Is It Getting Warmer?

USA Today - August 25, 2008

Regardless of your thoughts on global warming, government waste and inefficiencies are something that most of us can agree on. To have alternative energy programs that are on or off, year after year, is simply a waste.  I understand the need to have finite limits to programs (except Social Security never seems to end) but they shouldn’t just stop.

Instead the programs should be weaned off of government assisted life support so that the economy can adjust.  Having these alternative forms of energy production suddenly cut off forces other programs to never start since the investors can’t be assured of a long and viable future.

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Filed under: Politics, Technology

I had a conversation with a co-worker the other day about global warming.  Not surprisingly, I get into this conversation a lot.  I made mention that a significant minority of the data that is used to decipher our warming is actually modified or estimated.  My co-worker was shocked at this so I wanted to share it with my readers.

The best analysis of this process that I have seen is written by Steve McIntyre over at Climate Audit in two separate discussions.  From February 9th:

Unfortunately, the previous year’s December temperature is not included in the first year of a scribal record, so it must be estimated. And because December must be estimated, the resulting DJF is an estimate, as is the resulting annual temperature.

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Filed under: Weather science

I have often complained that carbon offset credits just don’t make sense.  I don’t think that they will do anything to create better behavior and think it is simply a shell game that will only end up lining someone’s pockets.

But I appear to be in the minority in this view.  So I ask those that disagree with me isn’t what is good for the goose good for the gander as well?  I just found this website:

CheatNeutral

What is Cheat Offsetting?

When you cheat on your partner you add to the heartbreak, pain and jealousy in the atmosphere.

Cheatneutral offsets your cheating by funding someone else to be faithful and NOT cheat. This neutralises the pain and unhappy emotion and leaves you with a clear conscience.

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Filed under: Greenhouse gas, The ridiculous!

Launch Magazine - July/August issue

Walter Cunningham is one of the astronauts of Apollo 7.  He writes about global warming in the latest issue of Launch Magazine and his comments bear considering.

Mr. Cunningham is important in this discussion because of his obvious intelligence and past leadership but also in his strong ability in analyzing scientific and political events and drawing conclusions.

What I find to be most compelling are:

• his ridicule of climate models.
• his discussions of correlation and causation.
• the replacement of scientific discussion with emotional arguments.
• the condemnation of Mr. Hansen - one of the early warning voices of global warming and an employee of NASA.

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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Natural, Politics

Wall Street Journal - August 1, 2008

The Wall Street Journal has a rather cynical look at the state of our elected representatives and their current stance on energy bills.  It appears that the rank and file elected representative is quite in favor of doing something proactive to increase energy supply.  However, Ms. Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, and her partner Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, have effectively stifled anything good (or bad) from their respective chambers just to prevent more energy production either in the form of drilling, nuclear, or traditional sources. (Follow the feed link to read the rest of the story).

The opinion even goes so far as to charge that the actions of the Legislature have put 93% of the US energy footprint off-limits to expansion.

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Filed under: Politics