Awaiting Inspiration

There are days when inspiration seems elusive.  Often it is due to distractions such as things on your mind that are troubling or perhaps a restless night.  At other times it is as though your mind shuts down and refuses to be creative.

It seems that I have run out of recent photographs that I wish to use on this blog, so I spent some time this morning digging a little further back into some older ones.  The one below is from October of last year.  It is of a Green Anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis) which is common throughout the southeastern U.S.  The photo was taken near Bellville, Texas.

I frequently see lizards.  Most are skittering quickly out of the way into a place of hiding.  The Anoles seem to be much less shy and accommodate human presence more readily.   Many are able to walk up a vertical surface as easily as they walk across the floor.  Like many lizards, their coloration can morph through a spectrum.  In this case, they range from bright green to a dull brown mostly determined by their location and surroundings.

The ability to change color in order to blend with surroundings has inspired scientists to attempt replication of that ability for use in human applications such as the military.  Becoming somewhat invisible through use of coloration and stillness can be useful for hiding from enemies.

It's amazing what we can learn from nature.  Scientists from many disciplines work with chemists and engineers to mimic what occurs in various species -- both plant and animal.  Writers also borrow from those behaviors -- especially in fantasy and science fiction.  I guess I was inspired after all.

 

 Faster Than Sight

Can you imagine flapping your arms as fast as a Hummingbird's wings?  Can you imagine a mechanical model doing the same?  The friction alone would wear it out in a very short time.  The engine that drove it would have to be tiny but very powerful.

Think about how minute changes in the wing surfaces of a Hummingbird allow it to move in any direction with amazing agility.  The control necessary to keep from dashing itself into an object or the ground is astounding. (I'm running out of "superlatives" here.)  It is essentially fueled by sugar water.

Starch is the most abundant source of energy in the human diet.  It is a polymer of glucose which is a monosaccharide, one of the simplest forms of sugar.  It is created within plants to store energy by bonding multiple glucose molecules.

Most table sugar and sugar added to foods is sucrose which is another simple sugar.  It is concentrated in plants such as sugarcane and sugar beets to such extent that it can be easily extracted commercially.  It is often victimized as the source of obesity in humans.  It really isn't the sugar's fault; it is ours because we eat too much of it and don't burn those calories off.  Sugar is pure fuel to our bodies.  If we don't burn it, we store it as fat.

If we burned energy at the same rate as a hummingbird we probably couldn't consume enough of it.  Instead, we invent things to save labor and in that saved time we consume more sugar.  It seems crazy to me that we buy riding lawnmowers to save labor and then pay for gym memberships to burn off calories.  I think a better solution would be to flap our arms faster.

My wife caught a number of great pictures of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) at the feeder this week.  The photo below intrigued me because the wings were beating so fast, they were essentially invisible to the eye.

 A Close Neighbor

There is a small Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) that lives on or around our front porch.  I often see him skittering across the concrete steps toward a birdhouse which sits on the corner (simply for decoration) or headed to an old whiskey barrel which sits in another corner.  I enjoy watching him as he goes about his day.

Yesterday my wife was sitting out in one of the rocking chairs when he decided to explore a flower bed which is in front of the porch.  He was probably out looking for food.

He must be confident that we are benign neighbors because he allowed my spouse to take several photos of him.  Perhaps he is simply young and naive, or he might be seeking stardom as an Internet personality.  We probably should give him a catchy name that folks will remember.

I find the Latin name for his Genus to be interesting.  "Plestiodon" sounds like a dinosaur.  I suppose we link dinosaurs and lizards in our minds.  The Species is "fasciatus" which makes me think "face" which is especially relevant when you look at the photos below.  I think someone was on her hands-and-knees to make at least one of the pictures.

 Finding Shade

Summer has come to our part of the world.  It is more moderate than many places but with added humidity the heat index frequently exceeds 100 degrees.  What's interesting is that in the mornings when the temperature is more moderate the humidity is higher and it is often more uncomfortable then than in the afternoons when the heat reaches its peak.

The heat drives people and animals to shade.  People seek air conditioning inside while animals find deep shade and typically sleep.  Lower levels of activity generate less heat and allows their bodies to dissipate that which is a result of simply being warm-blooded and alive.

