Open Thread - Thurs 16 May 2024 - Fire, Fire - A Little 'Local' Climate News
Fire, Fire - A Little 'Local' Climate News
The weather is changing everywhere. It's no surprise, and we are all, unfortunately, affected. Last year was the hottest in recorded history; every month achieved a new high. This year is already breaking that new record and may continue to do so.
I was surprised, but not too surprised considering what it was like last year, to read that there are forest fires raging in Canada right now. When I was a kid and a young adult this basically never happened in May, at least that I can remember.
What's caused the fires? Well, in BC high winds brought down a tree onto electric lines, and there was lightning, and they have no idea what's caused the fires in Alberta. Experts say the causes of fires in Canada are usually either lightning or human related. And the experts admit climate change is part of that: 'Warming temperatures in particularly dry regions of Canada, like the north-west provinces, can make those areas "more vulnerable and likely to have fires occur"' (from the BBC article linked above).
Smoke and flames by the Okanogan Lake in northern BC, from this article on the BBC.
Here's a bit more from another article on the Beeb.
An update by Environment Canada this week predicted challenging weather conditions that could lead to another difficult wildfire season ahead.
Higher temperatures in the spring and summer could "exacerbate the risk and intensity of both natural and human-caused wildfires", officials said.
A warmer-than-normal winter that left little snow on the ground also compounded droughts in several regions.
It's dry here where I live right now and there is simply not enough snow pack to supply water for the summer; although maybe 2024 won't be quite as hot as 2023 was around here. On average, the snowpack in WA is 66% of normal right now. Near where I live, the Olympic Mountains have a much lower snowpack than that even. All the rivers and streams are running lower and warmer throughout the state. I can see that myself, the pond/lake that is on and near my farm is almost dry already. That's about a month too soon. We did not get enough rain through the winter and spring to keep it going.
WA state declared most of the state (but a tiny area including and around Seattle) in drought back in April. NOAA says many areas of WA state are in drought or abnormally dry, and yet in other states, like Texas, some of us are suffering from catastrophic floods, or tornadoes and awful storms. And that sucks!
Weird Music
Yes, this is weird and dark but at least it's not climate change! Dunno why, but I've been back into listening to Ghoultown lately. Yea, Gothabilly, it's a thing. Check out this song, 'Against a Crooked Sky':
And here's a little article about the song and it's meaning, just 'cuz.
Or how's about this one, which I LOVE: 'Walking Through the Desert with a Crow'. Maybe I love it because I really like crows and ravens 
Have fun riding across the skies and anywhere else you want! Thanks for reading and here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Happy Thursday!
Hope everyone is doing well, and the weather everywhere has settled down. Heh, if possible. We are gardening like mad, it's that time of year for here, weed, plant, weed, plant, weed, plant... Ohh look a strawberry! harvest, weed, plant..
Post whatever you are thinking about, weather predictions you might have, and anything else that's on your mind. Love to read it! And have a great upcoming weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
It looks like
we might be out of snow season now, other than a few scenic flakes here and there. If we do get a *real* snow now, it'll do insane amounts of tree damage, because even the late-leafing trees are fully leafed in. It is good to finally see spring sort of arrive.
We got about a foot on mother's day a few years ago, but that was before the current major warming really got going. Everything started leafing in at least 2-3 weeks early this year. I guess that it's the new normal. Gonna be in the 80s and dry tomorrow.
We're getting close to having double our normal precip for the year...
Meanwhile, the disassembly of the US's precious hegemony continues apace. Gonna be some bumps in the road ahead.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/brothers-forever-putin-xi-agree-d...
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Hope there's no 'real' snow now...
I want what's best for the trees! All our trees and plants like rhododendrons and such have been several weeks early in leafing out as well. But as long as they get some water once in a while, they are happy.
