Chimpanzees

I was attracted to an article that a Facebook friend had shared on my wall. The article was from phys.org about how Chimpanzees in Senegal have been observed to fashion spears out of tree branches.  Apparently the chimps use the spears to kill for food. The article on the website was dated April 15, 2015. Seems to me that after ___ years, the article corroborates what Jane Godall had found out in November of 1960: A chimpanzee was using grass as a tool to trap termites. 

Subsequently Godall discovered that chimpanzees were shaving leaves off tree branches and stems and using them to fish for insects. Until Godall’s discovery, the prevalent thought was that only humans has the intelligence to make tools.

“Now we must redefine tool, redefine man or accept chimpanzees as human,” said famed Anthropologist and Paleontologist  Louis Leakey in a congratulatory telegram to Godall.

Chimpanzees, more than the gorilla and any other animal, are said to be most like us.  Much like humans, chimpanzees have long-term affectionate and supportive relationships.

 National Geographic magazine says this about chimpanzees: “Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, sharing more than 98 percent of our genetic blueprint. Humans and chimps are also thought to share a common ancestor who lived some four to eight million years ago.

Granting that we do share a common ancestor with the chimpanzees, are the chimpanzees slowly evolving and catching up with us?

Will they, like humans, discover that tools they use for obtaining food can also be used to kill for domination?

Or will they, in full awareness of the dangers of human aggression, ultimately evolve into a species superior to  humans in that they are at all cost supportive of one another, peaceful and loving?

 

Chimpanzees are an endangered species.  But so are we, humans. 

 

Unless we can save our mother ship and our fellow men from ourselves, we are in grave danger of annihilation, extinction or both.

 

Love.

 

 

For more information about chimpanzees please click on the following links:

http://phys.org/news/2015-04-chimps-senegal-fashion-spears.html

http://www.janegoodall.org/chimpanzees

Posted with Aloha!

- By ARIEL MURPHY

Reflections on abundance

After four real estate transactions that tanked recently, I admittedly started despairing. My faith in the Universe wavered.  But after I saw a post on social media about abundance I started feeling better.

The post quoted financial guru Suze Orman who said: "Abundance is about being rich, with or without money.

Many equate abundance with a fat bank account and a high number of investment assets.  I would rather think that abundance exists whenever one feels contented and happy. 

Abundance begins with an acceptance of one's condition, both positives and negatives, and trustingAbundance has nothing to do with wealth as measured by money but everything to do with acceptance of the present, having faith in the future, and trusting  in the goodness of the Universe.

There are those who may be considered wealthy but are stuck most of their lives  in increasing and preserving their assets.  These people work very hard and enjoy the fruits of their labors in the same passion they work for them.  They party hard. They have all their toys.

And before they really hear the bell tolling, they're gone.

They die rich yes but bankrupt in many other ways, such as  in having a view of one's place in the overall scheme of things.

Perhaps everyone should have two bank accounts. One account is with a financial institution. Another is with one's own spirit.

Nothing gives me feelings of abundance more than   when just before I close my eyes to sleep I revel in the comforting warmth of an arm draped around me and  a body against my back.

In the darkness of my room, I imagine being part of and loved by a great collective goodness. There is no place for disappointments and fears. Nothing matters except that all is good.

And in that moment, I am contented.

I have abundance and I am grateful.

Posted with Aloha!
By ARIEL MURPHY

Two men, a lady and synchronicity

Sometimes when I don’t know what to do I just let things take their course.  

 I didn’t know what to blog about and whiled away my time in front of the computer jumping from one site and webpage to another, depending on what took my fancy.

There was an article entitled, “Where are They?”  about why the  existence of extra-terrestials would be disastrous for mankind.  I was titillated by the author, Nick Bostrom, when he said:

 “For surely it would be the height of naïveté to think that with the transformative technologies already in sight–genetics, nano­technology, and so on–and with thousands of millennia still ahead of us in which to perfect and apply these technologies and others of which we haven’t yet conceived, human nature and the human condition will remain unchanged. Instead, if we survive and prosper, we will presumably develop some kind of post-human existence.”

