Eye on Faith: April 2021

Friday, April 30, 2021

Soilent WHAT?

Denver Street Art (Photo by 7mike5000)

Tree huggers could one day be wrapping their arms around Aunt Bertha’s residue.

Colorado may soon be the second state to legalize “natural reduction,” which is the composting of human remains. The thinking goes like this: Why burden Mother Earth with doctored bodies when we can transmute them into soil instead?

How so? Simply place a corpse into a vessel containing wood chips and the like “while rotating the body every so often.” Four weeks later, you’ve got yourself “an odorless soil.”

Washington State’s already on board, with Oregon and Delaware perhaps not far behind. As State Representative Brianna Titone, recently pointed out, this would be a fine way to [quite literally] “give back to Colorado.”

Resources

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/550745-colorado-legislature-passes-bill-to-allow-human-composting

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Crossing Traditions

Elie Wiesel in 2012 (Photo by David Shankbone)

Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral certainly has its share of crosses. One important one will soon be added: a bust of Elie Wiesel, symbolizing a vital intersection between Jewish and Christian traditions.

This crossing rests upon a shared sense of “great morality and ethics.” The cathedral’s dean, Rev. Randy Hollerith, explained that Wiesel exemplified “the highest aspirations of what it means to be a human.”

Wiesel’s sculpture will be in excellent company, as nearby ones include those of Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks and the Episcopal martyr, Jonathan Daniels. Daniels was murdered in 1965 while bodily shielding a fellow civil rights activist from the wrath of a shotgun-wielding Alabama deputy.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/washington-national-cathedral-adding-engraving-of-elie-wiesel/ar-BB1g952k?ocid=uxbndlbing

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

In the Pink

Nick Drake's 'Pink Moon' (Fair Use)

Well, not really. April’s so-called “supermoon” barely sports a reddish tinge, and that’s only when sufficient air pollution is present. Not all that romantic a glow…

But what is aglow is the supermoon’s radiance. Because it’s “about 15%” brighter than run-of-the-mill moons, it leaves a squinting impression.

Yet this impression is diminished when viewing the supermoon from between one’s legs. In order to properly do so, a person must bend pretty low forward. If the discomfort doesn’t get you, the disappointment will. The supermoon just doesn’t look as large when seen from that humble a perspective.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/why-is-tonight-e2-80-99s-full-moon-called-a-pink-supermoon/ar-BB1g5M97?ocid=uxbndlbing

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Meet in the Middle

Teaching the Four Noble Truths (Public Domain)

There’s a game called “Monkey in the Middle,” which somehow implies that the middle is unfit for humans.

Tyler Perry doesn’t think so. In his Oscar acceptance speech, Perry declared that the middle is where conversation, change and healing all occur. He then invited folks to meet in the middle and “refuse blanket judgment.” This goes right along with his emphasis on refusing hatred.

Before becoming the Buddha, Siddhartha swung from one polarity to another. He then found that clinging to extremes militated against enlightenment. Gautama finally began walking the Middle Way, a path that reaches beyond one-sided positioning.

Perhaps monkeys know something that humans have yet to learn. Perhaps their simian flexibility isn’t just limited to swinging from branch to branch.

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2021/04/26/Oscars-Tyler-Perry-acceptance-speech/8511619435151/

Monday, April 26, 2021

Joshuas Fought the Battle

Moses Blesses Joshua Before the High Priest (Painting by James Tissot)

Although their biblical namesake fought his battle with swords and spears, today’s Joshuas simply used their noodles. Pool noodles, that is.

Last week, hundreds of Joshuas met up in Lincoln, Nebraska to defend their good name. After all, it’s not just any old Josh who can lay claim to such heroic roots. The Josh that deserves this honor will be the Josh who wields his polyethylene to the max.

When all was said and done, who ended up with the illustrious Burger King crown? Why it was four-year-old “Little Josh” Vinson, who made his “Big Josh” patriarch real proud that day.

