The items found on this blog were written during the past few years and strictly reflect my own opinions. Because these articles deal with difficult issues they are bound to be controversial. They reflect my personal analysis based on the limited information that I have. I am certainly no expert and fully respect different opinions. Difficult issues would not be difficult if there were clear-cut answers. Although you will see in reading some of my material, I don't like being pigeonholed with a label, I will admit to being politically independent with a tendency to be more conservative fiscally and slightly more liberal with regard to social issues. Having lived through the 1940's, I have a great appreciation for the sacrifices made by our armed forces and, in fact, all Americans during World War II. The greatness of this country shone bright as we rehabilitated and rebuilt our enemies after winning that war. I am very patriotic and proud of our country. While we are far from perfect, we're not as far from that ideal as most other countries in the world.

Friday, October 18, 2019

October 18, 2019

  • Stuart’s Thoughts



“OF MOSQUITOS AND MEN”


I just recently completed a book given to me as a birthday gift by Kyle and Allie.  “The Mosquito” by Dr. Timothy C. Winegard is an outstanding and fascinating account of mankind’s` deadliest predator.  Because this book cleverly weaves the amazing story of the mosquito through the pages of human history, I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.  Not only will you be amazed by the incredible facts and statistics that emerge to reveal the extent to which diseases transmitted by mosquitos have killed more humans than anything else, including the combined casualties of all wars.  Perhaps more astounding is the extent to which this small insect has shaped world history.  If it weren’t for the mosquito, the world would now be a far different place.  You will realize this as you trace history through the book.  If your knowledge of world history was the result of what you learned in middle school, as was mine, this book brings to life those endless lists of names and dates we had to memorize in 7th and 8th grades.  For that reason alone, time spent reading this 400+ page book is time well spent and you will be rewarded with a wealth of knowledge of our own species as well as our most dangerous predator.

In order to appreciate statistical data, I firmly believe it’s important to put all very large numbers or very small numbers in perspective. For example when we talk of the full extent of human history being about 200,000 years, that initially sounds like a very  long time.  However when we realize that the earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, that is only the last 18 seconds when the age of the earth is scaled to one year.  In the concluding chapter of his book, Dr. Winegard suggests that mosquitos have caused the death of 52 billion humans throughout history or, when put in perspective, this is about 50% of all-time total human mortality, compared to an estimated 3.6 billion, or ~4%,  killed in all wars in history.

It’s realizations such as this and many more that you will encounter as you read “The Mosquito” that makes this such a fantastic and rewarding book.  Thanks Kyle and Allie.

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