h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if time just stood still for a little while. I'm not talking about people freezing in place, and soup hanging mid-air as it is about to slop down the front of your shirt (or tie as the case may be). I'm talking about the hands on the clock stop moving, the various universi (I think that's a great term for the plural of universe, but that's just me.) stops revolving around whatever orb is at the hub of it's existance. It would be a chance to add a little more time to the day. I know, I know, there are those of you out there that feel there is pleanty of time in a day, and others that shudder at the idea of adding more time because even less would be accomplished that way. But I'm enjoying the quiet time I have right now, more importantly I'm enjoying a good lunch (hence the soup reference) and I would just like to extend this time by a little smidge. Of course I would have to join the ranks of those who shudder and ponder what else can be added in the extra time that will never be finished. Still, a person can dream can't they?

Have you ever read a book called Einstein's dreams? It has lots of meandering daydreams about time. One of the stories is about time as a river, one about time as a slow, sticky trickle and one about heading to the centre of an area where time stands still.

As you get closer to this region of no time, a kiss would last a century... a smile could last for a millenium, and in the centre people are frozen still... but as one moves out the time begins to speed up again, embraces end, promises are forgotton, and children eventually grow old.

Perhaps it would be nice to slow time down once in a while, perhaps it would just make life too confusing. And how would you know when to start again? Is a long afternoon eating soup enough to satisfy you for all eternity? Or would you just slow that down to last a few days, and not want it to take up all your weekend. Perhaps to be able to save it for later aould be best, so you could go back to that moment whenever you want.

yours dreamilly,

purplejenny

I often wish that you could slow down time on a whim. Especially when imminent project/essay/example question deadlines are looming; it would be great if your scant remaining hours could be expanded so that you acually had time to do the darn thing properly.

That said, as we all know, projects always expand to take up the time available, plus about five minutes. So as your afternoon lengthened to accomodate your needs, so would your workload expand as well, so that you *still* didn't have time to finish it. Cue a Paradox; unchecked, you could well find yourself spending an infinite amount of time doing sometihng which is far less fun than say, eating chocolate...

No, eatinign soup for all eternity wouldn't really make me happy. The book sounds facinating though. I'm going to have to mind that one and check it out. It sounds like soemthing interesting to read on the train in in the mornings. (Nothig like a boring commute every day!) Thanks for the suggestion. There are definately some things I would love to have last, but on the other hand the other side of things doesn't sound too bad. I wouldn't mind some activities ending VERY quickly. Point in case is the rabbit cage. I have cleaning that thing, so for that to just fly by would be great! Like I said, thanks for the suggestion!

Lunar Flare

Grin-
Eating chocolate huh? ALways a good pass time in my world. Acually it's probably a good thing in many people's worlds. Though I think regardless of the continued overload of work, there are some things that would make slower time worth while. For me it would be a full moon that is hovering just off center of the center of the sky. The stars glimmering around it, and a gentle breeze warm across my cheeks... That is the most peaceful thing that I could possibly think to do with a little extra time. But that's just me.

LF

Well as a timelord you would think that i have the answers sorry but all i can say is make the most of what you have got.I spend way to much time trying to make a living i wish i could make some money as well.
Anyway i just thought that i would say hello as you are new here i do hope that you like it here.

I kind of figured it was wishful thinking, but still, a girl can dream can't she? I know that if time really did stop or even slow down a little smidge, we would still wonder how to get more time, and try to cram in even more stuff. I guess that is a collective we for pretty much everyone I know. There might be some exceptions out there, but I'm not sure that I've found them yet... 'Course it doesn't mean that I won't be looking. I recently learned the hard way not to take things for granted, so trust me, I fully intend to make the most out of what I have.

LF

time ... and not taking things for granted. Believe me, i know exactly what you mean. time is not a constant, its always in flux, and change is the only certainty.

We are trapped in time, unless we can change oursleves.

Good Luck

Jen

But the sad reality is that sometimes we can not make the changes fast enough if at all. In the end things are taken for granted, changes happened, just not the ones you wanted, and time marches on. I think that might be another certainty. Not only is it in flux, but as the cliche says, time waits for no man. (Or in out case woman.) That is part of free will I think. Things change around us, time is in flux, but as an individual the choice is there to change, not change, chage too quickly, or not fast enough... The list kinda keeps going on and on....

LF