tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89268513226878629072011-08-03T22:20:32.321-06:00The Dark Ranger's RamblingsBy the 3rd millennium, the reckless use of light nearly vanquished the night. A formidable few rushed to defend the last sanctuaries of natural darkness.
From the national parks, armed with science, mythology and a love for all things nocturnal came warrior poets who pushed back against the light. They were called Dark Rangers, and no one knew their names. . .Kevin "The Dark Ranger" Poehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11299212941739842237noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8926851322687862907.post-61918461257926892822009-10-27T03:02:00.000-06:002009-10-27T03:02:28.700-06:00Light Pollution HELPSEVIL!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_16ThL1x56W0/SuZm3hC2RaI/AAAAAAAAABQ/L38imeTRhbY/s1600-h/Earth+%40+night+(small+jpg).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_16ThL1x56W0/SuZm3hC2RaI/AAAAAAAAABQ/L38imeTRhbY/s400/Earth+%40+night+(small+jpg).jpg" vr="true" /></a><br /></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This is your planet at night (if our whole globe was dark at once). All the light you see is either pointed up into space or so overly bright, that even when pointed downward, it still bounces back up into outer space. This unnecessary excess of artificial light is known as "Light Pollution." While this insidious menace comes from bad lights, it doesn’t necessarily come from bad people.<br /><br /></div>“So, good people of Earth!” We the Dark Rangers implore you, “PLEASE only buy, use, and tolerate night sky friendly lights.” <br /><br />All light fixtures without a shrouds, motion sensors, and mirrored interiors are bad lights! <br /><br />“Why?!” you ask?<br /><br />Between now, as we bring to a close the <a href="http://www.astronomy2009.org/">International Year of Astronomy</a>, and upcoming <a href="http://www.earthhour.org/">Earth Hour 2010</a> (March 27, 2010 at 16:30-17:30 local time), I will use this blog to thoroughly describe 9 irrefutable and compelling reasons why you might want to join us in a stand against light pollution. Best of all, these 9 reasons are all wrapped up in a tidy little pneumonic.<br /><br />Just remember, Light pollution HELPSEVIL! <br /><br />Because Light Pollution:<br />H ampers Astronomy <br />E rases Heritage<br />L oves Waste<br />P aradoxically Precludes Safety<br />S acrifices Health<br />E ndangers Species<br />V andalizes Beauty<br />I gnores Property Boundaries<br />L eads to Global Climate Change<br /><br />Using this blog in conjunction with masterfully animated and narrated powerpoint presentations available for download from my slideshare account, my colleagues (hopefully) and I will heighten awareness and empower action according to the following tentative schedule:<br /><br />INTRODUCTION<br />What is Darkness? (Oct. 25 – Oct. 31)<br />What is Light Pollution? (Nov. 1 – Nov. 7)<br />What Makes a Light “Night Sky Friendly” (Nov. 8 – Nov. 14)<br />Where Can I get “Night Sky Friendly” Lights (Nov. 15 – 21)<br /><br />THE PNEUMONIC<br />H amperes Astronomy (Nov. 22 – Dec. 5)<br />E rases Heritage (Dec. 6 – Dec. 19)<br />L oves Waste (Dec. 20 – Jan. 2)<br />P aradoxically Precludes Safety (Jan. 3 – Jan 16) <br />S acrifices Health (Jan. 17 – Jan. 30)<br />E ndangers Species (Jan. 31 – Feb. 13)<br />V andalizes Beauty (Feb. 14 – Feb. 27)<br />I gnores Private Property (Feb. 28 – March 13)<br />L eads to Global Climate Change (Mar. 14 – Mar. 27)<br /><br />CONCLUSION!<br />Earth Hour 2010! (March 27, 2010 @ 16:30-17:30 Local Time)<br />See The Dark Rangers LIVE @ <a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/astronomyprograms.htm">Bryce Canyon National Park</a> (Tues, Thurs, Sat: May-Oct.)<br /><br />Stay Tuned! <br />Care!<br />Learn!<br />Share!<br />Affect Great Change!<br /><br />-poe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8926851322687862907-6191846125792689282?l=iamthedarkranger.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Kevin "The Dark Ranger" Poehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11299212941739842237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8926851322687862907.post-87111729452180716112009-10-26T00:19:00.004-06:002009-10-26T21:18:16.042-06:00A little follow through goes a long way.... Hopefully?Over the past few years attendees to my geology and astronomy programs here at Bryce Canyon National Park have often asked me if I have a blog. Well, now I do! So thanks to all of those who gave me the motivation and let's hope it keeps going!<br /><br />Perhaps it is premature to state what this blog will be about, but I'm sure at the very least, it will include (whether readers want it to or not) lots of discussion about:<br /><br />- Astronomy, emphasis on Darkness Preservation<br />- Global Climate Change, emphasis on the evils of "King Coal"<br />- Geology/Earth History, emphasis on Global Climate Change<br />- MS PowerPoint tips<br />- Memorable moments in Interpretation<br />- Etc. (but doesn't water down themes or content too much)<br /><br />regards,<br />-poe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8926851322687862907-8711172945218071611?l=iamthedarkranger.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Kevin "The Dark Ranger" Poehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11299212941739842237noreply@blogger.com2