Freedom under Assault

On this 250th Birthday of the United States, our cherished freedom is under assault by an incompetent and corrupt Administration, serving only the wishes of our Narcissist-in-Chief.  Untethered by a fear-struck Republican Congress, Trump and his cronies are dismantling our Department of Justice, our Military and our relationship with Allies across the globe.

American citizens are struggling while the President and his family are raking in an obscene amount of money.  Our health care system has been degraded, science has been ridiculed and the conservation of our natural resources has been abandoned.

Worst of all, our personal rights have come under assault by racist, wealth-driven, religious zealots who want to mold our country into a white, conservative, Christian kingdom.  Happy Fourth of July! 

Smoke from Distant Fires

Haze from wildfire smoke has gradually increased along the Colorado Front Range over the past week.  There are at least 7 active fires in Colorado and 6 in Utah, not to mention a couple in New Mexico and many farther west.

Of course, the ongoing Western drought is primarily responsible for the large number of fires, most of which have been ignited by lightning or human carelessness.  So far, the annual Southwest Monsoon has been meager at best, bringing little moisture to the dry terrain.

Due to our local drought and poor air quality from the wildfires, most firework displays have already been cancelled throughout Metro Denver.  Parades, cookouts and festivals will have to suffice. 

Collective Guilt

It is always helpful when our personal failures mirror social trends.  Collective guilt and pain are easier to deal with.

Recently, there has been a great deal of media attention paid to "eggshell marriages" and a significant increase in the divorce rate of couples in their fifties or beyond.  This, of course, relates to the period after child rearing has ended, leaving the couple on their own once again.

While I would never criticize the decision of a couple to divorce, I do feel that relationship problems later in life often stem from spending too much time together.  In many ways, this habit reinforces our differences and may deprive one another of activities that they personally enjoy, including engagement with friends who share those interests.  Then again, being part of a social trend may have its own psychological benefits.

Immigration & Racism

The Supreme Court's decision yesterday, to uphold Birthright Citizenship, has upset Donald Trump and his minions.  Though he married two foreigners, our King wants to purify America; in other words, he wants to curtail the percentage of non-white citizens in this country.  To be clear, Trump welcomes the immigration of Caucasian Europeans and South Africans while actively deporting black and brown immigrants.

On the other hand, even if he shut down immigration altogether, this country would (and will) become "less white" over the coming decades.  Many of our most successful and innovative citizens are immigrants or children of immigrants, a fact that Trump and his legions prefer to ignore.

Once again, government-sponsored racism has reared its ugly head.  Fortunately, its sponsors lost this round.  

A Voice of Promise

As we enter the heart of summer in the midst of a heat wave and bathed in smoke from the Utah fires, it was reassuring to hear the soft hooting of a great horned owl last evening.  Common throughout most of the Western Hemisphere, these large owls are regular visitors to our Littleton farm though, to my knowledge, they have never nested on the property.

The rather muted voice of last evening's visitor suggested it was a young owl, born last winter and now on its own after several months of parental assistance.  The soft hoots, from a large tree near our house, certainly did not match the loud, confident banter of adult owls in late autumn and winter.

Feeding on a wide range of mammals, from mice to opossums, and on snakes, lizards and birds as well, great horned owls tend to be silent loners throughout the warmer months.  Last evening's hoots thus seemed to promise that cool, crisp October nights lie ahead.   

Swallow Mania

This summer, a massive flock of cliff swallows has colonized a bridge over the South Platte River near downtown Littleton.  Their gourd-shaped nest cavities, formed with mud, line both sides of the bridge and are four rows wide in some areas.  Grass is used to coat the interior of the gourds, making them more comfortable for the nestlings.

This morning, the attentive parents were ingesting a variety of flying insects above the river and over the adjacent fields; indeed, I have seen flocks of them above our Littleton farm, almost a mile from the bridge.  Exhausted parents temporarily rested on power lines along the river before resuming their sorties.

Long distance migrants, cliff swallows winter in southern South America, returning to North America to nest by mid spring.  While most common in the western half of the U.S., their range has been expanding eastward as their nest site preference has shifted from cliffs to bridges and other human structures. 

A Ridge of Heat

Following a week of stormy weather along the Colorado Front Range and across the Central Plains, an atmospheric ridge will build in by tomorrow, bringing sunny, hot conditions within its expanding dome.  Here in Metro Denver, we expect highs in the 90s F for the next week.

As the ridge, produced by a northward arc of the jet stream, expands across the Plains and into the Midwest, Pacific storm systems will be directed along its rim, bringing thunderstorms to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.  Meanwhile, behind the dome, an atmospheric trough (a dip in the jet stream) will bring cool, moist air to the drought-plagued West; while snow is expected at high elevations, strong winds and lightning may actually increase the risk of wildfires across the dry terrain.

