tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25818917594887709652024-03-14T05:02:50.794-04:00Dialogues On Global Warming
email: DOGW.email@gmail.comTales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.comBlogger669125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-90529814300636423562019-04-19T12:38:00.003-04:002019-04-19T12:38:49.498-04:00OMG! Did the fraud Tim Ball really say that?Possibly the <a href="https://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/11/history-of-ball-and-harris-is-not-ad.html">biggest tandem of frauds</a> in the entire anti-science domain of climate change deniers consists of the paid shills of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Ball">Tim Ball</a> and <a href="http://tomharrisicsc.blogspot.com/2016/12/tom-harris-paid-shill.html">Tom Harris</a>. It is well documented that they repeatedly make false claims, use false logic, use fake evidence while making their deceptive claims. A court in British Columbia <a href="https://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/02/court-tim-ball-has-no-credibility-how.html">dismissed a libel suit against Ball</a> because it found his credibility was so low no rational person would believe anything he said.<br />
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And yet, these two continue.<br />
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One of Ball's fraudulent claims is the he is a climatologist, taught in the climatology department at the University of Winnipeg, and was the first climatologist in Canada (and one of the first in the world). <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/timothy-f-ball-tim-ball">In fact,</a> he's a geographer, there was no such department at Winnipeg when he was there and he has no background related to climate science.<br />
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In other words, he just made it up to make himself look credible. It is truly ironic that these kinds of actions actually lower his credibility. Now, he's made this amazing statement on <a href="https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/03/30/time-to-straighten-out-damage-from-the-big-lie-of-global-warming-starting-with-voltaires-admonition/">Watt's Up With That?</a> (itself a zero-credibility website):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The latest well-known person exploited in this way is documentary
producer Sir David Attenborough, who was taken in by the false story of
anthropogenic global warming (AGW). It appears he let his socialist
views over-ride any sense of science he might have. The trouble is he
doesn’t appear to have any science training. He is an English Grammar
School graduate who identifies himself as a naturalist. This is like the
practice of people identifying themselves as environmentalists. </blockquote>
Unbelievably ... oh, wait! We're talking about Tim Ball, so it is believable ... he is criticizing Attenborough for claiming to be a naturalist when he has only a grammar school education and "doesn't appear to have any science training." Yes, the guy who makes false claims about his own background is criticizing someone else on this basis.<br />
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But, wait! It gets better. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Attenborough">This from</a> Wikipedia, which states that Attenborough:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
won a scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge in 1945, where he studied geology and zoology and obtained a degree in natural sciences.</blockquote>
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And, from <a href="https://www.biography.com/personality/david-attenborough">Attenborough's biography</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
after graduating from high school he was awarded a scholarship to study the natural sciences at the University of Cambridge. </blockquote>
In fact, unlike Ball, Attenborough really does have the degree he claims. <br />
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We can at least credit Ball with being entertaining. Stupid, but entertaining.<br />
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Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-70642994796504588432019-01-14T16:00:00.000-05:002019-01-14T16:11:10.249-05:00Explain to me how the Green New Deal is a bad thing?The Green New Deal has been getting a lot of press lately. It's not your fault if you think this is something new. In fact, it has been around for years. I've heard it proposed numerous times over the years and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_New_Deal">Wikipedia states</a> the term traces back to a 2007 article in the New York Times and the New York Times Magazine. But, since the Democrats took back the House of Representatives in the 2018 election, with help from the anti-science platform of Trump and the Republicans, it has gained a new spotlight in the public forum. In particular, the idea of a Green New Deal was a mainstay of the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-green-new-deal_us_5c1c40c0e4b0407e9078ed20">upset campaign of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a> in New York. <br />
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This has now become <a href="https://twitter.com/GroverNorquist/status/1076179201739444225">the new boogey-man</a> for the anti-science, climate-change deniers. They have embraced the fossil fuel industry, taken their money, and sold the well-being of the public and the environment, so of course they're going to be opposed to anything that might challenge that industry's profits. But, that's the strange thing. Somehow, they are spinning this thing as an evil plot by socialists, who they claim are anti-American and anti-economy. Well, I've been engaged in my own New Green Deal this past fall and I can say this is something the Republicans should be proclaiming and taking credit for. Let me show you what I mean.<br />
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<b>First.</b> I installed solar panels on my house. I now have enough panels to supply 100% of my electric needs over the course of a year. My local utility doesn't pay me for excess electricity I might generate, but does give me credit. That means some months I'm banking billing credits as I send more electricity to the grid when I'm generating than what I take from the grid at night. Other months I'm taking more than I generate and will use those credits. My net electric usage since the panels went online at the beginning of October is I've banked nearly a full month's worth of electricity usage. I'll use that up in the summer months.<br />
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To pay for these panels, I took out a home improvement loan. The monthly payment on the loan is almost exactly my average electric bill over the last three years. That makes this program revenue neutral. Basically, it didn't cost me a thing to go solar. When electric costs go up, my costs will remain the same. And, I added a carport in the loan. That means I got a free carport out this.<br />
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<b>Second.</b> I bought a Tesla Model 3. Since it's electric, I charge it at home off my solar panels. I keep detailed records of my home finances and my automobile expenses averaged over $4000 over the last three years on gas, maintenance and repair (over $2000 per year on gasoline alone). That means I'm putting about $350 per month in my pocket that I can spend on other things. And, since it's a savings, this money is tax free. I've already paid taxes on it.<br />
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<b>Third</b>. I installed new, high-grade efficiency windows in my house. I had very old windows that were leaky and troublesome. They were the single-pane, circa-1940s type with the counterweights and ripples in the glass from the manufacturing process. The screens were shot and some wouldn't open while some wouldn't close all the way. I had them all replaced (17 of them!) with very modern, high-efficiency windows. As a result, I had to lower my thermostat by three degrees after installation because the house was getting too hot. Plus, they're quieter. The house is much more comfortable as a result.<br />
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<b>Bonus</b>. I've been engaged in a project to repaint the exterior of the house. During this effort, I'm finding a lot of bad caulking and rotted wood that I spent a lot of time repairing and replacing over last spring and summer. Even last summer before the new windows were installed, I could tell a difference in the comfort of the house.<br />
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<b>Summary and Benefits.</b> I bought solar panels from an American company (creating American jobs), had them installed by a local company (creating jobs in my community), saved money on my electric bill that I can now spend on other things and got a free carport because of it. I bought an American-made car (creating American jobs) and put thousands of dollars a year into my pocket. I bought American-made efficiency windows (again, creating American jobs) and am saving on my heating bill (and, I'm sure, my AC bill come summer) while improving the comfort of my home.<br />
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So, I went green, created American and local jobs, and improved my financial situation and comfort.<br />
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Explain to me how this is a bad thing. Please.<br />
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<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-12174103754453047752018-12-09T08:49:00.001-05:002018-12-09T08:49:49.867-05:00Tim Ball Exemplifies StupidityTim Ball, the fraud who claims to have been a climatology professor (he never was), wrote an article recently with a laughably appropriate title: <a href="https://townhall.com/columnists/timball/2018/12/07/extreme-wildfires-caused-by-extreme-stupidity-not-global-warming-n2537168">Extreme Wildfires Caused By Extreme Stupidity, not Global Warming.</a> Tim Ball is the shining example of stupidity in the anti-science, flat-earther society. This is a guy who the courts decided can't be sued for libel. The court's reasoning was that Ball is <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/02/14/judge-dismisses-libel-claim-sceptic-tim-ball-not-credible-enough-take-seriously">so lacking in credibility no reasonable person would believe him</a>. <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/02/14/climate-denier-tim-ball-trump-approved-not-credible-enough-stand-accountable-libel-0">Really!</a> You can't make this stuff up. And yet, Ball insists on putting his stupidity on public display.<br />
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Ball, amazingly, states,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Rising temperatures and increasing CO<sub>2 </sub>both act to increase soil moisture and so <em>reduce</em>
the potential of fires. When temperatures rise, evaporation increases,
causing more precipitation which increases soil moisture and so lessens
fire risk. </blockquote>
I have to wonder if he ever reads the nonsense he writes. This guy just said increased evaporation increases soil moisture. Like I said, you can't make this stuff up. He's right about the stupidity part - and it sits squarely on his shoulders.<br />
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Let's put the record straight. When evaporation occurs liquid moisture escapes as a vapor and rises into the atmosphere. Once there, it is subject to the currents and other dynamics of the atmosphere. Moisture rarely falls back to the same area it evaporated from - it gets blown downwind. Even if it does fall back, the best it can do is to break even. That's right. In the extremely improbable scenario proposed by Ball where moisture evaporates and then falls back as rain, there is no net gain in moisture!<br />
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In other words, Ball's claims are physically impossible!<br />
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According to Ball, the next time you hang the laundry on a clothesline to dry, it will actually get wetter!<br />
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Once again, the deniers show just how much the hate - and fail to understand - simple science.<br />
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Oh, by the way, Tom Harris, the paid shill of the fossil fuel industry <a href="https://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/05/tom-harris-fraudulent-scientist.html">who has also lost all credibility</a>, was a coauthor on this piece. Turns out, Harris can't find anyone with more credibility than Ball to work with. What a low point.<br />
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In the first<br />
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Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-33286031159236490932018-11-08T10:54:00.003-05:002018-11-08T10:54:37.675-05:00Guest Post: The Vicious Cycle of Climate Change and AgriculutureThe below is a post submitted to me by Alan Oakman:<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Vicious Cycle of
Climate Change and Agriculture</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2016 was a tragic year. The death of the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla
Harambe and the Orlando
gay club shooting were indeed unfortunate events. But it was the devastating Louisiana floods of 2016
that opened our eyes to the imminent dangers of climate change. Considered to
be one of the worst disasters in American history, the Louisiana
floods not only led to property destruction but also caused the Louisiana agriculture
industry to face losses worth </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2016/09/14/426593.htm"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">$277 million</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The adverse effects of climate change on crop produce and
agriculture was apparent to me. And the more I researched about it, the more I
got convinced that we are stuck in the vicious cycle of climate change and agriculture.
Before I explain my statement, let’s quickly see how climate change is
affecting the agricultural industry. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Climate Change’s Wrath on Agriculture</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sunlight, abundance of water, soil nutrients, normal local weather
and optimum temperatures for vegetation growth are the most basic requirements
for producing high yield crops. But every time an extreme natural disaster,
like a drought or a flood, strikes, it directly affects the crop produce. These
extreme </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.bartleby.com/textbooks/essential-environment-the-science-behind-the-stories-5th-edition-5th-edition/9780321984579/solutions"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">environmental </span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">conditions
have become common occurrences in the last few years, and climate change is to
be blamed for it. The following graphical representation shows the steep drop
of corn yields in the U.S.
during extreme weather conditions in the past 5 decades.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCRWmEpdJBvrtSxNOdI726N4JMOMYmxDQUQBILtFZ-yQdCSwOQgXHPKNPZqXh_h8p_3Uy2Y6Rjj-UJeOMU5V9-OjDljaoMxV_JCD17wPFmcq8en8Eq487fykOeR2ZVDvKzBljB-52xyI/s1600/uscornyields-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="448" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCRWmEpdJBvrtSxNOdI726N4JMOMYmxDQUQBILtFZ-yQdCSwOQgXHPKNPZqXh_h8p_3Uy2Y6Rjj-UJeOMU5V9-OjDljaoMxV_JCD17wPFmcq8en8Eq487fykOeR2ZVDvKzBljB-52xyI/s640/uscornyields-large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Image
Credit: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://cityofphiladelphia.github.io/climatechangeisreal/sites/production/files/2016-08/uscornyields-large.jpg</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time a drought or a flood ruins a crop
produce, it creates a phenomenon called food shock, where the poor yields of
grains, wheat and other crops are sold at exorbitant prices, making the
majority of the population fight for it. Back in 2010, Russia faced
the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33910552"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">worst drought in 40 years</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
ruining the majority of its crop produce. This led to a huge decline in the
export of wheat that caused unrest and violence in African countries as people
fought over food. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Apart
from the direct ill effects of extreme weather conditions on agriculture, even
an increase in temperature and a rise in CO</span><sub><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2</span></sub><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
levels may create a positive or negative impact on crop produce. Higher
temperatures are considered to be good for faster growth of crops but it in
turn decreases its yield. With 2016 named as the hottest year, rise in
temperatures across the world is making crops grow faster without giving enough
time for seeds to grow and mature completely. This reduces crop yields. Also,
increase in CO</span><sub><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 </span></sub><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">levels
may positively affect crop produce but it may also lead to growth of weed
plants and fungi that can severely restrict the yield and can cause health
hazards. Till date, there have been numerous instances of higher temperatures
and increased CO</span><sub><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 </span></sub><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">concentration
causing negative effects on crop yield. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not
just crops, climate change has had a negative impact on animal husbandry and
fishing industries as well. Scientific research on global warming highlight
that extreme weather conditions and increased temperatures affect the health of
livestock as it leads to an outbreak of a plethora of diseases. Climate change
affects the produce of fodder and green pastures on which the farm animals
feed. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
Agriculture Causes Climate Change</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While
the impact of climate change on agriculture can be witnessed clearly, it might
surprise many that human activities in farming and animal husbandry in turn
contributes to climate change. Industrial farming, which is widely prevalent in
almost all developed countries, is one of the biggest contributors to
greenhouse gas emissions. In order to produce high yields of crops while
tackling unpredictable weather conditions, there has been increased use of
fertilizers and pesticides that release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, etc., in the atmosphere. Farming industries are highly dependent
on tractors and other equipments that run on fuel. They utilize electricity for
irrigation as well as drying and cooling of crops. They also utilize a lot of
natural resources in packaging and shipping of the crops to different parts of
the world. All these agricultural activities that we consider necessary to
mitigate the threat of climate change to our food produce is in turn
contributing heavily to climate change. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to statistics, industrial farming is responsible for almost 20-25% of </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/6-ways-agriculture-impacts-global-warming.html"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">U.S.’s carbon footprint</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
Thus, a vicious cycle has been created where climate change negatively impacts
agriculture, and industrial farming, in an attempt to negate the effects of
global warming on crop produce, is contributing more towards climate change. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Solution: Organic Farming </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While
we can’t curb all agricultural activities, a few changes in the way we do
farming will help in breaking this vicious cycle of climate change and
agriculture. By adopting green farming or organic farming, we can use natural
fertilizers like compost, green manure, etc., that are organic and don’t
contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. Techniques like crop rotation
and companion planting helps in increasing soil nutrients that will lead to an
increase in crop yield. Organic farming is growing in popularity and might be
the road forward to tackle the effects of climate change on agriculture without
contributing more to climate change. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-23723580411270751302018-09-15T20:19:00.001-04:002018-09-15T20:19:13.566-04:00The End of Climate Change Denying<br />
I found<i> <a href="https://www.ehn.org/climate-change-denial-2600707946.html">Etched in stone</a></i>, an article written by Peter Dykstra to be a rather salient article, hitting on several issues I've observed in recent years. Stating, "Rigid beliefs die hard, or not at all," Dykstra sets out discussing how there are people who hold beliefs that are not rational and they will hold firm to those beliefs in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. He specifically mentions Vietnam vets who are convinced comrades are still being held prisoner in Vietnam; beliefs concerning Obama's birth certificate and religious beliefs; and beliefs concerning vaccines. I can add a number of others that I have encountered in my work, in my classes, among my friends, and even in my family - beliefs such as the Moon landings were faked; 9/11 was a government conspiracy; chemicals are being sprayed into the atmosphere by jet airliners to change the climate; any number of conspiracies surrounding Hillary Clinton that are too numerous to list here; there's a face on Mars; evolution science isn't valid; and the list goes on.<br />
<br />
Oh, yeah. Climate change isn't real.<br />
<br />
The science concerning anthropogenic climate change (AGW) is conclusive and settled. Over 99% of published climate scientists agree that manmade climate change is real. The data is monumental. And, yet, there are those who cannot be convinced otherwise. For the most part, this isn't important. As Dykstra pointed out, climate change denialism is rapidly fading away and the adherents are increasingly isolated fringe elements.<br />
<br />
This is the first point I took from his article. No matter how much science is presented, these individuals will stick to their hardened beliefs. Years from now, when even the Republicans finally admit the science is real, there will still be a cadre of tinhats firmly holding onto their claims that AGW isn't real. There is nothing that can be done about that and I try my best to never discuss it with these people. They are not rational and no amount of science or logic will ever persuade them they are wrong. In fact, it is not possible to even persuade them there's a possibility they might be wrong. So, why bother?<br />
<br />
However, mainstream denialism is dying out. This is a second point from Dykstra's article that I have personally observed. The paid shills of the fossil fuel industry are having an increasingly difficult time getting their ridiculous claims printed in the mainstream media. This is partly because the vast majority of the public has realized they only produce sophist arguments for the purpose of deception. The vast majority of the public now acknowledges AGW is real and this percentage is increasing. Few people are interested in listening to the anti-science crowd tell them how climate change isn't real when all the while there are more frequent and severe heat waves, wildfires, floods, winter storms, rising oceans, hurricanes, etc. They can see with their own eyes that climate change is real. Therefore, anyone telling them it isn't has no credibility in their eyes. You can see this by the comments people make on the few articles that still appear. There are the deniers, frequently Russian trolls, but their claims are so shrill and off topic that no thinking person pays them any attention. And, that's it. There are no longer any civil, rational, logical arguments presented in the comments section supporting the claim that the science isn't real. If their claims are valid, it should be easy for them to present valid arguments. So, why don't they?<br />
<br />
I suppose we could chalk all of this up as a victory, but I can't. The reason is that these people won. They delayed any action on climate change so long that we are now stuck with the new reality. Politicians, bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry, have succeeded in stopping any action to address the issue. Now, the issue is here to stay. They fought hard to ensure their billionaire buddies continued to make obscene profits at the expense of everyone else, and they succeeded.<br />
<br />
And, this is the last point I want to discuss. Any effort to stop global warming is doomed to failure. I look at the data and repeatedly see a shift in the late-2000s. Sometime between 2005 and 2010, the data consistently shows an inflection point. The data has a lower rate of change before that point than after. To me, this says the tipping point has already been crossed. I've discussed it in private with others and I'm not the only one saying it.<br />
<br />
But, even if I'm wrong and, as many scientists claim, there is still time to address global warming before we cross the tipping point, it doesn't matter. This would only be important if we were addressing our emissions at a sufficiently rapid rate, which we're not. Emissions are dropping around the world, but we're still pumping the atmosphere with greenhouse gases in amounts too large for the planet to deal with. Some of these gases will remain in the air for centuries. That means, even if we have time to avoid the tipping point, we are failing to use our remaining time wisely. The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is still growing and it's growing at a rate that guarantees we will see a more hostile future. There is nothing that can be done about it.<br />
<br />
Does this mean we're locked into a catastrophic future? No, at least not as a race. For many people, it will be catastrophic. The people suffering through Hurricane Florence right now might call it a catastrophe, but the rest of the world will continue and, as a race, we will increase our numbers by 200,000 people today. We'll do that again tomorrow. A new major city every week.<br />
<br />
So, the race will not end. But, it isn't going to be as comfortable, either.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-57939364720153962882018-08-11T17:18:00.000-04:002018-08-11T17:18:04.900-04:00Guest Post: Manipulated by the Referees!<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Submitted by Peter Johnson:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">**************************** </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">MANIPULATED BY THE
REFEREES! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In response to
comments I made on the following website:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fwgbh%2Fnova%2Fblogs%2Fsecretlife%2Fenvironmental-science%2Fkatharine-hayhoe%2F%23comment-4019071961&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=LiJwqt3Sm%2B%2F%2BbXSv%2FxeagigyQvB3N573J0gxcZwA%2Bwc%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/secretlife/environmental-science/katharine-hayhoe/#comment-4019071961</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I disputed the
claims of another commenter who used the name Bodhisattva 1, and who used a
photo of the Dalia Lama next to this screenname, but, I have had some of my
best posts removed. In one of those posts, I disputed the commenter’s claims
that climate scientists have failed to prove that virtually any climate warming
at all has happened in the last 40 years—a claim that taken on face value, is
completely absurd! So, I used the following link to provide some info about Roy
Spencer which contradicts his claims to have never accepted money from any
source for his support of climate change deniers (or as he prefers) from
skeptics.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.desmogblog.com%2Froy-spencer&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=A%2F8WpDmvAoZzQRHYPj1%2Fh0Sm5aPQw0bOerHQVcGLwpE%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.desmogblog.com/roy-spencer</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Spencer is a</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20180801204507%2Fhttp%3A%2Famericafirstenergy.org%2Fspeakers%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=w%2FEjE92HecEe%2BrOBaBI4ox3AAAI83xK4SSJBpiaXU3U%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;"> registered
speaker</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> at
the </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.desmogblog.com%2Fheartland-institute&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=nOEt7mVpy4XjMLlAtALNrMIMfA8DJ7HtdEgmKG3ihY0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">Heartland
Institute</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">'s “</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20180723222403%2Fhttp%3A%2Famericafirstenergy.org%2Fabout%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=UwXfu2K8EXCj57IrOhSEdANE3r6MZIxHZQtR%2BZk5%2B5E%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">America First
Energy Conference</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">”
(AFEC 2018) in New Orleans, Louisiana. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.desmogblog.com%2Froy-spencer%23s100&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=P%2B99dacMdm3TmXrAgemnuGaPIbXGuCGNxJFUaP2snYY%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">[100]</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“The purpose of
this event is to promote and expand energy freedom in the United States, as
outlined in President Donald Trump’s bold America First Energy Plan, a proposal
first released during the 2016 presidential campaign. The president’s plan
marks a decisive change in direction from the Obama administration’s 'war on
fossil fuels' and focus on the theory of catastrophic man-caused climate
change,” the </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20180723222403%2Fhttp%3A%2Famericafirstenergy.org%2Fabout%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=UwXfu2K8EXCj57IrOhSEdANE3r6MZIxHZQtR%2BZk5%2B5E%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">conference
description reads</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.desmogblog.com%2Froy-spencer%23s101&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=kT8D54210Ga6DAxcFEn3QxeOVib%2F4e%2B7z%2FA1qoGidyk%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;"> [101]</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">” </span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">And about Spencer’s
supposed lack of ties to anti global warming special interest groups--take a
look at this link:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facingsouth.org%2F2011%2F09%2Fclimate-science-contrarian-roy-spencers-oil-industry-ties.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=uDfebZBJgMUtbva5TvSIR6vq%2B21XB2Qc%2FyQyuMTDibU%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.facingsouth.org/2011/09/climate-science-contrarian-roy-spencers-oil-industry-ties.html</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“A research
scientist with the University of Alabama at Huntsville's </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fessl.uah.edu%2Fwelcome.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=uRDXsISA26N26hjBvlw5vFSSkiEaBdkb6j6tuJ%2BPKOI%3D&reserved=0"><b><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">Earth System Science Center</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> (ESSC), Roy Spencer is a climate
contrarian with solid academic credentials. And his </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drroyspencer.com%2Fabout%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=daJz8cnFqWacY8vRWPG8Jd6kTNiElvVmuC1Fwl6n%2B1Q%3D&reserved=0"><b><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">website bio</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> notes that he "has never been
asked by any oil company to perform any kind of service. Not even
Exxon-Mobil."<br />
<br />
“But Spencer doesn't disclose his leadership roles in climate skeptic groups
financed by Exxon and other key players in what's been dubbed the "climate
denial machine": the network of companies, think tanks and foundations
that have sought to deny and downplay the scientific consensus that global
warming is real and is caused in large part by human activity.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The bottom line is,
even if he (willingly) accepts funding from special interests without being
directed by them, he is still accepting money from those who would likely
expect his research to mirror their own claims.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">And from the
following links I provided evidence that the Dalai Lama actually acknowledges
human caused climate change, and urges us to take actions to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcleantechnica.com%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Fclimate-action-is-logical-says-dalai-lama%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=ZozwJMKJyig007v2LNy%2FOEyXj4UR%2B5kAUDkr%2FBw%2FpKs%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://cleantechnica.com/2015/10/22/climate-action-is-logical-says-dalai-lama/</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yesterday, the
Dalai Lama </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2015%2Foct%2F20%2Fdalai-lama-says-strong-action-on-climate-change-is-a-human-responsibility&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969139103&sdata=eMi1NCsThhHBTJ20I5IczqoVwCuTNz1Lh120lYojm8E%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">released a
video</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> urging
world leaders to take strong action at the UN climate talks starting on November
30 in Paris. The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader is one of growing number
of religious leaders, including Pope Francis and Patriarch
Bartholomew, to call for immediate climate action.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">And here are some
of his comments reported in the following link from The Guardian;</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2015%2Foct%2F20%2Fdalai-lama-says-strong-action-on-climate-change-is-a-human-responsibility&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=lF9OE4gey7xJdN1Ww9P%2FTovSm8n3KQj4nO3oFNk1XsU%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/20/dalai-lama-says-strong-action-on-climate-change-is-a-human-responsibility</span></a></span><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Logically, human
beings have the responsibility to reduce these problems and finally eliminate
these problems because we created them,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Like Pope Francis’s
plea for younger generations to take more action in his environmental
encyclical, the Dalai Lama also appealed to the young to “take a more
active role in protecting this planet, including the Tibetan plateau.”
