tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66159415434855890092024-03-29T11:02:41.331+00:00Something SurprisingScientific, Skeptical and Secular (and even anti-theistic)! These are the adventures of an ex-scientist, working as an engineer in energy research, and living in a world that is not secular enough.Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.comBlogger1050125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-6678355990720810222019-02-01T11:19:00.000+00:002019-02-01T11:19:32.206+00:00Option paralysisIt is said (although, by whom I do not know) that Einstein favoured a very limited wardrobe and although he had enough clothes for every day, they all had the same appearance.
It is also said that he made this choice to avoid 'option paralysis'.
The concept is entertaining and understandable. The only problem is that I'm not entirely clear whether Einstein actually said it.Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-83912327866115469402015-01-21T19:33:00.004+00:002015-01-21T19:34:09.801+00:00Tariq Ramadan and the Charlie Hebdo problemWhat is left to be said about the Charlie Hebdo crisis that unfolded in Paris earlier this month? Perhaps not much, but it won't stop me.
So a gang of muslim cowards hiding behind their semi-automatic weapons kills twelve innocent people in an office and runs away. This was somehow excused by the victims' 'crime' of depicting and ridiculing someone elses's non-existent prophet. Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-22645396168687045472015-01-10T10:00:00.000+00:002015-01-10T10:00:00.440+00:00Ten Commandments for a secular lifeBertrand Russell wrote his Liberal Decalogue or ten commandments for a good life in 1951."The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:1/ Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.2/ Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.3/ Never try to discourage Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-66067771873834345622015-01-03T20:00:00.000+00:002015-01-03T20:00:00.837+00:00Sharia gets put back in its rightful place!Unlike the USA, the United Kingdom has no '1st Amendment' to its constitution. When it comes down to it, it has no constitution either. People argue with me that a constitution would not help us in any way and that might be a moot point, but the net result is that there is no requirement for the separation of church and state. Indeed, with the Church of England still performing Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-33532843729705601542014-12-30T20:00:00.000+00:002014-12-30T20:00:00.207+00:00Tolerances and complex problemsOne of my favourite quotations gets a regular airing . . . indeed much more regular than my blog posts have been recently.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."
H. L. Mencken (1880 to 1956)
Almost everyone laughs at that. It sounds both incisive and frivolous at the same time. I expect most people then dismiss it from Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-47360996376988549012013-08-14T22:01:00.000+01:002013-08-14T22:01:00.518+01:00No through roadThis is an interesting take on graffiti on road signs. I've posted some Parisian road sign graffiti before, but this is a new one on me. No through road for mythical characters here!
No through road for mythical saviours
Its interesting though. When I see people wearing a cross around their necks I usually find myself wanting to ask what the T stands for.
Now I know!Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-83289641601948951072013-08-13T16:53:00.000+01:002013-08-13T16:53:00.309+01:00More Parisian GraffitiI have often featured interesting graffiti on Something Surprising. Near the Pompidou Centre in Paris is this amazing face painted on a wall. Is it graffiti or, given its location, art?
Graffiti or art - near the Pompidou Centre in Paris
My feeling is that it is too good to be considered as modern art of the type favoured for modern art galleries.
I'll settle for calling it goodPlasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-55333560810398130702013-08-12T11:00:00.000+01:002013-08-12T21:56:59.825+01:00Physics on the MetroHave you ever spotted how the air moves on metro trains?
On ordinary trains with short carriages there is often a flow of air through the carriage as the train moves along. It brings blessed relief on those hot summer days!
But something different happens on those trains that are open from one end to the other, and the effect depends strongly on the number of people on the train.
One Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-5543352859100406422013-08-11T11:00:00.000+01:002013-08-11T11:00:02.287+01:00Hale and HeartyEnjoying a visit to Paris, I like to spot words in French that have obviously migrated into English.
Eiffel Tower - just before it was evacuated on August 9th, 2013
This week's word is 'hâlé' (pronounced ah-lay in French), meaning bronzed or sunburnt. I have no idea how to say the word in such a way as to distinguish it from the more common verb 'aller' meaning 'to go'. I assume Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-42853535503130622002013-08-10T16:20:00.001+01:002013-08-10T16:59:41.896+01:00Liberty - for the weekI'm away, enjoying a week of holiday. Guess where I am.
Liberty, equality and fraternity
It looks as though I might be in New York, but instead I find myself in Paris again, seeing some of the sites that I have never seen before, and visiting others, like this one, that I have seen from the train many times.
This is a 9m tall replica of the Statue of Liberty, and it can be found on Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-81778633017172172352013-08-02T22:07:00.000+01:002013-08-02T22:07:00.140+01:00Prince Rupert's legacyWatching a TV programme recently (which is something that I rarely do) I was reminded of the incredible properties of glass. Can you imagine a glass bulb that will not break when you hit it with a hammer, and yet will explode violently in the event of another tiny intervention.
If not, you will be amazed by Prince Rupert's Drops. Wikipedia has a good article on the topic (as you Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-72760250953795312182013-08-01T21:58:00.002+01:002013-08-01T21:58:21.476+01:00Inverse topiaryCruising down the River Thames, near Reading, I found that the graffiti artists have an unusual technique. They cut away the ivy on a railway embankment wall to leave their friendly message.
