Tim Dobson

Hiking Epic Rap : Hiker Tim

9 June 2014

Join the hike-hop revolution! httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfPTfX3PkWM Epic Hiking Rap : Hiker Tim Lyrics / Q&A Download free MP3 Inspired by Dan Bull's Skyrim Rap Hiker Tim on Twitter Hiker Tim on Facebook

Hiking Epic Rap : The Background

9 June 2014

So you've seen the Epic Hiking Rap, and now you want the background? Are you serious or is this a joke? I'll leave you to apply Poe's Law. Where did this start? For years, the University of Manchester Hiking Club had a tradition where a specific longstanding club member would write and present a poem […]

Notes on a Book: Organizing Genius by Warren Bennis

18 May 2014

I recently finished reading Organizing Genius by Warren Bennis (professor in business administration) and Patricia Ward Biederman (journalist). Notably, the reason I picked it up is because in Tribal Leadership – David Logan mentions Warren as mentor, and his work in this book as a predecessor to the Tribal Leadership book. It's easy to see […]

What's the best way to travel round Manchester?

16 May 2014

I'm learning to drive (and have just passed my test!), but don't be misled. I don't want a car. Not at the moment at least. I live in the centre of Manchester. I work in the centre of Manchester. I have a bike. I don't have a family. I like trains. So mostly, I cycle everywhere. […]

Aonach Eagach in pictures

6 May 2014

As I wrote I might, I traversed the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glen Coe on Saturday. We were on the ridge it in ideal conditions and it was every bit as exposed, long and committing (there are no escape routes once you're on it) as expected. I was glad to be travelling with a group […]

Long weekend in Glen Coe

2 May 2014

It's a bank holiday weekend. Rejoice! Umm, yeah, I'm spending the weekend in Glen Coe at Red Squirrel Campsite! Yay. I've been to Glen Coe a number of times, some more successfully than others, and blogged about how to get there (even hitchhiking). Glen Coe isn't too far away from Ben Nevis, and its 24 hour, […]

What purpose do religions serve in society? (A pragmatic view)

29 April 2014

I sometimes feel it's unfair to criticise early religions within the context of the highly developed, 21st century, welfare state that I live in. Given a rural village in the 1500s Britain, religions were probably quite an effective way of keeping people motivated and providing a basic community support network and structure. If you take the […]

If I was an atheist, man.

28 April 2014

Every so often, I see atheists having a bonfire party, religious people getting upset, or religious people having a bonfire party and atheists getting upset. Given my beliefs and thoughts on religion, I find this quite saddening. A degree of understanding and respect, even for people you deeply disagree with, can be very beneficial to you. […]

If I were a religious man.

27 April 2014

Occasionally forms have a field labelled: "Religion" followed by a bunch of tick boxes. A tick in a box is rarely very descriptive and so I thought I'd try and explain where I stand on faith. Background I was raised as a non-religious person in a largely non-religious pseudo-christian culture. What do I mean by […]

Q1 Review of my plans for 2014

25 April 2014

It's easy to write New Year's Resolutions at the start of the year, then write about them at the end of the year, and wonder why you didn't lose weight, save money, or do that thing you wanted to. Basically, taking one step after another into mediocrity and suppressed ambition. It doesn't have to be […]

Notes on a book: Remote: Office Not Required by 37signals

24 April 2014

I first heard about Remote: Office Not Required when my friend, John Leach, mentioned on social media he'd been interviewed for it. Interested enough to see what it was he was interviewed about, I ordered a copy, and finally finished reading it yesterday. In short, the book is a persuasive set of mini-essays about why […]

Looking back at our trip to the Cuillins in Skye.

18 April 2014

On Saturday, after a blistering 12 hour minibus journey, I arrived back  in Manchester from a week in the Black Cuillins of Skye. It was a memorable trip, and by the second evening I thought it was all over – I was in great pain and could barely walk. In my socks, I'd excitedly tried to […]