We can only pray that world leaders will actually listen to these hopeful
young voices, though.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Why the Dali Lama
needs to hide behind the screen name of Bodhisattva 1, I’ll never know. And as
the quote above indicates, he rejects man’s role in causing (dangerous) global
warming. Here is a link to another Guardian article:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2Fclimate-consensus-97-per-cent%2F2017%2Fmay%2F11%2Fmore-errors-identified-in-contrarian-climate-scientists-temperature-estimates&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=vgZASv5qPVP1HvJFiHDoEyk%2Fyoorv1b%2FiOqlA9nCACk%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/may/11/more-errors-identified-in-contrarian-climate-scientists-temperature-estimates</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Perhaps the
darlings of the denialist community are two researchers out of Alabama (</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2Fclimate-consensus-97-per-cent%2F2015%2Fapr%2F06%2Frevealing-interview-with-top-contrarian-climate-scientists&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=1jumO09peldgroR%2FsshHtAZPixhlJfubtG%2BOoy25bAI%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">John Christy and Roy Spencer</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">). They rose to public attention in the
mid-1990s when they reportedly showed that the atmosphere was not warming and
was actually cooling. It turns out they had made some pretty significant errors
and when other researchers identified those errors, the new results showed a
warming.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“To provide
perspective, we know the Earth is warming because we can measure it. Most of
the heat (93%) goes into the oceans and we have sensors measuring ocean
temperatures that show this. We also know about warming because we have
thermometers and other sensors all over the planet measuring “the temperature
at the surface or in the first few meters of air at the surface. Those
temperatures are rising too. We are also seeing ice melting and sea level
rising around the planet.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">So, the evidence is
clear. What Christy and Spencer focus on is the temperatures measured far above
the Earth’s surface in the troposphere and the stratosphere. Generally, over
the past few decades these two scientists have claimed the troposphere
temperatures are not rising very rapidly. This argument has been </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2Fclimate-consensus-97-per-cent%2F2017%2Fapr%2F04%2Finconceivable-the-latest-theatrical-house-science-committee-hearing&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=0C%2BThPTW2t77YJlnfdB6cu2QZa1YyksKG6Qu0jdc3Zo%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">picked up to deny the reality of human
caused climate change</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> – but it has been found to be wrong.” Take for example
statements made in regard to his studies science worthiness;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoy_Spencer_(scientist)&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=B77Joi9%2B677wMtR9%2BXXgiiBzUZ65Fc6z4uI1K9srKeY%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Spencer_(scientist)</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“The
editor-in-chief of <i>Remote Sensing</i>, Wolfgang Wagner, later resigned
over publication of Spencer and Braswell (2011),</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoy_Spencer_(scientist)%23cite_note-hickman-23&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=hMRvFaZCrLXUxVuYMr1J7x0pcB20bxnssAKOYNf%2BBN0%3D&reserved=0"><sup><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">[23]</span></sup></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> stating, "From a purely formal
point of view, there were no errors with the review process. [...] the problem
I see with the paper by Spencer and Braswell is not that it declared a minority
view ...but that it essentially ignored the scientific arguments of its opponents.
This latter point was missed in the review process, explaining why I perceive
this paper to be fundamentally flawed and therefore wrongly accepted by the
journal."</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoy_Spencer_(scientist)%23cite_note-wagner-24&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=Ip36o7gMt20rZD6h8oKchVZR9LONjx7ifm8e5ixcQ7g%3D&reserved=0"><sup><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">[24]</span></sup></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Wagner added he, "would also
like to personally protest against how the authors and like-minded climate
skeptics have much exaggerated the paper's conclusions in public
statements".</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoy_Spencer_(scientist)%23cite_note-hickman-23&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=hMRvFaZCrLXUxVuYMr1J7x0pcB20bxnssAKOYNf%2BBN0%3D&reserved=0"><sup><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">[23]</span></sup></a><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoy_Spencer_(scientist)%23cite_note-wagner-24&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=Ip36o7gMt20rZD6h8oKchVZR9LONjx7ifm8e5ixcQ7g%3D&reserved=0"><sup><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">[24]</span></sup></a></span><u><sup><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></sup></u></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FAndrew_Dessler&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=tFJWWSa7Rm%2FUSft679Op7Ew9Bz7kMUKGv6qg9COwO3w%3D&reserved=0" title="Andrew Dessler"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">Andrew
Dessler</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> later
published a paper opposing the claims of Spencer and Braswell (2011) in <i>Geophysical
Research Letters</i>.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoy_Spencer_(scientist)%23cite_note-25&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8d472ee4c9374ddae03b08d5fbc451bf%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636691742969295355&sdata=wADg8%2Bbzvro%2F%2F1%2BY%2FDeC5W5I4ayhf78rBUJ9ZeWM4%2Bc%3D&reserved=0"><sup><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12.0pt;">[25]</span></sup></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> He stated, among other things:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“First, [they]
analyzed 14 models, but they plotted only six models and the particular
observational data set that provided maximum support for their hypothesis.
Plotting all of the models and all of the data provide a much different
conclusion.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Here is
approximately what I said in the last paragraph of my comment, and which has
also mysteriously vanished;</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“How do you sleep
at night? First you slander the Dalai Lama by calling him Bodhisattva 1 and
misrepresenting what he actually says about man’s role in global warming. Then
you failed to mention all of the associations (Spencer) has with big oil
companies and special interests even though you tacitly rely on claims that
Spencer has never been asked to do anything for such companies. The bottom line
is that whether Spencer is asked by big oil companies to do bogus research or
not, voluntarily, or by way of bribes, he has willingly provided inaccurate and
dishonest information to the big oil and think tanks which support them! But,
those who really want to communicate the truth don’t need to depend on lies to
bolster their positions—shame on you!”</span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">May I also point
out that, since the screen name of this commenter is Bodhisattva 1, and
includes a photo of the Dali Lama, that this commenter is only avoiding charges
of slander by way of calling him or herself, Bodhisattva 1, and thus did
not overtly claim that he or she represents the specific opinions held by
the leader of the Tibetan Buddhist faith—however the purpose for his or her
using that screen name is clear! I posted some of the things he or she said
near the end of this comment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Although this
comment was not available via the printout of individual posts made on the
Katherine Hayhoe thread, I was able to go back to my primary forum
notifications which were received via email and make copies of them:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">And, although his
or her screenname would not copy, the following statements including the graph,
were posted by the commenter using the name Bodhisattva 1 on the same website
when discussing the views of Katherine Hayhoe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Exactly why the
word "skeptic" does not apply to those who are full of Catastrophic
Anthropogenic Climate Change Alarmism. They refuse to see over 20 years of
data... in fact now going on 40 years... that show that the gloom and doom
predictions of their ilk are false. Here's one small part of the proof:”</span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgBlSaPoJ67OSgUuOEHLY4QDuJPMFeX4Nv_8AqKn2RCuHeOE9-rC5cDwFP2oLwc6PToJfro3SklnEW65JmhcEsItvtzxFMNUhSvVZEYkV1LqQthprZeIk8mAi-YsEUIg6yzNesZGC_ys/s1600/CMIP5+Climate+Models.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgBlSaPoJ67OSgUuOEHLY4QDuJPMFeX4Nv_8AqKn2RCuHeOE9-rC5cDwFP2oLwc6PToJfro3SklnEW65JmhcEsItvtzxFMNUhSvVZEYkV1LqQthprZeIk8mAi-YsEUIg6yzNesZGC_ys/s320/CMIP5+Climate+Models.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personally, I think
the black line indicates the exact opposite of what Bodhisattva 1 claims. In
fact, even when disregarding actual amounts of increase, almost all the charted
lines on it, are indicative of rising or increasing global temperature
averages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Thanks, Pete,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In closing I would
also like to note that on many supposedly liberal forums such as Media Matters,
I have consciously tried to avoid obscenities and nasty comments towards
others. But, if one simply glances down the list of comments made on any
controversial website, one will see so many obscene and childish comments
tossed at one commenter by another, that one will be tempted to laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">So yes! When site
moderators refuse to publish my comments---at least until after they have been
banished indefinitely to my disqus page—even though nothing in them breaks the
rules---how can these moderators honestly say that someone who flings around
mentions of the F word, and whose entire response consists of one ad hominem
insult after another, is leaving more polite and reasonable comments than mine?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I find that, on
many websites, on which one would think my rebuttals would be welcomed, even
the moderators on those left leaning sites are censoring comments made by liberals
and/or left-wing commenters? —what for I don’t know? —even if such comments are
written respectfully and without the use of obscenities or insults, they are
still not permitted? —Why? Anyone’s guess is as good as mine?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Peter W. Johnson</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Superior WI. </span></div>
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Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-19421304628519555952018-07-25T13:39:00.000-04:002018-07-25T13:39:42.995-04:00Hurricanes 2018There was a lot of press about the 2017 hurricane season. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage, killed thousands, and left untold more injured. By themselves, these <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/beyond-data/2017-us-billion-dollar-weather-and-climate-disasters-historic-year">three storms caused an estimated $265 billion</a> in damage to the U.S. That figure is from January 8, 2018 and is likely to be even higher by now. Official records show 64 deaths in Puerto Rico, but <a href="https://www.snopes.com/news/2018/06/04/death-toll-hurricane-maria-puerto-rico/">analysis indicates</a> this number is extremely low and the real number of fatalities lies between 1000 and 5000 people.<br />
<br />
The question that was immediately asked was how much manmade global warming had to do with all of this. The deniers in government responded that 'this wasn't the time to talk about that.' Of course not. They didn't want to be held accountable for their actions. But, that didn't stop the conversation and the analysis. The conclusion? Yes, AGW most certainly made these storms worse. <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/what-we-know-about-the-climate-change-hurricane-connection/">Attribution science </a>shows global warming made the storms <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/global-warming-tied-to-hurricane-harvey/">stronger, slower, and wetter</a>. They are also growing in strength faster. Three independent studies last fall found that human activity made the damage from Hurricane Harvey more intense. The disastrous rainfall from Harvey was <a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html">three times as likely as from a storm a hundred years ago and 15% more intense</a>. The seven day rainfall was as much as 40% greater than from a similar storm even a few decades ago. The lead researcher on one study, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Geert Jan van Oldenborgh</span>, <a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html">stated</a>,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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observed rainfall data and high-resolution climate models, confirms that heavy
rainfall events are increasing substantially across the Gulf Coast
region because of human interference with our climate system.</span></blockquote>
[Of course, much of the damage could've been avoided if not for the climate-change denying director for the Harris County Flood Control District, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/09/07/conversation-former-harris-county-flood-control-chief/">Mike Talbot</a>, who insisted climate change was a hoax and allowed construction in known flood plains for many years. It would be wonderful if Talbot was arrested for his crimes, but it won't happen.] <br />
<br />
The problem is that the average hurricane strength has remained pretty constant with the accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/accumulated_cyclone_energy.asp">remaining relatively steady</a>. But, while the ACE has remained constant, there has been an increase in storms in recent years of such incredible strength they are being referred to as <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-category-6-hurricanes-coming/">category 6 storms,</a> which would constitute a new level in the Saffir-Simpson index used to categorize cyclonic storms and would consist of storms with <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Science/story?id=1986862&page=1">constant winds exceeding 175 or 180 mph</a>.<br />
<br />
The science is clear - global warming is resulting in cyclonic storms that develop faster, become stronger, move more slowly, and dump more rain. And, at the same time, the total energy of storms has remained fairly constant. How do you reconcile this contradictory information? One way is that small storms and large storms are both becoming more common. This results in the average remaining nearly the same. Another way is that very active years (2017) alternate with relatively quiet years.<br />
<br />
This year, 2018, appears to be one of those slow years. The July forecasts are for <a href="https://tropical.colostate.edu/media/sites/111/2018/07/2018-07.pdf">below-average activity</a> with eleven named storms and four hurricanes. Despite the fact that we've already had three full-strength hurricanes, it appears this should be a slow year. There are several factors leading to this conclusion.<br />
<br />
Take a look at this plot of the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr3s95ff48dR38tLLOu60uvJm_frIlU-qVvQe_saeDZ7JtCpw4z22ORI51kTPrNanQ6TEMbAk9QrXBTI4o68Yd9NjDSvTpdGwUMA-rme_J90OJhBppGEc46jhaT1bI_XzzSrzTl5VEG0/s1600/SST+Anom+24+Jul+2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr3s95ff48dR38tLLOu60uvJm_frIlU-qVvQe_saeDZ7JtCpw4z22ORI51kTPrNanQ6TEMbAk9QrXBTI4o68Yd9NjDSvTpdGwUMA-rme_J90OJhBppGEc46jhaT1bI_XzzSrzTl5VEG0/s400/SST+Anom+24+Jul+2018.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://climatereanalyzer.org/wx/DailySummary/#sstanom">CCI</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This image is showing us three really important things.<br />
<br />
First, note the red area in the North Atlantic. The sea surface is hotter than usual here. That is causing a high pressure system in the North Atlantic. This creates a clockwise cycle of wind which goes down past the Iberian Peninsula and westward across the mid-Atlantic. Take a look at this graphic illustrating the wind patterns:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj225WciDa6XfPn34doOevTujesRzZK0dMgexV73gOOeUNeJ88OVaG-l-OqITXCJ2G0uGvjhGCM1tzIG33usKl8B7bhyphenhyphenbDOW4laGHTIYBt44TFX7aTpd9jGqZck2pyfDMEOFVUP3nQrENU/s1600/Earth+Wind+July+24+2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj225WciDa6XfPn34doOevTujesRzZK0dMgexV73gOOeUNeJ88OVaG-l-OqITXCJ2G0uGvjhGCM1tzIG33usKl8B7bhyphenhyphenbDOW4laGHTIYBt44TFX7aTpd9jGqZck2pyfDMEOFVUP3nQrENU/s400/Earth+Wind+July+24+2018.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-50.08,34.07,408">Earth</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The result of this is to cool the sea surface. This is indicated by the blue, lower-than-normal temperature region in our SST figure above and is the second thing to note. That area is known as the Main Development Area for hurricanes. <br />
<br />
Hurricanes <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-are-hurricanes-k4.html">need warm ocean water</a>. The threshold temperature is typically regarded as at least 79 degrees Fahrenheit (about 26 degrees Celsius). The winds blowing across the mid-Atlantic are keeping the sea surface temperature down, which is bad for hurricane formation. <br />
<br />
The third thing to note in the image above is the red area west of equatorial South America indicating hotter than usual SSTs. This is an El Nino possibly forming. The <a href="http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_disc_jul2018/ensodisc.pdf">July ENSO Diagnostic Discussion</a> estimates a 65% chance of an El Nino this fall and a 70% chance for this coming winter. Even if it doesn't turn into a full-scale El Nino, it has the effect of creating high-altitude <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/education/shear.asp">wind shear across the Caribbean Sea</a>. Hurricanes gain strength by forming a rising column of air in the eye, resulting in a low-pressure area and sucking in hot, moist air to replace it. This air rises, condenses, releases its energy and then cycles around to continue fueling the storm. High-altitude shear winds crossing over the top of this column will <a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/keynotes/keynotes_0715_windshear.html">essentially chop it off</a>, robbing the cyclone of its reinforcing wind pattern. This is also bad for hurricane formation.<br />
<br />
So, two bad things for hurricane formation. But, there's a third. Take a look at this satellite image:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf9FausVskP0-zZm2Qj8nnnJWxLa4g4FFf83fbGkE_DmpcamCAHCchHl7aTDXSgrgaC249ARsfDjeBv0PSfx-5udr5usR1WKnf5Vj6ZcWs_mPNkGEMB2UW5UM3xhLKoLhJKjHbqywdNw/s1600/African+Dust+July+2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="862" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf9FausVskP0-zZm2Qj8nnnJWxLa4g4FFf83fbGkE_DmpcamCAHCchHl7aTDXSgrgaC249ARsfDjeBv0PSfx-5udr5usR1WKnf5Vj6ZcWs_mPNkGEMB2UW5UM3xhLKoLhJKjHbqywdNw/s400/African+Dust+July+2018.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Quiet-Atlantic-Likely-Remainder-July">NOAA/RAMMB, via Weather Underground</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What you can see here is a big cloud of dust blowing off Northern Africa across the mid-Atlantic and into the Caribbean. This dust is contributing to the lower SST for the region by shading the sunlight.<br />
<br />
So, we have cool SSTs caused by wind and dust, and high-altitude wind shears. This is a bad combination for the formation of tropical cyclones. So, despite having three hurricanes already, the estimate remains that it will be a slow hurricane season in the Atlantic.<br />
<br />
The interesting thing is all of those factors are made worse by AGW. The high-SST area in the North Atlantic is the result of ocean warming, as is the El Nino. Manmade global warming makes both of these events more likely and more extreme. The dust blowing off Africa is due to more extreme drought conditions, again made worse by global warming.<br />
<br />
So, does AGW make tropical hurricanes worse? Or, better? Apparently, depending on the year, it can be either.<br />
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<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
"This multimethod
analysis, drawing upon both observed rainfall data and high-resolution
climate models, confirms that heavy rainfall events are increasing
substantially across the Gulf Coast region because of human interference
with our climate system."<br /><br /> Read more at: <a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html#jCp">https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html#jCp</a></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
"This multimethod
analysis, drawing upon both observed rainfall data and high-resolution
climate models, confirms that heavy rainfall events are increasing
substantially across the Gulf Coast region because of human interference
with our climate system."<br /><br /> Read more at: <a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html#jCp">https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html#jCp</a></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
"This multimethod
analysis, drawing upon both observed rainfall data and high-resolution
climate models, confirms that heavy rainfall events are increasing
substantially across the Gulf Coast region because of human interference
with our climate system."<br /><br /> Read more at: <a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html#jCp">https://phys.org/news/2017-12-climate-harvey-rainfall-percent-intense.html#jCp</a></div>
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-332543301811063532018-07-16T11:41:00.002-04:002018-07-16T12:48:42.351-04:00The crazy things climate change deniers sayBeing involved in the public forum on climate change brings a requirement to listen to any number of crazies. Normally, climate change deniers have some foothold in reality and are probably perfectly sane. Then, there are the ones you really have to wonder about. You would like to think even the science-hating crowd realizes these people are wacko, but I have found, unfortunately, that misery loves company. Seldom is someone so bad that even the science haters shut them out.<br />
<br />
Let me give you some examples. Here are some comments posted on <a href="http://www.cfact.org/2018/07/06/source-a-nyt-story-was-the-murder-weapon-used-against-scott-pruitt">an article that appeared on the CFACT webpage</a>. The article is quite bizarre by itself. Granted, CFACT is a true voodoo group of people with very twisted ideas of reality, but it's still surprising to read some of the comments appearing there. It is a trip worthy of H.P. Lovecraft. This exchange, for instance:<span class="post-byline"><span class="author publisher-anchor-color"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul class="children" data-role="children">
<li class="post" id="post-3979105155"><header class="comment__header"><span class="post-byline"><span class="author publisher-anchor-color">Brin Jenkins</span> </span><span class="post-meta"><span class="bullet time-ago-bullet"></span></span> </header><div class="post-body-inner">
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We have a display to marvel at, with not a bit of science in support.</div>
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<header class="comment__header"><span class="post-byline"> <span class="author publisher-anchor-color">BigWaveDave</span> </span><span class="post-meta"><span class="bullet time-ago-bullet"></span></span> </header><br />
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No one has ever stated a theory that explains how your man made global warming belief could be physically possible.</div>
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<header class="comment__header"><span class="post-byline"> <span class="author publisher-anchor-color">Robert</span> </span><span class="post-meta"><span class="bullet time-ago-bullet"></span></span> </header><br />
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<a href="https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fnature14240%3AHoIoD_wSAYDNoxBuFYBJTCjKp8M&cuid=1049811" rel="nofollow noopener" title="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14240">https://www.nature.com/arti...</a></div>
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<span class="post-byline"><span class="author publisher-anchor-color">BigWaveDave</span> </span><span class="post-meta"><span class="bullet time-ago-bullet"></span></span> <br />
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If
you think your link contains a theory that explains how your man made
global warming belief could be physically possible, then quote the
theory.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYkmfZXk5WH49eQomY9T6d4LKA51_-yCks0t5k-IntOhu0Y4EuK0ZqIM0gixabLoedkyC4BGHmRAssJ3JaWJ3Ro3B8ys0zx0Qtp_DU3TrLC2AwWmhr7Z6dXvcZXcZEZVeAHehiRtMc00/s400/CFACT+comments.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.cfact.org/2018/07/06/source-a-nyt-story-was-the-murder-weapon-used-against-scott-pruitt/#comment-3981037406">CFACT</a></td></tr>
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</blockquote>
You read that correctly. There's not one, but two, anti-science individuals who aren't happy claiming global warming and climate change aren't real. They need to claim there is NO science at all to support it. Even as I type these words, I still can't believe it. They really are stating there is NO science at all to support the idea of climate change, despite the one link provided.<br />
<br />
Bwaaa-haaaaa-haaaa!<br />
<br />
Okay. I was going to give a list of sources, but this one is so stupid. It's one thing to give the typical science-hater's false and deceptive arguments. But, to state there is no science at all is to take a permanent detour into the land of the irrational. Here's a search for 'science of climate change.' Take a look at how many hits it produced.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgMdd_HtzlIAttukIWRTWVsK7NR8LHBcSE1iP4vk91hgBTSSa_x04HzhkgeYVSowPw_aAFKoJXH8k7WWjUeX_EZ-kAixoY3dmrw9abREWzDaE5y3yIZzX8mM3vk47F1k7aQoknluyUe0/s1600/Science+search.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgMdd_HtzlIAttukIWRTWVsK7NR8LHBcSE1iP4vk91hgBTSSa_x04HzhkgeYVSowPw_aAFKoJXH8k7WWjUeX_EZ-kAixoY3dmrw9abREWzDaE5y3yIZzX8mM3vk47F1k7aQoknluyUe0/s400/Science+search.png" width="400" /></a> </div>
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Once again, you read that correctly. 366,000,000 hits. That's right - three hundred and sixty-six million hits! Oh, and these guys want to tell you that there is no science supporting climate change.</div>
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I can hear the deniers already - 'Well, that's only two guys. That doesn't prove anything."</div>
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No, it isn't, and yes it does.</div>
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<header class="comment__header"><span class="post-byline"> <span class="author publisher-anchor-color">STEVIETEES</span> </span><span class="post-meta"><span class="bullet time-ago-bullet"></span></span> </header><br />
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c
keating, you obviously do not know anything about science! Your so
called climate scientists still HAVE NOT SHOWN ONE STUDY THAT SHOWS A
DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN INCREASING CO2 LEVELS CAUSING INCREASING
GLOBAL TEMPS WHEN IT IS A PROVEN FACT THAT GLOBAL TEMPS INCREASE
HUNDREDS OF YEARS(NOT ONE YR OR DAYS) BEFORE CO2 LEVELS INCREASE THUS
PROVING THAT CO2 IS NOT THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF INCREASING GLOBAL TEMPS!!!</div>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOAs1vfWzwkLrQQDSIG775EkXo7sVrABeB3Y-3FPgC6wdCHlVoANsi-HzbWVTQueNekQWUooxphd_bjeJ7apOJVWOQQFvYnEu9qSsLu2H-kUzKjlGAquouhl7e0ro6snMwU_OUQm6qDY/s1600/CFACT+comments+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOAs1vfWzwkLrQQDSIG775EkXo7sVrABeB3Y-3FPgC6wdCHlVoANsi-HzbWVTQueNekQWUooxphd_bjeJ7apOJVWOQQFvYnEu9qSsLu2H-kUzKjlGAquouhl7e0ro6snMwU_OUQm6qDY/s400/CFACT+comments+2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.cfact.org/2018/07/06/source-a-nyt-story-was-the-murder-weapon-used-against-scott-pruitt/#comment-3981037406">CFACT</a></td></tr>
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Uhmmm, yeah.</div>
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So, who cares? Clearly, these guys are so far gone that there is no way to reach them, so it isn't even worth the effort to try. Yeah, these three twits (and the others who believe in CFACT) are morons and the only people who are going to read their comments on CFACT and think they're credible are also morons. But, take a look at the <a href="https://principia-scientific.org/the-death-of-climate-change/">article written by this guy</a>. This is why I care. Some of these morons get bigger venues. Someone might actually believe this twit knows what he's talking about.</div>
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He doesn't.</div>
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Ed Berry is a wacked-out physicist who spends time making anti-science claims and uses his Ph.D. as a proof that he's right. He isn't and he has been <a href="http://www.dailyinterlake.com/archive/article-9f46cb44-cc7e-11e5-9150-6f7714cc2782.html">called out on a regular basis</a>, including by me. Based on his comments, I have to conclude he is not rational. But, people will still listen to him. </div>
