Is Google God?

Google was conceived in 1997 - today it is powered by over one million computer servers and processes over one billion search results daily. I remember the very first time I used Google - how much better it was that AltaVista at the time (having just checked out the latter I find it now comparable in speed and relevance).

“Nowadays, where do you go to ask questions? The answer starts with ‘G-o’, and it’s not God” (Steve Wozniak November 2012).

“People always make the assumption that we’re done with search. That’s very far from the case. We’re probably only 5% of the way there. We want to create the ultimate search engine that can understand anything. Some people could call that Artificial Intelligence.” (Larry Page, 2006).

And then there is Google-X Lab and who knows what secrets they have under wraps?

Good sci-fi is prophetic - with Google's vision and terms like "in the cloud" and "big data" in common usage can we be that far from Orson Scott Card's Jane?

Google search is limited by the repository of public human knowledge contained in the internet. Although it has become an almost assumed part of many of our lives, and although is invaluable in my electronics work, it does not do so well in answering questions of the soul. Try asking it about alternative medicine or biblical interpretation and you will get every view under the sun because, of course, just about every possible view exists under the sun. Typically you will then filter the results in your mind according to your personal beliefs and, hey presto, you find that Google supports your argument! Not very helpful.

When I was first introduced to the TTL Data Book, long, long ago, I was impressed by the common TTL standard that enables an arbitrary selection of chips to be connected together. Thus using only TTL MSI chips I was able to create a simple computer that calculated standard deviations and correlation coefficient between two channels of electronic data. At the time it reminded me, how much more now, of "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them."

Back then these guys apparently didn't get to finish their edifice...

Small dogs

You know, those miniature dogs that run about yap-yap-yapping and snapping at your ankles. Last weekend I was out running and was ambushed by the like. Meg took the brunt of the attack but it placed me off guard and as a result I stubbed my big toe on a stone and took the skin off. It has still not properly healed over so is stunting my barefoot running habit. Really, people ought not to let dogs like this out in public places. I cannot imagine owning such an antisocial dog!

The Irish are renowned for not being able to say 'no'. You ask for a plumber and he'll say "Sure, I'll be right around". You wait - hours, days, months. You ring him and he says "Oh yes, I got delayed, but I will come". Only if you are bold enough to take the man to task will he admit you were far down his priority list, indeed probably had no intention of coming at all. But he didn't like to say no. I regret that this way of doing business is rubbing off on me.

In contrast I know a mother and both her children who can say a blunt 'no' with no shame, no discussion, no yielding point to just about anything they choose. Years ago, when teaching one of the children, I suggested he might read so-and-so. "I don't read".  But you ought to, it would really help you.  "I'm sorry but I don't read books".  Full stop. Where can you go from there?  Or, just yesterday, I suggested making an appointment earlier in the day, say at 8 a.m. "No."  No discussion. No offer to compromise or bargain.

I wish I could do the same. I find it so hard to say 'no' without bolstering it with all manner of ifs and buts and excuses. I suppose because I feel ashamed to admit that I cannot or do not want to.

How to start barefoot running

Thought I'd give some quick advice purely from my own experience:

1. Believe that running barefoot is very possible and actually enjoyable, not to mention cheaper

2. Don't expect miracles - it's going to take a while for your feet to get hardened during which time it will hurt a bit and you will need to persevere

3. Take your runners with you to start with - try a patch barefoot and when you can take the pain no more, or the surface gets to knobbly, use your shoes for a bit

4. You need to run regularly, of course. I run three or four times a week and each time for at least three miles.

5. Don't be fazed if you stub your toe: you'll find you do this less and less as time goes on.  Occasionally you will be attacked by a thorn and prickles - so equip yourself with tweezers, pliers and antiseptic for extraction - but as your feet harden you will be afflicted less and less in this way.

6. As time goes on use your trainers less and less until you are ready to leave the shoes behind for good: from this point on you will never look back.

7. If cracks appear as the skin thickens use some moisturiser cream e.g. Silcock's Base, especially between the toes. Mud in particular tends to dry out the skin.

8. Your feet will of course get dirty, that's par for the course. And cold in winter - I find there is no difficulty running barefoot down to freezing point, but it gets uncomfortable below that. You will of course look where you are stepping and thus can avoid landing in nasty stuff. Provided the skin of your feet is not broken you should come to no harm.

9. By all means check it out on the web but don't believe these sites that imply that you will soon be able to run on any surface painlessly. It hurts when you hit a stone, especially if you strike on your heel. On every run I take it hurts a bit on some surfaces and I've been totally without shoes for a year now.

