Hammett, William James, Van Leeuwenhoek explain Trump Cult
If you are like me, you have been looking to Nick and Nora Charles to solve the mystery of the Trump cult-like popularity. The novelist Dashiell Hammett created the crime solving couple in the 1930s; they appeared in movies starring Myrna Loy and William Powell. I...
Animal IEDs
Sodium Cyanide For those who believe that animals have no consciousness, that is, those who purport animals as non-sentient, animal cruelty cannot exist. Historically, Theodore Roosevelt and John Burroughs were in that camp, and stayed there so as not to endanger...
Cthulhu, Morgoth, Trump, Explained
First, here’s my take: assigning the evil of the Trump era to Cthulhu and Morgoth seems entirely reasonable. This is a time when America has fallen into its most morally weak state. Actually, the only state possible under para-fascism. At our moment of greatest...
Be Somewhere Else Now
If Ram Dass was still here, would re really be here now? Or would he be somewhere else? If here, he might be lonely. Being somewhere else might be safer. Over several years and with increasing frequency, environmental reports suggest the coming end of civilization...
IPCC Climate Change Report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has put out a monumental report. Ninety-one authors from 40 countries, plus 133 contributing authors, cited over 6,000 references, creating the Special Report on Global Warming of more than 700 pages in length. The...
Gradual Diminishment
Around a half-century ago, unknown persons built two stone chairs at the summit of Devisadero Peak. The chairs on this 2500-meter foothill east of Taos, New Mexico were a favored destination for resident hikers and visitors. They became part of the natural and...
Ernest Thompson Seton Web Site
My exploration of generally true patterns was inspired by a number of sources. Among the most important was Ernest Thompson Seton (1860-1946). A self-described "artist-naturalist," Seton was a master wilderness explorer, educator and and social innovator. His...
Yosemite and Gaylor Peak
Yosemite National Park and Gaylor Peak Photographs July 31, 2017 Gaylor Peak (11,004') and the Granite Lakes are easily reached from the parking area at the east entrance to Yosemite National Park: Park, then start walking uphill on the trail. There may not be an...
Yosemite and Dana Plateau
Yosemite National Park and Dana Plateau Photographs July 29, 2017 It seems that the GOP (Grand Old Pederast) party had a bad night this week. Now that this latest outrage is sort of passed, time to go back to the world of beauty. The Dana Plateau sits on the eastern...
Yosemite Dome Photographs
Yosemite National Park and Dome Photographs July 28, 2017 For insight into the current political climate, take a look back at the year 2000 Ridley Scott movie, Gladiator. See if Emperor Commodus (d. 192 CE) reminds you of anyone in today's less than stellar set of...