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So, let's take a quick look at how invalid this latest piece of his is. </div>
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Berry's claim is that climate change is not possible because it violates <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalence_principle">Einstein's equivalence principle</a>. Right away, he demonstrates how invalid his claim is because he uses the principle in an incorrect manner. For those of you who may not be familiar with it, the equivalence principle states that gravity cannot be distinguished from acceleration, a key concept in his general theory of relativity. For instance, if you mysteriously woke up in a sealed room and the gravity was the same as before, you could not tell, by any experiment within the confines of the room, that you are on Earth and not in a spaceship accelerating at one earth-gravity of acceleration. But, that isn't what Berry says.</div>
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The Equivalence Principle says if data cannot distinguish between two things, then the two things are identical.</div>
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No, that is not what the equivalence principle states and his statement is false. You can have incomplete data on two different things and not be able to distinguish between them. So, his basis is wrong right from the first sentence when he claims climate change violates the equivalence principle. </div>
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And, then it gets worse.</div>
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He goes on to make the claim that the IPCC is stating manmade CO2 is treated by nature differently than naturally-caused CO2. </div>
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IPCC’s Big Idea (its fundamental hypothesis) is that nature treats human
CO2 emissions differently than it treats nature’s CO2 emissions.</div>
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This is a false statement, in and of itself. It is not IPCC's fundamental hypothesis and no one, that I'm aware of, is claiming manmade CO2 emissions are treated differently by nature. CO2 from burning fossil fuels, and other manmade sources, goes into the big mix and is cycled around just like naturally produced CO2. The issue is that this manmade production is overwhelming the ability of the natural environment to remove CO2 - any CO2 - from the atmosphere. The natural system has limits and we have exceeded those limits. Atmospheric CO2 levels are increasing as a result of exceeding nature's limits, not because manmade CO2 is treated differently.</div>
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But, in reality, CO2 coming from fossil fuel burning IS different than natural CO2. <a href="http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/how-do-we-know-that-recent-cosub2sub-increases-are-due-to-human-activities-updated/">The isotopic ratio is different</a>, which is how we know manmade emissions are responsible for increasing CO2 levels. So, the data really can distinguish between the two.</div>
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This is how laughable Berry is. His claim is that we can't tell one CO2 source from another, therefore the equivalence principle applies. Not only is his application of the EP wrong, but you can, in fact, tell the difference between one source of CO2 and the other. </div>
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In other words, his entire claim is false!</div>
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But, you know what? People will still believe him. And, that's the sad truth.</div>
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Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-21812261445798983152018-07-15T11:14:00.001-04:002018-07-15T11:14:38.084-04:00EPA Science Advisory Board Nominations<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I am interested in serving on the EPA science advisory
committees and it has been announced that nominations are being accepted. I
have attached the email from the EPA below. I am looking for people who would
care to nominate me. I have already self-nominated myself and have asked some
others to help. Any help will be appreciated. If you are not interested, you
don’t need to read any further.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Here is the link to the federal announcement:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">file:///C:/Users/cfkea/AppData/Local/Temp/SAB_Nomination_FRN_FY2019.pdf </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am interested in serving on the EPA Science Advisory Board
(SAB) or the EPA Drinking Water Committee (DWC). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have done research in planetary geophysics, atmospheric
physics, Sun-Earth connection, and climate change for over 25 years. I have
published two books on climate change and did the $10,000 Global Warming Skeptic
Challenge. I have no government grants and am not supported by industry, so I am
free of any conflicts of interest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
a career officer in the US Navy and US Navy Reserve and am very familiar with
government procedures and regulations. I can provide my resume (curriculum
vitae (CV)) and contact information, if you’re interested in nominating me. Contact
me at <a href="mailto:physics309@yahoo.com">dogw.email@gmail.com</a> to get any
information you would need for the process.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, any help will be greatly appreciated. You may share
this posting as often as you like.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Nominations
for chartered SAB or its Standing Committees</b></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23804" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23911" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Dear Colleague, </div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23738" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Greetings.</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23773" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23776" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Knowing of your interest in serving
on the SAB, I wanted to let you know that the <i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23775">Federal Register</i> Notice
announcing that the EPA is seeking nominations of candidates to serve on the
SAB and its standing committees was published on July 9 and the SAB Staff
Office is accepting nominations. I have attached the Federal Register notices
and provided links to the SAB web pages to provide additional information. </div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23802" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23779" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Please feel free to distribute this
email, nominate a candidate or distribute this information to potential
candidates. If you are willing to serve again, please consider nominating
yourself.</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23799" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23781" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
If you have any questions for me
regarding nominees, the process, potential nominees, or other topics please do not
hesitate to contact me. </div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23918" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23920" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>SAB Nominations website for more
information</b></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23909" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/WebAll/nominationcommittee?OpenDocument" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23908" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23907">https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/WebAll/nominationcommittee?OpenDocument</span></span></a>
</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23812" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23780" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23942">Link to the form to nominate
candidates</b></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23787" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabpeople.nsf/ExpertInfo?OpenForm&nominationform=NominationPanelbf" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23786" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23785">https://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabpeople.nsf/ExpertInfo?OpenForm&nominationform=NominationPanelbf</span></span></a>
</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23789" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23791" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23926" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Best</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23793" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Tom</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23795" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23797" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Thomas Carpenter</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23940" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Designated Federal Officer / Sr.
Biologist</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23938" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
US EPA Science Advisory Board, MC
1400R</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23936" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Washington DC 20460</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23934" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
ph 202 564 4885 Fax 202 565 2098</div>
<div class="yiv9004015614msonormal" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1531656898736_23928" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-72324830529576321722018-07-08T17:41:00.000-04:002018-07-08T17:41:08.873-04:00Arctic Sea Ice July 2018We're now well along in the Arctic sea ice melt season. It's time to review the status and make a too-early forecast. I've been watching it very closely and I don't see anything particularly special about this melt season - beyond the fact that the ice cover continues to disappear. The good news is I don't see any new records being set this year.<br />
<br />
First, here's the sea ice extent for 2015 - 2018. The dark grey line is the long-term average. The inner and outer shaded regions show interquartile and interdecile ranges, respectively. The record low year of 2012 (dashed line) is included as a baseline and the low year of 2011 is also shown.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrkR0e48JhkvgAK2b6hNSbXhzYDrj43OJy3m1u5O1-hHqAAUsVAYa56ZD-jEtHZVbarPKZCX1x35eRs0OpJfHyAvHitNT80rn1p9E26hZ_nDD0kLMLOxMNPJknvou4BwK4fpP0yarESw/s1600/Ice+07072018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrkR0e48JhkvgAK2b6hNSbXhzYDrj43OJy3m1u5O1-hHqAAUsVAYa56ZD-jEtHZVbarPKZCX1x35eRs0OpJfHyAvHitNT80rn1p9E26hZ_nDD0kLMLOxMNPJknvou4BwK4fpP0yarESw/s400/Ice+07072018.png" width="400" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/">NSIDC</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The maximum extent occurred in March and was the <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2018/04/2018-winter-arctic-sea-ice-bering-down/">second lowest maximum extent</a> in the satellite record. However, it should be noted the last few years have all been right in the same range. Here's a detail showing the maximum ice extent for 2012 and the data for 2015 - 2018.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzMBipfRxjGBxb3YzFPzby-gq2WHtPL_gIXeQ9EydopSFdh5Ayrf0XS5ov-ToaNNLyO4xodsKEEJq1FIxOvNWGTBMBfOrXZg6_8CiFsI8A9JEA-juviXNOL-f2kQZ6PLEM3_Ps3-J3Gs/s1600/Ice+Mar+07072018+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzMBipfRxjGBxb3YzFPzby-gq2WHtPL_gIXeQ9EydopSFdh5Ayrf0XS5ov-ToaNNLyO4xodsKEEJq1FIxOvNWGTBMBfOrXZg6_8CiFsI8A9JEA-juviXNOL-f2kQZ6PLEM3_Ps3-J3Gs/s400/Ice+Mar+07072018+.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/">NSIDC</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
An interesting feature is how the extent for each year closes to a narrow range in July of recent years. Here's a detail for that period and you can see that 2018 (the yellow line) is trending in the same range.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSJStSS3SBG-4F5SzzGc5QQAYNyxOQdRgJuUcAxHZYnBKlPBuo4Wflx-nd34ZorVlA9KuviJGzuEZ38FxC97WoxlcfhIlFhi8cKUUgtyXkNhzLRPPUvCUGjUdoJ8wl_BMoRHJi8dtdt0/s1600/Ice+July+07072018+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSJStSS3SBG-4F5SzzGc5QQAYNyxOQdRgJuUcAxHZYnBKlPBuo4Wflx-nd34ZorVlA9KuviJGzuEZ38FxC97WoxlcfhIlFhi8cKUUgtyXkNhzLRPPUvCUGjUdoJ8wl_BMoRHJi8dtdt0/s400/Ice+July+07072018+.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/">NSIDC</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The extents separate after August and there is a small range of minimum extents in September. Here is the minimum extent for 2015 - 2017 with 2012 also shown.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWBllz8v7uaeeQrqfVuSfguMXK7HNn2picpb7GwRKJB8GAhMB5qjvmC4Obqdj6fhMBAbg2D0H4tVEyB3Y6q8NpDMuQZe2CwkDnsich6-n6LnlCc_hpnyygBeYlztsTFUZLPqoQCWosrc/s1600/Ice+Sep+07072018+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWBllz8v7uaeeQrqfVuSfguMXK7HNn2picpb7GwRKJB8GAhMB5qjvmC4Obqdj6fhMBAbg2D0H4tVEyB3Y6q8NpDMuQZe2CwkDnsich6-n6LnlCc_hpnyygBeYlztsTFUZLPqoQCWosrc/s400/Ice+Sep+07072018+.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/">NSIDC</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There is no trend that immediately jumps out at me. The order going into this narrow range is not the same as the order coming out or the order at minimum extent. You cannot predict, based on the ranking of maximum extents or July extents, where a particular year will end up at the minimum. All we can see for sure is the extent is certainly decreasing and is dramatically below the long term average.<br />
<br />
This graphic shows the ice extent with the average extent shown with a magenta line. We can see the current extent is quite a bit lower than the average. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi_mbUK2fpa_aTbKZgAHLHOFd_VjzLqKn-pQh-8kRx-aJhFF3My92XJ9JVN3ilGC8hZ-7vp76qrUbZ4xqvzcrHaSdLsd44dHrckKmIE7kxwnB5jP657pKICZfO5FEk4QDaFYZFV-C_LA/s1600/Ice+Extent+20180707.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi_mbUK2fpa_aTbKZgAHLHOFd_VjzLqKn-pQh-8kRx-aJhFF3My92XJ9JVN3ilGC8hZ-7vp76qrUbZ4xqvzcrHaSdLsd44dHrckKmIE7kxwnB5jP657pKICZfO5FEk4QDaFYZFV-C_LA/s400/Ice+Extent+20180707.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/">NSIDC</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
There is nothing radically different from the last few years in these graphs. The sea ice extent continues to decrease, but no significant, single event jumps out from this data. <br />
<br />
Here is a plot of the ice surface temperature:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN-qJMmLOXcFAX928dHQJDQT-Meyv7hCCl6Mp6BTKbmZ-JSzZUBW2rxC6-wzdzFsCuClyBOvLfwksx15uEK-Bo1ZZMMe6exrz0Ymq_tlbVudgSH6bMpmRmx0c7EWm9dzmrZ4hde1mkFE/s1600/Ice+Temp+20180707.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN-qJMmLOXcFAX928dHQJDQT-Meyv7hCCl6Mp6BTKbmZ-JSzZUBW2rxC6-wzdzFsCuClyBOvLfwksx15uEK-Bo1ZZMMe6exrz0Ymq_tlbVudgSH6bMpmRmx0c7EWm9dzmrZ4hde1mkFE/s400/Ice+Temp+20180707.png" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://polarportal.dk/en/home/">Polar Portal</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the ice thickness:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpX4uGeind6eRl09vi3jwmpHjeUHEEJbLDheWkPmd0ScfmcHQIcGJ-6uuWz6rbTG9YYc5btFI_FJatIMc3IdpArbHM_DaJ-wGlp_gdm3n_QLdJ-7aTveEc-AWIvVYOBQpI9xy2mmdp4w/s1600/Ice+Thickness+20180707.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1078" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpX4uGeind6eRl09vi3jwmpHjeUHEEJbLDheWkPmd0ScfmcHQIcGJ-6uuWz6rbTG9YYc5btFI_FJatIMc3IdpArbHM_DaJ-wGlp_gdm3n_QLdJ-7aTveEc-AWIvVYOBQpI9xy2mmdp4w/s400/Ice+Thickness+20180707.png" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://polarportal.dk/en/home/">Polar Portal</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And, here's the ice percent cover. The most important thing to note here is that there appears to be some break-up of the ice throughout the Arctic Ocean. That could end up being significant and bears watching because broken ice melts much more quickly than solid ice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj79FX1chJyIhx7wONT9CdcJBGzgg4pTmaUM18-7QOMSlA6sSV6l3odpV_Qszwk-PCJCfyS-bjyYqYlPzdTCGNGWjyU964d_2EBQm96sGyTbITatM9fcE1OLSjVWcvX5v-ZkpdrSDKzM/s1600/Ice+Extent+20180707.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="578" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj79FX1chJyIhx7wONT9CdcJBGzgg4pTmaUM18-7QOMSlA6sSV6l3odpV_Qszwk-PCJCfyS-bjyYqYlPzdTCGNGWjyU964d_2EBQm96sGyTbITatM9fcE1OLSjVWcvX5v-ZkpdrSDKzM/s400/Ice+Extent+20180707.png" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://polarportal.dk/en/home/">Polar Portal</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Again, there's nothing here that strikes me as being out of the (recent) normal trend. Based on the data I've been following, I think the minimum ice extent in September will be 4.4 million square kilometers, plus or minus .2 million square kilometers. This would place it right in the middle of the pack of recent years. The trend line is definitely in the downward direction, but it has not made a big jump - one way or the other - in recent years. <br />
<br />
This makes me wonder - Has the ice extent reached a plateau that is waiting for something to tip it? I don't know the answer. We'll have to watch it the next few years before we'll have a better sense of what's happening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-66205741315662190552018-07-03T10:45:00.000-04:002018-07-03T10:45:02.173-04:00Pruitt Altered Federal RecordsIt's Monday - there must be a new Scott Pruitt scandal. Yep, right on time, we find out Pruitt changed his official calendar to hide meetings from the public. This is not trivial. The administrator's calendar is a federal record and belongs to the government, i.e. the American people. Altering, changing, or destroying federal documents is a federal crime. <a href="https://www.archives.gov/about/laws/fed-agencies.html">44 U.S.C., Chapter 31</a> states,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The head of each Federal agency shall make and preserve records
containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization,
functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions
of the agency and designed to furnish the information necessary to
protect the legal and financial rights of the Government and of persons
directly affected by the agency’s activities.</blockquote>
Who the administrator is meeting and when falls under this description.<br />
<br />
The latest revelation comes from whistleblower and former deputy chief of staff for operations Kevin Chmielewski <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/02/politics/scott-pruitt-whistleblower-secret-calendar/index.html">who states that Pruitt supervised meetings </a>where Pruitt's calendar was reviewed and scrubbed of meetings Pruitt didn't want made public. CNN was able to verify these claims by comparing documents which showed known meetings were not included in the administrator's official calendar. This raises a whole series of new questions such as, 'Why does Pruitt want to hide these meetings?' and 'Why is he meeting with these people in secret?'. The way I see it, the biggest question is 'When is Pruitt going to be arrested?'<br />
<br />
However, I do not harbor any false hope that this will result in Pruitt's dismissal. Trump has clearly demonstrated he will forgive any swampiness as long as it contributes to his own corruption. Pruitt's actions at the EPA have benefited Trump financially. So, why would Trump want to get rid of Pruitt?<br />
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-30671963776685306062018-06-19T11:05:00.000-04:002018-06-19T11:05:18.988-04:00Lobbyist got Pruitt Rose Bowl tickets at below market priceAn Oklahoma businessman with ties to the fossil fuel industry helped Scott Pruitt <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/letter-pruitt-rose-bowl-27e08823d85f/">get four tickets for himself and his family to the 2018 Rose Bowl</a>. Pruitt reportedly paid $175 each for the tickets. The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/us/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-aides.html">valued the tickets' worth</a> at seven times that much. That would be a value of about $4900 for the four tickets.<br />
<br />
The more I think about this, the more I feel there's a lot more to the story. Let's do some math.<br />
<br />
Even if Pruitt only paid $175 per ticket, that would be $700 for tickets alone. He then had to fly his family to Pasadena for the game. Of course, he flies first class at taxpayer expense, but what about his family? I'm sure even the corrupt people who work deals for him would balk at the idea of taxpayers paying for the family tickets. Round trip tickets between Oklahoma City and LA run about $450 each for coach. I'm going to assume Pruitt is cheap and made his family ride coach while he sat in first class. The seat may be first class, but Pruitt isn't. But, even at coach fares, that would be $1350 for the other three seats.<br />
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Let's assume taxpayers got stiffed for the vehicle and let's assume taxpayers also got stuck paying for his hotel room (with his wife). This would be a violation of the law in that this was not job related, but we'll assume he found some meeting to go to for 30 minutes in order to justify the expense. That still leaves a hotel room for the kids. I'm going to assume two nights. Pruitt has earned a reputation as someone who thinks he's entitled and isn't going to stay in a budget rate motel. Upscale hotels average $500 per night during the Rose Bowl period (even Motel 6 is $200 per night). That's another $1000.<br />
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Throw in meals, parking, and other various expenses for four people and that's maybe another $1000. All total, you're looking at a total bill of somewhere in the range of $4000 - after what taxpayers got stuck for. Here's the problem I have with this - Pruitt is so cheap that he's trying to get his wife a job to help support households in both D.C. and Oklahoma. Why in the world would someone this cheap pay $4000 out of pocket to go see a football game. Was the fact that the Oklahoma Sooners were in the game provide sufficient motivation for him? Isn't it more likely that he got these expenses paid for by his lobbyist friends or fossil fuel buddies? That would be a very severe ethical violation. But, of course, Pruitt has shown he isn't concerned with ethical violations. Those are for other people, not him.<br />
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If there's any justice to be found, the Sooners lost 54 - 48. <br />
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<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-35598511362111426382018-06-08T14:09:00.000-04:002018-07-05T17:45:47.188-04:00The Pruitt Files<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is under so many investigations it's difficult to keep track of them all. Pruitt, who may be the most corrupt official in Washington, can't seem to go to the grocery store without breaking the law and acting entitled. As a result, I've decided to make a scorecard page to keep track of his transgressions. What is disturbing is the arrogance he displays in the commission of these violations. Then again, why shouldn't he? No one has held him accountable all these years. That's a failure of the system, not Pruitt. I'll update this as more is uncovered, so come back. You'll need to do it frequently. It seems there's a new revelation every day. At this time, I list 19 different issues. The current issues are listed alphabetically. New ones (and, I'm sure there will be more) will be added on at the bottom.</div>
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- June 7, 2018</div>
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<br />
UPDATE June 9, 2018 - Well, that didn't take long. I had barely published this list before there was more news about Pruitt. Congressional Democrats have <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2018/06/house-democrats-just-asked-the-fbi-to-open-a-criminal-investigation-into-scott-pruitt/">requested the FBI investigate Pruitt for criminal activity</a>. Hopefully, this is the first step to sending him to prison. Pruitt wants 24/7 security? Fine, give it to him. Meanwhile, the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/climate/scott-pruitt-epa-investigations-guide.html">lists 12 investigations</a>.<br />
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UPDATE June 19, 2018 - It now comes out that a lobbyist got Pruitt four tickets to the 2018 Rose Bowl at below market prices. But, there's more to the story. Read below (item number 20) or <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/lobbyist-got-pruitt-rose-bowl-tickets.html">here</a>.<br />
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UPDATE: June 25, 2018 - Ho hum. Another day, another example of Pruitt's corruption. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/24/climate/pruitt-epa-lobbyist-landlord-emails.html">reports in the New York Times</a>, Pruitt and the lobbyist J Steven Hart, whose wife rented the condo to Pruitt, was more involved with the EPA than either of them admitted and <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/lobbyist-linked-to-scott-pruitt-condo-tried-to-influence-epa-decisions-new-emails-show-e7b5d5319ba6/">tried to influence EPA decisions</a> while Pruitt was renting their condo. Pruitt also hired a friend of Hart's at Hart's suggestion. This indicates a quid pro quo relationship that would be a felony.<br />
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UPDATE: July 3, 2018 - It's been a week. Must be time for another Pruitt scandal. Turns out, he was <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/07/pruitt-altered-federal-records.html">ordering the scrubbing of his official calendar</a> in violation of federal law. Check out the link or item number 21 below. In other news, there has been developments in the investigation that Pruitt <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/25/politics/pruitt-retaliation-investigation/index.html">retaliated against staffers</a> for doing their jobs. Also, investigations into whether Pruitt has <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ethics-investigation-into-epa-head-scott-pruitt-widens/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa-editorial-social&utm_content=&utm_term=policy_">used his office for personal gain have been widened</a>. It has also been revealed that the head EPA ethics official <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/30/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-ethics-investigations/index.html">has referred "potential issues"</a> regarding Pruitt's actions to the EPA's internal watchdog agency for investigation. Keeping track of Pruitt's ethics violations is nearly a full-time job.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: July 5, 2018 - Under nearly-continuous fire due to his ethical failings, Scott Pruitt has <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/scott-pruitt-earns-one-way-ticket-back-oklahoma-may-want-travel-coach-211750139.html">resigned from the EPA</a>. Hallelujah! The reports are the investigations into his conduct will continue. Hopefully, some criminal charges will come as a result. </div>
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<h2>
Index</h2>
1. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Security">24/7 Security</a><br />
2. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Franchise">Attempted to Get Wife a Chick-fil-A Franchise</a><br />
3. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Condo">Condo Rental</a><br />
4. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Cattleman">Lobbying with Cattleman’s Association</a><br />
5. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Miner">Lobbying with Miner’s Association</a><br />
6. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Family">Family Trips</a><br />
7. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#FirstClass">First Class Seats</a><br />
8. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#OKHouse">Oklahoma House Purchase</a><br />
9. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#OKOffice">Oklahoma Office</a><br />
10. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#PayRaises">Pay Raises for Aides</a><br />
11. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Pens">Pens</a><br />
12. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Punish">Punishing Subordinates</a><br />
13. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Purge">Purge of Scientists</a><br />
14. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#SCIF">Secure Phone Booth</a><br />
15. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Friend">Security Deal for Aide's Friend</a><br />
16. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Travel">Travel</a><br />
17. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Basketball">UK Basketball Seats</a><br />
18. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Traffic">Use of Security Lights to Avoid Traffic</a><br />
19. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#UsingAide">Using Aide for Personal Business</a><br />
20. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#RoseBowl">Below Market Tickets for Rose Bowl</a><br />
21. <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-continuing-list-of-scott-pruitts.html#Altered">Altering Federal Records</a><br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" id="24/7 Security" left="">
1. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Security">24/7 Security</a></h2>
</div>
Pruitt has demanded a 24/7 security detail. The
stated need is because of the high number of death threats against the
administrator. Consequently, Pruitt's security has <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/epa-spends-30-percent-more-pruitts-security-cites-195621995.html" target="_blank">cost taxpayers $3.4 million</a>, 30% more than any other administrator.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well,
if there are a large number of death threats, then this is justified.
