DET

February 14, 2026

I found it appropriate that in the middle of the Great Backyard Bird Count 2026 (February 13 to 16, 2026) that my Sunday paper (delivered on Saturday) would have a USA Today article on an annual lottery for the bald eagle tour in Monroe, Michigan. There were approximately 1,200 entries for this year’s 30 lottery winners and their guests. “It’s the largest number since the event began in 2008. It shattered our previous record,” said Maddie Drury, park ranger with the US Fish & Wildlife Service who sponsors the tour. Winners were driven out to the wooded area on the south end of the power plant, where Plum Creek and the power plant’s warm water discharge meets Lake Erie. In winter the warm water draws fish, and the fish draw predators. Amanda Schaub, communications strategist for the plant said, “Consistent with our Michigan Public Service Commission approved plan, the plant is scheduled to retire in 2032.” DET Energy is committed to working closely with the community as they plan for the site’s future.

When I went online, I found several endangered or rare species have a home at the Detroit Edison (DTE) power plant facility. Since the mid-1990’s, DTE Energy has supported peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) reintroduction and breeding programs in southeastern Michigan and near their power plants. Employees assist with banding, tracking and rescuing at-risk chicks. Peregrines have been recorded nesting on the Monroe Power Plant grounds since 1994. Over 100 adult and juvenile bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have been counted near the shoreline at the Monroe Power Plant and nest regularly at the Fermi 2 Power Plant. Apprentice linemen install utility poles in various bird projects, such as eagle habitat at the Lake Erie Metropark and Humbug Island within the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, as well as a great blue heron rookery at Lyon Oaks County Park. These projects foster the bird population while giving apprentice linemen experience in installing tall poles without energized lines or power transmission equipment.

The DET Monroe Power Plant is home to other endangered species. The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is listed as a threatened species in Michigan. The plant naturally cleans the water in which it lives, which is important for the native fish and wildlife. In partnership with the Lotus Garden Club of Monroe, DTE Energy opens the Monroe Power Plant property for guided tours of the flowerbeds. Lake Sturgeon (Huso fulvescens) are the longest-living fish species in Michigan, with a lifespan of up to 100 years. They can be over eight feet (2.5 m) in length and weigh 800 pounds (363 kg). Sturgeons are listed as threatened or endangered by 19 of the 20 states within their original range in the US. DTE deposited 765 tons (694 mt) of coal cinders (a byproduct of coal combustion), cobble and broken limestone in the Detroit River off Belle Isle to create spawning beds. Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) once numbered in the thousands along the Detroit River but now only 250 breeding pairs can be found there. DTE Energy partnered with others to create an artificial nesting island and nesting habitat.

THOUGHTS: Drury, who is based at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton, calls bald eagles the “most successful conservation story of the US”. For decades the insecticide DDT was widely used to kill insects. Fish ate treated vegetation, birds ate the fish, and affected bald eagles laid fewer viable eggs. In 1963, the continental US had just 417 mating pairs of bald eagles. DDT was banned in 1972, and the eagles have bounced back. In 2007, the US had 9,700 bald eagle mating pairs, and the bald eagle was removed from the endangered list. By 2020, there were 71,000 breeding pairs. The lottery for the DET Monroe Power Plant eagle tour typically opens right after Thanksgiving. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Installed

February 13, 2026

The weather is finally warming (and staying so) enough for me to feel comfortable enough to de-winterize the RV. This is my first season for this, so it made me a little nervous as I am not the mechanically inclined sort. I had researched the process several weeks ago and the videos all said how easy it was. When I woke up this morning all I could think about was I needed to get this done. I procrastinated for another half-hour in bed and then decided to start. I let the kids out for their morning constitutional, got my coffee, and went back to my office to restudy how it is done. I watched 4 different YouTube videos claiming to be my year-make-model RV and while they were the same steps, they all showed slightly different versions of where the valves and settings were. I finally felt comfortable enough to make the attempt and checked on the weather. I saw the outside temps were in the mid-50’sF (mid-10’sC) but were expected to be around 70F (21C) this afternoon. When I walked outside it felt a little cool and I decided to wait for my attempt at de-winterization. I blogged in November that we purchased a 50-inch 4K QLED Smart TV (streaming and Bluetooth ready) so I figured this might be a good time for me to get it installed.

