Category: Health

A possible weather crisis

The latest report on this year’s super El Niño.

We love living in Southern Oregon. This rural part of the countryside is a delight, and feeding the wild deer is a bonus.

However, we also have to take note of the changing climate and the potential risks that extremes of weather can bring.

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As cities prepare for 2026’s super El Niño, some crucial blind spots can’t be ignored

A man carrying several items walks through cement passage with water in it under a bridge
An affordable-housing crisis and a growing homeless population led Los Angeles to declared a shelter crisis during the 2015-16 El Niño. David McNew/Getty Images

Bethany Tietjen, Tufts University

This year’s El Niño has the potential to be one of the strongest in living memory, and the evidence is showing up around the world.

The U.S. just saw its hottest summer on record in the Lower 48 states. Drought is slowing shipping in the Panama Canal. The Pacific is experiencing an exceptionally busy hurricane season, while the Atlantic is unusually quiet. Those are just a few early signs. Forecasters warn that this El Niño could bring extreme heat, destructive storms and flooding to many parts of the planet through early 2027.

Huge waves crash up against a coastline. Their spray goes as high as the homes that are right next to the water.
Storm waves crash onto seaside houses at Mondos Beach, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2016, during a strong El Niño. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

I am a researcher who works on climate and disaster resilience, and I study how governments prepare for climate disasters and help to identify what they are missing.

Community planning for El Niño often starts by identifying infrastructure that’s vulnerable to extreme weather. What can be harder to address are the needs of the populations most at risk, including low-income communities and older adults who may need help preparing their homes and themselves for extreme conditions.

As communities prepare for the rising risk of extreme weather, they need to be aware of the blind spots.

What is El Niño and what’s at risk?

El Niño is part of a natural climate pattern that appears every few years when temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean rise.

Its effects can shift weather patterns away from what is considered normal. Typically wet regions can get unusually dry, while dry areas can experience extreme rainfall that causes flooding. Global average temperatures also tend to rise during El Niño conditions, leaving people facing dangerous heat, both indoors and outdoors.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/WPA-KpldDVc?wmode=transparent&start=0 What is El Niño?

On the U.S. West Coast, for example, the combination of El Niño conditions with king tides and rising sea levels could lead to more coastal flooding, erosion and damage to homes and infrastructure. In the past, flood damage and landslides from heavy rain during El Niño have shut down highways and affected public services long after a storm has passed.

A map of the US shows rainier conditions in the South, warmth in Canada and the northern U.S., and dryness in the Midwest.
In winter, El Niño typically shifts weather patterns across the U.S. However, every El Nino is different – conditions during one El Niño may be very different from the next. NOAA

Preparing for the strong El Niño expected in late 2026 and early 2027 means ensuring that critical infrastructure is able to withstand flooding, temperature extremes and other severe weather conditions.

That means inspecting flood control and drainage systems, trimming trees that could knock down power lines during high winds, and reinforcing or maintaining infrastructure such as dams, stormwater channels, roads and bridges.

Aging infrastructure, in particular, can be a problem.

Old levees and dams, for example, can leave a community vulnerable to catastrophic flooding, as the Seattle area saw in December 2025 when flooding from heavy rainfall broke levees in multiple communities. Repairing and replacing large-scale infrastructure like this is expensive and time-consuming. Too often, by the time it fails, repairs had been discussed for years but not completed.

Where we’re finding gaps in disaster planning

Infrastructure is only part of the challenge. Preparing a community for El Niño also means preparing people for what could be unprecedented conditions.

A study I worked on with researchers at Tufts University reviewed climate adaptation and disaster preparedness in several high-risk communities in the United States. We identified gaps in the policies, resources and institutional capacity available to help communities adapt to rising risks.

A paved bicycling path atop a levee is broken and slabs of asphalt pavement are tilted into a breach where water poured through.
Crews inspect damage to a Green River levee in the Seattle suburbs on Dec. 15, 2025. Thousands of people were urged to evacuate during a series of atmospheric river storms, and the National Guard was sent to monitor and reinforce several levees considered at risk. AP Photo/Manuel Valdes

In particular, we found that governments often focus heavily on physical risks while giving too little attention to social vulnerability.

Vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness, older adults and people with disabilities, often face higher risks and greater challenges in preparing for disasters.

People with limited mobility, for example, may have difficulty evacuating quickly or getting into shelters. Individuals with limited financial resources might have fewer options for relocating or for making home improvements in preparation for extreme weather. Someone experiencing homelessness may not have safe shelter.

A man walks carefully through water as two mattress float away in a rush of water under a bridge.
In the Los Angeles area, homeless people often set up camp in normally dry riverbeds. But those areas are at high risk of flooding during El Niño. Heavy rains during the 2015-16 El Niño swept away this camp’s mattresses. Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

It is often easier for governments to identify and invest in physical infrastructure than to invest in policies that address complex social vulnerabilities like these. For example, building a seawall can be tied to a specific project or funding stream. Reducing social vulnerability, on the other hand, may require coordination across housing, healthcare, emergency management and social services. And it typically requires sustained investments over time.

Yet, preparing successfully for extreme weather often requires considering housing and shelter needs, healthcare access and support services.

After a wildfire or major flooding, people may need temporary rental assistance or affordable housing to avoid displacement. Older adults or people with disabilities may need transportation to shelters or assistance getting medications and healthcare.

Many of these needs can be difficult to address because the underlying vulnerabilities are deeply entrenched. Issues such as affordable housing shortages, poverty or difficulty accessing healthcare cannot be solved by a single disaster-preparedness policy. But they do shape how communities are able to recover from extreme weather.

Identifying gaps before extreme weather strikes

A community’s preparedness often improves after an event, when the gaps become obvious. The challenge is identifying those gaps before a disaster occurs.

