Mount Tahoma

I saw this view from the roof of a friend's place:


Mount Tahoma (Rainier) seen from Olympia, Washington, August 2011
view larger here

Flowers in Sunlight

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, August 2011

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

I am in Minnesota visiting family. Today I went to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Wirth Park. There was some tornado damage in the Northwest part of the park, but the Garden was thankfully spared the worst of the damage. Other parts of North Minneapolis were not so lucky, a pretty powerful tornado earlier this year did a lot of damage. Here are some photos from the park, in slideshow format and video (with audio) format:

Slideshow:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwhitlock/sets/72157627227371923/

Video with some sounds from the park:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHtsaTWNr6I

"Let Nature Be Your Teacher"

Flying

Earlier tonight I met with my book group. We read a book by Charlotte and Harriet Childress called Clueless at the Top. It's about different aspects of hierarchy in our socio-cultural system, and how people at the top of hierarchies have a tendency to take for granted the experiences of people who are lower in hierarchies. It is an interesting and relevant book, for example, in one chapter the authors discuss how judging and ranking can be socially harmful behaviors. I recommend the book to anyone who is interested in cultural studies, and/or making the world a better place.

Right now I am at the Seatac airport waiting to board a flight to go to Minneapolis. It's about midnight, so I definitely won't get a view like this!