That strange light in the sky must be an alien wanting to abduct me

So here's the thing: We're living in pretty stupid times. Now, I'll admit that by whatever personal criteria one might determine the stupidity of the ethos or zeitgeist or whatnot, one will probably be forced to admit that all times have been stupid. What in particular marks the impressive stupidity of the present age you might be but probably aren't asking? Here's the key: We don't care any more. We're no more or less stupid than at any other time in world, North American, Canadian, Albertan, Central Albertan suburbian, my house-ian, history except that whereas in the past we might have blushed at admitting what we didn't know, perhaps even harboring a desire to close the gaps in our meager understandings, today we merely burp and scratch at the unknown before settling into a deep pleasantly dream-filled slumber. Doubt my exaggeration?

Last night while I watched a Dateline NBC episode, riveting for its tedium and cliche, about people treating each other in terrible and terribly retarded ways, I was privileged enough to see the full splendor of the ignorance of our age. There it was basking like a great bird of prey in the morning sunlight, preening its magnificent plume unaffectedly, as though the sunlight was meant for no other purpose than to shine down on its morning bath. Here's what happened: Around 10 minutes to the top of the hour, a news anchor came on for a little teaser of the news which was to follow the Dateline show about repulsive human selfishness and depravity. Here's what he said:

"Our offices are being inundated with calls asking 'what's that strange light beside the moon tonight?' Well it's not a UFO (and here he leaned slightly towards the camera to emphasize the non UFO-ness of said light), it's Venus! More at 11."

I was struck by many things. The feigned intelligence of the broadcaster embodying all that has been parodied by the likes of Monty Python, SCTV, Kids in the Hall, SNL, Jon Stewart and the mighty Colbert. All the tropes, the canned expressions and gestures were on full display. Leaning into the camera he clears up that common misunderstanding in a chummy sort of way, "Hey I thought that light was an alien ship too, but it's actually a planet. Can you believe it?" And before the short commercial ends so that we might conclude our tale of selfishness and depravity, we are beckoned to remain sitting comfortably in our chairs for soon a great enigma will be unmasked.

It goes without saying that unless a person has a particular interest in astronomy, there's little chance that they'll be motivated enough to consider the basic rudiments of our solar system. That stars twinkle and planets reflect, when shined on by the sun, a consistent light isn't important enough to think much about, especially with Octomom and the beating of Rhianna to dazzle our awarenesses. So that Venus is always - all the days of our lives and even those of our eternal deaths - stubbornly cleaving its path near to the sun, doesn't receive much interest these days. The ocean may be in love with the moon, but Venus is in love with the sun, greeting it each morning and weeping goodbye each evening. What's the point of such obsolete trivia? Better to ponder the imminent invasion of earth by aliens instead.