That's the name of the largest known star in existence. At least according to the book I'm reading, which was published in 1997. The radius of ol' Cephei is 11 astronomical units, with one astronomical unit being the distance from Earth to the sun (about 93 million miles). Therefore the diameter of this star is 22 times the distance from the Earth to our sun. If placed at the center of our solar system, Mu Cephei would encompass everything out to Saturn.

How rediculous is that?

Next time you find yourself outdoors on a clear night, take a look to the Eastern sky to find Mars. It's not that difficult, Mars is pretty prevelent right now, but it's still just a point of light in the sky. Then you take this star - this mass of boiling plasma - and think that it would stretch from here to there, many times over. I don't think I can totally wrap my mind around it. But I know it's cool.

Sigh... Oh God, what is this crazy world you've created for us? That's all I want to know. That's all anyone wants to know.

I've had another revalation, this time about the afterlife. I've decided that there is none.

Oh booooo.... no afterlife? This is all we get? You can't be serious. There must be more to it! What kind of shady carnival game are we supposed to be playing?!

Well chill out, all is not lost. I mean, the whole afterlife idea is kinda suspect to begin with. Why go through this intense period of several decades on Earth, only to pass on to some eternal netherworld where all of it becomes irrelevant? Obviously this world is important, and we are living it out, why does everyone need to work for something more?

I find it hard to conceptualize this afterlife as a place (aka Heaven/Hell) where we just continue existing. If we really just chill out there, we'd have to experience something that kept us sufficiently entertained and purposeful. Everything we experienced would proceed to change us somehow. And given an infinite timescale, we would presumably become infinitely different people. How do you sustain blissful harmony in such a place?

Of course I'm speculating on things of a Godly nature, and we must never forget that God can do whatever the fuck he pleases. There could well be some alternate plane of existence that I'm not capable of understanding or defining. If that is the case, we'll find out when we get there - and I can only hope they carry all the Indians games.

Otherwise, I think we ought to live this life to it's fullest, and everyone should be themselves at all costs.

So what does happen when we die? Could it really be the ultimate flame-out? Like going to sleep and never waking up? Well I certainly don't want to just disappear from existence without ever having knowledge of my own Game Over. The prospect is terrifying.

Terrifying...

But I don't really think that's what happens either.

I think we'll get a moment with God. A chance to meet our maker, maybe have a little Q and A... surely we're entitled to it? I think upon that instant in which you die, God will reveal himself to you for all that he's worth. I think you'll realize in that moment that there is no Heaven, there is no Hell, and you've got nothing special coming to you. You will realize that's it, that's the end, do not pass GO or collect 200 anything. Your life was lived on Earth, and now it has ended - just as planned - and now whatever divine spark sat within you will return to its almighty creator.

Sorry folks, but life is here and now, not there and later.

It's kind of a downer, but this is what each of us will realize upon our death.

Then we will realize why.

And suddenly we won't care.

And that's God for ya.