Imagine a post-human existence!

On another site, I watched a video of a dolphin swimming for a number of days  with  its dead calf on its back. The image made be wonder about the capacity of other creatures to grieve

Can a dolphin really feel sorrow?

Here's the video of the dolphin:

 

 

After checking out the page about “18 celebrities with false teeth” – and I was getting sleepy at that point—I  realized there was something emerging from the webpages I’ve been reading.  To simplify things, let me just say that surely there was no coincidence when—let’s just say—that 3 among the 6  web pages I read shared a common theme.

Clearly, I was given a suggestion about what to blog.

Two men and a lady, in different parts of the world, stuck their necks and their pockets out in service to others and humanity.

I do not know what prompted Swedish millionaire Johan Eliasch to spend $14M of his own money to purchase from a logging company a chunk of the Amazon forest  for preservation but  I imagine that he was fully aware that keeping that forest in tact was never going to benefit his bottom line, except if we’re not talking about money.

In the United States, young and successful entrepreneur Dan Price was apparently not a fan of  Walmart’s economic philosophy (tighten your belt, drool and hang your tongue, business comes first!).

Apparently, Dan Price has a conscience and genuinely cares for his employees’ welfare.  He slashed his own salary by a hefty 93%, from $1million down to $70,000 a year,   so that he can raise that of his people. Price believesin living simply and things  that cutting back on non-essentials is not a big deal.

While riding a train in Sydney, Australia, young Stacey Eden bravely stuck her neck out against bigotry. She defended a Muslim couple from the merciless tirade of a  fellow passenger  who, obviously thinking  that all Muslims are the same, blatantly accused the couple of being  ISIS fanatics.  

I wonder if there is a profound beneficial impact on society if mass media reports more acts of goodness than the current diet it gives of distractive stories of celebrities and their love affairs and cosmetic surgeries.

In his article “Where are they?{,  Nick Blostom talked about the possibility of a post-human existence down the road.

Down the road?  People get past their humanity every minute and right under our very nose.

With each act of kindness and selflessness, we transform, even if only temporarily,  into  what we’re truly all about – beautiful expressions of God.

I  am  amazed at the synchronicity -- at how the Universe conspired so that in discerning the pattern and content of what came to me while I was surfing the net,   I am able, through this blog,  to amplify a message of hope for our strife-torn and environmentally deteriorating planet.

All it took were two men and a lady.

 

I am grateful.

 

 

 

A waterfall in the Amazon forest. Photo courtesy of Google.com
 

Please click on the following links for more information about the articles mentioned above:

 

(Nick Blostom's "Where are they?)

http://www.technologyreview.com/article/409936/where-are-they/page/6/ 

 

(Video of dolphin with dead calf on its back)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR680gr7PkM

 

 (About Johan Eliasch) 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Eliasch

 

(About Dan Price)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/14/gravity-payments-raise_n_7061676.html

 (About Stacey Eden)

 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/stacey-eden-muslim-man-racially-5529288

 

(About synchronicity)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity

 

Posted with Aloha!

- By ARIEL MURPHY

So many Virgins: Just do it!

I was on my favorite Google+ community when someone's post attracted me. The post contained the photo of a man and a quote. I made a version of that post in the graphic shown below.

While I was making the graphic, I thought of adding: No wonder he has so many virgins!

Smile.

Nope Richard Branson is not a re-incarnated suicide bomber who was promised as many virgins as he wants in heaven if he would blow himself up and take with him as many as he could.    Besides, if this is heaven, then I'm Marilyn Monroe.

The nearest of heaven there is on earth is called Paradise, otherwise known as Hawaii, which Is where I live. And by the way, I'm  a licensed, experienced and very capable realtor. Want to buy a piece of paradise?  I'm your gal.

Now you understand. Somehow, somewhere one's gotta do what one's gotta do to make a living.

