Cartoon Time.

Oxford Dodo was shot in head, scans find

From The BBC

20 April 2018

The Oxford Dodo - the world's most famous example of the extinct bird - was shot in the head, research has found. Historians believed the flightless creature had been kept alive in a 17th Century London townhouse. But recent forensic analysis of its skull found lead shot pellets, which were typically used to hunt wildfowl. Scientists hope to test the fragments to establish where the bird met its end. Oxford University has held the mummified skull and foot at its Natural History Museum for more than 300 years.

The specimen represents the most complete remains of a single dodo, and contains the only soft tissue samples known to exist. It has proved invaluable in learning more about the species, which became extinct 70 years after it was discovered on the island of Mauritius in 1598. But the Oxford Dodo's own fate had remained a mystery.

However, a team at the University of Warwick used forensic CT scanning to create a three-dimensional digital replica of its skull. The technology, which has also been used in criminal trials, showed evidence that the bird had been shot in the back of the head and neck. Prof Mark Williams, of the university's Warwick Manufacturing Group, said: "When we were first asked to scan the Dodo, we were hoping to study its anatomy and shed some new light on how it existed. In our wildest dreams, we never expected to find what we did."

The Oxford Dodo originally came to the city as part of a collection of specimens and artefacts compiled by John Tradescant in the 17th Century. Its remains ended up in the university museum, where author Lewis Carroll is said to have found inspiration for the dodo character in Alice in Wonderland. Museum director Prof Paul Smith said it was "a really great surprise" to learn lead pellets had been found embedded in the skin and the bone of the dodo, which he described as an "icon of extinction".

[OK, putting the weird ‘head-shot’ to one side for a moment….. this bit struck me: contains the only soft tissue samples known to exist. Presumably that means DNA? Maybe recoverable DNA in sufficient quantities to do a full genome? Would that mean there might be enough left to ‘magic up’ an egg if they can find a suitable host to produce one? Could they, at some point, bring the Dodo back from extinction? I mean it’d be a LOT easier that dinosaurs or (probably) mammoths they’ve been talking about for years. Just think of the possibilities….. Dodo burgers from KFC….. Dodo Tikka Masala…… Dodo Jambalaya….. After all the reason they (supposedly) went extinct in the first place was because they tasted so damned good…. ]

Just Finished Reading: The Story of the Human Body – Evolution, Health and Disease by Daniel Lieberman (FP: 2013)

It’s hard not to be fascinated by the evolution of your own species. Equally it’s not hard to find the spate of global health issues both mysterious and worrying. In this deeply researched and wide ranging book the author deftly connects the two.

In the first half of the book the author delves back 6 million years to the era where humans and apes shared a common ancestor. Since that far away time we have, subtle change built on subtle change eventually, some half million years ago, produced Homo sapiens – us. When climate change radically altered African forests our ancestors were forced to travel further and further, change their mostly fruit diet to something far more varied and painfully learn to communicate complex ideas necessary to organise hunting parties. As adaptation led to further change we stood up, began walking longer distances than our more ape-like ancestors would have found impossible and then learnt to run long distances hunting much larger prey to exhaustion. With hands free to carry, craft and throw increasing sophisticated weapons (starting with thrown rocks, heat hardened spears and bow fired arrows) we became the terror of the grassland and began our expansion across the whole globe. Humans became an astounding evolutionary success story the like of which had rarely been seen before.

