Andy Fletcher » Andy Fletcher

Andy Fletcher meets… Andy Fletcher!

Andy — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:42:00 +0000

It had to happen eventually, given that in this wonderful creation we live in (the universe!) every particle doesn’t simply follow one path, it follows ALL possible paths. At least according to Quantum Mechanics they do.

Andy Fletcher met Andy Fletcher in a rare quantum event on the 24th April 2008 at one of Andy’s seminars. There was, of course, some trepidation that two identical particles occupying the same space and time might result in a spontaneous mutual annihilation, but fortunately the laws of physics saw fit to look the other way for the evening and the Universe, Andy and myself survived the evening unscathed.

Andy’s talk was, I’m very pleased to say, exactly what I was hoping it would be. A lot of extremely complicated science presented in a lighthearted, intriguing and, most importantly understandable way (especially for a dunderhead like myself).

I got my copy of “Life, the Universe and Everything: Investigating God and the New Physics” signed with, and a rather fetching T-Shirt was also mine. You can’t really qualify as a geek without a T-Shirt that’s got a joke about Quantum Mechanics on it (black of course!) and the icing on the cake is it has “Andy Fletcher” written on it to boot.

Andy will of course, expect I suggest to anyone reading this that his book is not only a great read, but will add kudos to any bookshelf, so here’s where to get it. Get it!

Manners maketh man

Andy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:18:00 +0000

What is the problem with people? I’m stuck today behind a car that’s stopped right in the middle of the road. While I’m sat there wonder what on earth they are doing, the back door opens and this old lady climbs out. The car drives away. Since it’s obvious she got out on the wrong side and wants to get to the other side of the road, I check my mirrors for any approaching motorbikes or cyclists coming up behind me, so as it’s clear I smile politely and indicate to her she can cross – I won’t run her over.

Now, when someone does me a favour, particularly someone I’m keeping waiting I’d have the decency to smile a thank you. The look this lady gives me could be translated as “I should think so young man” or more likely “Sod you, I’d have crossed anyway. Do you know who I am?”.

Old people…one day I’m going to be one. Maybe I am one already and that’s how I should behave.

Confronted by an exhibition of blind, unwavering faith

Andy — Mon, 21 May 2007 01:11:00 +0000

Today I was confronted by an exhibition of blind, unwavering faith that I found quite alarming. My brother in law told my son (James – he has a keen interest in dinosaurs) that according to the Bible, not only did man once co-exist with dinosaurs, but that some dinosaurs were present on Noahs’ Ark.
My son, who is quite well read on the scientific points of evolution, quickly pointed out how absurd this was based on the geological records’ clear indication that the last dinosaurs died 65 million years ago, whereas modern humans only appeared 10 thousand or so years ago.
My own reading (in particular Stephen Hawkings’ “Brief History of Time”) has cast serious doubts on my own faith. The uncertainty principle of quatum mechanics would, from a mathematical viewpoint, appear to be a veritable disproval of the existance of a God who cared to take any active role in the development of creation. Quantum mechnics implies that if there is a God, He created the Universe and left it to run under a strict set of laws set at the moment of creation. The “big” point being that if this is the case, He chose to have no further dealings with the development of the Universe and “free will” (for instance, the ability to choose between following a religion, or not following one) does not even exist. The particles that make up our bodies, the life around us, our planet, everything are simply following paths set at the moment of creation (the Big Bang).
So, as a father, what do I tell my son? To believe, blindly, in the Bible, or to believe what he can see (and what science can “prove” is real).
The belief in a God precludes the need for proof. Proof of a God would deny the existance of such a being by removing the need for belief.
If there is a “God” and a “Heaven”, what is the real purpose of this existance? Simply to make God know we believe and then to get the ultimate prize of immortality? Sounds like a cheap way to get what we all really crave – and if life has taught me anything, nothing cheap is really worthwhile. Why would God treat humans any differently from all the other myriad ilfeforms on this sphere (including the Moselms, Jews, Hindus you name it).
I’m sorry, but this is the worst kind of false hope imaginable. Am I really to believe that all the people who lived prior to Christs birth are condemned to eternal damnation, or just cold death, whereas thos born after Him, and follow his faith can be “saved” and rewarded withh eternal life? It’s gotta be bollocks. I’m sticking with Jediism for now.

Sumavision hard disk caddy

Andy — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 22:30:00 +0000

Bought a Sumavision (no, I’ve never heard of them either) hard disk caddy that includes a digital video player chip and can plug right into the TV for playing AVI’s & ripped DVDs. Stuffed a spare hard disk in it, copied a load of AVI files that have been eating away at the hard disk space on my PC and pluddeg it into the telly.

Works an absolute treat. No mre burning DVDs just to have Nero chirpily tell me “burn process failed at 98%”. Oh no. Just plug it into the PC, copy the file(s), plug back into the TV and away you go. The kids aren’t hassling me to watch something they like that I happen to have downloaded anymore.

I’m going to get another one very soon!

My beloved Logitech MX1000 finally died

Andy — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 22:15:00 +0000

My beloved Logitech MX1000 finally died. Some wouldcurse and suggest that it can’t have been so great a quality mouse, but I know the amount of abuse it got and the pleasure it was to use for two years represented value for money. As luck would have it, one of my wifes’ friends managed to spill an entire glass of wine over my keyboard on the same weekend the MX1000 finally gave up the ghost, so it was time to replace both.

We all make mistakes, but I’ve never made a mistake by buying something with a Logitech badge on it. Until now….

Enter the MX3200 keyboard & mouse combo. It looked like an ideal choice and I was desperate enough not to have the patience and buy mail order/internet to save money and rushed right down to PC World to pick one up.

Firstly, the mouse. It’s good, although nothing like as good as the MX1000. Works fine but feels a bit cheap.

THE KEYBOARD. My God, the keyboard. The keys feel like something you’d expect on a $5 purchase. I could forgive that, but Logitech have (as far as I’m concerned) made a fatal design flaw in this keyboard. You cannot press down the “W”, “A” and spacebar keys simultaneously. This will mean nothing to some, but for anyone playing FPS games (Quake for me) it renders the keyboard useless. A total waste of money. Sadly I’ve read some reviews of this keyboard and hardware sites are “recommending” it, including recommending it to gamers. Don’t be fooled – it’s rubbish!

Andy — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:38:00 +0000

James enjoys rowing

Chungdokwan National Championships

Andy — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:34:00 +0000

This year we returned to the Chungdokwan National Championships. James had a gold medal from last year to defend, and Emma had decided it was time she got into the competitive side of Taekwondo.

Here’s James in his Gold medal winning bout! (he’s in red).

And I’m very proud to say Emma was also successful! (she’s in red too)

Here “the gold”

I did have a couple of bouts myself – unfortunately my fighting obviously isn’t up to the standard of my children so we won’t be disscussing what the medals I came home with were. We had a great day, and I’m very proud to have two gold medalists. Looking forward to next year!

Party in a tank

Andy — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:51:00 +0000

Last December James had his birthday party in a tank (11th birthday! – how the time flies). We took a long half a dozen of his friends and the consensus appeared to be that it was the best party any of them had ever been to.

The “tank” is a converted 432 Personnel Carrier – the guy who owns it built the turret and fitted the seats into it himself. There just happened to be one seat free so I got to ride in it with the boys – fantastic!