@Anthrobus,
As concerns the discussion about the nature of nothingness, first consider the Universe, as we understand it, without us in it. This is no objective perspective by which to measure, gauge, investigate or understand the nature of this place. As an idea it will cease to exist. Without an objective perspective nothingness, as a concept, would exist.
Vivre l'espirit humain!
With a little help from a recently rediscovered but fairly outdated, and often underminded source:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/poly/gen001.htm , as well as current scientific investigation:
http://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sasha.Kashlinsky/BULKFLOWS/bulkflows.html
And:
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/voyager_heliosphere.html
I would like to submit the following model, as a possible response to the question of measuring time:
In the beginning the singularity (as we may see it from our perspective) divided into a field of potential and a field of energy. This first event may correspond to Mr Kashlinsky's observations, or Walter Russell's inspired model for that matter. In either event, matter and light do not yet exist, only energy expanding into a field of potential in waves.
'Space' is expanding relative to the expansion of this energy, and as it expands an electromagnetic force, or polarity comes into being. These waves together with the field itself are the conduits along which light, as soon as it comes into being a rhetorical fraction of a second later, will travel.
There is no relative speed for this expansion because there is no distance to travel. Light however does have relative speed because there is now polarity and distance created by the expansion. The motion of light is only an appearance, what we are observing is in effect a source of light effecting the waves of energy which have proceeded it.
As light travels across these waves through expanding space, matter is formed within the polarity between the waves of energy and the light traveling through it, most likely gases like hydrogen first. The frequency of the waves is relative to the velocity of light which travels through it and, subsequently determines the density of the matter which is left in its wake. More and more complex matter is formed in accordance with these fluctuating wavelengths, relative to the 'density' of the fluctuations. The complex matter left behind in the wake of light travelling across space condenses into solid matter, and what one of my cited sources calls the 'firmament' is founded. In its turn, solid matter becomes ever more complex as it interacts with itself until it becomes me sitting here puzzling out how all of this came to be, and I like, my ancedent: dense-matter, effect the flow of light through these wavelengths by being, well, dense. The heavier the object the less likely light can travel through. Solid matter stops it completely and in turn absorbs the radiant vibrations thus permitting me to lie in the sun with an ice cold beer to balance my capacity for absorbing it.
Within the infinitely condensed form of all existence there is no time, there is no space, there is no light and there is no matter, but for these things to come into being there must exist a potential which, like the energy of consciousness, makes them manifest.
I humbly request that someone agree or disagree that I may release these concepts from my Mind and get on with creating some sense of reality for myself ...
And the speed of time depends on the construction of the clock used to measure it.
