Something that happens to rain

 And fun to work with, like when the sky gets even colder." "You've got a very convincing point there." "Steam?" "Yeah. I'll get to it later. They'll develop all kinds of different beliefs, and that could cause problems." "You're sure about that?" "Of course." "Will do. I think we've got wrap." "It moves around?" "Over time it can switch, yes." "I don't know about that. The way we're working gravity is, it actually pulls things toward the center of the planet. I wasn't going to say that.At last, we came to the final meeting. What happens?" "How much are they going to appreciate what they have?" "Right." "Right." "I don't know. If we don't give them an instruction manual, they won't know what to believe." "Yes, it does. But we have a word for it that just seems to sound colder than skidding. But let's just suppose they want to express some appreciation for what we've done? What can they do?" "What do you think?" "I'll tell you what. Will being able to do that make them happier? I mean, if it doesn't, why bother?" "Well, I think that depends on the creature who's doing the thinking." "Yes, it is." "Would you call magnetism essential or just a convenience?" "If I were a creature, I'd consider it absolutely essential. Let's go with that." "Great. Then, please, proceed. They'd be stiff and that would mean they couldn't swim." "Snow? What's that?" "Something that happens to rain when it gets colder." "I think he's made a case for gravity." "Wisely said. Can the instruction manual. In fact, that it's pretty fantastic, even if it can't last forever. How insensitive would that be? I would want creatures who would feel sad." "Hey, that does sound like fun." "If they value life enough, they'll know what a great thing it is to be part of, even if just for part of the whole thing." "I'm against food shipments. Enjoy the universe. But what happens if we just leave the question open?" "Can we do that?" "I don't see why not. Let's go beyond the basics for a moment to spiritual stuff. If we're true to it, we should allow for some of them to be really happy and others to be really unhappy." "Why not?" "We're leaving that simple choice up to the simpler creatures." "I brought the subject up before, but I can't resist one more try." "Sliding around on it?" "Yeah. No instruction manual." "What?" "Skating. That's why we call them flakes." "I think that, after all is said and done, we can only hope they realize we made what we think are the right decisions." "Here's the question. When it gets a little colder, it could turn into something we call frost." "We already covered that. The smart ones will realize that a well-rounded diet is much better. Inspired work, really." "You mean, everything gets a certain share of the whole life of the universe?" "Right. The question I have is, what will they think of us?" "That's a very consequential question. Now, he or she notices that the whole picture in the sky is reflected in the water. Once it's there, we butt out." "Well, let's talk about that. We decided they're going to be smart enough to think about themselves, right?" "That's the plan. We're talking about what creatures know in the universe we're inventing, not what they know about what might or might not be outside of it." "So what if we just leave the question unanswered and let them make up their own minds?" "Like it." "Which is?" "Well, the smartest creatures are going to realize they don't last forever. Creatures can slip. When the sky is cold, the rain could also fall down as ice balls." "All right! Looking forward to it!" "I think we all are." "But, boss. And guess what? He finally came around." "It certainly seems that way to me." "Hey, this stuff is really quite versatile." "And, hopefully, you can see that we believe in them enough to give them the freedom to learn things on their own, so they should read that as it's right to give other creatures the freedom to believe whatever they want to. We did. What do you think? Happy, sad?" "I'm surprised you'd ask. But will they have a choice about what they eat?" "The smarter ones will." "Be quite pretty to see all that white stuff coming down. The rest if up to them. Anybody interested in the technology behind it?" "An overview will do." "Really?" "Yeah. Do we or do China Injection Molding Powder Metallurgy Copper-Based Parts Company we not expect these creatures to last for millions of years?" "At least, where they behave as intelligently as they've been given the ability to." "If the smart creatures can't figure out something that basic, I'm going to be one disappointed dude." "OK. We derived it from the idea of a stream. But I think you're talking about the early days." "The usual binary stuff?" "Right.'" "I hope so. If they have all these processes going on inside them just to keep them alive, how are they going to have time to think about anything but the processes?" "Oh, no problem. My only hope is that these smart creatures appreciate what we invented enough to love whatever they want to think may or may not have invented it." "No need to. What do you think will go on in their minds?" "I think they'd say, 'Wow, magnificent! I don't know who invented it, but they sure did a great job. See you then. I'll think about it and let you know. When the temperature gets colder. I can understand how the simpler creatures will be happy." "You mean, good overall? I mean, this freedom thing is going to allow for some really sorrowful events. It's this special power - force, but I know you don't think much of that word - that makes everything that's not attached to the planet stay put." "You want to abridge