What is Bulk?

According to our nascent theory, Bulk is basically a form of energy.  Maybe form is not the right description.   Kind of energy might be a better way to think of it.  Imagine an unseen force that has an interdependent effect on other matter (i.e., both affects and is affected by other matter).  As we learned from Prof. Einstein, energy and mass are equivalent.  So Bulk is mass, since it is energy.  When appropriate, I will capitalize Bulk to differentiate the Theory from the stuff you buy at Costco.  I will also thrown down a placeholder for a longer discussion on the overuse of capitalization.  Bulk as mass makes it easy to remember, but maybe confusing for those of you who are still at Costco trying to by the 12-pack of capital letters.

But lets move on.  Bulk is a special and positive kind of energy.  It is a force that drives and results from positive action.  When one takes a positive action, such as bowling a strike or skipping a rock many times across the water, one can consider it "bulky."  Like mass and energy, bulk is relative.  If you happen to be a pro bowler, then throwing that strike may not be as bulky of a move as it is for, say, me (I am a mediocre bowler).  Therefore, being a great bowler is not necessarily bulky by definition, rather, a poor bowler scoring well is what demonstrates the person's bulk.

As the presence of bulk makes something or someone bulky, its absence makes that person or thing "slim" or "slender."  There are a whole series of terms that can used to describe the presence and absence of bulk, and they coincide with the normal usage of the term.  Size, enormity, girth are all synonyms as thin, slim, and slender are its antonym.

There has been much debate and discussion on whether or not Bulk is a zero sum game.  What I mean by this is whether there is a finite amount of bulk in the universe.  The zero sum crowd argues that as bulk is a form of energy and you must convert mass to make energy, you must have a finite amount.  The zero summers (lets call them Zeds) rest their argument on observation of the physical universe.  In which you may have a big pile of dirt or large bag of marbles, but at some point you would run out.

The other crowd takes more of a quantum mechanics (a discipline of sub atomic physics) approach.  Lets call this crowd the Cues (an alliterative play on quantum).  The Cues argument is couched in a lot of scary equations and statements about wave/particle duality and mass-less particles (e.g., gluons).  This discussion is way too deep for those of us not trained in physics and probably for most people who are.  Suffice it to say that there are two camps and its not easy to disprove either.

This takes us to the more metaphysical discussion of Bulk and why its a very positive thing to aspire to.  But its late and I have to get some sleep, so please check back soon for another interesting edition of This is Your Bulk, with your host, Dr. Praerodo Mihi.   

Yours in bulk,

Larry