Aerial Photography Links for Oregon

2011 1 meter NAIP Imagery

The Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office is now providing access to 2011 NAIP Imagery (1-meter) through a dynamic image service for thefollowing counties: Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Lincoln, Morrow, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill. The 2011 NAIP will beavailable statewide, however the remaining counties are still being processed, so stay tuned. If you want to use the imagery locally, you can download it from the USDA/NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway: http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/GDGOrder.aspx#.

The 2011 imagery is accessible through ArcGIS REST, WMS, and WCS services:

·       REST Endpoint: http://navigator.state.or.us/ArcGIS/rest/services/Framework/Imagery_Mosaic2011/ImageServer

·       WMS Endpoint: http://navigator.state.or.us/ArcGIS/services/Framework/Imagery_Mosaic2011/ImageServer/WMSServer?

·       WCS Endpoint: http://navigator.state.or.us/ArcGIS/services/Framework/Imagery_Mosaic2011/ImageServer/WCSServer?

·       Preview/ArcGIS.com: http://bit.ly/qB6s1t

Other Imagery hosted by GEO:

GEO also hosts Imagery for 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2009. Use the same links as listed above, substituting the year you'd like to connect to in order to access those epochs.

In addition to dynamic image services (as listed above), we have cached imagery services for the 2009 1/2 meter NAIP product, currentlyavailable in two projections: Oregon Lambert Int' Ft (cached down to 1:4k) and Web Mercator Aux Sphere (cached down to 1:36K).

Oregon Lambert Projection:

·       REST: http://navigator.state.or.us/ArcGIS/rest/services/BaseMaps/BaseMap_Imagery2009/MapServer

·       WMS: http://navigator.state.or.us/ArcGIS/services/BaseMaps/BaseMap_Imagery2009/MapServer/WMSServer?

·       Preview/ArcGIS.com: http://bit.ly/nK50gx

Web Mercator Projection:

·       REST: http://navigator.state.or.us/ArcGIS/rest/services/BaseMaps/BaseMap_Imagery2009_WM/MapServer

·       WMS: http://navigator.state.or.us/ArcGIS/services/BaseMaps/BaseMap_Imagery2009_WM/MapServer/WMSServer?

·       Preview/ArcGIS.com: http://bit.ly/pYMlVQ

Please contact me with any questions or other general feedback about these Imagery Services.

Thanks,
Erik

________________________________

Erik Endrulat, GISP

GIS Analyst-Web Administrator

DAS EISPD Geospatial Enterprise Office

955 Center St. NE, rm 470

Salem, OR 97301 | 503-378-2781

Twitter: @OregonGEO

Apples top group's most contaminated list | ajc.com

Strawberries, celery, apples, enjoy them organically or wash them first.

Apples top group's most contaminated list | ajc.com

Worlds Largest Morel in my Backyard!

That is just the cap!!! For those of you who want my theory as to why they are so large, get in touch.

Zebra mussels stopped at border | MailTribune.com

Zebra mussels stopped at border | MailTribune.com

The boat inspection stations pay off!

King crabs invade Antarctica

King crabs invade Antarctica

Interesting article about the migration of king crabs into the southern ice fields. Normally they can't survive the extremely frigid temperatures and it is thought that they haven't been present in the antarctic ecosystem for eons. As temperatures becomes more tolerable they have moved in, found themselves a nice home where no prey species have hard shelled defenses and proliferated.

Man-made Earthquakes

"The commission has said preliminary studies showed evidence potentially linking injection activities with nearly 1,000 quakes in the region [Arkansas] since September, including the largest quake to hit the state in 35 years -- a magnitude 4.7 on Feb. 27"

