Heaven Or Hell?

“Go to heaven for the climate and hell for the company.”

Benjamin Franklin Wade

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First I though Mr. Wade was a visionary, who predicted climate change in 1856: Pleasant temperatures and a soothing climate in heaven, or the opposite in hell, aka “hotter than hell”. The latter pretty much describes the direction we are currently heading.

Then I found out the above quote was Mr. Wade’s answer, when he was asked to provide an opinion on heaven and hell.

So?

What’s to say about climate change? I believe climate change is real, meaning there is a trend of rising surface and water temperatures that coincides with industrialization and human population growth. There is no doubt in my mind. How about you?

The real questions are:

Is this rise in temperature relevant?

Is it caused or affected by humans?

Should we do something about it?

Can we do something about it?

It is easy to brush this topic aside and leave it up to the politicians to make decisions for us. We will not burn up within our generation, but it surly won’t be pleasant down here in the long run if the average temperatures keep going up.

Then what? Looking forward to good company in hell?

I am not sure Mr. Wade was all too serious with his statement.

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Instead of Words

“If I could say it in words
there would be no reason to take photographs.”

inspired by Edward Hopper

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Edward Hopper did paint American scenes of daily life. His most famous painting is Nighthawks, an oil on canvas painting that portrays people in a downtown diner late at night. The original can be viewed at the Art Institute of Chicago.

One of his paintings sold for $36 million in 2013, 46 years after his death.

[Art is business, which may not benefit the artist.]

 

In no particular order – № 1

“I am pessimistic about the human race because it is too ingenious for its own good. Our approach to nature is to beat it into submission. We would stand a better chance of survival if we accommodated ourselves to this planet and viewed it appreciatively instead of skeptically and dictatorially.”

Elwyn Brooks White

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Elwyn Brooks White is the author of Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little.

Cold as Ice

Tower Creek Falls, Yellowstone

“Withstanding the cold develops vigor for the relaxing days of spring and summer. Besides, in this matter as in many others, it is evident that nature abhors a quitter.”

Arthur C. Crandall

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Went on a short hike the other day, exploring a small waterfall. Nobody else around. So many hidden gems in this park. I could touch the ice and listen to the water gurgling behind a thick wall of ice. I could hold on to those icicles.

In a few months the ice will be gone, melted, washed down the creek, joining the Yellowstone river, ending up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Maybe I should follow the ice?

 

Buckle down

Stormy days ahead around here. Time to stay put reading a good book. Or go out and catch some herring?

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“In March the soft rains continued, and each storm waited courteously until its predecessor sunk beneath the ground.”

John Steinbeck

Where else?

“I belong to a lost generation and am comfortable only in the company of others who are lost and lonely.”

Umberto Eco

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This sentiment comes up once in a while. Writing from the quiet of my living room… Reading the stories of others in distant places.

You Know It’s Spring… [№ 3]

when you look at your collection of shoes (mukluks, Xtra Tuffs,  Tevas, ski boots, winter mountaineering boots) and gloves (fleece, neoprene, GoreTex, wool mittens) and decide to go with the Tevas and no gloves to go on a bike ride to town to pay your taxes.

Hallelujah, it’s tax season. Take my hard earned money and spend it on a beautiful wall.

Happy Easter!

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“The art of taxation consists of plucking the goose so as to obtain the most feathers with the least hissing.”

Jean-Baptiste Colbert