In Los Angeles, emergency managers are using a good method to meet that challenge in 2026: They are carrying out scenario exercises that bring together county departments and community disaster management coordinators to practice how they would respond to an El-Niño-driven extreme weather event.

These exercises are designed to identify gaps in existing plans and figure out what might be needed if severe storms, flooding or mudslides occur. Scenario exercises allow people involved in disaster response to work through a hypothetical event before it happens.

Several vehicles are tipped and trapped in mud up their windows along a highway.
Heavy downpours in October 2015 caused mudslides that trapped vehicles on Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles. The storm was early in the season for El Niño damage and served as a warning of the risks to come. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

In both the San Francisco Bay Area and in Durham County, North Carolina, officials are talking publicly about the risks to encourage residents to prepare. Bay Area officials are stressing the importance of following emergency management notifications and weather forecasts, particularly for individuals living close to the water or on hillsides that could face flash flooding and landslides.

In Oceanside, California, city officials convened an El Niño working group that included representatives from their public works, engineering, fire and police departments to coordinate planning, communications strategies and the monitoring of the San Luis Rey River.

Broader lessons

The challenge of preparing for El Niño in the face of uncertainty reflects some of the broader issues humanity faces when preparing for future climate changes.

Keeping up with infrastructure maintenance, scenario planning ahead of heat or storm seasons, understanding the needs of vulnerable populations and having plans in place to meet them can help prevent a severe storm from becoming a major disaster for the community.

Bethany Tietjen, Research Fellow in Climate Policy, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Some of the trees that we have are, potentially, too close to the house. I hate cutting down trees but then even worse than that would be that the house is badly damaged and we have to move out.

It is nicely summarised in that last chapter of the article, and I quote: “The challenge of preparing for El Niño in the face of uncertainty reflects some of the broader issues humanity faces when preparing for future climate changes.”

The face of uncertainty!

Looking after our pets

Another post from Penny Martin.

Penny is a generous person. I say that because she sends me on a regular basis posts that I can publish. So today’s post will be well-received by pet owners and that, potentially, is many people. When I did the research, AI responded by writing that 71 million U.S. households in America own a dog.

Thus Penny’s post is highly relevant.

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Simple Daily Wellness Tips Every Pet Owner Can Easily Follow

For busy pet owners balancing work, errands, and the steady rhythm of walks, feeding, and cleanup, personal health often slips to the bottom of the list. The challenge isn’t a lack of caring, it’s the pressure to “do wellness right” while already managing a full day and a pet’s needs. That all-or-nothing mindset can leave both body and brain running on fumes, even when life looks fine from the outside. Simple, holistic well-being strategies and realistic daily wellness routines can support energy, mood, and focus in ways that fit real pet-owner lifestyle considerations.

Build a Pet-Owner-Friendly Wellness Rhythm

This quick routine helps you care for your body and mind without competing with walks, feeding, and playtime. You’ll stack tiny actions at the same times each day so wellness feels automatic, not like another chore.

  1. Anchor a 3-minute morning stretch to your first pet task
    Start with gentle neck rolls, shoulder circles, and a slow forward fold right after you let your pet out or set down breakfast. Keep it easy and pain-free, aiming for “looser” not “sweaty.” This wakes up stiff joints and sets a calm tone before the day speeds up.
  2. Add a short walk upgrade you can repeat
    During your usual walk, choose one tiny change: walk for a few more minutes or take one extra lap around the block. Keeping the change small makes it far more likely you will stick with it, and your pet still gets their normal routine.
  3. Use a 60-second mindfulness reset at pet “pause points”
    Pick two moments you already stop, like waiting for the kettle, brushing your pet, or standing by the door before a walk. Breathe in for four counts, out for six, and relax your jaw and shoulders. This tiny pattern interrupts stress spirals without needing a quiet room or extra time.
  4. Set a realistic bedtime “shut-down” that protects sleep
    Choose a consistent lights-out window, then build a 10-minute wind-down: dim lights, silence notifications, and do one calm activity (stretch, shower, or light reading). Treat it as non-negotiable because making sleep a priority supports your mood, focus, and patience for tomorrow’s pet care.
  5. Review once a week and adjust, not restart
    On the same day each week, ask: What felt easy, what felt hard, and what can I shrink by half? Keep the parts that work and tweak one thing, like shifting your stretch to right after feeding. Small adjustments beat starting over.

Build Career Satisfaction That Supports Your Health—and Your Pet’s

When your days have a steadier rhythm, it’s easier to notice whether work is supporting your well-being or quietly draining it. Career fulfillment matters because it shapes your stress levels, energy, and sense of purpose, things that spill over into how present and patient you feel at home with your pet. If you’re feeling stuck, going back to school can be a meaningful way to strengthen your career trajectory, open new doors, and build longer-term stability that supports the life you want.

You can choose from an array of accredited online programs; for example, if you’re drawn to a behind-the-scenes role in care, a health administration master’s can help you move toward healthcare administration. Whatever path you choose, online programs are ideal for working professionals because they let you keep earning and keep up with your current responsibilities.

Daily Wellness Habits That Fit Pet-Owner Life

When you repeat a few basics, wellness stops feeling like another task and starts feeling automatic. These habits build a simple baseline you can stick with even on busy, pet-centered days.

Water Check-In

  • What it is: Use water consumption as a simple daily checklist item.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: Steadier hydration supports energy, digestion, and clearer hunger cues.

Brush and Floss Pairing

  • What it is: Brush for two minutes, then floss before you start evening pet routines.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: It reduces plaque buildup and keeps gums less irritated.

Dental Calendar Anchor

  • What it is: Put your next dental cleaning on the calendar when you book it.
  • How often: Every 6 months
  • Why it helps: It prevents small issues from becoming painful, expensive surprises.

Sunscreen Before the Leash

  • What it is: Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ to face, ears, neck, and hands.
  • How often: Daily, before outdoor time
  • Why it helps: It protects skin from UV damage during walks and yard breaks.

