DOCSLIB.ORG

Download the Magazine As A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Download the Magazine As A FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF USC DANA AND DAVID DORNSIFE COLLEGE OF LETTERS, ARTS AND SCIENCES SPRING / SUMMER 2019 MAGAZINE The Climate Issue A BRIGHTER AsFORECAST our familiar world starts behaving in new and unexpected ways, our scholars find opportunities and hope where many see only obstacles. FacultyClimate find optimism in our changing climate. of Hope “We all have hopes for our future, and for our childrens’ future. Take a moment to consider: What are your hopes, priorities and values? All of us here at USC are looking forward, striving for new knowledge — pursuing higher education is the ultimate expression of hope for the future “I have to admit it’s hard to find hope amidst and dedication to evolve our thinking. Knowing that we the many changing climates we face daily, be it climate change itself, or the shifting collectively prioritize personal growth and learning gives tenor of political and public discourse, me hope. The science is clear, and our students know it: especially around race and gender politics. Our actions (e.g., driving, flying and consuming relentlessly) A sense of equilibrium, let alone futurity is difficult to see on the horizon. But every time are damaging our environment. We owe it to ourselves, I fear things may be irreparable, I find hope our students and our children to adopt better ways of in the optimism, tenacity and commitment of my students. Their sheer force of effort, being in the world right now, while our students, faculty the power of their desires and their capacities and alumni work on understanding problems and pursuing to transform the world, punctures my solutions for a better future. Our climate depends upon it.” own cynicism. They are ready to do the SARAH FEAKINS, associate professor of Earth sciences difficult work — and to fight, if necessary, for restorative justice. In turn, we have to remember that our role is to give them the tools to perform this transformative work, both intellectually and spiritually.” KAREN TONGSON, associate professor of English, gender studies and American studies and ethnicity “What brings me hope is that Americans overwhelmingly believe that climate change is a threat, and that we have to deal with it. That’s true especially for Democrats, but independents largely share that view, and so do a plurality of Republicans. The support for a rational climate policy grows steadily, and that gives me hope. Two other things also give me hope. First, we’re seeing states and cities act on their own even as the federal government rolls back some of the policies designed to deal with the climate crisis. Many of them have independently signed up to do their part to observe and fulfill the Paris Agreement. Second, the private sector now perceives real economic opportunity in coming up with solutions on climate. Today there are far more people employed in the solar energy industry than there are in coal mining.” ROBERT SHRUM, Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics and professor of the practice of political science, director of the Center for the Political Future “I am not sure ‘hope’ is the word I would “It makes me hopeful when I see military veterans “What gives me hope use. I would say I derive strength from the organizing for peace, especially when their actions is that our talented places where climates of resistance exist: against militarism forge connections with efforts to students are taking In the region I study, Palestinians continue end Islamophobia, violence against women, racial much more interest in to struggle against a brutal Israeli military injustice and destruction of the natural environment. political participation. occupation; Algerians and Sudanese in the When groups and coalitions connect the dots between They are increasingly hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, what might seem on the surface to be separate issues, speaking out about have protested peacefully over months to they shift the political climate in ways that point to a the injustices they bring down corrupt systems; Egyptian more peaceful and just future.” observe on campus, MICHAEL MESSNER, professor of sociology and gender studies defenders of human rights continue to resist in the United States the repressive Sisi regime. and across the Closer to home, many of the 2018 class of “I believe we are living in an era of rapidly globe. Our students U.S. congressional representatives have set changing climates that are competing for are principled and a new standard of tenacity and fearlessness political space and for our attention. One is they truly have the in confronting structures of oppression and a climate of fear. This is a pessimistic view of courage of their injustice. humanity that invites hatred and violence. It convictions. Our These examples, both at home and abroad, promotes authoritarianism and the interests of brilliant Trojans demand of us all not to hope, but, each in a few at the expense of freedom, liberty and will help effect the her/his own way, to accept the responsibility, human rights for all. This rather Machiavellian changes that are so as part of a common humanity, to act — climate seems to be dominant at this time. urgently needed. to engage in the struggle for social, economic The good news is that the climate may Their commitment and political justice.” be changing. The successor generation is to human rights LAURIE BRAND, Robert Grandford Wright Professor and promoting a climate of change that encourages and global justice is professor of international relations and Middle East studies open societies, innovation, creativity, social inspiring.” ALISON DUNDES RENTELN, justice and respect for all humankind. They say professor of political science, the world is not a dangerous place. It is a place anthropology, public policy to encourage cooperation and problem solving. and law This climate promotes courage and hope not fear and despair. “Fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) on Earth are based on stored The words of St. Augustine carbon derived from the sun’s energy and synthesized over eons and can be broadly characterized as ‘fossilized sunshine.’ The sun is capture this climate of change: going to be around for the next 4.5 billion years. Therefore, Earth, per se, does not have an energy problem (plenty of solar and wind Hope has two beautiful energy is available to produce electricity), but rather energy storage and energy carrier problems. daughters. … anger at the All living things on planet Earth are invariably tied to carbon. way things are, and courage Renewable methanol made through carbon dioxide capture and to see that they do not conversion using water and renewable energies is a simple solution to a very complex climate change conundrum. Liquid methanol remain the way they are. is a versatile fuel to replace gasoline and diesel and is a chemical feedstock to make petroleum products. Therefore, if carbon is considered the problem (excessive A climate change cannot atmospheric CO2 concentrations causing climate change), carbon come soon enough.” has to be the solution.” STEVEN LAMY, professor of G.K. SURYA PRAKASH, George A. and Judith A. Olah Nobel international relations and Laureate Chair in Hydrocarbon Chemistry and professor of spatial sciences chemistry SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND COMMUNICATION Lance Ignon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Darrin S. Joy MANAGING EDITOR Susan Bell ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER Letty Avila WRITERS AND EDITORS Michelle Boston Margaret Crable Emily Gersema Jim Key Stephen Koenig DESIGNER Dennis Lan VIDEOGRAPHER AND PHOTOGRAPHER Mike Glier COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Deann Webb CONTRIBUTORS Joanna Clay, Lilly Kate Diaz, Eric Lindberg, Laura Russell, Annamaria Sauer USC DORNSIFE ADMINISTRATION Amber D. Miller, Dean • Stephen Bradforth, Divisional Dean for Natural Sciences and Mathematics • Steven Finkel, College Dean of Graduate and Professional Education • Lance Ignon, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Communication • Andrew Lakoff, Divisional Dean for Social Sciences • Peter Mancall, Divisional Dean for the Humanities • Renee Perez, Senior Associate Dean and Chief Operating Officer • Eddie Sartin, Senior Associate Dean for Advancement • Andrew Stott, College Dean of Under- graduate Education USC DORNSIFE BOARD OF COUNCILORS Robert D. Beyer, Chair • Wendy Abrams • Robert Alvarado • Richard S. Flores • Shane Foley • Lisa Goldman • Jana Waring Greer • Pierre Habis • Yossie Hollander • Janice Bryant Howroyd • Martin Irani • Dan James • Stephen G. Johnson • Suzanne Nora Johnson • Bettina Kallins • Yoon Kim • Samuel King • Jaime Lee • Arthur Lev • Kathy Leventhal • Rodger Lynch • Robert Osher • Gerald Papazian • Andrew Perlman • Lawrence Piro • Edoardo Ponti • Kelly Porter • Michael Reilly • Harry Robinson • Carole Shammas • Kumarakulasingam “Suri” Suriyakumar • Rajeev Tandon USC DORNSIFE MAGAZINE Published twice a year by the USC Dornsife Office of Communication at the University of Southern California. © 2019 USC Dornsife College. The diverse opinions expressed in USC Dornsife Magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the editors, USC Dornsife administration or USC. USC Dornsife Magazine welcomes comments from its readers to PHOTO BY THOMAS ECKHARDT [email protected] or USC Dornsife Magazine, SCT-2400, Los Angeles, CA 90089. SPRING / SUMMER 2019 1 CLIMATE OF HOPE Faculty find optimism in our Contents changing climate. 4 FROM THE HEART OF USC Mother follows kids to school; Yoga helps young’uns; Poet laureate completes state tour; Cancer’s clock may be unwound. 5 Curriculum 6 Profile 10 In The Field 12 Our World 40 SMOKE SIGNALS Earth scientist Julien Emile-Geay links wildfires to inequity. THE CLIMATE ISSUE 42 Legacy 43 14 Faculty News 43 Alumni News ApocalypseMatters fatigue got you of down? DegreesThe remedy may be found in a different climate change narrative emphasizing the vast potential for a thriving planet. By Stephen Koenig 44 DORNSIFE FAMILY Top science academy elects two 20 more members; Technology alters the search for love; Young rancher becomes genomics pioneer.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • War Powers for the 21St Century: the Congressional Perspective
    WAR POWERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: THE CONGRESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND OVERSIGHT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION MARCH 13, 2008 Serial No. 110–160 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 41–232PDF WASHINGTON : 2008 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 12:25 May 12, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 F:\WORK\IOHRO\031308\41232.000 Hintrel1 PsN: SHIRL COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOWARD L. BERMAN, California, Chairman GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey Samoa DAN BURTON, Indiana DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRAD SHERMAN, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California ROBERT WEXLER, Florida DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York EDWARD R. ROYCE, California BILL DELAHUNT, Massachusetts STEVE CHABOT, Ohio GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado DIANE E. WATSON, California RON PAUL, Texas ADAM SMITH, Washington JEFF FLAKE, Arizona RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri MIKE PENCE, Indiana JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee JOE WILSON, South Carolina GENE GREEN, Texas JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas CONNIE MACK, Florida RUBE´ N HINOJOSA, Texas JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York MICHAEL T.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of California Wildfire Evacuations from 2017 to 2019
