01/2021 Balance in Politics

The Game


Imagine a long wooden table with twelve men sitting on each side and a heavy iron ball lying on the top end of it.

Task for the 24 persons: toss the iron ball up and down the table. On its way everyone on each side has to touch it exactly one time in turns and give it a push so the ball rolls on a zig-zag path.

There are two specific informations for the players:

1. the ball must reach the bottom end of the table before it can be tossed back to the top.
2. the side which manages to push the ball over the opposite's edge of the table gets one point.

But: there is an additional contradictory but crucial information for the outcome of the game which is withheld from the players:

If the ball really falls off the table, serious problems will occur and all will lose.

The harder one player pushes the ball to one side, the more energy the next player will have to use in order to keep it on the table and push it back into the opposite direction. In the course of the game, on the basis of the two informations the 24 players have, everyone of them will do what he has to do and considers necessary to accomplish the task.

Game-opening scenario:

When the players are assembling in the game room, the usual rumble starts: saying hello and introducing each other, finding a place on a particular side and finally settling down at the table. During this the emcee announces the name of the game: "The Nation's Fate". But are they listening? Are they paying attention? And what will they make of it?

In the above example the 24 players represent politicians and other influential personalities. But I don't think the fate of a nation lies solely in the hands of such persons. Obviously politicians are elected by people and influential personalities get their influence for good reasons. But if we consequently follow this thread of thought, we will see that everyone of us and therefore "the people" always will have to do what we must do according to our position both, in private life and at work. In that sense we are all players who push the iron ball in favour of our own interests and personal goals and for the sake of what/whom we love and appreciate.

When people band together, form parties and elect their leaders they can control the ball a fair bit and steer it in their favoured direction. But if its course brings it too close to one edge of the table, those who are sitting there will become uncomfortable and try to push it back hard.

I think that's where the European nations are today. The iron ball of fate was driven in a particular direction for reasons which made sense back then and were necessary: the two world wars, the question of equality between men and women, social issues, worker's rights, etc. These things needed to get sorted and had to stay as top priorities on the agenda for as long as required in order to achieve a balance.

But as in the above example, there is this missing piece of information saying that the iron ball must not fall from the table and that this is far more tricky and important than scoring.

From what I sense for several years now the turning point has been reached and it needs to be pushed back hard to keep it on the table. The disequilibrium can be observed in all core European nations. After decades of rolling more or less unhampered in one direction it came dangerously close to the edge.

It looks like Great Britain was first to instinctively realise this and now had to start a tremendous effort in order to push a heavy-weight iron sphere back into balance...against its own airspeed and the strenous opposition of those who got used to steering it in the other direction. Therefore the spread of action that needs to be taken seems to be of unexpectedly broad range. It takes a lot of sensibility and prudence to steady the ball and push it back. Endurance as well, not only for politicians and influentials, also for us, - the people. Weights must be shifted carefully step by step, thoroughly rearranging things.

Does the current pandemic help this endeavour? Maybe it does in a way...at least it makes people stop and reconsider. After all everything is up to every single one of us, each in his/her own playing field.

 

 

BerylliumN

 

 

 

 

 

03/2020 Conversations With A Scholastic

Part III

 

Some weeks later when I sat opposite Wren, he was searching through his bag, looking tense and angry again. I watched him apprehensively because I knew there will be another one of those talks we've had... Sure I could simply block it. I don't have to listen to him or respond. I could tell him to leave me alone with his opinions. But on the other hand I always appreciate first hand narratives. I like to listen to people who come from an entirely different cultural background and lead completely different lives.

While listening to them I try to keep an open mind and find my own position later. After all, what you think is one thing, what you tell people about it, another. In my experience the conversations are more interesting because people are more likely to say what they really think via context. But if you go straight to the point with a strong position on your own side people normally close all up and defend themselves and their point of view and it's going to be very hard to extract any valuable information.

I watched him for a bit longer until I asked:

 

I: "What happened? You look angry...?...Again..."

 

Wren: "You don't know the problems I'm having! My head aches from all of it....It's all about money in this world. Just money, money money..."

 

I thought: 'Oh dear, tell me something new, - right? But I  said:

 

I: " So, I guess you don't have enough of it...?"

 

When I looked up and in his face, I saw hatred in his eyes.

 

Wren: "Not enough? Puh!...They are all criminals! All swine! You know what they do to people who come to them with trust...to their shops?..and then they talk them into things and deceive them, they don't care for you as a human..."

 

I: " What are you talking about? What shops?"

 

Wren: "I mean those bleeding [insert a name of any well known mobile phone company]! I've got depts because of them. A lot of money...and I am working and paying them back and they still want more..."

 

I: "But did you talk so much on the phone or surf that much with it?"

 

Wren: "Well, yes, I did. But that's not all of it....I 've got 2 contracts, you know. Got talked into that by them? And the conditions are bad for me...and I can't get out of any of them. They won't let me. They took advantage of my poor German..and my trust."

 

 I looked at him in amazement. Can anybody really be so naive? He continued:

 

Wren: "But it's not only for my sake. It makes me very sad, what they did to the world."

 

I: "Who did what exactly?"

 

He took a longer look at me and leaned back in his chair. Then he exhaled and put his arms on the desk again, as if he made a decision to enter a fight.

 

Wren: "They are doing that everywhere you know? They take advantage of people and lie to them and trick them into things and they squeeze everything out of them. They take all their money and their treasures and their homes."

 

 

He stopped and watched my reaction. I decided to stick to the point and asked:

 

 

I: "WHO are THEY?"

