Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I've spent lots of time recently in a thick wetsuit, looking out to sea, wondering where all the waves have gone. It's a big question among my fellow-surfers, since during the last couple of winters Califiornia's waves have (to use the correct jargon) well and truly "sucked". Now people are wondering: Could global warming be killing our surf?
This seems like a funny time to ask this question. Since the weekend, LA's been enjoying a minor heat-wave. The sun's out, the sky's as blue as a David Hockney painting, and the first decent swell in ages arrived on Sunday, turning my local "break", where Sunset Boulevard meets the Pacific, into a chest-high rollercoaster ride.
But here's the thing: it was also a very crowded ride. Almost a hundred other surfers were in the water when I rocked up on Sunday morning. The same was true throughout Southern California, where – to Anglicise a comment by a local surf forecaster Adam Wright – the tidal waters felt like Piccadilly Circus.
The reason for this was simple: Supply and demand. Since the start of 2009, decent waves have been scarce in LA. So now they've temporarily appeared, they're in huge demand. This causes traffic problems: There's been surf-gang violence in San Diego, and punch-ups in Orange County. I live in fear of ending up on a crowded wave with the wrong "dudes", like Keanu Reeves in Point Break.
Things weren't supposed to be like this. When climate change first took hold, scientists told us that surfers would be the lucky ones: skiing was likely to get wiped out, but constant storms would whip the oceans of the future into a choppy frenzy. Every year would see a new El Nino, every beach would be surfable, and the sea water of the future would be nice and warm.
Science, however, seems to have got it wrong. Perhaps a current has changed far out at sea in a way they couldn't predict. Or maybe a minute rise in sea levels has subtly altered tidal patterns. Either way, California's surfers are suddenly coming round to the view that global warming might not be as exciting as we thought.
No relief for Dylan's staff
Bob Dylan's battle with neighbours over a smelly "porta-potty" used by security guards at his Malibu estate provides a stunning revelation that has so far escaped public attention: that the multi-millionaire musician is too mean to actually build a proper "convenience" for his long-suffering staff. If I were in their shoes, I'd complain – possibly via the medium of a protest song.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments