A Heart of Darkness

Heading east across the High Plains yesterday, my pickup was buffeted by strong, south winds from Goodland, Kansas, to Hays.  Since the air was warm and dry, no clouds raced across the deep, blue sky and I could not readily explain the cause of the intense wind.

This morning, as I continued eastward, those potent winds were still blowing and strands of clouds appeared overhead, all pointing toward the northeast.  These strands thickened and darkened as I entered more eastern regions of the Great Plains, indicating that Gulf of Mexico moisture was being drawn northward by the wind.

Then, as the highway climbed atop the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, broad views unfolded to the north revealing dark skies that stretched across the horizon, topped by towering cumulonimbus clouds.  This was the heart of the pinwheel-like storm, beneath which heavy rain and probable hail were pelting the ground.  Quite a spectacle from a safe distance. 

Moisture Arrives

It is a cool, damp, gray day along the Front Range with snow in the mountains and scattered showers across the urban corridor.......just what we need after a warm, sunny winter.  Of course, a foot or two of snow would be even more welcome but we'll take whatever moisture we can get.

This isolated atmospheric disturbance is currently centered over the Colorado-Wyoming border, where some thunderstorms have developed.  Unfortunately, the respite won't last long and sunny, warm weather is forecast for the next couple of days.

March is the snowiest month in Metro Denver and we can only hope that this year's snowfall is at least average.  Then again, entrenched weather patterns often take a while to break down, leading to droughts or floods.  This is, after all, a semi-arid ecosystem even though the sprawling development suggests otherwise. 

The Death of Innocents

As the debate rages on regarding Trump's decision to attack Iran, the focus is on the rationale for war, the potential outcome of the conflict, the widening impact of the war, the effects of the conflict on the American and world economies and the unfortunate deaths of several members of the American military.  There is little or no mention of the deaths of innocent civilians in Iran and in other countries throughout the region.

Yet, a significant number of these deaths have occurred and will surely increase dramatically as the war continues.  Of course, as we saw in Gaza, many of the victims are children.  The swift, "clean" attack in Venezuela, in which no American military members were lost, killed at least 200 non-combatants.  The indiscriminate attacks of Russian drones on Ukraine have killed a large number of civilians, many of them children.

While politicians and military leaders direct our attention to the logistics and successes of the conflict, we eventually come to appreciate the tragic death of innocents that always results.  Unfortunately, their welfare is too often ignored during the rush to war. 

Flicker Season

Northern flickers are common residents and visitors on our Littleton farm throughout the year.  But, from mid February through early April, these large woodpeckers are impossible to ignore.

Whether there is two feet of snow on the ground or warm, sunny conditions grace the Front Range urban corridor, they respond to the lengthening daylight and to hormones surging through their bodies.  It is their mating season and their loud, hysterical calls echo across the farm, inviting a response from potential mates.  In concert, they drum on dead tree limbs or, more effectively, on metal downspouts and roof vents, alarming homeowners in the process.

This annual rite of early spring, however loud and unsettling, is a welcome development, especially after a long, cold winter.  Then again, March and April are among the snowiest months along the Front Range and the flicker rituals do not promise any noticeable change in the weather.  

Allies, Negotiations & War

Having survived into the 21st Century, one would think that we humans had learned to resolve our differences peacefully.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.

After breaking ties with most of our historic allies and having made only a half-hearted attempt at negotiations, King Trump has launched an attack on Iran, intent on dislodging the brutal regime of that country (and, of course, gaining access to its oil); Israel is our only co-participant.  Neither Congress nor our historic allies were consulted prior to the attack.

No doubt, Trump wants full credit for what he apparently expects to be a brief and successful campaign.  While few if any countries would mourn the downfall of the Iranian regime, most would surely have favored a unified economic and political effort to achieve that goal.  War should never be the first choice but Trump prefers to bask in the power that he wields.  

A Cackling Crew

Heading out to run a few errands this morning, I encountered a small flock of cackling geese on our property.  Significantly smaller, less noisy and far less aggressive than their larger cousins (Canada geese), cackling geese breed on the Arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada and are represented by four subspecies.

