Inaugural Meeting For Isle of Wight Mathematical Society

It’s not for everyone, but for some, mathematics is a stimulating and fascinating subject. If you’re one of those people, then this news in from the Isle of Wight Mathematical Society should be of great interest to you. Ed

Mathematical forumlaeWe are hoping to form an Isle of Wight Mathematical Society to encourage the enjoyment and study of mathematics; for persons of all ages and abilities to appreciation its beauty and elegance and enhance their understanding.

Mathematics is a driving force behind modern science
As Galileo stated “the Universe, cannot be read until we have learnt the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written. It is written in mathematical language and letters are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures; without which it is humanly impossible understand a single word, without these one is wondering about in a dark labyrinth.” Mathematics is even more so today the driving force behind modern science.

The aim is that, the society will provide initially a forum for lectures, discussion, and debate. More importantly though it is hoped, that over time, it will become a centre for the study and practice of mathematics at all levels.

Inaugural Meeting this month
The first meeting takes place on Thursday 17th February at 7.30pm (more details).

It is appropriate that we should have the society at the home of Robert Hooke Society Exhibition, for it is reputed that he, whilst a student at Westminster School, read and learnt Euclid Books I – VI within two weeks.

Come along, help us shape this aim and make it happen.

Image: Robert Scarth under CC BY 2.0

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Calder Jon
22, September 2014 2:03 pm

I think this Scottish Referendum fever has gone to people’s heads. This isn’t the first time I’ve read a story where some idiot on this Island says something like (as above) “we don’t have a beach, why should we pay for cleaning”. Bloke needs his head examined – LOOK at the wider picture fool. The beaches attract the tourists those tourists contribute to our economy as an… Read more »

Calder Jon
22, September 2014 2:04 pm

*correction – the woman needs her head examined…..

Robbo
Reply to  Calder Jon
22, September 2014 3:57 pm

You have no idea quite how much so. Unfortunately I have had dealings with her in her counciLlor capacity. Totally clueless.

Victor Meldrew
22, September 2014 2:06 pm

Can someone tell me, please. Which are the “amenity beaches” that the council – apparently – has a legal responsibility to litter pick by hand?

Thanks

Victror Meldrew
Reply to  Sally Perry
22, September 2014 2:18 pm

Helpful as ever Sally – thank you!

Old Knobby
Reply to  Sally Perry
22, September 2014 8:15 pm

Looks like a pretty big loophole if the council can decide for itself which beaches to classify as amenity ones. If costs have to be cut then expect that list to shrink!

I see East Cowes is included. Presumably the cleaning doesn’t extend to removing the several feet of accumulated rotting seaweed, the sewage-like smell of which makes it almost unbearable when the tide’s out.

Michael G
22, September 2014 2:17 pm

Oh dear, someone’s looking a bit foolish now then! I saw on twitter talk of the issue being on South Today. Wonder whether their journos have read this report?

Island Monkey
22, September 2014 2:18 pm

Why not get those on community service to do it for free?
Or why not ask charities and groups to do it as a community benefit? We still ahve a lot of prisoners too.

Why ARE we paying anything at all for beach cleaning when all it needs is a small team of people, some black bags and a few litter pickers?

Man in Black
Reply to  Island Monkey
22, September 2014 2:20 pm

Hang on. Isn’t it the mechanical cleaning that is the most costly? That’s what it says above, not the actual litter picking teams.

Wendy
Reply to  Island Monkey
23, September 2014 5:01 pm

Thanks Island Monkey for your comment. I love my job and after 6 years of cleaning Shanklin beach from The Chine Inn at the foot of Shanklin Chine to Trade Winds Café at Lake, 7 days a week for 6 months of the year it will be an emotional day for me this Friday 26th Sep. when I say could bye to what has been for me… Read more »

The Sciolist
Reply to  Wendy
23, September 2014 5:20 pm

Thank you for your service Wendy. It sounds like you’re exactly the kind of contractor that we need working hard in public service. Unfortunately we also need to make some hard choices, so we can support the growing number of elderly people dependent on the public purse. Unlike many posters here, you may know, the independent Office of Budgetary responsibility blames Labour for bankrupting the country, not… Read more »

Wendy
Reply to  The Sciolist
25, September 2014 10:45 am

Thank you The Sciolist’s for your comment. The Tractor will probably go. However my job which is walking on foot with a bag and my litter picking stick will also go. I understand money is in short supply and have had my hours cut this year and have taken home £50 a week less money in my pay packet.

