January 12, 2021

When I was driving home yesterday, I saw my very first real armadillo.  I need to clarify that statement.  I have seen armadillos in the zoo, and I have seen 100’s of dead armadillos along the road, but this one was both free and alive.  I found it fitting that the little fellow was crossing a busy stretch of highway with cars whizzing by as it scurried along.  By the time I caught up with it, it was moving off onto the shoulder, so I assume it made it all the way across without being hit.  From all the dead armadillos I have seen, I would say this one was extremely lucky.

Members of Superorder Xenarthra (sloths, anteaters, and armadillos) originated in South America and migrated into North America across the Panamanian land bridge about 3 million years ago.  They all went extinct in North America by around 10,000 years ago.  Today, only two armadillo species occur outside of South America, the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypodidae novemcinctus), and the northern naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous centralis).  The centralis ranges from Central America as far north as the extreme southern boundary of Mexico.  The nine-banded armadillo has expanded its range northward into the United States over the last 150 years, moving north of the Rio Grande River as far as Missouri.  It is still expanding north at a rapid rate.

When I checked online, I found the expanding population is only part of the reason we see so many dead armadillos.  Another reason you see dead armadillos on highways is a result of the animals frightened response.   When it is scared by a loud noise (like a vehicle whizzing by) it reacts by jumping a few feet off the ground.  In its normal habitat this is used to scare off predators.  On a highway, its jump puts it about the right height to be hit by the vehicle.   Most other small mammals take their chances running between the wheels of threatening vehicles.  The odds appear better to run than jump.

Thoughts:  While armadillos crossed the Rio Grande on their own, they were introduced into Florida by humans.  They are thought to arrive after escaping from a zoo in 1924 and later from a circus in 1932.  They have naturalized and are considered a nuisance animal because of their burrowing.  Eleanor Storrs became fascinated with the animals during her doctoral studies at the University of Texas.  Although she was exploring their unique reproductive behavior, she discovered armadillos and humans both contract Hansen’s Disease (leprosy).  Armadillos now play a significant role in researching the disease.  In South America they are considered a delicacy and are highly sought after.  Armadillos are typical of most lifeforms, seen as both nuisance and valuable at the same time.   It all depends on your perspective.  Do the work.  Follow the science.   Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 11, 2021

When I lived in Wichita my sister came out and taught me how to make sushi roles.  Rather than purchasing one of the fancy rollers that are available, she taught me how to make the roles by hand using a small bamboo mat.  After we made a variety of roles, we went to the local Asian market and looked for appropriate plates and dinner ware to serve it on.  The two settings were plastic, but it looked really cool with its matching design (is that Grecian around the outside?).  While the intent was to use this for one-on-one Japanese meals, I never really used it until last night.  That is when Melissa and I had pot stickers.

While I have been intrigued (and enjoyed!) the nuances of making Chinese dishes for many years, I now have two Chinese nieces who have challenged me with their own posts.  One of the questions I had wondered was why the dishes came out at different times when I was part of a large group at a restaurant.  When I began to make the actual dishes, I realized each dish is a separate creation.  That means each dish is made, sent to the table, and then the next dish is made.  That is what I have also done when I served a large group at parties.  That is how I have seen Dim Sum (small plates) served as well.

This last weekend I was challenged to make pot stickers, also known as Chinese dumplings.  I found an amazing receive (I do not use recipes, but this was different) that suggested the ingredients for the dumplings.  I went to the grocery to find the suggested wraps, but they did not have them.  I decided to improvise (surprise!).  While I made the dumplings and the filling tasted incredible, there was a major failure.  The dumplings stuck to the parchment paper I used to line my bamboo streamer.  When I looked for “steamed dumplings” online later, it suggested using lettuces leaves or oiling the bamboo to keep it from sticking.  Regrettably, I did neither.  They ended up as a mass of tasty broken dumplings.

Thoughts:  There are the times (rare?) when my refusal to use a recipe results in failure.  Even with the recipe for the dumplings I changed the ingredients for the filling.  The recipe called for frying the dumplings and Melissa prefers them steamed, so I changed the cooking process.  I was wise enough to know the dumplings would stick to the bamboo steamer, but the choice of parchment paper merely changed where the dumplings stuck.  Far too often we only follow the advice we believe to be relevant and ignore the reason for the rest.  Sometimes this works, but other times it results in failure.  Even now we only follow the of advice we believe to be relevant.  This explains our failure.  Follow the science.   Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 09, 2021

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I mentioned earlier this week about the two Georgia runoff elections.  Jon Ossoff (D) defeated David Perdue (R) and Raphael Warnock (D) won his race against Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R).  Both elections were not only unprecedented but represented “firsts.”  Ossoff is the first Jewish Senator from Georgia and will be the youngest sitting U.S. senator at age 33.  He is also the youngest elected senator since Joe Biden was sworn into office at age 30 on January 3, 1973.   His victory comes along with another historic win by Raphael Warnock, who will take office as the state’s first Black senator. They are the first Democrats to win Senate seats in Georgia since 2000.   

