Beautiful Day Rule

Trying not to judge, but it's tough...

2011-12-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

Regarding Obama directing Secretary Sebelius to overrule the FDA's recommendation to make Emergency Contraception (EC) available over the counter to all women:

I'm steaming mad, disheartened, and dismayed all at the same time. It's a betrayal of women and scientific integrity.

NPR reports that Obama said,

"I will say this, as the father of two daughters. I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine. And as I understand it, the reason Kathleen made this decision was she could not be confident that a 10-year-old or an 11-year-old go into a drugstore, should be able — alongside bubble gum or batteries — be able to buy a medication that potentially, if not used properly, could end up having an adverse effect. And I think most parents would probably feel the same way."

All the blather about 10-11 year olds having access to EC next to the candy is something I would expect to hear from Bill O'Reilly — not Obama!! For God's sake, Plan B costs $50!! Where is the uproar over the fact that for much less money, 10 and 11 year olds can walk into a drugstore today and buy a bottle of Tylenol or Nyquil, and down the whole thing in one sitting and potentially kill themselves? Where is the concern over 10 and 11 year olds giving birth, which IS a health risk?

"Teen pregnancy" occurs among older teens — with 2/3 of all teen pregnancies are among 18-19 year-olds, approximately 1/3 among 15-17 year olds, and very few among teens 14 and younger. So getting back to points that actually are worth discussing, because they occur in reality -- not just in scary visions of sexually active 10 and 11 year old girls -- preventing EC from being available over the counter for all, means that women 17 and older have to show ID to get it, which means they have to approach the pharmacist and face stigma and/or opposition. This happens, even in the California Bay Area. Also, many young adult women do not have any form of ID they can use to prove their age, so how do they get EC?

Some have said that setting the science aside, the ruling should be debated because of parents' discomfort. Government sometimes has to represent the interests of the underserved, and in this case that is young women under 17 — not parents. The government cannot successfully mandate good communication between teens and their parents. It won't work, and it puts the most vulnerable teens (those who cannot talk to their parents for good reasons) at risk. Women get thrown under the bus again.

And there is no way this was Kathleen Sebelius's decision. I wish she had pushed back on Obama, but I'm not in her shoes, so I will try not to judge her. It's hard, though.

Fall Color

2008-11-17T16:45:00.000-08:00

Some day I'll visit the East Coast to see the fall colors there, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy what California's coastal forests have to offer.

And one last Palin joke...

2008-11-05T22:28:00.001-08:00

This is from the San Francisco Chronicle, Letters to the Editor:

Editor - Just wanted to give credit where credit is due...

Today is truly historic.
I'm feeling euphoric.
Thanks, Katie Couric.

Dan Kaufman
Napa

The Amazing Obama Machine

2008-11-05T21:40:00.000-08:00

Here is Obama campaign headquarters in Palo Alto. It looked like this all weekend before the election -- packed with busy volunteers inside,

overflowing with busy volunteers outside (this is the front, but there were people in the alley out back too),

and Obama HQ's "satellite offices" were full too. The satellite offices included upstairs at Celia's Mexican Restaurant down the street, a neighbor's house around the corner, and Happy Donuts next door. This is the busy scene at Happy Donuts (how can you not be happy with a donut like that suspended overhead?)

Yes we can, and we did!

Beethoven says, "Vote No on Prop 4"

2008-10-27T21:04:00.001-07:00

Cute! No on 4 to Beethoven's Fifth.

Cute Bird in British Colombia

2008-10-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

Reminding myself that I didn't really set out to blog about politics...here's something from a Beautiful Day last summer in British Columbia.

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

2008-10-19T20:35:00.001-07:00

Colin Powell not only endorses Obama, he also speaks out for religious liberty. I am so grateful for that, I got tears in my eyes. Worth listening to the whole 7 minutes, because the tears came during the last two.

Got hope? Oh yes.

This is how bad it would be if Prop 4 passes

2008-10-17T18:15:00.001-07:00

For background on Prop 4, please see my previous post here.

I found this set of diagrams here. Even without reading the text, they show the mind-boggling hurdles Prop 4 would put in place of California minor teens seeking an abortion...and their doctors.

To start with, simply compare what happens today with what would happen if Prop 4 passes, even for a teen who is able to tell her parents:

Today: If Prop 4 passes:
Even the minor teen who can involve her parents would have to be very careful to document and verify that she and her doctor are following the law, or the doctor could be sued decades later. And that's the easy case!

Here's what it looks like if a minor teen seeks a judicial by-pass:

Here's what it looks like if she chooses to notify an alternate adult relative (this one takes THREE pages):

We need to make sure people understand how this law would really work (or not work)! To find out how you can help, go to www.noonprop4.org

Mystic Forest

2008-10-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

This mystic forest is along the hike to The Chief in Squamish, B.C. It's a strenuous hike -- I can't even imagine the climb up the face, which is what Stawamus Chief is famous for! But after either one, dinner and a beer at the Howe Sound Inn can't be beat!

Vote NO on California's Prop 4

2008-10-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

No matter how you feel about abortion, if you care about teen safety, you should Vote NO on Prop 4.

This election marks the third time a handful of anti-choice men have paid millions of dollars to signature gatherers to put a Parental Notification Constitutional Amendment on the ballot. Like Propositions 73 (2005) and 85 (2006) before it, Proposition 4 would prohibit young women from obtaining an abortion without government-mandated parental notification -- unless they go to court or document charges of parental abuse.

California voters defeated the previous two attempts because we understand that although parental notification laws may sound good, in the real world they put teenagers in danger. While we hope our teens will tell us if they are facing an unintended pregnancy, more than anything, we want them to be safe.

Most pregnant teens do involve their parents. But sadly, of the teens who don’t, most have very good reasons not to. Some fear being kicked out of the house, beaten, or worse. Others are faced with a difficult family situation, like parental substance abuse or serious health or financial problems, and simply cannot go to their parents.

Laws cannot force family communication! But they can cause desperate teens to do desperate things. We know from experiences in other states with parental notification laws in place that rather than tell a parent, teens:

Delay care until their 18th birthday, greatly increasing the risk of complications
Travel to other states where parental notification is not required
Take matters into their own hands, or seek illegal providers – putting their lives at risk.

