• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Fires & Global Warming

Mike

Well-known member
According to reknowned Human Behaviorist "Albert Horr", global warming has definitely contributed to the recent outburst of fires in California.

It seems as though the 1 to 1 1/2 degree average worldwide temperature rise in the last 100-150 years has caused an increase in the human absorbsion of vitamin D, which has a direct effect on the brain's chemical make-up.

"This chemical increase has a direct effect on brain stimulation in the area of the human brain that lends itself to the propensity to be an Arsonist", says Horr.

"We started studying this phenomenon after the 1993 and 2003 disastrous wildfires in California that were later attributed to Arson. These unfortunate people have zero control of their continual needs to pick up a box of kitchen matches and ride through these canyons dropping them sporadically", according to a spokesman from the Liberal and Scientific Studies Office which Horr heads up.

"If these unfortunate people could control these urges, we would not have the fires as we have seen now and in the past", he says. "Global Warming is the definitive cause and a serum to offset this chemical inbalance is being developed as we speak. There will be no more fires soon".

"Horr's latest findings confirm my earlier statements on global warming and the effects it has had on the increase of fires in California", quoted Harry Reid (D) Nevada. "It's all Bush's fault too", says Reid, "for not signing our comprehensive Energy package and subjecting the population to human chemical disasters such as this".

Just for you Frankie. Like it? :lol:
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
:lol: :lol:

On a serious note, I can not even stand to watch coverage of the fires due to the political crap involved.

The say it is Bush fault due to the war, because national guard is spread thin, but they have 17,000 troops stationed in California that they are not using at this moment.

They say it is Global Warming even though California has had a history of bad fires going back to before Global Warming phrase was ever coined.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
There are just some places on this planet that people should not live....and those canyons in CA is one place for sure.

Plus, people are building so very close to each other--here and there-- you have no defense if your neighbors burn...you burn also!

The only thing Global Warming may have added to it is the deficit in rainfall they've experienced...it made the brush drier.

But, if people would clear bush away from their houses, they'd reduce their chances.

It's hard to imagine a scene like that.
 

Mike

Well-known member
There are just some places on this planet that people should not live....and those canyons in CA is one place for sure.

We certainly agree on that. Was reading that the State of California wanted to outlaw cedar shake shingles for houses in the burn areas back in 1990 and all hell broke loose.

How about those mud slides?

Wouldn't that be fun? :roll:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
You gotta give GW an Atta Boy for the little jab he got in against Louisiana and New Orleans politics today...

While praising the FEMA's and Arnolds cooperation and all the work being done on the fires- he made a comment something to the effect "it shows what you can do when you have state officials that know what they are doing and that will work with you" :lol: :lol:
 

Mike

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
You gotta give GW an Atta Boy for the little jab he got in against Louisiana and New Orleans politics today...

While praising the FEMA's and Arnolds cooperation and all the work being done on the fires- he made a comment something to the effect "it shows what you can do when you have state officials that know what they are doing and that will work with you" :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol:

You'll like this too. I saw on the news that they caught some illegal immigrants stealing food and water from the Qualcomm Center yesterday.

It's got to be a world of difference between the Superdome then and that stadium now........Bet they don't have to gut it and renovate it either. :roll:
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
kolanuraven said:
There are just some places on this planet that people should not live....and those canyons in CA is one place for sure.

Plus, people are building so very close to each other--here and there-- you have no defense if your neighbors burn...you burn also!

The only thing Global Warming may have added to it is the deficit in rainfall they've experienced...it made the brush drier.

But, if people would clear bush away from their houses, they'd reduce their chances.

It's hard to imagine a scene like that.

Yep. You don't hear much about the single largest contributor to these fires - the wind. There's not a dang thing you can do in winds that strong except get out of the way and pray. Am I the only firefighter here?
 

Tex

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
You gotta give GW an Atta Boy for the little jab he got in against Louisiana and New Orleans politics today...

