San Francisco Chronicle
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES
CLIMATE CHANGE: Hotter world may fan flames
Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The risk of catastrophic wildfires like those sweeping through Southern California will increase all over the state as the world heats up, forests dry out and weather patterns shift, forestry experts said Wednesday.
The 16 wind-blown fires that forced the largest mass evacuation in California history may or may not be the result of climate change, but studies have shown that the hot drought conditions that fed the flames are becoming more common.
"Fires are burning hotter and bigger, becoming more damaging and dangerous to people and to property," U.S. Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell said. "Each year the fire season comes earlier and lasts longer."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/25/MNUUSVEFP.DTL
Face of foreclosure crisis - Chinese-speaking Parkinson's sufferer
Carolyn Said, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Hong Zhang Lin lost his home in Oakland's Fruitvale District in a foreclosure auction this month.
The 44-year-old former construction worker, who is disabled by Parkinson's disease, can barely believe it. He's not a subprime borrower, he has a huge amount of equity in the home, and he has made all his mortgage payments on time. The four-bedroom house, which Lin and his two brothers bought in 1992, is worth about $500,000; he only owes $94,000 on the mortgage.
But he evidently stopped making the $135 monthly payments on a $20,000 home-equity loan. The loan was with the bank division of Countrywide Financial, the same lender that carries his primary mortgage. Countrywide initiated foreclosure proceedings and sold the house to investors for a bargain price of $190,300 at an Oct. 2 auction on the Alameda County Courthouse steps.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/BULNT0E7A.DTL
Congressman slams slow deployment of air tankers
Tom Chorneau, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Saturday, October 27, 2007
(10-27) 04:00 PDT Sacramento --
- Perhaps the most proficient firefighting tool in the nation's arsenal is the C-130 cargo plane, specially fitted to carry and disperse 3,000 gallons of fire retardant liquid.
But none of the six C-130 planes owned by the military and outfitted for firefighting began flying missions over this week's destructive Southern California fires until two days after the blazes started - and after crews flew hundreds or thousands of miles from stations in Colorado, Wyoming and North Carolina.
Firefighting experts said high winds on Sunday and Monday were the main reason the big planes weren't summoned sooner, but federal and state officials asked Friday why at least some of the aircraft were not stationed closer to California given that it has some of the nation's worst wildfires.
"We need to know why those C-130s were located so far from California and so far from the front lines," U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach (Orange County), said. "The Boy Scouts motto is, 'Be prepared' - the bureaucracy is going to be held accountable for not being prepared if it turns out that life and property was lost as a result."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/MNF1T1QV1.DTL
Foreclosures in Bay Area, statewide hit record highs in 3rd quarter
Carolyn Said, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Lenders foreclosed on a record 3,242 Bay Area homes in the third quarter - a 622 percent increase from the same time last year - and there's no sign of relief ahead, according to a real estate report Friday.
Statewide, foreclosure activity hit all-time highs for the quarter. Bank repossessions were up more than 600 percent, and late notices were 2.7 times higher than a year ago, according to DataQuick Information Services, a research firm in La Jolla (San Diego County).
Most ominously, the report showed that default notices, the first step in the foreclosure process, were growing more rapidly in the state and Bay Area compared with last year and earlier this year.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/MNODT1L4R.DTL&tsp=1
Bay Area facing lifestyle changes to achieve greenhouse gas goals
Michael Cabanatuan, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Bay Area might need smaller houses, higher gas taxes and tolls on busy roads and congested business districts if it is to meet the state's goals for the reduction of greenhouse gases, transportation and land use officials said Friday.
The good news, however, is that a new poll shows that many Bay Area residents are ready to take those steps if it means a better future for the state and world.
Setting goals is significant, leaders with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments told a crowd of 800 at a conference at the Oakland Convention Center. But making the lifestyle changes to meet them is far more challenging.
"The challenge for us is, are we going to be able to walk the talk?" said Henry Gardner, executive director of the association. "We've been talking for a long time about focused growth, smart growth, but there has not been a lot of smart walk."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/27/MNBBT1SFF.DTL
Thousands "die" in anti-war protest on Market St. in SF
Jim Doyle,Susan Sward, Chronicle Staff Writers
Saturday, October 27, 2007
(10-27) 14:20 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- On cue from a bullhorn's blast, thousands of protesters fell to the pavement on Market Street today in a symbolic "die-in" as part of a nationwide protest staged in 11 cites against the war in Iraq.
For about three minutes the demonstrators lay on the ground, representing what organizers said were more than 1 million Iraqis killed since the war began in 2003. Then the marchers got up and resumed their march from San Francisco's Civic Center to Dolores Park for a rally.
March organizers put their number at 30,000 - old, young, workers, students, religious leaders. Police declined to give a formal estimate, but onlookers said the demonstrators definitely numbered far more than 10,000. They filled up Market Street for several blocks, shouting that U.S. troops should be brought home and carrying banners decrying the war.
