Ian Palmer – The Gray Nomad

May

Climate change: Part 7. Science and faith

I WAS IN STARBUCKS IN LUBBOCK, CLOSE TO TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY. Waiting for a woman I had never met. I told her I was tall and with a gray beard. After sipping a decaf mocha frappe, she tapped me on the shoulder and I stood and shook hands.

She was young (at least compared to me) with brown hair, attractive, and her face held a perpetual smile. Her voice and movements were filled with enthusiasm. She had just flown in from Wisconsin, where she had given a talk about the intersection of faith and climate change.

She opened her laptop and showed me a picture of Science in one circle and Faith in a second circle. The two circles were not touching.… More

Mar

Fracking and Global Warming: What’s the Connection?

I gave a talk this past week called Fracking and Global Warming: What’s the Connection? I appreciate the invite by Dr John Korstad who teaches two different courses on Sustainability at Oral Roberts University (ORU).

Sustainability is getting to be a hot subject: it implies conserving the present environment for our grand-kids, to use a simple definition. For businesses the application is People, Planet and Profits: People meaning quality of life and employee retention, Planet being environmental stewardship and waste reduction, and Profit meaning responsible economic growth. At ORU, staff like Dr Korstad are leading the way.

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The world-class lecture room at ORU, where I was video’d automatically.

I did a lot of research on the topic and decided some critical slides would be of interest and make a good summary.… More

Jan

Record heatwave in Australia

WHATS IN THIS BLOG? Text from Australia: 71 wildfires burning. Bats and flying foxes killed by the thousands. Where was the heatwave the worst? Australia has been getting warmer.

TEXT FROM AUSTRALIA.“Heat wave in eastern Australia. 71 wildfires in New South Wales and Victoria. It’s a bit different to your part of the world in USA.”

This text was sent by my brother Clive just a few days ago – 17 January 2019. Less than a week before that I had sent him a video of a three-inch snowfall I experienced here in the USA. What a contrast!

Some of the following is excerpted from BBC News. The heatwave has broken heat records at more than ten places around Australia. The record-setters included Port Augusta which reached 48.9C or 120F.… More

Nov

Climate Change: Part 6. Deadly serious now.

WHATS IN THIS BLOG: • Wildfires in California. • Greenhouse gases reach new high. • New US government report – what does President Trump think?

There is a reason for Part 6 in this series on Climate Change. I am concerned that the world is on the cusp of a pretty big crisis. And I sense that events of the past couple months are moving USA opinions to a tipping point.

Part 5 and Part 6 here present information to support this tipping point. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts – please use the Comment box at the bottom of the blog.

If you’re interested in reading previous Parts 1-5 you can do a search on Climate Change in the SEARCH box on the main page of my blog article.… More

Oct

Climate Change: Part 5. New IPCC report – scary or not?

WHATS IN THIS BLOG: • The situation is worse than we thought. • Between 70 and 90% of coral reefs expected to die off, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. • Individuals can do something about it. • Being aware of what we eat, where it comes from, how we travel, how we heat our homes, can impact energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. • Drastic action is required but will require global political engagement.

NEW IPCC REPORT OUT IN OCTOBER 2018. I live in the southwest USA. Seeing more pine trees killed by pine-bark beetles is sad. The huge numbers of wildfires in the west got to me this past summer. Hearing about the terrible droughts now in Australia is dwpressing.… More

Dec

Climate change: Part 4. Wildfires in California

WHATS IN THIS BLOG: • The devastating wildfires close to Los Angeles: story and pics. • The fires are fanned by Santa Ana winds. • Man saves wild rabbit from burning. • Are the wildfires really caused by global warming? • Postscript: Conversation with a skeptical professional.

This is part of a series on climate change. In this article we look at the terrible wildfires ravaging California right now.

IF YOU DON’T LOOK AT ANYTHING ELSE, look at the very short video below of the man saving a rabbit from the fire. Have your tissues handy !!!

My next blog will be about teenage girls and smartphones, especially the negative and dangerous side of this issue, including suicide.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FIRES.… More

Nov

Climate changes: Part 3. The Stakes are high

WHATS IN THIS BLOG: • Rising sea levels. • Severe heat waves. • Political instability. • Deterioration of ocean life.

This is part of a series on climate change. Information in this article is taken from the book Climate of Hope by Bloomberg and Pope. See pic of book cover below.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FIRES. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma were in all the news in my last two blogs on this subject (click HERE and HERE). Soon after, California was beset by the Napa Valley fires – the most destructive in the state’s history. The numbers are 41 people dead, 220,000 acres burned, and 2,800 homes burned.