But here in the early 21st century we are learning that what so superbly adapted us to life on the African veldt is sometimes less than ideal today. With incidents of chronic medical conditions associated with modernity in danger of overwhelming health services across all developed nations is it time to look again at how we got here and what it means to be human. The author certainly thinks so. One of the major problems experienced wherever western style culture has prospered is the so-called obesity epidemic. It seems perversely easy to put on weight yet almost impossible to lose it again. Why? How is it that previously rare conditions like Type 2 diabetes has exploded across the developed world in the space of a few generations? More importantly is there anything we can do about them before they bankrupt nations already dealing with an aging and ailing population.
This is, I think, where I became slightly disappointed with the authors narrative. So far he had been excellent explaining exactly how our ancestors evolved and what pressures in the environment produced those changes. Likewise he made an excellent argument putting forward the idea that it was the mismatch between what we are evolved for – life on the African plain – and the environment we have created for ourselves in the 21st century. Those problems are caused by (and I agree with the author here) by the sheer abundance of high energy food – which we crave – and the increasing level of comfort around everything we do. The solution to all this – and no, it isn’t going back to a more Palaeolithic lifestyle! – is eating less, doing more and to stop demanding more and more comfort in our lives. OK, this is essentially the same message that we are bombarded with almost daily but, as the author rightly points out, we are also bombarded with sugary drinks, treats, soft cakes and other easily digested pap. We love this because we are ‘designed’ to want calories to ensure that in the lean times we still have enough fat to get us through famine – except we have (at least in our part of the world) eliminated that famine. We are presently living in an endless time of plenty and its showing on our waistlines. So if willpower isn’t enough, and for most people it isn’t, to stop giving into monumental temptation governments, the author proposes, should be willing to nudge us in the right direction. As the book is written primarily from an American viewpoint this is a problem to the author who would generally eschew such things. Of course both the EU and UK are increasingly intervening in the food industry regulating labelling, salt and sugar levels and, of course, false advertising. It’s too soon to tell if these measures will have a noticeable impact on public health but time will tell. Like Tabaco regulation and decades of health warnings it is slowly being recognised that what we eat has a huge impact on our health and on our health bills.

This was a very interesting and highly informative read tinged with a little disappointment at the end. I think it’s certainly changed the way I look at health related issues – both my own and in the wider community – and that’s hardly ever a bad thing. At the very least I’m more aware of why I’m more inclined to do some of the things I do (and know that I shouldn’t) and I’m more able to rationally plan how to turn things around. Recommended for anyone interested in human health issues at all levels. Much more Biology and Human Biology to come.

Cartoon Time.

Be afraid...... Very afraid...... [lol]

Just Finished Reading: Secret Harmonies by Paul J McAuley (FP: 1989)

The failure of the colony ship to arrive was only the spark. The underlying cause of the rebellion had been growing down the years, ever since the original settlers had to deal with the regular influx of the disposed from far away Earth. But after decades of regular flights from the Wombworld, as the settlers called their original home, they had inexplicably stopped. No new technology, no new information, no new bodies to help tame a world hardly touched by man. Almost immediately there was a sense of alarm, of loss, of moving into territories unknown. Had they been abandoned and left to their own devices by an uncaring parent? Had something gone wrong with the ship to make it simply late or, worse, had something happened to Earth itself? A war maybe, or plague or asteroid strike. Not knowing was worse than any certainty and the natural instincts of the first families was to hunker down and control the situation. Naturally the long oppressed colony settlements throughout the thinly populated peninsula had other ideas. Finally free of Earth they could also be free from the controlling grip of the city – Port of Plenty. Rebellion, revolt and revolution was inevitable. Trapped in the middle of things is Richard Florey a university professor who dreams of understanding the planets weather systems and Miguel Lucas who just wants to be left alone and wander the scrublands unmolested. Neither would get their wish and before the end of things they would both see a great deal of death and destruction they could hardly imagine. But between the rebels and the city founders there is a third player unknown to either. Something that has little regard for the people of this alien world and something that has a plan that neither the victors nor the vanquished would wish on their most hated enemies.