Proposition 4 threatens the safety and well being of California’s teens, especially those who need our help the most. I have four children, ages 9 through 16. I certainly hope that my daughter will come to me if she is faced with an unintended pregnancy, but if for whatever reason she chooses not to, more than anything, I want her to be safe. And I realize that some teens cannot safely involve a parent. Those teens need to access to counseling, support, and responsible medical care. That’s why I’m voting NO on Prop 4.

The more people learn about Proposition 4 (and Propositions 73 and 85 before it), the more they oppose these dangerous laws. But in this presidential election, we need to reach millions of new voters. Find out how you can help at www.noonprop4.org.

Unbelievably Horrifyingly Funny (or scary, if they win)

2008-09-30T20:58:00.001-07:00

Please forgive the poor presentation (I never did figure out how to insert video clips reliably). This pair of video clips is worth the awkward step of clicking on each link.

First, watch this Saturday Night Live skit of the Palin-Couric interview.

Now watch this segment of the real interview.

I had read that SNL used Palin's words verbatim...but I never imagined how many!!

"Windex" Lakes

2008-08-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

These are the Joffrey Lakes, just north of Whistler, British Columbia, where we were recently hiking. Their color is so beautiful, but can it be natural? We kept hesitating to totally enjoy the "windex blue" color of Joffrey Lakes, just in case we came home and discovered that the blue color is caused by acid rain or something equally awful. But phew, the lovely color is caused by glacial silt, which is high in quartz.

Lower Joffrey Lake

Middle Joffrey Lake

Upper Joffrey Lake

Results 1 - 10 of about 6,240 for sarah palin tina fey

2008-08-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

Ha ha ha ... and I thought I had an original thought!

Tulip Magnolias

2008-02-28T12:12:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to do this for years, and today was the day. I went for a bike ride to photograph these trees in bloom. As nice as they look here, they are even better in person.

Enjoy.

Mystery burrow

2008-02-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

OK. Here's a challenge. Does anyone know who might have made this hole?

I found a bunch of them on a recent hike in Rancho San Antonio park, in Cupertino, California in early February. They were all over the hiking path. They must have been made earlier that morning, because the dirt was still moist. The hole is about half inch in diameter. Tarantulas, maybe?

Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas

2008-02-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

I took this photo the same day as my previous post. Piedras Blancas is a popular breeding zone for elephant seals, as you can see. I wish I remembered half of what the docent told us about them.

One thing I remember well, is the docent's grim prediction of how these new mammas and babies would fare if the big storm came in as expected. Not well. The next day, while the storm raged even stronger than expected, I thought of the elephant seals often. Tough life!

Road Trip

2008-02-03T18:55:00.000-08:00

Just when even I thought I might have given up the blog,... I've been working on a community project to fight climate change, and I've been so busy with it, I haven't spent enough time enjoying the very planet I'm helping to save. Except for this recent road trip down Highway 1, through Big Sur. So big; so powerful; what a planet!

Just another nice tree

2007-12-24T20:21:00.000-08:00

Found this photo while pruning the photo file. Just a nice view of an oak tree from a recent hike.

The Story of Stuff

2007-12-21T22:32:00.001-08:00

Watch this video! It's in seven installments, which come up automatically when chapter one finishes. All together it takes 20 minutes, but I think it's worth it. Watch the first two chapters and then decide for yourself.

Warning: you might never go to a big box discount store again after watching it. But that would be OK, I think. ...unless it's to purchase LED Christmas lights, that is.

Green Holiday tip #2

2007-12-19T17:33:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to have a green holiday season this year, and ... I just wish I knew someone who needs a new trash can! This one is made 99% of recycled tires.

But as 8yo pointed out, "What are you going to to WASTE one of the trash cans we already have so you can buy a sustainable one???" Good point.

Anyone need a sustainable trash can?

Green Holiday tip for procrastinators who put up Christmas Lights

2007-12-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

This post was half-baked about a week ago, so now it is for serious procrastinators!

Hopefully, you've already heard about how efficient and long lasting LED Christmas lights are. I mean, it was on CNN! The only downside is the price, according to the CNN Report. The good news is, these LED bulbs are:

10x more efficient than incandescent mini bulbs

50x more efficient than incandescent traditional bulbs

long lasting: they don't burn out for, like, 100 years (ok, maybe a little less than that) and they don't break as easily...they're strong plastic, not thin glass.

And...aren't they lovely?

They have an earthier, richer color tone that I like.

So, right. The price. Look for them on sale early next season (or maybe you'll still find some deals this year). I found a great price at...well, I don't want to name names or anything, but...two syllables: first one sounds like "lost", second one sounds like "low"

2007-11-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Here's one of my all-time favorite eco-tips, perfect for the day after Thanksgiving:

"...Kelsa says that instead of wasting plastic wrap or tinfoil, and in order to conserve the water and energy you would use to wash Tupperware, leftovers should just be placed on the floor for the dogs."

Woof.

Early Soccer Game on a Cloudy Day

2007-11-12T21:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's not so bad to have the first soccer game of the day...

Carbon Offsets Skeptics

2007-11-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a trip to New York City from San Francisco and purchased carbon offset for my flight.

Here's how it works:

My round-trip flight contributed 3170 lbs. of CO2 to the atmosphere. The $34.55 carbon offsets I just purchased buy wind-generated electricity, which replaces electricity that would have emitted 3,170 lbs. of CO2 to produce. The wind-generated electricity company is only allowed to sell carbon offsets for that clean electricity once, and they are the only ones allowed to sell it. Otherwise it doesn't work.

Pretty confusing, huh? No wonder people tend to be skeptical about Carbon Offsets. My skeptical friends used to just frustrate and annoy me. But then I thought, maybe I can learn something from their reaction. Maybe there is a better way to describe Carbon Offsets that make them more intuitive and less "scary."

Here is my suggestion:

One day, I was thinking about the efficiency measures I’ve taken in my own home, and wondering what I could do next. I realized that I’ve addressed all the low-hanging fruit, and at this point, the investment of resources is big compared to the CO2 savings to be gained.

Then I thought of my friend, who lives in a poorly insulated, drafty house. I could save more CO2 by paying to insulate and seal her house than I could by spending the same amount of money on the next project in my house (never mind how socially awkward that would be!).

That is the concept behind carbon offsets.

After you’ve reduced your CO2 emissions as much as you can or are willing to do, you buy carbon offsets so that other people can reduce CO2 emissions. The bigger the pool of CO2-reducing projects to choose from, the more CO2 you can reduce with the same amount of money.

Of course, you have to trust the organization that distributes the funds to make good choices and not cheat (sell the same offsets more than once). Many of the large environmental groups certify offset providers, which gives you confidence that your money will be wisely spent on real offsets.

