Physics
Science
Authoritarianism
To Digital ID or Not to Digital ID?
Above, my mother’s ID card from back in the day. House points to any Puffin who can tell us when, where and why. The prime ministerial launch Meanwhile, decades later and across the waters, Prime [more…]
Culture
A View (1500 Miles Or So) From The Greenhouse; A Postcard
My loyal reader may recall the birth of my first grandchild, twelve calendar months ago this week. To recap (contextual) it was a traumatic time for the whole family, not least for both mother and [more…]
19th Century
Today’s 200th Anniversary of The Railway
This weekend sees the 200th anniversary of railways – or at least of the first steam locomotive-hauled passenger service, which took place on the Stockton to Darlington railway 200 years ago today (27th September). On [more…]
Health
Surviving a heart attack when alone
Two daughters duly came to visit last weekend (the third lives in Spain) and after a nice pub meal, a bit of a catch-up and a stroll around the marina in the sunshine I had [more…]
19th Century
The Shock of The Modern
Besides excitement and trauma, might the shock of the new also provide a synapse re-ordering adrenaline burst that remodels the brain? As a little boy the make-believe near-future modernist world of Thunderbirds (and the like) [more…]
Engineering
Solar Panel Installation for Dummies
I thought I might share my limited knowledge and experience with fellow GPers regarding solar panels or solar PV. From Wiki: ‘Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the [more…]
20th Century
The Only One in The World?
I’m a great believer that surges of adrenaline reshape the connections in the brain in the way a deluge of flood water might reshape a river valley. You are not the same person after an [more…]
Health
The Big Big D
From HMS Pinafore: Captain: Bad language or abuse, I never, never use, Whatever the emergency; Though “bother it” I may occasionally say, I never use a big, big D — Chorus: What, never? Captain: No, [more…]