Moisturize After Washing

  • What it is: Apply moisturizer within two minutes of bathing or face washing.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: It seals in moisture and supports your skin barrier.

Wellness With Pets: Common Questions Answered

Q: What if my pet wakes me up and I miss sleep again?
A: Keep your goal tiny: one steady habit the next morning, like a full glass of water or sunscreen before the first outing. If nights are chaotic, try a short wind-down cue you can repeat even at 2 a.m., like two slow breaths while your pet settles. Consistency beats perfection when sleep is choppy.

Q: How can I calm a stress spike without losing my whole day?
A: Use your pet as a reset, not a distraction. Many pet parents rely on their pet for stress relief, so take 60 seconds to pet them slowly and unclench your jaw. Then do one next right thing, like brushing your teeth or refilling your water.

Q: When I’m rushed, what’s the minimum routine that still counts?
A: Pick a two-minute combo: drink water while your pet eats, then wash your face and moisturize. Tie it to something that already happens every day, like the first leash grab or filling the bowl. If you do only that, you still reinforce the habit loop.

Q: How do I stop being inconsistent with self-care?
A: Make it automatic by choosing one anchor time and one location, like floss at the sink before evening feeding. Lower friction by keeping essentials where you use them, such as sunscreen by the door. Track streaks weekly, not daily, so one off day does not derail you.

Q: Can I fit planning in when pet care takes over my evenings?
A: Yes, keep it to 90 seconds. Plan out the next day by writing down three must-dos, then stop. Waking up with a simple plan makes follow-through easier, even with surprise messes.

Start One Small Pet-and-You Routine for Lasting Wellness

It’s easy for pet care to crowd out personal care, especially when sleep slips, stress flares, and the day fills up fast. The steady way forward is the mindset of small, repeatable routines, sustainable self-care habits that support both of you and build long-term health maintenance without relying on perfect days. Over time, that approach brings more motivation for wellness routines, fewer restarts, and a calmer path toward achieving balanced well-being. Small daily habits keep both ends of the leash healthy.

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Like all things that are important, developing a routine is crucial. Making it a habit is vital.

Penny has offered a grand analysis of what one needs to do to keep your pets healthy and happy.

Thank you, Penny.

Being Happy

It is such a straightforward intention, but ….

……. it is so often hijacked by ‘life’.

A search found many articles but I shall just publish two.

The first is from a Google search. (An AI answer.)

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Finding happiness within yourself means shifting your focus from external things to your own inner peace and state of mind.

Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude

  • Be present: Notice the current moment instead of rushing through your day.
  • Count your blessings: Write down three things you are thankful for each day.
  • Savor good moments: Pause and absorb positive feelings when good things happen, even small ones.

Let Go of Mental Barriers

  • Stop seeking approval: Realize that your worth does not depend on what others think.
  • Observe your thoughts: Watch your negative thoughts pass by without judging or believing them.
  • Release the past: Forgive yourself and others for past mistakes instead of holding onto anger.

Care for Your Mind and Body

  • Get enough rest: Prioritize good sleep so your body can recharge.
  • Stay active: Move your body regularly to release natural mood-boosting chemicals.
  • Spend time in nature: Walk outside to calm your mind and feel grounded.

Connect With Yourself

  • Explore hobbies: Do things purely because you enjoy them, like reading, drawing, or listening to music.
  • Spend time alone: Learn what you like and get comfortable in your own company.
  • Help others: Perform small, random acts of kindness to bring joy to both yourself and those around you.

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The second one is from Gretchen Rubin.

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My current writing project is a book that will be called Better Than Before, about the most fascinating subject ever, the subject of habits. How do we make and break habits—really?

It was my interest in happiness that led me to the subject of habits, and of course, the study of habits is really the study of happiness. Habits are the invisible architecture of everyday life, and a significant element of happiness. If we have habits that work for us, we’re much more likely to be happy, healthy, productive, and creative. Or not.

When I talk to people about their happiness challenges, they often point to hurdles related to a habit they want to make or break.

Last week, I posted about the “Big Five,” the areas into which most people’s desired habits fall.

I asked for reader advice about two questions: had I overlooked any areas, and was there a better name than “Big Five”?

Thank you, readers! I got very helpful answers to both questions.

First: yes, indeed, I’d missed some important areas. Now I have seven areas.

Second: given the new number, a reader had a great idea for a snappy name: the Essential Seven.

Voila! The Essential Seven include…

1. Eat and drink more healthfully (give up sugar, eat more vegetables, drink less alcohol)

2. Exercise regularly

3. Save and spend wisely (save regularly, pay down debt, donate to worthy causes, make purchases that contribute to happiness or habits, pay taxes, stay current with expense reports)

4. Rest, relax, and enjoy (pursue a hobby instead of cruising the internet, enjoy the moment, stop checking email, get enough sleep, spend less time in the car, take time for myself)

5. Stop procrastinating, make consistent progress (practice an instrument, set aside two hours daily for uninterrupted work, learn a language, maintain a blog, keep a gratitude journal)

6. Simplify, clear, and organize (make the bed every day, file regularly, put keys away in the same place, recycle, give away unused clothing)

7. Engage more deeply—with other people, with God, with yourself, with the world (call family members, read the Bible every day, volunteer, spend time with friends, observe the Sabbath, spend time alone in nature)

Of course, the same habit might satisfy different needs for different people. For one person, yoga might be a form of exercise (#2), for someone else, a way to find mental rest (#4); for someone else, a spiritual practice (#7). And people value different habits. For one person, organized files might be a crucial tool for creativity; another person finds inspiration in random juxtapositions.

