Visualising Maxwell's Equations

Maxwell's equations are a kind of pons asinorum of physics. An essential bridge to be crossed in electromagnetism - yet as a system of equations - apparently impenetrable. First obstacle: we have those weird operators: div, grad and curl; second obstacle: the vector differential operator del (which when applied directly is the operator grad)is commingled with the dot and cross product operations to somehow produce div and curl.

I tend to understand things visually and geometrically: I want to think that the equations describe the time and space behaviour of some entity or entities which I can visualise as a whole. It is said that Maxwell was influenced by mechanical analogies, imagining electric and magnetic fields as if they were filled with tiny gears, wheels, and cogs in space. This approach enabled him to think in terms of physical interactions and visualize the fields as interconnected, dynamic entities rather than as the purely abstract concepts denoted by the equations without context.

I asked ChatGPT to take me through Maxwell's equations and highlight their geometric nature, starting with the operators.

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Divergence (div or 'del dot') - ∇ ·

∇ ⋅ F = ∂Fx/∂x + ∂Fy/∂y + ∂Fz/∂z

The divergence of a field measures how much the field spreads out from or converges into a point.

In Maxwell's equations:

Gauss's law for electricity: ∇ · E = ρ/ε₀. This shows that the divergence of the electric field E is proportional to the local charge density ρ, meaning electric field lines radiate out from positive charges and converge into negative charges.

Gauss's law for magnetism: ∇ · B = 0. The divergence of the magnetic field B is always zero, indicating that magnetic field lines form closed loops, with no magnetic monopoles acting as sources or sinks.

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Gradient (grad) - ∇

∇F = (∂F/∂x, ∂F/∂y, ∂F/∂z)

The gradient of a scalar field represents the direction and rate of its steepest increase. In the case of the electric field:

The electric field E can be derived from the electric potential φ as E = -∇φ. This means that the electric field points in the direction of the steepest decrease in electric potential.

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Curl (rot or 'del cross') - ∇ ×

The curl of a vector field measures its tendency to circulate around a point, describing the "rotational" aspect of the field. In determinant form:

 

∇ × F =

i	j	k
∂/∂x	∂/∂y	∂/∂z
Fx	Fy	Fz

In Maxwell's equations:

Faraday's law: ∇ × E = -∂B/∂t

The curl of the electric field is proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic field B, indicating that a changing magnetic field induces a circulating electric field (electromagnetic induction). We can imagine a bar magnet being inserted into the centre of a loop of wire: as the magnet moves into the loop a current is induced around the wire. Lenz's law tells us that the magnetic field created by the induced current resists the motion of the magnet ensuring conservation of energy (the minus sign).

Ampère-Maxwell law: ∇ × B = μ₀ J + μ₀ε₀ ∂E/∂t

The curl of the magnetic field B is related to the electric current density J and the rate of change of the electric field E. This shows how a current or a changing electric field generates a circulating magnetic field.

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Geometric and Spacetime Structure

Maxwell's equations highlight the deep connection between electric and magnetic fields. Faraday's law and Ampère's law describe how a changing electric field generates a magnetic field, and vice versa, giving these fields a dynamic interplay. This interaction shows that electric and magnetic fields are not independent; they are part of a unified structure in spacetime.

In modern physics (special relativity), this is described using the electromagnetic field tensor, where the fields are different components of the same spacetime entity F, transforming into one another depending on the observer's reference frame.

Wikipedia article

Maxwell's equations, with the help of div, grad, and curl, thus describe how electric and magnetic fields evolve and interact geometrically, revealing their unified nature in spacetime.

Economic Case against Slavery Reparations

 

There Are Better Ways of Helping the World’s Poor in the Global South Than Slavery Reparations – An Economic Analysis

The idea of slavery reparations as a tool for addressing global inequality, especially in the Global South, may appear morally justified, but from an economic perspective it is unlikely to provide meaningful long-term benefits to the populations most in need. There are more effective ways to promote development, focusing on technology transfer and infrastructure rather than wealth redistribution. This essay examines why reparations would primarily benefit corrupt elites, how aid efforts have failed in similar contexts, and why advanced economies should instead allocate resources to technologies that directly improve living standards in the Global South.

Nothing here is surprising. It should be noted that when corrupt elites propose policies based on apparently high moral principles - but which in reality are ineffectual, wasteful and self-serving - then they themselves are operating immorally. Why indulge them when we can do good by doing better?

