As the Mad Haters Cat or Hawking's turtles... and none of this helps at all. When talking of The Universe it is very easy to loose sight of your goal. What of the edge of reality, where is the center, was there a beginning and consequently an end... Philosophy or science. Did it begin or has it always... and, when you factor in that time began at the beginning then any discussion regarding a before is meaningless. Try to comprehend the following...
Use the speed of light as your constant. We seem to have found it to be true that c. is always the same value c. (in a vacuum )
That light photons reach Earth from the radiating near by star called the Sun in just 8.5 minuets. That Earths Moon is just 1.2 seconds away at that velocity. and that the close by pair of stars Alpha Centaurus are 4.25 years away from us at the same scale. That being said I now suggest that any question regarding the whole of the Universe and its age or size is of little importance and almost completely irrelevant to humanity. Not withstanding that we just want to know every thing... We can not. Speculation and guess work about the end of reality or its beginning is interesting, even compelling to ponder...but we can never know. Back in 2006 we said all this and its back. whats changed ? Nothing.
A wiser man than I once said. "Does anyone want to hear what you think.?" and I answer with a smile... maybe not.mark.

That was very nicely put Astro, reminded me of a wise old kung fu master teaching one of his starlet young pupils.

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ooops..... wrong forum!!!