    REVIEW OF CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE EVACUATIONS FROM 2017 TO 2019 STEPHEN WONG, JACQUELYN BROADER, AND SUSAN SHAHEEN, PH.D. MARCH 2020 DOI: 10.7922/G2WW7FVK DOI: 10.7922/G29G5K2R Wong, Broader, Shaheen 2 Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. UC-ITS-2019-19-b N/A N/A 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Review of California Wildfire Evacuations from 2017 to 2019 March 2020 6. Performing Organization Code ITS-Berkeley 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report Stephen D. Wong (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3638-3651), No. Jacquelyn C. Broader (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3269-955X), N/A Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D. (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3350-856X) 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Institute of Transportation Studies, Berkeley N/A 109 McLaughlin Hall, MC1720 11. Contract or Grant No. Berkeley, CA 94720-1720 UC-ITS-2019-19 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period The University of California Institute of Transportation Studies Covered www.ucits.org Final Report 14. Sponsoring Agency Code UC ITS 15. Supplementary Notes DOI: 10.7922/G29G5K2R 16. Abstract Between 2017 and 2019, California experienced a series of devastating wildfires that together led over one million people to be ordered to evacuate. Due to the speed of many of these wildfires, residents across California found themselves in challenging evacuation situations, often at night and with little time to escape. These evacuations placed considerable stress on public resources and infrastructure for both transportation and sheltering.
    [Show full text]
  • South Carolina Politics: Four Things to Watch in 2020
    South Carolina Politics: Four Things to Watch in 2020 Related Professionals 01.23.2020 Sam P. Johnson 803.540.2139 [email protected] Now that the holidays are over and we are well into 2020, it is a good time to consider some things to watch for in Practices South Carolina this year. In political terms, the new Public Policy & Governmental Affairs decade is already red hot. Communications: Strategic and Crisis Communications Census Year The once every decade is the biggest of big deals. This accounting of the U.S. population sets the stage for everything from federal funding, to congressional districting, or to whether an area will get a new post office. Over the course of South Carolina’s history, the state has had as few as four congressional districts and as many as nine. South Carolina’s Seventh District Congressional seat was re-established in 2011 after the census a year earlier revealed a sharp population increase. The state had 4.6 million residents in the 2010 census. Estimates show that number increasing to about 5.1 million now. But, it does not appear South Carolina will have grown enough to earn an eighth congressional seat. However, a recent projection from the Brookings Institute predicts that North Carolina will add a new congressional seat based on 2020 census data. GOP Primary Lawsuit During every presidential election cycle since 1980, the South Carolina Republican Party has held its “First in the South" primary in January. But, it appears that will not be the case this year after the S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • News Release
    NEWS RELEASE For Release – February 4, 2010 Contact: Jerry Howard 864.235.2008 [email protected] Proterra Selects Greenville as New Location for Research, Development and Assembly of Advanced Battery Commercial Vehicles and Systems Chooses CU-ICAR as New Home, Bringing 1,309 New Jobs and a Clean-Energy Research Focus GREENVILLE COUNTY, SC, February 4, 2010 — Proterra Inc., which develops and assembles drive and energy storage systems for heavy-duty vehicles, including their ground-breaking BE-35 fast-charge battery-electric transit bus, today announced that it will locate a facility in Greenville County at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) for research and development as well as assembly of its products. Gov. Mark Sanford, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Bob Inglis, Mayor Knox White, Greenville County Council Chairman H. G. “Butch” Kirven Jr., Clemson University President James Barker, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Greenville Area Development Corporation and the South Carolina Research Authority joined Proterra in making the announcement today. “We are very excited to pursue the next stage of Proterra’s manufacturing and development in Greenville. This new facility will be our first full-scale, state-of-the-art research and development and manufacturing facility for our groundbreaking clean transportation solutions. Several months ago, Proterra retained the help of eRealty Companies Inc. and NPB Capital to assist in the site selection process. After a nation-wide search involving some 30 states, we selected Greenville, South Carolina as a result of the state’s numerous benefits in terms of workforce capabilities and research and development support.