1. The Limits of Reparations in Corrupt Systems

Most countries demanding slavery reparations have poor governance, weak institutions, and entrenched corruption. Historical evidence shows that external financial transfers, whether in the form of aid or reparations, often get captured by elites with little trickle-down effect to the broader population. Funds intended for development are frequently misallocated or siphoned off by those in power, entrenching inequality rather than reducing it. Therefore, reparations payments would likely follow the same pattern, benefiting the corrupt political and economic elites who control these systems rather than fostering sustainable growth or improving living conditions for the poor.

2. The Ineffectiveness of Foreign Aid and Wealth Transfers

Decades of foreign aid in the Global South have demonstrated the limits of financial transfers in generating endogenous economic growth. Aid has propped up regimes and provided short-term relief, but it has failed to build the institutional and productive capacities necessary for long-term development. Slavery reparations would fall into the same category, providing short-term cash injections that do little to address the deeper structural issues—corruption, lack of rule of law, and ineffective governance—that hinder growth. Without strong institutions, financial transfers are not likely to transform the economies of the Global South.

3. The Marginal Economic Impact of Historical Slavery

While the transatlantic slave trade was a moral atrocity, its economic impact on the countries from which slaves were taken was relatively marginal. Unlike the extraction of natural resources during colonialism, the forced migration of enslaved individuals did not devastate the economic foundations of these countries in a way that would justify reparations as an economic remedy today. The more pressing issues of underdevelopment—poor governance, lack of infrastructure, and technological backwardness - are the result of modern mismanagement rather than historical slavery.

4. Technology and Infrastructure as Drivers of Development

Rather than reparations, the Global South stands to gain far more from the importation of technologies developed in advanced economies, such as mobile phones, communications infrastructure, and artificial intelligence. These technologies have already had a transformative impact on economic activity in many developing countries by increasing productivity, improving access to markets, and facilitating better governance through transparency. Advanced technologies can bypass some of the inefficiencies in corrupt systems by providing direct benefits to populations, such as access to financial services through mobile banking, improved healthcare through telemedicine, and better education through e-learning platforms.

Imagine the impact of the personal tutors on phones or tablets expected in the next few years; or on a longer timescale, robots to work fields, to carry water, to build houses, to undertake medical care and to maintain the stock of technological products. These technologies can be exported to poorer countries once they come into wide-scale use in advanced countries, particularly when backed up by improved solar panels and batteries for power.

5. Concentration of Capital in Advanced Economies for Innovation

Reparations would also divert resources from productive investments in advanced economies, where the concentration of capital is essential for funding research and development in critical areas like robotics, AI, and scientific research. These innovations are what drive global economic growth, and their benefits extend beyond national borders. By concentrating capital for innovation, advanced economies can continue to develop technologies that, when imported into the Global South, directly improve living conditions. The diffusion of technological advancements creates far more sustainable economic opportunities than cash transfers ever could.

6. Political Realities and Resistance to Direct Assistance

Attempts by advanced economies to bypass corrupt local elites and directly assist the masses in the Global South are politically unfeasible. Such efforts would be fiercely resisted by local elites who benefit from the status quo and would likely be framed as neocolonialism. Additionally, powerful interest groups in advanced economies are likely to echo these accusations, making such policies politically impossible. Thus, direct interventions aimed at bypassing corrupt systems are unlikely to succeed, reinforcing the view that reparations would merely enrich elites without fostering meaningful development.

Conclusion

While reparations for slavery might offer a moral argument for addressing historical injustices, they are unlikely to help the populations most in need in the Global South. Corrupt elites would capture much of the benefit, and the broader economic structures that hinder growth would remain unchanged. Instead, advanced economies should focus on fostering technological innovations that can be imported into developing countries, directly improving living standards and creating opportunities for sustainable growth. Economic development in the Global South is better served by investing in technologies that improve infrastructure, productivity, and governance than by wealth transfers in the form of reparations.

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This summarises an extended interaction with ChatGPT on this topic.

“At the Museum” by Adam Carlton (intro)

 

In the heart of town lies the Museum of the Resurrection of Literary Giants—better known as the Murelig—a place where the past’s greatest writers aren’t just memorialized, they talk back.

For a 14-year-old, grappling with grand questions about life, career, and—let’s face it—how to impress the girls, this isn’t just any museum visit. 

