Author Archives: Mark

Covid: in the rearview mirror

Three years ago life was in the process of rapidly shutting down. First large gatherings, then schools, then restaurants, then even (for a brief time) parks and beaches and national forests. Two-and-a-half years ago the shell-shocked world was waiting with … Continue reading

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Irrational risk assessment

I was musing this morning on the general perception that our society has become more risk-averse with time, and realizing it is only part of the picture. This is certainly true in certain areas. Parents today are much less likely … Continue reading

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2022 Weather Summary

2022 was a year of essentially two seasons: winter and summer. After day upon day of cold rain in April and May, we had a brief period of springtime before the summer heat arrived. The transition to fall was even … Continue reading

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Election Day Priorities

There is a question going around social media asking people to list their top three priorities for this election, which inspired me to think about mine. I’m “politically homeless” at the moment and hoping that new movements with new platforms … Continue reading

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About Those Monkeypox Vaccines

I’ve written a fair bit here about the Covid-19 vaccines, starting with my initial concerns – based on the nature of the vaccine technology and the history of coronavirus vaccine attempts – that they would be neither safe nor effective. … Continue reading

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Shapes in the Fog

Making sense of COVID and vaccine risks It’s been two and a half years now since a new virus stormed the globe, leading to massive disruptions that were – depending on who you ask – completely unnecessary or woefully insufficient. … Continue reading

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Thoughts on Roe v. Wade

I’ve been somewhat hesitant to weigh in on the recent Supreme Court ruling, because abortion has not been a central issue to me and because I respect and care about people on both sides. Then I read Caitlin Johnstone’s take … Continue reading

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A Plea To My Left-Leaning Friends

I’m a lefty. I always have been, and probably always will be. While I can see the virtue in “individual responsibility” and self-reliance espoused by the political right, I believe firmly that we need to look out for each other, … Continue reading

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Musings on Asymptomatic Transmission

Last week on the Ecosophia discussion board, someone asked a question about whether asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 is real, and my response was that yes it is real but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we ought to behave as though … Continue reading

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2021 Weather Summary

Like 2020, this past year will not be remembered by many people primarily for its weather, although it was an extreme weather year in many places. The most unusual weather event of 2021, by far, in the Pacific Northwest was … Continue reading

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