By Tom on 12/18/2008 12:56 PM

A tour of the high school has changed my attitude but not my opinion. I was asked to take the tour in hope I would change my condemnation of the planned rebuild. The school is indeed in terrible shape, both meanings. But I was not prepared for the impact of an hour spent in the presence of the students. Sensing their vigor was almost a physical blow. Yes, they deserve better, but no, it is wrong to do that before addressing a completely different matter. There is a dark underside to our high school. The only...

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By Tom on 12/11/2008 9:41 PM

No, not your car. Not you and your barbeque. I mean Vashon Island, you know, that pile of hardpan with trees on it? Each day the green stuff gobbles carbon dioxide and each day we burn some trees in our heaters. So what is the net score for atmospheric carbon , let's say, on December 25, 2008? Hmmm.

Tree: 800 lbs, a quarter of it carbon (no, I just guessed), 200 lbs

Number burned by 5OOO fires,  say 50 trees.

Carbon in fifty trees 200 bs X 50 = 10,000 lbs went to heaven

Photosynthetic...

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By Tom on 12/11/2008 8:22 PM

NPR has run a story and a sequel about a family that walks on its hands. Genes were examined. Effort was made to re-train them. Some success reported. Well, in all this, no mention of the role of propriosensors in the foot. Ever wonder how a toddler takes that first step? Or for that matter, how do you stay upright? Doctor Science knows. That family probably had deficient propriosensors.

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