Global cooling

[GURGLETROUSERS]

N.W. is correct in quoting the Telegraph, which is not the only source running with this problem. The figures are available to all.

As often pointed out, it is extended periods of cold weather, mostly of that raw high humidity type which our island specialises in, which leads to coughs, colds, flu, pneumonia, death, (pick any three, even for the healthy), especially among those who are unable to 'keep the juices flowing' by regular vigourous exercise. (The elderly or frail, obviously.)

This current cold spell, still in full swing, has been one of the worst for sheer 'rawness', and the first where most of our committed windsurfers have taken an extended break. (Even mountain biking has almost led to frozen lungs, when gulping in that raw damp air.)

I think there is a misconception though. As we age (and I notice it now) we simply become less tolerant to extended periods of extremes. Both cold and HOT spells become equally deadly to the frail. Either extreme 'culls' the weak, and that is what now seems to be happening.

Extreme weather is a prediction of climate change, or global warming, so, as yet, neither side can claim victory!

[coboardhead]

GT...Here in Colorado, it is the opposite. Our winters dry up and quit in March, which was, typically, the snowiest month. At over 9000 ft, we are having 60 deg. F days now in March.

I was on my MTB yesterday at 7000 feet in 70 Deg weather!

I know we are talking weather, and it may have nothing to do with global warming, but it is unusual at best. Due to the elevation, we do notice minor temperature variations here. Our typical number of consecutive frost free nights average 14 during summer. The last couple of years, I noted over 30 nights both years.

I do hope you have some warm biking weather soon.

[mac]

A "fraud" responds to a pathological liar.

1. My source had the Telegraph among Murdoch's holdings. Murdoch, of course, has instructed his editorial staff to always debunk climate change and uses a series of debunkers such as Monckton to try to portray the science as unsettled. Apparently the purchase by the Barclay's is fairly recent: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-206154/Barclay-brothers-buy-Daily-Telegraph.html

Of course the question begged by mrgybe is whether this purchase makes them a credible source. And the question begged, continually, by focusing on the weather, is that a single event (or winter) in a chaotic series, means nothing to a gradual change in average temperature. Such focus is the stock in trade of the denial industry, funded by mrgbye's carbon-burning industry.

2. Mrgybe, in repeated references to public opinion, equated the growing doubt in public opinion in the United States, to a problems in the science and weaknesses in the communication strategies of the reality-based community. Of course the communication mechanisms of the coal and oil-based industries funded continual attacks on science and scientists, including advertising, that massively outspent any efforts by the scientists outside their technical fields. It is ironic that the paid deniers and denier consultants focussed on relatively minor errors in Al Gore's efforts, one of the very successful efforts at bringing public attention to a matter well settled in the scientific community. It is my interpretation that mrgybe was gloating--perhaps he was only nasty and snide.

Now that public opinion has shifted, despite the continued investment of the oil and gas companies in denial "consultants", those who remember their support for the past are described as frauds. From an apologist for preventing controls on emissions, I would wear such a label proudly. However, I will not search the past forums for details of mrgybe's gloating, or accept the proferred $10,000.

As both GT and CB have noted, the cold winter in England, the warm winter in Colorado, and the unprecedented in modern history virtual disappearance of ice in the Northwest Passage since 2008, may be evidence of increased chaos in weather that has been predicted by climate change models, or simple anomolies. People with integrity look for trends, and for statistically robust data--not for anecdotes with which to assuage their guilt.

[GURGLETROUSERS]

Thanks for the wish Coboard. It almost makes up for your provocative taunt! (Dammit, all that wonderful tea destroyed - and in Boston, of all the most ungodly places!!)

I would have responded but I'm currently in a fury with our Minitry of Defence. It was recently brought to my attention that an ancester of mine was disabled and incapacitated at the Battle of Hastings, in 1066. He was shot up the backside by an enemy archer!

I have angrilky written to the authorities demanding a payment of £3,068,368 (calculated with inflation and compound interest in mind) for the shameful way the then authorities neglected our brave fighting lads who suffered appaling injuries defending the worthless scum in the general population, by wangling out of paying the pensions and disability payments.

They have written back and are now suing ME, for the sum of £3,068,369 owing to an unaccountable shortage of arrows at said battle. They claim, without any proof whatever, that my ancester stole them, and sold them to the shivering peasants for use as firewood. Furthermore, since my relative was shot in the ass, they have the nerve to suggest he was a coward, and was running away!

I am beside myself with rage. I have angrily retorted that a) he was doing as all brave bowmen did in those days, by lowering his pants, bending over, and farting in the general direction of the contemptible enemy. and b) that that misreable non combatant wretch Sir Percy Pantaloon was disgracefully award a 90% disability pension for life, simply from standing on a drawing pin while running things from the safety of his fortified castle keep.

I await their response.

[mac]

Very funny GT. But to return to topic, and use Smithsonian Magazine as an antidote to right wing British journals, try this:

[isobars]

[wynsurfer]

isobars, I did not mean that no one has the right to retire. We all pay into S.S. over our lifetimes, and once one has earned enough credits, i.e. payed enough into the system ,you become elligible. I guess you could call this "earned benefits" since you have paid for it. I've been paying into it every year for 46 years, and in another 5, I intend to "retire" yet continue to work. One has to wait untill age 66 to do this. You can still work if you are "disabled' but cannot earn over $1,000 mo. Same with early retirement at age 62. There is no limit on earnings at age 66.

I resent S.S being labled an "entitlement", as if we, who have been paying into it over our lifetimes are somehow not entitled. It is defered earnings.

I think more needs to be done to "weed out" the goldbricks.

Glad you did not take this remark personally. I make no judgement on your personal situation. It is none of my, or anyone else's business.

I do however, and perhaps many others here do as well, know of individuals that are just plain lazy mooches, that will do anything to avoid working and who will, given the opportunity, milk the system for as much as they can. A goldbrick. These are the ones I find reprehensible.

[isobars]

[wynsurfer]

Interesting article mac. I was unaware of the fact that CO2 can linger so long in the atmosphere. What makes this even more troubling is the fact that glogaly we are dumping 31.6 gigatonnes of CO2 into our atmosphere yearly, and the amount increased 1 gigatonne for 2012, according to The International Energy Agency.

Don't think this will not have consequences? How can anyone believe otherwise?

[isobars]

Because, as Al Gore knows but chooses to ignore, the greenhouse impact of CO2 plateaus quickly as levels rise.