Dangerous Play

Nov 2, 2022–Do only mammals play? This question caused some consternation around our Table of Knowledge. We all have seen films of otters, puppies, penguins, and ponies jumping, sliding, and kicking just for the joy of it. But what about other classes in the animal...

Go climb a tree

Oct 26, 2022–What is it about a treehouse? My 7-year-old granddaughter has been asking for her own treehouse for several weeks, so guess what we’ve been building? We are repurposing the fruitless mulberry in our front yard that served as a treehouse for my now-grown...

Rules of Thumb redux

Oct 19, 2022–The Pioneer Memorial Library book sale is coming up the last Saturday of this month. If you are like me, in your annual attempt to winnow the home book shelf by donating, you perennially pass over volumes you just can’t bear to banish. One untouchable...

After Us

Oct 12, 2022–Looking at the recent hurricane damage that leveled portions of several cities, the question came to mind: if mankind was not around to rebuild them, how long would it be before urban areas disappeared? If we abandoned the earth, how long would it take...