Mr. Rick Whitaker (Our Readers Write, Jan. 16) should think a little more about snow and climate.

Ninety-three percent of the world’s glaciers are melting; the Arctic ice cap is going away; Greenland’s ice sheet is melting rapidly; parts of the Antarctic ice cap are also disappearing but Mount Hood has plenty of snow so we shouldn’t worry.

In every direction you look, the Earth’s climate is showing major signs of changing: 49 tornadoes and spring-like temperatures in the Midwest during the Iowa primaries, something not seen in recorded history; a tornado destroying homes in Vancouver, Wash.; something rarely seen in the past 100 years. But none of this information seems to make a dent in those who seem determined to ignore what is happening.

You would believe the “scientists” bought and paid for by the coal, oil and auto industries with vested interests in making sure people keep using their products but you dismiss those trying to protect you and our civilization as propagandists.

If you look at ALL the evidence, it is obvious that the Earth’s climate is changing; the Earth’s thermostat is pointing toward overheating. If your car’s thermostat were pointing toward your car overheating, would you stop or drive until you engine blows?

Think some more, Mr. Whitaker; this time look at all of the evidence.

Weather terms

In response to Rich Whitaker’s “Thoughts on snow” letter of Jan. 16, I would ask first that he take into consideration the differences between weather and climate.

Whether (pardon the pun) or not you believe Al Gore, climate change, global warming or science; you really should understand that weather is not climate.

Climate (from Ancient Greek klima) is commonly defined as the weather averaged over a long period of time. The standard averaging period is 30 years; but other, longer periods of time may be used depending on the purpose. In “fact” during the past 60 years the United States has recorded the warmest winters on record in six of the last 10 years.

Weather is a term that encompasses phenomena in the atmosphere of a planet. The term usually refers to the activity of these phenomena during short periods, such as hours or days. Average atmospheric conditions during significantly longer periods of time are known as climate.

I‘m thrilled with the great snowpack we are currently enjoying; however, four weeks of cool weather and snow doesn’t wipe out 60 years of data.

The main difference between climate and everyday weather is best summarized by the popular phrase “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.”

I’d rather be prepared than surprised!

Truth in middle

It didn’t take much to get the same town criers to fight for their spot in the city square.

I guess I should take the position of the ignorant, uniformed citizen and fall in line with the herd. “Would somebody bring a glass of Kool-Aid and a copy of the New York Times!”

I would probably be better informed if I read some independent thought-provoking articles from Media Matters or MoveOn.org. Believe it or not I once went outside the house, the state, even the country: Downtown Cairo, not Illinois, Egypt. It was quite sad, from what I could see through the pollution. There was no such thing as emission controls on anything. The garbage and cars were just pushed in the canals. I’m sure that was America’s fault somehow.

Funny thing, though: I didn’t see a Toyota Prius once. While visiting Mexico one time I had a sore throat. It must have been the clean air since they signed the Kyoto Treaty. I could have gone to see the doctor, or maybe get some of their quality drugs. They are so much cheaper there. I chose to wait until I got back here to the states.

I guess Mr. (Rick) de la Tour would have considered it my calculated risk. So I guess I have viewed a few things from other than outside my window.

I consider myself a realist. Is President Bush an idiot? Yes. The government is bigger than it has ever been. He has been just another politician with his own agenda. Once he got elected it was Game On. It will be no different with the next egomaniac.

Is the Earth getting warmer? Yes. It was warmer thousands of years ago. We find seashell and fish fossils halfway down the rim of the Grand Canyon and all over the Permian Basin of West Texas to prove that.

What made it heat up then? I choose not to cry wolf and form an opinion from facts found on both sides of the argument. From the staunch and rigid right to the elite self-absorbed left, the truth has to be here somewhere in the middle.

Reprint honor list

This is to report that my aunt, Catherine Collins, is also very much alive and kicking.

My donation to (Hospice of the Gorge) Light Up A Life was in her honor, not a remembrance for her death.

While I don’t have the outrage that others have shown; I do think Hospice of the Gorge’s letter of apology (Jan. 19) falls a little short and that it should republish its list to clearly delineate those for whom donations were given “in honor of.”

War and peace

I attended the talk given by Col. Mike Howard Saturday night. As I entered, American Legion members who were sponsors of the event handed out a printed Bible story and American flags.

I told the man politely, “No, thank you,” he insisted; and I told him I already had a flag and didn’t want another. I did not mean to be rude but finally I had to turn away from his disapproving, angry stare.

Col. Howard’s presentation included many photos: Some of mostly smiling children. According to Col. Howard, the people of Iraq love us and we are there to repair all the damage that has been done by the “bad guys.“

Col. Howard insists that he is against war but that war is necessary. He insists that we must remain in Iraq to “finish” the job.

Still, even after attending this event in search of understanding I do not understand what the “job” is.

Perhaps once everyone accepts the Bible and the flag and our way of life, the job will be finished.

Perhaps if I had accepted the Bible story and the flag as I entered, the message he presented would have become clear; sort of like those special glasses that allow you to view a 3-D movie.

Perhaps only through God and flag can we support this war and be OK with ignoring the human and environmental suffering caused.

If this war is about our freedom, the freedom we most cherish is the choice to carry a flag, and to choose and practice a religion or not. Those basic rights may be at risk right here at home but the threat has nothing to do with a place called the Middle East.

What I still know is: If war really leads to peace, then we would not now be at war.

War is war and peace is peace; neither is the parent of the other.

A happy story

RaeLynn Ricarte wrote (Jan. 9) about the money I’ve found on Hood River’s streets and sidewalks and how I’m giving that $104.08 to the city for outdoor ashtrays.

RaeLynn did a great job writing the story. Everywhere I go people comment on it — friends, people I barely know and people I’ve never even met.

Like the woman who stopped her car by me as I was walking downtown to tell me she loved the story.

Everyone has loved the story; it’s made them feel good. The response makes me think people are eager for stories like this.

Keep pickin’ up that litter; you never know what you may find.

Sea lions vs. salmon

Years ago we fished for salmon at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, so we were there the first year the sea lions arrived. We watched one sea lion kill 12 salmon in one hour. He did not eat them; just tossed and slammed them on the water, then went on to the next fish.

After a couple of years, they would “haul out” on the dock at SportsCraft Landing and you were unable to get to your boat because they were so aggressive and threatening.

Consider: If the 100 or so sea lions at Bonneville are only killing five fish a day, that is 500 per day and 15,000 per month; then multiply that by approximately 500 (probably more) in the Columbia and Willamette River systems. Yikes!

Then multiply that by the tens of thousands in the ocean — and remember there are thousands of new pups each year. This has to have a dramatic impact on the salmon run and now they are killing sturgeon and probably steelhead, bass, walleye and other fish that we are not aware of. Their thick hides and many inches of blubber prevent any conventional hazing methods from working.

Harvesting them, as any other predator would be managed, is, in my opinion, the only logical method of control of these big, aggressive and dangerous predators. If they are shot and then taken out to sea and put back in the food chain and therefore not “wasted.“