Car Trivia

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Q: What car was the first to have automatic transmission?
A: Oldsmobile introduced its four speed Hydra-Mastic, as a $57 extra in 1939.

Q: What car was the first to offer air conditioning?
A: The 1939 Nash offered an optional heating - ventilation system called the "Weather Eye"


Q: What car used the first steering wheel?
A: The 1900 Packard Model C, built by The Ohio Automobile Co.

Q: What was the first official White House car?
A: A 1909 White Steamer, ordered by President Taft.

Q: What city was the first to use parking meters?
A: Oklahoma City, on July 16, 1935.

Q: What was the first car fitted with an alternator, rather than a direct current dynamo?
A: The 1960 Plymouth Valiant

Q: What was the first car to be offered with a "perpetual guarantee"?
A: The 1904 Acme, from Reading, PA. Perpetuity was disturbing in this case, as Acme closed down in 1911.

Q: What car was the first to have it's radio antenna embedded in the windshield?
A: The 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Q: What was the first car to use power operated seats?
A: They were first used on the 1947 Packard line.

Check back often. Better yet subscribe. You never know what you'll find next on this blog. Entertainment, science, technology, humor, everything in between and more.

Before you leave check out my other posts.

All too many times people arrive here seeking out a single post from whatever link led them here never taking the time to look at my other stuff. Some of these other posts might interest you as well.

If TV News Were Honest

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Inside A Nuclear Powered Submarine

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The USS Florida (November 2019)

I'm a bit surprised the Navy granted permission to film. On the other hand I doubt anyone has a clue how all these systems work with what was shown in this video.

So Many Fires- A Better Way To Build

Repost

We need to start thinking outside the box. Why can't we build homes out of concrete from top (including the roof) to bottom?

Bury the electric and plumbing in conduits within the walls. Same with the heating ducts or radiator water. This doesn't mean there wouldn't still be fires but it seems to me it would be a lot cheaper and easier to empty out room debris, hose down the walls rather then having to rebuild. I imagine the insurance costs would be less too. I thought about this when we stayed at various motels in Wildwood Crest. I can't recall ever hearing about a fire in one of them. Besides, look how long some of the ancient structures still survive.



Why shouldn't this be required for all new construction?

Why Ban Stupidity?

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We've banned or attempted to try and protect people in everyway possible. We've tried to get society to stop lighting up. We tried to get drivers to buckle up. We legislated cell phone usage rules. Told others they can't purchase transfatty oils in restaurants in certain cities. We've scented nail polish (acetone). Taken a whole bunch of cough syrups off the shelves to spoil the day for huffers. People have managed to turn fertilizers into bombs. It's amazing just how ingenious these dummies are!

Doesn't this care & concern seem just seem a tad against God's will? You know the one... The decree to 'cleanse the Earth of stupidity'.

Cavemen discovered fire and ever since then God's plans have been set in motion. Intelligent beings benefited from the heat & light of the flame as they sat AROUND the fire in their caves.

Stupid people, on the other hand, sat ON the fire while sipping on a weaved straw cup of Hemlock tea, naked, while roasting their chestnuts on an open fire.

There are a zillion ways to try and avoid death, but truth be told, none get out of this world alive. It's just that some of the "STUPID" ones find new creative ways to do it. Whom are we to stifle creativity?


Fact is if it weren't for these,
the rest of us wouldn't feel so damn good about ourselves.

* Just because there's dumber people, doesn't make you smart

Brain Twister For Ya

Back In The Day How You Became Vice President

Repost

Way back in the day when John Adams became our second president the vice president was the one that came in second by the number of votes cast. As a result Thomas Jefferson became Adams' vice president just like John Adams had under George Washington.

At the beginning of Adams term Jefferson in every way possible tried to undermine the president. Eventually Adams found all kinds of ways to remove Jefferson's supporters. Thus diffusing Jefferson's influence over him. In other words the two major leaders of this country were at polar opposites when it came to governing this nation.

During their dueling campaigns one could say this was the earliest beginnings of dirty negative campaigning which pretty much carried on through the beginnings of Adam's presidency.

How we elect a vice president changed in 1804 when a 12th amendment was added to the constitution. This followed after the votes counted tied both Jefferson and Aaron Burr (members of the same party) proceeding John Adams presidency leaving it up to congress who decided on Thomas Jefferson after intense bickering over having to vote on 36 ballots to arrive at it's outcome. Eventually Vice President Burr tried to under mind Jefferson's authority and was later arrested for treason.

