India Personal: travel notes
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
In India…
…sitting in a cramped cybercafe getting slightly caught up.
My Mac’s onboard battery died completely in the middle of the Paris airport. Now every time I start it up it’s reset the onboard clock to December 31, 1969. It’s probably time to get a new computer as this one is more than six years old.
Wife & daughter are well although daughter has a little cold. It’s nice to be with family again; this is the first time I’ve been back in India in three years.
Tomorrow I go to Mumbai to give a house concert. Then a few days in Pune before I travel to Nasik to give a concert on Friday the 19th. Then a Pune concert on the 20th. A bunch of lec-dems .and workshops including one in Mumbai on the 24th, just before we head out. Home on the 25th.
These short, fast trips are brutal, but it’s all the time I’ve got right now.
OK, signing off..
environment: Alaska denialists scientific consensus tundra
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Year 2, Month 8, Day 13: Feel The Burn!
Alaska had a big fire back in 2007. Turns out that it released a f**k of a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere, reports the Anchorage Daily News for July 28:
Alaska’s huge Anaktuvuk River tundra fire in 2007 released as much carbon into the atmosphere as Earth’s entire Arctic tundra absorbs in a year, report the BBC and Alaska Dispatch, citing a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Though the 400-square-mile fire’s long-term effects remain uncertain, it may have been a harbinger of things to come in a warmer, drier Arctic, the researchers say. It was the largest tundra fire ever recorded, releasing carbon stored over a period of 50 years and doubling the cumulative area of Alaska tundra burned in smaller fires since 1950.
Sent July 28:
The studies are coming thick and fast, each one providing further evidence of the reality of global climate change. Individually, they demonstrate that different regions all over the planet are already feeling the effects of altered weather patterns: climbing temperatures, more frequent storms, and increased precipitation. Collectively, climatological research irrefutably confirms the urgency of our situation. The University of Florida team’s analysis of carbon emissions from the 2007 Anaktuvuk River tundra fire is sobering not just for people living in the region, but for anyone who’s been paying attention to the positive feedback loops involving droughts and wildfires everywhere on Earth. And yet denialists are still desperately spinning away each piece of scientific evidence as the work of a worldwide liberal conspiracy. Their paranoid fantasies are no longer amusing; when it comes to climate change, the ignorance of the few is a grave danger to us all.
Warren Senders
environment Politics: Rick Scott rising sea levels
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Year 2, Month 8, Day 12: The Water Is Wide
Well, looks like it’s time to start buying beachfront property in Northern Florida, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (July 27):
South Florida can’t afford to ignore growing dangers from pollution-fueled climate change, according to new findings from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Rising seas, more flooding from storm surge and saltwater seeping in and fouling drinking water supplies are among the looming threats from climate-altering pollution, according to the environmental group’s nationwide review released Tuesday.
South Florida, and Miami in particular, is one of the most vulnerable parts of the country, and local governments need to play a larger role in dealing with the damaging effects of climate change, according to the NRDC.
It’s a good excuse to call out Rick Scott. Sent July 27:
With even fairly conservative models suggesting a good chance that most of the Florida peninsula will be under water by the century’s end, it would seem a no-brainer for the state’s residents and government to start focusing on adaptive strategies to cope with the effects of climate change. While we humans haven’t shown much real skill at long-range planning in the course of our evolution so far, that will have to change if we are to survive in the climatically-transformed future that now seems all but inevitable. Our economic systems are built around the requirements of quick profitability, just as our political systems are geared to the exigencies of two, four, or six-year electoral cycles; it’s no wonder that we’re failing to craft a sustainable future. What we need from our business and political leaders is long-term vision; what we get from politicians like Rick Scott is myopic greed.
Warren Senders
environment Gardening India Personal photoblogging: Gardening
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Garden Photos On The Way Out The Door
I am in the airport getting ready for the first leg of my India trip. I’ll be heading out in about two hours to Paris and from there to Mumbai. Concerts in Mumbai, Nasik and Pune, and some lec-dems & workshops. And some family time, of course. I’m told my daughter caught a cold — hope she’s feeling better soon.
Anyway, before I left I took some photos of the garden and thought I’d share them. This year most of the plants are doing very well. The squash vine borers attacked my zucchini and pumpkin plants and totally killed them — but for the first time left my tromboncino squash (waaay better than zucchini IMO) totally alone. I win.
The first pictures are from my front steps, looking out over the slope.
…there are some potatoes in buckets in the foreground.
Some vegetable porn:
…kale.
…tomatoes.
…these will be orange pimiento peppers.
…muskmelon!
Now a new set of garden beds next to my garage, with some very productive tomatoes and peppers.
Coming along nicely…
And an amaranth plant, a volunteer from last year. I have an entire bed planted in amaranth but I forgot to take pictures of it. Too bad; the red plants are spectacular en masse.
