The Physical Possibilities of Time Travel

So, Nick gave me a book that he read a couple years ago. It's called "The Physical Possibilities of Time Travel" subtitled "The Pysical Possibilities of Travel Through Time" by a physicist named J. Richard Gott. He talks about different mechanisms for traveling through space-time faster than a beam of light. Pretty interesting stuff, although most of it is fairly impractical now...like constructing a giant dense sphere around you with the mass of multiple suns.

Here were some statements (all consistent with Einstein's theory of relativity) in the book that blew my mind:
First, as illustrated above, the universe could have created itself through time travel. The loop on the bottom represents the infinite/recurring beginning. The black cones are all different universes going through the inflation stage.
Next, by weird properties of space-time and not-so-weird properties of light, "if you went on a long enough journey at a velocity near to but lower than the speed of light, you could actually return home at the time you started or even before" (p.92).
It explained weird geometries of space-time...one was compared to a room where when you walk out the front of the room, you immediately enter the back of the room...or when you go out the left side, you reappear on the far right side (like in some older video games)...likewise, go out the top and you're re-entered on the bottom. It's easy enough to think of this situation as a bunch of identical cubes stacked in a lattice, but it's hard to imagine for only one universe.
It also talks about how 2 different observers can have different perceptions of an event and both be correct about their observations.

In short, I recommend it...quick read...I finished in 2 days.

Pick #22

The Lyndsay Diaries - Cowboy

Another Alhambra

This would be good if it didn't have all those people in it.

Pick #21

"Top" by Live off the Throwing Copper album.

How the Bible is like "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options"

There is a publication that explains all the rules for trading options on the stock market. That pamphlet (or mini-book) is titled "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options." You are sent a copy of that book every time you get cleared to trade options through a clearinghouse/broker. You are supposed to read it so that you know what is going on. It is full of complex ideas and confusing language. If you want to know what it is trying to say, then you have to ask your stock broker or someone else who is an expert in that area. Nobody actually reads the whole thing. Most options traders have a copy laying around somewhere.

See all the parallels with the Bible? Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, right? The written basis of Christianity. Name someone you know who's read the whole thing. Older versions especially were full of antiquated language that makes it hard to read and interpret if you aren't a biblical scholar. Sometimes it seems like it's contradicting itself. If you want a vernacular translation of what you just read, then you can only ask a couple specialists, usually pastors/priests/ministers/whatever you call them.

I guess one difference is that the Bible has many different versions and translations and is in all parts of the world and has been around for hundreds of years while CRSO has only been around in its current form for under a few decades, it has only one version, and only applies to US stock exchanges (however; to the best of my knowledge, most options trading is fairly similar).

Read "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options"
Read (or search) the Bible

Budweiser Can on Firewood

A New Record

Today I set my personal record for most consecutive time spent at school. I got there at 7:55 am and left at 12:25am. That's a total of about 16 and a half hours. Dang.