 

Wren: "The Americans...and the British....they are all descendents of criminals, - the Americans I mean...and the British always help them. All these devils who are fooling the people...Also the French and the Spanish.. They all are exploiting people. They've ruined and exploited my country too. Now they are there and everything is bad. They come and say they want to bring us democracy. This democracy thing is just one big cheat. F*** democracy! We never needed that"

 

He took a break again and scowled at me to check if I was getting angry. I wanted to know how serious he was and if he ever really thought it all through...and what his wish or his vision for himself or his country would be, so I asked:

I: "Ok, let's assume 'they' would all leave your country imediately, - just like that, with no further demands, conflicts or anything. What would you like to have for your country?..."

 

He interrupted me.

 

Wren: "They would never leave. Why should they? They like to exploit it."

 

I: "Ok, ok...just for me, to understand your dreams or aims if you like: what would you want to do or have first?"

 

By his expression it was plain that he'd never seriously thought about that. He looked at me and clearly was trying to collect his thoughts.

 

I: "Don't you think you'd need a plan or a concept, a strategy?"

It took him a while until he replied:

 

Wren: "First they should give us back everything they took."

 

I: "What?"

 

Wren: "The oil, the gems, the money."

 

I: "Well, the oil cannot be given back, so I guess you mean they/we should pay retroactive.." He nodded vigorously. "And then what?"

 

No reply. 

I: "What type of government would you like to install? Which language of all that are currently spoken in your country should become the official language? Which legal system would you want to have?"

 

He didn't respond for some minutes, then he said:

 

Wren: "My people are tired from everything they had to endure. They need a break, some rest... (pause)... they need to think and learn...."

 

I: "What do you mean? How?"

 

Wren: "They need to concentrate on The Book and learn from it. Then they should apply what they've learned and live by it."

 

 I: "Just the one book?And that's all?"

 

Wren: "Yes. Everything a person needs to know...everything that mankind ever could know is implemented in The Book. Humans do not need to know every little detail. We cannot understand the world anyway. How has science and Albert Einstein ever really helped people?"

 

I was puzzled. I thought: 'Wow! That really is pure scholasticism.

 

I: "So, that truely is what you would wish for your country and people, - they should live by the rules of The Book? I think you haven't really thought this through, right?"

Wren: "No, I haven't. But still I think this should be the big picture. There are some technical things like language and administration and so on...but on the whole...yes, that would be the best for us."

I: "You do realise that would mean your favourite legal system would be the Sharia?"

He nodded determined, got up and went to the fridge. He knew my opinion towards this...and I knew that he knew. So there was/ is nothing left to say...

 

These conversations speak for themselves. They include all the underlaying subtle and not so subtle conflicts and intrinsic differences.

 

Wren had been living in this country for 10 years when we had this talks. He went to school here, had an apprenticeship, a carer who helped him to sort things out when he was new here, he's got a job...but still: he had a girl friend (or fiancé)  from his own nationality and would never dream of marrying a European (white) woman, according from what he told me, he will raise his to be children in his faith and according to The Book. He controlled his younger siblings who lived a good distance off, if they obediently went to Koran-school on Saturdays and he himself went regularly to his Mosque-community to be in contact with like-minded people (from what he told me other Scholastics). Neither his heart nor his thoughts, hopes, dreams or visions lay in this country but in what he calls "home". So naturally he will not care all that much what happens to this country or its native people, - they are and will remain strangers to him. Furthermore he distinctively does NOT approve of most of our ways and means. He does not really seek friendship with us but wants to be left alone and build a home away from home which resembles his world as good as it gets.

 A perfect example of a parallel world/society in our society. 

 

 

BerylliumN 

 

 

 

 

 

02/2020 Conversations With A Scholastic/Part II

Part II   Watch out for worms!


About a week later, Wren sat opposite me, leaning back in his chair with a content smile on his face.

Wren: "How are you, B.? Have you had a nice weekend?"

I: "My weekend was quite fine, yes. Thanks. And yours?"

Wren: "I've been clubbing and had fun...so yes, it was good...but one thing I cannot understand..."

He paused. I knew he was waiting for me to ask what 'thing' he couldn't understand. I remembered my last conversation with him about his views and felt a bit reluctant to get into another one...but well...I did what is conventionally expected.

I: "What can't you understand, Wren?"

Wren: "These women...."

I thought 'oh dear'!

Wren: "I mean, - old women...why are they doing that? Why are they dressing as if they were young and hang around in clubs...?"

In my imagination I saw grandmas twirling around on the dancefloor while their elderly friends are sitting at the bar with heavily painted faces, slurping cocktails, dressed up in high-heels.

I: "What do you mean 'old women'?"

Wren: "Don't know...about 50, maybe...?"

While my jaw dropped he went on:

Wren: "I mean, they've had their youth and their lives. Now it's the time for them to stay at home and rock their grandchildren on their knees...so what are they on about?? They mustn't hang out in bars or clubs. It's not nice. It's indecorous...!"

I checked if he was serious...he was. Then I started to laugh heartily. He looked at me in surprise.

I: "So you are saying within the next 2 - 5 years I shouldn't be allowed in a club anymore, or a bar?"

His face went red and he spluttered:

Wren: "Oh! I didn't know you are... er...are you going to clubs or discos?"

I found his aptitude for embarrassing himself rather amusing. He really wasn't much of a brainiac obviously...or was he? Maybe he just didn't give a damn? However, I answered.

I: "Oh no, I never was, never liked it much, you see. But if I would want to go to a club now or whenever I wish, you surely wouldn't forbid me to go, right?"

I looked him straight in the eyes and again I sensed that he will give me the 'correct' answer for the sake of not getting into trouble, - but only for that and not a fathom more. Also I could see that he kind of liked me in a way and didn't want to hurt my feelings, therefore he tried to keep the topic on a non-personal but rather a general level in order to get his point across.