At the head of the marchers was a band of Native American drummers who pounded a steady beat as protesters chanted, "No more war!"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/MNJHT0ULT.DTL&tsp=1
Come see our giant toxic stew!
1,500 miles wide, floating in the Pacific, made of all your plastic crap. Bring the kids!
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Friday, October 26, 2007
Because nothing makes you feel better about being a living, breathing, plastic-licking human on this planet today than the thought of a massive, eternal, slowly swirling vortex of noxious garbage the size of a continent and the shape of death itself, just floating out there in the middle of the Pacific ocean, mocking life, humanity, God. Mmm, gloomy.
Have you heard? Did you see? It's called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (or Pacific Trash Vortex, among other awesome nicknames) and it's a staggering phenomenon indeed and after reading up on it, I fully believe we must now revise our master list. Because surely this thing must be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the grand sociocultural melting pot of our time. Except for the fact that it's, you know, revolting.
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/
Bay Area needs to rethink rules on land use, zoning
Joseph Perkins
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Association of Bay Area Governments projects that the nine-county Bay Area region will add nearly 1.5 million residents by 2030. That population growth will not be attributable to a wave of foreign immigration, nor to an influx of newcomers from other regions of the state or the country.
In fact, much of the region's burgeoning population will be homegrown - the children (and grandchildren) of those of us who already live here.
The question is: How and where is the Bay Area going to house its additional 1.5 million residents?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/21/INGMSRICU.DTL
Astronauts Open Up New Station Addition
By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
(10-27) 12:18 PDT Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP) --
Astronauts swung open the door to their new space station addition Saturday and floated into the spacious and sparkling white room, formally christening it Harmony.
Even though it looked immaculate inside, international space station commander Peggy Whitson and Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli — the first to enter — wore surgical masks and goggles to protect themselves from any dirty stowaways, like dust, lint or crumbs.
The air inside the school bus-size chamber was immediately tested, and Whitson later reported there wasn't much debris inside at all.
Harmony was named by schoolchildren in America but made in Italy, and Nespoli proudly noted that as he bobbed up and down in the 24-foot-long, 14-foot-diameter chamber that was delivered by shuttle Discovery.
"It's a pleasure to be here in this very beautiful piece of hardware," he said.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/25/national/a014341D83.DTL&tsp=1
Weather Improves at California Fires
By GARANCE BURKE, Associated Press Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
(10-27) 13:25 PDT Lake Arrowhead, Calif. (AP) --
Firefighters battled stubborn wildfires across Southern California on Saturday, but cloudy skies scattering occasional raindrops brought a welcome improvement in conditions.
Tropical moisture flowing from the south replaced the hot, dry Santa Ana winds that roared in a week earlier and spread fires over more than a half-million acres, destroying more than 2,300 structures, including 1,700 homes.
The number of deaths directly attributed to the fires officially rose to seven. Officials confirmed that the flames killed four suspected illegal immigrants whose charred bodies were found near the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, said Jose Alvarez, a public information officer for San Diego County emergency services. Identification of the victims was continuing.
Although more than a dozen blazes were surrounded, containment of nine other blazes ranged from 97 percent to just 25 percent. More than 21,000 structures were considered threatened, and more than 15,000 firefighters were on the lines, the state Office of Emergency Services said.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/25/national/a010416D51.DTL
Feds Strike ID Deal Over NY Licenses
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
(10-27) 14:03 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --
The Bush administration and New York cut a deal Saturday to create a new generation of super-secure driver's licenses for U.S. citizens, but also allow illegal immigrants to get a version.
New York is the fourth state to reach an agreement on federally approved secure licenses, after Arizona, Vermont and Washington. The issue is pressing for border states, where new and tighter rules are soon to go into effect for crossings.
The Arizona deal announced in August does not contemplate issuing licenses to illegal immigrants, said Jeanine L'Ecuyer, a spokeswoman for Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/27/national/w094814D54.DTL
2 children drown in their backyard swimming pool
Henry K. Lee,Cecilia M. Vega, Chronicle Staff Writers
Saturday, October 27, 2007
An Antioch woman who left her two young children playing alone in the backyard Friday returned after a few minutes to find the siblings had gotten past a security fence and drowned in the family's swimming pool, authorities said.
Three-year-old Victor Cano and his 22-month-old sister, Adamari Cano, were pulled from the pool on the 1100 block of East 13th Street about 12:35 p.m., authorities said. They were taken to Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch, where they were pronounced dead.
Authorities said the children had been playing in the backyard when their mother, 21-year-old Daniela Espinosa, went inside to use the restroom. When she came out several minutes later, she could not see the children, then realized they were in the pool, authorities said.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/BAJGT1NH7.DTL
Exhibitionist expo acts as a warm-up for Exotic Erotic Ball
John Koopman, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The exposition hall of the Cow Palace is darkly lit, and thumping rock music makes plastic soda cups vibrate as they sit on tabletops.
