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How to Give a New Look to a Bathroom

Most homeowners want to change something in their home at least once, including the bathroom. In fact, it’s a good decision because designers advise updating the bathroom interior every 3-5 years. However, for many people, giving their bathroom a new look can be quite a daunting task. In this article, we will share with you useful tips and recommendations that will help you refresh the interior of your bathroom without significant costs.

Tips for Bathroom Interior Renovation

While bathroom remodeling is a significant task, it can transform the ambiance of the house as well as its usability. With proper redesign, a space can be turned into a very comfortable and cozy space. Use the following tips to give your bathroom the much-needed face-lift and update.

Simplify and Declutter

The first thing to do before thinking of a bathroom remodel is to organize and clean. Empty your shelves and cabinets and sort all your towels, accessories, and toiletries and get rid of the things that are not frequently used. Anything that is outdated has been used to a considerable extent, or that is simply not liked by the owner should be either given out or discarded.

Also, take away any other objects that may have been placed within the bathroom at some point for convenience, such as cleaners, hand wash, and other bathroom accessories that belong to another room.

Change the Lighting

There are different types of lighting available, but the best lighting for a bathroom is bright enough to allow one to see everything in the room. Accessorize it with beautiful light bulbs or lamps, or enhance the look of the new pendant lights, sconces, or a bold light fixture hanging over the vanity. Switches are used to turn the light on or off, while dimmers enable you to select the level of brightness you want.

Add Elements of Decor

A big mirror helps to make the room appear larger, and the light can bounce off the mirror and into other areas of the space. It is advisable to go for a bold shape or frame. There is a need to change such things as faucets, shower heads, and cabinet knobs since they are cheap to be bought. Choose finishes such as black, bronze, gold, or nickel brushed. What are some items that can also update your interior?

  • Towels and mats.
  • Accessories for storing soaps, gels, and shampoos.
  • Bathroom cabinets.

The most important thing is to choose all these decorative elements in the same color scheme to stick to the same style of the room. 

Final Thoughts

As you may have already realized, it is possible to give your bathroom a new look with your own efforts. However, most modern people simply do not have enough time for these processes. What can you do in such a case? You can use the services of bathroom renovations Ottawa to get a brand new turnkey bathroom. This will save you from having to come up with the design, choose the decor elements, and do the construction work yourself.

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AI Revolutionizing Online Casino Gaming for Enthusiasts

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought transformative changes to various industries and online casino gaming is no exception. AI technology is enhancing user experience, security and fairness in online casinos, making it a game-changer for enthusiasts. As an online casino player, understanding how AI impacts your gaming experience can help you make informed choices.

Online casino gaming, such as amunra.be, has always been at the forefront of technological advancements. However, the integration of AI is pushing the boundaries even further. Whether you are a casual player or a seasoned enthusiast, AI is set to redefine your online gaming experience in unprecedented ways.

Enhancing User Experience Through Personalization

One of the most significant benefits of AI in online casinos is its ability to personalize your gaming experience. AI algorithms analyze your gaming patterns, preferences and behavior to offer tailored recommendations and promotions. This personalized approach not only keeps you entertained but also helps you discover new games that you might not have tried otherwise.

Boosting Security and Fairness

Security is a critical concern for any online activity, especially when it involves financial transactions. AI plays a pivotal role in enhancing the security of online casinos by detecting fraudulent activities and ensuring fair play. AI systems monitor player behavior to identify any suspicious activities that could indicate cheating or hacking attempts. By maintaining a secure environment, AI helps build trust and confidence among players.

Improving Customer Support with Chatbots

AI-powered chatbots are revolutionizing customer support in online casinos. These chatbots are available 24/7 to assist you with any queries or issues you might encounter while playing. They provide instant responses and can handle a wide range of questions, from account-related inquiries to game rules and strategies. The efficiency of AI chatbots ensures that you receive timely support without having to wait for human assistance.

Future Possibilities of AI in Online Casino Gaming

The impact of AI on online casino gaming is only expected to grow in the coming years. Future developments may include more advanced predictive analytics, virtual reality integration and even more sophisticated fraud detection mechanisms. As an enthusiast, staying informed about these advancements will help you take full advantage of the evolving landscape of online casino gaming.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the integration of AI into online casino gaming is reshaping the industry in remarkable ways, offering enhanced personalization, security and support. As AI continues to evolve, it promises to deliver even more innovative solutions that will further enrich the gaming experience. For players, staying abreast of these developments will not only enhance enjoyment but also ensure a safer and more tailored gaming journey. Embracing AI’s transformative potential will pave the way for a more dynamic and engaging online casino landscape, making the future of gaming an exciting prospect for all enthusiasts.

