| Furlough day today so we headed out to ride around Folsom and checkout the Humbug Creek trail. We decided to catch the light rail up & ride back. I thought mid morning on a weekday would leave plenty of room for our bikes. I've done this before but never seen so many bikes as today. We counted 11 on the back car where we rode. It was of course way too crowded but people made adjustments and were tolerant. It felt like this was the norm given the way people responded.
The whole bike access/storage setup has problems, starting with the steep steps that make it hard for a bike to be carried either direction. The ramp is off limits for bike without a letter from the city. The area for bikes is limited and the hooks don't work for some. Most just jam their bike against the fold-up seats or hang out near the door. There are other problems but those of you who've taken your bikes on the light rail know that. Supposedly the limit is 4 bikes per train with 2 in the front and 2 in the back. I don't think I've ever seen that few bikes on one of my trips.
I'm checking into whether there is there any plan in the works by RT to improve the situation. It's obvious more people are getting around by bike & rail and it would be great to see the system improved to better support that. I don't have any great ideas but more dedicated space and easier access would seem a great place to start.
I had three flats today and went through two tubes (don't ask) so I was glad the LR was there for the return trip...
Dale
/out
 Good place for three flats | comments: Leave a comment   |
| I spent last week traveling down the east side of the sierras to see some of the deserts to the south. This is a favorite trip for me and one I've done many times. It never fails to give me a feeling of energy and being a part of the vast open spaces that surround me there. I never cease to marvel at the many adaptations that species have evolved with to cope with the harsh conditions they are exposed to in these deserts. The dry conditions and temperature extremes make for survival challenges.
When there's been enough winter rain like this year, the wildflowers put on a show that is hard to describe. The colors can stretch across the landscape and vary greatly. Mixed in with the deep blue skies and bright white clouds it makes for an artist's dream, even if you aren't one.
Still, many see the desert as a wasteland or dump site. As I traveled on this trip I pondered the new pressures to develop huge new solar and wind renewable energy facilities connected by expanded transmission lines to provide the still growing demands of our urban society. With a lot of careful planning it should be possible to develop some new facilities and avoid impacts to the sensitive species that live there. The question we're faced with now is whether there will be enough time to work these solutions out or be forced into a fast track that will further add to the damage already done there by our roads, cities, water transfers, mining, air pollution and introduction of native species.
Like developing an effective adaptation plan for climate change, it seems that we first have to greatly improve the way we resolve the many existing environmental problems facing the biodiversity of our natural environment before we undertake a new major impact. We can all do a part in that by making a concerted effort to use less energy and make better use of existing renewal options where we live. Take the time to visit and experience the desert soon too.
 Desert Energy? | | comments: Leave a comment |
| With three years of below average rain, California is officially in a drought emergency today. As the governor told us today, our reservoirs are very low across the state. I set out to take a look at the closest one today. My trusty BF Llama got me up the bike trail to Folsom and beyond under cloudy skies and then came to the rescue by making like a camel at the very low Folsom Lake. A "report" I received on Friday indicated there was more water now in the local parking lot! After riding some 32 miles to get there, I found the shoreline is indeed so far down that we had to hike a long way down & cross country to get there. Rather than taking a much deserved drink we opted to empty the water bottle back into the lake where it likely came from to begin with. Maybe a Pocket Camel will be the next BF model to roll off the assembly line. Meanwhile, my Llama and I will continue to do our part to keep the state wet. A week of rain is forecast and won't hurt either although it's seen as too little, too late to change things much for this year. Yee Haw!
 Thirsty Llama reaches the new shoreline of Folsom Lake
 Llama looks back at receding Lake level
 Meanwhile, sun man waits for those hot summer days to come | | comments: Leave a comment |
| One of the most exciting parts of my recent trip to the Pantanal in Brazil was searching for the biggest and most elusive cat in the new world. I didn't exactly find one (not counting this sign) but came pretty close a couple of times with some intense searchs as seen by fresh tracks of an adult with young. Exciting!
