Cartoon Boobies

This would make a very nice t-shirt for several women I know. Happy Friday!

The Noise of the Vuvuzela

I hate the Vuvuzela, but I do support using 100 (or more) Vuvuzela players to serenade BP headquarters with vuvuzela concerts until the Gulf is cleaned up.
It wont change a damn thing, but at least the worlds most annoying things will be at the worlds most annoying company.

Some Links:

Vuvuzela symphony planned at BP headquarters - Boing Boing

Vuvuzela symphony planned at BP headquarters // Current

Now For the Jetpacks

Those of us of a 'certain age' can recall the fantastic future technologies that we were promised as children. Well, behold, the flying car is finally here:

A highway-worthy airplane moves one step closer to production with a recent weight exemption approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Transition Roadable Aircraft, developed by Massachusetts-based engineering firm Terrafugia, will be allowed a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds, the same allowance made for aircraft designed to operate on water.

Going from plane to car "takes about the same amount of time as putting down your convertible top," and the transition takes place from inside the cockpit. After landing, a cockpit-operated system folds up the wings, and the pilot can drive away.

Transition is designed for trips of up to about 450 miles and can travel about 100 miles per hour in the air and "highway speeds" on the ground of "65, 70, [miles per hour] -- something like that," Dietrich said.

"We're really not pushing the performance as an automobile because it is really designed to be used as an airplane that has this additional capability," she said.

"Functionally, it's a lot closer to an airplane than it would be to your car."

The price is more in line with aircraft as well; Terrafugia anticipates the Transition will cost $194,000. The first delivery will occur in about 18 months, Dietrich said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/30/transition.flying.car/index.html

Actually, technology has done pretty well compared to science fiction. Just compare the Star Trek communicator to your current phone.

But I still want jetpacks, dammit!

What Is Wrong With Us?

Our country deserves to be eaten by zombies. We can spend $60 billion more on our lovely wars, but we're unable to scrap together the votes to extend unemployment benefits for our own people?

This is why I've almost given up on politics. We've replaced the really evil party with the stumblingly evil party.

Added: Read distributorcap for a much better post on the really evil party's take on all of this.

Deaths in the News

Today's big news is about the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), which is certainly appropriate. He served in the senate longer than any other in America's history. Heck, he began his senate career before I was born, so a long time ago. A huge and controversial legacy, to be sure.
But I also think that attention should be paid to Martin Ginsburg, Husband Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dies At 78, as I wonder how it will impact Ms. Ginsberg's ongoing battle with cancer. She certainly has been courageous in her battle, but she's looking worse and more frail of late, and losing her husband certainly wont help. As the Kagan hearings begin, there is a very likely possibility that Obama may soon have another Supreme Court vacancy to fill.

Schultz Fire Update

Brief update, as there isn't much new news. The fire is now 40% contained at 14,800 acres, and the winds should be light today. The photo above shows the Inner Basin, with Lockett Meadow in the center. As you can see, this beautiful piece of land has been spared.

A Boobie Hanging Out

Yeah, I'm re-using an old pic. The monitor on my desktop fried (as in 'sparks shooting out' fried), so I'm posting from my laptop. My large collection of Boobie pics is on my desktop, and I've been too lazy to transfer them over. Fresher Boobie next Friday, I promise.

Birthday Gift

It's my buddy Urland's 17th annual 33rd birthday today. The 'geek army knife' would be the perfect gift for him.

Guess he'll have to settle for a beer on Saturday.

Schultz Fire-Day 4

I don't intend to become a "fireblogger", but I've gotten enough feedback from folks who appreciate the updates to keep posting them for now.

Today's news is mostly positive, as Firefighters turn focus to western front , and a lot of folks are saying "No place like home: Grateful evacuees return ". The fire has only grown by 500 acres, to 14,500, and is now 25% contained.

Firefighters had a partial line across the Schultz fire's steep southern end Wednesday, after slow growth on Tuesday and light winds.

The line is significant because it clears the way for them to block fingers of fire reaching toward the San Francisco Peaks on the fire's 8-mile-long western side.

Hot shot crews have hiked in to fight fire on that western front, which lies far from major roads.

Wednesday's biggest event was the return of hundreds of residents who had fled their Timberline and Wupatki Trails homes on Sunday to evacuate from the fire.