And now, here are pictures of the container garden on top of our garage. This year I finished building a deck on this surface, and have moved almost all my other containers to be in the center of the space. The result is impossible to believe; we have a fabulous crop. For the next two weeks various friends will be picking, watering and keeping things going; we get back on the 25th, just in time for the really serious harvesting.
For some reason I can’t get photobucket to rotate these pictures so they embed correctly. Just turn your head 90 degrees, ‘k?
Tomatoes…
Cute little eggplants…
There is a karela vine in my greenhouse as well as several climbing the sides of the garage. They are producing very heavily. Good thing I like karela.
A Japanese karela. The Indian kind are rougher.
Ho Chi Minh hot peppers. Amazing.
Here’s what the garage-top garden looked like last year in early July. We’ve come a long way.
environment Politics: denialists National parks wildfires
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Year 2, Month 8, Day 11: Yogi & Boo-Boo Will Have To Wear Protective Clothing
The Sacramento Bee for July 25 describes a new study on the likely increase in wildfires as a consequence of climate change…and what it’s going to mean for Yellowstone National Park:
The study by Westerling and his colleagues, which will be published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that the expected rising temperatures caused by climate change could increase the frequency of large wildfires in Yellowstone to an unprecedented level, according to a news release from the university.
The projected increase in fires would probably cause a major shift in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, with fewer dense forests and more open woodland, grass and shrub vegetation.
The change could happen by 2050, Westerling theorizes, with forests becoming younger, the mix of tree species changing and some forests failing to regenerate after repeated fires. That would affect the region’s wildlife, hydrology, carbon storage and aesthetics, the news release said.
“What surprised us about our results was the speed and scale of the projected changes in fire in greater Yellowstone,” Westerling said. “We expected fire to increase with increased temperatures, but we did not expect it to increase so much or so quickly. We were also surprised by how consistent the changes were across different climate projections.”
Sent July 26:
Yellowstone has long been the figurehead of our nation’s National Park system. From iconic geysers to astonishing ecologies, this extraordinary area is not only one of the world’s great wonders, but an unparalleled tourist attraction. Looking into the future, however, it’s hard to imagine the same crowds will show up for the regular forest fires that the UC Merced study predicts as a consequence of regional droughts and climate change? Yellowstone isn’t alone; other parks throughout the country are already feeling the effects of the past century’s emissions of greenhouse gases. How much devastation must global warming wreak on our country’s landscape before the professional denialists and their science-blind followers come to their senses? What would Theodore Roosevelt say to the current crop of law-makers who are eagerly destroying his legacy? Between climate change and anti-environment legislators, our country’s national parks are in greater danger than ever before.
Warren Senders
India Indian music music Personal vocalists Warren's music
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Timings and Trips
I’m leaving for India in a day and a half. Lots of cleaning to do around the house, and some practicing, too. I have concerts in Pune, Mumbai and Nasik over the next fortnight, along with some lecture-demonstrations, and some family time.
As of today, August 10th, I have written “climate letters” that carry me through August 27th; I am going to have a vacation from writing the damn things. This will be my first such break in a year and eight months. The website knows not from “vacation,” however, and will continue to publish the letters without my intervention.
The ongoing release of my 78 rpm recordings has slowed a little, but I’ve got a few more goodies coming up over the next two weeks. Don’t worry, there’s still a lot more that I haven’t been able to turn into videos yet.
Cheers!
India Indian music music vocalists: 78 rpm discs genius
by Warren
9 comments
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
78 rpm Records of Indian Music: The Insouciant Virtuosity of Master Vasant
Not a lot is known about Master Vasant of Surat. His full name was Vasant Amrut, and like many of the vocalists from those days, he was affiliated with the film industry:
In 1931, the Indian Art Production, Bombay, produced a film titled Farebi Jaal (Trapped) directed by M. Bhavnani.Though the name of the music director was not given but Master Vasant has been credited for the lyrics. Of the six songs in this film, Durga Khote and Master Vasant sang three each. [Ref: Hindi film geet kosh, vol.1, (1931-40), by Harminder Singh Hamraaz, 1988, page 15]. Around 1930, Master Vasant Amrut (of Surat) had cut two records: HMV P 13474 and P 13542. Gramophone Company released these records on black label in February 1931 and November 1931 respectively. Of these four songs, three are identical in the list of the songs of this film. It appears that these records were directly used in the film. It is not clear on whom the songs sung by Master Vasant Amrut were picturised. Thus, Master Vasant Amrut of Surat, could then be the first playback singer of Hindi film songs.
His singing is straightforward Gwalior gayaki — but done with nonchalance, aplomb and incredible virtuosity. What a delight.