    [Show full text]
  • The Politicization and Polarization of Climate Change
    Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont CMC Senior Theses CMC Student Scholarship 2021 The Politicization and Polarization of Climate Change Williamson Grassle Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses Part of the American Politics Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, and the Legislation Commons Recommended Citation Grassle, Williamson, "The Politicization and Polarization of Climate Change" (2021). CMC Senior Theses. 2663. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2663 This Open Access Senior Thesis is brought to you by Scholarship@Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in this collection by an authorized administrator. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Claremont McKenna College The Politicization and Polarization of Climate Change Submitted to Professor John J. Pitney, Jr. By Williamson Grassle For Senior Thesis Spring 2021 May 3rd 1 Table of Contents TITLE……………………………………………………………………………………..1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………….3 ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………4 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………...5 CHAPTER 1 – LATE 20TH, EARLY 21ST CENTURY………………………………....12 CHAPTER 2 – RECENT………………………………………………………………...24 CHAPTER 3 – FUTURE………………………………………………………………...39 WORK CITED…………………………………………………………………………...52 2 Acknowledgements I would like to thank Professor John J. Pitney for his guidance and support on this thesis. Throughout my time at Claremont McKenna, you have helped foster my passion for politics and define my interest in environmental policy. Without your guidance and expertise, I would not have been able to complete this project. 3 Abstract In the mid to late 20th-century, climate change and other environmental issues were addressed on a bipartisan basis, with Republican politicians like President Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush supporting and advancing measures to combat climate change. However, since the 1990s, climate change has become increasingly polarized, with significant polarization in the last decade.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Ordinance
    ORDINANCE NO. 1650 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA ADDING CHAPTER 8.86, CAMPING, TO THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 8, HEAL TH AND SAFETY WHEREAS, the City's climatic, topographical, circulation, seismic, geological, and l wildland-urban interface conditions create an increased risk of fires; WHEREAS, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports an average of 103 wildfires per year are ignited by illegal open fires, and, several fire departments in California have responded to such fires at, or caused by activities at, unauthorized camping; WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the San Clemente Municipal Code to prohibit camping upon public property, private open space, and fire risk areas; and WHEREAS, the City, by virtue of the police powers delegated to it by the California Constitution, is authorized to adopt policies to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of its residents. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Clemente does ordain as follows: SECTION 1. RECITALS. The recitals above are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council. SECTION 2. FINDINGS. The City Council finds and determines that: A Climatic Conditions. 1. San Clemente is located in a semi-arid Mediterranean type climate with an extensive urban/wildland interface. It annually experiences extended periods of high temperatures with little or no precipitation. Additionally, its coastal canyons can become very dry and promote the rapid growth of fires. Hot, dry (Santa Ana) winds which may reach speeds of 70 miles per hour or greater, are also common to the area.