Topiary as graffiti
Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-19715359953846018012013-07-27T22:10:00.000+01:002013-07-27T22:10:41.349+01:00BBC film crewsHaving been somewhat involved with the workings of a BBC film crew yesterday, for a programme that will be hosted by Richard Hammond, I am left with a few observations about BBC film crews.
The staff all seemed to be polite, pleasant and reasonable people. They even gave the impression of understanding what our technical staff were talking about - at least when they took the time to listenPlasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-56662402835370509762013-07-26T21:00:00.000+01:002013-08-12T23:07:19.343+01:00Thought-provoking video about Intelligent DesignWhat a thought provoking video about Intelligent Design, from The Thinking Atheist!
It ends up with this quote from Stephen Fry.
Stephen Fry on the subject of Intelligent Design
Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-41120355164109343602013-07-26T18:39:00.001+01:002013-07-26T18:39:28.635+01:00Something Surprising is backAfter a break of a couple of weeks, a regular feed of posts will restart later this evening.
Thanks for continuing to follow.Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-56502054249878181982013-07-11T23:33:00.000+01:002013-07-11T23:50:04.098+01:00Another UK crisis - MPs payThe UK Government has imposed a 1% limit on the increase of salary for public sector workers for the next three years, having already frozen pay for the last two years. (At the same time thy increased pension contributions by 1.28% this year, leading to a net decrease in take-home pay while inflation is obviously raging.)
Some people find that outrageous. Others consider it to be an Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-50212971167532001572013-07-07T21:00:00.000+01:002013-07-07T22:37:27.335+01:00Skeptical about Skeptoid - go for green instead!The Skeptoid podcast has been one of my favourites for two or three years, and Brian Dunning's analyses of the topics that he covers generally have my trust. One or two things might have influenced my views about Dunning recently, but setting aside accusations of fraud that have echoed around the skeptical community (if indeed it really is a singular community) in this week's episode I Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-4355357454269191202013-07-06T23:00:00.000+01:002013-07-06T23:25:08.490+01:00New RDFRS newletter revealedThe Richard Dawkins Foundation(s) for Reason and Science (RDFRS) have released a newsletter, the first one being available here. (As you might know, there are two RDFRSs.)
Being a fan of Richard Dawkins and his work (as many of you will have spotted a long time ago) I eagerly clicked the link to see what fascinating information it might contain. Richard has such a good way of Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-19795657653056486092013-07-05T23:55:00.000+01:002013-07-06T00:35:12.385+01:00Downloading consciousness?Have you heard of the '2045 Project'? I started to hear a few whispers about this fascinating and seemingly impossible idea recently.
Founded by a wealth Russian entrepreneur, Dmitry Itskov, in February 2011, the project aims to develop the technology required to download a human mind into a robot avatar, essentially extending life, perhaps as far as immortality. By that time Itskov Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-5931429864663437022013-07-04T23:55:00.000+01:002013-07-04T23:55:00.408+01:00Does Creation science have any convincing arguments?
Oxford Skeptics in the Pub hosted Peter Harrison this week. He is based at St Andrews University (of which I am a graduate) so it was fun to have a chat with him. His talk was about creationism. As it said on the SITP site:
It’s easy to make fun of many creationist claims, but what are their strongest arguments?
Creationism
often takes a lot of flak for the kind of wild Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-30048408272935700072013-07-03T23:49:00.000+01:002013-07-03T23:49:08.958+01:00The WedgeAbout 20 years ago, the Discovery Institute, that ivory tower of 'intelligent design', was caught out.
Yes really!
It was revealed that they had a document that defined the Wedge Strategy - with a 20 year target of convincing the world that there was some science in the (not even a theory of) 'intelligent design'. Of course there isn't! (If you provide some evidence to disputePlasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-7639802568989440072013-07-02T23:26:00.002+01:002013-07-02T23:26:49.152+01:00Fast trains or fusion?The surprising thing is that someone else has finally noticed that we are not spending enough money on developing fusion as the power source of the future!
Andrew Steele wrote in the Guardian:
In among a raft of new infrastructure spending announced by the UK
government in the wake of last week's spending review, it was revealed
that the cost estimates for the HS2 high-speed train line had Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-47814464978593857522013-07-01T23:02:00.002+01:002013-07-01T23:18:34.821+01:00The rights of man - more Thomas PaineLast year I wrote about Thomas Paine, the first New Atheist, having just read his book 'The Age of Reason' which was decades ahead of its time when written in the 1790s. I hadn't followed up the subject very much until this week I heard an interview on The Pod Delusion (episode 193) with actor Ian Ruskin (starting at time stamp 14:32). Ruskin is putting on a one-man play about the Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-6034356125538589312013-06-30T22:46:00.001+01:002013-06-30T22:46:19.506+01:00Lennox's non-fairy tale? Oxford University Professor, John Lennox mumbled some incoherent nonsense (it is reported, e.g. here and here, and much better here) at the
'National Prayer Breakfast'. Presumably Lennox is quite good at mathematics. If not, he would not be a professor at Oxford University. Nevertheless, if the reports of the event are to be believed then he seems to grasp very little of logic.Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6615941543485589009.post-27107520267227149422013-06-29T22:52:00.000+01:002013-06-29T22:52:43.036+01:00Eating well in EnglandI ate very well in England, both last night and this lunch time. However, the words of W Somerset Maugham come to mind:
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }
"If you want to eat well in
England, eat three breakfasts."
Plasma Engineerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02891736950166421184noreply@blogger.com0