a beginning and an end

The reigning theory of the origin of the universe, what we now call the Big Bang, was proposed by George Lemaitre,  a scientist who also happened to be a Roman Catholic priest.  Yes, science and religion do not have to be mutually exclusive, however having an open mind probably helps.   

The only serious counter-theory to the Big Bang was the Steady State theory proposed by Fred Hoyle.  Hoyle was a atheist before he started his research on the origins of the universe.  He calculated the statistically improbable nature of life and saw God in the details, however he only went so far as to align himself with Agnostic Deists.  Incidentally, it was Hoyle who coined the term “Big Bang” on a British ratio program. 

The Big Bang posits that the universe started at one finite point in the past with a massive explosion in which matter expanded out in all directions and is still expanding today.  One side effect of all this expansion is that one day it will go as far as is possible and then it will start to collapse into itself again.  What starts with a bang will end with a crush.  And that’s the point: it will end. 

That’s why Hoyle’s Steady State theory, although proven wrong, is a much more appealing, romantic notion.  In a Steady State universe, there is no finite beginning and that means there is no end, either.  New matter is constantly created to fill the gaps in an expanding universe.  Things change, but they also, as a whole, remain the same.  The universe will always be there. 

For someone who is concerned about the Sun going supernova in about 5 million years and swallowing the Earth, this is a comforting thought. 

This is all just endlessly fascinating to me.  There is so much that we still don’t know.  With every new discovery I can’t help but wonder if we are closer to viewing the face of God or erasing it all together.  Either way, I hope we are smart enough to know it when we see it.

whoo to the hoo

I can now post to my blog via email or text message from my phone (good thing I finally got a texting plan!). Just another wonderful, new way to waste time at work or while waiting in line or while pretending to listen to someone drone on about their day (no, not you, another person, you don’t know them).

Oh, if you notice that a few of my past posts have disappeared, it’s not your imagination (the fuzzy bunny telling you to give your boss the finger, is your imagination). I am taking some of the little stories I’ve posted here, polishing them up and submitting them to various websites for publication. Yep, that was the whole goal, wasn’t it? To get my ass in gear and try to get published already. Well, stop yelling, I’m doing it! I’ve actually already received my first rejection letter (well, email). I’m taking it very well. After the 50th rejection I may start twitching and sobbing, but I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t drink my way through.

Anywhoo, don’t feel like you have to pander to my ego, but encouragement is always welcome (that’s a little guilt, if you didn’t notice). I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

i don’t have kids, so stop me if i’m wrong . . .

Isn’t it common knowledge that children will try to crawl under, climb on, squeeze through and jump off of just about anything?  Turn your back for one moment and your toddler is half way up a bookshelf or has shifted your car into neutral.  Anything not made entirely out of foam can be a potential hazard.  My interactions with young children are limited, so let me know if they are all perfect little angels these days. 

If my assumptions are correct, then this story should make you angry.  A woman in Spring Hill, FL is suing a pet door manufacturer because her two year old son crawled through their small dog door then drowned in their pool.  Yes, it was THEIR dog door and THEIR pool.  They weren’t at a friend’s house or otherwise unaware of the situation.  The mother says that the dog door manufacturer should have provided some kind of warning on the product to make her aware of the possibility that her small child could fit through the dog door.  I was watching this story on Good Morning America and I almost threw my cereal bowl at the television. 

Dog doors are made for dogs so they can have constant access to the outside world.  No offense, but an adult dog and a two year old child are on similar mental wavelengths.  If your dog can do it, your toddler will probably try it, too.  Is it too much of a mental leap to even consider that your child will try to squeeze through the dog door after he sees Scruffy do it about five dozen times a day? 

She didn’t know that her child could fit through the dog door?  Are you kidding me?  Children are soft.  They can squeeze just about anywhere.  

The Childers family didn’t realize that three year old Joshua knew how to work a dead bolt, but guess what?  He did!  And he spent three days alone in the woods as a result.  This story had a happy ending, but if it didn’t, should the family have sued the dead bolt manufacturer because they didn’t child-proof their product? 

Horrible, sad things happen every day.  People, even children, die.  I never imagined that my husband could catch on fire and spend four days in a burn unit, but it happened.  Did we sue the gas can manufacturer or the maker of the lawn mower?  No.  Because it was an accident.  A crazy, freak accident that could have (and probably has) happened to anyone.  No one was to blame but my husband and fate. 

I am very sorry that a mother has lost her child.  It’s a tragedy and I do not want to make light of the situation.  However, by trying to turn her son’s death into a cause, she is just distracting herself from reality.  Pet door manufacturers can put dozens of warning labels on their products, but it is not going to bring her son back and it probably won’t prevent many future accidents either.  Warning labels are no replacement for parental diligence and even then, accidents will happen.  No parent can have their eyes on their child at every moment.  It is not entirely the mother’s fault that her son crawled through the dog door and drowned in their pool.  But, it’s not the dog door company’s fault either.  Acceptance and time heal wounds, not placing blame.

in the Navy!

I haven’t posted one of these in a while, so here it goes.  And, sincere apologies to all my great friends in the Navy.  I love you all dearly and truly appreciate your service.  I also know that each of you has a wonderful sense of humor!

 

 

Don’t hate me, hate Plan 59 for the inspiration!