Out of contact.

I shan't be able to blog for the next couple of days since I will be out of contact. I shall resume by Sunday.

Thanks.

My Fortieth Birthday

Today, it is Happy Birthday me. I am forty years old.

I must say it seems odd to write that number. It appears to be rather greater a number than I feel has fairly passed. In other words, it didn't seem to take long to reach forty. That, in itself, is worrying. It implies it will seem just as brief a time to reach 80. Ouch.

However, much has happened in my forty years - particularly in the last ten of them. Since 30 I have gone from being a single man of no children, without a house to call my own (rented only) to a married father of three, living on a different continent, and in a pleasant apartment. So, quite a lot has changed.

Life is better now, I think than when I was 20 - so I can't complain. In fact, it is surprising to be able to write that. Everyone seems to think that the young have it better. I am not convinced that it is so. I am now twice as old as at 20 - yet I feel that life is a lot more than twice as good.

I don't have time to count my blessings at this point, since I am to take a brief holiday, for which I have to ready myself.

This blog is one of the new additions to my life since I was 30 - and an enjoyable one it is too. I shall keep writing. I hope you continue to enjoy reading.

Though I am halfway to being an old man...I am a contented one. Forty is not so bad, I think.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day all.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and one month, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and seven months, and Tiarnan, two years exactly, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)

Tiarnan's ancestral instinct

A musical compilation CD was playing today, in the background while my wife, Tiarnan and myself were in the room. The songs came from different parts of the world and different traditions. Tiarnan listened as he played.

Suddenly, an Irish tune came on. I am unsure whether Tiarnan (who is half-Irish but has never been to Ireland), had ever heard any Irish music - certainly he has never heard it in my presence before. His reaction was electric. He stopped what he was doing at once and started jumping about, relatively rhythmically. It was as if he was trying to invent the jig, in response to the sound of one.

Throughout the song, he danced his "jig" which, since he had never seen a jig, was not actually one, but definitely the intent to dance was there. His excitement was beautiful to witness. His smile was broad, his movements fast and energized. Truly, the Irish music seemed to have him under its spell.

He danced on until the very last note - and then he stopped. Once the Irish tune ceased, so did his dancing - for the song that followed was not from Ireland. Sweetly, he stood still and clapped the recorded musicians, once they fell silent, applauding their efforts.

This made me wonder about why he danced to such music. It was as if there was in him some ancestral instinct, some recognition of where he had come from and who he was. At least, so the timing of his actions tell. It could, of course, just be that the Irish dance music is naturally energizing and exciting and he picked up on that. However, he did not dance to any non-Irish tune. Furthermore, it is rather poetic to think that he might instinctively recognize his origins in the music - that it might call to something deep within him. Anyone who had seen the way he had danced to it, would wonder too at his connection to the music and the land of Ireland.

It looks like I will have to play him some more Irish dance music. I think we have ourselves a little leprachaun in the house - or half of one, anyway.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and one month, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and seven months, and Tiarnan, two years exactly, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)

Surprised by Forty Years

On February 10th, my father arrived from the UK. We took him to the Botanic Gardens during the day, for lunch and, in the evening, he came to visit us at our home.

For me, the day was about his arrival. He had never been to Singapore before. He had not seen Tiarnan, before. So, there much that was new about it. It was warming simply to see him again, after so long.

We took him on a tour of our condominium estate, showing him the grounds, and the amenities. My wife seemed determined to show him every little thing. She even did what I thought she should not: she opened the door to the function room. I tried to warn her - I was going to open my mouth to ask her not to go in there, since there were people in there. I found myself standing in the entrance to a room filled with smiling people: "Happy Birthday!", they all shouted, as one, throwing strip-like confetti on me.

I was utterly dumbfounded. Without any expectation of it, I found myself in the middle of a surprise birthday party, in my honour. I couldn't speak. I must have looked so funny standing there, my eyes wide, my mouth no doubt parted, as confetti fell all around me.

Long minutes seemed to pass, but perhaps it was no more than a minute. I managed to squeeze out a "thank you", at last - but it was difficult. I really didn't know quite what to make of it.

One reason for the effectiveness of the surprise was that my fortieth birthday is actually on February 14th...and it was the 10th. Yet, I think I would have been surprised even if it was the 14th. My wife, who had arranged it (with the help of some friends), had let no hint of what was to come, out in the weeks before it. I had had been given no idea.

Never in my life, before, have I been surprised by a party. It was a strange feeling to suddenly be in the middle of one's own party - without having known anything about it. It was touching, really, that all these people had convened to give me a surprise.

There were friends from all aspects of my life present - and I am thankful to all of them for coming - and for not letting me know, in any way, that it was to come.

