Tuesday, September 21, 2021

The Drowning Man

 


There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
~ Elie Wiesel


In the three boats story, a man is floating alone in an ocean without a life jacket when a boat passes by. "Get in. I'll save you," the boatman says. "Oh, no, it's fine," the floating man answers, "I'm putting my faith in the Lord." In time, two more boats come along, and to each rescuer the man - usually me, in Wade's telling - says, "No, no, I'm putting my faith in the Lord." Eventually, and it isn't very long in coming, the man drowns. Yet when he stands up to meet his Maker at the fated spot where some rejoice but many more cower, his Maker looks sternly down and says, "You're a fool. You're assigned to hell forever. Go there now." To which the drowned man says, "But your honor, I put my faith in you. You promised to save me." "Save you!?" fearsome God shouts from misty marmoreal heights. "Save you? Save you?" God thunders. "I sent you three boats!

The Drowning Man



Not Waving but Drowning Causal Inference


Global Coral Coverage Down by Half Since the 1950s

Coral reefs worldwide are facing impacts from climate change, overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution.



The Taliban is now riding in swan boats with rocket launchers.


Study offers more evidence that stress can drive blood pressure higher. One of my lawyer friends who hated practicing law quit it to become a studio drummer and his BP has dropped from the 160/90 range to the 120/80 range. Of course, he’s also getting some excercise now, but that too is a byproduct of quitting the law biz.


Psychologists Are Learning What Religion Has Known for Years Wired 


The Best Photos Taken Through Microscopes Will Blow You Away Buzzfeed News


Drone Photographs


Saudi Arabia camel carvings dated to prehistoric era BBC


Animal House: Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, Lizards Accompany Students to Campus WSJ


The world’s most expensive animals BBC

Outcry over killing of almost 1,500 dolphins on Faroe Islands The Guardian (David L)



Michelangelo’s Hidden Drawings Atlas Obscura 


Barack Obama, the Hollow Icon Jacobin


Photographs from the edge The Architects Newspaper


The young Vietnamese helping tackle the illegal wildlife trade Al Jazeera


A horrifying new AI app swaps women into porn videos with a click MIT Technology Review