I’ve read a few of this authors works before and I’ve always been impressed by his character driven stories. Despite that this book is based in the future and takes place on an alien world the people that populate it are as recognisable as your neighbours. They have hopes, dreams, fears and loves. They have depth, needs and disappointments. Before many pages are turned you care about them and want them to do well. All of the science-fiction stuff is background to a greater play – one about freedom and choice and self-determination. It puts people who would just rather get on with their lives in situations where difficult choices need to be made and either way, success or failure, people are likely to die – or worse. Like all good books it also poses the question to the reader: what would you do? Would you choose love over loyalty? Would you stand up to someone pointing a gun at you? Would you sacrifice yourself for future generations even knowing that no one will know what you did or why? Books like this are the reason I still read SF after over 40 years. Its books that involve you in other people’s lives. Its books that make you examine the things that are important in life. Its books, like this, that make you mull over things long after the last page is turned. Recommended.

Cartoon Time (click to enlarge).

Late risers at increased risk of early death, study finds

By Alex Therrien for BBC News

12 April 2018

People who go to bed late and struggle to wake in the morning are more likely to die prematurely than early risers, according to new research. Night owls are 10% more likely to have early deaths than morning larks, a study of some 433,000 people found. The research also found late risers were more likely to have a range of mental and physical illnesses. The paper's authors said more should be done to help night owls function in a "morning lark world".

Scientists asked study participants, who were aged 38 to 73, whether they considered themselves to be a "definite morning type", a "moderate morning type", a "moderate evening type", or a "definite evening type". The study, published in the journal Chronobiology International, then looked at deaths among these people for up to six and half years later. After adjusting for factors like age, sex, ethnicity, smoking, body mass index and socioeconomic status, researchers found the chance of an early death was lowest in the definite morning types, with the risk going up among each body clock type as they got later. Comparing the definite evening types with definite morning types, night owls were also 90% more likely to have psychological disorders and 30% more likely to have diabetes, as well as being more prone to gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. While the paper's authors did not look at how the health issues were being caused, they said it was likely that people with late body clocks were being harmed by having to adjust their habits to a "morning lark world".

Kristen Knutson, associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said: "It could be psychological stress, eating at the wrong time for your body, not exercising enough, not sleeping enough, being awake at night by yourself, maybe drug or alcohol use. There are a whole variety of unhealthy behaviours related to being up late in the dark by yourself." Malcolm von Schantz, professor of chronobiology at the University of Surrey, and another author of the paper, said the problems experienced by night owls were a "public health issue that can no longer be ignored". "We should discuss allowing evening types to start and finish work later, where practical," he said. "And we need more research about how we can help evening types cope with the higher effort of keeping their body clock in synchrony with sun time."

But while the study makes less than positive reading for late risers, Prof Knutson said night owls are not "doomed". Scientists say that about 40% to 70% of a person's circadian rhythm, or body clock, is genetic, with the rest influenced by environment and age. "Part of it you don't have any control over and part of it you might," Prof Knutson said.

Among the tips she and other sleep experts recommend to shift your body clock earlier are:

Make sure you are exposed to light early in the morning but not at night

Try to keep a regular bedtime and not let yourself drift to later bedtimes

Be regimented about adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours and recognise that the timing of when you sleep matters

Do things earlier and be less of an evening person as much as you can.

[OK, as a night owl I am less than impressed by both the study and the remedy for it. Personally if I tried to act as much as possible like a morning person that most definitely would shorten my life – probably as I accidently cut a vein whilst making tea at silly o’clock in the morning. Anyway, I thought we lived in a 24 hour culture. So what does it matter if I’m wide awake at 2am but don’t slide out of bed until 9am? I’d like to see a morning person compete with me at any skill based activity after midnight! Plus I’m a huge sceptic about this sort of thing. I bet there’s a huge range of ‘problems’ across the 433,000 people in the study. To say that 10% had ‘early deaths’ is to me meaningless. I also find it very interesting that the authors of the study said it was likely that people with late body clocks were being harmed by having to adjust their habits to a "morning lark world" yet still proposed the solution to the issue was doing exactly that….]

