12.07.2024
Remembering Al and Pearl Harbor
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."
― Franklin D. Roosevelt
The battleship above is the USS California on the morning of December 7th, 1941. I once knew a man who was on that ship during the attack. Actually, he was my step-grandfather, Alvin Edward Pyan Sr. His eldest son, Al Jr., married my mother back in 1976. I only knew Mr. Pyan from helping him tear down old furniture at his upholstery shop in Marathon City. He passed away in 1988, full military funeral with honors, taps and rifle salute.
Interestingly, it was sort of a second death for him. In the confusion at the time he was declared MIA, then KIA, for a few weeks following the attack. As the story goes, when Al discovered this, he immediately sent a telegram to his parents that simply stated "Al is OK."
Al was a troubled man who battled with depression and alcoholism for the remainder of his life, but he was always kind to me. I'm pretty sure he saw action in the South Pacific after Pearl Harbor on account that I once saw an old photograph of him in a jungle holding a captured Japanese flag. He never spoke to me about that action, but he did share his personal story about Pearl Harbor's fateful day, presenting me with a model of the USS Arizona for helping him at his shop.
Al was on the ship's deck, preparing for the morning colors, when he first saw planes zooming around. Like everyone else that morning, he assumed they were U.S. aircraft participating in a mock attack. Then, as Al recalled, ships began exploding all around the harbor. At some point he was forced to abandon ship and swam to Ford Island through a layer of burning oil from the California floating on the water's surface.
That's the California engulfed in smoke and flames. The ship was struck by two aerial torpedoes and a bomb, which caused extensive flooding, exacerbated by open watertight doors as the crew prepared for an inspection. Despite heroic efforts to keep her afloat, the ship gradually settled to the harbor floor over three days, resulting in the tragic loss of over 100 crew members.
Some of the more well-known photographs of the attack.
Al was interviewed regularly by Wausau's local television stations on the attack's anniversary. He was generally a man of few words but would always remind viewers to "keep defenses high" because you never know when and where things like this might happen again.
World War II Photo Archives
11.30.2024
11.26.2024
Like Binoculars!
Do you know who is going to pay for that?
You are.
Companies that import goods from countries like China, Mexico, and Canada will spread the costs of tariffs to a wide range of products, including U.S.-made items. This occurs because higher tariffs on imports can increase overall operational costs, such as the cost of raw materials or components sourced from these countries. To maintain profit margins and avoid consumer backlash, companies will likely raise prices across the board, even on domestically produced goods. Additionally, the interconnected nature of global supply chains means that price hikes on imported materials or parts can lead to increased production costs for U.S.-made products, with businesses likely passing on these higher costs to consumers. For certain goods, there are simply no U.S.-made alternatives for consumers to choose from, leaving them reliant on imports for specific items, which can further amplify the impact of tariff-driven price increases.
For binoculars priced under $500, nearly all are made in China, with around 80-90% manufactured there. Additionally, no binoculars are made in the U.S. While some premium brands may have their high-end models produced in countries like Japan or Germany, the bulk of binoculars in the under-$500 range come from China due to lower production costs and established manufacturing infrastructure.
11.17.2024
Shifting Seasons
"See yonder leafless tree against the sky,
How they diffuse themselves into the air,
And ever subdividing separate,
Limbs into branches, branches into twigs,
As if they loved the element, & hasted
To dissipate their being into it."
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
There hasn't been much sunny weather the past couple of weekends, but that hasn't stopped me from hitting the trails at Pheasant Branch. The cool, muted skies seem to amplify the subtle changes that mark this in-between season, where autumn finally hands over its reins to winter.
Bird-wise, the scene is shifting. American Tree Sparrows have moved in, bringing with them their soft, musical calls that always feel like a whisper of winter. Yet, the White-crowned Sparrows linger, their crisp black-and-white head stripes standing out against the fading landscape. It's a quiet, transitional time—perfect for contemplative hikes and listening to nature's subtle cues. Other birds during the hike included Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawks, Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, American Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a lone White-throated Sparrow.