Eventually 12 years after Adams left office both he and Jefferson renewed their friendship over the next 15 years exchanging letters to each other until both their deaths on the same day July 4th, 1826. Coincidentally on the 50th anniversary of the 'Declaration Of Independence' both had signed.

Here's My Point
This nation has consistently stood on a precipice. Our fight with England, the civil war, world wars and the depression, each could have gone either way. So far either by good fortune or destiny we've managed to survive. I'd hate to think this generation were the ones to drop the ball in the next presidential election. Granted some things were a lot nastier then present but there's no guarantee we will always be so fortunate. Let us never experience these same separations resulting in further bloodshed.

My hope is we're willing to put aside our differences in-so-much as we never ever again become violent once again as this nation once was. Make no mistake, as past history indicates, this nor any other nation is immune. Beware of such.

Here's What Happened The Year I Graduated H.S.

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     (Satire)

Way back when I was a young pup and still wet behind the ears (in 1966) these are some of the things I said or might have said before I became a fan of history in my latter years.



Jan 1st - All US cigarette packs have to carry "Caution Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health"
Damned I never looked at the 35 cent pack when I whipped out a cig back then.

Jan 12th - LBJ says US should stay in South Vietnam until communist aggression ends
Now I'd say..Glad that didn't happen or we'd still be there.

Jan 16th - Metropolitan Opera House opens in Lincoln Center
At 18 I'd probably would have said where's that in Washington? What's opera?

Jan 29th - Snow storm in north east US kills 165
Yippee snow day.. off from school.

Feb 11th - SF Giant Willie Mays signs highest contract, $130,000 per year
OMG, that's way too much money.

Feb 25th - Syrian military coup under Hafiz al-Assad
I hope things settle down over there.

Mar 2nd - 215,000 US soldiers in Vietnam
Oh shit, I'm 1-A

Mar 6th - Barry Sadlers' "Ballad of the Green Berets" becomes #1 (13 weeks)
Yeah but did ya hear "Strawberry Fields Forever" reached #8?

Mar 15th - Racial riots erupt in the Watts section of Los Angeles
Huh? Even bears don't crap in their own backyard.

Mar 17th - US sub locates missing H-bomb in Mediterranean
What's that doing over there in the first place?

Mar 18th - Scott Paper begins selling paper dresses for $1
Note to self.. take a walk on a rainy day.

Mar 24th - Selective Service announces college deferments based on performance
Does this mean only dummies like me...

Mar 29th - Muhammad Ali beats George Chuvalo in 15 for heavyweight boxing title
Hey does this mean Cassius Clay doesn't have to go either? WTF!

Mar 31st - 25,000 anti war demonstrators march in NYC
Stay out of 'Watts', it's a mess out there

May 16th - Beach Boys' "Pets Sounds" is released
Never heard of it.

May 21st - "Downtown" by Mrs Miller hits #82
What a voice.

May 28th - "Ballad Of Irving" by Frank Gallop hits #34
What's he gay or what?

May 30th - 300 US airplanes bomb North Vietnam
Yadda, yadda another typical day. Will that end it so I don't have to go?

Jun 6th - NFL & AFL announce their merger
Does this mean lower salaries and ticket prices?

Jun 10th - Mamas & Papas win gold record for "Monday, Monday"
Damn I thought Cass Elliot would look a lot sexier judging by her voice.

Jun 13th - Supreme Court's Miranda decision; suspect must be informed of rights
Well I guess it's better then cops shooting them first.

Jul 1st - Medicare goes into effect
Yeah. I sure hope this will pay 100% of my medical expenses when I get to be an old fart..

Jul 4th - LBJ signs Freedom of Information Act
Thank goodness. Now we'll know everything the government is up to.

Jul 5th - NYC transit fare rises from 15 cents to 20 cents
That's crazy. How much higher can they go?

Jul 29th - Bob Dylan hurt in motorcycle accident near Woodstock NY
God's sake, I hope this doesn't affect his singing voice speech patterns..

Jul 30th - US airplanes bombs demilitarized zone in Vietnam
Kind of silly calling it a "demilitarized zone", no?

Aug 6th - US citizens demonstrate against war in Vietnam
Kind of makes sense since "illegals" don't have to go, right?