The argument I’ll make in Better Than Before is that when we change our habits, we change our lives. We can use decision-making to choose the habits we want to form, use willpower to get the habit started, then—and this is the best part—we can allow the extraordinary power of habit to take over. At that point, we’re free from the need to decide and the need to use willpower. We take our hands off the wheel of decision, and our foot off the gas of willpower, and rely on the cruise-control of habits. Mindfully, then mindlessly.

Before and after! It’s what we all crave.

So readers, what do you think of the Essential Seven—the name and the concepts themselves? I very much appreciate all the thoughtful comments that people posted. Very, very helpful.

I must say, it pleases me to have seven. I hate to quote Voldemort, but he was right when he observed, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, “Isn’t seven the most powerfully magic number?”

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So there we are.

Always room for improvement, no matter the age or the circumstances.

Stress, as in for dogs.

How us dog owners can tell if a dog is stressed and what to do about it.

This is another delightful article, prepared for me and the readers of this blog, by Penny Martin.

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How Dog Owners Can Spot Stress and Find Simple Ways to Feel Better

Busy dog parents balancing work, home, and a living creature’s needs often feel stressed without knowing what’s actually causing it. The core tension is that dog owner stressors can stack up quietly, pet care challenges, the emotional impact of dog ownership, and the daily responsibilities of dog owners, until even small issues feel heavy. Many people try to fix the feeling first, but the real relief starts with spotting the common stress triggers that keep showing up. Naming what’s draining the most makes it easier to feel steadier and more in control.

Calm Your Nervous System: 6 Everyday Stress Fixes

Once you’ve spotted your biggest dog-owner stress triggers (time crunch, money worry, behavior challenges, guilt, etc.), the goal is simple: lower the daily “background stress” with small moves you can actually repeat.

  1. Turn walks into stress-reduction exercise (without adding time): Keep your usual route, but add two “reset moments.” For 60 seconds, walk a little slower and drop your shoulders; then for 60 seconds, brisk-walk like you’re late. That quick contrast helps your body burn off stress chemistry and reminds your brain you’re safe and in control, especially helpful if your trigger is feeling rushed.
  2. Build one work-life boundary around dog care: Pick a single non-negotiable block that protects both you and your dog, like “no work messages during the first 15 minutes after the evening walk” or “lunch break happens outside with the dog.” This works because boundaries reduce the constant decision-making that keeps stress simmering. If you identified “always on” work as a trigger, start with the smallest boundary you can defend most days.
  3. Upgrade one meal for a steadier mood: Stress and diet can create a loop, when you’re frazzled, it’s easy to skip real food, then your energy crashes and everything feels harder. Choose one “anchor” meal (often breakfast) and add protein + fiber, like eggs and whole-grain toast, or yogurt with nuts and berries. Keep a simple backup for chaotic pet-care mornings so you don’t default to caffeine-only.
  4. Use a 2-minute deep breathing technique after a trigger event: When something spikes your stress, barking at the door, a messy accident, a tense email, try slow breathing: inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds, repeat for 10 rounds. Evidence linking slow-paced breathing with calmer “rest-and-digest” activity helps explain why this can feel like a volume knob for your nervous system. Pair it with a cue you’ll remember, like washing your hands after cleaning up.
  5. Practice a positive mindset that’s realistic (not forced): Do a quick “reframe + next step” script: name what’s hard, then name one controllable action. Example: “My dog’s reactivity is stressful… I can text my trainer and do a 3-minute pattern game before the next walk.” This is especially powerful if your trigger is guilt, because it shifts you from self-blame to problem-solving.
  6. Protect sleep hygiene with a dog-friendly bedtime plan: Decide on a consistent “dog last call” routine 30–45 minutes before lights out: water refresh, quick potty break, dim lights, then a calm settle. If your dog wakes you, keep the response boring and brief (no bright lights, no scrolling), so both of your brains learn nighttime isn’t playtime. Better sleep won’t erase stress, but it raises your capacity to handle it.

Explore 4 Alternative Stress-Relief Avenues You May Hear About

Once you’ve covered the basics, sleep, movement, breathing, and better daily boundaries, you might get curious about other stress-support options people talk about. Four alternative avenues you may hear about are:

  1. Meditation or mindfulness practices
  2. Ancient traditions like acupuncture
  3. Adaptogenic herbs like Ashwagandha
  4. Hemp-derived products like THCA diamonds

Simple Stress-Reset Habits You Can Repeat

Small habits matter because stress signals can be subtle in both people and dogs, and consistency makes them easier to notice and respond to. When you repeat a few simple routines, you build confidence, reduce guesswork, and create calmer days for the whole household.

Two-Minute Leash Check-In

  • What it is: Pause before walks and note posture, panting, and your own jaw tension.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: You spot stress early and choose a gentler pace.

Mindful Petting Reset

  • What it is: Use the ability to live each moment while slowly petting your dog.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: It shifts attention away from spiraling thoughts.

Three Micro-Moves

One Calm-Enrichment Swap

  • What it is: Replace one high-energy game with sniffing, licking, or a puzzle.
  • How often: 3 times weekly
  • Why it helps: Calmer activities help both of you downshift.

Weekly Recovery Plan

  • What it is: Pick one low-key outing and one true rest block.
  • How often: Weekly
  • Why it helps: Planning recovery prevents stress from stacking up.

Common Stress Questions Dog Owners Ask

Q: What if I’m too tired to do anything “extra” for stress?
A: Keep it tiny and tied to something you already do, like pausing before you clip the leash. Aim for one calming breath and one quick body scan of your dog’s face and posture. When you do less but do it consistently, it still counts.

Q: How can I tell if my dog is stressed or just excited?
A: Excitement usually looks loose and bouncy, and it settles once the fun starts. Stress often shows up as stiffness, tucked posture, lip licking, yawning, or scanning the environment. If you’re unsure, choose the gentler option: slow down, add distance, and reward calm.

