Difficult Morning
Last night I had to shut the windows around suppertime due to smoky conditions. The smoke was still around this morning, so out the window went my hopes of getting something done today. My laundry tub is outside, obviously I can't do yard work and gardening, and it seemed foolish to worsen my congestion and sinus problems with grocery shopping in this filthy air.
This is definitely not coming from fires in The Everglades or The Big Cypress Preserve. The smoke comes and goes, then settles in for the night as it gets dark. The prevailing wind has been westerly, not southeasterly. I think it's coming from the burning of yard waste, but I really don't know...and I have no way of finding out what's going on. The only thing I can do is hunker down, turn on my air cleaning machines, and hope for the best.
At the risk of getting into a political discussion, I have to say that clean air and water should not be a political football to be used for partisan squabbling. The issue of a livable environment should transcend partisan politics and be an issue that people of all political persuasions can agree on.
To say that the scientists are all wrong, that pollution and global warming are not problems we need to deal with...I see that as taking a position that is undeniably anti-science. If we reject the whole notion of gathering objective knowledge and using it to inform our decisions, then where exactly would we be going? What kind of blindly conformist society would we be creating?
The regulations governing air pollution have been rendered null and void in my community, and I am coughing and choking with congestion. That's my reality, and it's not something I see as subject to political interpretation. When you can't go outside because the air is too polluted, that's not a good situation.
This is definitely not coming from fires in The Everglades or The Big Cypress Preserve. The smoke comes and goes, then settles in for the night as it gets dark. The prevailing wind has been westerly, not southeasterly. I think it's coming from the burning of yard waste, but I really don't know...and I have no way of finding out what's going on. The only thing I can do is hunker down, turn on my air cleaning machines, and hope for the best.
At the risk of getting into a political discussion, I have to say that clean air and water should not be a political football to be used for partisan squabbling. The issue of a livable environment should transcend partisan politics and be an issue that people of all political persuasions can agree on.
To say that the scientists are all wrong, that pollution and global warming are not problems we need to deal with...I see that as taking a position that is undeniably anti-science. If we reject the whole notion of gathering objective knowledge and using it to inform our decisions, then where exactly would we be going? What kind of blindly conformist society would we be creating?
The regulations governing air pollution have been rendered null and void in my community, and I am coughing and choking with congestion. That's my reality, and it's not something I see as subject to political interpretation. When you can't go outside because the air is too polluted, that's not a good situation.
Replies
this is so shocking, Richie, that you are having to put up with this. It sounds like the smog we used to have in London years and years ago. I am wondering whereabouts in Florida you live - bang go my feelings about Florida as amazing climatewise!! I am so sorry about this, Richie, and do very much wish this to go......but its bad enough with fires from these other two areas, isnt it, let alone this..:(....you take care as best you can....huggsxx KATX
Unbelieveable. An old car can\'t pass inspections because of the emissions but all that can be released into the air? Ridiculous. So you have no choice but to stay inside? Its not right. Hugs, Linda
Thanks for your support, Kat. I do feel isolated and alone here in my little enclave at times, and it helps a lot to have friends who also see the madness in what\'s going on around me.
I live in Southwest Florida, about four miles inland from the outer barrier islands along the coast.
It\'s 1300 Standard Time here now, and it\'s still a little smoky outside. The winds are calm, which I think is part of the problem...nothing to clear the air of its pollution. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
Years ago, we used to have a certain number of what the government called \"bad air days\" here. They seemed to have solved that problem. They no longer monitor air quality in Southwest Florida, and the EPA perpetually lists Southwest Florida\'s current air quality as \"excellent\" on their website.
Thanks for your comment, Linda. They live by the Golden Rule here...whoever has the most gold gets to make the rules...lol.
There are days when a haze covers the mountains and I can\'t see them from my house. Not often, but occasionally. Even out here in rural Idaho we deal with pollution. It\'s amazing to see those lists about air quality and see that small towns can have bad air.
carry on,
katy