Comments PurpleOzone has made

I don't know about upstate NY, but the abandonment of farms in New Hampshire in the 20s and 30s was not driven by reforestation, but by economic forces, mostly competition from the midWest and West, the shortage of farm labor, the difficulty of mechanization of the hilly, stony farms.

All I know is what I was told by farmers, my grandfather and greatgrandfather.

The obvious advantage of organic is TASTE! More flavor! 

Compare an organic carrot with a usual. Get fresh chicken or organic eggs. Or try grass-fed beef. 

Although I sometimes despair that the current generation likes flavor. They prefer cardboard crackers to real food. Eat misnamed Delicious apples, the mealiest on the market. Don't like dark meat chicken, prefer frozen and refrozen chicken breast. Had been brainwashed into eating Idaho potatoes instead of the uglier Maine potatoes.

Facts don't change people's minds as much as you think. Odd, isn't it?

Better to write a letter to the editor. That has some hope of helping another person decide. 

I had a phone call checking my latest letter to the editor of my local newspaper in response to a dreadful article by Deroy Murdock based on Morono's (sic and sicker) dreck. And they published a letter today saying that an "EPA report" determined the globe is cooling. Sigh.

What's Cracked:

Our luxurious life style has been financed with savings from people elsewhere in the world who lived less well.
In the last few years, we sold them bonds based on phony housing values. They bought them because we are so reliable -- only we weren't.
Too many Americans used their homes as ATM machines. Kept the consumer economy going off the rising equity of their house.
I kept wondering how it could keep going and what would happen when it cracks.
I still don't know exactly. I never dreamed that Europe had worse excessed than us. I heard the Chinese Minister Of Finance, or some such title, on the radio say: "We know the Americans will inflate the money supply, but it's a precarious world,and you are still the safest place to invest our money, so we will continue to fund your deficit." (Almost a direct quote.)
I do know that at the end of this recession, or depression, the economy will not recover back to what it was, unlike the other recessions since WWII. What the outcome, I don't think I'm going to like it.On A one-time cheerleader for hyper-consumerism lays down his pom-pom posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago 16 Responses

Science Says!

I emailed complaints to the NYT on this article. Put in polite, objective language:
WTF is NYT doing printing an attack on scientists on the science page??
Pielke blasts Scientific American articles for 11 articles titled "Science Says". According to his thinking scientists should not determine what science is or who is a legitimate practicioner of it.. Unlike any other profession or trade, say plumbing.
This is one more example of the right wing campaign to discredit science in general because it gets in the way of certain businesses or religious ideas. And they just don't like something they don't understand.On Does the New York Times also employ several know/do-nothing fact checkers? posted 9 months, 1 week ago 11 Responses

Oh, SHOOT!

What a bad time for a launch to fail.

Personal note: my family has northern forest land -- I was hoping it'll be found to be a useful carbon sink, although there's some scientific skepticism on that.

Obama's stimulus bill includes $200 million for NASA climate research to be spent on "a priority basis".  Bush had cut back the NASA climate program by 1/3 (while claiming 'more research' was needed to prove global warming).On NASA scheduled to launch carbon observatory early Tuesday posted 9 months, 1 week ago 12 Responses

1970 cooling

When you say 'the message' -- whose message???

I was 'there' too and the media definitely trumpeted the idea of 'global cooling'. I remember a sentence citing the 'unusual' warm weather 1955-1970 with the words like 'the best weather the world has known may now be over'.
I was also in the halls of science: global warming due to fossil fuels was first explained to me after the temperature of Venus was found by Mariner to be hotter than your oven. From then on, I continued to hear scientific concerns about AGW.

It is a good question why the media trumpeted cooling in spite of then scientific consensus then on AGW (now more firmly established, but not changed in direction). Maybe because the bizarre sells magazines?
On Conservative columnist lies to millions of people, again, ho hum posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 36 Responses

Not that all that spending was by

saving energy. My point is, that money saved on energy gets spent on discretional stuff is fun or necessities.
We did save a significant amount on heating and were physically more comfortable without the drafts.
We didn't put the money saved into a piggy bank to collect dust. It did go to jobs, and probably most of the jobs were healthier and more fun than mining coal.
On The economy needs to be green to be 'fixed' posted 10 months ago 9 Responses

Agree

The Chinese have just imposed the death penalty for a couple of people responsible for their second milk scandal. Not an overreaction for killing babies to skim a few bucks.

