tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44612215805836526382024-03-18T20:42:35.195-07:00Sense of MisplacedCommentary on nature and human nature. The title stems from my disdain for the romantic obsession with "sense of place." <i>Timing</i>, on the other hand, is everything.Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-40272108916582302592024-03-05T18:49:00.000-08:002024-03-05T18:49:47.023-08:00Please Don't Paint Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcie8dwzWVXIqKx5bz73z6P4UKnYT0nCfIIt-Ow5t3uCbqTH3aRlqtgOB9xO4rdpcAPmGHpWB00epdJyH-W-XwS0_HYC6E7iNHJZQhDlsuTrbfWu6lGDtLdmQ_pwIwxniUDYTZKjKeSm-mBMAZoJFIdqyZuwyTNhEUrxyclmIEiuqwbNJvGA9LHN5k7NEm/s3944/IMG_1088%20%283%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="3944" data-original-width="3515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcie8dwzWVXIqKx5bz73z6P4UKnYT0nCfIIt-Ow5t3uCbqTH3aRlqtgOB9xO4rdpcAPmGHpWB00epdJyH-W-XwS0_HYC6E7iNHJZQhDlsuTrbfWu6lGDtLdmQ_pwIwxniUDYTZKjKeSm-mBMAZoJFIdqyZuwyTNhEUrxyclmIEiuqwbNJvGA9LHN5k7NEm/s400/IMG_1088%20%283%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>The dead, but still stately, cottonwood tree in the image above is located in Leavenworth Landing Park, along the banks of the Missouri River in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA. The snag is slated to be painted blue as part of a global project related to promoting awareness of mental health issues. While this is a noble cause, the side effects of landscape art installations like this should give us pause.</p><p>The <a href=https://bluetreeproject.com.au/>Blue Tree Project</a> has its roots in the tragic story of Australian Jayden Whyte, whose suicide at age twenty-nine gripped headlines in 2018. During the eulogy at Whyte’s funeral, his best friend related the story of how Jayden had pranked his father by painting one of the trees on the family farm blue. That became the inspiration to paint trees elsewhere as a reminder to check on the mental wellbeing of loved ones, and foster a greater awareness of issues surrounding mental health.</p><p>There are now numerous painted trees, and other objects, throughout the world, on every continent except Antarctica. There are currently 1,138 trees registered by Blue Tree Project, mostly in Australia.</p><p>Some communities have taken to erecting facsimile trees instead of painting actual trees. One of the more innovative examples is a tree of fifteen basketball hoops. Unfortunately, the website for Blue Tree Project does not indicate where these artificial trees are located, nor how they were constructed.</p><p>While this endeavor is meant to send a specific, clearly posted message, what else is implied by turning trees into artistic and/or humanitarian vehicles? One message is that it is permissible to deface a natural object, at least if you have an important agenda. This is vandalism in any other context. We are also saying that nature is something that can only be improved upon by the hand of man. Natural landscapes, and the living things within them, must serve some kind of utilitarian value in order to justify their existence, even if that means reducing them to a “canvas” for artistic expression. This is not ok.</p><p>The Blue Trees (plural) is a landscape installation project by artist Konstantin Dimopoulos, designed in part to evoke thoughts about “ecological issues, such as the ecocide of our forests and climate change, and….raising our social consciousness referencing how individually and collectively we shape the world we inhabit.” His exhibitions involve painting the trunks of entire groves of trees a deep blue color.</p><p>The pinnacle of artistic hubris may be demonstrated by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Their landscape-level work was temporary, and performed mostly in urban areas, wrapping buildings or monuments in fabric, usurping the profile and work of the original architects. They prided themselves on avoiding “deserted places,” focusing on “….sites already prepared and used by people, managed by human beings for human beings.” This did include vast rural expanses, though, featuring fabric fences, fabric “gates,” curtains, and other potential impediments to the normal traffic of wildlife, and obscuring scenic vistas. In <i>Surrounded Islands</i>, they draped a hot pink fabric skirt on the surface of the water around eleven separate islands (two were surrounded together). Who knows how marine life was affected.</p><p>Where does art cross the line into damage? Who gets the authority to decide? Do we give enough critical thought to these questions? Ideally, artistic license should not trespass on the works of the Creator, if one believes in such an entity. We should not allow historical precedent to dictate the path forward, either.</p><p>There are strong and valid arguments to support the fact that Mount Rushmore defaced a mountain held sacred by Indigenous Americans. Stone Mountain in Georgia features the carved depiction of three prominent figures of the Confederacy from the Civil War. The monument glorifies White supremacy, and overwhelms the stories of the Black people who once lived and worked there, and who still reside in local communities. It also defaces a natural landscape feature that figured prominently in Indigenous occupation of the region.</p><p>Don’t get me wrong. Art can be a powerful stimulus for positive social and cultural change. It need not be permanent nor massive in scale. I do wonder, though, what will happen when that old dead cottonwood at last falls into the river, as erosion is inevitable. Will the paint contaminate the water, or negatively affect aquatic life? Will another tree be painted to replace it?</p><p><b>Sources:</b> <a href=https://kondimopoulos.com/the-blue-trees/>Dimopoulos, Konstantin. 2024. “About the Blue Trees,” <i>Kondimopoulos</i></a>.<br><a href=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-01/painting-the-country-blue-to-tackle-suicide-regional-australia/11538858>Meachim, Laura. 2019. “Blue Tree Project tackles mental health and suicide in regional Australia,” <i>ABC News</i>, September 30, 2019.</a><br><a href=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/shadow-stone-mountain-180968956/>Powers, Benjamin. 2018. “In the Shadow of Stone Mountain,” <i>Smithsonian Magazine</i>.</a><br><a href=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8011837/Solitary-blue-tree-painted-tribute-man-died-suicide-burned-ground.html>Spellman, Rebecca. 2020. “Harrowing story behind a solitary blue tree in drought-stricken land takes a sinister turn as it’s found burned to the ground,” <i>Daily Mail</i>, February 17, 2020</a>.<br><a href=https://christojeanneclaude.net/most-common-errors/>”Most Common Errors,”<i>Christo and Jeanne-Claude</i>.</a></p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-42053073075930636832024-02-22T08:09:00.000-08:002024-02-22T08:09:46.548-08:00I Don't Want to Live Longer!<p>I know that sounds laughable, or possibly alarming, depending on what direction you tend to react in. Please rest assured, I am not contemplating suicide. I am talking about lifespan extension. We are constantly bombarded with the latest diets, medical treatments, and other offerings designed to extend our lives. I am not necessarily in agreement that this is a good thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eOXcP7GcoEUmKcomUpExCXW5lLmOZSKcmbn7EjqMxM8T2VfA-t38jANFAQp29Tg5N15kY8RwINgKNnG9CxW9-G5NMGEfd5KAGPxzKxRHM2yokO1unhGLP2Xib65bEWUov2x8BHtJdAM_xOG83cYRmZ0JF1J11oN4LJxwAYxRZ9AeDkP5d4lMstOeESNF/s850/LongevityQuoteAZquotes.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eOXcP7GcoEUmKcomUpExCXW5lLmOZSKcmbn7EjqMxM8T2VfA-t38jANFAQp29Tg5N15kY8RwINgKNnG9CxW9-G5NMGEfd5KAGPxzKxRHM2yokO1unhGLP2Xib65bEWUov2x8BHtJdAM_xOG83cYRmZ0JF1J11oN4LJxwAYxRZ9AeDkP5d4lMstOeESNF/s400/LongevityQuoteAZquotes.jpg"/></a></div><p>There is this uneasy feeling that those who promote longer human lives are not really concerned for how that impacts our personal welfare. What do I mean by that? When someone passes, the Gross Domestic Product responds with “Damn it, we lost another consumer!” Forgive my cynicism, but I believe it is warranted. The greatest benefits to longer lives are reaped by excessively affluent and powerful people who get wealthier because we are consuming material goods they produce, for a longer period of time. The same is true of service industries, of course, some of which are dedicated solely to the aged population.</p><p>The idea that the only thing we should value in our elders is their purchasing power, should make you angry. You cannot put a price on wisdom, life experience, and familial bonds (provided your family dynamic is a positive one). The marketplace thrives on our isolation, our individualism and, sadly, our naivete. The less we relate to each other in meaningful ways, the more vulnerable we are to exploitation by bad actors in the global marketsphere.</p><p>The other aspect of living a longer life is that you are highly likely to witness the continued, if not accelerated, destruction of the natural world. This is unbearable for a great many of us. Why should I want to live longer when it appears the planet is not so inclined? Indeed, more consumerism for a longer period is only going to hasten the extinction of species, the conversion of habitat to agriculture and urbanism, and increase natural resource extraction.</p><p>I am exceedingly troubled by the fact that the majority of people do not have time to contemplate what I am talking about in this blog entry. The average life is crammed with daily commuting, appointments, meetings, errands, fast food, caffeine, meetings, and another commute. Once we are back home, we help the kids with their homework, if we do not have our own that we brought from the office. Maybe we manage to sneak in a pleasant distraction like a bath or shower, a television show, social media, a chapter in a book, an alcoholic beverage, or a dose of marijuana. Put that on repeat until the weekend.</p><p>We look forward to the day we do not have to work, or at least not have to work for someone else, but fear of financial destitution keeps us toiling away. Ironically, a global pandemic made it glaringly obvious that our psychological health has been in sick bay for a long, long time. Still, we are not managing to harness our collective power as laborers and consumers to fully revolt.</p><p>The government is not helping with its constant talk of raising the retirement age, and doing away with Social Security, Medicare, and other resources we earn during our laboring lifespan.</p><p>The question remains: Exactly what do I get out of a longer life? More years as a greeter for a big box store? More time to passively exist? More debt? More opportunities to vote for candidates that are serving those powerful and wealthy elites instead of me, and others like me? More time to forget what I know, what I’ve learned, and the people I have met? More time to watch the world burn?</p><p>Human life is not something that needs “product” or “service.” It needs community. It requires nourishment that no food or beverage can provide. It demands rest and quietude, for longer periods than anyone is willing to acknowledge. <p>Personally, I will have greater respect for, and trust in, the medical community when they make <i>quality</i> of life a higher priority than longevity. To borrow a phrase from whiny Hollywood actors, “What’s my motivation?” If all you can offer me is more medications, pseudo-comforts, and the corporate vision of “retirement,” I will pass, thank you.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-90045304827454709812024-02-03T13:38:00.000-08:002024-02-03T13:38:37.985-08:00The Personal Finance Emergency Room<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDyD0AdilW7utrxT4X0pHj0t6k5JrXUn_EVSJJfTvsAm3xw_aqH99xbRWLM4wy8BFLh0VrFb6wHUeDA8itTFMKVwA-wbLwEol19pC3zEGxvs6LdjGraYPti8BRB6XEjtxrKozO2rPfaK8X7EB9gmQEXp_maAZEPuLU_VUYItZku4-eszg9RPlXo5_axP-/s342/StLukesKCdotOrg.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDyD0AdilW7utrxT4X0pHj0t6k5JrXUn_EVSJJfTvsAm3xw_aqH99xbRWLM4wy8BFLh0VrFb6wHUeDA8itTFMKVwA-wbLwEol19pC3zEGxvs6LdjGraYPti8BRB6XEjtxrKozO2rPfaK8X7EB9gmQEXp_maAZEPuLU_VUYItZku4-eszg9RPlXo5_axP-/s400/StLukesKCdotOrg.jpg"/></a></div><center>© saintlukeskc.org</center><p>The state of healthcare, or lack thereof, in the United States is exemplary the overall pattern of capitalist predation and oppression that causes undue financial and emotional stress. A recent experience with an emergency room visit prompts me to probe the connections once again.</p><p>While visiting family out of state for the holidays in December, my partner experienced prolonged numbness in her hand. This was not an “I slept wrong” issue that resolves itself within an hour or so of waking up. Given Heidi’s history of a mild stroke, we take symptoms like this seriously.</p><p>My sister-in-law’s family lives in a rural town, so we drove an hour to one of the few open urgent care clinics. Upon describing the issue and her medical history, the intake person declared that urgent care is not equipped to evaluate such situations, and referred us to the nearby hospital.</p><p>I will be generous and say that our time with a physician lasted fifteen minutes. The doctor asked questions, even got out of their chair to do a brief, standard protocol to rule out another stroke. They ventured that it was not a stroke, but without imaging, could not rule it out entirely. We declined additional procedures. The next half hour was devoted to the paperwork exit interview.</p><p>Fast forward to this week. The bill is over $2,400. We have health insurance. Despite this, we are left with a payment exceeding half of that amount. Yes, there is the “deductible,” and we are fortunate in being able to absorb that shock to our finances. Most people cannot, but even for those that share our circumstance, the ripple effect is profound.</p><center><blockquote><i>Misery is simply another commodity, publicly traded under other identities.</i></blockquote></center><p>When faced with a large, unexpected, unavoidable expenditure, be it for a medical bill, vehicle repair, needed plumbing upgrades, or some other catastrophe (all of the scenarios I listed are ones we have experienced in the last few months), my mind goes to what we must now sacrifice. There goes that vacation. Charitable donations? Off the table now. Membership in that organization? Nope. Meals out are less frequent.</p><p>It is no wonder that the average American’s bank account is <i>always</i> in the emergency room. It may not be a government conspiracy responsible for that condition, but certain business models literally profit from it. You did <i>not</i> get yourself into this mess.</p><center><blockquote><i>We need an ‘unsubscribe’ button, and do not have to name an alternative to reject the current system.</i></blockquote></center><p>The American oligarchy existed long before any of us were born, but its influence has intensified, and become vastly more complicated in its ways of appeasing the masses without truly solving any of the problems that exist because of….oligarchy. Government is complicit, at least at the level rendered by the ability of the oligarchy to appease politicians it helps get elected. Even supposedly well-meaning crusades like the “war on drugs” are waged not because of sympathy for addicts, but because cartels are making money that the oligarchy covets.</p><p>In the world of capitalism, everything must be privatized, and for profit. Only the consumer has value. Labor is an overhead cost, to be outsourced, or automated, at every opportunity. How to foster consumerism, then? Credit, and other forms of lending, which the oligarchy profits from by charging interest. Debt is not figured in the calculation of poverty levels, so the illusion of a middle class persists.</p><p>Our economic system has even turned our collective stress and anxiety into for-profit enterprise, from pharmaceuticals to sports betting. Misery is simply another commodity, publicly traded under other identities. We are in an abusive relationship with corporate-level business, on both the production side and the consumer end. We need an “unsubscribe” button, and do not have to name an alternative to reject the current system.</p><p>Instead of capitulating to the script that says Blacks and other minorities are threats to our safety and security, that immigrants are taking our jobs, and welfare is being exploited by the poor, we can seek ways of disconnecting our lives from global capitalism. We can expose the culture wars for what they are: distractions from the oligarchy that is taking power and control away from us.</p><p>We do not have to quit capitalism cold turkey. Do it incrementally. Engage in positive distractions, like arts and crafts. Go out into nature, like I do, and observe other organisms as examples of a basic, but vivid and satisfying existence. Participate in community commerce. Make friends with local farmers, and school teachers. Help <i>them</i> prosper. You will feel better daily.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-20914955668982102502023-12-04T08:51:00.000-08:002023-12-04T08:51:44.554-08:00What's in a (Bird) Name?<p>It has been one month since the American Ornithological Society released a <a href=https://americanornithology.org/american-ornithological-society-will-change-the-english-names-of-bird-species-named-after-people/>statement</a> of its intent to change the English common names of bird species named for people, starting with those birds found in the United States and Canada, then moving to Latin America. Reactions to this initiative have been predictably mixed, often polarized. It is demoralizing to me personally to see friends and respected colleagues opposed to it, an absence of nuanced perspectives, and lack of creativity in solutions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGnmgK1QSAXJ1-suHx-_Prw4MI9iZOozrY7471KzzMHm5x6EhOZHiYFAYrfZgHZ16P7OLXRopMI7SN-SMpdAwz1I-F5SJdMhyphenhyphen0HnavjCJd4AKMAVR7YHDCKoSbpJSoDEfHsWx7uQ_7KiZ4Trl7bt_-rN_99QfOziaCGOXffmL-VR7a6CMdEHH5hAyzgoP/s1504/BullocksOrioleCO6a.