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Over the past couple of days local blog InBerkeley has posted not one, but TWO somewhat terrifying visuals of Berkeley succumbing to natural disaster. read more »
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A multimillion-dollar observatory that was in hot water earlier this week due to the proximity of the Station Fire is now in the clear.
Mt. Wilson observatory in Southern California has been the site of many an astronomical discovery. So researchers were understandably rattled when the massive fire got a little too close for comfort.
It’s possible that the smoke and temperatures from the fire may still have damaged some of the equipment and the observatory and may require some repair. However, we’re sure the researchers will be much happier to return to a lightly-smoked rather than well-done workplace.
Image Source: john curley under Creative Commons
Forest Fire Threatens UC Berkeley Research Operation [Daily Cal]
Mt. Wilson Observatory avoids major damage [LA Times]
Is that a running theme we spy? A vegetation fire in Tilden Park jumped the line and ran wild yesterday, leveling groves of oaks and trampling grandma’s flower beds in its delinquent abandon. The burn was supposed to be controlled. Then it wasn’t. Keep in mind that Tilden Park’s located not three miles from the Berkeley campus.
Luckily, courageous firefighters managed to wrestle the fire into submission around late afternoon. The blaze only consumed about 10 more acres than it was supposed to. No homes, structures or squirrels were harmed in the process.
Image Source: judybaxter under Creative Commons
Wind pushes controlled burn over fire line at park near Berkeley [San Jose Mercury News]
It appears that Bay Areans (Areites? Areish?) might have pissed off the sky gods one time too many–I guess this is what we get for the end of the Spare the Air program’s free public transportation.
It’s no joke that the air this past week was chock-full of all sorts of nasty invisible (we hope) particles that limited visibility so much that the tops of the eastern hills were missing from a Campanile viewpoint.
Good news, though. It looks like whatever the mist was–be it from lightning-sparked fires, foggy water vapor, or good old car exhaust–will leave soon, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. You can come outside now.
Image Source: telethon under Creative Commons
Indoor activities, irritated eyes, asthma inhalers as smoke lingers in Bay Area [San Jose Mercury News]
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After discovering the latest omen of the world’s coming demise, the Clog encourages Berkeley students to put down their books and enjoy their short-lived time on earth.
While we were busy careening our necks to get a glimpse of Angel Island ablaze, Redding suffered the plague of conflagration too. Because of a squirrel.
A flaming squirrel, to be exact. It shorted out a power line, combusted and fell over into a dry patch of grass. The important thing to consider here, though, is not what we can do to protect the sanctity of our dry vegetation. Instead, as one SF Gate commenter puts it, “would this have happened if the squirrel were straight?” Ah yes, a conundrum indeed.
Image Source: law_keven under Creative Commons
Flaming squirrel blamed for small Calif. wildfire [SF Chron]
Earlier: D.A. Says: Don’t Sniff and Do Facebook
There’s been a drought of Berkeley news, but now it’s just pouring with stories.
One man dead and another injured in a Berkeley hills fire on Keith Avenue. The house was up in flames. Are candles to blame? It’s “speculative.” [SF Chron]
The Bay Area needs your blood (if you have type O-negative). The Blood Centers of the Pacific “literally had only three bags of O-negative blood on the shelves.” Finally! Something for Berkeley stragglers to do. [SF Chron]
One tortured man seeks to sue Boalt School of Law’s John Yoo … for $1. Yoo’s torture memo is held at fault, and the accuser wants Yoo to declare he acted illegally. [Chron again]
History prof Thomas Laqueur won a Mellon prize for his hip history research on topics such as reproductive biology, masturbation and more sex (and gender). He and UC Berkeley can find up to $1.5 million in their piggy banks soon. [NewsCenter]
It’s been a hot week. This isn’t supposed to happen in Berkeley.
All the recent fire activity isn’t really helping either. Can it please rain or something? Or can people stop lighting shit on fire?
According the police logs, apparently not.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
11:00 p.m., Sproul Hall: A female, 22, and a male, 33, found participating in lewd conduct.
We need more details than this. Come on, there’s nothing good on TV and “lewd conduct” alone does not suffice.
Monday, June 11, 2007
4:43 p.m., Bowles Lot: Alameda County Fire Department responded and extinguished a dumpster fire. The cause was charcoal disposal. No damage.
Sorry to disappoint, but you can’t really barbecue in your dumpster.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
12:01 a.m., Memorial Stadium: Confiscation of rope hanging from a tree.
But how will the Treewoks get down? Oh well. They’ve been there for more than half a year already. Might as well stay.
1:30 p.m., West Crescent: Four minors, including two 16-year-old females, a 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old male, found starting a fire via burning paper.
Seriously, ants are so much more fun to burn.
PoLo is compiled from the UC Police Department’s online Daily Activity Bulletin.
Earlier: PoLo: Post-Finals Stress Lingers
Things are heating up, and no, we’re not just talking just about the weather.
The Daily Cal and Inside Bay Area News reported on two fires that caused significant damage to two structures Wednesday.
The first fire occurred at 920 Heinz Avenue, which happens to be an old abandoned warehouse and the future site of a new Berkeley Bowl. This fire happened sometime in the afternoon.
While we don’t know why there was a fire there, there had been opposition to the new Berkeley Bowl. Or maybe it was just a way to start the construction project early.
The second fire hit closer to the Cal campus, as a three-alarm fire engulfed a house on College Avenue. College Avenue itself was closed for eight hours while firefighters battled the blaze. Just think about what traffic was like. Traffic sucks already on College, but to have it closed off for eight hours?
This is kind of a tragic story. The woman who owns the house was almost finished with her 18-year renovation plan, according to the Daily Cal. All that hard work … wasted!
But all this talk of fires and all of this heat just makes us want to eat some ice cream. Well, yeah, we did that already.
Image source: Skyler Reid, Daily Cal
Two Berkeley fires cause severe damage [Inside Bay Area]
Fire Engulfs House on College [Daily Cal]