When James Joyce himself shows up to answer questions about his work, things get… interesting. What happens when a boy who dreams of military drones and literary fame sits down for a conversation with the giants of history?

Dive into this thought-provoking encounter and discover the wisdom—and surprises—they have to offer the young Sébastien!

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Read: “At the Museum” by Adam Carlton.

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Catholicism, Modernity and the Jesus Seminar

 

John Dominic Crossan

Catholicism, Modernity and the Jesus Seminar

It is an under-appreciated fact for the secular majority that the orthodox, believing Catholic inhabits a world very different from theirs. For the devout, reality is numinous - a translucent existence bathed in the spiritual presence of heaven, perhaps hell, but certainly the eternal personified unity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In the Catholic maximalist zeitgeist, everything has a purpose. Every person’s life is meaningful and supervised, and this earthly existence is seen as preparation for what is to come.

Adopting such an ideological position requires significant leaps of faith. One must accept the sacred texts of the Old and New Testaments more or less literally, suppressing curiosity about the historical realities of the first century CE, and the early Church during the final period of the Western Empire.

But suppose you take a different path. Suppose you examine those times and places through the contextual lenses of history, economics, politics, sociology and psychology. You would be seeking empirical knowledge about the situation of the Jewish people in antiquity, about the historical Jesus, and the institutionalisation of the church in the aftermath of his life. In this case, your sources might include the work of the Jesus Seminar and one of its most influential members, John Dominic Crossan.

John Dominic Crossan was trained as a priest and monk, but by 1969, at the age of 35, he had left both vocations. He married and joined the faculty of DePaul University, where he taught comparative religion for 26 years before retiring in 1995. Alongside Robert W. Funk, Crossan led the Jesus Seminar, a group of academics dedicated to the study of the historical Jesus during its first decade. Although Crossan continues to identify as Catholic, his modernist views raise the question: are they truly compatible with orthodox Catholicism?

Key Catholic Beliefs in the Apostles' Creed

Here are the defining beliefs of the Catholic Church, as expressed in the Apostles' Creed, in simple sentences:

1. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
3. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell, and on the third day, He rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit.
9. I believe in the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints.
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sins.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.

John Dominic Crossan's Modernist Interpretation

John Dominic Crossan, a prominent biblical scholar and historian, offers a distinct interpretation of Christianity, especially through his historical-critical approach. His beliefs, based on his writings, reflect a focus on the historical Jesus, social justice, and the symbolic meaning of resurrection, rather than a literalist interpretation of traditional creeds. Here is an interpretation of Crossan’s beliefs, presented as a variation of the Apostles' Creed:

1. I believe in God but understand God primarily as a metaphor for ultimate reality, not as a personal being.
2. I believe in Jesus of Nazareth, a historical figure whose teachings emphasised social justice, compassion, and the Kingdom of God on earth.
3. Jesus was born as a human being, with no divine conception, but his life and teachings have divine significance.
4. He was crucified by Roman authorities for his political and social challenge to oppression.
5. He was buried, and his resurrection is a metaphorical expression of the continuing influence of his teachings and the empowerment of his followers.
6. I do not believe in a literal ascension, but that Jesus continues to inspire through his example and the community of believers.
7. I believe in the coming of God's reign, but see it as a call for justice and peace in the present world, not as a future judgement.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit as the energising force within communities of justice, love, and equality.
9. I believe in the community of believers, united by their commitment to the way of Jesus.
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sins through the transformative power of love and social healing.
11. I believe in the enduring legacy of Jesus' teachings, rather than a physical resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in the possibility of eternal life, but understand it in terms of the impact we leave on the world and the love we share.

Can Crossan Be Considered an Orthodox Catholic?

Would John Dominic Crossan be accepted as an orthodox Catholic based on this comparison of beliefs? Crossan himself has stated that he avoids taking Communion in Catholic services in order to spare the presiding priest the embarrassment of refusing to give it.

Key Comparisons

1. Belief in God

Catholic: God is understood as the Father Almighty, a personal, omnipotent Creator.

Crossan: God is seen more as a metaphor for ultimate reality rather than a personal, interventionist being.

Potential conflict: Crossan’s metaphorical understanding of God differs from the Catholic belief in a personal, almighty Creator.

2. Belief in Jesus Christ

Catholic: Jesus is the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, fully divine and fully human.