I was present when Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke at the American Baptist Convention in Philadelphia’s Convention Hall in May 1962.  I was seven at the time, but still remember standing in a long line that crossed in front of the stage until I (and my family) were able to shake his hand.  King served as co-Pastor along with his father, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., for the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.  King, Jr., served the church from 1960 until his assignation in 1968.  The church is duly aligned with the Progressive National Baptist Convention and American Baptist Churches USA.   The funerals of both Dr. King and congressman John Lewis were held at this church.  This is also the church where United States Senator-elect (Rev. Dr.) Raphael Warnock has been pastor since 2005.

MLK, Sr., known as “Daddy King,” was a pastor for Ebenezer for over 40 years and was an important civil rights leader in his own right.  Growing up in the early twentieth century, King, Sr., saw firsthand the brutality of southern racism, being beaten by a white mill owner and watching as a white mob hanged a black man.  As his mother lay dying, he cursed white people.  His mother’s response was, “Hatred makes nothin’ but more hatred…Don’t you do it.”  The combination of activism and non-violence that marked his life was instilled in his son, Martin, Jr., and the rest of his family.

Thoughts:  According to his campaign website, “Reverend Raphael Warnock grew up in Kayton Homes public housing in Savannah.  The family was short on money, but long on faith, love and humor.  Raphael and his eleven brothers and sisters were taught the meaning of hard work.”   Warnock took his lesson in hard work to his campaign for Senate, “vowing to fight for affordable health care, protect voting rights, and ensure the dignity of working people.”  Another quote from the site states, “The four most powerful words in a Democracy: The People Have Spoken.”  These words are what separate a democracy from other forms of government.  In a television interview shortly after his projected win, the Rev. Dr. Warnock made it clear that he planned to stay in the pulpit at Ebenezer Baptist Church, preaching on Sunday’s.  I guess we can now call him bi-vocational.  Do the work.   Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 08, 2021

I have listened to the excuses and reasons for the events at the nation’s capital all day.  Most of those who stormed the Capitol were from out of town.  They have now fled and are being pursued by the FBI.  Several pictures have been posted online and rewards offered for information on their whereabouts.   So far there have been 82 people arrested for participating in the riot.  More than 60 of those were for suspicion (What, they do not know if they were outside?) of violating the curfew imposed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser after the mob action was over.  Another 37 were charged with suspicion of unlawful entry.  Others were charged with assault, property damage and various gun charges.  Many had multiple offenses.

What amazed me was the audacity of those who stormed the Capitol.  Many took cellphone videos and selfies of themselves, and then posted them on their own online accounts.  The Arkansas man who broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office not only posted his picture sitting with his feet up at her desk, but also bragged about it to a reporter and showed them a letter he had taken from her desk (can you say felony mail theft?).  One of the reports I saw featured a woman who had been maced by the capital police.  During her tearful interview, she asked the reporter why should she have been maced?  After all, and I quote, “I was only trying to incite a revolution.”   

Police action toward the riot showed a similar lassi faire attitude.  As the protestors approached officers were seen opening barricades to let people through and taking selfies with members of the crowd.  As happens with most mob action, the peaceful protest tuned into an angry mob in a matter of minutes.  By that time, it was too late, and the police were overrun.  One officer was beaten with a pipe and later died, while several others were taken to the hospital with injuries.  The response taken by Congress has been swift in deciding who to blame.  The House Sargent at Arms has resigned, and Sen. Schumer has called for his counterpart in the Senate to do the same.  The head of the Capitol Police has also resigned.  It appears we are better at laying blame than resolving conflict.

Thoughts:  Of the five people who died during the riot or shortly after, one was an officer beaten by the crowd, one was shot by police while crawling through an interior window, and three died from medical emergencies.  It is lucky there were only five.  The problem with mob action is it takes on a life of its own, and once it starts it is unpredictable where it will end.  People believe themselves invisible while acting as part of a mob.  As has been found time and again, with social media and 1000’s of cell phones, individuals in a mob can be identified.  We need to change the attitude of our country.  As Spike Lee pointed out in his 1989 movie, “Do the Right Thing,” we need to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.  Do the work.   Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 07, 2021

Our country has fallen to a new low as anti-government protesters stormed the US capitol building and forced stoppage of the confirmation of Joe Biden as President Elect.  Biden was the winner of the November 3^rd popular vote and was certified by the Electoral College on December 14^th.  The President has not only refused to acknowledge the victory but has mounted both legal challenges and social media rhetoric to overturn the election and reinstate himself back in control of the country.  His latest call has been to encourage supporters to come to the capital to disrupt the normally ceremonial proceedings of congress’s acceptance of the Electoral vote.

