'David' Deer

David and Goliath
{Osmar Schindler, 1888)

The young King David remains dear to many for his bravery in confronting gigantic Goliath. We tend to admire those who seem miniscule while tackling formidable opponents.

The animal kingdom sometimes reflects such contrasts.  A tiny muntjac deer shares a Polish zoo enclosure with an enormous rhinoceros. They normally get along just fine as they munch hay together from the very same bale.

Yet everyone has an off day sooner or later… Deer males are no exception, especially while in heat.  It was then that the miniscule muntjac began charging at his rhino roommate. 

This story might have had an abrupt ending were it not for the rhino’s surprising response.  Instead of reacting in kind, ‘Goliath’ simply moved away time and again.  The aggression then passed, and peace in the zoo valley resumed.

Makes a body wonder whether future Davids could pack up their slingshots as future Goliaths learn to back up and back off…

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/01/12/poland-Wroclaw-Zoo-muntjac-deer-rhino/4111768245115// 

Dancing: Ups, Downs and All-Arounds

Whirling Dervishes
(Public Domain)

Dancing has played a major role in numerous religious gatherings.  Sufis have long practiced physically whirling forms of meditation in order to better connect with  Allah.  This practice was initiated in the 13^th century by the well-known mystic and poet, Mevlana Rumi.

Although also called “dancing,” the erratic movements of Donald Trump’s appendages seem more like neurological quirks than like sacred rituals.  His own wife hinted that such antics belong more in the closet than on the presidential stage.

Even humanoid robots have been criticized for prioritizing jiggling over tasks at hand.  As a team of “tin men” shimmied their way through a Consumer Electronics Show, bystanders “were impatient for them to become more useful, not just a promise of things to come.”

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/tech/ai/meta-ai/articles/dancing-isnt-enough-industry-pushes-072304136.html    

Come and Get Me

Fire Ants
(Public Domain)

Self-sacrifice for the good of others has long been associated with certain religious doctrines.  People who exemplify such teachings are often heralded as the best that humanity has to offer.

Yet these heroes may be no match for the average ant.  Consider this: When a young ant catches an infection that could threaten the rest of the colony, it emits a chemical signal that essentially says, “Come and get me!”

Worker ants then come and do exactly that.  They proceed to “bite holes in the pupae and inject poison,” thus killing the ailing ant and disinfecting the nest.  Erika Dawson of Austria’s Institute of Science and Technology explained “that the sick pupae only produce the smell when worker ants are nearby, proving it is a deliberate signal for destruction.”  She therefore called this “an altruistic act.”

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/articles/come-kill-sick-ants-invite-160502687.html

Marital Borders: Open or Closed?

(Public Domain)

Borders are a fact of life, yet they need not be completely open or tightly shut.  The sweet spot is generally somewhere  in between.  Where to draw that line is a question to be wrestled with: often politically, and sometimes personally.

A female shopper recently asked another woman’s husband to assist her in reaching for an item on the upper shelf.  He then turned to his wife, eyeing her for a nod of approval.  What followed was an online wifely rant regarding the so-called nerve of that female shopper.

This rant led to comments ranging from approval of such marital boundaries to criticism of the wife’s alleged insecurity. Many responses were based upon assumed inside knowledge about their marital history and commitments.

It is unknown whether said husband and wife had prior agreements regarding third parties, perhaps based upon former incidents.  Although reaching for an item seems like a one-time deal, long journeys sometimes begin with a first impromptu step.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/georgia-woman-asks-man-to-reach-item-on-top-shelf-at-kroger-then-his-wife-intervenes-and-just-like-that-she-becomes-the-kroger-lady/  

   

             

Miss the Kiss

 

(Photo by Stephencdickson)

Although George Clooney (after a “talk” with his wife) has decided to forego on-screen smooching, he has way more to do than just sit around missing that kissing.

For the past 10 years, he has been a dedicated family man to Amal and their twins.  Claiming no arguments with the Mrs. during that entire time, he likely figures, “Why rock the boat?”

After all, his boat has already navigated many a channel, hosting shipmates such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Julia Roberts.  At 64, he is not quite washed-up, but is on his way back to shore.

This is a realization that not all elders attain, especially those who have been Hollywood’s darlings.  Kudos to George for prioritizing pursuits more amenable to silver hairs than to silver screens.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/george-clooney-reveals-he-will-no-longer-kiss-women-onscreen-after-discussion-with-wife-amal/

Card-carrying Dumpster Diver

(Photo by Raysonho)

As the flurry of holiday cards subsides, have you ever wondered where the ones that didn’t sell ended up?  If Dollar Tree stores are any indication, there may be dumpsters filled with unsent greetings.  Not to mention the home-based bins filled with those received…

MSN reports, “In the United States alone, 1.6 billion greeting cards are sent annually, which generates carbon pollution equivalent to powering more than 22,000 homes… requiring tons of water, trees and energy.”

Are there better ways of expressing holiday cheer than this?  Thankbox suggests plenty, including customized videos, handmade items, plantable cards with seeds in them, digital artwork, and even the good old message in a bottle.  These not only consider the environment, but also show more care than popping a post in the mail.

Resources

www.thankbox.com/blog/20-unique-alternatives-to-traditional-birthday-cards

Dumpster diver sparks backlash with photo of massive discovery in Dollar Tree dumpster: 'So senseless' 

Horns and Hooves

Fall of Lucifer
(Illustration by Gustave Dore)

A newfound bee with “horns” was named Megachile lucifer, supposedly because the Devil also has horny protrusions.

Why is Satan often portrayed with horns and accompanying hooves?  Live Science takes a look at the history of devilish depictions in order to figure this out.  After all, it’s about time that science enlivens religion.

There’s a popular theory which states that such images were modeled after the Ancient Greek god Pan, yet Pan was not widely linked with Lucifer until the 19^th century.  It seems instead possible that “the devil with horns and hooves originated in early Jewish literature,” as implied within “The Greek Apocalypse of Baruch.”

This text was written “between the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and the third century.”  It describes a “satyr-like” demonic race that allegedly “constructed the lowest levels of the Tower of Babel.”  Early Christians might have been strongly influenced by this vivid version of what demonic could look like.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-11-11-new-bee-species-named-lucifer-bee-discovered-in-australia/

https://www.livescience.com/why-does-the-devil-have-horns-and-hooves