Weather report from Venus

NASA photo

"Howdy everyone, this is your weather reporter Blissful Hope.   The word on the street is 'Stay home and stay cool!'  Today's high temperature looks like it will set a new Venusian record at a blistering  900 degrees F.  Let's check in with our climate expert, Professor Greenhouse, to see what he thinks of this. 

Professor, what do you make of this new record?"

"Well, Blissful, of course no single weather event can be blamed on Venusian warming.  However, we can say that this sort of heatwave is consistent with our climate models.  The models predict that with 965,000 parts per million of CO2 in our atmosphere, the temperatures are going to be hot enough to melt lead."

"Thank you Professor.  For a different point of view, we take you Max Doubtfire, a leading skeptic of the Venusian warming theory.

Max, how do you account for this record heatwave?"

"Now, Blissful, heat records come and go.  Blaming this on CO2 is bad science.  We aren't convinced that it's really all that hot here on Venus.  And besides, if we stop producing CO2, our economy will go to hell."

"And for yet another opinion on this complex and controversial topic, let's go to Mary Q. Contrary.  Mary, how do you see this hot weather?"

"Thanks for asking Blissful.  As you know 99% of climate scientists think that the heat is trapped by CO2.  But I think it could be something else--maybe because we're closer to the sun, maybe because the atmosphere is too darn thick, maybe it's sunstorms--anyway I don't think the evidence is conclusive."

"So there you have it folks, this debate is an even draw.  Even the experts can't agree.  Best we can do is stay out of the sun, and hope that it cools off tomorrow. . . or maybe move to another planet! Ha Ha. . .  That's it for today's weather report.

And now a word from our sponsor, the good people at CO2 conglomerated."

A Great Aridness--book review

A Great Aridness.By William deBuys, Oxford University Press, 2011

 The U.S. Southwest is a canary for climate change.  Its fragile ecosystems are already stressed by rapid population growth and resource hungry suburban developments.  In A Great Aridness, William deBuys tells the story of the unfolding drama of the impact of global warming in the Southwest with the skill of a novelist writing a gripping adventure tale and the thoroughness of an investigative reporter determined to get to the root of an expose.

The book devotes one chapter each to the horsemen of the global warming apocalypse--drought, heat, fire, and insects.   He also covers the history and politics of the Spanish conquest, state and Congressional water wars, the U.S.-Mexico border and the issue of immigration.  He puts together the pieces of an ecological puzzle--e.g.   prairie dogs, mesquite, grasses, cattle, fire--to show how well intentioned actions often misfire.

He interviews many excellent authorities throughout the book, including Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Arizona.    "More than the specter of 130 degree days in Phoenix, it is the specter of megadrought that worries Overpeck," he writes.  He emphasizes that we are in the early stages of this disaster.  The risk of reservoirs running dry "skyrockets after 2026".  He argues, "Eventually, under any set of circumstances, the continuous growth of western America would push the curve of water need to the limit of what the rivers and aquifers can provide.  Climate change only accelerates the day of reckoning."

He laments, "it's hard for any of us to get seriously concerned about what might happen until it does happen."  DeBuys argues that mitigation requires "embarking on the difficult journey back to 350 ppm" of CO2 in the atmosphere.  He supports a tax and dividend plan as the most "reasonable strategy".  "Absent U.S. leadership", however, he opines, "Perhaps only catastrophe will change the current intransigence".  He adds, "Perhaps a little further into the future, . . .many of those shouting loudest about newcomers . . .may themselves be forced to pull up stakes and becomes newcomers elsewhere.  If so, their shouts will surely strike a different note."

Electric Cars and Solar Power are Not the (whole) Answer

If electric cars and solar power aren't the whole answer, what is the question?

