Waterfalls

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Contemplating the sunrise this morning, and the awesome power of waterfalls, courtesy the La Paz River in Waterfall Gardens Nature Park, Costa Rica.

Some would say we need to harness that power, turn it into hydro, to serve man. Yeah, I'm torn between recalling that ol' Twilight Zone episode and the headlines of the day about Monica Goodling's loyalty test for the Dept of Justice, to serve a man.

Seems all kinda golden calf, doesn't it?

We've gotten things wrong so many times in our history, mankind's history. We are at a moment of change when we have an opportunity to get things right. So as we contemplate freeing ourselves from our addiction to Big Oil, let's keep in mind the consequences of what we choose as alternatives.

Let's remember the waterfalls...they've been here untold milennia, rushing to the seas, circulating the entire planet, sending off droplets of moisture that feed the cloud forests and the creatures within.

In our stampede to find new solutions, let's make sure we choose solutions that enrich and steward the planet...instead of despoiling it. And ourselves.
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Slow to 60

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You don't need me to tell you it's almost the weekend. The time to kick back, take life a little slower.

So here's my proposition. Take your time behind the wheel a little slower this weekend, too.

We don't need a government decree or big media blitz to do what we all can do on our own.

Slow down. Try driving 60 this weekend.

And do it for whatever reason you want--better for the environment, more efficient gas mileage, one person's way of stickin' it to Big Oil, a Not So Big use of the planet's resources, a contrarian way to wipe the stench of Bush from all things 60...

Or no reason at all.

Go ahead, give it a try, tell your friends. Who knows, maybe if we all slowed down we'd look at the world with a whole new perspective.

You'd be amazed at what you see when you just slow down.

Rare Birds

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Winter ended late in up here in tall timber country. Even if you drive from the Dakotas due East, it's still "Up North" and opening weekend of fishing season.

Been a good bit of talk hereabouts that the late April snowstorms that turned 60-degree days into 18-inch snow blankets were tough on the wildlife. Certainly the pines and birches took their share of damage. Broken branches, bent over tree trunks, some split and splintered beyond repair.

But it's spring, and spring can be a great healer.

Already, in just one day we've seen trumpeter swans, and a kingfisher, and evening grosbeaks and rose-breasted grosbeaks, and loons on the lake, with mallards and wood ducks, and scaups, and bluejays, and a downy woodpecker, and purple finches, and purple martins, and... and most are paired up. Romancin', looking for likely nesting spots.

Some are birds just getting established in the area, like the swans, ranging out from the Tamarack Wildlife refuge. And some are old friends we feared had gone away like the buffalo back in the late 1800s. But the evening grosbeaks are back, their brash, bright yellow makin' sunshine on this overcast spring day.

The natural world's got a parallel in the political world this crisp evening. Birds migrating north again...voters migrating back to their Democratic home. Some signing on and registering for the very first time in their lives. Inspired by a rare bird who's callin' hope.

Even the hummingbird is back from South of the border, drawn in by the bright red cap on the sunflower feeder, but lookin' for a little sweet sugar instead. We weren't expecting him so soon, but here he is, and already we've got the syrup simmering on the stovetop.

Spring's back at long last, and we're going to make the most of it, renewing the well, replenishing the feeders, planting the seeds...for the good harvest in the fall.

Auspicious April Day

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One hundred years ago today, Edward R. Murrow was born, and his is a time worth marking for reminding us what journalism at its best can be. Intelligent, dogged in cutting through the chaff to bring the real story, unflinching in pursuing a story that needs telling. Not because it will pump ratings or advertising dollars, in fact it might cut them.

But it’s the right thing to do.

We’ve seen of late far too much of the opposite: “journalists” who act as little more than stenographers or plagiarists of partisan or agenda-driven press releases and “leaks,” or are totally clueless of the everyday lives of the people they’re “reporting” to, or are preening their own self-importance.

There are stellar exceptions.

Today is Murrow’s day. Journalists and consumers of the news alike will be well served by reflecting on what he brought to the news biz, the First Amendment, and democracy through his work.

Visit the new Newseum if you’re in the DC area, or watch George Clooney’s Good Night and Good Luck in your own hometown. And keep Murrow in mind as you listen to those who call themselves the media. Keep Murrow in mind as you watch the Sunday gasbag shows.

Keep Murrow in mind, and remember what news is supposed to be: information, not infotainment--with far too much of the info gettin’ lost in the swirl of “-tainment.”

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Today is also Arbor Day. So get off your duff and go out and hug a tree. Better yet, use the widget and contribute to the Plant a Billion Trees campaign. And while you’re at it, plant some seeds…for the earth, for democracy.

h/t to Mr. Sunshine...38 years and every day an A Day!

Earth Day

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For all those of us who do not live in Pennsylvania, here are some suggestions for ways we can occupy our day while making our start at saving the planet. Pennsylvanians welcome to join in, too.

Contribute to the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees campaign. Better yet, contribute and then go out and get your own tree and plant it right in your own backyard.

Starting today, Drive 55. Why wait for somebody else's campaign or legislation? Nobody's stoppin' you...oh, the more foolish may honk their horns, but hey, it's good "greenin'," less pollution emissions into the air, and it'll raise your gas mileage, too.

Recycle—take magazines with you to the doctor's office and the next guy won't have to mutter because everything's months old. Donate books to your local library for their shelves and/or book sales. De-clutter your home, your life, your spirit...donate to thrift stores. Make your mantra "Everything I need I already have."

Stash your re-usable grocery bags in your car, and next time, no matter where you go shopping, take 'em along. The less plastic we use, the less oil needed to make it. The less coin in Chee-knee's pocket.

Whaddya think—how can you be a better planet steward today?...and the day after and....

Earth Hour

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Please join the global hour of awareness tonight about...global awareness. Join people and cities around the globe and turn off your lights between 8 pm and 9 pm in your local time zone. Stewards of the earth and all that....

You and I each hold in our own hands the power to turn off the light of awareness...and the power to turn it on.

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Prairie Postcard: Weather Eye

The local weatherman this morning is alerting us to brace ourselves here in Prairie Country. The wind chill advisory starts at noon, the temperature tonight's expected to drop to thirty below. Hmmm, that doesn't read any easier than -30. That's air temperature, not wind chill factor, by the way.

Weather's a big deal around here. Wind matters, temperature matters, whether we're contemplating planting or harvesting, or just driving to the next town over on a flat windswept highway on a snowy winter day.

A lot of Red Staters take a dim view of that global warming talk when they're lookin' at the likelihood of the coldest temperature since records of such began.

"Global warming" ...just words. But you need to consider the downside of up with words. 'cause they can have a way of coming back to bite you if you don't. "Extreme Weather"...now that covers just about all the bases. "Climate Shift" is kind of namby-pamby, so I'm looking for options on a day when sitting in with a hot cuppa is a lot more appealing than venturing out into "Harsh Weather." "Global Climate Change" isn't the kind of change people want to talk about these days... Maybe "Survivor: Planet Earth."