Where Have All the Salmon Gone

Foley Creek in Oregon is as ideal as a non-wild stream can get. Cold water, limited human interaction, complex, flows directly into the lower Nehalem River not more than a few miles from the Pacific ocean. The headwaters are managed for private timber production while the lower reaches meander between private rural houses and cow pastures. There is even a berry farm or two but it is far from heavy use. There isn't one culvert! I have seen many streams in Oregon. There are salmon in the craziest places. They can become stranded in a puddle no longer than myself and only a few inches deep as high flows recede. They can jump through perched culverts that make me want to get a tetanus shot just by looking at them. They can hang out in warm bacteria ridden waters for days before succumbing to stress related deaths. They are even found in road and pasture ditches. They are an amazingly resilient genus. For some reason though, Foley Creek is missing salmon. They are not present in the numbers one would expect. The gradient is perfect, the gravels and pools are there, it isn't too flashy, but for some reason, year after year, I have yet to see one fish either adult or juvenile in this stream. I know they are there from Fish and Wildlife counts, but the numbers are limited. My neighbors saw one spawning Coho, once. What is the problem? Coho, Steelhead, and Chum can live in warmer waters than Foley. They can make it through almost any barrier on other streams while Foley's passage is unbarred. They make it to the top of the Nehalem River despite a waterfall, sediment flushes, and high temperatures. One would think that Foley Creek, both by proximity and by nature would be flush with salmon and trout. Not one cutthroat though. I know how to look too. I have been doing this for the better part of a decade. I see the most ideal gravel bed and associated pool almost on a daily basis. Where are they?
I have several hypotheses:

•  There are numerous steep gravel roads that intersect Foley Creek, some of which deliver sediment during heavy rains. These bury those pristine gravel beds that could be ideal for spawning. 
• There is limited wood which is needed for gravel sorting and cover.
• There are some reaches that have no riparian cover and temperatures could become elevated. 

The reason I reject these hypothesis is because these issues are present in almost every stream I have encountered and it doesn't limit fish as much as it does in this stream.

The return is low. Even if smoltification failed and every cohort was killed as the result of one of these three reasons then strays would recolonize the stream, but they don't to the degree they need to in order to sustain a viable population.

I have a second hypothesis, one that runs deeper and faster to the point. A hypothesis I, as a restoration biologist, avoid like a plague-ridden alley because it is too sad for me to comprehend.

The oceans are dying. This hypothesis is supported by a great deal of evidence (mostly through process of elimination). If the dams along the Columbia were the limiting factor then we would see more salmon in coastal streams where passage is not barred. If heat were the limiting factor the same would be true. If habitat complexity was the limiting factor then the restoration work which has occurred over the past twenty to thirty years or so would make such a difference that we could see a correlation between our work and salmon populations.

While dams definitely cause direct and indirect mortality, as does temperature and habitat simplification, the adult returns are almost always dependent on 'a good ocean year'. What does that mean? A good ocean year refers to ideal temperatures, currents, food, and limited take from all predators including humans.

There is more evidence that our dying oceans are the primary limitation to salmon populations; the pH is changing, the currents are changing, the temperature swings are increasing, the freshwater inputs are increasing, the food web is shifting. These are preventing our freshwater restoration work from being as effective as it can be. We can keep the young ones alive but we can't do anything to increase their adult survival once they hit the salt water.

I would call myself crazy, if it wasn't just salmon. Then there is the coral, the turtles, the whales, the multitude of tiny fishes, and a host of other creatures I can't name, all dying at faster-than-historical rates.

What can one do? I don't know.

Trying the Hello Bar

Sorry if this doesn't work, still getting the bugs out, the bar at the top of the page should take you there. Neat gadget, I will change periodically.

