Category Archives: The Evidentialism Files

The Consciousness Caper (in Three Acts)

Act I: The Setup

Listen: Your brain is pulling a fast one on you. It’s a doozy of a prank, been running since the first spark of thought flickered in the primordial soup of your mind.

The joke goes like this: You think you’re the driver, but really, you’re just along for the ride.

And here’s the punchline: Consciousness is the realization — and rationalization — of whatver the subconscious has willed into being. It’s not the mastermind we think it is; it’s more like a smooth-talking spokesperson trying to explain decisions it never actually made.

Don’t take it personally. We’re all in the same rickety cart, careening down the hill of existence, thinking we’re steering when we’re just holding onto a toy wheel.

Act II: The Twist

Picture, if you will, a grand theater of the mind. The subconscious lurks backstage, a mischievous stagehand pulling levers, adjusting lights, moving scenery. It’s pandemonium back there, a circus of neural fireworks and chemical cascades.

But out front? That’s where consciousness takes its bow. It’s putting on a one-person show called “I Meant To Do That,” and it’s been running since the first human noticed their opposable thumbs.

Every choice you think you make? Already in the can. That donut you just decided to eat? Your subconscious put in the order eons ago.

Your consciousness is just the waiter, bringing it to the table with a flourish and saying, “Here’s what you ordered, sir.” And you buy it, hook, line, and sprinkles.

This isn’t to say consciousness is as useful as a tissue teapot. It’s the world’s best improv artist, spinning yarns to explain why you did what you did, why you want what you want.

“I chose the salad because I’m health-conscious,” it proclaims, while the subconscious giggles, knowing it was really because you saw a lettuce leaf that reminded you of that time you held a frog as a child to test the wart theory.

Act III: The Punchline

But here’s the real kicker: This system, as loony as it seems, works. Because while consciousness might not be calling the shots, it’s the one writing the story of your life.

And in a universe where we’re all just stardust playing dress-up, a good story is worth its weight in quantum fluctuations.

So what’s the moral of this cosmic comedy? Well, if we must find a point (and oh, how human of us to try), perhaps it’s this: Be kind to your consciousness.

When you do something and you don’t know why, when your thoughts surprise you, when you find yourself believing something you can’t quite explain, remember: You’re not losing your marbles. You’re just human. Your consciousness is doing its best to make sense of the three-ring circus that is your subconscious.

And if sometimes the explanations fall short, if sometimes you feel like you’re not quite in control? Well, welcome to the club. We meet every day, all day, whether we want to or not. The password is “free will.”

Slow And Steady

Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is recognized as the world’s oldest known living land animal. Born around 1832, Jonathan is at least 192 years old and resides on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. His exact birth year isn’t known, but he was fully grown when he arrived on the island in 1882, leading to estimates of his age.

Jonathan has become a symbol of longevity and resilience. Despite his age, he still enjoys a peaceful life, spending his days basking in the sun and eating a diet of fruit and vegetables. While his senses of sight and smell have diminished over time, Jonathan remains active, with a keen sense of hearing.

He lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the governor’s residence on Saint Helena, and has become the only celebrity and a tourist attraction for the tiny, remote island.

Lovely

Some factslaps about ladybugs:

  • A group of ladybugs is called a “loveliness”
  • Not all ladybugs are red: While most people associate ladybugs with their red shell and black spots, they can also be yellow, orange, brown, or even pink.
  • They are considered good luck: In many cultures, seeing a ladybug is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity.
  • Voracious predators: Ladybugs are beneficial to gardeners because they eat pests like aphids. A single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
  • They secrete a toxic fluid: When threatened, ladybugs exude a foul-smelling fluid from their legs that can deter predators.
  • Ladybugs hibernate: During winter, ladybugs seek out warm places to hibernate in large groups, sometimes thousands at a time.
  • They aren’t bugs: Despite their name, ladybugs are not technically bugs. They belong to the beetle family, scientifically known as Coccinellidae.
  • There are over 5,000 species: Worldwide, there are over 5,000 species of ladybugs, with about 500 species in North America alone.
  • Their spots fade with age: A ladybug’s spots become lighter and less pronounced as it gets older, giving some older ladybugs a washed-out appearance.
  • Ladybugs are named after the Virgin Mary: The name “ladybug” is derived from “Our Lady’s bug,” referring to the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition. The red color was associated with her cloak, and the seven spots represented her seven joys and seven sorrows.