2011-01-13
2010-12-27
Climate Scientist Responds to Monckton
If you want a deeper understanding of the science, or just want to watch Lord Monckton get nailed, check this out.
Global Warming and the Sun
Cribbed from Slashdot:
"While we are well along into solar cycle 24, there remains a significant gap between the predictions of where we should be, and where we actually are in the progression of the cycle. Recently, the sun went spotless again, and the solar Ap geomagnetic index, an indicator of the solar magneto, hit zero. It is something you really don't expect to see this far along into the cycle. In other solar news, scientists monitoring the SORCE solar satellite have found that solar ultraviolet emissions have dropped significantly in the past few years. The Solar Irradiance Monitor on the satellite 'suggests that ultraviolet irradiance fell far more than expected between 2004 and 2007 — by ten times as much as the total irradiance did — while irradiance in certain visible and infrared wavelengths surprisingly increased, even as solar activity wound down overall.'"
Oh dear. This continued minimum will continue to hide the CO2-forced temperature increases, further dooming us. Great.
"While we are well along into solar cycle 24, there remains a significant gap between the predictions of where we should be, and where we actually are in the progression of the cycle. Recently, the sun went spotless again, and the solar Ap geomagnetic index, an indicator of the solar magneto, hit zero. It is something you really don't expect to see this far along into the cycle. In other solar news, scientists monitoring the SORCE solar satellite have found that solar ultraviolet emissions have dropped significantly in the past few years. The Solar Irradiance Monitor on the satellite 'suggests that ultraviolet irradiance fell far more than expected between 2004 and 2007 — by ten times as much as the total irradiance did — while irradiance in certain visible and infrared wavelengths surprisingly increased, even as solar activity wound down overall.'"
Oh dear. This continued minimum will continue to hide the CO2-forced temperature increases, further dooming us. Great.
2010-12-19
Sarah Palin Hunting
She doesn't know how to load the gun. She doesn't know how much kick to expect. She can't hit the animal cleanly, ensuring a kill. That's "Real America."
Apparently it's not as easy to kill things when you're not shooting wolves from a helicopter with a shotgun, where the shot-pattern is going to be 15 feet in diameter and leave the animal writhing in agony to a slow death. Go Sarah Palin.
2010-12-12
2010-12-01
Anderson Cooper with the Definitive Birther Beatdown
Ouch. This one stings.
I ended up feeling bad for the poor crazy Birther.
I ended up feeling bad for the poor crazy Birther.
The Confederate Party - Steve King Edition
Rep Steve King is one of the crazies, but this is raising the bar even for him:
Does it even need to be said that his argument is idiotic? He's claiming there are more claimants than there are farmers, but of course the whole point is that USDA discrimination against black farmers caused many of them to lose their farms! And just because the class of affected people are black by definition, doesn't make it slavery reparations. What about all the descendants of slaves who weren't farmers during the 80s and 90s? Wouldn't they have to be included as well to make this slavery reparations?
It's like they don't even try to make honest arguments. It's so monumentally frustrating.
"Figure this out, Madame Speaker: We have a very, very urban Senator, Barack Obama, who has decided he's going to run for president, and what does he do? He introduces legislation to create a whole new Pigford claim."THE PRESIDENT IS BLACK! LIKE, SUPER BLACK. BLACK BLACK BLACK!
"We've got to stand up at some point and say, 'We are not gonna pay slavery reparations in the United States Congress.' That war's been fought. That was over a century ago. That debt was paid for in blood and it was paid for in the blood of a lot of Yankees, especially. And there's no reparations for the blood that paid for the sin of slavery. No one's filing that claim."
Does it even need to be said that his argument is idiotic? He's claiming there are more claimants than there are farmers, but of course the whole point is that USDA discrimination against black farmers caused many of them to lose their farms! And just because the class of affected people are black by definition, doesn't make it slavery reparations. What about all the descendants of slaves who weren't farmers during the 80s and 90s? Wouldn't they have to be included as well to make this slavery reparations?
It's like they don't even try to make honest arguments. It's so monumentally frustrating.
