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.

December 30, 2020

James Cook was the first European explorer to discover Antarctica in 1774.  He immediately dismissed the land mass because the waters and ice that surrounded it, believing no one would take the time to properly discover the continent.  He wrote in his diary that even if someone did, “The world will derive no benefit from it.”  That did not dissuade the most adventurous sailors from trying to prove Cook wrong.  On Jan. 27, 1820, Fabian von Bellingshausen became the first person to spot land south of the Antarctic Circle.  Later, John Davis was the first to set foot on Antarctica, stepping onto the continent in 1821.

In 1959, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, which dedicated the whole continent to peaceful collaboration for scientific investigation.  In 1961, the treaty went into effect, and all territorial claims any country had made before that time were suspended.  In 1991, the Treaty expanded to agree not to explore for oil or other minerals for at least 50 years, or until 2048, at which point it can be revisited.  In total, there are 52 countries that have signed the treaty.  This treaty is also meant to establish Antarctica as a zone free of military operations and nuclear development.  The land It is only open for peace and international cooperation, and the treaty ensures no countries dispute who owns Antarctica.  Because of this treaty, Antarctica has never been part of a war or a site of war.

With its focus on science, research, and world peace, I was saddened to learn that the world is encroaching on the continent despite protections.  As the pandemic wracked the rest of the world, Antarctica remained the last continent without a single case recorded.  That ended on December 18, 2020.  The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs announced, “The Chilean Antarctic Program has decided to monitor the health status of those at its stations and preform PCR tests for covid-19.”  According to the New York Times, the virus was found in 26 members of the Chilean military and 10 maintenance workers.  They have since been evacuated from the base and placed in isolation.

Thoughts:  Despite robust efforts to keep the virus out of Antarctica, the world has failed.  One of the fears for researchers is the proximity and isolation forced during the southern Hemispheres winter (our summer) when travel is impossible.  While the stations have been closed to outsiders, travel on cruise ships has restarted and is available in January 2021, boasting reduced rates (averages $2,700 per person USD).  This includes flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia on Cape Horn and promises “all the amenities of cruising.”  Now if I could only get to Buenos Aires.  Or perhaps I will wait a little longer.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

December 29, 2020

After the CDC asked Americans to stay at home and avoid travel over the holidays we responded in typical fashion.  As of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, nearly 7 million travelers had gone through TSA checkpoints the previous seven days. That is up 22% from the previous week.  This compares to nearly 17 million people over the comparable seven-day period in 2019.  More than 1.19 million people flew on December 23 and 1.28 million on Sunday.  Sunday, December 27, set a record for the most people screened at TSA checkpoints since mid-March, when concerns about the spread of the coronavirus prompted stay-at-home orders and effectively stopped travel.  While flying in the sanitized air systems of a plane are seen are relatively safe, getting through the airport and allowing infected (asymptomatic) people on the plane are still problematic.

With health and government officials stressing staying home as the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick, AAA anticipates at least a 10% drop in Thanksgiving travel, or 48 million driving.  This is the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008.  This is also a drop from 55 million in 2019.   While driving allows you and your family to essentially quarantine in your car, you still interact with family and friends when you reach your destination.  Driving means you will only infect those you love.

During Christmas we find another surge in travel.  While AAA expects at least 34 million fewer travelers compared to last year’s holiday season, as many as 84.5 million Americans may still travel from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, a decline in travel of at least 29%.  Travel by vehicle is faced with another challenge, car accidents.  The week between Christmas and New Years account for approximately 300 deaths annually, with 340 predicted for 2020.  This seems to be a dangerous time to travel even without the added risk of the pandemic.   Taken together, 90 million holiday travelers will head to destinations from Thanksgiving to New Years, despite the CDC’s recommendation to stay home.

Thoughts:  When I opened my paper this morning the front-page news reported what to expect for travel in 2021.  This touted the optimism of the travel industry for the coming year.  One reason given by John Thompson at the insurance company Chubb, was the, “deeply human desire to connect, to socialize and collaborate, to maintain and strengthen family bonds – those underlying attributes have not gone anywhere.”  Apparently, neither have our desire to only think of ourselves and ignore the health of those we “need” to see.  Even with the vaccine, we are preparing for the triple threat of the holiday surges.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

December 28, 2020

My subscription to Acho on YouTube gleaned me another insight as he addressed the topic of failure.  Apparently, a twitter troll had sent a screen shot of all the failures he experienced during his brief NFL career (as if he did not already know, right?).  Rather than debating his career, Acho instead looked at the list and realized these were his “favorite” failures.  Without his NFL career he would not have the opportunities he has been given.  Without his injuries and failure in the NFL he would not have moved on to accomplish what he has done over the last five years.  Failure shaped him, but it did not define him.  That is why these failures were considered his favorite.

Acho is not unique in overcoming failure to find your life’s niche.  What I have come to realize is that life is not about having a job, it is about having a purpose.  A job is something you do to make money to survive.  It is often not what you enjoy and is hopefully short term.  Every life coach and job guru I have read reminds us we need to decide what we are passionate about, and then work to create our place in that field.  This can become a career, a place where we are comfortable and enjoy working.  We need to keep looking until we find what makes us whole.  Our life’s work may change as many times as do the situations in our life.  If we follow our passion, if we follow our bliss, the end will give us a purpose.

Acho went on to describe his tenure in the NFL, including multiple injuries and getting cut five times by the same team.  Finally, he realized he had enough and decided to move on.  That meant moving into TV and it was there he found his real calling.  Being a TV sports commentator gave Acho the platform to create “how you know me, as ‘An Uncomfortable Conversation with a Black Man.”  Without his failure, he would have never gone on to find the success he now has.  Acho closed challenging his hearers, “What has been your favorite failure?”