While praising the FEMA's and Arnolds cooperation and all the work being done on the fires- he made a comment something to the effect "it shows what you can do when you have state officials that know what they are doing and that will work with you" :lol: :lol:


Kathleen Blanco (Dem.--governor)lost in Louisiana because the people didn't think she could perform. Some of that performance (not all by any means) was as a result of the Feds not wanting to work with a Dem. governor. It was just politics again.

The new governor elect, Jindal a Republican, is pretty interesting for Louisiana. He comes from immigrants from India thus breaking the seemingly racial bias of the electorate. He also commented on the feds not letting go of the money that was appropriated. I bet he will have much better success with getting the aid out of fed. hands and into the Louisiana economy because he is a Republican. He also seems a lot better political leader than Blanco was because he is smart, quick on his feet, and knows the issues (based on Chris Matthew's interview).


The uncontrollable fires in CA are almost always a result of Santa Anna winds that come in from the inland desert. They are dry and very, very strong. Add that to the fuel in the canyons and you have a real problem.

Most of the houses in the fire burning areas are on top of ridges in the hills (mountains to most people). It is some of the only level places to build outside of the Sand Diego or Los Angeles basins. Most of these homes are worth millions because they are out of the city and usually have great views.

A little better research on building homes that will withstand a firestorm is necessary. These houses wouldn't have caught on fire as easily if the research and building codes incorporated fire resistant building codes. They also have to be earthquake resistant.

I have seen some of those fires in that type of terrain and in particular the Oakland hills fires in the Bay area (San Francisco Bay)- almost got caught up in that one.

California is different than the east. They have a little bit of a wet winter and NO rain in the summer. Add to that no humidity when the winds are not blowing off the ocean and instead blow off the desert (Santa Anna) will just burn that growth up quick.

I doubt they will stop building in those hills because it is so much nicer than living in the city but they could design them to the elemental disasters that are a part of that environment.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
kolanuraven said:
There are just some places on this planet that people should not live....and those canyons in CA is one place for sure.

Plus, people are building so very close to each other--here and there-- you have no defense if your neighbors burn...you burn also!

The only thing Global Warming may have added to it is the deficit in rainfall they've experienced...it made the brush drier.

But, if people would clear bush away from their houses, they'd reduce their chances.

It's hard to imagine a scene like that.

I agree, but they say a lot of it has to do with more affordable housing. Housing cost are so high in California people move into the Canyons for cheaper locations.

Plus the enviro people throw a fit when you start talking about logging trees or thinning brush in those areas.

One thing I never figured out was why no one has invented some type of sprinkler system for home on the outside. Like they have in businesses on the inside. Something that would saturate the home and ground around it on with an automatic sprinkler that could be turned on as fires threaten.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
Tex said:
Kathleen Blanco (Dem.--governor)lost in Louisiana because the people didn't think she could perform. Some of that performance (not all by any means) was as a result of the Feds not wanting to work with a Dem. governor. It was just politics again.

.

I disagree, I doubt the feds would turn down helping due to it being a Dem in charge. The help was there for the asking, and from I remember some of the offered help was even turned down.
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
Can't compare the 2 stadiums. There was always access to QualComm but the SuperDome was not accessible at all, by anyone.

They could take off the trash and come in to clean in San Diego...not in New Orleans.


So BIG difference there!
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
aplusmnt said:
Tex said:
Kathleen Blanco (Dem.--governor)lost in Louisiana because the people didn't think she could perform. Some of that performance (not all by any means) was as a result of the Feds not wanting to work with a Dem. governor. It was just politics again.

.

I disagree, I doubt the feds would turn down helping due to it being a Dem in charge. The help was there for the asking, and from I remember some of the offered help was even turned down.


Remember that Cuba offered help...who better @ hurricanes than Cuba....but the Bush Admn turned them down.

Cuban had offered help within hours...it took the Bush Bunch 4 days!!!

Can anyone say " pendejos" :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

Tex

Well-known member
aplusmnt said:
Tex said:
Kathleen Blanco (Dem.--governor)lost in Louisiana because the people didn't think she could perform. Some of that performance (not all by any means) was as a result of the Feds not wanting to work with a Dem. governor. It was just politics again.

.

