NASA gave a big boost to the global warming paranoia-mongers by declaring that most of the hottest years on record occurred between 1990 and 2007. Then a math major from Canada, Stephen MacIntyre, showed on his blog that NASA's calculations were wrong. NASA hemmed and hawed, but finally admitted that four of the hottest years on record were in the 1930s: 1934, 1931, 1938, and 1939. Turns out only three of the top 10 heat waves occurred in the last decade and a half: 1998, 2006 and 1999. Several years that had been given heat records by NASA, such as 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 fell way down the list.
Still, why should we let a few facts get in the way of today's Great Liberal Scare? Pied Piper Al Gore, not previously known for his climatological expertise, and his great following of Hollywood imbeciles, had such a simple and beautiful story to tell. It summarized American history over the past century in three words: "Cool, Warm, Hot." Unfortunately this Canadian fellow has completely spoiled the fairy tale. Now the U.S. temperatures must be read this way, "Hot, Cool, Warm." Somehow the urgency is gone when you put it that way.
All of which raises a question no one seems to have asked: why did people in the 1930s spend so little time worrying that they were suffering through the hottest temperatures on record? Ah, yes, there was a Great Depression, and most people had other things to fret about, like unemployment and home evictions and very little food on the table. Poor people almost never worry about remote warnings of Apocalypse, whether they come from Bible-toting fundamentalists or secular prophets of doom.
In the 1980s ordinary folk paid little attention to the frenzy over Nuclear Armageddon, nor were they spurred to anxiety and action by dire liberal predictions of Ozone Dissipation. In these cases the unconcern of the hoi polloi turned out to be fully warranted. So perhaps the common man today is equally right to ignore the prospect that the planet may be a few degrees warmer 50 years from now than it is today. First let the experts figure out how to accurately forecast the climate for next week; then we'll pay attention to their predictions for the year 2047. I wonder if global warming will one day be seen as one of those idle concerns that occupied people in rich countries with too much leisure; in short, much ado about nothing.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 5)
46. The global warming fairy tale is Boo Hoo for now. But look at what is to come. The following was revealed to St. John and written in the book of Revelation,Bible, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."
We all have a chance for a new beginning. See the Word of God.
Alan Klaus at 1:46PM on Aug 31st 2007
47. Algore and his imbecilic followers never mention that the interior of Antarctica is getting COLDER, and the ice sheet is thickening as water evaporating from the oceans falls as snow there. They also never mention that, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia shut down its Siberian temperature recording stations, causing the average RECORDED temperature of the world to "suddenly" increase.
By the way, a Moslem guy walked through my lush vinca (a groundcover vine) to try to fix an outdoor electrical outlet, and, when he left a few minutes later, that plant DIED where he had walked and stood. I may be called Cuckoo for this, but my whole family saw it and were amazed. The plant remained dead for a year before the rest of the vine filled in that area where he had walked. What do Moslems exude that kills vegetation? What explains how every land they inhabit turns into a desert? The Romans used to hunt lions in North Africa. Now it is the edge of the Sahara, the largest desert on earth, whose scorching temperatures are causing southern Italy and Greece to become deserts. Everywhere they go seems cursed. Of course, this will only anger the "smart" people who don't believe in God. They think a small timepiece worn on the wrist needs a designer, but the solar system, upon which it is based, just happened by chance.
Mary K. N. at 1:52PM on Aug 31st 2007
48. You need to read your Constitution, Robert. It legitimized both "plunder" and "power" when it sanctioned slavery. Our "forefathers" were both greedy and racist. They were the first to "play the race card." Now, no one wants to be reminded that the earlier state-sanctioned racism still has effects today.
For the record, though, the current story is about global warming. It would be nice to stick to the point, without making gratuitously racist comments.
Jones at 2:13PM on Aug 31st 2007
49. Why do people, who do not believe in global warming, care so much what others do to protect this earth? Let's not even use the word "global warming", what about pollution? Are you going to deny we are polluting the air and water? Have you noticed the rise in cancer cases in America and other "technologically advanced" countries? Why does it upset you so much that people care, that people still have compassion and want to do something to possibly better this world? You right-wing fascists crack me up. How miserable you all are! I feel so sorry for you, you must not have had a very secure, loving childhood. How lonely it must be to not feel empathy and love. You are like a bunch of mindless robots.