Currently, we have several developments in the world of the jaguar. First, close to home here in the states for the first time we have a radio collar on a jaguar on this side of the border. This will hopefully give us some insight to how the barrier of a border fence affects it's movement. More on this can be found in this article from High Country News. Here's a good look at the jaguar now being tracked in Arizona.
On a much larger scale, there is a lot of thought going into the long term needs of this amazing animal in the face of development and habitat fragmentation. The "Path of the Jaguar" is a feature article in this month's National Geographic. Well worth a read.
On a more regional scale, the important work being done on the ground in Mexico by the Northern Jaguar Project needs to be supported. I have a contact there and hope to visit this program in the future. Maybe that's where I'll see my first jaguar!? Hope so and soon.
There is disagreement on whether or not the jaguar ever occurred naturally in California. I'm not aware of any documented records that make that case although there are certainly published articles that imply it (World Book 2009 for example). At this point, I do not think there is a case for this assumption.
 "Sign of the adventure to come..."
 "Recent mother & kitten tracks" (rotate clockwise) | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Or not? One thing is for sure, at least in some cases you'd be much more likely to have company and less to lose your way. Either way I don't have an iPhone or any other G3 phone to tempt me to find out. At least not yet. Social geoapps, don't leave home without one?
Location-area as a lifestyle? | | comments: Leave a comment |
| It was 69 degrees here today on the 19th of January. Not a record but warmer than most. I took a stroll down to the river this afternoon and did a little bird watching. The say's phobe, audubon warblers, downy woodpecker, ruby-crowned kinglet, black phobe, and flickers I saw were all feeding on insects. It seems early for this much insect activity given that the trees aren't leafing out yet and the thickets look like they'd make for scarce pickings under such dormant conditions. Watching a warbler work to swallow a very large and much alive grub said otherwise. Were they all just responding to the unseasonablly warm day or the gradual warming? What kind of changes will come with this? Something as seemingly simple as an earlier emergence by common insects would greatly alter their availability as food for other species, their ability to pollunate plants that have adapted to this relationship, and of course their own ability to find food and live out their life cycles normally. Food for thought, at least now.
I went back and gave a little more thought to this and checked a few old references at home. This one touched on the issue.
Timing of emergence: It is important that the emergence of species is timed so that the life history is synchronised with suitable environmental conditions and so that the meeting of the two sexes is facilitated. Synchrony with the environment results from the common reaction to the environment by members of a species. Temperature is particularly important in this since to a large extent it governs the rate of development and the activity of the insect. Often a diapause is involved and in long-lived species a diapause may also be important in synchronising emergence so that the sexes meet. It is common for male insects to emerge as adults a little before he females although the difference is not great. (from Chapman, The Insects, structure and function. 1975).
This more recent one drives the point home.
T he phen ol o gy (timing) of many of the important events in an organism’s life cycle may be affected by climate. For example, the onset of spring growth in both plants and animals is frequently triggered by environmental conditions that exceed critical temperature or precipitation thresholds. Similarly, the timing of migration and breeding is often driven, or modulated, by temperature and precipitation patterns. Consequently, if temperature regimes change, the timing of seasonal events may also change. In addition, some species that may not depend on temperature cues have strong interactions with other species that do. For example, insectivorous birds often rely on spring insect emergence for food, and insects frequently specialize on one species of host plant. If the interacting species use different cues to time their emergence and breeding events, then a mismatch may occur between predator and prey or parasite and host, which could cause major species declines. (from Observed impacts of global climate change on the U.S. Report from the Pew Center on Climate Change. 2004). | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I was lucky enough to be in Brazil when the Darwin exhibit was there on tour in 2006. Even in portuguese, it made a huge impression on me. Even luckier, I was able to see the exhibit again at the Field Museum in Chicago in 2007 during one of its few stops in the US.
This year is the 150th since his great accomplishment and I intend to get in on some of the celebration. Here's one that's coming up.
Darwin Series - Patagonia and the Pampas - Darwin in southern South America
Gary Williams, Curator, Invertebrate Zoology and Geology, California Academy of Sciences
12:15 pm, February 17th at California Academy of Sciences
More than half of Darwin’s book, The Voyage of the Beagle, treats southern South America. From 1832-1835, Charles Darwin traveled extensively in the Pampas and Patagonia. Dr. Williams will present a natural history of the region based on his own four travel excursions over two decades following Darwin’s travels more than a century and a half later.
