Two phone calls last Sunday reminded me of the pros and cons of offering a list of destination options, in this case my suggestions for accessible hikes. One reader pointed out that not everyone in a certain age bracket was computer savvy or, for that matter, owned a computer, so he could not print the information to share with friends.
He suggested that a map would have been useful.
It would have been helpful but in the 21st-century newspaper world, the basic design for some sections is generally locked into place before the stories are written (see my column, about 640 words and usually running down the right side of the section).
With 15 accessible options, the map would have had to be pretty large to be useful.
I do sympathize with those who do not have a computer, so I included telephone numbers with the accessible list.
There are a few options to the no-computer dilemma. Snohomish County libraries, senior centers and parks and recreation centers often offer computer classes, and some have computers accessible to the public, such as the Lynnwood Library, which also has a librarian who can help.
The second call was from Jennifer, who was going on a road trip with her wheelchair-bound father-in-law who loves being outdoors. She thanked me for the column and was looking forward to using the list to take him on short rides.
I know, I know. Jennifer can probably access the column on her smart phone, along with the location of the nearest sushi bar, emergency clinic, bakery and directions to the trail of her choice.
For the record, I do not have a smart phone. When our really dumb phone died, our next dumb phone was too smart to be called dumb, so it has other names, none of them complimentary.
A bestiary? In medieval times, it was an allegorical work on the habits of real or imaginary animals, often based on folklore. In the case of Caspar Henderson’s “The Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary,” it’s a collection of descriptions of extraordinary animals, one for each letter of the alphabet but two for the letter “X.”
But like any bestiary, it’s so much more: Observations on human interaction with the life surrounding us. In the waterbear section, Henderson adds to the biology presentation with references to von Neumann machines, jazz composer Sun Ra, a quote from former secretary of defense Robet McNamara and intelligent life in space.
Animals include the Crown of Thorns starfish, pufferfish, quetzalcoatlus, thorny devil, Venus’s girdle, and yeti crab.
This is not a quick read but there’s no law against savoring science.
Thanks to researchers: We now know that nearly a third of the stars have dramatically changed their orbits, probably not a problem for us unless our Sun goes exploring.
We’ve also learned:
How bees naturally immunize their offspring against specific diseases, which may lead to a vaccine for bees, particularly critical to the declining population.
That the way Cabbage White butterflies adopt a V-shaped posture to warm up their flight muscles may make solar energy cheaper and much more efficient. In the study, mimicking the V-shape with solar panels produced almost a 50 percent increase in power produced.
That a new material developed by the Chinese mimics coral and could help remove toxic heavy metals (think mercury) from the ocean. Corals are very efficient at absorbing heavy metals.
That the rare Honduran emerald butterfly is listed as an endangered species in the U.S., prohibiting certain activities without a permit, including importing and exporting the butterfly.
That U.S. Geological Survey report found that new wind-energy facilities in prime wildlife habitat of North and South Dakota can influence the distribution of several species of grassland birds after construction, including species in decline.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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