Smile.

I encountered my first Virgin in Paris, 1997.  The multi-story gleaming music store along the Champs d' Elysee just blew my mind.  Many years later I found out that Virgin Paris was called a megastore and the man behind it, Richard Branson.

The next time Richard Branson's name jumped out at me was about two years ago when I was doing some research for a blog. I found out then that  Branson had bankrolled a project to make possible commercial "human spaceflights." His purpose was for Virgin to provide the "Spacelines" for earth.

I was impressed by Branson's boldness considering that the galaxy is what  Starship Enterprise Captain James Kirk calls "the final frontier." For all he know, Branson may just be throwing $$$ down a black hole.

More recently, I learned that Branson may have inadvertently given  Apple's Steve Jobs the idea to create the ipod and iTunes -- two inventions that revolutionized the music industry. Reportedly, Steve Jobs talked to Branson about it. I have no idea if Branson ever shared in any of the royalties that fattened Apple's bottom line.

But I'm not about to delve  into who Sir Richard Branson is.  There is much in cyberspace about him that you can find at your own leisure. I have provided some links below.

For now, I'd say that whatever is on your mind; whatever you hesitate about,   if it passes the 4-way test (link below), if that teeny weeny voice of your intuition bugs you, then dump your doubts and heave your guts.

 

Links to sites about Richard Branson:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson

 

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245028

 

http://www.virgingalactic.com/human-spaceflight/

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four-Way_Test

 

- Posted with Aloha
By ARIEL MURPHY

Fawn and bobcat

It doesn't really matter whether or not the photo below has been photo-shopped. It's the same thing as it doesn't matter whether "photo-shopped" is considered proper English or not. What matters is the message that the photo conveys.

No matter the color of our skin, the gods we worship and the extent of our wealth or poverty; no matter how much we differ, we're just all witting or unwitting passengers on the same ship.

For now we want to make sure that we ourselves do not sink our own ship. And that means making an effort to overcome our tendency to slug each other over our differences. Believe it or not, one of  our on-going disagreements precisely has to do with whether or not our ship is really in danger.
 
The United Nations has this to say: 

     " Climate change is not a far-off problem. It is happening now and is having very real consequences on people’s lives. Climate change is disrupting national economies, costing us dearly today and even more tomorrow. But there is a growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions are available now that will enable us all to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies."

Conservatives, mostly associated with big business/capital,  argue that environmentalists are simply alarmists and that climate change does not exist.

Last night there was a documentary on television about supposedly the "strongest and most un-sinkable ship ever built."  Both first class and steerage passengers partied on the ship's maiden voyage. Nobody had a clue. By the time the ship's crew realized a huge ice berg was looming on the horizon, it was too late. It only took two hours after its collision for the Titanic to hit the icy cold depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

Do we earthlings have the luxury of time?

We need to stop fighting each other, whether in our own little circles, within our communities, or at the national level, in Washington and in the press.  The microcosm is but a reflection of the whole.

If the fawn and the bobcat shown below can co-exist in the face of a common danger, so can we,  of much evolved intellect,  rise above our own differences to fight for our very own survival.

Photo source: Facebook

 

Here are links to climate change articles:

 

http://www.un.org/climatechange/

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/23/opinion/paul-krugman-conservatives-and-climate-change.html?_r=0

- Posted with Aloha
By ARIEL MURPHY
 

That movie

Fred, my exasperating talking cat, the  burr in my craw and the bane of my existence,  keeps bugging me, "C'mon get your fingers on that keyboard and blog."

"Certainly not before I have a toke," I answer Fred that way every time he is in the mood for nagging;  knowing fully well that not even a toke is enough palliative for  a kind of constipation. Even if I were to be lucky,  I  would still end up only producing  air  after spending agonizing hours huffing and puffing. Nada.

But this time is different. I had earlier watched the movie, "The Imitation Game."

