After a lifetime of teaching biology, I am fixated on producing something real. I hope I have contributed something my student’s lives, but in the end it is never clear.
That is part of the reason I have gone into beekeeping. I build my own hives. I plan my own operations and business. I harvest my own honey and beeswax. I bottle it and sell it and give it as gifts.
But the bees are resting now. We put them to bed a couple of weeks ago. We reduced the entrances, insulated the tops, provided extra pollen and some sugar to help them through the coldest months, and now we wait.
Music is a little like teaching. It is an ephemeral thing. Modern man is used to thinking of music as a CD, or a tape, or of an electronic object embedded in an i-pod. But music originally was something that was enjoyed for the moment and was then gone. Repeat performances were seldom the same. Transient musicians moved along. Old Bill pulled out the fiddle for the dance.
I have spent a lot of my life making music. I’ve played guitar, mandolin, banjo, and harmonica. I suppose I have contributed something to peoples’ lives with my music, but in the end it is never clear.
This winter I am going to make the things that make the music. I started with kits for building a cardboard dulcimer. I built several with my grand children. Then I built a wooden dulcimer modeled after the cardboard ones. It certainly isn’t a traditional dulcimer. And it is small to fit a child’s hands. But the volume and tone are impressive.
I am currently building another similar to the one pictured, but with more of a triangular shape. Another Grand daughter and I have started on a wooden teardrop shaped dulcimer.
I am determined to be productive.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
“Of this I am quite sure, if we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find we have lost the future.”
Winston Churchill
Whenever humans are confronted with misbehavior we try to redirect attention away from ourselves. W often blame someone, or something else. “So-and-so hit me first”, or, “The dog ate my homework.” If this does not work we direct attention to another time. “I have anger management problems because I was abused as a child.” “I was upset because the washing machine broke this morning.”
There is always a reason why something happens. It might even be a perfectly legitimate reason. However, it still never changes the fact that the event has happened, and it does not tell us what we are to do now.
There once was a man who needed a job. He finally obtained an interview for a job for which he was ideally qualified. On the way to the interview he was struck by a car and badly injured. He didn’t awaken from his coma for three days. Desperately he called the potential employer and explained why he had missed the interview. The man was sympathetic, but explained that when the applicant hadn’t shown up for the interview they had given the job to someone else. The man had a legitimate excuse for missing the interview, but he was still unemployed.
So how did it come to this? Financial collapse, riots, intrusive government, eroding freedoms, war, ecological catastrophes, threatened food supplies, incivility, unemployment, violence, fear, failing schools, and ignorance are enveloping the world. What is obvious is that the present is not what America has been. The predictable future, if present trends continue, is not one in which free men would wish to live. We can quarrel over when it began or who started it, but in so doing we will lose the future.
What is needed now, and for the future, is a plan for what we are going to do with the situation in which we find ourselves.
Winston Churchill
Whenever humans are confronted with misbehavior we try to redirect attention away from ourselves. W often blame someone, or something else. “So-and-so hit me first”, or, “The dog ate my homework.” If this does not work we direct attention to another time. “I have anger management problems because I was abused as a child.” “I was upset because the washing machine broke this morning.”
There is always a reason why something happens. It might even be a perfectly legitimate reason. However, it still never changes the fact that the event has happened, and it does not tell us what we are to do now.
There once was a man who needed a job. He finally obtained an interview for a job for which he was ideally qualified. On the way to the interview he was struck by a car and badly injured. He didn’t awaken from his coma for three days. Desperately he called the potential employer and explained why he had missed the interview. The man was sympathetic, but explained that when the applicant hadn’t shown up for the interview they had given the job to someone else. The man had a legitimate excuse for missing the interview, but he was still unemployed.
So how did it come to this? Financial collapse, riots, intrusive government, eroding freedoms, war, ecological catastrophes, threatened food supplies, incivility, unemployment, violence, fear, failing schools, and ignorance are enveloping the world. What is obvious is that the present is not what America has been. The predictable future, if present trends continue, is not one in which free men would wish to live. We can quarrel over when it began or who started it, but in so doing we will lose the future.