You know, it was the mindless robots who thought the world was flat, and criticized anyone who thought differently. What does that tell you?
jsco at 3:11PM on Aug 31st 2007
50. Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the U.S. had a number of winters that had recond cold temperatures and record amounts of snowfall. Scientists were predicting that we were heading towards another ice age.
I remember one meteoroligist saying that Chicago's winters were going to be similar to those of the Twin Cities, while Dallas would have well over a foot of annual snowfall. About the only places in the U.S. that wouldn't see regular snowfall were Hawaii and Key West.
So what happened? In less than 30 years, we went from having winters that lasted from Halloween to Memorial Day to global warming.
Last fall, Chicago set a new record for the earliest measurable snowfall. I believe it was October 11th, which was a full week earlier than the prior record. And we are ending August with 9.69 inches of rain, one of the rainest on record. I've been double cutting my yard, because the grass is growing so fast. I'm used to Illinois in August being brown, and it's greener than at the end of April.
Kent at 3:17PM on Aug 31st 2007
51. Global warming or not, the earth is warming. duh. Scientists are studying glaciers and ice caps on both poles and are finding they are diminishing at a greater rate.
What ever is doing it, us or nature, we have a problem. I don't see any harm in trying to find a cleaner fuel because it will be good for us anyway.
It is retarded to discount something like having us less dependent on oil as stupid just because it comes from liberals. And just one question, After the Republicans sell ports to Arab countries, turn our natioinal parks into mines and continue to send our troops to war for the purpose of, get ready for this, doing the chicken little tactic, "they have bombs and we must kill them." and trying to justify it by pointing to 9/11 and dividing people and destroying buildings and lands... What left would there be to conserve? WHAT THE HELL ARE "CONSERVATIVES CONSERVING?!
David McCool at 3:20PM on Aug 31st 2007
52. The fact that three of the top ten remain on the list from the last couple of years is enough to concern me. I don't understand how it could be a bad thing to try to come up with environmentally friendlier means of transportation and standards of living, regardless of global warming. Jobs are going by the wayside, and everything can't be blamed on the Endangered Species or Clean Air acts.
This is the second or third blog I've read by this clown who really just seems like a selfish individual based on his rantings.
Suzanne at 3:45PM on Aug 31st 2007
53. Where is the world do they dig up these clowns like Dinesh? Does this guy take stupid pills or what? His only talent appears to be dividing our country's people into either saintly conservatives or evil doing liberals. Of course, liberal being anyone who happens to disagree with the idiots like Dinesh and the corporate and religious right. Contrary to popular media myth, the world is neither conservative or liberal. It's either rich, poor or in between and the politics of it can do without the hatred and the misinformation.
gshort3011 at 4:44PM on Aug 31st 2007
54. Nowhere does DD mention that the correction to the figures were minor, and only pertain to the US. He thus implies that there was some major correction to global warming estimates. There wasn't.
In passing, DD also adds a little obfuscation about Ozone Depletion (not "Dissipation", DD...). Ozone Depletion is a very real problem caused by emission of man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Fortunately the problem was recognized some time ago and something was done about it -- practically all countries now adhere to the Montreal Protocol which bans the production of CFCs. This is precisely the best example of an environmental disaster being averted by international cooperation.
Finally, DD's attempt at irony when he challenges "the experts [to] figure out how to accurately forecast the climate for next week" proves what an imbecile he is about the whole subject (if it wasn't already obvious) -- he doesn't know the difference between weather and climate.
It seems obvious to me that DD is just a shameless (and inept) shill for those interested in sowing doubt and confusion about climate change.
Joe Bob at 5:32PM on Aug 31st 2007
55. Traditional environmentalism does not need a face lift or a make over, and neither does conservation.
Putting a layer of hype and hysteria (i.e. the recent Global Warming "movement") and asset re-allocation schemes like carbon credit trading over well-known environmental problems like smog and polluted land and water only detracts from very needed efforts to clean up air and water pollution. We really need to steer clear of radical politics and focus our time, money and efforts on cleaning up the environment and conservation.