North Coast Land Conservancy Series

In between gusts or rain and wind the first signs of spring are beginning to show: willows are starting to bud up and bright yellow skunk cabbage blooms are pushing their way up through the soil. We're all looking forward to watching spring slowly unfold on Oregon's beautiful North Coast! This month we have some great opportunities for you to become inspired by the natural world around you. Join us for Listening to the Land and Saturday Morning Stewardship as we explore the beauty and regenerative power found in the wetlands. Listening to the Land Wetlands: A Documentary about Art and Ecology Wednesday March 16, 7:00-9:00 PM, Seaside Public Library with filmmaker Carl Vandervoort and artist Deborah DeWit Documentary filmmaker Carl Vandervoort and Oregon artist Deborah DeWit collaborated on this 1-hour film that follows the artist for a year both in her studio and on the adjacent land that has provided her inspiration and subject matter for over a decade: a former dairy farm surrounded by suburbia, slowly undergoing wildlife habitat restoration. The film juxtaposes DeWit's feelings of responsibility as an artist to use her creativity to explore truths of the natural experience with the voices of environmental activists, citizens and restoration workers, all of whom address the theme of the value of encountering, preserving and enlarging the "wild" world. A question and answer session with both artist and filmmaker will take place after the screening. For more information on Wetlands: A Documentary about Art and Ecology, visit www.wetlandsdocumentary.com. Listening to the Land is a winter natural history lecture series co-sponsored by the Necanicum Watershed Council. For more information on this and other Listening to the Land programs, please visit our website atwww.nclctrust.org, or contact NCLC Development Director Teresa Retzlaff at (503) 738-9126 orteresar@nclctrust.org. Saturday Morning Stewardship: Stewardship at Fishers Point Wetland Saturday March 26, 10:00 am-1:00pm (meet at Wheeler Train Station at 9:45) Participate in the stewardship of a beautiful coastal wetland by joining North Coast Land Conservancy for this month's Saturday Morning Stewardship event. Work will take place at NCLC's Fishers Point property near Wheeler, and offers a rare chance to visit this wetland marsh at the edge of Nehalem Bay. We'll be picking up trash and debris littering this sensitive habitat, so bring waterproof rubber boots, gloves, rain gear, water and a lunch to enjoy in this beautiful setting. We'll need lots of volunteers to make this effort possible, so please join us in the fun! We will meet at the Wheeler Train Station at 9:45 am and carpool to Fishers Point. For more information, contact Celeste Coulter, North Coast Land Conservancy Stewardship Director at (503) 738-9126 or celestec@nclctrust.org. Thanks for your interest. See you outside!

North Coast Land Conservancy is supported in large part by donations from people like you. Please consider supporting us!

Food, Farming, and Science

I read an interesting blog post by Mark Bittman of the NY Times. It didn't contain any information that was new to me. As a scientist working on environmental issues and as a person passionate about food, the post touched on topics near and dear to me. My interest wasn't piqued by the topic but rather by the response. Never have I read a more polarizing non-discussion. They ran from inflammatory to choiresque but the choicest of them told him to mind his own business and leave science to the scientists and farming to the farmers. As a scientist working on sustainable farming issues I felt like I could say something in his defense but they I realized there wasn't much of a point. When does an angry farmer or an irate hippie ever listen? Certainly not to the rational voice among three hundred other rational voices on a NY Times blog. Letting it lie, I will encourage you to read the article on your own, especially the 250+ comments.

California Fish Die-off

Contrary to the original story, the million + dead sardines in California did not die due to the weather but rather from being forced into a harbor while under the influence of domoic acid. The harbor was warmer than their habitat, warmer water has less dissolved oxygen and they suffocated. Domoic acid, a powerful neurotoxin, had accumulated in the fish. Researchers believe that this could have caused them to become disoriented and swarm to King's Harbor, they also are looking into the possibility of oxygen deprived sea-water. What was domoic acid doing in the ocean? It is often the byproduct of algae blooms (sometimes red-tide), a toxic algal bloom did occur 12 miles south at Redondo beach. Changing ocean conditions often bring on these blooms. Unseasonably warm water, nutrient run-off, plankton die-off, and many other things can cause algal blooms. 

Japan Earthquake

I don't feel right saying much about these disasters. I feel saying anything trivializes it. There is a constant stream of chatter and discourse already being had, my voice doesn't need to be added to the mix. I will say though, like many in the US, I have both friends and family in Japan. My cousin and my very close friends brother and his wife live there, in Tokyo.

Although they are well (I haven't heard about my cousin yet) it doesn't change the gravity. There are entire villages missing. I won't take up this space to argue against nuclear power, that isn't what we should be doing right now. We should do as much as we can, emotionally, financially, or otherwise to help the devastated communities.

