2011 saw record number of high-cost weather disasters
latimes.com
The U.S. experienced a dozen natural disasters that each caused at least $1 billion in damages this year.
“The United States had a dozen weather disasters that each caused at least $1 billion in damages in 2011, the greatest frequency of severe weather that caused costly losses in more than 30 years of federal government tracking.
However, even with the number of events, the total losses this year from the storms, flooding and droughts is $52 billion, not even close to the most expensive year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina alone cost $145 billion in today’s dollars. It was the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history and, with more than 1,800 deaths, the highest fatality toll since a 1928 hurricane in south Florida.
The disasters in 2011 caused more than 600 deaths, the agency said. The Groundhog Day blizzard, Hurricane Irene, many tornadoes and drought-fueled wildfires in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona crossed the $1-billion threshold.
The increase in losses from hurricanes has more to do with population growth and increased home building near beaches than it does with climate change, scientists from NOAA say.”
Source: LA Times
Big rig carrying fruit crashes on 210 Freeway, creates jam
latimes.comMonday’s morning commute started off horribly for drivers in the San Gabriel Valley when a big rig carrying fruit overturned on the 210, blocking lanes in both directions in Monrovia for most of the morning.
Nailed it LA times…
For Chris Colfer, the breakout actor on the Fox hit “Glee,” getting his second Emmy nomination in as many seasons of the show was a great way to start his day. He took a moment to talk about his delight with the news.
You’re like the Emmy boy now.
That is one title I would love to have for the rest of my life.
Were you already awake and waiting for the call?
I think I’ve gotten to the point where now if someone calls me that early in the morning, I know it’s good news. I was asleep in my bed; I wrapped late last night on the film I’m doing. I slept right through. And it was cool because I got a call from my parents first. They beat everyone to the punch, and I was happy with that.
Are you nervous about your costar Jane Lynch hosting? Scared she’ll spill some of your secrets to the whole world?
I think I have just as many secrets on her that she has on me. I was so unbelievably proud of her when she hosted “SNL,” and I cannot wait to see her take on the Emmys. And I’m mostly excited that I’m nominated because it means I’ll have a better seat to watch her. If anyone knows Jane, she’ll kick butt.
We’ve all just learned that your Kurt character will leave ‘Glee’ after next season? Were you as shocked as the fans?
I think the overall breaking news of it surprised me. I definitely wasn’t expecting that. It’s definitely not my choice to leave the show, but I understand it’s the right choice. The show is very real. To have the character grow up and leave and graduate, it’s the right thing to do. I think it’s more of a big deal because not too many shows have ever done it before. We see the characters until they’re in their early 30s.
Since we won’t be seeing that with Kurt, where do you see him post-graduation:
I always imagined him running his own magazine. Kurtain magazine — it would be like a Vogue-type publication. I don’t know. I love Kurt so so much. And I’m so proud of what he’s done this past season: He really went through a lot and experienced a lot. I’ve received thousands and thousands of letters from viewers who’ve just identified with him so much. It’s fantastic. I’ll miss that. But at least it’s planned, and I’m sure it will be a nice goodbye.
Kurt did endure a lot this season. How will we see him develop this year.
Apparently, they’re going to go in a lighter, comical direction, which is good. I’m tired of crying in every scene.
Who else are you rooting for at the Emmys?
The biggest one — that I was not surprised by — was Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Beiste in the guest category. She is just an amazing, amazing human being. I am more happy for her nomination than I am for my own.
LA Times
Car owner takes legal fight away from lawyers
latimes.comLATimes reports on how one woman intends to take her fight to HONDA rather than accept part of a class action settlement. Could this strategy take off in 2012?
Human memory: Why we don't remember every little thing | latimes.com
latimes.comWhy is it so hard to recall mundane events? Because they are mundane.
It seems that we are being robbed of the vast majority of our past on a regular basis. We live it and it’s gone. Why doesn’t more of it stick in memory?
One common assumption in cognitive psychology and neuroscience is that we cannot possibly remember everything because our brains would not be able to hold memories of each and every experience and perception over a lifetime. Instead, we store in long-term memory only what is important. But how does the brain determine what is “important” enough to remain in memory?
Hopeful story from LATimes: At an urban L.A. school, nature grows — and test scores too
latimes.com“At Leo Politi Elementary, workers ripped out concrete and planted native flora. The plants attracted insects, which attracted birds, which attracted students, who, fascinated by the nature unfolding before them, learned so much that their science test scores rose sixfold.”
What a great story to wake up to! Read the rest, here.
