net positive.

An obvious issue is (in-)equity of access. Especially for scenarios of people selecting for intelligence or physical performance. But in that respect I'd be arguing for improving public health funding so more would-be parents can access it.

Big work thing - the thing that has been my main work thing all year - got endorsed by the second highest committee last week. Scheduled for University Council approval first week of December.

I have leftovers that still need tidying, including a performance planning meeting with the boss (ostensibly annual, but the first one in three years), but I'm starting to check out.

I have January off. I want to buy a Steam Machine but I doubt they'll be available that early in 2026. Suppose I'll read, write and garden, instead.

Wow, what a take. Being the adventures of a race-baiting conservative commentator who comes to realise, with dawning horror, that Trump's ur-fascism might actually be a catalyst for - who'd have thought it? - fascism.

And he’s afraid to state that Jews do not openly support the “prosecution” of Christians (especially compared to Muslims, who are actively murdering Christians as we speak).

I'm going to assume this is a typical take from this chap. In spite of everything, he appears to be unaware that language like this has been instrumental to the creation of, and continues to contribute towards the advancement of, the fell juggernaut he fears is descending.