Try this on the next skeptic you run across and tell me if it works!

Boo!

2007-10-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

Scary Tree

and my 100th post!

The San Francisco Bay Area

2007-10-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here it is, as seen from "Windy Hill" (and yes, it was windy!).

40 days in the life of Emily

2007-10-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

I'm late discovering this, but I'm glad I did.

Spend 40 days in the life of a Planned Parenthood clinic worker here. OK, it's actually written by a handful of clinic workers...why? To protect them. Read about what they face every single day work day (and some days at home, too).

Hello, world.

We're in the middle of something here at Planned Parenthood (where I work). The anti-choice people call it "40 days for life." I call it another day at the office.

Basically, the anti-choice groups have decided to picket more than 80 Planned Parenthood clinics across the country for 40 days. September 26-November 4.

I'm used to picketers. Planned Parenthood is used to picketers. It bothers me very much that the picketers aren't just picketing our clinics -- that they're really about making it impossible for women to get health care. But...we don't let them faze us. As for me, the more picketers there are, the harder I want to work.

So, I've decided to do something a little different. I'm inviting you come to work with me. Seriously. Every day, I'm posting to this blog -- some notes about my day, some photos, some video. I want you to know what it's like to work for Planned Parenthood. ... read more

Happy Autumn!

2007-10-21T21:17:00.000-07:00

Went for a long hike on this crystal clear, 75 degree, fall day.

Hip Hop Violin

2007-10-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

I don't usually (never, actually) link to music on this blog, but I found this and thought it was pretty cool.

I found this new (to me) blog, called Ancora Imparo ("I'm still learning"...in Italian), in a funny small-world way. A friend forwarded my previous post about water bottles to someone she knows in the U.K. That friend sent her a link to this post about water bottles. So here's introducing Ancora Imparo.

Evil evil bottled water

2007-10-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

This not-so-subtly titled post is to encourage you to click on the Carbon Conscious Consumer badge to the right (or, right here), and pledge to stop drinking bottled water (if you make the pledge, you get a 25% discount on a very nice reusable water bottle…here’s the one that travels with me).

I’ve been aware that plastic water bottles have a high energy cost, both to create the bottles and to transport them, but I never thought of it in moral terms until I read this very long article.

Here are some excerpts:

“We’re moving 1 billion bottles of water around a week in ships, trains, and trucks in the United States alone. That’s a weekly convoy equivalent to 37,800 18-wheelers delivering water. (Water weighs 81/3 pounds a gallon. It’s so heavy you can’t fill an 18-wheeler with bottled water–you have to leave empty space.)

Meanwhile, one out of six people in the world has no dependable, safe drinking water.”

For a specific example, look at Fiji water:

Transportation:

“The label on a bottle of Fiji Water says “from the islands of Fiji.” Journey to the source of that water, and you realize just how extraordinary that promise is. From New York, for instance, it is an 18-hour plane ride west and south (via Los Angeles) almost to Australia, and then a four-hour drive along Fiji’s two-lane King’s Highway."

Pollution:

"The Fiji Water plant is a state-of-the-art facility that runs 24 hours a day. That means it requires an uninterrupted supply of electricity–something the local utility structure cannot support. So the factory supplies its own electricity, with three big generators running on diesel fuel. The water may come from “one of the last pristine ecosystems on earth,” as some of the labels say, but out back of the bottling plant is a less pristine ecosystem veiled with a diesel haze.”

People:

“in Fiji, a state-of-the-art factory spins out more than a million bottles a day of the hippest bottled water on the U.S. market today, while more than half the people in Fiji do not have safe, reliable drinking water. Which means it is easier for the typical American in Beverly Hills or Baltimore to get a drink of safe, pure, refreshing Fiji water than it is for most people in Fiji.”

You decide:

“Once you understand the resources mustered to deliver the bottle of water, it’s reasonable to ask as you reach for the next bottle, not just “Does the value to me equal the 99 cents I’m about to spend?” but “Does the value equal the impact I’m about to leave behind?”

Simply asking the question takes the carelessness out of the transaction. And once you understand where the water comes from, and how it got here, it’s hard to look at that bottle in the same way again.”

An ex-overcast day

2007-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

This started out as a gloomy, cloudy day. But then, this happened.

Sent this today...

2007-10-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

Congratulations on the progress so far in achieving job discrimination protection for all Americans. Please stick to the original principle of equality for ALL. It would be a net loss -- of equality and credibility -- if this bill were to exclude transgendered people. Imagine how abandoned you would feel if you were a transgendered individual and ENDA passed by leaving you out of its protections. I don't want anyone in our country to feel so neglected, and I'm sure you don't either.

Respectfully,
Me

Update: An end-of-day comment...wow, that is an incredibly polite letter. If she changes her mind, I'm sure it will be due to my good manners.

Redtailed Hawk over Soccer Field

2007-10-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Luckily I didn't miss any soccer action while taking this!

There are no little things.

2007-09-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a comment on my last post that "there are no little things," I found a site dedicated to that principle, and added it to my sidebar. Check it out and pledge to become a "carbon conscious consumer." The site poses a carbon-saving challenge each month, and provides support for meeting the challenge.

This month's challenge is to reduce your junk mail. Here's the short list of why you would want to do that (read more here):

Save trees: More than 100 million trees are destroyed each year to produce junk mail. 42% of timber harvested nationwide becomes pulpwood for paper.
Reduce global warming: The energy used to produce and dispose of junk mail exceeds 2.8 million cars.
Save water: About 28 billion gallons of water are wasted to produce and recycle junk each year.
Save time. You waste about 70 hours a year dealing with junk mail.

Last April, I signed up with a service that makes it easy to get off of mailing lists. I used Green Dimes. Another service is 41pounds. Both services make it easy to get your names off the lists. Green Dimes cancels catalogs too. It was my impression that these services also monitor the mailing lists and keep your name off of them, but ... I'm checking into that...stay tuned.

Who uses styrofoam anymore?

2007-09-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the rebirth of environmental consciousness, in the progressive San Francisco Bay Area, MY KIDS' SCHOOLS use styrofoam plates at their family picnics.

That's about 1000 styrofoam plates that will never ever become fertilizer. Actually, make that 996 -- because I convinced 3 out of 4 kids (and myself) to take reusable plates from home. As Blue Gal says, "Be the change, baby."

