February 2007 Archives
A few links to outdoor lighting. The main principle is simple, don't use lighting when it's not necessary, let the light go only where it is needed, generally down and certainly out or your neighbors eyes. It's a little harder to do in practice. For instance our workshop has a clerestory and there are no interior walls so turning on a single interior light illuminates all 75 feet of clerestory.
Idaho Wood
http://www.idahowood.com/darkskies.htm
Starry Nights
http://store.starrynightlights.com/index.html
On sale:
http://store.starrynightlights.com/gb-1000.html
ludicrously overlit
http://www.kwastronomy.com/Local_Bad_Lighting.htm
Overseas:
http://www.astro.cz/darksky/
How about this jaw dropper. Think there are any ruby throated hummingbirds left within 5 miles of the giant scab called the Hill Country Galleria? (via Connie Henry).
Wind blew down an electric line at Shields Ranch today, starting a brushfire covering about 35 acres (according to the KXAN guy I spoke with at the scene and confirmed by Bob Ayres of the ranch.).
No injuries. But as it happened late in the afternoon, every news station in Austin had a "Live at 5" report from the scene. My guess is, the same event happening at 1 p.m. would have not have drawn the camera crews.
See the story and video. Be sure to check out the "Raw Video" there... it's from the KXAN tower in Westlake Hills I think, so that gives you an idea how massive the smoke was.
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A man who police say used wires, broken bottles and nails to wage an eco-terrorism campaign against Lubbock cyclists could spend time in prison.David G. Knape, 62, of Lubbock staged at least a year-long campaign against unsuspecting cyclists, according to police reports. He stretched wires between trees at "neck level" and put nails and glass in the pathway of cyclists.
"This could kill someone," said Dewayne Wallace, an avid cyclist whose friend was flung from his bicycle and cut across the neck by one of the wires.
I will admit that on a bike path, mountain bikers are to hikers, as cars are to cyclists on a road. They can be dangerous, and they disrupt the peacefulness of the walk. I used to walk the Barton Creek greenbelt, and on a Saturday it's difficult with mountain bike caravans whizzing past every 2 minutes. "Coming left!". My ass you are.
Still... never thought of the old clothesline trick...