Q: Can my dog’s behavior really affect my mental health?
A: Yes, it can, and you are not alone. Research links dog behavioural, health-related issues with poorer owner well-being, so feeling stretched makes sense. A practical next step is to pick one trigger to reduce this week, like avoiding crowded routes.

Q: What should I do when I miss a day and feel like I failed?
A: Treat it like brushing your teeth: you just restart at the next opportunity. Choose one “reset cue,” such as filling the water bowl, and do a 20-second calm check when you do it. Progress is built on returns, not perfection.

Q: Why doesn’t cuddling my dog always calm me down?
A: Comfort helps, but it is not a magic switch, especially if you are already overloaded. Many people rely on their pets, yet your body may still need sleep, food, or a quick movement break. Try pairing petting with slower breathing, then reassess what you need next.

Build Calm, Healthy Habits That Help You and Your Dog

Life with a dog can be joyful and still stressful, especially when the days are busy and emotions run high. The most reliable path isn’t doing everything perfectly, it’s using a steady, small-steps mindset to notice stress early and respond with simple, repeatable choices. Over time, that kind of stress management brings real benefits: a steadier mood for the owner, a more settled dog, and wellbeing reinforcement through small wins that keep stacking. Small, consistent care builds the calm both of you can feel.

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Penny has done brilliantly with the ablove article.

Here we have our small chihuahua-cross, Cloudy, and he is a very loveable dog. But he can be a rascal and Jean has more patience with Cloudy than I have.

But I recognise that Cloudy came from a nearby dog rescue centre and Cloudy is so delighted at being loved by Jean and me, and by Oliver.

Once again, well done Penny!

The Scottish Crannog Centre

Sustainable Thinking through Time and Place.

Recently I listened to a programme on BBC Radio 4 about sustainable building. Then I saw that this item had been posted as a pdf and it was available to be shared. Here it is.

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By using materials that compost and breakdown into compounds that ecosystems can handle, we are in essence relearning from the people of the Iron Age. Our imprint on the land around us should not adversely affect those that come after.

The Scottish Crannog Centre has always been rooted in experimental archaeology. Oakbank Crannog, which was located on Loch Tay was excavated in the 1980s. During the late 1990s, a one-to-one reconstruction of Oakbank Crannog was built, four miles downstream at the original Scottish Crannog Centre site. The preservation at Oakbank was extraordinary, with the anaerobic conditions allowing many artefacts that would normally decay to survive intact.

In 2018, the organisation became an accredited museum, a fundamental step towards the ambitious desire to become a sector leading museum. With this change came the appreciation that our responsibilities would become broader and wider; our guardianship of the collection for future generations would need to improve and the responsibility to engage with communities would become more important.

Our vision is to be a national treasure loved by all, with social justice at its heart. This acts as our North star and is our guiding light, as Figure 1 highlights. Our mission is to bring the story of the crannog dwellers to life, through the use of our collection and community engagement. Our values of compassion, curiosity and respect help us to carry out this mission. This is seen in our activism, where leadership runs right through the organisation, where the right person in the right place is able to make the decision. We also acknowledge that the abundance is on the outside, and it is only by having strong partnerships with other people, organisations, and communities that the Centre can bring the collections to life.

These changes paved the way and set the foundations for a redevelopment project. The small size of the existing site prevented expansion, and in the long term, the existing site was not sustainable. As a result, in June 2020, the Trust was successful in its application for Community Asset Transfer to buy a new site from Forestry Land Services. The site is located on the other side of the loch from the existing centre, a mile closer to the original Oakbank Crannog site. The proposals for the new centre, embedded within its social and environmental heritage, with co-curated displays and plans to create community-built crannogs, was so strong that the Trust was granted the land for the token sum of £1. This was followed by the securing of £2.3m of Scottish Government funding over two financial years for the delivery of the first phase of the development, supported by the vision of the Scottish Government that the Scottish Crannog Centre becomes a National Museum.

In June 2021, the iconic reconstruction of Oakbank Crannog was destroyed by fire. The outpouring of support from friends near and far was tremendous, and resulted in fundraising campaigns, offers of labour and raw materials, offers of professional services, and much more. Just as the people who lived in Oakbank Crannog 2500 years ago were almost surely grateful to be able to rebuild, we are thankful no one was hurt, we are thankful we have most of our belongings, and now we look forward to rebuilding a crannog once again. The fire meant that the move to the new Dalerb site had to be accelerated. The development was split into two phases and the first phase must now be fast-tracked. While the fire was devastating for all involved it gave us a unique opportunity to reassess our vision and look ahead to the future.

Our new aim is to become Scotland’s most sustainable museum, with a desire to move from sector leading to sector defining. We will do this by embracing the four areas of sustainability: economic, social, environmental, and human. These four areas have now been taken to the core of the Trust and incorporated into the four-branched model of the organisation. These branches are:

  1. A trusted Partner that organisations and individuals want to work alongside. A special Place people want to visit and support.
    2. A Place of choice to work and grow.
    3. A Place that belongs in, and cares for, its environment.

Each branch of the model does not represent a specific or single area of sustainability, even though some have a greater focus on a certain aspect. The branches entwine and combine with themselves to create a sustainable system that gives structure, whilst also allowing for flexibility. This also allows us to think both about short- and long-term sustainable goals as we move forward with our development plans. As we look to the future, sustainable thinking must become the norm. With the current climate emergency, there is a clear need for a change in the way we interact with our environment; but it also goes deeper and broader than that. It also must ensure that people are treated fairly, and they have the space to be who they are and are allowed to grow. To ensure that this is possible, financial stability must be considered but it should not be the sole driving factor in decision making.

We have already made some progress on our sustainable journey which is highlighted by:

  1. Becoming an accredited employer with the Real Living Wage Scotland initiative. Becoming a Disability Confident Employer and Leader.
  2. Implementing a digital-focused marketing system, shifting away from paper. Committing to the Young Person’s Guarantee framework.