Aug 20th - Beatles pelted with rotten fruit during Memphis concert
What the Hell? Who were these ticket holders expecting to show up, Ted Nugent?

Aug 22nd - Beatles arrive in NYC
Hope New Yorkers have better sense then to waste perfectly good fruit.

Aug 27th - Race riot in Waukegan, Illinois
God sakes. This is like the 10th one this year. Hope this ends the problem for once and all.

Sep 8th - "Star Trek" premieres on NBC-TV
It's a keeper!

Sep 11th - France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island
12th one this year so far. What is it yet scientists don't know?

Sep 11th - Rolling Stones perform on Ed Sullivan Show
I couldn't hear them. Too many screaming girls hot for sexy looking Mick I suppose.

Sep 22nd - Only 413 show up at a Yankee Stadium game
Who cares. They still have those network broadcast contracts.

Sep 24th - France performs nuclear test at Fangataufa Island
What we're still too stupid to know what these bombs will do?

Sep 30th - USSR performs underground nuclear test
Keep going until we crack the Earth, poison the water and/or be able to annihilate the human race 10x's over.

Oct 4th - France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island
SEE ABOVE

Oct 14th - 175 US airplanes bomb North Vietnam
Still at it I see.

Nov 6th - 1st entire lineup televised in color (NBC)
Damn the peacock network. Wish I had a color TV. Seems only the rich can afford them.

Nov 8th - Movie actor Ronald Reagan elected Governor of California
This guy ain't going nowhere.

Nov 24th - The Beatles began recording sessions for "Sergeant Pepper"
Who's this Sergeant Pepper"?

Dec 28th - China performs nuclear test at Lop Nor, PRC
Merry Christmas. Last test of the year. Wonder if Iran will ever get one and where they'll test it?

Dec 30th - The cult classic "One Million Years B.C.", starring Raquel Welch, is released
Gotta love history. Who the hell knew babes back then looked like that!



Source for the above:
'History Orb'

Check back often. Better yet subscribe. You never know what you'll find next on this blog. Entertainment, science, technology, humor, everything in between and more.

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Sensory Overload

Six Flags El Huracán (Mexico) 9 Years Ago



OMNIA Nightclub Las Vegas - Chandelier Drop - March 28, 2025

Why Government Is Broke & Taxes Are So High

Repost From 2015


From the local to state on up to the federal level it seems tax revenues are down and the average Joe Schmo seems to paying more now then ever. Every wonder why?

According to Bloomberg News U.S. Companies Are Stashing $2.1 Trillion Overseas to Avoid Taxes. Bloomberg list the top 299 companies avoiding taxes.

The simple answer seems to be lower the corporate tax rates. Question is how low would we have to go to compete with 3rd world countries? Is it even possible any tax rate would be low enough to lure any of this money back?

Another answer would be for consumers to avoid buying from these companies. That is easier said then done (if not impossible) when you look over the list.

Still there are others who advocate for smaller government. Most of these are the very same ones enabling corporations to become larger by supporting legislation so mega businesses can get away with this crap.

Until or unless we reign this in Joe Schmo can look forward to shouldering even more of the tax burden.

Way Back I Use To Do vBlogs

I did a bunch of vBlogs before I started this blog. Here's a sampling of them from 2007 so some of them are quite dated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Bigger Lehigh Valley Isn't Better

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When bigger isn't better

For decades we've had it drummed into our heads growth will make the Lehigh Valley a better place to live. This has always defied my reasoning. We construct more buildings. More people come. More people means build more buildings in a never ending circle.

Initially transplants located here to enjoy the rich rural scenery and enjoy a lower paced life style then the one they left behind. Many purchased single homes away from the hustle and bustle. A few years later dozens of homes popped up around them no longer offering the tranquil settings they once enjoyed.


Soon larger highways were needed. Larger highways with better accessibility began to attract larger business. Shortly thereafter industrial parks began to spring up around them. More industrial parks attracted more people. More people needed more homes.

More people meant more stores. More stores meant ever more traffic headaches and yes more people too.

As result the Lehigh Valley has become nearly identical to what many tried to escape from. Five miles outside of town where farm fields once were plowed there are now townhouses, apartments and single homes spread twenty feet apart in ever increasing numbers. One industrial park after another is continuously being built. Accident prone highways are now jammed at rush hours despite the ever continuous expansion of them.

