A Respite For Heavy Hearts

It just keeps coming.  The bad news, that is. 

The EU is in economic turmoil and threatens the US/World economy with bleak aftershocks.  The whisper of possible Israeli action against Iran holds the world on tender hooks. Domestically, we’re not faring much better.  Scandals abound with the recent accusations leveled at Herman Cain, a Republican presidential hopeful. Rick Perry’s debate meltdown on national television has gone viral and makes one wonder exactly ‘what’ the GOP was/is thinking. Penn State, one of the top three money-making football universities in the country, is the focal point of a sickening child-rape scenario, tainting the Legendary Joe Paterno and his entire coaching staff—who knew what, when?  Earthquakes in Oklahoma may be linked to increased natural gas exploration [fracking] and weird weather events hit the Northeast and slammed our Alaska coast with massive flooding.  Occupy Wall Street continues on with mixed reactions by local police authorities [who frankly look equipped for WWIII rather than civil disobedience]. Former NJ Governor Corzine’s involvement in and responsibility for MF Global’s recent downfall clearly indicates the financial casino games of the past are still in full play.  Home foreclosures and personal bankruptcies are up.  Unemployment has reached a dismal plateau and soul crushing poverty in America is the worst recorded in 35 years.

It would be easy and tempting to simply give a national sigh and shrug and say the hell with all of it!  But as most of us know, a goodly measure of the mess we see now is because we weren’t paying enough attention . . . before.

What to do?

I’d suggest a brief respite, maybe once a week.  A reminder of sorts that ‘the good,’ the creative,’ even ‘the laugh-out-loud silly’ still exists in the world.  Consider it a temporary antidote for heavy hearts, a thimble of sanity.

First up?  The extraordinary, startling photo above [hat tip to Gawker], which shows a helicopter lift in S. Africa, a rescue directed by the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project to transport and protect the black rhinoceros community from extinction.   Current estimates put the species count at 4200+, much of the demise the result of poaching and superstition [locals believe that Rhino horns have magical, curative powers].  The Expansion Project moves these animals to less populated S. African locales, where the likelihood of slaughter is minimized.

On the creative side?  OWS has inspired a good deal of controversy, criticism and spurious headlines [the  ‘cootie’ headline wins the prize, IMHO].  But the Movement has also spurred creative bursts.  I stumbled over the video below and think the effort earns a star for imaginative messaging.

Finally, in the ‘silly department’ is a video of The Fiendish, Stalking Turkey. The creature seems to have a grudge against the wailing newscaster, cameras rolling, action film style reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project.  Oddly enough, I read a headline last week of a woman being attacked by a wild turkey, ending up trapped in her own garage.  She called 9-1-1 for a police rescue.  Gobble-Gobble.  I probably wouldn’t be thrilled if a Turkey came a-running in my direction.  But then, I wouldn’t be thrilled if I were on the menu for Thanksgiving dinner either.  Another hat tip to Gawker, see page for video display, entitled How to Outrun a Wild Turkey.  The title alone makes me laugh. 

Laugh a little [good for the soul] and take a deep breath.  Then if you have kids or critters of your own, give them a hug.  Next week is sure to bring more surprises, some shocking and bewildering.  But don’t forget to check out examples of the good, creative and down right silly. 

Consider that triple run a useful Rx for heavy hearts.  Because tomorrow’s another day and the good fight never ends.