The Real Future of Humanity

I’ve always had a certain fascination with octopuses*. They are a spectacular example of a life-form that is, in most anatomical respects, radically different from the tetrapod paradigm that’s dominant among land animals – the four-limbed, internal skeleton pattern, centred around a spinal cord, found with various modifications among amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Moreover, they’re a life-form that displays very marked intelligence, dexterity, and a whole collection of cool abilities.

I recently learnt, however, that their intelligence at the moment is held back very considerably by two facts. Firstly, their lifespan is short, and reliably so, because after reproducing they release suicide chemicals (not to mention having given up food while establishing their young). And secondly, although they are often quite social and interact with each other, there is no parental care, with the babies just floating off into the current.

Nepalese Gansters Unwilling to Grant Power to Other Gansters

Update: What had previously been wrangling is about to get a whole lot more intense. The Maoists’ coalition has collapsed with allied parties resigning in protest at their sacking of the disobedient general. Masses of protesters from both sides have come onto the streets. What happens next is highly uncertain.

In Nepal, a democratic election hasn’t changed the fact that the now-ruling party has one set of armed forces, and the now-opposition parties/traditional state has another. Both forces have a history of ‘human rights abuse’. In the unstable political climate there, the newly-elected Maoists won’t be secure in power until they’ve integrated their ‘people’s warriors’ into the state armed forces, and decisively asserted control over the same.

But the leaders of the army are refusing to let this happen, and the opposition parties are supporting them in such a stance – quite possibly out of a by-no-means-unreasonable fear that once the army is packed with Maoist guerillas, the Maoists will be able to use it against any and all opponents.