Sunday, January 18, 2009

Knowledge is Power


Roald Amundsen, in Alaska about 1925

On PBS this week, Nova aired Arctic Passage : Ice Survivors about about Roald Amundsen's successful expedition through the Northwest Passage in about 1905.

He made it chiefly because he studied before he left--He read everything he could get his hands on about previous expeditions, including the failed Franklin expedition. He knew what worked, and what failed ... and he made adjustments, accordingly :

* He bought a smaller ship to navigate the shallow and narrow passageways.
* He altered his route to avoid ice flows
* He learned from the Inuit how to survive in that Arctic desert.
* He learned fur was warmer than wool
* He learned snow shelters ("igloos") were cozy and warm inside, despite frigid temps outside
* That sledge runners need to be coated properly to glide effortlessly over any terrain.

Just think what could be accomplished if people took the time to study up, and learn from the people who already know ... why we could do anything in this world!

Amundsen is a great example of "Knowledge is power." I like to think he must have been a great library user. (What can I say--I'm a Librarian by profession.)

Dr. Zhivago : Another Great Winter Film


Lara's Departure


Winter Scenes -- for those of you who've been away from snow for too long.

The Coldest Day of the Year ...

When I was a kid in the early 1980s, I remember a blizzard blowing outside, while a sandstorm raged on the tv as we watched Lawrence of Arabia ...



It was so cold that weekend, we all slept in the living room, and closed off the upstairs of that drafty old farmhouse.

I had inadvertently forgotten about the goldfish in my room. When I thought of it, there were chunks of ice floating in his bowl -- looked like slush. The amazing thing is that he was mostly OK when he thawed out--must explain why fish survive winters in a frozen lake ...

Monday, January 12, 2009

Gift from a Summer's Day



On the coldest of January winter days, I offer this gift from last summer.

One day before I left for work last August, I saw this single leaf, hanging by an invisible spider's thread. It was dancing and twirling in the breeze. I was mesmerized. It made me stop and notice this small and amazing thing ... so take a breath ... slow down, and appreciate the gift this moment was.

I hope it captures you for a moment, too. Enjoy!