Okay, this starts out a little silly, but here are some headlines that caught my attention this last week…
Let’s start with a “sexapus” — a six-legged cephalopod (its parents and siblings are presumably octopi).
And then there are the avalanches — on Mars, in addition to the ones that have plagued the local mountain passes in the last couple months.
Not to forget, the white orca found in the ocean off Alaska, presumably not from one of the local Puget Sound pods.
Unusual, maybe alarming when juxtaposed with the information we have about Life, the Universe, and Everything (thanks to Douglas Adams). Things are falling apart everywhere, even in places most of us never go! [If you have been to Mars, please contact me, I would like to interview you.]
Do we see what we want to see? Do we see what’s important? Do we see only what we are expecting?
Speaking with one of the children earlier this week (yesterday, actually), I reminded him that a scientist has to be careful about how the questions are phrased. The question determines how the experiment or investigation is set up — carefully controlling for some variables, you might forget about others — or include some that really don’t answer what you are asking. It’s sort of the old concept that the very act of watching changes what happens…
I am trying to keep perspective. There have been hard times in my nation, on my continent, among my ancestors of various cultures, in the world as a whole.
Diseases, even devastating epidemics, have run rampant as long as there have been “critters.”
Economic problems have existed as long as there have been droughts, floods and storms (frequently in the history of our young, active planet).
Fighting among members of our species has been one of the constants in every mythology, every historical record, and many if not most schoolyards. We seem to naturally exclude or attack people who are different, whether they are stronger or weaker than us.
It can seem that today, right now, things are worse than ever before. The wars are more brutal, the illnesses more untreatable, the weather less predictable or helpful… but it we stop and take a look back across the years, decades, generations, we see that all these things ebb and flow.
Economically, it appears we are headed for significant “ebb” and weather-wise there is a bit more “flow” than most of us like.
Current conflicts around the world seem to escalate and drag on without rhyme or reason.
But think for a minute: these things have happened before. I am, we all are, the product of a long heritage of survival. Somehow, our grandparents and other ancestors weathered tough times. We will, too. We can live with less, with determination, we will be fine.
Not sure if there can be a conclusion to musings like these… just trying to stay as positive as I can and remembering that change often leads to growth, even if it is uncomfortable.
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