Unlike many of the Canadas, they are purely winter residents along the Front Range urban corridor and will soon head back to the Arctic.  On the other hand, they often mingle with their noisy cousins and are usually seen grazing with them on open grasslands or resting on one of our many lakes.

Perhaps this morning's crew needed a bit of solitude and I am pleased that they chose the relative seclusion of our farm.  They seemed unbothered by my presence and are welcome to hang out as long as they wish.  So far from their homeland, their visit is an honor. 

Dust Storm in Denver

Returning to Colorado for the first time in two months, I was greeted by a massive cloud of dust on the eastern edge of Metro Denver.  Strong WNW winds, which had triggered a red-flag warning, were picking up sand, dirt and grit from construction sites and plowed fields in that section of town, reducing visibility to a hundred feet or so.

While I moved into the slow lane and turned on my emergency flashers, others were unfazed by the dense cloud, racing along I-70 as if they have never heard of deadly pile-ups under such conditions.  Fortunately, to my knowledge, no accidents occurred.

Across the southern Metro Area, the winds were less intense, producing crystal-clear air on this sunny, warm day.  Upon reaching our Littleton farm, it was evident that our nearly snowless winter has left behind a dry, brown landscape; hopefully, our usual March and April snowstorms will materialize, offering vital moisture for this semi-arid ecosystem. 

The Final Spiral

 Most humans, at least in countries where health resources and decent nutrition are readily available, live into their sixties without developing life-altering illnesses.  By our seventies, however, disease and injuries occur with increasing frequency.

Once such events develop, their treatment and/or complications often lead to other health problems, an increasing burden on our aging bodies.  This clinical spiral may have a steep or gradual slope but the general course is likely to continue.  Modern drugs, many of which act by modifying our immune system, can produce remarkable benefits but their potential side effects may end up hastening our demise.

Indeed, how and if to treat certain conditions will often come down to a well-informed choice.  The quality of our life becomes an important consideration and the need to address end-of-life matters, including issues such as resuscitation, cannot and should not be ignored.  Clarifying our wishes in advance is a gift to those we leave behind. 

Complicated Pride

Throughout this year's Winter Olympics, there was a great deal of flag waving and cheering for the athletes of one's country.  While this undercurrent of national pride is generally appropriate, its outward expression may be complicated by the behavior and policies of that country's leadership.

This phenomenon was surely experienced by many Americans (fans and athletes) this year.  Proud of the skill, dedication and efforts of those who represented our country, we could not separate that emotion from the recoil induced by the actions and policies of the Trump Administration.  For many, this complicated pride was especially evident during the performance of our National Anthem, which, for some of us, has always been too militaristic.

This mix of pride and discomfort may also affect other aspects of our life, including family, social and business relationships.  Political, religious and philosophical differences often complicate those bonds as well. 

Northeast Blizzard

The storm system that raked the Midwest with tornadoes and dropped heavy snow across the Great Lakes region will move off the Atlantic Coast today, creating a classic Nor'Easter as its counterclockwise winds pull in copious moisture from the ocean.  Up to two feet of snow is expected from New Jersey to Boston and the high winds will produce blizzard conditions.

February is the peak month for Nor'Easters as gyrations in the jet stream trigger the fickle and rapidly changing weather of early spring.  The exact track of the storm determines the impact on coastal cities and the current forecast indicates that this one may be devastating, perhaps shutting down travel throughout the region.

Then again, all the snow and misery will fuel the conviction of the uninformed (and politically motivated) that global warming is a hoax, ignoring the fact that powerful storms and an energized jet stream are fueled by heat.  

February Tornadoes

While tornadoes are not uncommon in February across the Gulf Coast States, they are certainly unusual in the Midwest, where sufficient heat and humidity have historically been rare in the past.  Last evening, however, several tornadoes developed across Illinois and Indiana as a potent cold front swept in from the northwest.

Bloomington, Indiana, appears to have received most of the damage though the tornado watch extended from the Mississippi Valley to central Ohio.  Once again, our warming climate seemed to be at least partly responsible, both for the unusual February warmth and the potent storm that triggered the outbreak.  Now centered over southern Wisconsin, this winter storm is expected to produce heavy snow across the Great Lakes Region and New England.