Save the Bay

2007-09-26T13:04:00.001-07:00

Aaahhh.There is something about this scene that relaxes me.

I took this on a school field trip led by the "Save the Bay" organization. The group works to protect and restore the unique wetland habitats of the San Francisco Bay. They also educate the public about the importance of the remaining 10% of wetlands that still exist in the San Francisco Bay. There are two endangered species who live in the wetlands: the California Clapper Rail, and the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. No, I don't think the birds above are Clapper Rails.

I chaperoned twenty-some 5th graders as they learned and observed bay life. After lunch, we all worked in the nursery to transplant almost 500 Marsh Gum Plant native plant seedlings! When they grow up, our tiny transplanted seedlings will be planted in the marsh, and become habitat for the endangered Harvest Mouse. Hopefully when our 5th graders grow up, they will treasure and care for our planet.

Anyone can volunteer for Save the Bay restoration projects; not just school groups.

Marsh Gumplant in its native habitat.

Two of the Marsh Gumplant seedlings we transplanted on our field trip.

For anyone who ever holds back their true self...

2007-09-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

I heard this poem today, and it really spoke to me. Especially the first paragraph, which I think stands on its own (although the rest is good too).

Martha Graham to Agnes de Mille in
"Dance to the Piper"

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening
that is translated through you into action,
and because there is only one of you
in all of time
this expression is unique.
And if you block it, it will never exist
through any other medium,
and be lost.
The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine
how good it is, nor how valuable,
nor how it compares with other expressions.

It is your business to keep it yours
clearly and directly,
to keep the channel open.
You do not even have to believe in yourself
or your work.
You have to keep open and aware
directly to the urges that motivate you.

Keep the channel open.

More from the Alps

2007-09-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Another picture by 10yo...

I'm not dead yet...

2007-09-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

...I'm just digging out of coordinating 5 different school calendars (four kids and a teacher-hubby) with my own complicated schedule. It hasn't left much time for taking and posting nature shots.

Plus, we've had some wild fires in California recently, which have made the air really yucky-looking. So here's a picture 10yo took this summer in the Italian Alps, of a very un-yucky sky.

Saw these flowers along the Pacific Crest Trail

2007-08-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

I couldn't decide which view I liked better

Looking up, I like the composition...
Looking down I like the colors...

Pacific Crest Trail

2007-08-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a view from the Pacific Crest Trail near Sonora Pass.

The Pacific Crest Trail goes from Mexico to Canada. Some people try to hike the trail in one year, which is tricky because if you time it wrong, or the weather doesn't cooperate, you can get stuck in too much snow, or suffer heat stroke from the desert heat.

Me? I just think my feet would get sore waaaay before I'd run into either of those problems.

First Video Posting, third attempt

2007-08-27T20:13:00.001-07:00

OK, I'm NOT going to edit this one until I figure this out.

First Video Posting, second attempt

2007-08-27T20:08:00.001-07:00

Let's try this again.

Damn again. Just opening up the post makes the video disappear.

First Video posting

2007-08-27T19:58:00.001-07:00

I haven't felt driven to figure out how to post videos to my blog yet, but this video was apparently important enough for me to take on the challenge (which, of course, turned out to very simple).

This took up several minutes of my family's time, even though it was a beautiful day outside and we were at the beach.

Damn. The video was there, until I edited the post to add italics and color to the text. OK, maybe not so simple after all.

Just a leaf...

2007-08-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

This poor Aspen leaf fell early. The trees were full of green leaves, whispering in the wind the way Aspens do. I liked the way this one looked against the gray dirt.

Powell Lake

2007-08-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Not Lake Powell on the Arizona/Utah border. Powell Lake, in Immigrant Wilderness, California. The Three Chimneys are in the distance.

Three Chimneys

2007-08-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Kinda looks like Monument Valley, California. But it's actually the Emmigrant Wilderness, in Stanislaus National Forest. The three peaks on the right are called "The Three Chimneys."

Kinda funny to do this, but...

2007-08-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, BAC posted a great retrospective of her first two years of blogging. I enjoyed every link, although some of them got me teary-eyed.

It's kind of funny to link to BAC from here, since I think she is one of a handful of people who read this (Hi, BAC), but...you never know...if you're not already a friend of BAC, check out this sample of her first two years.

Twisty Tree

2007-08-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

I love they way some trees grow twisty like this:The haze in the background is from a far-away forest fire. We called the ranger to find out if it was safe to go on our hike; they said it was, and sure enough, by afternoon the sky had cleared up.

Granite Vistas

2007-08-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

I spent last week at the UC Berkeley family camp: Lair of the Golden Bear. Located in Pinecrest, California, they provide a tent-cabin per family, three meals a day, and age-group activities for kids. Hiking trails abound in the surrounding area, so off I went.

This view was from a hike from Gianelli Cabin trailhead to Chewing Gum Lake.

Chewing Gum lake is not sticky; it was quite refreshing. Here it is:

Other lakes in the area are also creatively named: Mud Lake, and my personal favorite, Toe Jam Lake....like, yeah, I want to hike 8 miles to swim in that!

Balmy Alley Murals

2007-08-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

Back in June, we spent a Beautiful Day in San Francisco, and at the end of it we spent some time in the Mission District, to see the murals. The best murals are the ones painted by the residents of Balmy Alley; they are more personal than the commissioned murals in the rest of the neighborhood.

Two days after we visited the murals, a teenage boy died in front of the Taqueria where we got fresh strawberry juice, the victim of a drive-by shooting at the corner nearest to Balmy Alley.

Dang, that made me sad.

More so because I’d just been there, enjoying the murals. The murals are so beautiful, so complicated, so personal. You want to get to know the people who created them. You want to know more about their life, their struggles, their triumphs, joys and sorrows. I guess you assume that the murals reflect on past struggles; I mean, they are painted by residents of San Franciso, California! Then you hear about the shooting and you remember that the struggles and sorrows occur every day.

On this mural, the letter the woman is holding is legible from up close, and it is written to her husband, who is "up north." She has not heard from him, she misses him and she is worried. If I remember correctly, she tells him about his child who he has never met. Poignant.

This one is a tribute to Frida Khalo. I love the gas meter flamingo!

Here are just a few more...only a small sample of what's there.

I'm off for one more summer romp. Enjoy the murals while I'm gone.

Fun with the Moon

2007-08-10T12:23:00.001-07:00

Because I want to be envied...