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGnmgK1QSAXJ1-suHx-_Prw4MI9iZOozrY7471KzzMHm5x6EhOZHiYFAYrfZgHZ16P7OLXRopMI7SN-SMpdAwz1I-F5SJdMhyphenhyphen0HnavjCJd4AKMAVR7YHDCKoSbpJSoDEfHsWx7uQ_7KiZ4Trl7bt_-rN_99QfOziaCGOXffmL-VR7a6CMdEHH5hAyzgoP/s400/BullocksOrioleCO6a.jpg"/></a></div><center>Say goodbye to Bullock's Oriole</center><p>Here are some basics so we can all be on the same page. Common, English names of species that include the moniker of a historical figure are termed “eponymous” names. This practice of naming species after people dates to at least the 1800s, and has been revealed to be wildly inconsistent, if not random, in its application. A little excavation work by author Kenn Kaufman shows that some “honorees” in <a href= http://www.kaufmanfieldguides.com/kenn-on-the-issues/eponymous-bird-names-and-the-history-of-ornithology>eponymous bird names</a> had little if anything to do with ornithology, let alone advance the science.</p><p>More troubling still, eponymous names have come to be associated with racism, misogyny, other forms of bigotry, and colonialism. Rather than painstakingly evaluate the baggage of each eponymous bird name, the AOS has decided to do away with all of them. This has led to accusations of “wokeism” and political correctness by some birders, and many people who have no interest at all in our feathered friends. No one seems to be asking what is to be gained by <i>retaining</i> such names, aside from convenience and tradition.</p><p>Do we really want a tradition of exclusion? Birding is already viewed by many as an elitist recreational pursuit, with globetrotting retirees chasing rarities for their life lists. Birding will benefit greatly from expanded <i>human</i> diversity within its ranks. It follows that birds themselves will benefit from increased attention to their plight.</p><p>Some with less visceral reactions have questioned whether this effort at name-changing will draw valuable financial and human resources away from bird conservation and research. My intuition tells me that expenditures will be relatively minor, and the people doing the work will not be the same people already engaged in protection of species. This is an endeavor that complements conservation, if not enhances it by making the discipline of ornithology more attractive to Indigenous scientists, and others who have viewed the science as exclusionary.</p><p>There are those who do not believe that mere name changes go far enough towards the goal of decolonizing science, politics, economics, and improving other aspects of life. This may have merit if we do not address how we can take down barriers to birding such as the affordability of optics and other equipment, increase accommodations for disabled and neurodivergent birders, prioritize the safety and respect of women and children in the birding community, and take economic initiatives beyond bird-friendly coffee.</p><p>Should you question whether I have nothing to lose in siding with those endorsing a move away from eponymous names, allow me to mention that I am a direct descendent of the “OC” (Original Colonists). My forefathers were literally on the <i>Mayflower</i>. In no way do I feel threatened by extending rights, freedom, and prosperity to people who identify other than White, cis, male, straight, neurotypical, able-bodied, and otherwise advantaged.</p><p>Ironically, the one downside of eliminating eponymous names, as I see it, is that we cannot name birds after any people of color, who truly <i>have</i> furthered ornithology and birding. (J. Drew) Lanham’s Sparrow has a nice ring to it.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-50604624139575481902023-10-22T08:52:00.000-07:002023-10-22T08:52:12.480-07:00Sympathy and Neutrality<p>This is for all my fellow (U.S.) Americans who feel pressured to “stand with Israel” in this latest incarnation of warfare with Islamic extremists. Your discomfort with absolutes is valid, and you have a right to your personal commitment, or lack thereof. No one has the right to coerce you, or question your ethics. Here is why.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljQrIR5w8X1ctSlnhc-FfcFnhZ1WulYd_SC0LuX4uShqG6yvnARDFwhgodp7h1hqVcnuwOGgLwzqJBOhQHqEMVTRgGomEd2O9r1w17VDKYuRpsE32_8V2Gx4xjV8IlOgUZB6o4oI5x7qpe3LuBDk3XrbOa4UQaEtQwKfM9LRKSZ05Vtpy3QWqf5JTm8rA/s300/EuropeanTimesDotNews.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljQrIR5w8X1ctSlnhc-FfcFnhZ1WulYd_SC0LuX4uShqG6yvnARDFwhgodp7h1hqVcnuwOGgLwzqJBOhQHqEMVTRgGomEd2O9r1w17VDKYuRpsE32_8V2Gx4xjV8IlOgUZB6o4oI5x7qpe3LuBDk3XrbOa4UQaEtQwKfM9LRKSZ05Vtpy3QWqf5JTm8rA/s400/EuropeanTimesDotNews.jpg"/></a></div><center>© EuropeanTimes.news</center><p>First, there is no shame in withholding allegiance if you do not fully comprehend the history of the Middle East and its associated religions. Grant yourself permission to abstain, but make an effort to learn about such matters. Yes, it is treacherous territory, a minefield of misinformation from sources that have an agenda, be it clear or obfuscated. Hamas and Hezbollah are not the same organization, though both are backed by Iran.</p><p>Recognize that you are not an Anti-Semite if you do not declare unconditional support for Israel. Should anyone accuse you of such, that reveals more about their character than yours. Most of us have friends who are Jewish, who we cherish and advocate for. We are not holocaust deniers, and in fact stand up against anti-Semitism. By the same measure, we are intolerant of genocide directed at Islam. Extremist groups tend to ruin thing for everyone, ending innocent lives in pursuit of unattainable supremacy.</p><p>Here at home, I am fearful of Christian White Nationalists intent on imposing extreme religious constraints on all of our citizens. Banning books today could mean something far worse down the road. Racism and other forms of intolerance, bigotry and oppression go hand-in-hand with this agenda.</p><p>Back to the international topic at hand. Personally, when confronted with centuries-long conflicts, my impulse is to punish both sides. Were it in my power, I would throw everyone out of the disputed territories and declare them an International Peace Park, under the administration of the United Nations, where both sides could interpret their positions and histories for visitors, and where wildlife could flourish in what was once a hostile environment to all species. A Palestinian state might look something like Vatican City in Rome, ensconced withing Jerusalem itself. Where, in any event, is the creativity in conflict resolution?</p><p>What encourages me are people who speak up for innocent Muslims, which constitute most of the victims of Israeli military retaliation. They question the imbalance between U.S. foreign aid for Israel versus the paltry sum going toward humanitarian aid for the victims of those very bombs and weapons we have helped pay for. How is this helpful?</p><p>I am likewise heartened by coalitions of Jews <i>and</i> Muslims, who are peacefully protesting the extremism of both religions. Let us raise their voices and profiles as an example of true bravery and empathy.</p><p>I like to hold onto the possibility of God, and It is the entity for which I feel the most sympathy, by whatever name It goes by, should It exist at all. Religion, after all, is a decidedly <i>human institution</i>, and as such is vulnerable to the corruption we see in business, government, and all other human enterprises. The difference is that religion is the one thing we can <i>choose</i> to participate in, or refrain from joining. It has its social benefits, until it does not, until it starts violating someone else’s right to a different belief system. Choose carefully. Maintain an ethic that transcends that of your chosen allegiance. Stay sane, stay safe, keep loving your fellow humans.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-44774172667543708852023-10-02T08:23:00.000-07:002023-10-02T08:23:06.393-07:00Not How I Expect to Get Life Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0ehL0sZDUKEeM1QfJR3XEGSanSmmAAqMeBtlixaKcpCwy0rsIND90JzNvQMZjH-C7igdc4CA_8LMstgUww2LsjjfggNGvEqVQJO3itB7caqtqpjznMsbI-BguH6WUcpwT4O5TLYnwdb1owun4f-B8Ju3wE1-v3CzaP8gCz_yhfe2iW_noRRi5ufZl-Vd/s3214/IMG_3314%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="3214" data-original-width="2910" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0ehL0sZDUKEeM1QfJR3XEGSanSmmAAqMeBtlixaKcpCwy0rsIND90JzNvQMZjH-C7igdc4CA_8LMstgUww2LsjjfggNGvEqVQJO3itB7caqtqpjznMsbI-BguH6WUcpwT4O5TLYnwdb1owun4f-B8Ju3wE1-v3CzaP8gCz_yhfe2iW_noRRi5ufZl-Vd/s400/IMG_3314%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>Better birding through climate change? Is that where we are at now? A few weeks ago, when it became clear that hurricane Idalia had flung Caribbean Flamingos (aka American Flamingos) far from their regular haunts, I generated one of those Facebook “marked himself safe from” memes for the wayward birds. It was a joke at the time, because it still seemed unlikely that one would show up anywhere near us here in Kansas, USA. I was wrong. My experience yesterday causes me to reflect today on what my expectations and responsibilities should be when it comes to the welfare of other species.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hOC5j4ByuZP5QSCgRw4bjBt6JcnlN3_E2HK9agRPaD-SPlnmDEXO2x3gfR6mJDx9AI5-2hjwExmePqru3aCxqLZ9Xg6-5d0NYcGhT6W3owcfjsOi478OOIn4A1JW9Qr80k0sMRmgY1Tj3Ultg_swZEtGeK0l1oRvPqQjKXaQUlzaQWO4VDGgGHaB-x5-/s2000/8Birders30sep23.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hOC5j4ByuZP5QSCgRw4bjBt6JcnlN3_E2HK9agRPaD-SPlnmDEXO2x3gfR6mJDx9AI5-2hjwExmePqru3aCxqLZ9Xg6-5d0NYcGhT6W3owcfjsOi478OOIn4A1JW9Qr80k0sMRmgY1Tj3Ultg_swZEtGeK0l1oRvPqQjKXaQUlzaQWO4VDGgGHaB-x5-/s400/8Birders30sep23.JPG"/></a></div><p>My partner, Heidi, is an avid birder, and keeps a close eye on rare bird alerts, and what is being seen in general within reasonable proximity to our home in Leavenworth, Kansas. Earlier in the week she learned of a Caribbean Flamingo being observed at Chase State Fishing Lake near Cottonwood Falls, in the Flint Hills of Chase County, Kansas. This information came in Thursday. Since Heidi works at an elementary school, we would not be able to travel the two-and-a-half hours until Saturday. The bird had been spotted closer to us on Wednesday, at Smithville Lake in Missouri, so we expected it to keep traveling.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nnM8h_lYSvOBVlBSm3E8oxrkkhy1EPf-fbbm6hSsY_2RWSo5VOEkXpKgbo2S8a3huTgAW93LGoZOpT7gx_uQXU5cgx9vxpBSrkhGa11WBdOgD_6Utye8yFz8Pyao6TfYUQ0Yb-KDvpMdO-9sucQtcMfMEFLwjZegWlPd5Xx34ZqoF64NB8tXfxbjNaiQ/s1558/IMG_3122%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nnM8h_lYSvOBVlBSm3E8oxrkkhy1EPf-fbbm6hSsY_2RWSo5VOEkXpKgbo2S8a3huTgAW93LGoZOpT7gx_uQXU5cgx9vxpBSrkhGa11WBdOgD_6Utye8yFz8Pyao6TfYUQ0Yb-KDvpMdO-9sucQtcMfMEFLwjZegWlPd5Xx34ZqoF64NB8tXfxbjNaiQ/s400/IMG_3122%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>Stiff and persistent winds from the south over the next two days may have deterred the flamingo from flying, and sure enough we received confirmation it was still at Chase State Fishing Lake on Saturday morning. Near record high temperatures may have helped to make it feel somewhat at home, too. It had been observed feeding in the shallows, treating what we would imagine as an otherworldly experience with a surprisingly casual attitude.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharp_tnDFGmFtTgYtpfoPKdiHOEE6F9RXf5dBUZJXxbpvHH_iHpMwgWVOexPgQ8g89xHfX7_IqhRI7wxnhkbhx9NaQXUCulO6EZ3Cq6_GVDabNWcgiee-1WimfTsqueedlRnntxsHHFK_rsrdgOncg_ho3k-48xuf94WDikjTdNPw_qjm9K2UHA7yukLWo/s2568/IMG_3161%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1865" data-original-width="2568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharp_tnDFGmFtTgYtpfoPKdiHOEE6F9RXf5dBUZJXxbpvHH_iHpMwgWVOexPgQ8g89xHfX7_IqhRI7wxnhkbhx9NaQXUCulO6EZ3Cq6_GVDabNWcgiee-1WimfTsqueedlRnntxsHHFK_rsrdgOncg_ho3k-48xuf94WDikjTdNPw_qjm9K2UHA7yukLWo/s400/IMG_3161%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>The irony of “chasing” the bird in Chase County did not escape us. Once we arrived, I found myself asking the few other birders which of them had come the farthest, themselves or the flamingo. At least one individual had driven seven hours from Illinois. Others were from Manhattan, Kansas, Wichita, or from Missouri.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRc9tUPzg30dPcBGdoNIt215mkhBYELrUtqCp0Uf2xWH3NbxJMLHVMYD5USAtmZoJgbUMYpgi3qaEhpOcdvBHMDFAEQ8cAX6yScygL_tXGnFzLZ9eQ39pudr5Wj7BHGP7126zGDIW3AkfTZHTnFfI1IHBCPPevY1wEdKoOk8lqaSMB9FvD_7PpNSaHq1n/s1119/IMG_3092%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1053" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRc9tUPzg30dPcBGdoNIt215mkhBYELrUtqCp0Uf2xWH3NbxJMLHVMYD5USAtmZoJgbUMYpgi3qaEhpOcdvBHMDFAEQ8cAX6yScygL_tXGnFzLZ9eQ39pudr5Wj7BHGP7126zGDIW3AkfTZHTnFfI1IHBCPPevY1wEdKoOk8lqaSMB9FvD_7PpNSaHq1n/s400/IMG_3092%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>More to the point, there is the question of our respective carbon footprints in reaching the bird. Are we not contributing to the very problem that spawns megastorms, or at least increases their frequency? Where do we draw the line on what is an acceptable distance for such a (fools?) errand? It is surely a matter of individual choice, but what informs our decisions?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6i1U8-toJhE-cKOxt62Bu_-ypS1KsA1PQAeNVd36WWeN1KRjVb3Bc5cTn8cXETIhhTeCG58T__t4ehAatBWTx6OqTL4aaajXb4N1m_AyQGM4s3VAwGCJuP_mtiJ0C7kGkHLHO08YPZAWBJhqdOJthEeIlBLhCFh6IRTw-fU2kJriZM7kh485yC-rct5GO/s1340/IMG_3097%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6i1U8-toJhE-cKOxt62Bu_-ypS1KsA1PQAeNVd36WWeN1KRjVb3Bc5cTn8cXETIhhTeCG58T__t4ehAatBWTx6OqTL4aaajXb4N1m_AyQGM4s3VAwGCJuP_mtiJ0C7kGkHLHO08YPZAWBJhqdOJthEeIlBLhCFh6IRTw-fU2kJriZM7kh485yC-rct5GO/s400/IMG_3097%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>An article in <a href=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/30/hurricane-idalia-flung-flamingos-across-us-what-states-are-they-in/70968218007/><i>USA Today</i></a> gave some interesting historical background into the residency and distribution of the Caribbean Flamingo, and it turns out that records of “stray” birds date back decades earlier. Ornithologists believe that all the birds being sighted now, far from Florida, originated from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This speaks to the remarkable durability of these seemingly delicate animals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RkdIoD9n3BSkJD4Aa5imqp-ZkFLDqh2wWJik1K0XJD7_z5gZkD1fHC1uKqqZZPWKDvd55cPCnWoxmReGFZJR3CsOaMQw7sIgCsEX5ZOXuCap4U2NJJV4vVTMXi7MI4SNvcPkXSvdankJLZI1zaip26sSiPt2ccm0IcOqIRXESpn1yXkNCpnmtONMlIC7/s2103/IMG_3357%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2103" data-original-width="1967" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RkdIoD9n3BSkJD4Aa5imqp-ZkFLDqh2wWJik1K0XJD7_z5gZkD1fHC1uKqqZZPWKDvd55cPCnWoxmReGFZJR3CsOaMQw7sIgCsEX5ZOXuCap4U2NJJV4vVTMXi7MI4SNvcPkXSvdankJLZI1zaip26sSiPt2ccm0IcOqIRXESpn1yXkNCpnmtONMlIC7/s400/IMG_3357%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>One can view these events in one of two ways. They can be symptomatic of cataclysmic changes to global climate, or emblematic of the ability of organisms to adapt <i>to</i> those changes. Thanks to improving technologies, and an increasing public awareness and appreciation of birds and other animals, we are rapidly gaining insights into shifting behavioral patterns in response to climate change and habitat fragmentation. That is a good thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYn7Soo8GaePPN1rnrXigNhD6_bUAO6AjU9DddA7PLS3x9nkNu62bDMN7-I5aUvGrJ6hytQRXiHYIRiYk_bUtiUcg3PNicSdhD22SnMkMZuLaSHcV24dc4ZmwQkjRvd95hpbmT00d9o9TAEOUiQC43CmZqemcD5pb2X16oinwiTgsd_Xne0CCJo4YYLV1A/s2766/IMG_3360%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2766" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYn7Soo8GaePPN1rnrXigNhD6_bUAO6AjU9DddA7PLS3x9nkNu62bDMN7-I5aUvGrJ6hytQRXiHYIRiYk_bUtiUcg3PNicSdhD22SnMkMZuLaSHcV24dc4ZmwQkjRvd95hpbmT00d9o9TAEOUiQC43CmZqemcD5pb2X16oinwiTgsd_Xne0CCJo4YYLV1A/s400/IMG_3360%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>What I find myself asking today is whether I can be content to stay out of the fray, to be satisfied viewing the images of others on social media. Can I simply live vicariously through observations on iNaturalist? Those people certainly have better photography skills and equipment. As it stands, I will likely resist airline travel, knowing what I know now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPVQSygJ7mW7bGA07DCbXbHqWn8lilPiAnJYd5F0liJXUGJbaw1imQh_YG76gIRrKvNxubgcIXr82laUJwjBog3ltLBzjc7J8OkVvuuNoY7oNxT_IKDaVJNvFy1vIi0LKWYsgzxpydoy11pI_aQBuS_fTuhNIGg1Z76mVy1dMsKFUt__i9_md8wEYUBky/s2843/IMG_3362%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2843" data-original-width="2669" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPVQSygJ7mW7bGA07DCbXbHqWn8lilPiAnJYd5F0liJXUGJbaw1imQh_YG76gIRrKvNxubgcIXr82laUJwjBog3ltLBzjc7J8OkVvuuNoY7oNxT_IKDaVJNvFy1vIi0LKWYsgzxpydoy11pI_aQBuS_fTuhNIGg1Z76mVy1dMsKFUt__i9_md8wEYUBky/s400/IMG_3362%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>What are <i>your</i> thoughts on all of this? There are no right or wrong answers, and I am not asserting personal “holier-than-thou” principles. I enjoy meeting others who are passionate about the natural world and advocate for its protection. Rare instances like this can generate renewed hope, broaden one’s circle of friends, and otherwise be exceptionally positive experiences. Heidi welcomed the opportunity to share views through her spotting scope with others, especially children, yesterday. Let us rejoice in another’s wild encounters, learn from them, and look forward to crossing trails with each other.