Monthly Archives: February 2009

Biggest Storm of the Season? That’s It? C’mon now…

If this weekend's rain, totaling less than two inches in wet Upper Ojai, is the "biggest storm of the season" according to the Los Angeles Times, then we have problems. The prediction was for between one and three inches of rain. Hardly an awesome figure for a weekend. To date in the mountains of VenturaContinue reading “Biggest Storm of the Season? That’s It? C’mon now…”

Global Reality vs. George Will

Sunday in the Washington Post, in the news: The pace of global warming is likely to be much faster than recent predictions, because industrial greenhouse gas emissions have increased more quickly than expected and higher temperatures are triggering self-reinforcing feedback mechanisms in global ecosystems, scientists said Saturday. "We are basically looking now at a futureContinue reading “Global Reality vs. George Will”

The Melting in Antartica: Much Worse Than Predicted

Yale's potent Environment 360 site interviews a leading glaciologist, Richard Bindschadler, and hears some alarming news about the melt in the coastal Pine Island and Thwaites ice shelves…. e360: I know that the IPCC was saying maybe 1 ½ feet or a half-meter of sea level rise in the 21st century. Is it your opinionContinue reading “The Melting in Antartica: Much Worse Than Predicted”

The Romantic Museum of Great Russian Writers

On this Valentine's Day weekend, it's fitting to link to Geoff Manaugh, who likes to think about landscapes and the future, and comes up with an insanely romantic idea for a new museum. Begin with a relatively simple fact: Russian forensic scientists are testing blood samples found on a certain sofa where the great writerContinue reading “The Romantic Museum of Great Russian Writers”

“Information Wants to be Free”…

Apparently at the first Hackers' Convention, way back in l984, Stewart Brand declared that "Information wants to be free." It's a great phrase, unless you are a writer, a musician, an artist, or another "content provider," in which case the phrase is a ticket to poverty. The correct translation is, I believe, "people are freakingContinue reading ““Information Wants to be Free”…”

Climate Change and Drought: Quote of the Week

"Water will be the delivery mechanism of climate change in the West." (From Kathy Jacobs, who once managed water for the Tucson area, and until now headed up the Arizona Water Institute, which unfortunately is going down to budget cuts. Its work was backed by the outgoing governor Janet Napolitano: When she left to becomeContinue reading “Climate Change and Drought: Quote of the Week”

The Naked Woman and the Violin (cf. Nancy Rommelman)

At a recent panel about the woes of the press in an era of devastating change, the brilliant Tom Rosenstiel (the founder and director of the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism) related a parable he likes to tell about how to attract the public's attention. He contrasted two characters: a young woman who hadContinue reading “The Naked Woman and the Violin (cf. Nancy Rommelman)”

What Do Republicans Have Against Bicycles?

Earl Blumenthal, a Congressman from Oregon, writes a superb memo to the nation on the Huffington Post, about the GOP's all too successful attempt to strip funding for bicycle paths from the economic stimulus package. The whole post is worthy of your attention, but here's the gist: Republicans have once again demonstrated how out ofContinue reading “What Do Republicans Have Against Bicycles?”

Economic Stimulus Package: Good News for Yosemite?

At The Los Angeles Times, reporters specializing in science and the environment are becoming something of an endangered species. Before being purchased by real estate tycoon Sam Zell, the newspaper employed over a thousand editors and reporters; now it's about half that, according to the numbers meticulously compiled by the LA Observer. But it's stillContinue reading “Economic Stimulus Package: Good News for Yosemite?”