This peanut problem particularly affected the institutionally fed elderly and children. I'm hopeful a case for criminal neglect may be made.On More on the FDA's bumbling role in the peanut-butter salmonella outbreak posted 10 months ago 3 Responses

Why

It's no surprise. People don't want to believe it because it's scary than a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and they're afraid something will be taken away from them. I am horrified and terrified about global warming, I've made 'lifestyle improvement' changes (reuseable and easier to use cotton bags for groceries, light bulbs that don't need to be changed so often and save on the electric bill) but I am unable -- unwilling -- to reduce driving mileage.
   A cottage industry is happy to feed the emotional factors by sowing doubt about the science. A bunch of public relations thugs dress up as scientists and pontificate, spreading lies and propaganda. The major media continues to feed these trolls -- including the New York Times with its Tierney log and CNN Lou Dobbs (although CNN announced in 2002 the science of global warming was no longer in doubt so there was no 'other side').
     What to do? Emphasize that people aren't bad because it's hard to change. Take the guilt trip out of it and foster positive ideas about improving while changing. Make sure people understand addressing climate warming is a broad challenge, to be faced by governments, businesses large and small, and, yes, individuals. Emphasize that there are economic benefits and everyday benefits to be obtained. (Yes, cloth bags carry groceries better than the plastic bags that spill out all over the trunk and cut into my hands when carrying.)
    Finally, polling might address these questions:
  1) How do you think global warming may affect your life? Your children's?
  2) What do you think you should do about it? Your employer? Your governments?On Americans' climate change doubts aren't hard to understand posted 10 months, 1 week ago 10 Responses

Historical Note:

Right-on-red was to save gas -- in response to the oil crisis of 1973.
It presented a new challenge to drivers who don't know which hand is right and which is left. No kidding, some of us are 'right-left disabled'.On In Oregon, bicyclists want to roll through traffic-free stop signs posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 11 Responses

We had dirty coal plants

out in the West, not to be tolerated in our air anymore..
so we packed them up and second-handed them to China..
and the clouds hang over our sky now.On American taxpayers help pay for coal sent to China posted 11 months, 1 week ago 7 Responses

Not to Worry, jabailo

At the rate Siberia is warming up, you won't even need a coat.On Bush appointee reportedly holding up transition efforts at NASA posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 4 Responses

Banking and Nuclear Power

Nuclear power advocates promised a one in ten million chance of a nuclear power failure. Despite an accident to a noncommercial plant in the 1950s.

The U.S. government provided subsidies to kick start the embryonic industry (reasonable, if they aren't continued forever).

Then 3 Mile island was mishandled, resulting in the destruction of the power plant, and endangering much of the East Coast. The bankers lost a Billion dollar facility (when a billion was worth more). So investors don't want to fund risk like that. The federal government is offering -- I'm not sure of the status of this currently -- to pay the costs of an accident.

If you don't include potential risks of damage, then it's a lot cheaper. Just like cigarettes, whose health costs run to $7-$10 a pack.

Some nuclear advocates say the risk of an accident in a 'modern' nuclear plant would be much less. How about putting a figure on that -- like one in ten million?On Nuclear proponents are, like, totally John Galt posted 1 year, 1 month ago 43 Responses

Ordinary Light Bulbs "release" Mercury

Power generated by coal fired plants puts mercury into the air from the coal. The increased power drawn by a 100 watt light bulb vs. a 13-watt equivalent compact fluorescent light produces as much mercury in emissions from the plant.

The cfc light bulb can be recycled; for instance, at Home Depot. The mercury released into the air from a coal fired plant is irrevocably distributed into the environment.

Tradeoffs need more consideration in environmental/energy policies than they get.On CFL study argues against a mandate to switch from incandescents posted 1 year, 1 month ago 4 Responses

Nevada politics

The place to dispose of nuclear waste is Yucca mountain, Nevada, and many Nevadans are not happy with the solution. Harry Reid,NV, is Senate Majority leader and I doubt that any waste will be shipped there while he is.On McCain accuses Obama of not being pro-nuclear power posted 1 year, 2 months ago 8 Responses

Personality

Obama is a people person, McCain is a 'maverick'. That may be why Obama looked at McCain, and McCain doesn't want to deal with opposition. McCain at one point looked redder, although he did'nt lose his temper in words.

Obama has overcome the odds against him, because he is good with people. So when he agreed with McCain and then itemized his disagreements, I think that is his personality.

Body language and facial expressions are important to debates. I remember hearing the Nixon-Kennedy debates, thinking Nixon had won with the more cogent arguments, and going to work where people had seen the debate. All were agreed Kennedy had won. Nixon had refused TV advice: wear makeup and a blue shirt (for black and white TV). He was too conservative to do either, with the result that his '5 o'clock shadow' made him seem untrustworthy.

I am so pro-Obama that I was paradoxically hyper-critical of him. I predict he will improve in the next debates and McCain will stay the same.On Debate: contempt posted 1 year, 2 months ago 8 Responses

Her Church & AGW?

Some churches -- in spite of the National Council of Churches and the National Council of Evangelical Churches resolutions supporting action on global warming "creation care" -- are preaching that man-made global warming isn't real. One of the late Jerry Falwell's last sermon claimed the sun has changed, that's why Earth is hotter, and anyway GW is a distraction from thinking about Jesus. Falwell was promptly recalled by God,I'd love to know how he explained to Him his preaching the gospel of ExxonMobil. Where he went after that, I can speculate.
I wonder what Palin was taught in her church.On Palin's climate skepticism is irrelevant posted 1 year, 2 months ago 39 Responses

Most Popular Governor?