Here in Missouri, we experienced the strong, northwest winds and dramatic temperature drop behind the front (from the mid 60s F yesterday afternoon to low 20s F this morning) but dodged the tornadic thunderstorms.  Several afternoons in the thirties will remind us that it is still February. 

Health, Politics & Environmentalism

The anti-science fervor of the Trump Administration threatens the health of Americans and the welfare of our natural environment.  Policies that eliminate restrictions on fossil fuel emissions, expand drilling and development within previously protected ecosystems, cutback funding for medical research and reduce support for childhood immunizations are among the most outrageous.

Of course, most of these political moves affect low-income citizens more than wealthy Americans who do not live in industrial areas and are able to benefit from modern medicine without the need for government assistance.

On the other hand, rolling back environmental protection affects the health of all humans and every ecosystem on the planet.  Pollution and climate change are never just local problems.  Vote Democratic in November!   

A Blackbird Spectacle

Yesterday morning, out on the farmlands east of Columbia, I came across a massive flock of blackbirds feeding in corn stubble along a graveled road.  To my surprise, it was only one of several massive flocks that I would encounter.

As I drove past them, the flocks would rise and fall in spectacular aerial displays, partly in response to a pair of northern harriers that were patrolling the fields.  Steady streams of blackbirds passed above my pickup, heading from one field to another.  Over a three mile stretch, I must have seen at least 30,000 of those noisy migrants.

Those close enough to identify from my truck were all Brewer's blackbirds.  This species breeds on the Canadian prairies and southward across the Northern Plains of the U.S; they winter throughout the Southern States and into Mexico.  Permanent populations are found along the West Coast and throughout the Intermountain West but, here in Missouri, they are purely migrants, often traveling in the company of grackles and other blackbird species. 

Local Topography

During my youth in Cincinnati, we lived near a large creek that led westward and downward through forest and then across open farmlands.  Though we often followed it for miles, I remember wondering where it eventually led.

When I grew older and became a bit more sophisticated regarding our local geography, I realized that the creek was one of many that flow into the Mill Creek Valley from the ridges that border it.  But that early curiosity fed a life-long interest in topography and how our modern landscapes came to be.  Indeed, over time, I became increasingly interested in geology and hydrology and cannot travel anywhere without paying attention to the streams and rivers that I cross.

Understanding the local geography also fuels attention to the varied ecosystems that characterize one's city or town and, of course, to the myriad of wild creatures that inhabit them.

See also: Wonderland

Snowpack Rescue

A series of Pacific storms will pummel the Cascades and Sierra Nevada for the next few days and  produce flooding along the West Coast.  Over the next week, the snow is forecast to spread throughout the Intermountain region, including the mountains of Idaho, the Great Basin, the Wasatch Front of Utah and the Rocky Mountain corridor.

Snowfall has been far below normal throughout most of the American West this winter, endangering its varied ecosystems and the water supply of its cities.  These storms are expected to significantly boost the mountain snowpack across that region, a welcome development as we approach March.

Of course, higher elevations of the West can generally expect more snow through the spring and peak snowmelt does not generally begin before mid-late May.  Hopefully, this vital recovery will continue until then. 

Trusting our Intelligence

Were it not for our large brains, we humans would surely have died out long ago.  Not physically equipped to match the speed and strength of African predators, we would never have left that Continent.

As it turned out, our large brains came to the rescue and we eventually spread across the globe.  In concert, the sophistication of our varied cultures increased and the Industrial and Technological Revolutions assured that we would take control of the planet, leading to both good and bad consequences.  Indeed, we may yet facilitate our own extinction.

Throughout this history, intellectual endeavors were challenged by mysticism and political expediency in their various forms.  It is imperative that we trust our intelligence and the scientific method that we learned to utilize in order to survive and thrive.  Modern efforts to ignore or debase science will hasten our demise; unfortunately, we will take most other species with us.

First Spring Storm

The latest Pacific storm, which gathered strength over the Four Corners region, is now spinning in western Kansas.  Ahead of its central zone of low pressure, southerly winds are sweeping Gulf of Mexico moisture northward into the Heartland.  This morning, rain is falling across all of Missouri and is expected to continue throughout the day.