You will see livestock in the shade of trees or standing in the ponds during the heat.  As long as they have adequate forage, they will be up and eating during the early hours and again in the late hours just before sunset.  If they are eating during peak heat, it is a sign that they are having to hunt for adequate feed or that they are of a breed type that has high heat tolerance.  Typically, Brahman, or Brahman-influenced cattle have higher heat tolerance.

After sweating profusely the other morning, we sought shade to sit and cool down before coming in for lunch.  We have a seating area in a shaded spot beneath a couple of large Red Oak trees that we often will occupy while listening to the birds and enjoying being outdoors.  Maybe it was a sign of some kind that a large, Red-spotted Emperor Butterfly (Limentis arthemis arizonensis) kept lighting on one of the chairs. I hated to disturb him but perhaps he was only pointing out that I should be sitting in the shade rather than sweating out in the sunshine.

 Hidden Fruit

Sometimes you find things in unexpected places.  I probably say that quite often in the things that I write in this blog.  Perhaps it is because I am always looking for the unexpected.

While piling up some brush the other day I realized there was a large American Persimmon Tree (Diospyros virginiana) In a somewhat untended area near an old shed on our property.  I noticed it because some webworms had become established in a part of it and I needed to discourage their spread to other trees.  As I began to examine the tree I noticed the fruit.

We had persimmons on a previous place that we owned and were familiar with them.  We have never eaten them but did receive a bottle of Persimmon Wine once as a gift.  The fruit is eaten by wildlife and also can be harvested for human consumption if well ripened.  The small fruit -- about 1 inch in diameter -- is extremely astringent when not fully ripened.  It usually ripens around first frost and will be similar in color to an apricot.

Persimmon trees produce a very dense, straight-grained wood which is fairly dark in color.  Commercially it is not typically utilized unless over 100 years old when the heartwood becomes an extremely dense ebony.  When younger, the sapwood is a creamy yellow while older wood near the heart is dark.

During the Civil War persimmon seeds were ground and used as a substitute for coffee.  The leaves were also sometimes dried and made into a tea.  In the Spring it is covered with beautiful white blossoms.  It is truly a useful tree.

We sometimes discover Persimmon Trees in other areas of life.  It may be the quiet employee who is always productive, or the volunteer in an organization that always manages to get things done.  We need to learn to appreciate them more.

In the photo below you will note a couple of the green fruit near the top.  The quality isn't great, but it was taken primarily for identification purposes.  Maybe this Fall I'll get some pictures of the ripe fruit.

 Down for the Count

It appears to me that the water level in our pond is much higher than in years past.  We've only lived here about 6 months, but I am basing my thoughts on the number of trees which normally would not sprout in standing water that are completely surrounded by water now.  Spring storms have caused a number of them to fall which had no sign of disease, but whose roots are simply in water-logged soil which failed to anchor them in high winds.

Yesterday while out walking I found an American Sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) that is around 6 inches in diameter lying across my path.  Its base was several feet out into the pond, and it had fallen across some other, smaller trees, which propped it up.  The long trunk is very straight due to growing within a shaded area of large trees.

Normally I would write something about how the other trees are propping it up to keep it from falling to the ground.  We all need people around us who will help us when we fall, however, in this case the tree is down for the count.  I will get out in the next few days and harvest what I can with the chainsaw and consign the unusable to the burn pile.

I wish I had a good way to make something of the long straight trunk.  The American Sweetgum is prized for furniture making.  It would be nice to be able to build something useful with it.  We shall see, but no promises.  It really isn't quite large enough to make good-sized boards to build with.  They would be narrow slats.

We have a lot of Sweetgum and Red Oak trees on our place.  This fall they should be gorgeous.

 Discovery

If you want to find something you first need to look for it.  That's not to say you won't stumble across something interesting totally by accident, but too often we walk by remarkable things daily and never notice them because our head is down and our thoughts are locked onto the daily tasks.

Pay attention to the things around you.  It might be as simple as an insect crawling on the porch rail or an Indigo Bunting peering from a nearby tree branch.  It could be as complex as the way nature recycles nutrients that inspires an earth-changing invention.  It could be in observing the interactions between two people that lets you know that your understanding is flawed.

Observations should trigger questions.  Too often we look but don't truly see.  We hear but don't really listen.  We notice but don't observe critically.  By critically I don't refer to being critical but to thinking about what we see, hear, etc.  We tend to be so wrapped up in ourselves that we miss much of what is around us.

Discovery is not only the realm of Explorers and Scientists.  Discovery is available to everyone who opens their eyes and asks questions -- especially the question, "Why?"  It is key to growth.

