Monday, May 21, 2007
Great Briton?
In the run-up to ITV's Greatest Briton 2007 extravaganze (their words), some website ran a preview and poll for its visitors (probably offline by now, so I won't bother telling you where to find it)
I voted for, well, that's my business isn't it? But I was fully expecting my choice to be leading the results. But no, who was at the top of the pile? Who's the greatest Briton as far as this poll was concerned? Non other than world-renowned theoretical physicist (his words) Stephen Hawking.
OK, fine.
But I have a theory too.
I reckon Stephen Hawking is a fake. Look, he's written all this stuff that no-one can understand. I could do that.
Frequently do.
But if no-one can understand it, how do you know its right? Huh?
No-one can prove black holes actually exist, so how can someone dedicate most of their lives to telling us how they work?
Someone (Not SH) claims to have seen one. In the distance. Well at one unbelievably long distance. And in fact all they said was "I don't know what that is, I expect it's a black hole." (my words).
What if we go out to look at one and on closer inspection it turns out to be, say, very dark blue. What if you fall through it and just come out on the other side? What if it only radiates a feeling of well-being and bonhomie?
If we believe everything SH says, space travellers of the future may waste light years diverting around black holes only to find that, actually, they were a bit of a short-cut. And quite pretty.
Discuss.
And vote for David Beckham.
I voted for, well, that's my business isn't it? But I was fully expecting my choice to be leading the results. But no, who was at the top of the pile? Who's the greatest Briton as far as this poll was concerned? Non other than world-renowned theoretical physicist (his words) Stephen Hawking.
OK, fine.
But I have a theory too.
I reckon Stephen Hawking is a fake. Look, he's written all this stuff that no-one can understand. I could do that.
Frequently do.
But if no-one can understand it, how do you know its right? Huh?
No-one can prove black holes actually exist, so how can someone dedicate most of their lives to telling us how they work?
Someone (Not SH) claims to have seen one. In the distance. Well at one unbelievably long distance. And in fact all they said was "I don't know what that is, I expect it's a black hole." (my words).
What if we go out to look at one and on closer inspection it turns out to be, say, very dark blue. What if you fall through it and just come out on the other side? What if it only radiates a feeling of well-being and bonhomie?
If we believe everything SH says, space travellers of the future may waste light years diverting around black holes only to find that, actually, they were a bit of a short-cut. And quite pretty.
Discuss.
And vote for David Beckham.
# posted by Grumpy Old Geoff @ Monday, May 21, 2007 
