Comments cieldumort has made

  • Empire

    Can't you feel it coming?On 'Green empire' like 'military intelligence' posted 1 year, 10 months ago 66 Responses

  • In one word

    Indeed.On Al Gore's commitment to public service in the face of cynicism posted 2 years, 1 month ago 15 Responses

  • huba huba

    Just throw in some cheesy 1970s porno theme accompaniment, and you're set!  ;)

    "How many Green Republicans does it take to screw in a light bulb?"  lolOn Hey, that's me! posted 2 years, 6 months ago 8 Responses

  • "Mainstream America"?

    Well, if you mean by "mainstream" America to be the kind of people who are endeared to James Inhofe, I would certainly concede such a point. However, if you meant most of America, your claim fails on the face of it.

    Here is something to consider

    NEW HAVEN, Conn.--A new Yale research survey reveals a significant shift in public attitudes toward the environment and global warming. Fully 83 percent of Americans now say global warming is a "serious" problem, up from 70 percent in 2004. More Americans than ever say they have serious concerns about environmental threats, such as toxic soil and water (92 percent, up from 85 percent in 2004), deforestation (89 percent, up from 78 percent), air pollution (93 percent, up from 87 percent) and the extinction of wildlife (83 percent, up from 72 percent in 2005).
    http://environment.yale.edu/4467/sea_change_in_public_att ...On FOX News on Gore's testimony posted 2 years, 8 months ago 10 Responses

  • Keeping it real

    That is what I do believe Al Gore to have been doing. If he wanted to play to the public he most certainly would not have been laying out such impressive, real suggestions for the Senator's consideration.

    As for how he handled himself with that jerk Inhofe,  one can only wish to carry oneself so poised and professional in the presence of such insults and incredible stupidity.

    Inhofe got what he wanted: soundbites to get replayed over on Neoconmanradio and Neoconmanvision. The "Fair and balanced" outlets, if you prefer.

     In my estimation, Inhofe is so insincere that even some of their own can not help but to see right through him. With any luck he soon goes the way of the dinosaur: Momentum will have capped what he can do while still in office, and then trade him back to the people he really works for, where he will enjoy the aromatic pleasure of being among so many other fossil fuels now out of "public service."On Really the last one, honest posted 2 years, 8 months ago 10 Responses

  • Gore's testimony

    Solutions, solutions, solutions.

    Giving any legitimacy to Inhofe's insane claims? Not.

    --- Oh, he's going to take up his extra three minutes to make us all vomit.

    I have to add, Barbara!! You go, Barbara!

    I'm sure you're every bit as amused, David.

    Thanks for the postOn Liveblogging is the new black posted 2 years, 8 months ago 27 Responses

  • Seals and Crafts

    Mr. Dressler, I think it should be pointed out that Dr. Cullen didn't really say that skeptical AMS members should have their seals revoked. This, I believe, is a very important distinction between what the spinsters have propagandized, and what was actually written.

    To quote your own quote even, Dr. Cullen wrote:

    "If a meteorologist can't speak to the fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn't give them a Seal of Approval."

    In other words, if a met applying for an AMS seal of approval does not possess at the least a very basic and realistic understanding of climate science, then they should not be considered eligible for the seal, which, as you know, implies a strong air of legitimacy to on-camera mets.

    Currently, those OCMs who believe things as far out as "Cosmic Rays are causing fluxes: global warmings and coolings," or as religious as "God wouldn't allow us to warm up His planet - therefore it is a hoax!," are freely allowed to impart those views on their audiences with that wonderful AMS seal of approval backing up their nutty assertions, by default!

