Niece (age 4): ‘God made the Universe. God made Himself. Tricky, making yourself’. A born skeptic.

Hermione the chicken has just laid an egg, and has decided to tell the entire neighbourhood all about it. Mrs Gee has just sent me outside to inform her (Hermione, that is) that one really doesn’t make that kind of racket at 9 a.m. on a Sunday.

Meanwhile, over on Twitter™, NN’s own Eric Michael Johnson is live-tweeting the birth of his baby. Mrs Eric Michael Johnson, for it is she, has been in labour for 36 hours and is having an emergency C-section even as I write this, on my iPhone, naturally. (that is to say, I’m writing on my iPhone – Mrs EMJ is having a section somewhere else, even iPhones have their limitations. I don’t think there’s an iObGyn app yet. Do try to keep up.)

You can follow the drama by following @ericmjohnson and I’m sure all those who knowe him send three hearty mazel tovs.

Back in the days when print was ‘set’ by the laborious process of adding one metal letter at a time to a rack, French printers had the idea of keeping frequently used phrases already made up, so that they could be slotted in where needed. These phrases were called clichés. The word derives from the verb cliquer – the printers would take the stereotyped phrase and ‘click’ it into place. The OED quotes Charles Babbage – and Charles Darwin – using the term in this old-fashioned context.

My fondness for my iPhone is well-known, an enjoyment only enhanced by the version-3.0 update.

SIR – Reading, as I am wont to do, the public prints, it has come to my notice that the regular missives by my esteemed friend, Mr Darwin, have ceased. Looking back into the archives, I note that his most recent effusion was published on 11th of April last, since when he has been curiously silent.

This absence has deprived me of a regular source of entertainment on a range of divers and challenging topics. I was struck in especial by Mr Darwin’s admiration for the writings of Mr Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, whom history will show to have been the Greatest Statesmen of This Or Any Other Age.

More seriously, however, Mr Darwin’s continued silence has given me pause to wonder as to his well-being. Has he run away to sea, on another Voyage of Discovery? Is he writing another book? Is he doubled up with Stomack Gripes of an Unknown Nature, sweating on the chaise longue in his darkened study at Downe? I think we should be told.

I remain,

Yours &c.

The Rev Dr. Ezekiel Gee,
Galapagos Villas,
Cromer,
Norfolk

You will no doubt be familiar with that well-known scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail in which the company is assaulted by an evil man-eating monster in the form of a cuddly white bunny rabbit.

Earlier this evening an uncannily similar episode of Pythonaemia unfolded at the Maison Des Girrafes…

Richard Grant added Kate Grant to their network Friday, 12 June 2009 10:13 UTC

Kate Grant added Richard Grant to their network Friday, 12 June 2009 10:10 UTC

Could this be the first Nature Network marriage?

Swine Flu
According to the WHO
Is more than just an ordinary epidemic
But nevertheless we should stay calm and not pan(demi)ic.

Cast your minds back a few months to the Cromer is SO Bracing ’09 micro-unconference, where we shot a short film called Cromer: Darwin’s Lost Weekend…

I am desperately in need of a new computer. I think I know which one I want, but today a new wrinkle has arisen – should I await the Dawn of the Snow Leopard or make do with Blotched Genet? Am hoping to crowd sauce source some help…