Was the universe made for us?
May 28th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
At one level, the question may seem arrogant, even preposterous. After all, as a recent article in the “New Scientist” magazine put it:
“For much of our existence on Earth, we humans thought of ourselves as a pretty big deal. Then along came science and taught us how utterly insignificant we are. We aren’t the centre of the universe. We aren’t special. We are just a species of ape living on a smallish planet orbiting an unremarkable star in one galaxy among billions in a universe that had been around for 13.8 billion years without us.”
At another level, as the article – which can only be accessed online by subscription – points out, the laws of physics are ridiculously fine-tuned for you and me. All told, about 12 parameters – such as the values of the electromagnetic force and the strong nuclear force or the amount energy contained in empty space – have been identified as being just right for life. Why?
One answer is known as the strong anthropic principle which states that the universe is so perfect for life that it must have been made for us either by an intelligent creator or, more likely, because of some fundamental features of the cosmos that drives it towards intelligent life.
Another answer is known as the weak anthropic principle which states that, given that we are around to observe the universe, it simply has to allow for our existence.
Another, altogether more radical, proposition is that our universe is simply one of many multiverses, each with its own physical constants and laws. Wild as this idea seems, versions of it emerge from both quantum mechanics and standard cosmology.
So, how do you feel now?
Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)
When did the Second World War end in Europe?
May 27th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
At one level, the answer to this question is obvious. VE Day was 8 May 1945 and we have recently marked the 70th anniversary of this event.
At another level, the answer is more complicated. The deaths and destitution went on for much longer. Many Holocaust camp victims contined to die after liberation – they were just too weak or too ill. Many citizens across Europe died from cold or starvation. Some 26 million were displaced.
But what is often overlooked is that, at the end of the war, ethnic Germans throughout Central and Eastern Europe were victims too. It is estimated that over two million women and children were raped, usually by the victorious Soviet troops. In what we would today call a process of ethnic cleansing, some 12 M ethnic Germans were expelled – including all the 3 M Sudenten Germans in Czechoslovakia – and at least half a million died. It was the largest forced migration on world history.
In many cases, the techniques used to expel, beat or kill ethnic Germans deliberately emulated the techniques and horrors and even the locations of the Nazi atrocities during their occupation of the previous years. War brutalises soldiers and citizens and one can under stand how Germans were treated after the war but we cannot condone or excuse it. These were crimes and most of the victims – especially the children – could not be held culpable for the Nazi horrors.
All this was brought home in a BBC2 television programme broadcast this week entitled “1945: The Savage Peace”. Newsreel footage and eye witness reports were truly shocking. My wife is half Czech and, for a few months just after the end if the war, she was in Czechoslovakia as a baby with her family. The accounts of the post-war retributions in Czechoslovakia were especially hard to view.
You can find an article on the treatment of the Germans post-war here and you can find a lot more detail on the expulsions here.
Posted in History | Comments (2)
A moving, and ultimately uplifting, story from the ravages of Afghanistan
May 26th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Virtually all the news we receive from Afghanistan is depressing. So it is heart-warming to hear of the magnificent efforts of musicologist Ahmad Sarmast to create an institute for classical music in Kabul, although tragic to find that the price has been serious damage to his hearing. You can read this moving story here.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Nine important facts to remember as we grow older
May 26th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
#9 Death is the number 1 killer in the world.
#8 Life is sexually transmitted.
#7 Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
#6 Men have two motivations: hunger and hanky panky, and they can’t tell them apart. If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a sandwich.
#5 Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks, months, maybe years.
#4 Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.
#3 All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
#2 In the 1960s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal.
#1 Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers. What you do today might burn your butt tomorrow.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (0)
The sad death of “A Beautiful Mind”
May 25th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
I was really saddened by the news of the death in a road accident of the mathematics genius John Nash (86) and his wife Alicia (82). It is tragic that two people who lived so long and, in their different ways suffered so much, should die in circumstances where it appears that simply usng seat belts would have saved their lives.
For most people, including me, the most vivid memories associated with Nobel Prize Winner John Nash relate to Russell Crowe’s portrayal of the tortured academic in the film “A Beautiful Mind”. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it. You’ll find my review here.