A woman at a booth gets up and strikes a sexy pose, prompting a platoon of photographers to gather like hungry sharks going after a wounded seal. Photo flashes illuminate the booth like a lightning storm. Soon, she tires of the pose and sits back down. The photographers slowly back away and wait for another impromptu show. Here or at another booth. As long as there's a woman who is prepared to show skin.
"This was on my top 100 to-do list for life," said one of the photographers, an amateur picture-taker from Oakland. "Unfortunately, it only comes around once a year."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/BA9OT22DS.DTL
SAN FRANCISCO
Shooting near Cow Palace injures 2 people
Cecilia M. Vega, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
San Francisco police were searching for four suspects after a late-night shooting near the Cow Palace that left two people injured.
Police responded to a call of shots fired around 10:30 p.m. Friday and discovered a male in his 30s who had been shot in the 100 block of Castillo Street in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood. Police found another shooting victim a block away near Geneva Avenue and Pueblo Street.
Details about the victims and their conditions were not immediately available.
Police said they were searching for four shooters.
Friday marked the first night of the Exotic Erotic Ball, the yearly party at the Cow Palace, just blocks away from the shootings. Rapper Snoop Dogg also was scheduled to perform late Friday evening as part of a benefit concert to raise funds for a nonprofit foundation, the Healing Circle Soul Support Group, made up of families who have lost loved ones to violence.
E-mail Cecilia M. Vega at cvega@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/BA2GT25IA.DTL
Weekend events in San Francisco to close streets, reroute bus lines
Chronicle Staff Report
Saturday, October 27, 2007
A host of events ranging from a peace march to Halloween celebrations will slow traffic and force Muni to reroute transit lines in San Francisco this weekend.
A large anti-war demonstration will begin at 11 a.m. today at Civic Center Plaza and head to Dolores Park around 12:30 p.m. The march will proceed along Grove Street, Van Ness Avenue, Market Street and Dolores Street, and will end at Dolores Park.
Motorists will be detoured around the march and streets will be reopened as soon as participants have passed. Eight transit lines will also be rerouted: the F-Market, 6-Parnassus, 21-Hayes, 22-Fillmore, 26-Valencia, 33-Stanyan, 47-Van Ness and 49-Van Ness.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/BAIDT180V.DTL
Golden Gate Bridge directors reject sponsorship proposals
Jonathan Curiel, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2007
After two months of public debate about a plan to bring corporate advertising to the Golden Gate Bridge, district officials voted Friday to scuttle the idea.
The plan, which would have allowed "discrete" corporate logos in visitor areas of the bridge, outraged critics, who called it "crass commercialism" and a "degrading" of the historic span.
Supporters said the proposal would have raised much-needed revenue for the district - more than $3 million a year - and might have staved off a future toll increase.
The original proposal, announced in August, called for advertising from three to five "lead partners" on signage, trash cans and other parts of the bridge's south side visitors' area.
In response to public outcry, the plan's architects created two alternatives that were revealed Friday: One would have limited the advertising to five locations on the south side of the bridge and the number of lead corporate advertisers to two; the second would have limited corporate advertising to a bridge "recognition wall."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/BAIPT1MHO.DTL
Bruce Springsteen, back in true form
Joel Selvin, Chronicle Senior Pop Music Critic
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Bruce Springsteen apparently feels like being Bruce Springsteen again.
With his new No. 1 album, "Magic," reaching back for the sound of his glory days, his first tour in five years with that old gang of his, the E Street Band, feels less like a reconvening than a picking up where they left off.
"This is the Oakland Coliseum," said Springsteen in his first of two sold-out shows Thursday at what is now called Oracle Arena. "Isn't that what they used to call it?"
The first time Springsteen worked the room it was indeed called the Oakland Coliseum Arena and he had just released "The River," the album from his past that his new record most resembles. It is no coincidence that he followed the rousing, anthemic concert opener, "Radio Nowhere," the first track on the new album, with "The Ties That Bind," the song that opened "The River."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/27/DD3TT0V4K.DTL
American kids, dumber than dirt
Warning: The next generation might just be the biggest pile of idiots in U.S. history
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I have this ongoing discussion with a longtime reader who also just so happens to be a longtime Oakland high school teacher, a wonderful guy who's seen generations of teens come and generations go and who has a delightful poetic sensibility and quirky outlook on his life and his family and his beloved teaching career.
And he often writes to me in response to something I might've written about the youth of today, anything where I comment on the various nefarious factors shaping their minds and their perspectives and whether or not, say, EMFs and junk food and cell phones are melting their brains and what can be done and just how bad it might all be.
His response: It is not bad at all. It's absolutely horrifying.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/10/24/notes102407.DTL
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