Wren: "You see...why would these women go through all this trouble? Do they, in their age, want to hit on young men?...for shagging??! That's not a thing for respectable grown-up women!"

This was so odd that I couldn't do anything but smile in amazement. He didn't seem to realise what his comments implied on both, - a general and a personal level...so I tried something else.

I: "But Wren, why do you care what these women do? Did one hit on you? Did they offend you in any way?"

He shook his head several times but said nothing.

I: "So why are they bothering you?"

This question needed one or two moments of his consideration before he finally replied.

Wren: "The club doesn't look good anymore. I'm young, I want to see young, pretty girls in there."

I wanted to leave it be, but after some minutes he added.

Wren: "It's not good in the face of God...there's a time for everything, a time for each age where you do certain things, then others. But here it is all mixed up and confused. It shouldn't be like that."

Well, I didn't respond to that and we left this conversation with a hint of affront, resent and anger on my side (again). And because I can't help reflecting on things I thought about it for a while. For me it is astonishing to which degree the course of life in these cultures is irrevocably graded in sections, fixed and linked to unquestionable traditions and restricted by conventions. So called 'normal' people never seem to stand up against those rules...I guess this would be considered as most indecorous... :-) Not only that, it rather seems to be an absolute no-go for every single individual.

I also reflected upon our western attitude, our position, I considered if there could be a tiny something to his point of view... My conclusion was and is that it might not be bad to hear such things from time to time as kind of a counter-weight or a reminder...from a priest or a philosopher, in order to put one's own demeanour into perspective. But the crucial point is that my decision what to do or not to do will then be my own choice. Everyone should choose his/her ways based on free will, with the inherent option for personal insight and consideration. If the way I choose is going to lead to conflict with myself, other people or institutions, then I will have to deal with the consequences. But such things can never be written in law, neither should they be allowed to become unwritten law or a strict 'code of conduct', which might be even worse because the restrictions and no-goes will get engraved in people's minds and do even more harm by going deeper. Then I asked myself: but where is the line between decency and restrictions? We do have protocols and codes of conduct too of course, you wouldn't get served in a restaurant if you showed up in your underwear for instance. So where's the difference? And the fact that I even asked myself this question is part of the problem I quickly realised. Because the difference is that he said "shouldn't be allowed" and that he was only referring to women. Then I got even more angry. How is he doing that? How did he worm his views into my thoughts? Is it because we are brought up with the pretension to question ourselves rather then just follow directives?  

I realised for a second time that I could only accept such a thing by being brain washed....and that I need to watch out for worm-holes... ;-)

BerylliumN

01/2020/ Conversations With A Scholastic

Hi folks! I know, it's been a while but well...sometimes plans clash with reality. So here's a record of conversations I've had with "Wren":

 

Part I

For the safety of personal data and respect for privacy I will call the person I‘ve

spoken to „Wren“ and will not refer to the circumstances or the location where these

conversations took place.

Wren enters the room looking distressed, upset and tired.

Wren: „Good morning, B.! How are you?“

I: „I‘m fine and you? You look upset...“

Wren, looking even more tense, emptying his pockets on the desk.

„I‘m ok...I didn‘t get much sleep last night, had to get up early...couldn‘t get a coffe at

the station… I‘ve got a lot on my mind, you know?...do you want tea?“

I: „ No thanks. Why couldn‘t you get much sleep?“

Wren: „Really? I‘ll make tea for myself anyway, you see...“

I: „No thanks!“

Wren: Two friends showed up late last night. They stayed until 2.30 am...I had to get 

up at 6 am...“

I: „Oh boy! Why didn‘t you tell them to shove off and explained...they can visit 

another day surely…?“

Wren, shaking his head: „No, you can‘t do that in my culture. It would be very rude…

I‘ve got black tea, peppermint, black with lemon...are you sure you don‘t want tea?“

I, becoming slightly annoyed about forced-upon-me-tea: „No thanks! I don‘t want tea 

right now!“

Wren looks at me as if I‘ve just been rude, - which makes me uncomfortable. He 

continues to prepare his tea with a frown.

I: „So why couldn‘t you get a coffe at the station?“

Wren: „Because it was ten to seven...“

I: „What?“

Wren: „The coffe-shop opens at 7h am, I arrived at 10 to 7, there was a young woman, 

cleaning tables, the door was already open. She said it wasn‘t open yet and waved a 

hand at me like I was a dog. I tried to explain that I can‘t wait 10 minutes because I‘d 

miss my train. She got angry and looked at me with an ugly-aggressive face and told 

me that if I don‘t leave right now she‘d call the police...imagine that! The police! 

Why? Because I asked her for an exception?! I said to her: you are a devil!, and left.“

I, amazed: „The devil?“

Wren, agitated with anger: „Yes, the devil. Because women must always be gentle and 

friendly.“

I, getting a bit angry myself: „You do realise you are talking to a woman, right?“

He looks at me, slightly embarrassed: „...er...“

I: „How can you say a woman „should“ always be gentle and friendly??!“

Wren, grinning a bit insecure, but still visibly upset: „Yeah, well, but this was a very 

young woman, almost a girl and I am a man and she should be friendly. It is not nice 

talking to people like that.“

I: „Ah! Don‘t you think then that people in general should speak in a polite and 

friendly way with each other, especially in public...out of respect and common 

decency?“

Wren, trying to get out of this in kind of a „correct“ way: „Hmm, yes, you‘re right.  

People should be polite with each other.“

I can see in his expression that he is saying that, but thinking something else.

