December 21, 2008 ...
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A day which began with a view of the Universe, included the sunrise, and eventually led to close encounters with dolphins, a bald eagle, ospreys, and lovely little American kestrels.
December 21st was so beautiful I had to divide it into three folders:
December 21 - Night to Sunrise
December 21 - Eagle Nest to Osprey Nest
December 21 - Dewy Flowers to Kestrel
It is a wondeful thing to see this world filled with a great diversity of plants and animals, especially because I know that these shall inherit the Earth from us. Humankind's dominance over the Earth is nearing its end. The human era is approaching its close.
There was Life before humankind, Life shall long endure after the Homo sapiens are gone. There is nothing whatsoever essential about humankind in the Universe. Nature owes us no obligations. The sun won't shut down when we're gone.
Nature's smallest accomplishments are at least a billion billion times more impressive that humankind's greatest accomplishments. If people understood what it means to be alive they would spend every moment astonished by what Nature has done.
The Earth is the most beautiful planet in the Universe. Shouldn't we treat it as such? No matter, though, there is no doubt whatsoever about the Earth's survival. Humankind's survival, though, is doubtful to near-impossible.
Sincerely,
David Mathews