The book by Leonard Susskind has turned to a discussion of black holes. He had a bet with Stephen Hawking. Hawking had proved mathematically that nothing, including information , could escape from the interior of a black hole. Susskind described the pixy-like smile that Hawking would display when convinced he was right. However Susskind found a hole in Hawkings assumptions and showed how information
could escape from a black hole. It has to do with the outer edge of a black hole being a hologram. I have to finish the book to find out whether or not he believes the entire universe (universes?) to be a hologram. Although the book "The Holographic Universe" by Michael Talbot explained a lot of paranormal events, the science behind his position is unassailable. I think I'll move the book up in my sequence of reading to reinforce my understanding of the science supporting Talbot's thesis. Susskind introduces the topic along with his humorous presentation of the ideas and a personal description of some of the outstanding scientists of our generation, Nobel Prize winners among them. The friendly battle between Susskind and Hawking is funny and something I haven't read anywhere else so well. Susskind describes a meeting about black holes between himself, Hawking and several others at Werner Erhardt's mansion in San Francisco. For those who have forgotten, Werner is the originator of EST, a personal growth seminar (which I have attended to my great disappointment). Another of my peripheral connections to this story.
I'll not walk today because my knees are killing me. Neither the Vicodin nor my medical marijuana cut the pain enough to make a walk worthwhile. I don't want to double the Vicodin because I feel antsy and ill at ease when I forget to take it as it is. The ill at ease feeling is a symptom that I'm getting marginally addicted to it. Or not.
Hawking, Susskind and Werner in the same room is proof enough for me that we're all on this flight together.
Dick
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