    To reiterate - two key points:
     Dr. Cullen was clearly suggesting that possesing a basic understanding of climate science should be a qualifier when earning one's AMS seal

    and
    A couple of clueless mets who currently posses AMS seals already talking out their necks while on air and/or in print do show us how it idiotic is to continue the practice of issuing AMS seals to those who can not at least speak to the fundamental science of climate change.

    cielOn What should be the cost of skepticism? posted 2 years, 8 months ago 13 Responses

  • eh

    Some good points were raised in the linked article by Alex Steffen. Then again, he appears to me to fall into the trap set for him by some of the Right: They have called his "bluff" on the subject of "Global Warning," and in their minds, he has just proven their point - that is - Global Warming is nothing more than an attempt by the far left to redistribute wealth and take away everyone's pollutin' toys.

    Let me take it section at a time:

    These arguments usually precede a call for some action which reduces carbon output but has other demonstrably negative environmental impacts, whether that's damming a river for hydropower, launching into a massive nuclear energy program or seeding the ocean to produce a plankton bloom.

    Well, yeah. That's the bait some want you to take. (That, well, if you are SO right about this AGW stuff, we had better start doing whatever it takes to halt it, immediately!) And then they just sit back and wait for your response - to show your "true colors," so to speak. I'm guessing they expect to see PINK.

    The climate crisis we face will not be bested through the kind of thinking that got us into the problem in the first place: because, seen with any degree of rationality, the climate crisis cannot be distinguished from the overall planetary crisis of environmental degredation, massive poverty, conflict and inequity of which it is a part.

    Um, more or less, yes, it can, actually. We do not need to start "feeding, clothing, and doctoring the world" to put a halt on run-away greenhouse gas emissions. While in a much broader & holistic sense Steffen is certainly on to something here, to suggest that fighting AGW is somehow inextricably linked to just about every other so-called liberal progressive cause is simply - well, that is actually the "carbon blindness."

    Please, remove all sunglasses, hats, and eyemasks, take heads out of the sand, put your tray tables in the upright and locked positions, and stop giving free ammunition to those that would love nothing more than to convince the public masses, although deceptively and inaccurately, that fighting climate change is inherently a left-wing version of the right-wing's war on terrorism, and thus a gateway drug for swallowing the pinko pill hook, line, and sinker.

    If we are to achieve true success on the most crucial environmental, social, ecological, and humanitarian cause of our lifetimes, it's imperative that various pet causes don't get pork-barreled into the discussion.On Aristotle in the climate age posted 2 years, 8 months ago 8 Responses

  • Gore

    JS

    I have to admit, I would like to see the most visible voices among enviros to not only walk the talk, but go above and beyond, such that there can be little if any doubt they are walking the talk.  Especially so that some wingnut can't find some kernel of questionable action they can spin for mass public consumption.

    It looks like some people here are accusing you of being that wingnut, but I suspect this is not the case. Playing devil's advocate will always raise a few hairs, tho.

    Let's face it, no one is perfect! But, true-enough, political leaders do need to remember that they are in the public light, and at all times make every effort to set the examples. On An opportunity for reflection posted 2 years, 8 months ago 35 Responses

  • attacks on other progressives

    It's really a neat trick of the Right to entice progs into beating up on other progs. You don't see this so much in their realm. Presidents can lead entire parties to the brink of political inviability and implosion, and almost to a man the individual members will still tell you what a great and wise leader he/she is.

    Perhaps it's a blend of progs being, by very nature, more open minded, but also out of some twisted need to feel "more real" than the next guy.

    Who knows. All I really do know is that Al Gore has done more in just a few months to bring attention to one of the greatest - if not the greatest - environmental challenges of our lifetimes than anyone else. Bar none.On An opportunity for reflection posted 2 years, 8 months ago 35 Responses

  • clue

    Well, jabailo, it has to do with compounding. One year's annual GHG emissions rate does not look that daunting, until added to the prior years, and so on, and so forth.

    And then there's the very real risk of releasing trapped mass stores of C02 and even methane, which these charts don't even acknowledge.On Which way do you want emissions to go? posted 2 years, 8 months ago 10 Responses

  • meh

    I wondered what Britney Spears would be doing with all that free time in Rehab.

