2009

Posted on | October 11, 2009 | 2 Comments

Credit: David M. Carroll, via Yankee Magazine. Click on the image to be taken to Yankee Magazine

With its limited appeal to lovers of swamps and turtles, it’s hard to imagine how David M. Carroll’s beautiful new book, his fifth, will find enough buyers to earn its advance, much less turn a profit. — October 4, 2009 Seattle Times review of David M. Carroll’s “Following the Water — a Hydromancer’s Notebook”

Was it really possible that power of such magnitude — diverting water supplies, building suburbs, playing a central role in the fastest growth any American city has ever seen — could be exercised from the offices of a newspaper publisher? — October 4, 2009 New York Times review of the PBS documentary “Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times”

[Las Vegas] is probably the poster child for the most unsustainable city in the world. — former Las Vegas Sun environment writer Launce Rake interviewed by UC Berkeley water economist David Zetland, October 8, 2009
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Hot and cold: Summer 2009

Posted on | October 11, 2009 | No Comments

CLICK on the maps to enlarge these graphic wrap-ups of summer 2009 from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Or click here to be taken to the NOAA Satellite and Information Service.

Category: Climate
Tags: chance of rain > climate change > Emily Green > National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Entering the age of Ritalin

Posted on | October 10, 2009 | 6 Comments

WITH what is less a case of skepticism and more one of complete incomprehension, Chance of Rain has joined Twitter. The inconspicuousness of the icons, which are found at the bottom of each post, attest to the ambivalence. I owe the ironic reference to Ritalin to my friend, poet Amy Scattergood. What Twittering does apart from wrecking any hope of concentration and reducing us all to high school students is unclear to me, but there is something generous, free-wheeling and stupid-profound about it too, not to mention good for numbers. This much I can see from the clickometer of this website: When Aquadoc of WaterWired, aka Michael Campana of Oregon State University, thinks enough of something I’ve written to tweet it, people read it.

Relying on Michael to tweet indefinitely for me would be an abuse of his infinite obligations to just about anyone ready and willing to improve understanding of water.

So, to the great universe on Tweet, I mean Twitter, how scary you are. To my 300 or so daily readers, thank you.

Category: Miscellaneous
Tags: chance of rain > Emily Green

Western datebook

Posted on | October 10, 2009 | 1 Comment

THE CALIFORNIA State Board of Food and Agriculture will hold its first 2010 Drought Meeting looking at how fluctuating supply affects water quality. The board will hear from speakers from the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board and conduct a panel discussion on “actionable solutions with agricultural farm organizations, water districts and state officials.” The word “actionable” usually refers to law suits, but in this case it connotes seriousness and is code for rent-a-mobs and posturing politicians to stay away. That said, public participation and comment is encouraged. Time: Wednesday, October 14, 10am-2pm. Place: Fresno Farm Bureau, 1274 West Hedges Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728