Free Republic

Globally, wildfire size, severity, and frequency have been increasing, as have related fatalities and taxpayer-funded firefighting costs (1). In most accessible forests, wildfire response prioritizes suppression because fires are easier and cheaper to contain when small (2). In the United States, for example, 98% of wildfires are suppressed before reaching 120 ha in size (3). But the 2% of wildfires that escape containment often burn under extreme weather conditions in fuel-loaded forests and account for 97% of fire-fighting costs and total area burned (3). Changing climate and decades of fuel accumulation make efforts to suppress every fire dangerous, expensive, and...

Ghoulish, unethical, profit-seeking quacks would say that, though, wouldn’t they? Let’s see what they think once they’ve got a community organizer with four years of federal policy experience riding herd on them. There’s a new sheriff in town, bloodsuckers!

Freepers! What are the local gun laws for carrying in car and in hotel in Raleigh NC? I am thinking of attending Trinoc SF conference in July and the rules said no arms. I am not sure if that means can't leave my weapon in car or hotel room or just at the conference.

PORTLAND, Oregon – Fending off a potentially election-wrecking Green Party candidacy of consumer advocate Ralph Nader, John Kerry has admitted to members of the Oregon chapter of the Sierra Club that he is, in fact, an “Ent”. “I think back fondly,” reminisced Kerry, “to a time when being a tree was a safe way to go through life. Birds would nest comfortably upon my brow. My leaves would turn beautiful shades of gold and bronze and plum. The forest, my home, was a happy place.” Speaking at a fund-raiser in Portland, Kerry talked about the prejudices “big business” has against...