[QUOTE=Mark Rose;463374]No, but the lack of winter cold snaps have allowed more to survive, leading to a population explosion. Now that the pines are dead, there are fewer beetles. It's part of a natural cycle: when the pines die, the deciduous trees get a chance to grow.[/QUOTE]
Couldn't a decrease in cold snaps be part of a warmer climate?

[QUOTE=kladner;463386]Couldn't a decrease in cold snaps be part of a warmer climate?[/QUOTE]

Of course. What we are seeing here is Mother Nature raising its middle finger in our general direction.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

[QUOTE=kladner;463386]Couldn't a decrease in cold snaps be part of a warmer climate?[/QUOTE]

The pine beetles have been there for a very long time. They haven't moved north.

The climate is certainly warmer, especially with a lack of cold snaps in winter.

OK. I get it. I was misguided in stating "moved north". Still, doesn't it come down to a similar result? I have seen the dead Fraser Firs in Great Smokey Nat Park, though that is the result of an invasive species.
[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_fir#Pests[/URL]

I guess it just seems we have a lot more out-of-control fires in susceptible areas. A tree kill is certainly a great aid to fires spreading.
[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_pine_beetle[/url]
This is the critter in question, right?

[QUOTE=kladner;463393]I guess it just seems we have a lot more out-of-control fires in susceptible areas. A tree kill is certainly a great aid to fires spreading.[/QUOTE]You'd think. But you might want to look at
[url=https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2016/09/14/the-surprising-science-of-wildfires-and-tree-killing-beetles?platform=hootsuite]The Surprising Science of Wildfires and Tree-Killing Beetles[/url]

[QUOTE=kladner;463393]OK. I get it. I was misguided in stating "moved north". Still, doesn't it come down to a similar result? I have seen the dead Fraser Firs in Great Smokey Nat Park, though that is the result of an invasive species.
[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_fir#Pests[/URL]

I guess it just seems we have a lot more out-of-control fires in susceptible areas. A tree kill is certainly a great aid to fires spreading.
[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_pine_beetle[/url]
This is the critter in question, right?[/QUOTE]

Yes, that's the one. Their numbers became so plentiful that occasionally the wind will blow them over the Rockies where they are not native. Forestry agencies on the eastern side of the Rockies have had to become very aggressive with monitoring for them and cutting down infested trees.

[QUOTE=Dr Sardonicus;463406]You'd think. But you might want to look at
[URL="https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2016/09/14/the-surprising-science-of-wildfires-and-tree-killing-beetles?platform=hootsuite"]The Surprising Science of Wildfires and Tree-Killing Beetles[/URL][/QUOTE]
That is really interesting, and quite surprising.

[QUOTE=Dr Sardonicus;463406]You'd think. But you might want to look at
[url=https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2016/09/14/the-surprising-science-of-wildfires-and-tree-killing-beetles?platform=hootsuite]The Surprising Science of Wildfires and Tree-Killing Beetles[/url][/QUOTE]

Interesting read. Thank you.

My favorite - in no small part due to its right-across-the-street-from-my-apartment-complex-ness, but also due to its very distinct vibe, with clientele a mix of students from the nearby community-college and local residents - coffee shop just closed, after 29 years in the same Cupertino location, a somewhat dingy but nonetheless charming and relaxed little single-story strip mall at the juncture of I-85 and Stevens Creek Blvd, a major local thoroughfare.

There are several redevelopment plans under consideration by the local planning commission, but all involve a radical 'upscaling' gentrification and high rises, as described [url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/16/developer-has-new-plans-for-cupertino-shopping-center-overhaul/]here[/url].

This sucks - I spent a lot of pleasant hours there over the past 18 years, since moving to the area from the midwest. I already miss my daily dose of friendly, familiar faces and simple, quality coffee-with-a- bagel. Anyhow, time to re-think my whole non-work daily routine ... gonna have a gander at the DeAnza college student union/cafeteria, only a few hundred yards further away, on Monday (it's only open during the week, alas).

We survive, my city survive. We have biggest wildfire in modern history.
I one moment wildfire come to less then 100 meters to the two petrol station. Wind has stopped, so for now: we can rest after sleepless night!

Two multi-hour sessions in Addenbrookes' Accident & Emergency Dept. this week. Both were for anaphylaxis; both resulted in lengthy observation periods following blood tests and treatment with steroids and antihistamines.

No-one has the faintest idea what set off the reactions so further series of tests have been arranged. I have essentially no history of any kind of allergy so these episodes were totally unexpected.


Ho hum. I'm quite clearly becoming old and decrepit.