I: „Anyway, who says that women should always be gentle...you?“

Wren: „Yes, me. And it‘s written in The Book.“

At this point he put his ear-plugs in and started to watch movies on his Smartphone.

This conversation left me puzzled, a bit angry and uncomfortable. I couldn‘t contradict

or argue about what was written in The Book because I haven‘t read it. So I left it 

there. But I thought: nobody could make me „always be friendly and gentle“ because I 

am a woman...except I was brain washed, or I had to become sort of professionally 

false and duplicitous in my behavior towards people. I wouldn‘t want that either.

BerylliumN

 

N° 31 Der Umgedrehte Tag // The Inverted Day

please scroll down for English Version

Jeder kennt diese Tage, keiner mag sie. Vermeiden kann man sie aber auch nicht. Sie passieren einfach, sind da. Immer unangemeldet, ohne jede Chance auf eine Vorahnung oder auch nur den kleinsten Hinweis. Weshalb solche Tage stets zum denkbar ungeeigneten Zeitpunkt kommen? Niemand weiß es. Man hatte soviel vor, wollte alles Mögliche erledigen, - und dann so was… Alles geht schief, vor allem die kleinen Dinge funktionieren überhaupt nicht. All die lästigen Kleinigkeiten und Details die einem dann so UNHEIMLICH AUF DIE NERVEN GEHEN!

Im Kopf hat man das Gefühl alles was normalerweise rechts ist heute links und/oder umgekehrt. Als hätte jemand an einer zentralen Drehscheibe gedreht. Man trifft dann zum Beispiel den Abfalleimer nicht und alles geht daneben, also muß man den Putzlumpen aus dem Besenschrank nehmen, - aber der liegt im falschen Eck und während man sich bückt und nach ihm streckt, fällt einem der Schrubber gegen den Kopf. Oder man möchte eine Vitaminpille nehmen und beim Öffnen der Dose kullern alle zu Boden, verteilen sich wie auf ein Kommando bis in die hintersten Winkel des Zimmers. Dort gibt es scheinbar zahllose Ecken und Kanten an denen man sich den Kopf anhauen kann. Dann merkt man wie sich langsam ein Kopfschmerz ausbreitet und so etwas wie resignierte Verärgerung in einem aufsteigt.

Also möchte man sich zurückziehen…aber das funktioniert auch nicht, denn heute ist überall dort wo sonst meist Ruhe herrscht, Unruhe und Tohuwabohu und auf einmal tauchen Leute auf, die man schon lange nicht mehr gesehen hat…und alle wollen irgendwas. Das die Lieblings-Kekse und aus sind und man keine Zeit mehr hat zum Supermarkt zu gehen, brauche ich nicht erst zu erwähnen, das versteht sich an so einem umgestülpten Tag von selbst. Der Lieblingstee ist natürlich auch aus, - steht ja schon auf der Einkaufsliste von vorgestern,- das möchte ich schon erwähnen!

Mittlerweile hat man sämtliche Versuche  etwas Sinnvolles auf die Beine zu stellen aufgegeben und hofft dass dieser Tag möglichst schnell vorbei geht. Aber diesen Gefallen tut er einem natürlich nicht und die Zeit kriecht dahin, mit einem höhnischen Grinsen.

Es ist jetzt 16 Uhr, die Katze hat eine lebende Maus von draußen rein gebracht, im Keller los gelassen und dann das Interesse verloren. Nachdem ich eine halbe Stunde lang versucht habe die Maus von hinter der Schrank-Regal-Rollcontainer-Zeile im Keller raus zu holen, gebe ich auf und verliere zwar nicht das Interesse aber die Nerven… Noch schnell einen Tee machen (welchen?), dann steuere ich auf die Couch zu. Wenn ich den Stöpsel dafür finden könnte würde ich mir eine Wärmflasche für die Füße machen, so aber müssen doppelte Wollsocken genügen. Ich atme tief durch, da läutet es an der Tür, - der Postbote hatte meine Briefe versehentlich in den Briefkasten des Nachbarn geworfen, na so was…wer hätte das gedacht. Möglichst schnell zurück auf die Couch ohne. Ich lege die Füße hoch und starre in die Luft, - für sagenhafte 10 Minuten geschieht nichts…zum Glück habe ich das Telefon ausgesteckt und mein Handy ausgeschaltet. Ich blicke in meine Tasse…irgendein Tee…noch 3 Stunden bis zur Bett-geh-Zeit…
 

In diesem Sinne... Allen eine erholsame und friedliche Weihnachtszeit!

BerylliumN 

The Inverted Day

Every one knows these days, no one likes them... Unfortunately there’s no real escape, no possibility to avoid them. They are just there. They “happen”, always anannounced, without the merest hint for us in advance. And why are these days always happening when it seems to be most inappropriate? Nobody knows it.

You’ve planned to do this and that? You’ve intended to finish a particular work or wanted to get a job done? Forget about it! Everything goes wrong, especially these nasty little things and important details which are getting SO VERY ANNOYING on a day like that. It’d be better for you if you don’t even tray to stay in control of things.

There is this strange feeling in your head...as if everything which normally is on the right side, now is on the left, - or the other way round...as if someone (who the hell?) has had great fun turning the big central steering wheel in the wrong direction for no good reason and now all sides are switched. Therefore you didn’t hit the waste bin with the small shovel and the rubbish dropped onto the kitchen floor. Then you went to fetch the cleaning rag from the cupboard, but it’s in the wrong corner and while you are bending down, stretching for it, the broomstick will hit your forehead. Or you want to take a vitamine pill and when you try to open the glas they will all fall to the floor, spreading everywhere, rolling towards every remote corner of the kitchen with lots of sharp edges to bang your head on. That’s the moment when you start to get a headache. Apart from that you’d really want to hit this rotten day in the face. But since this is impossible, a feeling of tired frustration takes over and you just wish to retire to somewhere quiet. But no, that’s impossible too! Today there’s hullabaloo everwhere you expect to find peace and quietude... People are showing up you haven’t seen for ages...and everybody wants something from you...

