Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, Scientists at Cern (The Large Hadron Collider) have failed to find a Higgs Bosun or a God Particle.
But that has been totally eclipsed by the news that the speed of light may not be fixed at 186,282 mp/sec. Should these latest findings prove correct, it must follow that time would fall into the same perplexity a most mysterious phenomenon.
As regards the possibility of time travel, to a certain degree this already exists: when we look through a telescope at a planet/star one million light years distant, we are seeing it as it was one million years ago.
Similarly, any sentient life forms on a planet at that distance away, and observing Earth, would see our planet as it was one million years in our past, always providing that the speed of light is fixed, otherwise we could be well and truly in the dark.
Kenneth Miln.22 Fothringham Drive, Monifieth.
Disillusioned by the SNP
Sir, My call goes out to the elected members of the SNP in Dundee: Your silence is deafening.
As an SNP supporter since the Gordon Wilson days in the 1970s I am becoming increasingly disillusioned with the party and what it is not doing to help the people of Dundee.
Can we hear what you have to say regarding your decision to merge two of Dundee’s greatest assets, the universities?
What do you have to say to the company asking you to make a decision on Dundee becoming a renewable energy hub?
What are you doing about our airport and an increased runway? We want to fly to a European hub.
Why are we still paying parking charges at Ninewells Hospital?
Thank you for the £15 million for the V&A but we all know that, compared to the budgets handed out for parliaments, trams, motorways and the soon-to-be-built Forth bridge, it is relatively small fry.
I believed in the vision of the SNP but now feel that I am now being railroaded down a path of blind acceptance.
Single police force, merged emergency services, etc., etc.
My monthly contribution to your party will soon be stopped and my voting card placed in the blue bin.
Charlie De Franco.Perth Road.Dundee.
Remember history of the clubs
Sir, People on the non-playing side of football managers, coaches, directors detest players’ agents. Latest to have a rant at them is Dundee United boss Peter Houston who has had a go at player Scott Allan and his agent John Viola for what he, Houston, considers an exorbitant wage demand.
The 19-year-old player has featured in only two-and-a-half first-team games.
As a neutral I don’t blame Houston but, also as a neutral, I think that managers and the rest from the past are largely responsible for agents.
In my early days as a sports journalist, there were no managers as we know them now. But the directors who ran the clubs ignored big attendances and the money pouring into the club coffers.
They paid players what used reasonably to be described as ”sweeties”.
When managers became powerful, they followed the trend and, with the full cooperation of directors, kept even the best players on the lowest possible wage they could, tying them, at the same time, to ridiculously long-term contracts.
Then the dam began to burst. Players, realising they were being ill-treated financially, started discussing wages and contracts with lawyers and accountants. They began to force clubs to give them better deals.
This spawned agents, who devote all their time to representing players and others involved in contracts, reaping hefty rewards in the process.
Now it has got out of hand, with attempted deals, like that involving Scott Allan, getting what most people would consider deserved criticism.
But please don’t forget the history behind this row and others like it.
Ian Wheeler.Springfield,Fife.
Greed in football is not attractive
Sir, I refer to the report about Dundee United manager Peter Houston and player Scott Allan. Good on Houston for speaking out about greed in football.
Scott is a young, talented footballer who seems to have been ill-advised. Agents, after all, are only interested in commission.
Scott should have a mind of his own and appreciate what Houston and the club have done for him.
They stood by him when he was in trouble and when injured. He should avoid being labelled big head, big money, no loyalty.
William Stirling.20 Clyde Crescent,Dunfermline.
Courier speaking up for Abertay
Sir, I compliment you on the excellent editorial in The Courier on September 23.
I sincerely hope that the campaign on behalf of Abertay University achieves success and you continue to advocate effectively on behalf of our city and its educational institutions.
(Cllr) Ian Borthwick.Depute Lord Provost,Dundee.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.