POLAR VORTEX! Poster child for media wars of today!

Typical Hudson Bay Arctic Low Pressure System

So everyone knows it's a very cold winter.  In my personal experience, it's the coldest winter in South Louisiana since my oldest was born in '96.  That seemed like the winter that would never end.  So the natural question is why?  And in today's political driven world the powers that be have jump on a catch phrase "polar vortex" and claim it as proof of their prevailing theory!  The conservatives are pointing to the colder weather and the polar vortex as proof that Al Gore and his global warming alarmist are way off kilter and have no ground to stand on.  The liberals are saying that the wild weather is an effect of global warming and a direct result of no sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.  Both sides are fighting for air time on news outlets to get their side of the polar vortex out.  The White House has even gone as far as putting out a two minute video with it's Presidential adviser on global warming to prove it's view on the polar vortex.  But what is this polar vortex?  And did it really just start happening with global warming?

First, the real name is the circumpolar vortex.  The natural high pressure phenomenon takes place at both poles of the planet.(North and South)   The jet stream wraps the coldest air of our hemisphere up around the North Pole in this circumpolar vortex.  But as you know the jet stream buckles from time to time and brings cold fronts down to the mid latitudes, which is where we live.  Why is the this Winter different?  The jet stream the holds the circumpolar vortex together is much weaker this year.  The coldest air is not wrapped around the Pole, it's elongated with one part stretching all the way down to the deep south of the United States.  This is where the politicians jump in and say it's happening because of their beliefs. (insert belief____here).  Both sides are wrong.  Polar Vortex weaknesses have been happening as far back as 1853.  The global warmers can't claim the lack of sea ice has cause climate change because the term climate in of itself requires decades to prove and weaknesses in the polar vortex have happened every 20 to 30 years over the last 150 or so years.  And those on the other side of the fence can't say one cold winter makes for a colder Earth.  But both sides will try their best to win the argument.

The news media makes it money by getting you worked up enough to keep you coming back for more.  Be that as it may, don't fall for the end of the world insanity headlines.  It's been cold before.  It's snowed before.  There have been killer hurricanes, and deadly heatwaves.  That's not a reason to call for an end to humanity as we know it.  Yes, we do need to be eco-friendly and not pollute our planet.  Mother Nature has her own way of balancing things out.  If you take a little time to stroll through this green planet and stop watching the media circus, you will see the beauty of this thing call Earth.  The fact that most of our fruits and veggies come from flowering plants that depend on a strange little insect (usually a bee) to produce it's bounty should be enough to amaze you.  This incredible place we call home is designed much more intelligently than any of those idiots on the television.  So do yourself a favor and turn off the idiot box and take a step outside and enjoy this beautiful blue marble.  Look a little closer at some things in nature and you just might discover something to believe in without being told to do so.

Home Sweet Home

Tossed about on the Winds.

Picture courtesy of Geograph.

In today's world, everyone has a position or opinion on every subject imaginable.  Whether you're conservative or liberal, eco-friendly or not, pro guns, or woman's rights, we seem to define ourselves by these so called stances.  The problem is people change their positions on things more than they bathe.  "Well, I was for big oil but now that political parties in power have changed, I'm all for the environment", please tell me you've never heard someone say that.  And yes, people are allowed to learn from their mistakes but not every five minutes.  I just happen to think that your philosophies in life shouldn't be tossed around like a tumbleweed in the wind.

While I could write an endless rant about politicians on this subject, I think I'll stick to one of my favorite topics, Parenting.  I can't tell you how many of my buddies were so excited and pumped up for the birth of their child.  They would come home from the hospital with a completely different look on life.  They would make promises to be a Super Dad.  They were going to be the Tee Ball coach, the Scout leader, Dance recital fanatic, and Cheerleader Dad of the decade.  Then before little Johnny or Susie makes their fourth birthday, Dad has found something more interesting.  Whether it's sports, leisure, or neglect, little Johnny is no longer the most important thing in their life.  How can you be so passionate about something and just drift off to another thing?  How do you explain to your kid that his "newness" has worn off?  Bet that conversation does wonders for little Susie's self esteem.  Sorry sweetie, maybe the wind will change direction and pouring my life into you will come back in style.  Moms on the other hand take a little longer to fizzle out.  In fact the problem is sometimes Mom doesn't ever fizzle out.  When little Johnny was born the promise was to raise and nurture him until he's ready to be his own man. Some Moms don't stick to the plan.  When it comes time to push little Johnny out of the nest, the winds of Motherhood blow and Johnny is babied until he's thirty.  These Moms create what a friend of mine calls a "adult-child hybrid".  Like the commercial when thirty year old little Johnny comes home and Mom has a "smothered burrito" waiting for him. Why would little Johnny ever want to get married and move out with that kind of treatment at home?

