Ignoring Anti-Science Policies

Having devoted decades to scientific research in the development of their products and services, it seems unlikely that American corporations will derail their agenda in response to the anti-science policies of the Trump Administration.  Expensive, long-term commitments to medical research, environmental science, technologic advancement, pollution control and, most recently, climate science, cannot be derailed by relatively brief swings in the political environment.

While this is reassuring, the anti-science rhetoric of Trump's stooges will certainly have an effect on the uneducated public, resulting in unnecessary health complications, a reduced commitment to protecting our natural environment and to excessive personal consumption.

Of course, while corporations can ignore anti-science policies, none of us can or should ignore the Administration's attacks on our Democracy, on our personal freedoms and on social justice.  Our response to those threats may require a revolution.

 

Trump's Peace Summit

Yesterday, seeking the Nobel Peace Prize, King Trump flew his 747 to Alaska to meet with his "good friend," Vladimir Putin.  He hoped that his "Art of the Deal" skills would convince Putin to agree to a ceasefire in the Ukrainian-Russian War.  That did not work; Putin clearly had no intention of bowing to Trump's personal aspirations.

We will soon learn if our King will thus impose the promised "severe repercussions" that might include the sale of U.S. weapons to Ukraine as well as devastating sanctions on the Russian Government.  Unless he stands to benefit in some way, I doubt he will follow through.  

King Trump is not focused on the Ukrainian people.  He cares only about himself and whatever praise he might garner from his peace-making efforts. Sharing the red carpet with a war criminal did not help his cause. 

Hurricane Coverage

As Hurricane Erin churns toward North America, the Weather Channel is providing non-stop coverage.  It is, after all, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025 and there is nothing more marketable in their area of expertise.

In my opinion, the Weather Channel does a great job when it comes to educating the public about all forms of severe weather, including safety precautions, preparations and the forecast itself.  As one who has long been interested in the science of weather, I appreciate their knowledge and enthusiasm.

On the other hand, hurricanes seem to bring out their need to deliver updates every 15 minutes and, should the storm threaten coastal communities, to report from the scene, standing in the wind and rain while insisting that the public evacuate for their own safety.  A mixed message at best.

See:  Hurricane Stuntmen and Cantore Season 

Sitting in the Heat

I prefer to be outdoors as much as possible but, if there is one weather condition that tends to keep me indoors, it is excessive heat.  On such days, I engage in my outdoor chores and activities early in the morning, when it is still relatively cool.  Nevertheless, I am inclined to sample all forms of weather (except severe storms), at least for a while.

Here along the Front Range, due to the dry air, one can comfortably sit in the shade up into the low 90s F; once the temperature reaches the upper 90s or above, comfort is but a dream.  Even a steady breeze has no cooling effect; rather, it can feel like a blast furnace.  Of course, birding is out of the question; indeed, on this afternoon's vigil, I did not observe a single bird though a few twitters arose from the shrub line.

I learned long ago that reading in such conditions is futile.  Worse yet, napping, planned or not, just might be fatal.  But a brief sit in the shade expands one's appreciation for Nature's diversity and awesome power.  It is humbling to say the least. 

An Era of Flash Flooding

It appears that we have entered an era of flash flooding.  Almost every day, at least one (and usually several) such events occur in this country, courtesy of torrential rain from training thunderstorms.

Most recently, the flooding has occurred across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest but no region east of the Rockies has been spared.  Following the rim of hot, high pressure domes, the storms, which already carry saturated air, feed off this heat energy.

No doubt, global warming is playing a major role in the development of these destructive events.  Though denied by the Trump Administration, climate change will produce such weather patterns for decades or centuries to come; both cities and small towns must assess their risk and prepare for the inevitable. 

The Origins of Doubt

Young children instinctively trust and believe what their parents say; it is a trait associated with improved survival.  But once childhood myths explode, their level of trust begins to unravel.  Of course, this process accelerates during the teenage years when young people begin to think for themselves and more readily question the wisdom of their parents; under circumstances in which parents are excessively strict or controlling, there is often a reactionary element to this distrust as well.

Children raised in a milieu of mysticism (religious schooling, etc.) are initially sheltered from inconvenient truths but they must eventually function in our complex, science-based society.   Then again, guilt is a powerful human emotion and even many scientists retain religious convictions (however tenuous they may be).

While doubt is a threat to mysticism it is also an important control on the scientific method.  As we seek truth, we must continuously question the reliability of current scientific data and conclusions; if not, our knowledge is incomplete and potentially misleading.  Doubt is an essential tool in our journey toward truth.   