Just Finished Reading: The War in the West – A New History: Volume 1 Germany Ascendant 1939-1941 by James Holland (FP: 2015)

We all know the story. In September 1939 the technically advanced German army along with the best air support in the world erupted across the Polish border and started World War Two. Quickly defeating the Polish armed forces the victorious Germans turned on Norway, the Low Countries and France completely dominating them in frightening quick succession with Britain only surviving destruction by the skin of its teeth. Barely holding on during the Battle of Britain the English breathed a sigh of relief when Hitler attacked Russia despite his forces sweeping all before them yet again. Meanwhile German U-boats sank unprecedented numbers of allied ships bringing Britain’s capitulation due to starvation ever closer. Only America’s massive manufacturing base untouched by war could keep pace with both the increasingly desperate demands of the British and the depredations of the wolf-packs prowling the Atlantic.

All of that, or at least a goodly chunk of the received narrative is nonsense according to the author of this impressive part-work. Running to a little over 720 pages I waited until I had a lengthy break to do it justice. At the beginning of the book I was largely of the opinion that a mixture of luck, fortitude and Winston Churchill saved the day back in 1940. My opinion has since shifted somewhat. Although German armed forces are normally portrayed as technically brilliant and highly advanced this is only part of the story. Only a small number of German units were fully mechanised – most forced to walk across Europe – and the Army itself used thousands of horses to transport everything from supplies to artillery. Despite being famous for its tanks it transpired that France both had more of them and of a higher quality. The British Expeditionary Force sent to France was actually a far more integrated and mechanised force than the Germans it faced prior to the ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’. In the air the Germans initially had the advantage of any attacking force – the ability to attack anywhere at their own choosing without their enemies knowing where to concentrate their defences. When they tried it over the Channel and the South East of England it was a very different story. With Radar and a co-ordinated aerial defence strategy the Luftwaffe quickly realised they were up against something they had yet to face – an enemy air force at least their equal technically and one much better directed, led, supplied and reinforced. Looked at in this way it is little surprise that the Battle of Britain was lost by Germany and was a defeat they never really recovered from. Not only did this leave a powerful and dangerous enemy on their western flank but it also showed the world that German might could indeed be challenged and overcome. Britain then became a future bridgehead into Continental Europe growing stronger each month and ever eager for payback. Rather than dealing with this problem Germany and Hitler stupidly looked East.

Looked at from the point of view of Germany’s need for resources – rather than as just a string of German victories – things start making sense a great deal. With the Southern flank apparent secure with Italy joining the Axis and with the non-aggression pact with Russia (inexplicable to many at the time) securing the Eastern flank Germany needed a quick series of victories before their resources bottomed out and before the inevitable British blockade began to bite. It was a hell of a gamble and everything had to go right – always. Norway was only a victory of sorts securing sources of iron but losing much of its naval forces in the process (effectively meaning that a successful invasion of Britain became much more problematical), the invasion of Holland and France although spectacularly successful resulted in the loss of many aircraft that would take time to replace – using up precious resources – and this was exacerbated considerably by the failure to destroy the RAF at even greater cost. Despite a series of quick wins England was still in the fight and actually getting stronger. In order to secure the required resources to continue the fight the occupied territories were asset stripped and the much avoided war on two fronts became a necessity. Again the great gamble was undertaken with the attack on Soviet Russia. Everything rested on a complete and swift victory. If that was impossible then everything was lost.

Whilst not exactly a revisionist history this rather hefty volume did look at the same events we all know and look at them from much more an economic and strategic point of view. When you realise how strapped for resources Germany was even in 1939 when they started the whole affair you can see why they reacted how they did and why they attacked where they did. But the author shows the reality of the situation. From the earliest days of the conflict Germany was in a bind. Everything it did had to go well. Yet even victories as unprecedented as the 6 week defeat of France only made matters worse not better. Occupation cost men, time and money. Every tank lost, even plane shot down, every bullet fired had to be replaced from a shrinking pool of resources and through a highly inefficient production system. As the war grew though necessity the problems just got bigger and bigger. Eventually they would get so big as to fall on the Axis powers and bury them. As soon as they failed to defeat Britain (an almost impossible task in 1939 the author maintains) it was only a matter of time before the German war machine lay in ruins. This was a very interesting look at a war I’m pretty familiar with or I thought I was familiar with. It has both made me rethink my views on the war and feel the desire to dig deeper into the many strategic decisions (almost always bad) made by the Germans in particular in the early years of the war. There is much food for thought here and much to chew over. I’m really looking forward to the second volume which I’ll be reading over Christmas. Highly recommended for all history buffs.