The evening was spent meeting, greeting and reacquainting.

One odd moment occurred when a woman wearing what was basically a bikini showed up. She quietly walked over to the corner of the room and put on some music. Then she began to sway to the music in a style I recognized: she was belly dancing. Syahidah had once taken me to a "Belly Dancing Ball" - and noting that I had enjoyed it, she had laid on a belly dancer. The dancer was really rather good. She danced with a rhythmic grace and a natural enthusiasm that spoke of her love for what she does. The dancers I had seen before, often betrayed a "by the numbers" approach - but she did not. There was a fluidity to her movements that gave them a distinct elegance. She danced a couple of pieces and then urged audience members to come up with her and join in. Sportingly, they did.

It turns out that the belly dancer taught dancing - and she proceeded to show the brave volunteers how to belly dance. Some were good at picking up the movements - and the others were at least brave enough to try. It was notable that all - and I mean all - the initial volunteers were women. None of the men wanted to give it a go. The dancer, Stephanie, asked me to join in - but I was too self-conscious and too sure that I wouldn't do a good job of it - so I declined. That didn't stop her asking me again several times. She also asked all the other men. None of them obliged. Finally my wife approached them all, one by one and whispered something to them (what I don't know). One by one, they stood up and walked to the front forming a circle. Finally, I joined them, too, to the cheering of all.

We danced - not well, perhaps - but we danced. All the men belly danced together, to the sounds of middle eastern music - with one true belly dancer among us. It was hilarious. It was also rather liberating to actually overcome one's initial hesitancy and dance. I rather think, though, that belly dancing is an art of much skill and not easily acquired in an instant.

Belly dancing was interrupted by a singer, who sang two songs - one of them being La Vie en Rose. She had a powerful, well-modulated voice that pitched each piece very well. She too loved what she did and sang with passion. She was, in fact, the very same singer that I had remarked upon in a prior post about singers in Singapore.

The atmosphere created by her voice was most intense: everyone was utterly silent and focussed on her.

Again, my wife had noted my enjoyment of such music - and had arranged for me to be sung to, by the very singer that I had noted was good.

I found the music moving - but more moving still was the fact that it had been arranged for me, by surprise. Nothing like it had ever happened to me before.

The food was generous, plentiful and varied - and so too was the conversation. There wasn't time to speak to everyone as fully as I would have liked to - but I am grateful that everyone who attended came. By doing so, you all become part of a permanent memory in me, for the day I was surprised to be forty.

I would like to thank all who came, for doing so, and for surprising me in the way that I was. I would also like to thank my wife for arranging everything - and Andrew and Zurina Bryant for turning up so early to help set everything up. I am also thankful to Hanisah and Shima who also helped everything turn out so well. If anyone else contributed to the success of the event, and I am unaware of their contribution (which is altogether possible), my thanks go to them, too.

Of course, I must thank Stephanie for her dancing, Karen for her singing - and Hawk for training her to sing so (he helped with the particular songs sung). Thank you.

It is funny how I was expecting to be 40 for so long, but then ended up being surprised by it.

I now have a much better memory of it than I could ever have expected. The oddest - and sweetest - thing about it was that my father attended my 40th birthday party. That I could never have expected, given that he and I now live on different continents. I have many reasons to be touched by that day - and I remain so.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and one month, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and seven months, and Tiarnan, two years exactly, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)

Granddaddy vs Grandson

Today, we went to the zoo with my father, and his grandchildren.

As part of the tour, we took a tram around the zoo. Tiarnan, 24 months, sat through the first stop on the journey. At the second, however, he stood up on his seat - which, quite clearly, was a precarious position, in a vehicle that could move off at any moment.

My father intervened: "Sit down Tiarnan!", he ordered, firmly.

Tiarnan didn't take kindly to being ordered about. He rounded on my father swiftly, his index finger on his left hand rising to chide him. "Naughty boy!", he replied, scolding my Dad.

It was hilarious to see his little figure standing up to my father (who by most standards is a large, very well built man - a giant by local measures, in mass, if not in height). It was a David vs Goliath confrontation - but more so, for the disparity was much greater. Tiarnan is petite, but my father is most robust.

The tableaux imprinted itself on my mind: the smallest of children, versus the largest of men. What made it even funnier was the sureness with which Tiarnan confronted his grandfather. Little though he is, he was absolutely certain of himself, of his position, of his view, of his ability to stand up to such a large man, as my Dad. Never for a moment did he consider it out of place for someone so small to berate someone so large. Another matter of note was the passion with which he scolded my father: clearly, he really felt his words, in the moment of their utterance. Here is a boy true to his feelings.

