Knowing your history gives you a tool for understanding change, especially big planetary and ecosystem changes. The San Francisco Bay Area is my home town, but I have to admit that I had only the fuzziest of ideas of what the Bay's landscape and wildlife looked like 12,000 years ago, during the last ice age.

I watched this short KQED documentary this weekend (it was recommended by our allies at Long Now), and was pleasantly transported outside the boundaries of our present day into a longer view of time.

I, myself, find maintaining that longer view however I can is critical to a healthy outlook in a time when so many of our decisions are monumental and long-lasting, and our moment is so unique.

Plus it's fun to see CGI of Columbian Mammoths running around California.

Please note that, while disagreement is fine, insults and abuse are not, and will result in the comment being deleted and a likely ban from commenting.