Western Wildfires

While many areas in the eastern half of the U.S. have endured torrential rain and flash flooding over the past few weeks, States west of the Rocky Mountains have been plagued by drought, extreme heat and, at times, strong winds.  As a result, every Western State currently has active wildfires.

As reported earlier this week, the Southwest Monsoon has not materialized this year, depriving the region of vital seasonal moisture.  This morning, smoke from the fires has spread southward behind a cold front, producing extremely poor air quality along the Front Range urban corridor.

An inland moving tropical system would appear necessary to put an end to the tinder dry conditions across the West but such relief is currently not in sight.  Weather patterns responsible for the East-West discrepancy are, for now, firmly entrenched.

Life's Descent

At some point, we humans must admit that we are on the downhill side of life; the slide might be long and gradual or steep and short.  Of course, due to disease, accidents or violence, some enter the slide much earlier than most; in all cases, we are forced to acknowledge that our future is much shorter than our past.

While a healthy lifestyle might delay the process, we all eventually recognize the symptoms: weaker muscles, less energy and a diminished appetite among many others.  Some turn to a wide variety of supplements to slow aging but they are of dubious value; genetics and luck (good or bad) are the primary determinants.

Those of us who enter our seventies, eighties or beyond in decent health and still independent are very fortunate indeed.  Then again, Mother Nature has the final say and she often arrives unannounced. 

River Birding

On this sunny but pleasantly cool morning along the Front Range, I opted for a birding walk along the South Platte River.  While there were many walkers, joggers and bikers on the trails, they were not interested in wildlife and allowed me to saunter along at my own pace.

During my one hour visit, I covered about 1.5 miles and encountered 19 avian species.  As always, Canada geese and mallards were most abundant but highlights included wood ducks, snowy egrets, black-crowned night herons, yellow warblers and, my favorite, cedar waxwings.

Walking along a river is always a peaceful experience and the stream-side foliage attracts an excellent variety of wildlife.  Of course, the exercise is beneficial as well. 

Monsoon Deficiency

Returning to our Littleton, Colorado, farm, it is clear that the Southwest Monsoon has not yet kicked in with sufficient vigor.  The "lawns" and pastures have browned and the shrubs appear desperate for a good soaking.

Indeed, the Monsoon flow of moisture is late at best; perhaps it will not arrive at all.  Having owned the property for thirty-five years, we have certainly experienced good and bad monsoon seasons.  It remains to be seen how global warming will affect this annual weather phenomenon; it could go either way.

Since the Monsoon generally peaks from mid August to early September in this region, it is too early to know if it will be a bust for 2025.  If so, we may have to wait for October snow, a bit late for our thirsty vegetation.  

A Culture of Cruelty

King Trump, his cronies and his loyal Administration members are imposing a culture of cruelty across this country.  The incarceration of hard-working immigrants under inhumane conditions is the most egregious but their lack of concern for impoverished and disadvantaged American citizens is evident in almost all of their policies.

The withdrawal of Medicaid coverage, the defunding of child welfare programs and significant cuts in foreign aid all impose major hardships (with, in many cases, deadly results) on those who are most vulnerable.  White men in expensive suits appear on TV to justify this behavior but we all know that racism lies at the heart of their arguments.

Ironically, Republicans are more likely to wear their faith on their sleeves, touting their church affiliation while treating fellow human beings like disposable, lazy, criminal trash.  How Christian of them.  

Playing with Fire

Since our Columbia home is on the edge of campus, we can hear football practice from our backyard.  This afternoon, I heard coaches yelling, whistles blowing and fake crowd noise wafting toward our house.  By the way, the temperature was 92 degrees F and the humidity was stifling.

Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the U.S. and is often due to strenuous activity on hot summer days, children being left in locked cars or, in the case of the elderly and poor, to lack of air conditioning.  One thus wonders why a college football team, possessing an indoor practice facility, needs to be outdoors on such an afternoon.

I suppose it fits with the macho image of football, giving up one's body for the glory of the school.  Though I suspect some precautions were taken, why not practice in the early am or evening?; perhaps even under the lights if necessary?  After all, toughness does not protect one from nature's wrath and at least a few heat-related, football practice deaths are reported in this country each year. 

Turkeys in the Morning

On this sunny, relatively cool morning, I drove through the lower Bonne Femme Valley, south of Columbia.  Wildlife sightings were initially unremarkable, including a young buck, a red-tailed hawk, two great blue herons and a host of common songbirds.

Then I rounded a corner and encountered a parade of nine wild turkeys, foraging for seeds, waste grain and insects in a field.  Closer to my pickup, a female and her four poults dashed along the graveled road and escaped into tall grass.