Needless to say that you’ve run out of your favourite Cookies and tea and there’s simply no time to rush to the supermarket and get some. Of course these circumstances are standard programme on inverted days...

Meanwhile you’ll have abandoned your plan to get anything useful done and probably just hope this day will pass as quickly as possible. But no again! It wouldn’t do you this favour...time is draging on itself on a VERY slow pace with a taunting smile on its face. J Ready for the next act:

It’s 4 p.m. now, - the cat has brought a living mouse from the garden and let it go free in the cellar, then lost interest.... After I’ve spent half an hour trying to chase the mouse from under the cupboards, shelves and container alongside the wall, I didn’t loose interest but my nerves and gave up. Now I definitly need a cup of tea (which one?)! So shortly afterwards I’m heading for the couch, tea cup in hand. If I could find the peg, I’d prepare me a hot-water bottle for my feet, but today an extra pair of wollen socks must do....

The first minute I sat down on the sofa, the doorbell rings, - it’s the neighbour. Obviously the postman had accidentally put my letters in his box this morning... What a surprise...!! Now back to the sofa with speed, feet on the table, grap the tea cup and...wait....nothing happens for over 10 minutes...wow! Fortunately I unplugged the telephone and switched off my mobile. Deep breath...still nothing... I look down into my cup of...any tea...3 hours until the earliest possible bed time... I take a sip, listening to a faint scratching noise from downstairs... oh, who cares!

All the best for x-mas to everybody! Enjoy a peaceful holiday!

BerylliumN

  

 

N° 30 Zum 200sten geburtstag von Max von Pettenkofer

sorry guys, - this time German only. It's a bavarian/German Thing... :-)

 

Ein herausragendes Genie aus Bayern, - genauer gesagt aus dem Donaumoos, gelegen bei der damaligen Zoll-Mautstelle Lichtenheim, wäre heute 200 Jahre alt geworden.

 

Ein derartig ausgefülltes Leben in ein paar Seiten blog zu pressen ist unmöglich, - aber wenigstens ein kurzer Abriss mit den wichtigsten Fakten ist doch notwendig:

 

Er wächst als Max (Maxl) Pettenkofer in ärmlichen Verhältnissen auf. Seine Eltern haben einen kleinen Bauernhof. Am liebsten ist er draußen in der Natur bei seinem Bekannten, - dem Schäfer Leonhard, genannt „Hartl“. Der bringt ihm alles bei, was er selbst über die umliegende Natur, die Tiere, Insekten und Pflanzen weiß. Aber er muß von klein auf viel im Haus und am Hof mithelfen, weil jede Arbeitskraft gebraucht wird.

In der Schule gilt er als fleißig, aufgeweckt und intelligent, weshalb seinen Eltern empfohlen wird ihn auf eine weiterführende Schule zu schicken. Durch die Beziehungen seines Onkels, des Hof-und Leib Apothekers des Königs in der Münchner Residenz bekommt er einen Platz in der städtischen Lateinschule. Seine Einschulung war im September 1826, zu dieser Zeit hatte München gerade mal 66.000 Einwohner und er wurde am Anfang seiner Schulzeit als „Landei“ gehänselt. Aber seine Mitschüler lernten bald seine Loyalität und seinen Mut zu schätzen und bekamen Respekt vor seinen Leistungen. Nach Abschluß der Lateinschule kommt er in das Königliche Alte Gymnasium in der Herzogspitalstraße, später Wilhelms Gymnasium genannt, wo er über die Jahre nicht weniger 15 Schulpreise erwirbt.

 

Seine humanistische Bildung, die mit ebensolcher Weltauffassung einhergeht hat er zeitlebens hoch geschätzt und in Ehren gehalten. Anschließend studierte er an der Münchner Universität Pharmazie (was ein einjähriges Philosophie-Kolleg beinhaltete) mit Vorlesungen in Mineralogie, Chemie, Toxikologie und Pharmakologie. Er war aber auch an Geisteswissenschaften interessiert und belegte Nebenfächer wie Geschichte, Literatur, Fremdsprachen und Kunsthistorik. Sein Geist war also nie nur einseitig orientiert.

 

Ab 1839 ging Max dann bei seinem Onkel, dem Hofapotheker Franz Xaver Pettenkofer in die Lehre. Allerdings gab es Streit zwischen den Verwandten, weshalb er seine Lehre unterbricht und einen „geistigen Ausflug“ in die Theaterwelt unternimmt um als Schauspieler am Regensburger Theater zu arbeiten. Zum Glück für die Welt der Wissenschaft kehrte er aber bald nach München zurück und nahm sein Studium wieder auf, - diesmal in Pharmazie und Medizin, welches er mit der bestmöglichen Note abschloß. Bei seiner Dissertation unternahm er seinen ersten Selbstversuch mit der zu beschreibenden Heilpflanze. Ein Beweis von vielen für seine Hingabe an Wissenschaft und Forschung, die er in seinen 83 Lebensjahren stets bewiesen hat. Max Pettenkofer war unermüdlich mit eben dieser Hingabe und Leidenschaft auf all jenen Gebieten tätig die ihn interessiert haben oder ihm zugetragen wurden und hat dabei im Grunde immer „die bestmögliche Note“ erreicht. :-) Hier die bekanntesten Errungenschaften die wir ihm zu verdanken haben:

 

1.) Der Arsen-Nachweis bei gerichtsmedizinisch relevanten Autopsien.