I can't say I hope because that feels too small. I do pray for the best but at this point what will one prayer do except make me feel slightly better? I can ask for guidance but in the end we have only our selves and our individual faith, whatever that may be, in God, Allah, the Divine, the infinite, or in nothing. This puts the world into perspective. What seems so large one day that it drives every action is washed away the next so that you can't even remember why it was important.

Final note, an earthquake this large can change the tilt of Earth's axis. We have lost a little time. These events happen daily, sometimes large, sometimes small, sometimes devastating. Can you remember the Indonesian earthquake and tsunami a few years ago? Chances are if you weren't there or didn't know someone effected you have already replaced that disaster with the next. What about the Pakistan flooding? There are thousands of daily disasters, sometimes so small that they only touch one person, and we forget. The most recent awful fills our minds and yesterdays tragedy is lost to time. People are resilient but with peace we can be strong. When we spend our lives fighting each other we can't ever be prepared, mentally, emotionally, financially, physically, to deal with something of this nature. Be kind and compassionate, a loving hand goes a long way to someone in distress.

Assume the Worst

If you are aware of global events then you are up to date on China and human rights issues. Having been banned from the Chinese microblogging site Sina (am still trying to get back on it) and a regular new reader of Boxun at Blogger I can say that the Chinese government definitely doesn't want you saying that they stole Tibet from its people (clearly it is more complex than that with a long history of the Chinese borders growing and contracting, but this instance I stand by what I say, they stole it much in the same way we stole lands from the Native Peoples of America). They don't want you to stage protests, they have even gone so far as to tell University students to alter their out-door game playing routine so it doesn't look like they are gathering to speak! With March Madness upon us, I can only imagine a university here trying that, it sounds like something out of Harry Potter 5, "okay, you can play basketball but only the five players that are on the court can be allowed in the stadium, they others have to rotate in from a second building and they aren't allowed to speak to the starting 5."

What would the Wisconsin protests look like in Beijing? They are in a public building, could that even happen in China?

I think that like most countries the people of China are very much like the people of the US. We want personal peace, prosperity, family wellness, and a variety of gadgets. We don't want our gadgets to be made by slaves or come at the cost of a beautiful waterfall or forest. The difference is the fear. The Chinese government postures this ultra-control when it is clear that they are desperate to maintain their power. Every action they take spills out fear. It is clear that they are afraid of losing their control, of change brought on peacefully and democratically where all people have the right to speak, not just the right people.

I believe that the global community will get there. Taking Qaddafi as an example, he is widely regarded as a crazy joke rather than the unflappable leader he once was considered. Look at Al Qaeda, this group has not been able to accomplish with all the weapons and posturing in so many years what took a relatively small group of people a matter of weeks to do just through speaking and standing in place.

So when China closes down even more they are forgetting that we already know what they are doing. We are already familiar with their oppression, they have not forgotten the Tiananmen Square protests and neither has the world. We know what they are doing and if we can't see it for our own eyes through the work of global independent journalists than we will assume the worst.

The Black Mold Invades!

Environmental News and Events: What a Unique Concept!

Environmental News and Events: What a Unique Concept!

What a Unique Concept!

The emergence of the short form, or blog entry, is becoming a popular way to transmit a wide range of archaeological knowledge. What is the place of this conversation within academic, professional, and public discourse? Simply put, what can the short form do for archaeology?

The idea is to chime in!

So what can the short form do for archaeology?

So much! First, archaeology need not be limited to the study of the distant past. We can evaluate the immediate past (some call this the present) to make positive changes for the future. I don't need to point to the middle eastern revolutions but I will. See what Facebook has done? There are few people that don't get that last sentence.

Second, societies become dust (and justify studies) because they fail to evolve. By limiting any scientific study to proscribed (I dare say prescribed as well) methods than we too shall become dust. We have to evolve (the scientific community that is) and adapt to changing technologies. To shun the short form and informal blog is akin to those that shunned talkies! Which makes me LOL to think about. Yes, I did.

Finally the gathering of data is made easier when people can share. What information was once locked in the mountains of some remote village is now potentially at your finger tips. To turn away from that gold mine is ludicrous.