    Seriously tho -
    "Either you're with our future, or you're against us! The youth is already galvanizing a coalition of the willing!"

    Delighted the kid is showing us how he is personally using candles for lighting, riding his bike to and from school - never riding in cars - using chalk and chalkboard to do his homework on. Meh.

     The video stuck me more as something Inhofe would love to grab a hold of and trumpet around as evidence of that vast left-wing conspiracy to brainwash the youth. And frankly, watching this video, I would even have to somewhat agree with such a charge.

    The odds of the things having come to pass that he claims are going to happen "by the time I grow up" are so absurdly slim to none that I would sooner take out insurance against a direct hit by a large asteroid.

    Yes, the add is a turnoff. Even to someone like myself who is extremely concerned about AGW. It is just too heavy on finger-pointing and hype. And from a snotty kid, no less.On What do you think? posted 2 years, 9 months ago 10 Responses

  • WoW

    Thanks for posting the story, David, and tremendous thanks to Tom Engelhardt for getting the permission for you to do so from the generous folks at NYRB.

    This piece goes a long way in breaking down the perplexities into little bite-size chunks that - one hopes - more of the masses can start to comprehend, and appreciate. On A new essay from the man posted 2 years, 9 months ago 4 Responses

  • Larry King

    Between that class act by Larry King & the fine commentaries from the preeminent scientific brainiac, Glenn Beck and his esteemed guest J Inhofe, CNN has once again shown how to report news in the 2000s: Read the GOP talking points.
    On It just ain't sexy posted 2 years, 9 months ago 16 Responses

  • Remember kids, "Teach the controversy"

    As long as the word "controversy" is used in any conjunction with this report it's all a lot of people in the U.S. need to hear to reaffirm their preconceived ideas of GW being eco-alarmist hype. I look around me - here, in this country - and wonder, WTF - all day long.

    A little O/T - Glenn Beck is going to be covering "Global Warming: Fact, or fiction?" or some such name of the upcoming show tonight...  I sent off an email to him after he started in on GW the other night, while bashing a bit on Dr. Cullen with the help of that brainiac TV met from Arkansas(?) who wrote the defamatory spin about her blog.

    In any event, I think we should all be watching this closely. It seems to me that he usually -only- has guests on that support his positions. And, really, what the hell is a Disc Jockey-gone TV personality doing talking out his neck on Global Warming?On It's a frenzy posted 2 years, 10 months ago 9 Responses

  • Trolls?

    Might be nice if, while you are working up the redesign, you implement some strict troll controls. Here's one way a Troll Patrol might work: every commenter must include not only a verifiable email address, but because it is so easy to create throw-away email addys one right after another, also require a link to any commenter's verifiable website. Lacking this, or in addition to this, a verifiable phone number.

    Reason I am bringing this up is, I don't mind "having" to read through so many entries (and subsequent threads) from contributors - so long as - I do not have to read through comment after comment from trolls. On Too much blog to handle? posted 2 years, 10 months ago 39 Responses

  • re: This explains a lot about Texas

    I have to agree that comments like these, coming from the top government officials of a given state, are the stuff of nightmares.  Really, they are actually bordering on criminal, imho:

    ---"Absolutely," Gov. Rick Perry replied when asked recently by the Star-Telegram whether there is scientific doubt that human activity causes global warming. "I am not going to put the state of Texas in a competitive economic disadvantage on some science that may or may not be correct."

    ---State Rep. Phil King said: "I think it's just bad science. I think global warming is bad science."

    ---In a recent opinion piece, Perry said there remains great debate among scientists about the validity of man-made global warming.

    --- Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Wednesday that there's an "absence of scientific consensus on the causes of climate change"

    I'm in Texas also. It is truly disheartening to see these smoke and mirrors played on the masses. The analogies made with Big Tobacco are very similar, but these are also an injustice (as realistically, the impacts from tobacco use are far less than the wide-ranging impacts of global warming)On And it ain't pretty posted 2 years, 10 months ago 6 Responses