In previous posts I have used photos of Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus).  It is growing wild behind a short retaining wall at the entrance to our place.  It almost went undiscovered by me due to its location which not only is hidden by the brick wall, but is surrounded by trees, weeds, and a gate that is left open.  I obviously wondered how it got there.  I suspect it is there because some bird ingested a seed elsewhere and later deposited it along with some nitrogen-dense fertilizer while sitting on the retaining wall.  Now I have to keep the invasive weeds from covering it back up.  Sometimes discovery requires work.

 In The Shadows

All around us are things we either don't notice or ignore as we go about our day.  It might be poverty, abuse, sadness, struggle or some other challenge.  Conversely, it might be something good such as charity, help, caring, or spreading positivity.  Such things often exist in the shadows, and we continue about our way without a passing glance.

It needs to become part of our consciousness to notice such things.  But not only should we notice, we should recognize and assist where needed and acclaim when deserved.  As you go about your day on this and every other day, look for what is in the shadows.  Help when and where you can and contribute to the positivity when possible.

The photo below was taken by my wife the other morning as she sat drinking coffee in one of the rocking chairs on our front porch.  The young doe briefly stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight for just a moment.  It was a beautiful sight.

 Running a Bluff

I am a firm believer that "honesty is the best policy" but that seems to be a rare approach anymore.  We are constantly bombarded with stories of lies, deceit, and other examples of dishonesty.  Then there is all the propaganda which is more of the same.  It is somewhat disheartening.

Much of the deceit is to cover other dishonesty.  At other times it is a means of trickery aimed at acquiring wealth by taking advantage of the unwary or gullible.  There seems to be no end to telemarketing and text scams.

There are other times that deceit is used as a means of protection.  Fake security systems are sometimes thought to deter thieves.  Militaries often use deceit such as nets to cover weaponry, camouflage to hide or chaff to throw off a missile.  Like most things, deceit can be used for good or for bad.

Deceit is common in nature.  The large spots on a butterfly's wings are imitations of the eyes of a much larger creature.  They are meant to deceive predators.  Coloration designed to blend in with the surroundings is another means of protective deceit that is common to most animals, insects, birds and plants.

Yesterday we had a Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus) watching us from the porch rail.  Normally they are found hidden under loose bark on trees.  I think the color patterns of their camouflage is spectacular.

 Predicting the Future

We all want to know the future -- either with the expectation of making a fortune or so that we can prepare for what is coming.  It is the unknown that causes doubt and fear.

Some people have a knack for guessing trends and utilize that talent for great financial gain in business or in the stock market.  It is usually the result of study and understanding of the signs which surround us -- either in human behavior or natural events such as drought.  They see what is happening and accurately predict the implications for the future.

The seeds of the future are all around us.  Guessing which ones will sprout and which ones will wither and die is the key.  I wish I were better at it.

This is the time of year when many plants are producing the seeds for future crops.  Below is a photo of seeds on the Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) which grows on our place.  It is a monoecious plant which means both male and female reproductive organs reside on the same plant.  The single tree we have makes me want to predict that there will not be any little Bald Cypress coming up in the future despite all the seeds it currently bears.  I haven't seen any little ones running around anyway.

 Arbitrary Limits

We often limit ourselves through preconceptions.  We define goals toward which we aim yet often are capable of achieving greater.  Those preconceptions are frequently defined by others.

If a child is told that he is a failure he likely will be.  If a person is told they can never achieve greatness, they likely won't.  If one is taught that he must be subservient he most likely will remain that way throughout his life.

Being taught that mediocre is okay is safe.  It reduces the chance of devastating failure.  But it also limits achievement.

How do you teach that reaching for the stars is a worthy goal while also instilling an understanding that failure will happen and can be overcome?  Perhaps the key is to allow struggle to happen.  Encouragement and coaching through failure prepares one for higher achievement the next time around.  We learn more from failure than from success.  The problem is that failure is discouraging and causes reticence to try again.

Those failures can create arbitrary limits on what we attempt if we never establish the attitude and mindset that failure is only temporary.  We must learn from failure and consider it merely a step toward success.  That is when we remove the limits.

