Michael S. Gallegos

Amber Jaramillo and friends

Jim Bryden

Pam Buethe

Martha Watkins

What’s the word?

—J. PATTERSON
The weather around here has been a little out of the ordinary, so this month’s question is, “Do you think the weather is being affected by global warming, or is it just a load of you know what?” Here’s the word.

• Michael S. Gallegos, who was selling etched and stained glassware in front of the Placitas Mercantile, said: “Undoubtedly, the weather is being affected by global warming. I think we need to have responsibility in our quest for industrial progress. We’re not paying attention to the natural order of things, which is slow. What we are seeing now is a case of too rapid a rate of change for what naturally changes slowly. But then again, what’s natural? Mostly slow with some points of speed. But for us, it falls back on [the fact] that we have changed it all too quick, we’ve enjoyed a slow evolution; now we’re speeding it up. There is just no way for nature to take care of all the garbage and pollution naturally.”

• Amber Jaramillo, who was giving away free Weimaraner-cross puppies at the Placitas Mini-Mart, had this to say: “I don’t think the weather has anything to do with global warming. It just means, with luck, we will get a green summer.”

• Jim Bryden at the Placitas library had this to say: “I have no scientific evidence to support that global warming has anything to do with weather. If you suppose that weather is affected by temperature, then partially, I suppose. If you asked, ‘Is there any way to slow global warming down?’ I’d say, ‘If weather is affected by temperature, and global warming is affected by mankind, then mankind can perhaps slow down climate change; but it will take hundreds of years, according to scientific theories, to reverse the damage.’”

??? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????????? ????? ?????????? ? ????? ?it’s the normal cycle for the earth to heat up and cool down. We wouldn’t know because we weren’t there last time, so we can’t compare. We can’t say how drastic it will be, because we won’t be there to witness it next time.”

• Martha Watkins had this to say: “Yes, I think the weather is being affected. People using all the harmful chemicals and things are ruining the environment; it’s scary, you know. I try to use spray instead of aerosol, and I clean with vinegar and baking soda. I am doing my best to help keep the world clean for my grandkids, and I’m getting there.”

If you have an idea or question for “What’s the Word,” send it to: email@sandovalsignpost.com, or mail it to Signpost, P. O. Box 889, Placitas, NM 87043.