Shedding some light on Dark Theories

Scientists often describe things they don’t understand as “dark”, such as Dark Matter and Dark Energy. The both describe measurable phenomenon that has cosmologists and theoretical physicists alike racing for answers.

Dark Matter, Einstein’s cosmological constant. The only way for Einstein to describe accurately how stars in the outer edges of galaxies move and the way galaxies interact gravitationally with each other was to introduce a constant source of ‘additional gravity’ to the equations. This was justified decades later when we discovered that mathematically, most of our universe was missing. There simply wasn’t enough detectable matter in the universe, enter Einstein’s constant, now called Dark Matter. It is believed to be very dense matter that does not reflect light or interact with visible matter so is difficult to detect. Difficult, but not impossible. It is real, and it does matter. Dark Matter is important because we believe it makes up the vast majority of the detectible mass in our universe. I like to think of it as the reason galaxies don’t fly apart and why the universe doesn’t collapse in on itself.

The static universe vs. big bang theory battle was all but decided by the discovery that the universe was indeed expanding. Since the universe was expanding, we could theoretically reverse time and expect the universe to have both a beginning such as a the big bang, and also insinuated an end of the universe as well. I would be intuitive at this point to expect the expanding universe to be slowing down. However, subsequent measurements have concluded that not only is the universe expanding, but it is ACCELERATING as well. The reason for this acceleration is currently unknown, hence the term Dark Energy. Dark Energy is important because it conflicts with the intuitive counter to the big bang beginning of our universe, the big crunch end of the universe when the expanding universe would be gravitationally pulled back to the big bang singularity. Dark Energy will therefore play a profound role in the theory of how the universe will ultimately end.

Much will be learned about Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the next few years as the activity ramps up a the new Large Hadron Collider build by CERN straddling the Swiss French border. After a rocky start, the collider is poised to provide answers to the burning questions about the functionality and history of our fascinating universe.

Thou Doth Protest Too Much...

The new AZ Immigration Bill has caused a political tsunami regarding potential civil rights violations by law enforcement officials in the state of Arizona. The truth is: there is NO new requirements for citizens, legal or otherwise, in this law whatsoever. This bill has been cleverly crafted to mimic federal law which already requires citizens to carry proof of citizenship, visa, green card and the like. Just like American citizens are required to carry paperwork when visiting foreign countries. It also specifically prohibits profiling by requiring law enforcement officials to already be involved in lawful contact with suspects. Look, it was unlawful to sneak into this country before this new law, and it was also unlawful to profile the public by law enforcement officials. The only thing that this new law does is make the federal law = state law as well, so that SOMEONE might finally enforce it.

So why all the fury? Stop the hate? Racists? Boycotts? Refried beans swastikas and civil disobedience and attacks on law enforcement officers? Me thinks thou doth protest too much. We have an approximate 360,000 person illegal alien problem in this state which is immediate and real. How long are we to put this issue on the back burner to protect against a POTENTIAL civil rights violation? I honestly don’t see much difference between being asked for proof of citizenship verses being asked to provide proof of mandated health care insurance. The opposition should put this issue into perspective and ramp down the rhetoric a bit. I see the level of hysteria as an indication of how effective the opposition feels that this new law will actually work.

Which brings me to my last point, the laws purpose and effectiveness. I appreciate the renewed attention that border security is receiving at this point, but I also consider this new law as a band-aid expression of frustration from Arizona lawmakers. I feel that border security and national security ultimately are a federal issue, not the states. We don’t want inconsistencies from state to state in immigration and security laws, and whatever issues are felt at our southern border are surely a concern on our northern border as well. It is a national issue that warrants the appropriate action at the federal level via the enumerated powers granted the fed by the states. The separation of powers is a two way street.

It is for this reason I find myself at odds with the recent polls that show the majority of Arizonans favoring this new law. We don’t need divisive new state laws to see this issue through, we need to force the federal government to fulfill its obligations on the border. If this new law accomplishes this, great! But hopefully someday it can be struck down as being redundant and obsolete.

The Golden Touch

“The world’s most powerful investment bank is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money”. That includes the recent sub-prime mortgage crisis, to the tune of $3.4 Billion profits last year betting against the mortgage bundles they were peddling. Infuriating, no doubt, but bear in mind they profited from the crisis, NOT caused it.

Current plans for finance reform have Goldman Sachs in the hot seat, but fail to address the root issues stemming from the lending practices of Fannie and Freddie. And the consumer protection clauses are particularly troubling. Take the populist anti-profit view and get the ‘fat cats’ if you must, but unintended consequences of this proposed legislation ultimately adversely affect small business when they need it the least. Besides, some investors actually want to partake in riskier investments to reap the potentially larger rewards. Unlike us taxpayers who were roped into investing in GM without our consent.

If Goldman Sachs broke laws, they should be held accountable. I’m just not buying that every “reform bill” this congress touches will return taxpayer gold….