Passing of former ITN Chief Engineer and # 13 The Absurd

When I was a mere youngster of 21 I applied for work in the TV industry and was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work for the commercial TV news supplier ITN  (then based in Wells Street, W1) the people interviewing me for the job were Norman King and Peter Ward the Deputy and Chief engineers respectively.
In those days broadcasting was a very different business with only 3 channels in the UK and nothing like a 24 hour service - news was shot on film and VTRs used 2"  tape (it was colour though).
Peter was a most professional and patrician figure - it was a great time where the industry was well staffed and money was not an issue for pay or equipment (Thank you ACTT).
After over 20 years since he retired I saw Peter earlier this year at an ITN engineering reunion  and he remained the same charming guy.
I was saddened to hear of Peter's death (Norman died some time ago),  there are many people in broadcasting who had the good fortune to come into contact with him who will reflect on the changed nature of TV news and the broadcasting industry.

And now big idea Number 13 The Absurd.

The ascension of scientific fact over religion (things like Darwin's 'On the origin of Species' ) and the loss of confidence engendered by the first and second world wars led a dearth of faith amongst the intelligentsia.

So came about a tendency to view life as Absurd.
Some of the modern figures around The Absurd (and existentialism) are Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett
(Waiting for Godot is cited as an example of absurdist theatre) and from ancient times 'The Myth of Sisyphus" as referenced by Camus see above.

Christmas Carols and #12 Purpose (teleology)

On Friday night I went to the biennial event that is the RTS (London) Christmas Carol concert at St Bartholomew the Great. The church has a long history of being used for TV and film and the event is quite jolly with some popular Christmas Carols followed by food, mulled wine and chat amongst the attendees.
I learnt a few things from the Vicar this year
1) That the replacement (american) organ is going to cost around $2.0M
2) That a Rdiley Scott film, The Counselor  used the church recently, it features Cameron Diaz (described by the vicar as gorgeous) Ridley of course recently lost his brother Tony and shooting was suspended for a while due to this.
3) That the 'Carol'  Good King Wenceslsas is an Easter Hymn not really a Christmas carol.
Looking at the words of the hymns and considering the nativity story I am rather thinking that this is not the only thing that has become altered through the years even those within the church have some issues.
If you're interested in what might be facts around the life of Jesus Wikipedia is not a bad place to start you research. A factual biography and account of his life  using what history can be verified could make an interesting book.

Now number 12 (already) Purpose (Teleology)

Many people think that life is too tidy to not have some sort of purpose.

Teleology is defined as any philosophical account that holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that design and purpose analogous to that found in human actions are inherent also in the rest of nature.
Here's a bit of a taster on the theme


Podcast on the subject Teleology here.

Toilets on TV and #11 Metaphysics

Toilet Man -Ifor ap Glyn

Yesterday via the magic of BBC iplayer I watched a great BBC 4 TV programme about toilets, amidst all the furore against the BBC and worries over the media intrusion it's easy to forget that TV can actually be enjoyable and tell you things didn't know.
So what does the Levenson enquiry tell us about media regulation? One key aspect we can ascertain is that there is no easy to striking a balance between a free 'press/broadcast media' and to respecting public figures.
In truth most people think that dodgy vicars, politicians and media figures who fall out of West End night clubs are fair game to having their lives revealed (and are of interest).
Admittedly the Saville nonsense was not revealed by  Sunday papers but perhaps we should make it easier for such scandals to be made public? In fact the media is already subject to the law of the land and as phone hacking is illegal retribution/punishment can follow.
There is for me a fear that those in positions of responsibility and or power use (already) mechanisms to hush up what they do not want to be public  - Like this guy I'm for a free(ish) media!

Today is Number 11 Metaphysics

Now you might have thought that Love, Nature and History were too important for such brief summaries but that's nothing (?) compared to Metaphysics. (Meta Physics meaning literally Beyond Physicality) Metaphysics can be as the philosophical study of being and knowing - and as you reflect on this I'm sure you'll realise this is quite a tall order!

Winter on the allotment and #10 Nature

Winter now very much with us frost today but yesterday managed a few hours down on the allotment, tasks were:

1) Turning compost - advisable to do this every couple of weeks speeds process and chance to see if 'mixture' is too dry or too wet.

2) Picked my last cabbage, and started to dig over that area - Brussels are coming along nicely

3) Planting peas - more peas grown from seed added (see left).

4) Cutting 1st year asparagus back - this is meant to be cut back November-ish to around 50cm.

5) Draining water from butt -all the rain meant water butt was overflowing!

And todays big idea is Number 10 -Nature

Nature is a large term (like History yesterday) -
Nature is allied to denote things that are 'natural' like 'Human nature'.
State of Nature is a concept associated with Thomas Hobbes (him again - he might need more research!).

Currently mention of Nature can trigger thoughts of hills and Blacks Leisure shops - but it's previously been thought of an area of danger away from civilisation it was the romantic movement which led to it's re-evaluation.