John Lynch of New Hampshire and Tim McKaine of Virginia are extremely popular and have been reelected with 70 or 80% of the vote.

What are Palin's current popularity ratings?

At best this is an exaggeration -- one of the very popular governors may be correct. On Rudy Giuliani talks up McCain/Palin energy policy posted 1 year, 2 months ago 6 Responses

Go Kerry!

I thought he gave a dynamite speech, and was glad I didn't change the channel. (My first impulse after having tried to stay awake during several speeches I heard him give in person). He was clever and funny, turning the flip-flop attacks onto McCain.
Well worth listening to, if you like 'red meat' and clear language.On DNC: When Kerry attacks posted 1 year, 3 months ago 4 Responses

Missing

Mobus's comments are reasonable, in that lawyers are not enough of a base for driving the changes that are necessary. I would like to see committees formed that include climate scientists with a broad view of climate science (an important qualifier), businessmen who have been actively employing alternative technologies and environmental considerations,economists who can calculate costs/benefits and someone with consumer sensibility. Plus practical engineers.

The whole produce gas from grains of corn fiasco shows what happens when a bunch of stampeded politicians come up with a "solution". The idea of growing an entire plant to harvest a small fraction of the biomass, while using nitrogen fertilizers derived from oil -- needed more thought. How much oil goes in versus what comes out? We need process engineers or life cycle specialists who can think through the end-to-end costs of an idea.On Obama's energy and climate advisors posted 1 year, 3 months ago 52 Responses

Energy bills

Why don't the Democrats insist on some alternative energy provisions for the oil drilling?
Like extending tax incentives for solar and wind, now set to expire in December.
More drilling is just hair of the dog. If they really think it's politically necessary -- that the average American can be convinced it'll help by the massive campaign from the oil lobby, then why not get something for it that moves us forward?On Some Democrats in Congress bending on drilling debate posted 1 year, 3 months ago 8 Responses

Lovely Calculation; Please Continue

How many pounds of coal and oil are needed to:

1. mine the pitchblende ore
   
2. grind up the ore to extract the uranium
   
3. separate out the radioactive isotope of uranium 235 (only .72% of natural uranium)
   
4. build the power plant (current money cost something like $11 billion)
   
5. dispose of the nuclear waste (newest estimate is $90 billion, but since disposal has yet started nobody knows for sure.

Where would you rather work?

Near your house, wife, kids, friends, installing solar panels --
or drilling in the wilds of the Arctic admiring polar bears?
The potential of local infrastructure jobs is motivating the Teamsters. Spending money at home helps our local economies. Increasing American competitiveness saves $ from going to the Middle East.On Blockbuster Teamsters announcement rejects oil drilling as an energy solution posted 1 year, 4 months ago 5 Responses

What's stress?

The stress of missing a bus or train? Easier to grab a car?
It depends on where you're going. Driving from NH to Boston is hugely stressful, compared to sitting on a bus looking down at all the single occupant cars mired in traffic.
I had to go in this week, spend 1/2 hour on the 1/2 mile Zakin bridge alone.  STRESSSSED!! And this was against rush traffic.
Glad I don't have to commute. Crawling 3 ft and waiting a minute is my idea of stress. Good thing Boston did the Big Dig for $14 Billion dollars.
Can't figure out why people prefer to drive under those conditions.On Renewables and efficiency would provide more GDP than fossil fuels posted 1 year, 4 months ago 48 Responses

Knowledge Gaps of Some of the Deniers Above

How amazing that Brute and others can give detailed explanations of various phenomena and yet still cannot understand the basics of climate science.
Two massive floods are going on in the planet currently. Ours, which is termed by geologists to be a '500 year flood'. How soon before the next 500 year flood comes?
The Chinese said their costs are 1 million people evacuated, 45000 homes destroyed, and 1 Billion$-- so far.
Yes, the Yellow River and the Mississippi have always flooded. But these are worse. The floods in england, Italy, part of Russia, and the 3 floods in New Hampshire during the last 2 or 3 years were all exceptional.
Tornados were caused in the Midwest this spring by the difference in the cold Pacific and the heat in the East.
Every time the heat ratchets up a portion of a degree, you can expect more and worse weather. I truly wish I didn't know this.On Mainstream media misses connection between global warming and Midwest floods posted 1 year, 5 months ago 120 Responses

Oil Companies new Push

I was a random recipient of a poll 3 weeks ago, full of questions slanted to oil companies (across the pollster could not confirm this). Most question were designed to produce a positive answer. Even the question "would increased drilling in the U.S. help us become energy independent" was phrased so it was hard to answer no. Although I understand very well that oil is a global commodity which the U.S. cannot control.
So I was expecting a push from the usual sources, Republican legislators, Fox news, and here it is. Complete with polling results that the public agrees with them.On Republicans exanding their drill base, at least to other Republicans posted 1 year, 5 months ago 8 Responses