it?" "No, not within the world they inhabit." "Go ahead." "But it can also be a pack of fun. Soon, we would be ready to rev it up and send it for a spin. How do they deal with the realization that none of them is going to live forever. They have to figure out everything for themselves." "I have one more very interesting question." "I agree." "OK, then. I'm for the self-sustaining setup." "In what sense?" "If every creature lived forever, how long would it take for the planet to fill up? After all, there's only so much space. Let's say for a moment we gave them one, and it had all the answers in it, including how to make everything they would ever discover how to make." "So in time they should figure out that the world they behold is one truth and that, if their beliefs grow out of it, they should pretty much agree on a set of beliefs. So forget the manual. I thought we'd start with gravity, move on to magnetism, confirm food, and then cover a few elements of environmental variety that we haven't discussed, like snow. It will be slippery, just like the snow. Do not use the word I disapprove of, whatever you do. I don't know if I like that. "Well, what do you know? Here we are, at our final meeting. Wouldn't that usually make things fly off?" "Not in this case." "Go ahead." "Purpose, please?" "Well, I have a little list. But only as rain." "Yeah, some respect for the entire invention. Anyway, he or she or both of them, if they happen to be a couple, stand there and realize that because of what we did, they can experience such a beautiful sight." "And get this. How long do you think we need?" "It should go pretty fast." "Obviously, two is one of your favorite numbers. Up, down; hotter, colder." "So what will their choices be?" "Well, they can decide to eat plants and animals or just plants. Go on." "It works for me." "The person sees the sky looking up and looking down?" "Yeah. We're above that, right?" "We certainly are. We had now invented the universe. They'll just do the basic things without thinking too much about life in general. Just deleted the 'tr' because we thought the idea of transformation is evident without it. On the other side of the lake, he or she sees a big piece of leftover material, which right now we're calling a moon, that has already made its appearance, because it's where it can reflect some of the sunlight.

 What do you think?" "Sounds workable. What about the creatures whose lives happen to 'end' very early?" "Sounds like a sad event, doesn't it?" "Yes, it does. I'm sure we can build in a control." "Yeah, but water is heavy. First, rain that's already on the ground as water. They can show their appreciation by taking care of what they can experience. We don't need empty praise while they take their eyes off the ball." "Why food? I thought we covered that in an earlier meeting." "Makes a tremendous amount of sense to me. Of course, once they know which end is up, they'll also know which end is down." "Anything else?" "No, sir." "Seems like a natural development to me. We plan to put all those functions on autopilot. Won't the white things hurt the creatures when it lands?" "Not the way we're planning it. But, of course, now you know that, because you just read them. Anything else?" "Yes, sir." "Thank you. If all goes as planned, one day we're going to have these pretty intelligent creatures, standing on this relatively big thing we call a planet, without a clue which end is up." "Anything else?" "Ice in the sky." "Oh, me, too. Let's say we just go with it? You've got the votes." "What happens then?" "We get something I mentioned up front: snow." "Yeah, I love what you can do with it. So let me recap." "Good. This all sounds a little optimistic to me." "What if the smarter ones don't like the idea of eating other animals?" "They could get by on plants." "Of course. Can I at least share them with the creatures who can read?" "The meeting notes?" "Yeah." "OK, great. As soon as the weather warms up, it becomes water again." "How happy can that make them?" "Well, that depends on how you look at it." "Sounds like a reasonable conclusion to me." "Can we have a hand for the entire team in tech?" "Stop, you're embarrassing me." "Good. One is so limiting, but as soon as you go to two, wow, the possibilities really get exciting." "Now, of course, you're referring to the creatures who become scientists?" "Yeah. But for starters we think the little piece of metal should probably point up. Magnetism it is. And remember, happy times or sad, we did our very best." "I'm not sure I like that." "Well, being able to decide that is consistent with our variety principle. Besides, I like giving them challenges that make them use their brains right down to the last brain cell - or why did we put that last brain cell there?" "I completely agree." "Not to worry. We could use some poetry about now. I think it might really be helpful if the planets that have life on them that's smart enough to read come with an instruction manual. We have to trust the smarter ones to watch out. And what are we doing here, going to all this trouble to invent something wonderful if it's just a stopover on the way to a better place?" "Makes sense. They should be able to know everything that's in what we're inventing but what's outside of it - " "- should, at least, not be their primary concern." "I like that." "We should definitely include it. The hard stuff, which we've given the working name of ice, could form a layer on top of the water so, no matter how cold the sky gets, the covering would actually keep the creatures warmer. Maybe there are some sky creatures that happen to fly overhead. 

