Pretty decent day. Took mom to visit her convalescing sister-in-law then grocery shopping and successful shawl-pattern hunting.

This evening turned out to be a revelation. I discovered the TV programs Breakthrough, and, almost simultaneously, The Brain With David Eagleman. Ha! These shows about the human brain will melt your brain.

Hypothesis Sidebar

Most of the universe that I think I see/experience is electromagnetic energy in one form or another. Everything. From quarks to nuclei, electrons, molecules, cells, people as a whole, planets, stars, galaxies, and so on. All of it is electromagnetic energy in a myriad of forms. (All of this mind you is being perceived/influenced by some other form of electromagnetic energy. Me. How awesome is that? How is this happening? Emergence? (Been running into that idea more lately.) Precipitation of distinct energy configurations following laws we don't know about into what's around us?

Does looking at reality as electromagnetic energies get us anywhere? Absolutely yes because it makes us question our assurance as to what is. The electricity flowing physically in this room—from TV to computer, to couple of lamps, DVR, shredder, etc—is a pretty close-to unique energy configuration. Not necessarily absolutely unique configuration, but very specific. (Measurable, quantifiable) On another hand, the desk on which one can see proof of this electron flow, is another form of energy. It looks different but it is just as valid a form of energy as the electricity. (Measurable, quantifiable) There's some kind of unobvious relationship between those systems; some underlying mathematical connection. Unfortunately, I will never know that math that leads to that relationship.

Can our current perceptions of "reality" be changed so that we can bend new insights to humankind's advantage? Give us finer command over an ever-increasing physical environment? When we look at the universe with varying instruments we get different pictures. We ask different questions.

For instance: Is the phenomenon of war a demonstrable energy configuration? Can't somebody really smart calculate the dynamics of such a physical system so that effective counter energies can be devised? (See kids, this is why math was (and still is) important. Learn it. It gives you the ability to chip out the numbers that somehow reflect the reality all around you. Numbers can show the links. You'll know how to find them and not wind up being an old poseur like me. Sidebar Insert: If you want to benefit mankind, encourage every young human with whom you interact to cultivate an interest in math. It's one of the real biggies in terms of things important in man's continuation.)

Wow, that took a left turn.

Tonight I will lay my head to rest with some comfort. Despite my fear of the unknown when contemplating being afloat in a roiling reality of energy forms, new knowledge once again blessed my own personal energy flow. I was energized see that Bobbi Jindal of Louisiana withdrew from the Republican nomination. Very Glad. Don't care for the way he treats everything around him. Especially his relation to women.

I will also rest my head with some amusement after reading:

Ted Cruz says facing down ‘hostile’ CNBC debate moderators makes him qualified to be president

Really? When your measure of toughness in a lethal universe is facing down a hostile debate moderator, I'm declaring you unfit for the job of president. I willingly acknowledge there are far more than two perceptions of this situation but here are two that I'm trying to resolve. In one view I'm shaking my head and smiling at the hyperbolic absurdity of that statement. It's TV comedy. It is laughable proof  of the absurdity of life. In my second view, I am crying—sobbing uncontrollably, truth be told—in recognition of how awful our political system has become.