 

2.) Der zuverlässige Nachweis von Gallensäure.

 

3.) Die Entdeckung des Kreatinins, - und damit ein überaus wichtiger Beitrag zum Verständnis der Funktionsweise der Nieren.

 

4.) Während seiner Anstellung im bayerischen Münzamt die Entdeckung des Platins und demzufolge die Verbesserung der Gold/Silbertrennung.

 

5.) Die damals revolutionäre Erkenntnis über die Instabilität verschiedener Elemente.

 

6.) Die Enträtselung des Geheimnisses wie das „Hämation“, das sehr wertvolle, rote pompeianische „Blutglas“ hergestellt werden kann.

 

7.) Die Einführung des Studiengangs Hygiene an der Universität München und dessen schrittweiser Ausbau.

 

8.) Entdeckung eines Verfahrens um deutschen Zement erheblich aufzuwerten und ihn damit dem englischen „Portland“-Zement anzugleichen, - zur Freude des deutschen Bauwesens.

 

9.) Die Optimierung der Zusammensetzung von Holzgasleuchten, die für die Beleuchtung öffentlicher Räume benutzt wurden.

 

10.) Die Lösung des sogenannten „Grauschleier-Problems“ bei alten Ölgemälden. Wichtig für deren Restauration.

 

11.) Wichtige und innovative Erkenntnisse über Innenraumbelüftung und die daraus folgende Bauweise von Häusern.

 

12.) Ebenso essentielle Erkenntnisse zur Reinhaltung der Luft und erste Entdeckungen über Feinstaub (!), sowie die Einführung von Lebensmitteltests.

 

13.) Und, - dafür ist er wohl am besten bekannt: sein Kampf gegen die Cholera. In langjähriger Forschungsarbeit fand Max von Pettenkofer die Ursachen für die Verbreitung des Cholera-Erregers.

 

...und konnte in einem zähen Kampf die entsprechenden Personen davon überzeugen die notwendigen Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, - nämlich dem Bau einer Schwemm-Kanalisation in München (bzw. darunter). Bis dahin, also bis ca 1880, hatte München nämlich nur Sickergruben. Es mußten sämtliche Straßen aufgerissen werden, die (größtenteils undichten) Sickergruben ausgehoben und zugeschüttet werden...ein immenses Bauvorhaben mit den unausbleiblichen Folgen für die Anwohner: Lärm, Schmutz und starke Geruchsbelästigung.

Zudem mußte für sauberes Trinkwasser gesorgt werden und Max von Pettenkofer drängte auf eine Anbindung an das Mangfall-Tal...wovon München noch heute profitiert. Des weiteren wurde ein zentraler Schlachthof eingeführt um unkontrollierte Verschmutzungen des Erdreiches weitgehendst zu vermeiden. Teilweise waren die von Pettenkofer geforderten Maßnahmen nicht gerade populär, weil sie eben für manchen Münchner Unannehmlichkeiten brachten, konnten aber trotzdem zum langfristigen Wohle Aller durchgesetzt werden, wofür man aus heutiger Sicht nur dankbar sein kann…

 

1883 wurde Max Pettenkofer schließlich von König Ludwig II in den Adelsstand gehoben und hieß fortan Max von Pettenkofer. Seine zahlreichen anderen Auszeichnungen kann man problemlos im Netz nachlesen.

 

Leider wurde dieser großartige Wissenschaftler in seinen letzten zwei Lebensjahren zunehmend von gesundheitlichen Beschwerden geplagt, für die es zu seiner Zeit noch keine adäquaten Heilmittel gab. Möglicherweise hätte er sie erst selbst erfinden müssen… ;-) Er hatte starke Schmerzen und die Befürchtung sein Verstand könnte ihn langsam verlassen. Dies veranlasste ihn dazu sich am 10.02.1901 das Leben zu nehmen. Er erschoss sich mit einer Pistole.

 

Warum schreibe ich etwas zum 200sten Jahrestag seiner Geburt? Nun, zum Einen ist mir beim Lesen seiner Biographie klar geworden was man ihm und seinem Wirken alles zu verdanken hat, und zwar ganz konkret im heutigen, alltäglichen Leben. Zum Anderen habe ich sehr großen Respekt vor seinen Denkansätzen, denn sie umspannten oft mehrere wissenschaftliche Gebiete, waren mutig und innovativ, ohne in Größenwahn oder Selbstüberschätzung umzuschlagen. Zudem waren sie gekennzeichnet von präziser Analyse die mit großer Hartnäckigkeit voran getrieben wurde bis ein Ergebnis in Sicht war. Auch das ist ein harter Weg, der leider oft gescheut wird. Und zu guter Letzt schätze ich die Art, wie er sein ganzes Leben seinem Beruf gewidmet hat, und das offenbar ohne zu einem verbohrten Quälgeist zu werden.

 

All dies zusammen genommen stellt für mich das genaue Gegenteil von Kleingeistigkeit dar.