Working with Universities through Interface, hosting 19 projects with students providing consultant work on going paperless with marketing, sustainable business models and branding.

Creation and delivery of an apprenticeship scheme, where young people can explore and gain experience of a wide range of crafts as well as learning life and career skills.

The new development will allow us to do more. Phase one of Dalerb will focus on moving the collection to its new home, expanding our capacity to deliver an exceptional visitor experience, and using the archaeological record to inform the construction of an Iron Age village, roundhouse, and crannog. With this move we have been able to consider the sustainable practices that the people from 2500 years ago would recognise themselves.

The museum’s ‘Ideas’ collection is a place that shows the skills and materials that will be needed in the construction of the Iron Age buildings. The way that the timbers that were used as uprights in Oakbank crannog show that there was a level of sophistication to their design, with the alder being placed in upside down to extend the life of the timbers. From this we can interpret that the people of Oakbank crannog had excellent woodworking skills. These skills would have been taught for each generation to be able to construct and maintain buildings of their own.

As part of our reconstruction, we will be emulating many of the same actions that the crannog dwellers of 2500 years would have practiced. The materials that we have source have come from as local as possible. The stone from Kenmore, the reed has come upriver from Errol and the timber from Drummond Hill.

We will also learn new skills and techniques while building that will use the resources to their fullest. Working with experts in thatching, dry-stone walling, and turf-roofing, we learn the skills needed to be able to repair and maintain the buildings. Alongside this our apprentices will also be developing their skills in green woodworking, allowing for that knowledge to carry on to a new generation.

We will also be engaging with communities during the construction, with 1000 fingerprints helping to create the new Centre . The Cross-Cut Co-op will be leading part of the build, a women’s woodworking co-operative. They will be working with volunteer groups from a variety of interests and backgrounds, helping to teach new skills and giving people the chance to try their hand at something new.

The nature of the materials that were used during the Iron Age do not survive well, outside of very specific conditions. This contrasts with modern day materials that take hundreds of years to degrade. By using materials that compost and breakdown into compounds that ecosystems can handle, we are in essence relearning from the people of the Iron Age. Our imprint on the land around us should not adversely affect those that come after.

Through all this work we still need to look towards the future and consider more ways that the Centre can embrace sustainable practices. With the skills that will have been developed from the build we will be able to teach more people how to thatch, stone-wall and work wood allowing these traditional skills to prosper.

We will also have the unique opportunity of producing our own resources for the site, with the creation of a coppice on Drummond Hill. This will give us a sustainable source of wood to use in the maintenance of the Iron Age structures. We will also start our own forest garden, using permaculture principles, that will allow us to supply our cafe with locally grown produce.

With all this we will also look at the more modern issues facing the museum. We will look at how to decarbonise transport links by working with partners, move towards a zero-waste site and explore the opportunities for the centre to generate its own electricity.

As a museum we are in the privileged position of inviting our visitors to see the belongings of the people who lived on the shores of Loch Tay 2500 years ago. When those visitors leave, we hope they gain an appreciation for not only the people but the skills and knowledge that they possessed. As we continue our sustainable journey, we will show everyone how sustainable ideas and practices can be incorporated into everyday life, allowing people to see sustainability in action and moving us all towards a fairer future.

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I appreciate that many people, especially those not born in the U.K., may find this article not of interest. Here are some pictures with more appearing on Sunday.

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Your pet’s milestones.

Another article from Penny.

These milestones would not be in place without us owners. For all pets, cats and dogs and birds, and more, do not think in terms of milestones.

However, our pets are so special to us humans that we create these special moments.

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How to Capture and Cherish Your Pet’s Special Milestones

For pet owners watching their companions move through different pet life stages, the days can blur faster than expected. The core tension is real: documenting pet milestones sounds meaningful, but pet memory keeping often slips between busy routines and the pressure to make every photo, note, or keepsake “perfect.” Yet the emotional value of pet moments shows up later, when a goofy habit fades or a first-time victory becomes a distant detail. Preserving pet memories turns everyday life into something that can be held onto.

Quick Summary: Pet Milestones Made Easy

  • Start by choosing a few essential pet milestones you want to remember and track.
  • Capture special moments with photos to preserve milestones in a simple, shareable way.
  • Record quick notes alongside memories to add context and meaning over time.
  • Keep small keepsakes from key moments to create lasting, tangible reminders.

Rescue Blurry Milestone Photos With AI Upscaling

Once you’ve decided which “firsts” you want to keep, the next challenge is making sure the photos look as special as the moment felt. AI image optimization tools can help rescue milestone shots that are dim, soft, or low-resolution by automatically improving lighting, sharpening tiny details (like whiskers and fur texture), reducing blur, and enriching colors for a clearer, more vibrant result. That’s especially helpful for those quick, imperfect captures, your pet’s first day home, first park trip, or first birthday, where you don’t get a redo.

An AI image upscaler takes this a step further by enhancing resolution and clarity so you can enlarge a favorite photo while still preserving detail and visual quality. If you want a simple starting point, the Adobe Firefly AI image upscaler feature is one way to create a print-ready version for albums, frames, and long-term saving. With your milestone images looking crisp, you’re ready to follow a straightforward process for documenting your pet’s life without overwhelm.

Build a Simple System to Capture Pet Milestones

This process helps you reliably capture your pet’s big moments and keep the memories easy to find later. It matters because when life gets busy, a simple system beats a perfect plan you never use.

