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PONDERING CORE ESSENCE
NUMENON |
So much has changed since my Rhode Island youth. To the point, striped bass returned! While they never truly or totally disappeared, they were simply not part of my world. If they existed to any fishable extent in Rhode Island's waters during the late 1970's or early 1980's, nobody talked about them; at least not anybody I knew. I was introduced to stripers in Casco Bay, Maine in August of 2000. I've been fortunate to fish for them just about every season this Century, and I've probably caught close to 2,000 of them. Ninety-seven percent of these have been caught within a few hundred yards of our "float" at the end of our communal landing. I'm fortunate to have had this access, and I'm fortunate to have encountered so many fish on my intermittent trips. I love fishing there, but I have to admit, I've been frustrated by lack of consistent access to other striper grounds within the bay. Sometimes the fish aren't present in front of me. Even if I'm on fish from the float, perhaps the stripers would be bigger elsewhere? Perhaps they'd be more likely to take a topwater lure? Perhaps I could sabiki some macks and live-line them for some real bruisers? And if I were to hook a cow, perhaps I could chase it down instead of simply watching line melt off my reel? With the recent acquisition of the Maritime 148, I've taken some steps to remedy this frustration. And while I purchased this boat with plans for a long-term future on Casco Bay, I'll be honest; the boat is on the Cape, and I'm currently day-dreaming about black sea bass! It's probably been more than 40 years, but I have caught black sea bass in the past. On very occasional summer-time head-boat half-day trips from southern Rhode Island or Martha's Vineyard in the mid-to-late 1970's, the quarry was scup and sea bass. I caught both on the heavy tackle provided. I have specific memories of the take and dogged pull of a single, outstandingly nice scup, and I remember a particularly bounteous day with my father out of Martha's Vineyard. While I remember having caught sea bass, I haven't retained the specifics of any particular fish. I recall them as having been black, ugly and small; really nothing beyond that, and I know that these memories do not do them justice. Apparently, this species has been aggressively expanding to the north. While I remember them as small, summer fish and a subordinate, incidental by-catch to scup, their numbers and average size around Rhode Island Sound and Buzzards Bay have exploded! Moreover, they are available for a longer part of the season, and advances in tackle and tactics have made them a more sporting quarry. In short, black sea bass are now a "thing" for the southern New England saltwater fisherman. The peak of their availability in Buzzards Bay likely coincides with my ability to pick my new boat up; let's say mid-May. The bigger stripers and bluefish might not have arrived by then, and so it only makes sense that I am dreaming of black sea bass. I was wrong about them being ugly, too. The males, especially, are decorated with beautifully iridescent blue highlights, and they all feature interesting fins and filaments. They are heavily scaled and will make a fantastic subject for some gyotaku! I understand they taste very good, and I suspect they can pull just fine, especially if my bait or jig is presented on light spinning gear. If my timing is right, their seasonal abundance will provide lots of action. If my timing is really on, then they will provide a fun, day-time break from pursuing shy, shallow-water stripers during low-light periods. So, much has changed since my Rhode Island youth! It's kind of cool to be reminded that change is not necessarily a bad thing! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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The Michigan autumn nights have been getting longer, and that has just given me more time to daydream. Perhaps I was still stinging from getting shut out by the tuna on Cape Cod, or perhaps I was just reminiscing about my season. I was innocently poking around On the Water's classified section, and I'm sure that led me down a worm-hole as I looked for a perfect, seasonal saltwater boat for my occasional trips to New England. And then, there it was: www.atlanticboats.com/inventory/skiff/2016-maritime-skiff-14-series/ I've long been a fan of Maritime boats. There are several in the harbor in front of my position on Casco Bay in Maine, and there's a particular one that frequently comes and goes from our dock. It's a simple, stable and understated craft. I've spent too much time on their web site located at www.maritimeboats.com . They are self-proclaimed "Boats you can depend on!" and I strongly identify with the various advantages they seem to offer (safety, efficiency, ease of maintenance and reliability.) There might very well be a 23-foot Patriot in my long-term future. But this particular little boat, so simply laid out, and in a spacious tiller version with flat flooring, could possibly fit into my immediate (2019) future! This boat was located only a few miles from where I'd been fishing for tuna, just weeks before. I dispatched my local, nautical uncle to take a peek at her, and now, with everything having checked out, I own her! I'll pick her up in May or so, when the fish have arrived for the spring in Massachusetts' Buzzards Bay and vicinity. I'm sure she'll see Casco Bay next summer, and I hope to return to Woods Hole for 2019's Albie Chase. After that, who knows? But what is her name? Sweet Bilge, MC Maritime, Rain Bait, Salty Pup and Bonah for Tunah are the current leading contenders. I've got all winter to think about it. Maybe I'll know for sure when I finally meet her. