Gravity and Reality

Gravity is one of the fundamental forces that define the universe.  It defines the orbits of moons and planets – and even the very shapes of these bodies.  It is the physical manifestation of matter’s drive to aggrandize itself across the vastness of space.  Gravity holds us to the Earth, and holds the Earth together.  Concentrated in stars, gravity is so strong, it fuses hydrogen nuclei to make helium, lighting our days.  

But in too great a concentration, it just swallows up everything.  The gravity within a black hole is so strong that not even light can escape. 

Similarly, the quest to accumulate wealth and power is a key driving force in the human experience.  It’s why we seek new lands, build railroads, skyscrapers, and the internet.  Within bounds, it can shape incredible innovation and creativity; generating jobs, wealth and plenty. 

But when unchecked wealth and power become too concentrated, they too create a black hole, which swallows everything within its horizon – bending and shaping it to its will.  Once in its sway, neither light, nor truth, nor sustenance escapes. 

Some physicists speculate that within a black hole, a separate reality may exist; one warped and distorted by the intense forces of the concentrated mass, but within which, this distorted microcosm may seem somehow normal – and the universe outside the influence of this overbearing force seem  distorted.  

The More You Know

Educated, well-informed people equivocate, qualifying their comments with reservations, uncertainty, and exceptions.  
Children, fools and zealots declare their beliefs with an absolute certainty that is the unique possession of those who just don't know what they don't know; and who either can't comprehend, or don't care about nuance or complexity.   

Other People's Troubles

Nothing helps take our minds off of
other people's troubles
quite so effectively as a steady, unblinking focus on our own.    

Earth Day Musings

An Earth Day thought:

It is arrogant to think human activities can destroy the planet, or even impose any permanent damage. 

We are certainly capable of making temporary changes to the thin, rather fragile layer we call the biosphere.  We are affecting the climate in ways we will not enjoy – but nothing like a collision with a city-sized meteorite - the effects of which the Earth has survived repeatedly. 

Our efforts may make the planet unliveable for ourselves, and most of our large land-dwelling peers, but time heals all – and the Earth has existed since time out of mind, and likely has as much time ahead as behind in which to recover.   Evolution is utterly indifferent as to its direction; in another 20-30 million years—not even a blink in geological time—it , it will not matter whether we conserved, and stewarded our biosphere during our brief sojourn, or greedily used up all we could acquire; poisoning everything we touched.  Whatever species then is dominant will likely be unaware that we ever existed – and if aware may view us with a combination of indifference, or gratitude for the mutations we triggered that made their dominace possible. 

It’s not the Earth we are capable of destroying – it is ourselves. 

Happy Earth Day!

Casual Friday

Looking at me with barely concealed scorn, he said, "Isn't it a little early for 'Casual Friday'?". 
To which I replied, "I normally work from home, but am in the office today.  I'm calling it 'Pants Wednesday' ". 

No Sidelines

There are no sidelines, folks,
and no grandstands.
The fact that you choose to just sit and watch
doesn’t mean they won’t be bowled over. 

It just means you’ll be surprised. 

 

Cold War vs. Sequester

The Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union was ‘cold’ because of the implicit understanding of MAD (mutally assured destruction); each side had enough retaliatory capacity to assure that any attack would be as deadly to the attacker as to the attacked – and there would be no winner.  As long as nobody pushed the button, we could all avoid global annihilation. 

The fundamental differences compared to current ongoing serial crises in national governance are: 

• Somebody had to push the button to initiate catastrophe in the Cold War; Now affirmative action has to be takan to PREVENT it.  Sins of omission are so much easier to commit – then disavow.  
• The destruction isn’t as immediately visible as the final scene from Dr. Stangelove.   Vulnerable people will feel the effects immediately, but the wind-down of the overall economy will take a little time.  
• Neither the US nor the Soviets actually WANTED global nuclear annihilation.