Sunday, December 02, 2018

ADAPTATIONS -- LIFE -- IMMORTALITY


Rain!   We actually had some rain here in Southern California where I live.   I know -- rain, moisture, or snow isn’t that big a deal where most reside, or where I grew up, but times and location change.   Where I once lived in the Midwest we coped with rivers overflowing.  One year there was real concern a dam would break flooding a whole valley, but the waters stopped just shy of overflowing the rim.  

Then, there were the occasional tornadoes that ripped havoc through the area which were of concern.  Wintertime meant snow – lots and lots of snow, cold temperatures often going way below zero – trying to stay warm.  Slipping and sliding on icy surfaces in our cars and trying to remain on our feet. 

I’ve enjoyed nature’s offerings everywhere I lived – including a few years in the Southwest’s desert-like climate with flash floods in washes, dust storms and what they called hundred year flooding that strangely came much more frequently.   Summer came and we tried to stay cool. 

Now in Southern California, the drought we’ve been having for several years gives us reason to not take nature’s gifts for granted.  The fires about which I recently wrote, finally under control, have left those homeowners concerned the vegetation barren hillsides around them could result in mudslides, so once again some have vacated their homes as a precaution.  Fortunately, the worst case scenarios have not developed so far.   Rain is expected again the middle of the coming week, so we have our fingers crossed for their safety once more.

I can be grateful to have never lived where I was immediately subjected to most of these life-threatening dangers.  Where I live now in the foothills of northeastern Los Angeles County these fires, mudslides and the like have not been a close by concern.   Yes, “the Big One” earthquake is a matter with which we know we’re at risk for having, but it’s always something, somewhere, isn’t it?  

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The adaptations we make to our environment so we can not only survive but enjoy ourselves in the process, does keep us occupied.   We humans even keep trying to extend our lives longer and longer.  Only recently did I read statistics have shown life expectancy in the U.S. has declined in recent years as you probably heard on the news, too.  Nevertheless, I can well imagine some among us are querying in their mind whether or not its possible we could remedy that, perhaps even eventually becoming immortal.  

I knew there were some creatures who lived much longer than humans, so was curious to see what they were and how long they lived.  You can read more about them and see colorful photos of them at One Kind Planet HERE:  

Red Sea Urchin – 200 years
Koi Fish – 200 years
Long Finned Eel – 60 years
Mccaw Parrot – 60-80 years
African Elephant – 70 years
Galapagos Giant Tortoise – 152 years
Bowhead Whale – 200 years
Greenland Shark – 400 years
Ocean Quahog – more than 400 years

Then, there’s the ......

Immortal Jellyfish – not truly immortal, but fascinating to scientists because this creature if its body starts to deteriorate or becomes injured can regenerate itself.    What is the secret?  

World Health.net sheds further light on “...this tiny creature the size of a human pinky nail”.

Would you want to be immortal?  

21 comments:

  1. Strange that you write about rains as I too have and posted it just earlier this morning our time!

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    1. Perhaps our minds were drawn to the same channel.

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  2. Definitely I'd not want to be immortal lol. I'd just like a good death when the time comes ;).

    We finally got rain here too and boy did we need it. Our big oak trees don't do well if they don't get enough water. Since they are right near our home, they are my bigger concern than whether the nearby forests will have to add new trees.

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    1. Glad you got rain so your oaks can survive.

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  3. Interesting that most of the 'creatures' that live to a ripe old age are living in the sea where man has not totally been able to alter their existence. Although I've heard that Trump just lifted a ban on some kine of underwater drilling test that will kill various fish with the sound waves, including large whales.

    I'm glad you are getting some rain in California. I hope it turns out to be just the right amount. I can't imagine how difficult it is for those people displaced by the fires to live with the threat of mudslides now. I just read a story about a couple who were able to save their house with a springier system on their roof. I hope the area governments will toughen building codes now that they have a clean slate, so to speak.

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    1. Yes, our glorious leader has little respect for life, other than his own, so doesn’t mind what happens to sea creatures.

      I, too, think more thought needs to be given to building codes in many areas throughout our nation.

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  4. There are days I would like immortality, but only if I had others with the same so that I was not so lonely.

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    1. I guess I’d like to know what kind of existence I’d have with immortality. Earth surely would get crowded, but maybe by that time we’d be populating outer space.

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  5. No immortality here. But it would be nice if some of my art would be loved for a long time.

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    1. Perhaps you will have immortality through your art.

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  6. Oh heavens no. I'll be lucky to make it to the end of my allotted days still sane. No century has been immune to chaos.

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    1. So, you don’t want to see what the chaos is like in the next century? Lol

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  7. Immortality? I think not. There are days I cannot wait until it's time to put jammies on and crawl into bed! The very thought of Immortality exhausts me.

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  8. Longevity has stalled here in the UK as well, though it hasn't declined as yet. The obvious causes are the government's austerity policy, which is causing severe financial and psychological stress, the underfunding of the NHS, which has led to long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, and increasing ill-health in the form of obesity and alcohol abuse. I don't want to live too long anyway, I'd prefer to go while I'm still relatively fit and healthy.

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    1. Sorry to read UK experiencing decreasing longevity, too, and for the reasons you describe.

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    2. And, perhaps, the effects of our having despoiled our planet's air, oceans, and land.
      Cop Car

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  9. Yes, you all were dumped on with rain, if I remember reading correctly. We've had a few downpours of late. It's cleared the air of smoke quite nicely.

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    1. Glad you received some rain to clear your air. So far, Weds evening and we still haven’t received any rain where I live as often occurs. Perhaps before the night is over we’ll receive some moisture.

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    2. Yes! Weds night rain cells finally came to our community and is steadily coming down — expected to end here by late tonight. Heavy snow, ice, rain in mtns above (Mt Baldy).

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  10. Indeed, there is severe air pollution in most UK cities, which as usual the government is doing little to reduce.

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