In the following sections, we have excerpted from Climate of Hope.

RISING SEA LEVELS.… More

Sep

Climate change: Part 2. Unable to escape hurricane Irma

WHATS IN THIS BLOG: • Ducking under the eye of hurricane Irma. • A terrifying night crouching in a bathroom. • Avoiding looters and robbers. • The islanders on St Maarten have lost everything. • Things are not okay, and the oceans are angry.

Just to clarify: this group of three blogs (Part 3 still to come) will center on Science and Energy. The next series will be on Inspiration and Hope. This blog is a long one, but I know it will add value to your perspective.

THIS BLOG IS A STORY ABOUT A FRIEND OF MINE, CALLED BETSY, who was crouching in the bathroom of a hotel in St Maarten, an island in the Caribbean, when the eye of hurricane Irma came right though there.… More

Sep

Climate change: Part 1

WHATS IN THIS BLOG: • Climate change versus hurricanes and forest fires. • A new book on climate change. • What causes climate change? • Can we predict climate change effects? • Should the USA buy insurance against climate change?

Just to clarify: this blog and (I hope) the next one will center on Science and Energy.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS CONTROVERSIAL, but recent events in September of 2017 force us to think about it once again. I’m referring to hurricane Harvey which went through Houston and hurricane Irma which hit Florida, both causing billions of dollars of damage within the past month.

BUT I’M ALSO REFERRING TO FOREST FIRES which are raging across the western part of the USA. Until this week there were about 40 of them.… More

Oct

Some Truths about Climate change: What is the science? What is our Christian responsibility?

Many scientists are warning us about climate change in the USA. Examples are given later in this blog, and it’s frightening. But before we go there……..… More

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Weed and Water (Paperback)

Weed and Water Reviews

Sit back, relax, clear your head and then prepare yourself for an entertaining journey. I loved the book, and found it hard to put down. When you are finished, ponder the Truth which was woven into the whole story. The Truth that I received.... Don't give up on God because He won't give up on you. I actually had tears in my eyes the last few pages. The book is very well done. -- Garland W. Ray (General Manager, Pep Boys).

I really enjoyed the book and I look forward to seeing it published. This is a book that taught me a lot about myself and a book that challenged me to grow spiritually. Definitely a book I would recommend. -- Trevor Taylor (Junior in Construction Management Technology at Oklahoma State University).

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Hiking Towards Heaven Reviews

"I read the book and it was very inspiring….. a must read!" — Ann Wasp, Houston

"Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed your book. What a blessing to read the words you wrote as you share your love of hiking with your love and belief in God. You depict God as someone approachable (which He is) and someone who understands us. Your book gives me the desire to go hiking and look at God's creation in a different way.Thank you. You did a great job!" — Bonnie Covington, Medical Supplies Sales, Albuquerque

"I enjoyed reading the book. The book's core theme is religious and moral philosophical concepts. The theme is developed through a girl's childhood. The scenery is beautifully described in the hikes. You are a silver-tongued orator, and I liked how you captivated the reader with conflict, then presented your thoughts via discussion." — Don Smith, County Judge (ret.), Houston.

"I read your book a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it! I liked the way you kept the story moving with the hiking adventures and challenges, the details about your hikes, and the very interesting character Michelle. You did a great job with dialog and interspersing the message of faith. It reminded me how much I like to hike, and how beautiful it is there in New Mexico. I would recommend your book to others" - Gayle Pearson, Attorney and Homemaker, Houston.

"What an amazing story! Michelle fascinates me enormously in all that she represents. Further, it strikes me that you brought something very unique to the relationship between Kara and Michelle, much more so than any other relationship in the story. I like Kara very much; you are very fortunate to have her in your life. I loved the way that you weave your love of hiking with Michelle’s lessons on the trail. My favourite poem in the book was “Don’t Quit”….. it resonated especially well with my own personal circumstances." - Genevieve Young, Petroleum Reservoir Engineer, London.

"I really enjoyed your book. It gives vivid verbal descriptions of fascinating hiking areas, and weaves intriguing adventures around you and your fellow hikers. It was instructive as to geography/topography, geology, and flora/fauna. The reader gets all of this plus spiritual guidance, so reassuring in times of need. The use of the coangel added a mysterious element to tie all this together. You wrapped up your book well in demonstrating the resources available through God. With all the low-level reading available regarding sorcerers and vampires, it is nice to see a book like this with a positive spiritual approach but which is educational as well. Good work!” - Joy-Marie, Real Estate Agent (ret.), Albuquerque.

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