Tag Archives: environment

If it's not grown, it has to be mined.

It pains us to cut trees for their wood. One recommended technique for escaping the pain of cutting down trees for paper is to substitute electronics. The technique reminds me of a comedy I watched. As I remember it, in an opening scene, a wounded tough-as-nails soldier breaks his own finger to take his mindContinue reading “If it's not grown, it has to be mined.”

If it’s not grown, it has to be mined.

It pains us to cut trees for their wood. One recommended technique for escaping the pain of cutting down trees for paper is to substitute electronics. The technique reminds me of a comedy I watched. As I remember it, in an opening scene, a wounded tough-as-nails soldier breaks his own finger to take his mindContinue reading “If it’s not grown, it has to be mined.”

Timber's Term of the Week: Skid Road

How did skid road morph into skid row? Webster’s Online Dictionary defines a “skid road” as: A road made of logs on which freshly cut timber can be hauled. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines a “skid road” as: A road along which logs are skidded. The California Board of Forestry defines skid roads (or tractor roads)Continue reading “Timber's Term of the Week: Skid Road”

Timber’s Term of the Week: Skid Road

How did skid road morph into skid row? Webster’s Online Dictionary defines a “skid road” as: A road made of logs on which freshly cut timber can be hauled. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines a “skid road” as: A road along which logs are skidded. The California Board of Forestry defines skid roads (or tractor roads)Continue reading “Timber’s Term of the Week: Skid Road”

What is Deforestation?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that deforestation contributes nearly 20% of the overall greenhouse gases (GHG) entering the atmosphere (see their news release). The IPCC lists GHGs as the cause for anthropogenic global warming (AGW). So, what is deforestation exactly? The people blogging at Geography Blog say: Deforestation is the logging ot[sic,Continue reading “What is Deforestation?”

New Zealand Forestry and California Dreaming

“We Californians are really not very good conservationists – we’re very good preservationists. Conservation means you use resources well and responsibly. Preservation means you are rich enough to set aside things you want and buy them from someone else.” – William Libby, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley New Zealand harvests trees. Today, with overContinue reading “New Zealand Forestry and California Dreaming”

Paper or Plastic? – The environmental considerations of buying an e-book reader

My hope is to sell this article for, like money (as opposed to other forms of currency used for barter or trade) since it’s fungible. Plus, I’ve not yet asked for permission to use the pictures. Note: The [x] is a hyperlinked footnote for fact-checking purposes and won’t be in the final version. Your feedbackContinue reading “Paper or Plastic? – The environmental considerations of buying an e-book reader”

Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Del Walters as Director of CAL FIRE

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced his appointment of Del Walters as director of CAL FIRE. “With more than 30 years of service at CAL FIRE, Del Walters is the perfect person to head our state’s firefighting efforts,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Playing a key role in combating the 2007 and 2008 firestorms, he has the experienceContinue reading “Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Del Walters as Director of CAL FIRE”