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Analyzing the Cultural Shift Towards Virtual Poker Spaces Among Canadian Players

Canadian players have shown a strong inclination towards online poker. With approximately 19.3 million active gamblers in the country, this level of participation places Canada within the top 10 globally, specifically ranking eighth in the global online gaming industry. The global online poker player base is estimated to be 100 million strong, with 60 million players located in the United States.

Substantial Growth in Ontario’s Online Poker Scene

Ontario’s online poker scene has seen significant growth. During the period from October to December 2023, wagers on peer-to-peer poker reached CAD 431 million, representing a 9% increase from the preceding quarter. Concurrently, the number of active player accounts surged to 1.2 million in Q3 2023, compared to 943,000 in Q2. GGPoker Ontario led in cash game traffic, averaging 281 concurrent players.

A study examining online poker playing trends, based on electronic betting data for 2,489 subscribers from 2015 to 2017, reported that overall financial involvement and time commitment were generally moderate. However, the top 1% of players exhibited disproportionately higher financial involvement and time commitments, with a median total overall spend of €272,581.4 and a median number of sessions amounting to 1,149.

Cultural Influences on Poker Strategies

Cultural influences have impacted online poker in Canada. Different regions exhibit distinct styles of play. The multilingual nature of online poker adds another layer of complexity. The interpretation of poker terminology and expressions can vary greatly based on cultural contexts.

An estimated 3.1 million Canadians reported playing poker for fun at least once a month in 2022, up from 2.3 million in 2011. The game often serves as a means of camaraderie and friendly competition. Moreover, major poker events in Canada, such as the Canadian Poker Open and the World Series of Poker, attract thousands of players from around the world.

Market Presence of International Sites

The online poker scene in Canada is well-supported by the presence of major international sites like GGPoker. These platforms offer various games and stakes, catering to player preferences and skill levels. GGPoker, recognized as the largest online poker room globally, has emerged as a market leader in Canada. The platform continues to engage players through dynamic experiences and live events, including the WSOP Circuit in Toronto.

The start of online poker in Canada aligns with the increasing use of smartphones and internet access worldwide. This technological shift has contributed to the market’s growth. The comprehensive suite of features provided by sites such as GGPoker has made it possible for Canadian players to participate actively in online poker communities. The growth in user numbers and financial involvement highlights the sustained interest in online poker in Canada.

Technological Influence on the Shift

The integration of advanced technologies and the increasing use of smartphones have revolutionized online poker in Canada. High-speed internet access and mobile-friendly platforms have made it easier for players to engage in games anytime, anywhere. This accessibility has attracted a diverse range of players, from casual gamers to serious professionals, all contributing to the vibrant online poker community.

Furthermore, the use of data analytics and AI-driven tools by online poker platforms enhances the gaming experience. These technologies help in understanding player behavior, optimizing game strategies, and providing personalized recommendations. The adaptive and responsive nature of these platforms ensures that players remain engaged and invested in the game.

The Social Aspect of Online Poker

Online poker in Canada is not just about the game; it also serves as a social activity. Many players join online poker rooms to connect with friends and meet new people. The interactive features, such as chat rooms and live dealer options, create a sense of community and camaraderie. This social aspect is a significant factor driving the popularity of online poker among Canadian players.

Responsible Gaming and Regulatory Measures

As the online poker market grows, there is an increasing emphasis on responsible gaming and regulatory measures. Canadian authorities have implemented stringent regulations to ensure fair play and protect players from gambling-related issues. Online poker platforms are required to adhere to these regulations, offering features such as self-exclusion options, deposit limits, and access to support services for players in need.

The Role of Marketing and Promotions

Marketing strategies and promotions play a crucial role in the growth of online poker in Canada. Leading platforms like GGPoker use targeted advertising, welcome bonuses, and loyalty programs to attract and retain players. These marketing efforts are tailored to appeal to various demographics, ensuring a broad and inclusive player base. Special events and tournaments, often heavily promoted, create excitement and draw significant participation, further boosting the visibility and popularity of online poker.

