Welcome to our weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column. To view responses on our previous topics click here.
Publisher reserves the right to edit responses for clarity and publish online and/or in our print publications.
Please let us know your thoughts!
This week’s Feedback Friday topic is:
Smoke on the Water
Fans of classic rock ‘n roll undoubtedly know the guitar riff by heart and chugging chorus of the 1972 Deep Purple hit song “Smoke on the Water.” The story and inspiration behind the song recalls the band, from the balcony of their hotel, observing heavy smoke rolling across Lake Geneva, Switzerland—the result of a raging fire burning down the nearby Montreux Casino. Deep Purple was at the lake to record what would become their crowning album, Machine Head. The song “Smoke on the Water” has earned many accolades in the 50-plus years since its recording.
That’s a sidebar music history lesson for you.
Sadly, the Chesapeake Bay region, much of the East Coast, and Canada for that matter, are experiencing an eerily familiar “Smoke on the Water” situation. Raging wildfires in Canada are sending down massive plumes of smoke to the U.S. In Canada, more than 2,300 wildfires—many of them uncontrollable—have burned about 9.4 million acres. Needless to say, it will be weeks to months before these fires are completely extinguished.
Locally, a visible haze began to appear as early as last week but has peaked within the last couple days. The haze became a noticeable smoke. From Wednesday evening into Thursday, the scent of this smoke increased. Outdoor events, from school celebrations/graduations to professional sports, have either shifted indoors or been postponed altogether. Lengthy exposure to the high levels of micro-particulates contained in wildfire smoke is harmful. Eyes, throat, and sinuses can be irritated, which makes breathing more challenging, leads to coughing, and poses even greater health risk to those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
It doesn’t help that our region is also experiencing a bit of a drought, with nary a drop of rain for the past seven to ten days.
What do you make of the wildfire situation? Is this the East Coast’s climate reckoning, as some suggest? The result of climate change leading to dryer conditions and, thus, an increase in wildfires of this magnitude?
Will you mask-up this weekend when doing outdoor activities, or stay indoors? Change your daily habits in any way because of this situation?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. Today’s responses—and all future Feedback Friday responses—will be published in our Monday newsletters after the weekend. AND, several responses from recent topics will appear in our upcoming print magazines!
