JUXTAPOSED EVENTS.

It is kind of goofy, but I "adopted" an elephant and memories of my trip to Africa came to mind. I looked for my box of pictures, and haven't located them-YET! But, my traveling companion from that trip, Pat Borad,  who doesn't read my blog, sent me, unasked, an African batik from that trip along with some paint brushes she promised me.

And, yesterday, I finally finished my book on Einstein I'd started in the Motor Home and hadn't finished.  I didn't realize how little I knew about this great thinker. He was warm and sweet; he loved children. One of the funniest stories in the book is when he was at Princeton, he called his home and asked for directions to Mr. Einstein's house. She wouldn't give him the information until he confessed to her he had wandered and didn't know his way home. Much has been made of this forgetfulness of his. His ability to close out the sensory world around him and consume his mind with thought, much of it intricate physics and formulas is legendary. His forgetfulness is understandable when you read this exhaustively researched book by Isaacson. I loved that he stood up to McCarthyism and weathered the critics who called him un-American. (He was so proud to get his citizenship.) I'm going on and on here, but the point I'm trying to get to, is this morning, from Scientific American, comes new research determining that elephants are smarter than given credit for in the past, and, an uncovered theory of Einstein's.

I had reason to cross the river to Tuolumne County, yesterday, I just didn't know that a major part of the canyon was restricted to speeds of 2 to 8 MPH behind a highway patrol vehicle with its flashers, behind and emergency vehicle with flashers being led by a pick-up truck with flashers. No clue what it was all about.

My goal, besides some grocery shopping, was Tech 108, a business I praised in a previous blog. This is Rory, who promised to mail my order of a terabyte storage drive two months ago. I finally had to drive there and pick-up this light weight drive. He gave no apology for his multiple promises to mail it and his failure to do so. It ended well for me, but I no longer recommend his business.

SCIENCE TERRIBLY WRONG, GRATEFULLY RIGHT.

This scientist once approved the killing of 40,000 elephants to cure overgrazing in Africa. He knows now he got it terribly wrong.
In this astounding video presentation, his mistake made him careful and he answered a question that puzzled scientists for many years. It has great portent for all of us sharing a finite planet and may be the most important solution to reversing climate change. Don’t miss this video.

http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_change.html

ANTI-SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE.

The White House has called on federal agencies and departments to improve the ability of government scientists to openly discuss their research and findings with media, policy makers, and the public. Some agencies, like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation, have put forward policies that encourage such communication.
Government scientists should be able to alert the public when their research indicates a potential public health, safety, or environmental hazard.

Strange that we should NEED such a call to listen to science. Our whole world of inventions and weaponry , space travel and architecture, astronomy, road design, medicine, comfortable furnishings, computers, fabrics, mailing materials, machinery, building safe structures, growing more food per acre, improvements in glass, car safety, new technologies be it a bicycle or a car medical device have been invented or strengthened by  scientific testing and  investigation. We live every day with the things science has made possible.  We, as a country, used to lead the way in  scientific discoveries and investigation. Now we are #17 in the world.  Such a long fall from dominance.

How did we turn into a society that denies the overwhelming evidence of climate change?  It has hurt us as a country financially and in leadership around the world.

Part of it stems from the conflicted discoveries that appear to undermine religion. Red states with high numbers of fundamental religions, are where most climate deniers and anti science attitudes come from. Yet, many scientists believe in God and have religious beliefs.

The truth and nature of the world, which includes people, is a factual, solid place, not changed by science, but understood by science. However, people are more comfortable in their own beliefs and somehow feel it affects their self esteem if what they have  believed for most of their life is challenged.

Uneducated people regard scientists as some elite, arrogant class of know-it-alls that live off the taxpayers and deserve trashing. In fact scientists don’t make a lot of money. They have houses, a salary and spend into the private economy and pay taxes just like everyone else unless they work within a mega corporation where they can make better money. Where they buy houses, buy into the private economy and pay taxes like everyone else.

Scientists provide the infrastructure for great companies to succeed and compete. They are necessary to our capitalistic economy. And suspicions that they are liberals with an agenda to sway the public in some sort of conspiracy would take thousands and thousands of scientists to agree to a shady plan. It is unreal, untrue and unfortunate for all of us that such anti-scientific attitudes have been promoted and enhanced by politicians for their own gain. It is up to each of us to confront that attitude when we see it if we want to be the America we grew up with.

EARTH DAY FROM SMITHSONIAN

The current issue of Smithsonian Magazine pointed out some of the wonders of discovery since the first Earth Day in 1970. Not all of them were negative. Ocean placed wind farms aren’t as damaging as many environmentalists thought they would be.  Birds are not as threatened and habitat for ocean creatures has improved under the platforms.
On the other hand, bio-fuels have turned out to be more damaging than not. Mainly because preparing them releases more methane than the burning oil would have.
And, several new and exciting species were found, an Australian dolphin, a neon gecko and several species of mice.  We think we have seen every living creature and it kind of amazes me that we have not.
Global warming has already caused food prices to increase and, that will likely get worse. Habitat loss for penguins, polar bears and smaller creatures is a difficult problem to solve, and it may be unsolvable in the end. The oceans are in bigger trouble than anyone thought possible.  And, eating meat warms the planet. Hmm. Now, that is something I personally wrangle with. More on that tomorrow.
A great result on bee colony collapse. Scientists now know with solid proof that colony collapse is caused by pesticides. And some positive progress on white nose bat syndrome fungus. The fungus is identified, it is better understood and now scientists are working diligently on a cure.
Did you know that some of our elected officials do not believe in science?  And that some religions and fanatical groups refute science. They are called Flat Earthers.  Science was always my favorite subject in school and my youngest daughter and son-in-law are both scientists and I love bragging about them.  So, if you like science, Smithsonian has a list of wonderful blogs you might like. This is only a partial list and I haven’t visited many of them:  I picked them because they sounded intriguing.
Skepcheck—Cocktail Party Physics—Real Climate—Science Made Cool—Geeks Are Sexy—Extinction Countdown—13.7: Cosmos And Culture.
And one of Smithsonian’s blogs:   Food And Think.