Next, we have something called magnetism. So that does it." "I think they should just do what my grandmother always told me and that's to count their blessings." "Hey, that brings up a really interesting question." "What about the simpler creatures? Do they ever eat the smarter ones?" "There might be occasions." "Lots of water, but light enough to float down?" "Exactly. So let's review our choices. Things can slide around and bang into each other. This invention will let them figure that out." "I thought the variety thing was quite evident. So pretty soon there wouldn't be any room for new creatures. On balance, I like it as part of environmental variety." "Which is?" "Lifespans - for creatures, planets, whatever." "Go on." "Neat. They're going to have a great time, trying to figure out all we put into this thing. You people are having entirely too much fun down in the lab. Creatures young and old and slide on it. Anything else is an optional extra. So I think realizing that should help them understand the overall idea we're going with. So that does it. Remember, we said that's what water would do - reflect things that are above it." "What if they know for sure there's something afterward." "Yes, it is. No way we want to invent creatures who would be happy at a time like that." "Sure thing. And if you value it - " "- Hey, right. I don't think many of them will decide just to eat animals. Congratulations. You love another creature. You care about the gizmo, you have all the beliefs you need, including how to make us happy." "OK, OK." "What's that?" "They eat each other. Anything else for rain?" "Just one more thing. That's it!" "What?" "The way they'll finally be able to think." "What?" "When one of the smart creatures 'completes' his or her life, or when these creatures just think about that happening, how much should they know?" "Can you please clarify the question?" "Well, should they know if something else does or doesn't come after the lives they're living?" "That is a very interesting question." "What's it for?" "Do we want everything we invent to fly off the agglomerations and disappear into space?" "Of course, not." "Which is?" "Kind of a cold coating. I don't want any enormous round things hammering the creatures." "The top line will do." "In the sky? I don't know about that." "They'll be fine. What now?" "Hmm, any thoughts on that?" "Well, it seems to me that the more they appreciate their lives, the more they'll be able to come to terms with such a thought. I just want to review what we decided and make sure we're all in agreement." "Neither can I. My concern is the smarter creatures. The flakes will actually be quite light. They'd realize some life is better than none. I insist that the entire invention be self-sustaining." "When it gets hot, it could float up as something we're calling steam." "Really?" "Yep. But not forever. Sounds perfectly appropriate to me." So our final meeting came to an end. So pretty soon after we have creatures who are smart enough to care which end is up, they'll learn that if they put a little piece of metal on a tiny axel it will be attracted to the top or bottom of the agglomeration, depending on the charge that's there at the time." "Yes?" "Now, instead of coming down as plain water, the rain comes down as these really cool white flakes." "Right." "And?" "The ground can get what we call slippery." "Uh-oh." "Yes, sir." "Sounds essential to me." "What else are the creatures going to think about?" "I think we have to deal with the hard question. I believe you have another subject to cover?" "Yeah." "Nice. We plan to give the top of the agglomeration one magnetic charge and the bottom the opposite charge. How is that going to affect them?" "Hmm, good question. ." "The creatures?" "Yeah." "Agreed. They read backward from what we invented." "Whatever. It's just another way of saying we don't trust what we invented to function on its own. That actually about does it for inventions. Why don't we look at it from both sides?" "Go on. So the creatures could have fun with it, too." "OK, let's say they learn to do that." "Let me give you a really convenient use for it. But on the level of each agglomeration, it's basically generated when the planet spins." "Of course." "That's why we came up with gravity. Won't it tell them too much about what's outside of what we're inventing?" "Hmm, I tell you what. Please, move on. I don't want the land covered up with it forever." "Ice skating?" "Yeah." "We know the creatures need energy, and food is the way they're going to get it. Wouldn't that be kind of an insult to their intelligence?" "Interesting point. That's part of the reason for making them smart, isn't it?" "Yes, it is." "All right, granted. Now, let's suppose they know for sure there's nothing after it." "Sorry, we absolutely must trust what we invented." "Transform itself? Why would it do that?" "We figure it will be heat sensitive. All in favor? Excellent.''' "Oh, I see." "Yeah. Put yourself in their position. How much of a share do you think each creature should have? Want to set an amount?" "Seems kind of stiff and unnatural to me. I mean, even the simple things they learn to make, like radios and TV's, will come with instruction manuals. The other creature completes his or her life." "That's it for rain?" "No, no." "What else is there?" "I want to talk about some interesting concepts we have about how it might transform itself. What else?" "Food." "Right. But that only leaves one choice." "Can you provide some clarification?" "Sure." "Where's it come from?" "Oh, there are a variety of sources, because we need it in general distribution to help hold the entire invention together. And it's back to the lab for you. We can either have it shipped in or each planet can provide its own. What do you say we just go with our variety principle?" "I don't know about letting that go too far. How could they plan anything or feel any freedom and dignity if we were always stepping in and changing the rules?" "I'll go along with that. I was especially glad that the big boss might give me the go-ahead to release my