    [Show full text]
  • A Rational Discussion of Climate Change: the Science, the Evidence, the Response
    A RATIONAL DISCUSSION OF CLIMATE CHANGE: THE SCIENCE, THE EVIDENCE, THE RESPONSE HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION NOVEMBER 17, 2010 Serial No. 111–114 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 62–618PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HON. BART GORDON, Tennessee, Chair JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois RALPH M. HALL, Texas EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER JR., LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California Wisconsin DAVID WU, Oregon LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas BRIAN BAIRD, Washington DANA ROHRABACHER, California BRAD MILLER, North Carolina ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois VERNON J. EHLERS, Michigan GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio W. TODD AKIN, Missouri BEN R. LUJA´ N, New Mexico RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas PAUL D. TONKO, New York BOB INGLIS, South Carolina STEVEN R. ROTHMAN, New Jersey MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas JIM MATHESON, Utah MARIO DIAZ-BALART, Florida LINCOLN DAVIS, Tennessee BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky ADRIAN SMITH, Nebraska RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia BARON P. HILL, Indiana PETE OLSON, Texas HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona CHARLES A. WILSON, Ohio KATHLEEN DAHLKEMPER, Pennsylvania ALAN GRAYSON, Florida SUZANNE M.
    [Show full text]
  • PUBLIC SAFETY U Building a Safer Los Angeles 99
    MOTION PUBLIC SAFETY U Building a Safer Los Angeles 99 From time to time it is appropriate for the Council to review and update ordinances adopted in the past. The urgency to do this is compounded when those ordinances relate to public safety, and even more so when a natural disaster affects our City such as the recent wildfires. In recent years, the City has made strides in enhancing the protection and character of our hillside communities, specifically our hillside single family home communities. Both in 2011 and again 2017 the City adopted stricter Baseline Hillside Ordinances to better ensure public safety in those neighborhoods. Though these ordinances addressed out of scale development and neighborhood character, the secondary effects ensure safer communities and better design that reduces risk during catastrophic events such as wildfires. The City must ensure that our growing multifamily housing stock is being constructed safely with skilled labor, and is resilient in the face of growing threats from wildfires and other natural disasters. In late 2018 the risk and devastation from wildfires was on full display throughout California. The risk associated with wildfires has grown exponentially in recent years. The frequency and intensity of these fires has made them a serious public safety risk. Their speed and intensity have created an urgent need to address their impacts. Much of this increased risk comes from the growing impacts of climate change that has changed the ecological makeup of our forests and climatic shifts that have driven the region into drought year after year, as well as rapid growth of our urban-wildland interface.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Politicians, Partisan Roll Calls, and the Tea Party: Evaluating the 2010 Midterm Elections
    Electoral Studies 32 (2013) 26–36 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Electoral Studies journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/electstud Strategic politicians, partisan roll calls, and the Tea Party: Evaluating the 2010 midterm elections Jamie L. Carson a,*, Stephen Pettigrew b a University of Georgia, 104 Baldwin Hall, Athens, GA 30602-1615, USA b Harvard University, Department of Government, 1737 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA article info abstract Article history: The 2010 midterm elections were politically and historically significant in several respects. Received 14 September 2011 This article offers a concise narrative of the congressional elections beginning with Received in revised form 8 August 2012 a discussion of the factors influencing the outcome of the historic election. We briefly Accepted 22 August 2012 consider established research on congressional elections and analyze the degree to which these theories apply to the specific circumstances in 2010. Throughout the article, we Keywords: compare the 2010 midterms to two other recent elections, 2006 and 2008. We also Congressional elections examine several idiosyncratic aspects of the 2010 elections, relative to the historic Midterms Strategic politicians midterm elections of 1994 and 2006, as well as the effects of the stimulus and healthcare fi Tea Party reform bills and the Tea Party movement. We nd strong effects for member votes on the individual roll calls, but little evidence of Tea Party influence on electoral outcomes. Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. The 2010 midterms will likely go down as one of the economic conditions and changes in presidential approval. most historic elections in the modern era.
