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A Cheating Gene

So I was listening to Radio IQ yesterday (it makes me feel smart), and they were discussing a study recently completed by a Swedish group and published by the National Academy of Sciences. Apparently, there is a gene variant in men which is directly linked to marital discord / monogamy issues. And if men have a double dose of this gene variant, the chance of their marital issues increases. 

An article written by the Washington Post suggests that this study may lead to the possibility that women could have their fiancees genetically tested in order to determine their marriageability. I thought about that and whether (in the future) I had tested Johnathan and found he possesses this gene variant. I think I still would have married him, but only because I don't believe unfaithfulness to be the worst thing that can happen in a marriage. I think unfaithfulness is usually a symptom of something else. It may sound weird, but it's just my opinion. And I know that a lot of women don't agree with me, which is probably why future genetic testing for this gene might affect some women's marriage decisions.

The things we can do in the future are crazy, no kidding? Sometimes, I really wonder why we keep reaching higher and farther. It feels somehow like we're trying to build the Tower of Babel, and some sort of impending doom is approaching because of our attempts to reach heaven. Only in our postmodern society it's an evolutionary utopia we're striving for. 

On Outer Space

I got to look at space today, in one of the US's largest telescopes ever built. It was not as cool as I thought it would be. In fact, Globular Cluster (what poetic language we use to describe the stars! Globular Cluster! It's positively inspired!) MI92 simply looked like a sprinkle of fairy dust over a black sheet of paper.  A little shimmer. But apparently it is one of the oldest things I will ever look at.
Millions of years old. Created right after the big bang (this is exactly what the tour guide said).

I've always wondered how scientists have any clue how old other planets and stars and galaxies are. We can't even get the dating for the fossilized trees on Mt. St. Helens right, how are we arrogant enough to date things light years away?

Sleep tight under your blanket of globular clusters.

Beauty Education

My fascination with beauty continues. I can't quite put my finger on it-- what makes people or things beautiful. Husband is beautiful because his body curves in a perfect way-- he is all straight and rounded in the right places! Jared and Beth are beautiful because they are new and tentative and very comfortable together. My Janell is beautiful, well, because she's no other but Janell. Janell is beauty, somehow.

As I think more and more about it, I realize that beauty comes out of what we desire. You are probably thinking of the wrong kind of desire...but I am not sure if I can explain. When we want to see something or hear something, that sight or sound is lovely to us. And taking this idea further, have you noticed we do need to identify what is beautiful to us? You cannot just see a lovely sunset and suck in a breathe-- you have to somehow appreciate a beautiful sunset in your mind before you can really appreciate it in reality. Just like you cannot fully comprehend the beauty of Bach or Mozart unless you actually have a slight base in music. Or you may have to practice a little to find the person at your side beautiful.

To support myself in all of this nonsense, read Charles Darwin. The way he describes the Tierra del Fuegans-- coming from the oh-so-British mindset of superiority-- is pitiless and merciless. But if we were to look at one of their pictures-- from our slightly humanitarian culture-- we would not use the same words.

I don't know. I am getting a little too far off tangent and have to get to work. Good morning!