Severe Storm

Our weather man, Gerry is actually out in this weather situation, so I am here at the editor's desk listening to the wind rustling the tender green leaves of spring.  Actually it's more than rustling, it's more than whistling, while not quite howling.  I had an interesting conversation with Gerry, Friday that really stirred my thinking.  As you have probably already ascertained from the beginning of this paragraph, I am not a weather person.  He is a weatherman.  He has a completely different perspective and excitement, if you will, about this severe weather business.  He sees the grandeur as the storms form, I see the aftermath.  It's not exactly the glass half full, half empty perspective, but our views were definitely not on the "same page" in the conversation.

As I spoke with him Friday evening, he said the severe weather was about 48 hours out.  I told him, the animals behavior indicated the same thing.  For me, inclement weather means preparation and hatches battened down.  For Gerry, it means hitting the road with video equipment and phone.  Having forty-eight hours to prepare, with one of those 24 hour periods being Shabbat was a blessing, I believe.  I didn't run around starting a bunch of new projects, I simply made sure the emergency candle basket was accounted for, and the critters all had extra food.  It's interesting what YHWH created in these animals, in that they sense ahead of time the weather will be prohibitive for grazing, so before a storm, they eat and eat and eat . . .

Of course I'll be glad to have Gerry's weather reports again, but I'm hoping many of the images are "pretty cloud" pictures and rainbows.  For the next few weeks, we will be sharing various memories of past storms, and hopefully, no current ones, but there is no doubt, storms are inevitable.  Make the preparations that are needed, take the precautions that are wise, and then if you know the Master of the wind, fear not.

Fees?

Gerry Davis is on vacation this week, possibly spotting next week's article.  In our non-mainstream style,  rather than a letter to the editor we'll share a letter from the editor.

Dear Governor of Oklahoma,

I realize you are a busy woman, so I'll get right to the point.  Charging a fee for those who are smart enough to utilize G-d given solar and wind is out of your jurisdiction and clearly over your head!   How can you charge a fee for something you do not provide?  Charging a fee for using the wind or sun is akin to a rainbow tax!  I realize this is aimed exclusively at those who sell their power back to the power company, but seriously, the power company has to buy power somewhere.   I realize nobody is buying a bucket or box of electricity and I'm not sure I understand the arrangement of buying energy, but it is the claim of the Grid Companies.  Why not buy local?  When I first read the article linked below, the refrain of a song came to mind.  It's a Gaither song.  "I Know the Master of the Wind."

 I know the Master of the wind, I know the Maker of the rain 

He can calm the storm, make the sun shine again,

I know the Master of the wind

This sounds like an open invitation for a dust bowl . . . You, of all states, should know better.

Sincerely,
Eliza

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/04/16/3427392/oklahoma-fee-solar-wind/