Science may shake if Einstein's theory of relativity is disproved, but the little man with fuzzy hair would not be threatened. He thrived on discovery. Until now, nothing travels faster than the speed of light has been "fact." However, scientists at the world's largest physics lab just announced that neutrinos may be 60 nanoseconds faster.
That's only a smidgeon, but it's a reminder: Little things mean a lot. No wonder the 1950s song with that title became so loved. We too often equivocate "big" with strength and importance, and "little" with weakness and insignificance.
Non-physicists can grasp this much. Neutrinos are fundamental, yet one of the least understood particles that make up the universe. Almost zero mass and no electric charge enable them to pass through great distances in matter without being affected by it.
In life-lesson terms: If we strip down to the basics, drop the weights hindering us, we can move faster with less damage. As the early Greek poet Hesiod noted: "If you add a little to a little and do this often, soon the little will become great."
Individuals who learn this never give up. If those individuals carried this over into groups, like Congress, the nation would not bog down in the mental, physical, spiritual, political, economic morass that screams continuously, "Shutdown."
Survival itself may depend upon agreeing on the essentials, losing partisanship and passing a little legislation at a time until we begin to pick up speed, like unhindered neutrinos.
All or nothing approaches often lead nowhere. While health leaders focused on the large, infectious diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and flu, four chronic ones — cancer, diabetes, and heart and lung problems — account for two-thirds of the deaths worldwide.
The U.N. calls it a "public health emergency in slow motion." The main culprit? Ourselves. Bad habits, such as smoking, overeating and too little exercise, are killing us.
Little things mean a lot. Recent findings suggest that a daily 15 minutes of moderate exercise leads to a longer life. Benefits accrue even when exercise is sporadic. Bad habits can be broken. Even a little willpower, like muscle, grows stronger with use. In "Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength," psychologist Roy Baumeister and science writer John Tierney illustrate little becoming much, such things as having small, planned snacks to strengthen the larger diet resolve.
A little something is better than all or nothing. For example, technology, as impressive as it is, should not eliminate teaching handwriting. Just a little practice brings better grades, aids memory and stimulates brain circuits technology does not reach.
Neutrinos make their point: Little things mean a lot. Discovery occurs "here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10). Bypassing the little, the nanoseconds can block the big.
Fashion designer Coco Chanel said: "Fashion fades; only style remains the same." Real style, whether in Congress or individuals, stems from learning and doing the little things until the big emerges, honest and powerful, a lasting theory of relativity Einstein would approve.
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Hello ' + mg_duke_user + '; thanks for your interest in submitting content to TBO.com.
Based on recent activity, your privileges have been temporarily suspended. You may submit content again after ' + mg_penalty_expire_time + '.
While you\’re waiting, we encourage you to check out the Member Agreement , which spells out our rules of the road. If you have questions or believe you\’ve received this message in error, please e-mail info@tbo.com .
Thanks again. We look forward to your future contributions and participation.
'; } else { form += '\n\ Post a comment \n\
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Hello ' + mg_duke_user + '; thank you for your interest in submitting content to TBO.com.
Based on recent activity, your privileges have been temporarily suspended. You may submit content again after ' + mg_penalty_expire_time + '.
Thanks again. We look forward to your future contributions and participation.
'; } else { var form = '\n\ Post a comment \n\
\n\ * Keep it clean
\n\ * Respect others
\n\ * Don\'t hate
\n\ * Don\'t use web URLs or the comment will not post
\n\ * Don\'t use language you wouldn\'t use with your mom
\n\ * Use "Report Inappropriate Comments" link when necessary
\n\ * See Member Agreement for details
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