The Casual Observer

Twenty Five Astonishing Wide-Ranging Photographs

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 9 February 2015 0 Comment

These photographs are truly eclectic in their diversity: part historical, part geographical and part physiology. Each in its own right deserves to be pondered upon. For instance the photograph on Hitler’s office without any humans in it could have been taken at any time of the day or year because Hitler seldom if ever used it and after Stalingrad never again.

From that time onwards he divided his time between Berchtesgaden and the Wolves Liar in Eastern Prussia. Finally after the precipitous collapse of the Eastern Front in January 1945, Hitler’s final office was a warren of passages and rooms under the Reich’s Chancellery.

Main picture: Hitler’s office

How accurate is the Historical Record?

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 7 February 2015 0 Comment

How much reliance can be placed on historical facts especially those at the dawn of the age of writing? For that matter aren’t even current events recorded in a manner to represent and mirror the social milieu prevalent at the time?

Whilst reading an article on the earliest known writings on the nascent Scotland – it was then five disparate unrelated kingdoms – this fact struck me.

Calgacus is proudly proclaimed as the first authentic voice that Scotland produced. Apparently Calgacus was one of the Caledonian Chiefs who rose up against the invading Roman Army under Agricola in 80AD. His ignominious defeat by Agricola in a battle at Mons Graupius is recorded by Tacitus. Agricola’s son-in-law some 20 years later.

An Eclectic Array of Historical Photographs

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 7 February 2015 0 Comment

For me historical photographs even if they are unpretentious and unassuming provide a different perspective & keen insight on life and in particular how it was lived and experienced. This series of 25 photographs provides a mere peep into that lost world. Whilst most of the photographs fascinated me, I ultimately chose this one of the Beatles a year before they became famous as the main picture.

Main picture: The Beatles play for 18 people in the Aldershot club before they rose to fame a year later. [December, 1961]

I suspose that the main reason why it enthralled me was when I considered those 18 people that they could attract to a dance were unwittingly witness to a musical sensation in the making. Imagine what they would tell their friends over a drink a year later.

Does the adage “Everything in Moderation” apply universally?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Health 6 February 2015 2 Comments

Like all generalisations, the exceptions disprove the rule. In this case does smoking, snorting cocaine or injecting heroin in moderation apply? Certainly not. It probably applies with eating and drinking but what about exercise? Is strenuous exercise good for one’s health?

This maxim is often bandied about as a justification for behaviour that is clearly suspect or injurious to one’s health. Yet those protagonists of its use would never use this saying in other contexts where they disbelieve its veracity.

Falling Oil Prices: Is that a Good or a Bad Thing?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 3 February 2015 1 Comment

Without a doubt all South Africa would concur that it is a positive development. They would immediately point to the price of petrol and, if they were more astute, they might allude to the fact that Eskom is spending R4 Billion per month on diesel to power their “emergency” open cycle gas turbines. On the other hand is this positive affirmation universally true?

Firstly what is driving the price of this finite product down? From a South African perspective portion of the cause is highly illustrative as it is a contentious oil extraction process which is currently under debate.

Main picture: The Saudis have the lowest cost per barrel of oil in the world. Their aim is to destroy the expensive producers such as the offshore oil production and especially the fracking industry in the USA.

Brilliant but Highly Unscientific Graphs that Explain Life

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 2 February 2015 0 Comment

Two Danes, writer Mikael Wulff and cartoon artist Anders Morgenthaler produced a comic strip formerly called Wulffmorgenthaler being an amalgam of their surnames but is now called simply entitled Wumo. They subsequently produced a series of 34 graphs which, whilst they concede are highly unscientific, nonetheless reflect life precisely. Continue reading

Life Orientation: A Cinderella or Vital Subject at School

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 30 January 2015 0 Comment

On initial consideration, my first reaction – like most other people – is to dismiss it out of hand. Upon reflection it could form a vital component in the development of critical thinking skills which is so vital for the inculcation of cognitive abilities.

Being an avid fan of 702 Talk Radio what frequently exasperates me is the facile thinking process that the average person utilises when proposing a solution to a problem. If the presenter attempts to force the listener to be more specific about what must be done to alleviate or prevent the problem at hand, the person is at a loss for words in order to provide any constructive suggestion. Alternatively the suggestions made often have unintended consequences which are worse than the problem being addressed.

Why there are fewer Men than Women?

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 29 January 2015 0 Comment

At birth 103 boys are born for every 100 girls. By the time that cohort reaches 30, the ratio of boys to girls has evened out at 1:1. What has happened to those additional boys/men over those 30 years? This set of photographs tells the full tale. No additional explanations are required.

Photographs of snow storm in Buffalo New York

By Dean McCleland in Landscapes 27 January 2015 1 Comment

When I first heard about the reports of the heaviest snow falls in the Eastern USA for over 30 years I was sceptical. Maybe my natural cynicism at the Texan exaggeration – I know that the snow was in New York state and not in Austen Texas – aspect of American culture made me blase about the severity of the snow storm. A quick glance at some of the astonishing photographs emerging fr0m the USA rapidly disabused me of that notion.

The worst affected area appears to be the town of Buffalo in New York State where 6 feet [2 metres] of snow has been reported. The rate of the snow fall could rapidly trap people at work, on the highway and more embarassingly at their lovers apartment. Of course they could always claim without fear of contradiction that they were trapped in their vehicle somewhere. Meanwhile they were enjoyed an uninterrupted 48 hours in a romantic tryst!

Main picture: Don’t let the snow in!

Cockpits through the Ages

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 27 January 2015 0 Comment

The first air flight of just over a few hundred metres by the Wright Brothers was performed a little over a century ago at Kitty Hawk. Yet in just one century, the plane has advanced from little more than a rickety collection of piping and fabric to a supersonic plane capable of traversing the globe.

These aircraft are even able to land on autopilot. In fact certain airlines such as Turkish Air have mandated that all landings will be performed using the autopilot. This policy was to have tragic consequences for its crew when on attempting to land at Schiphol airport near Amsterdam, the autopilot malfunctioned. Instead of reverting to manual control, the pilot resolutely stuck to Company Policy regarding the use of the autopilot. Amongst the deaths were the 3 flight crew whereas most passengers escaped without serious injury.

Main picture: The cockpit of the 1903 Wright Flyer