Thursday, December 31, 2009

Here's A Fun New Years Eve Game.

I call it, "Are you smarter than a Congressman?" Specifically, Congressman Joe Barton, who, not surprisingly, is from Texas. Here are some of Congressman Barton's thoughts on global climate change, via Mother Jones magazine:

"Wouldn't it be ironic if in the interest of global warming we mandated massive switches to [wind] energy, which is a finite resource, which slows the winds down, which causes the temperature to go up?...It's just something to think about."

Wind. A finite resource. And if we put up too many windmills it will slow down the wind. The people of Texas elected that man to represent them in Congress. Something to think about indeed.

Along with why we went to all the trouble of the Civil War to keep Texas and the rest of the Stupid South in our country.

Happy New Year.

20 comments:

Anne said...

Sweet Jesus on a cracker, I despair for humanity. But how can you argue with people who refuse to acknowledge facts as facts and substitute the accurate term 'climate change' with 'global warming' only to say, "Well, we could use some global warming--it shore is cold enough here in (insert location here, invariably in a red state)"? I would suggest mandatory science literacy requirements for high school graduates, but as I live in a state where public schools are still required to teach abstinence-only sex ed, I'm not holding my breath for the triumph of reason.

m&ms said...

It's true... harnessing wind power makes wind slower. Just like using solar powered calculators makes the sun dimmer. And using hydropower makes water less... wet.

Damn turbines, making my summers even hotter than they already are.

Anonymous said...

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

pacalaga said...

I simultaneously love you and hate you for bringing this man to my attention.

Anonymous said...

sometimes I think just being from texas should carry the death penalty, or at least mandatory sterilization.... where I come from, they are referred to as "texassians" or more commonly "texassholes"

Jo said...

*sigh* It's people like Barton who make living here even harder than it normally is.

I used to joke that the ever-changing weather here killed off the stupid people; I see that's no longer true. Damn you, global warming!

was1 said...

i resolve to be more open to new ideas in 2010. i want to be informed, not just opinionated.

unlike anne who is absolutely certain that she knows what she knows. i guess as long as global temperatures are rising we can call it 'global warming' but when the weather doesnt cooperate we need to change the terminology and presto, now we have 'climate change'! if you want mandatory science literacy maybe we should start with all those 'climate scientists' who fudged, changed, ignored data that suggested anything that didnt support their hypothesis. this is what happens when we let the politicians hold the purse strings.

also, the shore is where new jersey meets the atlantic ocean. i'm sure of that.

we need to move away from the paradigm that republican = bad, stupid, evil and democrat = good, smart, enlightened. i think the government would work alot better if we could get the politicians out of it.

Just a little snarky said...

Wow. "Windmills slow down the wind"? Just, wow. Can this guy even feed himself? Or does he hire someone to do that?

The only person I like from the South is Sheriff Joe from Maricopa County, Arizona I think.

Rie said...

How about some perspective on this one?
http://bit.ly/8RhAMw

Robyn Broyles said...

Actually, windmills do make the wind slower. By an infinitesimal fraction. The percentage of wind energy that will be harnessed even by extensive wind farms is technically greater than zero, but practically it's zip. This Congressman's error is a matter of scale, not concept. Still a pretty egregious error.

Madam Z said...

Oh dear! I didn't realize that wind was a "finite resource!" Whatever will we do when those nasty turbines use up all the wind? Could we, perhaps, pipe the hot air out of the House and Senate Buildings? It is a constantly renewable resource.

Seriously now, I agree with "iwas" that "We need to move away from the paradigm that republican = bad, stupid, evil and democrat = good, smart, enlightened. i think the government would work alot better if we could get the politicians out of it."

DrugMonkey, Master of Pharmacy said...

was1,

I'm going to take you at your word when you say you want to be "informed, not just opinionated." I don't know why. Maybe because it's a new year and I've resolved not to be so cynical.

At any rate, here's what I want you to do. Open up a new window in your browser and punch up google maps. Now look at a map of the world. Notice how the sunny French Riviera is at a latitude north of New York City, how Madrid with its mild winters is about as far north as Philadelphia. As a matter of fact, most of Europe is warmer that the corresponding point across the Atlantic Ocean. Average January temperatures in London? High of 44 degrees, low of 35. Happy Valley/Goose Bay Labrador? 10 to minus 8.

"How can this be?" I'm sure you're saying to yourself. "The further north you go the colder it should be. Period. There must be something else at work here. I must immediately go on a quest for information to find out why!!"