Cartoon Time.

Baby, it’s COLD outside….

It seems that the only thing we learn from History is that we don’t learn from History. Because it looks like we’re slipping into a new Cold War a little bit more each day. Growing animosity to Russia from the old NATO countries has recently erupted into loud and very public slanging matches the like of which we haven’t really seen for some decades. I’m old enough to remember the original Cold War and although it was a pretty exciting time – nothing adds a particular frisson to the day than the ever present possibility of nuclear annihilation – I didn’t like it that much that I want to go through all that again.

Of course the cynic in me says that, with the recent practical destruction of ISIS and associated groups, the ‘War on Terror’ doesn’t really have the same headline grabbing power it once did. Time to look for a new enemy or, in these days or remakes, reboots and recycling, an old favourite: the Soviet Union AKA Russia. It has the advantage of easy brand recognition, familiar personalities and an older generation who can bore their children with stories of duck and cover and the 4 minute warning. Russia is a ready-made enemy ideally product placed to fill the bad-guy of the month slot so recently vacated by (insert latest Middle-Eastern terrorist group name here). Now the odds of us actually coming to blows with the Russians is vanishingly low – but all the better. We don’t actually have to prepare for conflict we just need to look (and spend) as if we do which will make the West’s hawks and defence contractors very happy indeed. Even more on the upside of history we appear to be moving beyond the rather disturbing 30’s feeling for a more comfortable 50’s one neatly jumping over the 40’s and that whole messy hot war thing.

Then, in the background is the ever present Chinese who seem to have dodged a bit of a bullet on this one. Despite talk of trade war – at least with the US – pretty much everyone thinks that annoying the Chinese is a bad idea. After all almost everything you use, wear, drive, listen to or play games on is either made in China or has components made in China. Oddly I say a baseball on one of my colleagues desks today brought back from the US by a friend. On picking it up I couldn’t help but notice that this icon of American culture was, in fact, made in China. So it’s probably not a good idea to pick a fight with them. I mean, they’ve already bought half the world and rent most of the rest. Personally if I had kids I’d be getting them a head start by teaching them basic Chinese. Sooner or later it’s going to become the 2nd global language of choice.

Anyway, back to the upcoming Cold War (unfortunately not exactly an antidote to Global Warming!) with Russia throwing its weight around trying to look impressive. They do seem to have made significant strides in propaganda and psychological warfare which you can’t help but admire. In that area we have quite a lot of ground to catch up. But I’m sure that similar dirty tricks are not beyond our capabilities. Despite the odd poisoning and TV appearance denying particular activities (when they even bother denying things that is) most of this new Cold War will likely to be fought on the Internet and in Social Media. Again Russia has significant experience in doing this but it’s only a matter of time before their own techniques are used against them and (as always) everyone loses. If things track as they look to be doing the next 10-20 years are going to be one hell of a surreal ride. To the Cold War history books – STAT! 

OK people.... I think it's *really* about time you got a life............ Practically the WHOLE cast of The Simpson's are stereotypes. It's why the comedy WORKS.

Finished..... Turn the page, please......

Cartoon Time.