Until the ridge shifts eastward, the Southwest Monsoon, a vital source of moisture throughout the Four Corners Region and the Southern Rockies may be shut down.  Let's hope the ridge does not dally. 

Venezuela's Earthquakes

A magnitude 7.2 foreshock and a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northern Venezuela yesterday; many aftershocks have followed.  At least 164 persons were killed and close to 1000 were injured; unfortunately, these early counts are almost certain to rise.

A complex band of faults between the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate runs across northern Venezuela.  As the Atlantic Ocean continues to open, a process that began during the Jurassic Period, about 150 million years ago, the North and South America Plates have been moving westward.  Eventually, the much smaller Caribbean Plate became wedged between them, setting the stage for earthquakes when pressure between the plates is released.  These major events trigger pressure release in numerous side faults, producing aftershocks throughout the region.

The primary magnitude 7.5 quake was the second strongest ever recorded in Venezuela, weaker only than a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1900.  Hopefully, it will retain that title for many years to come; then again, a more powerful quake could occur tomorrow as the geologic map of Planet Earth continues to evolve.

Artificial Intelligence & Biotechnology

Of all the claims and fears associated with the use of artificial intelligence, its promise in the field of biotechnology is, in my opinion, most convincing.  Having witnessed the prolonged and risky course of drug development from both the perspective of a provider and a patient, I foresee significant benefits afforded by the availability of A.I.

New drug development has long been slowed by the complexities of animal and/or human-based studies, including unforeseen complications.  As a result, it generally takes years to bring a life-saving therapy to market, among the major reasons for its high cost.  Artificial intelligence is able to identify both effective therapies and potential side-effects within a relatively short period of time, thereby improving both the efficiency and the safety of this vital process.

No doubt, there are many convincing arguments against the overuse and unmonitored application of artificial intelligence.  But its value in the field of biotechnology seems to be especially promising.  

Social Depression in America

Regardless of our personal medical and economic health, most Americans are likely dealing with a persistent sense of depression as we endure the far-reaching effects of a corrupt and incompetent Administration in Washington.  Battered daily by unsettling news and the comments of an aging narcissist, we long for a change in leadership and despise those who are unwilling to oppose his dangerous, costly and un-American policies.

Whether we are most disturbed by the Administration's criminal deportation program, their willingness to cut ties with our Allies, their disdain for science and conservation, their overt racism or their lack of support for low-income populations in this country and across the globe, we long for a return to the America we once knew.

While donations to organizations that oppose the actions of the Trump Administration offer some degree of comfort, our depression will not lift until Trump and his enablers are removed from office.  Hopefully, the November elections will initiate that healing process and set the stage for Impeachment.  

Flashback Post LXXVIII

On this Father's Day, most fathers likely think of their own father and of their son(s).  These links, vital to the welfare of human society, are too often strained or broken, a problem I addressed back in 2015.

See:  Fathers & Sons 

Extreme Weather & Climate Change

Weather extremes have characterized most of the U.S. this year.  This week's flooding across the Southeastern States has been record-breaking as some locations have received almost three feet of rain.  Ironically, some of the deluge has occurred in areas that had been plagued by drought for many months.

Farther north, severe thunderstorms with tornadoes, high winds and large hail have repeatedly raked the Great Plains and Upper Midwest.  This weekend, another round of severe weather will develop across the High Plains, moving through the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic Region over the following days.

Extreme heat, warm oceans and a powerful, unruly jet stream combine to produce these dangerous weather conditions.  More than typical, seasonal storm systems, we are witnessing the effects of a warming climate.  Though its effects may vary over the years, these extreme weather events will surely become more common and efforts to reduce damage and deaths will be imperative. 

Baggies along the Trail

Most dog walkers have fallen in line with social expectations, bagging up their pet's excrement in our neighborhoods, parks and nature preserves.  But for some, that environmentalism is limited to the act of bagging itself; the inconvenience of toting the package back home, or to their vehicle, is beyond their willingness to cooperate.

As a result, we now encounter the plastic baggies and their contents along our sidewalks and trails, doubling the pollution.  One wonders who they assume will collect their gifts to the community; park rangers? roving garbage collectors? fastidious neighbors?

Unfortunately, this behavior characterizes the half-hearted environmentalism that we observe throughout human society.  The level of cooperation and commitment is determined by how much inconvenience one can endure.  Hence our increasingly polluted planet. 

Aurora's Global Fest

Since I was out of town, I missed the 13th Annual Aurora Global Fest, in Aurora, Colorado, last weekend.  Highlighting the cultural traditions of sixty-eight countries, booths and displays introduced visitors to the food, music, dance, clothing and artwork of each society.