 

Danke, Max von Pettenkofer für alles!    R.I.P

 

 

BerylliumN 

 

 

 

 

  

N° 29 Ein Fadenwurm parkt ein? // A Nematode Can Park a Car?

please scroll down for English Version

 

Oft sind es die kleinen Randnotizen in Zeitungen oder kleine Bemerkungen in Rundfunk und Fernsehen die tief blicken lassen und/oder Fragen aufwerfen. Wenn man sie überhaupt entdeckt, sich die Mühe macht sie zu lesen, darüber nachzudenken und sie in den enormen alltäglichen Informationsfluss einzuordnen… „Ein Wurm parkt ein“, lautete unlängst die Überschrift einer solchen kleinen Notiz im Wissens-Teil einer deutschen Tageszeitung. Überfliegt man den kurzen Text nur, lacht oder schmunzelt man vielleicht darüber, denkt sich „wie kurios!“ und blättert weiter. Bemüht man sich aber das Geschriebene wirklich zu verstehen, werden die Falten auf der eigenen Stirn immer tiefer...und lachen kann man auch nur noch bedingt:

 

Zunächst geht es darum, daß Wissenschaftler das Nervensystem eines Nematoden, - des oben genannten Fadenwurms (haardünn, ca. 1mm lang) am Computer nachgebaut haben und es mit geeigneten Lernalgorhitmen so lange trainiert haben, bis es ein Schuhschachtel kleines Auto voller Sensoren in eine Parklücke einparken konnte...“kurios!“ könnte man jetzt wie gesagt denken und die Zeitung einfach weglegen. Fertig. Aber: was impliziert dieser erste Abschnitt alles?

 

1. Im Nervensystem dieser winzigen Lebensform sind offenbar die Grundlagen für Lernfähigkeit und adaptives Verhalten gegeben.

 

2. Das bedeutet, daß selbst im Kleinsten unseres Großen Ganzen mit und in dem wir co-existieren, die  Anlagen vorhanden sind die auch für komplexe Systeme angewendet werden.

 

3. Es untermauert Darwins These, daß sich die Lebensformen aufeinander aufbauend entwickelt und entfaltet haben/worden sind...wie auch immer.

 

4. Offenbar ist man fähig mindestens Teile dieser grundsätzlichen Anlagen am Computer nachzubauen und diese mittels bestimmter Methoden je nach Wunsch zu manipulieren bzw. zu trainieren.

 

Die hierbei genutzte „natürliche Anlage“ ist der Reflex des Wurms sich bei Berührung zurück zu ziehen. Dieser Reaktions-Reflex wird für die Impulsgebung des Lenkens und Beschleunigens des Fahrzeugs (Schuhschachtel…) genutzt, d.h. ein reaktiver Nervenimpuls wird in eine gewünschte Handlung umgesetzt. Donnerwetter! Wie funktioniert das? Offenbar hat man eine spezielle Variante rückgekoppelter neuronaler (also aus Nerven bestehender…?!) Netzwerke entwickelt, sogenannten RNN. Diese haben „quasi“ eine Gedächtnis-Funktion und können durch Feedbacks und Erfahrungen lernen (Lernalgorhitmen). Laut dem Artikel bilden diese RNNs die Grundlage für künstliche Intelligenz in verschiedenen Anwendungen (Apps…!), von Spracherkennungssoftware, - etwa in Smartphones, bis zu virtuellen Spielern.

 

Natürlich werden (bislang?) keine organischen Nervenzellen in elektronische Geräte verbaut, sondern die Systeme werden am Computer konstruiert und vmtl. auf Schaltkreise im Nanobereich übertragen. Das erklärt warum man sich an so einfache Organismen als Vorbild hält wie Fadenwürmer, - sie sind nicht zu komplex aufgebaut. Im nächsten Abschnitt wird die Besonderheit des Fadenwurm-Vorbildes beschrieben:

 

Weil es aus dem „echten Leben“ stammt und auf Überleben in einer konkreten Umwelt ausgelegt ist, ist es reaktiv und wandelbar. Deshalb ist es effizienter. Wie das? Nun, - offenbar ist das gewöhnliche RNN-Model starr, es gibt zwischen dem einen Neuron und einem anderen nur eine unwandelbare Verbindung, die strikt festlegt, Zitat: „wie stark das eine Neuron die Aktivität des anderen beeinflußt.“, das bedeutet wohl auch, daß man viele einzelne Schritte (und damit auch Energie und Platz) braucht um komplexere Aktionen abzurufen… Verständlich, ist ja auch nur ein Nachbau von etwas natürlichem... Aber dann kommt ein überaus interessantes Zitat: „In unseren neuartigen RNN ist diese Verbindung eine nicht-lineare Funktion der Zeit.“ Was genau bedeutet „nicht-lineare Funktion der Zeit“? Den Begriff linear in Bezug auf Zeit verstehe ich als Bezeichnung für eine Abfolge von einem festgelegten Anfang zu einem festgelegten Ende (oder anders herum wenn man phantasievoll seien will), - etwa wie auf den Tag die Nacht folgt und dann der nächste Tag. Nicht-lineare Zeit wäre nicht an diese festgelegten Abläufe gebunden…???!! Das entspricht zwar meinem persönlichen Empfinden und meinen Vermutungen zum Wesen der Zeit, aber wie sieht diese mathematische Funktion aus? Und noch viel interessanter: wie kann man diese Berechnungen zu nicht-linearer Zeit in tatsächliche Handlungsabläufe in der „echten“, physischen Welt umsetzen??! Als Umsetzungs-Beispiel werden in dem Artikel selbstfahrende Autos erwähnt…

 

Im letzten Abschnitt des kleinen Artikels werden noch Kritikpunkte an dem Verfahren von Wissenschafts-Kollegen erwähnt. Dabei ist interessant, dass sich ein Kritiker auf bessere Problemlösungen bei klassischen neuronalen Netzwerken beruft, die vor rund 30 Jahren angewendet wurden. Das heißt, daß man schon seit ca. 1988 an derartigen Verfahren und Funktionsweisen arbeitet. Aha. Und was sind klassische neuronale Netzwerke von damals und inwiefern waren die besser?