But, are there really that many death threats? In fact, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/10/politics/pruitt-epa-travel-security-democrats-hearing/index.html" target="_blank">based on leaked Secret Service documents</a>,
it sounds as if there have been no death threats at all. The Secret Service investigated all claims and found no instances to act on. The Secret
Service even went as far as stating the EPA has relied on non-violent
protests, negative feedback and "other First Amendment-protected
activity" to justify the security. The EPA has claimed there were an
'unprecedented number' of death threats against Pruitt and his family
and offered to provide the documents to support this claim, but those
documents have never been produced. And, contrary Pruitt's claims,
internal EPA documents show <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/14/politics/epa-pruitt-security-detail/index.html" target="_blank">he demanded this security starting the first day he was in office</a> - before there was any threat at all. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Summary</b>:
The evidence indicates Pruitt feels entitled and wants the taxpayers to
spend money to stroke his ego. Lies were concocted to cover up the fact
that this security was established on the demand of Pruitt, not on the
basis of death threats. Clearly, this is a severe case of fraud, waste
and abuse. </div>
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</div>
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<h2>
2. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Franchise">Attempt to get Wife a Chick-fil-A Franchise</a></h2>
Documents show Pruitt used his aide to set up a financial meeting to investigate the possibility of his <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scott-pruitt-enlisted-an-epa-aide-to-help-his-wife-find-a-job--at-chick-fil-a/2018/06/05/b798e4e4-5eac-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html?utm_term=.bd8dd21ab407" target="_blank">wife obtaining a Chick-fil-A franchise</a>. His wife started, but did not finish, the application for a franchise. Pruitt also approached the New York nonprofit Concordia about a job for his wife.<br />
<br />
Pruitt not only used a government employee for personal gain, but he also used his office for his own personal gain, both of which are violations of federal law. The aide, Sydney Hupp, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scott-pruitt-enlisted-an-epa-aide-to-help-his-wife-find-a-job--at-chick-fil-a/2018/06/05/b798e4e4-5eac-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html?utm_term=.bd8dd21ab407" target="_blank">resigned from the EPA last year</a>. Her sister, Millan Hupp, was also used by Pruitt for personal tasks and has also resigned,<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-scott-pruitt-chick-fil-a-20180605-story.html" target="_blank"> two days after testifying before Congress</a>. (see <i>17. Using Aide for Personal Business</i> below.)<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: Pruitt used a federal employee and a federal office for personal gain. Not only did Pruitt violate federal law, but he showed his contempt for the process. This truly demonstrates a pattern of behavior on his part.<br />
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<h2>
3. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Condo">Condo Rental</a></h2>
As is now well known, Pruitt <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/epas-pruitt-lived-dc-condo-connected-energy-lobbyist-132207146--politics.html" target="_blank">rented a condo</a> from a lobbyist's wife. If that wasn't enough, Pruitt <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/03/politics/epa-aide-assisted-in-pruitt-housing-search/index.html" target="_blank">used his EPA aide </a>to get the room, even having her <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/politics/trump-hotel-mattress-scott-pruitt/index.html" target="_blank">tour a number of properties</a>, a violation of ethics laws. Taxpayers aren't paying aides to do personal tasks for their supervisors. Then, it turns out <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/scott-pruitt-asked-aide-buy-182637585.html" target="_blank">Pruitt instructed her to do these personal chores</a>, even requiring her to do them on her personal time. This is a violation of federal ethics law prohibiting officials from using their positions for personal gain.
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Pruitt's claim is that he paid fair market value, comparable to Airbnb rates. Let's check. Pruitt paid <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/epas-pruitt-lived-dc-condo-connected-energy-lobbyist-132207146--politics.html" target="_blank">$50 per night</a> for a condo that was only one block from the capitol building. Here's what I get when I look at Airbnb near the nation's capitol:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrENVZGmjXgrAOuplNqr4gG-tXPyZr_yfmOaqA_eqpqpo1d-TuYl4rZgSn2pfV6wePvlYwzBB-HMNcGuRVTlIkxb9PtmKk4kuj6gYb51dTB-7ptcQDCsrQdJb2DkL6RKkmzNsAXlkZXeU/s1600/Airbnb+DC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="459" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrENVZGmjXgrAOuplNqr4gG-tXPyZr_yfmOaqA_eqpqpo1d-TuYl4rZgSn2pfV6wePvlYwzBB-HMNcGuRVTlIkxb9PtmKk4kuj6gYb51dTB-7ptcQDCsrQdJb2DkL6RKkmzNsAXlkZXeU/s320/Airbnb+DC.png" width="310" /></a></div>
<br />
Rooms available for the night of June 4, 2018 ranged from a low of $257 to a high of $600 with an average of $430. By all measures, $50 per night was far below market value and constituted a gift.It is true that the price will change depending on the season, but June was right in the middle of the period Pruitt was renting this room (February through August, 2017), so it's a fair representative value.<br />
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But, that isn't the whole story. The condo was owned by the wife of J. Steven Hart, the chairman and CEO of the powerhouse lobbying firm Williams and Jensen PLLC, a lobbying firm that represents many fossil fuel companies subject to EPA regulations. The leased originally showed Hart as the landlord, but his name was crossed out and his wife's was written in. Pruitt claimed he had no dealings with Hart, Williams and Jensen, or the companies they represent. But, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/ap-fact-check-epas-pruitt-bargain-condo-deal-215927792.html" target="_blank">that was false</a>. In fact, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/despite-denials-lobbyist-tied-condo-met-epa-chief-041310251--politics.html" target="_blank">Hart met with Pruitt in Pruitt's EPA office</a> in July 2017. Hart claims that meeting had nothing to do with his clients. However, his firm has lobbied the EPA on behalf of several clients. Hart also hosted a 2014 campaign fundraising event for Pruitt while he was the Oklahoma attorney general. Three dozen clients made donations even though Pruitt was running without a Democratic opponent. </div>
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<br />
As interesting side note, Pruitt wouldn't move out and the owners had to evict him by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/06/politics/pruitt-trump/index.html" target="_blank">changing the lock codes</a>. Ouch!</div>
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<b>Summary</b>: Pruitt received a highly discounted condo from an lobbyist who had dealings with the EPA. It also appears there was an effort to hide this fact. Pruitt also lied about meeting with the lobbyist. There is most definitely the appearance of <i>quid pro quo</i> in this deal. </div>
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<br />
UPDATE: June 25, 2018 - Ho hum. Another day, another example of Pruitt's corruption. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/24/climate/pruitt-epa-lobbyist-landlord-emails.html">reports in the New York Times</a>,
Pruitt and the lobbyist J Steven Hart, whose wife rented the condo to
Pruitt, was more involved with the EPA than either of them admitted and <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/lobbyist-linked-to-scott-pruitt-condo-tried-to-influence-epa-decisions-new-emails-show-e7b5d5319ba6/">tried to influence EPA decisions</a>
while Pruitt was renting their condo. Pruitt also hired a friend of
Hart's at Hart's suggestion. This indicates a quid pro quo relationship
that would be a felony.<br />
<br />
<div>
<h2>
4. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Cattleman">Lobbying with Cattleman’s Association</a></h2>
In August 2017, Pruitt appeared before the National Cattleman's Beef Association where he urged ranchers and farmers to file public comments on a clean water rule under review by the EPA. That, in itself, is not a problem. It is proper for government officials to encourage people to exercise their rights under the law. The issue is what he said.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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"We're trying to fix the challenges from the 2015 rule,
where the Obama Administration re-imagined their authority under the Clean
Water Act and defined a Water of the United States as being a puddle, a dry
creek bed, and ephemeral drainage ditches across this country, which created
great uncertainty... and we are fixing that, and then we're hearing from
stakeholders about how to get it right as we go forward."</div>
</blockquote>
With this statement, Pruitt went from encouraging the ranchers and farmers to exercise their rights to lobbying for a pre-determined outcome. Pruitt essentially told them what to say. Not only is this lobbying, a violation of federal law, but indicates the issue was never open to debate. Pruitt had already decided the outcome he wanted and was merely trying to formalize it.<br />
<br />
He is <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-25/here-s-a-scorecard-of-the-scott-pruitt-investigations-quicktake" target="_blank">under investigation by the GAO</a> for this action.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: Pruitt used his position with the federal government to lobby a professional organization to vote the way he wanted, a violation of federal law.<br />
<br />
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<h2>
5. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Miner">Lobbying with Miner’s Association</a></h2>
Before Pruitt appeared before the Cattleman's Association, he was able to practice his lobbying skills on the National Mining Association. In April 2017, <a href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/363586-epa-watchdog-to-investigate-pruitt-meeting-with-industry-group" target="_blank">Pruitt had a meeting with the Mining Association</a> and encouraged them to contact Trump and <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/25/paris-climate-agreement-scott-pruitt-miners-237595" target="_blank">voice their support to withdraw from the Paris Climate Treaty</a>. Trump later announced the U.S. is withdrawing from the treaty. The <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/25/paris-climate-agreement-scott-pruitt-miners-237595" target="_blank">Association voted to do that the very next day</a>. The following December, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-epa-mining-pollution-20171201-story.html" target="_blank">Pruitt rescinded a rule</a> requiring mining companies to demonstrate they had the funds to clean up their pollution.<br />
<br />
This action is being <a href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/363586-epa-watchdog-to-investigate-pruitt-meeting-with-industry-group" target="_blank">investigated by the EPA inspector general</a>. That sounds like a fixed deal to me, but at least the IG will have to explain his actions and rationale <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-25/here-s-a-scorecard-of-the-scott-pruitt-investigations-quicktake" target="_blank">for all to see</a>.<br />
<br />
In May, Pruitt again <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-09/pruitt-resumes-courting-industry-as-ethics-controversies-swirl" target="_blank">began meeting with industry groups</a>, including the National Mining Association.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: Pruitt met with the mining association and lobbied them to voice support for a particular outcome. This is a violation of federal law. The association voted the way he asked the next day. Later that year, Pruitt gave the association a controversial decision they had been seeking.<br />
<br /></div>
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<h2>
6. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Family">Family Trips</a></h2>
Pruitt also insisted on his security detail <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/30/politics/epa-pruitt-travel-whitehouse-rose-bowl-disneyland/index.html" target="_blank">during personal trips</a>, including trips to the Rose Bowl, Disneyland, and basketball games the University of Kentucky. These trips included requests for per diem lodging rates in excess of the federal rates.
<br />
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<br />
<b>Summary</b>: This is another case of fraud, waste, and abuse that illustrates Pruitt's pattern of behavior.<br />
<br />
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7. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="FirstClass">First Class Seats</a></h2>
Man, where to start?&nbsp
<br />
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Let's keep this simple. Pruitt <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-democrats-ask-epa-chief-details-premium-travel-180046652.html" target="_blank">flies first class</a> <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/excuse-epa-chiefs-first-class-flights-turns-farcical" target="_blank">any time the taxpayers are footing the bill</a>. This requires a waiver. Pruitt claims he has a 'blanket waiver' allowing to travel first class at all times. <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/14/scott-pruitt-first-class-travel-347631" target="_blank">Unfortunately, no such thing exists</a>. And, the stated reason Pruitt claims he needs to fly first class is because <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/epa-says-scott-pruitt-flies-045533780.html" target="_blank">people yell at him in the airport</a>. No explanation is provided on how flying first class prevents people in the airport from yelling at him. He still has to pass through the same airport. And, what's to stop first class passengers from yelling at him? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Pruitt spent nearly <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/epa-head-expenses-nearly-200-000-travel-over-220255246--politics.html" target="_blank">$200,000 on first class and charter flights in just six months last year</a>. That figure does not include the cost of his staff or security detail. The expense of Pruitt's travels is <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-democrats-ask-epa-chief-details-premium-travel-180046652.html" target="_blank">greater than the cost of valuable programs that have been canceled</a> at the EPA, including programs to address radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the country, and a program to address hazards of in-door air.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Question: Does Pruitt still fly first class when he pays for the ticket himself?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Pruitt is being investigated by the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-25/here-s-a-scorecard-of-the-scott-pruitt-investigations-quicktake" target="_blank">EPA Inspector General and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on this issue.</a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Summary</b>: Pruitt has abused his position to fly extravagantly at tax payer expense and lied about it when caught. This is a clear cut case of fraud, waste, and abuse. </div>
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<br />
8. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OKHouse">Oklahoma House Purchase</a></h2>
In 2003, a shell
company to purchased a house from a lobbyist. Pruitt was one of five
investors in the company. The shell company paid $350,000 for the house,
representing a $100,000 discount from what the lobbyist has paid for
the house just one year earlier. Two years later, they sold the house
for a $95,000 profit. Pruitt, a state senator at the time. failed to
disclose his involvement in the company or the proceeds. The two
individuals that helped make this deal happen, Kenneth Wagner and Albert
Kelly, both received senior positions in the EPA. Kelly was <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/12/28/scott-pruitt-failed-banker-running-epa-superfund-program/" target="_blank">banned from banking for life</a> and <a href="https://newsok.com/article/5593054/banned-tulsa-banker-albert-kelly-resigns-from-epa-superfund-role" target="_blank">resigned from his position</a>
in May of this year. Wagner is still with the EPA in the role of Senior
Adviser to the Administrator for Regional and State Affairs.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>:
Pruitt was engaged in a very shady deal that he successfully hid for
years. Two of the men that helped him pull it off received high-paying
positions at the EPA. Hmmm.
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<h2>
9. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OKOffice">Oklahoma Office</a></h2>
Even before Pruitt was confirmed by the Senate he was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/01/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-congress-democrats-gsa-hometown-office/index.html" target="_blank">working behind the scenes to get an EPA branch office in his hometown of Tulsa, OK</a>. Why? Because now he could claim he needed taxpayers to pay for him to make a trip home. It turned out this was a bad move because it was the frequent trips to Oklahoma that first brought his corrupt practices to the attention of others. It's been a can of worms since then, as this list testifies to.<br />
<br />
In a span of only 92 days, Pruitt spent 43 days in Oklahoma and <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/pruitt-oklahoma-schedule-7ce527494331/">charged taxpayers $12,000 for the flights</a>.<br />
<br />
To no surprise, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060079065" target="_blank">this isn't the first time Pruitt has been involved in questionable office leases</a>. While serving as Oklahoma attorney general, he directed a new, larger, more expensive satellite office be opened in his hometown of Tulsa. He also directed them to use a much more expensive office in the Bank of America Center than another option that was proposed, costing the OK taxpayers 70% more. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ewg.org/release/reports-confirmed-scott-pruitt-wanted-epa-office-private-phone-booth-okla#.Wxq4zSBry00">Congress is investigating this issue</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: Pruitt has established a pattern of behavior of using taxpayer money to fund lavish offices in his home town. Can you say fraud, waste, and abuse?<br />
<br />
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10. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="PayRaises">Pay Raises for Aides</a></h2>
Pruitt wanted to give raises to two aides - Sarah Greenwalt, senior counsel to the administrator, and his director of scheduling, Millan Hupp. When the White House turned down his request, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/pruitt-epa-raises/557561/" target="_blank">he simply did it anyway</a>, giving Greenwalt a $56,765 raise and Hupp a raise of $28,130. Ms. Hupp resigned recently, two days after testifying before Congress.<br />
<br />
Pruitt went on to state that he had no knowledge of the pay raises and it was done without his approval. But, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/pruitt-epa-raises/557561/" target="_blank">emails contradict that claim</a> and show that he not only knew, but directed them.<br />
<br />
True to form, Pruitt doubled-down by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/26/politics/scott-pruitt-raises-employees/index.html" target="_blank">going on Fox News and stating</a>, ""I did not know that they got the pay raises until yesterday," a statement that reportedly sent people in a dash to cover themselves. The reason became apparent a week later when Pruitt admitted before Congress that he did, in fact, know about the raises. The difference? During the interval, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/scott-pruitt-reportedly-lied-knowledge-082509915.html" target="_blank">all of those emails came to light</a> showing how he had lied.<br />
<br />
And, sounding like a broken record, the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-25/here-s-a-scorecard-of-the-scott-pruitt-investigations-quicktake" target="_blank">EPA inspector general</a> is studying Pruitt's practices regarding hiring and awarding pay raises. <br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: A lie on TV may be embarrassing, but it's not a crime. It's not even a crime to ignore your boss. Just really bad form. Since Trump didn't fire him right away, it looks like he'll get away with it.
<br />
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<br />
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11. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Pens">Pens</a></h2>
Pruitt purchased <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/01/politics/pruitt-epa-pens/index.html" target="_blank">12 custom made, engraved fountain pens</a>
to be used as gifts to foreign counterparts. Along with the pens was a
set of journals. The pens cost $1560 and the journals another $1670.
That comes out to $130 per pen. It is certainly proper to have gifts to
share with counterparts, but was this a reasonable expense, or did
Pruitt indulge his ego? A little research shows you can purchase high
quality custom pens for between <a href="https://www.halo.com/custom-printed-pens/custom-personalized-executive-pens.aspx" target="_blank">$50 and $85</a>, including engraving.
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>Summary</b>:
Pruitt appears to have spent an excessive amount for something he
could've purchased at a much more reasonable price. This would be a case
that falls under the category of waste, fraud and abuse. It appears to
be a minor case, but it indicates a pattern of behavior.</div>
<br /></div>
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12. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Punish">Punishing Subordinates</a></h2>
Reports indicate that at least five EPA officials were <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/environmental-protection-agency-officials-apos-235107516.html" target="_blank">demoted, reassigned, or requested new jobs</a> after expressing concerns about Pruitt's spending and management practices. Issues they were concerned with include unusually large amounts of spending on office furniture, first class travel, and security details. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/business/epa-officials-questioned-scott-pruitt.html" target="_blank">According to the <i>New York Times</i></a>, Pruitt was angry when confronted by the officials. One official was placed on administrative leave without pay, two others were moved to new jobs where they had less say in spending decisions, and one took a position with the American University after being told to get a new job. A member of the security detail had his gun and badge taken away when he expressed concern over Pruitt's security detail. Ryan Jackson, Pruitt's chief of staff remains in his position <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060078283" target="_blank">but is considering retirement</a>.<br />
<br />
The EPA denies these reports.<br />
<br />
Two Congressional letters <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/stunning-letter-from-top-democrats-reveal-potentially-illegal-actions-by-epas-pruitt-68f67f37f9bc/">list disturbing details of the way Pruitt treats his subordinates. </a><br />
<br />
UPDATE July 3, 2018: Former deputy chief of staff for operations Kevin Chmielewski was interviewed <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/25/politics/pruitt-retaliation-investigation/index.html">for eight hours for the investigation</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: Several officials within the EPA questioned Pruitt concerning his actions and were punished for it. This fits reports of Pruitt's management style - his way or the highway. In his arrogance, he is incapable of understanding that he cannot act in just any manner he wishes. Which explains why he is in so much trouble now.
