Nice one! However, I have to confess I don’t support the “infinity” notion in quantum physics. It’s guesswork, and used to be an interesting topic for around a table in the pub, if there wasn’t much else in the news.
Whilst I don’t necessarily dispute the notion of infinity, I fail to recognise why an infinite universe might expect to produce infinite copies of Hamlet from infinite monkeys. Nor the notion that there are infinite exact copies of you and I.
Just because something is technically possible, doesn’t make it a “given” that it will happen! That’s my view. 🙂
Thanks again for your interesting and engaging views! Cheers, Rich.
Thanks! I'm not sure I buy it either, I just like the idea of what an infinite universe might mean, and was using it as a rather self-indulgent way to make a joke at Burnham's expense...
The apparent contradiction between the age of the universe and its size has always bothered me—exactly as you have described it. If the speed of light is a universal limit, how can the universe have expanded at a faster rate? I'm not sure that even Stephen Hawking managed to explain that in a way that I could understand.
As for Andy Burnham—it would be fascinating to see how he managed the role of PM. I for one would love him to have a go.
As for West Wing references: there are three writers whom it will never be cringe to quote—Shakespeare, Stoppard, and Sorkin.
Thanks, Kevan. I thought about cutting it because it was... long. No doubt, an editor would have. But what are Fridays for other than 350 intros about an infinite universe?
He and Andy Streeter have demonstrated how effective Regional Government is when the powers exist. I appreciate that Burnham as PM meeting Putin or Trump is not a pretty sight but the country desperately needs growth and regional government appears capable of achieving that while central government is still stuck in the mire. Burnham should return to the Commons as an MP and potential Cabinet Minister for development. You never know, even East Anglia where I live, and which includes Cambridge University, must be capable of growth if only we could find a politician who could organise a regional authority that could generate growth.
One thing I omitted to say (because the piece wasn't long enough...) is that it was a good thing a politician for Burnham's experience and public profile went for the mayoralty. The UK remains an exceptionally centralised polity.
Nice one! However, I have to confess I don’t support the “infinity” notion in quantum physics. It’s guesswork, and used to be an interesting topic for around a table in the pub, if there wasn’t much else in the news.
Whilst I don’t necessarily dispute the notion of infinity, I fail to recognise why an infinite universe might expect to produce infinite copies of Hamlet from infinite monkeys. Nor the notion that there are infinite exact copies of you and I.
Just because something is technically possible, doesn’t make it a “given” that it will happen! That’s my view. 🙂
Thanks again for your interesting and engaging views! Cheers, Rich.
Thanks! I'm not sure I buy it either, I just like the idea of what an infinite universe might mean, and was using it as a rather self-indulgent way to make a joke at Burnham's expense...
Quite a preamble!
The apparent contradiction between the age of the universe and its size has always bothered me—exactly as you have described it. If the speed of light is a universal limit, how can the universe have expanded at a faster rate? I'm not sure that even Stephen Hawking managed to explain that in a way that I could understand.
As for Andy Burnham—it would be fascinating to see how he managed the role of PM. I for one would love him to have a go.
As for West Wing references: there are three writers whom it will never be cringe to quote—Shakespeare, Stoppard, and Sorkin.
Your best post yet.
Thanks, Kevan. I thought about cutting it because it was... long. No doubt, an editor would have. But what are Fridays for other than 350 intros about an infinite universe?
He and Andy Streeter have demonstrated how effective Regional Government is when the powers exist. I appreciate that Burnham as PM meeting Putin or Trump is not a pretty sight but the country desperately needs growth and regional government appears capable of achieving that while central government is still stuck in the mire. Burnham should return to the Commons as an MP and potential Cabinet Minister for development. You never know, even East Anglia where I live, and which includes Cambridge University, must be capable of growth if only we could find a politician who could organise a regional authority that could generate growth.
One thing I omitted to say (because the piece wasn't long enough...) is that it was a good thing a politician for Burnham's experience and public profile went for the mayoralty. The UK remains an exceptionally centralised polity.