A Soft Footprint

When we checked in at the Lake Lodge at Yellowstone on July 15, 2017, for our cabin, we were asked about a new program that Yellowstone is trying.  It is called “A Soft Footprint.”  Basically, for guests who were staying multiple days, as were we, we were asked if we wanted maid service every day, or in our case, not at all, since we were only staying 4 days.  We opted for not at all. Given what had happened at the Riverton Super  8, this actually felt comforting.  I hate for a stranger to go through my stuff. So, we will reused towels, and took out our own trash, and madeg our own beds.

Some of it will help with the ecological footprint of the Lodge, but I think much of it will also help with labor costs.

On the other hand, in our cabin was the following quiz:

Is Yellowstone National Park home to more Bison or more guest towels?

Towels.  Yellowstone stocks 24,237 guest towels and about 4,900 Bison live in the park.

The editorial comment is:  “At least we don’t have to wash the Bison.”

Makes you think of the impact of doing laundry, especially linens and towels, at Yellowstone.

RARE

Tonight, I joined some friends at the talk at the Texas Tech Museum http://www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/ by Joel Sartore

18… Joel Sartore, Photographer's Talk, Helen DeVitt Jones Auditorium, 6pm. National Geographic contributing photographer and Nebraska native Joel Sartore has spent two decades on a mission to document North American species facing extinction. Sartore is the photographer of the magnificent artworks in the exhibition RARE: Portraits of America's Endangered Species. http://www.joelsartore.com/store/rare-portraits-of-americas-endangered-species/

This was a very interesting talk.  Sartore mixed humor and serious, educational comments. He did a fine blend of personal, and professional.  So we learned about him, his career, and his photography. We learned about wildlife.

This event was fairly well attended. I have been to other events at the Museum, and they were poorly attened, because if you were not looking for them, you would not know about them.  This event was well advertised on the local NPR station, and I think the local PBS station.

What Have We Learned?

PBS is airing a series called The Dust Bowl http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/.  It makes the point that part of the reason for the problem were farming practices which largely contributed to the dust bowl, as well as the drought.  It was a confluence of factors that lead to The Dust Bowl.

This is not the only time that man has influenced the world to change the environment.   For example, smog is a contribution from humans that has caused health problems and a loss of quality of life in cities around the world.

Global warming, controversial as it may be, seems to be irrefutable, given the decrease in the glaciers of the world, and the amount of carbon dioxide being released to the atmosphere.

One of the predictions by those who promote the idea that global warming is occurring is that weather extremes will occur. Very cold in the winter, very hot in the summer. Superstorms might occur.  The question after "Superstorm Sandy" http://www.climatewatch.noaa.gov/article/2012/superstorm-sandy-and-sea-level-rise is how frequently will a 100 years storm http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/100yearflood.html occur.

What have we learned from the Dust Bowl Days?  What have we learned about conservation? What have we learned about pollution? 

A coworker today said she wanted to be gone before the South Plains runs out of water.   We are depleting the Ogallala Aquifer http://www.hpwd.com/aquifers/ogallala-aquifer at an alarming rate.  In this respect, I am grateful that I have no children who will have to struggle with the problem of water in the future.  I may still be alive when the water situation becomes more critical than it already is. 

We were in a water conservation mode this past summer: specific days for watering, no home car washing, to name a few restrictions.  Will it get worse with time?  I can only think it will.

What have we learned? What will we do with what we have learned?  Do we want to do the work and make the sacrifices based on what we have learned? 

Hmmmmm.

Morning Haze

Yesterday morning, I sat outside early to read the newspaper.  I was amazed at the haze in the sky, which colored the sun a deep orange.  As I read the newspaper, there was an article about the smoke from the wildfires in New Mexico making it to Texas, and negatively impacting the air quality. That explained the haze and the color of the sun.  I did not smell smoke, although there have been times in the past when smoke from wildfires several hundreds of miles away has brought in the aroma as well as the haze. 

The Wind

The wind was stout tonight. No stouter than many nights, but much stouter than others. But it roared and hummed.  It occurred to me that the reason the wind makes these noises has less to do with its velocity and more to do with many other factors.