What is needed now, and for the future, is a plan for what we are going to do with the situation in which we find ourselves.
Friday, November 11, 2011
STRAIGHT TIME
Sometime in the 1700’s, people began to conceive of time as linear. This is unlike earlier times when time was always considered circular. At other times, time has been perceived as random, or even irregular. Most of the time they say that time is uniform, but there are times when time seems faster or slower. The last time I wrote about time it was for New Years, 2011 when I wrote about biological time. But here it is, New Years for 2012 and time to write another column about time. I guess you could say it was about time.
Contrary to what many believe I am not old enough to recall ancient primitive conditions. Based on what little I have read about early human practices they must have often veiwed time as chaotic, events following events like a whirly-gig. The passage of time brought about unpredictable and dangerous changes, often resulting in dissolution and death. Elaborate rituals developed to appease the spirits in rocks, rivers, trees or animals.
However, for much of recorded history humans have measured time in cycles. As soon as natural cycles, such as diurnal rotation of our planet and lunar months, were recognized, time was measured and perceived as cyclical. Cyclical time allowed greater organization of society and control over the elements. Humans learned to perform certain deeds, such as planting or hunting, at the right times. Cyclical time also introduced a moral dimension. Things could be said to have been done at the wrong or right time. In addition, each generation could begin to compare its behavior to that of its ancestors.
The idea of time as a linear experience, with a distinct beginning leading on to a unique ending, is nearly universal in modern thought. Yet it has not always held strong infleunce on mankind. The concept was recognized by ancient Greeks who hoped that reason would improve mankind’s lot. The Romans had a concept of leading on to a glorious destiny. However, it was the rise of the great monotheistic religions that suggested that mankind might be about something more than fate.
For the common man linear time had little meaning for much of history. It was in the sixteenth century that the invention of science, combined with the Reformation, begin to spread through Europe, leading people to begin speculating about the origins, and the end, of the earth. Later, during the Enlightenment eighteenth century philosophers developed similar progressive ideas involving a secular ‘heavenly city on the hill”.
The idea of linear time assumes that mankind is on a trajectory of progress. Men disagree about when it began and how long it might take. The overall assumption, however, is that we are on a straight line of progress to better things. This thought so pervades modern America that it has shaped our entire culture.
Under cyclical time people valued patience, relatedness of parts, ritual, relationships, nature, and the healing power of time. Modern culture values haste, practicality, concentration, efficiency, analysis, power and control of nature.
If the future can be extrapolated as a straight line, then the past ceases to have relevance. If one does not see any possibility of deviation from the trajectory in the future, they will not consider any deviations in the past as significant. In fact, the past is assumed to have led to this moment when we are just lucky enough to be in existence and the exact apogee of human existence.
I am not sure if time is linear or not. But one thing does worry me. Straight lines do not necessarily lead upward. They can just as easily be downward slopping, something linear progressives often overlook. It ought to give pause that all measures of time that we use are based on repetitive measurements, whether that be the vibration of an atom, the rotation of the earth, the lunar cycles, or the seasons in a year. Maybe that should be enough to give us pause. It’s about time.
Contrary to what many believe I am not old enough to recall ancient primitive conditions. Based on what little I have read about early human practices they must have often veiwed time as chaotic, events following events like a whirly-gig. The passage of time brought about unpredictable and dangerous changes, often resulting in dissolution and death. Elaborate rituals developed to appease the spirits in rocks, rivers, trees or animals.
However, for much of recorded history humans have measured time in cycles. As soon as natural cycles, such as diurnal rotation of our planet and lunar months, were recognized, time was measured and perceived as cyclical. Cyclical time allowed greater organization of society and control over the elements. Humans learned to perform certain deeds, such as planting or hunting, at the right times. Cyclical time also introduced a moral dimension. Things could be said to have been done at the wrong or right time. In addition, each generation could begin to compare its behavior to that of its ancestors.
