I’m a proofreader and line editor. My work often involves checking texts on unfamiliar subjects. I make an effort to learn and consider new things because it keeps me in shape for my work. (And I enjoy it!)

Soft tissue fossils

Recently, I joined the Geologists’ Association. I’ve been catching up with recorded Zoom lectures on their members’ page.

Last week, I learnt that shales are interesting because they’re a record of conditions on the seafloor millions of years ago. This week, I watched a fascinating lecture about the fossilisation of soft tissues.

Soft tissue fossils are rare. The lecturer explained how the pH of the surrounding environment and inside the animal determines whether and which soft tissues are preserved.

We also learnt about the process of decay and how differences between species’ internal pH can mean that some are missing from the fossil record.

Decay is not a palatable subject for the squeamish, but I had to admire how much researchers have discovered. I’m looking forward to picking another recorded lecture from the Geologists’ Association page.

Japanese television drama

When I was little, people used to say that watching too much television would give you square eyes. Documentaries and the news aside, TV wasn’t considered to be educational.

I think the current availability of international television drama has changed all that. We can learn a lot about other countries by watching the TV shows made for their home audiences.

TV drama is rarely an accurate snapshot of life in any place. But it does show us how the producers, directors, and writers assess their target audiences. They want their shows to be popular and enjoyed, so they design characters, settings, and stories to appeal to the viewers they have in mind.

I’ve recently started watching Japanese television drama. I’m currently following Jin (2009–2011), Pending Train (2023–), and The Hot Spot (2025).

Jin is about a brain surgeon transported back in time to 19th-century Japan. Pending Train is about a group of train passengers catapulted into an apocalyptic future. They’re quite different shows, but both have a fairly similar scene. A lead character gives an energising speech to listeners of equal status, encouraging everyone to work together to overcome a serious problem. The listeners respond with enthusiasm. I wonder if these scenes might represent an aspirational ideal to Japanese viewers.

I’m sure there are scenes like that in British dramas, but I think in most cases the inspiring speaker would have to be impeccably credentialed (e.g. a commanding officer, superhero, Time Lord, or rebel leader). What struck me about the Japanese shows is that the speaker was one of the people.

Jin and Pending Train have given me something to consider about a potential subtle difference between Britain and Japan. I’ll be watching out to see if the scene occurs in other shows, but of course, I’ll have to be careful about confirmation bias.