A lot has happened since the last issue of this newsletter, much of it I’m characterizing as dystopian. The biggest current event was Irma, one of the most powerful and widespread hurricanes to be measured in the Atlantic basin. Fortunately, this part of the state was spared the worst of the winds, once the track moved inland, enough to put Gainesville and environs out of the “dirty quarter,” on the storm’s most dangerous northeast quadrant.
This move also meant that one of the most populous and vulnerable regions in Florida (Tampa, St. Peterburg) avoided a direct hit. An intriguing image of the storm showed Tampa Bay literally being sucked dry during the event, stranding some iconic manatees near Sarasota, Florida in the bargain.
On the heels of this, another monster, Maria, devastated Puerto Rico. Other topics here include events around the play entitled 1984, and screening of Ken Burns The Vietnam War. Also it includes a review of a popular New Zealand podcast (Kiwimana), and events surrounding honey bee research funding/structure and beekeeping nutrition. See the full post here.