South Korean university boycotted over 'killer robots'

By Jane Wakefield, BBC Technology reporter

5 April 2018

Leading AI experts have boycotted a South Korean university over a partnership with weapons manufacturer Hanwha Systems. More than 50 AI researchers from 30 countries signed a letter expressing concern about its plans to develop artificial intelligence for weapons. In response, the university said it would not be developing "autonomous lethal weapons". The boycott comes ahead of a UN meeting to discuss killer robots. Shin Sung-chul, president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kaist), said: "I reaffirm once again that Kaist will not conduct any research activities counter to human dignity including autonomous weapons lacking meaningful human control. Kaist is significantly aware of ethical concerns in the application of all technologies including artificial intelligence." He went on to explain that the university's project was centred on developing algorithms for "efficient logistical systems, unmanned navigation and aviation training systems". Prof Noel Sharkey, who heads the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, was one of the first to sign the letter and welcomed the university's response. "We received a letter from the president of Kaist making it clear that they would not help in the development of autonomous weapons systems. The signatories of the letter will need a little time to discuss the relationship between Kaist and Hanwha before lifting the boycott," he added. Until the boycott is lifted, academics will refuse to collaborate with any part of Kaist.

Next week in Geneva, 123 member nations of the UN will discuss the challenges posed by lethal autonomous weapons, or killer robots, with 22 of these nations calling for an outright ban on such weapons. "At a time when the United Nations is discussing how to contain the threat posed to international security by autonomous weapons, it is regrettable that a prestigious institution like Kaist looks to accelerate the arms race to develop such weapons," read the letter sent to Kaist, announcing the boycott. "If developed, autonomous weapons will be the third revolution in warfare. They will permit war to be fought faster and at a scale greater than ever before. They have the potential to be weapons of terror. Despots and terrorists could use them against innocent populations, removing any ethical restraints. This Pandora's box will be hard to close if it is opened." South Korea already has an army of robots patrolling the border with North Korea. The Samsung SGR-A1 carries a machine gun that can be switched to autonomous mode but is, at present, operated by humans via camera links.

[It’s good to see that other people share my paranoia/concern about the development of killer robots. Companies or Universities might (genuinely) say that algorithm ‘X’ or technology ‘Y’ is not intended to create a killer machine but develop them a bit, bolt them together and….. Skynet! In other news Sarah Connor has been seen in South Korea. Authorities are expressing interests in the present location of her son, John]

Happy Birthday to Me! 58 Today!!!

Just Couldn’t Finish Reading: The Crowd – A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon (FP: 1895)

This was billed as ‘one of the most influential works of Social Psychology in history’ and as being instrumental in creating a whole field of study – which, presumably, led to what we now call Sociology. From the 60 pages I managed (out of a total of 139 in my edition) I can see who that was the case. The author makes a determined effort to look at crowds from a scientific viewpoint and to actually understand why they behave in certain ways. As he was essentially creating a field of study the narrative was a bit of a mish-mash of schools of thought – inevitably – including biology, psychology, cultural studies and history (plus a bit of law thrown in for good measure). This is pretty much what I expected.

What I had real trouble with, and a major reason why I couldn’t finish this short book – which I had fully expected to polish off in a few days at least – was the archaic world view that kept getting in the way of the investigation in hand. Most noticeably was the superior attitude to both the white and, generally, European ‘race’. At first I could ignore the swipes at other ‘races’ particular ‘Latins’ but it quickly wore rather thin. Likewise his far from hidden disparagement of women – at first rather ‘amusing’ became quickly less so. In quite quick order my interest and therefore reading speed dropped substantially and after heroic efforts to get 60 pages in just couldn’t face another 80+ ahead of me. That’s a shame really. I’ve read other books from this era that were not anything like as racist nor misogynistic as this. It’s possibly the fact that it was from a French author but probably more likely just a sign of the times. Luckily I had intended buying another book of his on the psychology of revolutions but had yet to do so. Ironically I think I’ve dodged a bullet on that one. Obviously not recommended.   

Cartoon Time.