I had moved the TV from the garage into the RV several days ago and told Melissa the box made it look like it would not fit. She assured me she had used the dimensions I had given her for the TV and measured them against the size of the overhead where it was going to be installed. When I took the TV out of the box, sure enough it was more than able to fit in the overhead area. I did notice the screws we were told to buy to hang the TV were the wrong size. Also, when I held the TV up to the bracket the screw holes on the TV did not match up with the bracket holes. They were off by 3 inches (7.5 cm). I spent the next hour trying to figure out how to drill new holes in the bracket to make them line up. Just as I was prepared to go to the hardware store and buy a metal bit for my drill (I only had masonry and wood bits) I realized I would need to remove the bracket to get enough leverage to punch through the metal. That put me on a different line of thought. If I had to remove the bracket anyway, why not just reposition it 3 inches lower on the wall?

While this sounded easy, the cabinet the bracket was screwed into was not low enough to give me the 3 inches I needed. No problem. I could cut out a wooden extension, screw it to the cabinet to give me the required length, and then screw the bracket into the wall and extension. While this would leave screw holes in the wall, I figured I could cover them with putty, and they would be behind the TV bracket anyway. I cut a 6 x 10-inch (15 x 25-cm) piece of leftover 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) plywood and checked it against the cabinet I was going to attach it to (“measure twice, saw once”). Now I went to the hardware store and bought the screws along with antique white spray paint to (kind of) match the extension to the existing cabinets. I applied two coats to each side of the plywood, letting it dry between coats, and then screwed the extension on the cabinet. By this time Melissa had returned from her appointment, and she was able to help me get the bracket and larger TV installed. Another simple job that I had taken all day to complete. I still need to de-winterize the RV.

THOUGHTS: One of the better parts of being retired is I have a lot of time to work on projects like getting the TV installed. It is a good thing too, because it always takes me twice as long as it should. My younger brother and brother-in-law are both mechanically inclined and are constantly working on fix-it-up projects around the house and office. Unfortunately, I take after my dad. He grew up on a farm and was able to do minor repairs, but he left the real projects to the pros. Most humans should take a similar approach toward life in general. When we disregard the information from “the pros” and go with “it’s possible” we get into trouble. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Locator

February 11, 2026

Yesterday began as a normal day. I drove into town to visit some friends and then decided to do some shopping. We are preparing for a trip in our RV and I needed dog food. While the little man will eat anything you put in front of him (he loves the crunch of carrots), our big girl is sort of picky about what she eats (no carrots!). The store has a quality brand that is much cheaper than either the pet store we used to shop at or even online. I have also started using their phone app that allows me to scan my purchases and skip the register Since I was picking up several items (the alure of the box store) I placed my phone in the baskets to easily scan my items. When I was done, I swiped the payment, put my phone back in the cart, and proceeded to the exit gate. The woman at the door waved me through and I walked out to the parking lot. That was where the trouble began. I had forgotten where I had parked in the large lot. I walked up and down several rows of cars and did not see my Jeep anywhere (come on, I know you have done this). The vehicle does have a locator attachment geared to my phone, but it was not specific enough to pinpoint other than the right lot.

When I went online, I found Locator tags (or Bluetooth trackers) are small battery-powered devices that attach to personal items (keys, wallets, luggage, pets) to track their location. Tracking can be done using smartphone apps via Bluetooth or from wider crowdsourced networks (e.g., Apple Find My, Android’s Find My Device). Leading options are equipped with features like sound alerts, last-known location mapping, and, in some cases, precision finding. AirTags use the extensive Apple network, while Tile relies on the Life360 network, and Samsung trackers use the SmartThings Find network. Certain models (AirTag and SmartTag2) use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology to guide you directly to the item with on-screen arrows. Many locator tags can play a loud sound to help locate items and will send alerts if the item is left behind.

