Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Quantum Physics and Miracles

Kevin Jimenez is the Cyclones' Graphics Manager...and resident germaphobe. Today, he updates us on an earlier post:

Чудо... Miracolo... Wunder....奇迹 .

There are many ways to say "miracle" in many languages. “The miracle of life” is a phrase I’ve heard from time to time. Life across the Universe? I don’t think we’re alone. Its been said that the Universe has no edge - that when you reach the end, you are at the beginning again. My fiancée's godfather was one of the astronauts to fix the Hubble telescope earlier this year. He’s seen these maravillas firsthand. I envy him.

But I digress.

When I made my initial soap-related blog entry, I spoke of the continued malfeasance in our restrooms. The lengths my co-workers and I have to endure just to keep ourselves from spreading the Black Death (which still exists, by the way) to each other. Those who have read that entry have made strides to help us, your favorite front office people, in the effort to keep our lungs free and our eyes bright and clear. One fan brought me a canister of liquid soap – and I think she started a movement to sell soap bonds to raise additional refills! Nonetheless, that dispenser kept us clean for an additional two weeks (not a lot of tarp pulling during that time), but the war rages on, and we continue to fight the good fight. Maybe the Obama Administration should reinstitute the Works Progress Administration – great design work I’d love to be a part of.


Yesterday, I found that edge and saw the beginning of the Universe.
Well, not exactly like that – but the discovery of something just as outstanding. Something just as spellbinding. Something... just as elegant. Jump on the Vengabus, folks – it’s time to party!

Metaphorical, existential, call it what you will – I have witnessed history. Someone -- or something -- silently and effectively installed an actual mounted soad dispenser on the wall of the bathroom! It can be refilled! It can't be stolen! Oh, happy day!

This simple device, this friend to hygiene and humanity alike, has found a new home in the front office. As with the rest of the Universe, even the most incomprehensible actions can be solved with a simple solution. Einstein loved sweatshirts – they were comfortable and made life easier. He also didn’t know his home phone number, because “Who’s there to answer it?” Well – maybe he should have, since Marilyn Monroe found him sexy and probably would have called him. I’d be happy with Joan Holloway from Mad Men (AWESOME show...“Marilyn is a Joan” - Paul Kinsey).

I digress again.


Oddly enough, our castile cad ceased and desisted after my exposé. It evoked a positive response that was twofold. Now, keeping up with the refills – that’s another story.

Yes, the Universe. Its a very big and scary place. It poses for great pictures though. Godfather Mike knows this. The Universe may have no end, but our restrooms have foaming soap dispensers. And although 99.99% of us will never visit outer space...the same percentage of bacteria will be washed away from my hands. What a Чудо... Miracolo... Wunder....奇迹. Miracle.


Staying cleaner,


-- KJ

2 comments:

Von Allan said...

That was a fun little post. Doubly amusing when I realized that my wife follows "Astro Mike" on Twitter (http://twitter.com/Astro_Mike)!

Anonymous said...

In the realm of quantum physics, observing something actually influences the physical processes taking place. Light waves act like particles and particles act like waves (called wave particle duality). Matter can go from one spot to another without moving through the intervening space (called quantum tunnelling). Information moves instantly across vast distances. In fact, in quantum mechanics we discover that the entire universe is actually a series of probabilities. Fortunately, it breaks down when dealing with large objects, as demonstrated by the Schroedinger's Cat thought experiment. I am a college sophomore with a dual major in Physics and Mathematics @ University of California, Santa Barbara. By the way, i came across these excellent physics flash cards. Its also a great initiative by the FunnelBrain team. Amazing!!