Day 72: Earth

Rock on, buddy.

Length of feather: 4"

Day 71: Air

For everyone dealing with the heat.

It makes me crazy every time I hear the recommendation that everyone stay inside in the air conditioning when it's this hot, since our reliance on carbon-footprint-heavy conveniences such as air conditioners is one of the reasons why global temperatures are shifting so rapidly. By cranking the AC we're making the long-term problems even worse. Am I just as much of a part of the problem as everyone else? Am I just as much of a hypocrite? Yes, of course I am. Living a modern lifestyle in the modern world makes us all sinners. We reap what we sow.

Length of feather: 4"

Day 70: Water

For Wade, who spent many evenings this spring standing over a Mississippi catfish pond with a shotgun to watch for poachers when he should have been catching up on much-needed sleep.

Length of feather: 4"

Day 69: Fire

Red is my favorite color, though I prefer a slightly darker, richer shade than this parrot feather. Perception of shades of color is a fascinating experience that is influenced by culture, physiology, psychology, context, experience, and so many other factors. Color is a 'quale' (plural 'qualia'). How red is this red? How hot is this particular hot? How painful is this particular pain? The answer is different for different individuals, in different times, and in different places. Qualia are difficult to articulate without the use of metaphor. They're difficult to remember accurately when the stimulus is removed (which is good). I find the concept of qualia fascinating.

Length of feather: 4"