I looked at it when Arco posted about it. Looks really nice and seem to have lots of features. I was impressed by some of the topics discussed there, the excistence of time in and outside Ea especially!! *wishes there were discussions like that here*

Before anyone comes along and say "start one here then": My post on the subject would involve 4 dimensional Riemann-geometry and a bit of M-theory. There are people on this board that know what that is, but not many!

*eats strawberry* Yum!

I've been studying the thing for 5 years now, not nearly enough to understand it properly. You want me to explain it to you so that you understand it in less than 5 minutes? Thanks! Your confidence in me is hearthwarming!

Space is curved: Yes, that's Riemann. Like the surface of the Earth. The/a definition of a straight line is the shortest distance between two points. On a curved surface like the Earth, this would be a curve. Now, if you construct a triangle on a curved surface, the sum of all the angles will always be greater than 180 degrees. (I think Vir can more maths than me, he'll give you a more stringent description!)

However, the Universe is flat. Space is curved locally, but the Universe itself is flat. Flat means that parallell lines will stay parallell, and that by travelling in a given direction you will never end up at the origin. This is bad news for my favourite model of the Universe, as a simple 4-dimentional surface sphere in a 5 dimentional matematical space. (not a physical one)

Also, a flat Universe without borders will (probably, I'm not entirely convinced yet) be a Universe of infinite size. But the total energy in the Universe is not infinite. Thus the average energy in the Universe would be zero. Which is unlikely, just look out your window.

M-theory is a 12-23 dimentional theory combining string theory and super-gravity theory. I don't get it at all. However, in this theory there need to be two time dimentions. Which is a bit tricky to comprehend. But this would solve some of the geometric time trouble they got themselves into on lotrplaza, with the void and the timeless halls and so on.

A complex number (that is the name of the thing, not it's difficulty, although it fits..) is a number that consists of a real part and a imaginary part. Z=(a+ib), where Z is the complex number, a is the real part and ib the imaginary. (Imaginary because people didn't think they excisted, but they do. Kept the name though). i is the square root of minus one. Yes, it can be done, don't believe your teacher! Now comes the tricky part: The imaginary term is offset by 90 degrees on our reality(real term). Got it? This means we can't observe it. But when squaring it, the square will be offset by 180 degrees, and therefore are back in our plane, only negative, and now we can measure it!

Now: If the "world" in wich Eru, the Ainur(?) and the song are is a complex one, then Ea can be a real projection of this. Then you can in Ea have a definite, linear timeline(like in our perception of our time) with a beginning and a end, but still let the Ainur and Eru do stuff in a cronological order before the beginning of time, as seen from Ea. This will also, as I posted in some other thread here somewhere, let the world be deterministic as seen from Eru, but still let all its inhabitants have free will. It also removes the consept of evil, and why Eru is allowing Melkor to do his mischief. From Eru's perspective, Melkor, Sauron & Co are contributing to reach the desired result, although they being in Ea and therefore in time does not see the whole picture and think they are working against Eru's plans and in their own self interest.

That was todays lesson on modern cosmology emplyed on Middle Earth. Anyone signing up for advanced classes?

Oh! Yes! And a nice little coincidence concerning M-theory: It says our universe (or multiverse, many universes) is like a membrane (in 23-24 dimentions i think). Everything and every process in the Universe is then just a oscillation mode in this membrane. Music is a set of oscillations. Therefore one could say that the Universe is indeed made out of music! Every atom, colour and taste is made up of a series of tones in the membrane. Tolkiens poetic creation becomes more real than he had ever thought!

I kinda understand what he's saying..(the lightbulb is flickering)

nice explanation of the song theory, Grev. tho i didnt understand the mathematical part much. i never knew u wud use complex numbers (Argand plane n all) to explain the song of the Ainur. i have heard a bit about the 12 - dimensional Super String theory. but it goes all over me. gravity bends the space-time fabric, that much i know. then gravity can bend light (explains the phenomena of Einstein's Rings). i used to be fascinated with cosmology when i was younger but when i saw how much math is involved i stopped likin it much. so far have u scientists gone on the Holy Grail - the Unified Field Theory. Gravity creates the problem, doesnt it. anyway i have seen this site b4 Ethy thru www.lordotrings.com. for me being the member of 1 forum (and a cool forum like PT) is enough. but its a gud sight anyway

*stands stricken at realizing lack of intelligence*

Unified Field theory? Well, Buckingham Palace's gardeners won't be happy about that...

I understand. Well ill ask her when she comes by. There hasnt been much of her or any of you from the quest here yet.

Hahaha Ayan! Very funny. I have just now seen your little attachment.
Well its not that complicated Vee. Butt yes, i understand about the homelyness of PT.

Hah yeah i know, i saw it too. But the site really looks fun too me.