Instead of worrying and arguing about whether we poor flawed humans have the power to change the weather, I think we will be miles ahead if we simply keep our focus on cleaning up the environment (air, water and land), conserving energy and other resources (water, wildlife, etc), and on directing a concerted effort toward developing better fuels and cleaner energy sources.
All this starts at home. Clean up you own corner of this world; don't throw trash out of your car, and if you change your car's oil, don't just dump the old motor oil in your back yard. Plant a tree. When you go to the park or to the beach, pick up the trash in the area before you leave (even if you did not drop it there); leave the place nicer and cleaner than you found it. When possible, use lemons and vinegar and/or salt and baking soda to clean things around the house instead of more harsh chemicals (example; wash windows with vinegar and water, and dry them with old newspapers). Use your head, do not let the good be the enemy of the best, and do not be afraid to put a little elbow grease into being greener, and stop bawling and babbling about whose fault pollution is; truly, there is enough blame to go around. Get off your high horses and off your butts, and clean up your own corner of the world and teach your kids to do the same.
Environmentalism is not just talk and blab and carbon credit trading schemes or feel-good rock concerts. Pick up the trash and put it away properly and do not be a slob. Show a little pride in yourself, your family, and your country, and have some respect for God's green earth which by the way, is only "on-loan" to us for this short while. Everyone wants to save the world, but nobody wants to help Mom wash the dishes.
Ken Berg at 5:52PM on Aug 31st 2007
56. @ Ken Berg... #51
Wow, Ken... we agree on this at least, and it is important.
pboyfloyd at 1:25AM on Sep 1st 2007
57. Global Warming is real, if you don't think so move to Europe and you'll find out. Most the world say it's real from a thing called FACTS. Yet you neo-cons 1st say it isn't real, then when the facts are in your face it's "not man made". Nice work it's like me going I didn't sleep with her, anyway she seduced me
Fluohug at 3:46AM on Sep 2nd 2007
58. A few notes on the whole global warming issue. I note just one thing. The generalized temperature database used is based on just two things: First, actual recorded observations, which for most places only go back a little over a century (U.S. weather service is a late 1800's creation); Second, extrapolation from tree ring data and historical records that lack recorded temperature data. Also, some things just aren't accounted for in the databases. I know of two locations where the official weather service station was moved several miles...in one case, from a park to an airport. Gusess what happened to the temperature readings when the thermometer moved from grass and trees to an asphalted expanse. Admitting fossil fuels use is a problem, please note that some of the most severe cold weather (blizzards in the late 1880s, winter of 1944-45) for which actual verifiable records exist, occured during periods of exceptionally high particulate polution (Krakatoa eruption and the second world war). Without accurate data, everything is an estimate. History records that England was a premiere wine growing region 900-1000 years ago. History also records a significant global warming, albeit with several severe cold events, starting before population increased and consequently fossil fuel use went up, beginning in the 18th century...again, there aren't enough widespread accurate temperature data to say how much things warmed up. Additionally, if you chose your parameters carelessly, you can show causal effects that actually do not exist.
gt at 12:34PM on Sep 2nd 2007
59. Whether Global Warming is or is not is NOT the crux of the issue, it is the argument about what is causing it. Even the trumped up media in typical braindead non-techie, follow the leader, fashion tries to shade the argument.
Evidently those of us who do not subscribe to the man made theory of its cause are instantly and dishonestly accused of not recongizing that there is global warming. Al Gore is a more of a morn that your can imagine and so are those who believe the false linkage to man. How did the last couple of cycles of global warming begin? Dinosaur farts? Neanderthal Man's industrial revolution?
Read the Book: "Unstoppable Global Warming...every 1500 years" by Singer and Avery.
Stabe at 10:41PM on Sep 2nd 2007
60. Global warming is fake, period and done with. We humans are having little or no effect on the weather and heat patterns of this planet by burning fossil fuels, it is more coming from completely natural temperature variations that have always been around and always will be.
Christopher at 10:53AM on Sep 3rd 2007