We human beings think we are very smart. We see ourselves as being at the top of the food chain. This is because we each have a prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex enables us to rationalize our actions, which is something that other life forms can’t do. This, in, the eyes of many, makes other life forms seem less intelligent.

The question is, if we are so damn smart, why is it that we are refusing to keep our numbers in check? Human babies, most think, are quite wonderful. They gurgle and coo and seem quite wonderous. Problem is, they now grow up and become Kindle users. This, and they become ardent consumers. There are no exceptions.

Tyra on a walk

I have heard future parents say that they are going to raise their children to be zero waste users – but this notion quickly falls by the wayside, as their kids have to have what other kids have. If their parents don’t get them that skateboard or computer, they go and get it themselves. Bicycles are out, snowmobiles, ATVs, and swamp buggies are in.

Our sheer numbers have led to an exponential degree of consumption. It’s now not so goes the nation, but so goes the planet. It’s becoming a huge trash heap. And so, the end result is climate change. Politicians are now bickering about what to do about this – they, of course, cannot agree amongst themselves.

Right now, we can ignore the effects of climate change, somewhat. They manifest themselves as extreme highs and lows. The human body can only tolerate a given range of temperatures, and this is going to lead to our demise. We’re going to either burn up or freeze to death.

I thought about the above today, as I was out riding. I first got Hrimmi out, and then Raudi. It was overcast, there were light flurries, and the temperatures were in the 20s. But even during the few hours I was outside, the temperature continued to climb. By the time I was done putting away my tack, it was 30˚F degrees, and this was on the pessimistic thermometer (this is the one down by the horse enclosure; we call the one up at the house the optimistic thermometer because the temperature always appears to be a few degrees higher.)

Oh oh, I thought, as of late, there were extreme lows – and now extreme highs. This isn’t right. This is wrong.

Sad to say, human nature is such that we will ignore this and other signs of climate change because we think that the problem is too big for us to deal with.

I’m still of the mind that we can bring about change in this country by changing our habits. Conserve, conserve, conserve, this is a big piece of the equation. In this way, we might serve as model for other countries.

Yeah, I’m an idealist. We generally do pretty good around here, but I suppose we could do better. It’s hard when you live in a country with the highest energy consumption per capita in the world. A sobering thought.

We’re supposed to get a lot of snow in the next few days. A sign of things to come? I’m not sure and neither is anyone else.

Next: 338. 12/7/21: Temperatures Rise, Snow Falls