Potter's Pubb
By: Joseph Potter
" Understanding Superstrings and the Theory of Multiple Universes "
Date: December 2, 2012 (Edited November 27, 2015)
On September 8, 1966, our world began to change. On that faithful day in 1966, William Shatner first uttered the words on national television “Space, the final frontier…to boldly go where no man has gone before” (Shatner, 1966, Opening credits). This question brought astrophysics into the homes of people who had never believed in intergalactic flight. People began asking publicly if we alone in the Universe. Could it be that humanity is so busy looking for this answer that they are asking the wrong question? Perhaps the questions should be refined. Once we get to space, what are the limits in the final frontier in which we are now embarking? If humanity questions where we go once we are in the void of space, and what the limits to space are, the other questions about space may not be far from answers. People ask if humanity is alone that answers could be far more complicated than a few little green aliens landing at the White House. So where can we find these answers?
The answer may lead to the metaverse. What is the metaverse, or multiverse as most people call it? The metaverse is a honeycomb filled with alternate realities, other realms of existence, large and small, all tied together by the fabric of the cosmos. Microscopic realities that cannot be seen, and worlds larger than we can imagine, all out there waiting to be discovered. Renowned theoretical physicist Brian Greene then describes the multiverse as “What we first thought to be everything may be a tiny part of a much grander cosmos. That grander cosmos can contain other realms that seem to be called universe just as our realm has been called universe” (Greene, 2011, 0:37 mark in the presentation).
We have seen many examples of the metaverse in pop culture. One recent example is from the 2008 movie Stargate Continuum (Twentieth Century Fox, 2008). The final System Lord, Ba’al travels back in time effectively preventing the stargate from being delivered to the United States Air Force. A stargate is an alien machine that makes interplanetary travel possible through stable, interconnecting wormholes. While time travel is not a point of discussion at this time, the results are. The disturbance, caused by the changing of a key event in history, creates an alternate reality where the stargate program is never established, and the System Lords are left to dominate the galaxy. While the timeline is ultimately restored, the plucking of the superstrings created a new reality, not the same, yet parallel, to the universe that was set at the beginning of the movie. This is a solid example of what can happen if an event in history happened in a different way. Due to the lack of a stargate, the members of the Air Force’s Stargate Program were scattered. Since no knowledge of the System Lords existed, and the world in the series, at that point, was far closer to the real world we see today. One event directly changed the lives of hundreds of Air Force officers. That is the point of parallel universes that one choice, one event can change the course of history. Sometimes it changes the history of one person, sometimes it changes the history of everything, but the event or decision changes what is and creates something different.
Albert Einstein once said, "What really interests me is whether God had any choice in creating the world" (Greene, 2012, par. 1, sent. 1). This is a valid question for religious scientists with no sustainable answer. While there may not be an answer as of yet, this does not mean there are no credible hypothesis or theories. To understand these hypotheses and theories someone needs to understand how they originated. Since the time of Aristotle and his study of metaphysics around 350 BC (Shields, Sept 25, 2008, sent. 1 sent. 6) the universe has been explained through complex mathematics and both cosmology and physics. To understand the technical contents used someone has to understand cosmology and theoretical physics. Cosmologist Edward Wright describes cosmology as the origin, current state, and future of our universe (Wright, par. 1 sent. 1). While not enough solid fact is known about the past of our universe, the present is very relevant to what may be learned in the future. The website superstring theory describes theoretical physics as the use of mathematics to describe certain aspects of nature (Schwartz, www.superstringtheory.com). While mathematics and cosmology are not the same things, they work together to get to a certain point. Think of mathematics as a country dirt road leading you peacefully away from the comfort of your home until you come to the busy highway which will allow you to hit the fast track to your destination. That highway in which you would be getting on would be cosmology. Once there is enough mathematic proof that the hypothesis is possible, cosmology is used to do observational studies to prove or disprove the said hypothesis/theory. No doubt the mathematics are hard, like the bumpy dirt road, but cosmology, like the highway, can be met with far more challenges gathering observational proof.
The most important part of the metaverse may be the result of a scientific phenomenon known as the Space-Time Curvature (Green, 2011, p 15, par 2). This theory states that the universe is completely flat, only molding to large pieces of matter around it. If both space and time can curve, or be manipulated to create pockets, couldn’t it be manipulated for the metaverse? While the answer to this question is undecided it does make a person think about what forces could manipulate the cosmos in such a way.
