Thanks Pete for a great article.
What a long strange trip it’s been. Forty years ago I was a bright eyed high school science student learning about greenhouse gases and the atmosphere and how those processes related to this incredibly fruitful climate our society has been enjoying compared to previous periods during our Earth’s evolution. Fascinating stuff and the science lessons soaked in.
In the four decades since then, climatology has made astonishing strides with ever improving instruments/tools, satellites, computers and graduating classes of skilled dedicated scientists. Unfortunately, their findings have been reported to an uninterested public. Today a large portion of this treasure trove of serious scientific findings have been collected and organized at “SkepticalScience.com” for those who care to learn.
Then, twenty-three years ago the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was created as an organizing agent for the massive amounts of incoming academic climate studies. And, although the IPCC suffers vitriolic attacks, it continues to function much better than its political opponents dare admit. Recently, a new website Zvon.org has made the IPCC’s 4th Assessment Report’s data base easily accessible.
Where the trip got strange, is that instead of learning to understand and grasp the significance of this incoming climate information, Republicans have resorted to a different tactic. Corporate funded ‘think tanks’ such as Marshall Institute, SPPI, Heartland, etc. have been engaged in producing ‘sceptical’ talking points that use emotional political arguments and PR tactics to confuse and distract the public and politicians from actually coming to grips with climate science. Under serious scrutiny their arguments fall, one after the other. Problem is, they use really loud ~ emotion ~ dripping ~ megaphones ~ dedicated to destroying ~ the messengers ~ in order to ignore the message.
For example, the right honorable Senator Inhofe demonstrated his disdain for serious climate science with his ridiculous “Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims” where 80% of the signees were not even climate scientists! For example Chris Allen a Southern Baptist creationist who holds no college degree, but is a TV weatherman who’s written: “My biggest argument against putting the primary blame on humans for climate change is that it completely takes God out of the picture.” Why such desperate attempts to malign the establishment scientific community?
Why does US Senator Inhofe resort to using an enterprising fiction writer, Michael Crichton, as an expert witness before his Environment and Public Works Committee? Why use a discredited political performer, and propagandist, one Lord Viscount Monckton of Benchley, as a climate science adviser and expert witness? Perhaps, because, this Senator is a young Earth creationist who resents science on an emotional religious level to begin with. But, how can one understand our climate without appreciating eons worth of its development?
In addition to the strangeness of ignoring science, the AGW Hoaxer media machine has manufactured an image of the greedy scientific community, eager to tamper with evidence to peddle gloom and doom for love of cash. Do they offer any proof? Of course not, just putting the lies out there and repeating them is enough. Why do we, the people, let them get away with it?
I bring this up because it’s hideous how Republicans such as Inhofe have vilified scientists. I think it’s worth stopping and catching our collective breath for a moment. Why not consider the type of person who becomes a scientist? Remember those guys and gals in high school? The thoughtful ones, who stood back and focused more on learning than all the other distractions going on. It really says something we shouldn’t ignore because of political passions. Not that they are some ideal lot, but because it reveals the nature of a person who chooses to become a scientist ~ within whatever character he/she grows into, collecting facts and learning is a core value and that deserves respect!
The strangest most self destructive part of denialists distortions is their glib rejection for appreciating how massive global climate processes are. A supertanker coming into port plans and makes its speed and course adjustments well ahead of time, with care and respect for the shoals. Why then are we, the people, allowing Republican masters of the universe to keep telling us to disregard the shoals and run our megatanker at full throttle?
Back in high school we had a saying, more a joke than anything we actually believed: “Don’t trust anyone over thirty.” It’s so strange to think that today’s kids reflecting on their elder’s track record of arrogant disregard for Earth’s processes will realize our leaders don’t have a clue. What shall they conclude? This time around it’s for real? Better not trust anyone over thirty, since they seem incapable of looking beyond the rear view mirror.
Watching the Deniers 
bit weird alright
Oh you are a funny fella John Byatt,
And you can’t read either. From by my post (07:14:57)
“I didn’t tell a porkie. (Apology required )
I did your trick of cutting and pasting. This statement is from the Russian biologist Pavel Makarevich, not from the Russian Academy of Sciences.”
Note it clearly states – ” not from the Russian Academy of Sciences ”
Don’t you remember, you even commented on at (07:19:58)
“Cut and paste from where Jeff ? otherwise its a porkie and you wont be believed by anyone if you post porkies”
Apparently your lack of memory is symptomatic.
Why don’t you tally up your ad homs. I couldn’t be bothered, more waste of time.
You also do not link to your sources in most cases.
