Einstein's Dreams, 14 MAY 1905

"There is a place where time stands still. Raindrops hang motionless in air. Pendulums of clocks float mid-swing. ...As a traveler approaches this place from any direction, he moves more and more slowly. His heartbeats grow farther apart, his breathing slackens, his temperature drops, his thoughts diminish, until he reaches dead center and stops. For this is the center of time. From this place, time travels outward in concentric circles-at rest at the center, slowly picking up speed at greater diameters. ...And those who return to the outer world . . . Children grow rapidly, forget the centuries-long embrace from their parents... Children curse their parents for trying to hold them forever, curse time for their own wrinkled skin and hoarse voices. ...They move in a world they do not recognize. ...Soon they forget the centuries-long promises, which to them lasted only seconds. They become jealous even among strangers, say hateful things to each other, lose passion, drift apart, grow old and alone in a world they do not know..." From Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lughtman Who among us does not want to maintain the sweet spot? That perfect moment when everything clicks. We want it to last forever even though the rest of society moves forward in the outer circles at various speeds. At what point in time do we decide to move from the center of time to the outer circles? I have only two questions: What time is it? Where am I? As we move to the outer circles, the center of time has less influence, but time moves fast. Much like our society today, the The New Digital Divide Seth talks about was at the outer limits, but is now slowly drifting to the center while those in the center move to the outer circles. At some point the groups will merge to form new relationships and new organizations. The patterns change and repeat themselves, but they are never the same. *Graphic from The Future of Work, Thomas W. Malone