links

You Might also have Missed …

Our regular round-up of link to stories you may have missed, and will probably be glad you had. 🙂

Now just what are they doing beneath the streets of London? Oh, yes, doing a marathon dig to create the tunnels for Crossrail. Here are some mind-boggling photographs.


Worried recently about getting hit by a meteor? You’re not the only one, ‘cos the little green men need to start worrying too. Apparently next year Mars may take a hit from a comet, or more likely its tail.

In other astronomical news, here’s a piece on how other objects dance around Earth in our orbit round the sun.

Closer to home, apparently British couples argue twice a week about the mess they live in.

Well who would have guessed? Dieting makes you feel guilty not thinner.

And while we’re all feeling aggrieved, here’s a rant about the lack of) science behind the idea of trying to determine someone’s ancestral origins from a simple DNA test, as many direct-to-consumer ancestry companies do.

And here’s one for the thinkers out there. Physicist Sean Carroll considers the relationship between science and morality, with diversions into what science and philosophy actually are and how they aren’t mutually exclusive.

After which we probably need to settle into bed with a good erotic story — if we can find one. Rowan Pelling, former editrice of the Erotic Review, reckons really good sex scenes are hard to find.

Never mind, here’s a story about a visit to Iceland’s infamous Penis Museum. It doesn’t sound all that entertaining really.

Continuing one of our recurrent themes, here’s one girl’s thoughts about whether to shave her pubic garden or not.

Finally we bring you an interactive map of (some of) the vaguely rude place-names of the world.

books, science

Book Review

Dr Geoffrey Garrett and Andrew Nott
Cause of Death: Memoirs of a Home Office Pathologist

For over 30 years Geoffrey Garrett was the senior Home Office pathologist for NW England. This means he got all the juicy jobs, like working out how some notorious murders (like one of the Moors Murders) were committed and the actual cause of death.

Most of it would have hardly been routine, even for an experienced pathologist, but you would never think so from reading this book. Garrett makes the job sound absolutely mundane and boring most of the time. And that’s a reflection on the book, because clearly the job wasn’t at all routine on the ground and Garret says this in a few places.

But I found the book dull. So dull I almost gave up reading it. The style is to me very flat and lifeless — like the corpses Garrett is so often examining. Not that we get much detail of those examinations, beyond a few bare medical facts: so many wounds, such and such internal damage, a few broken ribs and skulls. And a lot of it obfuscated in medical terminology which is hardly ever explained.

Indeed the book is so bland it is not at all gruesome. Surely it should be gruesome? OK we don’t need great detail of the basic autopsy method every time (Garrett covers that once in the introduction, though even that is a bit sketchy) but we would benefit from more on the methods specific to the cases. For instance, what is the test done on blood to determine the level of carbon monoxide present; and how is it done? We’re never told. As a scientist, I wanted to know.

Yes, I wanted a lot more. More on the tests which are done, but also more on the forensic investigative process; more interesting puzzles to solve and how they were solved. I had expected this and that I didn’t get it left me feeling somewhat short-changed.

This should have been an interesting book, illuminating a world which, thankfully, most of us are never involved with. But sadly for me it failed.

Overall rating: ★★☆☆☆

books

World Book Day

Today is apparently World Book Day — but only in the UK and Ireland.

I have just two observations:

  1. If it is only in the UK and Ireland it isn’t WORLD Book Day is it!
    Apparently the rest of the world celebrates World Book Day on 23 April — which is Shakespeare’s birthday, and hence a much more appropriate day. But of course we can’t do that because (a) it might clash with Easter holidays when children (at whom this is largely aimed) aren’t in school and (b) it is St George’s Day (which never mattered to the English before).
  2. And anyway, who knew? I’m a book-o-phile, and I didn’t know. Which shows just how well publicised it has been.

Come on guys: must do better! Let’s get this together. It’s especially important that we engage kids in reading — reading anything will do! So let’s get together with the rest of the world, celebrate a single day and get the publicity working.

nudism, personal

Five Questions, Series 3, #5

OK, guys & gals, we’ve come to the last of the Five Questions I posed some weeks ago. So here goes …


Question 5. If you could get everyone who reads this to do one thing, just once, what would you get them to do?

Now this probably isn’t going to come as a surprise to many of you but I think my answer would have to be:

To go completely nude in public, or just in their garden, for 1 hour during the hours of daylight with their friends and/or family.