Such a celebration of diversity is especially welcome in present-day America, where the Trump Administration tolerates only white, American-born citizens.  One wonders if plain-clothed Ice Agents were patrolling the festival, tasting the cuisine while looking for undocumented immigrants to deport.

I applaud those who plan, fund and organize such international festivals.  They demonstrate both the variability of human culture and the uniformity of our species. 

A Memorable Year

Not much of an NBA fan, I paid only fleeting attention to the recent Championship Tournament.  On the other hand, the frequent mention of the year 1973, when the New York Knicks last won the NBA Championship, never failed to get my attention.

In 1973, I was 23 years old and attending medical school.  A good friend died that year and three others got married, the first in my circle of friends to take the plunge.  As for myself, one relationship was imploding while another was just beginning, a classic formula for emotional turmoil.  Indeed, I must admit that 1973 was the most memorable year in my life.

I suspect most humans have experienced similar years and would guess that they also occurred during those formative years of freedom, between high school graduation and marriage.  After all, intense and lasting memories are seared by strong emotions and that period is replete with episodes of joy and pain. 

Severe Weather on the Plains

From a weather perspective, it is always an adventure to travel across the Great Plains of North America.  This morning, after creeping through heavy rain and dodging thunderstorms in Missouri, I was greeted by a clear blue sky as I crossed into Kansas.  While such an abrupt change is usually encountered when a strong cold front pushes into warm, humid air, the air in Kansas was hot and dry, indicating that I had entered a dome of high pressure.

Indeed, the skies were nearly cloudless until I reached Junction City; from that location, I could see clouds off to the northwest, likely forming along the northern edge of the dome.  Reaching the southern extent of that cloud mass in Salina, I was more captivated by conditions on the ground; widespread damage to road signs, trees and a few ranch buildings looked as if one or more tornadoes had recently raked that city.

While the heat and sunny skies persisted all the way to Hays (my overnight rest stop), the clouds north of my route continued to expand and most of northeastern Kansas is now under a tornado watch; in addition, a line of thunderstorms has formed from southwestern Kansas to the tornado watch zone (erupting along the western edge of the heat dome).  Another spectacular light show is anticipated.

Addendum:  The damage that I witnessed in Salina was due to 113 mph wind gusts associated with severe thunderstorms on June 8. 

Sandstone & Pines

Two nature preserves in the eastern section of The St. Francois Mountains are notable for their exposures of Lamotte sandstone.  Deposited during the Cambrian Period, about 500 million years ago, it is among the oldest sedimentary rocks in Missouri.

At the Pickle Springs Natural Area, east of Farmington, visitors walk on, along and through exposures of Lamotte sandstone (see photo) on a two-mile loop trail.

Farther east, Hawn State Park also lies atop this sandstone and the sandy soil that it generates appeals to native shortleaf pines.  Indeed, this Park is one of the few in Missouri to actively protect stands of these stately trees (see photo), including through the use of controlled burns. 

Hughes Mountain Natural Area

Our first (and hopefully our most strenuous) hike in the St. Francois Mountains was at Hughes Mountain Natural Area, on Route M, southwest of Irondale.  The roundtrip hike was approximately two miles in length and the elevation gain was 380 feet.  While neither stat seems terribly remarkable, there were a number of steep, uneven sections along the way and, after all, we are not youngsters.

On the other hand, we were rewarded with fabulous views from rock outcrops along the route and especially from the broad clearing atop the mountain (see photo).  Precambrian rhyolite dominated those rock exposures.

The journey to Hughes Mountain was rewarding as well.  Our route climbed through forested hill country, studded with attractive homesteads and ranches.  Of course, the small town residents offered their own flavor of backcountry life.  

A Day in Ste. Genevieve

After slogging through heavy rain in St. Louis yesterday, we drove another hour south to Ste. Genevieve, on the Mississippi River floodplain.  Founded by French settlers in 1740, the town had to be moved three miles upstream in 1785 due to severe flooding along the river.

Nevertheless, Ste. Genevieve is the oldest, continuously inhabited town in Missouri and is home to the largest concentration of French Colonial Architecture in the country.  A fine museum introduces visitors to the history of French settlement and the historic section of town offers a pleasing mix of galleries, restaurants, retail establishments, hotels and B&Bs for visitors.  Indeed, we are staying in the Audubon Hotel, named after the famous naturalist who, with a colleague, ran a mercantile store in St. Genevieve in the early 1800s.

The Ste. Genevieve Levee National Wildlife Refuge runs along the Mississippi River floodplain east of the city but trails, other than the levee trail, are not well established at this point.  Today, we'll head into the St. Francois Mountains; details to follow.