#4: "The Powers of Probably"

 

"The Powers of Probably"

 

I realize all this business is a bit much, just to discuss a rock and roll band.

But The Get Quick isn't just a rock and roll band.

For my money, they are “the” rock and roll band.

They’re also how humanity learned to explore the multiverse.

Relating that aspect of their history—our history—will be fittingly fantastic.

You'll enjoy that more and understand Quantum better with this elementary base layer I'm liberally applying. Afraid you'll have to apply some brain power to absorb this layer. But I do think it’s well worth it. So please stay with me— we're getting there.

Probably.

Probably.

That’s the word when describing quantum reality.

Long ago, when we first plugged into Quantum, all of us learned about Probably. It fast became the only word that applied. Once we started rooting around in the strangely fascinating Quantum Realm, all definitive statements were rendered moot. Everything became radically relative, and “probably” was all we ever said.

Not just in the lab, or on the road with the lads. The powers of "Probably" applied across the board. Out for dinner say, when the waiter confirmed my order, I’d tell him:

"Probably.”

Of course, it was the Sixties and we all got a laugh with such nonsense. But I wasn't playing for laughs. I said "probably" because it most accurately reflected reality as I perceived it. After Quantum, nothing was definite, everything was changing, and the best answer for everything was "probably”.

All that started with The Get Quick.

These wonderful lads are the "quantum stars" underpinning this entire human adventure. That adventure is full and underway, in a whiz-bang of corporate orchestration. But Quantum Computing had an opening act, so to speak. We launched all that jazz with a rock outfit you know nothing about.

Or know everything about, depending on your reality.

In this one, there's much to learn about The Get Quick. That's why qTom is here, trying his best to explain Quantum…without resorting to OMG! Internet cat memes. (Although there's a fair share of OMG! regarding TGQ , indeed.)

This proves difficult to do. I'm more accustomed to such discussions with my peers. Or not discussing things at all, as such murmurings might “get me gone”, as they say.

Honestly, I should have vanished from this business long ago. But I'm afraid I missed that reality.

I imagine the time to depart was when I started answering "probably" at restaurants on Telegraph Hill, in 1967. I would have, if I was smart. But I’m not smart. I’m bloody brilliant. And many a brilliant bloke has learned how difficult it is to step away from Quantum.

There's just too much spark and wonder involved. We arrived for the excitement, then stayed to help desperately contain it. Writing this is probably my attempt to rationalize our perilous involvement with Quantum. It’s dreadfully fascinating stuff. Remarkably dangerous stuff, as well. Powers that should have been partially considered then ultimately destroyed.

But we didn't do that.

I didn't do that.

Perhaps in reading this you’ll understand why. Start warming to it all. Now you’ve had some quantum turf to burn, you might be catching the glow. Watch out-- this stuff truly burns. As a fireside chat it’s illuminating. Poke at things, but mind the sparks. Burn down your life, Quantum will.

Ask The Get Quick.

First, you’ll have to learn about The Get Quick. How they got involved with multiple realities. And how that impacts your reality.

With a dash of alternative history-- and just enough quantum understanding-- you'll realize how the most pivotal pop band of the 1960s both rocked our world… and was rocked right out of our world.

That history is a mess I’m untangling for you good people. (As much as Quantum reality does untangle.) And what I’m realizing in the process is what matters.

Past all the complexity, through all the uncertainty, and crashing through all those blasted realities, one purely powerful, truly wonderful and fantastically indestructible element remains.

The Get Quick.

See, I don’t believe in Quantum. I don’t believe it’s right. And I surely don't believe in the buggers running it now. But I do believe in something.

I believe in The Get Quick.

Those lads are the one good thing that remains true. They are the one incorruptible, essential element that can be salvaged from this whole rock ‘n roll stew.

Get Quick music proves that the human spirit prevails. Realties may crash, but beauty remains. Human beauty. And through this beauty, I believe our failures may be redeemed. This old man's conscience cleaned.

So I'm making my stand with Old Fashioned in hand. I believe in The Get Quick. With that belief comes a terrible regret. Because how these lads have been treated by record companies, movie studios, The Air Force, other regularly rotten corporate forces— as well as blokes like me— is plain despicable. That’s the only word that applies.

Despicable.

We've all done these lads terribly, horribly wrong.

In turn, what they’ve done for us is remarkably.

We threw them in hell and they came back with pieces of heaven. Put it on records for all of us to sing with.

But someone had decided those records should be off the bloody record; vanished and gone away.

Probably because of… “probably”.

You see, that’s the most perilous aspect of Quantum.

We don't really know how it works.

And that's rather dangerous.

The Get Quick illustrate this danger quite starkly.

What they endured to produce today's quantum powers should be shared as a warning. But their story is more than just a warning.

They are the epic of our times.

Pulled from the dustbin of that Age of Aquarius, thrown through the cosmic dust of reality, these lads signify the brilliant, brutal lunacy of Quantum times.

And quantum are our times.

More the morrow.