{"id":46260,"date":"2025-03-15T19:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T00:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=46260"},"modified":"2025-03-15T19:09:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T00:09:31","slug":"andromeda-paradox-and-reality-by-the-pound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=46260","title":{"rendered":"Andromeda Paradox and Reality by the Pound"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Andromeda Paradox<\/strong> comes from Roger Penrose\u2019s interpretation of <strong>special relativity<\/strong> and the concept of <strong>simultaneity<\/strong>\u2014what counts as &#8220;now&#8221; for different observers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Simple Example<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine two people standing on Earth, Alice and Bob. Alice is standing still, while Bob is walking briskly toward the Andromeda Galaxy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Due to special relativity, <strong>motion affects what an observer considers to be &#8220;simultaneous&#8221; across vast distances<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Since Bob is moving <strong>toward<\/strong> Andromeda, his &#8220;now&#8221; includes a moment in which an alien invasion fleet <strong>has already left<\/strong> and is heading toward Earth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Meanwhile, Alice, who is stationary, considers &#8220;now&#8221; to be at an earlier point where the aliens <strong>haven\u2019t yet decided to launch the invasion<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/qIbUvPJXgquM3nvh9B6k-1-kphbg.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"46261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/qIbUvPJXgquM3nvh9B6k-1-kphbg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/qIbUvPJXgquM3nvh9B6k-1-kphbg.jpg 1408w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/qIbUvPJXgquM3nvh9B6k-1-kphbg-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/qIbUvPJXgquM3nvh9B6k-1-kphbg-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/qIbUvPJXgquM3nvh9B6k-1-kphbg-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/qIbUvPJXgquM3nvh9B6k-1-kphbg-1200x655.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is this weird?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both are standing right next to each other, in the same place on Earth, yet they disagree about what is &#8220;happening right now&#8221; in the Andromeda Galaxy\u2014by potentially thousands of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DALL\u00b7E-2025-03-15-17.01.20-w.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46263 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DALL\u00b7E-2025-03-15-17.01.20-w.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DALL\u00b7E-2025-03-15-17.01.20-w-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DALL\u00b7E-2025-03-15-17.01.20-w-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DALL\u00b7E-2025-03-15-17.01.20-w-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a mind-bending consequence of <strong>relativity of simultaneity<\/strong>, showing that what we consider &#8220;the present&#8221; isn\u2019t absolute when dealing with cosmic distances.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rietdijk\u2013Putnam Argument<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In philosophy, the Rietdijk\u2013Putnam argument, named after C. Wim Rietdijk and Hilary Putnam, uses 20th-century findings in physics \u2013 specifically in special relativity \u2013 to support the philosophical position known as four-dimensionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1JCdwgVREnUUKbxwAWJ6-0-dupk1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"46264\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1JCdwgVREnUUKbxwAWJ6-0-dupk1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1JCdwgVREnUUKbxwAWJ6-0-dupk1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1JCdwgVREnUUKbxwAWJ6-0-dupk1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1JCdwgVREnUUKbxwAWJ6-0-dupk1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If special relativity is true, then each observer will have their own plane of simultaneity, which contains a unique set of events that constitutes the observer&#8217;s present moment. Observers moving at different relative velocities have different planes of simultaneity, and hence different sets of events that are present. Each observer considers their set of present events to be a three-dimensional universe, but even the slightest movement of the head or offset in distance between observers can cause the three-dimensional universes to have differing content. If each three-dimensional universe exists, then the existence of multiple three-dimensional universes suggests that the universe is four-dimensional. The argument is named after the discussions by Rietdijk (1966) and Putnam (1967). It is sometimes called the Rietdijk\u2013Putnam\u2013Penrose argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AoKDUi6qHnc322IxKAqB-0-x8xuk.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"46265\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AoKDUi6qHnc322IxKAqB-0-x8xuk.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AoKDUi6qHnc322IxKAqB-0-x8xuk.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AoKDUi6qHnc322IxKAqB-0-x8xuk-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AoKDUi6qHnc322IxKAqB-0-x8xuk-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rietdijk%E2%80%93Putnam_argument\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So <strong>Now<\/strong> is really a <em>faux-Now<\/em>, or even a <em>Pho-Now<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can see <strong>Neil deGrasse Tyson<\/strong>&#8216;s video on the Andromeda Paradox here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=536760912314574\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=536760912314574<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reality, By the Pound<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need more options for reality. Capitalism to the rescue!