By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 The current blitz of 17-year cicada publicity brings to mind the desire of journalists to explain and justify their stories. What research did they access? What…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 The tall trees on the stately lawn of my grandparents’ farmstead supplied unmatched opportunities for children to collect spent “dog day” cicada shells. This common cicada…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Recently my treasured wristwatch disappeared. It belonged to my father who passed to eternal life in 1999. I had claimed this watch as my own and…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Discovery Channel has broadcast the first of its newest nature blockbusters. North America highlights 110 different North American species with startling HD photography. Three years in…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Some people may suspect our post title, Heat Balances, suggests a discussion of heavier science than they prefer. The scientific dimension of the earth’s heat balances…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Each morning brings gifts from God in many facets. Our ability to become a non-professional atmospheric scientist while expending minimal time in formal preparation is one…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Personal preparation for this post included searching for written quotations concerning weather. One eye-catcher affirmed my belief that light conversational banter about weather often exceeds actual…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 When we credit God with creating all things or with designing our intricate climate system, we express a sense of worship or devotion. Our general understanding…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Readers across America may identify with several recent weather events in our region of the Midwest–northwest Illinois. For example, in the last two weeks my personal…
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Our recent coffee table book discussions proposed intelligent design as a requirement for the books’ subject matter. The personal appeal of the volumes displayed on our…