meeting notes." "I can't imagine a better arrangement. I was waiting for the right moment to bring up my idea that every planet that would have life that can read should come with an instruction manual. They may need some time to catch on, but, I can assure you, they've got what it takes." "It would seem that way." "What about the Q and A session?" "I believe we scheduled that for the end." "What about the long-term effects." "Let's say one evening there's this intelligent creature, who happens to walk down to a lake that doesn't have ice on it, because the weather is warm." "Got a timeframe for the big birth?" "We should be ready for a go in about a week." "Yeah, but that only goes so far." "As long, course, if they don't hurt anybody. I mean, if we're giving them brains that are appropriate to their needs, why would we take away the chance to use them?" "Besides, where are you going to put this instruction manual? On a rock, where they'll see it one day? It all sounds kind of unnatural to me." "Go on. The smarter creatures can learn everything about what's inside the universe we're inventing and they can ask questions about what might or might not be outside of it. And just think! If this universe worked well, who knows? We could decide to go into mass production. We want to free them up to think about their lives, do things they actually want to do, and, my favorite subject, think about and discover the given." "Let me make a note of that. Then we were scheduled for a final question and answer period." "Me, too." "You're right." "What happens when the frosty flakes hit the ground?" "Sometimes they pile up." "The given?" "What the universe is made of, how it works, etc. However, I'm not too against empty praise as long as they do keep their eyes on the ball. On the other hand, if you see that the creatures have their own lives but they also contribute to the support of other creatures, it starts to make sense. We figure, why make the creatures think about the billions of things that will be going on to keep them alive." "Can I just ask one thing, boss?" "Sure. Every day this train of food arrives out of nowhere. But if the creatures realize, as I do, that even a moment of life is better than none at all, they should finally be able to make peace with such a sad loss. Then the creature you love - " "- careful now. Hey, how about if we compromise?" "What do you mean?" "My notes. It certainly seems like a basic perfection to me. What do you say we move to the Q & A session? Question, anybody?" "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do have one. Just let us know when you're ready to launch the universe. I'd like to be there." "Yes, I think that's right. What were you going to say?" "That it goes with the idea that we said they should be free to make up their own minds. I like ice." "Are you saying some of them might not be happier?" "I'm saying, if they're as free as we agreed they should be, yes, some of them are bound to be less than jolly." 

"Good." "Can you just assure me of one thing?" "What?" "I need you to keep the ice balls relatively small. The sun is just going down on one crinkle of land or mountain, and it's sending this rosy afterglow into the sky. The first thing they can do is take good care of what we invented. Did you prepare an agenda?" "Yes, I did. More would start to impinge on their freedom. Two more things." "Excuse me. And there they are, looking at this big complex thing called the universe, and there's no instruction manual." "Thanks. I've heard enough about food." "Yes, we did." "Exactly." "Having it shipped in feels kind of artificial to me. We figured when the temp gets even lower, it could turn into something hard as a rock." "Right." "Why that?" "Couple of reasons. You win." "Have you done the math?" "Yeah. If all you see is part of the picture, it may not seem like such a great idea. It was time to invent details like gravity and magnetism." "And it goes with - " "- I know, I know, our variety principle. But now let's face up to the question in a general sense." "Especially not frozen." "How did you arrive at that term?" "We combined 'floating' and 'lakes." "Fine. First, let's look at gravity. Rain." "Oh, sorry. I mean, show some respect for their lives and do the best they can with them. Let me wax poetic here for a moment. It's good, we're good." "Ice balls? Why have that?" "Well, if we're really serious about everything happening in a perfectly natural way, and we agree that when the temps get really cold, the water becomes ice, then, if the water happens to be falling from the sky when it's really cold, it should be able to come down as ice. We sure enjoyed making it." "Well, I think it only would be if they didn't see much in what we've done." "OK, then." "Whatever suits them." "What?" "Should there be a way for them to know about us?" "What? They can't realize we did things like make the place they get to live in magnificent - that blue sky, gold sun, the green plants, all the other creatures?" "I guess if they're as smart as we hope they are they'd be able to read a lot about us from that. He or she looks up and sees the blue sky with some white clouds in it." "I agree. It was pretty straightforward. Like floating lakes?" "Right. Plus and minus; right, left; male, female. I can't ask for more than that." "Cool." "Hmm, go on." "OK." "I see, everything has a dual role." "I have a more basic question." "In what way?" "Different ones will have different opinions. We don't want the water creatures to get too cold." "Thanks, boss." "It would certainly be odd, especially considering that we plan for the universe to function in a perfectly natural way." "You made sure of that?" "We did our best." "And?" "I think we said they should be free to make up their own minds." "Is that a problem?" "It can be. I don't want to hear any 'Why didn't you tell us?' stuff when the universe is actually up and running. Seems to me if they're smart enough to consider such a question, they're also smart enough to figure out the choices we had to make." "Right. You should try it." "Let me check my notes, boss