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discount Reality<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8XgydCIOsfEW3udrqFB0-0-vot6k.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46271\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8XgydCIOsfEW3udrqFB0-0-vot6k.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46271\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8XgydCIOsfEW3udrqFB0-0-vot6k.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8XgydCIOsfEW3udrqFB0-0-vot6k-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Kl7xh8ah3pj2yiybiXBu-0-in7ab.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46269\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Kl7xh8ah3pj2yiybiXBu-0-in7ab.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Kl7xh8ah3pj2yiybiXBu-0-in7ab.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Kl7xh8ah3pj2yiybiXBu-0-in7ab-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kQjoDVPwkft4zZrsTQIe-0-q0bnx.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"46270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kQjoDVPwkft4zZrsTQIe-0-q0bnx.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kQjoDVPwkft4zZrsTQIe-0-q0bnx.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kQjoDVPwkft4zZrsTQIe-0-q0bnx-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kQjoDVPwkft4zZrsTQIe-0-q0bnx-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/T3brOlLQDx0rhdkVC6VC-0-0ws13.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"46273\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/T3brOlLQDx0rhdkVC6VC-0-0ws13.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/T3brOlLQDx0rhdkVC6VC-0-0ws13.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/T3brOlLQDx0rhdkVC6VC-0-0ws13-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/T3brOlLQDx0rhdkVC6VC-0-0ws13-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">High-End Reality<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You pay more, but you really do get what you pay for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/y8CGbUw6fDLJVtffCzYn-0-6g4ok.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/y8CGbUw6fDLJVtffCzYn-0-6g4ok.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/y8CGbUw6fDLJVtffCzYn-0-6g4ok.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/y8CGbUw6fDLJVtffCzYn-0-6g4ok-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/zVb2bDgbqcvUvGyJAk8p-0-s2uy7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/zVb2bDgbqcvUvGyJAk8p-0-s2uy7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/zVb2bDgbqcvUvGyJAk8p-0-s2uy7.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/zVb2bDgbqcvUvGyJAk8p-0-s2uy7-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/zVb2bDgbqcvUvGyJAk8p-0-s2uy7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/zVb2bDgbqcvUvGyJAk8p-0-s2uy7-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5TMy6BuzzGkCzbEn9yrs-1-rh2gb.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"896\" height=\"1280\" data-id=\"46275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5TMy6BuzzGkCzbEn9yrs-1-rh2gb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5TMy6BuzzGkCzbEn9yrs-1-rh2gb.jpg 896w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5TMy6BuzzGkCzbEn9yrs-1-rh2gb-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5TMy6BuzzGkCzbEn9yrs-1-rh2gb-717x1024.jpg 717w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5TMy6BuzzGkCzbEn9yrs-1-rh2gb-768x1097.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/nKr6BD9c5ZDr5xmzvw7T-0-1ik64.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46276\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/nKr6BD9c5ZDr5xmzvw7T-0-1ik64.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/nKr6BD9c5ZDr5xmzvw7T-0-1ik64.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/nKr6BD9c5ZDr5xmzvw7T-0-1ik64-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UrzwzqyoADmy4KJLbxzD-0-xmik7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"46277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UrzwzqyoADmy4KJLbxzD-0-xmik7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UrzwzqyoADmy4KJLbxzD-0-xmik7.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UrzwzqyoADmy4KJLbxzD-0-xmik7-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UrzwzqyoADmy4KJLbxzD-0-xmik7-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Spiritually Guided Reality<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46283\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/bTrbP0fDYVHTopPkSRYF-0-sem9o.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46285\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/bTrbP0fDYVHTopPkSRYF-0-sem9o.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/bTrbP0fDYVHTopPkSRYF-0-sem9o.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/bTrbP0fDYVHTopPkSRYF-0-sem9o-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/bTrbP0fDYVHTopPkSRYF-0-sem9o-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/bTrbP0fDYVHTopPkSRYF-0-sem9o-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/VdjMTpHuxdLvD137Qdxh-0-l0sou.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/VdjMTpHuxdLvD137Qdxh-0-l0sou.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/VdjMTpHuxdLvD137Qdxh-0-l0sou.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/VdjMTpHuxdLvD137Qdxh-0-l0sou-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/VdjMTpHuxdLvD137Qdxh-0-l0sou-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/VdjMTpHuxdLvD137Qdxh-0-l0sou-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Tt38A1TUWoLfUBrP45Ib-0-5er6l.