Steve Goodman
Reply to  Wendy
23, September 2014 10:28 pm

Funny old world, where one wonderful Wendy is worth only a tiny fraction of a gambling banker demanding a big bail out. Thank you Wendy, & I think that the writing would be a good idea.

Victror Meldrew
22, September 2014 2:22 pm

There are several groups and individuals who DO undertake this thankless task especially on the West Wight/Back of the Wight beaches which is why I have requested a list of beaches for which the council has a legal responsibility. Perhaps Island Monkey would volunteer to help them next “litter picking weekend – it’s quite good fun, honestly! I’ll post some contact details of the groups – if… Read more »

Island Monkey
Reply to  Victror Meldrew
22, September 2014 3:23 pm

Sorry Victor, we can’t stand-by and watch volunteers take our paid jobs eh. That would be too much like David Cameron’s big society idea wouldn’t it?

And how do you know I don’t clean beaches, but I can harldy do the whole Island now can I?

Victror Meldrew
22, September 2014 2:28 pm

Isle of Wight Beach cleaning Volunteers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1421988978046957/?ref=ts&fref=ts
Eco Beach Cleaning Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/59948812274/?fref=ts

Also West Wight Sports Centre organise a beach clean.

Usually Biffa pick up the black bags free of charge.

All you need is a stout pair of gardening gloves and a plastic bag – Oh and a pair of lazy tongues OR a strong back

Lord Bermondsey
Reply to  Victror Meldrew
22, September 2014 3:34 pm

Once “Burbage the Destroyer” lets rip on services after the upcoming budget consultation, this beach cleaning story will be like a drop in the ocean. If it doesn’t involve childrens or adult services, then it’ll probably be gone come next April. Get used to it, as this time next year they’ll be virtually nothing left within their authority that isn’t statutory required. As long as his books… Read more »

mike starke
22, September 2014 3:38 pm

Try as I might, nowhere in the comments to date on this thread do I find a vital but simple one-word contribution by Cllr Julie Jones-Evans. I know it’s a word the boys and girls of the council’s Tory group and its predecessor find hard to get their mouths round… If it helps, it goes: “Sorry.” All together now… That means you, too, Whitehouse minor!

Robert Jones
22, September 2014 3:58 pm

Presumably an “amenity beach” is a beach to which the public has access – as an amenity. So that’ll be the majority of them.

I wonder if this story is really news, though: it would be, if you could report that Conservative councillors actually understood anything, but then that’s never likely to happen…

Colin
22, September 2014 4:01 pm

What level of beach cleaning does it take to get the various beach standard awards and if the beaches are not going to be mechanically cleaned, will this affect the classification? If the beaches are not going to be mechanically cleaned then surely this will increase the cost of the basic hand litter pick? No? When the mechanical cleaners were introduced did it not reduce the cost… Read more »

Colin
22, September 2014 4:08 pm

Remind me of the purpose of the IW council. Was it not amongst other things to do stuff that covered the whole island, and the Parish councils stuff that was relevant to the parishes? I wonder when someone will think of a legal challenge to stop the council not fulfilling it’s duty and stop it increasing the overall council tax by passing on services to the parishes… Read more »

sam salt
22, September 2014 4:24 pm

I have just sat and read a very interesting document issued by Cornwall County Council. An authority very like our own who rely upon the tourist and holiday industry in much the same way as we do. Whilst they recognised they had to cut costs, and this was given in percentage terms not the monetary terms the IWC seem to favour, they also recognised that they had… Read more »

MamaLu
Reply to  sam salt
22, September 2014 5:16 pm

I think the percentage for the Isle of Wight is about 10%.

peaceful_life
Reply to  sam salt
22, September 2014 5:22 pm

@Tess.

The ‘duty of care’ is an interesting tort tack, probably more worthy of imposing on the top down of central gov and the whole neo-liberal fiasco of austrity measures which absolve the accountability and delegate the debt to localism* in the ifrst place.