Future Trends and Predictions

Looking ahead, the future of online poker in Canada appears promising. Advances in technology, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), are expected to transform the gaming experience, making it more immersive and interactive. Additionally, the growing acceptance and integration of cryptocurrencies in online poker transactions offer greater convenience and security for players. These trends, coupled with ongoing innovations in game design and player engagement, suggest a dynamic and evolving online poker landscape in Canada.

Conclusion

The shift towards virtual poker spaces among Canadian players is characterized by robust participation rates, cultural influences, diverse playing styles, and the substantial presence of major international platforms. The consistent player engagement, adaptive strategies influenced by cultural values, and the technological infrastructure provided by leading platforms like GGPoker highlight the active involvement of Canadians in the online poker domain.

This data-driven analysis presents a clear vision of the current state of online poker among Canadian players, focusing on specific metrics and findings that illustrate their active participation in the virtual poker space. As technology continues to evolve and the market expands, the future of online poker in Canada looks promising, with a continued emphasis on innovation, player engagement, and responsible gaming practices.

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The Dark Side of Albert: Einstein and Mileva Marić, his First Wife

Albert Einstein with his first wife, Mileva Marić


By DAVID TOPPER Albert Einstein was the most photographed scientist of the 20th century. The scope of emotions depicted range from the serious to the silly: from looking like a secular saint with hands folded and deep in contemplation of supposedly solemn thoughts, to the image hanging in front of me on the bulletin board over my computer table, showing him sticking out his tongue at the cameraman. Living during the heyday of the development of the film camera, he and the press surely took advantage of it. The positive persona of the genius was formed out of these visual images. This visual disposition was supplemented with endless quotations on not only science and the universe, but also with homilies on life and how to live it, with much of that which you will find quoted, being things he never said. Overall, the general image of him and his personality has him coming out seemingly squeaky-clean.


Nonetheless, those of us who have looked into the man in more detail are aware of episodes of less than saintly behavior by Albert – the famous scientific idol. If, for example, you read any of the half-dozen or so lengthy biographies about him, you will find scattered therein stories of him speaking inappropriately or behaving, one might say, as a jerk. Having read all those books, and others – and even written three books on him myself – I knew this. So when I started reading a recent long biography of his first wife, Mileva Marić, I had no reason to think I’d be shocked, since I had already read a lot about her, including a book of letters to and from her best friend, which also contained a brief biography. But to my surprise, I was staggered in reading over 400 pages of his nasty behavior concentrated around this one woman – a woman whom he fell in love with as a university student, and who was the only mother of his children.
Here is the sad – and probably surprising to most readers – story of Mileva and Albert.


Mileva Marić was born on December 19, 1875, into a Christian Orthodox Serbian family. With a dislocated left hip, she walked with a limp throughout her life. (Her sister, Zorka, had the same congenital condition.) Forced to wear an orthopedic shoe, she was teased and mocked in school. Nonetheless, this very bright girl filled her lonely childhood with her studies (she was especially good at math) and piano lessons. Encouraged by a very loving father, she excelled in school, and was the first girl to attend high school physics courses in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After graduating in 1896, she applied to the prestigious Zurich Polytechnic, since in Switzerland women were admitted to all classes. She passed the entrance exam and majored in mathematics. It was a small freshman class of about two-dozen students, she being the only woman. That’s where she met, in the even smaller physics course, fellow student, Albert Einstein. 


One of the earliest pictures we have of Mileva is dated 1897. In this portrait, I see a very serious, confident, determined woman with large penetrating eyes, a full crop of dark wavy hair and full lips. I would call her plain but attractive. I say this, because I was shocked at several instances when someone, upon first meeting Mileva, is quoted as describing her as “ugly.”
As a fellow student, Albert Einstein was attracted to her, and they quickly became a couple. He probably was the first male to take a romantic interest in her, overlooking her “handicap.” I suspect he was attracted to her gutsy attitude and her smartness. Plus, being Serbian, Mileva exuded an exotic “otherness” to the “German” in Albert. They spent most of their free time together, studying and falling in love. She did well in her courses, initially passing all of them, as Albert did too (of course). That is, until she was pregnant – a fact she tried to hide until she could not. And so she went home to her parents to inform them of this, and eventfully to have the baby.


