Happy Festivus

[Jim_Baur]

Happy Festivus:

I am enjoying today.

I hope you are enjoying the day.

When I contemplate Evolution, I wonder why we allow man to dominate our pets such as dogs, cats, and hamsters. They evolved for many reasons, but surely the right to procreate must be at the top of the list. How dare men “fix” hamsters, dogs or cats. They weren’t broken. They have rights too. Cats are people, too!

Upon further contemplation, global warming must be a good thing if human beings are responsible for it. Men evolved over billions of years. If we evolved our behavior and living conditions must be good. The chances of such a complex thing as a brain, not to mention a human brain, are an unbelievable chance event. What are the chances that such a brain could happen? But it did! How many chance occurrences must have happened before our human brain became a reality? Has anyone ever figured out the numbers?

And if we humans continue to cause global warming and the temperature destroy us, what a beautiful way to complete our evolution. If we devolve and pass away, how perfect the plant would then be. And the world would never again have to deal with us for at least another billion years. No! Never! No and never again because the chances of human evolving again are impossible. That many strings of chances to happen again are impossible.

Happy Festivus, Twenty-fourth Year in the Realm of Festivus

 

[BartholomewB]

Jim, are you going to be celebrating Festivus with George Costanza and his family and friends? Please give them all my warmest regards, not forgetting Newman!

 

[ThinkingSapien]

When I contemplate Evolution, I wonder why we allow man to dominate our pets such as dogs, cats, and hamsters. They evolved for many reasons, but surely the right to procreate must be at the top of the list. How dare men “fix” hamsters, dogs or cats. They weren’t broken. They have rights too. Cats are people, too!

I think the perspective that many (myself included) look at this is much different. Have you ever had a cat in heat? They make these horrible sounding noises and apply urine in all types of places you don’t want it. If they are not fixed then the problem will only multiply. And many cities and towns have laws or many rentals have rules regulating how many animals of certain types can live in a residential space. And obvious solution to this is “don’t have pets.” Some desire the companionship and another life to which they can be caring. For those that desire this and haven’t been able to find fulfillment through their human relationships (human relationships can be challenging and take years to build) pets bring some satisfaction.

“Fixing” has nothing to do with being broken. Rather it is a euphemism as many people don’t want to say what’s really going on. “Hey dear, did you make the appointment to have the dog’s testicles severed” just doesn’t sound very good. BTW: my local vets never use the term “fixed.” They use the phrase “spayed and neutered.”

There is a lot more to be said about “rights” than I can type here. So instead of typing what I think would be a severely inadequate answer I’ll leave that part alon

And if we humans continue to cause global warming and the temperature destroy us, what a beautiful way to complete our evolution.

There may be a certain poetic beauty that some find at the thought of the population of humans declining as the remaining survivors fight over resources needed to support their lives. Can’t say I’m among them. But views on beauty vary.

 

[Neofight]

There may be a certain poetic beauty that some find at the thought of the population of humans declining as the remaining survivors fight over resources needed to support their lives. Can’t say I’m among them. But views on beauty vary.

Just wanted to point out that human population is not in decline, but continues to grow. It is only the rate of population growth currently in decline. However, yes there are some regions experiencing population decline but it is not global.

 

[DaveBj]

For me, the word “festivus” will always be associated with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. They were having a good season, and local fans were starting to think that they might actually make it to the playoffs. However, so as not to jinx the process, they chose not to use the word “playoffs,” saying instead that the Ravens might make it to Festivus. They did make it to “Festivus,” and then on to “Festivus Maximus,” Super Bowl XXXV, which they won

Edit, to correct myself, from Wikipedia:

During the Baltimore Ravens’ run to the Super Bowl XXXV Championship in 2000, head coach Brian Billick superstitiously issued an organizational ban on the use of the word “playoffs” until the team had clinched its first postseason berth. “Playoffs” was instead referred to as Festivus and the Super Bowl as Festivus Maximus.

 

[Jim_Baur]

Merry Christmas for real!!!