AI slop has come for the weather warnings (this is actually really bad for both conveying information and maintaining trust in the official US government forecast!)

The lack of planning, conflicting rationales, fantastical assumptions, and the complete disregard for future conditions and anything unexpected is staggering. As Eisenhower once said: "...if you haven’t been planning you can’t start to work, intelligently at least."

I'm starting to tire of the same music playlists. Does anyone know some good new bands from the 1970s?

My New Year's resolution is to be more open to testing my assumptions, to learn new stuff, to try to better envision the worth of institutions, things, and places not as they are now but as they will be, and to be more ready for what has already and what will happen. Also, to lose weight--again.

Hunkered down with a scared pup, but we will have a glass of bubbly at midnight. Happy New Year and please be careful out there.

Happy New Year's Eve to you all. We'll be hunkered down with a scared dog trying to make it through the fireworks while listening to this song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsgi...

“Some things you must always be unable to bear... Injustice & outrage & dishonor & shame. No matter how young you are or how old you have got. Not for kudos & not for cash: your picture in the paper nor money in the bank either. Just refuse to bear them.” ― William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust

Today's my "retirement" anniversary. Best decision ever. I can't believe I missed so many birthdays, anniversaries, summer vacations, & holidays to go work for 16 hours a day & sleep on the ground. Luckily, I still had a bit of time before the kids scattered. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gwj...

Nice interview on a tough subject by my friend Bobbie Scopa. westernpriorities.org/2025/12/burn...

Anyone want to trade Christmas gifts? I've got an "Only You" Smokey Bear t-shirt that I'm reluctantly willing to trade for a vintage Missile Command arcade game or a 52-inch tool chest/rolling workbench combo. Message if interested. (Each party responsible for shipping their exchange item.)

Today is almost as good as that sugary crust on the bottom of a homemade cinnamon roll.

Mahalia is awesome and this whole album is crazy good. Merry Christmas all! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eizf...

Yay for longer days! However, it also means summer is coming.

The number 1 movie when you were ten years old will define your 2026.

I get 1-5 with no problem & usually remember 6-7 because birds, but I can never get 8-12 right. All I remember about the later rounds is that there are more guys than gals & it doesn't seem like a party I would have liked in college. I do better with this version. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XS3...

En 2014 yo llevaba años informándome sobre cosas de incendios a través de la prensa. Pero el 1 de marzo de aquel año fue la "Marea de Fuego", la primera manifestación a nivel nacional de bomberos forestales. Y yo quería saber cómo se estaba desarrollando porque no pude ir. Casi todo lo que

A little seasonal pick-me-up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Z-...

In this country, you don't name things after yourself. That's for other people to do after you have ended your public service, should they feel you worthy.

I appreciate the NYTimes reporting on this issue, but this article is too much of a brag and dismisses the difficult work done by many wildland firefighters, families, and aligned groups over the years. This law didn't just happen because of a Times story. 1/

Yikes! Sometimes, you get a forecast that leaves no doubt you'll be reacting to instead of influencing events. A bit of good news: this will be about ignitions, which are often a product of human decisions. If you're in the area, be smart & stay safe while keeping out of the way of firefighters.

Key misunderstanding I want to get ahead of: NCAR isn't really a government agency like NIH or NSF. It's one of the largest NSF grants in history, and is given to a non-profit org called UCAR, whose job is to make NCAR exist (www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/...). That means the buck stops with NSF right now

Sadly, not unbelievable--I am slightly shocked it has taken this long. It is horrible though, and in every sense of the word.

I wish someone would do a longitudinal study on wildland firefighters & look at how attitudes, leadership, stress, & strategic thinking change as one ages & advances to ever higher complexity positions within the org. We have a little from folks who made the journey, but not much during the journey.

You ever notice how people who do difficult stuff tend not to talk about it much while those that don't talk a lot?

#BREAKING: New drone video from Pacific, WA, on Tuesday morning following a levee failure on the White River at Pacific City Park. Whole neighborhoods are underwater as water continues flowing out of the failed levee. #wawx #flood #drone

Damn it. In my college years, I was an Ely-head, catching every show around Texas that I could. This is my band and Joe will always be the man. RIP, and thanks for all the music. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRes...

Wildfires are getting more destructive in the US, especially in conifer forests of the Northwest...10% of exposed buildings were destroyed in 2002–2012, but this percentage more than tripled, to 32% in 2013–2022. Nice work @amandacarlson.bsky.social and co-authors! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

De héroes en verano a olvidados el resto del año: la precariedad laboral de los bomberos forestales tras la temporada de incendios www.infobae.com/espana/2025/...

Django. Christmas. You know you want to listen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKC3...

Volunteer fire departments make up 85% of the departments in the country and private equity firms are gouging them on software that helps them, uh, do firefighting.

Since I retired, I do greatly miss the teamwork and community support attached to disaster response, but I am also glad I left before AI became much of a thing. It is one more unnecessary complicating factor in an already massively complex problem set.

PS: Note that firefighting isn't just a local activity If the culture of the wildland fire community described at length here weren't so self-effacing, we'd already know to use it as a model for the expanded national role @miniver.bsky.social is describing

Went to bed thinking of Brown, slept restlessly for 5 hours, woke up to Bondi. Will try to take a nap later & not think of the tax I pay each day I go out in public: forced to be aware of where I can throw my wife & others if someone starts shooting. It's not debilitating, but it's so damn constant.

The flooding in WA is terrible. My heart goes out to all. I know the pain & trauma of losing a home to flood or fire is similar regardless of economic station--& with thousands evacuated, this will be spread over every economic class. Don't think it's only the wealthy & well insured affected. 1/

Just got back from the grocery store where the music went from "I Wanna Be Sedated" to "Silent Night." I kid you not.

Every so often, you read a news story that reminds you that no matter how bad your worse day was, it could have been a lot worse. I'm appreciating that perspective this morning. apnews.com/article/mich...

I'll be posting this later today on @theeyewallwx.bsky.social, but if you're looking for some late holiday gift ideas for yourself or others, I curated a list on Bookshop about water issues in the West, including Texas and the Great Plains. bookshop.org/lists/the-we...

Happy Birthday to the legend, Sonny Boy Williamson! www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuAa...

As both a guy with US History degrees and a former employee of the National Park Service, this irks me to no end.

Here's some legit music for the season. All those with a little Louisiana in them know what I'm talking about. 1/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Cm...

Man, we are already getting predictive fire outlooks for March, 2026. Where did the year go? (Where did the 2000s go?)

1970s Bureau of Land Management publicity campaign creation Johnny Horizon, symbol of the thoughtful outdoorsman. 1/

El problema de la precariedad y estacionalidad de los bomberos forestales no lo encontramos solo en España y, de hecho, no conozco ni un solo país que disponga de un cuerpo de BBFF cuya plantilla al 100% trabaje todo el año con contrato fijo (y público) bsky.app/profile/jimw...

The problems faced by wildland firefighters are not just confined to the US. It seems there is a global inability to design a system that is fair, creates career options, and respects the risks taken. We all must do better because we will need everyone for what's coming.

The problem with Thanksgiving leftovers is that the gravy is finished off first, leaving you with mountains of un-gravy-able turkey and dressing.

Hook 'em!

This is about the stock market crash, but some of the words apply to today. Stay safe out there folks. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYAP...

It's great y'all are talking about football, but really, everyone should be talking about Reed Sheppard. The kid is still learning, but it's clear he's the truth. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xex4...

Ugh. I'm full. I don't know why I do this to myself every year. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

If you're interested in European wildfires and fires around the globe, Ignacio is a great follow.