Not that we drop cats for experimental purposes, but in the course of life the average person has witnessed the phenomena. Did you ever wonder at the physics of why free falling cats land on their feet? Probably not, but then you can read this blog for the every-now-and-again post of things scientific. Continue reading
From the good people at Merriam-Webster: “Inkling refers to a slight, uncertain idea about something, or to a slight amount of knowledge about something.” Do you have an inkling of the origin of the word? Continue reading
In today’s gospel we witness this encounter with Jesus: 18:21 Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”22 Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
One should note that the passage begins with the same sense as 18:15 – a brother or sister has sinned against another member of the community. In this case, however, the person listened to the individual, group or the church and (presumably is seeking reconciliation) – but what is this is a recidivist person, continually seeking reconciliation for the same transgression. How many times should such a person be forgiven? Once again Peter serves as the spokesman for the group and gives what he imagines to be conventional or perhaps a very generous answer to his own question: seven times. Continue reading
From an interesting article that passed through my inbox. You are probably familiar with the term “Roger that.” It was a staple of truckers on their CB radios, kids playing back and forth with walkie-talkies, or even face to face. The expression means acknowledgement and confirmation. But do you know its origin? Continue reading
It has been six years since the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, VA. Say what you will about the intent, purpose or goal of the rally organizers or opponents – we know what unfolded then and all that has unfolded since. It just seems like there is a lot going on that brings us face-to-face with the choice between hope and despair. Continue reading
The reading from the Morning Prayer of the Church (the Divine Office; breviary) is a powerful and counterintuitive exhortation from the apostle Paul that challenges our natural inclinations and societal norms. “Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.” (Romans 12:14-16). Continue reading
Peter said to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt 19:27-29) Continue reading
Back in 2015, a YouTube video of a sea turtle with a plastic drinking straw embedded in its nostril became the image that the sustainability movement needed. It was the face that launched a thousand plastic straw bans. In many ways, the campaign was a success story — one that elevated our awareness of single-use plastics to the point where it resulted in actual policy change. The anti-plastic straw movement didn’t actually originate with the turtle video.
I like science and I like science fiction. So, it is always interesting when Sci-Fi uses advanced concepts of physics to animate the plots of the television shows or movies. There are several episodes of various Star Trek series that have referred to or explored the concept of quantum entanglement. Here are a few instances where quantum entanglement is mentioned or featured in Star Trek – of course I haven’t explained quantum entanglement, but maybe the way the term is used might give you insight: Continue reading
When I was a lad, the duration of time between December 1st and Christmas Day bordered on the infinite. The duration of time measured by normal standards (Sun, moon, chronometers, etc) remains the same, but the experience has been altered. What was once near infinite is now trending towards no time at all. In some sense, each of us has our own “inner time” unrelated to the passing of hours, days, and years on clocks and calendars. I had often thought it was related to some latent ratio of the duration and the time lived. For example, the 25 days until Christmas is a significant percentage of the entire life of a six-year old child; not so much for a septuagenarian. What lasts forever for the six-year old is the blink of an eye to grandfather. While that may be true at some level, there are more technical explanations being offered these days. Continue reading
