[lbo-talk] Depression, black holes, dark energy...

Dennis Perrin dperrin at comcast.net
Sun Dec 28 08:28:38 PST 2003


Chuck Grimes:


> Numero Uno, however goes to astronomy where there was a convergence of
> different projects (cosmic background and super nova studies) that
> reveal: first of all the universe is flat, meaning there is no global
> general relativistic curve to space-time; second, the universe is 13.7
> billion years old; third, the visible matter and energy composed only
> 4% of the total matter and energy; fourth, most of the universe is
> composed of dark matter, and has an anti-gravity like force called
> dark energy; and fifth, most stunningly, the expansion is accelerating
> under the influence of dark energy.

-From "Annie Hall":

INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE-DAY

(Alvy as young boy sits on a sofa with his mother in an old-fashioned, cluttered doctor's office. The doctor stands near the sofa, holding a cigarette and listening.)

MOTHER

(To the doctor)

He's been depressed. All of a sudden,

he can't do anything.

DOCTOR

(Nodding)

Why are you depressed, Alvy?

MOTHER

(Nudging Alvy)

Tell Dr. Flicker.

(Young Alvy sits, his head down. His

mother answers for him)

It's something he read.

DOCTOR

(Puffing on his cigarette and

nodding)

Something he read, huh?

ALVY

(His head still down)

The universe is expanding.

DOCTOR

The universe is expanding?

ALVY

(Looking up at the doctor)

Well, the universe is everything, and if

it's expanding, someday it will break apart

and that would be the end of everything!

(Disgusted, his mother looks at him.)

MOTHER

(shouting)

What is that your business?

(she turns back to the doctor)

He stopped doing his homework.

ALVY

What's the point?

MOTHER

(Excited, gesturing with her hands)

What has the universe got to do with it?

You're here in Brooklyn! Brooklyn is not

expanding!

DOCTOR

(Heartily, looking down at Alvy)

It won't be expanding for billions of years

yet, Alvy. And we've gotta try to enjoy

ourselves while we're here. Uh?

He laughs.

DP



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