The recent history starts in the year 1919 German mathematician Theodore Kaluza proposed that our universe may have more than the three dimensions of which we are all aware, dimensions we cannot yet see (Green, 2008, 0.17). This theory put forth by Kaluza and refined by Albert Einstein eventually failed by the 1950’s due to lack of observational evidence. After this failure, nearly all attempts to unify the laws of physics vanished, until recently. A new attempt at unification has physicists and cosmologist drooling is called superstring theory. This theory tries to explain what fundamental indivisible elements that, make up the world around us. Inside atoms, there are electrons swarming around the nucleus, or center of an atom, at the center of the nucleus there are microscopic particles known as quarks. Fifteen years ago the quark was the center of the nucleus, now, inside the quark is where you will find the vibrating superstrings. Superstrings are small bands, vibrating at different frequencies, creating different particles. The catch is that superstring theory doesn’t work unless there is one dimension of time, and ten dimensions of space. These strings have vibration patterns, which facilitate, the evolution of the cosmos, pushing it in a very deliberate direction. Imagine the center of matter being a rubber band, plucking at existence, creating everything (Greene, 2005, 11:40). If superstring theory is proven correct as it could be at any time, it will be a culmination of nearly five hundred years of research started by Sir Isaac Newton, furthered by Einstein and Keluza, before ending with the atom-smasher outside Geneva and names like world-leading theoretical astrophysicist Brian Greene.
Perhaps the most in-depth and fascinating explanation seen is from Hugh Everett. According to Everett, “a new universe is created every time we measure the position of an atom, the spin of an electron, or the energy of a light photon” (Byrne, 2010). With this theory, the simplest event such as stepping on someone’s foot can create a new universe.
What does the metaverse mean to humans? This means we create the metaverse, and our choices are what make the metaverse possible. Imagine, if President John Kennedy were not killed in Texas, his plans to exterminate the World Bank went through, and the banks of the world had no connection to each other. This is one possible change which would have a dramatic effect on the world as we know it. Would the world recession have happened if Kennedy had his way? We may never know, but someone in another universe might. While widely debated and mainly debunked by many in the science community, endless possibilities exist with Everett’s theory, which jumps over many steps that physicists have taken so far, making his theory taboo. It is still, however, supported by some people in the physics community. Now everything comes full circle, the final frontier. Superstrings are creative and ever connecting, connecting cosmology, physics, and mathematics. Right now there is not enough evidence to prove or disprove the hypothesis of superstring theory and multiple universes. In proving superstrings correct, the theory of multiple universes will have gone from a hypothesis, refined a dozen times since Kevuza, to a reality were eleven tiny dimensions exist. This is space, the final frontier, the never ending search for other dimensions, and the search has only begun.
References Byrne, P (2010). The many worlds of Hugh Everett III: multiple universes, mutually assured destruction, and the meltdown of a nuclear family, review. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from: Serial Solutions
Greene, B (1999). The elegant universe, pp 135, 136. W.W. Norton & Company Inc, 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10110
Green, B (February 5, 2005). Making sense of string theory, Retrieved from: www.ted.com
Greene, B (2011, March 2). Boston museum of science, Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkoUSFk9lM0
Greene, B (2011). The elegant universe, p. 15, par. 2. W.W. Norton & Company Inc, 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10110
Einstein, A. The mystery of the multiverse. Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC 555 West 18th Street New York NY 10011 United States of America. Retrieved from Serial Solutions
MGM Global Holdings Inc, Twentieth Century Fox (2008). Stargate Continuum DVD. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment P.O Box 900, Beverly Hills CA 90213-0900 Schwartz, P. Retrieved from: http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic1.html
Shatner, W, Roddenberry, G (Writer/Director) (1966, September 8). Star trek: the original series, ep. 1. Desilu Productions in association with Norway Corporation Shields, C (Sept 25, 2008). Aristotle. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle/
Wright, E. Welcome to Ned Wright’s cosmology tutorial. Retrieved from: http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/cosmolog.htm;
"I Was Rowdy Before Rowdy Was Cool"
Date: August 2, 2015
"Just when they think they've got the answers, I change the questions"! Famous words uttered on March 27, 1984.
Born in 1954, Roderick George Toombs was already proficient as a golden glove boxer, had a black belt in Judo, and played the bagpipes. By 1969, growing up in Saskatchewan Canada, he met a pastor who gave him a glimpse of the future and a job opportunity that would pay him twenty-five dollars for an appearance. As a part-time member of a bagpipe band, Toombs walked through the curtain for his debut with the band blaring, the announcer was confused as the bagpipe band marched down the aisle, playing and marching to the beat. Finally, the announcer announced for the first time "Introducing, Roddy The Piper". Roddy described his first match against hall of fame member Larry "The Axe" Hennig as "The bell rang, then the bell rang". Roddy lost but impressed enough to be sent elsewhere, and Roddy Piper was born. For the next forty years, Roddy influenced people around the world through his actions, his words, and how genuine he was as a wrestler, and as a person.
Toombs feuded with his best friends, including his best friend, the late Adrian Adonis, who Toombs gave credit for saving his career, family, and life. Toombs talked about Adonis in terms closer than a brother, closer than family. That was Roddy, a man who was Rowdy, a man who was passionate, a man that wore his heart on his sleeve. A quiet man who had no problem telling someone how he felt, how he loved, and how he lived.
