8 light-minutes

I am: Gregory Benford A master literary stylist who is also a working scientist.

Which science fiction writer are you?

Today I’m going to tell you about the praesepe’s cow theory. No, it has nothing to do with Christmas, but with thought processes.

I’m an Analyst/Programmer. Many times, I see myself in situations where something is wrong and I can’t seem to find what. You know the drill, specially if you are professionals of the area as I am… At the times, often I go to a colleague to help me understand the problem so I can solve it. Very often, our colleague is not up to speed and we will have to explain him everything, with much detail as possible, so he may understand the problem.

Also often, when we’re through the explanation, we find the solution on our own and the colleague only said things as “hum”, “yes” or “I see”… This, my friends, means that our colleague was a “praesepe’s cow”.

If you think about the function that the cow has in the praesepe, you’ll figure it out… It’s laying there, doesn’t do nothing besides breathing and sound like a cow once and a while… Still the cow, it’s of the most importance to the praesepe, has it is responsible for keeping the baby Jesus warm.

So, this is wxactly what, with the obvious differences (mainly the sounds part), our colleague just did. He just listened to us, talked some short words or phrases showing that he was understanding (or not). The keystone here is that in that process we had to think so we could explain our problem, often, that is sufficient to make us understand the problem… Our colleague was important, even if he did almost nothing beside being there, at our side, listening…;)

UEFA has confirmed that F.C.Porto won’t be allowed to the Champions League in the next season, as a result of the decision by the Portuguese League in the case “Apito Final” (Final Whistle”), in spite of court decision of the “Apito Dourado” (Golden Whistle) has not yet been known.

This only proofs that portuguese football is bad and upside down… If they investigate and condemn, and if they would really do taht, we would get without clubs to play in Portugal…