The idea of time as a linear experience, with a distinct beginning leading on to a unique ending, is nearly universal in modern thought. Yet it has not always held strong infleunce on mankind. The concept was recognized by ancient Greeks who hoped that reason would improve mankind’s lot. The Romans had a concept of leading on to a glorious destiny. However, it was the rise of the great monotheistic religions that suggested that mankind might be about something more than fate.
For the common man linear time had little meaning for much of history. It was in the sixteenth century that the invention of science, combined with the Reformation, begin to spread through Europe, leading people to begin speculating about the origins, and the end, of the earth. Later, during the Enlightenment eighteenth century philosophers developed similar progressive ideas involving a secular ‘heavenly city on the hill”.
The idea of linear time assumes that mankind is on a trajectory of progress. Men disagree about when it began and how long it might take. The overall assumption, however, is that we are on a straight line of progress to better things. This thought so pervades modern America that it has shaped our entire culture.
Under cyclical time people valued patience, relatedness of parts, ritual, relationships, nature, and the healing power of time. Modern culture values haste, practicality, concentration, efficiency, analysis, power and control of nature.
If the future can be extrapolated as a straight line, then the past ceases to have relevance. If one does not see any possibility of deviation from the trajectory in the future, they will not consider any deviations in the past as significant. In fact, the past is assumed to have led to this moment when we are just lucky enough to be in existence and the exact apogee of human existence.
I am not sure if time is linear or not. But one thing does worry me. Straight lines do not necessarily lead upward. They can just as easily be downward slopping, something linear progressives often overlook. It ought to give pause that all measures of time that we use are based on repetitive measurements, whether that be the vibration of an atom, the rotation of the earth, the lunar cycles, or the seasons in a year. Maybe that should be enough to give us pause. It’s about time.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I CANNOT REMAIN SILENT ANY LONGER
FIRST, you are not 99%. You are a small, pitiful group of a few thousand rude, obnoxious, loud, privileged spoiled brats who have no idea what suffering or want truly are, or what tyranny and cruelty actually look like.
The banks have never abused you and you have never known want. The very tents you sleep in are available because of your prosperity and the riches of this country. You women dress as you please and go where you would like, freedoms unavailable to most women of the world. You men condemn the manly and destroy civilization and safety that other men have sought so hard to build.
It is America’s wealth and freedoms that afford you the possibility to do what you are presently doing. None of you are at slightest risk of being gunned down by the forces of a mad dictator. Your relatives are not at risk, and you will not disappear. In most countries of the world you would not have been allowed to do what you are doing for even one night without terrible bloodshed and great risk.
The truth is you are not 99% no matter how many times you say it and how often the stupid media repeat it for sales. There are others who also know how to use the internet and social media sites and WE are truly legion. You should be afraid that you will accomplish what you hope, for then you will find out how few, how cowardly, how foolish, and how weak you truly are.
SECOND! Hatred of other men is wrong! It is evil! I do write this message because I hate those who disagree with me. I write this message because others, and those who I disagree with, must know that there is determined, courageous, and equally noisy opposition.
To condemn a human for being black is racist. To condemn one because of their culture is bigotry. To condemn the Jews is not only a form of both, but is the basis of nearly every evil action taken in western history. I am shocked, appalled, and furious at the language I have heard in recent days coming from loud ignorant protestors who are either dumb or evil.
To see a black women attack a group of people because they are Jews is almost unbelievable. To see political leaders and academics endorse the same accusations and hatred that has been heard time and again in history, and as recently as the last century, is simply unbelievable. But my eyes and ears cannot deceive me.
Perhaps worst of all is to listen carefully for the condemnation and courageous refutation from our countries leaders, public officials or even loan citizens and to find there is none. The few loan voices are timid or drowned out by the silence of acceptance from the masses. Well, listen closely. JEW HATERS ARE EVIL, IGNORANT BIGOTS!
THIRD! Taking money by force, even the force of government and giving it to someone else is theft. Theft is the epitome of GREED. Those who demand social justice are guilty of the crime of which they accuse others. Consider the complaints against the banks and society at large.