The Confederate Party
The new House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor, is supporting a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow states to overturn federal laws. Here's Cantor:
The Repeal Amendment would provide a check on the ever-expanding federal government, protect against Congressional overreach, and get the government working for the people again, not the other way around. In order to return America to opportunity, responsibility, and success, we must reverse course and the Repeal Amendment is a step in that direction.They are still the Confederate Party. Hell, just call it Nullification already.
2010-11-22
Shimkus Expands on his Theological lack of fear
My God, Rep. Shimkus is an idiot. Local news gave him an extended interview about his theological views, and how they bear on policy. Here's the video:
And here is a breif response to his core points:
"The climate change debate is based on the premise that the earth is going to be destroyed."
IDIOT.
"When the end times come, that'll be at God's hand, it's not going to be based on some faulty premise of carbon monoxide melting all the glaciers and flooding the earth. Of course, that's the genesis story."
IDIOT.
"Even if you believe in evolution, the climate has changed through history and it's going to continue. To think that man can control the world's temperature, I find very arrogant."
IDIOT.
"All we're asking for is the scientific theory to be presented - and it *is* just a theory. A theory is defined as an educated guess, and until they do that, it is not proven."
IDIOT.
I'll leave the explanations of idiocy as an exercise for the reader.
And here is a breif response to his core points:
"The climate change debate is based on the premise that the earth is going to be destroyed."
IDIOT.
"When the end times come, that'll be at God's hand, it's not going to be based on some faulty premise of carbon monoxide melting all the glaciers and flooding the earth. Of course, that's the genesis story."
IDIOT.
"Even if you believe in evolution, the climate has changed through history and it's going to continue. To think that man can control the world's temperature, I find very arrogant."
IDIOT.
"All we're asking for is the scientific theory to be presented - and it *is* just a theory. A theory is defined as an educated guess, and until they do that, it is not proven."
IDIOT.
I'll leave the explanations of idiocy as an exercise for the reader.
2010-11-09
Meet the New Energy Chairman!
This genius is running for the Chairmanship of the Energy Committee:
He believes that man can't hurt our environment since God said that he would never send another flood to destroy the world. And he's going to be making policy that should be based on science.
He believes that man can't hurt our environment since God said that he would never send another flood to destroy the world. And he's going to be making policy that should be based on science.
2010-11-08
Climate Science since 1956
An interesting video showcasing the understanding of Global Warming we've had since 1956.
It's just shocking that people aren't serious about this problem. It's like the Is-Tobacco-Bad-For-You Debate, except in this case the pro-Tobacco scientists are winning.
It's just shocking that people aren't serious about this problem. It's like the Is-Tobacco-Bad-For-You Debate, except in this case the pro-Tobacco scientists are winning.
2010-10-26
Curb Stomping
Holy crap. A Republican in KY literally curb-stomped a woman protester.
Holy Crap.
I'm sure there's examples of Democrats doing the same thing, though, right? Cuz there's anger on both sides... right?
Holy Crap.
I'm sure there's examples of Democrats doing the same thing, though, right? Cuz there's anger on both sides... right?
2010-10-23
8 Things People Shouldn't Know
This is awesome. I'm simply quoting in full:
There are a number things the public "knows" as we head into the election that are just false. If people elect leaders based on false information, the things those leaders do in office will not be what the public expects or needs.
Here are eight of the biggest myths that are out there:
1) President Obama tripled the deficit.
Reality: Bush's last budget had a $1.416 trillion deficit. Obama's first reduced that to $1.29 trillion.
Reality: Bush's last budget had a $1.416 trillion deficit. Obama's first reduced that to $1.29 trillion.
2) President Obama raised taxes, which hurt the economy.
Reality: Obama cut taxes. 40% of the "stimulus" was wasted on tax cuts which only create debt, which is why it was so much less effective than it could have been.
Reality: Obama cut taxes. 40% of the "stimulus" was wasted on tax cuts which only create debt, which is why it was so much less effective than it could have been.
3) President Obama bailed out the banks.