Though wild turkeys are certainly not rare, the sudden appearance of this flock on an otherwise uneventful morning was a special treat.  As all naturalists know, such surprise encounters are what encourage our regular visits to nearby forests, fields and wetlands.  

Trump Blackmails America

Granted total immunity by the Supreme Court, King Trump has focused on his ability to acquire power and money.  Blackmailing corporations, law firms, universities, broadcasters and foreign countries has proved to be disturbingly successful.

Afraid to speak up and risk the wrath of their Supreme Leader, Republican Senators and Congressmen have remained silent, even as Trump illegally fires a host of government officials who report facts or results that reflect poorly on his Administration.  Meanwhile, his loyal Cabinet reverses policies that were in place to protect our health and environment.

Playing roulette with his ever-changing tariffs, the King keeps our economy off-balance, ensuring reliance on his personal whims.  While his Big Beautiful Bill withdraws Medicaid from millions of Americans, Trump has announced that he will spend 200 million dollars on a new banquet hall at the White House.  Wake up America!  Three more years of his self-centered reign will surely kill our Democracy. 

A Taste of Autumn

Though we can expect plenty of summer weather ahead, there was a taste of autumn at Phillips Lake this morning.  A north breeze pushed hazy, relatively cool air into central Missouri, a pleasant change from the recent oppressive heat wave; I presume the haziness was produced by smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Swaths of ironweed and various sunflowers adorned the meadows while the fruit on clumps of pokeweed was beginning to ripen.  Bird sightings were unremarkable though the flocking of starlings and mourning doves hinted of the coming seasonal change.

After a long, especially hot summer, many of us eagerly anticipate the more appealing conditions of fall.  Sometimes, that anticipation might color our observations but a bit of reassurance, however slight, is always welcome. 

Flashback Post LXIX

Yesterday's Magnitude 8.8 earthquake, off the coast of eastern Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, was the 6th most powerful quake ever recorded.  Geologically speaking, it occurred along a subduction zone, triggering a tsunami warning across the Pacific Ocean.  A post from April of 2009 explained this phenomenon.

See: Tsunamis and Subduction Zones 

Midnight Rescue

Staying in Omaha, Nebraska, last night, I was awakened at midnight by approaching thunder and by a strong, gusty wind that raked the trees outside my window.  I was pleased, knowing that this violent weather indicated the arrival of a potent cold front, dropping from the northwest; it will be this front that eventually expels the severe heat and humidity from the eastern half of the country.

For the next hour, swirling winds, continuous lightning and torrential rain kept me at the window, mesmerized by the atmospheric dynamics.  Once it died down, I went back to bed, knowing that our rescue was at hand.

This cold front, with its associated storms, will push across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic States and, eventually, the Southeast.  How long the relief will last is uncertain but even a few days of relatively cool, dry air will be more than welcome. 

Flood Warnings vs. Building Codes

Following a month of deadly flash-floods across the country, there is a good deal of talk about improving early warning systems.  While this is certainly appropriate in areas that have not yet been destroyed by flooding, it is inadequate when it comes to saving lives in the future.

We must stop building on floodplains, especially in areas that are repeatedly prone to destructive and deadly flooding.  The Guadalupe River valley in Central Texas offers a prime example; known as Flash-Flood Alley for many years, it finally demonstrated the risk of rebuilding along its channel on July 4 of this year.

Life-saving policies must include common sense building codes.  Nature's power cannot be confined by dams and seawalls.  We need to give her space, especially as our warming climate greatly increases the risk of both coastal and inland flooding. 

RFK Jr. Nixes Preventive Health Panel

Among all of King Trump's horrific appointments, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services, is, in my opinion, the most inappropriate and dangerous.  His confirmation by Republican Senators was a crime against American society.

Having already dismissed a wide range of health experts, RFK Jr. has now dismantled the Preventive Health Panel, previously charged with making recommendations to prevent (or detect an an early stage) serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancers.

What could possibly be the reason for his move?  A deranged mind, an anti-science fervor and a thirst for attention seem to be the most likely explanations.  The Senators who confirmed his nomination need to revoke his title before many American lives are unnecessarily lost. 

A Sultry Morning at Eagle Bluffs

On this warm, humid morning in central Missouri, a friend and I returned to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area after a month's absence.  There, the formerly dry, cracked landscape had become lush and green though open water remained limited to narrow channels and shallow pools.

Sightings of note were few and far between; four green herons and three pied billed grebes were the only marginal highlights.  Of the 22 avian species encountered, indigo buntings were especially common.

Nevertheless, in the midst of a major heat wave, our early morning visit was, as always, a pleasant escape from the urban environment.  Nature offers food for the soul, even during an extremely hot summer.  Just go out as early as possible!