So, I guess forest fires are a thing for me now. I’ve experienced thunderstorms in North Carolina, hurricanes in Florida, earthquakes (and terrorist attacks) in Manhattan, dengue fever in Brazil…and now orange sky from fires burning in Canada, Washington and Oregon. The amount of soot and debris that collected on my vehicle left this first-timer amazed.
This is a no-filter photo I took from my front yard with my aging iPhone 8. The Air Quality Index was a mind-boggling 224, which translates to “Very Unhealthy.” Because I’ve always been a “touch-the-stove-to-see-if-it’s-hot” kind of guy, I went outside to breathe the neighborly Canadian ash. I can personally attest that it is indeed…very unhealthy.
With all the political smokescreens in the news1, it was almost refreshing to witness an actual smokescreen. I mean—not really, but—well, you know. Regardless of your politics or the orange gradient of your intellect, it’s becoming hard to deny climate change. Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
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- “Headlines from the New York Times for Friday, Sep. 11, 2020.” The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/issue/todaysheadlines/2020/09/11/todays-headlines#politics. Accessed 12 September 2020. ↩︎