 

Ich bin jedenfalls gespannt auf die angekündigte Publikation des entsprechenden Wissenschaftlers in ca. 6 Monaten und werde in diesem Fall sogar aktiv nach ihr Ausschau halten im Netz.

 

Aber warum schreibe ich über solche Dinge? Nun, zum einen weil ich es erstaunlich finde, daß solche wirklich wichtigen Informationen nur so wenig Platz bekommen in Tageszeitungen. Zum anderen, weil ich mich wirklich für das Thema interessiere und schließlich, weil ich weitere „menschliche Lücken“ kommen sehe. Denn, wenn der Wurm das Auto fährt und einparkt, Telefonate entgegennimmt, das Haus putzt, Bestellungen ausliefert…was machen dann die Leute? Vermutlich ein online Spiel auf dem Smartphone (gegen einen Wurm), oder sie arbeiten noch mehr, - am mit und an was?

 

Hmmmmmm…..

 

Wer weiß? Vielleicht ist es ja gar nicht mehr so weit bis zum Gartenarbeit-Roboter für schreiende User-Onkels… :-D

 

 

BerylliumN  

N° 29  A Nematode Can Park a Car!

 

 

Often the small notes in a newspaper or passing comments on the radio are the ones which bear the really interesting information and are truly revealing. Of course one has to make a little effort to notice them, like listening or reading attentively, otherwise you‘d miss them within this constant storm of media input. I wonder if this is intended… And when you detected them you‘d still have to give them a moment of your time and think about what you just heard or read. „A Thread Worm Parking a Car“ was the titel of such a small note in the science part of a German daily newspaper. If you only skim briefly through the text, you might laugh and think „how curious!“, before you turn the page and get on with your morning routine. But if you can‘t help wanting to scrutinize each and everything once it caught your attention (like me) and make the effort to re-read it until you fully comprehend it, the lines on your forehead deepen and you cannot really laugh anymore either:

 

The first part of the article tells the reader about the successful attempt of a scientist to copy the central nervous system of a Nematode on the Computer and trained it with adequate algorithms up to a point where it could actually park a car the size of a shoebox in a parking gab which was equipped with all kinds of different sensors. So far so good. But what does that information implicate?

 

1. In the nervous system of this tiny creature the basic principles of learning strategies and adaptive behaviour are inscripted.

 

2. That means that even the tiniest life-forms have the same basics that can be found in the more complex big picture, - the world, with and within which we have to coexist.

 

3. It also confirms Charles Darwins thesis of the evolution of the species from simple to more complex (building upon one another).

 

4. Obviously bioinformatics is capable of copying at least parts of these natural predispositions at the computer and training them with specific techniques to their wishes... And that they are doing it indeed.

 

The particular predisposition in use for the above-mentioned endeavour is the natural reflex of the Nematode to contract when touched. This reflex gets used to give the impulse for steering and/or accelerating the shoebox-car...and that means a neural impulse is transferred purposefully into a desired action! Gosh! How do they do that? Well, apparently they developed a specific version of a recurrent neural network (RNN), - or presumably rather a model of that. I hope. This specific RNN has some sort of memory-function and is able to learn from feedback and experience, - so called „learning-algorithms“. According to the article these RNNs are the basis for artificial intelligence in various applications, i.g. voice recognition or virtual Go-Players.

 

The naming of this technique is a bit confusing, for „neural“ network sounds like real organic material to me, but as far as I gathered they talk about copied models at the PC, which are transferred onto micro- chips at the nanoscale. This explains why scientists stick to simple organisms, - like Nematodes, because they are easier to reconstruct. But in the next paragraph of the article the distinctive feature of the Nematode-concept is described:

 

Because it resembles „real life“ and therefore is made for survival under ever changing conditions in a very concrete and tangible environment, it is reactive and variable...which makes it more efficient. Why in particular? Well, obviously the „normal“ RNN-model which is not taken from the example of the Nematode, is too rigid and...sort of „bulky“:  there is always just a single, invariable connection between one neuron and the other determining the proportion of the activity of a neuron. This means more intervals are required (and therefore more space and energy) to get coplex actions going. Then there is a very interesting quote: „Within our new RNN this connection is a non-linear time-function“. What exactly does non linear time-function mean? I understand the term linear regarding to time is a denotation for a determined sequence between a beginning and an end (or the other way round if you want to be imaginative), - i.g. after day there will be night. But non-linear time wouldn‘t be bound to this determined direction???!!!

This definitely agrees with my own point of view regarding to the essence of time itself and my presumptions…but what kind of non-linear function might that be? How would the math look like? Would I understand it, - at least its basics? And, - maybe even more interesting: how can this kind of math-equation get transferred into live action, i.g. in a car?

 

The last paragraph of the article points out some critics of the Nematode-RNN-model from fellow scientists. For me the most astonishing aspect of the critisism is that one other scientist is referring to a model called „classical neural-network“ from over 30 years (!) ago, - which in his opinion was /is more efficient. That means there has been research since around 1988 involving neural networking! All right... And what exactly are classical neural-networks? And why are they better? I‘m curious to read the announced publication of the Nematode-RNN scientist, which should be due within 6 months, - so they say. This time I will deliberately watch out for it.

 

Maybe a garden-work robot for the demanding user-uncle will sooner be available as one might think… :-)

 

And apart from that, - why am I writing about such things? Well, partly because I think it is puzzling how really important things only get small spaces in newspapers, partly because I take a genuine interest in the subject. And last but not least because I can see another human void coming (or many of them). For, if the worm drives and parks the car, answers telephone calls, cleans the house, delivers people‘s orders... what are people doing then? Presumably playing an online game on the smartphone (against a worm) or maybe working even harder? But what are they going to work with or at?

 

Hmmmm…..

 

BerylliumN