  1. Pick your “must-capture” milestones
    Start with 6 to 10 moments you truly care about, such as first day home, first vet visit, first groom, first trip, and adoption anniversary. Keeping the list short prevents decision fatigue and makes it more likely you will follow through. Add one flexible category like “unexpected win” for funny or sweet surprises.
  2. Set up a one-glance reminder you will actually see
    Put key dates into a personalized calendar so upcoming milestones do not sneak past you. A year-round visual reminder also prompts you to capture seasonal favorites like the first sweater day or first beach trip. Choose one place to track dates, not three.
  3. Create a repeatable photo checklist for “firsts”
    When the moment happens, take three quick shots: a wide scene (context), a close-up (face details), and one with you or a family member (connection). Use natural window light when possible and keep the background simple so your pet stays the focus. This tiny checklist makes even rushed photos feel intentional.
  4. Log the memory and file it immediately
    Right after you take the photos, write one sentence in your notes app: what happened, the date, and one detail you do not want to forget. Then save everything into a single folder using the same naming style each time, such as “2026-07 First Park Trip.” This keeps your camera roll from becoming a scavenger hunt.
  5. Organize health records alongside the memories
    Choose one home for pet documents, such as a binder with tabs or a digital folder with subfolders for vaccines, meds, and receipts. After each visit, add a quick summary like weight, any new instructions, and the next due date. Pairing health notes with milestone photos gives you a fuller picture of your pet’s life story.

Habits That Make Pet Milestones Easy to Keep

Milestones are easiest to cherish when they become routine, not a once in a while project. These habits keep memory keeping light, repeatable, and realistic, even on busy weeks.

One-Minute Memory Note

  • What it is: Write one sentence: date, what happened, and one detail you loved.
  • How often: After any notable moment.
  • Why it helps: Tiny notes make photos meaningful years later.

Sunday “Sort and Label” Reset

  • What it is: Spend five minutes naming new photos and moving them into your pet folder.
  • How often: Weekly.
  • Why it helps: You avoid a giant camera roll backlog.

Window-Light Photo Habit

  • What it is: Take pictures near soft diffused lighting instead of harsh overhead bulbs.
  • How often: Whenever you photograph.
  • Why it helps: Your pet looks calmer and clearer in a less stressful light.

Monthly Keepsake Check-In

  • What it is: Add one favorite photo and one note to a monthly album page.
  • How often: Monthly.
  • Why it helps: A median of 59 days can turn effort into autopilot.

Start Small to Preserve Your Pet’s Milestones for Life

It’s easy to love your pet fiercely and still let the little moments slip by in the rush of everyday life. A gentle, routine-first mindset, tiny check-ins instead of big projects, keeps pet memory simple and sustainable while reflecting on the pet-owner bond. Over time, those small captures become a clear, comforting record of pet growth and milestones, valuing your pet’s life journey without pressure. Celebrate one tiny milestone today, and your pet’s story will take care of itself. Pick one small next step now: label a favorite photo, jot a two-line note, or record a quick moment. That’s how motivating pet milestone preservation turns into a steadier sense of connection that lasts well beyond the day.

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Once again Penny has written about looking after our pets, and she has set out some brilliant habits. I particularly like the monthly keepsake check-in, and starting small so that you do not end up not doing anything at all.

Our pets are so precious to us.

Nonsense on Stilts

The book by Massimo Pigliucci.

The subtitle of the book is “How to Tell Science from Bunk“

I am up to page 48 and I read something that is so obvious but had not occured to me before now. I have spoken to friends and they, too, had not realised this.

Namely, that the fact that “…. a variation on the old latitudinal hypothesis ….. explains a major causal factor explaining the rise of more successful civilizations in Euroasia, say, than in sub-Saharan Africa or on the American continent, is that Euroasia expands along an East-West axis.“

This East-West expansion provides greater opportunity for the invention of agriculture and the domestication of, say, the horse. Simply because feed crops are easier to grow owing to the smaller change in weather patterns. Unlike, the North-South expansion, where there is the problem of having to adjust to different weather towards the North or towards the South.

Here is the book from Amazon.

Version 1.0.0

It is a very interesting book.

The wildfire smoke

A useful article from The Conversation.

When I first read this article, I thought everyone will be aware, such is the awareness of wildfire smoke in so many places, and media.

Then I realised that this was wrong, and if only one or two people benefit from the advice then it should be republished. The original was on The Conversation.

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Yes, breathing wildfire smoke can harm your health – here’s what you can do to protect yourself

A woman rides a bike through city air tinted orange by wildfire smoke. Neither she nor a woman walking in the background is wearing a protective mask.
Heavy wildfire smoke from Canada’s forests turn skies orange in Toronto and across parts of the U.S. in July 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

Colleen E. Reid, University of Colorado Boulder

Wildfire smoke from fires burning in Canada and northern Minnesota has been pouring across the Great Lakes and northeastern U.S. states, turning skies an eerie shade of orange. In the West, smoke has also been spreading into communities in Colorado and neighboring states as more wildfires burn in hot, dry conditions in July 2026.

University of Colorado environmental health researcher Colleen Reid explains what’s in that smoke and why breathing it is a health concern everyone should be aware of.

What is in wildfire smoke?

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture that includes nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter. When homes or buildings also burn, they can release an even more toxic stew of chemicals from burning electronics, furniture, plastics, paints and much more.

What you see when you see a smoke plume or when the air is hazy with wildfire smoke are the tiny particles that are too small to fall to the ground right away with gravity.

These particles, which scientists call particulate matter, are very small – we measure them in microns. When you breathe them in, they can harm your health. The smaller the particles, the deeper they can get into your lungs and body.

Map shows heavy smoke and low air quality across the Great Lakes Region and into the Northeast
EPA air quality monitors show high risks from smoke in many parts of the Great Lakes and northeastern U.S. on July 15, 2026. Reds are considered very unhealthy levels. Purples are either extremely unhealthy for light purple or hazardous for areas in maroon. AirNow Fire and Smoke Map

You may have heard the term PM2.5. It means particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter, many times smaller than the width of a human hair. High concentrations of these particles in the air during wildfire smoke episodes are what trigger air quality alerts.

