If you read this blog for tips on how to advance your practice, or protect your employer from surprises, or keep your job (which may be the same thing), stop reading. Today is for introspection and evaluation.
We went off this weekend to western Maryland to go camping. Two things struck us. The 15 Mile Creek Campground on the C&O Canal run by the National Park Service was closed. The sign said "Due to Emergency Conditions." We suppose it is an emergency when the richest nation in the world puts itself in a position where people have to consider whether it will default. A colleague described the Congress as a rudderless ship manned by fourth graders. We could find no points of disagreement. Our own view is: you pay the mortgage. Period.
The other point burned into our consciousness was the temperature: 88 degrees in October. We slept on top of the sleeping bag. We know that a hot night or two is indicative of nothing. Indeed, this was not even a record. But we are troubled by these anecdotal events, that in their totality match up with what the scientists are saying.
And as those two thoughts came together, we wondered about how they would play on SNL or with Jay Leno or Conan. "How are the government shutdown and climate change the same?" "They both will end." "How are they different?" "Only one will end in our lifetime."
We leave it to you to sort out which is which. If it helps, the last time the government shut down was in 1995-96; the last time carbon dioxide was at 400 ppm was 3 million years ago.
