Photosynthesis (the process plants use, in the presence of sunlight, to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates) is the basis for all life.

Can your life be summed up by the same ol' same ol', routine, every day without change? Although predictable and painless, (both good things) we gradually become more rigid, more set in our ways (not so good). But, change causes stress, and doctors tell us to avoid stress. Stress hinders digestion and circulation, increases blood pressure and confuses clear thinking. It's not healthy.

If you are a parent, you already know the first two years of life can set the stage for adult behavior and lifelong wellness. You know the benefits of nursing, the dangers associated with poor potty training, the need for a 20-to-1 ratio of positive to negative reinforcement, and how critical early nutrition can be. We all understand that attention to early development can mean survival in extreme cases, and lifetime health in most others.

If you have never used the roadside geology books (Mountain Press Publishing), you are missing some absorbing fun. The "Roadside Geology of Oregon" by David D. Alt and Donald W. Hyndman provides easy-to-understand interpretations for non-geologists of the geology along our major highways, including those in the Rogue Valley.

"When you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers; you know something about it; but when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind." I used Lord Kelvin's words in January's column about science, because measurement — unbiased measurement — is fundamental to science. However, having a measureable definition to work from is more than fundamental, it is essential.

We called them the lowlifes (mosses, fungi and lichens). We weren't trying to be derogatory; it was just that almost all the other organisms we were concerned about were bigger and taller. Trees and big furry animals, not surprisingly, got top billing. After all, it was "The Northwest Forest Plan" we were creating.

Size does matter. Have you ever tried to light a log without kindling? It is possible if the log is dry, but it will test your patience and match supply. The surface-area-to-mass ratio is a critical factor for ignition. The log has very little surface area for its weight when compared with the same mass shaved into tiny splinters. Ignition is facilitated because more of the wood's surface is exposed to both the heat and oxygen needed for combustion.

Have you been to Boise lately? I was stranded there in 1979 waiting for the fog to lift at the Portland airport. Back then, it felt like a small city, with fewer than half of today's 640,000 inhabitants. However, you can still find a bit of the small-town atmosphere. I'll come back to that.

Carrie Fisher told us that the problem with instant gratification is that it takes too long. We tend to seek instant relief, instant wealth (consider the wealth "invested" in gambling and the lottery), fast food, instant messaging and instant credit to instantly purchase stuff.

Even today, when asked what year I got my degree (any of them), I don't remember.