Another Monday morning

I'm in for a strange couple of days. I'm having my third cup of black coffee because it's one of the things I'm allowed to have. It's time for the screening colonoscopy, one of those over-50 events that we- who- do- not- like- to- subject- ourselves- to- medical- procedures nonetheless subject ourselves to because we've known people who have suffered the consequences of undetected cancers. Today is "prep day" --only clear liquids to eat, jello, broth, apple juice,tea, and then later this afternoon, the liquids get more, shall we say, "interesting."  Tomorrow, I'll be happily sedated for the up close and personal scrutiny of my innards, so I'm planning on losing out on a whole day. I'll resurface on Wednesday! But in the meantime, I thought I'd  get a few words in.  So, I'll include this as a public service announcement: if you're over 50, get the screening. If you are uninsured, check with the department of health to see about a free or low cost screening.  They are offered here in Chautauqua County and in many other locations as well.

Now, to abruptly change the subject, here are some thoughts on climate change. Yesterday's church service addressed it from the perspective of Earth Hour. From it's inaugural event in Sydney, Australia in 2007, it has grown into an international phenomenon of turning out the lights for one hour, 8:30-9:30 pm local time, every March 23.  If that seems to powering down and saving the planet like a crash diet is to weight reduction, well...yeah, my thoughts exactly.  It's good that it has helped to "raise awareness" of climate issues, but anyone who isn't "aware" by now has a brain full of novacaine, and a lot of "aware" people have actually done very little in the way of personal behavior change. It's going to take more than "awareness" and it's got to start happening a whole lot faster. Sure, they've expanded awareness to asking for "commitments" now-- what are you willing to commit to to save the planet?  I'm very concerned about people patting themselves on the back for turning out lights and taking their deposit bottles and cans back to the store.  Next they'll want merit badges.

On the other hand, I also watched the film "The Age of Stupid" last week, and it was pretty dark and depressing. You know what? People are really stupid about this stuff. And it does absolutely no good to tell them they're doing everything wrong and they have to just stop doing it, or face catastrophe. Because they get depressed and shut down when confronted with such bleakness, fingers go into the ears, blinders go on, and you hear a chorus of "lalalalalalala" as they persevere with business as usual WHILE THEY STILL CAN. It's time that somebody started articulating a vision of a much better,cleaner, healthier way of life that is not so dependent on cheap energy and cheap entertainment, and telling people what they can do to make it happen. Because it's not the world we have grown up in. We are not accustomed to doing things for the good of ourselves and others and enjoying the benefits of freedom from over-consumption. We need a new owners manual for our own lives.

Adventures in "upcycling": this week I learned how to turn plastic grocery bags into "plarn" (plastic yarn) and how to crochet. I am making a rug that can be hosed off when it gets dirty. How is this a solution to our plastic addiction? It isn't. But it's a creative use for some of those plastic bags that are everywhere, more interesting than just taking them back to the store to be recycled into more plastic bags. And until plastic bags are BANNED, it's one of those problems we have to deal with.

Also, a word about the first annual (I hope) Jazzfest Jamestown: WONDERFUL. We are blessed with abundant local talent here. Culture needs to be cultivated, and it is cultivated here, and it's one of the things that makes Jamestown such a great place to live.

This Thursday evening, September 27, Ken Hardley starts a new season of his popular live music and radio broadcast concert series,under the new name of Rolling Hills Radio.  More info is available at the link.

That's all she wrote.