Crossan: Jesus is seen primarily as a human figure, with divine significance attributed to his teachings rather than his nature.

Potential conflict: Crossan’s historical approach to Jesus downplays his divine nature, conflicting with Catholic dogma.

3. Belief in the Holy Spirit

Catholic: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, guiding the Church and believers.

Crossan: The Holy Spirit is seen more as the force within communities working for justice and love.

Potential conflict: Crossan’s social interpretation of the Holy Spirit as a communal force differs from the traditional Catholic understanding of the Holy Spirit as a divine person guiding the Church.

4. Belief in the Catholic Church

Catholic: The Catholic Church is the one true Church, with the Pope as its head, embodying the communion of saints and the sacraments.

Crossan: While Crossan believes in the community of believers, his approach to the institutional Church is less dogmatic and more focused on the broader Christian community and social justice.

Potential conflict: Crossan’s less hierarchical, more community-oriented view may conflict with the Catholic understanding of the Church as a divinely established institution.

5. Belief in the Forgiveness of Sins

Catholic: Sins are forgiven through the sacraments, particularly confession, and through God’s grace.

Crossan: Forgiveness is understood more in terms of social healing and transformation.

Potential conflict: Crossan’s view of forgiveness through social justice and healing may not fully align with the Catholic sacramental understanding of forgiveness through confession and grace.

6. Belief in the Resurrection and Eternal Life

Catholic: The resurrection of the body and life everlasting are literal beliefs, with the promise of eternal life in heaven.

Crossan: The resurrection is symbolic, representing the enduring legacy of Jesus’ teachings and the love shared in life.

Potential conflict: Crossan’s metaphorical understanding of resurrection and eternal life contrasts with the Catholic belief in a literal resurrection of the body and eternal life in heaven.

Although the two sets of beliefs overlap to a significant extent, the differences are substantial and deeply rooted in theology and metaphysics.

Crossan’s beliefs, particularly his metaphorical interpretation of God, Jesus, resurrection, and the Church, are inconsistent with core Catholic doctrines, which hold to more literal and institutionalised understandings of these concepts. While there may be some shared ethical or moral values, the theological differences are significant enough to render the two belief systems incompatible under the formal definitions used in the Apostles' Creed and Catholic doctrine.

It seems John Dominic Crossan, courageous in the search for truth, is right to be wary; and perhaps the Vatican is wrong to publicly endorse such a degree of deracinated literalism.

'Valentine' by Adam Carlton (intro)

 

When Nigerian author Chinwendu Mmeka agrees to meet Dr. Anne Semelaigne at a cutting-edge correctional facility in France, he expects a simple interview. What unfolds is far more sinister. As 'preparation' begins for Valentine Seydoux, a volatile writer from his past, Chinwendu is forced to relive the terrifying ordeal that brought him to the brink of death.

But this isn't just about revenge - it’s about the dark, obsessive desires that still lurk in the recesses of Valentine's mind. A tense psychological thriller, ‘Valentine’ explores obsession, memory, and a future where justice and punishment are far from ordinary.

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Read “Valentine” by Adam Carlton

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Sunday lunch (46 years...)

 

Clare and myself serving Sunday lunch (Oct 6th 2024)

About a week and a half ago; well, Adam, we all have our own perspectives here!

"That Chick" by Adam Carlton

 

She's attractive, curvaceous, petite; she’d trained as a teacher. 

The first time I met her I thought she was cute.

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I arrive at her school, enter the staff room where she is circulating with her teacher colleagues. Her demeanour is warm and professional, a word here, a touch on the arm there. Then, suddenly, she turns and catches sight of me. Her face is lit by a sudden smile of pure happiness: a release from duty, from dry and mundane pleasantries to enter our private world of intimacy.

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We would argue in the language of humour. “You think you're so smart,” she'd say, “you don't realise how that makes your bosses feel.” 

“But I am smart,” I protest. 

“And that's why your career has been such rubbish," she continues, ignoring me, running her hand along my arm. 

“It's not been rubbish,” I splutter. 

She smiles at me then with genuine pleasure: "I'm a saint to be putting up with you,” she says, putting an arm around me.

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We're at an evening event, some work party. I'm talking with a rather flirtatious woman, a discussion which verges on chatting up - (her or me?). Observant as always, she glides across, her hand pressing possessively against my stomach. “I've got something to show you,” she says, disengaging me deftly from the conversation. 

