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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 5, 2021 7:27:34 GMT
In California we are suffering the hottest and driest summer on record. Check out the links. The town of Greenville was leveled tonight as the fires rage. Fortunately, the area was evacuated. This is just the beginning of fire season and most of California is very susceptible.
Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 5, 2021 11:07:04 GMT
Looks bad, Jim. Last week in New Hampshire, we had a day or two of extremely hazy skies from fires in Oregon, 2500 miles away! So yeah, big fires for sure.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 5, 2021 15:49:50 GMT
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Post by triitout on Aug 7, 2021 1:15:02 GMT
Jim, I feel for you guys out west. Just a totally apocalyptic video of Greenville. I really wonder about the future sustainability of these beautiful areas. Emotionally and practically, how do you feel safe and plan your future with this ever increasing threat? How do you reckon with that looming over your head? In my humble view, it all comes back to an un-naturally warming planet as a result of burning fossil fuels. The scientific community has spoken and has warned that we would begin seeing the effects. It's here. Like Brian, I experienced that one day of eery haze and you could actually smell the smoke along the coast of Long Island some 3000 miles from the source. As a species, do we have the ability to solve such a multifaceted political/social/economic/scientific problem? Fossil fuels without a doubt gave us leap forward and we can't live without them at this point. How do we rapidly do the pivot to renewable energy without throwing the world into even more chaos? History has shown we are good at fixing, one dimension, linear problems as they occur. This feels more like 3-D chess match with no instructions. Are we just going to get used to a bad thing and focus on repairing the damage or do we have the ability to truly figure out solutions that can actually be implemented? Time will tell. Cheers, Michael Edit: Europe is getting it as well. www.cnn.com/2021/08/06/world/gallery/europe-extreme-summer-weather-2021/index.html
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Post by franco on Aug 7, 2021 22:12:22 GMT
Jim, I feel for you guys out west. Just a totally apocalyptic video of Greenville. I really wonder about the future sustainability of these beautiful areas. Emotionally and practically, how do you feel safe and plan your future with this ever increasing threat? How do you reckon with that looming over your head? In my humble view, it all comes back to an un-naturally warming planet as a result of burning fossil fuels. The scientific community has spoken and has warned that we would begin seeing the effects. It's here. Like Brian, I experienced that one day of eery haze and you could actually smell the smoke along the coast of Long Island some 3000 miles from the source. As a species, do we have the ability to solve such a multifaceted political/social/economic/scientific problem? Fossil fuels without a doubt gave us leap forward and we can't live without them at this point. How do we rapidly do the pivot to renewable energy without throwing the world into even more chaos? History has shown we are good at fixing, one dimension, linear problems as they occur. This feels more like 3-D chess match with no instructions. Are we just going to get used to a bad thing and focus on repairing the damage or do we have the ability to truly figure out solutions that can actually be implemented? Time will tell. Cheers, Michael Edit: Europe is getting it as well. www.cnn.com/2021/08/06/world/gallery/europe-extreme-summer-weather-2021/index.htmlThat’s a great post Michael. Stay safe guys.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 8, 2021 4:56:19 GMT
Words cannot describe what these fires are like; one must see. This link shows our wildfire history. It is a normal part of the California ecosystem to have wildfires. Many factors have made them worse. Drought aggravated by climate change is a factor. Poor forest management is another. We allowed the development of an unnatural thick undergrowth. This causes very hot fires that destroy everything. Ironically this was brought on by fire prevention; we now let unpopulated areas burn, and have controlled burns to clear the undergrowth. In the north, we have a crumbling electrical infrastructure that can start a fire. Of course, compared to when I was a lad, we now have twice as many people (some 40 million) running around.
I think our peril is no worse than the tornadoes, hurricanes and floods found in other areas. How do we live with it? When it is hot, dry and windy, Edison shuts our power off. This is to prevent a downed power line from starting a fire and it lessens their liability. Like most of my neighbors, we have a generator that plugs into our house. So long as we can buy gas, we have power. Nearly everyone has one and I can't help but wonder if they are a greater threat than the power lines. In our area we have some, but not a great chance, for a wildfire to take our home; we do have a great possibility of being evacuated. There is only one way in and out of our valley. If a fire has even a remote chance of reaching us, they will clear us out. In the past, when fires have been near, they setup a forward base camp near to our house; it is considered a safe area. If a fire comes near, our homeowners insurance provides workers who seal vent holes, clear brush and so on. Many of our neighbors are firemen; they chose our neighborhood as it is relatively fire safe. Nevertheless, we are shopping for a motor home to use as an evacuation vehicle; just throw the dogs in and go. This would give us a place to stay. We think every hotel in the area would be full; we do not wish to spend several days on a cot, in a smelly school gym.
Be Safe Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 8, 2021 13:17:51 GMT
Are we just going to get used to a bad thing and focus on repairing the damage or do we have the ability to truly figure out solutions that can actually be implemented? Time will tell. Considering the chaotic response to COVID-19 and the fact that climate change is a more diffuse threat, I think you have your answer.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 8, 2021 15:09:00 GMT
Science fiction explores future societies. I can only wonder if we are heading towards a world like what is described in “Mockingjay” or perhaps “THX1138”. The world may even become something like “Mad Max". "The Expanse" is about as optimistic as I can get. I don’t think we will have zombies and vampires; except maybe in politics.