Posted in American current affairs, Cultural issues | Comments (0)
In the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing a lot about the Duke of Wellington and the Battle of Waterloo
May 24th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The reason, of course, is because we are about to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the battle – one of the most important in European history – which took place on 18 June 1815 when Napoleon was finally defeated.
Interestingly the Prussian leader Blücher wanted to call the battle La Belle Alliance after the farmhouse where he met the Duke of Wellington, the leader of the British and other allied troops; the French called the conflict the battle of Mont St Jean after the place where it was in fact fought; but it was Wellington who decided to name it after his own headquarters some two and a quarter miles away.
I have just finished reading an interesting biography of Wellington which I have reviewed here. Some time ago, I read a fascinating comparison of Wellington and Napoleon which I have reviewed here.
Posted in History | Comments (1)
So who actually voted for whom in the General Election?
May 23rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In an analytical piece, Alberto Nardelli states:
“The general election result can be summarised in a nutshell: the Conservatives did well with voters that turn out. Labour did well with voters who don’t vote.
More than eight in 10 of those who had supported Cameron’s party five years ago did so again in this election, according to estimates calculated by Ipsos Mori.
But even more crucially to the election’s outcome, the Conservatives were not only best at holding on to their 2010 voters, they were also the most successful party among those groups with high turnout.”
There is no simple answer to Labour’s dilemma. Nardelli writes:
“Labour only had a clear lead over the Conservatives among 18- to 34-year-olds, voters in social class DE (the “semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations, unemployed and lowest grade occupations”), among private and social renters, and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voters.
But among all these groups, turnout was lower than the overall level of voter turnout (66%).
To make matters even worse for Labour, the party’s vote share actually fell among those aged 65 or above. Within this age group, Miliband’s party won 23% of the vote – down eight points on 2010.
Overall, Ed Miliband’s party held on to 72% of those who said they voted Labour in 2010. The party lost votes in relatively equal numbers to the Conservatives (8%), Ukip (6%), the Lib Dems, SNP and the Greens (all 5%).”
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (2)
My 11th short story: “A Life In A Box”
May 22nd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Another Friday; another from my collection of short stories.
Many of my stories are inspired in some way by my own experiences or contacts and “A Life In A Box” is loosely inspired by – and dedicated to – my late mother who was Italian. You can read it here.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)
The problem of card clash and how modern life can be so complicated
May 20th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
When I checked my credit card statement today, I found that last month I was charged for 12 journeys on London Transport even though I have a Freedom Pass. A quick check on the Transport For London website and I realised that I had fallen victim to the dreaded card clash – London Transport’s machines have been reading my credit card (which enables contactless payments) instead of my Freedom Pass, both of which are in the same wallet.
It’s amazing how long it can take to sort out such a simple issue.
First, I found that the number I was calling – obtained from the TFL website – was incorrect. Then, when I found the correct number on another page of the website, I was told that there was a problem with the contact centre and I should call later. Then I had to speak to several different contact centre staff and input credit card details before it was accepted that I had been the victim of card clash.
Next I had to make and receive further calls while a member of the centre consulted his supervisor to see if I could be repaid. Finally I was told that, because of the amount involved (£100 or so), I need to make an application by e-mail with copies of my credit card statement and my Freedom Pass.
I must have spent about half an hour in total on the phone waiting to get through and then speaking to around seven or eight members of staff.
When it goes smoothly, contactless payments are so convenient. When it goes wrong, it is so complicated and time-consuming to put right. It is not always easy being a consumer in this high tech era.
Posted in Consumer matters, My life & thoughts | Comments (2)
What’s the fastest-growing language in the UK?
May 20th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
According to this piece in today “Mirror” newspaper, it is the emoji. Indeed a survey has suggested that eight out of 10 people in the UK have used the symbols and icons to communicate, with 72% of 18 to 25-year-olds adding that they found it easier to put their feelings across using emoji than with words. I confess that even I use emojis sometimes, especially in text messages to relatives and close friends.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (1)