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VGOSohsXiijH1NgolJ4lwT6oeh48PpwJ6AaGF-gE5ye-eD317p7M3B-cgsEbGYlZAJaJxcIs8ZO4kJiEeJVbkRX3Yrjf8WcIJnGIU8Tq0xXmxNrhzv8r_G9doi_aFifu_vaZRQP5OgLlIGiYxb3C-PRhnHiwi4b6wrVU6rVIHnItxWz1Mq-bQde1DP1j/s5184/IMG_3338.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VGOSohsXiijH1NgolJ4lwT6oeh48PpwJ6AaGF-gE5ye-eD317p7M3B-cgsEbGYlZAJaJxcIs8ZO4kJiEeJVbkRX3Yrjf8WcIJnGIU8Tq0xXmxNrhzv8r_G9doi_aFifu_vaZRQP5OgLlIGiYxb3C-PRhnHiwi4b6wrVU6rVIHnItxWz1Mq-bQde1DP1j/s400/IMG_3338.JPG"/></a></div>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-70053607066613107642023-09-19T08:38:00.004-07:002023-09-19T08:38:45.634-07:00I Want My Old Friends Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7tJo1CUZZk0uHeqt5a9yt66CcHeyn7kjFlB2eTDVUoh5KRXFmWKF4FN_Ew7EwdlSaV_l-Efm3Zbk7wg-nnxSTZpq0M4maY8CwdQmlry9RNk8Up6PKn8kd2Lz5KcJbyD1WVeIEPK_onB4JiAwIv5cB4gYpqi2BjS2oin-j0Qj82Kpew8u90D3kVlzyZCr/s3804/TucsonFriends2016.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="2816" data-original-width="3804" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7tJo1CUZZk0uHeqt5a9yt66CcHeyn7kjFlB2eTDVUoh5KRXFmWKF4FN_Ew7EwdlSaV_l-Efm3Zbk7wg-nnxSTZpq0M4maY8CwdQmlry9RNk8Up6PKn8kd2Lz5KcJbyD1WVeIEPK_onB4JiAwIv5cB4gYpqi2BjS2oin-j0Qj82Kpew8u90D3kVlzyZCr/s400/TucsonFriends2016.jpg"/></a></div><center>Happier times, on a visit to Tucson</center><p>It dawned on me the other night, right before falling asleep, that what I want is to have my friends back. My partner will read this, and believe it is her fault. My in-laws may think they are to blame. No one is guilty except, perhaps, myself, for not anticipating the loneliness I would feel after moving to a new town. Two-and-a-half years in, and I am still grieving. I truly am misplaced here.</p><p>My partner and I agreed to come to Leavenworth, Kansas, to spend quality time with her parents, while they are still healthy, and relatively young. We have dinner out with them, at local restaurants, almost every Saturday night. I’m happy to do that, though the conversations typically cover the funeral(s) of the week, and news of people Heidi may know from her childhood, but no one I have any connection to. I’m used to talking about broader topics, society at large. I rarely do that now because of differences in ideology.</p><p>Let me emphasize that I like my in-laws, and most of the extended family of my partner. The problem is that this is my entire universe now. We get back to Colorado once per year. I think it has been close to a decade since we last visited Cincinnati. We both have friends strung out around the globe, some of whom we only know through social media, but are anxious to meet IRL (in real life).</p><p>Funny, as an only child many friends in my youth were adults. Now that I am an adult, or at least pretending to be one, I find the need to be surrounded by young people, to keep up my energy and enthusiasm for life. Colorado was a perfect mix of both youth and age. Everyone is physically fit, highly engaged in community affairs and in national and international issues.</p><p>Leavenworth, by comparison, appears at least on the surface to skew heavily geriatric. Many people are overweight or otherwise unhealthy, and you seldom see smiles. There <i>are</i> children and teens, of course, but I rarely encounter them. The twenty-somethings I see are wait staff at the restaurants. Fort Leavenworth fairs better, and despite the military affiliation, I have met some nice families there thanks to a couple of events I’ve participated in. You need passes to get on post as a civilian, though, and it is not a daily or even weekly proposition.</p><p>All this is to say that I am not incentivized to cultivate new friends here. I am simply not interested. It would take energy I do not have because I am deflated by where I find myself. It is a perfect circular storm of sadness feeding itself.</p><p>I want my <i>old</i> friends back. They gave my life purpose that I am lacking now, and I fed off the energy they have. I learned things from them. I helped teach them in return. We shared both optimism and pessimism for the collective future. We made each other laugh.</p><p>Practically the only thing holding myself together is an obsession and compulsion to document all the animal species I can find on our modest little property. It is enough of a healthy distraction to keep me away from potentially self-destructive impulses.</p><p>In the cold months I struggle constantly. I have lost nearly all my creative energy, and seldom write. It is not that I have nothing to write <i>about</i>, but I am unmotivated to do the exercise of pressing the buttons on the keyboard. Translating thoughts to actions is too daunting.</p><p>I believe advice is unhelpful. My situation is something I will have to solve myself. Maybe I’ll need to spend a year somewhere else, on my own. Who knows? I only hope that I recognize the solution once it presents itself.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-64343825949552744622023-08-27T10:36:00.001-07:002023-08-27T12:00:12.980-07:00Why Low Wages in the U.S. Are "Acceptable"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYcs0bAMoyW9ZkdaR0_iynZDe2-ytSwfNp8hEgTGjWd6XYcWX0HPuCNWUVNeGwCdBTOqitS2n7BvS8znCF_bOAqKvHnsw-WwRFAp7LVgBcH8cDsxWUnMG6sD6X-RrXDgNp7DwQzhRTbwHxH_s3XZhp07LenR9n7-y5lujm4mpJVpWjl-LTKY0muODr3gI/s612/istockphoto-1221159501-612x612.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYcs0bAMoyW9ZkdaR0_iynZDe2-ytSwfNp8hEgTGjWd6XYcWX0HPuCNWUVNeGwCdBTOqitS2n7BvS8znCF_bOAqKvHnsw-WwRFAp7LVgBcH8cDsxWUnMG6sD6X-RrXDgNp7DwQzhRTbwHxH_s3XZhp07LenR9n7-y5lujm4mpJVpWjl-LTKY0muODr3gI/s400/istockphoto-1221159501-612x612.jpg"/></a></div><center>© Getty Images/iStockphoto</center><p>I spend a good deal of time thinking about our American economic system, and how it abuses labor, consumers, and the environment. There has, in my opinion, been an elaborate orchestration of the illusion of wage fairness that has helped pacify what should be an outraged labor force. The entire idea of a “Middle Class” is, in fact, an illusion. Allow me to outline first why a minimum wage that no longer keeps up with the cost of living has endured for so long.</p><header1><b>Ways in Which Labor is Encouraged to Augment Low Wages</b></header1><p>The corporate world has dictated how the labor force is allowed to make up for low wages. We are led to believe that it is <i>our</i> responsibility to make up the deficit in earning a livable income by....</p><ol><li><b>Taking a second job (or third).</b> As fewer and fewer jobs exist with full-time hours, the need to secure a second job is becoming the standard for more and more workers. Even full-time jobs may not pay enough to cover rent, food, utilities, and other necessities, so workers end up taking at least a part-time job to supplement the full-time job.<br><li><b>Side Hustle.</b> Labor is encouraged to monetize activities that they may otherwise consider hobbies. Platforms like Etsy and e-bay are examples of this, but also blog platforms like Medium, and video outlets like YouTube. These are all still largely corporate marketplaces, and subject to the same problems as other corporate entities. Uber, Lyft, and other transportation services, including delivery of food and merchandise, is another form of the side hustle, and they carry added risks to personal safety. In all cases, such endeavors tend to take the fun out of pursuits that one once found pleasurable.<br><li><b>Borrowing.</b> This broad category includes credit cards, lines of credit, conventional loans, mortgages, and other forms of lending through banks, plus loans from family and friends. This naturally produces debt that is rarely paid off in a timely fashion, and the borrower actually loses money in the long run thanks to interest, fees, and other attached expenses.<br><li><b>Lotteries, legalized gambling.</b> National and state lotteries have become commonplace, and there is now widespread legalized sports betting. Most states also have casinos, often on Indigenous reservations or "offshore" on rivers. Once again, odds are stacked against patrons of those enterprises. Enough low-level prize money is made available, with enough regularity, to keep gamblers coming back for more. It can become an addiction that necessitates borrowing again, sometimes from ruthless sources.<br><li><b>Civil Litigation.</b> Have you noticed how many law firms advertise these days? The implication is that through lawsuits, an individual can recoup what they believe they are <i>already</i> entitled to. It is classic displacement. Your wrath over low wages or salary at your job is taken out on a third party when circumstances such as traffic accidents or malpractice on the part of physicians or hospitals present themselves. Guess who is footing the bill for those prime time television advertisements. The expense and emotional stress of litigation is seldom worth the trial, or even the settlement. It is also an enterprise ripe for corruption itself by unscrupulous attorneys.<br><li><b>Government Assistance.</b> Low-level employees at many corporations still qualify for government assistance in the form of foodstamps, Medicaid, the Child Care Credit, and related programs. Because there is still a social stigma attached to receiving government benefits prior to retirement age, there is reluctance to avail oneself to those avenues of income.<br><li><b>Crowdfunding.</b> Social fundraising has become a popular go-to for individuals facing tragedy or trauma, to cover the expenses of medical, veterinary, or repair and reconstruction emergencies. Platforms like Kickstarter can also help someone launch their own business, or creative project, in the hopes of abandoning their dependence on corporate wages over which they have no control. Again, there exists some social stigma over the idea that individuals are self-indulgent and/or "needy."<br><li><b>Pawning, garage sales.</b> Selling one's existing possessions is a socially-acceptable way of generating money, albeit precious little. The assumption is that you are making a sacrifice, something laudible, and also providing other people with items that they need or desire. Pawning something of sentimental value, on the other hand, like a wedding ring, may signal that you assign little true value to the object, and thus the person or institution it represents.<br><li><b>Service gigs.</b> What was once the domain of child and teenage money-making opportunities is now being undertaken by people of all ages. Lawn-mowing. Snow shoveling. Running errands. The classic lemonade stand. All are acceptable enterprises because customers are receiving a product or service. The supposition is that you are also teaching your children lessons in economics, either by example, or by encouraging your children to contribute to family income.<br><li><b>Illegal activities.</b> There are some enterprises that are expressly unlawful, but for which enforcement is lax or applied prejudicially. Selling illicit substances, engaging in prostitution, participating in illegal gambling, and other criminal activity is risky, but potentially highly lucrative. Besides the obvious legal downside, there is extreme risk of physical and emotional abuse. The idea that these pursuits are encouraged would be laughable were it not for the example of decriminalizing marijuana. Can decriminalization of other activities be far behind?</li></ol><p>All of the above ways of earning supplemental income are frought with uncertainties, and expenses, if only in terms of taxes. There is frequently great emotional and physical stress involved. Many of these include a social cost where you are subject to incorrect assumptions over your work ethic, morality, or other aspects of your persona. You deserve better.</p><p>You are more than your credit score. The normality of borrowing has turned the "Middle Class" into the <i>Debt Class</i>. It is no accident that debt liability is not figured into poverty statistics. If that were so, the veil would finally be lifted and we would see the Emperor indeed has no clothes. Corporations would at last be exposed as the greedy organizations we all know they are, but cannot otherwise prove. Only corporate executives and majority shareholders matter. Capital is not "scarce" as we are told, it is being <i>hoarded</i>. That this is in any way legal is reprehensible.</p><p>What is the solution? Until Universal Basic Income and reparations are the order of the day, cancel, as much as humanly possible, your subscription to this corporate economic model. It is, arguably, nearly impossible to do so, but we have to try. The irony that I am writing this post on a platform owned by a monolithic digital tech entity (Google) does not escape me. Still, I buy little beyond food, utilities, communication devices, and fuel. We are fortunate to be privileged by a modest inheritance from my late father that allows us to live debt free for now, but that does not mean we feel safe from financial ruin. More on that in another post.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-38462958793991396032023-04-07T10:59:00.000-07:002023-04-07T10:59:29.455-07:00Why We Can't Have Nice Things<p>A couple of independent social media posts lamenting the lack of social safety nets and related communal benefits here in the United States prompt me to offer a potential answer, or at least an opinion based on personal observations. The potential is there to take our collective power back, if we recognize how it is being taken from us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrW5NEznqlcjf8J_BIAZKF_Tj88jvIilWHlM8Tvm2WMj3-kWfTvN5Uj8pCBeLHHyN13p8hZOOEZrTHbQn_kYWFDP_vniweY9KWHqvSo32hdiTdUlBJJsSaNCzSNls5z2HAUCAKkMrXqaLkU_v9gtbzQGBVb0D0oaXQetYbgzoAvXEq6aCcQYpCS3RwJA/s1180/LadyJusticeOfIndiaLinkedInB.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrW5NEznqlcjf8J_BIAZKF_Tj88jvIilWHlM8Tvm2WMj3-kWfTvN5Uj8pCBeLHHyN13p8hZOOEZrTHbQn_kYWFDP_vniweY9KWHqvSo32hdiTdUlBJJsSaNCzSNls5z2HAUCAKkMrXqaLkU_v9gtbzQGBVb0D0oaXQetYbgzoAvXEq6aCcQYpCS3RwJA/s400/LadyJusticeOfIndiaLinkedInB.jpg"/></a></div><center>Altered image from Komal Tyagi on LinkedIn</center><p>The theme the two posts have in common is that we are quick to come to the aid of friends and neighbors, and often strangers through news stories and crowdsourcing platforms like GoFundMe, but we refuse to unite in support of single-payer healthcare and other measures that would alleviate much of that suffering and financial stress. Why is this so? Why must we plead for our lives when faced with a medical emergency that we cannot afford to treat? Why are some so opposed to universal healthcare?</p><blockquote><i>We all know the slogan “justice is blind,” and it should, ideally, apply to charity and generosity, too.”</i></blockquote><p>My initial reaction, and belief, is that it comes down to personal choice. I am not speaking merely of a choice in medical providers. I am talking about a desire for control of who <i>receives</i> those benefits. We do not like others deciding our fate, yet that is exactly the kind of power some people want to have over others. The polarized political landscape only fuels that view, and adds to the intensity of its anger.</p><p>A good case in point is donating blood. I try to do this with some degree of regularity. The thing is, I do not get to decide who receives my blood, much as I sometimes wish I had that authority. It could be going to a drunk driver, or to their victim. It could be going to a drug addict, or to a priest. My blood could save the life of a gay man suffering from hemophilia, or to a straight woman. My red blood could go to a deep red Republican gun advocate or a dyed-in-the-wool blue Democrat who might otherwise lose their child to gun violence. That is the blessing and curse of relinquishing my desire for control. We all know the slogan “justice is blind,” and it should, ideally, apply to charity and generosity, too.</p><p>There is another insidious barrier to reforming all social programs. We are led to believe that capital is scarce. Money is not scarce. It is being <i>hoarded</i> by a small percentage of our population, or in the case of the U.S. government, by the Department of Defense. All media are guilty of purporting many myths about this. Excessive wealth is celebrated everywhere we look. We are instructed that this lifestyle is the one we should aspire to, and that if we work hard enough, we can attain it. We are led to believe that wealthy people earned their status and influence. We (White people, mostly) believe that financial resources are distributed equitably, and any attempts at “redistributing wealth” are sacrilegious.</p><p>None of this is true. We should be aspiring to financial balance, with enough extra to travel, educate ourselves, gift to others, and occasionally indulge ourselves. The rich and powerful of today did not earn their wealth. They either inherited money, or achieved their profits on the backs of laborers working under them, or both. Wealth is not distributed fairly; it is protected where it is through tax laws written by (surprise!) other excessively wealthy people we elect to office. Our capitalist economic system further ensures that wealth is already redistributed vertically <i>upwards</i>, not horizontally over the human landscape.</p><p>We can change things, fairly rapidly, if we recognize our power as consumers. Drop out of the corporate marketplace as much as you can. Reward excellence with your dollars, starve businesses that treat labor, consumers, and the environment poorly. Put at least some of your money in a credit union. Speak out and speak up for what you believe in. Let no one wonder where you stand. Remember that your experiences and knowledge are currency, too, far more valuable than paper or coin. Above all, be generous, even to strangers. Live a good example and others will follow. Don’t boast, simply act.