Science Says!

One quite often encounters, generally in popular publications, the phrase, “Science says” or its variant, “Scientists say,” or “Science has proven.” Generally this is held to be ‘game, set and match’ in any controversy.

Coming from a scientific discipline myself, I maintain an innate skepticism whenever I come across such language.

Here it is helpful to realise that ‘Science’ falls into three broad categories each with its own methodology:

Applied Science

This is my background, the discipline of Engineering and Technology. She is a stern mistress, for if practice does not accord closely with theory one’s bridges fall down and one’s machines fail to work. It is a very public discipline and one can easily get mud on one’s face. This branch of science has a well-established theoretical basis yet it employs a high degree of empiricism. If something breaks, make another one a bit stronger so that it will not break. If something doesn’t work, try another approach until you find something that does work.

Pure Science

This branch of Science uses the classical scientific method consisting of, postulate followed by repeated experiment followed by conclusion and revision of postulate if the conclusion does not confirm the postulate. It is essentially an iterative methodology and depends on the ability to repeat an experiment. Applied scientists stand on the shoulders of pure scientists and use their findings and their theoretical formulations in building their devices and structures.

Speculative Science

Some may object to this term, but I can’t offhand think of a better and ‘Impure Science’ does not seem appropriate.

This is not to imply that the scientific disciplines falling within this category are not respectable, but simply to acknowledge that the methodology employed here is quite different. This is because they deal with past events which by their very nature are not repeatable. Thus they are not susceptible to the classic scientific method which requires repeated experiments. The methodology used here is forensic such that historic data is analysed and evaluated in order to arrive at the truth. It is like Sherlock Holmes examining the body and its situation in order to determine whether the cause of death was murder or suicide.

Often Sherlock will come to a different conclusion to the police as to the cause of death though they both access the same data.

There are obviously blurred boundaries between these branches of science, but what should be noticed is that the first two employ closed-loop methodologies, the third branch is essentially open-loop. This is why it is a happy hunting ground for theorists whose theories cannot easily be proven or disproved.

Accordingly, when encountering an assertion attributed to ‘science,’ a good practice is to establish which branch of science is making the claim. If it is the third branch, then,

KEEP THE JURY OUT A LITTLE LONGER.

Reflections in Reception - Some Days Later

Well the workers were paid on time Lord,

Not from the R18000 although I did receive that eventually.

But of course you know all this,

You know too about the unexpected refund from the Revenue Department

That arrived in the nick of time.

I have no doubt that you arranged this.

I suspect that at some subliminal level

Employees in the Tax Department know that they owe you one,

Because you extended grace and friendship to tax collectors

When they were reckoned the scum of the Earth.

So it seems like an all round win:

The workers have been paid,

I have been paid,

Relationships are in pretty fair shape,

Why the chief even called about a quotation for another machine.

(I hope I may be forgiven for having inflated the price a bit)

But best of all, I have further evidence (as if I needed more)

Of your utter faithfulness!

Reflections in Reception - Day Three

No transfer into account by 10.30 am

So here I am

Back in reception

Wondering what kind of reception

I’ll get.

Wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed

Into the building,

But S… the sweet receptionist

Pressed the button

That opened the door.

So here I am

I have asked the P.A. to let him know I’m here.

I’m leaning on that promise

That I’ll be given the right words.

J… has just come through

Says that the boss has agreed to pay me

Subject to inspection of the machine.

Can it happen to today?

He checks with the attorney.

“No chance before Monday” she says.

I’ll be quite hungry by Monday.

So will my workers.

But God……

Well now the machine needs to be inspected

By big D…

Before the money is released.

When can it be inspected?

I walk to the factory where D… has his office.

I have a good relationship with D…

Forged over the years,

But he is very busy.

He is waiting for the epoxy-coating expert to come

It is now 1 pm

The epoxy man comes.

He comes to solve a problem.

J… comes to watch him solve it.

The chief comes to see if it is solved.

Sees me looking on.

Offers me a job.

I say, “I might as well be on the payroll,

I’m spending so much time here,

But I don’t come cheap:

R18 000 just to start”

This exchange is actually quite cordial!

I’m now back in reception,

Reading magazines,

But I have the feeling

That this is now counter-productive.

I have become part of the furniture.

I am effectively on the payroll

With a salary of zero.

S… the receptionist doesn’t hesitate to let me in

When I tell her my name.