Since the locator tag for my app was not specific, I started clicking the “open” button on my car keys to see if the taillights appeared anywhere close. They were not. In desperation, I finally hit the panic button. The alarm went off and indicated the car was in the opposite direction to where I had been searching. I moved toward this section of the lot and hit the alarm again. There was my vehicle, right where I had left it. I stowed on items in the Jeep, put up my cart, and proceeded to my next shopping destination. As I exited that store, I happened to check my pants for my phone. It was not there. I franticly search the car. It was not there. I realized I had left my phone in the basket at the box store. I hurried back and saw the carts had been taken back inside the store. I asked the two young men standing outside if they had seen my phone. They had not but suggested I check at the customer service inside. I approached the service desk and asked if anyone had turned in a phone. The woman asked me what color it was and after handing me the phone asked me to open it (to make sure it was mine). The phone opened and she told me to “have a nice day”. I finally could.

THOUGHTS: After my two mishaps yesterday, I was grateful for having locator apps on my belongings. I use them on my car keys, my luggage, my phone, and my vehicles (sort of), as well as several personal items. I admit I got tags after losing my key fob at the lake while walking the kids. One US$350 mistake more than makes up for the price (4 for US$20) of the locators. While I have yet to again lose anything, my peace of mind is worth the cost. I have even shared the locators with melissa so she can help find things. The irony of losing my phone was I needed a phone to call to track the locator tags. Lucky for me the one who found my phone was a good Samaritan and turned it in. It reminded me to also do the same and gave me hope for humanity. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Withdrawn

February 06, 2026

The back section of today’s newspaper carried a USA Today article on what happens to dogs who retire from their training programs. These dogs are often well trained and well-bred and can be in high demand by potential owners. Different organizations have different processes for placing these dogs with new owners, but most have criteria such as location or yard requirements as well as a fee and a waiting list. For dogs from the Guide Dog Foundation or America’s Vet Dogs, the opportunity is first given to the person they worked alongside. If that person cannot keep the dog the offer goes to the puppy raiser. After that, the offer goes to the person who financially sponsored the dog. Only then is the dog added to the foundation’s private adoption list. Other groups that train guide dogs have sign-ups on their websites for dogs that experience a career change. You may want to consider volunteering with one of the organizations in the meantime to get an animal to love while you help prepare it for someone who needs it. The Seeing Eye’s website calls adopting one of its dogs a “rare opportunity” and says it can be a multiyear wait for a dog to be withdrawn from service.

When I went online, I found you can adopt a dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind’s (GDB) that has been withdrawn from service that has not become a program dog (or been placed with another working dog organization. GDB is committed to finding the perfect home for career change dogs and uses a selection and matching process based on suitability and the needs of both the dog and the potential adopting home rather than a first-come, first-served basis. Dogs require a commitment from their adoptive families to spend the time, energy, and possible expense of addressing the individual dog’s issues to make the match work. Most of the adoption dogs are between 10 and 16 months of age and are one of three breeds (Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Lab/Golden crosses). The adoption fee for these dogs is US$2000. Dogs may be dropped from the program for either medical or behavioral reasons. Medical reasons can include allergies, cataracts, or orthopedic (joint) problems. Behavioral reasons can be high activity level, poor house manners, low confidence or fearfulness, high distractibility, incompatibility with cats or other dogs, or assertiveness requiring a strong handler. These dogs are not suitable to be trained as service dogs.