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-19242660027616191092023-02-10T20:36:00.001-08:002023-04-07T11:01:53.568-07:00The Colonist I Am<p>It is not commonplace for anyone to acknowledge their ignorance of, or complicity with, colonialism, in either a historical context or in the present day, but here I am, about to do exactly that. Some of our political leaders, and I use that word with great sarcasm, would prefer we remain uneducated, and our children left in the dark as well. It is up to each of us to confront our own blind spots and inadvertent participation in continued colonialism and racism. The overwhelming aspects of both are subtle and insidious, most of the time.</p><p>Someone on my late father's side of the family did our genealogy, and traced our New World roots to the <i>Mayflower</i>, quite literally. There were one hundred and two passengers, and a crew of thirty more, on that famous ship, which landed on the shores of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1620. A year prior, a different ship, the <i>White Lion</i>, brought the first African slaves to a colony in Virginia. Slaves of Spanish explorers coming to North America predate the English transport by nearly a century. My forefathers may not have started the fire, but they made no effort to extinguish it, either.</p><blockquote><i>Somewhere between inappropriate pride in a White heritage, and shame and guilt about the past, there must be a plan of personal action to rectify injustices.</i></blockquote><p>Did any of my ancestors actually <i>own</i> slaves? I have no idea, though it might be worth exploring. I would be interested to know if my family tree has any ties to Indigenous Americans, too. Is it necessary, though, to have a personal stake in the history of slavery to have empathy for the enslaved, the imprisoned, the opressed and murdered? I think not. Somewhere between inappropriate pride in a White heritage, and shame and guilt about the past, there must be a plan of personal action to rectify injustices. This applies even if you have not personally committed some overt act of bigotry, or incidental trespass. It begins with self-evaluation.</p><p>In creating a presentation recently for an organization of entomologists, it occurred to me how much overlap there is between environmental devastation and racism and colonialism. I asked myself why the scale of agriculture has intensified, beyond the Industrial Revolution, which amplified the Agricultural Revolution through mechanization, and now automation. Is it because we cannot feed the world any other way? No. In fact, those of us in the Western Hemisphere have an expectation that other nations feed us first, and themselves second.</p><blockquote><i>I drink coffee. I love chocolate....Do my choices in the mareketplace make me a colonist all over again? Still?</i></blockquote><p><i>Mea culpa</i>. I eat bananas. I drink coffee. I <i>love</i> chocolate, and I no doubt consume my fair share of products made with palm oil. I enjoy pineapple on occasion. These crops have traditionally required deforestation to clear the land for their vast plantations. That is an environmental holocaust, but it also impacts indigenous human populations in a negative fashion. Where they are growing export crops they are not growing food for themselves.</p><p>Do my choices in the marketplace make me a colonist all over again? Still? Maybe. I have some soul-searching to do, some critical decisions to make if I do not wish to contribute to poverty and economic colonialism.</p><p>Being an ally to Black and Indigenous people here at home requires a different kind of effort. First, we have to commit to educating ourselves. Beyond Black History month, we need to examine the impediments that we have erected, on purpose or by ignorance, that prohibit or discourage participation in our workplaces, our public spaces, and neighborhoods and communities. In short, being an ally does not begin and end with joining protests over the most recent death at the hands of law enforcement, or other racist hate crime. The "everyday racism" is more difficult to detect and takes more work to eliminate.</p><blockquote><i>If we can afford to finance wars, militarize the police, subsidize certain industries and corporations, and protect those with excessive wealth through tax legislation, then we can damn well afford reparations.</i></blockquote><p>At a national level, there is talk of extending reparations: tangible financial benefits for the descendants of slaves. That puts the onous on Black people to prove they are related to former slaves. In my opinion, reparations should be made to Blacks, period, as they continue to face racism. I would also argue that reparations be given to Indigenous Americans. As it stands now, Whites are still mostly deciding where Indigenous and Black Americans can live, what jobs they can hold, and what rights they can enjoy.</p><p>Can we <i>afford</i> to pay reparations? If we can afford to finance wars, militarize the police, subsidize certain industries and corporations, and protect those with excessive wealth through tax legislation, then we can damn well afford reparations. You know where this is going. We should be paying reparations <i>instead</i> of financing endeavors that only serve to enrich those who are already wealthy.</p><p>As a Caucasian, cis, straight male, I do not feel threatened in any way by the idea of empowering those who have faced nothing but adversity for centuries on end. To the contrary, I believe my life is enriched beyond measure by knowing people of all identities. I learn from them, and I am a better, more sensitive and empathetic human being for it. There is no down side.</p><p>Learning how I can effectively participate in decolonization and anti-racism is an ongoing journey I have barely embarked on. With my White privilege comes the luxury of time to think, read, and listen. You, dear reader and follower, are invited to contribute your input, start conversations, and otherwise advance our collective goal of diversity, equality, and inclusion.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-75309633122248496702023-01-21T13:02:00.003-08:002023-01-21T13:02:51.671-08:00One Hundred Percent AI-Free!<p>I am old enough to remember a humorous theoretical problem that asked something to the effect of how many years would it take a group of monkeys sitting at typewriters to crank out the works of Shakespeare. Fast forward to today, in the age of machine learning, and the questions are barely theoretical and the time frame horrifyingly immediate. How long before artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms make writers and other artists obsolete?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEoa02yDp1F2Cm6GkmOrIxtg9_zG47z0iwMKTojSqInCmv30BtOeitaV6glsaSLrfsJsBzEuFcYTcW4-9OIXUtKYKnzdR9x4NdfTEDzRHOvsgqXP5yJTtd25k8742e8G-ie57cOrPbwEcyE2kgvaJwDU66Z1eiYPrS0ozqgFOGDhSkSWFUB3GrPfFYQ/s512/EricAvatar2021.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEoa02yDp1F2Cm6GkmOrIxtg9_zG47z0iwMKTojSqInCmv30BtOeitaV6glsaSLrfsJsBzEuFcYTcW4-9OIXUtKYKnzdR9x4NdfTEDzRHOvsgqXP5yJTtd25k8742e8G-ie57cOrPbwEcyE2kgvaJwDU66Z1eiYPrS0ozqgFOGDhSkSWFUB3GrPfFYQ/s400/EricAvatar2021.JPG"/></a></div><center>My one and only avatar, courtesy of my partner, Heidi, running an image through a popular filter in 2021</center><br><p>There is a lot to unpack here, and if you have not devoted time to follow digital and technological advances, you have some catching up to do. I am grateful there are watchdogs like Sean Thomas, who recently wrote an illuminating overview (but dark forecast) in <a href=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/ai-is-the-end-of-writing/?fbclid=IwAR2Zk_5y2LBydOqhkLDyfoCVNjdeyHqbe678SfN-qm22n0thW9WCNLZRnhk><i>The Spectator</i></a>.Maggie Appleton penned an even more thoughtful summary in <a href=https://maggieappleton.com/ai-dark-forest?fbclid=IwAR197-zWm4-xPSjJPVJ9oH7th0MSy1bqTYVxafpV2wIz0FSOHdFG14y4nM0>her blog</a>. Few of us in the creative fields pay close enough attention to these things, if only in part because we do not want to know how threatening it truly is.</p><p>Artificial intelligence, as it applies to artistic endeavors in general, only came on to my own radar when friends in social media, namely Facebook, began to post about how AI images are generated. My understanding is that the algorithms are “trained” through exposure to countless existing images, overwhelmingly created by living, breathing humans. This is a form of data mining that does not credit its sources. An AI image is essentially a composite of an unknown number of previous images that informed its digital genesis. With no credit, let alone compensation, to the original artists, this is tantamount to theft.</p><p>The technology is also quickly outpacing the ability of governments to regulate it. Heck, most people in the U.S. Congress are probably blissfully unaware of it. This has not escaped the notice of the legal community, though, and a <a href=https://stablediffusionlitigation.com/?fbclid=IwAR2bD5UHcvaOZNhXr3NQRIrTNBCSBx0yVDMOFwkZFb_-m6LKPZn4t4YBoMQ>class-action lawsuit</a> was filed recently on behalf of artists whose works were used without authorization by an AI program known as Stable Diffusion.</p><p>Ironically, and perhaps tragically, a previous legal case, <a href=https://towardsdatascience.com/the-most-important-supreme-court-decision-for-data-science-and-machine-learning-44cfc1c1bcaf><i>Author’s Guild v. Google</i></a>, resulted in a favorable decision for Google Books, which took substantial liberties in providing free “previews” of text and images for books in its search engine. Shoot, I thought that was a great thing at the time the <i>Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America</i> came out. Only a couple of spreads of plates and text would have sufficed, though.</p><p>I hate to be a cynic, but it seems apparent that corporations ultimately want a world with nothing but consumers. Everything on the production side they want automated, or at least outsourced at poverty wages. Material wealth is for CEOs and majority shareholders. Never mind that without earning a living, there can be no consumers. That is an afterthought in this day and age. Advertising copy and imagery will soon be done by computer, and does art serve any other purpose anyway?</p><p>To the best of my ability, I will be avoiding anything AI, and will not use it in creating my own writing and photography. Heck, I do not even use Grammarly, maybe because I am fortunate to have friends who are better editors than I am. They will not hesitate to message me with anything that needs correcting. Meanwhile, I will be a happy agitator for the rights of all individual human beings, especially those who are creators. Let not the corporate voices drown out the disadvantaged and underrepresented. Not on my watch.</p><p>I want to give special thanks to my friends and colleagues who originally provided the links cited here: Gwen Pearson, J.C. Scott, Steve Taylor, and Jonathan Kochmer.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-54356677281832491492023-01-05T15:23:00.000-08:002023-01-05T15:23:00.980-08:00Book Review: The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair With Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YwhSVYGrunwNpfzyNuQraUO84L9QZcHF8HJ6MqfAVXvqkEBxrqRxgCorOSW40Mlnn0MW-VL7eyucpjwswmCiNUdKX56NnNbPFsxu60-dxswFF8bQdFAXOGOx-QRQO6nNTzCkLIkqPlH4c7zQj_PR8DSVoliw5AJZ4aHZ5VRD1dMr18gbsoLMAOKjUg/s782/TheHomePlace_PB_300dpi_RGB_0.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YwhSVYGrunwNpfzyNuQraUO84L9QZcHF8HJ6MqfAVXvqkEBxrqRxgCorOSW40Mlnn0MW-VL7eyucpjwswmCiNUdKX56NnNbPFsxu60-dxswFF8bQdFAXOGOx-QRQO6nNTzCkLIkqPlH4c7zQj_PR8DSVoliw5AJZ4aHZ5VRD1dMr18gbsoLMAOKjUg/s400/TheHomePlace_PB_300dpi_RGB_0.jpg"/></a></div><p>I cannot help but see the irony in writing a review of a book written by a self-described “odd bird” in a blog entitled <i>Sense of Misplaced</i>. Perfect. What author J. Drew Lanham manages to convey brilliantly is that biophilia is a desirable affliction that transcends all colors of human diversity. <i>The Home Place</i> is a clarifying window into what it means to be an outsider among the privileged Caucasians who dominate the fields of biology, ecology, and wildlife conservation. Even casual birding presents challenges, but Lanham offers hope for a more integrated future.</p><p>Dr. Lanham and I are close in age, so it was intriguing to see what similarities of experience we shared given graphic differences in our home places. He is a Black man. I am not. He has siblings, and now children of his own. I do not. His upbringing was rural, mine urban. I am certain, however, that we both colored the same mimeographed songbird outlines in our respective elementary schools, even though there are no Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, or Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in western Oregon. No “markingbirds,” either. Ok, end of anything “me,” here, though a literary memoir would fail miserably if it did not spark memories in the reader’s mind, and evoke empathy and agreement.</p><p>The ecosystems of place, time, family, faith, academia, economy, and wild nature are all woven together seamlessly in <i>The Home Place</i>. Each one influences all the others, none standing alone. Through it all, Lanham expresses an ethical philosophy and physical and emotional vulnerability that is obviously authentic. He would never call himself brave, let alone heroic, but in many ways he is exactly that. Lanham carries a reverence for life that applies to every aspect, from familial relationships to hunting, birding, and conservation research.</p><p>The book is organized along the trajectory of Lanham’s personal and professional life, beginning as a member of a familial “flock,” and progressing through “fledgling” to full-blown “flight.” Today, Dr. Lanham is positively soaring, having recently received a MacArthur Foundation fellowship, recipient one of the prestigious “genius grants” the foundation awards to exceptional individuals. Indeed, Lanham is one of those rare birds able to effortlessly navigate both the creative and scientific realms, bringing a unique perspective to both academic and public spheres.</p><p>No one would fault the author for having an angry tone given past and present injustices to their demographic. Instead, Lanham manages to tread that fine line between justified hostility and denial that historical and personal transgressions hindered their life at all. He is properly assertive, mournful for the lives of his ancestors, and insistent that things be made right.</p><p>We can all be better allies for reading <i>The Home Place</i>, a John Burroughs Medal Finalist as a "Nature Book of Uncommon Merit." It is an invitation to explore ourselves as well as the world around us, and to advocate for both biodiversity and human inclusivity.</p><p>In case you could not already surmise, I am highly recommending <i>The Home Place</i> for your personal library. It is like adding the work of an esteemed artist to your office wall. Whenever I am feeling a loss, be it mourning the loss of a favorite wild place, or simply at a loss for words, or way to communicate powerfully, I can pick up this book and be inspired all over again. <i>The Home Place</i> was published by <a href=https://milkweed.org/book/the-home-place>Milkweed Editions</a>, a non-profit entity located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2016. The book is 217 pages.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-37568885374224991422022-12-08T16:21:00.000-08:002022-12-08T16:21:52.015-08:00The Comfort and Joy of Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYu40BoPyFWVE3EAK8-jk9VkRCiQiSfdqBObpIreePguqbV-HtsMWiouvT_5iXlHn1o8GTohiKMfcHnjcUxHzO8qoyd3dns3Jh5_ZOpvQvc85-x5lbnRgeU5bRssvC2ZzSrYMXDnYvW_rbVG70BFeNs5Gn4BdqJOB3FuYJpOVPYa5TSFONY-z3KcZc2Q/s3940/IMG_7741%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="2936" data-original-width="3940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYu40BoPyFWVE3EAK8-jk9VkRCiQiSfdqBObpIreePguqbV-HtsMWiouvT_5iXlHn1o8GTohiKMfcHnjcUxHzO8qoyd3dns3Jh5_ZOpvQvc85-x5lbnRgeU5bRssvC2ZzSrYMXDnYvW_rbVG70BFeNs5Gn4BdqJOB3FuYJpOVPYa5TSFONY-z3KcZc2Q/s400/IMG_7741%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>In an otherwise winter-dead landscape, wild birds bring a reminder that animate life still exists. The sun still rises, the Earth still turns, the seasons march on. When the frenetic pace of humanity becomes too much, birds offer a sense of peace, a reset button that allows us to relax a moment. These basic sentiments and sensations are rarely cited as reason enough for conserving our feathered friends, nor used in arguing that we have a right <i>to</i> nature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPelVBlc1bzFedlTrKTdfFdDc7vvFFoNGQFDqx9dtSXdEyleWH9APwlAHin9uJmID8p34U73e24E87m0ClvYMcVQeNJQaoKOOhDAYbBFHgBRqo0EwSJ4k1YUb18i4Xw_lUDyxg5YKpUu1r3YBzLk7FzeOAJV0ZlMVtGYns98EYYha22aVPZ0sL1C-Rw/s2320/IMG_9412%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1791" data-original-width="2320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPelVBlc1bzFedlTrKTdfFdDc7vvFFoNGQFDqx9dtSXdEyleWH9APwlAHin9uJmID8p34U73e24E87m0ClvYMcVQeNJQaoKOOhDAYbBFHgBRqo0EwSJ4k1YUb18i4Xw_lUDyxg5YKpUu1r3YBzLk7FzeOAJV0ZlMVtGYns98EYYha22aVPZ0sL1C-Rw/s400/IMG_9412%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>My partner and I live in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA, less than two blocks from the federal penitentiary. One could hardly imagine a more stark, vivid contrast between the freedom of flight and the permanence of incarceration. We can see the dome from our kitchen window, but in the foreground is our back yard, enclosed by a wooden fence and one wall of the detached garage. Heidi insisted we put up feeders, and that gesture has been a blessing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7su_5J5Ht_FqirAd7fZiuUrTT0I-iQuZ9rhuMmauMD42utMJslbRF4NqWXyx5HixiB3Gsb7XFyu7ZazW6GujvHAUZ-euM4PQFujtBeT8FuzY1S03BBn_2h8270BqjQHcBy0Tb3ARQrqZ_1sQZ7vaPzdWBr9MKGdcKrZf18923EHM0TVSysk1XLNA2Q/s5184/IMG_7638.