We have a couple of very old Crepe Myrtles on our place.  They each have multiple trunks rising together.  One of them is at least two feet in diameter.  They are over 30 feet tall.  Their height comes from age, but also from competing for sunlight since they are surrounded by even taller Oak, Hackberry and other trees which are even taller.  Their struggle for sunlight also causes them to bloom later than they would without that struggle.  They have reached heights rarely seen with their species.  Below is a photo of one of them against the backdrop of the taller trees.  It is just now starting to blossom.

 Into the Distance

Some mornings as I sit at my desk pondering various possibilities for my daily post, I find myself staring into the distance.  My mind roams across different subjects that seem relevant for the day.  I try to stay away from purely political or controversial themes although I frequently skirt the edges enough to allow for various interpretations.

I often bring up the idea of cyclicity.  It is a part of nature.  Some cycles are short and others are so long that we often don't realize they are cycles.

There are political cycles as well.  We have seen them throughout the history of this country and throughout the modern history of the world.  World War II saw the ultimate clash between competing political philosophies -- Marxism, Fascism, Capitalism, Social Democracy and Oligarchy.  What exploded in Europe was also going on in the United States but the balance between the competing philosophies was different.  The result was that the competing belief systems became entrenched in separate countries -- Marxism in Russia, Capitalism in the U.S., Social Democracy in Europe and various Fascist Dictators in small countries scattered throughout the world.

Those different political philosophies continue to compete to this day.  Each has spread into the domain of the others.  Each struggle for dominance.  At some point we may see an explosion similar to what engulfed Europe beginning in WWI and concluding in a state of equilibrium at the end of WWII.

The borders created at that time were sometimes arbitrarily drawn by the most powerful without regard to the feelings of those contained within.  Those borders have continued to be areas of conflict -- Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe.

Many people use a plant commonly called Monkey Grass (Liriope muscari) to create artificial borders in their lawns.  They are constantly having to pull grass and other invasive species from those plantings.  Below is a small sampling of Monkey Grass that remains on our place -- planted originally by a previous occupant.  It will likely get to stay.

 Balancing Act

This morning I find myself staring out the window, lost in thought.  On one hand my mind wants to dive deeply into some subject and on the other it doesn't.  I suppose diving is an appropriate thought because the pond is full.  It is on the verge of overflowing.  We have had more rain in the last few days than the country I grew up in receives in a year.

I never should complain of rain because most of my life I have complained that more was needed -- not less.  The crazy thing is that in this country, if it doesn't rain every couple of weeks, we are in a drought.  Where I grew up, I recall a year that we received no significant rainfall for 18 months.  Now that's a drought.

You would think it possible to achieve a happy medium with just the right amount of rain falling at the right time.  I suppose that would be boring because then we couldn't complain.

Now the weather will change, and we will have unbearable heat and humidity.  All of this water trapped in ponds and trees and in the ground will evaporate but not dissipate because the winds will be minimal or non-existent.  It will certainly rain but primarily it will be the sweat drops falling off of me as I go about my outside chores.

It seems we bounce between extremes.  Cool but with drenching rain or miserably hot with clear blue skies.  I know, quit complaining.

Life tends to be that way regarding most things.  It is a cycle from one extreme to another.  We have abundance and we have lack.  The real question is what we do in those times of abundance.  Do we set it aside for the times of lack?  Do we share it?  Do we hoard it?  How do we handle more than we need?

I had the opportunity to visit Africa a couple of times quite a few years ago.  I was impressed yet dismayed that if anyone had more than was necessary to meet their immediate needs, they shared the excess with someone who needed it more.  They gave it away.  Their view was that the future would take care of itself.  Holding onto more than necessary to meet current needs wasn't even a thought.  Meeting the needs of others was always on their mind.

In this country we are more likely to hoard -- accumulate -- let others worry about the needy.  Surely there is a happy medium -- a balance.  Thought for future needs yet generosity toward others.  It should be our role as individuals, not the government's role.

Below is a photo of our pond from yesterday.  Water was still running into it from the rain that had just ceased.  It is full to the point of overflowing.

 Diverted Pathways

If you follow my blog, you have noticed a break for the last few days.  Such breaks can be difficult to recover from because they break the habit of sitting down and writing on a daily basis.  The problem is that life sometimes has plans for us other than what we had in mind.

Such diversions, though often for undesirable reasons, can be a good thing.  They force us to reevaluate purpose and to determine whether the chosen pathways are the correct ones.  They stimulate regions of thought that might otherwise remain untapped.  Being forced to reexamine the "why" of what we do can either cause us to change directions or be affirmed in our choices.

