The Fishbowl Earth Project

As I sit in my climate-controlled home and contemplate the future, while sipping a delicious cup of coffee, the idea of human extinction doesn't seem very real.  I have full protection from the elements, including high winds, torrential downpours, frigid temperatures, and extreme heat.  In fact, if it gets too hot, I can turn my air conditioner. Until the power goes out. According to Wikipedia, scientists estimate that 99% of all the species of life that have existed on Earth have gone extinct.   That's over 5 billion species!  That means a whole lot of life has come and gone before we humans ever made a mark on the planet.  Scientists are concerned, however, about the current high rate of extinction, and some estimate that 50% of the existing plants and animals on the Earth right now may become extinct by the year 2100. Why is this happening?  Why are plants and animals going extinct so quickly?  It's because we humans are cutting down fore...

When I was a kid, my Dad carried around a big, white handkerchief.   It was usually in his pocket, so when he had to sneeze, he would pull it out, and ha-choo!   Sneeze accomplished, the square of cloth would go back in the pocket, until my Mom washed it, and then the cycle repeated itself.   Come to think of it, he had a stack of these hand kerchiefs.   I never got one.   Birthdays came and went, milestones were celebrated, I graduated from high school, but a handy hanky was never bestowed upon me.   Instead, I was relegated to using tissue when I had to sneeze, if I was lucky.   Otherwise… it was my hand or the wind. Ha-CHOO!   Ew, now I have to wash my hand. HA-Choo!   Sorry, huge crowd of people I happen to be standing in. HA-CHOO!   Almost made it to the box of tissues in the kitchen - sneezed on dinner instead. Fast forward to today: Everyone sneezes in their elbow!     What a practical...