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7su_5J5Ht_FqirAd7fZiuUrTT0I-iQuZ9rhuMmauMD42utMJslbRF4NqWXyx5HixiB3Gsb7XFyu7ZazW6GujvHAUZ-euM4PQFujtBeT8FuzY1S03BBn_2h8270BqjQHcBy0Tb3ARQrqZ_1sQZ7vaPzdWBr9MKGdcKrZf18923EHM0TVSysk1XLNA2Q/s400/IMG_7638.JPG"/></a></div><p>We moved from a dense residential neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colorado well over a year ago now, and I have found it nearly impossible to embrace this much smaller town, overwhelmingly conservative in the political sense. Prisons, churches, and Fort Leavenworth define the entire county. The human atmosphere has been utterly stifling, and I have found my creativity and productivity suffering. Everyone I see looks old, unhappy, often in poor health.</p><p>By contrast, the birds that visit our feeders are energetic, alert, colorful. They chatter and sing as they compete for seed and suet, or communicate with fledglings they are still feeding (I’m looking at you, White-breasted Nuthatches). The birds are at least a reminder of what <i>can</i> be, the vibrant, happy lives we could have if we only chose to. We subscribe to far too many unhealthy pursuits and addictions as we try to escape the prisons of capitalism, familial discord, and other stressors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQnK0AM6gAIPTwp0LJu6RqBfpQ8pq6DvrV1X3sOKUgLCgWvxTVd02nz-wpmNeeR-1oTZc7UsBBdBaU_o-0Tf11W3RpKMr3NTLDoFld89uagHa-k7MiMvWB4xCH4U_2o1leo885dm1cecEFVr0x8BODvow5Ts7ilDMU56NKA514ELKwSZ1JDKCdhY-3Q/s1640/IMG_9475%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="1517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQnK0AM6gAIPTwp0LJu6RqBfpQ8pq6DvrV1X3sOKUgLCgWvxTVd02nz-wpmNeeR-1oTZc7UsBBdBaU_o-0Tf11W3RpKMr3NTLDoFld89uagHa-k7MiMvWB4xCH4U_2o1leo885dm1cecEFVr0x8BODvow5Ts7ilDMU56NKA514ELKwSZ1JDKCdhY-3Q/s400/IMG_9475%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>As I write this, the only sounds audible through the walls and windows are gunshots at the firing range on the prison property, light vehicle traffic, and an occasional dog bark. We wait for the birds to visit in waves of brief duration, usually mixed flocks of House Sparrow, juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Dove, and woodpeckers. House Finches prefer to have the feeders to themselves and seldom appear with the other birds. What competition there is tends to be relatively peaceful, though until we can translate perfectly the calls of birds, who knows what is profanity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7YHtUcpSWqrTXIYCM6xRXSPHL9zgQ0u_hDHhTYltTcFfzwUEMIG_qC91iumLtUyPegYBhGHAKjAON_NZdnAX_VBUtLtVkfRhRFcur49qCVfTAWj_n1Qb2Lt_RA4ZyhApmF1wGXWcAOEMEdrTFVdGZ1vMg7kw_wLXDSij9Goy43ydhkMhGtMgZfLbMw/s1753/IMG_9320%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="1753" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7YHtUcpSWqrTXIYCM6xRXSPHL9zgQ0u_hDHhTYltTcFfzwUEMIG_qC91iumLtUyPegYBhGHAKjAON_NZdnAX_VBUtLtVkfRhRFcur49qCVfTAWj_n1Qb2Lt_RA4ZyhApmF1wGXWcAOEMEdrTFVdGZ1vMg7kw_wLXDSij9Goy43ydhkMhGtMgZfLbMw/s400/IMG_9320%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>Birds are not here for our entertainment, of course. Science tells us they fill niches unoccupied by other species, and provide ecosystem services such as membership in the food web, seed dispersal, and suppression of insects that would overwhelm entire ecosystems without checks and balances from avian predators. Still, such arguments are dry, impersonal, and relatively weak in convincing lawmakers and corporate executives of the need for conservation, preservation, and creation of bird-friendly habitat.</p><p>That is where comfort and joy come in. Birds, and other undomesticated organisms, are critical for the personal and social functioning of a great many people. The passion for birds is so great that it creates jobs itself: Seed growers and processors, feeder manufacturers, optical industries, travel and tourism, and parks and recreation agencies all depend on, and cater to, birders. Artists! Increasingly, landscape architects are specializing in planning and executing native plantings with birds in mind. Failing to acknowledge the comfort and joy that wild birds bring to citizens is an affront to human rights, and threatens to undermine our collective mental health, and even some livelihoods.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAz_HG0FzFxJ0iW0Yy8eGGMlietKzDkI7tFvCYjw5O1tIBzLc9OnoHYX4gV4RSAiXJdoE9t64vbqCQir21Zm0j8whhOwLG4IynPFloMzsyULZGK8Zh60CgjgaQBv0JdseXDQ2O82MpgF-N5UU-2K0SzD3Gmn2L4UJJNijhRZXcsRXNslIKHYOmx-Pyg/s4154/IMG_9372%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3122" data-original-width="4154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAz_HG0FzFxJ0iW0Yy8eGGMlietKzDkI7tFvCYjw5O1tIBzLc9OnoHYX4gV4RSAiXJdoE9t64vbqCQir21Zm0j8whhOwLG4IynPFloMzsyULZGK8Zh60CgjgaQBv0JdseXDQ2O82MpgF-N5UU-2K0SzD3Gmn2L4UJJNijhRZXcsRXNslIKHYOmx-Pyg/s400/IMG_9372%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>My partner and I have the luxury of White privilege, enough disposable income to feed the birds, and enough time to enjoy them. We can even travel to see birds elsewhere. We’re so far ambulatory and without most other physical challenges. It is incumbent upon us, however, to improve inclusiveness and promote diversity in birding whenever and wherever we can. We cannot allow anyone to be less than a proud birder, or birdwatcher, free of derision and shame perpetrated by those who have no appreciation for the living world in its natural state.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5wdxnpemo50pEoaKu6NFqJRjeikKOROc8AnQvGXPYkNTANX0u_xl0r7-bSX7jCLsmjxZNxCy9dO2CVosRmgmf8BiuFiTfOm9_gtTNmRo3tNn11kSF9lWkSTFFyINGLGU-GzdhaAYVy38uAgx_Uj3jMhMWcoIa5k34Ab83axG0qh_N_jo6szl-AUv9Q/s1899/IMG_9367%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1490" data-original-width="1899" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5wdxnpemo50pEoaKu6NFqJRjeikKOROc8AnQvGXPYkNTANX0u_xl0r7-bSX7jCLsmjxZNxCy9dO2CVosRmgmf8BiuFiTfOm9_gtTNmRo3tNn11kSF9lWkSTFFyINGLGU-GzdhaAYVy38uAgx_Uj3jMhMWcoIa5k34Ab83axG0qh_N_jo6szl-AUv9Q/s400/IMG_9367%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div><p>Share your bird-joy. Wrap others in philosophical, feathery comfort. Lend your binoculars and field guides. Donate to local, national, and international organizations promoting birding. Do not neglect those aimed at Indigenous, Black, LGBTQ, women, and other traditionally ignored demographics. There may be no greater gift you can give this holiday season, or at any other time of year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zT7tNxfdjppJ_B3i2wgH71F44w3Di8RKiTKVTm3LIzEjWGCFbkDUe1diq1BZ9EYGQjsTdlB_pFJB3RY5CWjBSSGlKGHAmoN4816zYsnNCjh-gHFyKYS9tQbO-5ZRBZrpOt3yb-cwt6etHbNxZyWZjNpVYow6rKr5msHwRdRGa7x0bnBG0yXA5QxWIA/s2610/IMG_9356%20%282%29.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="2362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zT7tNxfdjppJ_B3i2wgH71F44w3Di8RKiTKVTm3LIzEjWGCFbkDUe1diq1BZ9EYGQjsTdlB_pFJB3RY5CWjBSSGlKGHAmoN4816zYsnNCjh-gHFyKYS9tQbO-5ZRBZrpOt3yb-cwt6etHbNxZyWZjNpVYow6rKr5msHwRdRGa7x0bnBG0yXA5QxWIA/s400/IMG_9356%20%282%29.JPG"/></a></div>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-22667176215153799152022-11-06T08:26:00.002-08:002022-11-06T08:26:52.083-08:00The Changing Conversation Around Invasive Species<p>Recently, the debate about invasive species has become more polarized than ever, with a degree of defensiveness and anger not seen previously. The reasons for this are many, some difficult to admit to.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcl4BBHIuBa8pxaosDk_IVRRtGpG-1nOV74K_E5hk-7ydUyKQgcob5k0VIJUMYr9-5MiTCjhiUK5FSJPk8yLF6jH_iXK5I_A1OdbSpue6oR0MhrM7BE2NizoFkx8kNk9qObvDRMKQpLp5dHpeHBfDBKjzct6QpNIQ619xuJHXghQqOz1mlcj_3DCL8/s2941/ChineseClematisCO1b.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="2422" data-original-width="2941" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcl4BBHIuBa8pxaosDk_IVRRtGpG-1nOV74K_E5hk-7ydUyKQgcob5k0VIJUMYr9-5MiTCjhiUK5FSJPk8yLF6jH_iXK5I_A1OdbSpue6oR0MhrM7BE2NizoFkx8kNk9qObvDRMKQpLp5dHpeHBfDBKjzct6QpNIQ619xuJHXghQqOz1mlcj_3DCL8/s400/ChineseClematisCO1b.jpg"/></a></div><center>Chinese Clematis may be invasive, but it deserves a less bigoted name.</center><p>I attended a webinar a few weeks ago in which the presenter asserted that “invasive species” is a “militarized term.” My instinctive reaction was that this was accusatory, bordering on defamation of science, when there is clear evidence that the introduction of a species to a new ecosystem <i>can</i> have devastating consequences.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIkmaDcvf6nfTGloM8LITINp6CfYVLWca97jNKAMMdI7aiBPt5iHs2aTGy7sAu0GZC-gl-60gbKeKb0XV3dKB0Ajp5OS7OeFoJieDyD-lScwyks4G5ohzjCyVmLPp3hFv81vdwCcfZ2ZOxLZEi2TwcAKg7LxCqTCqbworAZd-5gQLRGMnPLy05qsj/s1823/gypsycat1a.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1823" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIkmaDcvf6nfTGloM8LITINp6CfYVLWca97jNKAMMdI7aiBPt5iHs2aTGy7sAu0GZC-gl-60gbKeKb0XV3dKB0Ajp5OS7OeFoJieDyD-lScwyks4G5ohzjCyVmLPp3hFv81vdwCcfZ2ZOxLZEi2TwcAKg7LxCqTCqbworAZd-5gQLRGMnPLy05qsj/s400/gypsycat1a.jpg"/></a></div><center>Spongy Moth is still a bonafide forest pest, but now has a more appropriate moniker.</center><p>Pondering his comment further, it occurred to me that most of the animals, and plants, we label as invasive have some sort of obvious and negative <i>economic</i> impact. We have, as a consumer culture, become conditioned to frame everything in terms of business and monetary interests rather than ecological concerns. This has become more complicated by angst over climate change, and the resulting vulnerability of humanity to emerging threats, be they viruses or “murder hornets.”</p><a title="Yasunori Koide, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20200512-P1090983_Vespa_mandarinia_japonica.jpg"><img width="512" alt="20200512-P1090983 Vespa mandarinia japonica" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/20200512-P1090983_Vespa_mandarinia_japonica.jpg/512px-20200512-P1090983_Vespa_mandarinia_japonica.jpg"></a><center>© Yasunori Koide and Wikimedia Commons. Asian Giant Hornet only "murders" in the beehive, but is a serious threat to apiculture because of that proclivity.</center><p>The sudden, and/or overwhelming appearance of a novel organism is going to cause alarm, and the public seldom has comprehensive, appropriate knowledge for interpretation of potential impacts. We are at the mercy of what news outlets tell us. Because traditional print, radio, and television media now compete with social media, sensationalism is the order of the day. “Click bait” banners prevail over more accurate but less provocative headlines.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPVP6Ql35pWSDjtV86oljooC31y-KKvodghiz6dqRsbLsn293dRtZERzlhuW6a0h7LftHKIbkvIdiLcLKq6pFtQlviCQAzEMt_r57RcfUPvXePCJNEyJZ1TJeuI9LH_Drte31rD9-xU1owm1WoaIDZoyw1vXCFSnX4VKmZ5n47X4VyjYkhnU3FFOS/s1200/JoroSpiderKimFlemingBugguide1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPVP6Ql35pWSDjtV86oljooC31y-KKvodghiz6dqRsbLsn293dRtZERzlhuW6a0h7LftHKIbkvIdiLcLKq6pFtQlviCQAzEMt_r57RcfUPvXePCJNEyJZ1TJeuI9LH_Drte31rD9-xU1owm1WoaIDZoyw1vXCFSnX4VKmZ5n47X4VyjYkhnU3FFOS/s400/JoroSpiderKimFlemingBugguide1.jpg"/></a></div><center>© Kim Fleming and Bugguide.net. Joro Spider, <i>Trichonephila clavata</i>, is not currently considered invasive.</center><p>Initial forecasts can also be premature. The jury is still out on whether some recently-introduced species will become problematic. They may not. The Joro Spider is a case in point. It is locally abundant in some parts of the southeast U.S., but whether this translates to a displacement of native spiders remains an unanswered question.</p><p>We collectively have a fascination with heroes and villains, too, and there are no more menacing villains than alien-looking insects, spiders, and other arthropods. Fantasy melds with reality and it becomes difficult to separate the two if you are not scientifically literate, or have a business model that demands public hatred of a particular creature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_OfNVg6SXWhCco3jo0U21sFrhhc7AgeVFZ6yE09MgRZfEPYVduOPKlxDdcIMeRbsnFOHzeFfVBv5SnMiani3GKb7r6FvE9Xbzipf9GRV02lKrCPAHH_71M_X0wnlNWKydjB2uuMF151Mf5KQi3t6WHYHute54j5Q_UOSHCnp2_RQo1fpOUG8UyzB/s2700/SpottedLanternflyUSDAARS.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_OfNVg6SXWhCco3jo0U21sFrhhc7AgeVFZ6yE09MgRZfEPYVduOPKlxDdcIMeRbsnFOHzeFfVBv5SnMiani3GKb7r6FvE9Xbzipf9GRV02lKrCPAHH_71M_X0wnlNWKydjB2uuMF151Mf5KQi3t6WHYHute54j5Q_UOSHCnp2_RQo1fpOUG8UyzB/s400/SpottedLanternflyUSDAARS.jpg"/></a></div><center>© USDA ARS, public domain. Spotted Lanternfly, <i>Lycorma delicatula</i>, adult and nymphs. This species is a potential agricultural pest of serious magnitude.</center><p>In opposition to nativism is the idea that there is no such thing as invasive species. After all, man is part of nature, and therefore our actions are natural processes. The outcomes of those activities are circumstances to which we, and other species, will adapt.</p><p>It may be no coincidence that a backlash against the idea of invasive species is more evident now that we are recognizing, and attempting to mitigate, a history of colonialism. A convincing argument could be made that White settlers are the original invasive species. Here, in North America, we annihilated and displaced Indigenous members of our own species. We enslaved others. To this day we continue missionary work and other forms of colonialism. Therefore, the idea of invasive species becomes one of self-loathing, certainly an eventual threat to White supremacy and privilege. White people do not want to see themselves as villains.</p><p>Meanwhile, we demonize human immigrants and refugees as criminals and threats to domestic labor pools. We clamor for the closure of borders to our fellow humans, but allow our boundaries to be permeated by everything else. Not that human-imposed boundaries reflect natural ones.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsSZsiXYV1dyLbvgQ2B47ADAYqaEnJJIYLNffX65e8Lqkp0cgs_KMhH_nuiooLCnCTPbHDouWq36E1P_-USZRD3YNmlba1Ihbg43iwIcZnL2mHXFOEypaqUdvJvzf8UEKUvGCaQOEvBPUb6e4nFJFgkdQ2pJclcXAF74XxRk-A453VhUFdc6IhCft/s1559/AraneusDiadematusOR1a.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="1435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsSZsiXYV1dyLbvgQ2B47ADAYqaEnJJIYLNffX65e8Lqkp0cgs_KMhH_nuiooLCnCTPbHDouWq36E1P_-USZRD3YNmlba1Ihbg43iwIcZnL2mHXFOEypaqUdvJvzf8UEKUvGCaQOEvBPUb6e4nFJFgkdQ2pJclcXAF74XxRk-A453VhUFdc6IhCft/s400/AraneusDiadematusOR1a.jpg"/></a></div><center>The Cross Orbweaver, <i>Araneus diadematus</i>, is an example of a naturalized arachnid in North America.</center><p>Scientists have an uphill battle in resolving these opposing perspectives and initiating constructive dialogue. Looking to the past we see how some species from foreign lands have become “naturalized” over time, becoming innocuous additions to our flora and fauna. The average citizen may be shocked to learn that dandelions are not native to the U.S. They have become a fixture in our lawnscapes, even if we are instructed to use weed-killers against them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh2laq1dx_56Bz6LfzIRmfEVzL4ngMELz3uvK51vV5laoa_yktDPa9mxEEriJ2-YY8jWGtFOEXLKPCFe5KwqcpR_QW7sSO9cs0r8rKpfs6Fjm2AQ7VT14692bzdDUsHnawOBb2tVYDDKbwU-Dr4pScFN43osYCgIAPCgwZlV8nimw2L_6UbPJQOXn/s3764/EuphorbiaDonkeytailCityNature2020a1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="2995" data-original-width="3764" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh2laq1dx_56Bz6LfzIRmfEVzL4ngMELz3uvK51vV5laoa_yktDPa9mxEEriJ2-YY8jWGtFOEXLKPCFe5KwqcpR_QW7sSO9cs0r8rKpfs6Fjm2AQ7VT14692bzdDUsHnawOBb2tVYDDKbwU-Dr4pScFN43osYCgIAPCgwZlV8nimw2L_6UbPJQOXn/s400/EuphorbiaDonkeytailCityNature2020a1.jpg"/></a></div><center>Myrtle Spurge, aka "Donkeytail," <i>Euphorbia myrsinites</i>, is classified as a noxious weed in some jurisdictions, but not everywhere.</center><p>What is lost in all of this is attribution of the modern problem of invasive species to global consumer culture. Historically, human colonists brought other species with them as a guarantee of food and other necessary resources when venturing into unknown territory. Soon after, those species and their products became valuable in trade, a way to establish meaningful and positive relationships with Indigenous peoples, or other settlers. The pace of travel was slow, and the scale of enterprise miniscule compared to twenty-first century business.</p><p>Today, we mostly covet plants and animals of far-off lands. Plants, especially, can harbor potential insect pests. The<i>containers</i> used to transport international commerce are frequently occupied by insects, rodents, and other organisms. We seldom make that connection between our consumer habits and the state of ecosystems around the world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMUQKGDgGJf8nClbIpzGZ1Mbi_hhsSLjTvaBR_qhyuLoemhyMAAPcUUg_oDRZLU9SMx03dFm5NgARGI7Yg6PGQzUfGMuEJVWsVzP64TFChew4AT_owmQ5ZZX9slnYmtofAmimiFbx3Rf8uuvSryLsYCWNv6ZRKvvuwHFGyqyNcwa7sqf1rLOwZpRL/s2197/ReticPython1a.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1690" data-original-width="2197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMUQKGDgGJf8nClbIpzGZ1Mbi_hhsSLjTvaBR_qhyuLoemhyMAAPcUUg_oDRZLU9SMx03dFm5NgARGI7Yg6PGQzUfGMuEJVWsVzP64TFChew4AT_owmQ5ZZX9slnYmtofAmimiFbx3Rf8uuvSryLsYCWNv6ZRKvvuwHFGyqyNcwa7sqf1rLOwZpRL/s400/ReticPython1a.jpg"/></a></div><center>Captive Reticulated Python. Release of unwanted Burmese Pythons into the Everglades by irresponsible pet owners has been....problematic.</center><p>We cannot turn the clock back, but we should make more informed and conscientious individual choices in the marketplace. We should promote the welfare of Indigenous peoples, and actively seek their counsel and leadership in crafting a world better able to withstand climate change. A permanent end to colonialism would not be a bad thing, either.