Some factors include the direction of the wind. But more important, some of the factors that effect the sound that the wind produces includes the obstacles around which or through which it has to traverse.

The wind takes on a life of its own: It might be strong enough to move objects that we had no idea were that movable. It might move objects to new heights that we did not realize those objects could reach. It might be persistent enough that it blows sand and dust for miles and miles, transforming the landscape by the movement of particles.  It might be strong enough that it blows flames, cinders and embers to perpetuate wild fires that take down everything in their paths.

The wind is powerful. People who do not live in the wide open plains do not develop a concept for the strength and persistence of the wind. Understanding the power of the wind, the persistence of its force, the destructiveness it can call up is part of learning to live in West Texas, or the Plains of America.

The wind is a companion in the South Plains. But it can be an enduring hardship and a bitter enemy.  Learning to live with, appreciate and respect the wind is one of the hardest lessons for a West Texas transplant.

Email reminders

The Lubbock Library http://library.ci.lubbock.tx.us/ has some wonderful features.  One of the newest and best is to send emails to remind about books being past due.  I have finally finished Penhallow by Georgette Heyer, after having had to renew once; I knew it was past due, and plan to turn it in today.  I had check out a DVD: A Bridge to Far, and renewed it once, but I thought turned it in.  Turns out, I did not, and I received a reminder email today.  I am glad I did. I would have not planned to turn it in today!

Sunrise, Sunset

West Texas has some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets in the world. I love to watch the sunrises and sunsets.  It seems that I rarely have a camera available when I see a sunrise, but over the years I have taken multiple pictures of West Texas sunsets. I have several enlarged and hanging on my walls. 

The other day, from my back yard, there was a spectacular sunset, and I took a picture.  Maybe, when I get the photograph printed, I can scan it and attach it to this entry.

Cold Korean Coat

I purchased a winter coat in the late 1980s.  It was made in Korea.  It is a cloth down filled coat. It has gotten old and worn, and even has paint splatters on it.  But it is warm.  I do not know much about Korea, but I knew even less when I bought the coat than I do now. Much of what I knew was from media: movies or the TV show M*A*S*H*, set in Korea.  I knew it could get cold in Korea.

Since then, I have learned that South Koreans like the mountains, and outdoor activities such as hiking. It stands to reason, then, that they can certainly make a very warm coat.  From my experience, they do know how to do that!

The Moon at 5 PM

I left work at about 5:15 PM today.  The drive out of the unit is to the east.  As I drove east, I noticed a shadow of the moon in the eastern sky.  It was full daylight. I can not remember if I have ever seen the moon that low in the eastern sky during full daylight. I am not sure how that happened, including if it was due to some reflecting rays off of snow or something somewhere.   It was amazing!

Tumbleweed

I have previously written about the wind storm which we experienced on November 26, 2011.  One of the consequences of that wind storm was a major influx of tumbleweed.  When I drove to work Monday morning after the storm, the tumbleweed were lined up all along the fences and intermixed with the plants along the entry way to the prison where I work. This is not surprising, as the prison is outside of Lubbock proper, in the open fields, with nothing to stop the tumbleweed influx.

I lived for a while in the country, and after a wind storm in the winter and spring, we did "tumbleweed management." It required a day with some wind.  We would removed the tumbleweed stack up on everywhere: on fences, in hedgerows, along house walls, and where ever else something could stop a rolling tumbleweed. We would take the tumbleweed to an area that did not offer an obstruction, and release it to roll on, to gather at some other obstacle.

Years ago, I think in the winter of 2002, I was traveling northeast of Lubbock, and a windstorm blew in.  The tumbleweed blowing across the road was incessant, with tumbleweed after tumbleweed after tumbleweed rolling past. It was just amazing!

The first year I lived in Lubbock, I was at the post office in early December mailing Christmas presents.  The young man ahead of me had a large box:  probably more that 24 inches high (I am thinking 30-36 inches high) and about 18 inches wide on each side.  The postal clerk commented on how light it was.  The customer said he was sending a tumbleweed home to a friend for Christmas, just to prove they really existed, and how big they could be.

