Butterfly Actual

The butterfly effect is a termed coined by Edward Lorenz. He was working on some weather models as he was trying to help the world get better at predicting weather patterns (something we would all appreciate.)

He was running a model he had run before but wanted to run it again from the middle of the model as computing power in 1961 was a tad bit slower than it is now. In order to run the model from the middle, he input the data from the previous model’s sheet he had from the previous run through and hit go. He let the machine do the work it needed and probably went to go get some coffee or take a smoke break. Meanwhile, the computer ran the model and spit out the data.

When he returned to the data, it was drastically different from what it was on the previous run through.

The new data was practically based on a completely different set of data points. He assessed and reassessed the data looking for a bug or an error and found one. Edward input one of his data points as ‘.506’ rather than the original data point of ‘.506127’. Quite literally, he rounded. He rounded off three points of data that were completely useless in his mind.

Unfortunately for him, those three points of data created a whole new weather system.
Hence, he revealed his findings to the scientific community. He traveled and spoke on his findings. He began calling it the butterfly effect because you never would have thought something so small like positions 4, 5, and 6 of a decimal point could cause such a huge difference in outcome. He compared it to a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a tornado or a hurricane. In his mind, the significance of those three decimal points were as significant as a butterfly’s wings and he never could have predicted their importance.

He never could have predicted the importance of something so small.

In Lorenz’s mind, the butterfly effect was about how the seemingly mundane results unpredictably in the monolithic.

I never know what detail I might change and what effect it might actually have in my life. I must give even the smallest details significance as they play a part of the whole.

What details do you need to give more significance as they play a part of the whole of your life?

Attributing,
–JT

1000 Strong

Cesena 1000 sounds like the new model of Italian sports car. Oddly enough, it is actually a group of people who gathered together in Cesena, Italy. They came together to play an amazing rendition of “Learn to Fly” by the Foo Fighters. 1000 people gathered together to play a song in Cesena, Italy in order to coerce the Foo Fighters to come to Cesena and play a show. 

If you have not seen the video; then go watch it now. It is pretty moving. In case you were wondering if the Foo Fighters were going to go play the concert, here is Dave Grohl’s response. 

Think about the power of these people coming together! They came together to play for a band they loved. Cesena was probably not even much of a blip on the Foo’s radar until this video went viral. However, one guy said, “I want the Foo Fighters to come to Cesena to play a show.” and set off to make it happen. If you watch far enough in the video; then, you will see the ignition of this movement. You will see a guy get up and talk about the year he has spent working on this project. The dedication of the 1000 people who showed up, paid their own way, and spent their own time working to do this right. The time and money they poured into this project ultimately resulted in their net gain. However, none of it would have been possible with the man who started it all. 

Fabio Zaffagnini.

On top of being the dreamer behind all of this, he did not even take fame for what he did. No article I read told me who he is, no tweet told me about how great and awesome he is. Quite simply he is the “Dreamer” behind this project. The only way to find his name I have found is to sit through the credits of the video and watch until it gets to the credit that says, “Dreamer.” This guy started dreaming and did not stop till it happened.

This man started something by himself and people rallied to his cause. His cause was not to solve world hunger or cure cancer. His cause was to bring a band to a location for a concert. His dream was simple, but he could not do it alone. He called and people responded.

He inspires me to work towards a goal larger than myself. He inspires me to rally to the cause of my neighbor. 

What cause are you rallying to? What cause are you leading the way on? What cause are you called to that is greater than you?

Rallying,

–JT