Those who read here regularly will how I believe that we would all be better adjusted mentally, and healthier, if we were all more comfortable with our bodies, nudity, sex and sexuality. We would be more comfortable discussing “intimate” matters with our doctors so we wouldn’t delay seeking help for supposedly embarrassing ailments. We need to normalise nudity and sexuality, not marginalise and criminalise them.

To go nude, with friends and family is the start of this process. I was brought up in a family where nudity was nothing to be remarked about, and indeed quite normal. Consequently I have no fear of being nude, of seeing other others nude, nor of discussing anything “embarrassing” with my doctor. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, or embarrassed about — at the end of the day we all know, give or take the odd scar and mole, what’s underneath those jeans and t-shirt. So where’s the problem?

And no, being the wrong size or shape isn’t an excuse! We’re all the wrong size and shape, because there is no right size and shape! We’re all different. Some are tall, some short; some fat, some thin; some have darker skin than others; some have larger or smaller accoutrements than others. It’s all normal. And the variety is all part of the spice of life. No men, you don’t end up getting an erection (and frankly so what if you do, it’s natural); girls don’t end up looking at every bloke’s dangly bits; and men don’t spend their whole time ogling girls’ chests (or lower). No-one gives stuff whether you shaved there or not. And no, it doesn’t pervert children; they’re actually remarkable unfazed by it all and there’s actually evidence they end up better adjusted. So you end up behaving like civilised beings! Try asking the Swedes, where anything other than a totally nude, mixed sauna is seen as rather odd.

Indeed if we could get people to experience social nudity, then I bet that a good proportion of them would actually enjoy it and find it liberating. They may well end up wondering what all the fuss was about.

In my view social nudity is a basic human right, and I think all public swimming pools etc. should have to provide a few hours of clothes optional sessions every week. I bet it would soon catch on (and no, not for those reasons).

Try it, you might like it!

— oo OO oo —
OK, that concludes Five Questions, Series 3. I’ll do another series in a while.

Meantime, do please suggest suitable questions for consideration.

photography

Weekly Photograph

I took this while sitting people watching at London’s Paddington Station. GOK what these two where on, or where they’d been, at 10 in the morning!

Jack Hats
Jack Hats
London Paddington; July 2012

personal, ramblings

Pet Hates

I’ve been writing this post, on and off, for a long time. So now it’s got to be a bit of a long rant. And I’m going to subject you to it anyway. Well it’s my blog, so there! Sorry!

Pet hates. Things which always irritate or annoy you, wherever, however and regardless of how well intentioned. They might be small things, or big things, but we all have them. Here are a few of mine …

What Will the Neighbours Think? I don’t give a flying ferret what the neighbours think. If they don’t like what I do then too bad. I’m unlikely to be doing anything illegal. And if they think what I’m doing is immoral then it is clearly they who have the problem because I wouldn’t be doing it if I thought it was. Remember Allen Walker Read: Obscenity lies not in words or things, but in attitudes that people have about words and things. Same for (im)morality, dislike, distaste and all this other dis-es.

Net Curtains. I have nothing to hide and nothing much worth nicking. I like light; indeed I need light to combat the SAD. And I like to be able to look out of the window. So we have no net curtains at home, neither do we normally draw the curtains after dark. And the first thing I do in an hotel room is to work out how to open the net curtains (and if possible open the window) and let in the light and the air.

Muzak. I detest background music: in shops, pubs, lifts — anywhere, even at home. It is pollution which clogs up brain-space to no useful effect. If I want to talk to someone I don’t want to have to shout over muzak to make myself heard. And if I don’t want to talk I want quiet to allow my brain to think and concentrate or just free-cycle and relax. If I want to listen to music I’ll listen to what I choose, when I choose. But fortunately I can tune out a lot of muzak, as long as it isn’t too loud.

Unnecessary formality. Formality, like etiquette, is bogus and unnecessary. I’m not a fan of ties, nor of jackets and even less of suits. I have never worn a DJ/tuxedo in my life and I’m not going to start now. And as for morning dress and top hats … Bah! Humbug! I’ve always known people by their Christian (given) names and not as Mr Bloggs or Mrs Mopp, nor as Aunt or Uncle, unless the individuals themselves insisted. Let’s be genuine and not hide behind false Dickensian obsequiousness. If I’m good enough, you take me as I am. If you don’t care to then you’re not good enough. Informality rules. Who was it said, Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter.

