“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana”*…

A companion of a sort to last Friday’s post: In the 19th century, the linear idea of time became dominant. As Emily Thomas explains, that has had profound implications for how we experience the world…

‘It’s natural,’ says the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, ‘to think that time can be represented by a line.’ We imagine the past stretching in a line behind us, the future stretching in an unseen line ahead. We ride an ever-moving arrow – the present. However, this picture of time is not natural. Its roots stretch only to the 18th century, yet this notion has now entrenched itself so deeply in Western thought that it’s difficult to imagine time as anything else. And this new representation of time has affected all kinds of things, from our understanding of history to time travel.

Let’s journey back to ancient Greece. Amid rolls of papyrus and purplish figs, philosophers like Plato looked up into the night. His creation myth, Timaeus, connected time with the movements of celestial bodies. The god ‘brought into being’ the sun, moon and other stars, for the ‘begetting of time’. They trace circles in the sky, creating days, months, years. The ‘wanderings’ of other, ‘bewilderingly numerous’ celestial bodies also make time. When all their wanderings are ‘completed together’, they achieve ‘consummation’ in a ‘perfect year’. At the end of this ‘Great Year’, all the heavenly bodies will have completed their cycles, returning to where they started. Taking millennia, this will complete one cycle of the universe. As ancient Greek philosophy spread through Europe, these ideas of time spread too. For instance, Greek and Roman Stoics connected time with their doctrine of ‘Eternal Recurrence’: the universe undergoes infinite cycles, ending and restarting in fire.

Such views of time are cyclical: time comprises a repeating cycle, as events occur, pass, and occur again. They echo processes in nature. Day and night. Summer to winter. As the historian Stephen Jay Gould explains in Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle (1987), within the West, cyclical conceptions dominated ancient thought. It’s even hinted at in the Bible. For example, Ecclesiastes proclaims: ‘What has been will be again … there is nothing new under the sun.’ Yet, Gould writes, the Bible also contains a linear conception of time: time comprises a one-way sequence of unrepeatable events. Take Biblical history: ‘God creates the earth once, instructs Noah to ride out a unique flood in a singular ark.’ Gould describes this linear understanding of history as an ‘important and distinctive’ contribution of Jewish thought. Biblical history helped power linear ideas of time.

Cyclical and linear conceptions of time thrived side by side for centuries, sometimes blurring into one another. After all, we live through natural, cyclical seasons and unrepeatable events – birth, first marriage, death. Importantly, medievals and early moderns didn’t literally see cyclical time as a circle, or linear time as a line. Yet in the 19th-century world of frock coats, petticoats and suet puddings, change was afoot. Gradually, the linear model of time gained ground, and thinkers literally began drawing time as a line…

[Thomas explores four key developments that fueled the shift, chronography (the development of timelines), Darwin and the emergence of the concept of evolution, chronophotography, and theories in math and physics of a “fourth dimension” (then explored by Einstein and Bergson, Mary Calkins and Victoria Welby, Bertrand Russell, H. G. Wells, and so many others…]

… Today, conceiving of time as a line remains widespread. Timelines are everywhere: in the history of evolution, the history of video games, and the history of chocolate. There’s even a timeline of timelines. And the effects of this line of thought (pun intended) are still with us. Philosophers continue to debate the reality of past and future: just check out this bumper encyclopaedia article on ‘Presentism’, ‘the view that only present things exist’. Time-travel stories run rife. Back to the Future. Groundhog Day. The Time Traveler’s Wife. Historians have largely dropped Victorian faith in the progress of humanity, yet progress stories about particular areas remain. For example, take this timeline: it straightforwardly depicts technological progress over time. All these ideas are powered by the notion that time is a line. Were we to reshape our idea of time, perhaps these other ideas would also find themselves bent into new forms…

“The Shape of Time,” from @aeon.co.

* Anthony Oettinger and separately, Susumu Kuno (though often mis-attributed to Groucho Marx)

###

As we wonder at Yeat’s widening gyre, we might send echoing birthday greetings to Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu; he was born on this date in 1689. Better known simply as Montesquieu, he was a French judge, historian, and political philosopher.

