GraemeK

We seem to have had a real influx of crows, ever since our peregrines left their nest. I saw at least 9 tonight at our south front - they are quite loud, destructive & yet the most loveable of our feathered friends.

Remembering our friend - Charles Peter Kennedy
(25 November 1959 – 1 June 2015) President Glasgow University Union - Alumnus, Honorary graduate & twice elected Rector @UofGlasgow.bsky.social
One of the kindest, most gifted & personable politicians of his generation - who is very much missed 💙

Tonight’s movie choice - First Blood, the action classic from 1982. Starring among others - Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, and Brian Dennehy. Directed by Ted Kotcheff - with a wonderful musical score from Jerry Goldsmith.

It was such a pity that the weather was pretty dismal, however the children certainly brightened the day.

He was a Scottish philosopher best known for his philosophical method, his theory of perception & its wide implications on epistemology, and as the developer of an agent-causal theory of free will. He focused extensively on ethics, theory of action, language & philosophy of mind.

Born on this day - Thomas Reid (26 April 1710 - 7 October 1796) Professor of Moral Philosophy @UofGlasgow.bsky.social He was buried at Blackfriars Church in the grounds of the Old College & his tombstone was later inserted into the Main Building when the university relocated to Gilmorehill.

Born on this day - James McCune Smith M.D (18 April 1813 -17 November 1865) American physician, apothecary, and abolitionist. He was the first African American to earn a medical degree - which was awarded to him by @UofGlasgow.bsky.social Our state of the art Learning Hub is named for him

Born on this day - Joseph Black (16 April 1728 - 6 December 1799) Alumnus & Professor of Anatomy and Chemistry @UofGlasgow.bsky.social Known for his discoveries of Magnesium, Latent heat, Specific heat and Carbon dioxide. Our Chemistry building is named for him.

Great news & very well done! Glasgow’s shipyards & their workforce made us one of the greatest & most global cities in the world. This helps to preserve our history for our future generations. 850 years of changing the world.

HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh
(10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021)

Did you know that the 2 chairs that sit at the side of the Chancel in our @UofGlasgow.bsky.social Memorial Chapel were gifted to us by Glasgow Cathedral in 1840. They are made from oak timbers from the Cathedral roof. They are used at wedding ceremonies & by our clergy during services.

Tonight’s movie choice - The Departed, the crime thriller from 2006. Starring among others - Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin. Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Wide awake, so watching a real favourite - McQ, the neo-noir crime action thriller from 1974. Starring among others - John Wayne, Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, Colleen Dewhurst, and Clu Gulager. Directed by John Sturges. Music by Elmer Bernstein.

This morning we are at Glasgow Cathedral for our annual service of thanksgiving - where in 1451 @UofGlasgow.bsky.social held its first teaching classes. Glasgow is 850 years old & for 574 years, the university has been at the forefront in educating & changing our world for the better.

Tonight’s movie choice - The Presidio. The crime thriller from 1988, starring among others - Sean Connery, Mark Harmon, Meg Ryan, and Jack Warden. Directed by Peter Hyams. I love the cinematography of Hyams movies - always edgy with the most wonderful music scores.

Our iconic Main building @UofGlasgow@bsky.social bathed in the colours of the rainbow for LGBT History Month. We will have these colours in place for a week.

I’m really sorry to have missed you! I actually thought I saw you on Byres Road when I was out & about! Though, didn’t want to randomly approach a young lady.

At the moment, the world seems to grow ever more darker as the days pass. Let us always remember those perfect & happy days, and forget about those not so. For every dark day, there is a brighter tomorrow.

Traditionally, the second term of the academic year in Scotland's Ancient Universities was called Candlemas (Feb 2) the other dates are - Whitsunday, Martinmas, and Lammas. A tradition that we still observe, is changing the Pulpit fall cover at our Memorial Chapel to mark this.

We can bathe the South facade of our iconic Main building in any colour - if requested. Normally, it would be illuminated in a deep orange, though, we do try & accommodate requests from local charities.

Sitting with a fine malt & rewatching one of my absolute favourites - The Pelican Brief, the 1993 legal thriller. Starring among others - Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, and John Heard. Directed by Alan J. Pakula.

It is the start of Chinese New Year, so the South facade of our iconic Main building @UofGlasgow.bsky.social is bathed in red. Wishing all of our Chinese students, alumni & colleagues - good health, prosperity and happiness for the coming year.

Tomorrow, January 7th - is the 574th anniversary, since King James II of Scotland asked Pope Nicholas V to grant a Papal bull, authorising Bishop William Turnbull of Glasgow to set up a university. @uofglasgow.bky.social is the fourth oldest in the English-speaking world. Via Veritas Vita 💙

Today, on BBCTwo at 14:50 - Where Eagles Dare, the 1968 War action classic. Starring among others - Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, and Michael Hordern. Based on @uofglasgow.bsky.social alumnus - Alistair MacLean’s novel.

Scotlands King of Country!

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” - President Jimmy Carter

Now watching - The Return of the Pink Panther, the comedy classic from 1975. Starring among others - Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom, and Burt Kwouk. Directed by Blake Edwards, another cheerful escape into the bungling world of Inspector Clouseau.

Finished early tonight, so my Christmas movie choice is a real favourite - L.A. Confidential, the neo-noir thriller from 1997. Starring a cornucopia of the best, including - Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kevin Spacey, David Strathairn, Danny DeVito, and Kim Basinger

Tonight’s Christmas movie choice - The Omen, the 1976 supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner. Starring among others - Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Spencer Stephens, Billie Whitelaw, and Patrick Troughton.

44 years ago today - the world got a little bit darker.

“All we are saying is give peace a chance” - John Lennon