Random Bar Talk

Our Cat Max Did An Amazing Magic Trick!

Almost everybody of a certain age has heard The Clash song "Should I Stay or Should I Go" where the dude repeatedly asks if he should stay or if he should go. He outlines his dilemma as follows: "if I go, there will be trouble and if I stay it will be double".

So, the choice is between trouble if he goes or DOUBLE THE TROUBLE IF HE STAYS.

In this case, buddy,

Just Go!

The Egg.

Let's say the species that chickens evolved from was called "almostchickens" and a couple of these almostchickens decided to have some kids. Let's pretend two of their kids came out as expected and were almostchickens but the third was a weird looking mutant which they called "what-the-heck-is-that?". They loved their little offspring just the same and, although some advised against it, their little what-the-heck-is-that would one day have kids with a regular almostchicken. Talk about a strange genetic mixture, but it worked and they had even more happy clucking kids which they called chickens. As this never before seen species came from their moms eggs, the egg obviously came before the chicken. Ok, maybe there was slightly more to the genetic mutation aspect, and it may be argued that the "what-the-heck-is-that" was actually the first chicken, not to mention that choosing the "first" member of a species is like picking a spot on a gradient, but this is pretty much the story.

Perhaps a universe with full disorder is not balanced. Perhaps life is a consequence of the forces responsible for the order required to create that balance.

OR

Perhaps there is no meaning at all. Even then, life may still have a purpose.

Different from the above question, with or without meaning, life can still have a purpose. Most simply, one may say the purpose of life is to pass our genes on to the next generation. From an evolutionary perspective, there is a built-in drive to do this so each species can survive. However, in a world with limited resources where overpopulation would be detrimental to a species, would this still be a valid absolute purpose for everyones life?

It seems that a species is better served by each member doing their best to help their fellow members. For sentient beings with emotions, perhaps the purpose of life is to just be happy. Having evolved to a state where we can feel emotions, perhaps our purpose is to create a world where we minimize the suffering of others and allow everyone the opportunity for a happy life. If this is not at least some of our purpose, having the ability to be empathetic would seem like a waste of evolutionary engineering.

Along these lines, it makes sense, at least to me, that our purpose extends beyond just our own species and includes considering the needs of other sentient species who are also just doing the best they can to get by. We are lucky enough to be slightly ahead of other species in an evolutionary hierarchy; however, we are not that different - we are all doing the best we can to get by with the tools we have. So the purpose of life is to be nice, help your fellow humans and animals and strive to be happy. Interestingly, most people find that happiness comes with helping others. Too serious? Ok, happiness also comes from winning the lottery but it's a lot harder to do!

The Opossum (Possum) is the only Marsupial in North America. Due to their lower than normal body temperature which inhibits the rabies virus, it is extremely difficult for them to get rabies.

Raccoons are one of the smartest mammals with their intelligence continually coevolving with humans and adapting to changes we make. These animals are often misunderstood but they deserve and appreciate our kindness.

Crows are unexpectedly smart - much smarter than scientists used to think was possible for non-mammels with a brain structure much different from our own. Incredibly, they seem to be able to ponder their own thoughts and do as well as 7 year old children when their intelligence is tested. Along with ravens and other corvids, they are the only non-primates that make tools. I was fascinated when I saw the following YouTube video about them and I think you may be as well:

Why Are Crows as Smart as 7 Year Old Humans?

She asks me to kill the spider.
Instead, I get the most
peaceful weapons I can find.

I take a cup and a napkin.
I catch the spider, put it outside
and allow it to walk away.

If I am ever caught in the wrong place
at the wrong time, just being alive
and not bothering anyone,

I hope I am greeted
with the same kind
of mercy.

- Rudy Francisco