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Just a thought, still in process of being processed, but I was considering the possibility that the universe cannot "run down" - i.e., be completely consumed by entropy.
Here's the basic thought: one could divide the universe into two types of regions: the 'void' and regions of content randomly dispersed throughout the void. Now, let's consider all of the regions of content.
If all of them (i.e., all of existence) reached a final state of chaos then the whole of it would no longer have random content between the void - and thus their very existence in a state of total chaos is a contradiction. It would be incumbent upon existence to essentially become less chaotic in arbitrary local regions in order for the whole of existence to remain truly chaotic: it must not have the content of all places 'with stuff' be the same and thus, in a form of homogeneity.
Now I'm not set on fully believing in this, yet, but it would essentially require that the universe's tendency towards chaos requires it to create local order (rewind) in order to become chaotic (contradiction, again?). A possible mechanism to undo chaos may be a reversal of local time, but that's somewhat shooting form the hip based on a conjecture and hand waving.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Nah, it's battery powered - I thought you knew that?
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Never throw anything away, Griff
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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And here I am, trying to remember if I need to stop for milk on the way home from work...
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Ahh - that goes back to the original Schroedinger's Milk-in-the-Fridge problem.
and it's variant:
- Milk in the cat
- Cat in the fridge
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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That works surprisingly well: you can't tell if the milk is OK or off until you pour it into the tea or coffee...
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Never throw anything away, Griff
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I use the classic sniff test. 
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Doesn't always work. There is a point at which it's almost off but doesn't smell - putting it in tea or coffee will instantly "curdle" it and form "needles" which means the cup has to be poured down the sink and restarted. Schrodinger's Milk!
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Never throw anything away, Griff
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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A better test would be to pour some of it into the cat, since they'll turn their nose up at it if it's the tiniest bit off.
Software Zen: delete this;
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That's not a good test: like most adults cats he's a bit lactose intolerant (they lose the ability to absorb it when their digestive system changes while weaning). And guess who gets to clean up cat puke?
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Never throw anything away, Griff
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I didn't say it was a particularly tidy test, just an accurate one... 
I have a senior cat who does exactly as you describe. She's also known for producing hair balls of greater size than her own body weight  .
Software Zen: delete this;
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If you believe that energy and matter cannot be destroyed (or created), only changed in form then what does entropy do with it all? Does it have a big attic somewhere to put all this stuff? If so, does it get the stuff out again once it is full and that's where the cyclical universe theory comes from? 
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
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Forogar wrote: what does entropy do with it all?
Nothing, in particular.
Entropy stored? Interesting concept. At present I think of it in terms of order, stored, and eventually consumed. But it's an interesting idea in considering it as a stored commodity.
When you dig a whole, does it always leave a pile of un-hole, and if so, was it (and everything else) just 'stored hole'?
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Here's Tom with the weather.
(Tool)
"They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"
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Maybe it periodically has a cosmic yard sale? In extreme cases it makes it on an episode of Hoarders.
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Well, like a good author who once wrote:
“Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.”
My guess is that somewhere between that, and being put away by "top men.(tm)"
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For those of you that are not married, I offer my example of an explanation of entropy and matter being transformed from one state to another. Those of you that are married, regardless of how long, will understand.
Entropy occurs when the balance on your credit cards gradually erode, the balances moving ever so close to extinction. The currency, associated with that credit card, is transformed into shoes, dresses, jewelry, etc. Fortunately, the cycle begins over each month.
Mr. Einstein would have made this explanation way to complicated. Hopefully, I've simplified it.
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Without being a physics scholar I think it has to do with the precise definition of entropy. Assuming we accept the Big Bang Theory, there were no galaxies, planets or snowflakes. Now there is stuff like that. Yet, I assume that the entropy, on a higher level or scale has increased. I also, as a hobby scientist, assume that total entropy will not be reached, only approached.
"If we don't change direction, we'll end up where we're going"
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The Big Bang, causing "everything" to disperse, is the ultimate entropy event. Your asymptotic view could fit into an idea that as long as the universe is expanding it cannot reach a final state. On the other hand, if it is not expanding fast enough, and thus will eventually collapse back to a singularity (?), then the universe would, indeed, be self-winding.
The current philosophy (and observations) indicate that, when you take into account systems and surroundings, entropy always increases. Are we to consider that everything will be infinitely dispersed? Er - I don't know.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos wrote: Are we to consider that everything will be infinitely dispersed?
If you take into consideration that the universe's expansion is accelerating, instead of decelerating, then that's my best bet, when a hypothesis like the Big Rip will happen.
Of course, the other way around is still possible, like hypothesized by the Big Crunch, which would lead for a cyclic universe lifespam, but I believe more in the former, hoping for the latter.
To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson
Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia
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Slacker007 wrote: What if C A T really spelled Dog?
Perhaps the answer can be found here.[^]
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Apparently you haven't heard of the holographic simulation theory.
Caveat Emptor.
"Progress doesn't come from early risers – progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." Lazarus Long
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What? The one on the 13th floor?
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
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