Bill Moyers talked with Yale Professor Leiserowitz explains how human psychology inhibits perception of the threat of climate change simply because the evidence is not immediate to our physical senses. Rather than believing in false hope, and instead of surrendering to the fear-mongering talk of so-called “Doomers,” we can choose to evolve ourselves beyond the limits of these human-created conditions, to deepen how we listen to the natural world and each other so that we can create and spread the motivation, means and methods of resilient survival.
Read MoreGet Off the Grid! Or, Why I’ve been pensive lately
by Steph • December 10th, 2012
Do you believe in math? Before you decide not to read this blogentry because of my known apocalyptic tendencies – e.g., twenty-five years ago a friend told me she was not surprised that I identified with Kassandra in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Firebrand – think about your scientific and rational training. If you believe in math, and you […]
Read MoreTornadoes and the Deaf Community in Western Massachusetts
by Steph • October 13th, 2011
This survey generated some interesting data which might be useful in generating hypotheses for future testing and eventually guiding design for better warning systems, improved emergency preparation, and the smooth integration of emergency response service delivery to people with so-called “functional needs” or otherwise requiring “additional assistance” – particularly the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing.
Read More“2 hours talking about poop”
by Steph • March 21st, 2008
Pete said it, summing up the party.
We started at the UMass Sunwheel circa 6:15 pm. The clouds cooperated, beginning to clear an hour in advance of sunset. The wind was bitter, though: fortitude was required to make it through until the moon cleared the 7 degrees of forest obscuring the horizon in the East.
Dr. Judith Young from the Astronomy Department at UMass regaled the crowd (52 brave souls who stayed) with enlarged photos, anecdotes, history, and education. I was struck by the range of nuance embedded in the careful alignment of static stone with the motions of our solar system. In particular, I learned of the Callanish Stones for the first time. Dr. Young showed some pictures and explained the presence of an “extra” stone that – if one stands just right – creates a visual notch with the stone next to it that outlines the precise location on the horizon where the summer solstice sunrise occurs. “They found,” she said, “a way to let us know.”
Hmmm, a way to know – what? If there is a message in these stone circles, what might it be? Was there an active intent to leave a sign
Read Morebilingual announcement (Spanish/English)
by Steph • September 10th, 2007
2007 Ct River Cleanup — Holyoke
You’re invited! Canoes, kayaks, riverbank scrambling, scuba divers — and a
river left cleaner than when we arrived! (To continue reading this in English, please look further down!)
Limpieza del Rio Connecticut de 2007 — Holyoke
¡Ud. Está Invitado a Participar! Canoas, kayac, cruzando la orilla del río, buzos – ¡y un río más limpio de que cuando llegamos a hacer la limpieza!
La 11a Anual Limpieza del Río Connecticut “Source to Sea” – Patrocinado en cuatro estados por el Concilio de la Cuenca del Río Connecticut y por New England Family Farms Milk, y aquí en Holyoke por los Amigos del Río de Holyoke.
La limpieza “Source to Sea” es un evento annual de un solo día que tomará lugar desde el norte de New Hampshire hasta el océano, organizado por el Concilio de la Cuenca del Río Connecticut, y por comunidades locales a lo largo del Río Connecticut y sus afluentes.
Los Amigos del Río de Holyoke participarán en la Limpieza “Source to Sea” el sábado, 29 de septiembre de 2007. Estamos trabajando juntos con el Club de Buceo del Pioneer Valley, Appalachian Mountain Club Berkshire chapter, y otras organizaciones locales y personas de la comunidad. Nuestro foco
powers of ten
by Steph • March 26th, 2006
Here’s another item I’m sure I’ve posted before but obviously didn’t catalog or code correctly for later retrieval. At any rate, I saw this short video on the powers of ten when I interpreted a science class some years back for upper elementary school students (possibly fifth-graders). I find it a useful metaphor for this notion of social metonymy that I keep trying to articulate as a means of linking the microsocial with the macrosocial and vice-versa.
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