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Alex Breitler
A native of Benicia, he lives in Stockton with his wife, Ann (a Record copyeditor who fixes all of his mistakes). He has been writing mostly about natural resources since 2003, first in Redding and now in Stockton. He is on the lookout for a giant ... Read FullCategories
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Monthly Archives: August 2007
Hay, what’s up?
If you’re grilled a few butterflies while driving along the alfalfa fields west of Stockton in recent days, don’t feel badly.
They’re pests.
Each year about this time you’ll see swarms of “alfalfa butterflies” buzzing through the fields. A lunchtime drive down Highway 4 yesterday showed most of the butterflies hanging out just south of the highway [...]
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What happened 100 million years ago…
… is news today.
From Oregon State University:
CORVALLIS, Ore. – It appears that chemical warfare has been around a lot longer than poison arrows, mustard gas or nerve weapons – about 100 million years, give or take a little.
A new study by researchers at Oregon State University has identified a soldier beetle, preserved almost perfectly in [...]
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Survey sez…
Eighty-seven percent of Americans are “seriously concerned” about the environment, and more than half believe environmental concerns should trump economic impacts, according to an annual survey released this week.
The survey by GfK Roper Consulting says most Americans are looking to the federal government to strengthen enforcement of green regulations. The top five issues of concern: [...]
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Anyone fluent in government-speak?
One of the most important parts of reporting is taking a concept that is inherently complicated and making it understandable for everyone. Often this involves translating what we refer to as “bureaucratese” into English.
A press release crashed into my inbox at 2:14 p.m. Tuesday from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Its headline: “Meeting Scheduled to Develop [...]
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Global warming goal
The governor this morning announced a regional plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
It’s part of the previously announced Western Climate Initiative, a coalition of the following states and provinces: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Manitoba and British Columbia.
Now, how to do it? Schwarzenegger’s press release isn’t too [...]
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Big day for the Delta
Lots happening Tuesday on the Delta front.
At federal court in Fresno, a judge will hear testimony from sparring scientists regarding how much water should be pumped out of the Delta next year, considering the plight of the Delta smelt. The hearing may go on all week and has implications for millions of residents.
Farther south, Sen. Dianne Feinstein [...]
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How fares the air?
From the Associated Press:
FRESNO, Calif.—The Environmental Protection Agency affirmed a previous ruling that the San Joaquin Valley’s air met federal clean air standards last year, saying a temporary spike in particulate pollution could be ignored because it was caused by high winds and construction.
In October, the federal government ruled that the region was no [...]
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What’s burning?
Was driving in to work this morning and saw the long blanket of smoke hanging over the eastern San Joaquin Valley and the foothills.
I wondered if the Mother Lode was on fire.
Turns out the smoke has blown in from out of town — quite. Most of it is from a blaze burning in Santa Barbara [...]
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…and some things stay the same
Thumbing through a wad of yellowed newspaper clippings from The Record’s library (known in newspaper-talk as the “morgue”) can be a nostalgic kick.
I’m digging through 1983, and here’s an ad for the Atari 2600 video game system, $89.99 at Sears. Buy now and you’ll save $5-$10 on such new releases as Dig Dug, Pole Position and [...]
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It wouldn’t be a Friday…