Some of the plans and developments for firefighting, according to Miller:

-- The fire's largest area of growth from Tuesday to Wednesday was on the northern end near cinder pits and Forest Road 418, partly due to backburns set to keep fire out of Lockett Meadow proper.

-- Firefighters are directly attacking lines of fire creeping up the southeastern shoulders of Doyle Peak, one of the San Francisco Peaks. They're sometimes fighting fire in pockets of snow.

-- Much of Sugarloaf Peak has now burned in the wildfire, and aerial ignition of the remainder of that peak was planned on Wednesday.

-- These areas now targeted for controlled burns form the eastern entryway to the San Francisco Peaks and Inner Basin.

-- On the fire's southern side, line was being dug by hand on Wednesday.

-- On the western side, controlled burns were planned for more of Schultz Peak, to create a defensible line, Miller said.

-- Hot shot crews were camping in Lockett Meadow to fight fire, and near Schultz Peak, north of Schultz Tank.

-- Building fire line was somewhat difficult on the fire's southern end, due to steep terrain, fallen trees and loose rock.

-- Maps of the fire's progression show the vast majority of what burned had burned on Sunday, and that the fire has grown much less in following days.

-- The fire is slowing down when it hits stands of aspen, and in mixed-conifer, which lie higher on the Peaks. It is still burning intensely in the lower-elevation stands of ponderosa pine.

Worst-case scenarios still have the fire growing to 24,000 acres, or 38 square miles, costing $8 million to fight, and continuing until July 10.

http://www.azdailysun.com/news/local/article_1948d16b-4347-58ca-88cf-cd6af73abefa.html

You can find updated reports from incident command here: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1996/

Of course, the damage is massive, and it isn't over. When the monsoon season arrives, there will be a serious risk for flooding:

Firefighters' next worry might sound counterintuitive: The start of seasonal monsoon rains.

Fire crews are now mapping the fire's severity, and planning for how to rehabilitate the more severely burned areas before summer rainstorms.

"When the rain comes, there're going to be some pretty serious issues there if we don't get ahead of it," with regards to flooding and erosion, said Rick Miller, operations section chief of the federal team managing the fire.

Some of the drainages off seriously charred Schultz Peak, for example, run for miles into Timberline.

Views of that peak were evident Wednesday from Timberline, showing heavy burns and an exposed Waterline Road used to access city water supplies in Inner Basin.

Soils severely burned in wildfires can become "hydrophobic" -- literally "water-fearing" -- and immediately shed every drop that falls on them.

Allow me to go on a brief rant here: this fire began because some idiot abandoned a campfire. I love camping, and I understand the ambiance of a campfire. But fire safety absolutely must come first. Don't even think of starting a campfire if you are at all unsure how to completely extinguish it, and I do mean completely. Have plenty of water, and a shovel to make sure that all coals are out, then bury with several inches of actual dirt (not mulchy soil, which will burn). Don't assume that a lack of smoke means your fire is out; it doesn't. Hot coals can re-ignite hours later.

Better yet (especially around here), skip the fire completely. Watch the stars instead.

Schultz Fire-Day 3

A mixed bag of Schultz Fire news this morning. On the bad side, the fire continues to grow, and is now at 14,000 acres (22 square miles), with only 20% containment.
On a more positive side, many of the evacuated will be allowed to return home later this morning (per radio news reports), and highway 89 has semi-reopened. Also, Lockett Meadow has been spared, so far.

New dawn, new hope: Closed areas set to reopen

Officials set rules for orderly return of evacuated residents There is a "smoke advisory" for much of the region today. The prevailing winds had been blowing much of the smoke away from town, but overnight settling has left more smoke behind. I have an urge to mock the "smoke advisory" with a "yup, smells like smoke" comment, but it is actually a serious situation. People with respiratory difficulties (like me) are urged to remain indoors and avoid outdoor activities.

Smoke advisory in effect until mid-morning

Here's a map of the fire, updated yesterday:

I'm hoping to get my buddy, the old firefighter, to write a more technical analysis soon, as he's a real expert on these things. We'll see if he gets time to do it.