As a youth, my family listened to country and western music, and I am always reminded of the song "Tumbling Tumbleweed." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumbling_Tumbleweeds  http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/sons-of-the-pioneers/tumbling-tumbleweeds-13413.html  
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/sons-of-the-pioneers/tumbling-tumbleweeds-13413.html

Seeing tumbelweed, even in this day and age, when the west is not as isolated and lonely as it was, the song speaks to me of the isolation and loneliness of the prairie, the wide open plains, and the impact of the wind on this part of the world.

Living in the Economy

There is a lot of talk in the news about the state of the US economy.  The most recent statistics include that there were as many new jobs created as lost last month.  This is dire, and portends a possible recession.

The US mentality has a larger than life aspect to it: everyone wants something bigger and better than the prior generation, than the next person. To get there, we go in debt, one of the major problems with which this country and the world are dealing. The improvement in standards is part of what we call "the American Dream."  I am not sure "the American Dream" can be defined, but it includes being better off than your ancestors, owning your own home, your own car, having a good job that affords you a more than adequate lifestyle with resources left over for entertainment.  We take these things for granted.

Yet, as things go, many young people with college educations are not able to find employment that supports them, or supports the style of "the American Dream."  Many couples find they both have to work to provide for their lifestyle.  Young people graduating from college are saddled with huge debt due to the high cost of their education. Many young people live with their parents because they can not afford to live on their own, or on their own in the lifestyle to which they are accustomed, as was provided by their parents.  And, they are not willing to sacrifice to work themselves up to that lifestyle.

And, more and more Americans are living in poverty.  The gap between the rich and the poor is growing, and the "middle class" is shrinking. 

I have been one not to use a lot of credit.  I try hard not to run up a credit card bill I can not pay off monthly.   I try to save for major purchases and pay cash.  If I buy on credit,  I try to shop for low interest rates, or 0% interest if paid off in a certain time frame, and then, I meet that time frame. 

I used to buy compact cars, but recently, I have been a little more extravagant. When I bought my house, I purchased one of a value lower than "the formula" indicated I should be able to afford. I paid it off early, by some good fortune and circumstances that helped me to pay it off early, as well as by adding extra each month to the mortgage payment.  On the other hand, I have an excellent credit rating, due to my financial management.

I have never had any expectation that I would have things as good financially as my parents did.  I became a social worker, and social workers are notoriously underpaid.  I have not travelled extensively, nor do I have extravagant things in my home.  There was a time in my life when I could account for every cent I spent. I am not on such a tight budget anymore, and am able to afford to take care of most emergencies reasonably comfortably.

I  remember years ago being concerned about natural resources being used up before the next generation was able to enjoy their life: coal, oil, clean water, especially.  I wonder how lumber continues to be available. I worry about wild and natural foods being available.

I have chosen not to have children for a lot of reasons, most of which are too private to post here.  However, one reason was the awareness that the world population is expanding exponentially.  I believe this expansion bodes ill for the availability of a fair share of resources for everyone, and I believe humans are impacting the condition of the planet in a way nothing has before.  I believe this impact portends major changes in the balance of nature on this earth, and will dramatically change the environment. And, I believe these changes are already happening, as evidenced by the shrinking of the polar ice caps and glaciers.

The scientific evidence is that the earth has sometimes balanced these changes with other changes, and sometimes balanced these changes with dramatic pendulum swing type changes. I have to think we have set the earth on a dramatic pendulum swing of the environment. I am not a doomsday predictor.  I am just thinking that things have been changing and will be changing dramatically for some  years to come.  Whether or not I will see these things in my life time, I do not know. 