Reality: While many people conflate the "stimulus" with the bank bailouts, the bank bailouts were requested by President Bush and his Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson. (Paulson also wanted the bailouts to be "non-reviewable by any court or any agency.") The bailouts passed and beganbefore the 2008 election of President Obama.
Reality: While many people conflate the "stimulus" with the bank bailouts, the bank bailouts were requested by President Bush and his Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson. (Paulson also wanted the bailouts to be "non-reviewable by any court or any agency.") The bailouts passed and beganbefore the 2008 election of President Obama.
4) The stimulus didn't work.
Reality: The stimulus worked, but was not enough. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus raised employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million jobs.
Reality: The stimulus worked, but was not enough. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus raised employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million jobs.
5) Businesses will hire if they get tax cuts.
Reality: A business hires the right number of employees to meet demand. Having extra cash does not cause a business to hire, but a business that has a demand for what it does will find the money to hire. Businesses want customers, not tax cuts.
Reality: A business hires the right number of employees to meet demand. Having extra cash does not cause a business to hire, but a business that has a demand for what it does will find the money to hire. Businesses want customers, not tax cuts.
6) Health care reform costs $1 trillion.
Reality: The health care reform reduces government deficits by $138 billion.
Reality: The health care reform reduces government deficits by $138 billion.
7) Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, is "going broke," people live longer, fewer workers per retiree, etc.
Reality: Social Security has run a surplus since it began, has a trust fund in the trillions, is completely sound for at least 25 more years and cannot legally borrow so cannot contribute to the deficit (compare that to the military budget!) Life expectancy is only longer because fewer babies die; people who reach 65 live about the same number of years as they used to.
Reality: Social Security has run a surplus since it began, has a trust fund in the trillions, is completely sound for at least 25 more years and cannot legally borrow so cannot contribute to the deficit (compare that to the military budget!) Life expectancy is only longer because fewer babies die; people who reach 65 live about the same number of years as they used to.
8) Government spending takes money out of the economy.
Reality: Government is We, the People and the money it spends is on We, the People. Many people do not know that it is government that builds the roads, airports, ports, courts, schools and other things that are the soil in which business thrives. Many people think that all government spending is on "welfare" and "foreign aid" when that is only a small part of the government's budget.
Reality: Government is We, the People and the money it spends is on We, the People. Many people do not know that it is government that builds the roads, airports, ports, courts, schools and other things that are the soil in which business thrives. Many people think that all government spending is on "welfare" and "foreign aid" when that is only a small part of the government's budget.
This stuff really matters.
If the public votes in a new Congress because a majority of voters think this one tripled the deficit, and as a result the new people follow the policies that actually tripled the deficit, the country could go broke.
If the public votes in a new Congress that rejects the idea of helping to create demand in the economy because they think it didn't work, then the new Congress could do things that cause a depression.
If the public votes in a new Congress because they think the health care reform will increase the deficit when it is actually projected to reduce the deficit, then the new Congress could repeal health care reform and thereby make the deficit worse. And on it goes.
2010-10-21
What Science is Like
Someone has an idea that might be crazy, but might explain things - in this case, a theory of a holographic universe:
"Scientists at Fermilab have decided that it's high time they build a 'holometer' to test the smoothness of space-time. Theoretical physicists like Stephen Hawking have proposed that space-time is not smooth but it's been a lot of math and no actual data. By building two relatively small devices that act as "holographic interferometers" to measure the shaking or vibration in split beams of light traveling through a vacuum. If the team finds the shaking in their measurements and records them, the theory of a holographic universe will have some evidence of non-smoothness in space-time and perhaps a foothold in bringing light to the heavily debated theoretical physics."
That's science. Take your potentially crazy idea, figure out a prediction it makes, and then figure out how to test that prediction. If all of these components are not present, what you're looking at isn't Science.
"Scientists at Fermilab have decided that it's high time they build a 'holometer' to test the smoothness of space-time. Theoretical physicists like Stephen Hawking have proposed that space-time is not smooth but it's been a lot of math and no actual data. By building two relatively small devices that act as "holographic interferometers" to measure the shaking or vibration in split beams of light traveling through a vacuum. If the team finds the shaking in their measurements and records them, the theory of a holographic universe will have some evidence of non-smoothness in space-time and perhaps a foothold in bringing light to the heavily debated theoretical physics."