2007-08-09T23:26:00.000-07:00

After that last post, Cunning Runt renounced his envy of my trip to the Sierra Buttes. So, in an effort to earn back his envy...

This one is for you, CR, because it has rocks in it.

History and a Thrill

2007-08-08T10:21:00.001-07:00

Here's the history:

At the top of Sierra Buttes, is this plaque, commemorating the incredible gold mining that took place in the area, with special note of a 106 pound nugget that was found here. Woah.

Up some very-steep stairs, you reach the tippy top of Sierra Buttes, where you find this rock, inscribed by miners during the gold rush.
Note the old-fashioned writing style!

OK, and here's the thrill (to put it mildly):That there is a rattle, at the end of a looong snake. I startled it, and it scared the living daylights out of me. It slithered one way, and I leaped the other! Hubby had some warning (my scream), so he was collected enough to take this photo.

Peaceful Meadow

2007-08-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

New and improved, with no mosquitoes (when enjoyed by blogosphere, that is):

More fresh, Sierra air

2007-08-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Come back daily this week for more fresh air from the Sierra: Tamarack Lakes, from the Sierra Buttes trail.

Sierra Buttes

2007-08-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

Here's the reason I've not been blogging lately.

Namaste.

Bye for a while...

2007-08-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

I'm off again. Here's where:

The Pioneer Tree from the outside

2007-08-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

I realized I posted a photo looking out from inside the Pioneer Tree, but no photo of the tree itself. Here's a photo taken by 10yo, her own self.

He-who-shall-not-be-named

2007-08-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and... I won't give anything away here, but...

Could it be that the story continues in Samuel P. Taylor State Park????

OK, and a story...

2007-07-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

Remember, this blog was supposed to contribute nature to the blogoshpere, and also share with you my journey towards a greener life...meaning, I'm not there yet.

So, here's the story.

Scheduling issues made it impossible for our entire family to go camping together this summer, so I decided to go anyway with 8yo and 10yo. However. Once we got there I discovered what I don't know about camping. Like, how to open a can of tomato sauce when you've forgotten to bring a can opener.

But wait, I found this thing on my leatherman. Can I make it work for me? YES!
I felt pretty clever until I realized that this is how it's supposed to work!
Doi!

Just sharing some nice photos...

2007-07-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here's one, also from Samuel P. Taylor State Park:

Spent some Beautiful Days outdoors

2007-07-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

I've been blog-absent, and outdoor-present lately. Here's where I've been:

This is the Pioneer Tree Trail at Samuel P. Taylor State Park, just north of San Francisco. The Pioneer Tree is a 500 year old redwood tree that is hollowed out by fire, but still living. Inside the tree is a comfortable two-room home for some lucky hobbit. This is the view from the living room:

More on Choice and Beauty

2007-07-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Salon.com has a great article on the 2 1/2 candidates who accepted the invitation to speak at the Planned Parenthood meeting last week. My favorite quote is this one, from Elizabeth Edwards (the 1/2 candidate):

"I know the art and theater of politics. There are times when you have to position yourself just to be heard," she said. "But there are also issues that are so important ... that to try and position yourself out of it is to lay down the mantle of leadership. Women's lives are at stake, and our lives are not fodder for compromise."

Yeah!

The Official Beautiful Day Rule Flower of Choice

(found high up in Yosemite)

Hey Hey! Ho Ho! We Want Access to Birth Control!

2007-07-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

Last week, Congressman Pence (of low common sense) introduced an amendment to the Labor-HSS bill that would exclude Planned Parenthood from receiving any Title X funds.

Jargon explanation:

The Title X program provides funds for family planning services for low income women.
Planned Parenthood provides family planning to low income women.
Of the 5 million women who receive Title X funded services, 3 million of those patient visits are provided by Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood also provides primary health care, including cancer screening, to underserved women.
For many low income women Planned Parenthood is their ONLY source of health care.
Title X funds are never used to provide abortion services.

The amendment was defeated, by what is considered a large majority: 231-189.

189 legislators voted for this amendment???

89% of Americans support increased access to birth control....but...what? They forgot to tell their legislators? Or maybe their legislators forgot to ask? I mean, eeuuw, you'd have to mention sex!

---------------------------------------------------

And in a twilight zone of coincidence, Pence introduced his amendment while 200 or more Planned Parenthood employees were gathered in DC for a conference.

This crappy camera phone picture shows a group of Planned Parenthood supporters shouting for (gasp) access to birth control, while congress debated the amendment inside the building across the street. Notice the PT Cruiser passing by with the 2 1/2 foot high JESUS letters on the side.

The driver of the JESUS car was not an anti-choice counter-protester; he was just passing by, handing out t-shirts that said "JESUS" in modest 10 inch high letters.

One of the protestors took a t-shirt and put it on. She said, “What would Jesus do? He’d be out here with us!” From what I’ve heard about Him, she’s probably right about that!

“Hey hey, ho ho. ‘He’ wants access to birth control!”

---------------------------------

And to further 'fess up, ... I was in DC when all this took place, and was headed out to meet BAC for a friendly blogger dinner as the protesters started organizing. I called BAC, and we decided to protest first, eat later.

The police came by and watched us, and I thought, “Oh, how nice. They’re here to protect us from anti-choice crazies.” But no, they were there to tell us to leave; we didn’t have a permit, so we couldn’t stand there in a group.

Seasoned protester that she is, BAC warned me that it used to be that the police would warn you several times before arresting you, but these days they often arrest people after only one warning. I asked what happens if you get arrested. She described a two hour process of getting taken to Anacosta, booked, and released after paying $50. We both agreed we could take that chance, and we did.

I must say, I was kind of disappointed, though, because we did not get arrested. How I'd love to come home and tell my friends and neighbors, "I got arrested for defending access to birth control."

Redwood Tree Haiku

2007-07-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

I spent a Beautiful Day riding through the forest today, with NO CAMERA, damn it. So on my way down, I composed a haiku to give the idea:

"Billions and billions
of stars"...No, of Redwood Trees.
Nisene Marks State Park

Thorne commented on my last post that she has a new Haiku page where you can submit your own original (or found) Haiku at her site. She has a collection of SPAM haiku that is not to be missed!

Saw a great t-shirt today

2007-07-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

It said,

Hiakus are easy,
but sometimes they don't make sense.
Refrigerator.

Summer Reading

2007-07-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

Just finished Michael Tolliver Lives, which I was so excited about and … I loved it. I had a few doubts along the way, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Such a beautiful, charming, heartwarming story. Made me cry two or three times! Armistead Maupin claims the book is not book 7 of the “Tales of the City” series, but it is as good as.