On the flip side with all this information sharing you could potentially suffer from TMI. Yes, I did it again. To give a case and point look at the increase in the sharing of medical abnormalities on social networking sites in relation to patient privacy. One can only imagine the dangers of blogging the location of something sacred. 

Cougar Status Questioned

Interesting article. Generally the classification of Cougar's in the eastern US as genetically separate from those in the west is being reconsidered. If they are the same, the eastern Cougar will be removed from the Endangered Species List. BUT (and it is a pretty big but!) That would indicate that they have been extirpated from their native range. Given the potential to classify a species endangered in part of its range, that would put them right back on the list... Being off the list in the mean time would allow states that didn't have their own special protection status to issue hunting licenses. In Oregon the department of wildlife not only allows their take but kills them outright. 

Two Day Intensive on Stream Habitat and Restoration at Sitka Center

Lindsay will be leading a two day stream lesson in the Nestucca River Watershed covering restoration and habitat complexity. Join us in September (unless you are attending the American Fisheries Society symposium which is unfortunately at the same time). We have tried to keep the cost low and there is an opportunity for scholarship. Hit the link for more information. Hope to see you there!

Description

The goal of this workshop is to expose participants to some of the uniquely beautiful streams and forests of the Northwest coast. The first day will be spent in old growth forests and the second in and around the streams. Both days will be spent in the field where you will learn how healthy streams and forests are meant function including the fundamentals of upland, riparian, and aquatic ecology. You will also learn how to identify common plants, animals, mushrooms, and insects that we encounter along the way.

About the Instructor

Lindsay is co-owner and lead analyst with Demeter Design, an Oregon-based environmental firm specializing in watershed research and restoration. He specializes in the design and analysis of natural resource assessment and monitoring programs. He holds a MS in Neurosciences from UC San Diego and a BA in Molecular Biology from UC Berkeley. He is an avid cook, brewer, and gardener. He lives in Nehalem with his wife and partner Cara.
Website: http//demeterdesign.net/about_us.html

Materials List

Students Bring:
Students do not need to bring any specific materials. They should come prepared with outdoor gear sufficient to hike off trail in the Oregon coast range. This includes sturdy hiking boot, rain and weather appropriate gear, including waterproof boots.

Instructor Provides:
The instructor shall provide all necessary maps and instructional materials. The instructor shall also provide example GPS and survey equipment as needed.

NYTimes article on biodiversity

Great article on the history of naturalist studies. Very informative, check it out when you get a chance. Generally discusses the importance of species preservation from the perspective of disease prevention and cure development.

Need Alternative Energy Sources

"The documents reveal that the wastewater, which is sometimes hauled to sewage plants not designed to treat it and then discharged into rivers that supply drinking water, contains radioactivity at levels higher than previously known, and far higher than the level that federal regulators say is safe for these treatment plants to handle."


Complications complications lead to lamentations. Although this is hardly news, why is it that the more energy we produce the more we need to fix the problems that the production process creates?


I feel like the industry has stalled to the point where we are using more extreme methods of production such as deep water drilling or fragging and miles of pipe when alternatives are cheaper and safer. Say what you will about wind power and the noise, micro-climate changes, etc, but how many turbines can be made from one NG pipe line? How much energy can be saved through increased efficiency? Frustrations!

Data Clearinghouse

We are updating our clearinghouse and are looking for more research to add. If you are looking for additional visibility for your environmental research or have independent studies that are not located elsewhere, contact me and I will (with exceptions) add them to our clearinghouse. Ideally this work will focus on restoration, water quality, endangered species, agriculture, or other research of a similar nature in and around the PNW.

The benefits of including your work on the Demeter Clearinghouse include easy backup storage of final reports and GIS databases, permanent links to your work, and inclusion in a larger community of private/public research. We also do limited indexing to make your work more searchable.

What I need is a .pdf file of your report (preferably in one file not multiple but I do condense and combine) and/or the zipped (.zip) GIS files of the data that goes with the report.

Contact info is on the titular site link. Cheers!

Lindsay Mico to Give Presentation at American Fisheries Society Symposium in Seattle

He will be presenting restoration planning work in the Pacific northwest specifically focusing on the restoration work happening in the Tillamook River Basin. Hope to see you there, hit the link for details.

