Monday, February 25, 2013

Never ask a crocodile for a snap decision

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If the crocodiles's world looks, sounds, tastes, smells and feels very different from ours then whose world is the 'real' world?

Does this mean that what we call "the World" or "Reality" is just a model of the world, put together by our five senses? 

But there must be some "stuff" out there for our (and the crocodile's) senses to work on. And maybe this "stuff" is the real "reality" which we can never know (if it exists at all!)

Scientists might say that the laws of physics work in the world of the crocodile as they do in our world. But isn't that just scientists applying their world view to that of the crocodile? Would it be more accurate - more scientific - to say that the laws of physics are part of our world experience and not that of the crocodile. So for us they appear  to work for the crocodile - but what does he know (or care) about the laws of physics?

Do you think these questions are irrelevant, Anna?

Or are they important?

But here's another question that's bothering me:

Why don't animals exercise? I mean have you ever seen a monkey doing press-ups?
And what about the antelope? The gazelle? Their lives depend on how fast they can run away from a lion. But I have yet to see a documentary where David Attenborough has filmed these animals practising running. No, they just wait until a lion chases them.

Can we learn something here? Like we did with the cat?

I must say I admire Dave with his lollipopping. He is taking the initiative to get himself back into the workplace. And look, he has already made  a friend - Poppy, who sees he does not go short of hot tea and buns.

I suppose he gets paid for that. I, on the other hand, do not get paid for the voluntary work I do. I think  far more people to do voluntary work if they got paid.

Sunday luncheon was taken at McDonalds: quarter-pounder cheese burger meal with medium fries and tea (no milk). What would we do without McDonalds! I never have more than one meal a week there.

I have taken a few photos recently. Did you read what I said, Anna, about the photographs saying more about the photographer that the subject? So what do my photos tell you about me?

I watched my friend Brian last night. He was telling us how important water was to life on this planet. Now, you may say - I know that! But he was showing us exactly how water had enabled life to start here. Fascinating.

I am having some slight trouble with a bike. I won't bother you with the details but it is causing me considerable aggravation.

Night falls upon suburbia. And I will leave you to your studies - or whatever else you may be doing at three minutes to six on this Monday evening.

I am going to drum up a storm.

Until our next meeting

George

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Dave has the new job which is of Lollipop Man.

He has to stand in road wearing bright jacket and with big stick which has upon the top disc saying 'Stop -Children Crossing'  and to see little kiddiwinkles safely across road.

Worst of his job is women drivers with big 4x4 vehicles who picking up own children but nearly knocking down other people's children in mad haste to get back in time for Pilates or Yoga or whatever the silly cows do with their too much time upon their hands.

This not really job for academic man but is making his ends meet for time being. Such is dreadful economic repression in this downtrodden country.All weathers does this job require to be done in, but also have little perks. Like woman in house near school crossing who invite Dave in for hot drink and bun when he has got rid of  kids. Her name is Poppy and she also was academic but now out on arse because of cut-backs. Anyways although she is an older person what does this matter if he get his hot drink there plus some intelligent chatting. Also as English saying goes... it is often possible to have good fiddle with old violin.

I have personally oneself never watch this Mr Cox but sounds interesting when you describe. I have also never wondered why elephants don't hop or why bed bugs do not grow big as rabbit, (which would be unpleasant in extreme) but when one comes to thinking about it is indeed wonderful.

You say bigger animal live longer. Well what about tortoise which is not big but lives very long time? Of course it moves very slowly - slower than elephant - so perhaps this is reason.

Thank you for tip regarding reading through exam paper before commencing to answer question. I am all ready and set to go.

I would rather not discuss about gay people in porn industry. Perhaps you address question, when you meet him, to Sven (who is not gay, by the way)

This Mr Cox is professor? Well who is doing teaching of his students at the university while he is wandering all over world messing with strange animals?

I do not expect you to know this, Georgie, but it is important question.

