Looking at topographical maps of the landscape, like the ones I’ve posted lately, showing the landscape carved by glaciers and other geological forces, I think about how self-aggrandizing a view we have of mankind. Sure, man kind has had an important force on the landscape and ecological forces, but our time on the earth has been relatively short, the blip in the grand scheme of things.

With LiDAR mapping, we can see how mankind has changed the surface of earth, moving materials around and blasting in the rock. But ultimately the carving that we have of the earth pales to the impact of natural forces such as glaciers and volcanos. We’ve been busy little beavers over the past century or two, but our time has been little on the earth compared to geological time.

In some ways, the notion that there is something bigger then mankind is rather reassuring. It’s nice to know that the world isn’t dependent on our success or failure, the planet will live on and change long after our rein is done. We’ve made it 80 years into the nuclear age, but we are well aware we may not make it another 80 years – and the carbonation of our atmosphere brought on by our species – will continue to outrun our control, probably leading to the elimination of our species.

But time marches on, and so we. I am not one to object that much too changes, as despite what we tell ourselves, in many ways we aren’t in control of our society’s ultimate destiny.