Montesquieu is the principal source of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented (if not always observed) in many constitutions throughout the world. He is also known for doing more than any other author to secure the place of the word “despotism” in the political lexicon.  His anonymously published The Spirit of Law (De l’esprit des lois, 1748; first translated into English in 1750) was received well in both Great Britain and the American colonies, and influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States in drafting the U.S. Constitution.

source

New-to-me, from Maps Mania: War Atlas: Mapping 3,500 Years of Conflict. “War Atlas is an interactive, web-based map that visualizes 8,500+ historical battles spanning from around 1500 BC to the present day – providing users with a guided historical tour of human conflict.”

I've been playing #Timelines the last few days. It's a Wordle-style daily news quiz they launched earlier this week.

I decided to look at their TOS. It seems they were planning a different product.

Timelines turns everyday predictions between friends into a competitive game. Users create predictions about dates, trips, life events, and daily moments—then track who actually knows their friends best through ELO ratings and leaderboards. It's part social network, part forecasting platform, making "I told you so" moments permanent and quantified.

Terms of Service | Timelines
https://timelines.gg/terms

📰 Timelines UNSCRAMBLE • Jan 1, 2026

🟩🟩🟩🟥

Score: 3/4

Can you do better? ➡️https://timelines.gg
@samsheffer

#timelines #samsheffer #timelinesgg #playtimelines

Also we've done this day for the tenth time already I think, I call it groundhogyear... It's because psychology Groningen is refusing to let go of the Demmink chromium twinflaming timelines. Please send the men over from the United States to Leeuwarden? #cjmccreery #sabc #capetown #timelines #twinflame #whoreofbyzantium #ishtarinanna #astaroth

SAMYAZAS MAY NEVER FORNICATE NOR PROCREATE WITH HUMANS!!!
I'M THE REAL TWINFLAME VIY!
AND I WAS ANITIATED HASIDIC ON THE MOON TO BE SAFE IN METAL. IMMACULATE!
#sabc #capetown #timelines #byzantinewhores #leeuwarden #luyanda #samyaza #sharknado #cjmccreery #satan #doodseskader #princeclaus #sjoerdjeannavanderweg #martinachromium #demmink #twinflame

Jeffrey's Bay; Shark Mermaid attack, CJ mcCreery. Byzantine WHORE Demmink CJ mcCreery!!!!! SABC Capetown timeline computers!!!
#luyanda #sabc #capetown #timelines #leeuwarden #samyaza #princeclaus #sharknado #doodseskader #satyricon #gracellachromium #whoreofbyzantium #ishtarinanna

🧐 Ah, the age-old conundrum: #developers guessing #timelines with the precision of a Magic 8-Ball, while product owners nod along like ancient sages contemplating the mysteries of the universe. 🔮 This riveting 11-minute read unveils the deeply philosophical truth that #estimates are indeed difficult, because... well, they're wrong most of the time. 🎯
https://thorsell.io/2025/12/07/estimates.html #productowners #philosophy #HackerNews #ngated

We live in the stupidest of #timelines - yet:

After nearly 30 years, Crucial will stop selling RAM to consumers.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/after-nearly-30-years-crucial-will-stop-selling-ram-to-consumers/

Can't wait for the #ai #bubble to finally burst...

If you're looking for a good old game, try TimeShift.

https://www.gog.com/en/game/timeshift

I originally played this on XBox360, I think. It's not the best FPS ever, but it's solid.

#GOG #FPS #Shooter #Timelines #AltHistory

The Golden Dome: America’s Next Great Gamble in Space?

The Golden Dome: America’s Next Great Gamble in Space?

A citizen-journalism look at the promise and pitfalls of a planetary-scale orbital “dome”: economics, Pentagon and Space Force roles, commercial interests, timelines, costs, feasibility — and the politics that frame it.

