Last weekend with friends we went to the Sespe, in Ventura County’s backcountry wilderness. Much of the chaparral on the northern side of the river is gone (although regrowing from the roots), but even there, survivors remain, including this yucca, which lost many of its longer fronds, but now in its flowering looks virtually unscathed…
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
When the Cheney’s Away, the Congressmen Will Play
So argues a fascinating letter to Dan Froomkin’s hard-hitting White House Watch internet column. Noting that a group of eleven moderate Republicans went to tell Prez Bush that, gee, guess what, it’s not working in Iraq, and Republican voters have noticed, Mark Fox argues that it’s no coincidence the Congressmen went to see the PrezContinue reading “When the Cheney’s Away, the Congressmen Will Play”
Victims of Communism, victim of capitalism
No political cartoonist outrages right-wingers more than Ted Rall, but that’s because he has less than zero respect for militarism, which drives the so-called conservatives wild. Rall also has had the nerve to criticize victims and victims groups, and appear on right-wing talk shows, and be a member of Generation X. I don’t always agreeContinue reading “Victims of Communism, victim of capitalism”
Fire Threatens Island Tourist Town in SoCal
Yesterday a fire threatened Los Feliz, in Los Angeles, Today a fire threatens Avalon, on Catalina Island. The city is being evacuated. The fire began five miles east of the airport, which is on top of the island. This means the fire is moving quickly downhill towards the town, which is not typical fire behaviorContinue reading “Fire Threatens Island Tourist Town in SoCal”
Prediction Fulfilled: Murdoch, Fox Change Stance on Global Warming
As I predicted last December, FOX News, following its chairman Rupert Murdoch, has changed its stance on global warming. I expected that FOX would begin running disaster scenarios. That hasn’t happened–yet– but News Corporation has announced a plan to reduce emissions, and Murdoch all but promised disaster scenarios to come. In a speech to hisContinue reading “Prediction Fulfilled: Murdoch, Fox Change Stance on Global Warming”
Fire Season Begins Early in Southern California
A month ago, L.A. had a spectacular wildfire that burned on the north side of the Hollywood sign. Today the city sees a fire burning near on the eastern side of the famous sign, near the zoo, closer to downtown L.A., in Griffith Park. This picture from Chucks Chicken seems to me to get acrossContinue reading “Fire Season Begins Early in Southern California”
Arctic Sea Ice: Melting Faster Than Expected…or Faster Than the Northern Annular Mode?
This might sound like an overly-fine distinction, but climate scientist Christina Hulbe argues for The Left Coaster that part of what is happening in the Arctic is a long-standing oscillation of systems called the "northern annular mode," or NAM. This oscillation is not enough to account for arctic ice melting without the "anthropogenic signal" (globalContinue reading “Arctic Sea Ice: Melting Faster Than Expected…or Faster Than the Northern Annular Mode?”
Full Moon over Ojai
Nice pic by Raymond Powers, published last week in the popular Ojai Post.
Quote of the Day
"I want to send word to our American friends to tell them they can count on our friendship, which has been forged by the tragedies of history that we have confronted together. I want to tell them that France will always be at their side when they need her. But I also want to tellContinue reading “Quote of the Day”
Global Warming: NYTimes Editorial and LATimes News Disagree
The New York Times editorial board: the world’s most authoritative voice on climate change asserts that significant progress toward stabilizing and reducing global warming emissions can be achieved at a relatively low cost using known technologies. The Los Angeles Times front-page story: A United Nations panel on Friday released its most comprehensive strategy to avoidContinue reading “Global Warming: NYTimes Editorial and LATimes News Disagree”
Kit Stolz 