A study by Geoffrey Caron-Lormier (University of Nottingham) et al looks at twenty years of data from Guide Dogs (UK). There were 7,770 working guide dogs who had worked with blind or partially sighted people which were withdrawn from service. The most common reason for withdrawal was retirement (6,465 dogs or 83%). The authors found three main behavioral reasons why guide dogs were withdrawn from service: environmental anxiety, training issues (a lack of willingness to work or confidence), and fear and aggression. Other reasons included chasing, attentiveness, social behavior, excitability and distraction. Dogs would only have been withdrawn if these problems were serious enough to stop them from working; whenever possible, training was used to try and solve the problem.

THOUGHTS: Dogs who have not been withdrawn from service are of three types and differ in training, legal access, and purpose. Service dogs (SD) are trained to perform specific tasks for an individual with disabilities and have full public access. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) provide companionship for mental health, lacking public access rights but allowing housing accommodations. Therapy dogs provide comfort to many people in clinical or public settings. Melissa’s sheltie was a therapy dog who went into school libraries for children. She would sit quietly and attentively with the child and provide emotional support while the child read to her. Being quiet and paying attention is a much-needed human response as well. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Gumbo

February 04, 2026

Melissa and I seem to be in constant search to find what to eat for dinner. The task is made more difficult as I rarely go to the store to buy specific items for the evening’s meal and instead try and find innovative ways to cook what we already have on hand. This approach is made more so as I try and use up leftovers or clear out the produce that I canned or frozen over last year’s growing season. Several days ago, I had scrounged a packet of chicken pieces (breasts and thighs) I had frozen to make chicken and rice casserole. I have a set recipe in my mind for how to make this dish, but I am still toying with how to get the rice to come out perfectly. I have followed on-line recipes, and it will often come out either crunchy (too little liquid) or mushy (too much liquid). The other issue is it is made in a 9-inch (23 cm) by 13-inch (33 cm) glass dish. This makes a ton of casserole! While I seem to have no problem eating all the rice, the leftover chicken is a harder sell (especially breasts). While scrolling on-line this afternoon I came across a sausage and chicken gumbo recipe.

When I went online, I found gumbo (Louisiana Creole: Gum-bo) is a stew that is popular among the US Gulf Coast community. The dish combines ingredients and culinary practices of several cultures, including Central and West African, French, German, Spanish, and Native American Choctaw. A gumbo consists primarily of a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfish (or both), a thickener, and the Creole “holy trinity” (celery, bell peppers, and onions). The preferred method in the historical New Orleans variation has a French-inspired dark, even chocolate-like, roux (flour and fat mixture) that is the official state cuisine of Louisiana. Creole gumbo generally contains shellfish and a dark roux. Cajun gumbo is generally based on a dark roux and is made with shellfish or fowl. Sausage or ham is often added to gumbos of either variety. After the base is prepared, vegetables are cooked down, and then meat is added. The dish simmers for a minimum of three hours, with shellfish and some spices added near the end, and traditionally served with rice. A third, lesser-known variety, the meatless gumbo (z’herbes) is essentially a gumbo of slow-cooked greens. Gumbo was first described in 1802 and was listed in various cookbooks in the latter half of the 19th century.

My decision to make gumbo was a mix of trying something new and my desire to use the leftover chicken in the refrigerator and the half-pack of kielbasa in the freezer. I have made variations of this dish before, but this is the first time I started from a roux. Being a creature of habit, I only partially followed the recipe. I started by baking the flour in the oven at 350F (177.6C) for 45 minutes for the darkened color and to add a toasty flavor to the roux. While the flour was baking, I got restless and went ahead and sautéed the cut-up chicken and sausage as well as the trinity (different pans). The roux itself was a mix of vegetable oil (olive) and toasted flour that was cooked down on low heat for 35 minutes. Since the vegetables had already softened, I placed them in the pot along with a can of Rotel tomatoes and chilies, Cajun spices, cayenne pepper, and six cups of chicken broth. Next came the chicken and sausage and a Bay leaf for flavor. The on-line recipe suggested letting the gumbo simmer for “1 to 2 hours” rather than the noted minimum of three. I put the finished ingredients on around 4 pm and we will not eat until after 7. That should give the flavors enough time to meld.

