Virtually dead

I just noticed the last post was the hundredth. And while we (our group) aren't big on anniversaries, I am just glad we didn't get to hit the 100 mark with this following musing...

A few hours ago, the story hit the internet about a mother who apparently "tweeted" about her two-year-old son's drowning-in-progress, updating her 5000 Twitter followers about the rescue procedures... and, eventually, about the little one's death.

OK, "drowning-in-progress" is a bit harsh and probably very unjust. She posted a "tweet" about her son being found in the pool, and she asked for prayers. (That actually sounds like a very good idea especially if the person in question actually believes in the power of prayer.)

Unfortunately, the rescue efforts failed: five hours later, the little boy was pronounced dead. And the mother, it seems (I wasn't one of her followers, and now her "tweets" are protected), promptly updated her followers about it, posting her son's photo.

Now, everyone is up in arms. The internet is abuzz with this sad story, journalists are filing their reports for tonight's news.

But what these media don't know is that there was another such story - how true, I don't know and so I can't tell - just two days ago. Someone posted on an astrology forum that her teenage son had just committed suicide.

Now, I am not a member of said forum and I am not familiar with the person in question; in all fairness, neither is the member of our group who informed me about this today (after the Military-Mom story broke). She doesn't know this person, none of us here do. But judging by the responses of the members on said forum, pretty much everyone there took the post seriously.

If it is true... what does it say about people? About the times? About our place in the virtual reality?

Let me tell you: I have always abhorred people who judge others' grief by their own (more or less weepy or exhibitionist) standards. I know from personal experience that everyone deals (or they should) with grief in their own manner. And I know (again, from personal experience) that the deepest grief is often wordless, tearless, apparently emotionless.
I also know that grief makes people behave in the most unpredictable ways - and doubly so if they are under some sort of medication. Also, in the case of "Military-Mom", I don't think it was particularly horrendous that she asked her followers to pray for her son. It's not what I would have done - or even thought about it - but I am not her, and she is not me.

But I must admit I do find it eerie, to put it mildly, that anyone could have the "composure" (for lack of a better term) to even think about their internet pals in such a moment. Or are they - virtual friends, images on the screen, words and LOLs and OMG - really the only ones that person can turn to?

There seems to be something profoundly wrong with these people and their perception of the world. And personally I don't think the internet is helping them as much as they probably think it is. It is a net - and they got caught in it, confusing it with "real" life.


I have to go now - something urgent came up (a good thing, don't worry ;) - but I'll be back to edit this and add further thoughts.

Meanwhile, stay well, my friends.
And keep your eyes on the real people around you.

Barack Obama's saintly halo lights up the sky over Norway

Upper photo: Jan Erik Steine. lower photo: REX.

Well, something did - and if you ask me, it may have been some sort of freak aurora borealis or, much more likely, the stray rocket or missile (Russian or not) mentioned in the media - but since the USA president, Barack Obama, is in Norway to receive his Nobel prize, some - quite a few - were quick to, albeit indirectly, attribute its appearance to his presence there. (And yes, be warned that UFOs as the source of the light are mentioned in many reports. Really: did you expect them not to be?)

Now, don't get me wrong: despite the seemingly snarky title I have nothing whatsoever against Barack Obama. Nor do I particularly mind his Nobel prize, although I do think it was unspeakably ridiculous to award it to him now, and it may prove to be more of a liability than anything else to him (and certainly to the Nobel Prize Committee - just wait and see).

But really... does everything in this world (and apparently, any other worlds) have to relate to the USA and to Barack Obama?

Then again, even if it were an aurora borealis (only they don't usually - or ever - appear accompanied by laser-like beams), it may still be a more than just physically intriguing phenomenon. For all my love of logical thought, I simply have to admit that sometimes nature does seem to convey - or "channel", if you will - the collective unconscious (for lack of a better expression) of us Earthlings. See the curious case of the supposed aurora borealis of 1938 (and perhaps this post), before you make up your mind.

One thing is sure: whatever it is, we are likely to find out soon what scientists think about it (my money is on the stray missile/rocket).
And if it is a portent of some sort... I guess we'll find out soon enough as well.



LATER EDIT:

Fogbow?
Anyway, here's an entire thread for you to enjoy.
Knock yourself out! :)


EVEN LATER EDIT:

Here's a video of the thing as seen from Ekaterinburg, Russia, at 18:10-18:20 local time, according to the poster.
If this footage really corresponds to the Norway light (and it seems to, at least judging by the spiralling motion seen at the end, but I really can't be sure), I think it's reasonably safe to rule out as the cause of it:

a) aurora borealis
b) fogbow
c) Barack Obama's presence in Norway


AND YET ANOTHER EDIT:

A comment below prompted us to add another speculative theory to this little musing:

Was this the "blue star" (Kachina) of the Hopis?

However, keep in mind there is some evidence that the whole "Hopi prophecy" is a relatively recent creation - much like the "2012" thing, but more on that some other day.


FINAL EDIT:

Project Blue Beam...? ;-)

Photo: Odd Magne Haugen

Of course I am kidding.
But frankly, after seeing the picture above I can see how anyone could think so. ;)

Be it as it may, now, after more than 20 hours of "observation", I cannot think of any better explanation than this comment posted elsewhere by a Jonathan, in Canada:

"Seems to me like the most logical explanation is scientists meddling in things that they REALLY have no business meddling in."


AMEN to that.