This morning the rain is coming down so hard that I can barely see the other side of the meadow whereas normally, the sun is shining into my window.  I had plans for today that would require me to be outside, but at this moment that seems unlikely to be the case.  It is a minor diversion from my plans, but it is only temporary.

This morning, while looking for an appropriate photo to use in this post I came across one I had taken of a Persian Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) growing wild on the back side of the dam for our pond.  It is commonly called a Mimosa tree by most people, but it isn't a true mimosa.  They can be found growing wild throughout the Southeast U.S. but are often planted in more arid places for their showy pink blossoms.  Here they are considered invasive.

I have often wondered what it would be like to live far from where I grew up -- perhaps in another country.  When younger, we considered the possibility of moving to Australia.  At one time Kenya was also under consideration.  The Persian Silk Tree is native to Iran and a few other countries across southern Asia.  Yet here it is in Northeast Texas.  I think that could be considered a diverted pathway, yet it thrives.  I think that's the key; make the best of what comes along and thrive wherever you find yourself.

 Commonalities

The true key to solving major challenges is commonality of purpose.  A diverse team, focused on a solution, under inspired leadership can solve anything.

I am a firm believer in diversity.  But I don't define diversity by how we look, our belief systems or our lifestyles; I define it by styles of thinking.  If we all think alike, we have mass redundancy.  To solve problems, we need diversity of thought.

Too often that diversity of thinking styles gets in the way.  That is why inspired leadership is a necessary ingredient.  Leadership should encourage, challenge and inspire each of the diverse individuals in a group to exercise their gifts to the fullest.  Then magic happens.

We have a plant which grows on our place called Common Hedge Parsley (Tonilis arvensis).  Don't eat it, it looks like many other plants in the wild carrot family such as Poison Hemlock.  The Common Hedge Parsley is sometimes called "sock-destroyer" because its hairy seeds stick to the socks like Velcro.  The plant is usually considered an invasive weed and is commonly found in Europe and North America.  It is part of the natural diversity within our local ecosystem.

 Rumblings of Peace

The sky is rumbling this morning.  It is the rumbling that accompanies a gentle rain.  It is peaceful, unlike the violent crashing of a thunderstorm.

The announcement was made last night that the terms of a general peace agreement with Iran have been reached.  An official memorandum is to be signed on Friday in Geneva which will begin a 60-day period in which the details of a comprehensive agreement are to be worked out.

I am skeptical that it will hold.

As with all such agreements there is discontent by many.  In time discontent begins to fester into resentment and finally to action.  Shared common interests are the only way to real peace.  All parties must have the same goals in mind along with an agreed approach to how they are to be achieved.

At the end of the day, it is self-interest that drives behavior.  I don't believe we are at a point where there is common self-interest.

Is true and lasting peace achievable?  Again, I am skeptical.  There is insufficient commonality of beliefs for that to occur.  There is an unwillingness to share power and control.

Perhaps economic incentives can be structured in such a way that peace will be maintained for a period, but in the end, core beliefs will continue to be a well of discontentment.  Pockets of fervent believers who think they have "been wronged" will stir trouble until we again find ourselves in crisis.

This week's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a small beginning.  There will be fortunes made from the impact it has on the markets.  Other fortunes will be made when the agreement is broken.

The small Plant Hopper pictured below is only about 1/4 inch in length.  This one is identified as Ormenoides venusta.  It is not known to be an economically damaging species and is often found feeding on wild grapevines.  Not a lot is known about it, but it obviously fills a niche in the environment that is important or it wouldn't exist.  It is a tiny thing but I'm skeptical about the "not known to be economically damaging" aspect of its description.

 Storms

Storms happen.  Sometimes they are expected and sometimes they are not.  Even when expected you never know how severe they might be.

Despite the potential danger or damages they may bring storms are often beneficial.  They bring rain.  That's the easy one to identify as a benefit for someone who grew up in an arid region of the world.  We currently live in an area with around 40 inches of average annual rainfall.  Even there the rain is of benefit as are the winds that might accompany a storm.

I think rain is cleansing.  Heavy rain can wash away accumulated debris, cleanse the dust from the leaves, fill the ponds and streams and otherwise replenish the land.  And of course, it is necessary for life to go on.

