Why I hate commuting ... part 2

Picture this ... you're in London, in rush hour and you get on the tube train (an underground train or subway, for americans and others).

Now, the word 'train' should give it away really. Trains go fast ... admittedly tube trains don't always go fast but you get the idea, a tube train is at some point going to move.

So, you get on the tube and the sometimes grumpy, sometimes bored, occasionally witty driver says something like "mind the doors, this train is ready to depart". As it's at rush hour there are no seats left, it's standing room only. There follows an ear splitting noise (especially when you're right next to them) as the doors close.

That should give you and your fellow passengers a clue as to what is coming next.

But no, on each and every journey made at rush hour there is always at least one person in your carriage who has failed to realise that the train they have just boarded will at some point move; they have failed to notice the warning or the closing of the doors.

When the train moves forward they lurch, wildy grabbing on to anything close to hand.
And worse ... they always have a look of surprise on their face?!
And even worse than that ... the same thing happens at the next station!!

So please, I beg of you, take hold of the hand rail and be aware of what is going on around you. Don't try and read a broadsheet or put your make-up on. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart preferrably with your knees unlocked.

It might not look elegant but neither is sprawling face down into a stock brokers portfolio.

Why I hate commuting ... part 1

The company I work for has recently relocated. I can no longer have a pleasant walk to work. Instead, I have an hour commute - one short bus journey, two tube journeys and a light railway journey. All that to travel seven miles.

This morning I left the house at 7:45 and stopped travelling at 10:00. In that time, it took me about fifty minutes to travel 3 miles. After an incredibly slow stop-start tube journey, the tube line was suspended. My choice was joining a bus queue that was about 400 yards long to wait for an over-flowing bus to take me to the next interchange or try to find a bus going in the opposite direction and take the day off work. I chose the latter.

So I've got the day off today but I'll have to do it all again tomorrow.

Tell me, why do we do this?

Evolution ?

It would appear that worldwide society in generally becoming more religious and less secular/science-orientated in it's outlook. I'm sure this is due to a certain extent to the way the media highlights certain issues and events - such as the teaching of ID (intelligent design) in some US schools - but nevertheless it is worrying.

ID basically says Life, the Universe and everything shows so much purpose, order and complexity that it must have been designed (more detail here).

Thankfully the international scientific community has something to say about this. The BBC has this story - Scientists urge evolution lessons - which says, 'A statement signed by 67 national science academies says evidence on the origins of life is being "concealed, denied, or confused" in some classes'.

The paper says that there are certain evidence based facts that have never been contradicted by any experiements or observations (such as the age of the planet). It then goes on to point out the way in which science examines evidence and proposes hypotheses to be tested from which theories are developed. It also acknowledges that scientist are always willing to re-examine theories in light of new evidence - 'Science is open ended, and subject to correction and expansion as new theoretical and empirical understanding emerges'.

(The full report can be found here.)

Evolution should be taught in science classes. It should be debated, challenged, tested and examined as any theory in a science lesson should be. That is the nature of science. ID would have to earn it's place in the science lesson like any other new theory and, as yet, no papers on ID have been submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

In my opinion, the fact that this spinning ball of rock slowly developed the right conditions for life to emerge; that life survived mega quakes, asteroid strikes, extremes of weather conditions and tectonic upheaval; that life evolved in such diverse and wonderful ways is amazing. To put all that down to a designer seems a bit of a cop out.

I am in awe of the natural world because of it's origins. Look at a flower - isn't it more amazing that it evolved to be so beautiful?

Shocking!

The BBC has this rather worrying (to me) story - Love it or lose it

'Public libraries are on the verge of extinction warn campaigners. How can they be protected for the future? Be honest - when did you last use your local library? Do you even know where it is? There is a chance you might find out too late and it'll have closed.'

Well, I returned a book last week and it's at the bottom of my street.

I use my local library fairly regularly, not least because I can't alwasy afford to maintain my reading habit with brand new books! There are certain authors - Pratchett, Rowling, Gaiman, the ones I know I will read over and over - whose books I will always buy brand new and often in hard back. But for untried authors, recommended books, or a random browse, I will happily frequent the library. Luckily, we have quite a reasonable sized one with a good selection. And thankfully it's not too full of romance novels and DVDs! ;o)

I have many memories of being taken to the library by my parents and grandparents. I'm sure those visits helped to cement my relationship with books. It would be a real shame to see libraries close but as with most things ...
... you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

Happy Reading.