The Trail Since 2006
It began with a spark of inspiration from a few kindred spirits scattered along the Appalachian ridges, mostly in North Carolina and Virginia. Back then, we were virtual friends who—for the most part—never shared a physical porch, but we built a digital one together. Some were writers, some were poets, and some were photographers, each of us finding our way through those early “virtual woods” on the internets.
What follows is a collection of my latest musings (and perhaps a bit of blathering), a trail of thoughts that winds all the way back to those first steps in 2006.
Or just meander through my past muses… Just hope the coffee isn’t stale!
Happy Birthday To US, America!
Enjoy the day…But remember the reason we celebrate. George F. Will – Independence Days – washingtonpost.com Certain politically charged rhetorical tropes were then society’s common property. Writing shortly before his death, Jefferson affirmed his belief…
Independence Day…From Oil and Coal.
Wouldn’t it make a great birthday present to the country if we could get serious about Energy Independence? Yale Environment 360: As Energy Prices Rise, the Pressure to Drill Builds Perhaps we should be amazed…
African fractals, in buildings and braids
TED | Talks | Ron Eglash: African fractals, in buildings and braids (video) “I am a mathematician, and I would like to stand on your roof.” That is how Ron Eglash greeted many African families…
Food Musing
I have never felt that the Corporate pushers of GMOs were looking out for anything other than their own profits. That has led me to look on their actions in an unfavorable light. While this…
A New Website…At Least For Me
I have subscribed to Michael Pollan’s website to be sent updates to what’s happening in his world. I received a notice that led me to a new environmental website…If you haven’t seen it before, go…
End of the Month, End of the Week Muse
One of the email missives I look forward to comes in on it’s own schedule each month. It is from Andy Griffin of Mariquita Farm called “The Ladybug Letter”. Andy tells tales of his life…
Musing on the Fairness of the Vote…
David Broder has a column today that touches on a subject that has bothered me for a good while… After watching the effects of the Delay led gerrymander in Texas a few years ago I…
Midweek Muses…
From the papers and email… Paul C. Light – Can’t-Do Government – washingtonpost.com The next president will inherit what Alexander Hamilton called a “government ill executed.” Now that’s a legacy, George… ++++++++++ $6.64 for gas?…
True happiness in a bowl of pasta sause…
TED | Talks | Malcolm Gladwell: What we can learn from spaghetti sauce (video) Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell gets inside the food industry’s pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce — and makes a larger…
One Angry Man: The New Yorker
A good overview of the Keith Olbermann rise in the New Yorker. It was nearly midnight before Keith Olbermann left the NBC News election studio on May 13th, having spent five hours on the air,…
Monday Morning Muse
I saw the notice in my email first thing and as I worked my way down the list I was trying to formulate a post. Then I read John Scalzi’s…If you are or were a…
Attention…Musing About Comments and Community
Danah Boyd had an interesting comment on her blog today… In an attention economy, it’s better to ignore than to critique. This drives me absolutely bloody batty. Anyone who’s been online for too darn long…
Weekend Muses
Ok, so it’s official now…My part of the world is in severe drought conditions. I kinda’ figured as much since I haven’t really needed to mow in over a month. Already dealing with high fuel…
Eat that?
Hmmm… Eat that?: Agriculture secretary’s reassurance rings hollow in light of current industrial beef processing | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle “Every single carcass that’s processed is inspected by a USDA inspector,” Schafer told reporters in…
Musing About The Stories We Tell…
It’s easy to forget sometimes that everyone has a story to tell if we take the time to listen. We are so accustomed to hearing the stories of people in the news that we sometimes…
What’s wrong with what we eat?
I wandered into this last evening… TED | Talks | Mark Bittman: What’s wrong with what we eat (video) In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on…
Shhhh…Keep it quiet. Someone might hear…
And be sure the VP doesn’t find out, he’ll want to drill there. Congress Pushes to Keep Land Untamed – washingtonpost.com INDEX, Wash. — With little fanfare, Congress has embarked on a push to protect…
A Musical Interlude…Priscilla Ahn
Here is a “new” artist to watch. Not many singers can use their voice as another instrument. Expect to see more of her in the coming years… 2020 Update you can follow Priscilla Ahn here……
Texas Values…Just Musing…
State GOP targets Obama at Houston convention (w/video) | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle Cornyn was among several speakers who called the party home to its philosophical foundation and urged voters to view Obama as a…
The Rule Of Law
As if we needed another reason to think that this years election is as important as any in a generation, the very fact that but for an appointment to come…George W Bush would not be…
Musing from the other side of the week…
As I slide down toward another weekend, my feedreader brings me this from Mark Peacock at Appalachian Treks… Appalachian Treks: Serene Majesty There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into…
Summertime Weather Muse
While at work yesterday, most of the area received a good soaking rain. Not near enough to erase our deficit, it at least will prolong the time before we completely burn up. When I arrived…
I know no one really cares…
And the conservative will discount the numbers because of the source…But come on, can’t we expect a little bit of research from the speech writers? Fact check John McCain: Another of my disagreements with Senator…
A trend to hope for…
Just don’t let the marketing guys see the results or we’ll have a ton of “Fred’s Berries” coming in from out of the country… The Blue Marble: Eat Local Foods, Grow Small Farms It’s not…
Sunday Muse
At last someone who has noticed the same thing I’ve been saying for months to my family… Op-Ed Columnist – Frank Rich – One Historic Night, Two Americas – Op-Ed – NYTimes.com Given the dividing…
Hoover Hog
This has been a “wild” year around our house. So far this spring we have been blessed with four identical little armadillos, a litter of four raccoons, and a couple of opposiums. Down in this…
YouTube – Bill Moyers addresses NCMR 2008
As always, Bill Moyers gives a hell of a talk… YouTube – Bill Moyers addresses NCMR 2008 Legendary journalist Bill Moyers address the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis, June 7, 2008. Presented by…
The Drive To Work Muse
This morning, driving in to work’ I was passing through areas of misty rain. Heading north on Highway 6 there was a rainbow rising right out of the road. You have no idea how tempting…
Did you feel it? The world changed…
Obama’s In Control: No More Lobbyist Contributions To Democratic Party – Politics on The Huffington Post “The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president…
Are you searching?