Resources

https://www.insider.com/josh-fight-draws-hundreds-to-lincoln-nebraska-battle-over-name-2021-4

Sunday, April 25, 2021

In a Pickle

Leaves a sour taste... (Photo by Renee Comet)

If you get caught hiding huge amounts of methamphetamine in a truck filled with cucumbers, then you’ve gotten yourself into quite a pickle.

This seems to have recently occurred when United States border protection officers seized more than four million dollars’ worth of dicey contraband. They also seized the tractor trailer that was carrying all 217 pounds of bagged toxicity.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/funky-pickles-seized-by-border-protection-turn-out-to-be-dollar4-million-worth-of-meth/ar-BB1g2cac?ocid=uxbndlbing

Saturday, April 24, 2021

It's a Dog's World

2003 Greece 10 Euro (Fair Use)

A little pooch proved once again that it’s a dog’s world.

Just as a 4X200 human relay race was winding down, “Holly” couldn’t resist the temptation to jump right in and win the day. She managed to overtake the two-legged lead in record time, a four-legged feat for sure!

Kudos also goes to the biped winner, Gracie Laney, who persevered through it all without getting paused by paws.

Resources

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dog-track-meet_n_6082ac52e4b01e14f0713163

Friday, April 23, 2021

The look of two hands scribing

Qumran Cave (Photo by Dan Lundberg)

With the naked eye, the look of two hands scribing could be undetectably similar. Yet naked eyes are being digitally clothed these days, which can make all the difference.

When researchers took a recent look at the Dead Sea Scrolls with the help of artificial intelligence, they realized that two different people had lent a hand to that effort. Slight differences of handwriting within the Great Isaiah halves indicated a change of scribes.

After all, this particular scroll is more than 22 feet long! Perhaps Scribe One needed a good long vacation after finishing the first half…

Resources

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2275298-ai-analysis-shows-two-scribes-wrote-one-of-the-dead-sea-scrolls/

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Recycling reaching new heights

SpaceX Dragon (NASA photo)

Recycling has not only gained a firm foothold on earth, but is also reaching for the stars.

For the very first time, “a recycled SpaceX rocket and capsule” will be transporting a crew of astronauts from the Florida coast to the International Space Station. This flight will help pave the way for space travel to become quite commonplace.

If a new car were needed for each and every road trip, most folks would stay put. But if the same car could be used time and again, highways would soon fill up. The same might be said for recycled rockets. Build them and passengers will multiply like loaves and fishes.

Resources

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/astronauts-flying-reused-spacex-rocket-capsule-1st-time-rcna733

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Dinos Died Here

Teratophoneus curriei (Photo by Nobu Tamura)

What’s worse than meeting up with a live Tyrannosaur? Meeting up with an entire pack of them, for sure!

But did they really travel in groups? Or was there room for only one Rex of the Jungle?

Paleontological discoveries indicate that these dinosaurs did indeed hang together. Three “mass Tyrannosaur grave” sites have already been found in North America.

Scientists are currently analyzing the contents of a southern Utah site, first discovered by Alan Titus in 2014. Diverse Teratophoneus fossils were buried there within the silt of a prehistoric river bank, hinting at a mass drowning of more than 76 million years ago.

Resources

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2021/04/20/mass-death-site-may-prove-tyrannosaurs-have-lived-in-packs/?sh=67cc7d2b15ef

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Wright makes Right

Ingenuity (NASA photo)

NASA’s aptly-named Ingenuity helicopter completed a successful maiden flight from the surface of Mars. Call it Wright Brothers 2.0, if you will.

As far as many of us know (and who knows what some folks actually know), this was the very first time that an aircraft has flown from the surface of another planet. It is anticipated that such an accomplishment will “pave the way to future interplanetary aircraft.”

Because Ingenuity weighs a mere four pounds on Earth (and only 1.5 on Mars), it can hardly carry much. Yet it’s a great jumping off point for starry hopes and dreams.