    [Show full text]
  • New Blaze Ignites Near LA As Fierce California Wildfires Rage 6 December 2017
    New blaze ignites near LA as fierce California wildfires rage 6 December 2017 the southwest were causing the fire to balloon, he said, warning Angelenos to be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. "These are days that break your heart but also days that shows the resilience of our city," he said. The "Skirball" fire ignited before 5 am (1300 GMT) and quickly grew to engulf some 150 acres, with forecasters predicting that 25 mile-per-hour (40 kilometer-per-hour) winds could cause further spreading, threatening multi-million dollar homes and the acclaimed Getty Center museum. Firefighters battle flames on a hillside near homes in Santa Paula, California, as the Los Angeles region grapples with wind-whipped wildfires An inferno engulfed the Los Angeles region Wednesday, forcing more than 200,000 people to evacuate and threatening thousands of homes, including the luxe Bel-Air neighborhood dotted with mansions. The flames have swallowed some 80,000 acres (32,000 hectares) in just over a day since the "Thomas" fire, currently the state's largest, broke Firefighters work to save burning houses in the Skirball out, leaving at least one dead in an area about 45 Fire near Los Angeles minutes from downtown LA. High winds caused another wave of wildfires to erupt overnight, including one in Los Angeles' The Skirball fire—near a cultural center of the same affluent Bel-Air neighborhood. The area battled name and captured in apocalyptic images—also gridlocked heavy traffic as ash and smoke churned prompted authorities to close the 405 Freeway, a over the smoldering hillside.
    [Show full text]
  • SCAQMD Continues Smoke Advisory for Creek, Rye and Skirball Fires
    NEWS For Immediate Release Dec. 8, 2017 SCAQMD Continues Smoke Advisory for Fire Burning in the Lake View Terrace, Sylmar, Santa Clarita, and Getty Center Areas This advisory is in effect through Saturday morning, Dec. 9. SCAQMD will issue an update if additional information becomes available. A brush fire, named the Creek Fire, is burning in Los Angeles County near Lake View Terrace and Sylmar. The burn area is currently reported to be approximately 15,000 acres with 40 percent containment. Strong northeast winds are expected to continue through at least Saturday afternoon bringing smoke into the western portion of Los Angeles County. Air quality may reach Unhealthy levels or higher in areas directly impacted by smoke. A second fire, named the Rye Fire, is burning in Los Angeles County near Santa Clarita. The burn area is reported to be approximately 6,000 acres with 35 percent containment. A third fire, named the Skirball Fire, is burning in Los Angeles County off the 405 freeway near the Getty Center. The burn area is reported to be 475 acres with 30 percent containment. Areas of direct smoke impacts and Unhealthful air quality include portions of: West San Fernando Valley (Forecast Area 6), East San Fernando Valley (Forecast Area 7), Southwest Los Angeles County Coastal (Forecast Area 3), and Northwest Los Angeles County Coastal (Forecast Area 2). All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke. This includes areas where residents can see or smell smoke. In any area impacted by smoke: Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, pregnant women, older adults, and children should remain indoors.
    [Show full text]
  • USC Dornsife in the News Archive - 2015
    USC Dornsife in the News Archive - 2015 December Wednesday, December 23, 2015 CBS News featured research presented by John Platt of USC Dornsife College to the American Geophysical Union that may explain mysterious fault lines. Platt said when two faults collide, they may merge like a zipper, instead of breaking past one another. "It may solve some long-standing and intractable problems concerning the timing and displacement on faults," he said. EdTech wrote about a $2.7 million U.S. Department of Education grant for a digital game project by Daphna Oyserman, Dean’s Professor of Psychology and professor of psychology, education and communication. Oyserman will work with the nonprofit McREL, game developer Filament Games, and the South Centeral Colorado Board of Cooperative Education Services to build and test the game based on Oyserman's "identity-based motivation" for teens. The Wall Street Journal ran an op-ed by Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about Sen. Lindsey Graham's decision to end his presidential campaign. Tuesday, December 22, 2015 The Nation highlighted research by Manuel Pastor, Turpanjian Chair in Civil Society and Social Change and professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity, and colleagues on the economic impact of Prop. 13 in California. If Prop. 13 was reformed so that commercial and industrial properties were taxed at market rate, the state could generate between $8.2-10.2 billion. Pastor noted that Prop. 13 affects younger Californians - who are predominantly non-white - more than older, more established residents. Daily Mail featured research by Margaret Gatz, professor of psychology, gerontology and preventive medicine, and Andrew Petkus, a postdoctoral researcher in psychology, along with colleagues finding that long-term anxiety can increase the risk for dementia.
    [Show full text]