I get her a drink and we sit together on a padded couch. I notice how her skirt inadvertently hitches up a little as she snuggles against me.

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I hear her laughter and I’m lost. I say something to amuse her and her face lights up. That lovely gurgling laugh, curiously childlike, infinitely endearing. I would lose empires for her then.

We had an argument this morning about some matter. At lunch I was sitting opposite a male colleague of hers when she sat down beside me with her soup and demanded:

“Why do you always disagree with me when you know you’re wrong?”

She then looked triumphantly at her colleague, saying brightly,

“He’s so arrogant you know, so very arrogant.”

At this she gave me an admiring, even adoring smile. Her face lit up, her eyes wide open. I grabbed her wrist in mock anger and she tapped my shoulder in possessive exasperation. Her breasts looked very fine under her tight white blouse.

Except she was still genuinely annoyed with me.

Her colleague, looking between the two of us in confusion, made stumbling attempts to mediate peace.

I thought: ‘This is truly a girl who is not in touch with her own true feelings.’

Later that evening, when she got home, she said: “I gave you a hard time today.” She took my hand: “I don’t want you suffering a long dark night of the soul.”

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The aftermath of an argument.

The night is baking hot. She has the sheet about her shoulders for modesty. He lies beside her on his back, a faint sheen on his skin in the moonlight. She lifts her eyes to the window to gaze at the stars: their cold, indifferent, pin-prick beauty.

“You're probably just pretending to be asleep,” she whispers to herself, “while secretly stewing in your own anger, fantasising about leaving me no doubt, wondering how easy it would be to get a new chick. You probably reckon it would be effortless.”

He lies motionless: is he even listening? she wonders.

“Before me all your relationships crashed and burned. You were always too aloof, too self-absorbed, too selfish in your needs.”

His breathing has slowed. Perhaps he’s concentrating, attending more closely; but more likely he’s just falling asleep. In her heart of hearts does she really want to be overheard?

“Is it really so hard to see my point of view? To accept that I might have a point too? To show some empathy? This chick is the best thing that ever happened to you: is it really so hard for you to open your eyes, to say those few peace-making words before we sleep?”

She turns to face him - but it appears he is hostage to the land of dreams.

As is she.

Math prerequisites for QFT

From https://plato.stanford.edu/archIves/sum2020/entries/quantum-field-theory/

ChatGPT tells me: to properly understand quantum field theory (QFT), you need a strong foundation in several advanced mathematical topics. Here's a comprehensive list:

1. Multivariate Calculus

Partial derivatives and multiple integrals are essential for understanding the dynamics of fields and their variations in space and time.

2. Calculus of Variations

Used to derive the equations of motion for fields (e.g., the Euler-Lagrange equations in field theory).

3. Linear Algebra

Essential for handling vector spaces, matrices, and transformations, particularly in the context of quantum states, operators, and symmetry transformations.

4. Differential Equations

Both ordinary and partial differential equations are fundamental for understanding the equations governing fields.

5. Complex Analysis

Vital for contour integrals, residue theory, and Green’s functions, which appear frequently in QFT calculations like propagators and Feynman diagrams.

6. Group Theory

Key to understanding the symmetries of physical systems, which is foundational in QFT. This includes:

     - Lie groups and Lie algebras (continuous symmetries)

     - Representation theory for handling particle behavior under symmetry transformations.

7. Topology

Important for understanding concepts like gauge fields, topological invariants, and instantons, which are key in advanced field theories.

8. Functional Analysis

Understanding Hilbert spaces, operators, and distributions is essential, especially for quantum mechanics and the extension to quantum fields.

9. Tensor Calculus

Necessary for understanding general relativity, but also useful in QFT for handling fields with multiple indices (e.g., spinors, gauge fields).

10. Differential Geometry

Particularly important in gauge theories (like quantum electrodynamics or quantum chromodynamics), where connections and curvature in fiber bundles describe interactions.

11. Fourier Analysis

Essential for transitioning between position and momentum space, which is frequently used in QFT calculations.

12. Measure Theory and Probability Theory

Understanding path integrals in QFT requires familiarity with measure theory, as these integrals generalize probability integrals over functions.

13. Algebraic Structures

Concepts like Clifford algebras, used to describe spinors, and Grassmann numbers, which are used in the path integral formulation for fermions.