After a rousing challenge to take the fight to the Capitol offered by the President, supporters began gathering outside the Capitol grounds.  At 3pm EST protesters stormed the building.  They smashed windows, ransacked offices, and rummaged through the desks on the floor of Congress.  Several protesters removed the American flag from the side of the capitol building and replaced it with a Trump flag.  By 4:00 pm EST one person had been shot inside the building (who later died), several more were taken to the hospital, and at least two improvised bombs had been recovered.  President Elect Biden called on Trump to ask his supports to “stand down, stand, down, stand down.”  The President had so far remained quiet.  When he finally did respond he told his supporters the election had been “stolen,” and ended, “Go home.  We love you, you’re very special.”  They stayed until forced from the Capitol grounds by police, tear gas, and flash grenades.

Almost lost amid the turmoil at Congress was the declaration that control of the Senate had just shifted.  Democrats took control of the U.S. Senate with victories in Georgia’s two runoff elections.  Jon Ossoff (D) defeated David Perdue (R) whose Senate term lapsed Sunday.  Raphael Warnock (D) won his race against Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R).  The results mean Democrats now control both houses of Congress and the Presidency.  While the Senate is officially split 50-50, the deciding vote is held by Vice-President elect Kamala Harris.  Later that evening Vice-President Mike Pence certified the election of Biden and Harris.  The peaceful transition of power has been a landmark of our nation for 244 years.  We can no longer make this claim.

Thoughts:  When the mob stormed the Capitol Building it was only the second time in history the iconic structure had been overrun.  On August 24, 1814, British troops marched into Washington, D.C., and set the Capitol Building and White House ablaze.  The ugly burn scars on the president’s residence resulted in the building being whitewashed, prompting the name, The White House.  The aftermath of yesterday’s mob action was the arrest of 52 people for violating the 6 pm curfew.  They were arrested after 9 pm.  The response seems in stark contrast to the police action against the peaceful BLM protesters earlier this summer.   Do the work.   Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 06, 2021

My sister and brother-in-law live just outside of Portland, Maine, and they have been getting rocked by a series of nor’easter’s.  A Nor’easter is a storm along the East Coast of North America, so called because the winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast.  These storms are most frequent (and violent) between September and April.  Past Nor’easters have been responsible for billions of dollars in damage, severe economic, transportation and human disruption, and in some cases, disastrous coastal flooding.  While the average annual snowfall in Portland is 61 inches, 10”-15” during a single storm are not uncommon.

We got our first snowstorm of the new year over the weekend.  This had 1” diameter flakes that were filled with moisture.  The sky had been overcast all morning and we had some previous rain.  As is often the case where we live, the temperature had warmed to around 38F before it started to snow.  The snow began quickly and ended just as abrupt.  It snowed for less than ten minutes.   There was no accumulation and the sun popped through the clouds as it ended.  If you do not want to ski, it is not a bad way to get snow.

My favorite ski resort when I lived in Utah was Alta.  At the time it had both the best snow and the cheapest prices.  Average snowfall is around 550 inches a winter.  Even better, this is generally powder.  Powder is a lighter (less moisture) snow that is amazing to ski.  The resort measured 626 inches for the 2018/2019 season.  Even though the resorts are open, the crowds are few.  If you do not own the resort, the lack of crowds makes for a great time to ski.  Getting there this year could be tough unless you happen to live in Salt Lake City.  It is always something.

Thoughts:  Generally, precipitation (snow or rain) does not cause problems by itself.  That changes quickly when it combines with winds or becomes freezing rain.  It is also problematic when it comes in large amounts or even smaller amounts that fall quickly.  Global warming does not just mean that the temperature is rising.  It also means the extremes of both heat and cold are heightened, the highs are higher, and the lows are lower, and often at the same time in different parts of the country.  Scientific studies indicate that extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent or more intense with human-induced climate change.  We need to make a difference NOW, and not later.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 05, 2021

I have been asked how my birding went in 2020 so I thought it was time to give a report.  The answer is good and yet not so good.  I ended the year with photos of 26 birds.  Due to the pandemic, I restricted my travel and never got out of the state.  Even more, I never got out of Northwest Arkansas.  While my official “photo” count was 26, I saw at least another 20-25 species that I was not able to get on camera.  I was using my phone for the pictures and the birds were often too fast when I located them and then too far away when I got my phone ready.  I received an attachment to take farther pictures, but this included an automatic wide angle and made it difficult to find the small bird in the frame.  As with any new venture, there was a huge learning curve.

