Odds and Ends

Ok, just a few random musings for today:

The excellent show 'Rough Science' is thankfully back at last. For those who don't know, the programme tracks the plight of several scientists as they attempt to complete impossible sounding challenges - e.g. finding the weight of a mountain. In the case of this example, the answer was found to an amazing degree of precision using just a plastercine model, rock samples to ascertain the mountain's average density, and the formula 'Weight = the density x's the volume.' Ok, this may seem a little dry out of context, but the programme is presented in both an interesting and accessable way. Good stuff - it almost makes me wish I hadn't given science up after my GCSEs.

[Forgive me now, as I dramatically change the subject] Last night I read a fascinating article by David Welch entitled 'Who voted for Hitler?' It really shed some light on this interesting matter, and I now feel confident that I understand it (at least to some extent). To summarise, for my own benefit at least, the article identified two broad reasons for Nazi electoral support; firstly, the 'Führer cult'. The Nazis disseminated this concept, that Hitler was a powerful and almost superhuman leader, capable of curing all Germany's ills, and it proved very effective in attracting votes in the bitter and fragmented atmosphere of Weimar politics. Secondly, the NSDAP employed the concept of 'volksgemeinschaft' - the idea that the party could transcend beyond the class system and unite all German speakers in a greater community. This was also effective, given the rigid class base many of the socialist and conservative parties had. Finally, both these axioms of national socialist ideology were meticulously reinforced by Josef Goebbels' cleverly crafted propaganda. Naturally, there were more factors at work that this, but these two were of foremost significance.

Last, but not least, I would just like to say that it's official - Christmas is on its way! The festive season is my favourite time of year - mainly because it gives the wintery nights some much needed glamour - and as I finish this post, I hope that advent will come soon as it's already depressingly dark outside.