Monday 6 May 2019

A meaningless concept?

So I woke all bright and bouncy, ready for my Sunday morning walk in the park. Come on Gail, I woofed, enough of reading that physics book*, let's be moving, there's no time like the present!

You won't believe Gail's response.

"But Bertie, there is no such thing as 'the present' in relation to time in the universe. According Carlo Rovelli, it is a meaningless concept."

WHATTT!!

And when I suggested she get up, get dressed and go and find my lead, Gail replied thus:

"Also Bertie, our world is best understood not as a collection of things (such as your lead, or the park) but as a network of events. Furthermore, to quote the esteemed Professor Rovelli, the events of the world do not form an orderly queue, like the English. They crowd around chaotically, like Italians."

Well. I pointed out to Gail that this Sunday morning that I was not in search of a theory explaining either the universe or Italians, and that the event which most interested me was a good leg stretch with some time for pee-mail sniffing, and that things like leads and the park are definitely meaningful in this context, and that, oh by the way, there was no possibility of this event/outing occurring before she roused herself from bed and put away her book...

Eventually she conceded the point and out we went.

*'The Order of Time, by Carlo Rovelli.

15 comments:

  1. Unless it involves pizza, I'm not real interested in theories about Italians either.

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  2. we understand what that professor meant...and we prefer the solution of Herman Melville : laughter is the answer to da craziness of da world ;O)

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  3. Hari OM
    Oh I gotta have this book... errr... Bertie lad, you have my sympawthees that Gail could not get herself ordered for your Sunday routine. (Note to self, place book on wish list.) Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  4. I understand, Bertie. Mom has pretty much given up reading at this point because those nasty puzzles have taken over her life - and mine!

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  5. On Sunday mornings we just eat pancakes and not discuss the meaning of time or anything. It seems more like a Monday topic!

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  6. That sounds like a silly book Bertie. We're glad you finally got your walk to the park.

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  7. How could anyone turn down that invitation from such a cool dude on such a pretty day?

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

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  8. We hate to contradict the author, but we dogs know that there is order to events....breakfast bones, early morning walk--two treats afterwards, afternoon walk, dinner time...last outing (treat) and bed. AND that out-of-order events are NOT GOOD....like going to the VETs.
    (Chew up that book, Bertie)

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  9. Those humans will do ANYTHING to get out of taking us for a walk, right???

    Your friend Kiki

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  10. Ummmmm.....luckily fur me, this Physics stuffs goes right over my head (but kudos to you Bertie for your reasoned replies to Gail) so the present is the only bit of time I know and in MY version of time its ALWAYS dinner time, hehe
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  11. Amazing the excuses our humans will come up with when they don't want to take us for a walk !
    Love,
    Inca xx

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  12. Oh dear me Bertie that was a lot for a WFT to absorb on a Sunday. Don't dare ask Gail about the Big Bang theory or Buckyballs!!! My former boss was a big dude in the buckyball world
    Just Sayin'
    Hugs Cecilia

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  13. Bertie and Gail
    I cracked up at your comment on batting and basting...loved your take on the words.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  14. In reality, killing time is only the name for another of the multifarious ways by which Time kills us.
    Your Friend
    Sweet William The Scot

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  15. I don;t knows Bertie, I thinks we puppers are WAY smarter than peeps anyhu. Look, we trained our peeps to walk us even when they wants to keep their snooters in a book or phone or puter! Don;t even gets me started on them pickin' up our poopies.....
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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