Highway to Hell
22, September 2014 4:26 pm

The press release that was, well, released, was it by any chance written and released through Sith Lord PR, as seems to be standard practice these days?

*I’m only guessing Cllr WOW’s PR business is called Sith Lord PR, but it seemed a reasonable assumption and given the fact in a couple of publicity shots I have seen, he does look a bit like Darth Vader*

retired Hack
Reply to  Highway to Hell
22, September 2014 4:43 pm

I tend to go more for the Harry Potter analogy. The power-lust of Voldemort but with only about a dozen loyal followers; more Peeves the Poltergeist really, cackling from the sidelines when there’s trouble afoot, and whooshing off into the shadows when he thinks the going’s getting too tough.

The Sciolist
22, September 2014 6:38 pm

Yes, let’s just keep on with the spend spend spend policies of the past, we can easily afford it. The truth is that this country is still spending billions more each year than it collects in taxes. The Tories have been dealing with that, albeit very slowly while also borrowing a few billions less than Labour did. Here, other than constantly reminding us that £28 million must… Read more »

Stephen
Reply to  The Sciolist
22, September 2014 6:51 pm

You state that “The Tories have been dealing with that, albeit very slowly while also borrowing a few billions less than Labour did.” The latest economic figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the coalition has borrowed £430.072 billion, whereas the last Labour government managed to borrow just £429.975 billion. ‘George Osborne’s claims to be prudent with the nation’s finances have been brutally undermined by… Read more »

Cynic
Reply to  Stephen
22, September 2014 7:46 pm

The Tories like to forget the fact that for eleven years (from 1997- 2008) the New Labour government kept the borrowing to GDP ratio below that inherited from John Major’s Tory government. And what happened in 2008? Oh yes, Tory friends and donors in the financial world caused the global financial crisis from which we are still suffering and the perpetrators are still being protected and rewarded… Read more »

Mark Francis
Reply to  Stephen
23, September 2014 10:07 am

Ian Duncan Smith founded a think tank called the Centre for policy Review who though up the concept of “Universal Credit” which under pins the “welfare reforms”. So IDS has decided to “simplify” the benefits system by amalgamating 6 benefits into one. The Admin costs were estimated at £2.2 billion. Recently (& after 5 changes of project leadership, this estimate was recalculated at £12.8 billion. The present… Read more »

Mark Francis
Reply to  Mark Francis
23, September 2014 10:11 am

Sorry – only 1,222 years. Let’s not get too ridiculous. However to put in
to perspective- if King Offa of Mercia had decided to reform say the taxation of original signed copies of Beowulf, it would just recently been completed

Cynic
Reply to  Mark Francis
23, September 2014 10:30 am

In the past I researched performances in the specification, design, creation and implementation of public projects. The net result was that the end costs and delivery dates were usually an orders of magnitude greater than the original budget. That is if they were not cancelled in the meantime! The reasons are as follows: firstly the initial budget is set artificially low to get political approval: secondly, the… Read more »

Mark Francis
Reply to  Mark Francis
23, September 2014 10:35 am

Oh dear I’ve upset two Beowulf fans already!

Robert Jones
Reply to  The Sciolist
22, September 2014 8:26 pm

When was this “spend spend spend” period of which you so chillingly speak? I don’t seem to have lived through it yet, and I’ve probably been around at least as long as you have. It’s a myth, as is the idea that the present government is borrowing less or spending less than the last one: taking just one example, their completely botched NHS re-organization has cost billions,… Read more »

Stewart Blackmore
Reply to  Sally Perry
25, September 2014 2:00 pm

I’m surprised that you’re surprised, Sally :)

peaceful_life
Reply to  The Sciolist
23, September 2014 2:40 pm

@Sciolist. When you state…. ‘The truth is that this country is still spending billions more each year than it collects in taxes’ You don’t specify where the ‘spending’ is taking place, is it on ever more privatised public services?….PFI infrastructure perhaps?….maybe administrative costs in creating high end tax breaks? It could be on corporate subsidies, or the faux pas of QE to extend the debt and ever… Read more »

Alison Hayden.
22, September 2014 6:51 pm

Yet again more “Porky Pies” from the Conservatives. What a surprise! The “smear campaign” towards the Independent council does seem to have been poorly thought out and assumes the residents on the Island will believe anything the Conservatives tell us. Louisa Hillard has explained very clearly what is required for our statutory beach cleaning service, with a code of practise on litter and refuse for all to… Read more »

The Sciolist
22, September 2014 10:16 pm

So, nothing then? No cuts, just keep on borrowing and let future generations pay it all back or (more likely) suffer the consequences.