Being expected to take part. Aaarrrggghhhh!!!! Run away fast! This was one of the banes of my working life. There were always work events that one was expected to go to. You all want to go out for Christmas lunch? Fine you go; if it is convenient I may come, but I’m not travelling 50 miles at my own expense to do so. I don’t much want to socialise with the people I work with all day, even if I do like them. Don’t we see enough of each other? No, I’m not going to the annual dinner/dance. Yeuch! And the more you expect me to the less likely I am to go. If I want to go, I’ll go. If I don’t, I won’t. I’m my own person, not a company man and I always had a life outside work. And if management doesn’t like it well too bad. I wonder why I was never seen as management material?

Lying. We are never, it seems, these days told the truth. Let alone the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Everyone tells us what they think we want to hear or how they would like it to be. Look at what goes on around you. Politicians lie to us. Advertisements lie to us. Businesses, all businesses, lie to us. Religion lies to us. Shopkeepers lie to us. Call it “distorting the truth” if you want to be mealy-mouthed about it, but basically it is all lies, PR and marketing. There is an increasing culture of lying. People lie to their insurance companies — either they don’t tell them things, or they make what are basically fraudulent claims — and they’ll admit it to you. “I said I was hurt in that crash to get some compensation, but I wasn’t really” or “Oh I didn’t bother declaring that to the tax man”. Some cultures are worse than others; some have a basic tenet that they will tell you what they think you want to hear, regardless of whether it is true.

Bad Manners & Service. If you’re going to work in a service industry, indeed if you’re going to live in society, learn some customer care and to be polite to people. It isn’t hard, but you do have to accept that everything isn’t just about you! You are always going to have to tell people bad news. Be polite; say “I’m sorry”; and you will be forgiven a lot by most people most of the time. What annoys people is either being lied to (see above) or being told nothing. Yes, it is something you have to learn. It isn’t easy to learn to say “I’m sorry; I screwed it up” but there are times you have to.

Older people get a bad rap for saying things badly or out of turn, when they should know better. Often they do know better but can’t help themselves. Apparently what happens is that there is a control mechanism in the brain which stops us saying whatever stupid thing comes into our mind but rephrase it before it reaches our mouth. As we age this control mechanism breaks down and the words spill out before the control mechanism engages. It doesn’t make it easier when you’re on the receiving end, but at least it is medically recognised.

Speaking Lifts. Lift going up. B****r off! First floor. Doors opening. Yes, I can see the doors are opening! OK, OK, I know that it helps the visually impaired, but that doesn’t mean it can’t annoy me. The Sirius Cybernetics Corporation™ has a lot to answer for! Glad to be of service. Have a nice day. Aaarrrggghhhh!!!!

People Who Don’t Think. It is suggested (I think there’s research behind it but I can’t find the reference) that 5% of people are unable to think; 5% can think and do so; the other 90% can think and don’t bother. The 90% cover their tracks by making assumptions. Dangerous. Very dangerous. Either that or they swallow whole the opinions they’re spoon-fed, usually by the media, politicians or religion. This itself involves a big assumption: that these proponents are always right. Not only do people not think about what they (purportedly) believe, they can’t even think about the possible consequences of their own actions.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I seen scaffolders lobbing scaffold clamps to each other, even dropping then to a mate 5 floors below, without hard hats. Surely someone of the meanest intelligence (and many scaffolders aren’t) can see what damage a scaffold clamp dropped even 2 floors would do to their skull. But no. They can’t — or won’t — think about it.

OK, that’s maybe a slightly extreme example, but this afflicts nearly everyone. If people thought about the consequences of what they say and do, they would behave a lot better. For a start they would drive a lot better; they wouldn’t weave in and out of traffic, cutting up other motorists. They get enraged when others do it to them but cannot see what they themselves are doing.

People have no concept of putting themselves in someone else’s shoes; or of considering the effects of what they say and do. Yes, we all do it; it’s hard not to at times. I feel sure it’s part of the spectrum of autism, albeit a long way from the full-blown syndrome.