14. Renormalization Group and Scaling Theory

The renormalization process requires understanding scaling, divergences, and the behavior of physical quantities at different energy scales.

15. Spectral Theory

Important for analyzing the spectrum of operators, which is relevant when discussing the energy levels of quantum fields.

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Each of these topics contributes to different aspects of QFT, from the algebraic structure of symmetries to the analytic techniques needed to solve and interpret physical problems.

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I studied topology, complex analysis and (partial) differential equations along with linear algebra and vector calculus in my undergraduate modules in maths and physics. I studied the calculus of variations (the Euler-Lagrange equations) in the first part of my maths MSc course which I dropped out of (pressure of work). So plainly I am a long way from the entry foyer to QFT comprehension. Indeed there are no royal roads to quantum field theory.

“Molly” by Blake Butler

 

Blake Butler’s “Molly” offers an intimate, unflinchingly honest exploration of his marriage to poet Molly Brodak, focusing on the intense emotional dynamics that ultimately led to tragedy. Through the lens of psychological type we can interpret their relationship as a complex interplay of distinct personality types, emotional sensitivity, and mutual struggles with neuroticism that shaped their connection—and their undoing.

Butler's actions and introspection suggest an ISTP type: introverted, pragmatic, and detached from emotional complexity. His writing and behavior suggest a man more comfortable with immediate, physical realities than abstract emotional dialogue. When faced with emotional turbulence, an ISTP often avoids or numbs, turning to impulsive actions or self-destructive tendencies—patterns Butler himself reveals, such as his struggles with drunkenness, violence and erratic behavior. Under stress, this type tends to internalize tension and release it in bursts of frustration or withdrawal.

In contrast, Molly Brodak fits the profile of an INFP: deeply introspective, emotionally driven, and idealistic. INFPs, with their high sensitivity to emotional dissonance, crave intimate emotional connection but often retreat inward when feeling misunderstood or rejected. This can lead to cycles of idealisation and disappointment, particularly when they sense their emotional needs aren’t being met. Brodak’s history with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) heightened these tendencies, amplifying her vulnerability, her need for validation, her nihilism and her intense reactions to perceived emotional distance.

The relationship between an ISTP male and an INFP female, particularly when both are high in neuroticism, creates a landscape of potential conflict. While Butler may have tried to be practical and grounded in his responses, Brodak likely sought emotional depth and understanding on her own terms. This disconnect, typical of ISTP-INFP pairings, often leaves the INFP feeling emotionally unfulfilled and the ISTP overwhelmed by the perceived emotional demands. The mutual neuroticism—the heightened anxiety, sensitivity, and reactivity—only added layers of complexity, creating a spiralling environment where emotional wounds festered rather than healed.

Butler’s memoir is filled with moments where their emotional worlds collided. His pragmatic, sometimes detached approach to life contrasted sharply with Brodak’s emotional intensity. As she struggled with her internal pain, seeking emotional resonance and reassurance, Butler grappled with his own inability to offer the depth of connection she needed.

Ultimately, the tragedy of their relationship lies in the very dynamics that sustained it. They loved each other deeply, but their emotional worlds—though intersecting—were not fully compatible. Brodak’s tragic death by suicide reflects the deep and often insurmountable chasm that can exist between partners who struggle not only with their individual mental health but also with the way their personalities clash in times of crisis.

Blake Butler’s “Molly” is not just a memoir of love and loss—it is a study of the complexities of human connection, and the emotional dynamics that bind people together or tear them apart. For those who walk the fine line between love and mental illness, Butler’s raw portrayal of his marriage reminds us that even the deepest love cannot always transcend internal pain.

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Written with the assistance of ChatGPT.

“The Sniper” by Adam Carlton (intro)

 

From ChatGPT

ChatGPT wrote this introduction: it has read the story.

In "The Sniper", the deadly art of long-range warfare becomes a battle not just of skill, but of conscience. 

Through the cold lens of his scope, one sniper finds himself caught between the ruthless efficiency of his mission and his haunting memories. As his target steps into view, he must grapple with the ghosts of his past, all while the tension mounts on the scorching rooftops of Cairo. His commander urges him to act swiftly, but in the sniper’s world, seconds stretch like eternity, where even the smallest hesitation can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Set against the backdrop of espionage, covert operations, and a single heart-wrenching encounter, "The Sniper" will pull readers into a high-stakes world where precision is everything, and the line between duty and emotion is perilously thin. This is not just a story of a soldier, but of a man wrestling with the fragments of his humanity, forced to make impossible decisions in the heat of battle. Each shot is a test, and the final one will define him forever. Prepare for a thrilling read where the crosshairs zero in not just on a target, but on the soul.