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Tt38A1TUWoLfUBrP45Ib-0-5er6l.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Tt38A1TUWoLfUBrP45Ib-0-5er6l.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Tt38A1TUWoLfUBrP45Ib-0-5er6l-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/wJvLA74KLpgNvs9Hu04z-0-vyq39.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46284\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/wJvLA74KLpgNvs9Hu04z-0-vyq39.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/wJvLA74KLpgNvs9Hu04z-0-vyq39.jpg 768w, 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size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ZE2RES03gCctaYY24L5B-1-00mgn.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"46289\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ZE2RES03gCctaYY24L5B-1-00mgn.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ZE2RES03gCctaYY24L5B-1-00mgn.jpg 1408w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ZE2RES03gCctaYY24L5B-1-00mgn-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ZE2RES03gCctaYY24L5B-1-00mgn-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ZE2RES03gCctaYY24L5B-1-00mgn-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ZE2RES03gCctaYY24L5B-1-00mgn-1200x655.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reality at the Mall<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kr0zlGJP8qNLSUPFw7R6-0-yjvry.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46293\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kr0zlGJP8qNLSUPFw7R6-0-yjvry.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kr0zlGJP8qNLSUPFw7R6-0-yjvry.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kr0zlGJP8qNLSUPFw7R6-0-yjvry-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kr0zlGJP8qNLSUPFw7R6-0-yjvry-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/kr0zlGJP8qNLSUPFw7R6-0-yjvry-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3yAycXXQ10TzHFeSdPyb-0-8htqp.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46291\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3yAycXXQ10TzHFeSdPyb-0-8htqp.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3yAycXXQ10TzHFeSdPyb-0-8htqp.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3yAycXXQ10TzHFeSdPyb-0-8htqp-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mwTHXiJD2j1t4fu5nAHo-0-8zxe9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46292\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mwTHXiJD2j1t4fu5nAHo-0-8zxe9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mwTHXiJD2j1t4fu5nAHo-0-8zxe9.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mwTHXiJD2j1t4fu5nAHo-0-8zxe9-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CKQAYzsPpd6SQYVs7zBp-0-k2joa.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46294\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CKQAYzsPpd6SQYVs7zBp-0-k2joa.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CKQAYzsPpd6SQYVs7zBp-0-k2joa.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CKQAYzsPpd6SQYVs7zBp-0-k2joa-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CKQAYzsPpd6SQYVs7zBp-0-k2joa-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CKQAYzsPpd6SQYVs7zBp-0-k2joa-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Enhanced Reality for the Lonely Young Men of Today<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8-4cZLYbkxXwKveEk.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46299\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8-4cZLYbkxXwKveEk.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8-4cZLYbkxXwKveEk.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8-4cZLYbkxXwKveEk-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8-4cZLYbkxXwKveEk-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8-4cZLYbkxXwKveEk-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/BBSUhcFfOASSYIEC5nkh-0-4vzqk.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/BBSUhcFfOASSYIEC5nkh-0-4vzqk.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/BBSUhcFfOASSYIEC5nkh-0-4vzqk.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/BBSUhcFfOASSYIEC5nkh-0-4vzqk-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/BBSUhcFfOASSYIEC5nkh-0-4vzqk-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/BBSUhcFfOASSYIEC5nkh-0-4vzqk-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46298\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/XSCIhg60Vs4z4AAOC48O-0-um2f9-1-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/QsktMrrHg9Qh6Wnqhq2L-0-mojcz.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"46297\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/QsktMrrHg9Qh6Wnqhq2L-0-mojcz.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/QsktMrrHg9Qh6Wnqhq2L-0-mojcz.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/QsktMrrHg9Qh6Wnqhq2L-0-mojcz-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/QsktMrrHg9Qh6Wnqhq2L-0-mojcz-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/QsktMrrHg9Qh6Wnqhq2L-0-mojcz-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Andromeda Paradox comes from Roger Penrose\u2019s interpretation of special relativity and the concept of simultaneity\u2014what counts as &#8220;now&#8221; for different observers. A Simple Example Imagine two people standing on Earth, Alice and Bob. Alice is standing still, while Bob is walking briskly toward the Andromeda Galaxy. Why is this weird? Both are standing right [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14,52,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-curated-absurdity","category-life-hacks","category-meaning-of-life"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46260"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46301,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46260\/revisions\/46301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}