And if you can comment on a member of Mensa in a derogatory way, your quip – “IQ room temperature ” (another John Byatt ad hom ) is just laughable, from a prat (see dictionary @ (07:59:01)
here is your post jefft ,
In my opinion and that of our institute, the problems connected to the current stage of warming are being exaggerated. What we are dealing with is not a global warming of the atmosphere or of the oceans.” — Biologist Pavel Makarevich of the Biological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
“in my opinion and my institute
only way to prove your point that it was from where you say is to give the link jefft, why wont you do that,
cause its a porkie that is why
here is your post jefft ,
In my opinion and that of our institute, the problems connected to the current stage of warming are being exaggerated. What we are dealing with is not a global warming of the atmosphere or of the oceans.” — Biologist Pavel Makarevich of the Biological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
“in my opinion and my institute
only way to prove your point that it was from where you say is to give the link jefft, why wont you do that,
cause its a porkie that is why
well i have hunted it up jeff, your porkie that is , guess what it does not exist,
so its a porkie
And you’re diverting away from the subjects at hand to play
the subjects at hand seems to be guess what jefft is on about
Oh John Byatt,
Your baiting, and I won’t bite.
Pathetic John, just pathetic.
Out of sympaty, I’ll relent a little.
How about I give a couple of nibbles, can’t have you going apoplectic.
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2010/12/28/bring-on-that-global-warming-1?blog=193
I know where these come from. So we’ll just let you have another rave about the source.
John Byatt is STILL waffling on about carbon (dioxide ).
So we don’t have to guess what he is on about –
My aim is to be as incoherent as possible in response to your CO2 obscurantism.
Your ” let’s baffle ’em all with science” is hilarious, your belief in modeling as the be-all-and-end-all is a worry. Your lack of interest in history involving climate is pathetic.
And your lack of respect for people that have been there, done that, with qualifications to suit, is alarming and even sad. One instance of many is your continual attacks on Viv Forbes.
It appears to be that as these people who do not agree with your paradigm of CO2 as a pollutant, and the whole AGW scenario, so must be vilified at every opportunity.
A bit like a kid in the schoolyard really.
If you like history porkie pie Jefft then here is the complete history of CO2
The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect
4. Nernst also noted that the additional CO2 would fertilize crops. James Franck, interview by Thomas Kuhn, p. 6, Archive for History of Quantum Physics, …
Greenhouse Speculations … – Skepticism (1900-1940s) – Callendar’s Advocacy
http://www.aip.org/history/climate/co2.htm – Cached – Similar
My reply in the paper yesterday to Fib’s latest drivel, related to facts not Fib’s ongoing hysteria , there was another conspiracy theory moron printed on the same day as Fib, backing him
I killed two birds with one stone, now do you actually have any science or only ice flow videos and muon mumbling ,
muoncounter at skeptical science works on the antarctica project ,
the editor of the paper has given Fib and quite a few of your kleptic mates ample space to present their evidence, they have so far put up miscolczi and paltridge, swiftly dealt with .
Porkie pie Jefft, mate you need to get over to TCS as quickly as possible and put a stop to the CO2 is responsible regime change there.
you appear to have been tossed to the wolves
latest post at TCS porkie
“Thus while many sceptics would agree with the central proposition that the Earth has been warming, it is the level of potential harm, and the existence of practically achievable solutions that determines if any action should be taken.
Even the central proposition of the mainstream science – that most of the global warming since the mid 20th century is very likely due to anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gas concentrations – does not necessarily entail harm, or actions of any kind.
as i said start your own porkie blog these guys have dumped your muons GCR’s and fairies “what done it”
John Byatt (B3),
Possibly you may have noticed, in between your delusions, that I don’t post on The Climate Sceptics. I feel Geoff B. does an excellent job, including reining in the ODD post from some one called John “Anonymous” Byatt.
You did post above about John Cook’s Skeptical Science and their response to the south pole muon counter aka Project Icecube. You did do that as a joke, right ? You’ve got to be kidding haven’t you ?
“The IceCube project is part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison projects developed and supervised by the same institution, while collaboration and funding is provided by numerous other universities and research institutions worldwide.” (Wikipedia – Project Icecube ).
And you quote John Cook’s Skeptical Science, “B3” you have excelled in stupid and gullible.
J.
porkie ,
JeffT (12:38:10) :
John Byatt is STILL waffling on about carbon (dioxide ).
So we don’t have to guess what he is on about –
“My aim is to be as incoherent as possible in response to your CO2 obscurantism.”
you are certainly achieving your aim then porkie jefft
John Byatt (B3),
It can’t be hydrophobia (rabies) that is your problem. That would mean a rabid animal would have had to have bitten you, and even a rabid animal would be choosy.
So it must the 4th B – Bipolar disorder, that is your disability.
After you have been supplied with two links that show that I was correct in my post, you still keep up with “porkie” and “porkie pie”.
This is of course the symptomatic of bipolar disorder, excepting I don’t think you have the positive attributes of bipolar disorder such as talent and genius, except in your own mind.
The link you have provided, I have read, as it is at the head of this thread. So this just goes to show the level of your talent or understanding. Yes you can post a link !!