Her parents were very supportive, which was unusual for the times. A girl was born early in 1902; they named her Lieserl (probably a Yiddish diminutive of Liese, a shortened Elizabeth). Albert stayed in Zurich and never saw his daughter; she was raised by Mileva’s parents, as Mileva returned to Zurich to continue her studies. No one knows what ultimately happened to Lieserl; she has seemingly vanished from all records. She may have died from Scarlet Fever as a child; or, she may have been adopted and grew up. One thing I do know: Mileva never forgot her. I believe that the loss of Lieserl is the major reason for Mileva’s depression and lingering melancholia throughout her life – as will be seen. As a result, she didn’t take care of her grooming and was a bit overweight – as seen in photos of her later in life. This, I suspect, may be a source of her “ugliness.”


Back to Zurich in the late 1890s and her studies: she passed all her courses over the first three years, and in her fourth year she started her thesis, hoping for a diploma and further work toward a PhD. But in 1900 she failed her final exams, while the other male students all passed. In July 1901 she repeated her final exams and flunked them again. I find it hard to believe that this sudden change in her performance was due to the tests being too tough for this woman, in light of all we know of her up to this time. Look at the last date above: she was pregnant with her child. I’m convinced that she just couldn’t concentrate on her studies. Albert passed, graduated, and started looking for a job – as well as working toward his PhD.

Mileva with her 2 boys: Eduard (b. 1910) & Hans Albert (b. 1904)


On January 6, 1903, they were married in a small civil ceremony. Mileva became a housewife; no more thinking of going any further in her studies. She then became the mother of two boys: Hans Albert (born in 1904) and Eduard (nicknamed Tete; in 1910).

All that promise came to nothing, not even a university degree. If she had not met Albert, who knows what she would have achieved?  But that was not the path taken, and since she married what became the most famous scientist of the 20th century – if not the most famous person, as Time Magazine said at the end of the millennium – that’s why there is a plethora of documentation about her life, terribly sad as it was.

Now briefly fast forward a century or so, to around 1987, and the publication of the early love letters between Albert and Mileva, which had only been known by a few, and purposely suppressed. For example, Hans Albert, who had the letters much earlier, had wanted to publish them. But he was thwarted by Helen Dukas and Otto Nathan, who threatened litigation. Dukas was Albert’s lifelong secretary and Nathan was an economist and close friend, who eventually was the executor of Einstein’s will. And so, the letters never surfaced until Dukas and Nathan were both dead.  

Even today, writing about these letters is an ideological minefield. Here’s why. The letters date from 1899 to 1903, when a new theory of physics was brewing in Albert’s mind. The result, in the so-called miracle year of 1905, was the publication of five papers that changed physics forever: two on what became his Theory of Relativity; one on a particle theory (much later called a photon) of light, as part of the emerging Quantum Theory; and two supporting the reality of atoms, which were still only hypothetical entities at this time. Knowing this, how much can we read into the love letters when Albert, in talking about his scientific ideas, uses “we” and “our work”? Well, it seems, a lot; for the initial response from primarily feminist quarters was that Mileva should at least be seen as a co-author of the famous papers, since it seemed that they conceived of the theory together. Given, as we will see, Albert’s shabby treatment of her later in life, then all the more sympathy was directed toward Mileva and her plight by history. Indeed, some went so far (you will still find websites saying this) that Albert stole the theory of relativity from Mileva. Nonetheless, after that initial flurry of debate, the consensus has moved away from this viewpoint, so that today the select scholars looking over the Einstein Papers Project in Pasadena, California assert unabashedly that Mileva made no input to Albert’s theory.

Nonetheless, I am one of the few “Einstein scholars” (if I may call myself such), who gives Mileva some credit in the 1905 marvel. She was good at mathematics, she had patience in her life and work, and she was a thorough researcher – all qualities severely lacking in Albert. Let me put it this way: over his life as a physicist, Einstein hired a series of companions (whom he called “calculators”) to do the tedious and complicated mathematics required for his theory, especially as it developed over the later years with the use of tensor calculus in his General Theory of Relativity. All were men; except, famously, his last calculator was the Israeli-American woman, Buria Kaufmann – about whom you will read in the literature as his “first female calculator.” (Incidentally, there is a website giving her credit for Einstein’s later theory, which is complete fiction.)  I, however, would assert that Buria was the second woman; for Mileva was Albert’s first “calculator.” She was also his researcher and proofreader. Since she knew the physics, as we know from the letters, she also was his sounding-board – Albert bouncing ideas off of Mileva, as they say.

