We went into this with an open mind, but we found that the popular idea of mergers was not correct. We found that such mergers are very rare.

We end up with a group of large predator vortices preying on smaller ones, which in turn prey on smaller ones still, forming a food chain of vortices.

You have a large vortex spinning around, with a smaller one inside. The large vortex has a shearing effect on the smaller one, like cake batter being stirred. The large-scale vortex acts like a giant mixer, stretching and thinning out the smaller one, transferring its energy into the larger vortex. The large-scale vortex actually acts like a vampire, sucking the energy out of the smaller one.

The recurrent theme in my mind, by Wednesday, was that no cavalry was coming, so we had to hold things together ourselves,

The momentum of the mind can be vexingly, involuntarily capricious.

Open your mind, open your heart and focus on the record, ... If you are in fact disposed to vote for impeachment in the name of a justice that is fair and blind and impartial, please do so only on the basis of the real record and the real testimony not on the basis of what someone else tells you is in the record.