Welcome to Ipswich Campus 2012!! Wow this year has already been better than last year. I thought that today I would discuss rules. I am inspired to do so by Wikipedia's decision to shut down their website for a day as a protest against anti-piracy laws due to pass through the US legislature shortly, it seems, to some effect. I have an issue with a particular rule and would like to elicit the same sort of effect. I have long wanted on our campus to hold a chilli/curry cook off. However, I believe, it is in breach of health regulations. Now let's look at rules. Most rules are there for a very good reason and carry a consequential side. I guess one needs to fully understand the consequential side before determining what stance or actions should be taken. I certainly wouldn't challenge the "don't touch downed power lines" rule but I may challenge the "don't make faces because if the wind changes you stay like that" rule. Certainly the literature would support the former but I have not found any studies on the latter in either the Cochrane library or PubMed. The next step is determining what action can be taken to affect some sort of reaction. Wikipedia was able to have global impact with their actions. As I see it, I can hold my breath or go on a hunger strike. Unfortunately I really, really enjoy both breathing and eating and have built many aspects of my life around these activities. Time for a rethink …I wonder if Wikipedia would close down for a day for me? Viva la Chilli!!

It's great to have the campus buzzing again and please if you have any ideas on how to progress my chilli quest come and see me in the library.

Marcos