Our weather

The recent spate of harsh weather across the U.S. and the world is an obvious lead-in to assume that this is yet another aspect of 'global warming'. However, that link is not that simplistic and should be examined very carefully.

The term Global Warming is used so often to explain what is happening but it is not accurate and therefore leads to further skepticism about the situation. We must try to be very precise in our terminology so that we can focus our attention on the real matter - our global problem - instead of dealing with semantics.

For this discussion, we will refer to 'Global Climate Disruption' instead.

A valid issue raised by climatologists and other weather experts is that we are looking at the season-to-season, and year-to-year differences. In other words, we are being too short sighted to see the actual affects of any changes to our atmosphere. Since the experts have some differences of opinions, no wonder we have to scratch our heads about this very technical problem.

There is more to this different perception than just scope. An interesting study Lay Perspectives on Global Climate Change, by Willett Kempton, with the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, Princeton University, highlights how the public and the scientists differ in their views.

But for right now, let's set aside our emotions, recognize our need to be aware and try to act in a responsible and effective manner.

There seems to be a very clear relationship in the increased use of fossil fuels and hydrocarbons in our atmosphere with mankind's increase of their use. The growth of earth's population and the industrialization of our life styles has been charted with an eery correlation to the disruption in our climate. If you want to get into the science of this problem, and delve deeper into what this issue is about, check out http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/index.html

We can see the results of a tornado ripping apart a town and leaving over a hundred people dead and homes and livelihoods destroyed. We can see the anguish on the faces of the survivors. Our society does support these people and tries to alleviate their loss. But the season for tornadoes is slipping into the season of hurricanes. And floods continue to cover much of our midland. The tools of damage may differ but the damage still continues.

We must be clear. Something is going on that is not in the best interests of the inhabitants of Planet Earth. That problem is related with how said inhabitants treat the earth. We need to be more responsible NOW! This is not a problem that we can correct in a 60 minutes time slot.

The solution? Get informed. Find out what YOU can do. Do it!

Conversations are welcomed. More to come.

The Colorful Fall

The wind gets a bit more bite and the air takes on a subtle change. It's fall. The trees are the most dramatic harbinger of the shifting seasons, but this time of year brings in an entire deluge of beauty, homeyness, celebrations and traditions.

Celebrating this step, I took a short loop into southern Virginia to experience a glorious fall day. The trees were lovely with a surprising array of different and vivid hues. The air was clear, cool and the sun blessed all. I was reminded at how lovely this section of the U.S. is. It has tall, sometimes gnarled trees with gently rolling hills to showcase the stunning scenery. Rivers, lakes and train tracks snake through the landscape marking the routes of commerce and recreation alike.

The history of our independence and our conflicts is very obvious in this region. From today's military personnel on the streets to the tribute to the Civil War to the reminders of the war of Independence, this is a living history lesson. It infuses even small towns with museums, memorials and markers. It's a reminder to us all.

Old houses, plantations and farms show a dignified march of time. Old tobacco drying barns, out buildings and unidentified structures dot the land in crazy gravity defying postures.

Stately homes, with multi-paned windows, graceful porches and mill-work touches offer a counter foil to the sometimes shabby neighbors. They reinforce one another in the enduring quality of the area.

Small town America has always represented to me the foundation of our country. This is where we started about 300 years ago. This is where we can still see the impact of our struggles and adaptations to change.

Florida - the people

It's hard to tell about people in Florida. Many a person wearing broken down deck shoes and grungy shorts are actually multi-millionaires. Often the clothes here are just comfortable and not a badge of the wearer's accomplishments - unless it's layers of paint. The population is very diverse and is a mix of natives, retirees, immigrants (from many locations), and people wanting to make a buck either legally or not.

I find the natives or long-term residents hard to fit into a pre-defined box. The interests and passions are not easily lumped into a single label. The natural conservationist might also be a political conservationist. The developer might also be working toward some very progressive energy alternatives. All those seemingly dichotomies confuse the general public who wish to think of Floridians as people who wear plaid shorts and black socks, ride around in golf carts and are marginally functional.

What is encouraging are the number of people who quietly go about their business of living the lives they want to - in a lovely environment.

The surprise of a hidden waterway skirting homes in an urban area is a delight. The habitat of alligators and snakes with SUVs and pools is a juxtaposition which tickles my sense of tweaking the smug.

But I think that's a lot of what Floridians enjoy. The quiet joke.

A muggy welcome

Florida is a very misunderstood state. It has a natural beauty that is badly treated and a population with a surprising character. It encompasses lush green foliage which is just barely contained by man's efforts; a network of interlaced waterways; and an amalgam of people which can not truly be defined.

I have lived a good portion of my life in this state. But this current visit is the first I have made in over a decade. I am surprised and reminded at how the natural beauty peeks out from very unexpected spots, just waiting to take back it's natural habitat. The layers of green foliage are so dense that it is surprising the individual plants don't choke out one another.

And this is the season of rain. The first thing anyone notices upon arrival is the moisture laden air surrounding everything. It seeps into the skin, hair and clothing with relentless invasion. The afternoon thunderstorms come in and take over a landscape cloaked in drama. The building clouds of white turning into gray and finally black towers of moisture announce the afternoon's intention. Then the rain slashes down, driven so hard from the wind that it is almost horizontal. Heavy drops of rain, collecting to flood the streets, roof tops and lawns everywhere. All in a few minutes. Then the pace settles and the air is clean and clear for the rest of the day.

And this is just a small portion of the many diverse parts of this area. Rainfall is very ample but the availability of potable water is a serious concern.

Another View

The summer is almost upon us. In some places that means it's already hit temps over 100 degrees for sometime, and in others it's still nippy. My personal location means the days are warm and the nights are cool. But that won't last. This year I'm going to do something a bit different with my summer. I'm going to spend most of it enjoying the beauty and wonderful diversity of the U.S.

I'm presently planning to head out on an extended - about 6,000 mile - trip around America. I want to see some of the grandeur and natural beauty of our country. I'll be taking pictures and sharing them with you. This is just too wonderful not to.

There are a few national parks that I hope to include in my travels. Our park system offers a great opportunity for many of us to experience the unique geography around us in as natural a state as we can preserve, practically. I'll share with you both what my camera and what my mind captures of the places.

I hope this will be a pleasant trip for you and maybe even give you a greater appreciation of our interesting country.

I look around me and listen to the news and I'm so surprised to find myself in my native country. To hear the majority of the loudest voices out there you would think everyone had all just had a lobotomy. There is very little reasoning in the thinking. But there is a large amount of vitriol.

For some reason a lot of attention is being directed at something that seems either personal and not their business, or taking a probably innocent situation and trying to turn it into a scandal. Don't we have enough drama in our lives? Why is this type of thing taking up so much time? Don't we have a few more important issues to resolve like the economy, a couple of wars, education, health care and climate disruption?

I'd like to get into the meatier topics of our society and have a more substantial discussion. Let's pick a single topic for now and see what we can do with it. (no personal attacks accepted)

Water: Quantity and Quality

What can we do and what is being done to mitigate the larger demand, smaller quantity and more polluted content of our water?

I have lived in diverse environments from arid to humid; sparse rain to torrential monsoons; deserts to jungles. It is time to look at the lessons we can learn from our ancestors about how to survive.

Lesson one: Catch and save as much rainfall as we can.
Lesson two: Use only as much as you need.
Lesson three: Reuse all you can.

What is your opinion?