Film: 2010 The Year We Make Contact Directed By Peter Hyams

Given that it is now 2010 it seemed a good time to re-watch this film from 1984.

2001 A Space Odyssey was always going to be a tough act to follow, iconic and posing more questions about its meaning than it ever answered.

2010 has burden of having to provide some answers with a joint Russian/American mission back to Jupiter to re-board the stricken Discovery.

As a backdrop to the whole mission is tension between America and Russia back on Earth, which seems more stuck in 1984 than 2010. Also it is interesting to see the take on how technology would look, they are pretty unambitious here - other than than the (still) futuristic HAL all the other computers on board ship look like they are from the 1980s.

We learn why HAL malfunctioned, essentially conflicting orders from above. We do not learn much more about the Jupiter monolith. A warning is given to the crew to get out of the Jupiter system that needs HAL's cooperation to perform the engine firing. A scene of tension is played out between the creator of HAL being questioned by the computer over why they are leaving so abruptly.

Despite the flaws mentioned I still like this film, it is stuck in its time and perhaps did not make enough of an attempt to predict life in 2010. Of course the things it did predict it got wrong, manned missions on this scale are still a long way off.

Korea Crisis

In a time of defence cut backs and capability reduction, North and South Korea escalate their frozen in time conflict.

Although it would naturally be the US providing support to South Korea, Britain would naturally be thought of to help to give at least an air of multi-national response.

This time round the relations with China and Russia are better, so the North are much more isolated and not being used as part of a bigger plot on the world stage.

I am sure this was all factored into the strategic defence review!

Government education cutbacks

It now looks like 16-18 year olds maybe see funding squeezed on A levels as governments cut costs in this area.

This strikes me as a cut too far with the job markets unlikely to have many training based places for school leavers.

The university tuition fee continues to see demonstrations, in a perverse way the government could use this to drive standards higher - restrict places, only better candidates will get through. Of course the problem is always will less well off people be discouraged despite having the academic ability.

Tough times, maybe having the banks swallow some more of the losses would be fairer...

Harriers Leave Ark Royal

Not sure how long this link will be available on BBC news

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11830094

But it shows the Harriers leaving Ark Royal after the ship left Newcastle. So a sad day, and a gamble with the countries defences. Although in reality these ships never really packed much power, to not have any sea based air power for the next ten years begs the question why are we building new carriers if we think we can do without for that long.

Ireland Bailout

The second country to fall and need a bail out from the IMF/rest of Europe. Greece was understandable but Ireland makes the crisis seem a little worse.

Of course it should be no surprise, a housing boom fuelled by stupid lending - the writing was on the wall at the downturn.

Britain to aid in the bail out, probably sensible - but will not be overly popular at home.

25 Years of Windows

A bit of computer history, the Windows operating system is 25 years old. That is of course assuming that windows 1,2, and 3.0 really counted. The first I really remember using is 3.11 and windows for workgroups which saw Microsoft arriving late in the networked world, just as they were to arrive late to the browser market.

The Register has an interesting summary of the history, and quite a fair reflection on Microsoft's OS:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/20/25_years_of_windows/

True Crime

George Bush has released his (presumably he wrote it himself) auto-biography. As with Tony Blair's tome "A Journey" people visiting book stores in the US and seeing "Decision Points" are moving it to the "True Crime" section. An interesting protest and probably the only way to get a say on the 2000's history these two presided over.

But then just when you thought US politics was over the worst, it looks like worldly wise Sarah Palin is going to run for president.

I never normally swear on my blog, but I think this justifies a "holy shit!".

Tornado or Harrier

The recent defence review apparently made the decision between the two very late in the day, leading to claims that Tornado was saved over the Harrier under a more sympathetic RAF based decision.

In pure savings terms Tornado would have saved more money - maybe there is also the foreign export side, Britain pulling the plug early may have seen those contracts dry up too.

But from a strategic point of view (and this is what the review was always claiming to have on its mind) it seems a strange decision. With Euro fighter finally entering service surely a lot of the Tornado role could be covered by this aircraft.

Book Read: Isaac Newton by James Gleick

A biography of the foremost scientist of his time Isaac Newton. Gleick provides a good historical account, mixing pure scientific discovery with the culture and rivalry between fellow scientists.

I did not appreciate his relationship with the Royal Society, first a distant contributor and then a more central role. Also becoming the custodian of the Royal mint and combating currency fraud was an interesting departure - probably fuelled by his interest in metals from alchemy experiments.

One thing you really get the sense of was the reasoning that went into the invisible force of gravity, something we just take for granted today - but needed a lot of justification back in his day. Similarly for the nature and behaviour of light.

I've read Gleick's other books on Feynman and Chaos, and this one is shorter and feels a little less detailed. I put that down to the era it is describing, Newton's unpublished works went on into wealthy families and only came into the public domain at auction as the aristocracy struggled to pay their way in the 20th century.

Red Bull Constructors Champion

I do not follow F1 as much as I used to, but this season has been very close and more interesting than usual.

So Red Bull win the constructors championship today, and of course in an Adrian Newey designed car. Ever since he left McLaren I thought he would not ever win with another team - just in pure budget terms. But Red Bull have risen into a top team and I am glad they have broken the monopoly of recent years, the sport desperately needed it.

Also in a season where Michael Schumacher returned but was unimpressive in the now midfield Brawn.