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-39291774315329218892022-10-17T16:18:00.002-07:002022-10-17T16:18:26.319-07:00Jim Anderson: My Original Mentor<p>Last week I learned that my first true mentor, Jim Anderson, passed away on September 22, 2022 at the age of 94. It was my intention to honor him while he was still among the living, but I did not make that enough of a priority. That oversight in no way reflects what a powerful and positive influence he was on my life, and the lives of so many others.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ4Y2ahHp7Wavl9eX_n7YWoQcOCS398sNkfDPqC7Yfto8dWjpFqIOFfk8P2SgziJUalBlWMQeFt11Y7AeNDSm-XzZOcIH8DRMrZz0_W8K6bBwe10cB5Ii_HYkG5UKtabF15C2R7xwzyIefwdrO-OqT8RnZHkfhBCrRctsZXu4CGcok2ycpiUn3gDt/s640/Jim-82.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ4Y2ahHp7Wavl9eX_n7YWoQcOCS398sNkfDPqC7Yfto8dWjpFqIOFfk8P2SgziJUalBlWMQeFt11Y7AeNDSm-XzZOcIH8DRMrZz0_W8K6bBwe10cB5Ii_HYkG5UKtabF15C2R7xwzyIefwdrO-OqT8RnZHkfhBCrRctsZXu4CGcok2ycpiUn3gDt/s400/Jim-82.jpeg"/></a></div><center>Jim Anderson at 82 years young</center><p>I am reasonably certain that my mother was the one who took the initiative in connecting me to Jim. She was a veteran in the television and radio industry, and at the time I first met Jim he was doing a local show on nature for Oregon Public Broadcasting. I seem to recall that our initial meeting was in his studio, in fact.</p><p>Concurrently, Jim was employed as an educator with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). From there, he became director of the Children’s Zoo and conservation and education programs at what was then the Portland Zoo (now the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park).</p><p>Jim introduced me to other biologists and naturalists, too, including Mike Houck, who went on to become the Urban Naturalist for the Audubon Society of Portland. Jim and Mike did programs at OMSI field stations and camps, which I had the privilege of visiting periodically on weekends.</p><p>The Nature Conservancy hired Jim to manage its Ramsey Canyon Preserve in the Huachuca Mountains of southeast Arizona for three years, but Jim and his wife Sue returned to his beloved Oregon to run the nature center at Sunriver resort south of Bend in the early 1970s. It was there that I caught up with him again. Had my late mother not been so overprotective, I might have spent time with him exploring lava tube caves, or maybe even assisting in banding raptors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8f3S69nvRQaFhYgfo7cUU_GM0DzDXDubDV47R2p0U3VjjQ0exQx49yf8zIwUnV03InzwEylL6mF_KJ7hZq0HkunAjpsfmrQ85CSJV8jY_3J1ntZM7ikRr2EQDx0Ba83f4sBoUYm6_1zBewq6amL3ao3Aqcf83lMqC-v7p_G75i9FVQkOuhgOqqba/s1440/Eric%20&%20Jim-Aug.,%201971.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="988" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8f3S69nvRQaFhYgfo7cUU_GM0DzDXDubDV47R2p0U3VjjQ0exQx49yf8zIwUnV03InzwEylL6mF_KJ7hZq0HkunAjpsfmrQ85CSJV8jY_3J1ntZM7ikRr2EQDx0Ba83f4sBoUYm6_1zBewq6amL3ao3Aqcf83lMqC-v7p_G75i9FVQkOuhgOqqba/s400/Eric%20&%20Jim-Aug.,%201971.jpg"/></a></div><center>Myself and Jim at Sunriver in August, 1971</center><p>Eagles, hawks, and owls were always the center of Jim’s wild universe. He even flew with them, in a manner of speaking. He got a commercial pilot license, and was an accomplished pilot of glider planes. He even instructed student glider pilots.</p><p>Among Jim’s enduring menagerie of animals was “Owl,” a Great Horned Owl that had lost an eye. Remarkably, the bird regenerated the eye and, after several years of behavioral rehabilitation, Jim released “Owl” with great fanfare at Sunriver. Owl was immediately harassed by an American Kestrel, such is the drama of nature.</p><p>Jim surveyed and banded birds of prey in central Oregon for over fifty years, the last decade or so with the company of his wife, Sue. She wisely insisted that climbing cliffs and trees was too dangerous for someone in his eighties, and Jim begrudgingly retired.</p><p>One of the milestones I am most proud of is when I was first published in Ranger Rick magazine, because I had grown up reading Jim’s articles in that publication. He wrote consistently, for many periodicals, and had a column in <i>The Nugget Newspaper</i> of Sisters, Oregon. He also appeared regularly in <i>The Source Weekly</i> of nearby Bend, Oregon. Jim was an outstanding photographer, too, and most of his articles included his images. He compiled his most memorable and hilarious stories in <i>Tales from a Northwest Naturalist</i>, published in 1992.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpDfHa0bTcSXl2BVoLnHsqjC3AOj72o8Lx2hoobNXuX0--L3pMP-Q3aA8xvoTrV498RVtKqJs0u4Qz6ONQC4Laknx6ctDxLTcdVfZkYDw0hmbegQ3-LuE5p9k5oNkm35r_n3KpfX487lSi6jMQVPfvEIRS8VW07DbaoygPsuKZqwP-lrKTnLEnqxD/s474/TalesOfaNorthwestNaturalistCover.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpDfHa0bTcSXl2BVoLnHsqjC3AOj72o8Lx2hoobNXuX0--L3pMP-Q3aA8xvoTrV498RVtKqJs0u4Qz6ONQC4Laknx6ctDxLTcdVfZkYDw0hmbegQ3-LuE5p9k5oNkm35r_n3KpfX487lSi6jMQVPfvEIRS8VW07DbaoygPsuKZqwP-lrKTnLEnqxD/s400/TalesOfaNorthwestNaturalistCover.jpg"/></a></div><p>Everything came full circle for me when Jim agreed to be best man at my wedding to Heidi, on April 29, 2012. A few years later we saw Jim for the last time at his home in Sisters. I had the privilege of introducing another young man, and his then girlfriend (now marital partner), at that time. The couple lived in Bend, and I hope they were able to visit with Jim and Sue again before Jim and Sue moved to Eugene, Oregon to be closer to their children.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73nAchqqSooKRkGsBpeXvtl3AO8OirB-QiIERAyhvUSkrgZH3JAxBFa4rKt67f-tMHfVr6Mfew-XLJTGyY6Bp_FQ0O_wIuT0a9-R7Px1Txo-4oGBcchJkpvIlFogeGq2LAjqKulmwrB4Lv152FpwdoQwMyiyw-U9jwxmHzCEJICfiYcS2RnzS7vZp/s4256/DSC_6571.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="4256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73nAchqqSooKRkGsBpeXvtl3AO8OirB-QiIERAyhvUSkrgZH3JAxBFa4rKt67f-tMHfVr6Mfew-XLJTGyY6Bp_FQ0O_wIuT0a9-R7Px1Txo-4oGBcchJkpvIlFogeGq2LAjqKulmwrB4Lv152FpwdoQwMyiyw-U9jwxmHzCEJICfiYcS2RnzS7vZp/s400/DSC_6571.JPG"/></a></div><center>Jim, myself, and my mother at my wedding</center><p>Being an only child, I had a difficult time socializing with my peers. It was with adults that I felt most comfortable, but Jim nudged me to expand the boundaries of my comfort zone. He was always patient and encouraging, but also insistent, especially when it came to my education. I am glad I still have a few years left, hopefully, to become an even better human being, and a less hesitant one when opportunities present themselves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH8noHcaN3-M0NYVXq6-dDhyQ2Ig3d_LZH2Wo9QXdaYfHTa1Pg5Qpb3nKYBFNjy90PI3I4DCskMbLU7JYoELYFl7pexgm6ZhxeBqFXwMCGZIwE3ylXdO23KnPX0UhaDSvy_KE8WUuSoml9h27cZzGewI7rbDnw2rZSJJ71yyF4SF-kT1EGckrSxcI/s1416/WeddingJAnderson.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="936" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH8noHcaN3-M0NYVXq6-dDhyQ2Ig3d_LZH2Wo9QXdaYfHTa1Pg5Qpb3nKYBFNjy90PI3I4DCskMbLU7JYoELYFl7pexgm6ZhxeBqFXwMCGZIwE3ylXdO23KnPX0UhaDSvy_KE8WUuSoml9h27cZzGewI7rbDnw2rZSJJ71yyF4SF-kT1EGckrSxcI/s400/WeddingJAnderson.jpg"/></a></div><center>Jim's photo of Heidi and I</center><p>From what I hear from Sue, I am one of many disciples of Jim. His enthusiasm was contagious, his breadth of knowledge and interests seemingly boundless (did I mention he sang in church choirs?), and his self-reliance admirable. There was no machine he could not repair with bailing wire. He had an old-fashioned wit and sense of humor, and a genuine love and appreciation for all of those he invested his time and counsel in. They do not make men like him very often nowadays. Rest in peace, Jim, you deserve eternal joy and love.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-13700960624224339382022-10-09T08:05:00.000-07:002022-10-09T08:05:37.725-07:00Children Are the Corn<p>It is the month of Halloween, and a perfect time to confront horrors both real and imagined. The most insidious of threats, however, are those we are blissfully unaware of, or don't perceive as dangerous. Such is the case for the marketplace. We do not spend nearly enough conscious attention to the corporate landscape we navigate daily, and it is at our peril.</p><p>In 1984, the horror film <i>Children of the Corn</i> was released, loosely based on a short story by Stephen King. The plot of the film revolved around the children of a ficticious rural U.S. town where the children formed a cult that demanded the ritual saccrifice of adults to ensure a successful corn harvest. The film spawned several sequels and has a cult following of its own. Cut to the reality of today, and I would argue that children <i>are</i> the corn of the global marketplace. Allow me to explain.</p><p>Parents who attempt to control the exposure of their children to television, the internet, and other forms of commercial entertainment are fighting an uphill battle against the influence of corporations. Kids will still be vulnerable to persuasion by their peers, social media influencers, billboards, and all manner of other corporate vehicles. Children are the next "crop" of consumers in the corporate economy, fed on the "fertilzer" of advertising and marketing campaigns. This is the real fear of corporations over falling birthrates: not the labor shortage they purport to have anxiety about, but a potential <i>consumer</i> shortage. If a labor shortage were a genuine concern, companies would not be outsourcing jobs overseas. They would be paying a living wage and offering a healthy benefits package to entice more workers into applying for jobs.</p><p>Children and adults alike are relentlessly conditioned to frame the solutions to everyday irritations as either "product" or "service." Spilled food and beverages require special chemical cleaners. Insects and spiders in and around the home require "exterminators," or the more politically correct "pest control operators," regardless of whether the creatures in question pose any danger at all. What are we supposed to <i>never</i> do? Change our mindset. Frame things differently. Ask ourselves if it really <i>is</i> a problem demanding action, or simply a periodic nuisance we can live with. Address our irrational fears, give them less power over us.</p><p>The expectation of the marketplace to be answer to all our ills makes us dependent on corporations, and lazy in our intellectual appraisal of circumstances and situations that annoy us or appear as intractable problems. While no one can be a jack-of-all-trades, we could stand to be more self-sufficient. Personally, I know I could use basic instruction in everything from home repairs to cooking to auto repair. This human condition is a major facet of the urban-rural divide. Those in rural regions and small towns are undeniably more self-sufficient than city-dwellers. Urbanites have partitioned expertise and resources to such a degree that there are specialists in niche markets. Farmers and ranchers are livestock EMTs, landscapers, butchers, and equipment repair technicians to name only a handful of their skills. They are too often still at the mercy of corporations that dictate which seeds they plant, where their produce can be sold, and for how much, but there is no denying their skill set.</p><p>Given our reliance on the corporate gods for our daily salvation, is it any wonder we cannot solve major societal problems that exceed the capabilities of business entities? It can be argued that colonialism, patriarchy, and White privilege and supremacy are supported, at least tacitly, by corporations. Turning to other human institutions, such as religion, gets us no further. Government has failed us repeatedly due to corruption, and extremists in political parties. As long as powerful people and entities prosper under the status quo, we are unlikely to see the systemic changes necessary for true equality in rights and freedoms, and equity in wealth distribution.</p><p>Environmental, consumer, and labor protections are viewed as barriers to corporate prosperity, but climate change, ecosystem destruction, an overstressed workforce, and an increasingly distrustful, powerless consumer constituency threaten to wreak economic havoc anyway. We need to remove the scales from our eyes and see the global marketplace for what it is: a means of preserving elitist power and wealth by dividing the vastly larger population that are employees and consumers.</p><p>We need not always be hostile in creating a revolution. Indeed, the Covid pandemic has highlighted the ingenuity of the individual, and the desire of many for simplicity, self-sufficiency, and a local economy that reduces energy consumption, rejects labor exploitation, and instead empowers each citizen to identify their personal passions and goals. People are quietly executing revolutionary changes that are positive and affirming, and vastly more inclusive of human diversity.</p><p>I am not generally a fan of horror films, but I can recommend one exceptional, and relatively tame, cinematic production that cleverly addresses the concepts mentioned above. <i>They Live</i> was released in 1988. Directed by John Carpenter, it is based on the short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning," by Ray Nelson. It was ahead of its time, and might have been part of the inspiration for <i>The Matrix</i>. We do need to "free our minds" of the shackles of corporate expectations, and see our own personal potential to be the change needed today. That doesn't mean you have to saccrifice everything. Continue to indulge in your comforts, but perhaps not as frequently? I'm going to go brew a couple of cups of coffee now....</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-70583101749146224842022-06-26T09:25:00.000-07:002022-06-26T09:25:38.996-07:00Supreme Injustice Part II<p>It seems like only yesterday that I wrote about the <a href=https://senseofmisplaced.blogspot.com/2020/10/supreme-injustice.html>Breonna Taylor trial and the rush to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court</a>, but it has been nearly two years now. The results of installing (I refuse to use the word “confirming”) two ultra-conservative justices into the high court has escalated quickly. They wasted no time, given the usually glacial flow of decisions, in overturning the most impactful verdict in recent history: Roe versus Wade. It is a clear example of collusion of between religion and government, for the purpose of strengthening a destructive patriarchal culture. Yes, I am calling this a criminal act.</p><p>What were once ”Christian fundamentalists” are now Christian extremists, an arguably greater threat to democracy and a civil society than any foreign enemy. While they claim there is a fictious “war on Christmas,” they perpetrate a very real war against women, including transgender persons. That we allow any level of the judiciary to continue defining and limiting the role of women as child-bearers, subservient to males, is appalling. That the citizenry has very limited power to influence the lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court is disgraceful.</p><p>Beyond the ramifications for women’s health, including <a href=https://senseofmisplaced.blogspot.com/2019/05/is-abortion-issue-about-something-other.html>abortion</a> procedures, the court decision has an overwhelming effect of demoralization. Women are already physically and emotionally exhausted from meeting personal and societal expectations on the domestic front, and in the workplace, even if they are perfectly healthy and not battling chronic pain, disease, and/or other afflictions beyond their control. Where are they going to find the strength to overcome these newly-imposed limitations?</p><p>Numerous female friends have already posted on social media that they are willing to host and care for any friends from other states needing proper medical care that could be denied them in their own home states. I am hoping to soon see that same empathy from my male friends. I will happily be the first to volunteer. I’ll sleep on the couch or the floor if need be. That is assuming that we can vote down a proposed constitutional amendment here in Kansas.</p><p>The double-whammy of this court decision, and continuing efforts aimed at denying voting rights, is depressing. At least some democratic and independent voters are registering as Republican for their state’s primary elections, in hopes of defeating the most extremist candidates before the mid-term elections in November. We are going to need more innovative tactics like that if we do not wish to return to a wholly puritanical republic.</p><p>Do not underestimate your personal sphere of influence. You are intelligent and respectful and capable of advocating effectively. Be brave, and share your views with family, immediate and/or extended. Broadcast creatively through all your social media channels. Do not share the meme everyone else is sharing. Make your own. Be as compassionate as possible but as forceful as necessary. We <i>can</i> make this better. We owe it to ourselves, previous generations, and to those children we choose to have, not those we are forced to have.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-64919746992876660732022-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:002022-06-22T10:14:59.012-07:00What Pride Month Means to Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHpWdNisMkCGjnXbE1l2875_U2pbj48UlMcQK0qzIij6TnNf7i5-weMesqEBttHMGZIxuMP02-bAvgYFxn7qEpO-nEzx2dFCDgZxoXLUlzJl3Eh95Ftnieun8kK4vCalx45LeTVqQd5RY1d5VdNU45XO3SbB5jOZYi5X0Wpz2ZQSxt508FXz0oPYs5w/s1568/LoveGunGraphic2016b.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHpWdNisMkCGjnXbE1l2875_U2pbj48UlMcQK0qzIij6TnNf7i5-weMesqEBttHMGZIxuMP02-bAvgYFxn7qEpO-nEzx2dFCDgZxoXLUlzJl3Eh95Ftnieun8kK4vCalx45LeTVqQd5RY1d5VdNU45XO3SbB5jOZYi5X0Wpz2ZQSxt508FXz0oPYs5w/s400/LoveGunGraphic2016b.jpg"/></a></div><p>I have been struggling with what to say in honor of Pride Month. On the one hand, I am not lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or any other demographic that falls under the rainbow banner, and I have no right to speak for those people. What I <i>can</i> do is speak to why they have my unconditional love and support.