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Read "The Sniper" by Adam Carlton.

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Rational Populism: a programme for JD Vance and Kemi Badenoch

In the globalising evolution of capitalism, the divide between areas of prosperity and those left behind has become stark. Advanced technologies and financial capital flow together into global centres - New York, London, Silicon Valley. Wealth accumulates, technology advances: an ecosystem forms where lives are fulfilling.

The flip side of this development is the economic abandonment of deprived regions and social groups, left to grapple with poverty, stagnation, and alienation. 

This combined and uneven development of capitalism is not an accidental byproduct but the inevitable outcome of a clustering economic efficiency.

For those left behind, however, populist discontent has been the result, often directed at the elites and the forces of globalisation. But a reactive, protectionist populism leads only to the cul-de-sac of worse deprivation.

Instead we need a rational populism - a political and economic strategy that accepts the inherently globalised nature of the modern economy while deploying targeted government initiatives to bring marginalised regions and social groups back into the fold of growth and progress as far as is possible. 

Rather than the impossible, reactionary dream of retreating from globalisation, how can we ensure that the forward march of development includes everyone? Here are some ideas.

An often-advocated policy is the government funding of new transport networks, digital infrastructure, and green energy projects not only to create jobs but also make these regions more attractive for future private investment. Reindustrialisation here doesn’t mean a return to old manufacturing models, but rather a focus on sustainable industries that align with global economic developments.

Investment should also fund regional innovation hubs to provide a base for individuals with those portable skills the leading edge of industry requires. We saw some of this ‘migration to the country’ in the COVID epidemic and it’s a trend which is real - and which can be amplified.

In some deprived regions, the existing human capital limitations diminish the pool of labour available for high-skill industries. 

While education and vocational training is always important, there is also a place for near-future government sponsorship of personal cognitive automation systems to help circumvent such employment barriers. Most likely markets will fail to sufficiently invest in these areas.

Government-supported automation in sectors like agriculture, logistics, or light manufacturing can also catalyse efficient production systems that make use of lower-skilled workers while still providing economic returns. By automating key processes, regions with historically lower human capital can still participate in the global economy, with gradual skill-building taking place alongside where possible.

A rational populism must recognize that while government stimulus is crucial in the early stages in these regions, interventions must not become perpetual. The goal is to kick-start self-maintaining economic ecosystems, moving regions and social groups from dependence on state support to active participation in the global economy.

The combined and uneven development of capitalism has left many regions and people behind, but the solution is not retreat. A rational populism must accept the globalised nature of modern economies while ensuring that left-behind regions are actively brought into the forward movement of progress. Through targeted training, infrastructure development, sophisticated worker-centric automation and government-backed enterprises, we can create the conditions for these regions to flourish within the global economy. This is not about protectionism or isolationism, but about ensuring that no one is left out of the future.

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So what kind of a point am I making in advocating rational populism here? 

• A logical point: that the programme I've outlined is in some sense the optimal conclusion of any rational analysis in political-economy?
• A moral point: that this is the true politics of universal human values? 
• A pragmatic point: that such a programme is the best way to secure social cohesion and stability? 

In fact orthodox economics would not agree with rational populism. There, the optimising metrics are things like GDP growth or GDP growth-per-head. To secure such outcomes, discretionary spend by government should maximise marginal ROI per marginal unit of expenditure. Does the government get better economic returns from an additional million pounds in London, Oxford or Cambridge - or in Bradford, Huddersfield or Penzance? Plainly ROI follows the clusters of excellence... and the Treasury will look askance at 'wasting money' elsewhere.

But the abstractions of economics hide political interests. If you belong to the elite of London, Oxford and Cambridge or their like across the world, you will naturally benefit from optimal augmentation of the wealth you already partake in: what is it to you if deprivation flourishes in the deindustrialising hinterlands?

If, however, you are part of the 'left-behind' masses - or culturally identify with them, then your values will urge you not to disregard and abandon them.

I would say that the elites, for many decades, have taken the view that their policies are optimal for 'the economy' - which happens to be optimal for their own, personal interests too: such a happy coincidence!

