Accurate birth and death records are a relatively recent phenomenon and still don't exist in much of the world. But when she died in 1997, Jeanne Louise Calment from Arles, France, was believed to be the oldest person to have ever lived on earth. She was born on February 21, 1875 and lived to the impressive age of 122 years and 164 days.
A recent report that caught my eye suggested that there may be a natural cap on the human lifespan at about 150 years old. One particular phrase in the study struck me -- that after that much time, the human body simply is no longer capable of "repairing itself."
The concept that we repair ourselves appeals to me on many levels. It captures the truth that we stumble and hurt ourselves a lot along the way, not just physically, and we need to be able to pick ourselves up and get going again.
I'm a big fan of organized sports for kids because they learn this lesson well by competing on teams (soccer, baseball, basketball) or in individual contests (tennis, swimming, track).
As a mature society we need to learn this skill as well. For example, how can we possibly recover from the divisive election in 2020 and come together to forge the kind of national consensus to tackle our true challenges, which have nothing to do with partisan political parties, and everything to do with survival of our species?
One thing is clear. We are not going to accomplish this by furthering the divide between the two political parties. In fact, they seem so archaic in their structure and posture as to have outlived their usefulness at this point.
So let's abolish them.
Inspirational books by sincere commentators like Dan Rather remind us that we are much more powerful when we unite behind a purpose, but no one to my knowledge has been able to articulate a workable plan for how we can currently do that.
So for many people, in lieu of collective progress, we must fall back on our own individual situations. How can we continue repairing ourselves and live on? Mortality is a certainty, but the vast majority of us would prefer that our demise be delayed indefinitely.
I say this fully cognizant of how hard it is from time to time to endure depression, anxiety, and other mental states, including suicidal thoughts -- especially when things go bad in life.
But the best choice should always be life, with all of its complications, disruptions and disappointments, because you never know what you are going to miss otherwise.
In that spirit, I'll keep repairing myself if you will do the same.
***
Naturally it's impossible for us to perceive is how we are evolving in anything approximating real time. Geological time is well beyond our comprehension. But adaptation is another matter; we are able to observe changes in ourselves and other species, some of which are close relatives.
This weekend's story about a group of monkeys adopting an accent to communicate with their rivals in South America is one such example. Climate change and a shrinking environment has brought them into confrontation with each other; and altering their language is one of the key ways they are learning to cope with that new reality.
Of course we humans are adept at changing our accents when we move to a new region. For just one example, most midwesterners loose their twang when they settle on the coasts. The investigative journalist Bob Woodward is a notable exception, but I chalk that up to how stubbornly persistent he is.
Meanwhile, mass media shapes pronunciation nationally; those appearing often on American television tend to round off the rough edges of their regional accents (again except Woodward) and adopt what in England might be termed Received Pronunciation, or RP, suitably downgraded for the colonies.
***
The news:
* An Arms Race in America: Gun Buying Spiked During the Pandemic. It’s Still Up. -- Preliminary research data show that about a fifth of all Americans who bought guns last year were first-time gun owners. Sales usually spike around elections, but the sheer volume is notable. (NYT)
* The police won’t protect a Black woman like me. So I bought a gun. -- After my brother‘s killing and a break-in at my home, I decided to arm myself. (WP)
* UK could make COVID-19 jabs compulsory in healthcare, minister says (Reuters)
* Hundreds Protest Vaccine Passports in London (AP, Reuters)
* ‘Like a Dream’: Latin Americans Head to U.S. for Covid Shots -- Frustrated with the lagging pace of vaccinations at home, well-off Latin Americans have been flying north for a shot — and feeling guilty about those left behind. (NYT)
* Texas Republicans finalize bill that would enact stiff voting restrictions, make it easier to overturn election results (WP)
* Israeli opposition parties reach agreement to oust Netanyahu (WP)
* Israel, Egypt talk truce with Hamas, rebuilding Gaza Strip (AP)
* 2 Airlines Will Postpone Serving Alcohol Amid Surge of In-Flight Violence -- American and Southwest announced the policies after the latest assault was captured on a widely watched video that showed a woman punching a flight attendant in the face. (NYT)
* Cicadas are terrible at living in the world they’re emerging into. Just like us. (WP)
* Australia Turns to Its Coastline to Slow Climate Change -- Scientists in some countries are developing “blue carbon” zones, trying to help slow warming temperatures on the planet by mending habitats along the world’s coastlines. (WSJ)
* Tasmanian Devils Born in Australia for First Time in 3,000 Years -- Seven Tasmanian Devils were born on the Australian mainland for the first time in almost 3,000 years after being wiped out. (Reuters)
* After 50 Years, U.S. Opens The Door To More Cannabis Crops For Scientists -- Until recently, plants from only one U.S. facility were approved for use in research. Adding new suppliers will accelerate understanding of cannabis' health effects and possible therapeutic uses. (NPR)
* It’s wrong to blame ‘overpopulation’ for climate change -- People don't warm the planet -- fossil fuels do. (WP)
* Manatees are dying in droves this year. The die-offs could spell trouble for Florida (CNN)
* Man Rescued in Colorado Mountain Pass Is Accused in 1982 Murders -- Alan Lee Phillips was rescued from a snowdrift in 1982 after he signaled SOS with his headlights. The police now say he became trapped on the road after killing two women. (NYT)
* B.J. Thomas, the Grammy-winning singer who enjoyed success on the pop, country and gospel charts with such hits as “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and “Hooked on a Feeling,” has died at age 78. (AP)
* Man Blames Hangover On Everything But How Much He Drank (The Onion)
***
I'm a woman's man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I've been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it's alright, it's okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive
And if I can't get either, I really try
Got the wings of Heaven on my shoes
I'm a dancin' man and I just can't lose
You know it's alright, it's okay
I'll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive (ohh)
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
I'm a woman's man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I've been kicked around since I was born
And now it's all right, it's okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
Somebody help me, yeah (ah, ah, ah)
Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
Somebody help me, yeah (ah, ah, ah, ay)
Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
Somebody help me, yeah (ohh)
Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
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