Thursday 30 November 2017

A Simple Argument Against Dark Matter

Dark Matter. Not the TV series. The astrophysical stuff; the stuff astronomers believe makes up some 28% of our universe. I think it's bunk. I can think of at least two good reasons why.

First off, Dark Matter was hypothesized to explain the rotation periods of stars in the outer fringes of galactic disks; the stars seemed to be moving faster than could be accounted for by the combined gravitational pull of all the rest of the visible matter in a galaxy. So, posited the astronomers, there must be a much larger mass--of invisible matter--making those stars orbit so quickly.


Over the years, the idea caught on as a way of explaining away various inconsistencies. It was so damned easy just to blame the Dark Matter. Also, over the years, dark matter 'evolved'. It was dark because it emitted no electromagnetic energy (radio, microwaves, heat, light, ultraviolet, X rays). It interacted with normal matter only through gravity (and apparently obeying the same rules with itself, too, for all those computer simulations showed the Dark Matter lagging behind the normal-matter's movements, like a comet's tail).


Recently, one team of astronomers restudied the galactic orbital speeds problem, and came to the conclusion that one did not need to invoke Dark Matter to explain the orbital velocities of the outer stars. Then another team restudied the expanding-universe problem, and discovered that, if you looked at space a certain way, you didn't even need to invoke Dark Energy--a whole separate kettle of fish.


I have a simpler, but I believe well-thought-out, argument.


If we assume that Dark Matter is actually more abundant than normal matter, and at least as mobile as normal matter (in fact, more so), then it would be reasonable to postulate that some of it would be tagging along with, for example, the earth and the sun. But that introduces problems.


Scientists have 'weighed' both the earth and the sun, and from that they can calculate the amount of gravitational force they exert. Presumably, theory matches observation. Let that be our starting point.


Now, if dark matter's gravitation is but a component of that whole, then it means we're no further ahead for having it--but dark matter was brought in precisely because scientists thought its extra gravity was needed. Worse, it really messes up some of the natural constants (especially G--Newton's Constant) that we rely on to make astronomical calculations, operate GPS networks, etc.


Carrying on with our assumption, then, we must further assume that there is no Dark Matter accompanying the Earth or the Sun (or we'd feel it; or our orbit wouldn't make sense). But is that a reasonable supposition, given what we believe we know about Dark Matter (i.e. quite mobile, can't attach itself to normal matter)? I don't think that it is. Why would the solar neighbourhood be Dark-Matter-free? Surely this can't last--eventually some Dark Matter has to catch up with us, and then our goose will be cooked.


Finally, scientists have been searching for Dark Matter for years, believing that every once in a while, a piece will collide with a piece of normal matter. Watching for years. Haven't seen a damned thing in all that time.


For me, case closed.


Now, I'm not a professional astronomer, but I have been keen on the subject for nearly fifty years (I'm 53 now and remember the Apollo 8 flight around the moon, in 1968). I've read every accessible article on it, thousands of pages of National Geographic articles, textbooks, and scientific journals (and it takes a lot to lose me). I've spent thousands of hours squinting through a succession of telescopes. I have the physical parameters of all the planets memorized--have since before I knew what a "sidereal period" was. I've probably forgotten more stuff about astronomy than most people will ever know. 


In short: I know a little something whereof I speak.


Have a good one,


-Bill


Friday 14 July 2017

Sears Canada Epic Fail

[Full disclosure: neither I, nor any of my family members or friends, work at Sears Canada. Thank small mercies for that one!]

Okay, today I'm really pissed.

Sears Canada recently filed for bankruptcy protection. Among the items approved by the courts--items for which Sears asked--were big, fat bonuses for their executives--and screwing their line workers out of hard-earned severance pay and benefits.


Now, we've all heard the experts parading around the news shows today, explaining why it's "necessary" to "retain key people" for the restructuring, and why it's "necessary" to cut off payments other than wages to their general staff, "for the survival of the company."


All I can say about that is: bullshit!


And here's why:


These "key executives" now bellying-up to the trough for a good feeding, courtesy of their thousands of subordinates, presided over Sears Canada during a time when the store went rapidly downhill. These turkeys couldn't grow their business when times were good; why should we believe it'll be any different now? In fact, allowing the situation to deteriorate to the point of bankruptcy is an arguably self-serving act, in that now they have the courts' go-ahead to take away things their 'lesser' people--who once made Sears Canada great--had already earned. Their jobs are, temporarily, safe. Hey--and they get bonuses! Party on, Wayne. Party on, Garth. Hand me a beer, and screw the little guys.


Good luck when these people start leaving--and they will. Our forebears, the Scots, had a saying: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." They'll be leaving en masse. And they'll be just as tough to replace as "key executives"--tougher, in fact, because, having seen how Sears Canada treats its hard-working, loyal employees, who'd want to work there? I sure's hell wouldn't. I went through the no-severance-pay thing in 2012, with Newgate 180. Threw away a promising young career as a software developer and worked there nearly 25 years (1986-2012), at the end of which I walked away with... a watch. It's no fun.


As far as I'm concerned, these "key executives" were responsible for the mess in the first place. They sat on their fat asses and didn't do their jobs. They sat and presided over Sears' long fall from grace. Far from being rewarded for this, they should be fired! Everyone above the level of Store Manager should be summarily dismissed from Sears Canada--immediately, and without severance pay. Replace them with people who are willing to work for what's offered and no more; people who might have some chance to save the stillbirth that is modern-day Sears Canada.


But, that's not going to happen. So (and I suspect that the great majority of Canadians are with me on this) we have to kill off Sears. It's the kindest thing to do for all concerned. Squeeze them dry. We should have known that something like this was coming, after what they did to Eaton's. Now there's no excuse.


I will never again set foot inside a Sears Canada outlet. In my opinion, it doesn't deserve my business. Best to kill it off quickly--before their "key executives" line up like good little piggies to lap up another round of totally undeserved bonuses.


In short: if you shop at Sears Canada, you are only rewarding bad behaviour.


Pass it on.