Then, there was Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Hot Rod, the bombastic, powerful, crazy, and unpredictable wrestler who made an impact on millions with his words. Piper as a character was seen as ahead of his time, perhaps the greatest talker in the history of professional wrestling, undoubtedly the greatest heel to ever exist, and one of the most beloved baby-faces in history. Piper didn't need a championship to get over, he held the second longest streak of never being pinned or made to submit in the World Wrestling Federation, not losing from the time he entered the WWE, until finally losing, passing the torch, to Brett Hart at Wrestlemania 8 before moving to the commentary booth.
Piper's Pitt launched in 1984, a talk show that featured Piper as a talk show host during a segment on the WWE television, following him to other organizations, turning into a radio show which aired until a few weeks ago. Revolutionizing the way professional wrestling is presented, how talk shows are presented. Piper on the microphone was entertaining and usually jump started feuds such as himself and Jimmy Snuka, and Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.
On Thursday, July 31, 2015, fifty days after the passing of Virgil Runnels -The American Dream Dusty Rhodes-, Roderick Toombs, Rowdy Roddy Piper, the wrestler, actor, icon to a business, inspiration to millions, husband, father, and grandfather passed away from a heart attack in his sleep at age sixty-one. Piper inspired people like Ronda Rousey, who asked Roddy permission to use the nickname "Rowdy". Piper also inspired this blog, showing that being outspoken about things you are passionate about matters, and can make a difference. Piper's ability to inspire people with his words, to be real as a man, using his platform to help others was rivaled only by Hulk Hogan at a time when professional wrestlers rarely got a platform outside the business. Roddy is survived by his wife of thirty-two years Kitty, his son Colton, daughters Anastacia, Ariel and Falon, as well as four grandchildren.
"I Hurt Myself Today..."
Date: March 16, 2015
Trent Reznor once wrote a song that was immortalized by Johnny Cash called “Hurt”. The music video that accompanied the song by Cash was a chronicle of his life, a life of passion, a life of heartache, and a life well lived. The opening line of the song, “I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel...” is what many people do when faced with emotional issues, death, life, heartache, a loss of passion, or simply losing one's way. In the end, it all comes down to passion, and how we handle our passions.
Often times we hurt ourselves because hurting ourselves is easy. An easy channel for a growing and often uncontrollable passion. For Johnny Cash, this was a way to write his own ending, to channel what passion he had left one last time before he died. Johnny Cash was able to create his end, as he did when he created his own image, his way, a way that few are able.
There are times that exist that makes one come to grips with their own mortality, their own limitations, times that make a person think over their goals, and change their plans. Over the past two years, passion has been a central part of my personal growth, death, life, forgiveness, understanding, and determination have driven my personal goals. Even base passions bring knowledge, knowledge of past and present limitations, they bring back feelings of what was, and what can never be.
Three weeks ago I was pulling a cardboard bale at work when I slipped on the ice, my spine was pushed to the right side with my rib-cage pushed forward. When I hit the ground on my right buttocks my body went into shock, as professional wrestling legend Arn Anderson once said in the speech that would mark his surprise and immediate retirement “...just that slap sent a jolt through me, and I dropped the water I was drinking; for a second, my system shut down, and it became crystal clear as I watched the few little drops of water, draining out of that bottle, the symbolism that was involved. It was like someone had turned an hourglass over and the sand was running out on the career of Arn Anderson”. In the same vain, as I sat there in the snow, body in shock, co-worker smacking me on the shoulder trying to get a response, not knowing how many times she tried, body unresponsive, locked up, I felt that passion wane, and sights that were once in reach, of playing physical sports one final time, seeming further away.
I remember as a teen, watching that promo, thinking as the men in the ring did, that the speech was some kind of angle, but knowing the relationship between Anderson and Flair, the tears beginning to well up in Flair's eyes, the voice of the speaker choking, it became perfectly clear that while the passion was still there, the body was unwilling to match it. I always say life leaves you with choices, you don't have to like them, you only have to make them work. When I fell, it was like a cold slap in the face, a passion which may never be fulfilled, and a knowledge that if the spot isn't filled it will drive me to the brink of destruction. Facing your own physical limitations, when before you just pushed forward through sheer will, is never easy, but faced they must be.
Arn Anderson wasn't a special athlete, not strong, not fast, but was able to parlay his abilities, gamble on them and win, through sheer force of will. Anderson was special, because of that determination, because of his keen mind, and his untouchable wit, and was able to channel that into a post-wrestling career as a professional wrestling manager, trainer, and television producer.