Farther south, where the humidity and temperature are summer-like, thunderstorms are forecast to develop along the cold front.  Indeed, the Gulf Coast States, from Texas to Florida are under a severe thunderstorm watch, including the possibility of large hail and tornados, through the weekend.

Today's chilly rain is more than welcome in Missouri where drought conditions persist despite the heavy snow two weeks ago.  However much we receive will provide a temporary respite since warm, sunny weather is expected for most of the coming week. 

Writers & Artificial Intelligence

In order to "learn" facts and writing style, artificial intelligence "scrapers" have been unleashed across the internet and public blogs are among their most common targets.  Indeed, over the past couple of years, my page views have increased dramatically due to this technologic consumption.

The only means of disrupting this intellectual theft is to privatize your blog, negating its purpose.  While I am not particularly bothered by this development, one might expect some documentation of sources when AI content is produced.

On the other hand, true writers will not use AI to produce their own material.  We must write and our work must reflect our personal knowledge, experience and creativity.  Using technical shortcuts would be unsatisfying and disingenuous.  

Forgoing Luxury

During this era of political dysfunction and reduced funding for both national and international aid programs, it seems appropriate that those of us with the means to do so might redirect our relative wealth from personal spending to the needs of less fortunate populations.

While I am not a socialist, I do believe that we humans need to step up when our government fails to do so; less personal consumption and more philanthropy seems especially appropriate during the reign of King Trump.  Most of us would agree that we can lead perfectly comfortable lives without choosing to purchase "high end products" or take extravagant vacations.

Indeed, the joys of life are rarely related to the money that we spend to experience them.  On the other hand, a commitment to sharing our wealth is always satisfying.

See also:  The Cost of Extravagance 

Aging and Independence

We humans hope to live a long, healthy life but many, perhaps most of us, do not wish to outlive our independence.  Achieving that goal is not always successful due to illness but staying active and adhering to science-based lifestyle recommendations increase our chances.

Attention to visual and hearing deficits is especially important since a safe interaction with our environment and effective communication with our family and friends help to stave off accidents, a common trigger of deteriorating health in older individuals.  Since our ability to absorb essential nutrients diminishes with age, a healthy, well-balanced diet is very important; a daily multivitamin tablet makes sense but most longevity-enhancing supplements, advertised on TV, are of dubious value.

Finally, the importance of acknowledging one's limitations is too often ignored and independence may be threatened by an unwillingness to ask for assistance, especially when facing high-risk tasks.  Pride should never be the cause of an early demise. 

The Prestige Bowl

Today's Super Bowl, in California, is more than the NFL Championship Game.  It is the place to be seen for the wealthy and the well-connected.  No doubt, private jets have already arrived from across the globe.

While tickets are said to average $6000-$7000, celebrities, corporate executives and their guests shell out far more for the suites.  Leading up to the game, we have heard from many of those wealthy individuals, publicly affirming their intention (i.e. qualification) to attend the game and, perhaps more importantly, its social events.

The gladiators themselves are rewarded handsomely for their willingness to risk serious injury and, down the line, chronic traumatic encephalopathy while sports betting services encourage TV viewers to wager their hard-earned money on every aspect of the contest.  Enjoy the Greatest American spectacle!  I will pass.

The Dolomites

Those watching the Winter Olympics from Italy, may have heard that the skiing events are being held in The Dolomites.  This range, in northeast Italy, lies within the Southern Limestone Region of the Alps.

Most of the land that is now Italy became part of Northern Africa when the Tethys Sea opened, some 200 million years ago, separating Europe and Africa.  When that Sea closed, beginning 50 million years ago, Italy was Africa's leading point as it drifted northward and rammed into Europe, lifting the Alps and associated ranges in the process; marine sediments from the Tethys thus form the southern edge of the Alps.  In areas where the sediments were rich in magnesium, the limestone took the form of dolomite (calcium-magnesium-carbonate).

Dolomite is found in many limestone formations across the globe.  Of interest to those of us in Missouri, it is widespread in the Ordovician limestone of the Ozarks.

See also: Italy and Africa and Oil and the Tethys Sea