By DrWeb, your fearless Editor, and aided on his left hand by ChatGPT. My co-partner has provided the outline, and research, and drafts. I have reviewed and edited the AI. –DrWeb

A shimmering dome high above Earth — not myth but ambition. Defense planners describe layered orbital infrastructure to protect satellites and enable new industries; investors see a catalyst for the next space economy. To the public, the phrase Golden Dome blends awe with skepticism: moonshot or mirage?[1]

The idea traces to defense and commercial studies on satellite resiliency, optical/laser links, and power-beaming. The imagery stuck in politics when “a dome of safety” or “Golden Dome” branding surfaced in speeches and statements — amplifying public attention and investor curiosity.[2]

Economic “Gold Rush” — Promise vs. Speculation

Proponents argue the Dome would ignite new sectors: orbital fabrication, autonomous repair drones, debris remediation, laser/optical relays, and energy transmission. Government demand could accelerate private R&D and high-skill jobs nationwide.[3]

Critics warn of speculative bubbles and cost overruns. Credible comparators show how fast costs scale: NASA’s Artemis campaign ~$93B through FY2012–2025; Apollo ~$257–318B in today’s dollars depending on index. A dome-like mega-constellation could outstrip even those benchmarks depending on scope and governance.[4]

Pentagon & Space Force: Deterrence or Arms Race?

Advocates inside the Department of Defense frame a dome-style architecture as layered deterrence: hardening comms, navigation, missile warning/tracking, and cislunar awareness. The U.S. Space Force would likely run command-and-control with AI-assisted monitoring and autonomous servicing.[5]

Concerns persist: dual-use ambiguity, debris proliferation, power-beaming safety, and treaty friction (Outer Space Treaty/OST; Liability Convention). Detractors warn rivals could read the Dome as de facto weaponization, accelerating a new space arms race.[6]

Commercial Interests: Who Builds, Who Owns?

Prime contractors and “new space” firms pitch enabling pieces: mass launch, optical interlinks, mesh networking, refueling depots, debris capture. The Space Development Agency’s proliferated architecture (data transport + missile warning/tracking) shows how government constellations are already scaling with industry partnerships.[7]

Governance knot: The OST forbids national appropriation of space, yet licensing and IP regimes can confer de facto control. If public funds seed the Dome, what’s the public’s guaranteed access and price discipline?[8]

Timeline & Cost Estimates

1. Concept & Demos (2025–2030): prototype nodes; autonomy/mesh tests; optical cross-links; initial power-beaming trials.[9]
2. Scaled Deployment (2031–2038): multi-nodal arrays bridging civil/commercial/DoD networks; cislunar tracking.
3. Operations (post-2040): autonomous repair fleets; governance charters; international coordination.

Budget brackets: treat any $0.5T–$2T figure as scenario planning, not a commitment; the only well-audited analogs (Artemis, Apollo) already sit in the tens/hundreds of billions and highlight compounding schedule/cost risk for megaprojects.[10]

Feasibility Check: Technology, Debris, and Policy

Independent assessments flag four choke points: (1) power generation/transmission (SSP progress is real but early), (2) debris avoidance and remediation at constellation scale, (3) cyber-resilience of orbital meshes, (4) sustained bipartisan funding and crisis stability. Expert studies recommend pacing advances while strengthening space safety, governance, and deterrence frameworks before attempting megastructures.[11]

Trump’s Position: “Shield of Peace” Framing

Donald Trump has described a protective “dome” for the United States — variously dubbed an “impenetrable” or “Golden” dome — and linked it rhetorically to Space Force and strategic dominance. Supporters view this as vision-setting for accelerated resiliency; critics say the branding outpaces formal doctrine and line-item plans.[12]

Bridge: Pattern Recognition — Vision or Mirage?

Context, not slant: several high-profile Trump ventures (e.g., Trump University, Trump Airlines, Truth Social, segments of border-wall contracting) launched with bold imagery but uneven execution. Analysts see echoes in a Golden Dome pitch: spectacle catalyzes attention, but engineering, governance, and financing determine survival. Counterpoint: the same showman’s pressure sometimes moves institutions — Space Force did materialize. The open question is whether this concept is a strategic leap or a mirage glittering beyond reach.[13]

Closing Reflection: Gold or Gilded?