</p><p>I know many people who face daily challenges of a magnitude inconceivable to those of us fortunate enough to be cis, straight, and otherwise conventional in identity and lifestyle. I have not always been sensitive to their plight. In my younger days I know I hit on women who were lesbian, probably more of them than I realized. I am grateful to those who admitted their preference, especially given the courage it took when you were in legitimate fear for your life from strangers. Sadly, this is still too often the case.</p><p>I am still learning the new vocabulary of our changing times, but I accept the challenge. It is the least I can do to be better informed, and become more empathetic. Too many people try and ride the fence when it comes to others who do not share their reality. “I don’t think it is any of my business” they say, believing that is somehow a comforting and acceptable response to learning of diversity in identity and lifestyle. It is not. It is condescending.</p><p>In no way are any of the rights and personal freedoms I enjoy eroded or compromised by extending those same rights to marginalized peoples. Let me say that again, louder, for those in the back: Extending to others the same freedoms and rights that I enjoy as a white, cis, straight male, in no way deprives me of those rights. Please repeat that to yourself at will until you recognize it as truth. Thank you.</p><p>It is appalling and embarrassing to me that so many citizens are apparently convinced that the whole topic of transgender can be boiled down to “men wanting to play women’s sports.” Have you seen how we treat <i>women</i>? Do you honestly believe that any “man” would want to heap upon himself the restrictions, discomfort, and vulnerabilities endured by women, <i>plus</i> the hatred shown to transgendered persons, simply for the opportunity to “dominate” in athletics? Seriously? I know this is not the case because nearly every man I know will go to extraordinary lengths to <i>avoid</i> social ridicule, persecution, and emotional pain.</p><p>What I desire more than anything is for those who are consumed with affirming, defending, and protecting their identities, to have the freedom to do the things they were born to do, to achieve greatness without the needless social and political barriers and hostilities they currently face. If there are any rights that should be taken from people of privilege it is the right to hate speech, the right to politicize lives you know nothing about, and the right to deny anyone else the freedoms you already enjoy.</p><p>What does an ally look like, you ask? Openly proclaiming your allegiance is a good start. Putting your money where your mouth is helps even more. Ever heard of The Trevor Project? There are countless other charities, legal defense funds, and other affirming organizations that can use your financial donations. Use your social media to follow those individuals and organizations that are effective advocates and educators. Unfollow, unfriend, or block anyone who reveals themselves to be anything but an ally.</p><p>If you found this post uncomfortable, but read it through anyway, you have my sincere appreciation. You’ve taken a step towards something good. I guarantee that your life will be enriched beyond measure by getting to know others living different lives, with different identities. That rainbow still includes you, too, you know?</p>
Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-46924830815830563632022-05-26T16:51:00.000-07:002022-05-26T16:51:08.287-07:00Resurrecting Hope<p>Is there anything left to be said in the wake of yet another mass murder event in the U.S. that can be helpful? Probably not. Maybe I should shut up. I have less and less energy, and enthusiasm for life every day, but the last thing we need are discouraging words, because that is what domestic terrorism thrives on. Somewhere between thoughts and prayers and conspiracy theories lies truth and constructive action.</p><p>By now it should be abundantly clear that our lawmakers, at least the majority, have no interest in the safe education of our children. Indeed, part of the agenda is to abolish public schools such that only wealthy families have access to education through private schools. The goal appears to be a largely uneducated population of unquestioning consumers, and a powerless labor pool for production that is not already automated, or outsourced to foreign countries.</p><p>Maintaining and increasing power and wealth within a small circle of elites is at the heart of every level and category of governance, from legislation to executive to judicial, local to federal. It is obvious that there is no sacrifice too great, including the preventable deaths of children and teachers, to ensure the established power structure persists.</p><p>Every social media post and tweet that claims voting does not matter, that nothing can be done to stem the tide of blood, is another victory for these “leaders.” We are conditioned to be apathetic, lazy, armchair activists at best. Please repeat the same trite, tired, worn-out pleas and rhetoric so that indeed nothing changes. Submit, surrender, accept your reality of death, poverty, and despair. You have streaming services on your phone to distract and comfort you….</p><p>Do not be deceived. There are ways you can make an impact. Be brave. Change your habits and set an example others can live by. What I am asking is that you make some difficult decisions, but none of them are irreversible.</p><p>Do you have a firearm? Ask yourself whether you truly need it, especially if you have curious children in your household. Give serious consideration to surrendering it. My late father had at least one handgun. I should have insisted that it be taken away from him as soon as the full scope of his dementia became apparent. I’m grateful nothing catastrophic happened, and the pistol was turned over to police upon his passing.</p><p>As much as possible, drop out of the corporate economy. Patronize local businesses instead. Eat at local restaurants, tip as generously as you can.</p><p>Do you have an investment portfolio (mine is modest, through inheritance)? Make sure you divest any shares in corporations that manufacture or sell guns, that are guilty of crimes against labor, the environment, and/or consumers. Get a new financial advisor if they balk at your standards.</p><p>Voting <i>does</i> matter, as it remains one of the few avenues to influence lawmaking; but running better candidates is even more important. Consider running yourself, and/or promoting the candidacy of people in marginalized demographics (Black, Hispanic, Asian, transgendered persons, non-binary, LGBTQ+, truly middle-class and below). I guarantee you that our general population will be better off. Beware, however, of individuals seeking to increase their own power and wealth by aligning with power brokers in either party, or those with an existing high profile as a celebrity.</p><p>Here is a hard one: Consider changing or abandoning your religion. That is <i>not</i> the same thing as surrendering your faith, or a belief in God. At least re-evaluate the ethics of your church, sect, synod. Are they in favor of limiting the freedoms of others, especially women? Do they discriminate against agender, transgendered, and/or LGBTQ+ people? Do they want to deny their right to exist? Do they support continued colonization via missionary work? Do they align themselves with the more destructive aspects of any political party? Any “yes” answer here should be a red flag. What good are freedom and charity if we pick and choose who receives them?</p><p>Dismiss me as a grumpy old man if you wish, but I am not going to take up arms, or an attitude, to “protect” myself from changes that are long overdue. I am in no way threatened by the idea of true equality, justice, and freedom for those my race, gender, and ancestors have abused for centuries. The biggest part of my White privilege is the obligation to repair the damage to the best of my ability. If that makes me an “apologist,” “race traitor,” or some other epithet you are compelled to apply to me, so be it. I’ll wear it proudly.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-24986817903147912692022-02-27T09:50:00.000-08:002022-02-27T09:50:38.671-08:00The Pursuit of Power<p>”Power” may be the most aggressive and dangerous concept in world history. Certainly, the pursuit of power has led us to countless devastating events, including the one we are witnessing today in Ukraine. Is such behavior, if only carried to the extreme periodically, inevitable? Is peace the exception?</p><p>The biological sciences can shed much light on human behavior. It is necessary to understand that <i>Homo sapiens</i> is an animal species, subject to the genetic code that has “advanced” us to the pinnacle of social organization, and supremacy over other species. What began as mating success through physical superiority to other males evolved to success through demonstration of better skills at provisioning food and other resources. Today, we no longer compete merely in a tribe or village, but on a global stage. Accumulation of excessive material wealth is now one standard. Use of military force is another means of demonstrating an "alpha" persona.</p><p>Our cultural revolutions, from the Agricultural Revolution to the Industrial and Digital, are mere extensions of our biological evolution. They have all been driven by personal aspiration to power in the sense of reflecting our biological imperative to advance our personal genetic code through future generations. The collective success of our species is probably largely a by-product of personal pursuits, choices, and invention.</p><p>We have always coveted resources held by other humans, and viewed “others” as competition, or impediments to our selfish pursuit of a monopoly on genetic advancement, though we would never come right out and say this. We have become so conditioned to ignore the role of our biological instincts that we create all manner of arguments to distract us from it. We are loathe to accept ourselves as biological beings subject to the “laws” of nature, yet it is at the heart of everything we do.</p><p>The most terrible situation of all is when an individual succeeds in convincing others it is in <i>their</i> best interest to advance <i>his</i> personal agenda, when it does not benefit those who endorse it. Tragically, we see this scenario time and again, so we are apparently not learning anything from it. In fact, when the scam is revealed, it often serves to solidify allegiance to the scammer. We abhor being duped more than we are committed to truth, justice, and equity. People who are easily fooled do not perpetuate their genes as successfully.</p><p>Time out. None of us want to admit we are that basic, that everything is driven purely by biology. Fine, but that is the foundation of our success to this point, and there is no shame in that. What <i>is</i> shameful is how we have chosen to evolve socially. Social evolution is largely a feedback loop that begins again with genetic code that is then modified through experience and experimentation. Social evolution is nature <i>and</i> nurture, the latter being more than maternal, paternal and familial, but including the global village. What works is perpetuated, what fails is not. Well, ideally, anyway.</p><p>The fact that we see rampant opposition to warfare, colonization, poverty, racism, and other manifestations of oppression and exclusion, speaks to at more than marginal success in advancing a genetic and social code based on peace, justice, and inclusion. This is highly encouraging.</p><p>Here in the U.S., efforts to gerrymander congressional districts and restrict voting rights are actually signs of success. The more desperate the measures to protect concentrated power, the more we should accelerate the opposite agenda, because we are at the brink of breaking the power cycle forever.</p><p>That is the ultimate characteristic of <i>individual</i> power: it is fleeting, impermanent. Even relatively benign examples like the British monarchy, are likely to expire in my lifetime, or at least be rendered irrelevant. Powerful individuals and families tend to stop evolving once they have achieved their personal version of success, while the rest of society continues to evolve, eventually overwhelming them, replacing them with more effective institutions.</p><p>We are living an accelerated social evolution right now, where, at its best, social media is creating widespread empathy for those not in positions of power, empowering those who previously believed themselves to be powerless, and organizing movements at lightning speeds. Despite a global pandemic we are refusing to allow ourselves to be isolated. We still take to the streets locally (hopefully vaccinated and still masked to protect the immunocompromised), and broadcast globally. There are fewer and fewer strangers every day.</p><p>We <i>are</i> getting there. Refuse to acknowledge anyone who tells you otherwise. We will prevail in normalizing the pursuit of equal power for all, and aspiring not to material wealth but to generosity and critical thinking.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-48955803937811890662022-02-05T12:50:00.000-08:002022-02-05T12:50:06.035-08:00Digital Anxiety<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigEdD57-ntGZAPePMq33CfXWu5gGCu5fLTL1QDaopsOOT9Ba7yEaKOM0Fd5UUx5FGl8YTZHnaULuA21Z28U1WtP7C2ll83Puz4_JIMn5cFEDqcgzFu9O7KVB8koYpS__1_pCyh3cBF0zNRLlt2pjG_8J4GUNhyOqCt3qu9CVWsEFOx6UMquCsPZA8NWg=s4416" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigEdD57-ntGZAPePMq33CfXWu5gGCu5fLTL1QDaopsOOT9Ba7yEaKOM0Fd5UUx5FGl8YTZHnaULuA21Z28U1WtP7C2ll83Puz4_JIMn5cFEDqcgzFu9O7KVB8koYpS__1_pCyh3cBF0zNRLlt2pjG_8J4GUNhyOqCt3qu9CVWsEFOx6UMquCsPZA8NWg=s400"/></a></div><p>Forget the global pandemic. That I can manage through personal choices to vaccinate and wear a mask in confined spaces with strangers. No, fears of contracting a novel coronavirus pale in comparison to my constant anticipation of some failure of my desktop computer, my laptop, my phone, wi-fi, social media platforms, and everything else electronic. Recent experiences have only heightened the tension in my brain and body.</p><p>At the end of the 2021, my old (admittedly <i>too</i> old) desktop began to display a blue screen at start-up. The local computer fix-it shop determined it was a compatability issue between the ancient processor and the desire for Windows 10 to update properly. Do not tell me to get a Macintosh. I am too committed to Microsoft, and while it is arguably not that intuitive, there is remains a mild degree of comfort and familiarity as I, myself, continue to age.</p><p>Even after the tech folks diagnosed the problem(s?) and did the best they could to fix them, I still got a blue screen a few days later. They strongly suggested I purchase a new desktop, and so I did, last month. I ended up with the "house brand" from Micro Center, got talked into their supplementary security software, and off I went. I did manage to upgrade to Windows 11, so I feel set for awhile, but still dreading some pop-up window that I don't understand, or am leery of accommodating.</p><p>I transferred some files to my documents and pictures, but soon filled up the One Drive that was syncing with the PC. I had forgotten that abomination of "The Cloud" that Microsoft insists you subscribe to, demanding you to pay for extra storage. I thought I had managed to unlink, and then uninstall, One Drive, but yesterday I created a new Word document that I accidentally saved to One Drive instead of my desktop, so could not immediately locate after closing it. Now it is saved to "My PC" with a slightly different file name.</p><p>The laptop seems to be doing ok, but it is refurbished and I already know it will not be compatible with Windows 11. I am not good about backing things up regularly, and when I do, I end up scattering things in different external hard drives and flash drives. I no longer re-use SD cards from my camera, in case every hard drive fails. That is how paranoid I have become.</p><p>I was dragged kicking and screaming into buying a smart phone because the last time I tried to add minutes through my pay-as-you-go carrier, the service disallowed the transaction. My basic, reliable flip phone was at last obsolete, incompatible with 5G or whatever. I had to have my spouse set up the beast, which is an android. She has an iPhone, so she was a bit frustrated, too. I remain steadfast in having as few apps as possible, and I <i>still</i> managed to fill up my phone with only a handful of pictures. Nobody told me that I need a micro SD card for more storage.</p><p>Having enrolled in a self-paced wildlife conservation photography course, I learned that Instagram is a good place to showcase your best images. Consequently, I resurrected my dormant Instagram account, and started posting. I was initially getting prompts that Insta was not recognizing me, so I had to change passwords several times before agreeing to have a two-step authentication process that included my phone. I was doing Instagram through my laptop, and progressing ok, with a whopping fourteen posts. Then, when I logged in a couple days later, I got a message that Instagram had permanently disabled my account for a "violation of community standards," and I had no way to appeal. I can guarantee that I committed no violation, unless posting a photo of the cover of my book <i>Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect</i> was somehow copyright infringement. I have no plans to try making a new Instagram account. I'll continue relying on Flickr as a way to attract the attention of publishers. Pity, though, as there are some friends I can follow <i>only</i> on Instagram. I do hope they will forgive me.