Putin and Xi, best friends forever (or until, whatever). I do think the dollar hegemony is dying. Might take a while, but maybe the world will be better and more balanced? Or... I dunno, I just don't know. Wonder if there will be a Euro hegemony someday?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hola, Sima. Our water year, to date is generally above normal
to seriously above normal versus same date and versus full year. There are some low points, but not too low and a couple that are suspect Of course, we had decades of drought preceeding the last couple of years so ...
Had a few days in the 80s earlier, but back into the low to mid 70s since. The neighborhood has been in the throes of a plague of gophers for months now, making gardening a pain. We have eliminated maybe 6 or so in our yard so far.
Today I'm a bi ahead of the curve because we're having leftovers for dinner, but there is still a ton of chores and fix-ups to do, plus a pharmacy run and an oil change. It never ends, as they say.
Interesting data points: a) Elenski has cancelled all of his foreign travel plans.
b) A huge chunk of the Rus government is off to China for a few days.
c) Biden is still Bidening, esp as to sending the ukies & israelis weapons and such
Whazzat tell ya?
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
The water is good...
if it helps get rid of the drought!
Yesterday, we got into the high 60's- very low 70s for temperature. Today, we hit 56 as a high! Back and forth it goes.
You've got a gopher plague? We've got a bunny plague. It shows what our dog, Jaska, did for us, in keeping the bunnies away. And what the cats, who are now basically too old to hunt bunnies, did. We are having to surround all our vegetable garden beds with chicken/rabbit wire! Never had to do that before.
Interesting data points. I guess Zelenski is seeing the writing on the wall. Wonder if Biden does?
Anyway, hope the daily chores went well and you are heading into a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Got a chuckle out of this one
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Like the petulant child he is ..
can't see the failure in the mirror
Zelensky blames ‘whole world’ for Ukraine’s failures in Kharkov
perhaps his failures were predicated by about 10 years of nazi
aggression? Shouldn't have poked the bear.
https://www.rt.com/russia/597745-zelensky-blames-whole-world/
thanks for the OT Sima!
truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security
Heh. Curious, do yoou subscribe to rt, and, if so,
how frequent and voluminous is their newsletter?
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
not a subscriber
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just click the site to see whatever they have up
it tends to update a couple times per day with lead
items, the rest sticks like eggs in a pan for weeks
just wondering if Exlensky and Nutty yahoo are in
competition for the loser of the year award
Brandon/Blinky/Nuland are fighting over third place
cheers!
truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security
Now added to my permanent tabs group, unauthorized
news sources group; Sputnik, RT, South China Morning Post, Asia Times. There are always these questionnaires and polls that pop up and include which of the following do you read, and, of course, none of these are there, and I mostly don't read stuff that is there.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
world news
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normal routine is RT, Sputnik, debt rattle, naked cap and venture out from there
can get a feel for what the MSM is feeding thru some, so avoid those spins
rains finally stopped after 2 days
wet enough
truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security
Loser of the Year Award
Hah! Maybe they'll tie for first
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Yea, that one was funny
and so damn foreseeable, Zelensky should have done so. Or maybe he has, doesn't he have houses all over, like in Italy and so on?
Thanks for dropping the link; hope your day was great and your weekend is gonna be awesome!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good afternoon, sima, et al!
I managed to get out of court and walk back to my office before the skies opened up for some (more) heavy rain.
It is at least possible the worst of the storm will hit just north of us.
I just got bitten by a mosquito, and with all the standing water everywhere, I might just wear a mosquito net and prevent lots of misery.
I am to the point where I will not initiate any discussion about climate change. I recall when the idea that fossil fuel emissions heated the globe was not particularly controversial. Well, those days of consensus are over. I do not want to start an argument, or cause myself to get a dressing down by anyone with a different point of view.
Oops, a walk in needs some help.
Thanks for the OT, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Glad the worst of the storm
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passed you to the north
though to talk with oil types
about emissions and stuff
the stench of refineries is bad
the area in south-east Texas where
there are several along the coast
the air stinks so bad
locals just put up with it
truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security
Yep.
