The other
day someone said to me, “in my time zone…,” which sounded puzzling since we live in the
same neighborhood. Basically, they meant to say, “according to my clock” because
they set it fifteen minutes fast. Lots of people do that. If those people
joined together, they might try to establish a new time zone, a subcategory within
the Eastern Standard zone. It feels like we’re moving in that direction. Believe
and do whatever you want. The current climate says if it’s okay with me,
it should be fine with you. See how you feel about this:
We’re
faced with tons of issues and just as many solutions. Some ideas will work,
but other ones will waste our time, generating pointless arguments and dead-end alleys. How do you avoid conflict
when someone else's opinion differs from your viewpoint?
Some
sounds make us pause and reflect. Growing up, I often heard a train’s whistle
in the wee hours of the night. It always had a melancholy, Midnight-Train-to-Georgia
feeling, echoing a traveler’s reluctant good-bye. Earlier this week, I heard the
train whistle from the neighborhood station and got that melancholy feeling
again. As if there aren’t enough sounds here, there’s this:
We spend tons
of time and money trying to understand what’s happening in other places,
especially in space. Most alien movies feature space creatures bent on destroying
us and taking over Earth. While Hollywood urges us locate and crush hostile outer
space creatures, scientists continue looking skyward, wondering if we’re all alone.
Do you think we’re alone in the universe?
Can you answer the $2.5 billion question? I’ll give you a hint. An expensive rover space craft named Curiosity touched down on Mars this week.If I were a genie, able to grant wishes with a blink of an eye, I would have popped into space and left a sign on the red planet. When the rover landed here’s the message it would photograph: No one’s here. Go home. Back on earth, that might confuse the scientists who dream about the possibility of past, present and future life forms on Mars.
I liked the 1960-70s “I Dream of Jeannie” show about a genie who tried to use her powers to solve her astronaut-master’s problems. She usually created messier situations, but like many old shows, everything turned out for the best. In real life, our wishes don’t always turn out the way we expect and our greatest wish may be the very thing what we don’t need. See if you agree with any of the third graders in this video:
Did you notice how none of the children wished for money? Perhaps the book they read beforehand influenced their answers, perhaps not. Perhaps they believe that money can’t buy happiness. Well, let consider what it can buy. Imagine your wish for $2.5 billion came true, what would you do with the money?
Do you ever waver between two opposing positions? For example, consider the pupfish from last week’s post. Sure, I’m in favor of preventing the extinction of a unique species of fish but, can we accomplish that objective for free? How much money should biologists spend to save the tiny pupfish?
This dilemma reminds me of the conflict I have with the space program.I’m always intrigued by the universe, its colors, the galaxies, comets, the planets and quasars. I love when astronomersdiscover new planets and black holes and have to toss previously held theories because of new findings. The universe stretches the limits of our imagination. Let’s take a peek at what’s out there:
Despite the universe’s awesomeness, I’m not sure we should spend billions on space exploration.How does it improve our daily lives? I’m trapped between two sides; I support space exploration but, I also believe in curtailing NASA’s funding for shuttles and probes. We’ll just have to channel our financial resources toward purchasing better and more powerful telescopes.
I’m sure you feel pulled in different directions over various issues. Which two opposing concerns keep you in a tizzy?
Kia Soul, that is.I don’t know if we’re ready for those cute, little fuel-efficient cars. There are two-seaters and four-seaters, both should save us money at pump, but I wonder when all of us will switch to the teeny, tiny car.We’re a country of Hummers, Cadillacs and limos, on special occasions.Can you see yourself and your family in a much smaller car?If you have a sizable family or a few extra folks to transport, I predict there’s going to be a space problem.
Manufacturers may need to bump up the towing capacity so that I can attach a cargo trailer to my vehicle, should I decide to purchase a tiny car.Even now, I find it hard to leave my two-ton purse behind.It includes tissues for messy sneezes, my ancient cell phone, coupons, hand sanitizer, lotion—the list is endless!I also have room for an umbrella, if needed. My vehicle is not much different—more tissues, spectator chairs for sports, books, my wedding dress (long story) and, of course to be fully prepared, I drive around with several jackets and coats per child.
I feel that a roomy vehicle is a necessity.I’m sure it’s just me, but occasionally when I see a little car in traffic, I expect to see one pulled alongside of the road with a parade of passengers sporting red noses and floppy shoes tumbling out.Obviously, I need a new perspective on the smaller fuel-saving cars.I believe that change is coming, just like the possibility of steeper gas prices.Will costs go as high as five dollars a gallon? Are you feeling like a hostage of the oil industry yet?
Here’s a video that may offer you confidence in the technology of the future.
If I can get horsepower and save money, perhaps I’ll sacrifice storage space and keep the kids coats elsewhere.Maybe, in addition to the Scions, Cubes and MINIs, a sixty-battery electric car is the way to go!
I believe we have difficulty switching to a tiny car because we equate the kind of car we drive with how we want others to perceive us. Perhaps we behave as though our vehicle is a tangible representation of our status. Barring temporary things like cars, houses and a career, what makes you feel successful in life?