“I want what you have” is the cry of spoiled children. “You don’t deserve what you have” is playing God. You may not believe in God, but I do not believe human judgment is superior. (In fact your behavior proves my point.) “I deserve more than I have” is so arrogant as to be almost unbelievable. “It’s not fair” is what my children used to say.
Do you not understand that in nearly every other society in history, and even in present day, that people have NO chance to improve their lot in life? There is NO chance to change economic circumstances. Capitalism is the first and only system that makes it possible for common people to work and improve their lot in life. In fact, most of you protestors are able to protest because your parents improved their lot through capitalism.
There may be none greedier than the poor and the envious. Most of you in the streets do not know what poverty is, so I am left to assume you are simply greedy.
FOURTH AND LAST! The unions no longer represent oppressed workers. There was a time when people were often forced to work in inhuman and dangerous conditions. Pay was inadequate and workers were oppressed. That is obviously no longer true in America. American teachers are NOT oppressed. I know I am one as are others in my family. American union workers live well and have excellent working conditions.
The unions no longer have any moral ground on which to represent anyone. They now fight for control and power for the union, not the worker.
The banks have never abused you and you have never known want. The very tents you sleep in are available because of your prosperity and the riches of this country. You women dress as you please and go where you would like, freedoms unavailable to most women of the world. You men condemn the manly and destroy civilization and safety that other men have sought so hard to build.
It is America’s wealth and freedoms that afford you the possibility to do what you are presently doing. None of you are at slightest risk of being gunned down by the forces of a mad dictator. Your relatives are not at risk, and you will not disappear. In most countries of the world you would not have been allowed to do what you are doing for even one night without terrible bloodshed and great risk.
The truth is you are not 99% no matter how many times you say it and how often the stupid media repeat it for sales. There are others who also know how to use the internet and social media sites and WE are truly legion. You should be afraid that you will accomplish what you hope, for then you will find out how few, how cowardly, how foolish, and how weak you truly are.
SECOND! Hatred of other men is wrong! It is evil! I do write this message because I hate those who disagree with me. I write this message because others, and those who I disagree with, must know that there is determined, courageous, and equally noisy opposition.
To condemn a human for being black is racist. To condemn one because of their culture is bigotry. To condemn the Jews is not only a form of both, but is the basis of nearly every evil action taken in western history. I am shocked, appalled, and furious at the language I have heard in recent days coming from loud ignorant protestors who are either dumb or evil.
To see a black women attack a group of people because they are Jews is almost unbelievable. To see political leaders and academics endorse the same accusations and hatred that has been heard time and again in history, and as recently as the last century, is simply unbelievable. But my eyes and ears cannot deceive me.
Perhaps worst of all is to listen carefully for the condemnation and courageous refutation from our countries leaders, public officials or even loan citizens and to find there is none. The few loan voices are timid or drowned out by the silence of acceptance from the masses. Well, listen closely. JEW HATERS ARE EVIL, IGNORANT BIGOTS!
THIRD! Taking money by force, even the force of government and giving it to someone else is theft. Theft is the epitome of GREED. Those who demand social justice are guilty of the crime of which they accuse others. Consider the complaints against the banks and society at large.
“I want what you have” is the cry of spoiled children. “You don’t deserve what you have” is playing God. You may not believe in God, but I do not believe human judgment is superior. (In fact your behavior proves my point.) “I deserve more than I have” is so arrogant as to be almost unbelievable. “It’s not fair” is what my children used to say.
Do you not understand that in nearly every other society in history, and even in present day, that people have NO chance to improve their lot in life? There is NO chance to change economic circumstances. Capitalism is the first and only system that makes it possible for common people to work and improve their lot in life. In fact, most of you protestors are able to protest because your parents improved their lot through capitalism.
There may be none greedier than the poor and the envious. Most of you in the streets do not know what poverty is, so I am left to assume you are simply greedy.
FOURTH AND LAST! The unions no longer represent oppressed workers. There was a time when people were often forced to work in inhuman and dangerous conditions. Pay was inadequate and workers were oppressed. That is obviously no longer true in America. American teachers are NOT oppressed. I know I am one as are others in my family. American union workers live well and have excellent working conditions.