But holier than thou scolding comes from the many folks who moved from their home state to settle in Texas, home of no state income tax. They will actually scold and shame locals for using plastic bags, and for not doing their proper recycling, and for not having fuel efficient autos.
Climate change vs. climate hoax arguments can and do often erupt. Nobody ever convinces the other side to change their minds.
That is why I avoid the subject as much as possible.
The Oil Patch is the industry where middle class workers can actually make extremely good wages.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Sounds like newcomers here in ...
the PacNW scolding oldtimers about woodstoves and fires. Bleh.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Port Arthur,
Beaumont...stinky. Filthy air.
Same can be said of Baytown and surround towns.
The rain was hard with winds for a couple of hours. The brunt of the storm missed us and went north and south. Houston, south of us, has a million people without electricity right now. Towers were blown over. A big mess.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
@on the cusp Hello, OTC. Is anyone
Hello, OTC. Is anyone here aware of the HAARP weather modification tech that has existed for decades? Or the cloud-seeding operations in the 1960's to create artificial droughts to kill sugar cane production in Cuba, as well as the swine flu that occurred then to wipe out a large portion of the pig population? When well-funded media campaigns push something with such obvious benefits to new industry I am skeptical, as I am of the MM Climate Change agenda. After C-19, how does anyone trust well-funded narratives? I believe plastic pollution is a far, far more real problem.
talking points are being given to the MSM
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for the benefit of the agendas which enrich a few
'well-funded' indicates bought and paid for opinions
don't buy it
truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security
I think some are aware. I certainly am.
I have run across some articles about the DOD creating a branch of the Army to manipulate weather to positive effect for our wars. A good example was Viet Nam, the documented implementation of drenching the Viet Cong in rain, or fires, to give out soldiers an advantage. Cool beans, huh? It worked well, according to archived military assessments made to Congress.
A couple of weeks ago, the stupid Google News things that pop up when I turn on my PC, some article was fretting about jeans. DO NOT WEAR JEANS. BAD FOR THE CLIMATE. I read it because I couldn't imagine wtf they were talking about. So, the process of harvesting and processing and making denim for a pair of jeans was as bad for the environment as setting an oil rig afire out in the Gulf of Mexico, or some such wild example.
Now, don't know about you, but as long as I do not change my weight, I can wear a pair of Levi's for decades. Everyone can. After I die, my 40 yr old jeans can be donated to Good Will for someone else to get a decade of wear. And yet, that is bad for the environment? Wear Rayon and Spandex? Plastics, in other words, the very thing we are trying to get rid of in oceans, rivers, and grocery store checkouts. Very contradictory, to say the least.
The spokespersons for climate change were once widely respected scientists. Now, the movement face is Greta. A child who, unfortunately, suffers from a disability, and who has no degree or scientific credentials.
There are reasons why a person on the street is scratching their heads, wondering if really is a hoax.
Time will prove one side to be right.
I think The Corbett Report video in my email is about HAARP. I may watch it tonight.
Take good care, BBC!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Glad you were not under all that rain!
Mosquitos are staring up here, which is early for them. I got bit on the leg yesterday while digging in the garden. Payment for an old lady (me) wearing shorts, I guess
Good for you for helping the walk in! Have a great weekend, and I hope the rains stop some!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I wound up
with 2 skeeter bits. They look like I have sustained an injury. Red, swollen, but itching has subsided.
More will come. Water is standing everywhere.
I only had to drive 2 miles in the heaviest of the rain, but I could not see more than 15 or so yards ahead, if that, and water washing across the road make staying in the lane difficult. A friend called as she was driving on an interstate about that time, and she said it was as dark as night, and she was very anxious that she couldn't get home.She had 20 miles to go. She did let me know she made it home safely.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Goultown
reminds me of the Tubes.
Thanks for the OT.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
The Tubes...
a truely great band. I never thought of Ghoultown and the Tubes as similar, but now I am and really enjoying that. Thanks for the inspiration, and for stopping by!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so