Did you know that the Pheasant Branch Springs discharge an average of 1,760 gallons per minute? That's a massive amount of water, and it's the kind of steady flow that keeps the wetland habitat vibrant, even in drier times. This constant flow nourishes the surrounding vegetation and provides a critical water source for wildlife, from amphibians to birds, including the sparrows I've been seeing lately.
I stumbled upon some tree fungus that caught my attention. Amidst the earthy tones of russet, tan, and brown that dominate the landscape this time of year, these fungi seemed like little bursts of color—white, blue, and green patterns—standing out in sharp contrast.
With December and the end of the year fast approaching, it's a time for reflection. The seasons, as always, remind us of nature's cycles—how everything changes, sometimes slowly and sometimes suddenly, but always moving forward. As the year winds down, it's a good opportunity to pause and appreciate the beauty of both the fleeting moments and the enduring constants in our lives.
In Nature, just as in life, there's always something new to witness, something unexpected to discover. As the year draws to a close, it's a time for reflection—not just on the challenges we've faced, but on the things that separate us, the new tensions that have emerged, and the stark differences in how we view the world. While hope for growth and change remains, it's clear that the path forward will require reckoning with these divides, not pretending they don't exist. The coming seasons will bring more challenges, but also the possibility for clearer truths—whether we're ready for them or not.
All images © 2024 Mike McDowell
11.16.2024
Nope.
"The secrets of evolution are death and time—the deaths of enormous numbers of lifeforms that were imperfectly adapted to the environment; and time for a long succession of small mutations."
― Carl Sagan
There it is again ...
"Songbird bodies are far more evolved than ours, including their vision, hearing, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, endurance and speed, and their abilities to detect the earth’s magnetic poles and discern changes in air pressure. Chickadees, which have been here longer and may very well outlast us, have social hierarchies much like ours, though chickadees, in a more civilized and evolved manner, maintain their hierarchies not with bullying and fighting but with songs and other vocalizations."
From: Look to the Chickadees
No, nothing living today is "more evolved" than anything else. Evolution is not a ladder or hierarchy of progress but a branching tree of life, where all living organisms have been evolving for the same amount of time — about 3.8 billion years since life began. Different species have adapted to their unique environments and challenges in various ways, but no species is inherently better or more advanced than another. Each is suited to its ecological niche―a bacterium is as evolved as a human, just in a way that fits its role in an ecosystem.
While humans are complex organisms with advanced cognitive abilities, bacteria are incredibly efficient and resilient, thriving in environments humans could never survive in. I know what you might be thinking, but calling a trait "advanced" is context-dependent and descriptive of complexity or functionality. It doesn’t mean the organism as a whole is better or more evolved. Each organism is adapted to thrive in its environment, regardless of whether its traits are considered simple or complex by human standards. Both humans and bacteria are equally evolved, but they have followed different evolutionary paths shaped by the demands of their respective environments. To suggest one is more evolved than the other is to misunderstand what evolution really is: adaptation to survive, not a race to achieve superiority.
This misconception of evolution often arises from teleological thinking, that processes in Nature, like evolution, have an inherent purpose or end goal, assuming it's a linear process, with species climbing a figurative ladder toward perfection. But evolution is not goal-directed. It's a response to environmental pressures and random mutations, leading to traits that improve abilities of organisms to survive and reproduce in a specific niche.
Understanding this helps us appreciate the diversity of life without imposing arbitrary hierarchies. Evolution is not about being better or worse, but about being fit for a specific role in the vast, interconnected web of life. Each organism, from the smallest microbe to the largest mammal, has its place in this incredible story of adaptation and survival. Sentimentalists don't care for this raw pitiless view of Nature, but that's the way it is. Nature doesn’t cater to human sentimentality—it operates without morality, fairness, or compassion, with no concern for whether the outcomes are good or bad by our standards.
This unvarnished view of Nature is essential for truly understanding how life works. Nature isn't cruel or kind—it simply is. Traits that help an organism survive and reproduce get passed on, while those that don't fade away. There's no overarching narrative of justice or meaning in this process; it's blind, indifferent, and often brutal—predator success means prey failure, and vice versa. Yet, this endless competition is what drives the incredible diversity and adaptability we see in life today.