THOUGHTS: When I made my Gumbo, I used the eyeball measuring approach. Between that and my hand slipping when I was “measuring” the cayenne the dish came out spicy hot. I have learned (from Melissa) that one way to cut the heat is to add sugar. I tasted the mixture again to be sure, then added two tablespoons of sugar. I am looking forward to having Gumbo over white rice tonight. We can all stand to learn new ways from each other. Between Zydeco dancing and Cajun dishes, who can go wrong? Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Birds 2025

January 31, 2026

Today’s local newspaper (“Sunday”) ran a front-page story on how the cold weather is prime birding season around back yards and feeders. This reminded me that I am even later this year in reporting my annual birding totals. Once again, I saw several red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) on the power lines going to and from town but was unable to get a picture, so they were not added to my count. While I was able to take my usual trip to the wildlife area this year and did record five different species (long range). However, the lighting was so bad I was unable to identify any but the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) flock I noticed while trying to capture several deer (again long range) in a filed. Another miss. The end-of-year presence on my feeders was good as the cold weather brought the sparrows (genus, Passer), along with house (Haemorhous mexicanus) and purple (Haemorhous purpureus) finches. The northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) did come back in mass but I saw only one or two blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata). I have yet to clean out the bluebird (Sialia sialis) house but have seen the sparrows nosing around the entrance so I will need to get rid of the old debris for this year’s nesting.

All that said leads to my “great reveal” concerning my birder totals for 2025. The number of feeders has fluctuated throughout the year as I began with 12 feeders offering different types of food. The squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and grackles (Quiscalas quiscula) managed to take out my camera feeder, and the finches have all but abandoned the thistle seed feeder for some reason. I also switched to safflower kernels rather than black oil sunflower in my two window feeders hoping to discourage the squirrels (it sort of works). That leaves me with 9 active seed feeders to go along with the 9 hummingbird feeders. Now, on to the results. You may recall I recorded 26 species in my first year (2020), ended with a high of 52 species in 2021, dropped to 44 species in 2022, a low of 30 species in 2023, and then rebounded to 39 species in 2024. During 2025 I was able to rise a little higher and recorded 44 different species. My European sightings happened again as we took two trips, one to the Greek Isles (9 birds) and another up the Danube River (8 birds). The bus ride to the Neuschwanstein Castle (Disney’s type site for his princess castles) also yielded 4 different species of raptors, but I was unable to document them.

Most of my sightings have been limited to the immediate area, but we are planning to expand that during 2026. We are taking the RV along the interior to the Atlantic side of Florida and then back along the Gulf of Mexico as our return. This will hopefully produce some new shore bird sightings. We are then driving across Oklahoma to Arizona with a return through Utah. This should record a few species of desert birds. Then we are scheduled for an Alaskan cruise in June which should score some Pacific birds. I am hoping between our trips I can raise my totals (and overall species count) to new levels this year. We will see.

THOUGHTS: I am looking forward to participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count 2026 again this year. The 2025 count had hundreds or thousands of people from all over the world and found 8,078 species of the world’s known species, or 158 more than in 2024. Be sure to mark your calendars for the Great Backyard Bird Count 2026 (February 13 to February 16, 2026). You can sign up and find how to participate at https://www.birdcount.org/participate. Once again, birds are the (literal) canary in the mine shaft (earth) when it comes to gauging the health of our ecosystems. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Bustards

January 30, 2026

WAY down on my MSN browser I came across an article on an invasive species that is disrupting the fragile ecosystem of the Desert National Park (DNP) in Rajasthan, a state in northwest India. Hybrid pigs, from wild boar (Sus scrofa) and domestic pig (Sus domesticus), appeared in the park after a canal project brought in permanent water sources and crops, turning the arid desert into a pig haven. In the past two decades the invasive species have become opportunistic predators and competitors endangering local plants and animals. Manas Shukla, a wildlife researcher at the DNP, said, “The invasive pigs are becoming a major competitor of threatened vulture populations over food that can further impact these declining species.” Farmers have reported crop damage, attacks on livestock, and even humans. Bustards (Family, Otididae) and vultures (Family, Accipitridae) are also at risk, as the pigs eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds and the carcasses eaten by the scavengers.