Eating at Lucca

Having been to Lucca a few times I have to say it is quickly becoming one of my preferred go-to eateries. Friendly atmosphere, great wood-fired pizzas, nice wine list, great service, excellent vegetarian options. Not much more to say other than that I went, ate three specials: roasted sunchokes with rabe and kale; an amazing cheese plate; and a lovely salad. I also took home two pizza's to-go, both of which were excellent. I used a gift card so I wasn't worried about the price. You could easily go with $20-30 and get a pizza for two and maybe a couple of appetizers or sides. If you want drinks or more food the cost can hit $50-70 for two. Not a bad deal for a great night out. The chef is also very friendly and knowledgeable. Stand-out success in NE Portland, 24th and Fremont-ish.

Western Libyia Liberated

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Houselessness

There are 50,000 homeless children in Cairo! My ignorance astounds me.

Abstaining from food

I just closed an article from the NYTimes. I didn't finish it. Why? After a few sentences they mentioned something that turned my stomach, clear turtle soup. I can understand why the cuisine was created or prized, those living in countries where the only protein source is foods such as turtles shouldn't starve out of principal (although I would consider moving to greener pastures - I get that that is not very realistic for most people) but that isn't New York.

I can't really get behind a restaurant that encourages the consumption of animals such as turtles, horse, cats, dogs, or others in that group (I am an on again off again vegetarian). This group includes animals that we have bred for companionship or for labor, animals that are rare, or animals that are eaten only so that the diner can say "I ate turtle/shark/canary at such and such place and it was to die for." Especially since most of these animals are eaten for texture and not flavor or need. It seems arrogant to eat $20 turtle soup when most of the world has to feed their families on $20/month.

It also seems like the desperate attempt of a chef to get the rich patrons. A talented chef can make a chicken soup that is better than turtle soup. A kitchy NY chef resorts to variety meats. It would be nice to see a shift away from this mentality into reality. People are starving, dying, being murdered for their beliefs and some J-O cares more about being different than being responsible. Being responsible is never easy. Oh yes I am sure these turtles are bred in captivity etc etc. Replace the word turtle with dog or cat and most people (not all - recognize this is a cultural difference) would turn away.

Having lived in Arizona on a reservation I can say first-hand that even Native Americans have replaced the turtle in cuisine and dress with other foods. Turtle shells were commonly used in Hopi ceremonies until their scarcity made the people think twice. Rather than raise turtles they started using aluminum cans cut and rolled so that they made the same noise during their dances. Ingenious and beautiful.

I am a fine-diner, I love food, I would be more impressed with a chef that could develop an entire menu around beans as the primary protein source. Not only would that be more interesting to see (it is incredibly difficult to make beans every day appealing) but it would show me that they weren't stuck in a vortex of egoism. I mean really, turtle?

The only caveat being since I didn't finish the article the soup might have had fake turtle! Wouldn't that be funny.

Add Libya to that List

Nothing much more to say than that.

Marching in Tehran

Yemen, Iran, Syria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia. The voice of the people echo's across the globe. They will not be silenced through oppression and greed. Peace? Maybe - maybe not. Let us hope that violence doesn't win out.

Also check out the DCPost

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/14/AR2011021403985.html

Homemade soy sauce update and shrimp paste

Its been a while since I posted about Soy Sauce. I'm on to a new batch which is pretty much the same as the last batch with one key change - I've used a natural salt in place of the industrial sea salt I used in my first few batches. I'm using a mined salt from Utah (once a sea bed). It is high in the "other" salts ie not NaCl, and has a nice reddish hue from the clay content. I've learned that there are often additional chemicals added to industrial salts that can mess up the fermentation process.

Right now it has a good, but strangely sweet smell to it ~ 2 months in. It should be ready for tasting by early summer.