So, what about Albert speaking of “we” and “our work”? Let me put this into context by quoting from some of the letters in chronological order. In a letter Mileva wrote to Helene Savić (née Kaufler), her closest and longest friend throughout her life (they roomed together in a boarding house in Zurich when they were students), she speaks of a paper “written” by Albert that will be published soon that is “very significant.” She then says that “we” sent it to an important physicist – revealing how much she was involved with Albert’s work. Later in a letter from Albert to Mileva, let me quote from the opening lines to give you a trace of their intimacy: “Thank you very much for your little letter and all the true love that’s in it. I kiss and hug you for it from all my heart, exactly the way you would want it & are entitled to, love.” He then goes into a discussion of other people, followed by his going back to how much they love each other, and ending with this key sentence. “How happy and proud I will be when the two of us together will have brought our work on the relative motion to a victorious conclusion.” I put in italics the famous (or is it infamous?) phrase: our work. But there’s nothing more on this, although a bit later in the letter he goes on to talk about another physics problem he is working on: specific heats. He discusses the physics problem in detail, with equations and his proposed solution, and he ends the topic with this: “Don’t forget to look up to what extent glass obeys the law of Dulong and Petit.” My guess is that it was this sort of task that was part of their work together. The letter ends where it began. “Tender greetings and kisses, my dear little dumpling, from your … Albert.”

I’ll leave the topic there, nonetheless aware of the possibility that Mileva did help Albert in even more significant ways, and that hence she’s been slighted by history. 
Back to Zurich in 1903. Initially, their life together was harmonious, a reflection of the camaraderie in the love letters, as she kept house and raised her boys. But by around 1909, when Albert was being seen as an important physicist, there clearly was a severe strain on the marriage. For example, in a letter that year to Helene, she says that Albert “lives only for his work” and the family is “unimportant to him.” By 1914, when they moved to Berlin for Albert’s prestigious position at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Physics, their marriage entered a new phase. In fact, Albert had been having relations with a divorced cousin, Elsa Löwenthal, who lived in Berlin. Moreover, Albert made it clear to Mileva that their previous relationship was over. He went so far as to give her a list of demands: that she do the laundry, prepare him three meals a day, and keep his office clean – all without any personal relations. No intimacy in the house, and no being together in public. It was degradingly cruel: Mileva’s role was reduced to being a maid and cook. She tried to accept it, but quickly found that she couldn’t endure the humiliation; and so she took her two boys back to Zurich, where she remained for the rest of her life.

They officially divorced in 1919, and Albert immediately married Elsa – all in the same year that he became the world-famous scientist, because of the solar eclipse experiment that proved that light from a star is bent around the sun, as predicted by his theory. He got the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 and transferred the money to a bank in Zurich for the support of their boys, where Mileva had access to the interest in the account.

What happened after all that infatuation seen in the love letters and in their early life together? In retrospect, Mileva surely realized that she had ignored or overlooked what we might call the dark side of Albert. As a student he was overly sarcastic, often mocking and even degrading people whom he saw as inadequate or not too smart. He even teased her in ways that revealed an underlying hostility. When she pointed this out, he would laugh it off – and she’d forgive him. In a letter to Helena in 1900 she writes of Albert’s “wicked words with deeds! What an insolent boy he is, and yet I love him so much!” Telling words. Even after the acrimonious divorce, she still, as will be seen, was under Albert’s spell. I believe that she never got over that initial infatuation when they were students. It became a pattern: she was always trying to get on his good side.

Overall, Albert was very much a 19th century male chauvinist in his attitude and communications with women. Here are some of his words about women that reveal his overt misogyny: they are “passive, insecure, needy, and wanting to be dominated.” I knew that he liked to flirt with women throughout his life. But seeing him do so with other wives, with Mileva present, made it less frivolous and more malicious. In short, he was a cad and a rake, rolled into one.

