Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Oso
Oso - they have a one-of-a-kind mix of rock and folk, check out their songs here: http://www.myspace.com/thebandoso
Starfish low tide
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
View from the Office
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| From Santa Barbara '09 |
Hard-to-beat view at the Coastal EcoVentures office, for the Spring quarter. I can see the latest campus point conditions, and if I peer around the corner, I can just see the Black Pearl bobbing happily in the anchorage, and right below, the joggers running along the bluff.
Too many people have beautiful views but keep the shades drawn because of the glare on the computer screen. The trick with windows and computers - keep them at 90 degrees from one another. Or perhaps it's just lucky orientation...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Marine Layer dampens the fire
Funny story from a couple who were evacuated from their Painted Cave home.
I talked to them as they were hanging out in their rusty RV by the beach - said they're having a grand time (they're lucky to have a "mobile home" to escape to!). So the story is, they were at the full moon drum circle night before last, and asked the blind guy who does "divining" to bring in the marine layer and dampen the fire.
"What direction do you want the wind to come from?" the blind guy asked, and they responded, "No wind, just calm, damp air!" "Ah, ok." A few hours later, at 2am some cool moisture was felt in the breeze - "It arrived! The marine layer is here!" like some VIP guest to a classy dinner. Ironic enough, as most people detest the foggy grey layer that pervades Santa Barbara in the summer mornings; but everyone is welcoming it now. What would be of light if there was no dark??
"Yeah we went back to check on our house last night, there's parts of the freeway like a lunar landscape, just charred" the RV friend mentioned. I remember from Applied Ecology: big infrequent fires are catastrophic to the ecosystem, but small regular fires are actually great for biodiversity. "The Chumash used to do controlled burns all over the mountains, to protect the oaks from fungus, and get rid of underbrush so the medicinal plants can grow - and keep big fires like this from happening." Do we need a different approach, controlled burns instead of just one mantra, prevention? Can people handle that?
Well, the marine layer is here, thanks to the diviner, and the fire is now 40% contained, after burning ~80 homes, and costing $7MM. The blind guy should have been summoned earlier....
I talked to them as they were hanging out in their rusty RV by the beach - said they're having a grand time (they're lucky to have a "mobile home" to escape to!). So the story is, they were at the full moon drum circle night before last, and asked the blind guy who does "divining" to bring in the marine layer and dampen the fire.
"What direction do you want the wind to come from?" the blind guy asked, and they responded, "No wind, just calm, damp air!" "Ah, ok." A few hours later, at 2am some cool moisture was felt in the breeze - "It arrived! The marine layer is here!" like some VIP guest to a classy dinner. Ironic enough, as most people detest the foggy grey layer that pervades Santa Barbara in the summer mornings; but everyone is welcoming it now. What would be of light if there was no dark??
"Yeah we went back to check on our house last night, there's parts of the freeway like a lunar landscape, just charred" the RV friend mentioned. I remember from Applied Ecology: big infrequent fires are catastrophic to the ecosystem, but small regular fires are actually great for biodiversity. "The Chumash used to do controlled burns all over the mountains, to protect the oaks from fungus, and get rid of underbrush so the medicinal plants can grow - and keep big fires like this from happening." Do we need a different approach, controlled burns instead of just one mantra, prevention? Can people handle that?
Well, the marine layer is here, thanks to the diviner, and the fire is now 40% contained, after burning ~80 homes, and costing $7MM. The blind guy should have been summoned earlier....
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Ash on Water
Ash fell like snow Thursday night, after the Jesusita brought another evening of mayhem, and created dark swirls on the sea surface.
Last year, several months after the Zaca fire in the backcountry, a big wind kicked up the ash and deposited it on the coast - everyone thought there was another wildfire. But nay, it was just wind-blown ash from the last one.
The many lasting effects of fire: on hydrology (flooding), sedimentation (erosion), soil (nutrients) - which is one bright spot in this whole equation.
Last year, several months after the Zaca fire in the backcountry, a big wind kicked up the ash and deposited it on the coast - everyone thought there was another wildfire. But nay, it was just wind-blown ash from the last one.
The many lasting effects of fire: on hydrology (flooding), sedimentation (erosion), soil (nutrients) - which is one bright spot in this whole equation.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Volvo Ocean Race
In a different part of the world...
Great photos of the Volvo Ocean Race in China and Brazil (thanks Dylan!)
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/05/the_volvo_ocean_race.html
Great combination of modern racing technology and traditional adventure, sailing around the world with speed and endurance.
http://www.volvooceanrace.org/
Great photos of the Volvo Ocean Race in China and Brazil (thanks Dylan!)
http://www.boston.com/
Great combination of modern racing technology and traditional adventure, sailing around the world with speed and endurance.
http://www.volvooceanrace.org/
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