In this land of trees where we currently reside, winds which accompany the storms also provide another benefit.  They often clear out dead trees, and they break loose and cause to fall, the deadwood which might be hanging high up in the canopy.  The result can be a nuisance when those limbs fall across the county road or block the driveway but removing them from the canopy is good for the trees.

We had quite a storm pass through this week.  The photo below is of some of the limbs that came to the ground.

Storms of other natures come into our lives as well.  We need to focus on the benefits -- the good that results from them -- and not dwell on the temporary inconvenience or pain they may bring.

 Resistance is Futile

"Resistance is futile" is probably my favorite line from the entire Star Trek universe.  In "Star Trek First Contact" the Borg warning is, "We are the Borg.  Lower your shields and surrender your ships.  We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.  Your culture will adapt to service us.  Resistance is futile."

Ultimately, the Federation is able to resist -- at least for the time being -- and retain their independence.  It all reminds me of the politics of today.

The Culture War is real.  We all need to be paying very close attention.

The Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a vine found virtually everywhere.  It is invasive.  It grows rapidly and overwhelms small trees at times.  Some see it is a nice ornamental that has leaves which turn purple in the Fall.  It is often used instead of Boston Ivy as a decorative addition to the brick walls of homes or fences.  It doesn't damage the masonry like some ivies.  It does like to escape, however, and grow where it isn't wanted.  Despite best efforts it likes to spread and take over.  Some might say that resistance is futile.

The specimen below is growing up the side of a group of Post Oak trees on our property.  Eventually it will find itself severed from the soil which nourishes it.  I just haven't gotten to it yet.

 Seeing Patterns

George Bernard Shaw said, "If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience."

I believe there are those who learn from history and with that knowledge are able to re-shape the cyclical turn slightly from what would occur if uninfluenced by that knowledge.  It is as though they are able to nudge the pendulum just enough to change its monotonous passage through space and time.  They change the course of the future.

I also believe there are some who change the pattern while oblivious to the repetitive nature of events through time.  They are inspired to do something that sends ripples through the pattern -- a wobble in the spinning top -- that changes the course into the future.  The actions might be small, or they might be of a larger nature.  The key is that they are actions.

It would be easy at this point to sermonize on the consequences of our actions.  That is, as the British might say, a "sticky wicket."  A simple and glaring example is that Israel likely would not exist today had it not been for the acts of Hitler.  Where is the morality in that?  His actions certainly had consequences, but they were not what he intended nor was the result brought about in the way most people would have preferred.

Yes, our actions have consequences, but we don't always know if they will be good or bad.

Patterns of history are one thing, but patterns exist all around us in many forms.  I think it is instructive to note that they create a mathematical symphony of symmetry.  The Four-spotted Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla quadriguttata) is actually a wasp.  It has a distinct pattern that makes it easily identifiable.  The one below was wandering near our firepit a few weeks ago.

 Making Sense

There is so much in this world that doesn't make sense.  Most of it involves human behavior.  I'm sure that if I understood all of the factors that went into shaping a person's worldview I might begin to understand, but such is impossible for man.  We just have to accept that people are each wired differently -- both from their genetic makeup as well as their life experiences.

Even the concept that what one perceives as strange behavior seems perfectly natural to another is difficult to comprehend.  Our life experiences, education, and the influence of friends strongly biases us to see behaviors that are not common to our like-minded friends, family and acquaintances that we find those "strange" behaviors difficult to understand.

The opposite side of that is for one to become so used to odd behaviors that they begin to accept them as completely natural and common.  The danger in doing so is that truly dangerous behaviors are allowed to go unchecked.  Those who fall into this category see those of the previous category as being bigoted, racists and worse.  When this occurs, they become guilty of the very thing they condemn.

I must admit that I am a little biased against anything that looks like a wasp.  I have been stung more than once, and the experience is not pleasant.  Yesterday I found Black-and-yellow Mud Daubers (Sceliphron caementarium)  on one of the Jalapeno Pepper plants.  My first inclination was to find the wasp spray.  I decided I didn't want to spray them while on the pepper plant because I didn't want to possibly consume the chemical.  Instead, I became intrigued by their behavior and took their photograph.

I believe there are three of the Mud Daubers in the picture.  I don't know for certain what they were doing but after reading some about them I suspect they were searching for food -- either tiny insects or possibly nectar from the flowers.  I think it likely they were providing a beneficial service.  I don't really know enough to know what I don't know in this case -- just like in the case of some human behavior.