Reservations: Reservations: Free with General Admission, but you must RSVP as seating is limited. Please call the Naturalist Center at 415-379-5494.
From: Events + Lectures: California Academy of Sciences
http://www.calacademy.org/events/index.php?d=1&m=2&y=2009&c=0&v=m
Membership Info | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I'm recently back from our annual trip to SF for MacWorld. This one was especially good and we were able to take enough extra time to take the train and spent a week at MacWorld with great visits to the Asian American Museum to see the Afghanistan exhibit (awesome!) and the new Cal Academy of Sciences (amazing!). I saw lots of great examples of the creativity from the macintosh community including a great program I picked up earlier at a MW. NoteBook from Circus Ponies just keeps getting better and I came back determined to make more use of the latest version.
Today I was able to convert an old website I maintain over to NoteBook as a better way to manage the information I'm sharing both offline and online. I'm still getting the hang of it but even while down with a bad cold this week I converted the site today and added a number of new features while maintaining the simple journal look that I want for it. I intend to spend more time keeping it up to day with the software too. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| We continued our new tradition of heading out somewhere interesting by bike leading up to xmas. Last year is was the "Ride to the Ryde Hotel".
This year we went up into the foothills via the great bike trail we have nearby. We stayed at a cozy bed & breakfast where they fed us great food and we were in a perfect spot to explore the upper reaches of the bike trail and the surrounding area.
We expected a big storm due xmas morning when we had to get back. It hit hard the night before. We had a backup plan but it turned out we didn't need it as the weather broke enough for us to ride back into a cold wind. We had a great time and are already wondering what we will do next holiday season not to mention the time in between. Ho, ho, ho!
Folsom B&B Bike Ride | | comments: Leave a comment |
| We made it up to Folsom in spite of my tire & mechanical failures shortly after we started riding. The rain held off and our panniers worked fine to carry everything but the sink. This is our second year of taking a holiday getaway ride somewhere. Last years trip to the Ryde Hotel was great if a bit spartan. We nearly had the place to ourselves after that amazing sunday brunch and used the time to catch up on reading, thinking, and exploring the delta.
The trip this year will likely be more of the same up in the foothills. There are lots of trails to explore as well as the historic town and surrounding area. The area is much more developed than our delta location and the B & B is quite different from the former speakeasy we were at last year. We have three days again this year and a back up plan if the heavy storm arrives or my bike has more problems. The light rail would whisk us home even on xmas when we'll be leaving.
Our holiday season is very low key over all. The big change is having a grandson now and with him being local we get lots of time with him and his family. Very nice changes.
/out/
 | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Monday we peddle off to a bed & breakfast in Folsom. We decided to branch out from last years ride to the Ryde hotel for xmas. This will give us a chance to explore the town and surrounding area for several days before returning on xmas morn. There is a sake factory, historic exhibits, lots of food, and who knows what else waiting for us. Certainly lots of bike trails too. One big question will be the weather as the largest storm of the season and for some time is due while we are coming back. We have options and will take it as it comes. This should be fun. Pack tomorrow.
Adios! | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Amazing indeed! This weekend I was fortunate enough to greet my one and only grandson. He and family are doing fine and resting at home now. Welcome Lennon Rio Bustamonte into the world! It truly shifted a little on 11-08-08.
His arrival comes on the heels of a very big election that has filled us with more hope than it's been possible to find for some time. Perfect timing and a reminder about why it is so important to have leadership and vision that puts people before profit. That's not enough of course and we all have to do our part now to see that the future is indeed brighter. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I spent several days in the northern sierra recently while it was still balmy under early fall skies. The trip was mostly spent with family, friends, food and fun in Quincy but I did manage a few hikes and to get my bike out to explore. I discovered that there are quite a few places to park around Lake Davis and head out around the lake. Most of the trip was on dirt roads with no traffic. The road heads away from the lake but if you stay with it, you eventually return to your starting place, some 20 miles later. I had never been all the way around the lake before and found it to be a good way to get away and clear my head once I convinced myself I wasn't lost...
