Septblog 2025
Flat Universe Theory ? I got so irritated by reading repeated assertions that we know that we inhabit a flat or vanishingly close to flat universe that I delved into the observations, assumptions, and interpretations that purportedly support this. It turns out that the proponents of the ‘standard’ or ‘concordance’ LCDM Big Bang expanding universe model have nothing better to offer than a forced match between the apparent size of temperature variant spots (about 1 degree) in the CMBR and their assumed distances from the observer, making Euclidian triangles. Equations 16 and 17 of Hypersphere Cosmology clearly reveal the fallacy of this approach.
See the following addition of this for further explication and emphasis: -
https://specularium.org/hypersphere-cosmology-articles/flat-universe-theory-dies
The Holographic Principle often gets a mention in Cosmology, but I think convention has it the wrong way around. This universe does not seem like an information projection from its 2D surface boundary into an apparent 3D space, but rather it seems more realistically like the stereographic projection of the 3D surface of a Hypersphere into an apparent 3D sphere surrounding any observer.
Otroversion. I don’t often find a book on psychology that speaks convincingly to me.
The mind (the most complicated structure in the universe known to us) has an amusing tendency to provide superficial confirmation of almost any psychological map or model that we try to impose upon it. Thus Astrology, The theory of Humours, Kabala, Jungianism, Freudianism, Behaviourism, and the Five Factors Model, have a way of seeming persuasively explanatory but lacking in predictive power.
A new book – ‘The Gift of Not Belonging’ by Dr Rami Kaminski identifies a personality trait that seems previously uncategorized except perhaps vaguely as ‘outsider’.
Kaminski explores in depth the Otrovert personality which rejects social convention and received wisdom instinctively, doesn’t like communalism and groupthink about anything, prefers a few close friends to belonging to a herd, works far better as an individualist (or leader) than a team player, and craves personal autonomy above all else. Whilst Otroverts can do extroversion they don’t feel comfortable with it. Kaminski identifies Otroverts as a definite Type that society does little to encourage, although it often eventually values what they create. Perhaps we should view it rather as a Trait that some people exhibit to a high degree. I found myselves scoring very high on most but not all of the characteristics of Otroversion. I could not help noticing that Otroversion seems a very pronounced trait amongst Magicians who seem a particularly ornery, antinomian, and querulous bunch. If Uranian Octarine has a characteristic personality trait it must come close to the Otroversion that Kaminski identifies.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gift-Not-Belonging-Outsiders-Joiners/dp/1917189222
Amanita Highlands.
The Scottish wing of my clan lives in the highlands surrounded by groves of Downy Birch which in the autumn sunny breezes flutter languidly almost as if underwater, admitting dappled sunlight to the lush mossy undergrowth where all manner of strange fungi sprout, some standing alone and looking strangely alien against the green underfoot, and some clustered in mysterious looking miniature cities. The star of the show always remains for me the Fly Agaric: -
Nobody has a convincing idea about why mushrooms and toadstools have the colours they do, the colours do not seem to correlate with their edibility or toxicity to any other species in a systematic way, nor to any sort of camouflage or advertising strategy.
Decades ago on the Isle of Arran I made a startlingly orange milkshake out of an Amanita about twice that size and drank the lot to no effect, but they do apparently vary considerably in their alkaloid content, and can prove dangerous.
Autumn in the highlands comes late, it all seems still very green here, and purple where the heather flowers on the mountainsides, best of all the midges have largely gone, and the bakeries have steak pies, without a ghastly west country gristle & veg pasty in sight.
The Politics of REFORM.
The UK has taken the easy way out for decades.
It has used immigration to depress wages and training costs and to inflate property prices in lieu of achieving any real growth. This has become a vicious circle which has forced down the birth rate of the indigenous population and eroded social cohesion. Our cities have become prohibitively expensive to live in and bad places to bring children up in.
It has handed out benefits for votes right across the political spectrum. 25% of Pensioners now qualify as millionaires. We now effectively have a Universal Basic Income – just sign on as unemployed and then get a mental health qualification (more or less available upon request) and you can claim enhanced benefits indefinitely.
Our population grows but the economy does not, and the effective workforce shrinks.
Sorting out these two huge problems will entail taking some radical, brutal, and widely and wildly unpopular actions.
Does it necessarily entail abandoning Green Policies? The Reform Party seems to think so, and the Conservatives and Labour seem tempted to follow.
If we burn up all the fossils fuels we can, and tear up all the remaining countryside and farmland we may create a short term boost to the economy but it will not solve the twin crises of immigration and indolence.
Britain’s relatively small contribution to total global warming and environmental destruction should not provide an excuse to continue making it. Rather we should seek to become the world’s leading green economy and to export the expertise and technology that goes with it.