Lord (Philip) Norton is my friend and my colleague. He deserves a medal (or two) for his assiduous blogging. It seems this is not just another work assignment for him but a genuine desire to share both information and knowledge. What has surprised me is his willingness to answer almost any query – even if somewhat personal.

This makes me think about the true academic calling; academic I guess means learning from books, and ordering information, perhaps in new ways, in order to impart it. Philip is one of these, which may explain his latest blog in which he puzzles about his reactions. Many of us respond according to pre-conceptions, prejudices even: Philip responds on the basis of facts interpreted with reason and learning.