Jeff Crowl

Currently Team Lead of On-site contractors at IndyMac Bank for Lender Processing Services (though given the news, it's likely to be transitional)

Today’s Date: July 17, 2008

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

I spent years as a Boy Scout. I think the general closeness to nature over time ingrained in me an appreciation for its majesty.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Not really, but I always enjoyed time at my grandparent's home in the country.

Now? I'm not sure. I'm in Austin right now and everything's so transitional. Sorry. (Moving to Seattle soon)

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

Right now it's probably the cat ( I have one squirming on my lap right now). From our perspective, we domesticated them ages ago (as well as countless other species of plant and animal). Of course, from theirs, they made a few genetic changes to throw their lot in with us, and in exchange, we've made them terribly successful, genetically, spreading them and their genes around the world with our expansion. I think cats might just be one of the few species to still remember when that deal got struck. :)

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

Lots of them... Systemic issues in our own culture aside, I'm most concerned about toxins. Hawkin's Ecology of Commerce paints a pretty scary picture of dioxins and the like. Still, in the future, I have to jump on the bandwagon and say it's probably going to be climate change. Peak Oil might slow us down, but once we start liquefying coal to keep driving, I think we're cooked.

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Gah. First, do no harm...