And they’ll do this without anywhere to live, because all of you disapprove of new build housing too.

Nice.

The Sciolist
22, September 2014 10:22 pm

85% of Labour candidates say the last government didn’t spend too much money.

42% say a Labour government should increase taxes.

Ed Balls conference speech contained an extra £20 billion of spending – with no answer at all to where it might come from.

Labour – they didn’t learn anything and thankfully have no chance next May.

Robert Jones
Reply to  The Sciolist
22, September 2014 10:30 pm

Let me know if you ever come up with an actual argument; or would it just be simpler for me to read the Daily Mail and assume you agree with it?

Lord Bermondsey
Reply to  Robert Jones
22, September 2014 10:40 pm

Oh come on Bobby boy…Having Ed Balls as our next chancellor would be like having Hitler in charge of a synagogue.

Catastrophic.

Robert Jones
Reply to  Lord Bermondsey
22, September 2014 11:59 pm

If you mean me – and calling me ‘Bobby’ can be quickly fatal; only fair to warn you – I am not one of Ed Balls’ most adoring admirers.

tryme
Reply to  Robert Jones
23, September 2014 6:29 am

Flippant reference to Hitler and synagogues may not reveal the most sensitive of people.

Cynic
Reply to  Robert Jones
23, September 2014 8:57 am

Don’t feed trolls …

Stewart Blackmore
Reply to  The Sciolist
25, September 2014 2:06 pm

Justify that comment, Sciolist. I was actually there to hear the speech and it was all costed. Further, Ed Balls offered to have his costs examined by the Independent Audit Commission and the IFS.

Guess who refused that request? Yes, George Osborne and David Cameron. Go figure.

Victor Meldrew
23, September 2014 12:30 am

“Bobby”? I’ve heard you called some things, Robert, but there are limits!
For someone who has been patronised by professionals that must be bordering on the ultimate insult – rude, quite rude.

The Sciolist
23, September 2014 10:26 am

No suggestions of what to cut yet then?

Easy to yell on a blog at those nasty Tories – but what’s needed is a plan to reduce spending.

None of you have one, you can’t suggest a single area of spending that could be reduced. How telling.

Mark Francis
Reply to  The Sciolist
23, September 2014 10:33 am

“Welfare reform”

Cynic
Reply to  The Sciolist
23, September 2014 10:36 am

Trident
Afghanistan
Iraq
HS2
…… take your pick.

Grangebeg
23, September 2014 11:38 am

Sciolist – there really is no point in speculating and suggesting where cuts should be implemented. On recent performance the papers will only be altered before they get to council anyway.

phil jordan
Reply to  Grangebeg
23, September 2014 12:39 pm

grangebeg: It’s very easy, of course, to tell *us* where NOT to make any cuts to the budget but it’s a whole lot harder to suggest where they *could* be made: especially as not making cuts in one area demands they be made (additionally?) elsewhere. I think you’ll find, from the conservative *alternative* budget put to Full Council earlier this year, the ideas and strategies the conservatives… Read more »

Robert Jones
Reply to  phil jordan
23, September 2014 2:29 pm

You hope this will clarify thoughts…? You’re a hopeful chap, with endless supplies of sunny optimism, that’s all I can say….

Grangebeg
Reply to  phil jordan
23, September 2014 7:44 pm

My point Cllr Jordan. Any cuts suggested by majority of “bloggers” would be made in ignorance of the true position of a complex and difficult financial model which is why Independents were elected on a promise of openness, clarity and transparency of decision making. The electorate – to engage with them meaningfully – need all the relevant information on which to base a decision. To deny them… Read more »

phil jordan
Reply to  Grangebeg
23, September 2014 11:07 pm

grangebeg:

Thank you.