<br />
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13. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Purge">Purge of Scientists</a></h2>
Pruitt announced, effective immediately, the EPA will <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/10/27/16552766/epa-science-advisory-board-scientific-counselors">no longer allow any scientists receiving EPA grants to serve on any advisory boards</a>. The announced onus for this to increase transparency with the reasoning that any scientist receiving grants from the EPA cannot make an unbiased decision. The EPA stated they will be replaced with industry scientists. While claiming the scientists cannot be expected to be independent when receiving EPA grants, he did not cite any specific conflicts of interest or incidents that demonstrate there is a problem with the grants to advisors.<br />
<br />
?????<br />
<br />
No matter how many times I think about this, I completely fail to see the logic that says scientists receiving EPA grants are biased, but scientists being paid by the industries being regulated are, therefore, unbiased. There is one, and only one, conclusion that can be reached with this decision - Pruitt is stacking the deck with hand-picked people. As a result, the EPA will now have a free hand to gut environmental regulations any way it wants and has a built-in defense against lawsuits.<br />
<br />
If the logic doesn't convince you of this, simply look at who is making recommendations about replacements and who those replacements are. The Heartland Institute has long been the greatest science-hating organization in the country. Emails reveal that Pruitt is <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/05/29/emails-reveal-pruitt-epa-coordinating-climate-denying-heartland-institute">coordinating decisions with Heartland</a>, <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2017/10/25/heartland-institute-red-team-lists-revealed">is in frequent contact with them</a>, and <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15032018/epa-documents-foia-heartland-institute-scott-pruitt-red-team-climate-change-denial-lawsuit">have shared released statements</a>. Heartland has made recommendations for Pruitt's proposed red team/blue team debate that <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/11/heartland-institute-reveals-its-true.html">included a man convicted of attempting to sodomize his own 11-year old daughter</a>. While the attempted sodomy charge is the
only one he was convicted of, he <span style="font-weight: 400;">was arrested in 2006 on two counts of rape,
four counts of sodomy and one count of attempted sodomy as a result of
sex abuse accusations by his children dating back decades. The other charges were dropped. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">What is also significant is the total lack of credible scientists. In short, there is not a <i>SINGLE</i> credible scientist on Heartland's list. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It is important to note that these are the kind of people the self-describe 'evangelical' Pruitt keeps company with. Like they say, you can tell a lot about someone by the company they keep.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/4/12/17216254/epa-scott-pruitt-investigations-scandal-condo" target="_blank">This action is being investigated by the GAO</a><br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: Pruitt made a blatantly corrupt move that seriously undermined the veracity of the EPA. But, if Pruitt's goal is to pad profits of his industry friends, then he can claim that the mission has been accomplished. Unfortunately, many people will suffer by his campaign to destroy any, and all, environmental regulations.<br />
<br /></div>
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14. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="SCIF">Secure Phone Booth</a></h2>
As is well known, Pruitt ordered the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/epa-spends-25000-soundproof-phone-booth-pruitt-his-staff-cant-eavesdrop">construction of a secure phone booth in his office</a>. The stated guidance was he needed something where he could have conversations that couldn't be overheard. The EPA also claimed it would be used as a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), which are used to store our most tightly-controlled classified material. This despite the fact that there were already two SCIFs at the EPA. <br />
<br />
After construction, it was revealed the booth cost over $42,000. <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/government-investigations-probe-pruitt-pay-raises-and-spending-scandals-95dad0925225/">The GAO investigated </a>and found Pruitt violated the law, stating,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We conclude that EPA violated section 710 [of the Financial Services
and General Government Appropriations Act] when it obligated $42,238.68
for the installation of a soundproof privacy booth without providing
advance notice to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.” </blockquote>
It was also a violation of the Antideficiency Act, by effectively spending government funds that hadn’t yet been appropriated or exceeded the appropriate amount. Despite the risk of prison terms and high fines, no one has ever been prosecuted under the Antideficiency Act.<br />
<br />
Further, it turned out it doesn't even qualify as a SCIF, so that stated use is completely false.<br />
<br />
Pruitt said he didn't have anything to do with it and <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/scott-pruitt-blames-staffers-for-lavish-spending-e17840f1d72f/">put the blame on his aides</a>. This is consistent with Pruitt's pattern of blaming others for his corrupt, unethical, and criminal behavior. No wonder they've been bailing out.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: It has been determined that Pruitt violated the law in the construction of the phone booth, but he has faced no disciplinary action from the White House - i.e., he still has his job.<br />
<br />
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15. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Friend">Security Deal for Aide's Friend</a></h2>
Pruitt was asked to explain to the Senate <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-25/here-s-a-scorecard-of-the-scott-pruitt-investigations-quicktake">how his top bodyguard’s business partner won a contract to search the administrator’s office for listening devices</a>. At
issue is an EPA security move that may have enriched one of Pasquale
"Nino" Perrotta’s business partners, Edwin Steinmetz, the vice president
for technical surveillance countermeasures at Perrotta’s Maryland-based
company, Sequoia Security Group Inc. Perrotta is the company’s
principal, and the EPA’s $3,000 contract to search for bugs in Pruitt’s
office was awarded to Edwin Steinmetz Associates LLC.<br />
<br />
In comparison to his other infractions, this one is pretty minor, but is yet another example of Pruitt's cronyism and his violations of fraud, waste, and abuse.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: The business partner of Pruitt's bodyguard is awarded a large contract to search for listening devices. <br />
<br />
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</h2>
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16. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Travel">Travel</a></h2>
Among Pruitt's more questionable expenditures were trips to Italy and Morocco at taxpayer expense.<br />
<br />
Pruitt made a <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scott-pruitt-italy-first-class-travel_us_5ab1a110e4b054d118ddf913" target="_blank">trip to Italy June 5 -12, 2017</a>
at an expense to taxpayers of $120,000. That's an average of $17,000
per day. $30,000 of that money went to his security details. During this
trip, he had a meeting with G7 ministers but also took a private tour
of the Vatican.<br />
<br />
There are no details of why he needed a
full week in Italy to meet with G7 ministers (what does that have to do
with the EPA?), but I find it interesting that he spend a full week in
Italy and it is described as 'a' meeting. One meeting in a week? For
$120,000?<br />
<br />
But, there's more (isn't there always more
with this guy?). While in Italy, he received a private tour of the
Vatican, including a dinner with Vatican treasurer, Cardinal George
Pell, a devoted anti-climate change advocate. More importantly, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/epa-hid-scott-pruitt-apos-110842493.html" target="_blank">Pell has been charged with child sex abuse</a>.
The EPA knew of the investigation at the time they worked on the
reservations, but instead of backing out, they attempted to cover it up
by keeping the Cardinal's name off the official register.<br />
<br />
Worse
than the Italy trip was a trip Pruitt made to Morocco for no ostensible
reason. After a delay due to weather (which he spent in Paris), Pruitt traveled to Rabat, Morocco
for a stay December 11 - 14, 2017. During that time, he had one full
day of work and two days with one, one-hour meetings each. He took at
least 10 EPA staff members with him.<br />
<br />
The purpose of the trip? To promote American natural gas.<br />
<br />
The
trip cost is stated to be at least $100,000, but that is probably way
too low. Pruitt's first class seat is reported to have cost $17,000 by
itself. The trip is under investigation by the EPA inspector general.<br />
<br />
In <a href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-pruitt-promotes-environmental-cooperation-us-partners-morocco" target="_blank">a press release</a>,
released after the trip, the EPA stated he conducted bilateral meetings
and "outlined U.S. environmental priorities for updating the
Environmental
Work Plan under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement and the potential
benefit of liquified natural gas (LNG) imports on Morocco’s economy."
One has to question, where in the EPA charter does it say the
administrator is charged with promoting American natural gas?<br />
<br />
But,
there's a clue. Actually, it's a big white elephant. The trip was
partly planned by a Comcast lobbyist, Richard Smotkin. Smotkin was
reportedly constantly with Pruitt during the trip and was even included
in meetings. Smotkin, coincidentally, was hired by the Moroccan
government shortly after Pruitt's trip.<br />
<br />
Had enough? Too bad. It now turns out Pruitt's trip to Italy <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/lobbyist-friend-helped-scott-pruitt-103121010.html" target="_blank">was also arranged by a lobbyist</a>, Leonard Leo, one of the top executives of conservative legal group whose
top funders include Charles & David Koch and Chevron, and <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/scott-pruitt-cozy-lobbyists-apos-132022537.html" target="_blank">set up Pruitt's visits to the Vatican.</a>
<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/stunning-letter-from-top-democrats-reveal-potentially-illegal-actions-by-epas-pruitt-68f67f37f9bc/">That's still not all</a>. It turns out Pruitt would direct his staff to“find me something to do [in those locations]” he wanted to visit so he could use taxpayer money for the trip. He even told them to use Delta Airlines, even though it wasn't the government airline of contract for those routes, so that he would rack up frequent flyer miles.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>:
Pruitt used an excessive amount of taxpayer money to travel in luxury
on trips arranged by lobbyists conduct business that has nothing to do
with the EPA and, by the way, meet with a child sex abuser (which he
tried to keep secret). The only other thing to say is that we need to
wonder why Pruitt hasn't been arrested.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
17. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Basketball">UK Basketball Seats</a></h2>
In December 2017, Pruitt shared <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/pruitt-enjoyed-coal-baron-apos-065353845.html" target="_blank">private seats with a coal baron</a> at
a University of Kentucky basketball game. These seats are reserved for people who donate at least $1 million to
the university. Billionaire coal company executive <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2018/06/nyt-pruitt-basketball-craft-tickets-1/" target="_blank">Joseph W. Craft III and his wife donated $10 million to the university and contributed $2 million to Trump’s campaign</a>. Pruitt claims to have paid $130 for each of two tickets, but
says he paid cash so there is no record to support this claim. The university
has stated Pruitt paid ‘market value’ for the tickets. Is that true? Let’s look
at the numbers. <a href="http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/96/kentucky-wildcats" target="_blank">According to ESPN</a>,
UK had 24 home
games in the regular season, meaning Craft paid an average of $416,667 per
game. I don’t know how many seats Craft had, but he would need to have over
3200 seats for the average value to be $130 per seat. Further, according to the
<a href="https://ukathletics.com/documents/2015/12/11/566afd6ee4b0d19147e921f8.pdf" target="_blank">university’s website</a>, seats in the reserved area go for between $1000 and
$5000. Even if Pruitt did pay the $130, the amount he paid would qualify as a
gift under federal law.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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But, that’s only part of the problem. The real issue is that
Pruitt met with Craft <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/02/us/scott-pruitt-coal-joseph-craft.html" target="_blank">at least seven times in the first 14 months on the job</a>. Craft is the <a href="https://www1.salary.com/Joseph-W-Craft-III-Salary-Bonus-Stock-Options-for-ALLIANCE-RESOURCE-PTNRS-LP.html" target="_blank">president, CEO, and director of Alliance Resource Partners</a>, a fossil fuel company, and had never set foot in the EPA before Pruitt became administrator. Alliance, of course, is
subject to EPA regulations. Further, Craft was a regular contributor to Pruitt’s
campaigns for Oklahoma attorney general. Incidentally, the EPA cut back on the regulations Craft was opposed to.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Summary</b>:
Pruitt received expensive gifts in the form of exclusive basketball
tickets from someone subject to EPA regulations and that person has met
privately with Pruitt, in both his persona as EPA administrator and
Oklahoma attorney general. The EPA made rulings favorable to that
person. This has all the earmarks of a <i>quid pro quo</i>. </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
18. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Traffic">Use of Security Lights to Avoid Traffic</a></h2>
Pruitt reportedly ordered his security detail to <a href="https://nypost.com/2018/05/16/pruitt-grilled-over-reported-use-of-sirens-to-beat-dc-traffic/">use the sirens and emergency lights on his vehicle to get through traffic</a> when he was running late for meetings or dinner dates. When the security person refused, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/epa-secretary-scott-pruitt-apos-083212748.html">he was fired</a>. When questioned, he gave a non-answer by stating he "didn't recall that happening." That doesn't mean it didn't happen, it only means he didn't want to answer questions about it. Oh, EPA emails reveal that Pruitt did order it.<br />
<br />
As an interesting tidbit, when he fired the security chief, the man he was replaced with was the same individual who got a security contract for his business partner (See #15 above.)<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b> As part of his habit of feeling entitled, Pruitt abused his government position for his own benefit by inconveniencing the people of Washington, D.C. already stuck in bad traffic.<br />
<br />
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<h2>
19. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="UsingAide">Using Aide for Personal Business</a></h2>
As discussed in the section on
his condo rental, Pruitt instructed his aide, Millan Hupp, to perform
personal chores for him, even requiring her to do these chores on her
private time and vacations. There were others, including her to book his
private travel and the strange instruction to investigate purchasing a
used mattress from a Trump hotel (Why would he specifically <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/06/07/scott-pruitt-used-mattress-ridiculist-ac360.cnn" target="_blank">want a used mattress?</a>). He also wanted her to arrange a meeting for his wife to investigate getting a Chick-fil-A franchise.<br />
<br />
This is in line with Pruitt's notorious cheapness. By using his taxpayer supported aide, he was saving a few bucks of his own money. Likewise, getting a used mattress is cheaper than buying a new one. You think that's a stretch? Then, explain how it is he was told to cut back on<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/06/scott-pruitt-was-told-to-stop-eating-at-the-white-house-mess.html"> the number of times he ate at the discount cafeteria</a>. And, it appears he even told his high-priced 24/7 security <a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/6/7/17439044/scott-pruitt-ritz-carlton-moisturizing-lotion">to get him lotion from the Ritz Carlton</a>. Why didn't he just go online and order it?<br />
<br />
Incidentally, Ms. Hupp has now resigned from the EPA. When a reporter called to verify this, <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2018/06/06/media/epa-spokesperson-reporter-piece-of-trash/index.html" target="_blank">she was told she was 'a piece of trash.'</a> <br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: This is a clear violation of federal ethics law prohibiting officials from using their positions for personal gain.<br />
<br /></div>
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<h2>
</h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h2>
20. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="RoseBowl">Below Market Tickets for Rose Bowl</a></h2>
An Oklahoma businessman with ties to the fossil fuel industry helped Scott Pruitt <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/letter-pruitt-rose-bowl-27e08823d85f/">get four tickets for himself and his family to the 2018 Rose Bowl</a>. Pruitt reportedly paid $175 each for the tickets. The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/us/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-aides.html">valued the tickets' worth</a> at seven times that much. That would be a value of about $4900 for the four tickets.<br />
<br />
The more I think about this, the more I feel there's a lot more to the story. Let's do some math.<br />
<br />
Even
if Pruitt only paid $175 per ticket, that would be $700 for tickets
alone. He then had to fly his family to Pasadena for the game. Of
course, he flies first class at taxpayer expense, but what about his
family? I'm sure even the corrupt people who work deals for him would
balk at the idea of taxpayers paying for the family tickets. Round trip
tickets between Oklahoma City and LA run about $450 each for coach. I'm
going to assume Pruitt is cheap and made his family ride coach while he
sat in first class. The seat may be first class, but Pruitt isn't. But,
even at coach fares, that would be $1350 for the other three seats.<br />
<br />
Let's
assume taxpayers got stiffed for the vehicle and let's assume taxpayers
also got stuck paying for his hotel room (with his wife). This would be
a violation of the law in that this was not job related, but we'll
assume he found some meeting to go to for 30 minutes in order to justify
the expense. That still leaves a hotel room for the kids. I'm going to
assume two nights. Pruitt has earned a reputation as someone who thinks
he's entitled and isn't going to stay in a budget rate motel. Upscale
hotels average $500 per night during the Rose Bowl period (even Motel 6
is $200 per night). That's another $1000.<br />
<br />
Throw in
meals, parking, and other various expenses for four people and that's
maybe another $1000. All total, you're looking at a total bill of
somewhere in the range of $4000 - after what taxpayers got stuck for.
Here's the problem I have with this - Pruitt is so cheap that he's
trying to get his wife a job to help support households in both D.C. and
Oklahoma. Why in the world would someone this cheap pay $4000 out of
pocket to go see a football game. Was the fact that the Oklahoma Sooners
were in the game provide sufficient motivation for him? Isn't it more
likely that he got these expenses paid for by his lobbyist friends or
fossil fuel buddies? That would be a very severe ethical violation. But,
of course, Pruitt has shown he isn't concerned with ethical violations.
Those are for other people, not him.<br />
<br />
<br />
If there's any justice to be found, the Sooners lost 54 - 48.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary</b>: Even is you want to assume Pruitt paid fair market value for the tickets (a bad assumption), the math indicates there is still more to this story. Cheapskate Pruitt is not likely to have paid out a minimum of $4000 to take his family to a football game.</div>
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<h2>
<b>
21. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Altered">Pruitt Altered Federal Records</a></b></h2>
It's Monday - there must be a new Scott Pruitt scandal. Yep, right on
time, we find out Pruitt changed his official calendar to hide meetings
from the public. This is not trivial. The administrator's calendar is a
federal record and belongs to the government, i.e. the American people.
Altering, changing, or destroying federal documents is a federal crime.
<a href="https://www.archives.gov/about/laws/fed-agencies.html">44 U.S.C., Chapter 31</a> states,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The head of each Federal agency shall make and preserve records
containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization,
functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions
of the agency and designed to furnish the information necessary to
protect the legal and financial rights of the Government and of persons
directly affected by the agency’s activities.</blockquote>
Who the administrator is meeting and when falls under this description.<br />
<br />
The latest revelation comes from whistleblower and former deputy chief of staff for operations Kevin Chmielewski <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/02/politics/scott-pruitt-whistleblower-secret-calendar/index.html">who states that Pruitt supervised meetings </a>where
Pruitt's calendar was reviewed and scrubbed of meetings Pruitt didn't
want made public. CNN was able to verify these claims by comparing
documents which showed known meetings were not included in the
administrator's official calendar. This raises a whole series of new
questions such as, 'Why does Pruitt want to hide these meetings?' and
'Why is he meeting with these people in secret?'. The way I see it, the
biggest question is 'When is Pruitt going to be arrested?'<br />
<br />
However,
I do not harbor any false hope that this will result in Pruitt's
dismissal. Trump has clearly demonstrated he will forgive any swampiness
as long as it contributes to his own corruption. Pruitt's actions at
the EPA have benefited Trump financially. So, why would Trump want to
get rid of Pruitt?<br />
<br /></div>
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-31872589326206955802018-06-05T21:27:00.001-04:002018-06-05T21:27:58.588-04:00Judge Orders Pruitt to Produce Supporting ScienceEPA administrator Scott Pruitt stated that CO2 is not 'a primary contributor to the global warming that we are seeing.' It stands to reason that his hatred of science was going to get him in trouble eventually, and it did. The group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) filed a FOIA seeking the studies Pruitt used to support that conclusion. Now, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for DC <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/judge-orders-epa-to-produce-science-behind-pruitts-warming-claims/?sf191107676=1" target="_blank">has ordered the EPA to comply</a>.<br />
<br />
There is no science refuting the findings that manmade emissions are causing global warming and climate change. That means Pruitt will either have to admit he was wrong (not going to happen), or he will be forced to produce invalid claims by denier groups that have already been debunked. <br />
<br />
Stayed tuned. This should get interesting. Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-30286089330186432582018-05-26T09:37:00.002-04:002018-05-26T09:37:18.048-04:00Guest Post: Fact-checking Duluth News Tribune<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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RE: Fact checking the May first, 2018, “other view,” titled “necessity
or defense? That’s laughable.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Good morning Chuck,</div>
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<br /></div>
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Today’s May 1st, 2018 opinion page in the Duluth News
Tribune contains some grossly false information concerning Co2 and man’s role
in climate change. So, because the Tribune never bothers to check such articles
for accuracy, here is a little information from the latest IPCC report on
Climate change. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As far as the legality of the act of civil disobedience
committed by protesters in Clearwater Minnesota, I am not going to pretend to
be a legal authority concerning the charges, except to say that If you have a
beautiful fenced in back yard, and I decided I had a legal right to dump all my
excess garbage all over your lawn, you might just become angry and might
protest my actions if the police did nothing about your complaint. Perhaps you
can also share this letter with the Tribune’s Citizen’s Advocates?</div>
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<br /></div>
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In the case of climate change however, unlike the letter’s
author who is not mentioned except that he or she apparently writes for the
Sentinel of Fairmont, Minn., unlike his or her many claims that “There is
nothing proven about ‘climate change,’ and, “There is nothing proven about
mankind’s contribution to it” or that, “There is nothing to indicate that
Canada tar sands are the cause,” there are enormous amounts of scientific and
observational evidence proving that global warming is happening, and that man
is the primary cause. As far as the dangers caused by extracting tar sands oil,
many climate scientists believe that if that is done completely, the impact on the
environment from adding Co2 may be fatal—that is, it would place us beyond a
“tipping point” where concentrations of Co2 become so great, it will literally
be impossible to reduce Co2 back to safe levels. Here is some info from this
scientifically valid website:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Environmental_impacts_of_oil_sands">http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Environmental_impacts_of_oil_sands</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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“The environmental impact of the <a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Oil_sands" title="Oil sands">oil
sands</a> is an issue that has been extremely divisive. As with the
extraction and use of any <a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Fossil_fuel" title="Fossil fuel">fossil
fuel</a>, negative environmental effects arise as a result of the
extraction, <a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Bitumen_upgrading" title="Bitumen upgrading">upgrading</a>, and processing of <a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Bitumen" title="Bitumen">bitumen</a> from
the oil sands. Although some steps are being taken to reduce the severity of
these impacts - such as reclamation - there are still associated climate, air,
and water effects. Since there are so many environmental impacts that can be
discussed, the main concerns have been broken down into several core issues
including:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Oil_sands_tailings_ponds" title="Oil sands tailings ponds">Tailings Ponds Impacts</a>: Tailings ponds are
settling ponds that contain the waste byproduct of oil sands extraction and
upgrading. They are a mix of water, sand, silt, clay, unrecovered hydrocarbons,
and other contaminants.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Climate_impacts_of_oil_sands" title="Climate impacts of oil sands">Climate Impacts</a>: The greenhouse gas
emissions for oil sand extraction and processing are significantly larger than
for conventional crude oil. These emissions contribute to global warming and
the enhanced greenhouse effect.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Water_impacts_of_oil_sands" title="Water impacts of oil sands">Water Impacts</a>: The extraction of bitumen
from oil sands requires a large amount of water, and thus water use is a
concern when looking at oil sands extraction. Water used in the oil sands can
be recycled, but only small amounts of this water are returned to the natural
cycle.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Air_pollution_from_oil_sands" title="Air pollution from oil sands">Air Quality Impacts</a>: Along with
greenhouse gases, other pollutants are released into the air during oil sands
operations. These pollutants are harmful to the environment and human health
and include gases such as NOx and <a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/SOx" title="SOx">SOx</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Oil_sands_land_reclamation" title="Oil sands land reclamation">Reclamation</a>: Reclamation is the attempt
to return previously used land - whether it is old surface mines, or more
frequently tailings ponds - to their natural state. The chemicals in the
tailings are factors that can make reclamation difficult. And as far as what
science knows about Co2 and man’s contributions to it, therefore global
warming;”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are a few relevant findings from the 2014 Climate
support summary for policy makers;</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/AR5_SYR_FINAL_SPM.pdf">https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/AR5_SYR_FINAL_SPM.pdf</a></div>
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These important findings are highlighted in orange
throughout the PDF</div>
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“Observed Changes and their Causes Human influence on the
climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases
are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts
on human and natural systems. {1}”</div>
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“Observed changes in the climate system Warming of the
climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed
changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean
have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has
risen. {1.1}”</div>
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“Causes of climate change Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions since the pre-industrial era have driven large increases in the
atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous
oxide (N2O) (Figure SPM.1c). Between 1750 and 2011, cumulative anthropogenic
CO2 emissions to the atmosphere were 2040 ± 310 GtCO2. About 40% of these
emissions have remained in the atmosphere (880 ± 35 GtCO2); the rest was
removed from the atmosphere and stored on land (in plants and soils) and in the
ocean. The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic CO2,
causing ocean acidification. About half of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions between
1750 and 2011 have occurred in the last 40 years (high confidence) (Figure
SPM.1d). {1.2.1, 1.2.2} Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have increased
since the pre-industrial era, driven largely by economic and population growth,
and are now higher than ever. This has led to atmospheric concentrations of
carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that are unprecedented in at least
the last 800,000 years. Their effects, together with those of other
anthropogenic drivers, have been detected throughout the climate system and are
extremely likely to have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since
the mid-20th century. {1.2, 1.3.1}”</div>
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<br /></div>
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“Impacts of climate change in recent decades, changes in
climate have caused impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and
across the oceans. Impacts are due to observed climate change, irrespective of
its cause, indicating the sensitivity of natural and human systems to changing
climate.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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“Evidence of observed climate change impacts is strongest
and most comprehensive for natural systems. In many regions, changing
precipitation or melting snow and ice are altering hydrological systems,
affecting water resources in terms of quantity and quality (medium confidence).