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I am likely neither Thinker nor Writer enough to do this justice, but hey, this is for fun and exploration, and I might be the only person who would pull these lines of thought together. So here goes... 1) A decade before the publication of Stephen J. Gould's Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin (1996; see www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674061613 ), I was in graduate school studying population and community ecology. It wasn't quite the right time or place for me, and I'd really have been better off in an applied fisheries setting with tangible work products and meaning; or seriously tackling the ultimate, unifying thread of all biology, evolution by means of natural selection. At the time, Mr. Gould was on my reading list, in my thoughts and a frequent topic of discussion. His views of stochastic leaps in biological change (based in large part on the geological record) contrasted with more mainstream ideas of gradual change through accrual of small divergences. The rigorous, experimental demonstration of real change within a population on an ecological scale seemed elusive at the time, regardless. I also seemed unwilling or unable to hitch my reins to some folks who would ultimately become full-fledged, academic evolutionists. I ended up trading my academic pursuits for raising a family, making a living and chasing fish. But, I am still a biologist at heart, and I'm a pretty ardent reader. This past Christmas, I was gifted the above-referenced book, which I recently completed. The initial bonus of this book is that the author uses baseball statistics to illustrate the points of his arguments. Not only am I a fan of baseball and (mild versions of) sabremetrics, but these examples reminded me of the barriers to normal distributions of data. Many folks understand that many (most?) data sets representing a specific population "norm" are NOT distributed normally, but overlook the effect these skewed distributions have on certain summary statistics for the population. Specifically, the "mean" or "average" can be greatly affected by the intensity of skewness and the length of the distribution tail. Unfortunately, our typical way of assessing a trait is typically the "average" value, and maybe not thinking about it too much after that quick assessment. The real value of this book its that it emphasizes the importance of variation of a trait within the population. (Duh; The Spread referred to in the title?) Of course, this variation is requisite to any change through natural selection; but by emphasizing the power, directionality and limits of trait distribution within populations, a fuller appreciation of biological evolution (and especially a view more in line with the author's) can be achieved. On page 229 of my Three Rivers Press-published book, Gould summarizes that this "model does teach us to treasure variety for its own sake - ... and not from a lamentable failure of thought that accepts all beliefs on the absurd rational that disagreement must imply disrespect. Excellence is a range of differences, not a spot." Up to this point of my read, I'd enjoyed the book; but in my post-academic existence, I'd not really embraced it as having something especially meaningful to offer. But here it was clear, this is not just about biology (or sabremetrics!) This was offering a timely and importance set of messages:
Each of these bullets is a post or a blogging site or a career in themselves. Here, I'll leave them as simple fodder for future thought. Shortly thereafter, Gould concludes that it's a mistake to simplify and to "impose uniform mediocrity upon a former richness of excellence ... an understanding and defense of full ranges of natural reality might help us to stem the tide and preserve the rich raw material of any evolving system: variation itself." While he might be talking in a biological and conservation sense, this also applies to the continued, thriving existence of local eateries and small business (in the face of chains, giants and conglomerates.) It certainly applies to a healthy, functional workplace and bodies of governance, too. I'd argue that this is the spice to enjoying my fishing success, too. I cherish each fish and place for what it has offered, and by cross-pollenating ideas and techniques, sometimes I can enjoy quantum leaps in improvement my fishing and enjoyment of my time on the water. So, at the very least, "Cheers!" to the variation amongst us. More importantly, this variation provides the basis for potential future change and excellence. The importance of variation should not be overlooked. 2) As I was reading and mulling the topics above, I ran across this article in the New York Times, dated, 11/9/18 by guest author Greg Weiner: "Nancy Pelosi's First Order of Business Should be to Reclaim the Power of the House" www.nytimes.com/2018/11/09/opinion/sunday/nancy-pelosi-congress-midterms.html The accompanying byline - This is about much more than Trump - caught my eye. The ideas of disagreements and the slim possibilities of civil discourse surrounding these were at the forefront of my thoughts. The current, persistent violation of Bullet Three, above, bothers me a lot! Weiner argues, "Congress should be judged not by the volume of its output but by its representation of the public’s views and its defense of its institutional authority." My point of inclusion here is that the public's view is so much more than binary; and if folks are not in agreement, nobody is necessarily (totally) wrong. By stopping at the conclusions of right/wrong, in power/in opposition, righteous/unworthy, the discussion is over; and real action towards any solution(s) is unlikely. The range of excellence is ignored; and the available resources are not utilized. He continues: "The challenge now is for House Democrats to seize the reins of governance not because they are Democrats but because they are members of Congress — a branch of government that is more contemplative, less impulsive and more subtly reflective of the broad range (my emphasis) of perspectives in American politics than a presidency with which one either agrees or disagrees." His bottom line; "Congressional government is also better suited to overcoming our polarized politics because it better accommodates a range (again, my emphasis) of views." The purpose of his piece might be to remind Congress, as representing the varied will of the people, to stand up to the single-minded stances of any president. My goal would be at least to foster an environment where attractive alternatives can at least be discussed and vetted. 3) Meanwhile, a friend shared this TED Talk: The moral roots of liberals and conservatives - by Jonathan Haidt (and available at www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind ). I think Mr. Haidt's talk on cultural evolution and the development (and variety) of human morality is based on the twin, noble underpinnings of respect for the truth and a desire for a better future. In discussing how we got "here" and the ongoing tension between liberal and conservative beliefs, Haidt explains how a basic difference in general (innate?) tolerance to "openness to experience" can generate a spectrum of righteous, moral codes of thought when applied against his Five Universal Foundations of Human Morality:
Thirty thousand or more surveys from across the globe have made it clear that self-identified "liberal" thinkers value the Harm/Care and Fairness and Reciprocity concepts more highly than "conservative"-minded folks. Moreover, these same conservatives are more strongly influenced by the last three foundations. They prefer loyalty, order and predictability, even if at the cost of individual rights. Such a statement is not likely to sit well with a true liberal. These differences in values pose a real conflict! Each believes in his own "team's" line of thinking; each, righteously claims correctness. Either version of a team mentality will shut down continued thought or discussion. And yet we all probably recognize, to at least some degree, that the best paths forward to better futures involve all five foundations. Loyalty and authority can keep social entropy at bay, especially if acted upon with justice, fairness and respect. Care for others and allowing individuals to respectfully express their best traits can create a positive-sum outcome. There's no doubt that these five foundations coexist because they complement each other and allow for the expression of a variety of lifestyles and opportunity. All of these aspects are simultaneously necessary to achieve a high degree of human fulfillment, which should be our most demanding, shared endeavor. So there is no "right" and "wrong" way of thinking (within boundaries) about social issues, and we probably shouldn't be demanding a single (preferred) outcome unless we've really considered the alternatives. There are likely many productive approaches to a given problem; these should at least be subject to discussion. The "best" solutions are probably not at either end of the spectrum, but somewhere in the middle, ready to be negotiated. Haidt concludes with a Buddhist quote along the lines of this: "For" and "Against" are the mind's worst diseases. Strict adherence to these simple phrases paralyzes further thought. Paralyzed thought can foster these positions. There should be limits to how hard we pursue our ideals, and we should be open to the possibilities that others aren't necessarily wrong. They just have a different perspective; adopting their best could sometimes be useful! And their opposition adds value to our best ideas, if we can articulate them! 4) A lot of this came about while I was in Scandinavia for the first time. That trip (to Sweden and Denmark) gave me a lot of time to think, exposed me to new places and ways of doing things, and was, simply, better in every way (food, comfort, ease, interest, beauty) than I had expected. So, I appreciate the relaxed time to have done this reading and to have started these thoughts; but these are rich, successful countries that are doing things ... let's just say, differently. Congratulations to them; may we (at least try to) learn from them and the best of their ways; and it was an honor to visit and see for myself! 5) Back at work, I am tasked with estimating emissions of air pollutants. Sometimes this is easy and straightforward. Occasionally, it's even based on actual measurement! Quite often actual measurements are not available, but there are many other ways to estimate these emissions. Sometimes these methods of estimation are direct, sometimes they are parametric, and sometimes they are tangential, at best. These provide a wide variety of estimates; I know the reality is somewhere within the range they present. My job is to evaluate, learn, and hopefully improve the data set; policy decisions are (should be?) informed by such things. It can be a relief to embrace the concept that there are acceptable ranges, and that there is not necessarily a single, representative truth. It helps move the work along, and it provides a basis for reacting to a possible variety of outcomes. It enables meaningful conversation, it allows for the participation of others, and it lets lots of folks provide meaningful input. There's no one person/section/agency that can provide better information; these are truly collaborative efforts. Ultimately, the potential utility of the work is not based on any particular value (whether it signifies a troublesome trend, a threat or an improvement to be celebrated), but rather on the ranges of outcomes and their relative likelihood. Moreover, having evaluated options, processes and techniques, we likely have a fuller understanding of what the data might be telling us. That is the meaningful basis for subsequent conversation, planning and management. If not gratuitous, then perhaps, simply pointless. This morning on Yellowstone Lake stands out in my memory, and not because it was average or typical; but rather, because it was different from all other mornings. It was a single experience, within the range of all that I will experience. I'm glad I did not overlook this opportunity. I am not overly political, and I'd rather think, talk and write about fishing and fun. But I am a citizen and a father, and I aspire to a better future. That future should not necessarily be at the expense of others. That future should not be decided by only a few participants. In the meantime, I'll appreciate the variety and range of the fish I encounter and the experiences I collect. I'll try to recognize and appreciate the individual qualities of each. Furthermore, I'll try not to restrict these ways of thinking to my fish. I'll accept the help of anybody who can add value to my endeavors or help me make sense out of certain things! By the way, Gould's book ends beautifully. On page 230 he defers to Darwin, quoted from the Origin of Species. In honoring the simple variety of life and in contrasting it to the one-solution predictability of Newtonian physics or chemistry, Darwin admits; "There is grandeur in this view of life." I certainly agree! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways |
Steve LachanceVia Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Michigan and now, back to New England! Archives
June 2024
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