A Mommy Moment

2007-07-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

As little feet get big and start to walk away,
Mom feels the sad side of happy.

Why the heck can't I put a blank line here? HA! Found a way.

It's summer and school's out, and I am getting to spend a lot of time with my kids. And it's good times, too; no homework hassles, lots of Beautiful Day outdoor time, lots of time to love. But man, they are growing up!

8yo doesn't need me to read to him anymore, and made potato gnocchi from scratch for the family the other night.

Shy 10yo got back from her first week at "away camp" all aglow, wanting to go back next summer.

12yo embarks on a three week trip to England tomorrow with some school classmates and a couple of amazing teachers. He doesn't even seem nervous.

14yo speaks with a deep voice, and sleeps in a lot. Once awake he is working on becoming power-tool-dude-the-second. He built some stairs that actually work.

Ever wonder where your brussel sprouts come from?

2007-07-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Right here. Taken on the coastal bluff trail in Wilder Ranch State Park.

West Coast Deer, East Coast Deer

2007-07-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

West Coast deer: East Coast deer: here

Why Jim Wallis gives me the creeps

2007-07-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, he’s got better values than the religious right.

Yes, it's great that he wants to reduce poverty.

But the Presidential Forum on Faith and Politics he recently organized and broadcast on CNN scares me.

We are supposed to have no religious test for office in this country. And yet his presidential forum put the three leading candidates on trial in front of a “special panel of religious leaders.” Eeuw. Kind of like the Inquisition, huh?

The whole set-up made me squirmy, not to mention the questions that were asked: about the candidates’ greatest sins! About the content of their prayers! Today it is the candidates in the hot seat of judgment. Tomorrow it could be me, a citizen.

It didn’t help that all three candidates are Christian, and every panelist who asked a question was Christian. I am not a Christian. I’m not very religious at all. But I have deeply held beliefs and values, and faith that my life has meaning. I would make a good president if I were so inclined.

This nationally broadcast presidential forum left me feeling like an outsider in my own country…even in my own political party.

So, what am I going to do about it?

I’ll sign the petition at First Freedom First in support of

real Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State.

Another beautiful beach

2007-06-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

...with flowers.

Wow.

2007-06-29T23:18:00.000-07:00

I hope the colors come through on your screen. On mine, I need just the right angle to see the deep blues. This is the California coast, just north of Santa Cruz. There is a flat, easy bike trail along these bluffs, and a new "wow" around every corner.

Family photo (minus me and 8yo):

OK, it doesn't suck to live in California, that's true. But I'd like to see some Beautiful Days in your part of the world too. Any suggestions for an html illiterate like myself? I was thinking you could email me a photo and a note about it and I could post it here. Or I could link to your blog if you post it there. Thanks to Cunning Runt for already giving us a nice taste of Western Massachusetts!

Don't even think about doing this until you've written your Blog Against Theocracy post, though!

Miss you!

2007-06-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Hey blogosphere. I'm playing with my family...not far from home, but spending much time outdoors on many beautiful days. Brought the camera, brought the computer, forgot the cable.

Just wanted to say that I miss my blog, your blogs, and comments (here and elsewhere).

I'll be back as soon as I can!

Happy Summer Solstice

2007-06-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my church of the Summer Soltice. This is where I went yesterday evening to appreciate the longest day of the year.

It is my favorite local nature place, and it is where I was headed (but didn't get to) on one of my first days as a blogger, when I posted California Poppies instead.

Imagine creek sounds.

More from San Francisco

2007-06-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

This one is a bit post-card-typical, but I guess there is a reason so many post-cards of San Franciso look like this. It's gorgeous.This one is more interesting. My 10yo daughter took it. In fact three of us took pictures of this bizarre sculpture made of scrap metal, but hers was the most interesting.

Beavers

2007-06-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

The animals. Recently, I took a walk through Lundy Canyon (near Mono Lake, on the Eastern side of the Sierra Mountains). We saw this beaver dam in the lake,

and then we saw this,

and this.

And then we started seeing chewed off tree stumps everywhere.

I don't know about you, but for me, beavers had only really existed in cartoons and Narnia. So I had a back-to-childhood experience (meaning I got ridiculously excited) seeing real life evidence of real life beavers doing their real-life thing.

San Francisco on a Beautiful Day

2007-06-14T22:32:00.001-07:00

Today I get to share some pictures of San Francisco on a beautiful day. Both are of the Golden Gate Bridge.

This shot is from the SF/Sausalito Ferry, and this one is from Telegraph Hill.

Imagine the perfect, soft breeze for the full, pleasing effect.

Methods of transportation we used today:

Car
Bus
Ferry
Cable Car
Trolley
Foot (almost never uphill, though...good planning!)

Bring back Joycelyn Elders!

2007-06-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

Cunning Runt left this comment on one of my previous posts.

No doubt you've heard of The Shrub's nomination for Surgeon Freakin' General, a reeel perfeshin'l feller who thinks gays can/should be "cured" by reprogramming. That ought to bring some sorely-needed sanity to the table.

Sigh. Remember Joycelyn Elders? What a cool lady. She's the ex-Surgeon General who suggested the ABCD's for sexual health: A-abstinence, B-be faithful, C-use a condom, or D-do something else. She got fired for that last one because God forbid that anyone in government acknowledge the safest and most common sexual act of all.

What a comparison, eh? Here's a place you can click-and-send or compose your own letters to your Senators, asking them to reject Dr. Holsinger for Surgeon General. Or maybe you're one of the 43,445 people who have already sent their letters.

Happy Michael Tolliver Day!

2007-06-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

I was so sad when I finished the last of the six books in Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” series. I mourned. I grieved. I turned back to page one and started over again. I did not want to part with his characters.

But today, 20 years later, I can stop grieving and start celebrating (and reading). In honor of Maupin’s latest book, “Michael Tolliver Lives,” Mayor Gavin Newsom has declared June 12 "'Michael Tolliver Day' in San Francisco."

For those lucky enough to have not yet read the books, “the City” is San Francisco, in the 80s. Many of the characters are gay, and the stories begin before the AIDS epidemic, and continue through it. The central character is Michael Tolliver, nicknamed, “Mouse.” The story lines are crazy, hilarious and touching.