I disagree, I doubt the feds would turn down helping due to it being a Dem in charge. The help was there for the asking, and from I remember some of the offered help was even turned down.

Are you calling the new Republican elect governor a liar? He even stated as much. He even repeated it on the Chris Mathews show today. Watch it tonight and see for yourself.
 

Mike

Well-known member
kolanuraven said:
Can't compare the 2 stadiums. There was always access to QualComm but the SuperDome was not accessible at all, by anyone.

They could take off the trash and come in to clean in San Diego...not in New Orleans.


So BIG difference there!

There was never a time after or during Katrina that trucks could not get to the Superdome.

The buses and National Guard came in while the water was at it's peak.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I think the number one thing is that if you watched both on tv- you can't even come close to compare the people...Like two exactly seperate worlds- you'd never believe they were in the same country...These are all responsible, rational, wage earning, house owning suburban people -- where most of the same type conscientious folk had got out of N.O. before Katrina- and what was left- and what we kept seeing on tv was just inner city dwellers and dregs of society...

And then on top of that GW's FEMA director during Katrina was a cronyism political appointment that even had lied about his training and former experience-- and which I doubt even knew what the initials of FEMA stood for.....

I think not only FEMA- but GW has learned from Katrina and are doing a better job-- but the main thing is they have a hell of a lot more to work with in California...The State and locals had already reacted to the situation and had it under control as much as they could with their resources-- and the Feds brought in the backup heavy duty assistance, which is how the system is supposed to work...
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
I think the number one thing is that if you watched both on tv- you can't even come close to compare the people...Like two exactly seperate worlds- you'd never believe they were in the same country...These are all responsible, rational, wage earning, house owning suburban people -- where most of the same type conscientious folk had got out of N.O. before Katrina- and what was left- and what we kept seeing on tv was just inner city dwellers and dregs of society...

And then on top of that GW's FEMA director during Katrina was a cronyism political appointment that even had lied about his training and former experience-- and which I doubt even knew what the initials of FEMA stood for.....

I think not only FEMA- but GW has learned from Katrina and are doing a better job-- but the main thing is they have a hell of a lot more to work with in California...The State and locals had already reacted to the situation and had it under control as much as they could with their resources-- and the Feds brought in the backup heavy duty assistance, which is how the system is supposed to work...

I agree! It is stupid that they are bringing up Katrina during this catastrophe! There is very little that resembles Katrina. like you mentioned the people are different, the economy is different, the logistics are different.

The only thing that is not different is the Media trying to turn it into Bush's fault somehow. Won't be long that he will be blamed for throwing a match and starting the fire.

I would think the media would wisen up before they loose all their base. There is no wonder CNBC and CNN rating are failing.

And the funny thing is if they want to bring up Katrina they should be pointing out how Bush learned from it and has made changes for the better. That would be a compliment towards Bush and they will never do that, instead they want to relive Katrina's bad experience instead of concentrating on the good things being done with the fires.
 

Tex

Well-known member
aplusmnt said:
Oldtimer said:
I think the number one thing is that if you watched both on tv- you can't even come close to compare the people...Like two exactly seperate worlds- you'd never believe they were in the same country...These are all responsible, rational, wage earning, house owning suburban people -- where most of the same type conscientious folk had got out of N.O. before Katrina- and what was left- and what we kept seeing on tv was just inner city dwellers and dregs of society...

And then on top of that GW's FEMA director during Katrina was a cronyism political appointment that even had lied about his training and former experience-- and which I doubt even knew what the initials of FEMA stood for.....

I think not only FEMA- but GW has learned from Katrina and are doing a better job-- but the main thing is they have a hell of a lot more to work with in California...The State and locals had already reacted to the disituation and had it under control as much as they could with their resources-- and the Feds brought in the backup heavy duty assistance, which is how the system is supposed to work...

I agree! It is stupid that they are bringing up Katrina during this catastrophe! There is very little that resembles Katrina. like you mentioned the people are different, the economy is different, the logistics are different.

The only thing that is not different is the Media trying to turn it into Bush's fault somehow. Won't be long that he will be blamed for throwing a match and starting the fire.

