Thanks CK -- I voted for Makes me laugh today -- it is a good coping mechanism. I have a favorite Podcaster even though I disagree with some of what he says. His synopsis of January 6th -- Angry men in costumes taking selfies in the Rotunda and spreading shit on the wall (with hangmen nooses and zip ties in their backpacks) -- I find it best for my psyche to just say dumb and try to laugh about the sheer idiocy. It is lunacy to hope for some cogent reasoning. Today's post was tricky and I am thankful for the feedback. When I wrote about the vultures, I doubted I would return to the topic a bit and realize it might be more sensible than pressurized large Tylenol capsules. My favorite part of the comments is when people take exception. That can be fun and illuminating.
I voted for crying over dumb beliefs in your poll, but the truer answer would be “other” as it does depend on the belief. It’s hard to assail folks in a dictatorship like North Korea for believing things that are patently false when their lives may be the price they pay for believing otherwise. But it seems that even in our democracy more and more folks are living in alternate realities with different versions of the truth, so dumb beliefs--actually dangerous beliefs might be the better description--are the result. From history we know this could have catastrophic consequences.
As for using human waste and alternate ways of cremation, kudos to you for your forward thinking. My stomach turns at the thought and sight, but I admire you for tackling such challenging questions. Want to take on black holes? I’ll be reading!
Ruth -- I tag my posts by topic. I tread very lightly around personal beliefs. If sometime in the future you have the interest, it was "Truth" linked in the post that inspired this post at some level. Part of today was revisiting observations I made in that post. As I mention in a response to Jeannine, the post-Enlightenment religions (Mao, Kim, Scientology) just instinctively get parked in our heads as shading toward the absurd. Why they flourish is certainly another matter. One of my favorite books I read when it came out (It's VERY SHORT is titled "Abraham"). The three monotheistic religions emerge from the same figure. It is a tribute to our human brain limitations that there remains so much animus between them with the very same roots. While there are better ways to state it and I think the part I cannot weigh in on is the wonder and mystery, at least one way to look at our brains is a pattern reinforcement engine. We are easily prone to manipulation. Our modern era shows ample examples. I highly recommend Abraham by Bruce Feiler. I have lost my copy as I passed it on to someone and lost track of who.
There's a cute movie from many years ago I often reference called "Secondhand Lion". The two primary characters played by Michael Caine and Robert Duvall are an adventurous lot who make their heaven by living well. Their outlook on burial is something like, just bury me in the field next to the lion.
I think I can classify my old posts as hits or duds. My biggest fear is when I try to write about something difficult (like black holes) I am likely to miss the mark. It will require a few easy to relate to metaphors I think. Someday I guess.
I see I have a lot of catching up to do re your past posts, Mark. I’ll be sure to read “Truth.” The Bruce Feiler book sounds worthwhile too. Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
Dumb beliefs can make me laugh or cry, depending on which belief we're discussing.
I want to be composted when I die, buried without a casket and without being embalmed. I plan to ask the kids to plant a tree on top of my grave, maybe an oak. Aquamation sounds like something from "Breaking Bad."
While life in North Korea sounds absolutely horrendous, human waste as fertilizer isn't a horrible idea. My husband and I have used it on our lawn and gardens for over a decade now, in a sterilized, dehydrated form. We used to use Milorganite (treated human waste from Milwaukee!), but switched to a more locally sourced product (I'll edit this comment to include the product name after I have a chance to get down to the barn where it's stored) when Milorganite became so popular that it was harder to purchase. The stuff is AWESOME! It has an odd odor when first applied, especially after rain, but doesn't really smell bad. Though dogs do tend to love to roll on our lawn after an application! 😂
There is a wonderful word from chemistry and it is a measurable property named chemical affinity. Fluorine, which has a bit part in Breaking Bad has the highest chemical affinity of any atom. Sorry for the tangential bathtub talk. It would not be a bad thing if my next glass of wine killed some of my oddball brain cells I suppose. Thanks for starting this tangent Jeannine & CK
Thanks as always for the thoughtful comments Jeannine. This post is sort of an offshoot of one of my very early ones I referenced titled "Truth". I am fascinated most of our mind and its ability to keep all sorts of different things simmering in our heads . I think how we learn something has a lot to do with the things people become wedded to. The stuff that aligns emotionally are quite something. I think some people are very motivated to do "the right thing" relative to the environment for example. While it was cutting room floor, a bit of analysis can always provide perspective. I think we all are amazed by how many cemeteries there are. An interesting statistic. There are about 25M acres of cemeteries worldwide. American farmers plant about 160M acres of corn and soybeans each year. If cemeteries had automated machinery that tilled, uprooted, fertilized and pesticide all that land each season, that would be a real problem! So funny you talked about Milorganite. My Dad was a big fan and neow one of my brothers has begun using it again. While I did not beat the dead horse in the story, the tragedy of the Korean peninsula lies at the feet of the US and Soviet Union who carved it up because they could. All that has happened since is a corollary. Not surprising Kim Il Song was a "God", the PRC that has floated them for 75 years did the same with Mao. All of it ridiculous. I just think that religions that emerge since the Enlightenment tend to be more obviously absurd (Mao, Kim, Scientology).
Great post. I try to focus on the funny-dumb. The rest is too depressing.