Resources

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mars-ingenuity-helicopter-nasa-maiden-flight/

Monday, April 19, 2021

They have not ears that hear

Single-leaf Pinyon Pine (Photo by Toiyab)

Although trees don’t have ears, they may nevertheless be affected by sounds.

Scientists have found that some of New Mexico’s pinyon pines and junipers grow far less abundantly in noisy places than in quiet ones. Certain types of shrubs and flowers also seem affected by varying noise intensities.

Is there a direct connection between sounds and plants? If so, how do those without ears detect decibel levels? Perhaps such plants are highly influenced by partnering animals.

Scrub jays, for example, are known to be noise averse. Because they play a key role in spreading pinyon seeds, less pinyons would therefore grow in loud areas.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/noise-pollution-may-prevent-forest-growth-study/ar-BB1fM7PH?ocid=uxbndlbing

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Monkeying Around with Life

Transplant Simulation (Public Domain)

Some have been thrilled that scientists were able to create embryos that are part human and part monkey. They applaud this effort to eventually grow organs for transplant into ailing humans.

Others are not so happy. They question the ethics of such endeavors. Are we monkeying around with actions that only God should engineer? Will this lead us farther and farther down the slippery slope of unbridled knowledge and power?

Taking a “let’s wait and see” attitude might not work in the real world. By the time we’ve waited long enough to see, it may be way too late to salvage our thin veneer of morality.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-04-16-scientists-create-embryos-that-are-part-human-part-monkey/?mid=609321&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline2_readmore

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Power Plays

1949 Cootie Game (Fair Use)

The Game of Cootie, developed in 1948, became very popular with young Baby Boomers. It focuses on building a plastic bug, body part by body part.

Indian jumping ants have been achieving similar feats long before Hasbro got in on the act. Their prowess, however, is innate. These bugs have the amazing ability to grow or shrink key body parts in order to compete within the colony.

There’s only one queen, and every self-respecting worker is vying for this coveted position. In order to expand their resumes, the Indian jumpers expand their ovaries. That’s because the queen is, quite literally, the mother of all ants. In order to maintain her monopoly, she needs to reproduce ad infinitum.

Contenders to her throne are remarkably able to shrink their brains and venom sacs in order to expand their ovaries. They figure that queens don’t need to think much about defending the colony. That’s what loyal underlings are supposedly for. Workers who don’t make the royal cut simply reverse these bodily processes. Their plasticity far exceeds that of even a fully-assembled Cootie.

Resources

https://www.popsci.com/story/animals/indian-jumping-ants-shrink-or-grow-brains/

Friday, April 16, 2021

Don't hate, meditate

The Bodhi Tree (Photo by Ken Wieland)

Those who seek peace might wish to meditate. That’s the advice of Hong Jinshi, who fashions Trump-looking, so-called Buddha statues in his spare time.

Jinshi claims that if Donald Trump were to meditate, he might then enjoy some relaxation in his elder years. And who knows? A kinder gentler Trump might lead to a worldwide sigh of relief.

Yet Hong himself is turning into quite the entrepreneur. He’s already hawked these mismatched figurines in “China and abroad,” while lamenting a growing market of “lower quality” imitations.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/peace-meditate-trump-buddha-statue-072234581.html

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Pascal bet on that too

Blaise Pascal (1691 painting by Francois II Quesnel)

Known for his famous wager, Blaise Pascal was all about emphasizing the positive. He not only bet on God, but also on people.

Pascal believed that the best way to change another’s stance is to first focus upon points of agreement. If you begin by acknowledging what’s reasonable about an opinion that sharply differs from your own, you might be met with a surprising amount of willingness to hash things out.

Centuries ago, this polymath realized that people don’t mind being corrected for failing to view the whole picture. After all, no one person is capable of “seeing everything.” If you begin by affirming what they have seen, then chances of successfully introducing other perspectives are greatly enhanced.

Resources

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/a-philosopher-s-350-year-old-trick-to-get-people-to-change-their-minds-is-now-backed-up-by?utm_source=pocket-newtab