I dropped numerous hints that I would like a digital camera with a telephoto lens for Christmas.  Much to my surprise, Santa (Melissa?) came through.  While the old Pentax automatic I used to take pictures in the Middle East was point and shoot.  My new Canon EOS was not.  I tried taking pictures and even read the accompanying instruction booklet (this was a fat book that featured the same 25 pages in eight different languages).  Although I was able to get pictures, they were all just a little out of focus.  I finally broke down and went to the YouTube sites telling me how the camera worked so I could improve my shots.  As always, it helps when you listen to the experts.

With my new knowledge in hand, I decided to take some bird photos to get the new year started.  I was going back up north to the mountains where I have always seen lots of birds.  Since it was a new year, I could take shots of last year’s birds and hopefully add the ones I was too far away from previously.  While this was a good idea, it did not happen.  When I came out of work the birds were nowhere to be seen.  There were always crows scavenging the ground and vultures soaring in the sky.  Today there was nothing.  I even drove around town looking for birds to record but still found none.  I finally gave up and started driving home.  I took the highway even though I knew it bypassed any potential bird havens.  Again, I saw no birds until after crossing the river back into town.  It seems I need to be more purposeful if I am going to get my birding off to a start in 2021.

Thoughts:  When I finally did see birds along the highway, I was hesitant to stop and take a picture as the cars were whizzing by at 70 mph.  I decided to go to a local nature center to drop a line in the water and record the birds I saw at the park.  There were no birds and I fished for half an hour without a bite.  I finally heard a goose but could not locate it but using my 800mm telephoto I got my first bird of the year (Canadian Goose).  As I reflected on the day, three points came to mind: the huge learning curve, listening to the experts, and being purposeful in my efforts.  These are three points we ignored fighting the virus in 2020.  America’s leaders assumed we already knew everything, our people failed to listen to the experts, and as a nation we never created a purposeful plan to overcome the crisis.  Even with a vaccine, 2021 will not make a difference until we do what is right.  Follow the science.  Do the work.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 04, 2021

When we were driving home on Sunday, I noticed a car in front of us that had used cellophane tape to close the trunk lid.  While I was not sure, I assumed they had been in a rear-ender and popped the trunk latch, so it no longer worked.  I was amazed at how extensively they had tapped the lid shut but wondered about their choice of tape.  Mostly when you see parts taped on a car, they use some sort of duct tape.  I guess they thought this was the tape they had and if you use enough it might work.  I have found that it will but only for a period.

The adhesive duct tape we know today appeared in World War II.  A factory worker named Vesta Stoudt was packaging ammunition and sealed each box with tape and wax to make them waterproof.  When the worker saw soldiers struggling to open the boxes, she came up with an idea to seal the boxes with a strong, cloth-based, waterproof tape.  Stout wrote a letter to FDR about her solution and a few weeks later, received word from the War Production Board that Johnson and Johnson would be manufacturing the tape.  The tape became a military sensation as it was durable and easy to apply and remove by hand.  Stoudt received a letter from President Roosevelt and earned the Chicago Tribune’s War Worker Award for her idea and her persistence (read, no patent nor money).

After the war ended, duct tape turned up in hardware stores to help Americans with domestic household repairs.  The tape was originally called ‘duck’ tape because of its water-resistant qualities.   It was made from a cotton duck fabric and it repelled water like a duck’s back.   The cotton duck is a strong fabric made from cotton, where the threads make a crisscross pattern.  This was known for being a strong material and was used to protect power cables and electrical conductors from corrosion.  It quickly became a useful tool for wrapping air ducts, which led to its other name, duct tape.  Webster’s officially defines duct tape as “a wide cloth adhesive tape originally designed for sealing joints in heating or air-conditioning ducts.”  Modern duct tape is manufactured by a number companies and employs a variety of materials.  Because of its versatility, duct tape has even made the ride into space.

