1. Elephants have large brains, even considering their body size. Their intelligence approaches that of bottlenose dolphins and chimpanzees. In fact, their problem solving ability, empathy, self-awareness and sense of altruism are particularly striking, as described in this moving wiki article.
An elephant's prodigious spatial memory and dexterous control of its trunk allows it to paint realistic pictures like no other animal--even a chimpanzee--can do. Here's a video of elephants playing soccer and painting (also this and this painting).
Elephants can do some other amazing things, such as dancing while playing the harmonica, , playing in a "symphony", chumming with friends, demonstrating their memory skills, and performing for tourists, (also here). After seeing these videos, it makes one wonder if--in many ways--an elephant shares as much or more in common with humans than even a chimp or a dolphin, especially in the most important areas of human empathy, altruism and social bonding.
Finally, here's an article with videos of some other clever animals as well.
2. This article and this article (and a lot of other articles) argue that we're at a stock market and bond market top that's overdue for a correction, with few if any safe havens. This seems to be the worst-kept secret of all time, yet many are still invested in the stock market "for lack of a higher-yielding investment" and in the bond market out of fear--the kind of paralyzing fear that an animal might have as a lion is crouching to pounce. If there is a crash (or even a slow decline), it probably won't just be limited to a U.S. stock/bond market crash and debt /currency crisis. It will probably also accompany a Chinese real estate bubble burst, another debt crisis in developing countries and much greater political and economic turmoil throughout the world. But the sun will still come up in the morning. :-)
3. Here's a sobering article about China's soon-to-be scientific dominance over the U.S.
4. Asthma is on the rise, as shown by this map. So is the worldwide incidence of lupus, childhood leukemia and brain cancer. Worldwide increases in lung cancer and heart attacks are being blamed on air pollution. In fact, the World Health Organization blamed air pollution for 7 million deaths worldwide in 2012.
Other diseases on the rise are celiac disease (gluten sensitivity), autism, and multiple sclerosis. Some have theorized this might be due to increased population mixing, although the evidence seems weak. Others point to the growing of GMO crops, with the attendant herbicides showing up in our foods. This article seems to provide evidence that these herbicides have resulted in more cancer. Still others point to more basic, down-to-earth explanations such as over-eating and obesity. (Then, of course, there is the rise in preventable diseases, fueled by silly ideas that cause parents to resist getting their children vaccinated.)
Infectious diseases--many of them drug-resistant--are also on the rise. And humans are not alone in this--dogs and cats are getting more and more deadly diseases as well.
In addition to the possible disease culprits already mentioned, there is water pollution, radiation fallout (i.e., Chernobyl and Fukushima), various chemical additives and hormones added to the food chain, commercial fertilizers, pesticides, and even the increased stress and decreased exercise associated with our modern world.
So, what's the biggest culprit? I'm not sure. Could things gradually build up to a tipping point, such that we experience another great plague? Throughout history there have been regular occurrences of one plague or another. It's amazing though, how relaxed we can be about such a subject when there are already millions of people each year whose lives are cut short by these diseases or by man-made poisons. At the same time, a terrorist incident involving a few lives lost immediately becomes a national sensation via the news media.
5. Here is one of the hazards of high altitude that you might not have considered. And finally, a famous quote by Abraham Lincoln: "Don't believe everything you read on the internet."
An elephant's prodigious spatial memory and dexterous control of its trunk allows it to paint realistic pictures like no other animal--even a chimpanzee--can do. Here's a video of elephants playing soccer and painting (also this and this painting).
Elephants can do some other amazing things, such as dancing while playing the harmonica, , playing in a "symphony", chumming with friends, demonstrating their memory skills, and performing for tourists, (also here). After seeing these videos, it makes one wonder if--in many ways--an elephant shares as much or more in common with humans than even a chimp or a dolphin, especially in the most important areas of human empathy, altruism and social bonding.
Finally, here's an article with videos of some other clever animals as well.
2. This article and this article (and a lot of other articles) argue that we're at a stock market and bond market top that's overdue for a correction, with few if any safe havens. This seems to be the worst-kept secret of all time, yet many are still invested in the stock market "for lack of a higher-yielding investment" and in the bond market out of fear--the kind of paralyzing fear that an animal might have as a lion is crouching to pounce. If there is a crash (or even a slow decline), it probably won't just be limited to a U.S. stock/bond market crash and debt /currency crisis. It will probably also accompany a Chinese real estate bubble burst, another debt crisis in developing countries and much greater political and economic turmoil throughout the world. But the sun will still come up in the morning. :-)
3. Here's a sobering article about China's soon-to-be scientific dominance over the U.S.
4. Asthma is on the rise, as shown by this map. So is the worldwide incidence of lupus, childhood leukemia and brain cancer. Worldwide increases in lung cancer and heart attacks are being blamed on air pollution. In fact, the World Health Organization blamed air pollution for 7 million deaths worldwide in 2012.
Other diseases on the rise are celiac disease (gluten sensitivity), autism, and multiple sclerosis. Some have theorized this might be due to increased population mixing, although the evidence seems weak. Others point to the growing of GMO crops, with the attendant herbicides showing up in our foods. This article seems to provide evidence that these herbicides have resulted in more cancer. Still others point to more basic, down-to-earth explanations such as over-eating and obesity. (Then, of course, there is the rise in preventable diseases, fueled by silly ideas that cause parents to resist getting their children vaccinated.)
Infectious diseases--many of them drug-resistant--are also on the rise. And humans are not alone in this--dogs and cats are getting more and more deadly diseases as well.
In addition to the possible disease culprits already mentioned, there is water pollution, radiation fallout (i.e., Chernobyl and Fukushima), various chemical additives and hormones added to the food chain, commercial fertilizers, pesticides, and even the increased stress and decreased exercise associated with our modern world.
So, what's the biggest culprit? I'm not sure. Could things gradually build up to a tipping point, such that we experience another great plague? Throughout history there have been regular occurrences of one plague or another. It's amazing though, how relaxed we can be about such a subject when there are already millions of people each year whose lives are cut short by these diseases or by man-made poisons. At the same time, a terrorist incident involving a few lives lost immediately becomes a national sensation via the news media.
5. Here is one of the hazards of high altitude that you might not have considered. And finally, a famous quote by Abraham Lincoln: "Don't believe everything you read on the internet."
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