Free Republic

<p>SAN LUIS OBISPO -- The state already limits public access to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area from March through September to protect the habitat of a small brown-and-white bird.</p> <p>Now it must decide if it will close off even more of the beach that's designated for riding and camping.</p>

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 June 4 A Martian Metamorphosis Credit: Malin Space Science Systems, MOC, MGS, JPL, NASA Explanation: Is it an Escher, or Mars? Three different types of surfaces visible in the North Polar Cap of Mars morph into each other in a way perhaps reminiscent of the works of M. C. Escher. On the far left dark sand covers the ground, while the center shows a transition to a...

EVERY HILL A THRILL: The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area attracts increasingly large crowds of off-roaders seeking roller-coaster-style excitement on the near-vertical drifts of the largest dunes in North America.Land battle heats up dunes By Daniel B. Wood GLAMIS, CALIF. – When they look out across the largest sand dunes in North America, Jeneiene and Daniel Patterson see paradise. The 45-by-15-mile sprawl of granulated humps is a botanical Eden. Ironwood, smoke trees, and desert buckwheat provide a happy, if hot, habitat for flitting songbirds, darting lizards, stalking puma, and lumbering tortoises. "This is a biological wonderland," says Mr. Patterson, a...