Be Safe and Wise Jim
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Post by triitout on Aug 8, 2021 15:28:22 GMT
I'm hopeful that there are enough younger, smarter, and more innovative folks out there who can imagine and implement a path forward. If capitalism is smart, it will focus on the long term opportunities presented to solve these long term problems as opposed to the next quarterly report. Jim, I love the RV idea....as long as you can fuel it Brian, I don't want to be right on this one. Stay safe, Michael
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 8, 2021 18:09:01 GMT
I'm hopeful that there are enough younger, smarter, and more innovative folks out there who can imagine and implement a path forward. Hopefully there are enough. I do know some self sufficient young folks who have skills and dream of improving things. Sadly, I also know many who are 30 something, without skills our work ethic, living in their parents basement, and waiting for someone or something to provide for them.
Be safe Jim
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Post by triitout on Aug 8, 2021 21:23:41 GMT
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 9, 2021 0:14:39 GMT
I love the idea; I hope that cost, resources and so on make it practical.
Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 9, 2021 11:40:10 GMT
Be sure to stay out of the high power microwave beam! Brian
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Post by cusqueno on Aug 9, 2021 12:36:45 GMT
UK papers (well, the Guardian) headlining with the latest IPCC report www.theguardian.com/ukMade me think what I want to do over the rest of my time - spend less time working and more enjoying life while it's still possible to do so, I think.
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Post by wheelson on Aug 9, 2021 14:16:29 GMT
UK papers (well, the Guardian) headlining with the latest IPCC report www.theguardian.com/ukMade me think what I want to do over the rest of my time - spend less time working and more enjoying life while it's still possible to do so, I think. Excellent thoughts! As I approach 73 years old, with many health issues, I’ve decided that I need to end my second career as a professional bike mechanic and start fixing and riding my own. My recent trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks has inspired me to enjoy more and fret less. I really admire the efforts of those parks in recycling, limited conveniences in the lodging (no air conditioning), and so forth. Almost zero litter seen in those parks is impressive. The state of climate change, natural or human-induced, is a concern of course, and we should do whatever we can without wrecking the world’s economic system (rendering mankind incapable of correcting anything). I find it somewhat amusing that the nuclear industry, once hated and despised, is now regarded favorably as it doesn’t contribute to atmospheric pollution. My engineer son is heavily involved with new safe designs and retrofitting older plants with the latest safety and control systems. Hearing him talk has given me a hugely increased respect for “safe” nuclear as part of the mix. In my humble opinion, a mix is the only viable answer as any single alternative cannot be achieved in the short term. Best, John “wheelson”
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Post by franco on Aug 9, 2021 15:16:43 GMT
UK papers (well, the Guardian) headlining with the latest IPCC report www.theguardian.com/ukMade me think what I want to do over the rest of my time - spend less time working and more enjoying life while it's still possible to do so, I think. I’m about in the same place was discussing this with Jem not long back. Working is still a necessity but I’ve cut my hours down to do more things, even simple things that make us happy. I’ll have a look at the article but I don’t tend to follow the MSM much as they all seem to have their own agenda to push.
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 9, 2021 16:22:53 GMT
Probably just my training, and my wife's, as geologists but saving the planet isn't necessary or possible. In one sense it will be fine no matter what we do to it. In another sense it is doomed just like the rest of the universe. The question is whether it can support, in the extreme short term, an exponentially increasing population that desires an exponentially increasing standard of living. That answer seems pretty easy, so something has to give. That will create a lot of human strife that will probably be very ugly.
John, your comment about air conditioning struck a chord. As a tiny, crazy data point, here in the Boston area I would say a vast majority of people would consider themselves on the side of wanting more done about environmental issues. Then I constantly see those same people putting up enormous houses with central air conditioning, or converting existing homes to some type of full house air conditioning. This is Massachusetts, where there might be 5 days a year above 90F, and as far as I can tell every house has windows that open and close. I admit to having a room air conditioner in one room but we haven't used it yet this year. It seems silly to wish for warm weather 8 months out of the year and then live in a refrigerator all summer.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 26, 2021 19:04:18 GMT
It turns out, some to many of our wildfires are arson. This from up north
and this nearer to home.
Such sick behavior stuns me.
Rant Finished Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 26, 2021 22:01:26 GMT
Yeah, pretty bad. Brian
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vfrman
Viscount
hi-13 lamberts[2 gold, 1 reg harris] 3 10 speeds
Posts: 33
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Post by vfrman on Aug 26, 2021 23:18:11 GMT
my favorite apocolyptic movie is " a boy and his dog" [with Don Johnson]....get yours now, [on dvd or vhs]..
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Jem
Viscount
?
Posts: 3,390
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Post by Jem on Aug 27, 2021 16:03:02 GMT
Only just caught up on this thread. Some really interesting comments and views expressed and some good reading in those links.
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Post by franco on Aug 27, 2021 22:50:50 GMT
It turns out, some to many of our wildfires are arson. This from up north
and this nearer to home.
Such sick behavior stuns me.
Rant Finished Jim
It beggars belief. Im at the conclusion that the world has gone mad at the moment. So much crazy stuff going on.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 28, 2021 17:42:44 GMT
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 28, 2021 21:00:08 GMT
A fair penalty would be hard labor just until he has the mess cleaned up,
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 31, 2021 14:31:45 GMT
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