Raga Nat Bihag – “Jhan jhan jhan paayal baaje”
Raga Patdeep – “Dhan dhan baaje”
Raga Purvi – “Bhaj mangal Shyaam”
Raga Durga – “Phul rahi belariyaa”
Ghazal – “Usne kahaa hasti hai teri”
Misra Ghazal – “Ham hai bande ishq ke”
environment: Arctic ice melt pollution
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Year 2, Month 8, Day 10: Revenge of the Poles
Oh, this is totally gross. The New York Times for July 25 reports that:
Warming in the Arctic is causing the release of toxic chemicals long trapped in the region’s snow, ice, ocean and soil, according to a new study.
Researchers from Canada, China and Norway say their work provides the first evidence that some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are being “remobilized” into the Arctic atmosphere.
“Our results indicate that a wide range of POPs have been remobilized into the Arctic atmosphere over the past two decades as a result of climate change, confirming that Arctic warming could undermine global efforts to reduce environmental and human exposure to these toxic chemicals,” write the scientists, whose analysis was published yesterday in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Yecccch. Sent July 25:
For centuries, humans have seen the Polar zones as places of mystery. Explorers, novelists, storytellers and scientists have all sought the secrets to be found beneath the accumulated ice and snow. It turns out that might not be such a good idea. In an appalling side-effect of global warming, the melting ice is releasing significant doses of toxic chemicals back into circulation. This unintended consequence of our greenhouse gas emissions is sadly ironic — the Earth almost seems to be “striking back.” As we face a future on a drastically altered planet, we will discover that no aspect of our species’ history of waste and pollution can ever be truly buried; eventually we will no longer be able to avoid a cleanup task of monumental proportions. It behooves us to ensure that the toxic effluvium of our time not blight the lives of future generations.
Warren Senders
environment Politics: assholes idiots Republicans
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Year 2, Month 8, Day 10: (facepalm)
Ha ha ha ha ha. In the middle of a heat wave, this is the best the July 23 Richmond Times-Dispatch can come up with:
Climate is not static but always in flux. The Earth has seen periods of warming and periods of cooling. The Ice Age was not a myth. Global warming is not a myth, either — which does not mean that the climate of the entire globe eventually will resemble the climate of equatorial Africa. Significant consequences can flow from seemingly modest changes in temperature and precipitation, however.
The trend may have gone beyond the point that it can be reversed. It also may be possible that relatively modest endeavors can help humanity adjust to changes and even forestall the worst-case scenarios.
This can be done without jettisoning the economic system. Indeed, market economies may be more able to cope than the alternatives. The Pentagon takes climate change seriously. Sensible responses likely will have to come from the right. Richard Nixon went to China. Will conservatives be credited with climate breakthroughs?
Give me a fucking break.
Sent July 24:
So conservatives are going to come up with usable solutions for climate change? Really? They’ll have to solve a few problems of their own — like admitting that it’s real, and caused by a greenhouse effect thrown badly out of balance by human emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Yes, Nixon went to China — but everyone acknowledged that the nation was real, and that diplomatic recognition could no longer be delayed. Present-day Republicans, however, would be shrieking that “China” was a liberal fabrication, and threatening primary challenges against any legislator who acknowledged its existence and importance. Finally, they must recognize that the long-term consequences of failure to act are far worse than a below-average quarterly profit report from one of their sponsors in the fossil fuel industry. Conservatives must get their own house in order before they can plausibly offer solutions to the looming threat of climate chaos.
Warren Senders
environment Politics: United Nations
by Warren
leave a comment
Meta
SiteMeter
Brighter Planet
Year 2, Month 8, Day 9: Insecurity.
Sigh:
NYT, 07/23/11:
UNITED NATIONS — The persistent inability of the United Nations to forge international consensus on climate change issues was on display Wednesday, as Security Council members disagreed over whether they should address possible instability provoked by problems like rising sea levels or competition over water resources.Western powers like the United States argued that the potential effects of climate change, including the mass migrations of populations, made it a crucial issue in terms of global peace and security. Russia and China, backed by much of the developing world, rejected the notion that the issue even belonged on the Security Council agenda.
Ditherers. Sent July 23:
It is absolutely indisputable that climate change is an international security issue. Every one of the factors currently considered security threats by the world’s nations will be hugely exacerbated by the rapidly warming climate. The planet’s weather patterns are becoming wilder, weirder and more damaging in response to the mounting greenhouse effect. Can there be any doubt that a similar transformation is going to unfold in the geopolitical arena? When nations are threatened with extinction as a consequence of rising sea levels, when vast regions may be depopulated by drought, when increasingly scarce resources will make everyday life all over the world a struggle for survival, the question is not whether global heating belongs on the agenda of the UN Security Council, but whether anything else poses an equal threat to global stability. What is crucial is action, for the Earth’s window of opportunity is closing faster by the day.
Warren Senders