When I went online, I found Bustards are a family of large, terrestrial birds living mainly in dry grasslands and steppe regions. The word bustard comes from the Old French “bistarda”. The naturalist William Turner listed the English spelling as both “bustard” and “bistard” in 1544. All the common names are derived from Latin avis tarda or aves tardas given by Pliny the Elder. The word tarda comes from tardus (Latin, “slow” and “deliberate”), which aptly describes the species’ typical walking style. The two largest species of bustards, the kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) and the great bustard (Otis tarda), are frequently cited as the world’s heaviest flying birds. Males can exceed 44 pounds (20 kg), and average around 30 pounds (13.5 kg), with a length of 59 inches (150 cm). The smallest species is the brown bustard (Eupodotis humilis), which is 16 inches (40 cm) long and averages 1.3 pounds (600 g). Bustards are among the most sexually dimorphic groups of birds with males often 30% longer and sometimes more than twice the weight of females. Bustards are omnivorous and opportunistic, eating leaves, buds, seeds, fruit, small vertebrates, and invertebrates.

Forest officials have removed the pigs from bustard enclosures but have yet to enforce large-scale control measures due to wildlife protection laws. Researchers argue that the invasive pigs are not native wildlife and should be controlled or translocated to protect the local ecosystem. Human intervention, like building infrastructure or bringing in artificial water sources, changes ecosystems to unintentionally favor invasive animals. Native populations decline because the ecosystems have changed and allowed invasive species to proliferate. About 2 in 5 threatened or endangered species are at risk due to invasive species, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Invaders bring harm by outcompeting, preying on, and spreading diseases, along with disrupting food chains, and destroying habitats.

THOUGHTS: Like the threat to the Bustards, human activity can bring invasive species to new environments. Travel and trade transport species but changing land use can also allow them to move and prosper. Converting land for agricultural use opens it to exploitation from invasive species. The United Nations shared that human activity has already altered approximately 70% of the world’s ice-free land, and often in ways that unintentionally reshape local habitats. Many of the world’s creation stories place humans as the caretakers of the world rather than exploiters of its resources. Ignorance (or apathy) can no longer be an excuse for destruction of the environment. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Artemis II

January 28, 2026

I have mentioned that I have an on-line subscription to our local paper that is sent instead as hard copy. They no longer have carriers and instead deliver via USPS. With the bad weather last Saturday, the Sunday paper did not arrive (I know, how do they get Sunday’s news by Friday night?) until the Post office restarted delivery yesterday. Inside the front section was a USA Today article on how to take a trip to the moon. The launch is scheduled to occur between February and April of this year at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion capsule will carry four astronauts on the lunar journey. While there may not be enough seats for everyone to ride along, NASA has provided a way to punch your ticket virtually. When you sign up on the Artemis II site you will be included on an SD card that will fly inside Orion when the Artemis II mission launches.

When I went online, I found Artemis II will build on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I in 2022 and will demonstrate a broad range of capabilities needed on deep space missions. Artemis II will be NASA’s first mission with crew aboard the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft. NASA is sending astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. The flight is designed as a test of NASA’s deep space capabilities, as humans fly on the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for the first time.

The crew will perform initial checkouts of Orion’s systems and manually test the spacecraft’s handling near Earth over the first two days of the mission, before heading toward the Moon. Orion’s service module will provide the push needed to break free from Earth orbit as a translunar injection burn will send the astronauts on a four-day outbound journey around the far side of the Moon. The approximately 10-day mission will launch from Launch Complex 39 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no later than April 2026.