Actually there are two questions.  Mostly on this site, I've tried to address the question "What will it take to stop global warming?"  I've argued that we need to convert to 100% electric cars and 100% renewable energy, just to reduce our CO2 emissions by half.  And that is only half way to where we need to be to cut CO2 in the atmosphere to the safe level of 350 parts per million. (See What Will it Take to Stop Global Warming--the Case for Electric Cars, a paper I co-authored, on this subject)

But here I would like to focus on a second question--"Can electric cars solve the urban transportation problem?" This is a question I focussed on for much of my career as a transportation engineer and city planner.  Here are my thoughts:

The internal combustion engine automobile is extremely successful at increasing personal mobility, and cars will no doubt be around for a long time to come.  Their very success has led to a number of problems, some of which can be solved by electric vehicles, and some of which cannot.  Here is a list of these issues:

Problems that can be solved with electric vehicles and renewable energy:

• Air pollution--internal combustion engines and oil refining increase particulate matter, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and various hazardous toxic air pollutants.   The United Nations Environment program estimates that these pollutants cause nearly 2 million premature deaths per year--UN report on air pollution deaths . 
• Wars for oil--reliance on oil has led to resource driven wars in the middle east, as well as propping up dictators in many countries.  Trillions of dollars and millions of lives are lost in these wars and repression by these dictators. 
• Global Warming--as mentioned above, we can reduce CO2 by half with renewable energy & electric cars.

Problems that cannot be solved with electric vehicles and renewable energy:

• Urban Sprawl--electric cars are so cheap to operate (2-3 cents per mile!) that they could actually increase urbans sprawl with loss of wildlife, farmland, and open space

Levittown, 1950s

• Obesity--as long as people drive door-to-door in their daily lives, they do not get enough exercise to stay trim.  This is a serious health problem
• Auto collisions--traffic safety has improved greatly over the past 100 years, but there are over one million traffic fatalities worldwide every year.
• Traffic congestion--autos are so popular that they clog up highways, many times shortly after they are built in a phenomenon known as "induced traffic demand." Most congestion occurs in the peak hours, i.e. during commute times.

The solutions to the problems of sprawl, obesity, traffic safety, and congestion can all be addressed by building transit oriented developments with walking, biking, and public transit as important means of transportation, and traffic calming measures included in their design.  If people live within walking or biking distance of their workplace, or near a transit route that gets them to work, most of the urban transportation problem is solved.  The automobile will still be important for social activities in the evening and on weekends, but it will not be the only way to get to work or school.  This solution requires that we implement higher density urban developments with the support of activists in the bike, pedestrian, and public transit arenas.

A typical example of this solution are university campus communities where student housing is located close to campus, so autos are not needed and everyone gets exercise by walking and biking.
I feel hopeful that these problems can be solved.  For example, just today I saw a Chevy Volt City Car-Share vehicle in San Francisco.  This is a great solution for urban living--rent a car through a car share program when you need one, and avoid the hassles of paying for parking, maintenance, and insurance.

Also, I was pleased to see the today's Bay Area News Group's Real Estate advertising section lead off with a promotion for the high density Broadway Grand development in Oakland.  The ad says, "It's within walking distance to BART and to Lake Merritt, the Farmer's Market, lots of nightlife, and so many popular restaurants".  The units range from 700 to 2150 square feet--a far cry from the 4,000 to 5,400 square foot homes on 1/3 acre lots advertised elsewhere in the real estate section.  I was also pleased to see that in suburban Milpitas moderate sized homes of 1,200 - 2,000 square feet were advertised "less than a mile from the Milpitas Light Rail Station".  And in even more suburban Rio Vista, homes were advertised with "solar power systems and and energy efficient features to eliminate electric bills."  I doubt if the solar systems are sized large enough to include electric vehicles, but it's still a hopeful sign.

So, no, electric vehicles and solar power don't solve all of these traditional urban planning problems.  But cleaning the air, eliminating the need for oil wars, and helping to stop global warming are more than enough reasons to push full speed ahead for 100% electric cars running on 100% renewable energy.  And we should also work for livable cities that are designed for pedestrians, bicycles, and public transit.

SF Bay Area Strategy Session on Global Warming

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and want to get involved in fighting global warming, you are invited to a strategy session on July 21st.  Please see details in the flier below:

350.org SF Bay Area’s

Bold Year of Climate Action

Looking for some fun ways to stop global warming? Remember Moving Planet? Now is the time to get more involved in climate action and targeted efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.