Finding the outlet for said passion is often times a challenge for athletes, some devote time to family, others work media for their prospective sports, others work behind the scenes to better both the sport and others' understanding of the sport they love. Other people never find that outlet, some allow their passion to consume them, they are unable to adapt, to evolve their thinking, and manage their passion. When does passion become all consuming? When does the fire for which that life was lived become all encompassing? The answer is never simple, and often sudden, and though things change they should never be forgotten.
Many people I know have many passions, my friend Chunder has a passion for gaming and computers, Hunter has a passion for music, Bobby has a passion for cooking, Adam has a passion for enforcing the law, Chris (CEO of Draft Utopia) has a passion for sports, and I have a passions for life and football. The passion that burns in all of us, everything that we do, and everyone we meet. We all need an outlet, and to learn as we evolve as people. Where will our passions take us? What will we learn from the hurt? What outlet will you choose when the time comes to redirect that passion?
References
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NA). Hurt.. 03:43, January 5, 2015. Retrieved From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mID-cwhFlhc
©2015 AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC.. (NA). Hurt. Retrieved From: http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-downward-spiral-mw0000110711/credits
"Cooler Than The Other Side of the Pillow"
Date: January 6, 2015
One morning in 1993 I was sitting at the kitchen table with dad eating breakfast and waiting on SportsCenter to come on. This was a custom in the Potter household as dad was a St. Louis Cardinals fan and avid follower of baseball, and I was in love with the NBA. That morning, however, something changed, a new voice came over the airwaves to co-host with Craig Kilborn. The man had a wide smile, twinkling eyes and presented like a star that had just been formed from the cosmos. For the next twenty years the man would go on to become one of the biggest names in broadcasting, hosting SportsCenter, NFL's Monday Night Countdown (IMBDU.com), and ESPN reality show Stump the Schwab (2004, CBS Interactive Inc). That young man would go on to change sports broadcasting in ways nobody could imagine, bringing a whole generation back to the love of sports. The man's name was Stuart Scott.
For the next twenty years, Scott would use his love of sports and natural knack of entertaining audiences to draw in young fans while simultaneously causing the older generation to grin and shake their heads. In his first SportsCenter appearance, the segment he did on Bobby McCray stood out, as a life-long Cubs fan me and mom loved hearing things about the Cubs, and Bobby McCray was a personal favorite of ours. His voice made the segment, which is largely insignificant, something I remember.
For 26 years, from a small station in South Carolina to the national spotlight with ESPN, Scott's voice, love, and dedication to sports, his fans, his friends, and family. Stuart Scott wasn't an actor, a celebrity, or a broadcaster to everyone who watched him on television, he was a fan, one of us. Stuart Scott died of cancer on January 4, 2015, and it is my hope that Scott died as he lived, with a smile on his face, and as cool as the other side of the pillow.
References:
Monday Night Countdown. (NA). IMDU INC.com. 06:13, January 5, 2015. Retrieved From: www.imdb.com.
Stump the Schwab. (1, July 2004). CBS Interactive Inc. 06:07, January 5, 2015. Retrieved From:www.tv.com.
"Welcome to the Evolution"
Date: January 2, 2015
As the new year turns and people are making their resolutions the world goes through the customary changes that allow society to function and grow; to bloom into reality. This year, the Online Sports Community welcomes a new member, a new writer, and an old face in a new place.
Andrew Kermish: Andrew Kermish is a new member of this society and a long time friend of Draft Evolution founder Joseph Potter. Hailing from a small town in Alabama “Kerm” -as his friends call him- is an enthusiastic Dallas Cowboy's and Hockey fan who is excellent at finding information about nearly any subject. Kerm is a former umpire who enjoys keeping up with Motocross, NASCAR, and most other sports
Joseph Potter: Joseph Potter is the founder, head writer, and webmaster of Draft Evolution. I am a small town boy from the hills of Appalachia Ohio -Athens, Ohio University Bobcats, Athens Bulldogs, Trimble Tomcats-, transplanted into the city in my early 20's, and currently spend most of my time working. As a former coach, and softball umpire I enjoy keeping up with the Woman's College World Series when I can.
Draft Evolution: Draft Evolution. I began developing Draft Evolution as an idea to eventually replace Draft Debacled -which I did not believe would survive long term- shortly after leaving said employment. The idea festered for two years as I lingered in college, with many ideas that have yet to be implemented. As Draft Evolution lingered over two years, it evolved, became more than it was, and currently houses player rankings, site updates, a mock draft, two opinion pages, a scouting report page, and an about page. The articles will most likely be posted in APA or Memo format. As Draft Evolution evolves, more features will be available.
Conclusion: We at Draft Evolution and those who support us -Chris Ransom of Draft Utopia- believe there is more to covering sports than using wit and inside sources to be successful. Giving people, the highest quality product over glamorous pictures and quick wit is our mission. It has taken a couple years to create a working site, but for everyone involved, allow me to say welcome; welcome to the Evolution.