Has wildfire smoke been increasing recently, and why?

Yes, wildfires have become more frequent and more intense just in the past couple of decades, and when wildfires become more frequent and intense, so does the smoke.

Scientists have found that wildfires are becoming more frequent due to a variety of factors that include increases in fire weather – hot, dry, windy conditions that fuel the spread of fires due to climate change – as well as other natural and human factors. The reasons for the increases in wildfires vary in different parts of the world.

Other studies have found that wildfire smoke makes up an increasing portion of the PM2.5 in the air in the U.S., and in many areas it is offsetting the decreases in air pollution that the U.S. has gained through regulations of industrial and vehicle emissions under the Clean Air Act.

How could wildfire smoke affect my health?

Some effects of breathing wildfire smoke include shortness of breath, coughing, itchy or watery eyes, headaches, rashes and itchiness. But smoke can cause more serious harm. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that hospitalizations and emergency department visits for asthma and other respiratory diseases increase during wildfire smoke events.

After you breathe in the particles, they cause inflammation and oxidative stress, and they can move into the blood and spread throughout the body, affecting other organ systems.

People stand in a field as a smoke plume turns the sky orange and then dark.
The height of a smoke plume, like this one from Colorado’s Aspen Acres fire near Pueblo on July 1, 2026, affects the amount of particles and chemicals people on the ground are exposed to. But generally, if you can smell smoke, you’re breathing it in. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Breathing wildfire smoke has been associated with higher risk of preterm births and other issues during pregnancy, and potentially cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and strokes, although the evidence for these effects are more mixed.

The longer-term health effects of wildfire smoke are less clear, but it is a growing area of research.

Where can I learn more about wildfire smoke risks where I live?

The first thing to do to protect yourself from wildfire smoke is to know how bad the smoke is and how long it is going to last.

One great place to get information for where you live on current wildfire smoke is fire.airnow.gov. You can zoom in on the map to where you live and find color-coded circles reflecting data from both U.S. EPA air-quality monitors and PurpleAir sensors that people have put in their homes.

The colors show the level of PM2.5 at that location and suggest the associated health risk.

To find out how wildfire smoke is expected to change over time in North America, you can look at maps from FireSmoke Canada and the U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program.

What can I do to protect myself and my family from wildfire smoke?

First of all, depending on the level of the air quality index where you are, there are different recommendations. When wildfire smoke reaches unhealthy levels, stay indoors as much as possible, with doors and windows shut to keep the wildfire smoke out.

If you have an air cleaner, use it, but check the filter, as filters can fill up quickly. Similarly, check the filter on your home HVAC system and replace it if needed.

If you have to go outside, consider wearing a well-fitting N95, KN95 or KF94 mask. These masks can protect you from inhaling particles in the air around you. Looser masks, such as surgical masks, mostly protect others from what you breathe out instead. They do not have a tight seal around your mouth, and when you breathe in, the air with all of the particles can find its way around the sides of the mask.

Having a tight fit of the mask to your face is important so that when you breathe, the air is going through the mask and capturing the smoke particles rather than letting them into your body where they cause harm.

If your home is leaky and you can see haze inside, consider going to a public space, such as a library or mall, with a good HVAC system. Some municipalities have designated clean air spaces where anyone can go.

Colleen E. Reid, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Colorado Boulder

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Thank you, Colleen, and thank you The Conversation. Lots of good advice.

Better understanding of Dopamine

I had little idea about dopamine, and I suspect that I’m not the only person.

Luckily, there are a number of medical websites that describe the role of dopamine in some details.

First, a small part of an AI report based on information from HealthDirect

Dopamine is a critical neurotransmitter and hormone that acts as the brain’s chemical messenger, playing a central role in motivation, reward-motivated behavior, pleasure, and motor control.

Second, part of an explanation from Cleveland Clinic.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in your brain. It plays a role as a “reward center” and in many body functions, including memory, movement, motivation, mood, attention and more. High or low dopamine levels are associated with diseases including Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Third, Psychology Today reports.

Dopamine is known as the feel-good neurotransmitter—a chemical that ferries information between neurons. The brain releases it when we eat food that we crave or while we have sex, contributing to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction as part of the reward system. This important neurochemical boosts mood, motivation, and attention, and helps regulate movement, learning, and emotional responses.

How does dopamine make you feel? 

Dopamine causes you to want, desire, seek out, and search. It increases your general level of arousal and your goal-directed behavior. Dopamine makes you curious about ideas and fuels your search for information. Dopamine creates reward-seeking loops in the sense that people will repeat pleasurable behavior, from checking Instagram to taking drugs.

Swedish pharmacologist and neuroscientist Arvid Carlsson won the Nobel prize in 2000 for his research on dopamine, showing its importance in brain function. He helped show that the neurotransmitter is heavily involved in the motor system. When the brain fails to produce enough dopamine, it can result in Parkinson’s disease. The primary treatment for Parkinson’s disease is a drug called L-dopa, which spurs the production of dopamine.

Dopamine has also been implicated in schizophrenia and ADHD; the brain systems underlying these conditions (as well as substance abuse disorder) are complex. The activity of the dopamine system depends on the state of one’s dopamine receptors, and in people with these conditions, the chemical interacts with other factors in ways that have yet to be explained.

How does dopamine function in the brain? 

It is no exaggeration to say that dopamine makes us human. Beginning in infant development, dopamine levels are critical, and mental disabilities can arise if dopamine is not present in sufficient quantities. Dopamine is implicated in genetic conditions like congenital hypothyroidism. Dopamine deficiency is also implicated in other conditions such as Alzheimer’s, depressive disorders, binge-eating, addiction, and gambling.

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My darling Jean takes Carbidopa-Levodopa four times a day and has been doing so for many years.

As one can see from the above extracts, dopamine is incredibly important for the human brain.

Dopamine makes us human!