Congratulations. What you'll learn in the course of your search is that Europe is warmed a great deal by the Gulf Stream, an ocean current that brings a constant supply of warm tropical water north to European shores. You'll also discover that more than a few climate scientists, real ones, not the one or two who disagree with the overwhelming consensus of their peers and therefore get to fly in Exxon corporate jets to appearances on Fox News, have done modeling that shows as the planet's temperatures rise, it will cause the massive glaciers of Greenland to melt and dump so much fresh water into the North Atlantic that it will affect its salinity, which will, in turn, shut down the Gulf Stream. There is already data to show the Gulf Stream that keeps the sunny in Spain is slowing down.

Which is why some people feel the term "climate change" is more accurate than "global warming." Because while the planet as a whole is indeed warming up, we are looking at the serious possibility that Madrid will have some very Montreal-like winters in our lifetime.

Hope that clears some things up was. You're welcome. Your next project will be to learn that for every case of someone who "fudged, changed, ignored data that suggested anything that didnt support their hypothesis." There are a thousand rock-solid pieces of science that support humans as the cause of climate change. A thousand to one. Easy. Probably a lot more. Saying otherwise puts you on the same level as the Christian fundy evolution deniers in the eyes of science my friend, and I don't think that's where a person who professes to love information wants to be.

Of course I could be wrong. For taking you at your word. Time will tell I guess.

luagha said...

I would be curious to hear your opinion on the recent 'ClimateGate' scandal, wherein it is revealed that many of those thousand pieces of evidence were both fabricated and manipulated by a small group of self-reinforcing people.

Would you object to other scientists taking a clear-headed look at the data?

Pharmacy Mike said...

Anyone who presents a dissenting opinion really needs to use their eyes.

GLACIERS ARE DISAPPEARING!!! Many Glaciers that have been relatively stable for thousands of years have almost completely melted in our lifetimes. I don't understand how people can argue this. That's a fact.

Furthermore, what possible grounds do these people have to reject the overwhelming scientific consensus? 99% of climate scientists say global temperatures are rising, ocean currents are changing, glaciers and ice caps are melting. Then, you have a few morons that stand up and loudy shout, "NO WAY! NOT TRUE!!" Have these people done research? Do they have anything upon which to base these ridiculous claims?

They're just afraid. Afraid their way of life will have to change. Afraid that the planet can no longer afford for us to be wasteful. Afraid to give up their gas guzzling SUVs. Therefore, instead of acting to solve the problem, they take the easy way out and deny it even exists.

And you know what... If you disagree with me and 99% of the scientific community on this one, I whole heartedly disrespect your opinion. I'm sick of the notion that we should respect everyone's opinions. Actually, this isn't even an opinion we're talking about. It's scientific fact. Therefore, why should I respect a thought that is obviously wrong?

Anonymous said...

I think that maybe the earth science I took in 8th grade should be rearing its ugly head by now. But, I too, am inclined to believe despite the more PC terminology of the natural phenomenon (whatever the state of how it's been discussed), its presence has not just emerged with ex VP Gore. Despite revelations of recent tainted 'scientific' research 'there's somethin' out there' that will not go away with the excuse 'not in my lifetime'. 'I'll not be around to see it so it doesn't matter' just doesn't cut it anymore.

Beth said...

The climate change indicator that blew me away is that for the first time in the recorded history of Europe, grapes for wine production are being grown in UK. Until about 10 years ago, they died because it was to cold in the winter.

luagha said...

Actually, historical records make it clear that grapes for wine production were grown in the UK from the year 800 to the year 1300; what's called the 'Medieval Warm Period'. That's also when Greenland got its name (because it was green and growing and lush) and when Leif Erikson got to Newfoundland, Canada and called it 'Vinland' (land of grapes, land of wine) for what grew so well there. Believe you me, grapes don't grow like that in Canada today.

They didn't have thermometers back then, but the recorded historical evidence and things like tree core data and ice bore data indicate that the Medieval Warm Period was notably but not incredibly warmer than today.

Bluedahlia (PharmD student) said...

The only "scientists" that refute climate changing science are no longer scientists. They are paid shills for the oil, coal, etc industries who stand to lose money by accepting facts.

What I don't understand is this: their profits are huge. Record breaking lately. Why not spend a little of that money to be progressively work toward greener technology? It only makes sense to plan for the future.
I think too many CEO's are pretty lazy and not really as important as they think they are. They either don't know how to really run a successful company that changes with the times, they only know how to pay off politicians and run PR campaigns to make record profits.
sigh

Anonymous said...

Yes, well we all know non-Southern politicians are much brighter and less corrupt don't we? Like ooh, in bastions of honor and statesmanship like New Jersey, New York and Chicago...wait, nevermind.

Anonymous said...

The fact is that there are dumbass and smart people everywhere. I was born and raised in the South, but I'm still a die hard democrat with higher test scores than 98% of America. The real kicker is I got all of this from an education in Mississippi. Just because I'm southern doesn't mean I'm stupid. Besides your occasional South-bashing comments, I thoroughly enjoy this blog.