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Another half a page of scribbled lines about my presentation at the "Dark Side of Astronomy" weekend. Probably not nearly as interesting as the story I have already told. On the other hand, it is far shorter and does document some statistics that I would like to remember.
There were about 110 participants who came to the Astronomy Weekend -- this number is constrained by the size of the lecture theatre; the event actually sold out. The talk lasted for seventy-five minutes, including a break partway through where I invited questions (to make sure I had not lost anyone in the audience yet). At the end, there were another fifteen minutes of formal questions before the audience was dispersed by the chair. However, I was then set upon by a fair number of people who asked questions privately for another half hour, until dinner began.
Also worth noting is the fact that this is the first time I have gotten paid for speaking. It was not much (£84), but it is still a first. Indeed, when I was contact last May, I had agreed to give the lecture before learning that I would be paid. So the speaker's fee is more of a bonus for my ego than my pocketbook.
Speaking of money -- yet switching topics entirely -- the new designs for the UK coins were finally revealed last week! After waiting months to see them (and periodically checking the Web to wage a futile hunt for them), it was![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ms_katonic who learned that the designs had been announced... and she was kind enough to text me to bring it to my attention. For those who don't know -- probably the majority of my f-list -- the Royal Mint is completely revamping the backs of all the British coins this year except for that of the £2 coin.
There are eight coins in common circulation (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2) so seven are changing. The pound coin, which has changed from year to year anyway, will now have the shield of the Royal Arms on the back. The other six coins will each have a fragment of the Royal Arms so that those coins, when placed together, will join to formVoltron: Defender of the Universe the shield as well. (Sort of)
According to the newspaper reviews that I have read, the new design on the coinage is not being well received. Two particular complaints are that (a) for the first time since 1672, none of the coins feature the image of the Roman Goddess Britannia, and (b) Wales -- being the only UK country not represented on the Royal Arms -- is not featured on the new coins. Oddly enough, the man who came up with the design is Welsh. Go figure.
Personally, I go back and forth in my opinion of the new coins. I think that they are pretty cool, although perhaps they would be better as a one year, special edition, commemorative release... rather than the new standard UK currency for the indefinite future. Here are images of new and old -- let me know what you think!
OLD:
NEW: (note the layout of the coins)
Regardless of whatever opinion I settle on, I did go to my local bank a day or two after the release, trying to procure the new coins. However, I do not think that they have actually been circulated yet. The teller, for one, looked at me oddly when I asked if he had any of the new coins. Indeed, he asked me what I was talking about... having not heard the news about them himself! Ah, well. They shall come in time.
There were about 110 participants who came to the Astronomy Weekend -- this number is constrained by the size of the lecture theatre; the event actually sold out. The talk lasted for seventy-five minutes, including a break partway through where I invited questions (to make sure I had not lost anyone in the audience yet). At the end, there were another fifteen minutes of formal questions before the audience was dispersed by the chair. However, I was then set upon by a fair number of people who asked questions privately for another half hour, until dinner began.
Also worth noting is the fact that this is the first time I have gotten paid for speaking. It was not much (£84), but it is still a first. Indeed, when I was contact last May, I had agreed to give the lecture before learning that I would be paid. So the speaker's fee is more of a bonus for my ego than my pocketbook.
Speaking of money -- yet switching topics entirely -- the new designs for the UK coins were finally revealed last week! After waiting months to see them (and periodically checking the Web to wage a futile hunt for them), it was
ms_katonic who learned that the designs had been announced... and she was kind enough to text me to bring it to my attention. For those who don't know -- probably the majority of my f-list -- the Royal Mint is completely revamping the backs of all the British coins this year except for that of the £2 coin. There are eight coins in common circulation (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2) so seven are changing. The pound coin, which has changed from year to year anyway, will now have the shield of the Royal Arms on the back. The other six coins will each have a fragment of the Royal Arms so that those coins, when placed together, will join to form
According to the newspaper reviews that I have read, the new design on the coinage is not being well received. Two particular complaints are that (a) for the first time since 1672, none of the coins feature the image of the Roman Goddess Britannia, and (b) Wales -- being the only UK country not represented on the Royal Arms -- is not featured on the new coins. Oddly enough, the man who came up with the design is Welsh. Go figure.
Personally, I go back and forth in my opinion of the new coins. I think that they are pretty cool, although perhaps they would be better as a one year, special edition, commemorative release... rather than the new standard UK currency for the indefinite future. Here are images of new and old -- let me know what you think!
OLD:
NEW: (note the layout of the coins)
Regardless of whatever opinion I settle on, I did go to my local bank a day or two after the release, trying to procure the new coins. However, I do not think that they have actually been circulated yet. The teller, for one, looked at me oddly when I asked if he had any of the new coins. Indeed, he asked me what I was talking about... having not heard the news about them himself! Ah, well. They shall come in time.
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