I saw my neighbor mowing his lawn today.

[progressoid]

In Iowa.

In January.



I, like many, have been pretty good at pretending that we (humanity) would be able to take action against global warming. But I'm not so sure anymore.

[MADem]

1. Was he mowing, or mulching that big old pile of leaves he never raked? nt

[progressoid]

3. Not sure.

Either way, its not something we do in January in Iowa. It was 61 degrees today.

[customerserviceguy]

10. Damn

That's going to screw with the maple syrup production in Iowa. Yes, they do produce small amounts there.

It's my friends in upstate NY and New England that are really worried about this, though.

[jwirr]

18. Not just the maple syrup. Tulips will be up any day now as will a lot of other perennials that

should stay dormant.

[MADem]

19. It's snowless in New England too, except way up in Maine.

It's been many decades since we've had a winter like this.

I am not minding it, though--I have had too much crap going on in my life lately, obligations have been pulling me in a dozen directions, I've been on the road way more than I normally am, and this unseasonal weather is a bonus for me this year as I'm not constrained by crappy weather.

[snooper2]

29. or scalping ( little late for that but still fine I guess :) )

[Speck Tater]

2. To hope that mankind as a whole will act in concert to address the problem is

in the same category as unicorns and Santa Claus. Things that would be really neat if they were true, but they aren't.

Even if global warming doesn't bring about the extinction of the human race, as both nanotechnology and biotechnology become more and more accessible it becomes easier and easier for a single deranged individual, or a small but dedicated group of deranged individuals to bring about the extinction of the human race on purpose. And as Murhpy's Law states, anything that can go wrong, will. In other words, regardless of whether we address global warming or not the human race is still doomed to extinction.

[Jamastiene]

4. I heard one neighbor crank up his lawn mower on January 1st, 2012.

He used it too. He mowed the yard on New Year's Day. I looked out the window at my yard and saw a few sprigs of wild onions and other various winter growing stuff, but nothing to crank up the mower about. Then again, this one neighbor in question mows the grass obsessively and there is never a damn blade of grass that gets over 2 inches long in his yard, ever. Not a leaf or a stick escapes his eagle vision eyes. His lawn is absolutely perfect.

I don't get it; the lawn thing.

I don't mow until I see larger sized animals. Just the rabbits sitting in 6 inch tall grass? I don't care. I mow just enough to keep the wisteria from wrapping around my neck one night while I sleep and killing me.

Over two thirds of my property is pure out and out jungle and the wildlife loves it. I love it too. That's less for me to have to mow and provides hours of entertainment watching the critters play in the jungle. Plus, they have a place to go live when other people mow every inch of their acreage. If I had the money to do it, I would buy the woods behind my property too, and leave them alone as woods. It doesn't hurt anyone.

I have plenty of cool areas and shade when it is 95+ degrees all summer long. Plus, the jungle area behind my place is beginning to behave like a rainforest. We are in a moderate drought in my area, but I never have to water what little lawn I actually do keep cut (on occasion). It gets moisture naturally from the other 2/3 of the property that is wild and the wild area is always flourishing. I love it!

[Shankapotomus]

8. You're good for the critters

More good karma for you.

[MADem]

22. You live next door to Hank Hill, then?

[MattBaggins]

5. Just last week a friend told me had seen a special that global warming

was made up just to fleece people.

I also at least once a week hear someone claim that last winter was a record breaking cold one which is a patently false claim.

[progressoid]

7. Was that special on Fox?

I often hear the "this is just a warm cycle" excuse.

I'm not sure what it will take to wake people up.

[MattBaggins]

11. Who knows what special it was.

Sometimes you have to express disbelief but go with the flow. You know that fine line where you become the preachy guy and they tune you out anyway. Friend is a blue color heating/ac guy and if I start using words like Milankovich Cycle he is going to get glossy eyed.

Probably some BS internet video he saw.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Say it in the form of a blues riff:

I saw my neighbor this mornin'
He was mowin' up his lawn.
Did I mention we're in Iowa?
This fine January morn'...what rhymes with 'lawn'?
Got those, global warmin' bluuz...

[progressoid]

9. Well that make me feel better.

What key is it in?

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Same as the artist's name, "Be Flat".

[Gregorian]

12. Haha.

A thing of beauty. About a sad subject. What the hell...

[jwirr]

20. This fine January dawn...

[Fire Walk With Me]

23. Between the two of us, we form together, a single blues man!

[Frustratedlady]

13. I have perennials that are 4" high. There are several that hve been growing for the last couple wks

[Odin2005]

15. it was 50F in Fargo.

This is getting scary.

[Mariana]

30. You probably should water them.

If they're dry when it does get cold, it'll stress them badly.

[Louisiana1976]

17. It was 50F in central IL today.

According to the forecast we'll be getting snow Wed. night and Thurs. but I'll believe it when I see it.

[jwirr]

21. 45 degrees in Duluth MN area.

[Sabriel]

24. My Swiss chard is coming up again

In Appleton, WI.

We haven't shoveled yet, and the kids' boots are still in the closet.

I'm not complaining.

[cyberswede]

25. I noticed today that the grass looks very green.

I'm in Iowa, too. Will the grass actually die when it finally gets really cold? Eek.

[pintobean]

26. My pin oaks drop leaves all winter long.

When we have nice days, I use the lawn mower to vacuum and mulch them.

[progressoid]

27. Yeah, we have three of those pin oaks too.

Leaves drop until spring.

Typically, I use the lawn mower for that too. But never in January. If this keeps up, maybe I'll put the battery back in the mower and do the same as my neighbor too!

[bhcodem]

28. Public golf courses

reopened in Waterloo last Friday.