![]() It is now some fifty years that I have been engaged in this very same gymnastic-asking questions and seeking Gathered up a rather massive body of knowledge. By this device - ever questioning - ever uncertain - I Too well, to be sure - but I was learning to THINK. Some I got the answers in dialogue with my Mama and my Papa and with my teachers. Why does a wood fire crackle? And a thousand like questions. Soar? Why does a brook gurgle? How does an earthworm crawl? Why is a dewdrop round? Why does corn pop? What is the Earth made of? Why is the sky blue? Why is the sunset red? How does a bird PROLEGONIENON or PROLOGOS or WHAT THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUTĪnd HOW IT HAS COME TO BE (Prologue to the first book of Millergrams) written by Professor Julius Sumner MillerĪll of a half-century ago-when I was a little boy on the farm in my native New England - I remember asking all kinds of questions. I hope you enjoy this account as much as I have enjoyed bringing it into form.įrom the Preface to "Millergrams" - Book II - Australia, 1967 It is for this reason that I now present what I have been able to collate concerning the Philosophy of this great teacher of the wonderful ways of nature, for - and I am sure that the professor would heartily agree with me here - it surrounds our every breath and heartbeart, and is a source of constant wonder and beauty. I knew that I was simply just lucky to be part of this wonderful world - and this was sufficient for me. Nevertheless, I do know that my disappointment ended in totallity the moment I returned home, switched on the TV, and watched the professor's next episode of "Why Is It So ?" I clearly remembered thinking that this must have been a ruse by the teachers to try and stop me from going surfing too much (instead of attending school). Much to his credit, Paul was selected ahead of me. Although I cannot recall studying profusely during this time, I seemed to do well at science, and was at one time, selected with another lad in my year - one Paul Stokes of Castlegrag - to be considered for attendance at the Summer Science Courses to be held that year at the Sydney University. I personally remember the Professor's TV programs quite clearly, as at that time I was attending High School at North Sydney Boys' School where I completed my studies in 1970. It is in the nature of the human creature to THINK, and what the human mind prospers on is something to think about. enjoy what I call THE INTELLECTUAL GYMNASTIC. "The reception accorded our first adventure with Book One was warming to my spirit and gives clear evidence that people of all ages. Says Professor Julius Sumner Miller, on the back cover of the second book of Millergrams: This insight is taken from the "What This Book is All About" section of the Professor's little book of "Millergams" - a rather large list of little questions (such as the ones above) concerning the way nature works. Instead it provides just a little insight into the philosophy of this great and enchanting man who did so much for the Australian public in the later years of his life. This short account provides - for the present time - none of the answers to these very simple questions. ![]() To my way of thinking - he was a gifted man who could find, within the most mundane of everday occurrences something - some questions - which others had failed to ask. Of course I have prepared my own answer to this last question about the surf, but I have no doubt in my own mind that the lively Professor Julius Sumner Miller assisted me in the process of getting there. "WHAT would happen if there were no friction in the world?" "WHICH weighs more - a pint of wet sand or a pint of dry sand?" Massive handwaving, an eloquent American drawl, flashing raised eyebrows (were they singed on Bunsen Burners?) and content matter drawn from the kitchen, the backyard and from nature ensured that his audience would watch as a regularly captivated student as the lively professor asked such questions as: "Why is it So" you might ask? The reason was quite simple: Professor Julius Sumner Miller was simply intriguing - one would never know what simply household every-day experiment he would dream up next. a very huge audience would switch their TV sets on at the appointed hour to watch these lectures !!! You might ask who would watch - out of the Australian public at that time - a series of lectures on Physics on the television? The answer would be surprising. In the very late 1960's Australia had the pleasure of hosting, live from the Physics Laboritories of Sydney University, a series of television programs which featured one Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a professor of Physics from El Camino Colledge, California. Professor Julius Sumner Miller asks "Why Is It So?" Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia in the Southern Autumn of 1996 Professor Julius Sumner Miller - "Why Is It So?"
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