National Park Ranger: an American Icon, by Charles R. "Butch" Farabee Jr., is one of those one-topic history books I enjoy. The first parks, or rather forest reservations, were protected by the military. Come 1917, women were popular as nature guides, but it would be some years yet until they could become rangers. Early on, predators were routinely killed off, as many fires as possible were suppressed ... until it was understood that some of both were beneficial. (Sequoia trees need fire to germinate their seeds). Today's rangers work on the land, in the air, and even underwater. Duties include search and rescue missions; enforcing federal, state and local laws; (which might require weapons training); staffing information booths; fighting fires; putting shoes on a horse or mule; controlling avalanches; creating websites ... the list goes on and on (see pg 154). Lots of interesting information and wonderful photos! The one thing that hasn't changed ... the familiar 'flat' hat. :-)

Here's a book that came out some time ago, but still makes a lot of sense. Well, sort of! Doublespeak: From Revenue Enhancement to Terminal Living: How Government, Business, Advertisers, and Others Use Language to Deceive You, by William Lutz gives a history of, and examples of .... doublespeak. Ways to say something that, in many cases, say nothing. We are so used to it we probably don't really even it hear it anymore, but it would be wise to listen carefully. From the amusing (elevator operators were members of the vertical transportation corps) to the frightening (an explosion at a nuclear power plant is an energetic disassembly), this was a most engaging read. (To be honest, there were many times when, even after several readings, I thought "huh?") Doublespeak is not unique to the U.S., either, and there are interesting examples of such from around the world. I'm hoping the author has an update in the works.

Reading Hermit With Dog