Gracias to my friend Kathay, who reminded me of a rather intriguing news story from earlier this week. If you don't know, scientists are investigating a meteorite strike in Peru. According to one report, "The incident caused considerable alarm, with about 200 local people reporting strange sicknesses and a foul odor emitting from the crater."
Soon, wild theories have abound as to how and why villagers are getting sick after the meteorite strike, ranging from an Andromeda Strain-like virus escaping into the atmosphere (read up on your Michael Crighton) or a spy satellite that crashed.
Of course, you know what this is. A misinformation campaign conducted by government agencies who don't want the masses to know what's really going on. For all we know, giant Martian tripods could be preparing underneath the Earth, ready to surface and wage war against humanity. Or it could be bacteria that merely turn people into zombies. Flesh-eating zombies.
I can hear those poor Peruvian souls now, voicing a desire to satisfy their appetites.
"Cerebros! Cerebros!"
You just never know. Think the natural world hasn't gone mad? Take for instance a true local story. In a San Antonio suburb of Hollywood Park, an owl recently was on the attack. Not for animal prey. But for human flesh! A colleague of mine wrote the newspaper story: The owl attacked four people, each who happened to be walking around the rural setting alone at night or early in the morning, minding his or her own beeswax. Heck, one person had to be hospitalized.
An urban biologist said "the owl is unstable and may have been raised domestically, then set free." He added, "this one is unbalanced, because they [owls] do not normally attack like this." The 18-inch-tall owl had a 35-40-inch wingspan. See such a thing swooping down on you! The horror.
Well, as I write this, I've just learned a game warden killed the poor beast, who apparently was "awaiting" provocation high in a tree. According to one witness, the owl pretty much bided his time until attack. But he also probably knew the gig was up and it was time to head for that big owl martyr sanctuary in the sky.
I dare say this owl was not "unstable" or "unbalanced." I suggest the bird of prey was merely misunderstood, a misfortunate victim of society and circumstance. And it may all be symbolic of a natural order gone screwy.