The turnaround in their relationship seemed to bring out the worst in him. He was petty and vindictive, and especially very cruel towards her. There is no direct evidence of any real physical abuse. However, there was an incident in the spring of 1913 when a friend reported seeing Mileva with a badly swollen face, which was attributed to a “toothache” – and hence she and Albert missed some social events. Possibly the swollen face was a sign of something more malevolent, but we will never know the truth. Nonetheless, pondering this, I wish to quote something Albert wrote in a letter in 1925: “Not only children need a bit of thrashing, but also grownups and especially women.” And I’ll leave it there.

After the divorce, he accused her of poisoning his relationship with the boys – a common trope between divorcing couples. But it got more vicious as her financial situation became grave, and she asked for more money. She made some extra money tutoring students in math and giving piano lessons. But it wasn’t enough. Albert’s letters to her contain nasty personal attacks: saying she is “abnormal,” a “nonentity,” and that her pleading is “rubbish.” I can only imagine how Mileva felt being called this. At the time, she was in severe physical pain with chronic back problems, often forcing her into bed for long periods, even stays in hospital, when she was trying to raise two boys alone. Moreover, all this was exacerbated by problems in her Serbian family. Her sister Zorka was diagnosed as schizophrenic and was in and out of asylums; her only living brother disappeared into Russia after World War I; and her parents had serious financial problems.

Could it get any worse?  It could. And it did. Tete became a handful. He was very bright and creative; he had musical talent on the piano, and he wrote promising poems and stories. But he was also prone to falling into depressive episodes, for apparently no reason – anger fits, throwing things, being out of control. I suppose Mileva saw this coming: Tete, like her sister, eventually was diagnosed as schizophrenic.  

Albert, of course, knew all this, but being in Berlin, he didn’t have to deal with it. He did make occasional visits and took summer trips with the boys (giving Mileva short breaks), all while he was still living in Europe. But when he moved to Princeton, N.J., in 1933, with Hitler in power in Germany and Einstein’s name being high on a hit list, their meetings were over; until 1938, when Hans Albert (now with a wife and two children) moved to the USA. The last meeting between Albert and Tete is recorded in a 1933 photograph that bears a close look. Both are seated in a room, with Tete looking over a large, open portfolio – perhaps reading it. Albert is facing in a different direction (about 90-degrees away), holding a violin and bow, and staring off into space. It may be that Tete is reading to him, but more likely they are inhabiting two different worlds.  

In the years during World War II, living in Zurich, Switzerland (a country surrounded by a Nazi-occupied Europe), Mileva was terrified that the Nazis would swoop up this last free space. Moreover, she knew that they were rounding up Jews by the trainloads and moving them to Concentration Camps. She was somewhat safe as an Orthodox Christian, but Tete was “Jewish,” being a child of Einstein. She wrote pleading letters to Albert, asking him to take Tete to the USA. She even contacted the Red Cross, and they agreed that the best bet was to get Albert to sponsor him. “Bring us to safety,” she wrote. But being Mileva – ever still the dutiful wife, even though they had been divorced for two decades – she added (and I assert that she was not being sarcastic in saying this), “[I am] not intending to disturb your peace and freedom.” Petrified that “Tete is in danger because he is your son,” she concluded: “you can’t just leave him in the lurch.”

In fact, Einstein, Dukas, and Nathan were diligently rescuing Jews from Europe by using Einstein’s name to get emigration papers and such. Albert once spoke of this, saying that they were running a little refugee office over his cluttered “lawyer’s desk.” And they did save lives. Relevant here is a 1939 letter from Albert to Helena on this very topic. Helena’s father was Jewish, and she had numerous relatives whose lives were in peril, and so apparently, she was asking Albert for help. He wrote in response. “How gladly would I help! But I am desperately trying to at least get younger people out. Relocation of old people must under present horrible conditions be set aside.” In the end, we know of two aunts of Helena who died in gas chambers. Interestingly, in this same letter, Albert mentions that Hans is now in America, but that Tete is with Mileva in Zurich, saying that Tete is “incurably mentally ill.”  