Honestly, I’m trying top be as open and transparent as my position allows me…..
I think it is light years ahead of the last administration but I understand that’s not the parallel …
Trying to be inclusive with the group who, patently, want still to play little politics is going to be difficult…

Thanks for your comments…

Much Laughs
23, September 2014 12:07 pm

Isn’t it hilarious that Councillors Whitehouse, Jones-Evans and Whittle were all bragging about their ‘discovery’ on Twitter over the weekend, but seem to have gone very quiet now it’s been revealed that things are quite as they’d made out.

Cynic
Reply to  Much Laughs
23, September 2014 1:32 pm

“A load of mistaken twits”? :-)

martin William Wareham
Reply to  Much Laughs
23, September 2014 7:45 pm

Councillors Whitehouse Jones Evans Whittle remind of the old proverb Empty vases make the most noise thats as polite as I can be why is the Island Lumbered with such stupid Conservative Councillors the mainland has some very good Tory Councils looking after their Council tax payers.

milly
23, September 2014 1:50 pm

There are still those that maintain that Austerity is the answer, but Austerity never worked in the past nor will it now. Only a pro-social agenda has worked in the past. There are those who mistakingly believe that we are on the road to recovery with green shoots and all! What an illusion. With beach cleaning or any other “management” of the crisis caused by the cuts… Read more »

Michael Douse
23, September 2014 6:58 pm

No rotting seaweed at East Cowes, just raw sewage released by Southern water on our Amenity beaches whenever it suits them!

We have no choice as to who provides our drinking water and disposes of our sewage. We just have to pay Their massive water rates.

Who in the IW Council is responsible for our Public Health?

tiki
23, September 2014 7:37 pm

No we shouldn’t pay for beaches to be cleaned. How about re-educating those who litter. TAKE YOUR RUBBISH HOME. The cleanest beaches in the world won’t mean a thing if we don’t have any public toilets for tourists and locals to use. I’d rather MY money was spent on re-opening toilets. Shame Cllr Whitehouse wasn’t as vocal about those remaining open.

tryme
24, September 2014 6:45 am

So Cllr Stewart “rarely answers emails or returns calls to OnTheWight” – but we have to remember that Chris Whitehouse is a very busy man and there are quite a lot of Tory councillors. Writing responses on their behalf (as per Cllr Chapman) is terribly time consuming, and hard decisions have to be made. The alternative (they deal direct with the media) is, of course, unthinkable.

Colin
Reply to  tryme
24, September 2014 9:05 am

@tryme

Your first sentence caught my eye.

Stop right there.

“Cllr Stewart rarely answers emails”

He’s never answered mine for local matters and is known for not bothering by others too.

The Sciolist
24, September 2014 10:47 am

The thing is, if the poor souls doing the work are on National minimum wage – I bet they are – why does the contract cost so much? The equipment (tractors) must have been bought and paid for long ago and so it should be possible to reduce the cost to cover wages, fuel and maintenance. I think we should still have the service – at a… Read more »

Colin
Reply to  The Sciolist
24, September 2014 11:41 am

@ the sciolist

We had one beach cleaner on minimum wage earlier in the thread and I recall one tractor driver posting in a different thread; the contracts are outsourced to individuals and would appear to be good value for money for the time spent working.

The Sciolist
Reply to  Colin
24, September 2014 1:04 pm

Good value for money? Are you kidding me. Someone appears to be making a lot of money, and it isn’t the workers.

Do you remember we had an issue some years ago over a beach cleaning contract? I seem to remember it was the awarding of the IOW council contract and the manager’s husband?

Michael Douse
24, September 2014 12:02 pm

Do have a look at the IW Council web page on the subject of beaches which we and our tourists should read;- http://www.iwight.com/Council/OtherServices/Recreation-Leisure-and-Public-Spaces-General/Beaches Apparently we have 17 Award winning beaches all of which meet ”Strict criteria as laid down by Keep Britain Tidy”,”For example the water quality must meet the standards of the Bathing Water Directive” How is this possible when we are told elsewhere that not… Read more »

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