I have been drinking cup of coffee while I type this post to you, and also eaten one chocolate digestive biscuit made by the firm of McVitie. Now although one criticises your English country, I am having to say that we in Sweden do not have biscuit to compare with this. I am tempted to eat two but need to watch figure so you will want to watch it when we meet. (little joke)

Anyways, must now get on with work.

It won't be long now when we meet.

Anna

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Bums on seats

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That's what it's all about, Anna - Life. It's bums on seats. The propagation of the species.

But that's okay. It's what got ME here - and YOU too.

I wonder why so many 'creative' people are gay? But perhaps the percentage is no greater in the arty set that in ordinary folk. Maybe it just seems that way because they are in the public eye.

Do you get many gay folk in the porn industry?


You can learn a lot from cats. The other day I visited the home of a friend I had not seen for over a year. She has a cat. Although we had met before - the cat and I - you could not say we were good friends. But she immediately jumped on my knee. My friend shoo'd her off. Back she came. Again she was shoo'd off. Again, calmly, dignified she approached and jumped up on my knee. This time I said to my friend - Oh let her stay.

The cat shows us that we should not be put off if at first we are rejected. Rather, we should try again, and again... and again if necessary (always remembering to be calm and dignified about it). The odds are that in the end we shall get what we want.

I've never learned much from a frog. But I haven't met many frogs.

I watched old Coxey again on Sunday. Fascinating. He was telling us how there was a limit to how big an animal could grow - also a limit to how small it could be. And this was not solely to do with evolution and natural selection - it was governed by the laws of physics.

The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial in Australia and it won't grow any bigger. It can't, because of the laws of physics - and it is the same laws that prevent us from having hopping elephants.)

Oh, and also it seems that the bigger the animal the longer it lives. This is something to do with metabolism, or the speed at which it metabolises food (something like that). And that is why the bigger the animal the slower it moves (generally speaking).

So is there a lesson to be learnt here? If you want to live longer don't go rushing about everywhere?

I wish I had listened more during physics classes at school. 

Anyway, Anna, the sun is shining and I must be about my business. Not long now before we can get it on, eh.

Oh, and here's a tip for the exams: Read through the paper first, before starting to answer any question. Remember, the questions don't have to be answered in any particular order so best pick one that you feel confident about for your first answer. That will get you off to a good start.

How is Dave? Has he got a job yet?

Yours

George








Thursday, February 14, 2013

I did not know about this carbon atom thing but I check with Dave and he say this is quite correct.

So this mean the Pope also is just a home for carbon atoms? Does he know this? Has he perhaps been watching Professor Cox and thinks - Well, this is a turn down for the book... I am packing in all this religious stuff pronto. This would explain sudden resignation.

They are saying Pope resign because of ill health. This I think to be load of pillocks. But they can't say he resign because he want spend more time with family because he has not got one. Or has he?

Nor yet can they say he has just found out he is bunch of carbon atoms in fancy dress clothes. No, so they comes up with the old 'ill health' thing.

I am wondering also if Pope get Popemobile when he quits. Like top CEO allowed to keep Jaguar, as part of package, plus cash sum and pension. 

But to get back to more interesting topic which is me and you. Soon we shall be together and then we give our carbon atoms good shaking up if you know what I mean!

I already tell you that you are invited to graduation ceremony. Will give you chance also to once again meet brother Sven, who has now ceased to pursue claim you owe him money, so will be ok.  I look forward to wearing the gown plus funny hat with tassel. I once wear such outfit in one of Sven's films, when I pretend to be teacher with cane - but this time I will have clothes underneath. 

This give you idea of way your Anna has progressed, Georgie. No more the unhealthy (though well paid) porn career, but life of academic person.

Love

Anna

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A temporary home for some carbon atoms?

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We all come from a great lump of carbon, millions of years ago.

And we will all go back there.

That's what Brian Cox told me. He said he was "a temporary home for some carbon atoms." And that makes me and you the same, Anna.

He didn't just tell me - he told all those who watched 'The Wonder Of Life' on BBC2. 

I'm inclined to believe him. After all, he is a particle physicist. I could have been a particle physicist - except I was no good at maths. You need the maths to be a particle physicist.