The unions no longer have any moral ground on which to represent anyone. They now fight for control and power for the union, not the worker.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that grazing wheat or alfalfa stubble with goats reduces wheat and alfalfa pests the following year? Who knew?
Did you know that grazing animals on certain forages can reduce the intestinal worm burdens sufficiently that medications may not be needed? Who knew?
Well, my Grandfather, for one.
Did you know that grazing animals on harvested fields can reduce fertilizer requirements the next year significantly? Who knew?
My other Grandfather . . . and just about every living person born prior to 1945.
I smile at some of the research being generated by S.A.R.E. (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education). Not because it is wrong, but because they are discovering what almost every person knew when most people lived on small farms.
When the federal government subsidized corporate farms following WWII they killed the small farmer. Then as the corporate farms plowed from fence row to fence row, dumped on petroleum based fertilizers, destroyed natural habitat for productivity, and in general turned food production into agricultural factories we are discovering that this doesn’t work.
Farming is basically a nurturing process. It works best when there is a love for the land, an understanding of the natural order, and the patience to live in that world. Unfortunately this nurturing process is often pitted against millions of dollars.
Growing animals that fertilize the crops that feed the animals (including humans) is as important as growing crops that feed the animals that fertilize the crops. Growing more than one crop, rotating them, and including animals in the products enhances the health of the land, the plants, the animals, and the humans.
I applaud S.A.R.E. for their efforts. However, the efforts are doomed until public policy ends subsidies for large farms and provides incentives for the small nurturing activities. These can only succeed if we decentralize food production and processing. The big money will see to it that that never happens.
Did you know that grazing animals on certain forages can reduce the intestinal worm burdens sufficiently that medications may not be needed? Who knew?
Well, my Grandfather, for one.
Did you know that grazing animals on harvested fields can reduce fertilizer requirements the next year significantly? Who knew?
My other Grandfather . . . and just about every living person born prior to 1945.
I smile at some of the research being generated by S.A.R.E. (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education). Not because it is wrong, but because they are discovering what almost every person knew when most people lived on small farms.
When the federal government subsidized corporate farms following WWII they killed the small farmer. Then as the corporate farms plowed from fence row to fence row, dumped on petroleum based fertilizers, destroyed natural habitat for productivity, and in general turned food production into agricultural factories we are discovering that this doesn’t work.
Farming is basically a nurturing process. It works best when there is a love for the land, an understanding of the natural order, and the patience to live in that world. Unfortunately this nurturing process is often pitted against millions of dollars.
Growing animals that fertilize the crops that feed the animals (including humans) is as important as growing crops that feed the animals that fertilize the crops. Growing more than one crop, rotating them, and including animals in the products enhances the health of the land, the plants, the animals, and the humans.
I applaud S.A.R.E. for their efforts. However, the efforts are doomed until public policy ends subsidies for large farms and provides incentives for the small nurturing activities. These can only succeed if we decentralize food production and processing. The big money will see to it that that never happens.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
People don’t want to own things. People want to do things.
The other day I overheard a conversation between students. One of them had a new cell phone. It suddenly struck me that the others weren’t interested in the phone, but in what it could DO.
Isn’t that why people buy boats, campers, hot tubs, swimming pools, fishing rods, duck blinds and whatever? People like to do things. They even often enjoy puttering around with cleaning the pool and maintaining the camper. After all, there is no farm to care for.
At first I thought about how people like movies, television, and entertainment. But then I realized that what those things do is make you believe you are doing something. The sounds, visuals, conflict, romance, and even news reports convince us for awhile that we are doing those very things. For a little while, we think we truly matter.
Of course, when the movie ends we discover that we haven’t done anything at all, we feel even more useless than before. That is the danger of modern entertainment.
There was always something to do on the farm. One could do something different every day of the week and still have things to do. But in the urban setting it is much harder to find things to do that are constructive and productive.
I am not sure how to use this insight productively. People need things to do. Do you have any ideas?