Quality Over Quantity
Allentown once attracted 10,000's to Hamilton Street long before we had these humongous eyesores built downtown. If you look at today's pedestrian traffic on Hamilton Street it should become obvious to everyone no matter how many or how tall you build them new people arriving here are going to fill up more of what's left of former farmers' fields before considering a visit to downtown.

One would think with all this fabulous growth schools and local government funding would benefit. Instead both are faced with ever increasing budget deficits. Despite the figures we've been told, do people feel safer then they did before all this growth no matter the area?

In short all this growth nonsense is a bunch of hooey in my view. All one need do is look at who's promoting and benefiting from it.

We had all we needed. Trains, farm orchards, amusement parks, etc.

It wasn't as though we lived in the dark ages.

Gov. Newsom Tells President Trump To 'Stand Down' Amid L.A. Protests

Sunday Evening 06/08/2025

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AI On AI Scams

Peter Santenello- North Carolina The Forgotten Aftermath Of Hurricane Helene

🕊Where to Donate – Hurricane Helene Relief
► United Cajun Navy: https://unitedcajunnavy.org/donate/
► Precision Grading (ways to donate in Featured posts): https://www.facebook.com/gradinghendersonville/
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► Spokes of Hope: https://spokesofhopesc.com/
► Operation Blessing: https://www.ob.org/
► Excel College: https://www.theexcelcollege.com/disaster-relief

The Real Herbert Hoover

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CBS Sunday Morning (Oct 20, 2019)


I didn't know this about him. It's surprising how much you can learn in a 8 1/2 minute video. It makes one appreciate how much greatness some people can achieve in their lifetime.

One can't help but compare Hoover to the change in Republican ideologies of today. Enough said.

Jimmy Carter Helped Prevent A Nuclear Disaster

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newsweek.com
Fact Check: Did Jimmy Carter Stop a Nuclear Reactor From Destroying Ottawa? "28-year-old Carter, then a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, was put in charge of containing the disaster after hydrogen explosions caused hundreds of thousands of gallons of radioactive water to flood into the core... "

Do you remember the world’s very first nuclear meltdown? That time the US President, an expert in nuclear physics, heroically lowered himself into the reactor and saved Ottawa, Canada’s capital?

Sounds like schlocky action movie, but it actually happened! pic.twitter.com/LtAQYC79QZ

— Jeff Lundeen (@LundeenOttawa) December 15, 2021

How Much Someone Can Earn Working On A Cruise Ship 2025

Little Known (Mostly Useless) Trivia Information

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Many people burn more calories sleeping than they do watching television.
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Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are twenty (20) years of age or older.
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The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.
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The King of Hearts is the only king WITHOUT A MOUSTACHE
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American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one (1) olive from each salad served in first-class.
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Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
(Since Venus is normally associated with women, what does this tell you?)
(That women are going the 'right' direction...?)
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Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning . (It's the sugar)
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Most dust particles in your house are made from DEAD SKIN !
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The first owner (Philip Morris) of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
So did three men who appeared in Marlboro advertisements - Wayne McLaren, David McLean, and Dick Hammer.
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Walt Disney was afraid OF MICE!
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Pearls dissolve in vinegar
(A pearl is mostly calcium carbonate, which is susceptible to even a weak acid solution)
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It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...
but, not downstairs because of how cows knees bend.
(A cow produces on average 30lbs of urine and 65lbs of feces daily)
(They also can produce up to 64 quarts of milk a day)
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Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.
(I keep my toothbrush in the living room now !)
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Turtles can breathe through their butts.
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Strange Behavior Of Electrons

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Electrons are caught mysteriously disappearing and reappearing in atoms in breakthrough that could lead to the 'next generation of electronics'
Harry Pettit | Daily Mail

"Electrons can teleport between atomic energy layers using quantum motion. They can pass from the top layer to the bottom without existing in the middle. This could help researchers develop new materials in future, including super efficient electronics and solar panels."

My Comments

This is some real Nikola Tesla stuff. Nikola spent his life trying to find a way of distributing electricity without wires. While this may not solve that problem on a large scale it certainly demonstrates it's possible at a micro level.


See the thing about electricity is no one fully understands what it is to this day. Sure we can move electrons from one place to another, but we still don't understand exactly what electromagnetic force is. We know it's effects and have used it for all the electronics in use today. Things like our appliances and so forth.