Another Fire Update

The Schultz fire continues to grow, now over 10,000 acres (15 square miles), with 10% containment. No houses have been destroyed, but several neighborhoods remain evacuated. An Abandoned campfire cause of Schultz fire, investigators say, which doesn't surprise me, as we get a lot of idiots camping up here this time of year. Fire restrictions begin Wednesday in the Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forests, and there's a lot of local outrage that the restrictions weren't in place earlier.
The wildfire now burning northeast of Schultz Pass is larger in area than the whole base of Mount Elden. And it could overrun Lockett Meadow at the foot of the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks, say fire officials, who plan to spend at least a week fighting it. Lockett Meadow is a truly stunningly beautiful place with huge Aspen groves known for their dramatic fall foliage, and I hope that the fire spares it.
There are reported to be over 800 firefighters on location, and slurry bombers are flying overhead constantly. We're all very grateful for these folks, who are the best in the business.
Of side interest, the fire was initially spotted by a good friend of mine who works as a forest service lookout. He's retired from actual firefighting, but has many decades of experience and a ton of expertise on wildfires, and his outlook is grim. Between the wind and the rugged terrain, it's going to be very difficult to get this fire under control.

Here's a satellite photo showing the smoke from the fire already extending all the way to the four corners region. That's a hell of a lot of smoke, and the steady wind has carried it quite a distance.
Just a quick note for those who expressed concerns for my safety, I'm fine. My little apartment is in the heart of downtown, and there's an awful lot of civilization between me and the wilderness.
Today is going to be another windy day, although hopefully less windy than yesterday, so it's far from over.

Schultz Fire Update

When I posted about the Schultz fire yesterday, it was estimated to have consumed 500 acres. The latest radio report has it at 8,850 acres, with 0% containment. In short, it's spreading very rapidly. Luckily (sort of) it's moving to the northeast, which is wilderness, not residential. With relatively high winds today (around 30 mph), and given the very rugged terrain, this fire is only going to get worse.
One odd, sad twist from the two fires: the Hardy fire forced the evacuation of our local humane society animal shelter. All the animals were moved to the 'Second Chance' animal shelter. Now the Schultz fire has forced the evacuation of that shelter, and an emergency animal shelter is being set up at the county fairgrounds. Tough couple of days for all those critters, but it's even worse for the wildlife.
(another slurry bomber just flew over my apartment)
It's a very bad day for those of us with breathing problems.

Happy Summer Solstice

Ahh, the longest day of the year here in the northern hemispere. So here's a "good news" story for your reading pleasure:

Why beer is one of the healthiest alcoholic drinks available.

Enjoy!

Another Fire

Great. Now there's a second fire, burning up at Schultz Pass about 5 miles north of town. Several neighborhoods being evacuated. It's reported to be near 500 acres, and spreading fast.
It's gonna be a scary summer until the monsoon rains get here.
Added: The Hardy fire was caused by a stupid camper (now under arrest) having an unsafe campfire. No word yet on the cause of the Schultz fire, but I'm certain it's human caused. The only question is if it was arson or idiocy.

Also, just added these pictures, which I took from around the corner from my apartment.

Fire Season is Here

In Flagstaff wildfires are an annual threat, and this year we've got one very much 'in town'. While it appears that the Hardy fire is now contained, it was pretty scary for a lot of locals, and it's very smoky around town today.

A wildfire south of Interstate 40 in Flagstaff Saturday that grew to between 500 and 600 acres forced the evacuation of 170 homes and temporarily closed Little America Hotel.

No structures were damaged or destroyed, and no injuries were reported.

About 150 personnel, including all on- and off-duty Flagstaff firefighters, responded to the blaze, dubbed the Hardy fire. Crews from Summit, Highlands and the U.S. Forest Service also responded.

Two air tankers and three heavy-duty helicopters made repeated slurry and water drops on the fire, which spread northeast from the ignition point through the ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper forest as wind gusts reached 35 mph.

A total of 11 people evacuated from the Sinagua Heights and Herold Ranch neighborhoods were expected to spend the night at Mount Elden Middle School, where the Red Cross was operating an emergency overnight shelter.

The Coconino Humane Association south of Butler Avenue was evacuated and about 60 animals were taken to the Second Chance Center for Animals in Doney Park, where they remained overnight.

Residents of Foxglenn, Continental and Amberwood received emergency telephone notification to be on standby for evacuation, but those neighborhoods were not evacuated by the time winds died down Saturday night.

http://www.azdailysun.com/news/local/article_0a624e8f-4e95-56d1-9bb7-a12fcae4ad01.html

The local NPR station is reporting that the size of the fire has been downgraded to about 400 acres, and that most of the evacuated will be allowed to return home today.
I want to give a big shout out to our local firefighters (I know quite a few of them), who are the best in the business. Great job, and all of Flagstaff thanks you!

