2 fer Tuesday, by David Quammen

This photo greeted me at the mailbox one day on the cover of my National Geographic Magazine. Of course I shuddered, said "WHAT?" aloud and quickly thumbed to the article to find almost a whole page devoted to the word "NO".

What followed is one of the best written common language descriptions of the fundamentals of evolution I've ever read. I think it should be a must read for everyone alive. The article can be found at:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0411/feature1/

Also by this same talented science writer, was an article in Harper's that was so thought provoking that it has never left me. The article was titled Planet of Weeds and it painted a picture of the future world dominated by species that are widely adaptable and weedy. Pandas are too specialized and unable to adapt to be weedy or ever more widely populated. Russian Thistle and Starlings thrive on disturbance and can live almost anywhere, so they are more likely to see the future than something that only lives in undisturbed forest.

The author then holds up the mirror and defines us as the consummate weed. It is hard to argue otherwise. We can live from the arctic to the tropics, the rain forest to the desert, and we do a pretty good job of sequestering resources. Yup,,, we are the best weeds of all.

Harper's isn't as generous as National Geo., and you gotta subscribe to read ten year old magazine articles online {insert= eye roll}, but here is an excerpt:

Do you see Homo sapiens as a likely survivor, I ask him or as a casualty? "Oh, we've got to be one of the most bomb-proof species on the planet," he says. "We're geographically widespread, we have a pretty remarkable reproductive rate, we're incredibly good at co-opting and monopolizing resources..."

I did find the full text posted as some kind of eco-sermon at this "interesting" site: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-sermons/weedplan.html

2 fer Tuesday

It seems wrong to post pictures of frost patterns on a 50 degree January day, but this is what it is supposed to look like this time of year. NOT COMPLAINING! The weather was great for moving. The phone, internet and TV are on and I am loving broadband,,, it's good to be back in town! The city even hires people to keep the water pumps running. Man,, that is handy and it sure beats filing contacts in a blizzard.

2 fer Tuesday

Sunrise on life's next chapter

It's good to be home, again!

We are both so grateful today for friends. Thanks for all the help everybody.

Eyes Wide Open

I have been the recipient of a generous bequest and honor.
While packing up her room Claire decided these two rocks from her collection of favorite rocks should join my collection of favorite rocks.

Why I picked up this one and gave it to my small daughter is self-evident. It's the only really good naturally occurring smiley face I've ever found ;-)

Potato rock,,, ahh I remember this one well. "Hey, that rock looks just like a potato."
It appears to be a run-of-the-mill agate from a basalt vug. (sp? yeah,, blogger doesn't have that one in it's spell check dictionary) It could have some nice depositional layers or even be opalized but we think it is best kept as a vegetable look-alike instead of whacked open with a hammer.
We also think that when you discover a new rock type you should be able to name it. This has been labeled as the type specimen of spudite.

2 fer Tuesday

A bit of hydraulic pressure built up against the basement wall during that last rain. I enjoy taking pictures of life's solvent and find myself drawn to it. Maybe that explains the three boats in the barn.

010110

Wishing my two favorite computer geeks a very binary anniversary! Thanks for bringing DOS 1.1 into the house, Mom! Hope you both have a great day.