A friend of a friend posted a short treatise on avian flatulence, based on first-hand photographic evidence. Enthusiastic international comments ensued. Six friends later.

Why in all the world is all the world mad about the trivial? Does one hope to live from one spark of happiness to the next? What is behind the headlong charge after dandelion seeds of 'little joys'? What is the purpose behind keeping sane, if that is what it is all about?

Why is it that whenever someone of present or past celebrity dies, the world lowers its hat, wipes a tear and touts memorabilia? Why is it that we mourn so much the passing of one who might have been of future celebrity? What is the value of 'potential' and 'promise' that we cannot bear losing 'bright young people'? Are the beautiful, rich, famous and young more worthy of life than the plain, poor, ordinary and old?

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

"Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.

And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.

But better than both
is he who has not yet been,
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun. "