I'm also making 2 other fermented products - a shrimp paste and whole fermented soybeans. The whole beans were boiled and added to a brine of 16% salt, 8% sugar mix and will sit as long as they last - they're pretty good after a week but not really fermented yet. The shrimp paste was based on blended bay shrimp mixed a lot of salt (I was kind of lazy and didn't measure). I mixed in a few slices of ginger and it has been sitting also for about 2months on my shelf at room temp. It smells a lot like a tide pool, and just like fish sauce, the fishiness disappears when you cook it. I used it to make dry fried green beans last week and it worked wonderfully.

Next fermentation post I'll talk about the fermented braising greens we use a lot in the winter - another chinese ingredient that seems crazy but tastes delicious! I also finished a batch of Sake that is out of sight.

The Ever-changing World

From the NYtimes "Mehdi Karroubi, an Iranian opposition leader, said Tuesday that a demonstration planned in Tehran next week [February 14 2011], nominally in solidarity with the protest movements in Egypt and Tunisia, was a test both for the Iranian government and its opponents."

If anyone is wondering why so much of this blog is devoted to politics and less and less to traditional environmental news I would like to clarify by saying that the environment can never be restored without a peaceful and representative democracy in every corner of the world.

Let us hope to get there soon!

HuffPo NoMo

Off-topic but I don't think it is any coincidence that AOL buys HuffPo and the first google news clips are about what makes a man attractive and Katy Perry's weight. Bye-bye legitimate news organization and hello corporate machine. Like they say you can take the rat out of corporate but you can't take the corporation out of the rat race, or something like that.

History in the Making

I have been a somewhat silent supporter of a peaceful Egyptian transition and was beyond happy to hear the news that the government is moving towards a legitimate democratic transition! One for the grass roots team :)

Here is to a long term sustained peace that involves all stakeholders including the Israeli and Palestinian peoples (of course I am including the rest of the world in that hope as well).

Congratulations and I am mourning those who died to make this happen, there are no words to heal those wounds.

Drought in the Amazon

Interesting article in the CSM - Check out the link for the full story.

Freedom through the internet

Interesting site that brings to light internet oppression from around the world. Also, here are some steps you can take to turn your mobile phone into an internet portal. I had to screen shot it because copy/paste disabled so you can download the pdf instructions.

Find it here, large file

Official Google Blog: Google search and search engine spam

Official Google Blog: Google search and search engine spam

Yeah, Google Improves its Algorithm Yet Again

Check it http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/google-search-and-search-engine-spam.html

USDA take list - 'nuisance' animals poisoned or killed by thousands

U.S. government commits avian holocaust with mass poisoning of millions of birds

Yuck. No wonder there are mass deaths across the nation every year. The USDA has actively been poisoning and killing animals considered to be detrimental to farming for decades.

This doesn't include any animal accidentally killed that went unrecorded. Who knows how many pets, or even people, have been poisoned unintentionally. Also, how many non-target species that are endangered die?

Not really that surprised but I wish humans were more tolerant. I am not saying let the wolves in, but when humans did that they were gifted with man's best friend, dogs. Work with nature and not against it... Don't destroy the work of God for food - Romans 14:17-20.

Dealing with anger and grief in troubled times

Today I woke up in a horrible mood. Not surprising given the nature of today's climate; bitter, mean, cold, etc. Sure there are a lot of great things about humanity but they seem to get lost and mired in the muck we generate.

I have actively been developing the skill to wash these feelings away. Not only is my blood pressure down but I am able to function even when I read about or experience first hand tragedy.

Although completely off topic (not a first as regular readers know) I wanted to share with you the tools I have developed to cope with grief and anxiety.

1) Breath! I can't believe how often I find myself anxious and holding my breath. Exhale and let life happen. Holding your breath, breathing too fast, too shallow, these things contribute to your overall mood.

2) Go slow. Make fewer mistakes which generate more frustration.

3) Smile, especially if you don't want to and especially at people you don't know.

4) Hug a friend. Make someone else smile.

5) Go outside. I get cave crazy in the winter and nothing like some sunshine brings me out of my winter blues.

Finally if you have done all this and the grey days still have you down check out this live chat at the LA times site tomorrow (Wednesday Jan. 26 2011) at this link or by copying and pasting this into your browser.

http://www.dailypress.com/dp-live-health-chat-sad-depression,0,7226494.htmlstory?altcast_code=9e0e085d8d

Himalayan glaciers covered in debris less likely to melt than those exposed.

