Trying to make sense

I was listening to a Ted Talk on The Brain the other day. The speaker was describing how long it takes for our minds to put together visual information - which I promptly forgot, sadly, but it was a matter of milliseconds.
For example, this morning while driving along I was convinced I had seen a hare sitting at the side of the road but as I drove nearer it was revealed to be a less-exciting, slightly knocked stripy bollard. I suppose it's an ancient fear and flight 'brain application' - an old discarded inner tube could be a viper, that cluster of cracks on a wall, a humungous spider . . .



Creepy Dickensian character?

                

                                 Angry hippo with one eye shut?



Laughing but with, possibly, evil intent, hippo/dinosaur/one of these giant water mammals I've forgotten the name of that live in the Floridian waters.

Ear of fear

This is an ear position of angst. Cold morning, talk of 'walkies', possible huge dogs of death, security of snuggling-zone temporarily lost.

According to a book I was reading about brains in general, the dog's brain cannot project forward (no great surprise) therefore dog is in a state of perpetual 'presentness'. When the pack go out, leaving the lone dog, they think (or as far as we know) — that's it . . . I've been left for ever. That's why they are so pleased to see you on your return, not because you are the best thing since marrow bone.

More ear soon.