I do adore geography and recently my mother-in-law switched my annual gift subscription from Real Simple to National Geographic per my request. The articles about nature and culture and history and exploration bring out the wanderlust in my soul. Since I'm an armchair traveler of the world these days, I was so thrilled to see my first issue in yesterday's mail. The featured stories were all about migration, absolutely fascinating stuff.
Researchers even tried to entice migrating birds with food and discovered that nothing could pull them off course. Migrating species are so single-minded in their goal that they ignore hunger, thirst, rest, sex and all other primal urges until they arrive at their destination. Humans could take a page from that book. The number of migrating species, from rattlesnakes to penguins, is pretty astonishing.
I really think my dream job would be as a National Geographic writer, traveling to the ends of the earth, documenting everything I saw. Oh the adventure! Oh the excitement! I'd need a camera crew, of course, because photography has never been my gift... A tall, handsome, manly photographer who wears one of those cool vests with all the pockets...
Kind of like him:
I can see us now. Of course, I'd have to dye my hair blonde, but a small concession, right?
The whole family will enjoy my MIL's gift, Mr. T is studying ancient cultures in social studies and there was an article about the Aztecs. Mr. B loves his sharks and National Geographic always has articles about the ocean, this edition had a great picture of a sand tiger shark living off the coast of Japan. Mr. G enjoys anything with pictures and Mr. D even picked it up this morning to peruse. I shan't miss Real Simple one whit, besides, I was weary of reading about all the expensive, complicated ways to "make life simple" every month. I don't know who writes for that magazine, but a $300 purse and $500 sheath dress by New York designers (only available at the store) are out of my wardrobe budget for "Fall Basics Every Woman Should Have." I'm looking forward to the next year of National Geographic arriving at my door. In fact, I plan to keep all my past issues on my bookshelf, just like both of my grandparents were wont to do back in the day.
Speaking of the natural world and all the related conservation issues, my bloggy pal Nan over at Things I've Found in Pockets shared this the other day:
There is a new government in Trinidad and Tobago. They are doing their best to make changes to archaic laws, and of course, the largest interest groups are getting their voices heard. Please sign the petition to stop the slaughter of endangered species for the sale of wild meat.
Responsible hunting will help to save the rainforest. If you do not sign the petition, more rainforest will be destroyed so that masses of already endangered animals can be killed for profit. Please, help us to save our rainforest.
You do not have to be a Trini to sign. In fact, if foreign interest is shown, local government is likely to feel more pressure to act now.
Reader, I hope you'll take a moment and check out the petition and sign your name to it. It's a free and easy way to keep exotic and endangered species off the menus at fancy restaurants.
Before you go sign, spill it ,reader: What's your favorite thing to read about in a National Geographic?
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