First, thanks to everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and emails. \u00a0My Mom is doing better. \u00a0They found a laundry list of issues, not the least of which was internal bleeding \u2013 probably resulting from a fall. \u00a0They had checked her when she fell, but missed that. \u00a0Also she had dangerously low Thyroid levels. \u00a0Also missed. \u00a0She has been moved from the CCU and is now in a sort of \u2018in between\u2019 room. \u00a0 Not ICU, but not just run of the mill room either. \u00a0Just when she\u2019s out remains to be seen, so I\u2019ll still be scarce. \u00a0But she has improved. \u00a0And not just improved compared to being unresponsive and not breathing on Tuesday. \u00a0Actual improvement. \u00a0Hopefully surgery is no longer needed and they can help her overcome the various issues through therapy and other treatments. \u00a0She is probably going to stay in a care facility for a bit, we\u2019ll have to see.<\/p>\n
With that said, while I was in the ER and listening to the doctors, I got to thinking, as I am wont to do. \u00a0It dawned on me that I was more or less at their mercy. \u00a0I don\u2019t know medicine. \u00a0I can understand certain things they said \u2013 Thyroid, internal bleeding, hemoglobin. \u00a0But I have no clue how they relate or what to do about it.<\/p>\n
It reminded me of the old Far Side cartoon about what a dog hears: \u00a0We might say \u2018Fetch the stick Rover, fetch the stick!\u201d \u00a0But Rover just hears \u2018blah, blah, blah, *Rover*, blah, blah, blah.\u2019 \u00a0 \u00a0That was me\u00a0listening to the doctors: \u00a0Blah, blah, blah, *Internal bleeding*, blah, blah, blah, *Thyroid*, blah, blah, etc.<\/p>\n
Well, that\u2019s me with most things science. I\u2019m always fascinated by science. \u00a0I enjoy science and listening to scientists spin their yarns. I have two sons who are eyeing scientific fields as possible careers. \u00a0But at best I have an elementary grasp of what they\u2019re saying. \u00a0And that includes (here it comes) Climate Science. \u00a0My last post before this hit was about the March for Science and Climate Change.<\/p>\n
Now, whenever we get into the Climate Change debate, it never fails that I am assaulted with endless posts about carbon dioxide or emissions\u00a0or global temperatures. \u00a0But here\u2019s what I hear: Blah, blah, blah *CO2*, blah, blah, \u00a0blah, etc. \u00a0I\u2019d lie if I said it was much more.<\/p>\n
Which means I\u2019m in the same spot with Global Warming that I was in the ER with my Mom. \u00a0I\u2019m at the mercy of the Pros from Dover. \u00a0The doctors, or in this case the scientists, who are telling me all the technicals.<\/p>\n
In the ER, at least everyone seemed to be on the same page. \u00a0If there were debates or discussions, it was happening in conference rooms away from us.\u00a0Once they came to talk to us, they appeared to be in happy agreement. \u00a0Or they admitted when they weren\u2019t sure. \u00a0Not so for Climate Science. \u00a0It turns out there are scientists who are in disagreement. \u00a0There are scientists who say this is what is happening, why it happened, and what needs to happen \u2013 case closed. \u00a0And there are those who disagree.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just wading\u00a0through the specifics to get to the words and terms I actually understand. \u00a0For me (and I\u2019ll bet for many people), it\u2019s trying to figure out which scientists to listen to. \u00a0Why should I listen to these scientists here instead of those scientists over there? \u00a0 That is the million dollar question.<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t lean on my experiences, for they don\u2019t seem to matter. \u00a0A few years back in our neck of the woods, when we were hit with cold snap after deep freeze after years of mild temperatures, I was told it was\u00a0just weather and doesn\u2019t count. \u00a0Of course I can\u2019t lean on \u2018majority rule\u2019 or \u2018the good guys say so and only bad guys disagree.\u2019 \u00a0That\u2019s stupid for stupid\u2019s sake. \u00a0The idea that truth is based on majority consensus went out with butter churns, and it\u2019s almost borderline heresy to assume where one stands on the issue of climate change is what defines one\u2019s righteousness and purity of heart. \u00a0Yet, if you think about it, many are told to accept\u00a0MMGW not because of the science, but because the majority of scientists who are necessarily the good guys say so. \u00a0Strange that.<\/p>\n
When it comes to some science, I\u2019m not that concerned. \u00a0Should Pluto be a planet? \u00a0Shouldn\u2019t Pluto not be a planet (I say yes)? \u00a0I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a consensus and plenty of evidence, but I\u2019m not going to lose sleep over the debate. \u00a0But Climate Change? \u00a0Something that is said to threaten human existence? \u00a0Something that demands radical change and sacrifice? \u00a0That turns to governments to step in and seize the initiative? Something that seems to demand a immediate overhaul to\u00a0our approach and understanding about society and our roles and obligations to the world we live in? \u00a0Yeah, there are a few more dogs in that fight.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the problem. \u00a0I\u2019m stuck knowing no more about the science of Climate Change than I do about what to do with\u00a0hemoglobin levels, or labeling objects as planets or not. \u00a0So what to do? \u00a0Who to listen to? \u00a0That is the question. \u00a0And one I\u2019d be interested in hearing an answer to.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
First, thanks to everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and emails. \u00a0My Mom is doing better. \u00a0They found a laundry list of issues, not the least of which was internal bleeding \u2013 probably resulting from a fall. \u00a0They had checked her when she fell, but missed that. \u00a0Also she had dangerously low Thyroid levels. \u00a0Also missed. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2805,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,10,35],"tags":[96,11,5],"class_list":["post-9266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-global-warming","category-prayers","category-the-family","tag-climate-change","tag-prayers","tag-the-family"],"yoast_head":"\n