I ask to see J… and she waves me through.

I pass the chief in the corridor

And tell him where I’m going.

No problem.

I am now on friendly first name terms with

W…,J…,V…,P…,S…,N…and D…,

Not to mention Lindiwe

Who makes such excellent coffee.

It was Lincoln who said,

“Do I not defeat my enemy when I make him my friend”

I sit and chat with J…

He is a marvelous man.

Totally genuine.

He assures me that he will do his best

To see that I am paid.

He has already gone the extra mile.

I sense that my time in reception is over

And ask him to give the chief a message

To this effect.

The question is:

Am I not to eat until the money is in my account?

What’s that Lord?

It’s my call?

I’m going to eat.

To be Continued

Reflections in Reception - Day Two

The next day,

Back in reception,

Armed with said document.

I am quickly moved by J… into his office

Lest I be seen by the chief.

J… shares the office with his wife V…

What a great couple!

An air of competence and industry is evident.

J… makes two phone calls to corroborate the contents of my document.

It all tallies.

He undertakes to motivate acceptance to the boss.

The boss is in a meeting.

I plan to wait in reception

Until he is free.

J… pleads with me not to do this.

Apparently if the man sees me he will go wild.

He may even get his ‘boys’ to work me over

And then I will get nothing.

I say I am prepared to be worked over

But will wait outside in my car

For 40 minutes.

After which time if the matter is not settled.

WE ARE COMING IN!

To Reception.

J… pops out the door

To check on a point as I sit in my car.

He is with the chief now.

Ten minutes to go.

Well 40 minutes are up.

Shall I give a small extension?

No, here comes J…

He has put my case,

Recommended its acceptance.

The boss will peruse the document

And come to a decision.

I say that if I do not have proof of payment by 10 am tomorrow

I will be back in reception.

I am prepared to be crucified if need be.

But then I think Whoa!

My namesake said that 2000 years ago

And look what happened to him.

But it’s not my money you see.

I am merely a steward.

So let’s see what tomorrow brings.

I am starting to feel hungry.

……..To be Continued

Reflections in Reception - Day one

Well, here I am Lord

Waiting in Reception

The Reception of the firm which owes me R21 000

R21660 to be exact

Although that includes Value Added Tax

This amount has been owing since

The 28^th of May

It is now the 25^th of September.

I have made repeated requests for payment

Without concrete response.

These are the facts.

And now the man who holds the purse strings

Declines to talk to me.

His P. A. who is very sweet,

Declares always that he is in a meeting.

“I will give him a message.” She says

But he never returns my calls.

-has not communicated with me

For several weeks.

He has had his own cash flow challenges I daresay but,

I have information from a most reliable source

That he has recently received a substantial sum,

So things are not nearly so tight for him now.

Lord! Things are extremely tight for me:

Only just enough money for fuel

To drive to this firm

In whose Reception I sit.

I’m not the type who breaks kneecaps Lord:

Never yet sent out so much as a lawyer’s letter

In all my years in business,

-Rather let myself be defrauded.

Foolishness perhaps.

But I have wages to pay

In just three day’s time,

And not a penny in the till.

If I am concerned to see my workers paid,

How much more will you show Yourself faithful

In paying your servants,

For you are my paymaster:

And how faithful you have been,

Down through the ages

Down through the generations.

Why this very morning I enjoyed

A hearty breakfast,

In comfortable surroundings,

More than comfortable:

In beautiful surroundings.

Still, this may be the last meal I have for a while,

For I have determined on a hunger strike:

A sit in hunger strike,

Here in the Reception

Of the firm that owes me R21 000.

They do not know this yet,

Because the sweet P. A.

Is herself in a meeting.

But when she emerges I will ask her

To convey a message to this effect

To her C. E. O.

Ah, she has just come through,

I have told her my intention,

Though not the fasting bit.

She is going to speak to her boss,

So we will have to wait and see.

I have not a great deal on my plate at the moment,

So this waiting

Is a good opportunity

To write and reflect

Here in Reception.

Each twenty-four hours is a gift from you Lord.

You are entitled to see it filled

With activity or inactivity,

Activity or rest.

So thank you for this time of waiting,

Waiting on You

Waiting in You

Here in Reception

So good to be talking with You

Even though You know my innermost thoughts

Before I utter them

Or commit them to paper.

