Ok

By continuing your visit to this site, you accept the use of cookies. These ensure the smooth running of our services. Learn more.

- Page 8

  • Call me an old cynic...

    (Catriona, you're an old cynic) ... but the item in today's Baptist news esweep about the failure of the Willow Creek approach to make long term, mature disicples hardly came as a shock.  (Check link here)

    In my view the "Essence of a Pupose Driven Emmaus Journey into Alpha" models all have much that is good about them but they don't actually give any more than the old URC 'church membership class' I did almost 30 years ago - and we all know what the attrition rates are like for post Baptism/Confirmation/Membership.

    I don't have an answer, just wonder if maybe we have a got a bit too hung up on formula and numbers coming in rather than authenticity and maturity.

  • Right Answers and Appropriate Answers

    My sister rang this eveing wanting to know the answer to her daughter's science homework, "why does lemonade stay fizzy for longer in the fridge?"  Now that's a good question and I was left wondering what the required answer is for Year 7 science.  Unless education has change drastically,things like ideal gases laws, partial pressures and vapour pressures, to say nothing of potential for osmosis through vessel walls, solubility of gases in liquids, electron excitation etc will not have been the intended response (I'm only showing off a bit, most of things I can no longer remember anything about).  Indeed, I wondered if the question should have continued '... after it has been opened' because I don't know if we have done the research to show that it does if it isn't (or which theories I'd need to apply).  What container was it in - I mean, if in an open can or glass, it will still go flat pretty rapidly.  And even, how does one define 'fizzy'?

    I concluded the answer required was 'because it's colder.'  The pressure x volume is lower (remember the old Pv=nRT ?) but whether this means the bubbles are less likely to collapse or less likely to escape from the fluid I don't have a clue, if I ever knew.  It could be to do with electron excitation or evapoartion into the 'void' above the drink - or a whole host of other things I haven't a clue about.  And I really can't see the mechanism as being what her teacher is expecting - though it would be fun to be able to tell her/him.  Maybe someone out there knows the 'real' (degree level) answer and can tell me?  Maybe someone, somewhere is doing a PhD in lemonade fizzics (sorry, couldn't resist)

    But what all this did do was remind me of the difference between the 'right answer' and the 'appropriate answer' - and how they can be really rather different.  I have many memories of A level Chemistry teachers alluding to the 'O level lie' we had to unlearn in order to learn what later turned out to be the 'A level lie.'  Such a statement is a little hard, given the 'lies' were only ever incomplete or simplified answers, fit for our needs at the time.  I think that there is a case to be made for 'appropriate' answers - and indeed, if we're honest that's all we ever get becuase all theories end up with limitations anyway. 

    Since my niece has ambitions in dramatic arts, I doubt that the mechanics of compressible fluids or solunilityof gases under different conditions are of very much interest to her.  Knowing lemonade will stay fizzy in the fridge longer than out of it will be of greater use than the whys or wherefores.

    Now, where's that paper on adiabatic expansion...

  • Christmas Stamps

    Having just looked at the new issue Christmas stamps, I was very disappointed.  It was good to see overtly Christian themes (not that I object to the alternate years having 'fun' themes)  and they are beautiful designs but... oh so white, western middle class.  I almost - but only almost - prefer the Blue Peter kids competition winners approach, because they feel more authentic somehow

    A little internet trawling reminded me what I'd forgotten, that in 2005 we had wonderful ethnically diverse madonnas to adorn our post.

    Personally, I prefer the 2005 stamps and would cheerfully have them all over again - what do others think?

  • A Useful Music Website

    Following Andy's request for copyright details for Martin Leckebusch's hymns, I stumbled across a useful website where you can download various people's words and music free, so long as you acknowledge copyright - and some other things are available by email.

    Looks useful take a peak at http://www.servicemusic.org.uk/

  • You don't hear that very often...

    Last night we did something rare for churches - we decided not to advertise our Carol Service as we anticipate being full to bursting!  With up to 100 seniors for tea plus the school choir and their parents/siblings it will be a squash.  Of course, should some pregant woman turn up in a blue frock we'll find a space for her...  What a nice problem to have!

    Our meeting ended up having to take into account emergency evacuation plans (we're pushing the limits on numbers)and overflow car parks... I'd never have anticipated that four years ago as I braced myself for the traditions of the previous 200 years a la Dibley.  God is good!