Amazon.com: Books: How the Universe Got Its Spots : Diary of a Finite Time in a Finite Space
Wow. I've actually started to understand the theories of relativity by Einstein. Previously I never understood the connection between the different results from the theories (mainly because I've never actually read a good explenation). But yesterday I bought the book "How the universe got its spots" by Jenna Levin, where she explains it nicely.
Everything but the speed of light is relative. Sure, I have heard that a million times, but not until now I truly see the consequences of this amazing fact. The speed of light is the only constant in the whole creation, and everything else bends to this fact. The speed of light is approx. 300 000 km per second. Always. If I get in a spaceship and travel away from the sun at say 10 000 km/s then one instinctively feels that I would compensate a bit for the speed of the light from the sun, thus measuring it at 290 000 km/s outside my vessel. But no, it is still 300 000 km/s. What happens is that space-time bends around the constant of the speed of light. When the speed of light can not be relative, then space-time must be. This is why space-time is different at different speeds, to compensate so that the speed of light remains the same for everyone at any speed. And this is also why nothing can go faster than the speed of light - if everything else bends to fit the speed of light, then you can never ever go faster.
Finally I have also grasped how and why gravity fits in to this. Nothing can ever go faster than the speed of light, which means that nothing can ever instantaneously affect something at a distance - not even gravity. This means that the sun should not be able to affect the earth from a distance. And it doesn't. The sun distorts space-time, which bends around it, and the earth simply rolls around on the distorted space-time lines around the sun. Somehow it makes sense, I think. I hope I haven't missunderstood it all, and just making a fool of myself.... :-)
Psycho killer on the run.
In the city Växjö, not far from here, a psycho killer escaped today. He has killed two women brutally, raped another one brutally, and tried to rape one more. Very scary. I hope he went the other way... My girlfriend is at the movies right now with a friend. I can't help worrying a bit.
A good day
I've had a good day today. Woke up at 07.00, lingered in bed for ten minutes, embracing Erica. Then up, drink some water and get on my stationary bike. A good, hard-paced 20 minute workout to break a real sweat. After that a soothing shower. What a great way to start the day!
A good, healthy breakfast later I spent a few hours studying. In midday, after lunch, I took an 1-hour nap, with my cat sleeping next to me. Woke up, studied some more. In late afternoon I took a walk, enjoying that the springtime is finally here. Walked by Ericas workplace and said hi, and then bought some fresh fruit. Went home and made dinner, complemented with fruit. Spent about an hour working with stuff related to the UN association. Just when I finished, Erica came home from work. Now I'm looking forward to a nice, quiet evening at home. Without too much television...
The only downside is that my throat is a bit sore, I might develop a nasty cold.
Back!
My internet connection has been malfunctioning for almost three days, oh horrific world! :-) But now I'm back. Found out two days ago that I will be going to New York in less than three weeks! Short notice! I've got some things to prepare, bearing in mind that I have diabetes. But it will be exciting! Say what you will about the americans (and especially their politics) but NY is more or less the capital of the world. I will go there with my fellow students from the university, to visit the UN HQ, the swedish consulate and some other interesting places. Me and Magnus will stay a couple of days extra, to explore the city some more. It will be great, I am sure! It is actually quite peculiar that I am pretty fluent in english (or actually more american-english) and also very familiar with the US culture, even though I have never been in that country. Actually, I haven't even been to an english speaking country at all. Weird. But that's all about to change now! So it looks like I will get to know two new continents this year, north america and africa. Sweet :-)
New challenge
Tonight I was appointed president of the Kalmar county UN association, comprising of seven local UN associations and several other organizations. I feel honored by the trust bestowed to me. There are challenges to meet, and obstacles to overcome. But I shall prevail! :-)
Zen
Two men were walking down a road, it was a beautiful spring day. They were discussing the latest news from the capital when the taller of the two pointed towards a hill in the distance. "Look, there's a man standing there, on the top!" The shorter man looked in the direction of the pointed finger, and saw the strange man standing on top of the hill. "I wonder what he is doing" he said to his taller friend. "I bet he is waiting for a friend" he continued. The walked in the direction of the hill. "No, I don't think so" said the taller man, "I think he is a farmer, observing the weather. He wants to know if the rain is coming." They became more and more curious as they closed in. "You know what? I bet he is actually a shepherd looking for his sheep. They have probably escaped, and now he is searching for them. That explains why he is standing there on the top, where there is a good view!" the short man said. But they both saw that there was something else to this man. Now they could not wait to get to the top of the hill to query the strange man about his business there. They hurried up, and soon reached the peak of the hill. "Please, mister, tell us why you are standing here! Are you looking for your sheep? Or is it a friend you are waiting for?" It was the taller man, demanding to know. The stranger looked at the two men with friendly, curious eyes. "I am standing" he said with a smile. This is a typical zen story. Or at least it was. The word Zen has changed meaning for me, and not for the better. From being associated with eastern philosophy and harmony, to being something completely different. Creative Zen. No, it is not a new and creative way of ancient wisdom, it is technology of modern man. Creative Zen is a competitor to iPod, and a very potent one. I am thinking of purchasing one, even though I really don't like the name. It feels like this little device has stolen something from me, when it changed the meaning of zen. Once again commercialism has robbed the world of something beautiful. I wish that they would stick to more mundane names for all the gadgets.
The best days of my life
I am usually quite a sentimental person. For some strange reason things in the past get a special shine in my memory, even bad things. But tonight it suddenly came to me that I have probably never had it so good as I have right now. Sure, my finances are quite strained, student as I am, but that is not really such a big problem. No, there are not any big problems at all in my life at the moment. My relationship with Erica is great, after six years our love is as strong as ever. My studies are great, and interesting. I will probably travel more this year than ever before. I have made new, interesting aquaintances this year. I am in better shape than I have been for a long time, even though it could be better still. But I am working on that. Over all, I think I can claim to have the best days of my life right now, at least so far. Hopefully it will get even better over time. I enjoy life, I enjoy being alive.
Paper/thesis
I am just getting started with my big job for this spring - my thesis. It will most likely deal with the Cotonou agreement between the EU and the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific countries who are former colonies). This is an agreement on trade rights and politics. I think this is a very interesting subject, after realizing how extremely vital trade is in today's global development. I am sad to say that the benefits for the ACP countries seems to be smaller in this agreement than in it's predecessor, the Lomé agreement. The earlier agreement basically gave the ACP a bunch of benefits without demanding anything in return - it seems to be quite generous from the EU. This new agreement demands a lot of stuff from the ACP, in accordance with WTO. The Lomé agreement were created long before the WTO, and therefore it did not require reciprocity.
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