And it is amazing.
11.10.2024
On Worry
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.
― Mary Oliver
It's a quiet, gray weekend with soft showers drifting through the air. The usual signs of life are missing—no tiger beetles darting across the ground, no robber flies or dragonflies in sight. Only a lone Bald Eagle gilded above, moving steadily along the river. On the surface, life along the Wisconsin River seems to have retreated for the season, but the landscape's energy is just tucked away, lying dormant beneath the sand, rocks, logs, and grasses, waiting for the right moment to reemerge.
In these quiet moments, it's easy to overlook the subtle resilience of the land. Mosses and lichens thrive on the rocks and fallen logs, vibrant in shades of green and gray, unaffected by the season's change. The river's slow, steady flow offers a calm contrast to summer's rapid currents, and the trees, stripped of their leaves, stand tall, their skeletal branches stark against the gray sky.
Mary Oliver's words speak to the universal experience of feeling overwhelmed by what we can't control—be it personal fears or broader uncertainties. The poem's journey from worry to a sense of release suggests a way to navigate challenging times by reconnecting with what remains steady, like Nature. When facing disappointment or a sense of powerlessness, we can take a cue from Oliver and find solace in life's simple, grounded aspects.
To be honest, I am not all that worried and I have endured a lot in my six decades. Nature, with its dependable cycles, offers a calming contrast to human worries. Just as Oliver steps outside and begins to sing, we, too, can find renewal in turning our attention toward the Natural World, where the rhythms of the earth move on despite our temporary struggles. This groundedness can offer a healthy perspective, encouraging us to focus on what brings peace, even when external circumstances feel unsteady.
Don't forget this!
All images © 2024 Mike McDowell
11.09.2024
Whoa!
Remember this Stratocaster?
It's been found! Though I don't know if it was ever truly lost.
Anyway, it's up for auction and expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000!
Uh ... I can't afford it right just yet, but maybe once the next administration's economic policies take effect, I might be in the market for it. Timing is everything and it'll likely move on to its next home before I have the money saved up, but I'll try to keep track of the new owner(s).
Meanwhile, my Custom Shop version will have to suffice. New right now, they go for around $5,000.00, which is still a tidy sum for a bloke like me.
CS '57 Mary Kaye Strat image © 2024 Mike McDowell
11.03.2024
Ultra II!
"Every weakness contains within itself a strength."
― Shusaku Endo
In guitar gear news, Fender recently released their new Ultra II lineup of electric guitars and basses. I hate it when this happens. GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) is very real and challenging to defeat, and perhaps I just can't do it.
Just look at this one ...
This is the Ultra II HSS Sinister Red Stratocaster. Its Haymaker™ Humbucker can be split with the S1 switch giving it a wicked single-coil sound―I've watched the YouTube reviews. Fender states, "With new Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat pickups for articulate, hot-rodded Fender tones and a Haymaker™ Humbucker that unleashes a raw, expressive snarl, the Ultra II HSS Strat is about as versatile as you can get."
Other cool features include:
- Ultra rolled edges
- Luminlay side dots
- Quartersawn compound neck
- Hot-Strat Ultra II Noiseless pickups
- Anodized pickguards
Argh! I want one. To be sure, I do not need another guitar and I may sell a few of mine to justify getting an Ultra II. Obsessively, I already have three Ultra I Stratocasters, but one of them I heavily modded with Seymour Duncan pickups and new hardware. I have the Cobra Blue SSS and the Arctic Pearl HSS. Perhaps one of those will end up on the chopping block.
All images from Fender MIC 2024
More of this?
"I don't think that any subject in the history of science has been so distorted by the machinations of wish, will, and myth as evolution. The fact that half of Americans reject evolution is prima facie evidence for the country's educational failures."
― Stephen Jay Gould
- Biological Evolution is a fact.
- Anthropogenic Climate Disruption is a fact.
