QUESTIONS
Serious Ones with One Silly One
Some of Melanie’s questions this week sent me running for Mr Google to help me understand and give a sensible answer. Here they are.
Is there inherent order in nature or is it all chaos and chance?
I think that there is some order although it may not appear so at times. Evolution is not a random thing, changes happen in response to changes in the environment. There is always a reason. Here is a link that lists some examples of order in nature.
What is infinity?
According to the dictionary it means an unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity. I think of it as something too large to measure.
Does observation alter an event?
I have to admit that I initially didn’t understand this question and went away to look it up. I came up with something called the Observer Effect and examples were given of how it works in science or IT or social sciences so I think I get it now. If people know they are being observed it may change their behaviour. For example when you are in a car and see a marked police car you may observe that everyone is driving more carefully, obeying the speed limits etc because they don’t want to get pulled over. Likewise the use of CCTV may discourage unruly behaviour although I’m a bit sceptical about how well this works because in my experience it only works if the cameras are constantly monitored.
My first thoughts on this were actually about time travellers in stories always being told not to interfere in the events they witnessed as it could change history.
Do you like balloons?
I like both kinds, hot air balloons you ride in and the sort you blow up for party decorations. I am aware though, that setting those balloons free in the atmosphere is bad because of the danger to the environment. Did you know that there was an organisation dedicated to the responsible enjoyment of balloons? I didn’t, but there is. Here is a link.
GRATITUDE SECTION (as always optional)
Yesterday was America’s Birthday, does your country celebrate a “Founder’s Day” or other traditions like that?
In Australia the official birthday is Australia Day currently held on 26 January. This is the day when we commemorate the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 which marked the beginning of European settlement in Australia. The First Fleet was 11 British ships carrying British and Irish convicts and troops to set up the colony of New South Wales. However, these days it is a controversial holiday. For the indigenous peoples of Australia it is not a day to celebrate.
In recent years there have been suggestions that our national day should be moved to a different date, perhaps January 1 . Australia officially became a nation on 1 January 1901. So far there has been no move to change the date and I think it may take a few more years before that comes to pass.
Our Other Blog: Two Sisters and Two Points of View 
Thank you Vanda for Sharing Your World! Yes, for the indigenous people of a country, the day the settlers (or whatever) showed up is not a cause for celebration. I’ve heard a bit about the Maori in Australia (seen some documentaries and movies)..(I hope Maori is the correct term and not offensive). The Native Americans obtained a different title to encompass all their tribes – they’re now called “First People” which is sort of true. They were here (America) before any Pilgrims or others (Spanish for one), but given how old the earth is, and how many times a group of people have settled into a particular country, I don’t know how anyone could figure out who was first. The Native Americans are first for this segment of history certainly. Interesring information about Australia too! Thanks! I liked your links and information on the other questions, and the balloon one? I got some first hand experience of that balloon ‘pollution’ when a friend of mine died in 1997 (ish) and was cremated. She wanted some of her ashes ‘scattered’ by folks writing a rememberance card or note, attaching the note and a small lightweight bag of ashes to a helium balloon. Her friends all met up at the edge of a State Park, and prepared to let the balloons go, and we got cited by the park rangers for doing that. They said it wasn’t legal to spread ashes there at all, even though we hadn’t actually spread them. And balloons were not allowed to be released because they got tangled in trees and caused ‘hazards’. Well it was a lovely thought on the part of my friend. We went to another area and let them go anyway. I hope she was pleased! Have a wonderful week Vanda!
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Most places the British settled have a sad story of mistreatment of the native peoples. Maori is not at all offensive but it is the term used for the indigenous people of New Zealand not Australia. They prefer to be known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples. These days they are often referred to as First Nations people and they were certainly here long, long before white settlement as their ancestors were believed to have come to Australia while it was still attached to the Europe, Africa land mass. One of the oldest cultures in the world.
Your friend’s idea to have her ashes scattered was lovely. Back then people were less aware of the damage that balloons could cause. I wouldn’t have thought that scattering the ashes in a park would hurt as long as no plastics were involved but I guess it’s like throwing stones into the Grand Canyon. If everyone did it imagine how it would look in the end.
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