That's science. Take your potentially crazy idea, figure out a prediction it makes, and then figure out how to test that prediction. If all of these components are not present, what you're looking at isn't Science.
2010-10-03
Good News Poll!
The people trust the Democrats more than Republicans on every issue save Terrorism:
Simply put, in the NEWSWEEK Poll, voters said they trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle pretty much every problem currently facing the country: Afghanistan (by 6 points), health care (by 12), immigration (by 2, though that figure is within the margin of error), Social Security (by 14), unemployment (by 12), financial reform (by 14), energy (by 19), and education (by 19). Voters even prefer Democrats to Republicans on federal spending (by 4 points), taxes (by 5), and the economy (by 10) -- the GOP's core concerns. The only area where Republicans outpoll Democrats is the issue of terrorism, where they lead by a 6-point margin.The first paragraph is awesome. The second paragraph is a sign of our broken political/media system. It takes quite a sustained effort at distortion to make Americans vote for the party they trust less.
Still, voters are split on which party should control Congress after November -- 44 percent went for Republicans, 46 percent for Democrats -- and most experts are predicting sizable Republican gains in both the House and the Senate.
2010-10-01
GOP Blows Up the Deficit
From the GOP's Pledge to America: "We offer a plan to stop out-of-control spending and reduce the size of the government."
You can read their unimpeachable methodology here.
You can read their unimpeachable methodology here.
2010-09-23
GOP's Pledge With America
One more data point in the "GOP isn't even trying with minorities anymore" theme that I documented previously here. Check out this collage of all the photos in the newly released Pledge With America, and see who is missing:
That's right. One black woman out of hundreds of whites. It's Southern Strategy all the way for the GOP.
That's right. One black woman out of hundreds of whites. It's Southern Strategy all the way for the GOP.
2010-09-10
Quran Burning Wackos
From the TN pastor who is going to burn a Quran today, about the FL nutjob backing off:
"That shows how strong his convictions are," Old said, according to The Tennessean. "My event is about establishing who is God and who is not God. I will be burning a Quran, I'm not going to change my mind no matter who calls me."I'm most interested in the "establishing who is God and who is not God" part. Burning the Quran establishes that Allah is not God? So burning a Bible would establish that Yahweh is not God? Really?
2010-09-08
Science Rules
This is one of the most beautiful things I've seen in a while. It's a timelapse simulation of asteroid discoveries between 1980 and 2010. You'll want to change the resolution to one of the HD options to see the full glory.
Imam Rauf Finally Weighs In
In an Op-Ed in the Times:
Maybe it's the time I've spent living in radically different cultures than my own that makes this type of understanding trivial... I don't know. I just can't understand how people can be so incapable of putting themselves in another's shoes.
Lost amid the commotion is the good that has come out of the recent discussion. I want to draw attention, specifically, to the open, law-based and tolerant actions that have taken place, and that are particularly striking for Muslims.Duh?
President Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg both spoke out in support of our project. As I traveled overseas, I saw firsthand how their words and actions made a tremendous impact on the Muslim street and on Muslim leaders. It was striking: a Christian president and a Jewish mayor of New York supporting the rights of Muslims. Their statements sent a powerful message about what America stands for, and will be remembered as a milestone in improving American-Muslim relations.
The wonderful outpouring of support for our right to build this community center from across the social, religious and political spectrum seriously undermines the ability of anti-American radicals to recruit young, impressionable Muslims by falsely claiming that America persecutes Muslims for their faith. These efforts by radicals at distortion endanger our national security and the personal security of Americans worldwide. This is why Americans must not back away from completion of this project. If we do, we cede the discourse and, essentially, our future to radicals on both sides. The paradigm of a clash between the West and the Muslim world will continue, as it has in recent decades at terrible cost. It is a paradigm we must shift.
Maybe it's the time I've spent living in radically different cultures than my own that makes this type of understanding trivial... I don't know. I just can't understand how people can be so incapable of putting themselves in another's shoes.
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