Many terrestrial, freshwater and marine species have shifted their geographic
ranges, seasonal activities, migration patterns, abundances and species
interactions in response to ongoing climate change (high confidence). Some
impacts on human systems have also been attributed to climate change, with a
major or minor contribution of climate change distinguishable from other
influences (Figure SPM.4). Assessment of many studies covering a wide range of
regions and crops shows that negative impacts of climate change on crop yields
have been more common than positive impacts (high confidence). Some impacts of
ocean acidification on marine organisms have been attributed to human influence
(medium confidence). {1.3.2}”</div>
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“Extreme event Changes in many extreme weather and climate
events have been observed since about 1950. Some of these changes have been
linked to human influences, including a decrease in cold temperature extremes,
an increase in warm temperature extremes, an increase in extreme high sea
levels and an increase in the number of heavy precipitation events in a number
of regions. {1.4}”</div>
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“Future Climate Changes, Risks and Impacts Continued
emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting
changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of
severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. Limiting
climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.
{2} SPM 2.1 Key drivers of future climate Cumulative emissions of CO2 largely
determine global mean surface warming by the late 21st century and beyond.
Projections of greenhouse gas emissions vary over a wide range, depending on
both socio-economic development and climate policy. {2.1}”</div>
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“Projected changes in the climate’s system surface
temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century under all assessed
emission scenarios. It is very likely that heat waves will occur more often and
last longer, and that extreme precipitation events will become more intense and
frequent in many regions. The ocean will continue to warm and acidify, and
global mean sea level to rise. {2.2}”</div>
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Here is some info about planned future reports done by the
IPCC:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/PR092017_AR6_Scoping.shtml">https://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/PR092017_AR6_Scoping.shtml</a></div>
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Sixth Assessment Cycle</div>
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<br /></div>
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“In March 2017, the IPCC approved the outlines of the Special
Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, and Climate
Change and Land: an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification,
land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse
gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems. The two reports are expected to be finalized
in September 2019.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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In September 2018 the IPCC will also finalize Global
Warming of 1.5°C, an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of
1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission
pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of
climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. The
IPCC will also refine the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories for delivery in 2019.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Despite all of the evidence above, many deniers continue to
push the idea that there is no proof that human caused global warming exists,
or that worldwide temperature averages have even risen? However, science has
known for more than 150 years that concentrations of Co2 can, and do, affect
the heat from infrared solar radiation. This means that when certain kinds of
Co2 isotopes collect naturally in the atmosphere they prevent much of the
infrared radiation that would normally enter space and be gone, from leaving.
And the Co2 disperses or scatters more infrared back into the atmosphere,
meaning it accumulates and the warming cycle will continue rising due to that
accumulation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are also tons of observational evidence that prove
just how much warming is caused by greenhouse gases, which are also causing
worldwide temperature averages to rise. One of which is the melting ice in the Arctic. When the snow cover is present across the arctic,
the white snow reflects greater amounts of solar radiation, but with warming
less and less of that snow and sea ice is present year-round. We are already at
a point where we have almost no sea ice during the summer seasons in the Arctic. And when the land snow melts it runs into the
ocean and has gradually been increasing water levels there. Currently they
amount to relatively small amounts each decade, but, are expected to accelerate
in the future, and could result in releasing methane gas from ancient organic
material under the snow—which could greatly accelerate sea rise. And although
methane is another powerful greenhouse gas, overall the greatest danger is from
Co2, since it stays in the atmosphere much longer than methane or water vapor
and can take hundreds of years to be completely absorbed by natural buffers in
the environment—so daily Co2 emissions continue to accumulate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The arctic snow cover and sea ice are just one factor among
dozens of others that provide powerful evidence that human caused global
warming does exist and is primarily caused by greenhouse gases. And you can
look them up on many well-established sites that are scientifically reliable
sources, such as NASA and NOAA. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a great video put out by NASA of sea ice diminishing
from the 1980s to 2016:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHE0n5c6-6g&ab_channel=BOOM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHE0n5c6-6g&ab_channel=BOOM</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Deniers like to pick at various aspects of warming and
trying to deny they prove that global warming is happening--often by cherry
picking data, or by emphasizing honest statements from scientists who have
readily admitted that not enough data is available to determine the extent of
some of global warming’s specific aspects. How many deniers have written
letters to the Tribune admitting they were wrong about anything they said in
their letters, or that they have no other proven ideas about why global warming
is happening?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here also is a link to a rebuttal at the website below that
explains why deniers’ claims that the earth has not been warming is dead wrong!
It makes perfect sense to me and is certainly backed up by pertinent and
verifiable data—scientists do not just make up the temperature readings from
around the world in order to prove that we have continued to warm for a long
period of time! In reality, all of those readings ARE added together and used
to determine their global mean values. If you go to the link below, you will
see about 200 other rebuttals that debunk many other common talking points used
by deniers. Most of the letters sent to the Tribune by deniers, will probably
use some false information which has been circulated, and which is drawn from
such bogus myths! So Please just try consulting this link, or simply contact a
knowledgeable professor from the UMD Earth sciences department, if you should
ever decide to actually check the letters from deniers or “skeptics” to
determine if their info is real or is just flat out wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://skepticalscience.com/global-warming-stopped-in-1998.htm">https://skepticalscience.com/global-warming-stopped-in-1998.htm</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sincerely, Peter W. Johnson</div>
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-70725294051670169692018-05-23T09:00:00.003-04:002018-05-23T09:00:45.040-04:00Pruitt: Possibly most corrupt official in DC runs from pressScott Pruitt, the director of the EPA currently facing 16 (that's right, 16!) investigations for unethical behavior tried to run and hide from the press yesterday. Only friendly press was allowed into a meeting concerning water contamination while other reporters were excluded and even physically removed from the premises.<br />
<br />
Why in the world would Pruitt want to excluded the press from a meeting on an issue of critical importance to everyone (we ALL drink water)? Why would they physically lay hands on a reporter to remove her from the premises? And, why in the world would Pruitt think he would get away with it? It all points to how corrupt he is - he thinks he can get away with anything because he has been getting away with everything. Even a science hater like Pruitt can do that math.<br />
<br />
Eventually, you have to ask why Trump keeps such an obviously corrupt official. After seeing how his 'fixer' was taking payoffs for access to Trump (pay to play), I'm waiting for the revelation of how much the fossil fuel industry 'donated.' Pruitt is dirty. By association, so is Trump.<br />
<br />
Watch this for a little pertinent fun: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h16ab9ot80&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Do-it Pruitt</a><br />
<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-77864906742583155362018-05-20T13:58:00.000-04:002018-05-20T13:58:15.238-04:00Heartland's deceptions are on displayOur favorite paid shill for the fossil fuel industry recently placed one of his typically deceptive anti-science pieces in the LancasterOnline, resulting in a response letter from one reader, Pete Kuntz. Interestingly, the Heartland Institute decided to step in and act as Harris' attack dog. This is the role normally reserved for Russell Cook, but he turned out to be more of a yap-dog than an attack one, so I guess Harris is upping the ante. The results are pretty predictable. Not only are Harris' deceptions exposed, so are Heartland's. You can read Harris' original letter <a href="https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/don-t-pay-attention-to-climate-alarmists/article_b9f8962a-4a21-11e8-8af2-f3e64df790b6.html" target="_blank">here</a> and Mr. Kuntz's response letter <a href="https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/fossil-fuel-industry-behind-climate-denial/article_d80d030a-59e7-11e8-801b-f3181eabd353.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Heartland's letter to LancasterOnline is included in the comments section and includes a demand by Heartland that the response letter be removed. I'm reproducing the comment from Jim Lakely, Heartland's communication director below verbatim. For the sake of documentation, I'm including snapshots of both Mr. Kuntz's letter and Mr. Lakely's response at the bottom of this post.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jim.lakely" target="_blank">Jim
Lakely</a> · </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Communications-Director/108490472514932" target="_blank">Communications Director</a> at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandInstitute/" target="_blank">Heartland Institute</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="5mdd1n4g">I sent this letter to the Suzanne
Cassidy, opinion editor of the LancasterOnline, yesterday morning. No response
yet.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">START LETTER</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Ms. Cassidy,</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">I write today to let you know that the letter titled
“Fossil fuel industry behind climate denial” by Pete Kuntz of Manheim Township
contains several lies about The Heartland Institute. The errors are so
egregious I believe it requires removing his letter from your site and
explaining to your readers why it was removed.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">You published this falsehood by Kuntz: “Harris is a
‘co-sponsor’ of the Heartland Institute, which receives hundreds of millions
from the largest fossil fuel corporations in the U.S. to promote climate denial.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">The idea that “Heartland receives hundreds of millions”
from fossil fuel companies is absurd and patently false. It appears Kuntz got
this lie from DeSmogBlog, a smear site that has zero credibility. Perhaps Kuntz
likely extrapolated a lie about someone else and put it on Heartland. You
should be embarrassed that a letter-writer used DeSmog as a source your readers
should trust.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">The Heartland Institute’s annual budget the last few years
has been around $5 million, and was less than that (and often half) for most of
Heartland’s 34 years and counting as a free-market think tank. And we deal with
a lot of public policy issues with climate and energy work taking up only about
a quarter of our budget. Corporate financial support for Heartland is a small minority
of our annual funding and no one corporation has ever contributed more than 5
percent of our total receipts. Click the URL below for more on our funding,
including a link to our latest 990 form.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g"><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heartland.org%2Fabout-us%2Ffunding%2Findex.html&h=ATMxs6NGnqnkf4J02KKZAKQUHwEeWDhYYSQ_mD8U6W2NVkI2Wa42I2mfcwlW9A0fSuYRoW-qN-8yfQzS68u3Q1ArDznxFPtUX4kuQwhOZRXnEt5gG40" href="https://www.heartland.org/about-us/funding/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.heartland.org/about-us/funding/index.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Also, Tom Harris is a policy advisor to Heartland, not a
“co-sponsor,” whatever that is.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g"><a data-lynx-mode="hover" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heartland.org%2Fabout-us%2Fwho-we-are%2Ftom-harris&h=ATMxs6NGnqnkf4J02KKZAKQUHwEeWDhYYSQ_mD8U6W2NVkI2Wa42I2mfcwlW9A0fSuYRoW-qN-8yfQzS68u3Q1ArDznxFPtUX4kuQwhOZRXnEt5gG40" href="https://www.heartland.org/about-us/who-we-are/tom-harris" target="_blank">https://www.heartland.org/about-us/who-we-are/tom-harris</a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">You published this falsehood by Kuntz: "The fossil
fuel industry has spent well over $100 million in the past two decades to
create the impression that there’s a scientific “debate” about man-made climate
change, just as the tobacco industry, for decades, falsely claimed there was
scientific debate about whether smoking caused lung cancer — also using the
Heartland Institute as a front for the money they gave “doctors” (Union of
Concerned Scientists’ website, “The Climate Deception Dossiers”)."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">The Heartland Institute has never supported a “scientific
debate about whether smoking caused lung cancer.” This is our position on
tobacco, which is on our website.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g"><a data-lynx-mode="hover" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heartland.org%2Fabout-us%2Freply-to-critics%2Findex.html&h=ATMxs6NGnqnkf4J02KKZAKQUHwEeWDhYYSQ_mD8U6W2NVkI2Wa42I2mfcwlW9A0fSuYRoW-qN-8yfQzS68u3Q1ArDznxFPtUX4kuQwhOZRXnEt5gG40" target="_blank">https://www.heartland.org/abo.../reply-to-critics/index.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">"Heartland's long-standing position on tobacco is
that smoking is a risk factor for many diseases; we have never denied that
smoking kills. We argue that the risks are exaggerated by the public health
community to justify their calls for more regulations on businesses and higher
taxes on smokers, and that the risk of adverse health effects from second-hand
smoke is dramatically less than for active smoking, with many studies finding
no adverse health effects at all. These positions are supported by many
prominent scientists and virtually all free-market think tanks."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Are you going to remove this letter that contains multiple
egregious lies about The Heartland Institute that are intended to hurt our
reputation and misinform your readers?</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Sincerely,</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Jim Lakely</span><br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Director of Communications</span><br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">The Heartland Institute</span><br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">o: 312-377-4000</span><br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Twitter: @HeartlandInst</span><br />
<br />
<span class="5mdd1n4g">END LETTER</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Lakely’s letter to LancasterOnline is laughable at best
and an outright lie at worst. Certainly, Mr. Lakely practices Heartland’s
longstanding policy of deception with his letter. Let’s examine his statements
concerning smoking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Lakely stated, “<span class="5mdd1n4g">Heartland's
long-standing position on tobacco is that smoking is a risk factor for many
diseases; we have never denied that smoking kills.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="5mdd1n4g">Let’s examine the facts. Here is
Heartland’s statement concerning secondhand smoke, reproduced from <a href="https://www.heartland.org/topics/alcohol-tobacco/" target="_blank">their webpage</a>:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The research used to justify government regulation of second-hand smoke has
been powerfully challenged by critics, including <a href="https://www.heartland.org/topics/alcohol-tobacco/index.html"><strong>Congress’s
own research bureau</strong></a>. According to the EPA, the risk ratio for
forty years of exposure to a pack-a-day smoker is just 1.19. Epidemiologists as
a rule are skeptical of any relative risks lower than 3 and dismiss as random
ratios less than 1.3.<br />
An <a href="https://www.heartland.org/topics/alcohol-tobacco/index.html"><strong>important
report</strong></a> on second-smoke appeared in the May 12, 2003 issue of the <em>British
Medical Journal.</em> Two epidemiologists, James Enstrom at UCLA and Geoffrey
Kabat at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, analyzed data collected
by the American Cancer Society from more than 100,000 Californians from 1959
through 1997.<br />
“The results do not support a causal relation between environmental tobacco
smoke and tobacco related mortality,” the researchers wrote, although they do
not rule out a small effect. “The association between tobacco smoke and
coronary heart disease and lung cancer may be considerably weaker than
generally believed.”<br />
“It is generally considered that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is
roughly equivalent to smoking one cigarette per day,” according to Enstrom and
Kabat. “If so, a small increase in lung cancer is possible, but the commonly
reported 30 percent increase in heart disease risk--the purported cause of
almost all the deaths attributed to secondhand smoke -- is highly implausible.”</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, it didn’t take long to expose his deceptions. We see
Heartland’s own documents undermine Mr. Lakely’s claims. But, there’s more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before proceeding, I would like to make an interesting
observation about one of their links, specifically the link to a Congressional
report. When you click on that link it only takes you to Heartland documents
and never shows you an actual government report. In fact, the Congressional
Research Service did an analysis of the secondhand smoke and this report was
pretty much shelved – not because it didn’t give the desired results but
because almost all of the data provided came from the tobacco industry and the
reviewers were economists, not scientists. Those are little details Heartland
never likes to publicize.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of things they don’t like to publicize, let’s take
a look at the statements they’ve made in the press. Joe Bast, the former
president of Heartland, wrote an opinion piece, “<a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/220221584/Joe-Bast-op-ed-on-smoking" target="_blank">Five Lies about Tobacco</a>,”
where he stated, among other things, “smoking in moderation has few, if
any, adverse health effects,” and stated it was safe to smoke up to seven
cigarettes a day without increasing the risk of lung cancer. True to form, Mr.
Bast <a href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/05/12464/heartland-institute-reluctantly-stands-denial-cigarette-smoking-risks" target="_blank">later denied making any such statement</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
What is really interesting is the emails uncovered between
Mr. Bast and the tobacco industry, including the following snippets from <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/220221575/Joe-Bast-s-bottom-line" target="_blank">a letter from Mr. Bast to Roy Marden</a>, the Manager of
Industry Affairs for Philip Morris Management, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when he was soliciting $35,000 in
contributions from Philip Morris: "Heartland does many things that benefit
Philip Morris' bottom line." Mr. Bast cited a number of reports, opinion
pieces, and news articles placed by Heartland in defense of the tobacco
industry and in opposition to those seeking to highlight the health risks
associated with smoking. Continuing, Mr. Bast stated, "Heartland has devoted considerable attention to defending
tobacco," wrote Bast in the letter. He pointed to several examples,
including "two of my essays, titled 'Five Lies About Tobacco' and 'Joe
Camel is Innocent.'"<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we now know Heartland, in reality, has claimed secondhand smoke (and smoking in general, in moderation) is harmless, and they still do. But, what about the experts? Contrary to the claims made by Heartland, an organization
with no scientific research facilities, this is what the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/index.htm" target="_blank">has to say about second-hand smoke</a>:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="emphasis">
Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning
end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by smokers. Secondhand smoke
contains more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds are toxic and about 70 can cause
cancer.<sup>1,2,3,4</sup></div>
<div class="emphasis">
Since the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report, 2.5 million adults
who were nonsmokers died because they breathed secondhand smoke.<sup>1</sup></div>
<span class="emphasis1">There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand
smoke.</span><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">Secondhand smoke causes
numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent
and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).<sup>1,4</sup></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">Smoking during pregnancy
results in more than 1,000 infant deaths annually.<sup>4</sup></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">Some of the health conditions
caused by secondhand smoke in adults include coronary heart disease,
stroke, and lung cancer.<sup>1,4</sup></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pretty definitive and not in agreement with Heartland. But, that's only one source. What do others say? <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/second-hand-smoke-fact-sheet" target="_blank">This is what</a> the National Cancer Institute (part of the
National Institutes of Health) says:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Does exposure
to secondhand smoke cause cancer?</span></b></div>
Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. National Toxicology
Program, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the International Agency for Research on
Cancer have all classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen (a
cancer-causing agent) (1,
3,
5,
7).<br />
Inhaling secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmoking adults (4,
5).
Approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year among adult nonsmokers
in the United States
as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke (2).
The U.S. Surgeon General estimates that living with a smoker increases a
nonsmoker’s chances of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent (4).<br />
Some research also suggests that secondhand smoke may increase the risk of
breast cancer, nasal sinus cavity cancer, and nasopharyngeal
cancer in adults and the risk of leukemia,
lymphoma,
and brain tumors in children (4).
Additional research is needed to learn whether a link exists between secondhand
smoke exposure and these cancers.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<section id="q5" tabindex="0">
<div style="mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">What are the
other health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke?</span></b></div>
Secondhand smoke is associated with disease and premature death in
nonsmoking adults and children (4,
5).
Exposure to secondhand smoke irritates the airways and has immediate harmful
effects on a person’s heart and blood vessels. It may increase the risk of
heart disease by an estimated 25 to 30 percent (4).
In the United States,
secondhand smoke is thought to cause about 46,000 heart disease deaths each
year (8).
There may also be a link between exposure to secondhand smoke and the risk of
stroke and hardening of the arteries; however, additional research is needed to
confirm this link.<br />
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of sudden infant
death syndrome, ear infections, colds, pneumonia,
bronchitis,
and more severe asthma. Being exposed to secondhand smoke slows the growth of
children’s lungs and can cause them to cough, wheeze, and feel breathless (4,
5).</section></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<section id="q5" tabindex="0">
</section><section id="q6" tabindex="0">
<div style="mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">What is a safe
level of secondhand smoke?</span></b></div>
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even low levels of
secondhand smoke can be harmful. The only way to fully protect nonsmokers from
secondhand smoke is to completely eliminate smoking in indoor spaces.
Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings
cannot completely eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke (4).</section></blockquote>
<br />
But, those are both American. What do other countries say? <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/passive-smoking" target="_blank">Here's what they're saying in Britain</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Breathing in other people's smoke, also called second-hand smoke, can cause
cancer. Passive smoking can increase a non-smoker's risk of getting lung cancer
by a quarter, and may also increase the risk of cancers of the larynx (voice
box) and pharynx (upper throat).</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Second-hand smoke can cause other health problems too. Every year,
second-hand smoke kills thousands of people in the UK from lung cancer, heart disease,
stroke and the lung disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/smoke-free_environments_en" target="_blank">European Union</a>?:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to conservative estimates, over 79 000 adults,
including 19 000 non-smokers, died in the EU in 2002 due to exposure to tobacco
smoke at home (72 000) and in their workplace (7300).</div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/global/pdfs/en/Russia_tob_burden_en.pdf" target="_blank">And, Russia</a>?”</div>
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“There is no safe level of secondhand smoke.”</div>
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As you can see, Heartland’s history of deception goes way
back. In fact, the Heartland Institute is, once again, in the position of
telling all the world’s experts they are wrong and Heartland is right – the ONLY
group that is right. It would be nice if Mr. Lakely would at least make an
attempt to verify his facts. But, of course, the truth has never worked to
serve the purposes of Heartland.</div>
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It is also notable that Mr. Lakely attempted to smear the
reputation of DeSmogBlog. Once again, reality doesn’t agree with Mr. Lakely’s
claims. The reality is that DeSmogBlog is a highly regarded source. A panel of journalists
and public relations professionals selected them for an award for the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeSmogBlog" target="_blank">highest ethical and professional standards while performing outstanding work</a>." </div>
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Heartland’s concern with DeSmogBlog goes back to when a number of embarrassing
Heartland documents were <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/heartland-institute" target="_blank">published on their website</a> – documents Heartland has
gone to increasingly embarrassing attempts to deny. In fact, DeSmogBlog is highly
respected by everyone familiar with them. Except, of course, the people most
engaged in deception – people like the Heartland Institute. It is no surprise
to see that Mr. Lakely is continuing the tradition. </div>
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Here are screen shots of the letters from Mr. Kuntz and Mr. Lakely, just in case they should be removed for any reason.</div>
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Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-66804706725958778172018-05-13T13:04:00.000-04:002018-05-13T13:04:03.349-04:00Trump's Money Earner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-37896537071049654482018-05-10T09:39:00.004-04:002018-05-10T09:39:55.694-04:00Pruitt's Security<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-73529381175750769912018-04-01T10:40:00.001-04:002018-04-03T08:37:57.167-04:00Winter in ReviewThe end of February brought to a close the meteorological winter (December, January, and February). I decided to take a look at the January through March period, instead. It was a harsh winter, at least according to what people
say. There were multiple major storms in the Northeast and record cold
temperatures to ring in the New Year. But, what does the data say?<br />
<br />
I
keep detailed weather records for my house in the Texas Hill Country.