But those good times are over: the natives are restless. Self-interest now demands that concessions be made. I offer rational populism to those worried elites as an insurance policy: pay a little now in transfer charges for intelligent levelling up; see-off le déluge.

Thoughts on "Intermezzo" (Sally Rooney)

 

Amazon link

Some thoughts about Sally Rooney's new novel 'Intermezzo'.

The book has some interesting symmetries. The older brother, human-rights lawyer Peter Koubek, aged 32, is involved with a girl, Naomi, 23, similar in age to his younger brother, the chess-prodigy Ivan, who is 22. To complicate matters Peter also has an enduring relationship with a long-term girlfriend (and former lover) of his own age, an accomplished academic who has suffered a life-changing accident.

Ivan soon becomes involved with a woman, Margaret, who is 36, fourteen years older than him. All the characters worry about these age differences; how they will be perceived by their friends and colleagues with whom they are in the usual network of personal and professional relationships. 

Another symmetry that is interesting: Ivan is outwardly awkward, on the autistic spectrum, certainly socially dysfunctional; but inwardly he's calm, intelligent and sensible. Peter, on the other hand, is outwardly successful and professional but inwardly is a complete mess: depressed, dropping tranquillisers, drunk and often aggressive. 

Sylvia and Naomi, the two women with whom Peter is involved, and the older woman Margaret with whom Ivan is involved, are also well realised supporting characters.

The dynamics of this 'almost ménage à cinq' carry conviction. The narrative arc is tragedy and the occasional comedy of errors as people misunderstand each other all the time, particularly each other's motives and thoughts, and make few efforts to discover what people really think, but simply react, emotionally and generally negatively to each other.

The resulting interpersonal dynamic, in an uncanny way, almost reflects a chess game of its own. Does this work in the novel? With only the smallest effort you can believe the tortured path the characters walk down, which sustains itself over many weeks, and just digs the holes in their relationships deeper and deeper, damaging their lives, as the characters’ self-esteem deflates on a continuing, ever-downward trajectory.

I was wondering how Sally Rooney would pull all this together and she does - just about. As the novel progresses it does become more engrossing and page-turning, as one cares more and more about the characters. 

Is this a novel you could recommend to your wife and servants? Well, there are sex scenes which are somewhat explicit. Are they necessary for the plot? Yes - and pornographic they are not. Some people don't want to read about the sexual side of people's lives; they would find the matter-of-fact way in which these issues are addressed in the book something that they could have a problem with.

Another issue for some will be the introversion and intensity of the characters. Sally Rooney specialises in characters who belong to the unsuccessful wing of the overproduced-elite: they are well-educated, cultured, rather introverted, fashionably left-wing, caring, intelligent, neurotic, alienated, in precarious jobs they hate, and feeling the anomie and alienation of metropolitan atomisation; they flirt with liberal activism, nihilism and the Catholic Church. 

There are people who might want to shake such people and say, ‘Get a grip!’. If that’s your view, don’t waste your time with this novel; to read ‘Intermezzo’ is to spend time, indeed to wallow, in interminable existential angst. Rooney’s writing is not dissimilar in theme to that of Michel Houellebecq's ​’Annihilation’ which I’m reading at the moment and with which I am equally impressed.

The take-home message of ‘Intermezzo’ for me: continue the revolution in Ireland; as Marx advised, break down primitive, oppressive social norms in the name of freedom, love and social solidarity; dare to be unconventional because we are all unique with our own destinies of liberation. I note that the organised left and the feminists really don’t like this book, but that’s because it doesn’t conform to their preferred stereotypes; luckily Sally Rooney has always been a better novelist than that: she does not do agitprop.

"The Interrogator" by Adam Carlton (Intro)

 

Amanda

"Amanda, a young woman drawn into a covert interrogation program, recounts her harrowing induction into a brutal security organisation. Her training quickly becomes more than theoretical as she witnesses - and participates - in the cruel methods used to extract information. Commandant Saunders, a figure of fear and admiration, pushes recruits like Amanda to their limits. As Amanda rises through the ranks, she finds her new skills ever more useful to the regime. 

"But counter-revolution looms.

"Dr Perry Henderson, a leftist academic turned interrogator for the new regime, faces Amanda in a quest for answers. But in this world, not everything is as it seems. Perry’s loyalties are themselves questionable - and is Amanda truly what she seems?"

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Read "The Interrogator" by Adam Carlton.

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