In fact, I liked the film enough to make me get on my keyboard  and warn Fred that any attempt on his part to steal my attention from writing this blog will be considered a capital offense punishable only by a diet of Fartrium (the latest weight loss health rage)  morning noon and night for an entire week.

"Be grateful that you will benefit from improving health and a to-die-for waistline while you're being punished," I said while wagging a finger at him like Mrs. Gorge of Orchidland does often.

Alas, not even threats would shut the maddening cat's mouth. I tell you, this one's got spunk. 

"What's the big deal with the movie, anyway?" Fred asks while  seemingly stifling a  yawn of feigned disinterest.

I paused typing, made eye-to-eye contact and said in a totally serious tone while emphasizing each word, "That movie got me writing again. "

I liked the moral issues the movie brought to the table.  One of them was about playing God and presiding over who get to avoid a sure attack by Hitler's military and who have to die.

Another was about how society regards so-called deviant behavior like homosexuality or being nerdy, geeky or just different from the rest of the crowd.

"The movie touched me," I excitedly explained to Fred.

Got my juices flowin'.

Yeah!



- Posted with Aloha by
ARIEL MURPHY
 

Jazz, a hardware store and a flash of humor

My friend Ralph and I were on our way to dance to the Jeff Gaeth Jazz Quartet at the Hilo Town Tavern yesterday when Ralph decided to stop by Home Depot. I stayed in the car thinking Ralph will be back soon.

 

Minutes passed and still no Ralph. I started getting antsy.  I couldn't wait to dance and we were already at least an hour late.

 

I decided to get out of the car and headed towards the entrance of Home Depot.

 

I realized after I had stepped into the store how cavernous it was. "How am I going to find anyone here," I thought.

 

I stopped walking and looked around. Not one of those in the checkout counters looked like Ralph.

 

Then without a second thought, I craned my neck high, opened my mouth and yelled at the top of my lungs: RAAAALLLLPPPH!!!

 

Deafeaning silence. Everyone stopped; many eyes on me.

 

I started walking out of the store  laughing  to myself. I didn't find Ralph and I didn't yell. But I was   grateful for  how my imagination worked to get me to relax, return to the car and practice the virtue of patience -- something my dad once said I very much need.

God is funny!

This was the flyer for the Jeff Gaeth Quartet's world-class performance yesterday. "Forgotten Reef," a track in "Portraits," the Quartet's latest CD release was voted #1 by KJAZZ radio  listeners in Europe.
 

Posted with Aloha!
- ARIEL MURPHY

Going with the flow (lava)

Even as  I write this, the lava flow is steadily burning its way downhill. It is projected to go through the town of Pahoa (in the district of Puna) which is directly on the lava's path towards the ocean. The assessment is that if the lava continues to advance  my small Pahoa town could be effectively severed from the city of Hilo -- the biggest town and the capital of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Where it took 30 minutes from my place to Hilo, that same trip will take at least 2.5  hours if the lava continues its procession to the ocean.

It's a rather dismal  situation not to have access to a major center for commerce, government, entertainment, health, etc.  Remember, the Big Island of Hawaii is just that --  an island on the Pacific Ocean. Mainland USA is at least a 5-hour plane ride.  Hilo is a very important city, if only for the east side of the Big Island.  Majority of goods coming from Mainland USA and the other Hawaiian islands are dislodged  in Hilo. Eventually, they find their way on the shelves of stores in Pahoa.

Being cut off from Hilo means, for one, not having ready access to goods and services that we are used to having. Worst case scenario is a minimum 2.5-hour drive one way. And that's not even considering that in long stretches, the road will not be of asphalt but merely graded over hardened un-flattened lava. You will most likely be  doing  15-20 mph.  for several miles.

 

Many have already taken  lock, stock and barrel and headed to Hilo. Suddenly, rentals in Hilo have become hard to find. 

 

But there were also many who opted to stay, take pride in their decision, and announce it to the world.

It may not be all bad if the lava crosses the Hilo-Pahoa highway and two of three alternative emergency routes.