Now, before I proceed, let me state that this is data for a single point
on the globe. The continental US makes up less than 2% of the globe's
surface area and my town makes up a tiny little fraction of that. I
always caution climate change deniers about taking weather data for a
single town as evidence to support their arguments. It works both ways.
And, besides, my data goes back only 25 years. This data doesn't prove
anything, one way or the other. It's just an interesting observation.<br />
<br />
So,
how did winter go this year in Mason, Texas? First, we set 25 new
record temperatures. That's an average of a new record in less than
every four days. That's pretty severe. But, what's interesting is that
13 of those were record lows and 12 were record highs. So, there were
basically the same number of record highs as record lows. The reason you
don't hear people talk about that is because a record low in winter is
harsh and notable. A record high is a nice day and people simply enjoy
it. That's an example of why we rely on data and not people's
observations.<br />
<br />
I also compared the monthly average measured low
temperatures versus the average of the average lows for the same
periods. Then, I did the same for the high temperatures. <br />
<br />
This is what I got for the lows:<br />
Average measured lows Average Average Lows<br />
Jan 31.4 37.2<br />
Feb 41.2 40.0<br />
Mar 49.4 46.1 <br />
<br />
This
indicates January really was harsh. The average temperature was nearly 6
degrees F lower than the average for the period and included the lowest
temperature in my 25-year record (7 degrees F on January 17). But, both
February and March were warmer than normal. February was only a little
warmer, but March was over 3 degree warmer.<br />
<br />
This is the comparable results for the highs:<br />
<br />
Average measured highs Average Average highs<br />
Jan 63.7 57.3<br />
Feb 67.9 59.5<br />
Mar 79.1 65.8 <br />
<br />
Yikes!
Based on this, I'm surprised we had only 12 record highs! All three
months were warmer than average. January was over six degrees warmer,
February was more than eight degrees warmer and March was a whopping
13.3 degrees above the average. <br />
<br />
So, the data tells us the nights
were, with the exception of January, mildly warmer. But, the day times
were quite a bit warmer than average for each month. <br />
<br />
Again, this proves nothing except what happened here in my home town. But, it is still interesting.
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-71423834418613231172018-03-26T10:20:00.001-04:002018-03-26T10:20:46.486-04:00Tom Harris' Deceits Could Be Deadly<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Tom Harris is
<a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2015/07/tom-harris-paid-shill.html" target="_blank">well-known</a> for being a <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/11/history-of-ball-and-harris-is-not-ad.html" target="_blank">paid shill of the fossil fuel industry</a>. He is also well
know for making incredibly stupid statements. He is even well known for
supporting policies that kill thousands of people. But, never have I seen him
openly trying to kill people. At least, not before his <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2018/03/23/deceptive-language-ruins-earth-hour/" target="_blank">recent article</a>.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The headline
on Harris’ article is “Carbon Dioxide is mostly oxygen,” and he then goes on to
make statements about how benign and beneficial it is to the environment.
Carbon monoxide is 50% oxygen, but no one wants it around. Water is one-third
oxygen by the number of atoms and over 88% oxygen by mass. Please don’t try
breathing either one. It will kill you. Compounds act very differently than
elements. CO<sub>2</sub> acts very differently than pure oxygen. (By the way,
breathing pure oxygen <a href="http://www.sciencefocus.com/qa/why-does-breathing-pure-oxygen-kill-you" target="_blank">will also kill you</a>.) If you follow Harris' line of reasoning, you would conclude breathing carbon dioxide is harmless. While breathing it at low levels is not only harmless, but essential, breathing it at high concentrations is dangerous. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Carbon compounds cannot be compared
to elemental carbon. They are not the same thing. Naturally occurring carbon
dioxide is part of the environment. Carbon dioxide produced by power plants,
industry, and automobiles is not part of the natural environment and is
pollution. As such, it is causing the natural environment to change. Because of
this, it needs to be regulated, just like any other man made pollutant.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Harris made
an incorrect science statement right from the start when he stated carbon “</span></em>forms
thousands of compounds, much more than any other element.” Hydrogen forms the
most number of compounds, many more than carbon. Carbon and oxygen are about
the same. Harris statement is false and it was made to mislead the reader.<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Amazingly,
Harris goes on about the hazards of CO<sub>2</sub> levels, even discussing the
levels in submarines. No one is saying CO<sub>2</sub> levels are becoming
hazardous, so why is Harris discussing this? This has nothing to do with the
science and is what is known as a ‘straw man’ argument. Harris, and other
science-haters like him, cannot provide any science to support their claims concerning
climate change, so they’re trying to change the subject. To be clear, to best
of my knowledge, no climate scientist is claiming CO<sub>2</sub> levels in the
atmosphere are dangerous to breath or will become so. So, why is Harris
discussing this, if not to deceive?</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">But, <a href="http://tomharrisicsc.blogspot.com/2016/12/tom-harris-paid-shill.html" target="_blank">Harris’ record</a> shows deception is his forte. For starters, take a look at Harris’
background. He has <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/02/guest-post-more-on-harris-fossil-fuel.html" target="_blank">a long association with the tobacco and fossil fuel industries</a>. He continuously denies this to the point of claiming there is a second
Tom Harris. If so, he’s also a twin-brother because the resumes <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/02/tom-harris-is-trying-to-hide-his-apco.html" target="_blank">come withpictures</a>. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He is closely
associated with the Heartland Institute, a far-right anti-science organization heavily <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/02/heartland-fossil-fuel-funding.html" target="_blank">funded by tobacco and fossil fuel industries</a>. Heartland is famous for claiming second-hand smoke is harmless and <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/11/heartland-institute-reveals-its-true.html" target="_blank">recently nominated to the EPA a man who was arrested for raping his own children.</a> Heartland also paid for the development of the <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2014/06/10000-challenge-submission-nipcc.html" target="_blank">NIPCC</a>
(Not-Science International Panel on Climate Change). This is a <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2014/04/update-on-nipcc.html" target="_blank">pseudoscienceorganization</a> whose claims have been completely, and repeatedly, debunked. NIPCC
will make a simple statement (such as, there were ice ages in the past), then
find scientific papers that support that simple statement and cite them as a
reference in order to inflate their number of citations. The reality is, NIPCC
presents no science to support their claims. In fact, the only people who cite
their report are climate change deniers like Harris. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He frequently
co-authors editorials with <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/11/avalanche-of-disinformation-from-harris.html" target="_blank">Tim Ball</a>, a geographer falsely claiming to be a
climate scientist. Ball filed a libel lawsuit, which he later dropped. The
court documents from that lawsuit stated </span></em>"The Plaintiff's
credentials and credibility as an expert on the issue of global warming have been repeatedly disparaged in the media,” and
"The Plaintiff is viewed as a paid promoter of the agenda of the oil and
gas industry rather than as a practicing scientist." <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2018/02/court-tim-ball-has-no-credibility-how.html" target="_blank">A court in British Columbia</a>recently found in his favor when he was sued for libel by a (real) climate
scientist. The court reasoned that Ball had such poor credibility that his
statements couldn’t be construed as libel because no “reasonably thoughtful or
informed person” would believe his statements. And, this is Harris’ go-to
source for information on climate science.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He has stated
that science is merely an opinion. According to Harris, gravity is only an opinion,
it’s only an opinion that a plane can fly, and it’s only an opinion that your
car will slow down when you step on the brakes. Harris <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/12/almarmist-tom-harris-demonstrates.html" target="_blank">has stated</a> that we are at risk of famine unless we INCREASE the levels of </span></em><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">CO<sub>2</sub> </span></em> in the atmosphere. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He has cited
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as a role model. This is the same person
who compares himself to Hitler, regrets he didn’t participate in the rape and
murder of a lay minister, claims to have thrown a man out of a helicopter, and
has orchestrated a mass murder in his country. Likewise, Harris’ viewpoints
have been endorsed by the governments of North
Korea and Uzbekistan,
two of most repressive regimes on the planet.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Harris claims
CO<sub>2</sub> is good for us because it’s a naturally occurring plant food
(even for weeds). So is raw sewage, which has been used in some cultures for
millennia to fertilize crops. Even Harris isn’t advocating dumping of raw sewage
in the environment. At least, not yet. Why not? After all, by his line of
logic, it’s nothing more than naturally occurring plant food. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The reality
is that fertilizer runoff is a serious problem. And, like the fertilizer we put
on our farms and yards, CO<sub>2</sub> coming from factories, power plants, and
automobiles is not natural. It is manmade, it’s pollution, and it needs to be
regulated.</span></em><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span><br />
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-31925304193114827762018-02-18T11:46:00.000-05:002018-03-26T09:02:58.557-04:00Court: Tim Ball Has No Credibility. How Embarrassing!In 2011, Canadian climate scientist Andrew Weaver filed a libel lawsuit against the anti-science climate change denier <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/timothy-f-ball-tim-ball" target="_blank">Tim Ball</a>. The court in British Columbia recently <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/02/14/judge-dismisses-libel-claim-sceptic-tim-ball-not-credible-enough-take-seriously?utm_source=dsb%20newsletter" target="_blank">dismissed the lawsuit</a>, not because it didn't think Ball hadn't committed libel, but because it said <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/02/14/climate-denier-tim-ball-trump-approved-not-credible-enough-stand-accountable-libel-0?utm_source=dsb%20newsletter" target="_blank">his lack of credibility</a> was so severe that no one would believe him and he couldn't inflict any damage, stating (among other things),<br />
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
“the Article is poorly written and does not advance credible
arguments in favour of Dr. Ball’s theory about the corruption of climate
science. Simply put, a reasonably thoughtful and informed person who reads the
Article is unlikely to place any stock in Dr. Ball’s views, including his views
of Dr. Weaver as a supporter of conventional climate science.”</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
Wow! How embarrassing is that? The court tells you to your face that you have no credibility and everyone knows it! To no surprise, Ball's supporters are calling this a victory. How bad is it when your supporters view a total slam by the court as a victory? This could only happen in the denier-sphere. Keep in mind that one of Ball's frequent co-authors is one of the few people with as little credibility as him - the <a href="http://tomharrisicsc.blogspot.com/2016/12/tom-harris-paid-shill.html" target="_blank">fossil fuel shill Tom Harris</a>. As they say, you can tell a lot about someone by the company they keep. In this case, you can tell a lot about both of these men.<br />
<br />
Of course, Ball should be use to getting spanked by the courts. After all, court records <a href="http://dialoguesonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2017/11/history-of-ball-and-harris-is-not-ad.html" target="_blank">have already stated that Ball</a>,<br />
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<![endif]-->"never held a reputation in the scientific community
as a noted climatologist and authority on global warming," </blockquote>
<br />
and
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
"The Plaintiff's credentials and credibility as an
expert on the issue of global warming have been repeatedly disparaged in the media."</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
and,</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
"The Plaintiff is viewed as a paid promoter of the
agenda of the oil and gas industry rather than as a practicing scientist."</div>
</blockquote>
You would think Ball would learn to stay away from any place he is required to tell the truth. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-59100347399883431162018-02-07T11:46:00.001-05:002018-02-07T11:46:29.969-05:00Coal's Inevitable FutureA number of years ago, there was a pretty good movie called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102609/" target="_blank">Other People's Money</a>. Danny DeVito plays the part of this corporate raider who buys worn-out companies and sells off the parts. In the case of the particular company in the movie, he is portrayed as the villain who simply wants to put people out of work. That is, until the stock holder meeting comes along and he explains his position. Suddenly, he isn't the villain anymore. The company manufactured copper cables for telephone lines and there wasn't enough business anymore. As DeVito's character explained it, he wasn't the one putting the company out of business, fiber optics and new technology were. The company was dead but no one would admit it. The movie has a happy ending when they convert to making the copper mesh that goes into automobile air bags, but the message is clear - times change and companies that don't change with them go away.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_P4xOiEREk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_P4xOiEREk</a><br />
<br />
Hello, coal! Anyone listening?<br />
<br />
Coal is dead but no one wants to sign the death certificate. It wasn't the EPA and government regulations that did it, either. It is new technology. If it was the case of government regulation coal wouldn't be dying in countries all over the world. Yes, some countries are building numerous coal-powered plants, but every one that I've been following has been canceling plants and turning to alternative fuels. It will take a while, but this is an industry on the way out.<br />
<br />
Now, like DeVito's character, we simply need to help end it.<br />
<br />
<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-35289894367912900372018-01-30T09:49:00.000-05:002018-01-30T09:49:01.056-05:00Trump is simply too stupid to understand the scienceTrump likes to boast that he's "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/us/politics/trump-genius-mental-health.html" target="_blank">like, really smart.</a>" He goes even further, stating, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/us/politics/trump-genius-mental-health.html" target="_blank">I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius.</a>" I've been reading his statements for many years, going back to the time I first saw him on <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/video/donald-trumps-first-time-on-60-minutes/" target="_blank"><i>60 Minutes</i> in 1985</a>, and my conclusion, based on his own words, is that he's not very smart at all. Based on what I've seen, I would peg his IQ at about average - right around 100.<br />
<br />
But worse than that, he's not well educated. I think this goes to his ego. When he comes across a topic he can't understand, he simply ignores it and makes up something to satisfy his need to feel superior. In short, he's not smart enough to understand science, so he rejects it. And, this is why he isn't just a climate change denier, he's a climate change hater and is bent on a war on science. Science makes him feel inferior, so he's going to do all he can to destroy it.<br />
<br />
His <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-ice-caps-global-warming-piers-morgan_us_5a6e55cbe4b0ddb658c77f90" target="_blank">most recent statements</a>, in a British ITV interview, is a perfect example of his complete lack of understanding of science. In this interview, he stated, "There is a cooling, and there’s a heating." Really, Mr. President? Which one is it? Cooling? Or, heating? You can't have both. The planet is either heating up, or it isn't.<br />
<br />
Doubling down on that lack of understanding, he simultaneously appeared to refer to the the false claim about global warming and climate change phraseology when he stated, "I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global
warming. Right? That wasn’t working too well because it was getting too
cold all over the place.”<br />
<br />
Actually, it still is global warming. Back in the W. Bush administration, there was concern about how the public was getting concerned about 'global warming,' and it was decided to start referring to it by another name that sounded less dire. So, the Republicans began referring to it as 'climate change.' This is known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Luntz#Global_warming" target="_blank">Luntz memo.</a> Anti-science people like to claim scientists changed the name because there was no warming. In fact, it was the deniers who changed the name because there was too much warming. Scientists have adopted this extra term because it covers more than global warming - ocean acidification, for example.<br />
<br />
And, no, it isn't getting too cold 'all over the place,' as Trump stated. In fact, <a href="https://eos.org/articles/global-average-temperatures-in-2017-continued-upward-trend?utm_source=eos&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EosBuzz012618" target="_blank">according to NASA and NOAA</a>, 2017 was the second or third hottest year on record. <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/news/2017-was-3rd-warmest-year-on-record-for-us" target="_blank">According to NOAA</a>, the five hottest years ever recorded have occurred since 2006. What is alarming about that figure is that there was no El Nino in 2017 to boost the atmospheric temperature. This is the new normal, as they say. <br />
<br />
Not having been satisfied displaying his ignorance, he went even further and stated “polar ice caps were supposed to be gone by now,” but instead they’re “breaking records.”<br />
<br />
No, and no.<br />
<br />
While some individuals made claims ice caps were supposed to be gone by now, the vast majority have been stating we should expect an ice-free Arctic Ocean during the summer sometime around the 2040 - 2050 time frame. I happen to think it will first occur in the 2030s. Which illustrates the point I'm making - even the pessimistic scientists haven't been predicting an ice free Arctic Ocean by now.<br />
<br />
And, as for the 'breaking records,' he's not only wrong, he's very wrong. The<a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2017/09/arctic-sea-ice-at-minimum-extent-2/" target="_blank"> minimum extent for 2017</a> was the eight-lowest minimum in the satellite record and was 1.58 million square kilometers below the long-term average. Even Antarctica is below average and experienced it's fifth lowest maximum extent this past September (summer time in Antarctica). Arctic sea ice extent is <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/arctic-sea-ice/" target="_blank">declining at a rate of 13.2% per decade.</a><br />
<br />
It's bad enough when your neighbor, or coworker, or someone in the bar isn't smart enough to understand the science. But, when the President of the United States isn't, it's a serious problem. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2581891759488770965.post-86854929045579443702018-01-23T18:33:00.000-05:002018-01-23T18:33:53.501-05:00Anti-Bodhisattva Gets It Wrong<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a clear trend where the anti-science climate change
deniers are becoming increasingly irrelevant. The science and reality have both
long shown the deniers to be living in an alternative reality. Now, polls show
the public is increasingly aware of it. <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/18/politics/sutter-american-climate-opinions-trump/" target="_blank">One poll showed</a> 70% of the public believes climate change is real versus 13% who don't. And, 55% believe we are causing it, versus 30% who don't. The battle is definitely swinging in
the direction of science. Unfortunately, it isn’t yet over and there is still a
lot of work that needs to be done. This is not the time to let our guard down. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Debunking deniers is fun and easy, but is also time-consuming.
They exhibit the ability to constantly and repeatedly spew the same litany of
lies, deception and false logic. No matter how many times they get debunked,
they simply ignore the science and data and reappear, like some kind of
evil Phoenix,
ready to deceive yet another audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recently encountered one such person, going by the handle “Bodhisattva,” on
the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/secretlife/environmental-science/katharine-hayhoe/#comment-3714865204" target="_blank">PBS website interview of climate scientist Dr. Katherine Hayhoe</a>. Bodhisattva
appeared, along with the Heartland Institute’s foo-foo dog Russell Cook, in a
very silly attempt to discredit Dr. Hayhoe and anyone supporting the science. They failed. Let’s take a look at
some of their comments to see just how miserably they failed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the things that immediately jumped out to me was
Bodhisattva’s comment referring to science advocates as “your side,” making it
sound as if this is a sports game. Or, a war. To be clear, there is no ‘side’
among scientists. You accept the science or you don’t. It isn’t a competition
or warfare. Climate scientists are working to figure out the science and work
for the public good. His comment makes me wonder, if people like Bodhisattva
are on ‘the other side,’ just what is their goal? This isn’t a trivial
question, but something that needs to be considered seriously. Interestingly,
according to Wikipedia, “In Buddhism, Bodhisattva is the Sanskrit term for
anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated Bodhicitta, which is a
spontaneous wish and a compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit
of all sentient beings.” Clearly, this individual needs to change his handle
because he has no compassion and is not working for the benefit of anyone. He doesn’t’
exhibit Bodhisattva. Instead, he’s the anti-Bodhisattva. This should be taken into
account when considering his credibility.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that anti-Bod, by his own statement, has established he
stands against science, let’s continue. I have copied his comments below (with
my comments he responded to prior to his) for your perusal. You can also go to
the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/secretlife/environmental-science/katharine-hayhoe/#comment-3714865204" target="_blank">PBS website </a>and see these, and many more, comments from him. If you look,
you’ll notice that he made some very lengthy comments. I’m not going to bother
responding to all of them. I have better things to do with my time and I don’t
think you, the reader, would be all that interested in reading a long,
detailed, rebuttal. Let’s stick to couple of highlights. That will suffice to
illustrate this person doesn’t accept science, is incorrect in his claims, and has zero credibility. If you see something in his comments you are particularly curious about, contact me via the comments section or email (dogw.email@gmail.com) and I'll address it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the first comment group below, I referred to the accuracy of
climate models and provided a reference for him to read. His response was, “Your
chosen source, one of the few that your side tends to always reference, is
easily debunked. Their graph of sea level change does not include the claimed
"acceleration" of sea level increase your side always claims is
ongoing - thus already proving itself to be bogus, according, at least, to
everything else your side claims.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take a look for yourself. Here is the plot from <a href="https://www.skepticalscience.com/climate-models.htm" target="_blank">the reference</a> showing sea level rise measurements and model predictions:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHilu8tXZ72JxzQEFNdBFSA7yS6SK0LjknZ5VECyOHpMuURZegXjYlaM5R9BE3yhhUJgt8h4vB48E2fe92HlT8m5-F5q5IXVRvysa6Ccgk9MYZNjivRXS3o60tty0fTJsVfpZxkl_PVAs/s1600/Sea+Level+Rise.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="450" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHilu8tXZ72JxzQEFNdBFSA7yS6SK0LjknZ5VECyOHpMuURZegXjYlaM5R9BE3yhhUJgt8h4vB48E2fe92HlT8m5-F5q5IXVRvysa6Ccgk9MYZNjivRXS3o60tty0fTJsVfpZxkl_PVAs/s400/Sea+Level+Rise.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.skepticalscience.com/climate-models.htm" target="_blank">Skeptical Science</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Draw an average line for the measurements prior to 1990 and
then do the same for the period after 1990. You get two lines with dramatically
different slopes. The best-fit line for post-1990 has a much steeper slope. Clearly,
the graph shows an acceleration in sea level rise. Anti-Bod is not just wrong
on this point, but he is way wrong. Yes, the data shows an acceleration in sea
level rise. So, why did he misrepresent the facts? What was his motive in this?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later, he states, “The graph from the IPCC report cited by
THEIR SOURCE is this one, not the one they present, and it looks NOTHING like
what they presented:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/graphics/images/Assessment%20Reports/AR4%20-%20Synthesis%20Report/SPM/spm01.jpg" target="_blank" title="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/graphics/images/Assessment%20Reports/AR4%20-%20Synthesis%20Report/SPM/spm01.jpg">https://www.ipcc.ch/report/...</a>”
This is pretty important, if correct. Fortunately, it isn’t. Another false
claim by the anti-Bod. Take a look at the IPCC graph for yourself and see if
you can find the deception. Sea level is depicted in the middle graph.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrEopw9WCSMRbhB_mvgwveJoJ8sOc5UWPYgyvuLWeLCj-9YQaXxRc97V8SLMLc5xQHgvt-KeZqOT4oTwliHIDVhviIgrWM4cCGNK4n8I7E77Fbcx2NPpMdNmemkK3qbwSoZ6CDiG64bg/s1600/IPCC+Sea+Level.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrEopw9WCSMRbhB_mvgwveJoJ8sOc5UWPYgyvuLWeLCj-9YQaXxRc97V8SLMLc5xQHgvt-KeZqOT4oTwliHIDVhviIgrWM4cCGNK4n8I7E77Fbcx2NPpMdNmemkK3qbwSoZ6CDiG64bg/s400/IPCC+Sea+Level.jpg" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/graphics/images/Assessment%20Reports/AR4%20-%20Synthesis%20Report/SPM/spm01.jpg" target="_blank">IPCC AR4</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The IPCC graph covers the timespan of 1850 to around 2005. The
graph in Skeptical Science is for the period of 1970 to about 2008. Of course those two graphs will look different. That's because they ARE different. In fact, if
you examine only the same periods in both graphs, they are the same. Anti-Bod
is incorrect in his claim. Again, what was his motive for misrepresenting the facts?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s skip ahead to his comment “basis of the debunked
"ho ckey schtick".” I always love this claim by the anti-science
crowd. It is so mesmerizing to watch the way they start frothing at the mouth
about the hockey stick and then insist that it has been ‘debunked.’ Nothing can
be further from the truth. Not only has the hockey stick been found to be
correct, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_stick_controversy" target="_blank">it has been shown so by dozens of independent studies.</a> There is no
credible way anyone can refute this science. When someone, such as anti-Bod,
claims it isn’t valid, they have firmly demonstrated that they simply are not
interested in the science. They have formed a preconceived conclusion based on
some rationale that is important to them and they irrationally reject anything
that challenges it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, this is really the conclusion we have already seen with
anti-Bod. No amount of science, data, or logic will ever persuade him of just
how wrong he is. And, contrary to his claims, this isn’t a your side/my side
issue. We are all in this together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anti-Bod's lack of credibility is established. What isn't established is his motives for spreading this disinformation. You're welcome to go through his comments below and see how consistently
invalid his reasoning is. If not for the seriousness of the situation, it would
be rather comical. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Copied Comments</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
******************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christopher Keating</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Too bad you didn't bother with the science. What the study
showed was the BOTH extremes are unlikely. While it is true their study shows
the worst case scenario is unlikely, it also shows the best case scenario is
equally unlikely. There is nothing in this study to indicate that global
warming and climate change are not real and as big a problem was believed. And,
counter to your claims, the climate has been changing right down the middle of
the model forecasts. <br />
<a href="https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skepticalscience.com%2Fclimate-models.htm%3A1-kB9kGfEBtOw6U6AGaZ4pcJRNA&cuid=417621" title="https://www.skepticalscience.com/climate-models.htm">https://www.skepticalscienc...</a><br />
Why aren't you interested in the facts? How does it hurt you to admit that
hundreds of thousands of climate scientists know what they're doing?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bodhisattva </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your chosen source, one of the few that your side tends to
always reference, is easily debunked. Their graph of sea level change does not
include the claimed "acceleration" of sea level increase your side
always claims is ongoing - thus already proving itself to be bogus, according,
at least, to everything else your side claims.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your propaganda source shows sea level measurements falling
on the top end of predictions - and yet your side keeps claiming that the top
end predictions are basically that most of today's coastal cities should already
be partially under wat er and soon will be completely inundated. I happened
upon one such "expert" while hiking in Torrey Pines, he claimed to be
a top expert in that field, who said the effects on San Diego were already somewhat catastrophic,
based on the increases that had happened in the last decade alone. Little did
he know I had just been reviewing historic photos from the 1800s that showed no
sign of any detectable sea level increases. Sea level trends have been
exaggerated by your side.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your side claims it got the data for the chart from THE
COPENHAGEN DIAGNOSIS and further claims they got it from the 3rd IPCC report.