Saturday, July 21, 9:00 am – 1:30 pm

Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists

Cedar & Bonita, 1606 Bonita, 2nd floor

(not handicapped accessible, but we’re working on it)

Speaker

Guest Speaker from 350.org National Office

Join 350.org Bay Area for a strategy session to plan climate actions and choose a few campaigns. The Bay Area has the political and technical savvy to become a world leader confronting this crisis.  350 Ohio is working to stop fracking.  350 Washington State is working to stop coal and oil shipments out of the Pacific Northwest . Rising Tides/Blockading Tar Sands Texas is getting ready to block tar sands oil arriving at Texas refineries with civil disobedience.

BRING YOUR OWN PROJECTS AND IDEAS! Other possibilities include:

• Bring "What About the Climate?" to the fall election campaigns
• 350 Youth campaign--We are the Future!
• Block tar sands oil from the Bay Area
• Stop subsidies to oil and fossil fuels and put a tax on carbon
• Put warning labels about global warming on gas pumps

TIME TO GET THE BAY AREA MOVING!

$15 suggested donation, lunch provided, no one turned away due to lack of funds.

Call Jack at 626-806-6683 for a solar powered ride from N. Berkeley BART

Questions: Please call or write Rev. Earl Koteen, rev.earl.w.koteen@gmail.com, 510-473-2750

Plain Jane Roundup

I've only been a doggy daddy for a couple months now but I think I have this pet ownership thing down pat. Food goes in the sharp end, poop comes out the stinky end...and never the other way around. That's pretty much it. I've done so well at this that I've received my first ever Father's Day card...from my dog. It has a crazy looking dog on the front with aluminum foil on her head and inside it says "thank you for protecting me from the monsters under the bed, Daddy." Finally, a card that knows this monster protection stuff is serious business...and the helmet of aluminum foil is crucial. Knowing full well my fathering skills only goes so far without caffeine, she also got me a bag of coffee...uh, presumably with her own money. Was it Three-peckered Billy Goat coffee? No, but something equally good from the same makers...Wicked Wolf Gourmet coffee, which features a snarling wolf on the bag. Appropriate from a dog, I'd think. So brew yourself a cup of Wicked Wolf and sit back and see how we did in the first ever two part, two month challenge we call Plain Jane...all about run down plain old automobiles and how we'll customize the ever lovin' bejesus outta them later.

Hey, I had to segue from my silly opener into the build challenge somehow, right? Anyway, first on the Plain Jane slab takes the cake for the weirdest entry yet, Rolic and his...uh...Mercedes Benz Popemobile. How is he ever gonna customize this already custom ride? No clue! But I hope he commits the ultimate sacrilege while doing so. Cuz, you know, this roundup wouldn't be right without sacrilege!



Next jmaokoen takes a tricked out Austin Healey 3000 and well...presents it as such. Its not particularly plain or run down, in fact its pretty pristine so it makes you wonder if he didn't follow the directions...or he has something completely brilliant planned. This entry raises more questions than answers so we'll just have to wait and see how it all turns out.



Jonathan Derksen asked for a random assignment and got the 1969 El Camino. He pulls through and its looking mighty plain and mighty...white. As is, its like a loaf of Wonder Bread...plain, dull, and uninspiring. But this dull loaf has plenty of potential to become focaccia bread. In fact, the observant viewer may see that he had already tricked out this dull loaf to the nines! But we'll talk about that next month.



Later in the challenge Jonathan chimes in with his own assignment, a Fiat X1/9. Its red and black and fully functioning with opening doors and even flip up headlights. its rather nice as is so it makes you wonder just what does he have up his sleeve for next month. If his first customized entry is any indicator, this one is gonna be out of this world!



Forget speed, forget horsepower...forget the engine altogether! TechnicFenix13 knows that pedal power is where it's at with his entry...a bicycle. Just how is he going to customize this thing? Flames on the fender? Banana seat? Ape hanger bars? Those frilly tassel thingies on the handle bars? I don't know...but one this is for sure, it won't have a photo studio backdrop.