Thanks CK -- I voted for Makes me laugh today -- it is a good coping mechanism. I have a favorite Podcaster even though I disagree with some of what he says. His synopsis of January 6th -- Angry men in costumes taking selfies in the Rotunda and spreading shit on the wall (with hangmen nooses and zip ties in their backpacks) -- I find it best for my psyche to just say dumb and try to laugh about the sheer idiocy. It is lunacy to hope for some cogent reasoning. Today's post was tricky and I am thankful for the feedback. When I wrote about the vultures, I doubted I would return to the topic a bit and realize it might be more sensible than pressurized large Tylenol capsules. My favorite part of the comments is when people take exception. That can be fun and illuminating.
I voted for crying over dumb beliefs in your poll, but the truer answer would be “other” as it does depend on the belief. It’s hard to assail folks in a dictatorship like North Korea for believing things that are patently false when their lives may be the price they pay for believing otherwise. But it seems that even in our democracy more and more folks are living in alternate realities with different versions of the truth, so dumb beliefs--actually dangerous beliefs might be the better description--are the result. From history we know this could have catastrophic consequences.
As for using human waste and alternate ways of cremation, kudos to you for your forward thinking. My stomach turns at the thought and sight, but I admire you for tackling such challenging questions. Want to take on black holes? I’ll be reading!
Ruth -- I tag my posts by topic. I tread very lightly around personal beliefs. If sometime in the future you have the interest, it was "Truth" linked in the post that inspired this post at some level. Part of today was revisiting observations I made in that post. As I mention in a response to Jeannine, the post-Enlightenment religions (Mao, Kim, Scientology) just instinctively get parked in our heads as shading toward the absurd. Why they flourish is certainly another matter. One of my favorite books I read when it came out (It's VERY SHORT is titled "Abraham"). The three monotheistic religions emerge from the same figure. It is a tribute to our human brain limitations that there remains so much animus between them with the very same roots. While there are better ways to state it and I think the part I cannot weigh in on is the wonder and mystery, at least one way to look at our brains is a pattern reinforcement engine. We are easily prone to manipulation. Our modern era shows ample examples. I highly recommend Abraham by Bruce Feiler. I have lost my copy as I passed it on to someone and lost track of who.
There's a cute movie from many years ago I often reference called "Secondhand Lion". The two primary characters played by Michael Caine and Robert Duvall are an adventurous lot who make their heaven by living well. Their outlook on burial is something like, just bury me in the field next to the lion.
I think I can classify my old posts as hits or duds. My biggest fear is when I try to write about something difficult (like black holes) I am likely to miss the mark. It will require a few easy to relate to metaphors I think. Someday I guess.
I see I have a lot of catching up to do re your past posts, Mark. I’ll be sure to read “Truth.” The Bruce Feiler book sounds worthwhile too. Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
NP -- Feiler is a great writer -- came out in 2003 at the peak of misunderstanding
Dumb beliefs can make me laugh or cry, depending on which belief we're discussing.
I want to be composted when I die, buried without a casket and without being embalmed. I plan to ask the kids to plant a tree on top of my grave, maybe an oak. Aquamation sounds like something from "Breaking Bad."
While life in North Korea sounds absolutely horrendous, human waste as fertilizer isn't a horrible idea. My husband and I have used it on our lawn and gardens for over a decade now, in a sterilized, dehydrated form. We used to use Milorganite (treated human waste from Milwaukee!), but switched to a more locally sourced product (I'll edit this comment to include the product name after I have a chance to get down to the barn where it's stored) when Milorganite became so popular that it was harder to purchase. The stuff is AWESOME! It has an odd odor when first applied, especially after rain, but doesn't really smell bad. Though dogs do tend to love to roll on our lawn after an application! 😂
Breaking Bad. Perfect comparison. Haha.
There is a wonderful word from chemistry and it is a measurable property named chemical affinity. Fluorine, which has a bit part in Breaking Bad has the highest chemical affinity of any atom. Sorry for the tangential bathtub talk. It would not be a bad thing if my next glass of wine killed some of my oddball brain cells I suppose. Thanks for starting this tangent Jeannine & CK
Tangents are another way to learn something new. 😄
I need less to get shorter posts 🤣
Thanks as always for the thoughtful comments Jeannine. This post is sort of an offshoot of one of my very early ones I referenced titled "Truth". I am fascinated most of our mind and its ability to keep all sorts of different things simmering in our heads . I think how we learn something has a lot to do with the things people become wedded to. The stuff that aligns emotionally are quite something. I think some people are very motivated to do "the right thing" relative to the environment for example. While it was cutting room floor, a bit of analysis can always provide perspective. I think we all are amazed by how many cemeteries there are. An interesting statistic. There are about 25M acres of cemeteries worldwide. American farmers plant about 160M acres of corn and soybeans each year. If cemeteries had automated machinery that tilled, uprooted, fertilized and pesticide all that land each season, that would be a real problem! So funny you talked about Milorganite. My Dad was a big fan and neow one of my brothers has begun using it again. While I did not beat the dead horse in the story, the tragedy of the Korean peninsula lies at the feet of the US and Soviet Union who carved it up because they could. All that has happened since is a corollary. Not surprising Kim Il Song was a "God", the PRC that has floated them for 75 years did the same with Mao. All of it ridiculous. I just think that religions that emerge since the Enlightenment tend to be more obviously absurd (Mao, Kim, Scientology).
Your Breaking Bad comment means you get me :)