DailyOM – Entering Awareness Our inner guidance will lead us, so that we will be drawn to the right doorway for us–a doorway that only we can recognize by the way it makes us feel…
What Is Blowing On The Wind?
Maybe the answer to some of our ecological problems… Out of thin air: Successful wind confab in Houston points up Texas’ growing role in alternative energy development | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle Although it tops…
June the Four Twenty O’Eight
Tis a hell of a note when the temperature that greets you upon walking out of the house at 6am feels like 85°. Not a good sign for early June. And so starts my day….
Musing on the end of a primary…
Clinton’s Count Doesn’t Add Up – washingtonpost.com You have to admire Hillary Clinton for her ability to reshape reality to her preferred outcome. She seems to assume that if she says something loudly enough, and…
Presidential Voice
Way back when, in the final season of the West Wing there was an episode with the title “The Presidential Voice”. The premise was that Congressman Santos didn’t have the “Presidential Voice” and they were…
Family Reunion Time
The descendants of my dad’s family gets together each year for a family reunion…Today was the day for this years get together. It was a bit of a drive on a beautiful summer day. I…
End of the week muse…
Like many of his fans I discovered Utah Phillips late in his life. My daughter, a fan of Ani DiFranco, introduced me to him a few years back… U. Utah Phillips, 73; Folk Singer Championed…
What would you have done?
I’ve been reading Leon Hale as long as I’ve been reading anything other than the funny pages in the Houston Newspaper…Occasionally I link to his blog or the weekly column he has almost retired to….
Wunder Blog : Weather Underground
For those who are following the rough weather… Wunder Blog : Weather Underground The tornado that devastated Parkersburg, Iowa on Sunday has now been rated an EF-5 by the National Weather Service. An EF-5 is…
Musing After The Work Day Ends…And Before The Next Begins
Tuesday Evening It was good to get back to work after a long and busy weekend. It seems to have been one of those weekends that requires a work week to recuperate from. I spent…
Sunday Morning Musing On A Three Day Weekend
I know I shouldn’t complain… Currently (on Sun 5:53AM CDT from Pearland Regional Airport) Cloudy Temp: 81° (Heat Index 86°) Dewpoint: 73° Wind: SE 6 MPH But come on…A heat index that tells me that…
Authors@Google: Michael Pollan
You really have to appreciate Google putting these talks out on the web via YouTube…Here is Michael Pollan…
Solar Energy Becoming Competitive…
I saw this via KurzweilAI.net… Photovoltaic Moore’s Law Will Make Solar Competitive by 2015 (Tech Talk) Silicon-based solar technology has decoupled from the semiconductor industry and is achieving steady cost reductions, so that those following…
Evening Muses With a Glass of Zin…
Susan Albert linked to the National Arbor Day site and their animation showing the changes in hardiness zones. Lifescapes Yep, it’s true–101.8 on our digital thermometer yesterday, and that’s in the shade. Austin hit 101,…
Summer Mowing
Leon is having the same thoughts I am as I drive circles around my place… Leon Hale: Cutting a 42-inch swath So now I mow the four acres myself, on a John Deere riding mower…
My Morning Muse
This is how I spent my morning muse today…
Monday Evening Muse – Summer Is Back
But it left the humidity behind for today at least…The weather station on the shelf tells me that as the sun sets in the west the temperature is still floating at 86°. Amazingly the humidity…
Sunday Morning Musing…Spring Is Back
I woke up this morning and spring appears to have made a return…At least for a couple of days. The house is open, windows and doors, and the cool breezes are blowing through. The temperature…
The Weekend Muse
A few years back this note would not have even made it through the clutter of my brain… Robert Mondavi, 94; Noted Vintner Who Raised Quality of American Wine – washingtonpost.com Robert Mondavi, 94, who…
If You Build It…Will They Come?
No ships coming to new Port of Houston cruise terminal | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle The gleaming new $81 million cruise terminal at the Port of Houston will open soon, but don’t expect throngs of…
Sometimes You Have To Ask, Huh?
Shifting winds: A victory for island development | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle Weather forecasters and climatologists have long warned that unbridled development of the vulnerable Gulf Coast is setting the stage for a disaster that…