World Cup

I tried. I really tried. But I just can't get interested in soccer. I know that it's the biggest sport in the world, and that as a "liberal" I'm supposed to love it. But the game bores me.

Also, vuvuzelas are really annoying.

It's Friday

Time to post a Boobie.

Act Surprised

So a lot of the "blogoshpere" is outraged that congressman Joe Barton (R-TX, of course) felt the need to apologize to BP. He actually said "So I apologize" for the creation of a $20 billion escrow fund, which he called "an illegal shakedown".
Outrageous? Yes. Surprising? No.
Congressman Barton has received $1.4 million from the oil and gas industry. He's merely saying what he's been paid to say.
In Texas, the oil spill is considered an 'act of god' because the oil companies are god.

Added: Barton has issued a pathetic written statement:

"And if anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction."

Apologizing for an apology? I'm sorry, but that's just sorry.

Oily Political Malaise

The president gave a speech last night, and, well...I didn't even watch it. Which is rather unusual for me, as I'm usually a political junkie. But I've been suffering a political malaise lately. My outrage at the Shrub/Cheney administration at least generated blogging fodder. Whereas the ongoing mediocrity of the Obama administration has left me feeling "aw, fuck it".
I thought about watching Obama's speech, but I realized that it really didn't matter. Nothing that Obama could say would have the slightest impact on the Gulf disaster. Instead, it was purely political theater designed to project an "image" of presidential leadership. Which really doesn't matter. Obama's critics will criticize him no matter what he says or does, the pundits will pontificate pointlessly, and all us progressives will continue to be disappointed. It's a rather dismal situation.


I've avoided commenting on the BP disaster for a variety of reasons: it's too horrific, nothing I have to say (I'm no expert on deepwater drilling) is really relevant, and everybody else on the internet has already said anything and everything that could possibly be said, and more.
The finger-pointing is easy. We know that the oil industry owned the regulators, that Cheney destroyed any government capacity for oversight, the MMS was completely corrupted, and that BP cut so many corners that Deepwater Horizon was known as a "nightmare" rig. There should (and hopefully will be) multiple criminal charges in the wake of this disaster.
But here's the really frustrating part: no one knows how to fix it. BP had no plan for the "what if" the rig blew. The government (coast guard, navy, or FEMA) has no equipment to cap the spill, and far too little capability to recover spilled oil. Once the spill began, all the parties involved realized that they had failed to plan, and that nobody knew how to stop a deepwater spill. The various attempts to cap the well were doomed to fail, and the only realistic plan to drill relief wells will take months to complete. There are no better answers.
So we're left to watch helplessly as America's greatest environmental disaster unfolds. Marine life will be decimated despite our best efforts to recover as many creatures as we can; we'll only be able to save a small fraction. Beaches, marshes, and wetlands will be polluted for decades, possibly centuries, as the booms and cleanups are inadequate to address thousands of miles of coastline. The combination of the volume of the spill and the deep ocean currents will result in the devastation being so widespread that our grandchildren will still be seeing the impact of this spill.
In short, it's easy do scream "do something"; it's much more difficult to actually do something specific.


(old cartoon, but I like the point)
If there can be anything positive to come out of this disaster, it could be a greater impetus toward renewable energy. America has been talking about the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and the need for alternative energy since the Carter administration, but almost nothing has been actually done. A few token wind plants here, an electric car there, some solar panels in a few places. With a total value of a bare teaspoon in the ocean of oil.
Alternative energy technologies are being invented and improved every day. Unfortunately, most of these technology developments are happening in other countries. Instead of investing in energy technology, we continue to send over a billion dollars a day overseas for oil. And expand domestic and offshore (a moratorium is not a halt) drilling (I've always felt that Cheney saw the Iraq war as a way to expand American oil reserves), and coal mining in order to maintain the status quo. We blithely continue driving gas guzzlers, and resist even modest increases in fuel economy standards. Instead of investing in a sustainable future, we debate whether global warming is real or a hoax (it's real). We've wasted decades hiding our heads in the sand.
So perhaps this environmental disaster will wake up America to the need to change our unsustainable behavior. Obama certainly talked about a "clean energy future" again in this latest speech. But I'll remain cynical until I see some action.
And that's depressing.

A Boobie to Go

Here's a Friday Boobie, and now I'm off to Animas River Days, three days of playing on the river.