Comments on: I’m A Tory

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:57:35 +0000

Gia, please please please do the whole UK citizenship thing. I can’t begin to say how much I want to see your live video blog of the citizenship ceremony bollocks.

By: giagia

giagia — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:22:39 +0000

I’m almost 39. Great skin, eh? ;)

By: James

James — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:48:14 +0000

So, you’ve put off becoming British because of the administration involved? You do know we’re a nation of queue lovers don’t you?!? You came to Britain as a minor, that still could make you 38? Well that gives me an age range of 21-38 so far, I will find out your age damn you! I may as well say I would have been amazed to find you were over 40 going off your photos.

It is disappointing that more science isn’t on TV, but I guess it depends on your definition really. For example, do Adam Hart-Davis’ history of science programmes count? What about the all OU related programmes that go out? Can we even stretch the definition to include nature programs and the sky/cable channels? Even with all this though, I still think there could be a multiple of the output shown, especially when it comes to maths (hehe). I can see why tv execs are reluctant to commission yet another theoretical physics programme, especially when the subject evolves so slowly, but they could very easily expand their horizons. For me, I’m just glad Doctor Who is back on the telly.

On British politics, the solution is quite easy for me. I support the Green party for the simple reason that they are the only party which includes animal welfare as part of their manifesto. On top of that, environmentalism is perhaps the only real moral approach to macroeconomics that exists besides Marxism, but don’t get me wrong, I stand very much outside of the global warming camp.

By: giagia

giagia — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:42:55 +0000

Good thing I can’t vote in the UK then, eh? Still, if I was someone who had voted for Labour last time, I’d be feeling like I’d been taken advantage of, too… so the lesson we can learn from that is…? ‘British political parties are too extreme’? ‘Old socialists are idiots’? ‘How crap must it be to be Gordon Brown and have waited all his life to get this job and then so royally fucked it up’?…

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:35:16 +0000

If you vote for a politician rather than policies his party will make law you are going to be taken advantage of.

By: giagia

giagia — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:07:26 +0000

You probably wouldn’t be surprised when I say, “It’s very difficult to get science on tv these days.” That’s why we were so happy with Brian’s Horizon. That didn’t happen without lots and lots of arguing – I think Brian argued for about 5 months straight… But at least now, after it was successful, ‘the BBC’ are much more confident. AND they don’t think audiences are quite as stupid as they’ve thought.

Still… that’s only one department at the Beeb which is filled with people who actually love science.

I won’t even go into Channels 4 or 5. Jesus. Christ.

Once my life calms down a bit I will start the citizenship process…

As for politicians and not trusting them… I don’t trust *anyone*. I mean, I’ve been working for Hollywood for almost 3 years now!!!

By: Canon Alberic

Canon Alberic — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:33:12 +0000

Gia – do enjoy the blog which has given me the opportunity to make my sophisticated friends feel like cavemen (the cavepersons tend to do better) on the wonder that is Implicit.
I should be very careful with the politicians, especially when in opposition. They always let you down, and are very skilful at gaining support by a compromising cocktail of flattery and promises.
You might be amused to see how the story of Ed Vaizey’s trip played on the political blogs (memorably: “Ed Vaisey goes to Switzerland to visit his money”) and for balance Guido Fawkes is running an amusing series of threads on the quantum nature of decaying nulab political discourse.
For gods sake become an adminisphere Brit; all my friends in similar positions who’ve thought 2 years is long enough have suddenly found themeselves one citizenship (actually we’re all subjects of QE2, so much for Lexington!) short of a visa…
Finally, the prejudice against the visual arts (apart from Theatre) and science implicit in, to take a major institution, the BBC news agenda, reflects the very “literary” bias in Brit culture : only writing (and its derivatives theatre, film and music) are proper “culture”; all art is a pretensious waste of money; and all science is incomprehensible and dangerous. Only Melvyn Bragg treats science with both intelligence and accesibility, the rest of the BBC’s output is boring, eccentric, worthy broadcast at times that suggest that only those concerned in the first place are going to be paying attention – or David Attenborough. Its long past-time some modern media savvy people put together some new ideas for Aunty. I mean James Burke was the last time they had a serious pop at science that wasnt either reportage or pictures!

By: Christian Burnham

Christian Burnham — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:33:06 +0000

OK, politics!

When I left Britain 10 years ago, it was practically impossible for a thinking person to allow themselves to vote conservative. The Tories were the party of anti-intellectual bigots. (Remind you of any US party?)

Is this changing? I read an essay by Boris Johnson in the Guardian last year in which he sang the praises of science education. I couldn’t believe it, but I agreed with every word.

Is it just because we’ve watched with horror as Tony Blair and his cronies supported Bush’s imperialist warmongering?

I could never bring myself to actually support the Tories. (I’m Irish- too much bad blood.) But, has the climate shifted in Britain to the extent that intellectuals are now finding their home in the Conservative party? Is Labour now the party of unthinking reactionary politics? Do tell. Also, is Countdown the same without Richard Whitely?

By: Christian Burnham

Christian Burnham — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:21:20 +0000

Politics aside,

I watched the TV clip of Professor Cox on the morning show.

I’ve been thinking about that clip for a couple of days. I still don’t know what conclusions can be drawn from it. Maybe we shouldn’t think too deeply about what happens on the interface between particle physics and breakfast television.

It’s also worth mentioning that last time I looked, at least the UK has some science programs on network television. There’s not a single science program (for adults) on any of the US network stations. Well, we’ve got PBS, but who watches that?

I sympathize with people who find modern day science a little over their heads. You have to admit that particle physics is a little different from Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote plays for the mass public, whereas particle-physics papers are written for an ‘elite’ of people who have spent their careers thinking about the subject. (I’m not a particle physicist, and I’d probably understand 5% of any PP paper.)

Having said that, I strongly believe that science can be (and should be) appreciated by the ‘general public’ as part of our cultural heritage and as an artistic creative endeavor. It’s important that the public be knowledgeable about scientific issues, but we also need to convey the beauty of science and the creativity and craftsmanship of scientists.

I do science not just because it’s useful, but because it’s also intrinsically beautiful and I think most physicists feel the same way.

By: giagia

giagia — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:06:01 +0000

James, I’m setting aside time this week to update my blogs. It’s probably just the AJAX comments…

I’m under 41 years old. Moved here when I was still ‘a minor’. :)

I’m absolutely legally entitled to British citizenship and have been for many, many years now. It’s just that I’ve got to take this British citizenship test AND get every single detail of my life and income and my husband’s life and income certified by lawyers etc and sent off… It’s really difficult for someone who has NO TIME to do… It’s much easier to become a citizen when you DON’T have a busy career/life…*ahem*