Anyway, imagine that: you are just a string of carbon atoms (plus one or two others, but carbon is the most important) forming into the double-helix of DNA to hold us together. That plus a lot of water and loads of space.

But wait a minute - why say 'just'? Is it not wonderful that Life, that we have emerged? That we are HERE.

And anyway, them pesky carbon atoms may have over-reached themselves, Anna. And I'll tell you why. The lemur, up his tree in Madagascar, may not know what's going on but we do.

We know what the carbon atom is up to!  

We have choice. We can ask ourselves: do we want evolution to go this way or that?

And in the meantime - in the space between carbon lump and carbon lump - LET'S HAVE A BALL.

Let's give them carbon atoms a run for their money.



Glad to see you are having the odd game of pool with Dave. I prefer snooker myself - bigger table, longer cues, more skill. 

I see the Pope has resigned. I wonder if Tony Blair has got his application in yet. I couldn't cope with being Pope - I haven't got the Latin,  and those long frocks wouldn't suit me. Also I don't like the smell of the stuff they swing in that bucket... incense is it called?

I'm off to get my tea. Courtesy of M & S.

Forever thinking of you

George

Sunday, February 10, 2013

So what you saying Georgie is scholars have a hunch about his hunch! (this is small joke which depend on play on the words which could not be done in Swedish language, therefore cannot call this Swedish joke even though originating from Swedish person)

I read there is now disputing where to re bury this Richard III, whether to be in Westminster Abbey or in the cathedral of Leicester (do they have one?). I think should leave poor bugger where he is, except do not be allowing cars to drive over that bit of car park. Instead perhaps erect small memorial which could become a feature of car par thus attracting more visitors to this supermarket. Could have big advert: Richard III shops at ASDA... or whichever supermarket. But no, this is too silly, instead perhaps better would be "TESCO - the supermarket fit for a king."

I agree about habits - I have known people who have very dirty habits. But seem to enjoy them. This is regrettable.

I am stopping the revision because brain is hurting. Instead I go play   pool with Dave.

Looking forward to playing with you in nearest future.

Anna

Saturday, February 09, 2013

Obersvations

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I found myself huddled by a gas fire this morning, then realised it wasn't turned on.

The central heating was on so I wasn't  cold. It just shows though how habits control our lives so much.

Habits can be useful: they save us from having to think before we do everything - like tie our shoe-laces - but they can also be dangerous, and sometimes very hard to break.

So habits are a 'double-edged sword'. Is the broadsword double edged? I only ask because they have discovered the skeleton of Richard III underneath a car park in Leicester. I don't know what he was doing in Leicester. Was that where they fought the battle of Bosworth?

Some scholars think that his so called 'hunch' was perhaps just the extra accumulation of muscle developed through wielding a broadsword. Did you know, Anna, that he was the last English King to lead his army into battle? 

And something else I bet you didn't know: There is a Richard III society which aims to put right a lot of the bad (false) publicity put out by the Tudors (Richard being the last Plantagenet) 

Shakespeare did a hatchet job on him too. That was to get in with the current incumbent: Elizabeth I.

He never did get his knighthood though...sycophantic sod.

How are you getting on with your revision?

I didn't like school - but then, school didn't like me. So it was pretty even.

Once in biology we dissected a worm, to see how it worked. But, after we'd dissected it, it didn't work any more. The teacher told us to write up what we had learned. I wrote: If you want something to go on working don't dissect it.

Didn't he laugh. No, he didn't - he put me in detention.

Strange that I should later become an educator. 

Well, I can't sit here all day talking to the likes of you. There is a world outside, waiting for me to keep it turning.

Write soon

Your George

Sunday, February 03, 2013



What is with this ruminating?

Are you cow?

This is just joke because cow is ruminant, which is type of animal that chew stuff what they already eaten. But what you mean, Georgie, is that you been thinking. So why cannot one say thinking?

Nevertheless, I see points which you are making. I think so important is it that you makes out a life for oneself and not leave to some kind of palmist reader or the tea leaf person or the tarot card similar. Or to the clergy person who may mean well.

