By the way, I do feel it's about time to remind everyone that Galileo did not 'invent' the telescope.

He saw one someone else made, ran home and modified it and got down the patent office before the guy who actually invented (or brought it within ten paces of Galileo) had time to put his horse in a stable. Galileo is attributed with the 'terrestrial' telescope.
Yup I did check, I thought it was the non inverting telescope.
Fascinating, completely absorbing reading what he got up to.

Read some History! Make sure your kids get taught properly.

Better they learn the basic stuff well, than a load of garbage theories that have not stood the test of time.
If they read well for themselves, can do foundation maths well, can understand their own writing, and develop real interests in things they love learning, what more can be asked of them?

Just decided to move the Essay I wrote on Genesis under Musings from the Margin for a while...

Phew, I think the stawberries are refusing to grow next to these things.

Perhaps I will try for a Phallus Impudicus record instead. I can't get it to load rotated!

A mercurial thought; having worked with mirrors for so long, did anyone consider that looking at an inverted image does not mean you are 'seeing' something in it's actual perspective and context?

I also wondered, If the general proportions of the universe are cubic, would light from all the stars bouncing back off the walls just look like a 'white' haze? Is it possible that this is just an optical illusion? Also that If you look down a telescope, does that mean the bigger we think the 'outside universe' is
the smaller our 'internal universe' becomes? Is the very fact that mankind is searching for and 'edge' to the universe creating an illusion, rather like the 'eat me', 'drink me' stuff Alice was tripping out on in Wonderland?

A description of just one the disciplines of the practical skills of Hairdressing:

Cutting.

The skill of correctly holding and using a range of very sharp tools to sculpt a complex geometric form from straight lines radiating from a uniquely proportioned curved surface. Taking into account the unique distribution patterns, texture, weight, tensile strength and degree of wave motion of these straight lines, also accounting for the changing hygroscopic properties these straight lines possess. (That’s the short version).

If I used that description to a poorly educated sixteen year old they would fly out of the door terrified. So would you!

The usual description; to create a variety of styles, using a variety of cutting tools, taking into account: the shape of the head, growth patterns of the hair, ethnicity, texture, abundance, stretch and return, and degree of curl, both wet and dry.

This style has to perform well. It must demonstrate a versatile form that can be molded into at least three ‘looks’ that serve all of the client’s unique social purposes.

During the procedure the client usually expects meaningful or entertaining conversation, or peace and quiet to reflect on their personal grooming habits, or social and personal problems. Often the client will require ‘advice’ or a ‘listener’ to their personal dilemmas.

Now tell me if you still think that getting a haircut is expensive!

It isn’t, it’s just that your perceived value of the service, and level of technical ability required to perform that service you want...  is very low! Your perception of someone who provides you with that service is also low, because they are poorly paid for it, and haven’t got a ‘formal’ classification of educational ability.

You might be wondering why I am a fifty two year old hairdresser. It’s because Hairdressing is a vocation not a job. It is a combination of the above description that satisfies my desire to exercise my understanding of complex chemistry, biology, artistic ability, social science and history, pure and applied mathematics and psychology.

Owning a Hairdressing Salon allows me to practice accountancy, marketing, selling, teaching, parenting adolescents, practical theology, and effect social change within a complex group of people referred to as staff and clients. And yes I have a high IQ and I chose to be a hairdresser. I don’t usually write or talk about what I am, I just do it.


My Father was a technical genius, and my Mother an intelligent, remarkably socially aware self motivated person with highly refined social conscience. Neither of my parents were emotionally mature! Growing up with them and my four brothers was traumatic, but in hindsight an incredible learning experience. My mother expected me to become an educated ‘professional’. My Father expected me to have a strong moral compass. As a youngster I deeply disappointed them both