I am not trying to write about doom and gloom. I think we can make a difference by doing things, large and small to be more conscientious about our lives. I do not live the most "green" or "sustainable" (the new term for environmentally aware and eco-friendly) lifestyle. But I think we are all able to make choices that will have a positive impact, and fit our lifestyle.  I recycle. I catch water from the shower as it is getting warm, to use on my back yard plants. I do not keep my house very cold in the summer nor steamy hot in the winter.  I plan and combine trips so I do not double back on my errands.  I try not to use electric lights if natural light will do.  I use small lights for safety instead of large lights for convenience, when lighting my house at night.  If the weather permits, I open windows to air out my house versus using the air conditioner.

I could do more. Everyone can.  Some are green to extreme.  Many do not pay attention to anything they can do to help.

I think we can all make a difference if we make more efforts to live in balance: whether that is financially, or environmentally.   If we live within our means, limit our environmental impact when we can, and steward our resources carefully.

What can you do?

Sustainable and Renewable

So the current trend is to try to use sustainable and renewable energy sources.  One touted is ethanol, frequently made from corn. 

So, what happens, as is happening this year, if there is a widespread drought, and no corn is raised?

As my favorite sportscaster commented today, if you eat or wear clothing, you  are in agribusiness, and are being effected by the drought. It will have a major economic effect on Lubbock, which has an economy that is integrally tied to agriculture. 

It will have an effect on food, fuel, clothing.  It will dry up moneys for charities. It will slow purchases, and the retail industry will retract. Fewer jobs will mean less spending will mean fewer jobs, etc.

We keep thinking we have solved the problem of fuel and energy sources, and we get our come-uppance.  This year, the earthquake in Japan made proponents of nuclear power have to re-defend and re-think their solution. And, made many others think twice about nuclear power as a solution.

It is true that this is "a small world after all."  A drought in Texas can influence other parts of the world. 

Weather related disasters have swept across the country this year.  So there are many places in this country where agriculture, industry and residences are having to rebuild. While rebuilding refuels the economy, from whence do the funds come?  Insurance companies, savings, and government assistance.  Insurance claims cause increased rates.  Savings depletes cash reserves.  Government assistance grows the already way too large debt.  

What is the answer?  I do not know.

The Heat

I went to an outdoor picnic and concert tonight.  The Westwinds Brass Band http://westwindsbrassband.org/concerts.php had their weekly concert at Wagner Park. The temperature was over a hundred.  I planned to meet a friend an hour or so before the concert for a picnic and chat.  We had seats in the shade, and cold water, and misting fans to help ameliorate the effects of the heat.

Sometimes, the wind blew cool, sometimes very hot. There was a decent crowd at the concert, given the heat. The misting fans really did help.  Most amazingly, it is only a few nights after the longest day of the year, and it is already starting to get dark by 9:30 PM.   But, not cool. Yet.

It does not cool off very early in the evening.  We have had some summers like this before. But this is a very concerning trend. 

How Dastardly Ignominious Can It Get

Sometime in the 1990s, the Lubbock Sanitation Department developed a recycling program:  It was fairly simple.  Citizens could recycle glass, plastic, newspapers,aluminum cans and food cans by placing them in a blue bag and hanging them on the dumpster in the alley.  Blue bag pick up was a couple of times a week. Locally, the supermarket chain United, and the discount chain Wal-Mart, used blue plastic bags that could be used for the blue bag program, vs purchasing blue bags (from Glad.)

This program did not catch on, and was ultimately discontinued.  The city now has drop off points where plastic, aluminium, tin cans, aluminum cans, newspaper and plastic can be deposited. While not exactly convenient, it is workable for the serious recycler.  Another option is to use the commercial recycling industries such as the Green Queens http://www.greenqueens.org/. 

Today, there was an article in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal about going green:  http://lubbockonline.com/faith/2011-06-24/christian-viewpoints-differ-environmental-movement-isit-stewardship-or-human The comments include that the Bible gives humans authority to use whatever resources necessary for success (not pro recycling or conservationism.)  

Another quote is that "There's no reason for Christians to be concerned that, "Oh, they're gonna think I'm a liberal because I throw my cans  in a recycling bin. "

Heavenly father, how can these well educated, well meaning people not understand that recycling is an act of stewardship of your Earth, and has nothing to do with economics, politics, power, or control.  How can we spread the word, and help the health of our Earth.