The other day I overheard a conversation between students. One of them had a new cell phone. It suddenly struck me that the others weren’t interested in the phone, but in what it could DO.
Isn’t that why people buy boats, campers, hot tubs, swimming pools, fishing rods, duck blinds and whatever? People like to do things. They even often enjoy puttering around with cleaning the pool and maintaining the camper. After all, there is no farm to care for.
At first I thought about how people like movies, television, and entertainment. But then I realized that what those things do is make you believe you are doing something. The sounds, visuals, conflict, romance, and even news reports convince us for awhile that we are doing those very things. For a little while, we think we truly matter.
Of course, when the movie ends we discover that we haven’t done anything at all, we feel even more useless than before. That is the danger of modern entertainment.
There was always something to do on the farm. One could do something different every day of the week and still have things to do. But in the urban setting it is much harder to find things to do that are constructive and productive.
I am not sure how to use this insight productively. People need things to do. Do you have any ideas?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP) AS DISEASE INDICATOR
Can a country survive when it is more profitable to be sick or broken than to be well or repaired? Soon the major portion of our Gross National Product will not be about production but about health care. No one can make money out of keeping people healthy, so we are worth more to our country sick and well. What if you stop receiving unemployment benefits? Will the GNP go down because you have nothing to spend. Of course, these ideas are only true if the only measure of value is the economy.
This is true of almost everything. For example, instead of talking about the life of one person, what if we examine the value of one marriage and family. If a husband and wife are united in their goals and committed to their marriage, they will work diligently to purchase a home, care for it properly, raise children, educate them, and try to be productive in the community. They will be of great worth that community as will their children as they grow into responsible adults. But they will not be very worth as much financially to the community because they will be frugal and consume less.
But they will be worth more, financially, to the economy, if they divorce. They will no longer be able to help each other out. There won’t be two people to help with the children and there will have to be two houses instead of one. Instead of producing part of their own food they will have to purchase more because there is no time to garden. They will have to purchase more processed foods because there is less time to cook. They will eat out more often. There will be legal bills, and trips back and forth to share children, and more cell phones so the children can stay in contact. More computers, TV’s, stoves, refrigerators, furniture, cars and such will be needed for two households.
The divorced family is worth so much less to the community generally, but so much more to the financial economy. Could the same thing be said for neighborhoods, communities, counties, states, and countries?
Perhaps the GNP could be used as a measure of just how bad and inefficient our nation is: the higher the GNP the worse off we are in all the things that matter most. Is the GNP a direct predictor of divorce? Could it be used as an indicator of ill health or failing communities? What happens to the GNP when people are paid to not work? I haven’t done the statistics, but it sort of seems like someone ought to look at that.
This is true of almost everything. For example, instead of talking about the life of one person, what if we examine the value of one marriage and family. If a husband and wife are united in their goals and committed to their marriage, they will work diligently to purchase a home, care for it properly, raise children, educate them, and try to be productive in the community. They will be of great worth that community as will their children as they grow into responsible adults. But they will not be very worth as much financially to the community because they will be frugal and consume less.
But they will be worth more, financially, to the economy, if they divorce. They will no longer be able to help each other out. There won’t be two people to help with the children and there will have to be two houses instead of one. Instead of producing part of their own food they will have to purchase more because there is no time to garden. They will have to purchase more processed foods because there is less time to cook. They will eat out more often. There will be legal bills, and trips back and forth to share children, and more cell phones so the children can stay in contact. More computers, TV’s, stoves, refrigerators, furniture, cars and such will be needed for two households.
The divorced family is worth so much less to the community generally, but so much more to the financial economy. Could the same thing be said for neighborhoods, communities, counties, states, and countries?
Perhaps the GNP could be used as a measure of just how bad and inefficient our nation is: the higher the GNP the worse off we are in all the things that matter most. Is the GNP a direct predictor of divorce? Could it be used as an indicator of ill health or failing communities? What happens to the GNP when people are paid to not work? I haven’t done the statistics, but it sort of seems like someone ought to look at that.
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