News flash: climate change, and it's OUR FAULT!!!

[Boots]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/27/world/climate-change-5-things/

"Climate scientists are 95% confident -- that is to say, surer than ever -- that humans are responsible for at least 'half of the observed increase in global average surface temperatures since the 1950s.'"

OK, maybe not a news flash.  But the UN climate change report is out, and it's only a surprise to the folks who listen to the radical right (whose websites reported about a month ago on a "leaked UN report," due out today, that stated climate change really isn't that bad, and really isn't demonstrably human-caused/influenced)

[wright]

And no surprise either that the denialists are already spinning the IPCC report to fit their views as fast as they can:http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/09/26/climate_change_denial_james_delingpole_tells_it_like_it_isn_t.html

It's akin to denying the facts and evidence for evolution, in that so many of the objections raised by those like James Delingpole are not surprises or serious problems for climate specialists working in this field. It's like how the creationists keep shouting "Cambrian Explosion, Irreducible Complexity, Abiogenesis and Evolution are the same!!" no matter how many times they're corrected.

[Nick]

Public was more than 95% positive they wanted background checks and that did not happen.  The right will fight for that 5% window with their last coal breathing breath.  Many civilizations disappeared because they destroyed their environment.  Now we have advanced far enough to be doing it to the entire planet. 

[shnozzola]

   The great thing about the truth is, it doesn't matter which side you are on, and how much you deny what is in front of your face - it is the truth - and searching for it, not being afraid of it, is extremely comfortable.

   So Rush will be leaving his Florida beach house and moving to Kansas, just because he wants to.  Anti-science conservative naysayers will be investing in solar power, wind power, natural gas, weather prediction technologies, businesses that elevate homes, and disaster related organizations, while smugly assuring the populace that god controls the climate.

[hickdive]

   The great thing about the truth is, it doesn't matter which side you are on, and how much you deny what is in front of your face - it is the truth - and searching for it, not being afraid of it, is extremely comfortable.

   So Rush will be leaving his Florida beach house and moving to Kansas, just because he wants to.  Anti-science conservative naysayers will be investing in solar power, wind power, natural gas, weather prediction technologies, businesses that elevate homes, and disaster related organizations, while smugly assuring the populace that god controls the climate.

But god DOES control the environment because he wants those investors to be RICH!

[jgl53]

Well, nothing is going to induce any country to employ effective methods of reducing carbon emissions.  Our only hope is that science will develop effective methods of carbon capture.  That could happen and then we all might not die.  That would be nice.

[Nam]

I guess my smoking isn't helping any. I should be flogged.

-Nam

[shnozzola]

No wonder you're smoking - you're on fire.   

[Nam]

No wonder you're smoking - you're on fire.   

Oh yeah...that is a problem yet no one puts me out and therefore they contribute to the overall problem. Shame on them...you...shame on you. Go stand in the corner!

-Nam

[Boots]

Oh yeah...that is a problem yet no one puts me out and therefore they contribute to the overall problem. Shame on them...you...shame on you. Go stand in the corner!

-Nam

Oh, *I'll* put you out.  Com'ere, Porcupine!!

[Nam]

Porcupine. I'M A BEAVER, NAMDAMNIT!!!



-Nam

[Jag]

Wait, I want to back up to that flogging thing...

[Nam]

Wait, I want to back up to that flogging thing...

Hey, how you doin'?



-Nam

[Irish]

So Rush will be leaving his Florida beach house and moving to Kansas, just because he wants to.

Ha! That's a good one.  Ask folks around here about rising ocean levels and the response will be, "what ocean?"

 

[nogodsforme]

The only people who deny climate change are ignorant US folks and the people who are paid to lie to us. I spoke to a Russian student today and he said that his folks back home are very worried. He said the bears in Russia don't know when to hibernate anymore so their reproductive cycle is disrupted.

I heard a science report that there have been five near-total extinctions on the earth, all due to catastrophic changes in the climate produced by changing composition of the greenhouse gases.  The previous ones were all natural disasters-- meteors, volcanoes, etc. The ocean warms and stuff starts to die out. This will be the first time that earth's inhabitants--human beings-- have brought it on ourselves. The report said only small, quickly adapting species can survive the extinction events, ie not large creatures like dinosaurs. Or people. 

Naked mole rats, bacteria and cockroaches will inherit the earth. Thanks, Rush. Maybe the next evolution go-round will leave out republicans. 

[Jag]

Wait, I want to back up to that flogging thing...

Hey, how you doin'?



-Nam

Was I supposed to read that in Joey Tribbiani's voice? 

[Traveler]

Hey, how you doin'?



-Nam

Was I supposed to read that in Joey Tribbiani's voice? 