Thoughts:  I mentioned previously how embarrassed my son Alex was of the vehicle I drove when he was in grade school.  The car had a vinal top that had separated from the glue and seal that originally held it to the roof.  It had been repaired with duct tape, but the tape had aged and lost its adhesion.  That caused the patch to give way and the vinal (and tape) would flap in the wind no matter how many times I fixed it.  Many DIY fixes I use are like this car.  They work for a while and then give way.  Many of the fixes we used to address racism have taken the same approach.  Rather than resolve the problems, we merely add a patch.  As I learned, even duct tape fails.  Do the work.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 02, 2021

We had our furnace serviced last week.  I was a little surprised when we signed up for the service that they could not schedule us until the first week of December, but I agreed because I knew the advantage of getting it checked.  We were not feeling well when the date approached, and I called the service and had them reschedule (we both tested negative).   The next earliest date was the 28^th.   When I questioned whether a service was needed this late in the season, they assured me (surprise!) that getting the tune up would be good regardless of when it happened.  Reluctantly I agreed.

The control of fire by early humans was a turning point in our technological evolution.  Fire provides a source of warmth and lighting, protection from predators (especially at night), a way to create more advanced hunting tools, and a method for cooking food.  These cultural advances allowed human geographic dispersal, cultural innovations, and changes to diet and behavior.  Additionally, creating fire allowed human activity to continue into the dark and colder hours of the evening.  Anyone who has sat around a campfire can attest to the feeling of warmth generated by the flames and companionship.

When the technician arrived, he walked in and immediately asked Melissa if the heater was working.  She said it was working fine.  As he walked by the thermostat, he noticed it read 63F.  Again, he asked if the heater really was working.  Melissa again assured him it was, and that because of the succulents in the house we have committed to keeping the thermostat around 65F.  His immediate response was, “What is a succulent?”  Ironically, Melissa was sitting in front of an open window.

Thoughts:  One of the hardest parts of being mindful of the pandemic is missing the warmth of family and friends.  We have not seen any of my family (in person) for close to a year.  Even as the numbers spike across the country there are still many who have not been vaccinated or have been exposed and recovered.  That means the warmth we have had is missed.  Some have ignored the call to stay at home and the result for the family has been frightening.  The absence of warmth now is a small cost to pay to ensure warmth in the future.  Perhaps I should put a campfire scene as background on our next family zoom call. Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 01, 2021

The College Bowl season takes place at stadiums across the country throughout December and into the first part of January.  There were 40 licensed bowls for 2020-2021, but only 27 will actually be played due to complications from covid-19.  The latest bowl to cancel is the Texas Bowl (and my Arkansas Razorbacks).  Even though Bowl games are played earlier, the focus is always on the six major Bowls around New Year’s Day, called the New Year’s Six and including the two semifinal games of the College Football Playoff (rotated among the six bowls).  These are the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and the Peach Bowl.  While the Pasadena Rose Bowl was originally slated to host a semi-final, the game was relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, because families of the football teams would not be able to attend a game at the Rose Bowl.  Interestingly, Texas has higher rates of the virus than California.

The term “bowl” originated from the Rose Bowl stadium, site of the first post-season college football games.  The Rose Bowl Stadium, in turn, takes its name and bowl-shaped design from the Yale Bowl, the prototype of many football stadiums in the United States.  The term has since become almost synonymous with any major American football event, generally collegiate football with some significant exceptions.  Two examples are the Egg Bowl, the name of the annual matchup between the Mississippi State and Ole Miss, and the Iron Bowl, a nickname given to the annual game between the Alabama and Auburn.  In professional football, the names of the National Football League’s (NFL) “Super Bowl” and “Pro Bowl” are references to college football bowl games.  The 2021 Pro Bowl has also been dropped.

Bowl games originally featured the best teams in college football, with strict bowl eligibility for teams to receive an invitation in a particular year.  As of 1971, there were only 10 team-competitive (non-all-star) bowl games. The number of bowl games reached 20 games by the 1997 season, then rapidly expanding beyond 30 games by the 2006 season and 40 bowl games (not including the College Football Playoff National Championship) by the 2015 season. The increase in bowl games necessitated a significant easing of the NCAA bowl eligibility rules, and now allows teams with non-winning 6–6 records and even losing 5–6 and 5–7 seasons (10 teams since 2001) to fill the available bowl slots.

Thoughts:  One of my online sites stated the reason for the number of bowl games has little to do with demand, especially in our covid-19 shortened season.  Many of these games were played in half-empty stadiums, even before the pandemic.  Instead, it goes back to who has the most invested in the games, ESPN and their parent company, Disney.  Only one of the scheduled games (Sun Bowl) is not airing on a Disney related network.  The schools and conferences are willing to participate because of the TV revenues generated.  After Wisconsin defeated Duke in the Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, the quarterback dropped the crystal trophy and it shattered into hundreds of pieces.  Another perfect end to 2020.  I wish you all a Happy New Year!  Change is coming and it starts with you.