10. Don't be surprised if you become the subject of ridicule and don't expect anyone else to join you - so far I have never seen ( except in photographs) or knowingly met anyone running barefoot.

11.Without doubt running barefoot is enjoyable, liberating and also good for you in that it encourages you to land on the ball of your foot and thus reduce injury.  It is also cheaper, even after paying for the Silcock's Base and tweezers.

Floreat barefoor currit

Smarties

Conversation at dinner time this evening: I say Smarties are far superior to M&M's. Apparently not everyone agrees. And fruit gums (preferably the ones in fruit shapes) are better than fruit pastilles. I used to treat myself to a box when going to the cinema - much better than noisy popcorn. And wine gums (Maynards please) are better than jelly babies. How can anyone disagree with something so obvious?

Does anyone else hate the modern concept that going to the cinema to watch a film is an opportunity to chat and crunch pop-corn or rustle crisp packets? To me a good film on a big screen with surround sound is sacrosanct. That's why I pay for the experience.

Rupert Bear

Rupert Bear Annual 1962

In a recent visit to the inlaw's house I found myself reading and reliving again a copy of the 1962 Rupert Bear annual. I was 10 years old when I read it first and I find I still remember the stories in detail.

There are two types of people in the world and only one love Rupert Bear stories. So what has made these stories appeal so much to me?  As a clue I admit to reading only the rhyming couplets and not the verbose story line at the foot of each page.

I love the Alfred Bestall's countryside, I love the sense of wonder and mystery the plots evoke. Above all I love the childhood freedom implied in the stories: Rupert's parents are cast as loving and caring and yet he is left free to explore miles of countryside without adult intervention. I identify with him as my eye explores the depths of pictures like these I photographed from this annual:

Frontispiece, 1962 annual

"And sees a group of trees he knows"

"The rabbits too have heard a sound"

"Jock knocks the ball high in the air"

Football

What football team do I support? The closest I can get to answering this is to claim Newcastle or Man. United on behalf of avid supporters I happen to know for whom it is perfectly normal to say "we scored" or "my team". To be truthful I neither support any team of any sport nor can I quite comprehend the concept of doing so. Mind you, I have played football and even enjoyed it in between loosing concentration and hitting the ball the wrong way or becoming thoroughly bored, but I did it solely for the sake of the others.

And yet... "Football is associated with passion, emotion, excitement and dedication across Europe. References to extreme emotional experiences at football games characterised all aspects of discussions with fans – some referring to the 'pure joy' and exhilaration of being at football games. Such is the intensity of the experience that two thirds of fans have cried at football matches – mostly through joy, but occasionally because of despair."  (SIRC)

Doubtless that makes me odd (along with running barefoot), but I learnt to live with that accolade from an early age. But is it so different from me insisting that barefoot is the best way to run, yellow is my favourite colour or claiming that Bruckner's 8th is the best? Is it just that we all like to carve an identity, to try to define "me"?

Some find their identity in patriotism. I used to think that "the English are best" - as so cleverly caricatured by Flanders and Swann -

until I moved to Ireland and heard their side of the story. I still love the people of and places in England, but then I have come to love Ireland too and what could be better than to live within walking distance of forests, a lake, a  river you can swim in, and mountains?

So who am I?

Hollywood

Today's run was a repeat only this time with a camera because I wanted to try to capture the exhilaration of running along the grassy rise which is called Knockroe. My route takes me from Hollywood along part of St Kevin's Way to the south end of Knockroe which I then climb to return back to Hollywood. The total distance is getting on for 9 miles.

Lugnagroah

Golden Falls reservoir

Barretstown in the distance

Down into Hollywood woods

The ford in Hollywood

A good place for a meal

The Hollywood beginning of St Kevin's Way: a statue of the man himself on the outcrop dead-centre

I have noticed the charred tree stump before: today we have the makings of a bonfire around it which is all very strange...

Ascending Knockroe looking north, St Kevin is shining white in the sun to right of centre

I assure you that the dog does not chase sheep, but I guess they don't know that!

Over the hills and far away

It's hard to get away from St Kevin

Looking south-west from Knockroe

Hollywood in sight, and St Kevin's way below, the castle motte in middle centre

About to descend down into Hollywood again

When my children were children we used to buy them sweets here. Sadly the post office is now closed though is opened as a novelty for the Hollywood Fair

Knockroe, looking south east from the R756

  

A welcome sign of  Spring along the road from Hollywood

One of two high-voltage lines from Turlough Hill

This part of Co. Wicklow is sheep country

Blessington reservoir