Comments on: Hey Californians, you doing okay? https://www.habitablezone.com/2020/08/20/hey-californians-you-doing-okay/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vitruvius https://www.habitablezone.com/2020/08/20/hey-californians-you-doing-okay/#comment-45233 Vitruvius Mon, 24 Aug 2020 10:14:27 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=83490#comment-45233 I've got family & friends all over the state either at risk of evacuation, or outright evacuating themselves. Got family over the hill at risk, who might come here. However, if <em>we</em> get told to evacuate, I'm not sure where everyone's gonna go. The air is foggy thick, and ash flakes keep raining down every so often. You can look directly at the sun right now - it's alternating between neon orange, and blood red. Between that and the Pandemic, it feels <em>actively</em> apocalyptic right now. Honestly, if we got the Big One, or SoCal Hitler decided to start a succession crisis, I'd be looking for a prayer book. Needless to say, I've decided to take a hiatus from college this semester. Too many factors against good exam work, and my lungs hurt like hell. I’ve got family & friends all over the state either at risk of evacuation, or outright evacuating themselves. Got family over the hill at risk, who might come here. However, if we get told to evacuate, I’m not sure where everyone’s gonna go.

The air is foggy thick, and ash flakes keep raining down every so often. You can look directly at the sun right now – it’s alternating between neon orange, and blood red. Between that and the Pandemic, it feels actively apocalyptic right now. Honestly, if we got the Big One, or SoCal Hitler decided to start a succession crisis, I’d be looking for a prayer book.

Needless to say, I’ve decided to take a hiatus from college this semester. Too many factors against good exam work, and my lungs hurt like hell.

]]> By: RL https://www.habitablezone.com/2020/08/20/hey-californians-you-doing-okay/#comment-45212 RL Fri, 21 Aug 2020 04:46:17 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=83490#comment-45212 On that note... <img src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/e4RVAW3hRA3T9IUR0LqtoRWB0dw=/6x0:895x500/1600x900/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49493993/this-is-fine.0.jpg" alt="" width="600"/> On that note…

]]> By: RL https://www.habitablezone.com/2020/08/20/hey-californians-you-doing-okay/#comment-45211 RL Fri, 21 Aug 2020 04:44:11 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=83490#comment-45211 That would be a real tragedy to lose that historic and still quite capable observatory... It is completely surrounded by trees, and is quite vulnerable to fire... That would be a real tragedy to lose that historic and still quite capable observatory…

It is completely surrounded by trees, and is quite vulnerable to fire…

]]> By: podrock https://www.habitablezone.com/2020/08/20/hey-californians-you-doing-okay/#comment-45209 podrock Fri, 21 Aug 2020 03:45:09 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=83490#comment-45209 A brief respite. I'll still have to water in the morning, though, the ground is cracking, it's that dry. Scary dry. A brief respite. I’ll still have to water in the morning, though, the ground is cracking, it’s that dry. Scary dry.

]]> By: Robert https://www.habitablezone.com/2020/08/20/hey-californians-you-doing-okay/#comment-45206 Robert Thu, 20 Aug 2020 23:13:31 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=83490#comment-45206 Even though Sacramento's nicknamed "City of Trees", I think there's little danger of seeing fire here. But seeing anything has become harder. The thick pall of smoke in the sky gives the light a deep orange cast, smoke obscures the streets like the winter tule fog, and a light layer of ash coats every surface outside. All that's missing are shambling zombies looming out of the dirty brown fog. I'm wearing a KN95 mask outside to protect my lungs from the smoke and ash. Never expected I'd have two reasons to wear a respirator mask. But things are looking up on the mask front: Looks like near 90% compliance with the mask "mandate". On the less dim side, obscuring the sunlight seems to have broken the extreme heat wave. Should peak around 90 today, down from 110 yesterday, around the time I'm settling in to watch the Democratic Convention. Life is OK, on balance...as the worlds around me burn. Even though Sacramento’s nicknamed “City of Trees”, I think there’s little danger of seeing fire here. But seeing anything has become harder. The thick pall of smoke in the sky gives the light a deep orange cast, smoke obscures the streets like the winter tule fog, and a light layer of ash coats every surface outside.

All that’s missing are shambling zombies looming out of the dirty brown fog.

I’m wearing a KN95 mask outside to protect my lungs from the smoke and ash. Never expected I’d have two reasons to wear a respirator mask. But things are looking up on the mask front: Looks like near 90% compliance with the mask “mandate”.

On the less dim side, obscuring the sunlight seems to have broken the extreme heat wave. Should peak around 90 today, down from 110 yesterday, around the time I’m settling in to watch the Democratic Convention. Life is OK, on balance…as the worlds around me burn.

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