We Didn't Start the Fire

On 16 June 2009, the United States Global Change Research Program released a comprehensive report entitled Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. The USGCRP integrates input from 13 different federal government departments and agencies in an effort to help the US cope with global climate change.

I downloaded the full PDF copy and was looking it over when I was struck by a particular graphic.
On page 90 of the report is an illustration of temperature increase across the continental US, specifically projected increases in the number of days in which the temperature will exceed 100°F. Naturally the chromatic scale for the graphic runs in the so-called warmer colors, with a deep red representing the hottest temperatures. Looking at the worst scenario as a whole, therefore, gives the distinct impression of the country descending into a fire, with tongues of flame licking right up Texas, Arizona, and California's Central Valley.

Other than climate, what do those areas have in common? That's right, as America grapples with the equality of treatment for all her citizens, these areas seem to be, time and again, focal points for the narrow-minded and intolerant people who fight against marriage equality, employment equality, civil rights recognition, and who even threaten to secede.

Time and time again when efforts are made to treat all citizens equally, these areas lead the charge that fairness and respect for all will lead directly to Armageddon. Sure enough, look at the map: the flames of Hell are headed right toward them.

But the cause isn't gay marriage, it's their own damned SUVs.

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We Didn't Start the Fire	Song by Billy Joel

(Nothing but) Flowers

As Spring continues to unfold, the native plants and wildflowers in the front yard have begun to burst forth in bloom. The California Poppies have spread throughout the yard and are blooming profusely, their golden orange color a nice counterpart to the purples, reds, and blues of the other plants.

And today appeared the first bloom on the Wind Poppy plant, a rare California native cultivated by the fine folks at Annie's Annuals, which I have in a pot on the porch.

This poppy also has a golden orange color but the blooms are wide open, in contrast to the tighter flowers of a California Poppy, and the petals have undulations that look at once both heirloom and modern. It's like a cousin to our state flower — similar enough to evoke a familial resemblance but different enough to stand out.

The front yard is a sheer delight this Spring; whenever I'm sitting on the porch passersby comment on how much they enjoy the tapestry of colors and textures. I owe it all to Leslie Jaquith of Deva Gardens in Santa Cruz. It's amazing how well she took my disjointed thoughts about the yards and translated them into exactly what I wanted.

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(Nothing but) Flowers	Song by Talking Heads

Mystery Achievement

Yesterday I thought I'd have one bloom today, but two proud orange flowers greeted me this morning! Spurned on, perhaps, by its neighbor, a second California Poppy plant burst forth with a colorful Springtime flower, marking a bright advent to the season.

To further celebrate Spring, I planted some other native poppy varieties in the pots on the porch, and a dozen different heirloom tomato plants in the backyard beds. Look for more photos as they grow and bloom.

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Mystery Achievement	Song by Pretenders

Rite of Spring

The first California poppy bloom of the season began to unfurl today!

I'd noticed that the poppies were especially prolific this year, inhabiting the whole front yard, but wasn't sure how many of the new plants would actually flower. Well, one's taken up the challenge, at least. It's got one bloom unfurling now with at least two more to follow. And the plant behind it looks like it's not far behind.

What's more, just about every other flowering plant in the garden is beginning to bloom. Looks to be a colorful Spring!

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Rite of Spring	Ballet by Igor Stravinsky

Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves

Looks like sea creatures have determined they can't count on human assistance. In New Zealand, two pygmy sperm whales were stranded despite hours of assistance from humans, reports AP via CNN. The mother whale and her calf had been coaxed off the beach by rescuers but were then repeatedly stranded on a nearby sandbar, despite all human intervention.

But then to the rescue came Moko, a female bottlenose dolphin. Much like how a middle-aged woman in a store deftly helps mind a stranger's child as the harried young mother fumbles with purse and coupons, Moko glided in and immediately calmed the whales, then smoothly guided them back out to sea.

"They had arched their backs and were calling to one another, but as soon as the dolphin turned up they submerged into the water and followed her," AP quotes Conservation Department worker Malcolm Smith.

Personally, I'm glad to see aquatics starting to police themselves. After all, once they...er...stand up, then we can stand down.

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Sisters are Doin' It for Themselves	Song by Eurythmics with Aretha Franklin

Sorry I'm not home right now, I'm walking into spiderwebs.

Photographic evidence of my lax housekeeping skills; here's what was on my living room table this afternoon, right next to the preamp remote that I'd been using all day and the stack of mail from the week.

I've been getting home so late for the last couple of weeks there's no way of knowing how long the web had been there.

Guess I need to start a weekend routine of some basic cleaning lest Nature completely reclaim my house.

And yes, after taking the picture I crushed the spider and removed the web. I've no leniency for squatters in my house.

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"Sorry I'm not home right now, I'm walking into spiderwebs."	Lyrics from the song Spiderwebs by No Doubt

The talking trees are silent in a noisy way.

We got our trees today!

A week ago I noticed that squares had been spray-painted on the sidewalk in front of the parking lot next to my house. Inside the squares was the notation "tree." I was quite excited by the notion we might be getting some new trees on our block; sure enough, this morning three trees arrived on a flat-bed truck, along with a crane to lift them into place.

A crew cut away the concrete sidewalk, dug a hole, and put the young trees in place. They placed three trees along the face of the lot, one at each end and one in the middle. (The trees were placed on the Center Street side of the lot; the Cedar Street side has trees already.)

The foreman says the trees won't grow too tall and hit the power lines, but rather should fill out nicely. They will definitely add some beauty to a dull stretch of block. And give Jake something new to anoint.

It's cool the city had budget for this.

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"The talking trees are silent in a noisy way."	Lyric from the song The Singing Sea by Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch

Let Our Garden Grow

Potted the remaining California Poppy plant today. I also picked up some cilantro and rosemary that were on sale and potted those, too. I'm hoping they all will be easy to grow, given my indifference to rigorous gardening methods (read: inability to water regularly).

I put the pots up on the back steps so they will get more sun. I'm hoping this placement also makes it difficult for Jake to pee on them.

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Let Our Garden Grow	Song by The Bad Plus