We might have to pause, take stock of our possessions and decide on what our priorities are. What do we consider as "valuables" that we want to keep safe?  What conveniences are we willing to forgo with? What kind of life do we want for the rest of our remaining time as humans"? 
 

Maybe home- and community-based industries and services will mushroom to fill the void created from being cut off from Hilo's economic opportunities.

 

I would think that neighbors  will be visiting more than they do now, have meaningful relationships, and become more supportive and protective of each other. Maybe  communities will be more tightly knit.

 

Families will have more time to go camping, fishing, swimming together. Quality time will increase.

 

There  could be more time and opportunities to connect with the Aina (the land/environment) and everything else it represents.

 

"Pahoa will be to the Big Island what Hana is to Maui," I could still hear my principal broker, Dana Kenny saying.  

 

In downtown Pahoa, in front of  Chiroproctor Roy Lozano's  office,  a prominent sign proudly proclaims: "We are staying."

 

I thought it a beautiful statement of defiance; a refusal to be cowed by fear and uncertainty.

 

I thought it a beautiful  statement of  trust and faith.; that whatever happens  is all good.

I thought it was simply going with the Flow.

It is Aloha!

Puna resident and artist-photographer Ken Boyer's  "The Ominous Glow of the Pahoa Flow" 10/23/14 at 7:30pm



Photo source: BigIslandNow.com

Lava advancing towards Pahoa town.  Photo source:cassiehomes.com



Click on this link to a newspaper article about the Pahoa lava flow:
 http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/10/26/evacuation-looms-as-lava-flow-threatens-a-small-town/
 

Posted with Aloha!
- ARIEL MURPHY

Terms of endearment

People use many names for those they are fond of. "Babe, honey, sweetheart, darling, sweetie" are just some of those names.

Prince Charles of England and his wife Camellia reportedly call each other Fred and Gladys.

Heir to the British throne Prince William is called "Big Willy" by wife Kate, who in turn is "babykins."

 

Others have rather unusual terms of endearment. A friend, for example, calls her husband "Hobbit."

Another friend says her partner is "Yoda."

I used to call someone I was involved with "gorilla." My late husband was "bear."

But I like  best the French's "mon canard."  The term means "my duck" and ties in very well with one of my favorite French dishes -- duck l' orange'.

Photo source: google.com

Posted with Aloha!
ARIEL MURPHY

All we have to do is listen!

 

Yesterday was not a bad day at all for a realtor like me even  if a client who wanted to buy raw land wanted me to make an offer on a listing that I discovered was already in escrow with a fully executed contract and no longer for sale. My client, who unfortunately ignored the list of still available listings that I gave him,  was about to board a plane back to  Las Vegas when he asked me to make the offer. It was too late to look for a possible replacement listing. And then the lockbox in the house I was showing another client wouldn’t work. I had to make a mad dash to the listing office to get a key. 

I thought that yesterday was a day for me to be annoyed.

To my delight, being loving and ever full of surprises, the Universe thought of brightening my day. When I went to the house of a friend for the first time, my spirit was refreshed by what my friend Sherri has in her 3-acre yard. Atop an imposing Banyan tree was a two-room tree house complete with a very large bed, a hammock and even a composting toilet . The yard has at least 4 rabbits, 3 bunnies and a collection of friendly white silkie hens joyfully having the run of the place.

But having lived most of my life in a large and congested concrete jungle of a city where seeing farm animals was rare, I thought that the crown jewel of my friend’s yard was an area with two natural and organic lawn mowers -- a donkey and a goat. Please see the photo below taken through my many-times-smarter-than-me cellphone.

It was as if the Universe was telling me – Don’t get annoyed over setbacks and kinks. They are temporary and even only illusory. TRUST! In the meantime, here, look at this eye candy and soak in the beauty of the aina (Hawaiian for land).

The Universe speaks! All we have to do is listen.
 

I am grateful!
 

 

 

 

 

Posted with Aloha!

- ARIEL MURPHY