He repeated his action, again, later in the day, but this time with a self-aware humour: he raised his finger, and uttered his words again: "Naughty boy!" he told my father, with a big smile, at himself and at what he had said. This time, however, they were not said with directed force, but with a reminiscent humour.

What a funny little passionate boy he is. I think there are many more interesting moments to come, from him. He is too sure of himself, for it to be otherwise. I will watch with interest.

Tiarnan is the first of my father's grandchildren to call him a "naughty boy". He was enchanted.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and one month, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and seven months, and Tiarnan, two years exactly, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)

A2 Hypersonic Plane: Mach 5

A hypersonic plane, known as the A2, has been announced by Reaction Engines of Oxfordshire.

The details are quite astonishing. This plane will carry 300 passengers, up to 20,000 km, at mach 5 (a speed of 6,400 km/h). It is intended to depart from Brussels International Airport at Mach 0.9 until it is out over the North Atlantic, then it will pick up speed to Mach 5. When travelling to Australia it will apparently do so by going up over the North Pole and over the Pacific.

Not only is it fast, it is also gargantuan. The plane will be 143 metres long - twice as long as the largest existing aircraft.

The plane is the result of a project funded by the European Space Agency known as LAPCAT (Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies). The plane will not run on conventional aircraft fuel but will, instead, use liquid hydrogen. This will create a cleaner footprint, emitting only water and creating some nitrous oxide. There will be no carbon emissions. The designers believe this will make it more greenhouse friendly.

There is one potential problem, though. The plane flies so high that it actually travels within the ozone layer. It is unknown whether this could damage the ozone layer (which prevents a dangerous level of UV (ultraviolet) light from reaching the ground).

Anyone expecting beautiful views from such a high flying, borderline spaceplane is in for a disappointment: the high temperatures created by such high speed flight preclude windows. However, the designers are considering putting tv panels where the windows should be, to give an external view (even if it is secondhand).

Reaction Engines estimates that a ticket would cost about the same as a first class ticket does presently: about 3,500 pounds sterling. Flight time from Brussels to Australia would be 4 hours and 40 minutes. This opens up the bizarre prospect of daytrips to Australia from Europe. Amazing.

So, are we all soon to be enabled to fly great distances in little time and see the world shrink to the size of a lazy afternoon? Unfortunately not. I was rather disappointed to learn of the timescale before this great leap forward in aviation would occur: Reaction Engines estimate that it could be flying in about 25 years time. That's right - hypersonic flight is about a quarter of a century away - and that is if it gets funding between now and then to allow development to move ahead.

This story made me think of how slowly technology is actually changing. So many visions are scattered before us of how, in no time at all, the world is going to be such a different place. Yet, almost always their timescales are either omitted or seriously in error. Barring the internet, most of what we have today was available a quarter of a century ago - even if not in such a polished form. Relatively little is truly new. (Even the internet was present in a nascent form as an academic network).

It seems to me that 25 years is an awfully long timescale compared to an average human lifetime, for this development to be brought to market. No doubt it is the same with many other futuristic projects. It all just takes so long.

I remember reading predictions, as a child, that, by now we would have permanent colonies on the moon and holidays there would be within the grasp of many. It was all wonderfully inspiring stuff. Sadly, as anyone now knows - it was hopelessly over-optimistic. In truth, no human being has left Earth orbit in the last three decades. We haven't gone forward, in space, but in this aspect, at least, we have stepped back, from what could have been.

I would like to take a hypersonic trip from Europe to Australia one day - but that day is a long way off. By then, I will be a much older man - and perhaps not given to too much travel.

Despite what futurists tend to say, all the time, we are not on a fast forward to the future - it seems, in fact, we are going slow ahead to the future. Change is coming, yes - but nowhere near as fast as we are led to believe. At least, it seems so, from just looking at my own lifetime (which no doubt overlaps considerably with your own). You don't have to take my own lifetime as an example: just look at the A2 hypersonic plane - a full 25 years away, for the next big step in aviation. Another date should be noted to understand the significance of this: the last flight of Concorde, the first - and so far only - supersonic passenger jet, was on October 24th 2003. Thus, we will have had 30 years without supersonic (or hypersonic) passenger flight before the first A2 jets take to the air. That, to me, is one big step backwards, before our next step forwards.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and one month, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and seven months, and Tiarnan, two years exactly, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)

Welcome to Singapore Dad.

My father is in town for a week...so I am going to be showing him around. It is good to see him again after too long.

Already, he has remarked on the ever present heat...hehe.

More on this visit over the next week, as appropriate.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and one month, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and seven months, and Tiarnan, two years exactly, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)