It is like this astrological thing what says you are affected by the position of stars and planets and stuff. The positions what they are occupy at time of birth. Well some people think there something in this and maybe they are right. But scientists say this load of pillocks, so how is one to judge? I do not know. But would not pay money to fat chubby man on the tv who says he knows all this. No way.

This man who walk to South Pole, Mr Fiennes. He say he has to do something to earn living. But could not he get job stacking shelves at the ASDA supermarket, for example? Or the B & Q where it seems they encourage the older person to employ. And where it is warm.

Though do not be concerned for comfort of this man. I hear on news that Miss Joanna Lumley is trustee of him and his pals. This is not same as girlfriend - is it? For how could she be girlfriend of all gang. Although in one's time one has done one's best to spread a little happiness.

But am sure one of trustee jobs is to see they all wrapped up warm and have suitable footwear.

I am wrapped up warm with the duvet while revising exam stuff. From time and time Dave bring me hot cup with chocolate and try to insinuate hairy arm around shoulders while pretending to adjust duvet. 

This if fine but would much rather have you covering me up.

Till such time

Love from Anna

Friday, February 01, 2013

On a train bound for nowhere

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I have been ruminating, Anna.

If there is no outside imperative - like God or some other supernatural force (as seems highly likely) then it's hard to see how you can get people to behave in a decent, civilised manner and to 'play the game' - unless they can be shown that behaving decently and playing the game is to their advantage. How do you persuade them? This, of course, has been one of the roles religion has played throughout history. Not the only role, but one of them.

Now it's okay for the likes of Brian Cox, Richard Dawkins and others (perhaps even me and you, Anna?) who have been dealt a decent hand in the game (genes, environment etc). Civilisation suits us. But what if you were born on a sink estate, or in a Calcutta street, with nothing much going for you in the the way of genes - or opportunity. Where is your incentive to play the game if you have been dealt such poor cards?

Nature is not about co-operation; it's about competition. Evolution is  the struggle for survival. Species don't co-operate with species - they compete for territory and food; they kill one another. So will we ever reach a point when 'the lion will (truly) lie down with the lamb?'

I don't know. But I am optimistic about humans; I believe our salvation lies in mankind - not the supernatural. And, despite all the horror perpetrated by man throughout history - and still going on today - there has been (and still is) lots of good stuff. We are moving forward, slowly perhaps, but at least moving forward. We are evolving: becoming more civilised, in the proper sense of the word.

I have just finished a book called 'The Psychopath Test' and one of the arguments put forward in the book is that many of our leaders: CEOs, politicians and so on, are psychopaths - not all but a lot of them. This, if true, is quite depressing, in fact it's dangerous, but even so we might just make it! In time, Reason may triumph over aggressive nationalism, religious fundamentalism, corporate greed, political corruption and individual selfishness - often born out of fear. Maybe we will evolve to a point where war, suffering, poverty, disease are just a chapter in the history books - or the history Kindles. I don't know. But we are all we have got; we are our only chance.

Meanwhile, on a seat across the aisle from me, a young man closes his eyes and rests his head on his girlfriend's shoulder. She puts her arm around him and draws him to her so that his head nestles in her neck. She gently pats his back, like a mother soothing a child.
I find this heart warming.

In the seat in front of them a woman applies her make-up: deft strokes of a mascara brush, all the while chatting to her friend seated beside her.

It's going to be all right!

A man's voice over the speakers advises us that we are approaching our final destination, and that we should make sure we collect our belongings and mind the gap as we leave the train. He thanks us for travelling with Northern Rail.

I check: bag, scarf, gloves, mobile phone... yes I think that's all my belongings. As for this being my 'final destination'... well on this trip, anyway. They say that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive. I'll go with that.
Let's enjoy the journey... and hope that our final destination is a long way off yet.

By the way, Anna, Ranulph Fiennes, at the age of 68,  is setting out to walk to the South Pole. Good for him. I hope he remembers to take a warm vest - and a stout pair of boots.

No further word from Hector - yet.

Yours as ever

George