You continue to disregard, put down and rubbish the sciences of Solar research, Galactic Cosmic Ray research, laboratories around the world that work in these fields.
Your responses to the above show how dangerous drinking Carbonated Green Koolaide really is to your thought processes.
When there are worldwide monitors for muon counts, magnetometers, neutrino counters such as recently completed Project Icecube, solar telescopes photgraphing, measuring and examining solar, xray, cosmic ray and ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet information, satellites such as SOHO and STEREO investigating solar events. Even you must ask yourself why are they there ? Why have the billions of dollars, rubles etc. been invested in these vast quantities of projects.
You may even come to the conclusion that the Solar and Galactic events around us, do have a great influence on the planet, on our lives and the weather/climate.
But I doubt if you have what it takes to rise out of your ad hom mentalty, take another look at the carbon con and stop playing stupid schoolyard games.
Just don’t forget to take your medication.
J.
Sorry porkie jeffti cannot keep up with your porkies which porkie are you on about , first second or third porkie ?
the Climate kleptics have put up a post linking CO2 with the current warming,
so it would seem that we are up to porkie number for,
hmmmm you are making me hungry for pork ribs in soy for dinner,
i shall call it Porkie a la Jefft ,
step one , take ribs, wash crap off
John Byatt (B3)(B4),
As I don’t post on The Climate Skeptics with an exception of once, I wouldn’t know whether you are telling the truth. I’ve only had alook the other day due to you insistence.
I leave posting on TCS to Geoff B. who does an excellent job and controls the rubbish posts from someone called John “Anonymous” Byatt.
Make sure you wash your pork ribs down with lots of Carbonated Green Koolaide.
And pork being a good source of cholesterol, vengeance will be mine.
Pig on (B3)(B4).
And don’t forget your medication.
J.
jeff the porkie t, is there any subject at all that you understand ,
Food
Cholesterol Content by mass (mg/g)
Chicken Liver
5.61
Chicken Giblets
4.42
Eggs
4.24
Beef Liver
3.81
Turkey Giblets
2.89
Butter
2.18
Pork Liver Sausage
1.8
Shrimp
1.73
Sardines
1.42
Heavy Cream
1.4
Veal
1.34
Pork Ribs
1.21
Lamb
1.21
Turkey Neck
1.2
Pork Shoulder
1.14
I eat every one of those foods and my good chols is way up ,
understand what you are talking about first
loved ” i dont post on the TCS except when i do”
Oh John Byatt,
Your baiting, and I won’t bite.
Pathetic John, just pathetic.
Out of sympaty, I’ll relent a little.
How about I give a couple of nibbles, can’t have you going apoplectic.
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2010/12/28/bring-on-that-global-warming-1?blog=193
I know where these come from. So we’ll just let you have another rave about the source.
So now jefft (porkie) does not have a source at all for
Biologist Pavel Makarevich of the Biological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Porkie thinks that watts is the biological institute of the Russian Academy
FAIL jefft , where is the source of you porkie ? put it up
Jefft porkie, “I wouldn’t know whether you are telling the truth. I’ve only had alook the other day due to you insistence.”
jefft “I leave posting on TCS to Geoff B. who does an excellent job ”
another triumph of jefft contradictions
i don’t read it but geoff is doing an excellent job,
John Byatt (B3)(B4) the false accuser,
Yes J.B.3, that’s why I suggested you make a pig of yourself. Gorge yourself.
Second thought on that – make that Turkey neck, then you would be being cannibalistic.
Don’t wash the item, leave the crap on, it will give you more crap to post.
And “One swallow does not make a Spring”, one recent visit to TCS to check out your ravings, doesn’t make a frequent visitor, and it showed that you visit there more than I do, and using the name “Anonymous”, then when shown up, – as “Anonymous John Byatt”.
Watt’s Up With using an ID that is identifiable. I use my ‘nom de plume’ everywhere I blog or post.
J.
jefft And “One swallow does not make a Spring”, one recent visit to TCS to check out your ravings, doesn’t make a frequent visitor,
Jefft porkie, “I wouldn’t know whether you are telling the truth. I’ve only had alook the other day due to you insistence.”
then you cannot even see the contradiction with
jefft “I leave posting on TCS to Geoff B. who does an excellent job ”
you don’t go there but you state the geoff does an excellent job
Jefft porkie , if you don’t go there then you don’t know what sort of job he is doing,
what is it with you people and total lack of logic?
Adhoms at TCS only allowed by moderator Go-eff himself
place head in vice before reading
Geoff
Why don’t you just keep making your stupid comments at WTF Deniers and don’t come over here and show off your lack of analytical ability. There is no discrepancy between “Possible Ice age Coming” and the fact that is HAS BEEN WARMING.
Also, if you want to take it further, two different authors can have two different opinions. We do NOT, unlike you, Mr Byatt, have closed minds. We are sceptics not deniers like you lot over at WTF deniers.