Random thoughts of a concerned earthling
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I usually put on a moisturizing facial mask before beginning my four-step skincare regimen. While waiting for my skin to absorb all the goodness from the mask, I lie down, close my eyes, and think. It is funny how many things run through your head when it is quiet and you are all alone in your bedroom.
I thought I would share with you some of the things that have been occupying my mind lately. I am sure there are a few we have in common. At first, I wondered if it was a good idea to share these random thoughts with you, my readers. But then again, perhaps something here will strike a chord. With enough minds thinking about the same issues, perhaps the power of collective thought can nudge the universe toward progress. If any of these resonate with you, feel free to send me a message.
1. Whatever happened to Alice Guo and the real people behind that scandal?
For months, it dominated the headlines. Senate hearings, shocking testimonies, and more questions than answers. I always felt she was just a pawn in a much larger game. Some people say she is in jail, but I still wonder if the real masterminds were ever truly uncovered. Cases like this seem to explode into the public eye and then slowly fade away before we ever get complete closure.
2. Are we strong enough to defend our country?
Sometimes I think about our army, navy, and marines. If a superpower ever decided to test our sovereignty, could we really hold our ground? I am not encouraging war, of course. I simply want the comfort of knowing that the Philippines will always remain ours and that we have the strength to protect it if necessary.
3. The mysterious job of the elevator button presser
This seems to exist almost exclusively in the Philippines. Usually it is a woman sitting on a tiny stool beside the elevator panel whose sole job is to press the floor number you request. I cannot help but wonder why we still have this. Is it hospitality? Is it tradition? Or is it simply a habit we have never questioned? Still, whenever I see one, I make it a point to say thank you before stepping out.
4. Whatever happened to that asteroid everyone was worried about?
Do you remember when the internet was buzzing about a mysterious object flying through space that might come close to Earth? It was called 3I/ATLAS. For a brief moment, it seemed like the whole world was watching the sky and speculating about what might happen. Then suddenly the panic disappeared, and no one seemed to talk about it anymore. Sometimes global scares appear out of nowhere and vanish just as quickly, leaving me wondering what really happened to the story.
5. Was the war in Iran meant to distract people from the Jeffrey Epstein issue?
Sometimes the timing of global headlines makes me pause. Just when the world seemed to be talking about the Epstein files again, suddenly everyone’s attention shifted elsewhere. Maybe it is a coincidence. Maybe it is just how news cycles work. But sometimes it feels like the public’s focus is redirected just when certain stories are getting too uncomfortable.
6. Where did the flood control money go?
This question returns to my mind every rainy season. Billions of pesos have supposedly been allocated for flood control projects, yet the same streets flood year after year. The frustrating thing about Filipinos is that we tend to sweep things under the rug. We rarely hold people accountable for their actions. Before long, we move on to the next controversy while the previous one quietly fades away.
7. What happens if an electric car runs out of power?
Electric vehicles seem to be the sensible choice these days, especially with oil prices constantly climbing. But what happens if you run out of battery in the middle of nowhere with no charger nearby? Do you call a tow truck? Do they bring you a giant power bank? The idea of sitting helplessly on the side of a highway waiting for electricity still makes me nervous.
8. How does a full photo or video fit inside something as tiny as a phone?
Do you ever stop and think about this? How can an entire photograph, with millions of pixels and colors and details, be stored inside something as small as your phone? When you take a photo, it somehow captures light, turns it into data, and stores it in a tiny device that fits in your palm. The same goes for videos. Entire memories, trips, family moments, even movies can live inside that little rectangle we carry everywhere. Technology sometimes moves so fast that my brain cannot quite keep up. I have had a mobile phone for more than two decades now, and yet it still boggles my mind how something so small can contain so much.
9. Am I the only one who still uses a checkbook and passbook for banking?
I know everything is digital now. Transfers, payments, balances, all done with a few taps on a phone. But I still find comfort in paperwork. A checkbook. A passbook. Something printed that I can actually hold in my hands. Maybe it takes more time and effort, but it feels dependable. With so many digital scammers and even AI tricks these days, I sometimes feel safer knowing there is a physical record of my transactions.
10. How do thousands of airplanes fly all over the world at the same time without crossing paths?
This has always amazed me. At any given moment, there are thousands of airplanes flying across the planet, yet mid-air collisions are incredibly rare. When I am up in the clouds looking out the window, I hardly ever see another plane swishing by. I know that air traffic controllers around the world are monitoring everything, but isn’t most of that system computer-based now? It makes me wonder what would happen if the entire world suddenly went offline. Would planes still be able to navigate safely, or would we all have to stop flying until the system came back?
These are just a few of the thoughts that wander through my mind while my facial mask is doing its job. Perhaps they are random. Perhaps they are trivial. Or perhaps they are simply the quiet questions many of us think about but rarely say out loud.
Either way, if you ever find yourself lying in bed thinking about asteroids, airplanes, government scandals, and elevator button pressers all in the same evening, do not worry. You are not losing your mind. You are simply another concerned earthling with a good skincare routine. And if you happen to be thinking about the exact same things, feel free to call me. Clearly, we have a lot to talk about.