That's how I heard it.  Kudos for remembering the character's name ... I couldn't dredge it up.

[jaimehlers]

I'm reading an interesting book on how you can tell how climate changes over time through the science of geology.  I'm only partway in, but one of the most interesting things that I've found so far is that it's likely that without human-caused warming, we'd be in the midst of a full-blown ice age.  The main point is that climate will change regardless of what humans do - but our actions definitely influence it.

[Nam]

Wait, I want to back up to that flogging thing...

Hey, how you doin'?



-Nam

Was I supposed to read that in Joey Tribbiani's voice? 

I say it just like him.



-Nam

[Jag]

Nam, I gotta tell you, one of my favorite things about you (yes, there are several!) is how often you surprise me.

[Nam]

Nam, I gotta tell you, one of my favorite things about you (yes, there are several!) is how often you surprise me.

What? That I like Friends? I don't get it.

-Nam

[Jag]

Honestly unsure if I can explain it.....

You're more complex than (I think) most people give you credit for, and I know you are very intelligent. Most of your posts are serious, and you are often harsh in your approach - and by the end I usually agree with the point you are making no matter my opinion on your style. You make me think harder, or work harder at thinking about what you are saying, and I like that process, a lot. It's good for me.

Then you post something funny and I'm reminded again that people are way more complex than we can ever know. I mostly like you (although you do intimidate me a bit on certain matters) and when you make me laugh out loud, it's ... refreshing. I like it, at least in part because it usually catches me off guard.

I guess I'm trying to say that while I get why some people find you ... abrasive, I don't see it quite that way anymore. You haven't changed, but the way I "see" you has. I hope this sounds like a compliment, because it is - you are good for my critical thinking skills, and when you make me laugh as well, that's a bonus.

Edited to add: I'm not even sure that it matters to you one way or the other if I like you or not. It matters to me though.

[screwtape]

someone has a crush on Nam...
I'm not going to mention any names, but her name starts with a J and rhymes with "gag".
Will this be the third wwgha hook-up?

[Jag]

^^^Whatever you do, don't tell my boyfriend. He has no sense of humor about stuff like this.

No, I see why it sounds that way, but Nam really does intimidate me. Intimidation is not conducive to crushes, but there's a definite sense of affection, yes. Sort of like the sense of affection I feel for big cats that could just as soon swipe my head off as not. I like them, and I like watching them, but in general the less attention they are paying to me, the safer I feel. Nam is sort of like a very bad tempered lion to me - fun to watch, but I really don't want to be the target of his temper.

But there's no arguing that he makes me think harder than I would if his approach were different. And when he's being the friendlier Nam, I remember that I do actually like him, even though he makes me nervous, in an internet kind of way.

[Nam]

^^^Whatever you do, don't tell my boyfriend. He has no sense of humor about stuff like this.

No, I see why it sounds that way, but Nam really does intimidate me. Intimidation is not conducive to crushes, but there's a definite sense of affection, yes. Sort of like the sense of affection I feel for big cats that could just as soon swipe my head off as not. I like them, and I like watching them, but in general the less attention they are paying to me, the safer I feel. Nam is sort of like a very bad tempered lion to me - fun to watch, but I really don't want to be the target of his temper.

But there's no arguing that he makes me think harder than I would if his approach were different. And when he's being the friendlier Nam, I remember that I do actually like him, even though he makes me nervous, in an internet kind of way.

Based on this, you probably couldn't handle me in person.

-Nam

[Jag]

Wow, now I'm laughing at myself! Clarifying "nervous, in an internet sort of way" to avoid any confusion.

I mean: saying something that made sense to me, until Nam notices, and then tells me in no uncertain terms that I'm being an idiot, then proves it - which is then preserved forever on the internet, and I do not like having lingering proof of my stupidity around for just anyone to find.

[Nam]

Wow, now I'm laughing at myself! Clarifying "nervous, in an internet sort of way" to avoid any confusion.

I mean: saying something that made sense to me, until Nam notices, and then tells me in no uncertain terms that I'm being an idiot, then proves it - which is then preserved forever on the internet, and I do not like having lingering proof of my stupidity around for just anyone to find.

Stop clarifying yourself, you sound like a bubbling idiot.

-Nam

[Jag]

Based on this, you probably couldn't handle me in person.

-Nam

I wonder.

I'm actually not going any further with this - I just made an observation about your insights, followed by admitting that I don't want to be on the receiving end of your temper - it occurs to me now that I don't want to read your analysis of me on a public website either  .

Will someone distract Nam please? Say something stupid! Anyone? Please?

[screwtape]

^^^Whatever you do, don't tell my boyfriend. He has no sense of humor about stuff like this.

No Prob.  Just send me his email address so I can not tell him right away.