More discussion over on the Fix about my July 23 story on climate science.
On The Joys of Technical Writing
For my friends who churn out words and wonder why, Aaron’s writerly observations on ambitions and life:
I dream of writing the Next Great Marketing Brochure. I know exactly what it’s like: it’s about five hundred words long, and it’s printed on glossy cardstock. People line up at trade shows to get a copy, and when they open it up, they follow the instructions I provide: read me, buy me, love me.
Water in the Desert
Calling Durango, Colorado, “the desert” is a bit of a cheat. Located on the edge of the San Juan Mountains, it averages 20 inches or so (50 cm) of precipitation a year, well above what might formally qualify as desert. But Durango sits at a fulcrum in the complex interplay between climate and geography in the arid west.
With the intake structure for the Animas-La Plata Project, one of the west’s last great water projects, taking shape on Durango’s southern edge, the city also sits at a fulcrum of the complex interplay between climate, geography and engineering that has come to define life in the arid west.
What We Did on Our Summer Vacation
Among other things, we took a boat trip down the Animas River through Durango.You know it’s an urban float trip when the boatman points out that we’ll be passing the new Home Depot, but it was great fun. We took the train, too. More photos on our Flickr page once I get ’round to posting ’em.
Gender Issues
Over at Dave’s blog, some thoughtful comments from Malcolm regarding gender issues in the computer world:
I’ve been using motherboards and daughterboards since I started playing with computer hardware. No fatherboard in sight, though. Come to think of it, most of the plugs on the back of my machine are female as well.
I’m with Dave, though, Malcolm. What’s with that Monday morning coffee on a Sunday night?
Another Climate Change Threat
Nora sends along this, a climate change threat of which I was unaware:
I can’t believe a company like Amazon would promote global warming by allowing those bastiches at Dole to continue to melt icebergs just to get the head of lettuce that lies at the center. Sure, it tastes like ambrosia, but look what it’s doing to our environment! Shame on you Dole and shame on you Amazon!
Criticism of My Work
Today’s Journal letters page has some discussion of my climate science story from a couple of weeks back. I apparently don’t have many fans:
John Fleck probably has a PR job on George W. Bush’s staff waiting for him after the spin he put on global warming science in the Journal.
Hey, at least they’re reading!
Fix Problems Being Fixed
Just a note to let y’all know that, according to sources close to the Duke City Fix, the web site hasn’t been taken over by Roswell aliens, and is in the process of being (heheh) fixed, and will be back on the air within the next few days.
Central New Mexico Community College
Fellow New Mexico bloggers: CNM needs your help.
Google CNM – the community college formerly known as TVI – and you find the College of Naturopathic Medicine, but no reference on the first page of hits to Central New Mexico Community College. Link to it. Let’s see if we can get CNM’s Google ranking up onto the first page, where people can find it.
Milk
Tuscan Whole Milk, 1 Gallon, 128 fl oz:
Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing ever is … once your milk goes bad. Then it’s just too late. And nothing will bring it back.