A Curious Observation In Earth Science

Earth science is a relatively new and immensely complex pursuit. We still have much to observe and understand about the piece of space rock we call home. On March 18, the Discovery Channel premieres its new series, Frozen Planet. One of the phenomena explored in the series is the "brinicle." It is a brine icicle characterized as a "finger of death" as it creeps along the ocean floor beneath the Antarctic ice shelf. Brinicles have never been filmed before. The video at the end of the link is amazing.

If the rest of this new series is as dramatic at the brinicle clip, viewers will be in for a blockbuster of a treat.

Who, Who, Who Will Survive?

Is it good policy to kill this owl

in order to save this owl?

Federal policy may be in place later this year that will permit the killing of Barred Owls in order to save the endangered Northern Spotted Owl. A similar policy over the last generation has effectively killed the logging industry in the Northwest. Now current research shows that human modification of the landscape is encouraging the westward migration of the Barred Owl. Given its large size, it has no problem overtaking the habitat of the native species. Interbreeding is underway as well. The new hybrid is referred to as the "Botted" or "Sparred" Owl. 

Some folks say that wildlife management in just about any form is playing God. OTR believes, as with most of life's doings, it is a matter of scale where degrees of success are inversely proportional to the size of the project. That said, the Spotted Owl  project comes into focus as a huge task that raises many questions. We know Mother Nature is a cruel mother. Would she condemn an invasive species? Would she think it folly to stop a natural process? And though our religion may give us dominion over the planet, here we must choose between two beautiful species. What to do? As with all good intentions, these policy decisions will be painful.

Interestingly, OTR had a close encounter with a Barred Owl at sunset yesterday. Huge, silent, almost regal, the visitor spent several minutes perched about forty feet from the patio. This splendid but rather common resident of his woods brought him wonder usually reserved for childhood. Some may say OTR doesn't get out much. Some may laugh. They do so only because they dwell in the Great Illusion.


N.B. OTR may soon start an Adopt-An-Owl program.

Aviation In Film History: The Aviator (2004)

This week's aviation-themed film is The Aviator, a biopic based on the life of Howard Hughes. Released in 2004, this film was directed by Martin Scorsese and starred Leonardo DiCaprio. It won five Oscars out of eleven nominations, including Best Supporting Actress to Cate Blanchett for her superb portrayal of Katherine Hepburn. The Aviator is a fast paced, compelling piece of entertainment. There is crisp editing, an interesting replication of historic color processes, full and scaled models for many of the flying sequences, and a notable score by Howard Shore.

Readers who are familiar with the Hughes story know that it is far from a happy one for a boy born to wealth and privilege. It is the story of the full spectrum of ambition, achievement, and personality. DiCaprio's performance of Hughes's decline into severe mental illness should earn him high respect as one of the better actors of our time.

As for the film's subject, Howard Hughes, it can be said he was one of the most eccentric, diverse, inventive visionaries of the last century. If you enjoy films, you can bet they'll be some of him somewhere in the equipment or the production. If you fly frequently or have anything to do with the aviation industry, his imprint will be everywhere.

Here is the trailer:

Sandhill Cranes

Four waves of Sandhill cranes, numbering around 700 in total, passed overhead during three hours of observation this afternoon. They were pushing northwest against a strong southwesterly flow brought on by a warm front earlier in the day that raised Atlanta highs to about 70 degrees. Sandhills are enjoyable to watch with their shapely "v" and wide arc formations as well as their "kettling" in uplifts prior to departure. In our woodland setting we always hear their distant croaking that leaves us hoping they will fly over our clearing. And most of the time they do because they fly high, sometimes into the thousands of feet. At those altitudes it's hard to imagine that you are looking at a bird that may stand five feet tall and soar on a seven foot wing span. Though there is a resident population of Sandhills in Georgia, several hundred-thousand will migrate from their wintering ground in Florida to summer in the Midwest and Canada. Coming or going, they always bring a smile and leave us looking up for more.

Bluebirds All Day Long

Yesterday there was one, perhaps two. Today there are dozens of bluebirds in our woods. If we're lucky some of them will stay as they have done intermittently during the twenty years here on our hill. Their activity, along with the brilliant breeding plumage of our purple and gold finches, is a sure sign of a new season coming on strong.

It's A Monday Holiday And Washington's Unbirthday

It's the third Monday in February and time for the holiday we know as Washington's Birthday. Research tell us that George Washington was actually born on February 22, 1732  or February 11, 1731 according to the Old Style calendar. At one time we actually had a Washington's Birthday holiday on February 22, but that changed in 1971 when the "Monday holiday rule" took effect. The rule was a postlude to a torturous twenty year saga of federal bickering, ineptitude, and state's rights issues over the national failure to honor our presidents, in particularly Abraham Lincoln, with their very own holiday. The fallout left us with what is in reality a Washington's Unbirthday holiday.

Never keen to let a good shopping opportunity pass them by, American capitalists liked the idea of a President's Day. They saw the advantage of the patriotic fervor generated by matching silhouettes of Lincoln - log cabins - and Washington - axes and cherries - positioned over merchandise and big red signs reading "SALE." The concept caught on. Today, about all Americans have left with the third Monday in February is the opportunity to buy stuff, mostly stuff they don't need. On the federal level, this leaves us with nothing for Old Abe and the other presidents and an incorrect title for George's big day.

OTR figures one could sooth this insult by shopping the day away. In reality, he seriously doubts shoppers can beat the price, free shipping and no sales tax - usually - that one can enjoy from Amazon.com on a 24/7 basis.  He bets there's a similar site for those big, big ticket items like cars.

So what is one to do? Perhaps it's best to forget the issues of a misnomer and the neglected presidents and return to Lincoln and Washington as our February presidents. And they have more in common as presidents who share the quality of American exceptionalism, a term we've been hearing more often these days as the republic drifts ever closer to its golden years. With that in mind, OTR suggests his readers find a comfortable setting and reflect on these men and their place in the American experience. If readers need a bit of encouragement here are two statements, one so very brief, the other a bit longer, both reflecting the greatness of their authors and the hope they shared for our unique national experience:

Washington's Farewell Address, written in 1796 on his coming departure from the presidency;

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered on November 19, 1863.

What more need be said?

'Godspeed, John Glenn'

Glenn in orbit, February 20, 1962

Fifty years ago tomorrow (February 20), John Glenn rocketed into history to become the first American to orbit Earth. There was a memorable gathering Saturday at Florida's Kennedy Space Center to honor the unforgettable event and the people who made it so. Glenn, fellow Mercury astronaut, Scott Carpenter, and scores of support staff who made it happen toured  Launch Complex 14 recalling the momentous day. In 1962, Glenn made three orbits then returned to a splashdown about 500 miles northeast of Puerto Rico. Over the years 330 Americans have joined him in space travel.

The NASA website has a fine multimedia presentation on Mercury-Atlas 6, the mission that put Glenn and his spacecraft, Friendship 7, into orbit. Wikipedia has a page on the mission and some excellent recommendations for further reading online. To commemorate tomorrow's event, The Ohio State University has prepared an excellent illustrated biography and description of the flight. OTR also recommends The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe's outstanding 1979 book on the formative days of the American space program and the seven astronauts - including Glenn - selected for the Mercury program. 

When we look back at the American space program, this achievement was one of the nation's proudest moments. It stands in harsh contrast to the present when or leadership seems to show little interest in space exploration let alone definitive commitments to future astronauts, a return to the moon or a mission to Mars. All hope is not lost however, as our inventive reach into space by the private sector is a near-term reality.