Ferro+Ferro

08/02/2026

Ahh, August
Or Ugh, August?

The month that quiets DMV Life, so many off to the sea or to see some mountains. Life here is still full of vexing, exhausting complications which preclude vacations, much less new video or getting this out in the first of the month, so here’s a travel-related re-run of slide show “field guides” to venomous vehicles tacked onto a 2026 themed intro.

06/03/2026

(Life can change in a flash as we found out this past week. Getting this post out on time became the least of my concerns, so pretend it went out Monday.)

Now see here!
Hard fought for rights are being systematically stripped away from anyone not in lockstep with obsolete “religious” ideas of what ’Murka should look like, act like, or be like.
If someone’s sexuality bothers you,
that’s a YOU problem.
Evolve.

Our focus is normally on saving the earth from our destructive, polluting ways. But if humanity can’t tolerate human differences, it certainly can’t cooperate to save our little blue ball.

05/14/2026

4—Mt Vernon Trail: The grandest of them all, 18 miles of paved trail (some on-street in Old Town Alexandria) with a multitude of connections to other trails and five of the six VA-DC Potomac crossing bridges. With the river virtually always in sight, and the Capital too for half the way, the views are monumental. Beyond access for commuting, rest stop and points of interest abound, like Roosevelt Island nature preserve, Ladybird Johnson Park, Gravely Point with landing jets directly overhead, Old Town Alexandria including the Torpedo Factory Arts Center, the Jones Point Lighthouse and zero boundary stone which defines the southern point of the DC diamond—and allows you to be in MD, VA, and DC with one step either way. The trail passes along various wetlands which are popular with birders. If you have time, cross over toward Maryland on the Wilson Bridge Bikeway with its stellar views upriver.A link to a “director’s cut” with video shot from the saddle is below, and few supporting pics follow in the comments. https://youtu.be/P6uGVpA-qbE

05/13/2026

05/12/2026

Pedal The DMV, Part 2
Circling over the top of the District, which someday will be much easier if/when connections are finished from the Cap Crescent, one can pedal down the east side from near Takoma Park down to Union Station. About 7 of it’s eventual 9ish miles are dedicated off-street trail, the north end is on signed streets for now.

Street, bike-lane, and Metro connections abound to get you where you need to be, plus art/sculpture installations and new urban parks enliven this greenway fenced from Metro and Amtrack tracks.

Fun Fact—The MBT also stands for the Metropolitan Brewery Trail, with five breweries on or adjacent to the trail!

05/01/2026

May Day
May Day
Day!
Walk out today!

Five monthly missives into 2026, brings us to this multi-meaning May 1. Sure it’s the spring celebration of maypole and flowerful femmes a’dancing but it was a celebratory start of summer planting long before Maia begat May. That renewal was connected to the Labor Movement in the late 1800s, particularly after horrible casualties when workers struck. Over 300,000 people walked out in 1886! Tragically, this and later strikes led to brutal Union-busting tactics. Today workers’ rights are still under attack but in more quiet and insidious ways

So what are YOU going to do to mark this critical May Day?
Maybe join the rebellion and skip work or school!
Maybe don’t buy ANYTHING.
Maybe join a march or bridge banner brigade?
Your EARTH mother Maia says take action!

Then join friends and wear flowers and make merry because you will deserve it!

BTW—Please be sustainable in your celebrations and all that you do this May.

04/22/2026

Happy EARTHday! So we sent a rocket (close) to the moon, reinforcing that humans are capable of incredible technological feats. Yay?

What if we put that much brainpower and $$$ into alternative energy, emissions reduction, and pollution mitigation here on earth?

And what if we celebrate those earth-saving achievements every Earth Day? Today could be as celebratory and newsworthy as, say, a sports championship win. Unlikely, yes, but what if YOU rallied folks and took action, then celebrated that with your community? Rep calling parties, litter picking, protesting…

What if you committed to one small (or large) planet positive act every day? Invest in a re-usable rather than a single-use something. Walk or bike rather than drive to an errand. Plan a meal or two to minimize take-out and trashing food and packaging. Eat less meat!

You do you.

Just do it, you!

Music: Millennium Sunset by zero-project - Earth via Internet Archive

04/01/2026

Sustainable April

The old saw says April showers bring May flowers, but these days, most flowers are fully blossomed in April these days and May gets more rain than April hereabouts. Meanwhile, wild swings of heat, drought and “hundred-year” storms have become the norm worldwide. Thanks, carbon emissions.

Apropos of the first full month of spring renewal, Earth Day made its first appearance in April of 1970. Earth Month came later—though we think it should be every month. How will you show your appreciation for this one and only little blue ball that gives us life?

Every food choice, every purchase (online or IRL), every drive, every yard maintenance choice, every heating and cooling decision has multiple extraction, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, reshipping, factors that worsen our air, water and land. Don’t be foolish, be planet positive in all your actions—every day!