Tuesday, September 20, 2016

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.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

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!



Saturday, September 10, 2016

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

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

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


Sunday, September 4, 2016

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 28th of May
It is now the 25th 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