</p><p>My overriding existential fear, naturally, is that my voice will become increasingly irrelevant as the next generation of digital technologies leaves me ever farther behind. No Tik-tok for me. I have a few things on my "Bug Eric" Youtube channel, but that is about it. I have been posting all my edited images to iNaturalist, but am terribly behind in uploading to Flickr. Both are my way of saving things to "the cloud," but only Flickr lets me save images at their highest resolution. I may need to find additional solutions.</p><p>Too much screen time, too little exercise here in the winter months, and the trepidation I feel every time I push a power button, is taking its toll. It is highly tempting to return to pen, paper, and typewriter, but that would be self-inflicted irrelevance. I feel compelled to keep my social media friends entertained and informed, but get less and less satisfaction from Facebook and Twitter all the time. In-person interactions are not only problematic from the standpoint of the pandemic, but unappealing given the highly religious and conservative community I now find myself living in.</p><p>How do <i>you</i> cope? What comforts, and cures for anxiety and frustration am I unaware of? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-15482874662962312132021-12-08T08:49:00.001-08:002021-12-08T08:49:18.431-08:00Thoughts, Prayers, and Purchases<p>I have no idea whether God exists or not, but I’m fine with either scenario, and whatever opinion <i>you</i> hold. I wish more people felt that way, it would take a lot of the pressure off the holidays. Capitalism most certainly exists, but I don’t worship at <i>that</i> altar, either, as best as I can avoid it, anyway. Christmas is the perfect storm of religion and economics, so it is no wonder everyone feels angst. We waste too much energy on meeting the expectations of others, and berating ourselves for not fitting in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB8libCoRWL2KIgcfE_iKdqGqC0_mTVeA9BSCGT_pbkGfjgB4SryI1Iyo_-ZrT2g9IbOaKa6qCPsQhOv9TquwvWl79hUxIXEvyAO0PyN7saGtG50VMcP3NX7Cab5Eqt5iES-jtvJd1aG2/s1696/Xmas1997Mall.bmp" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB8libCoRWL2KIgcfE_iKdqGqC0_mTVeA9BSCGT_pbkGfjgB4SryI1Iyo_-ZrT2g9IbOaKa6qCPsQhOv9TquwvWl79hUxIXEvyAO0PyN7saGtG50VMcP3NX7Cab5Eqt5iES-jtvJd1aG2/s400/Xmas1997Mall.bmp"/></a></div><center>....buy this card!</center><p>Pardon me if I do not have patience with Christians who claim persecution, who complain there are not enough Jesus ads on television at this time of year. What I have a problem with is promotion of the idea that your brand, your religion, is the <i>only</i> way to believe in, and revere, God. Oh, and by the way, if anyone is being persecuted it is atheists, who understandably buy into nothing. The continued existence of anti-Semitism suggests even Judaism is only tolerated. Every other belief system is pretty much considered blasphemous.</p><p>Modern Christianity continues to foster patriarchy, colonialism, and white supremacy. Our <i>Father</i>, for example. My own father was not a good human being, so how do you expect me to relate to a paternal deity? Missionary work is the continuation of colonialism, the effort to erase indigenous belief systems and the cultures that arose from them. I know you don’t see it that way. You believe you are doing humanitarian work, and in terms of disaster relief, economics, and infrastructure, you may well be. That does not excuse you from the hostilities of attempted conversion. You are literally being the “white savior” that nobody wants.</p><p>What we need is acceptance of those with differing beliefs, and non-believers (though that label is troubling), not mere tolerance, which implies grudging, condescending acknowledgement of “others.” I have no interest in thoughts and prayers that come from a place of self-righteousness. Please stop using the supposed word of God to justify the very human, earthly agenda you want.</p><p>Hey, capitalism! Get back here! I’m not finished. You do not get off that easily. Congratulations on eclipsing the religious importance of the holidays, though. That takes some genius marketing, and bending of some historical traditions, me thinks. You’ve gone a bit overboard, though, in converting us to extravagant consumers. Too many have bought into the idea that material goods trump acts of kindness, that services are purely economic and must always command a price.</p><p>Capitalism, you have even managed to create the grand illusion of a “middle class” that is, in reality, a <i>debt class</i>, propped up by borrowing, and credit from the gods of Visa, Mastercard, and Capital One. The Joneses are not even keeping up with <i>themselves</i> any longer. Image is everything, though. I believe that is one of your bible verses, in fact. Your churches are casinos, the corner store that sells the lottery tickets, the payday loan offices, and lawyers who will pimp frivolous lawsuits to make up for your lack of a living wage. You can take all of them to hell with you.</p><p>Economies are essentially redundant, artificial ecosystems in which one species, <i>Homo sapiens</i>, fills all the niches, the currencies have arbitrary value, and those monies are hoarded. In nature, the only currency is energy, with consistent, measurable value, and it circulates freely, as it must in order for living organisms to thrive and reproduce. Economists would do well to remember that. We should have evolved, by now, economies with intangible currencies. Peace and love? Lord no, we cannot even agree on definitions for those concepts. Honesty, maybe? We need to first free our minds of what we have been led to believe is the “only way.” Sound familiar, religion?</p><p>This holiday season, my heart is, as usual, with those harboring needless guilt over differing beliefs, and the stress induced by the expectation of material gift-giving. You are under no obligation to please anyone else. You have no responsibility to provide material goods to anyone else, with the exception of your minor, dependent children. Above all, you have responsibility to your mental health, an obligation to being an example of positive self-care. Do <i>that</i> and the ledger is good.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-59248923502742225932021-10-31T09:58:00.000-07:002021-10-31T09:58:33.005-07:00Talking Feral With Paul Boyce<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY2uZKcWrCut4KbZtXQV2Ls2lqrO6meZv0SoWRBl2Dkyt0c9NYMe7DyeM1aywErLHQKrCplx1qGhAAeH_LULC98JkC7dz6E4TiEka3j-F4zIKSm_0fFuOzdK8V2NPp_u1Qd4e-m2FQq0/s1200/TalkingFeralLogo2021.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY2uZKcWrCut4KbZtXQV2Ls2lqrO6meZv0SoWRBl2Dkyt0c9NYMe7DyeM1aywErLHQKrCplx1qGhAAeH_LULC98JkC7dz6E4TiEka3j-F4zIKSm_0fFuOzdK8V2NPp_u1Qd4e-m2FQq0/s400/TalkingFeralLogo2021.jpg"/></a></div></p>Earlier this month I had the occasion to record an episode of the podcast <a href=https://talkingferal.com/><i>Talking Feral</i></a>. The host, Paul Boyce, is a doctoral candidate in Canada, but is originally from New Zealand, so his accent alone is worth the listen, but he asks insightful questions that ignite the minds of his guests and audience. Our conversation touches on a number of topics related to science and academia, so strays into arenas I usually reserve for my <a href=https://senseofmisplaced.blogspot.com/><i>Sense of Misplaced</i></a> blog. It was refreshing to talk about the bigger picture, and how different scientific disciplines, social constructs, and economic interests are interconnected, both personally and at large.</p><p>Please do not stop at my episode. I will not be offended if you skip it entirely, in fact, but do lend and ear to other installments of the show. Podcasts, I am happy to report, are free of the formality and constraints of traditional media, and allow us to confront issues and topics at a more visceral level. No sound bites here, but far better connections with those who tune in.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-75076280828266356532021-09-06T08:57:00.000-07:002021-09-06T08:57:03.046-07:00The Branding of "Never Forget"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgF1WKFMcG4PjZdRQKJ7Y0FGL7Ski5l99X4_gajk1qAAV6T73qMRd6lb3fdMek4cN0QnP6ioLK-uruMkALTCqoOInYe7QxEIpgpQ0MLkOYJ8Sd6b_lgniVr1AgK3cknaD6Gl3Wld3Hdb3/s612/MicheleRamseyWordPressDotCom.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgF1WKFMcG4PjZdRQKJ7Y0FGL7Ski5l99X4_gajk1qAAV6T73qMRd6lb3fdMek4cN0QnP6ioLK-uruMkALTCqoOInYe7QxEIpgpQ0MLkOYJ8Sd6b_lgniVr1AgK3cknaD6Gl3Wld3Hdb3/s400/MicheleRamseyWordPressDotCom.jpg"/></a></div><center>© MicheleRamsey.wordpress.com</center><p>American culture is obsessed with tragedy and hero-worship. Nowhere will this be more evident and celebrated than during the twentieth anniversary of September 11, 2001. I fully expect a television news anchor to wag their finger as they implore us to “never forget.” The branding of that phrase has clear implications, and they are not flattering nor socially or psychologically healthy. There is reverence and remembrance, and then there is something more insidious, divisive and destructive.</p><p>The phrase is now the name of a website for a charitable organization dedicated to a memorial and educational program surrounding 9-11. Fear not, the media will never <i>let</i> us forget that tragedy, because we elevate it above almost all others: America as victim. It is archived not only in memory, but in every conceivable medium of communication. It truly feels like it happened yesterday, because most events in the digital age endure. We collectively know the biography of every life lost, every hero, every perpetrator.</p><p>We should indeed have reverence for life, but all lives. Sacrifice and service need not be public, by profession (first responders, healthcare workers, military personnel), or even disaster-related. It should be a regular exercise instead of something spectacular. Yes, we should remember our collective history, but we tend to pick and choose which events to mark on the calendar.</p><blockquote><i>…. the implication is that we are to never forget that our enemies are non-white, non-Christian, and often non-American.</i></blockquote><p>It is telling that the events the media instructs us to never forget are tragedies affecting mostly white people, and/or establishments that we hold sacred, namely financial institutions and schools, churches, retail marketplaces, and entertainment venues. This is why we have to be reminded by ordinary citizens that Black Lives Matter. We seem to largely ignore other historical calamities, and ongoing offenses against non-whites.</p><p>Maybe we should remember that we massacred indigenous peoples, stole their land, and erased their culture. It is a continuing tragedy under the guise of the public good, and even missionary work. Maybe we should never forget that we enslaved generations of Black people, and currently incarcerate them disproportionately, execute them on the street with no judicial process, and discriminate against them as we always have in education, wages, and the workplace. Maybe we should recall internment camps where we placed Asian Americans during World War II, and recent immigrants from south of our borders. Maybe we should remember that we invaded Iraq.</p><p>No, the implication is that we are to never forget that our enemies are non-white, non-Christian, and often non-American. In reality, the real threat to peace, freedom, liberty, and equality is white supremacy. This is what we need to be reminded of daily, not just on the anniversary of some horror, not just on Juneteenth. Our sworn enemies are largely manufactured from white entitlements. Why should we be surprised that they object to our hubris?</p><p>Meanwhile, heroic figures are usually white saviors, be they first responders, healthcare workers, political leaders, or celebrities in the entertainment industry raising funds in the wake of a tragedy. Real heroes, of course come in all colors, everywhere along the gender spectrum, from all religions, and all economic classes.</p><p>We prosper most, collectively, when we embrace, advocate for, and promote <i>all</i> peoples, especially those not endowed with white privilege. The whole <i>planet</i> would be better off if we listened to indigenous cultures and learned their sustainable practices of land stewardship.</p><p>Want to be a hero? Be fearlessly authentic, have an open mind, listen more. Revel in being ordinary, but strive for excellence, equality, true justice, and leadership by example. Ask yourself what you can do without so that others can have what they need and deserve. Be honest, and speak honestly. Yes, it will make you vulnerable, but we need to normalize vulnerability and empathy.</p><p>You are not required to step into line with toxic ideology or conventions that serve no one but those who already have privilege. That is what freedom truly means. You are not a “race traitor,” you are a world citizen. Never forget <i>that</i>.</p><p><b>NOTE:</b> Dr. Michele Ramsey's <a href=https://micheleramsey.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/should-we-never-forget-or-should-we-remember/>essay</a> is also recommended reading.</p>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4461221580583652638.post-17293878434402448732021-08-31T10:36:00.002-07:002021-09-01T14:22:34.340-07:00Book Review: In One Yard: Close to Nature Book 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM15BYnUlc1CLmgGNna11YYCuYkkNiHnqmKcwuOwIdrmSYC8GmvL_GurECuiTcHq5rWgwXRvDcjwL_xbUCGPk390PlCoU2_E4wdr8aWmnUiPdGn61Mb4xuPDznTXf1zH0uPmI5DZng_6_r/s971/InOneYard2Cover.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM15BYnUlc1CLmgGNna11YYCuYkkNiHnqmKcwuOwIdrmSYC8GmvL_GurECuiTcHq5rWgwXRvDcjwL_xbUCGPk390PlCoU2_E4wdr8aWmnUiPdGn61Mb4xuPDznTXf1zH0uPmI5DZng_6_r/s400/InOneYard2Cover.png"/></a></div><p>I was introduced to Warren A. Hatch several years ago by a mutual friend. He sent me a copy of the original <i>In One Yard: Close to Nature</i>, which I regretfully never got around to reviewing. I will not make the same mistake with Hatch’s sequel. This book has much to recommend it, no matter where you live.</p><p>Mr. Hatch resides in Portland, Oregon, USA, and every organism shown in the book was discovered on his property, the yard of which is only one-sixth of an acre. Clearly, exploring even this small an area can result in constant discovery and astonishment. A reader is going to be inspired to put the book down frequently so as to go looking for mosses, lichens, insects, arachnids, algae, and other living things right outside their door.</p><p>This “ignition switch” alone is what makes this book unique and critically important. One could consider it an exercise in vanity (the first book was self-published), but by documenting various species in depth, and showing the reader <i>how</i> he captured the detail and drama of each creature, it becomes a blueprint for how <i>you</i> can do the same. <i>Why</i> you should go to the trouble is self-evident in the countless, captivating images.</p><p>The text both explains the natural histories of the organism, and challenges the reader to make their own observations. The stories are an interesting and effective mix of the author’s personal experience, additional knowledge gleaned from literature and correspondence with world-renowned experts, and a periodic, friendly “Mr. Rogers” query to the reader. The author does not put himself above the reader. He defines scientific words with each use, and understands that occasional repetition is a good thing.</p><p>The first book was a large, magazine-like paperback. Book two is a smaller, hardback volume. Both are slightly “busy” in their design and layouts, and if there is any fault to the new book, it is in the literal fine print of “Extra Notes” that may be difficult for those with poor vision to easily read. The images are so overwhelming in their excellence and detail that almost anything else can be forgiven anyway.</p><p>The one thing that surprises and disappoints is that this book is flying under the public radar. Mr. Hatch’s prior works have rightly received critical acclaim from the scientific community. Hatch has produced posters and DVDs that have also garnered generous reviews; and he was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 2003. This is an exceptional honor, as the society was founded in 1788 and has only about 2,000 members. Admirably, Hatch lives a car-free lifestyle.</p><p><i>In One Yard</i> is the perfect complement to Douglas Tallamy’s books <i>Bringing Nature Home</i>, and <i>Nature’s Best Hope</i>. Hatch’s books show you exactly what can result if you cultivate native plants and make even minimal effort to observe and record. Yes, he has invested heavily in the equipment needed to produce what you see on the pages of the book, but what a payoff.</p><p>Ideally, we need more Warren Hatchs. More people should do an ongoing bioblitz of their home and property, and share the results widely through blogs, vlogs, Youtube, Instagram, and other media, if not an actual hardcopy book. Be creative. Buy this book as an inspiration and model. <i>In One Yard: Close to Nature Book 2</i> is available exclusively through <a href=https://www.wildblueberrymedia.net/store/in-one-yard-close-to-nature-book-2>Wild Blueberry Media, LLC</a> for a very reasonable $35.00 (postage paid). Don’t take my word for it, just ask Sir David Attenborough who effuses that the book is “splendid” and “it spurs me on.” When a world class, globe-trotting naturalist asks “….whether I haven’t looked at my yard with the concentration and insight that you have,” that is high praise indeed.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM15BYnUlc1CLmgGNna11YYCuYkkNiHnqmKcwuOwIdrmSYC8GmvL_GurECuiTcHq5rWgwXRvDcjwL_xbUCGPk390PlCoU2_E4wdr8aWmnUiPdGn61Mb4xuPDznTXf1zH0uPmI5DZng_6_r/s971/InOneYard2Cover.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM15BYnUlc1CLmgGNna11YYCuYkkNiHnqmKcwuOwIdrmSYC8GmvL_GurECuiTcHq5rWgwXRvDcjwL_xbUCGPk390PlCoU2_E4wdr8aWmnUiPdGn61Mb4xuPDznTXf1zH0uPmI5DZng_6_r/s400/InOneYard2Cover.png"/></a></div>Bug Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com0