That seems obvious but this has big implications for climate studies. "[glacier melting rates went] from high for debris-free glaciers to zero for glaciers with debris cover greater than 20 percent"

Okay, let us cover all the worlds glaciers in concrete, there, no more global warming ;)

Cold Fusion Achieved?

Well now is not this just the biggest piece of good news in a while... unless the guy is a fraud which some scientists are suggesting.

“We have passed already the phase to convince somebody ... We are arrived to a product that is ready for the market. Our judge is the market. In this field the phase of the competition in the field of theories, hypothesis, conjectures etc etc is over. The competition is in the market. If somebody has a valid technology, he has not to convince people by chattering, he has to make a reactor that work and go to sell it, as we are doing.”

The email where you get machine pricing information is info(at)leonardocorp1996.com

Interesting. The most interesting claim is that this machine is a near replica of an older machine the 'nickel-hydrogen low-energy nuclear reaction (LENR)' machine originally developed by Francesco Piantelli of Siena, Italy.

Here is a link to a more detailed article http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-italian-scientists-cold-fusion-video.html which has a video of the machine 'working'.

The gist? 1 part fuel = ~12 parts clean energy with no nuclear waste. In traditional fusion reactions achieving the high temps required takes an enormous amount of energy and results in elevated stream temperatures from the water that is needed to cool the reactors.

Nitrates in the Umatilla Basin

Nitrates are above maximum standards in the Umatilla Basin despite the restoration efforts. Check out the article at the Eastern Oregonian. I would give you the link but for some reason I can't use the paste function and I really don't want to type it in manually.

Beef fat floating in Houston Area river closes shipping route temporarily

"The Coast Guard says a nearly one-mile stretch of the Houston Ship Channel will be closed for at least four days as workers use pitchforks and fishnets to corral, pierce and remove 15,000 gallons of beef fat."

Wow. "[~]250,000 gallons of beef fat leaked from a storage tank, and some reached the waterway through a storm drain"

Shark Finning Banned in US

Did you know that 73 million sharks are killed just for their fins every year?! Hopefully this new law will reduce that number significantly. What is amazing is that The Shark Conservation Act allows the North Carolina dogfish fishery to continue. That concession was made so that Senator Richard Burr would vote for it. I didn't think that was legal... The fishery currently accounts for ~1% of all shark fishing in the world but their share will certainly go up when they are the only fishermen allowed to hunt them. That smells a little fishy ... :)

Size of Pacific Ocean Patch Debated

Whether the patch's size is a result of hyperbole or extreme disregard for the environment, the great Pacific garbage patch has shrunk to 1% of what it was! Despite an increase in plastic usage...

"...the oceanography professor says the data suggest that plastic contamination hasn't increased dramatically -- or perhaps not at all -- in recent decades, despite greater use of plastic." Yeah! One win for the recycle, reduce, reuse motto. Oh wait.

"The Algalita Marine Research Foudation in California, founded by sea captain Charles Moore, first spotlighted the ocean pollution. After a 1999 expedition, it reported a garbage patch of mostly plastic that could be the size of Texas, Executive Director Marieta Francis says."

Although the OSU professor interviewed leans toward the patches size being exaggerated, the plastic at this point could be so water logged that it sank and was buried in sand elsewhere. Or perhaps the currents have changed so that the patch is more dispersed. This theory is more compatible with the amount of trash that washes up on beaches during a storm.

:)

Mass Bird and Fish Die-off

From the CSM, "Biologists estimate that between 1,000 and 3,000 birds fell over Beebe on New Year's... Adding to the mystery is an apparent fish kill 125 miles away in the same state. A day before the bird die-off, a tugboat operator near Ozark, Ark., spotted thousands of dead drum fish floating in the Arkansas River. Biologists say the two events are probably not related and suggest that the fish kill – a much more common event than a bird rain – is likely linked to a disease that affected only one species."

Bees still in peril

Sad, but there has been a 96% decline across four species of bumble bees over the past few decades.