This is despite the fact that astronomy continues to prove that the sun has an influence on its planets temperatures and is likely to be responsible for observable warming of the earth. There has been no recent build-up of greenhouse gases there, no deforestation, no rapid urbanization, no increase in contrails from jet airplanes, and no increase in ozone in the low atmosphere; recent changes at Neptune could never be blamed on any human influence. There has been no recent build-up of...

The inspections have angered homeowners and watchdog groups that accuse the companies of trying to cut risk at the expense of customers, even while industry profits soar. Insurers and industry groups counter that making people take responsibility for living in the highest-risk fire areas makes good business sense. She said the company insisted on insuring the home for $1 million even though she only paid $600,000 to rebuild with fire-safe stucco siding, a fire-resistant deck and roof,...

They operate with an interlocal agreement and pay for fire and recreation departments and general government using a formula based on population and property value, so fair's fair. People just have fear and they don't want to take that plunge. Until the towns went to the Legislature last year for special permission, they had to keep three separate accounts for everything, a numerical nightmare. You can't assume, if they all split up, little Castle Hill would fund a fire department or build...

The latest sawtimber price numbers gathered by Penn State foresters turned up a significant change-up in reported first-quarter 2007 stumpage prices. dollar could slow sawtimber recovery due to more downtime or mill shutdowns in eastern Canada. One reason, suggests Lopez, is that because of past lumber mill shutdowns, the chip supply has tightened. So papermakers are turning more to hardwood pulp for "mixing" That's created a shortage of softwood pulp in some regions. That tends to firm...

Description: A multitrunked, multitalented and charming native that can be a shrub or a small tree, depending on your proficiency with pruning. Like other members of the family Malpighaceae, locustberry flowers have clawed petals, meaning a narrow base and flared top. Make the planting hold three times as wide as the rootball, and backfill without amending the soil. Fruits are drupes (fleshy over a single seed or stone) and are produced over summer. They open white and then turn...