- That vaccines work is a fact.
These are not controversial.
A long-time fan and avid reader of his work, I was honored to have briefly met Stephen Jay Gould at a lecture a long time ago:
He died in 2002.
Link: The Wedge Strategy
11.02.2024
You're a Liberal!
In a moment I'm going to share a quote with you, but one word in it needs its requisite contextual definition, as there's a good chance when people read it they might misunderstand its intent, message, and meaning. The word is 'liberal', which is often used today by certain media and politicians as a pejorative.
Let's dive in, shall we?
U.S. Political Liberalism, Classical Liberalism, and Philosophical Liberalism all share a focus on individual rights and freedom, but they diverge significantly in their views on government's role and how freedom should be supported. U.S. Classical Liberalism, rooted in Enlightenment thinking, emphasizes minimal government, free markets, and individual responsibility. Its primary goal is to protect personal and economic freedom, favoring limited interference in personal lives and a strong belief in self-reliance and private property. This framework shaped much of early American thought, influencing foundational principles like the Constitution.
Modern U.S. Political Liberalism, on the other hand, evolved in response to changing social needs, particularly in the 20th century. It embraces a more active government role in addressing social inequities and creating opportunities for all, often through regulations, social programs, and progressive taxation. Where Classical Liberalism focuses on the free market and limited intervention, Political Liberalism emphasizes a balance between individual rights and social responsibility, advocating policies that support equality and protections for disadvantaged groups. For Political Liberals, government is a necessary tool to foster justice and ensure that everyone can participate in society on a more equal footing.
Meanwhile, Philosophical Liberalism is an overarching theory that explores the ethical and abstract foundations of freedom, justice, and individual rights, not tied to specific policies. Philosophical Liberalism considers issues like autonomy, justice, and the ethical limits of freedom but doesn’t prescribe a concrete governmental role. This tradition provides the underlying values that both Classical and Political Liberalism draw on but stays focused on broad ideals rather than specific applications. Together, these forms of liberalism illustrate the evolution of thought about freedom and fairness, from theoretical concepts to practical applications in the political sphere.
And now the quote ...
"Hitler’s democratic triumph exposed the true nature of democracy. Democracy has few values of its own: it is as good or as bad, as the principles of the people who operate it. In the hands of liberal and tolerant people, it will produce a liberal and tolerant government; in the hands of cannibals, a government of cannibals. In Germany in 1933-4 it produced a Nazi government because the prevailing culture of Germany’s voters did not give priority to the exclusion of gangsters."
― Norman Davies, Historian (1996)
In this quote, Norman Davies uses "liberal" to refer to a set of principles emphasizing tolerance, openness, and respect for individual freedoms. He’s not necessarily referencing "liberal" in the modern, left-leaning U.S. political sense but rather in the broader, classical and philosophical sense associated with democratic values like freedom of speech, pluralism, and the protection of individual rights.
When Davies speaks of "liberal and tolerant people," he means those who value these foundational democratic principles, which ideally foster a society where diverse views coexist peacefully, and government operates with fairness and restraint. In contrast, the "cannibals" he mentions represent those with values fundamentally opposed to tolerance and individual freedom—people whose beliefs could erode or exploit democratic systems for harmful ends, as occurred in Nazi Germany.
So, Davies’ use of "liberal" here underscores the idea that democracy's effectiveness depends on a commitment to values that protect the rights and dignity of all individuals. It aligns more closely with Philosophical Liberalism. Without such a foundation, democracy itself is susceptible to being overtaken by destructive ideologies.
10.30.2024
Devil's Lake State Park!
"I love to walk in the woods. But what I love even more is when the woods walk within me."
― Craig D. Lounsbrough
Few things compare to a beautiful fall hike at Devil's Lake State Park. The weekend crowd was out in force, but quieter trails offered peaceful spots to take in the park's stunning scenery. Now, October draws to a close, and we’re heading into the long stretch of winter until March. While the current warmth feels almost out of season, the chill will soon set in, and the last of the insects will fade away
Until November ...
All images © 2024 Mike McDowell
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