The figure eight flight pattern for Artemis II will extend more than 230,000 miles (370149 km) from Earth and fly 4,600 miles (7403 km) beyond the Moon, making it the furthest humans have traveled from Earth. The flight will allow the astronauts to evaluate spacecraft systems along the way and test how they behave will direct human interaction. Several payloads will fly aboard the craft to expand our knowledge of space radiation, human health and behavior, and space communications. These tests are designed to help advance future exploration efforts. After completing its journey, Orion will undergo high-speed reentry through Earth’s atmosphere before safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. NASA and a Department of Defense recovery team will retrieve the four-person international crew (three American, one Canadian) and spacecraft. Signing up for the virtual flight (https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/) will provide mission updates and information about the launch. You can also sign up for the NASA newsletter to receive updates in your inbox.

THOUGHTS: I was intrigued when I read about the Artemis II launch date as we are scheduled to be in a campground across from Kennedy Space Center during February. If conditions are right, we might be able to watch the launch and then accompany the astronauts on the virtual ride. I grew up in the Apollo era of moon trips that sparked my imagination (and desire) for space flight. While I may not be able to afford the 2026 Virgin Galactic commercial flights (priced around US$600,000) or enlist in NASA’s astronaut training program (age), I will be traveling to the moon virtually within the next few months. The Artemis ventures will take humanity to the moon and on to Mars. Lest we forget, this is another journey made possible through international cooperation. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Get Out

January 27, 2026

Last weekend we had a major winter storm that spread across the US that affected multiple states and resulted in freezing temperatures and heavy snow. The storm was predicted to hit our area around 9 p.m. CST Friday and when we checked the snow was just starting to fall. We got 4 inches (10 cm) of snow Friday night, followed by 4 inches (10 cm) of sleet/ice on Saturday, then topped by another 3 inches (7.5 cm) of snow early Sunday. I had been clearing off the ramp from our back door and spreading a pet friendly deicer during each break so it was clear, allowing me to get out to fill the bird feeders and the kids could make it to the side yard. While the storm had passed by Sunday afternoon, our back patio (and the roads) had become a 5-inch (12.5 cm) slab of ice. ARDOT (state transportation) warned people to stay indoors to avoid the treacherous conditions and to stay out of the way of the emergency crews trying to clear the roads and restore power. Melissa and I both took the warning and decided this was not a good time to get out.

When I went online, I found the storm brought power outages and treacherous road conditions across the South and Northeast and allowed few people to get out. The treacherous conditions have so far been linked to 34 deaths in 14 states, including two in Arkansas. The Associated Press news agency reports that the storm has been linked to the deaths, with causes ranging from hypothermia to weather-related traffic, sledding, and snow plough accidents. The Arkansas deaths were both linked to improper use of an ATV. The storm brought dangerous winter weather conditions, including ice and freezing rain, leading to widespread travel disruptions and emergency declarations in affected areas. The precipitation was compounded by overnight temperatures that dropped into single digits (F) and never climbed above freezing (32F/0C) during the day. Schools, governments, churches, and businesses were all closed over the weekend and are only beginning to open today.

Today marked the fourth straight day in isolation and both the kids and us were needing to get out of the house. Since it was going to climb into the 40’sF (4.5+C) by afternoon we all made a break for it. I knocked the remaining 3 inches (7.3 cm) of ice off the Jeep and put the crankcase in 4-high. We struggled to get over the ice dam surrounding our vehicle, but a little extra gas got us over the top. The cul-de-sac and street leading to the town’s main throughfare were all packed with snow, but once out of our subdivision the main road was wet but not slick or icy. We took the kids to the lake where we walked, and it was packed with snow as well. Melissa asked me to cut a few “doughnuts” and then I drove out on the spits to see what conditions could be to walk tomorrow. I immediately slipped when I got out and realized I would need to wear my crampons and not stay out too long if we walked at all. Still, it was good to get out to reacquaint us with the world.

