We extend the topological field theory (“itsy bitsy topological field theory”‘) of our previous work from mod-2 to twisted coefficients. This topological field theory is derived from sutured Floer homology but described purely in terms of surfaces with signed points on their boundary (occupied surfaces) and curves on those surfaces respecting signs (sutures). It has information-theoretic (“itsy”) and quantum-field-theoretic (“bitsy”) aspects. In the process we extend some results of sutured Floer homology, consider associated ribbon graph structures, and construct explicit admissible Heegaard decompositions.
The new anti-abortion hero and the abortion death penalty
On October 12, clashing demonstrations in the Melbourne CBD brought reproductive rights back into the Australian spotlight. Anti-abortion politicians and activists have gone on the attack, on the streets and in Parliament. The recent attention comes on the fifth anniversary
A Yang-Baxter equation from sutured Floer homology, Sep 2013
On 30 September, 2013 I gave a talk at the 57th Australian Mathematical Society Annual Meeting, at the University of Sydney, as part of the Geometry and Topology session. Slides are available.
LunchMaths hyperbolic geometry, Sep 2013
I gave an introductory talk on Hyperbolic Geometry, as part of the Monash University LunchMaths seminar series, in September 2013. Slides are available.
Statement of Resignation from Wikileaks Party National Council
Today I am resigning my position on the National Council of the Wikileaks Party. There are several reasons for this resignation, detailed below, but they have been simmering for some time. The Wikileaks Party has arguably suffered serious problems from
Manning in Gethsemane
The night before crucifixion, it may seem that one can only pray, even those who brook no quarter with the supernatural. In such dark hours, however, there is, if nothing else, the literature left by other worthy souls who have
Sutures, quantum groups, TQFT, May 2013
On 24 May, 2013 I gave a talk at the University of Melbourne, for the Algebra-Geometry-Topology Seminar. The talk was entitled “Sutures, quantum groups and topological quantum field theory”. Slides are available.
Contact topology and elementary combinatorics, April 2013
On 16 April, 2013 I gave a talk at ANU, for the Algebra and Topology seminar. The talk was entitled “Contact topology and holomorphic invariants via elementary combinatorics”. Slides are available.
The corporate protection racket
On 4 April 2013, I was invited to speak very briefly at the protest outside the Institute of Public Affairs’ 70th anniversary dinner, on behalf of WACA, the Wikileaks Australian Citizens Alliance. Events rapidly overtook the planned activities, but I
Bradley Manning, John Kiriakou, and the shaman's wrath
Writing in 1982, the anthropologist Laura Betzig noted a parallel between two very-long-term trends in human societies. The first trend is increasing inequality and hierarchy. Roughly speaking, early human societies evolved from relatively simple, egalitarian bands of hunters and gatherers,