People Who Assume I Think Like Them. Following on from the previous item, most people make the big assumption that, whatever we are discussing, I (indeed everyone) must think the same way they do. The trouble is, invariably I don’t. I give them some novel twist on the subject. And the response? “Oh, I never thought a
bout that” or “Do you really think so?” or “But that can’t be right”. In other words it doesn’t accord with their blinkered world view. People have different outlooks on life; learn to live with it. And learn too that sometimes people wind you up with silly alternative views to make you think, shut you up or just for the hell of it!

There’s one of our friends who will learn one day that if he is too inquisitive, or makes too much of an assumption, he gets a crazy answer from me. He dropped me the other day at my osteopath’s. My osteopath is also my hypnotherapist. When he picked me up 2 hours later he assumed I had had 2 hours physiotherapy. I pointed out, wickedly, that he was making an assumption and that for all he knew I’d been shagging the guy’s wife — or daughter — preferably his daughter. This scenario has been repeated several times, and he still hasn’t learnt!

Rant over. Your turn!?

books

Book Reviews

I don’t actually get through many books these days. When I get to read — usually in bed — I usually find I need something lighter or shorter to read, or at least a book I can dip into at random; something to sample for amusement and interest. So reading a book from cover to cover is relatively are for me these days. This has never been helped by the fact that my natural reading speed is that of a snail, and have never properly mastered the art of speed reading. Given that my spelling is also fairly crummy I wonder if I may be, say, 10% dyslexic. Or, as my handwriting is also abysmal, maybe it is something to do with eye, brain and hand coordination.

Anyway I’ve decided that when I do finish a book, or have sampled a major part of one, I’ll write a quick review note here. So we’ll start with the book I finished a couple of days ago …

Peter Silverton
Filthy English: The How, Why, When and What of Everyday Swearing

Peter Silverton is a journalist who cut his hacking teeth on writing about punk music and interviewing the likes of the Sex Pistols. So he’s in a good position to know something about foul language. He takes us on a journey through the development and use of the whole gamut of swearing: what the words are, what they actually mean, where they come from, when did they arrive and how has their meaning changed over time.

We’re taken on various journeys. Not just that of language used on the street or in the pub; nor just that written (or more usually not written) in the papers, dictionaries and books, but right across the spectrum of language use including pop music, TV and radio.

Having said that the book is a bit of a mix. Some chapters approach the subject from the point of view of the content: sex, genitals, excretion, family relations, sexuality. But others approach it from the direction of the medium: music, newspapers, football etc. I found this split approach rather unnecessary and repetitive. Intertwined with this there are, however, some interesting diversions into the relationship of our swearwords with those of other languages.

Despite my interest in language I have to admit I found the book slightly tedious going. Yes, for someone interested in language, it was interesting in parts. But I found Silverton’s style somewhat pedestrian, stodgy and very “same-y”. I also wanted more detail; greater depth.

This is a book to interest the averagely intelligent reader, which is actually no bad thing. It is not a book for someone with a deep interest the English language and a thirst for esoteric knowledge.

Overall rating: ★★★☆☆

personal

Five Questions, Series 3, #4

Time to answer the next of the Five Question I posed some weeks ago.


Question 4. What’s an as yet non-existent thing about which you’ve thought “why hasn’t someone created that yet?”

Do you remember this, from the White Queen in Alice in Wonderland?

Alice laughed: “There’s no use trying,” she said; “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

Well that’s a bit what it’s like trying to think of non-existent things which should exist. One doesn’t get enough practice now one’s not engaged daily in mortal combat against corporate processes and management. So when one tries, the mind goes blank.

Hence I’m a bit stuck for ideas for a better widgetything. There are, though, some things I can think of — except they’re more by way of attributes than tangible things. Two that stand out are:

a. common sense, and
b. governments that understand procurement and contracts

Well actually one could fix both of those with a logic equivalent of the Babel Fish: a device — maybe we’ll call it the Alice Fish — which when applied to someone’s brain (maybe via an ear, or just with a limpet sucker thingy to the skull) would instantly impart an inexorable need to not just think, but think logically.

You might also remember that 5% of people can’t think, 5% can think and do, while the other 90% can think but don’t bother. So our Alice Fish should be able to fix the 90%, at least.

What would you all like to see, that no-one has yet invented?

Oh, and apologies to all the girls out there called Alice Fish! 🙂