Star Trekking (across the Universe): Intech Planetarium Tuesday, Aug 25 2009

Holiday: Day 1, Monday.
Last week we spent a few days in Hampshire. As is our usual practice we started the visiting on the day of travel before arriving at the place we stay (in this case a cheap family room in a Travel-lodge). This time it was the Intech Science Centre just outside Winchester.

http://www.intech-uk.com/ 
Lady Hussar had got money off vouchers from the ‘web, and I think it cost about £20 for a family ticket, plus another £2 per person ( four people) for the addition of the planetarium. (fold put in, as it is a long post- but my experience was amazing)

Leave a Response »

 

Not an Atheist Sunday, May 3 2009

I don’t like calling myself an atheist. Atheism has the idea of rejection behind it, and I do not think too many atheists actually REJECT a god, but rather they do not come to a god in a first place.  We reject the notion of teaching/arguing there is a god, but then we also reject the idea of pixies and pink unicorns running the universe, but no one would ever label themselves as an apixiest or anunicornist.

I’ve decided to use ‘Humanist’ more often- because I know that is one set of Intelligent Designers who CAN change the planet, for good or ill.

4 Responses »

 

Elitest Bastard (aka Hussar goes off on one) Tuesday, Mar 10 2009

See that blue button with Richard Dawkins on it?  Click on it (not yet- I haven’t finished ranting at you) and you will go to the Carnival of the Elitist Bastards.  Who?  A bunch of bloggers generally pissed off with everything being so damn stupid.

Why am I proud to be an elitist?  The question should be why are you so unconcerned not to be?

We are people who are just annoyed that there is a movement against intellectualism.  I am sick and tired of being clever being seen as somehow a bad thing.  Someone who can kick, throw or hit a ball gets paid millions of pounds, while those who actually work worry about the recession.

People revel in not being good at maths.It’s seen as something funny.  I know I’m good at day to day maths, but I am amazed how many people don’t understand basic principles.

“How does this affect you?”  you say “why should you care?” Because a dumbed down population affects the economy and the planet.

People who don’t understand basic maths GET TO VOTE, often based on what they think will be best for the economy.  They can’t do percentages, for FSM’s sake, how are they supposed to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a Keynsian solution?

It is a fact that people, all of us, even Stephen Hawkins, are stupid to one degree or another.   We are very good at ignoring evidence that doesn’t back up our personal beliefs.  Jeremy Clarkson doesn’t like the fact that cars are contributing to destroying the planet. Solution? Insult environmentalists.  Republicans don’t like the fact that Neo-Con ideas have screwed up the market. Call Obama a socialist. The Religious Right don’t like the fact that science shows the Bible isn’t literally true. Solution? Attack anyone who relies on evidence rather than 4000 year old fairy-stories.

And where does it leave us? Click on the break, and I’ll tell you. Forcefully.

4 Responses »

 

I’m 40 today! Monday, Feb 23 2009

Oh bugger

3 Responses »

 

Bit of an incident- and thanks Sunday, Jan 25 2009

Had a bit of an incident at about 11:30pm last night- my wife knocked the cooker and somehow switched on the hob.  This caused a shallow frying pan to over heat, and the oil in it ignited.  This in turn set fire to a plastic saucepan handle.   When the fire alarm went off I rushed down stairs (everyone was in bed or going, or reading blogs), and ran into the kitchen. I turned off the hob, soaked a towel, throwing it over the flaming fat, and managing to cover the plastic handle at the same time.  I then opened the kitchen window.  I was in the kitchen for about 30 seconds to a minute.

I then called the Fire Brigade (despite my wife saying “why are you doing it that if it’s out”.)  They checked everything out and called a paramedic for me because of the smoke inhalation.  While waiting they put me on oxygen, partly because I was coughing (due to the acrid plastic smoke).

The paramedic checked my O2 level in my blood, and then took me up the hospital.  They checked my heart rate, and blood pressure which was 170 over 130!  They were a little concerned.  20 minutes later this had dropped, but was still high.  Because it was smoke inhalation I was put on pure oxygen for an over an hour.  Another blood pressure test was more normal (high end of acceptable), and a blood test (“This will hurt”, “I give blood”, “This will hurt”.  It did- turns out taking blood from an artery is a bit more hit and miss than taking it from a vein) showed no carbon monoxide.

I returned home (at 3 in the morning) wide awake, but with a sore throat!  House smells and the toaster has been condemned by the Fire Brigade (was close to the fire), along with the two pans in question (traitors).  They apparently have conducted a risk assessment (classing my 12 year old as a ‘Hazard’, much to his amusement), giving advice, and put up a couple of new smoke alarms.

One Response »

 

Unusual reasons to get the afternoon off Monday, Dec 8 2008

Couldn’t get back to the office after lunch.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/7771847.stm

Don’t want to say too much, in case I get a carpeting from the bosses, but as the article notes

“Specially trained prison service staff are at the scene.

A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman said: “Police are currently at the perimeter of Aylesbury Youth Offenders Institute supporting the Prison Service with a disturbance inside the building.”

Not exactly what you get for a landing fight between two lads!

The work can be crap, but the job can get interesting!

Leave a Response »

 

Earth Tremor in Buckinghamshire Wednesday, Feb 27 2008

At least that’s what I assume it was.  Sitting here half an hour ago- 1 in the morning, and the room began to shake, lasting about 5 seconds.  If you got it too let me know where you are  by posting below (0100 GMT 27 Feb 2008).

I thought ‘Hey an earth tremor- thats a new experience!’  Then I began to think, what if it wasn’t- what if it was the house?  The trouble is who do you ask at 1 in the morning?  I ended up phoning the police.  Confused the poor chap at the other end, as I asked where he was- threw him a bit to start with.

 I explained that I thought we had an earth tremor- and they were the only people I could think of awake at 1am.  He said he had felt something, and wondered what.  As he confirmed, others in the control room said they had felt something- as far as I could tell they had all been worried about being the first to say anything in case they were dreaming.

One Response »

 

Lamenting lost youth… Wednesday, Jan 9 2008

…not so much the loss of youth, but the fact that “If I knew then what I know now…”

 No, really, it’s just not fair.

 This all started about an hour ago, watching ‘Classic Albums’ on BBC4.  I wasn’t going to watch, but I missed the opening titles, and on re-entering the room I found it was “Night at the Opera” by Queen.  Being a bitt of a fan in my teens I watched.

 I’d forgotten, or possibly never realised how good they were.  I have/had this on tape (somewhere, possibly thrown away now).

 The production of the talent was something I can now appreciate.  Usually when it comes to presents I say not to worry, so end up with stuff I often don’t really want.  I want this on CD.

 It made me think. Youth is wasted on the young.  I didn’t appreciate Queen 20 years ago, not really.  I didn’t understand the skill and talent they contained.  Likewise, I have said for about 10 years if I could retake my O levels they would be stunning, especially subjects like English Lit.  I look at the opinions of teens now, and think “Was I like that?”

Leave a Response »