This was the last week of September and capped a month with more riding than I've been able to do for a long time. When I finished the ride, I'd put 700 miles on my bike. Many of them because I decided to take the long way back when I had the chance. Always a good idea.
 | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | I was lucky enough to work on a study looking at the distribution and behavior of two species of chipmunks in the high sierras early in my career. That study introduced me to some amazing places and people not to mention the challenges of collecting good field data under sometimes harsh conditions. As I look back, it's likely that I was also in the field during the early climatic changes that are being well documented now by the efforts of Patton and others. Today's article updating on this work gave me opportunity to reflect on this as well as remind me that I need to get back up there and continue making my own observations. Also, I was reminded not to wait. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I've been spending more time thinking about and working on border issues of late and intend to continue doing so in the future. My focus is mostly from a perspective of shared wildlife and habitat conservation issues but of course that is just a piece of the puzzle.
Here's some typical views (http://www.azstarnet.com/secureborder/panorama.php) along the border.
More later. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| A donde quiera que voy me acuerdo de ti.
a donde quiera que estoy te estoy mirando
el viento me trae tu voz
no hay música que oiga yo
que no me deje llorando
qué tierra pisando estás?
qué estrellas te alumbraran?
tu camino bueno o malo,
que boca borrando esta?
los besos que yo te di
corazoncito tirano.
A donde quiera que voy me acuerdo de ti,
mi alma se muere por ir juntito a tu alma
el mar sin agua no es mar
el sol sin luz nunca es sol
y yo sin ti no soy nada.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
Wherever you go I remember you.
where you I'm watching you
The wind brings me your voice
there is no music that I hear
I did not stop crying
what you're treading ground?
what stars you lighting?
your way good or bad,
that mouth erasing this?
kissing me di te
heart tyrant.
Wherever you go I remember you,
my soul was dying from juntito go to your soul
Sea water is not without sea
the sun light is never without sun
and I am nothing without you.
 | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| The OLPC program continues to grow and engage an expanding community of educators, students, parents, politicians and others as it provides a new model for global education and much more.
Here's a link to the May Countries Workshop (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Country_workshops/May_2008) that gives an idea of the scale and breadth of this effort.
One thing that strikes me about this program is how much thinking and doing is underway and how much energy that seems to be coming from the program. The volume of information coming from the countries that are involved, the educators, designers, students, and others is amazing.
Places to keep an eye on are the Wiki (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/The_OLPC_Wiki), Talk (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_talk:News), Community News (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC:News), and One Laptop per Child (http://laptop.org/). There are also lots of stories coming out of countries like Peru (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Peru/Arahuay) where the program has been in place for nearly a year.
If possible, find a local educator or group that can give a demo of the XO. It's like nothing you've ever seen and even though it's not meant to compete or replace what you are using now, in the hands of a child and especially one that would not otherwise have a tool with creative and networking abilities it offers truly amazing opportunities.
 | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I watched an excellent movie Sunday at the local theater. The simple plot, well acted out, drummed home a very important point. Freedom is not real unless everyone can participate in it.
As "The Visitor" shows too well, that is certainly not the case now in our own country. A college professor going through the motion of living his empty life is in the midst of presenting a paper on globalization when he is suddenly confronted with some very real immigrants seeking a better life in NY and who enrich his in the process.
A chance moment in the subway suddenly changes everything for them & leads to one being detained without rights or basic human considerations. The story drives home how the treatment of immigrants has changed dramatically post 9/11. Due process has clearly been comprimised. A powerful message to us all is that we must stand up for each other if anyone is truly to be free. We also have to ask ourselves how far we are willing to go to "protect" our borders too?
Watch the movie and see for yourself. If you find that you to need to do more afterwards, you can "Take Action Now" at http://www.participate.org.
This movie presents a very timely issue well and delivers a powerful message that will be much talked about. Don't stop there though. Participate! | | comments: Leave a comment |
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