One of the difficulties of judging the ways of people is the fact that highly intelligent individuals can at the same time be in the grip of a totally cockeyed ideology.  One reads things like this:

Parents who dress their daughters in pink are holding back the economy, says minister

Those familiar with the Lord of the Rings will remember the Huorns.  According to the Lord of the Rings Wiki:
 
Mostly the Huorns stood as dark trees in the deepest forests, gnarled and unmoving, yet watchful. When aroused in wrath they moved swiftly as if wrapped in shadows, falling on foes with deadly and merciless strength. . . . These were wild wood spirits who were bent on the destruction of all who threatened the forests. They were dangerous to all on two legs unless they were protected by Ents.
 

About ten years ago, what is now the Electron Microscopy Laboratory at the University of Reading, was set up, to take over from individual EM units in other departments by purchasing more modern equipment.

On of the pleasures of working there was interaction with people from other departments, and one particularly enjoyable excursion was doing pollen samples for people, so introducing me to the science of Palynology.

A couple of days ago, I read this on Real Clear Science:

Why Spelling Tests Don’t Help Kids Spell by Misty Adoniou

I highly recommend this short article, but I would like to pick out one sentence:

Nor is getting children to write their spelling words out 10 times, even if they have to do it in rainbow colours.