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Show THE ZEPHYR/ AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2007 "HIGH DESERT GARDENS “T know what Belgrade was, and it was a NATO war to free captive peoples.” I tried to interrupt but no go, Certitude ruled. “Let’s get back to alternative energy. We need it and the sooner the better. Fortunately, and I give Gore some credit, we’re launched now, on our way to finding and using those sources.” “Right.” That was the Wolfhound woman. “I’m really excited about alternative energy. Wind, solar, hydrogen, biofuel, tidal, earth heat, super batteries. There is so much great technology we can get into. Martin, why are you so down on all of this?” “Ym not down on it, but I can’t help noticing the oil and auto corporations losing no time to set up a huge propaganda campaign. Can’t recall all their excuses, but they say they absolutely have to have years and years to make the switchover. Besides, they’re all of the blue, totally unexpected. Like, wham, a lot fewer bees. What happened? We don’t know yet. Consequences, my friends, consequences. Like permafrost melting faster than expected, releasing more methane than predicted. Like melting of Greenland glaciers pouring mountains of fresh water into salt-water Atlantic. What will that do to ocean currents there?. Fishermen in Maine would like to know. Like drouth in the western half of the country. How much worse will it get? Hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions. How many? When? Where? We don't have to get terrified about these things, but we do-have to prepare for uncertainty. The good news is that surprises can be good as well as bad. That's the very nature of surprise, right? Scientists report that the Gulf Stream, warm water that keeps Europe from freezing, is unlikely to be totally abolished by global warming. That's a plus, for us.” Certitude again. “You've changed Hal. I see the leftwing virus got to you too. Well, as for Murie here, I remember back when we were all young and lively I pegged him as an extremist, always took up the far-out position on whatever was coming down. I can say it now, didn’t dare to then, probably severe rebellion against his father is what that was all about. That happens a lot, you know, has nothing to do with real grappling with hard en GLOBAL WARMING? When the planet gets so HOT, you can fry an egg on the sidewalk, you'll still be able to find the plants you need to MAKE THE DESERT BLOOM! ADKINS LOW-WATER DIET Pas Gss Mears 191 (across from Stagecoach Cafe’) 435.259.4531 decisions in world reality. I felt a little sorry for him. Never mind, that’s water under the bridge. Getting back to climate change, I’m sure we can lick it well enough for our purposes without having to get all revolutionary about it. I’m all for biofuels and wind power and solar and all that. I have faith in America and I have to say this, I’m disappointed in you, Hal, and you, Murie, for being bogged down in fantasy. It’s dangerous, you know, this flirting with ... | have to say it ... unpatriotic behavior.” I blew my top. I shouted, out loud, woke myself up from this weird doze in the ghostlands of the past. “I'll put up my faith in America against yours any time. You live in a corporation-driven dreamworld, don’t know damn all about what goes on in drouth areas, the damaged places, the wounds in Earth and in Humanity, the horror of it all zeeeheecn and all the rest of those rascals. The answer is obvious: change our way of life. Also, please, we all have to keep firmly in mind that we can't stop global wrming. Nature doesn’t turn around just on our technological say-so. However, we can, if we have the will, slow it down, get ready for it and expect surprises along the way.” “Surprises?” That was the Wolfhound woman. “I don’t like surprises.” “Sorry, youIl have to get used to them, the one thing we can be sure of, happenings out Moncey can Way, that’s just more crowd management, been going on since Jefferson and Franklin PENSTEMONS tinkering is all it takes; we already have the tricks to make the switch. And some of them go so far as to talk up public transport, efficient railroads that run on steel instsead of asphalt.” Another voice.I knew right away who it was, that annoying Republicrat fence-sitter, but his name eluded me, and then came the big surprise of the day. I was flabberblasted. This wishy-washy friend ... ah, 1 got it, name was Dalloway, Hal Dalloway. Well, he’d done a total 180. Here’s what he said. “Martin, don’t let them get you down. The Ameri- ee eheecn besotted with the president’s love of The American Way. Well, get this, engineers, who tend to know their stuff, say we can right away convert to efficient vehicles; just a little We have a stunning variety of COLD DRINKS to combat the effects of GLOBAL WARMING!!! DAVE'S matched by complacency, superiority, tunnel vision. You are a God Bless America type, willing to kill, kill, kill.” Iran out of breath. No more voices, alone in the kitchen, coffee boiling over, Alison at the library, a feral cat stalking a tiny brown bird in the heavy growth seen through the kitchen window. I noticed cobwebs in the window corners. No rain. So, the upshot, those voices had wounded my easy thought, rather complacent, I admit it now, that the threat of drastic climate change was turning America’s collective mind _beyond technological fixes to contemplate the dirt and rock and water, the great oceans and grand glaciers, the plants and animals. I had been hoping we Americans might learn to share with other humans as well as other species. I think there is still a chance that it will happen and if it does, watch out America, we will be building the real dream. While there is still a little Z space left, | want to remind us all that Al Gore has concen- trated all his celebrity status on one species, us, /Homo sapiens sapiens/. Notice that we are a subspecies. /Homo sapiens neanderthalensis/ died out a long time ago. So, speaking as a member of a subspecies, | say that it’s time to think hard about what's ahead. Suppose there were no threats of climate change; we would still be faced with this question: do we aE tone down on ownership enough to share habitats with The Others? Oh, Paris Hilton, so busy sounding off, almost forgot about you. It is my fervent hope that you used jail time to think beyond your split fingernails and the orange jumpsuit they forced on you. It’s the chance of a lifetime, grab it. It’s a life preserver thrown to you in the nick of time, use it. E RIVERSIDE BS a ema OS wpe omen om _ sataricon ttc eet Peco PLUMBING & HEATING pentrar 366 N. 500 WN, ¢ MOAB * 259-8324 4 OO EAST & MILL CREEK DR..| 259.6999 EVERYBODY DO YOU Kohler - Grohe ~ Mansfield Bjer - Moen ~ Delta - Sterling - Price Pfister HOT WATER HEATERS - GARBAGE DISPOSALS WHIRLPOOL BATHS - SPAS RICK INDENTIFIES A CAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING | TODAVE' $ HAVE A PULSE? DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT FOR THE ZEPHYR? FEEL LIKE RANTING? PRO OR CON...WE'LL PRINT IT. ecezephyr@frontiernet.net moabzephyr@yahoo.com | suggest you go do something that is physically impossible. Mr. Vice President, does it ever occur to you that your super heated rants probably contribute to Global Warming? - Sales Installation - Drain Cleaning COMPLETE LINE OF PLUMBING FIXTURES COMES DICK CHENEY STOPS BY TO SEE RICK... |
