These delicate blossoms emerge every winter from the Christmas Cactus.
California
Microseismic Emission Precursors
This may be of particular interest to those of us living near seismically active areas. Interpretation of microseismic emission precursors may represent a possible breakthrough on earthquake prediction:
Prelude to an Earthquake?
A geophysicist from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has identified possible seismic precursors to two recent California earthquakes, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that wreaked havoc throughout the Bay Area.
After sifting through seismic data from the two quakes, Valeri Korneev found a spike in the number of micro-earthquakes followed by a period of relative calm in the crust surrounding the quakes’ epicenters — months before the quakes occurred. Although more work needs to be conducted to determine whether other large quakes are foreshadowed by a similar rise and subsequent decline in small-magnitude tremors, Korneev’s analysis suggests that these peaks may be indicative of the total set of geological stresses that affect the timing and location of large earthquakes. Understanding this total stress picture may eventually make it be possible to predict destructive earthquakes within a much shorter time frame than currently possible.
Photo: 1989 Quake Damage to Interstate 880 – S.F. Chronicle
Peaks in seismic activity in the crust surrounding a fault could help signal the arrival of large earthquakes,†says Korneev of Berkeley Lab’s Earth Sciences Division. “These peaks may be a good mid-term precursor and allow authorities to declare alerts several months before earthquakes.â€
Read the rest of the article at Science Blog: Prelude to an Earthquake?
Sundown over the Pacific
Not much to say about this, other than I drove out of my way going home this evening to get this shot from Hermosa Beach.
Update: What I wouldn’t do for art! My detour made me late for happy hour with Damsel . . . I think it was worth it.
Mountaintop Vista
You can enjoy occasional views like this one when you point your browser to Mt. Wilson Towercam Image. This webcam is situated atop the UCLA 150 foot Solar Tower on Mount Wilson overlooking the Los Angeles area.
Of course, this is a very unusual day here, unobscured by the usual coastal haze and fog (and smog, of course). Damsel claims this picture to be an optical illusion and reminds people that California is a blue state and the weather isn’t worth the aggravation. Public schools suck, there are gangs, and traffic and … and … don’t move here (unless you’re a conservative).
Damsel Sends You a Gold Digger
Hard to believe that these delicate blossoms live on a spiny bush known as the “Crown of Thorns.” We also have a variety of this bush with bright red blossoms, probably the original variation.
Damsel Sends You an Icelandic Poppy
These are quite popular in Southern California when the weather gets cooler. These are yellow, but there are several colors available – more to come later this winter.
Police Escort for Santa Claus
Every year since we’ve lived here, we’ve seen the Torrance Police Officers’ Association escort Santa Claus into each and every neighborhood. To do this, they have to start right after the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Santa (left) rides on a 30 foot long holiday float pulled by a light truck while the police cruisers (right) lead and follow the float throughout the evening. The procession stops for a few minutes at walking-distance intervals so the kids from toddlers to geriatrics can come and see Santa.