Well, I’ve just had an audience with the main man,

Not a very likeable man I’m afraid,

Trying to find any excuse for not paying.

Still, I put my case as plainly and firmly as I could

And now I am asked to wait

Back here in Reception.

The receptionist has offered me coffee

Which I have accepted.

After all it is a hunger strike

Which we have in mind.

It is brought by Lindiwe

With the characteristic respect

Of a young Zulu girl for an older person.

Just had another audience with the chief.

He has unilaterally decided

To re-write the contract,

Take it or leave it.

I decline to take it.

He has undertaken to have security

Throw me out.

Until they do,

Here I am,

Back in Reception.

Keep reminding me Lord

That we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

But against principalities and powers,

That the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

Teach me Your ways,

Your strategy for handling bullies,

Not to be cowed by them,

But neither to respond in kind.

Speech ‘gracious yet seasoned with salt.’

For man has an intrinsic worth and dignity,

Even when he is behaving badly.

Though distorted by sin,

We are yet your workmanship,

Created by You,

Redeemed by You,

If only we allow your redeeming work

To correct the distortion.

Well, I’ve been invited to the office

Of the company’s resident attorney.

A very nice lady.

(All the ladies in this firm are charming)

She is tasked with mediation.

I have offered a reduction of R3000 on the price,

Which she is sure will not be acceptable,

So here I am,

Back in Reception.

On reflection,

I have asked to see her again

With another variation in the firm’s favour.

Still no deal.

She says I will be thrown out,

Against her wishes I think,

But she doesn’t make the calls,

So once again,

I’m here in Reception

Back from the toilet,

I have just been brought

Another cup of coffee

By Lindiwe.

The company abounds in charming ladies.

Above all

I want to be a good witness Lord

I want your name to be honoured.

How can your name be honoured?

If I do not pay my workers and my creditors.

A labourer is worthy of his hire.

I don’t have to remind you of this,

It’s in your Word.

That applies to those who work for me,

But also to me who works for you.

No, that’s not right:

I do not work for you,

Rather,

I do your work,

Kingdom work,

The privileged work

Of a privileged son of the King

Here waiting in reception.

Just waiting now-

Arrived around 9. 30 am

It’s now 1. 15 pm

Just waiting.

The attorney,

A slim, statuesque lady of around 24 years of age

Has just come to Reception

With a written contract variation.

The gap has closed but we’re not quite there.

She says, “If I go to him with your terms I’ll be thrown out.”

“So then we’ll both be sitting on the pavement,” says I,

“I can think of worse things.”

She gives a smile but says she’ll just drive home.

I confess that I’m not sure I have enough fuel to drive home.

She returns to her office,

Seemingly a little put out.

Alone in reception again,

Save for the receptionist,

The top of whose head

Is just visible above the counter:

Yet another sweet young lady.

Seemingly an inexhaustible supply.

I glimpse others down the corridor.

I can’t help wondering

If this makes the company’s overhead structure,

A bit top heavy.

No business of mine really,

Just wondering.

The attorney walks past me

With a large box file under her arm.

We bid each other a courteous farewell

As she exits the building.

She really has done her best.

It’s 2. 30 now

Waiting in Reception

Feeling a mite sleepy,

But not hungry yet

The C.E.O. walks past me with a chuckle,

(or is it a snigger?)

And exits the building.

He doesn’t realize I am in the service of the King,

The one who holds all authority

In Heaven and Earth.

Ten past three now.

Many people are praying for this situation,

Especially my Beloved on the far side of the globe.

3. 45 and the C.E.O. has just returned,

Walking past me without comment.

Four o clock and here comes J…

He is a wonderfully good man.

So much more than the ‘good cop’ in this situation,

For he must tread a fine line,

Maintaining his loyalty

While retaining his integrity,

And this he does wonderfully well.

He is much to be commended.

He calls me into an office

Where we discuss matters coolly and objectively.

It seems that the chief is a bit nonplussed

As to how to deal with someone simply waiting...

Waiting in Reception…

Waiting for payment.

Perhaps to give an old man the bum’s rush

After taking his money,

Might be more embarrassing for him than for me.

He is more at home with litigation and legal battles,

And generally contrives to win these,

According to J…

So J… and I talk,

And I undertake to produce a document

Which both clarifies and commits,

And return therewith tomorrow.

…….To be Continued