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia.

Sticking to your beliefs applies to more than just parenting.  If you believe that donating your time to feed the homeless is a worthy cause, don't let some bitter conspiracy theorist turn you against that.  If you believe in standing up for battered women is a just thing to do, then don't let the fact that one woman abused the system steer you away from your work. If you believe in God, would you stop because people are protesting outside your church?  I personally donate a ridiculous amount of time to Scouting, and we are in the middle of a wind driven firestorm.  But my belief is that boys need men to teach them skills in this life and no political incited controversy is going to stop me from doing what I'm dedicated to doing. Never let someone else's words, actions, or ugliness dictate what you believe in.  In the end it's not how hard the winds blew, it's how well you stayed the course.

The Popular Effect!

Ever heard the saying, "Everybody wants to be associated with a winner."  Is this still true? Obviously, the big news of the week says it's true.  Every politician from England's Prime Minister to the Councilmen in the Nevada desert has gotten a plug in on the back of the birth of a Royal Baby.  No self respecting public figure would pass up an opportunity for some good press.  While I'm happy for the Royal couple and wish them the best in raising their Son, I just can't help but see all the press and the talking heads using them for some ratings.  That little baby represents the happiest days of the young Royal couple's life, but to the press and the politicians that little baby is a way to make a quick buck.  The truth is, the same people that put out press releases about a Royal Baby being born are the same ones that made statements after the verdict was read in Florida last week.  Get your name in the spotlights when big news breaks is the creed of today's American politician.  When those twenty six kids were killed in Connecticut, the pariahs were quick to capitalize on their innocent lives.  It didn't matter what their views on kids, guns, or schools were before the shootings. The public sentiment was ripe for the picking.  Jump on the anti gun bandwagon and jump on it in a public display for all to see.  Standards, morals, and convictions, who needs that?  Get me the news network on the phone and I'll side with whoever is popular at this given moment.

I often wonder, do any of these talking heads think they are making a difference in a single person's life?  Do you think that any of those fools on TV last week, screaming about Florida's laws, will go back and actually try to fix those laws?  Have I got a bridge to sell you!  How many have followed up with the parents of Sandy Hook?  Maybe if I had a television spotlight I could see one!  Here in Louisiana, back in 2010 we had a little oil spill.  Made headline news for most of the Summer.  Politicians from clear across the globe had to get their two cents in on those headlines. Where are they now?  Are they out in the bay reseeding oyster beds?  Are they on the barrier islands replanting marsh grasses?  Do they even mention the spill in the halls of D.C. any more?  No, no, and no.  You see, it's no longer a matter of being associated with a winner.  The creed of today's charlatans is, "get me in the spotlight no matter who we have to step on!"  Around here we refer to it as the bandwagon.  And quite frankly, the people are fed up with the bandwagon jumpers.

Great sound bites do nothing to help the homeless.  Expert analysis can't find an orphan a loving home. Stirring up hate can't fix race relations.  Getting on national TV and screaming it's the lobbyist fault won't comfort parents that have lost children.  And standing in the halls of Congress while reading endless economic reports will never feed widows.  The people that make a difference in this world are the ones that search in the dark corners for someone in need.  Helping people during their darkest days will never make for good television but it sure can bring joy to your soul. Forget the popularity contests.  Help somebody that you actually know.  Reach out to someone you can actually put your hands on.  Make a difference in a person's life on a daily basis.  Then instead of the thrill of the spotlight you can feel the warmth of the light of your own soul.