I would think the media would wisen up before they loose all their base. There is no wonder CNBC and CNN rating are failing.

And the funny thing is if they want to bring up Katrina they should be pointing out how Bush learned from it and has made changes for the better. That would be a compliment towards Bush and they will never do that, instead they want to relive Katrina's bad experience instead of concentrating on the good things being done with the fires.

Katrina was a disaster that was different. There has been a lot of blame put on the Bush administration that was DESERVED.

Those people in the Superdome were told to go there as it was higher ground than much of New Orleans. It was closer to the MS river and therefore higher land. FEMA and the Bush administration was a day late and a dollar short in providing people who fled the lower grounds the basics like food and water. There were not enough helicopter transports of food and water to provide for those that fled the flood after the FEDERAL levies broke. FEDERAL attention to the levies over the years was lax and that lead to much of the flooding in New Orleans.

To not blame the Feds for their inattention and FEDERAL response is totally warranted. You can't blame the hurricane on them, but you can blame the inattention and slow response on them.

I found it interesting that much of the California fire help was ordered by the governor and done by STATE officials who acted much faster than the Feds did in Katrina. Bush shouldn't get much credit for the response to the California situation because he didn't have much impact. The governor opened up the Qualcomm stadium, not President Bush.

People were able to flee the fires and in New Orleans they were trapped by the flood waters. People from the hills were able to come down, stay with friends in the basin and stay in hotels that were not damaged.

The big difference between the two was the nature of the disaster. In New Orleans, the Feds, who had the power to get the equipment to reach the people, did not exercise that promptly. It was a Federal blunder--and one the white house had responsibility that was not exercised properly, either before the storm (levies) or after (reaching survivors and providing emergency aid promptly.

Military leaders were later tapped to perform the role FEMA (an executive lead branch of government) political appointees failed.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I found it interesting that much of the California fire help was ordered by the governor and done by STATE officials who acted much faster than the Feds did in Katrina. Bush shouldn't get much credit for the response to the California situation because he didn't have much impact. The governor opened up the Qualcomm stadium, not President Bush

And the Mayor of New Orleans-- and Louisiana Governor could have taken actions just like Ahhrrnold did-- but they didn't.... Even tho they had days warning of the possibilities of Katrina-- they didn't make preparations...

I worked for years with FEMA (used to be called Disaster and Emergency Services-- or Civil Defense)- and sat thru many a disaster mock up for our area, plus a few real disasters-- and they are geared to come in a provide additional assistance to an area or state after a disaster occurs- but the primary role is/should be in the hands of the locals and the state to make preparations (have a disaster plan in place) - provide initial services- and make a request to the Feds of what additional help is needed....

From what I saw-- the New Orleans and Lousiana folks were shooting from the hip from minute one-- and didn't even have a disaster plan in effect--let alone know how to implement one....They were unable to do anything to help themselves....The New Orleans mayor should have been strung up- rather than re-elected ....

And that is what makes California different- they probably are one of the most progressive states for disaster planning with their potential for earthquakes, fires, tsunamis, mudslides, etc...

All goes back to the 6 P's

Prior
Planning
Prevents
P*ss
Poor
Performance
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
Tex said:
I found it interesting that much of the California fire help was ordered by the governor and done by STATE officials who acted much faster than the Feds did in Katrina. Bush shouldn't get much credit for the response to the California situation because he didn't have much impact. The governor opened up the Qualcomm stadium, not President Bush.

This is the point! It should have been the same way for Katrina the state should have had things under control until the Feds could act. Yes the feds acted slower than they should have. But the problem was that they were needed to act faster than they should have been. The type of people stranded and the type of people in charge in the state led to the problem in Katrina.

The only problem the Feds did was that they should have been prepared to take over once it was evident the State was not going to do its job and the people were not going to participate in helping themselves.

California is handling it the way New Orleans should have, the state do the brunt of the work and the feds show up later with money and a plan for completion.

Bush's biggest mistake was not realizing just how worthless the people were involved in the New Orleans effort, he probably assumed they were of the same caliber as the Californians who are taking care of business as intended.
 
Top