FATHERS DAY / CLIMATE VIDEO

FATHERS DAY. Yes, I intentionally left of the apostrophe, since there is disagreement whether "father's day" (singular) or "fathers' day" (plural) is to be preferred. My choice is hopefully unambiguous -- a day celebrating all fathers, grandfathers, fathers-to-be, and significant males in the lives of children or young people. I've been all of the above, and am here to tell you that the experience of parenting is the most daunting and most rewarding of life's gifts. I was surprised to learn that so many countries around the world observe a day which recognizes "fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society." If you'd like a peek at the list of countries, click here. Cheers to us all.

If you are of a certain age, regardless of your gender or parental status, you may find this article of interest. "Gray hair is, along with premature balding, one of the greatest fears of image-conscious men and women everywhere, but it may soon be a thing of the past. Scientists at the Ito Lab at New York University's Langone Medical Center have identified the proteins that cause gray hair, which could lead to an eventual cure." I'm not certain that the word "cure" is appropriate, since gray hair is hardly a disease. (And there are many, myself included, who prefer the look of our naturally graying hair -- my feeling is that I earned every one of them.) Still, for those who would like a younger look and don't want to mess with hair coloring, this research offers hope of another path.

CLIMATE VIDEO. I know, I know, some feel that the topic has been beaten half to death. But it's not going away just because we ignore it -- quite the opposite. As the intro to The Most Powerful Climate Video You'll See All Week explains, "Bill McKibben published a must-read op-ed in The Washington Post last month about the connection between climate change and recent extreme weather events. Now Stephen Thompson has combined McKibben's words with striking footage of the events he's talking about." McKibben's commentary is factual and laced with a bit of dry irony, entirely in keeping with the head-in-the-sand stances of many policy makers and much of the public. I invite you to view the video, and see whether you find it persuasive.