More importantly, these were the first gay and lesbian characters I’d ever read about who were not portrayed as disturbed in some way. What a wonderful, liberating feeling that gave. What a gift to be handed a whole new set of people living funny, happy, sad, full, wonderful lives. Some might say I’ve taken these silly fictional books way to seriously, but…hey, I live in my books!

Happy Michael Tolliver Day! Read the books. They are perfect for summer reading!

Sometimes, on a Beautiful Day, ...

2007-06-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

...the thing to do is to build yourself a catpult. So that's what 8yo and I did, with help from power-tool-dude (Dad).

Too bad I won't post videos of my kids here, because the first attempts were priceless.

1) We didn't have anything to stop the catapult arm, ... except the concrete ... so we launched the water balloon right into the concrete. Well, actually, the bowl that holds the water balloon tried to keep going, past the concrete, but couldn't, so some parts went right, and some went left. We got a new bowl.

2) The springs that provide the force to swing the arm around were pulling in a direction to KEEP the arm in the firing position, so 8yo let go to fire and .... nothing happened.

3) The springs were in the right position, but didn't pull hard enough, so the ball "doinked." 8yo cried, "Aaaw, that sucked!"

4) After a few more tries, we got it go about 30 feet. 8yo's verdict: "That was pretty good!"

Activism takes a break

2007-06-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy this taste of the High Sierra. This is Elizabeth Lake, and behind it is Unicorn Peak, in Yosemite National Park.

Don't Agonize, Organize...

2007-06-07T22:30:00.001-07:00

I stole the title for this post from BAC, over at Yikes. I don't think she'll mind.

So, after feeling wilty for a while, I got mad and swirled into action.

This is me, calling congress about the impending increased funding of ineffective, amoral abstinence-only education programs.

With friends like these, who needs conservative Republicans?

2007-06-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

James Wagoner, of Advocates for Youth, says it so well, at RH Reality Check:

"Today, the House Democrats will waltz into the mark-up of the Labor HHS Subcommittee and proudly present a bill that puts their stamp of approval on domestic abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—an ideological boondoggle that threatens the health and well-being of America's youth.

The most appalling aspect of this sell-out is that that the Democrats will not only fully fund the worst of the failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—they'll give them a $27 million increase—the first in three years!

Shame on Congressman David Obey for brokering this "deal;" shame on Congresswoman Nita Lowey for agreeing to it; and shame on those other Democrats on the Appropriations Committee who have already promised not to offer any amendment that would cut funding for abstinence-only programs and thus "upset" the deal.

In one inglorious motion, the Democrats have sold the health and well-being of young people down the proverbial drain, delivered a public slap in the face to evidence-based public health, and made a mockery of their "prevention first" message.

Consider this irony. The first domestic policy the Democrats will endorse on the prevention front will be to fund abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for young people up to the age of 29! ..." read more; it's worth your time

"Now is the time for advocates to hold these Democrats accountable. It would be the height of hypocrisy to go mute when this kind of damage is done to young people because "our friends" are in power."

TAKE ACTION!

Sigh...and a CALL TO ACTION

2007-06-06T21:33:00.001-07:00

This is how I feel, having heard that Congress appears poised to increase funding for domestic abstinence-only education, despite a recent report showing that it is ineffective and deprives our youth of life-saving information about prevention of unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

I agree with what this commenter at the RH Reality Check blog says about the democrats:

"They are trying to dodge responsibility for capitulation on the war in Iraq, but they have just capitulated on one of the easiest issues to deal with in the Culture Wars."

TAKE ACTION HERE !

Hello.

2007-06-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

OK, I couldn't limit it to one photo. And you need to understand why.

Mark Twain said this about Mono Lake:

"Its sluggish waters are so strong with alkali that if you only dip the most hopelessly soiled garment into them once or twice, and wring it out, it will be found as clean as if it had been through the ablest of washer woman's hands."

We joked a lot about those ablest of washer women this past weekend.

And we made sure to rinse off the Mono Lake water. It is so alkaline (like Lye soap), and salty, it eats away at stuff. Mark Twain's "soiled garment" probably would have dissolved if he'd dipped it one more time.

So picture me, my little camera in a water-tight box hanging from my neck. I get into position to take a photo (using my best, but novice, paddling skills), stop paddling for a moment and:

shake Mono Lake water off my hands

open water-tight box

remove camera

turn on camera

zoom camera

frame shot

Oops. My kayak has drifted.

hang camera by its strap from my teeth

maneuver kayak back into position

frame shot

click

turn off camera

put camera back into water-tight box and close it

find even better angle

repeat

Don't feel sorry for me; it was great fun! Having this blog makes me look at the world more closely. Thank you for being here and giving me a reason to really see things.

Oops. Sorry. Well, maybe it's ok.

2007-06-04T20:46:00.000-07:00

Did any one sign up with IdealBite at my recommendation? Some recent tips have me feeling like maybe I recommended a targeted marketing list (...sorry, didn’t realize at first).

Here are the guidelines for products recommended in their tips. They're pretty good.

So, while I don't like getting tips like "Nip/Tuck Alternatives," I do like getting tips like this one, "Insider Trading," on how to swap and trade rather than buy things new.

·BookCrossing - leave used books in designated public places for other email-alerted bookworms to pick up.
·Freecycle - join a local group of swappers online.
·LendList - a share site where you compile a list of things you have to loan out, then send the list around to your friends.
·Swapagift - someone give you a gift card you'll never use? Swap it for cash here.
·Zunafish - swap books, CDs, DVDs and video games for $1/trade, plus shipping.

How the heck do you pick one photo from a weekend like this?

2007-06-04T19:26:00.000-07:00

What an awesome weekend. Here's the photo I picked for the "I'm back from Mono Lake" post.

I figured it was similar enough to the professional shot below to demonstrate that I am truly an amateur, but it's still pretty cool.

Mono Lake

2007-05-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my nightmares of impending climate doom, I am determined to enjoy our lovely planet while it stays that way. So this weekend I'm going kayaking on Mono Lake.

I borrowed this photo from professional photographer, Dan Heller. Check out his website for more spectacular photos of Mono Lake.

My photos won't be as amazing as Dan Heller's...but they'll be mine. I'll be out of commission until Monday.

Last summer, Mono Lake was pronounced "SAVED" (If you lived in the West in the 70's and 80's, you have seen the famous bumper stickers that said "SAVE MONO LAKE;" they were on every other car). This article tells the history of Mono Lake. The ecology, the activism, and the success make for an inspiring story.