THOUGHTS: I always saw the irony of snow days in school as what they really did was allow students to get out and play in the snow. One of my fond memories as a child was the winter when my brother and I built snow caves in the drifts along the side of the church. Then in my senior year in high school when the town shut down and my friends played tackle football in the snow (could not go fast) and then went to a park and played duck-duck-goose in the fresh powder. Being a January baby, I have always liked snow and did not mind the freezing weather. I must admit, the cold is only fun if you are able to dress warmly. Hypothermia, frostbite, and even death can come quickly in fridged conditions. Thankfully, several area agencies open “warming stations” when the temps drop below freezing. Most of the 34 deaths were people unable to find warmth. We cannot let unhoused become uncared for. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Ash Borer

January 12, 2026

Yesterday’s local newspaper carried a USA Today article on a project designed to restore native ash populations to the state of New York. The ash saplings planted at Cornell Botanic Gardens as part of the Nature Conservancy’s Trees in Peril project are part of an effort to restore the disappearing species. Ash has long been valued for its lumber and is used in baseball bats, tool handles, flooring, and fireplaces. The invasive species attacking the trees was first discovered by entomologist Mike Griggs on Cornell University’s campus, as tree canopy dieback, yellowing and browning of leaves. The condition had spread farther west in the state in 2009, and quarantine zones were established in 2015 to block the spread. According to the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, the emerald ash borer has killed millions of trees across the US, caused billions of dollars in damage and loss, and overtaken virtually all of New York state.

When I went online, I found the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), or EAB, is a green jewel beetle (buprestid) native to north-eastern Asia that feeds on ash species (Fraxinus spp.). Adult beetles are typically bright metallic green and about 0.33 inches (8.5 mm) long and 0.063 inches (1.6 mm) wide. Emerald ash borer is the only North American species of Agrilus with a bright red upper abdomen when its wings are spread. The species has a small spine at the tip of the abdomen, and saw-like (serrate) antennae that begins at the fourth antennal segment. Females lay eggs in bark crevices on ash trees and the larvae feed underneath the bark to emerge as adults in one to two years. The ash borer is typically found at low densities in its native range and does not cause significant damage to trees but is a highly destructive invasive species to the ash trees of Europe and North America. Adults prefer to lay eggs in stressed ash but readily lay eggs in healthy trees among other tree species. Little was known of the ash borer before it was found in North America.

Local governments are attempting to control the ash borer by monitoring its spread, diversifying tree species, and using insecticides and biological control. A significant discovery was made by the US Forest Service when they found relatively healthy trees amidst a forest of dead trees. The surviving trees, called lingering ash, could serve as a catalyst for repopulating ash populations across the US. The ash borer larvae tunnel through the living tissue and with 100’s of 1000’s of insects in each tree can essential girdle the tree making it impossible to transport resources between the canopy and roots. Researchers found some lingering ash can “wall off” the larvae and prevent the insects from girdling the tree. A second possible defense is related to the organic compounds emitted by ash trees during photosynthesis and used by the ash borer to detect the trees. If an individual tree does not produce those chemicals or does so at low levels, the tree becomes “invisible” to the insects. The goal of the project is to propagate 50 to 60 genotypes of trees of each of the three ash species (white, green, and black). In 5 to 6 years cuttings (scions) will be collected and the process repeated. The lingering ash will then be planted among susceptible trees to restore ash to the forest environment.

THOUGHTS: The Emerald Ash Borer likely arrived in North America from Asia in the 1990’s hidden in solid wood packing materials (crates and pallets) used in cargo ships. Detection in the US was in Michigan in 2002. This accidental introduction allowed the invasive beetle to spread rapidly, killing millions of ash trees. Movement of infested firewood by humans accelerated its spread across the continent. The predators and diseases that naturally keep the ash borer in check do not exist in North America. Developing the lingering ash would be a significant check on yet another invasive species. Otherwise, Major League Baseball will be forced to use aluminum bats. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.