The Golden Dome concentrates America’s oldest tension — dream vs. discipline. If it rises, it will rest not only on launch vehicles and laser links, but on public trust: transparent costs, enforceable oversight, and international guardrails. Until those foundations harden, the Dome remains a brilliant possibility suspended in the thin air between aspiration and proof.

Notes & Sources

1. Background on “orbital shield”/resiliency concepts and public framing. Space Force Doctrine Document 1 (2025) ↩︎
2. Trump “dome” rhetoric and Golden Dome announcement. Oval Office remarks transcript (May 20, 2025) · American Rhetoric transcript ↩︎
3. Economic upside cases (industrial policy, jobs, dual-use tech). Space Development Agency (program overviews) · CNAS: Space Force progress & industry interface (2024) ↩︎
4. Comparators and cost scale. NASA OIG on Artemis ~$93B (2012–2025) · NASA OIG (2021) Artemis cost baseline · Planetary Society: Apollo ~$257B (2020 $) · Tax Foundation estimate ~$318B (2023 $) ↩︎
5. Doctrine and resilient constellations. USSF Mission Command Doctrine (2024/25) · GAO: SDA optical mesh/laser comms (2025) ↩︎
6. Treaty context; arms-race concerns. UN: Outer Space Treaty overview · UN treaties compilation (PDF) · Politico: UNSC WMD-in-space resolution veto (2024) · AP News: debate over banning weapons in space (2024) ↩︎
7. Government-industry scaling example. Space Development Agency · GAO on SDA architecture & timelines ↩︎
8. Ownership/licensing/IP debates; public-interest guarantees. UNOOSA: Treaties & Principles (compendium) ↩︎
9. Demo-phase technologies: power-beaming & deployables. Caltech SSPP MAPLE demo (June 2023) · Caltech mission wrap (Jan 2024) · Space.com coverage ↩︎
10. Scenario budgets & sensitivities; schedule risk example. Reuters: Artemis delays & $93B context (Dec 2024) · NASA OIG (2023/24) ↩︎
11. Feasibility constraints: debris, governance, deterrence. Aerospace Corp: Space Safety Compendium (2024) · IEEE Spectrum: collision-avoidance surge (2025) · RAND: Space Strategic Stability (2024) · RAND: Space & Critical Infrastructure (2025) ↩︎
12. Trump statements on a U.S. “dome” & rhetoric vs. doctrine. Transcript: Golden Dome announcement · American Rhetoric · USSF doctrine (for contrast) ↩︎
13. Pattern context & policy implications. RAND Perspective: Space enterprise & deterrence (2024) ↩︎

#anotherTrumpGamble #bubble #commercialInterests #costs #feasibility #goldenDome #mirage #oribalMechanics #pentagon #pieInTheSky #planetaryScale #politics #protectEarth #science #space #spaceForce #timelines #trump

🎙️ @garnetking07 and @barrettgruber discuss @politicalbillsc's interaction on #AI about recent #shutdowns. #Timelines Converge!
🎧 Listen wherever you get #podcasts or 📺 Watch on YouTube!
🔗 https://bit.ly/AANEp277
#Subscribe #Follow #Share

#Transformers #Timelines has been the best little subline in a while! #HeartsofSteel #Bumblebee and #Megatron are great additions to the set so far!

https://youtu.be/hEl97ldeYG8?si=pQgJLuOERD56o0Wo

Just finished #UDON #MegaMan Timelines #1; a short but sweet new adventure for the #BlueBomber; really wishing this wasn't a one-shot #manga — I'd devour a longer series in this style! Anyone else read this or looking forward to others in the #Timelines series? 🤘💙🤘

Ok, these #Transformers #Timelines #HeartsofSteel toys are pretty interesting so far. #OptimusPrime and #Starscream are a solid showing from a design perspective, even if I'd have preferred different characters first.

https://youtu.be/7njcjQdbsY0?si=Sj_qJjD5HjgosRYy

https://youtu.be/6B8IQFCHre8?si=-RWetNMe973g4XGT

#delorescannon #timelines #personaltimelines #newage #starseeds #extraction

https://youtu.be/cQQv-Jd2rOQ?si=S1QA6X41bXuKe-sY

#densities #timelines