Thoughts:  When I lost a job (failure?), I got a card from my son, Alex.  The front cover was a picture of a closed door.  Inside the card there was a picture of an opened window.  The caption read, “When life closes a door, God always opens a window.”  Alex had also written words of encouragement as I continued my search for another job.  I admit, my immediate reaction was, “Yeah, the window opened, and I fell through it to the ground.”  There are many who feel the same way now as I did then.  Being in a food line or waiting for the unemployment check is not fulfilling, regardless of what some may say.  Wanting to work is not the same as finding a job.  We need to find ways to provide everyone a purpose.  Do the work.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

December 26, 2020

I came across two articles in the newspaper last week that illustrate the disparity that exists in college athletics.  The first concerned a bill introduced by Senators Cory Booker and Richard Blumenthal that is being called the “College Athletes Bill of Rights.”  One of the key points in the bill guaranteed retention of scholarships until the athlete graduated.   While graduation rates vary between schools and sport, the NCAA asserted in 2018 nearly 90% of student athletes graduated.  What it did not say was that many of these students took five or six years to accomplish this rate, and those last years were done without scholarships.  Neither does it mention the disparity between white and black athletes, with whites graduating at a rate 16.3% higher than blacks.  That includes those who lose their scholarship due to sports injury and are then cut off from school health insurance with a pre-existing condition.

The other article looked at coaches who are losing their jobs during our covid-19 shortened season.  Schools in the FBS (Football Bowl Series) conferences are already on the hook for $75 million in contract buyouts for eight coaches and their accompanying assistants.  The SEC seems to bear the brunt of this buyout, with $21 million for firing Gus Malzahn at Auburn and $15 million for Will Muschamp at South Carolina.  Malzahn amassed a paltry 68-34 record, and only went 6-4 this season with an invitation to the Citrus Bowl.  This comes as Auburn announced revenues were down $62 million dollars.  Apparently even $62 million could not override the “poor” season for the Tigers.

While the newspaper illustrated the disparity between Coaches and student athletes, the response to the revenue shortfall has been swift by colleges across the country.  The NCAA canceled the Basketball tournament in March, along with all winter and spring sports.  Football limped through delays and postponements toward 28 bowl games, 16 fewer than last year.  The Bowls and tournaments produce a lot a revenue for leagues and individual schools.  Schools have decided to compensate for these losses by cutting programs and dropping scholarships in their non-revenue producing sports.   For many of these programs it is a savings of $1-$2 million.  Ironically, Title IX is preserving many of the women’s programs.  The 120-person football scholarships require several women’s programs to provide equality.  Maybe if you just retained your football coach there may be more money available.

Thoughts:  I walked on second semester in college and was given one of the available scholarships.  I did not think about it then, but it was no doubt available because they had dropped someone else from the scholarship roles.  While the league did not allow Spring Ball, I did take “Phys Ed” classes (through the football program) from 1-5 pm Monday through Friday.  Every team meeting the coach stressed the same thing, if you can get out of Junior College with a “C” average, you will not flunk out during your two years of eligibility at a four-year college (i.e., 1 ½ years).  The disparity between the scholarship and “job” provided by the school and the expectation to WIN clearly illustrated where the priorities were. Do the work.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

December 25, 2020

While I still enjoy the festivities around Christmas, I think what makes it special is seeing it through the eyes of a child.  My favorite memories of Christmas revolve around either my childhood or the times spent with my own son as a child.  We always had a real tree growing up and saved our ornaments and tinsel from year to year.  I recall several years that was what I gave my parents, either an ornament or a small nativity to go under the tree.  Tinsel was the big thing for my mom.  When we got old enough, we were “allowed” to help put the tinsel on the tree.  This was a laborious single strand at a time task.  After Christmas it came off the same way and was placed back in its box, ready to be used the next year.

When I had my own family, Alex and I would spend several nights preparing the tree.  We always had a real tree and would only adorn it with ornaments we made ourselves.  These involved hours of DIY projects that filled the weeks before Christmas.  One of my favorites (but tedious) was stringing popcorn and cranberries onto long ropes to be draped across the tree.  I eventually learned to tie knots in the thread so when the line inevitably broke, we did not lose the whole strand.  We also hung oranges with cloves stuck in them to produce a nice citrus/clove smell that filled the house. I remember several years we made construction paper chains of alternating red and green links.  Once Alex was in school, we had the addition of the “art” projects that hung proudly among the rest.  It was never about what the tree looked like.  It was about spending time together.

When Alex no longer lived with me, I quit decorating a tree.  I still liked the natural trees better than artificial.  The joy of decorating a tree became more like a waste of time and money without the camaraderie created by decorating together.  As I got older, I again began to decorate the inside of my house for the Christmas parties I would host.  This initially included a tree, but later I came up with an alternative, a Christmas tree cactus.  This began as a barrel cactus wrapped in a small string of lights.  I also found tiny Christmas balls to hang from the spines.  My Christmas cactus was another of the casualties with my move to Kansas.  Sadly, it did not survive the first winter. 

Thoughts:  My childhood memories are one of the things that allow me to relate so well to the tree decorating scene in, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  As George wallows in sorrow, little Pete puts tinsel on his head.  My mom would have been aghast as he put clumps of strands on his dad’s head rather than placing them one at a time.  I hope you have good memories of Christmas’ past and are finding new ways to celebrate socially distanced this year.  Melissa and I are exploring ways to spend time with family through media even while staying apart.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas!  Change is coming and it starts with you.