So, what about Tete? And Mileva’s pleading letters? As far as we know, these pleading requests were never answered. Albert, it seems, did leave his son “in the lurch.” My guess is that he just couldn’t fathom the chaos in his life of dealing with someone with such a severe mental illness. Listen to what he later wrote to Hans about Tete after learning of Mileva’s death. “If I had been fully informed [apparently referring here to what he saw as a genetic mental illness in Mileva’s family], he [Tete] would never have come into the world.” I can only imagine how Hans must have felt after reading these appalling words from his father about his beloved brother. Sometimes Albert’s behavior is plainly pathetic. Fortunately, the Nazis never invaded Switzerland.   

 Much of Mileva’s adult life was centred on Tete, as she watched him descend into the depths of mental illness. Overweight and chain-smoking, he was in and out of mental institutions. For Mileva, he was a full-time job. She, being the caring mother, was obsessed with making sure he would be safe after she died. And she succeeded; for seven years after his mother died, he lived in the renowned Burghölzli psychiatric clinic in Zurich. He was 55 when he died.

I believe Mileva never got over two things: the loss of Lieserl and her infatuation with Albert. We don’t know what happened to Lieserl; but Mileva surely did, and it haunted her all of her life; as seen, she flunked her final chance for a university degree because of it. Lieserl was a source of her constant despondent behaviour and possibly her so-called “ugliness.” In a letter to Helena in 1925 she wrote of “my unfulfilled desire for a daughter”– another telling phrase, since she had a daughter, but was forced to abandon her.
Regarding Albert, no matter how abusive he was, Mileva still was open to forgiveness. She once asked herself this question: “When has a man ever listened to reason, when a woman is involved?” She should have listened to her own words.

Mileva Marić died on August 4, 1948, at the age of 72.
This story of Albert falling in and out of love with Mileva was not the first such episode in his life. It was previewed by and even overlapped with his first sweetheart: Marie Winteler.
In 1895 he spent a year enrolled in the cantonal school in the town of Aarau, near Zurich. He had taken the rigorous entrance exams for the Polytechnic (which Mileva later passed) and had flunked the non-science and non-math parts. But since he did so well on the science and math parts, it was recommended that he do a year of make-up in Aarau; plus, he was applying at age 16, a year early. He boarded with the family of Jost Winteler, a teacher at the school. Jost and Pauline had three daughters, the prettiest being Marie, two years older than Albert. Albert quickly fell for her, and she for him. She was an accomplished pianist, and so their love interests were supplemented with piano and violin duets. After that year, and after passing the entrance requirement at the Polytechnic, Albert moved to Zurich – where he met Mileva, and then broke off with Marie. In short, he jilted her, as he would later do with Mileva.

Marie, however, thought the relationship was to be forever, and wrote pleading letters when he stopped writing to her. After all, he was still mailing her his dirty laundry to wash and send back. (I am not making this up.) Being deeply hurt, she fell into a depression that (may have) plagued her throughout her life. She became a schoolteacher (whose records show that she missed a lot of classes due to sickness); in 1911 she married a man whose first name was Albert. They had two boys, but divorced in 1927. We also know that she tried to reach the first Albert in the 1940s about emigrating to the USA, but there is no record of his having received her letters. (Albert’s secretary was known to censor his mail.)  She died in a mental institution in 1957, two years after Einstein died.
I mention this for two reasons. One, the obvious – this being a preview to the story of Albert’s shabby treatment of Mileva and the parallel terrible consequences. The other reason is the dirty laundry. This, also obviously, needs to be explained.

In 2019 I published an historical novel on Einstein’s life, called A Solitary Smile. In it, Marie is one of the characters, especially near the end and in a dream sequence that has Einstein recalling their time together, where he realizes how he hurt her. In recalling this part of my book, while writing this story of Mileva, and now Marie again – I suddenly realized that I didn’t include the dirty laundry bit. Why? I knew it then, as I do now. So why not mention it? Ruminating on this, I can only surmise that I was subconsciously protecting Albert from more scorn. Why dig up all the dirt (seemingly, literally in this case). How interesting this is. Me, being part of the problem. Protecting Albert’s image.
Well, I caught myself. And here I acknowledge my error – to supplement my saga on the dark side of Albert Einstein. 
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Readings: Mileva Marić Einstein: Life with Albert Einstein, by Radmila Milentijević (United World Press, 2010). In Albert’s Shadow: The Life and Letters of Mileva Marić: Einstein’s First Wife, edited by Milan Popović (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003). A Solitary Smile: A Novel on Einstein, by David R. Topper (Bee Line Press, 2019).
 

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