I hope that Wicked Wolf coffee is going down easy. Are you sitting comfortable? Do you have some cheese and crackers maybe? Cuz lego911 is about to start his usual long tirade of multiple entries, the first being the '57 Chevy 210. Its looking pretty stellar as stock so I can only imagine what he has planned for this classic. Maybe he'll make it a jumpin' lowrider!



Next Peter clocks in with a rather plain Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV Coupe in white. The mind reels with anticipation over how this can be customized...perhaps a thumpin' stereo and some douche bag rims are in order. I just have no clue as to his master plan!



Who likes the Oldsmobile 1956 Eighty-Eight Holiday Hardtop Coupe? I do. Its already looking pretty stellar in its red and white color scheme so will customizing this bad boy yield a mobile donut shop like on Monster Garage? Or maybe its more of a rolling ball pit?



This challenge yields more questions than answers and no less puzzling is what Peter will do with this Peugeot 205 GTI Hatch. I'm wishing for either a swamp boat or a lunar rover.



Everyone knows one Alfa Romeo isn't enough in a build challenge so Peter clocks in yet again but this time with an Alfa Romeo 105 Series 2000 GTV. Its all red and rather plain, yet stylish...like a well coiffed haircut.



Lastly Peter goes big, then goes home with this 2012 Ford Global Ranger Wildtrack Pickup in bright orange. Its already fully loaded so what is he gonna do to trick this one out? Maybe chop the roof and give it western style cattle horns on the hood.



This next entry from Bricksonwheels is a bit of an anomaly. The title on the door says Plain Jane but the truck customizer enters one of his most tricked out, badass custom trucks to date called "The Dragon". Photoshop skills and Magic card graphics makes this one of the more custom LEGO rides of all time so what does he have planned for his custom entry then? My hunch says more of the same.



Dylan Denton apparently has a plan for this poor man's Ferrari and teenage dream, the 1994 Toyota MR-2. It has fully functioning doors and popup headlights so what can he do to customize this ride? Might I suggest making it a circus inspired ice cream delivery car?



Alright, maybe that wasn't a good idea, but Lino Martins has plans for this rusted out 1960 Mercury Colony Park wagon. You need a tetanus shot just to get anywhere near this thing so even setting this heap on fire would be a good upgrade. Can he bring this crap bucket back from the dead? Magic 8-ball says "outcome is uncertain".



Raphy has a plan...actually two plans. One is a 1983 GMC Vandura in all its plain white Wonder Bread loaf looking glory. Its as uninspired as the decade that produced it. So what's he gonna do with it? Perhaps an A-team color scheme is in order!



Next Raphy punches the clock with yet another plain white van, but this time a 1980 Dodge Tradesman. Its sort of...blah. Obviously the young man has gone van crazy so what will next month yield? A wrestling ring? A hot dog stand? A dogsled?



Lastly, Tim Inman is a guy well known for going big, then going home. This is no exception as he sends us off with this large GMC Sierra 3500 HD. Its already pretty tricked out so what will next month bring? Again, this is a build challenge with more questions than answers.



We've had all the best and brightest eggheads science had to offer working hard with their calculators and probability formulas all trying to calculate exactly how many entries we'll have this time. Some said more than four, some said seven...some said a lot of hoopla about quantum mechanics, but even weird science couldn't predict there would be exactly 17 at the time of this writing. Again, this challenge offered more questions than answers. Which brings us to next month's challenge called From Mild To Wild...all about taking these Plain Jane creations and customizing or restoring the ever lovin' bejesus outta them. Maybe all our questions will be answered then. This roundup started with what will hope to be the ultimate sacrilege and ended with a big heap of GMC. This is how all challenges should go. Anyway, stay tuned next month at the same bat-time, same bat channel to answer all these crazy-ass questions. But for now, aluminum foil on your head will keep the monsters at bay. trust me on this. Later, dudes.