Reading: Q&A

One of the most common questions I’m asked is ‘How many books do you read?’ usually followed up by ‘Why do you read so much?’ Now, on average I presently read around 70 books a year. In my mid-late teens and in to my early 20’s I was averaging around 100 a year – a number I’m hoping to reprise once I retire. So, I don’t really regard 70 as ‘a lot’. Of course the average (whatever that means) in England & Wales is supposedly 3 a year. Yes, that’s right – 3. So, in comparison I guess 70 IS a lot. It just shouldn’t be. Another common question I’m asked is what I’m reading right then – usually in the surprised tone of voice: ‘What are you reading NOW?’ I actually get this a lot. It’s because I have a butterfly mind and have an interest in a great many subjects with almost the exclusive exception of sport – and I’m even developing some interest in various aspects of that. Everything else is, I believe, fair game.

I read essentially for three main reasons, entertainment, enlightenment and as something to pass the time. My entertainment is mostly provided by fiction. In my early years this was almost exclusively Science Fiction (where I picked up my love of all things scientific) but these days my tastes are far wider and I’ll read pretty much anything that looks interesting with the exception of Romance or Horror – although I do dip into the Horror genre from time to time (I’m actually a huge fan of the Vampire genre but, generally, don’t consider these to be horror per se). I’m a huge fan of Crime novels, Historical (especially war based), Spy stories, and general Political thrillers. I also like Fantasy novels but think that good ones are rather rare. It’s easy to write a bad fantasy novel and surprisingly easy to get it published. Likewise I like a good Urban Fantasy novel but these are even rarer and, it seems, bad ones are even easier to get published.

I’ve been looking for enlightenment between the covers of books since day one. I’m going to blame my teenage brain for that one. As I teenager I really didn’t have much clue about the world and was honestly confused by just about everything – from the people around me, the world around me and even myself. As it appeared that either no one else was interested in finding these things out (including my fellow High School students) and no one seemed to be around to help me I headed for our local library and began reading everything I could get my hands on – starting with History and Science. My initial knowledge base was so low though that it took years of random and largely undirected reading to even start thinking about things properly. It was probably only when I went to University that it all started to come together and make some sort of sense. Oddly for those three years I hardly read at all as I was both having too much fun and I was actually learning things in class for a (pleasant) change. University also introduced me to Philosophy which I had, oddly looking back, almost completely ignored up till that point.

After a few years’ unemployed (and reading more again) I managed to get a full time job and began to buy books by the truckload (or so it seemed). Most of them were fiction but the proportion of non-fiction grew steadily and I’m now reading non-fiction more often than novels. I’ve moved beyond my desire for enlightenment and my goal these days – probably unachievable – is to ‘understand the world and how we got here’. That’s the direction I’m aiming in at any rate. So, lots of history again and as much quality analysis as I can find. I do have the glimmer of an answer which is directing my reading to hopefully bring things more into focus. The need to know is most definitely driving me on. I feel it inside me stir every time I think of slacking. It’s one thing that completely amazes me about other people – that so many seem not to have that drive. They don’t feel the need to know stuff or the absolute joy of discovery or the sweet delight in finding out that something you believed for years was wrong but now you know enough about it to correct things. I just don’t get it. Even when they ask me ‘How do you know this stuff?’ I can only look at them incredulously and reply ‘How do you NOT know this stuff?’ Of course I’m normally a bit more diplomatic, laugh, and say ‘I read BOOKS and I remember things’. Oddly this does not often encourage people to follow my example. Sometimes it feels like I’ve just woken someone momentarily from a light afternoon nap only to watch them drop off again. It bemuses me and, as usual, anything that bemuses or confuses me sends me running to my book stock, a book shop or Amazon to begin the hunt for answers. To this day I’m still trying to wrap my head around a question that I was asked a year or so ago: ‘Why are you reading a book about a subject you know nothing about?’ I couldn’t help but think that the answer was obviously in the question. I read books about things I know little or nothing about BECAUSE I know little or nothing about them. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Or am I missing something?

Me neither..............!

Cartoon Time.

With 'Mad March' now over with we move into one of my favourite months - April. Not only is it my birthday later this month but (possibly just as important) it's Book Month here @ SaLT. So, rather more book related posts than normal. I hope that all of the bibliophiles out there enjoy what I have on offer.... Now go find a book & start reading.