Another great graph

2007-05-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is from a report by Media Matters, called "Left Behind: The Skewed Representation of Religion in Major News Media" The bars show the number of quotes/interviews/mentions in major newpapers of a selection of conservative and progressive religious leader. The picture really says it all. Red bars are conservative leaders, blue bars are progressive leaders. There are several graphs like this in the report that are broken down (only quotes, only interviews, TV, etc), but this one is representative.

Here are some key findings:

Combining newspapers and television, conservative religious leaders were quoted, mentioned, or interviewed in news stories 2.8 times as often as were progressive religious leaders.
On television news -- the three major television networks, the three major cable news channels, and PBS -- conservative religious leaders were quoted, mentioned, or interviewed almost 3.8 times as often as progressive leaders.
In major newspapers, conservative religious leaders were quoted, mentioned, or interviewed 2.7 times as often as progressive leaders.

Why is this important? From the executive summary of the report:

"As in many areas, the decisions journalists make when deciding which voices to include in their stories have serious consequences. What is the picture of religious opinion? Who is a religious leader? Whose views represent important groups of believers? Every time a journalist writes a story, he or she answers these questions by deciding whom to quote and how to characterize their views."

Check out the report. Spread the word! And sign the petition to protect religious liberty for all (even non-believers) by safeguarding the separation of church and state at First Freedom First.

Ohlone Food Processor

2007-05-29T14:32:00.001-07:00

Along Sanborn Creek, is evidence of early Ohlone Indian settlements. Archaeologists have dated Ohlone Settlements in the area of Sanborn Creek (the Santa Clara Valley) as early as 8000 B.C. (4000 years before the planet was even created !! - I won't link to any pseudo-proof of that!)
From the National Park Service, on the history of the Santa Clara Valley:

"The Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Mountain Range created a sheltered valley. Located south of the San Francisco Bay, Santa Clara Valley offered shelter from the cold, damp climate of the San Francisco region and coastal areas west of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and was no doubt inviting to the first human inhabitants. Historically, the Tamien-speaking Ohlone Indians were the first documented inhabitants of the Santa Clara Valley region, although the oak lined hills and valley undoubtedly had known earlier Indian inhabitants and migrations, now lost to history and prehistory. Archeological discoveries place Ohlone Indian settlements in the region as early as 8000 BC."

I look at this rock, with it's "Ohlone Food Processor" mortars carved into it, and imagine three or four Ohlone women sitting around it, chatting, as they grind their acorns...thousands of years ago!

What do you think they were talking about?

No Redwood Trees, but a nice view

2007-05-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

I spent the day yesterday at Sanborn-Skyline County Park. I hiked up the Sanborn Trail, and saw this beautiful view. Later in the day, along Sanborn Creek, I took the shot of the Redwood Trees I posted yesterday. More on the creek tomorrow.

Redwood Trees

2007-05-27T22:01:00.000-07:00

It's very difficult to take good pictures of Redwood Trees, but today I went out and tried anyway. Here's one I liked.

Wildflowers

2007-05-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure these California wildflowers are called "Buttercup." This pictures was also taken in the Mt. Hamilton area.

Cheating, a bit

2007-05-24T09:42:00.001-07:00

Cheating, a bit, because I did not take this picture today. I (or maybe my husband) took it in 2005, in the hills surrounding Mt. Hamilton, just south east of Silicon Valley. The Nature Conservancy is working to protect this land, which is threatened by development on both sides: Silicon Valley on one side, and the Central Valley on the other.

Worth protecting, just for scenic value alone, huh? ...not to mention all the critters that live there.

Oranges vs. orange juice, and all that it implies

2007-05-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

So, these days, our local grocery store is selling really good oranges. My 14 year old enjoys them, as do the rest of us. My last two trips to the store, I’ve noticed that my 14 year old (14yo) has written “O.J” on the shopping list. I ignored it. Why buy orange juice (which is processed in a factory, using energy; bottled in a plastic container made of petroleum products, etc. etc.) when I can buy delicious oranges?

I am living my beliefs by not buying O.J. while oranges are still in season. This is good. I’m doing my (small, yes) part to save the planet.

But then I was thinking about Separation of Church and State. How does my not buying orange juice relate to that principle, which I so strongly believe in?

As primary food shopper for my family, I am kind of like an elected official. I have the trust of my family, a certain power over what they eat, and a responsibility to them. So should I impose my O.J. philosophy on them?

Believe it or not, I actually gave this some serious thought.

It is my deeply held belief that each of us should take the small steps that we can, and it is my “faith” that if we all did that, we could save the planet, humanity, etc. So I am really tempted to impose this on my family. But I decided that would be wrong. I’ll still try to persuade them, by explaining and modeling the behavior I believe in, but I can’t force them to follow my beliefs.

I tried to explain this to my husband and 14yo last night. They just wanted to debate O.J. vs. Orange Juice.

It took quite an effort (and a moment of will over shaky voice) to explain that the point I was trying to make had little to do with O.J., but everything to do with power, and resisting the temptation to use it, despite my personal beliefs.

It ended up being a pretty good discussion. Maybe I was inspired by the Teaching Tolerance website I was looking at yesterday. Certainly also by the First Freedom First campaign.

Speak up, even if your voice shakes

2007-05-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

I just love that advice...maybe because sometimes when I speak up, my voice shakes...

I read that line in an article at Teaching Tolerance (a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center). It's from their online parenting resource for teaching tolerance. This particular story is a success story of a teen who did speak up (not sure if her voice shook or not).

Amazing Bubble Chart (ABC)

2007-05-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

What an amazing visual display of information.

OK, it's better if you go to the source, where you can actually read the text, and you can click on each bubble for more information.

It really is impossible to read here, so I'll tell you what it says. The horizontal axis is the effect on Energy Security (to the right means increased security, to the left means decreased security). The vertical axis is effect on the climate (up means a positive effect, down means a negative effect). The size of the bubble is the size of the effect. See the big bubble at the far right, and at the top? That says that if we increase CAFE standards, it will have BIG, POSITIVE effect on both energy security and climate.

If you want to compare all the different energy solutions being considered, and how they relate to energy security and climate change, this is a great summary. Check it out for yourself.

This was put together by World Resources Institute, a well respected "environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives" (in their own words).

Get that dead tree off the top of my blog!

2007-05-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Here is more Oak landscape. I live near Redwood tree habitat too, so I'll try to provide a change of scenery soon. I'm not sure how to do justice to Redwood trees with a camera, but I'll try.