One of the greatest inventions is the MRI scanner. We know electromagnetism can move electrons. In the case of MRI imaging we are using electrons to create magnetic fields. Yet no one understands exactly what a EMF is. This discovery now further deeps the quantum mystery how EMF is able to do what it does and exactly what it is.

Being familiar with electronics I'm not quite sure what scientist find so amazing Anyone who works with electronics understands the capacitors we use build a charge on one plate. At some point (depending on frequency and charge) the other plate discharges without any electrons passing between the surfaces. Inductor coils (transformers) work the same way. Maybe I'm missing something. Is it because they've archived this using direct current since both capacitors and inductors only work in alternating currents?

They stated "electrons are caught mysteriously disappearing". Something which would not happen with inductors nor capacitors using direct current. So if scientists claim electrons can be made to appear and disappear under those conditions--this is really something.

We all understand how electrons and protons can influence magnetic forces. What remains to be discovered if neither existed would there still remain a potential magnetic force. One which could in of itself bring material into existence. If so--could it be physical existence is nothing more then an expression of intense magnetic forces condensing to form mass as we know it?

Although the word quantum has been used it seems to me this goes back to the very basic fact we know nothing of magnetic forces. We can create them and use them but still can't explain them. Quantum seems like a nice word to throw around these days whenever we can't explain these magnetic forces even though we've known about them for thousands of years. But hey--whatever floats your boat.

In the end when you cut to the chase--quantum is really a nice catchall intellectual word used by baffled scientists in avoidance to having to explain "conundrums" they may never figure out.

Makes it sound a lot more professional doesn't it :-)

What If Earth Is Just A Fluke?

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What if we ARE all alone? Scientists say Earth may be a 'one-off fluke' and the Milky Way's billions of other planets may all be lifeless
By Rob Waugh | The Daily Mail

"Scientists have believed that because life evolved early in Earth's history, it must be everywhere.

Idea is simply wrong, say Princeton scientists.

Earth could be a one-off aberration and other worlds could be lifeless."

HUMOR: How To Make A Woman Happy

Reposted From: January 15, 2010

A man needs to be: 1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a pest exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38.. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
44. compassionateWITHOUT FORGETTING TO: 45. give her compliments regularly
46. love shopping
47. be honest
48. be very rich
49. not stress her out
50. not look at other girlsAND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO: 51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goesIT IS VERY IMPORTANT: 54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes

HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY

1. Show up naked
2. Bring booze

Will Space Travel Ever Become Practical ?

Repost

Short answer.. NO WAY!

The universe is much larger then humans can conceive. I'll attempt to explain.

Fans of science fiction series "Star Trek are familiar with it's journey exploring space supposedly made possible by it's faster then light "warp" drive engine. The series creators explained the warp drive was able to overcome known scientific law by warping space behind them rather then trying to push against kinetic energy's resistance in front of them.


Creators of the show explain warp 2 doesn't mean twice the speed of light. It's all a rather complicated formula. According to one fan's site in various episodes warp 9.975 translates into either 132 light years a month or 240 depending on the movie. It was said this is the maximum speed that could be achieved. The reason given was anything faster then warp 10 would send them backwards in time. Something they wished to avoid Averaging out those two speeds I'll use a figure of travel as 186 light years a month. So let's look at what trips could be possible if we had such a ship.

The Milky Way spans 100,000 light years across. At maximum speed it would take almost 45 years to transverse.

According to NASA The closest known galaxy to us is the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, at 25,000 light years from the Sun. The Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy is the next closest at 70,000 light years from the Sun. One of the most distant, still considered a local galaxy, is the Andromeda Galaxy some 2.5 million light years away. Meaning it would be some 1,120 years of traveling at Warp 9.75 to reach it. Given these numbers it's highly unlikely starship "Enterprise" would be able to go beyond this galaxy in all it's many travels.

There's even a greater problem facing long distance space travelers. Other then the Andromeda Galaxy which is moving towards us at 250,000 mph (don't worry we're safe for another 4 billion years) distant galaxies in an ever expanding universe are speeding away faster then it were likely a ship could keep up with. Some of the most distant whose light will never reach us. Hence it should always stated the age of "the KNOWN universe" is about 13.82 billion years. It's not an absolute.

So unless we can move freely back and forth in time like "Doctor Who" in the BBC television series it ain'ta nev'r gonna happen. Warp drives aren't going to cut it. Which brings me to the discussion of time itself. Think I'll save that for another day.

This Fella Got Dating Problem (Humor)

Repost