The page they give for the former already proves them wrong - it claims the
data came from the 4th IPCC report, not the 3rd.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The graph from the IPCC report cited by THEIR SOURCE is this
one, not the one they present, and it looks NOTHING like what they presented:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/graphics/images/Assessment%20Reports/AR4%20-%20Synthesis%20Report/SPM/spm01.jpg" target="_blank" title="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/graphics/images/Assessment%20Reports/AR4%20-%20Synthesis%20Report/SPM/spm01.jpg">https://www.ipcc.ch/report/...</a></div>
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Nor does the graph from the 5th report, found here:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/unfccc/cop19/3_gregory13sbsta.pdf" target="_blank" title="https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/unfccc/cop19/3_gregory13sbsta.pdf">https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/unf...</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nor does the graph produced by your source match the graph
in the third report, the one they claim it was from:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/vol4/english/pdf/wg1spm.pdf" target="_blank" title="https://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/vol4/english/pdf/wg1spm.pdf">https://www.ipcc.ch/ipccrep...</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plus it does not show, on the same scale as any of those
graphs, the actual sea level change observed. It was carefully
"fitted" to that graph, adjusted to make one come to a false
conclusion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now let's deal with their wild predictions of future
warming. Note how the actual observed warming compares to predicted warming...
much less than predictions:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://ipcc.ch/report/graphics/images/Assessment%20Reports/AR5%20-%20Synthesis%20Report/SPM/SPM.05-01.png" target="_blank" title="https://ipcc.ch/report/graphics/images/Assessment%20Reports/AR5%20-%20Synthesis%20Report/SPM/SPM.05-01.png">https://ipcc.ch/report/grap...</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note both that the predicted sharp upswing (basis of the
debunked "ho ckey schtick") of surface temperatures and the predicted
acceleration of sea level increase has not occurred, and in fact as the SCIENCE
presented to you earlier shows, the rate of increase actually DECREASED, both
with regards to global surface temperature and sea level.<br />
All this while atmospheric CO2 levels continued a STEADY increase and while
human CO2 levels made a dramatic INCREASE, which, were it driving atmospheric
levels, you would think an increase there would have been detected as well, but
it wasn't.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
YOUR CLAIM:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the climate has been changing right down the middle of the
model forecasts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now THIS should put your concerns about catastrophic sea
level increases to rest - they already happened. The rise we're seeing to day
is NOTHING compared to what nature (that is nature - other than humans, who are
part of nature) is capable of producing, contrary to alarmist claims:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.fws.gov/slamm/Changes%20in%20Sea%20Level_expanded%20version_template.pdf" target="_blank" title="https://www.fws.gov/slamm/Changes%20in%20Sea%20Level_expanded%20version_template.pdf">https://www.fws.gov/slamm/C...</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this graph (scroll down a bit) shows how not only has
the IPCC dropped the "hockey schtick", it's still concerned about
things that won't even reach known past levels and didn't cause catastrophe
then, either. In fact, the truth, as I've presented in other posts here, is
that GLOBAL WARMING IS GOOD - it is global warming we might be right to fear -
and that is exactly what REAL scientists, using REAL data, not predictions
based on computer programs deliberately written to over-emphasize the impact of
CO2, say is likely coming now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bodhisattva </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I DID "bother with the science". I am well
aware they contradicted WHAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN OBSERVED - that being that
observation has proven even the low end prediction of climate alarmists was too
high. You can see this too - it's easy - if you just bother to put WHAT
ACTUALLY HAPPENED on any graph of what the IPCC predicted in their "best
case" scenario.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am glad you pointed out that the study, by climate
alarmists, admitted the worst case scenario was way overblown and impossible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am also glad you pointed out, in fact I was hoping you
WOULD point out, the study claims the best case scenario is too low - for as I
said, we have OBSERVATION to PROVE that the best case scenario was actually too
high, so you have once again shown how climate alarmists are DESPERATE to save
their tattered reputations by admitting how wrong they were on the high end,
but still attempting to use fear and doubt to get people to ignore WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is nothing in this study to indicate that global
warming and climate change are not real </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There you go with that tired old straw man argument again.
You do realize you and your ilk are the only ones who keep using those words in
that order to claim that "global warming and climate change are not
real". You really should stop doing that - you only make fools of
yourselves each time you say such absurd things. And when you lie and attribute
those claims to people like me who never said them you only prove how you can't
be trusted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the climate has been changing right down the middle of the
model forecasts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was wondering when you would get around to proving your
primary source is one of the biggest - and arguably one of the worst, since
it's claims are so easily debunked - sites full of lies, propaganda and talking
points provided so drones like you can go out and regurgitate them on command,
making fools of yourself in the process.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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**************</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christopher Keating</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again, you simply deny what you don't like. The facts
have been well documented. I'm saying that not for your edification, but in
case anyone ever reads your drivel. Even ExxonMobil admits it paid for years
for organizations to undermine the science.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bodhisattva </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again, you simply deny what you don't like.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ONCE AGAIN, YOU ACCUSE HIM OF WHAT YOU YOURSELF DO!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The facts have been well documented, by even the IPCC, who's
reports prove, without any possible room to deny it, that the gloom and doom,
worst case scenarios, were vastly overblown for decades. The facts prove that
while they predicted a worst case outcome based on human activities during the
time period covered, the actual outcome was less concerning than their best
case scenarios - the ones where we basically abandoned all fossil fuels
immediately. Instead our behaviors followed their worst case scenario, pretty
much, while the outcome came in UNDER their best case scenario.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You mention Exxon Mobil - who have jumped whole hog onto the
climate change alarmism bandwagon and have probably spent more promoting that
then they admittedly spent promoting the real science that proves it's not
true. This money was extorted from them by people who believe as you do, as
tribute and a bribe to prevent an all out war against them, which is being
launched anyway, it turns out, as your side never could be trusted to be
honest, to tell the truth, to keep their word.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exxon Mobil paid for REAL science to counter the lies,
talking points, slander and propaganda your side produces in it's attempts to
create fear and panic in people in order to prevent them from thinking things
through, considering REALITY, in an attempt to make them believe your doomsday
scenarios are actually possible, when observations prove they are not.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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*******************</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christopher Keating</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Russell! You're so funny. Let's - once again! - set the
record straight. I provided documents, including court records, SEC filings,
leaked documents and statements to shareholders and public releases that all
show the complicity of the fossil fuel industry in funding the anti-science
group such are Heartland Institute, NIPCC, and ICSC. You're tactic is always to
say, since you don't like them, they therefore don't exist. I have to say, I
really do laugh out loud every time you show up. "Ah, Russel Cook is here.
I'm about to read something stupid."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bodhisattva </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
anti-science group such are Heartland Institute, NIPCC, and
ICSC</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Normally one would use the plural "groups" in that
phrase, but I digress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The groups you mention are actually PRO-SCIENCE and that's
why you hate them so much - since by using REAL SCIENCE, not FAKE NONSENSE that
you and yours continually spew, they prove you wrong, easily.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Computer models, properly programmed and used, can be
useful. However, in as complex a system as that which ultimately results in our
weather and climate, computers don't exist that can produce accurate
predictions over any but the very shortest time scales and certainly they
cannot accurately predict what might happen in 50 or 100 years as you and yours
claim you can do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Climate models have consistently failed - as is documented
in the IPCC reports, which provide a record of THE FACT that humans have tended
to follow the IPCC "worst case" scenario, but surface warming ha s
tended to fall BELOW the "best case" scenario they published. This is
a documented fact - deny it all you want, you'll only prove who the real
deniers are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is no secret that many people and groups have fought,
often by providing funding, against the FAKE SCIENCE you climate alarmists spew
constantly. Fortunately, around half of the people in the U.S. are not as
gullible as you. They know that those who are constantly regurgitating
Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Change Alarmism are liars, uneducated,
anti-science and people who think science is driven forward by fear, loathing,
ad hominem, straw men and false predictions. They desperately try to make us
ignore WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE REAL WORLD by attempting to scare us
to death about what MIGHT happe n in the future, except experience already
proves it won't.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is true that every time Russel Cook appears something
stupid is posted for us to read - by you and your ilk, in your replies to him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm not sure if it was you, in another post, or someone else
(or if you are the same person or group making posts here under several accounts,
as your side has been prove to do because you think consensus makes a lie true,
apparently) who claimed that all those documents you claim you presented
(Where? I don't see them.) were obtained through legal means, through FOIA r
equests and such, when you admit here no, they actually weren't.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
YOUR tactic is to say, "Since we don't like them,
they're evil and we don't have to care or listen to what they say."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is about as anti-science as you can get - because true
science welcomes all views, tests them rigorously and in a completely unbiased
fashion and, with respect to Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Change
Alarmism, has proven beyond doubt or denial that while both global warming and
global cooling, collectively known with other things as 'climate change' are
real, they are not driven by humans and are not any more or less
"catastrophic" due to anything humans are doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your side does all it can to avoid, ignore and shut down
true science and any debate because it knows it will lose every time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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********************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christopher Keating</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep in mind 'global warming' means the entire planet. 93%
of all warming goes into the oceans. As we have seen these past 20 years, the
oceans are warming at an alarming rate. Additionally, the Arctic
is warming at a rate faster than any other region of the planet. Don't cherry
pick the data, Atmospheric warming is only part of the story. BTW, 9 of the 10
hottest years ever measured have been in the last three 15 years. The hottest
five have all occurred since 2010. Your statement amounts to the claim that
since scientists disagree on the exact rate of warming over a short period,
climate change is therefore, somehow, not real.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="authorpublisher-anchor-color"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bodhisattva</b></span><span class="post-byline"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>9 of the 10 hottest years</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
And you do know that by
"hottest" they mean so slightly hotter than the previous record that
the measurements making that claim were well within the admitted level of
uncertainty - and when you take out the "adjustments" they've made to
make the past colder and the present warmer, those records all vanish, right?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>93% of all warming goes into the
oceans</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
And the oceans, despite attempts to
claim otherwise, show no appreciable long term warming - but you do seem to
know that, contrary to "global warming dogma", it is the oceans that
drive the atmospheric trends, not the other way around, so carbon dioxide is
not the issue claimed as a result.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>the Arctic
is warming at a rate faster than any other region of the planet.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Yes, while the Antarctic set new
records, year over year, for "coldest ever", but, curiously, none of
them were ever made the "official" record. The Arctic
is indeed warming faster - or at least it was, causing the difference between
it and lower latitudes, which is what drives the frequency and intensity of
storms, to be significantly reduced. Most of the "global warming"
that occurred was either high latitude or resulted in earlier springs, later
winters, less destructive nighttime temperatures (less killer frosts and
freezes) and also has resulted in a verified "greening" of the Earth
as hardiness zones crept northward and more of the Earth's surface became more
hospitable to life, including the deserts, which have greened significantly,
despite claims by climate alarmists the opposite would happen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Your statement amounts to the
claim that since scientists disagree on the exact rate of warming over a short
period, climate change is therefore, somehow, not real.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Liar. You are the only one claiming
climate change is "not real". Climate change is indeed real and,
according to solar scientists, backed up by actual science and observation, not
computer models that haven't been right about temperature trends in going on 40
years, we may well be looking at an extended period of global cooling and, in a
worst case scenario, a little ice age. These are facts, REAL science, as I said
based on REAL physics, REAL observations, the basis of true science, not flawed
computer models that were deliberately written to overemphasize the effect of
CO2, which now indicates an extended period of global cooling is likely.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Also, you can deny this all you
want, but both the IPCC and usually alarmist climate scientists have admitted
to a significant slowdown in surface warming. I mention and emphasize surface
warming because, for the last almost 40 years, that is what climate alarmists
claimed was going to increase catastrophically - and while they're admitting
now it won't be catastrophic, they're still whipping that now confirmed
deceased equine.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Here are just some of the more
recent findings, starting with the confirmed FACT that surface warming, claimed
to be on a path to catastrophic increases, actually decreased as the
atmospheric carbon dioxide increased, which of course you now try to excuse by
waving your hands and screaming "but... but... but... THE OCEANS!":</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>... the rate of warming over the
past 15 years (1998–2012; 0.05 [–0.05 to 0.15] °C per decade) ... is smaller
than the rate calculated since 1951 (1951–2012; 0.12 [0.08 to 0.14] °C per
decade).</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
SOURCE: IPCC AR5</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>It has been claimed that the
early-2000s global warming slowdown characterized by a reduced rate of global
surface warming, has been overstated, lacks sound scientific basis, or is
unsupported by observations. The evidence presented here contradicts these
claims. A large body of scientific evidence — amassed before and since the
Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
indicates that the surface warming slowdown, also sometimes referred to in the
literature as the hiatus, was due to the combined effects of internal decadal variability
and natural forcing.</b><br />
SOURCE:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Making sense of the early-2000s
warming slowdown (Abstract as originally published.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
John C. Fyfe,Gerald A. Meehl,
Matthew H. England, Michael E. Mann, Benjamin D. Santer, Gregory M. Flato, Ed
Hawkins, Nathan P. Gillett, Shang-Ping Xie, Yu Kosaka & Neil C. Swart</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Nature Climate Change 6, 224–228
(2016) doi:10.1038/nclimate2938</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
And while you and yours predicted
the deserts would get worse, they're actually getting better, as is the whole
globe in general, and this has been known since as early as 1980 despite the
continued gloom and doom "the end is near, repent" talk from your
ilk.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Impact of CO2 fertilization on
maximum foliage cover across the globe's warm, arid environments Authors
Randall J. Donohue<br />
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.phys.org%2Fnews%2F2013-07-greening-co2.html%3AiGZ7-gDhIsTpIAAMdEQYyFB6yvg&cuid=417621" title="http://m.phys.org/news/2013-07-greening-co2.html">http://m.phys.org/news/2013...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sci-news.com%2Fothersciences%2Fgeophysics%2Fscience-carbon-dioxide-desert-greening-01209.html%3A38xAWQ3Ek_ID03a8uewOrJhLfuA&cuid=417621" title="http://www.sci-news.com/othersciences/geophysics/science-carbon-dioxide-desert-greening-01209.html">http://www.sci-news.com/oth...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fprincipia-scientific.org%2Ftag%2Fus-geophysical-research-letters%2F%3AGcnyxHc7KBag-3VxXBQaJgVUpsM&cuid=417621" title="http://principia-scientific.org/tag/us-geophysical-research-letters/">http://principia-scientific...</a><br />
A new study, based on satellite observations, CSIRO, in collaboration with the
Australian National University (ANU) reported that the rising levels of carbon
dioxide have caused deserts to start greening and increased foliage cover by 11
percent from 1982-2010 across parts of the arid areas studied in Australia,
North America, the Middle East and Africa.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcosy.com%2FScience%2FAGWpptDesertGreening.jpg%3A2AcLeXNHOhZ760C9z3kLOoT4YOU&cuid=417621" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"><img alt="Thumbnail" border="0" height="311" src="file:///C:\Users\Chris\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg" width="415" /></span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fearthobservatory.nasa.gov%2FIOTD%2Fview.php%3Fid%3D1804%3A827D7zANPGAPWhSNkoiqFxzlV1o&cuid=417621" title="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=1804">http://earthobservatory.nas...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fepod.usra.edu%2Fblog%2F2001%2F09%2Fgreening-in-the-northern-hemisphere.html%3ABf06aczcTqglis4hu6ehGIF_D-k&cuid=417621" title="http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2001/09/greening-in-the-northern-hemisphere.html">http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fcarbon-dioxide-greening-deserts-140045897.html%3AaOQgjwZgMcRgmLeNKIFQbech_CY&cuid=417621" title="https://www.yahoo.com/news/carbon-dioxide-greening-deserts-140045897.html">https://www.yahoo.com/news/...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibtimes.com%2Fdeserts-are-greening-carbon-dioxide-fertilization-satellite-imagery-saw-arid-regions-bloom-photo%3AEiBz189bvMSJ7LTpAsfBdKC_KYg&cuid=417621" title="http://www.ibtimes.com/deserts-are-greening-carbon-dioxide-fertilization-satellite-imagery-saw-arid-regions-bloom-photo">http://www.ibtimes.com/dese...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
You and yours got your knickers in
a twist over claims that, since the Larsen ice shelf was collapsing, all the
ice and snow from Antarctica was about to slide into the sea and cause
catastrophic sea level changes, drowning many now habitable areas. Of course
none of you bothered to check where the Larsen Ice Shelves (there are 4 of
them, actually, called A, B, C and D) actually are - on the Antarctic
Peninsula. Had you done so you would have found they are holding
nothing back - and had you been paying attention, they collapse every year,
then re-grow, in fact the Antarctic was setting new records for maximum ice
extent at the same time as the Arctic set, some years back, one record for
minimum ice extent DURING SUMMER there. Anyway, the alarm is continually raised
about how Antarctica is melting, but the truth
is the opposite, as usual:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Ffeature%2Fgoddard%2Fnasa-study-mass-gains-of-antarctic-ice-sheet-greater-than-losses%3A0zUcT2-AGExGTs44eqg0Pbtj0ro&cuid=417621" title="http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/nasa-study-mass-gains-of-antarctic-ice-sheet-greater-than-losses">http://www.nasa.gov/feature...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Antarctic ice and snow total are
not only experiencing a massive positive trend, they're making up for all the
loss of landed snow and ice globally.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
And the claimed
"acceleration" in sea level rise? Another lie.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC4978990%2F%3AiXLNpolgm8xqRAmwA43e3oleVns&cuid=417621" title="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4978990/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
But it's coming! They promise. Just
wait, it will eventually show up!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Now you, personally, can go on
barking at the moon, claiming we're doomed and the end is near if we don't
repent, but more and more REAL SCIENTISTS are starting to admit what
observations already tell us:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afp.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F2265%2Fworst-case-global-warming-scenarios-not-credible-study-doc-wx0de1%3A7ma8Orj-wx3KWKuqXqiBlQ7pgOw&cuid=417621" title="https://www.afp.com/en/news/2265/worst-case-global-warming-scenarios-not-credible-study-doc-wx0de1">https://www.afp.com/en/news...</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The gloom and doom scenarios you go
on about never were anything close to credible and were never... are never...
going to happen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
This was evident from a review of
all 5 IPCC reports - each time one was issued the gloom and doom parts had to
be modified because, despite humans following the worst case scenario with
regards to CO2 output, the actual observed trends in "climate change"
were below the best case predictions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bodhisattva </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let's see if you're even a real person. Look near the end of
this post for something you should post back to me if you're actually a person.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You obviously are convinced you're smarter than all of the
climate scientists in the world combined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This from a guy who admitted that not all climate scientists
agree with him... who is now back to making an " appeal to
authority/political (consensus) argument" since he has no scientific
arguments.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did not claim I was smarter than anyone - you're using a
straw man of your own construction there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I provided cutting edge science, actual observations, the
last IPCC report - and your side claims they are the last word in climate
science - and now you deny what they say? What's up with that?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The laws of physics don't mind that you reject them. They'll
keep right on doing what they do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, and what they've done, as I pointed out - and I know
you didn't read, since you replied almost immediately once I posted - what YOUR
side has done, is admitted that:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- The changes we have experienced recently are not due to
CO2, rather it's just "due to the combined effects of internal decadal
variability and natural forcing" - that is straight from a peer-reviewed
work by some of the recognized (by your side) experts in clima te science. A
direct quote of their original abstract.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Sea level increase has not accelerated - and in fact if
you have been watching the actual science, it decreased for a year as
atmospheric CO2 increased.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- As atmospheric CO2 increased, surface temperature actually
decreased, proving a primary claim of your alarmist beliefs wrong - and of
course now in a pitiful attempt to cover up the failure of your primary past
claims, you claim the oceans are warming catastrophically, having seen your
past claims the surface was warming catastrophically proven false. O nly once
again the only evidence the oceans are showing any significant long term
warming is manufactured or just theorized without any real evidence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- The Antarctic is gaining ice and snow, not losing it as
your side claims.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- The Arctic did experience
an all time low in ice cover one summer - due not to CO2 but to wind and ocean
currents that drove the ice loss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Polar bears, claimed to be headed for extinction due to
"global warming", are actually showing mostly population rebounds due
to restrictions on hunting, which was the real reason their populations
collapsed. The only place their populations aren't recovering are those places
where there are no such hunting restrictions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In your reply, post "I am not a bot, silly human"
to prove it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You falsely claim I think I'm so smart, smarter than
scientists - I quoted scientists and their science. You gave me opinions, I
responded with science. Who thinks h e's smarter than science and scientists?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That would be you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Tales From The Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12155749992445168195noreply@blogger.com0