What does the theory of punctuated equilibrium have to do with modern-day American politics? Dan Vergano of USA Today has an intriguing piece that makes the connection: In the 1990’s, amid widespread complaints of “gridlock” in Washington, the notion of political punctuated equilibrium “was born from dissatisfaction with the idea of everything being fixed and…Continue Reading…
Last week, when news broke about NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s $50 million donation to the Sierra Club’s anti-coal campaign, I noted that his rationale was based largely on public health considerations and NOT global warming. I wrote: Imagine that. Leaving climate change out of the argument. I wonder if the climate moralists will beat their chests in indignation,…Continue Reading…
When I lived in the affluent, liberal, eco-friendly universe of Boulder, Colorado in 2007-2008, I noticed that bikes and SUV’s were ubiquitous. Similarly, here’s an observation from a reader who resides in another well-to-do community: I live in a very “˜eco friendly’ community just outside of Seattle. Styrofoam cups have been banned, various street signs…Continue Reading…
If you want to know why the old school, inflexible wing of environmentalism is rotting from within, look no further than this gem of a comment at Dot Earth: Keith Kloor, Mark Lynas, Steve Nordhaus, and Roger Pielke Jr. share several characteristics: rudimentary knowledge of climate change (absent any scientific discipline), a way with words,…Continue Reading…
As I write this now, it’s 104 degrees in parts of Brooklyn. The record-setting heat wave is broiling the Eastern U.S. If it’s smoking hot where you live, stay inside and cool off to this stellar deconstruction of an enduring climate myth.
It’s from yesterday, but what the hell: How the perception of media bias by biased people has grown even more biased Brilliant!
Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s billionaire mayor for the last decade, can be a force for good when he’s not strong-arming local pols to alter NYC election laws (so he can run for a third term) or installing cronies to important positions they are eminently unqualified for. For example, I can now have a drink in…Continue Reading…
A scientist lays it out in the Guardian: The term “genetic modification” provokes widespread fears about the corporate control of agriculture, and of the unknown. However, results from 25 years of EU-funded research show that there is “no scientific evidence associating GM plants with higher risks for the environment or for food and feed safety than conventional plants and organisms”. This…Continue Reading…
An abridged, reader-friendly version of this paper (and published here) is now available. Here’s the article and opening section: The past is the key to the future. Contrary to popular belief, climate models are not the principal basis for assessing human-made climate effects. Our most precise knowledge comes from Earth’s paleoclimate, its ancient climate, and how it responded…Continue Reading…
Last week, this provocative interview with Sir David King, who the Guardian calls “one of the most respected figures in climate change policy,” seemed to register not more than a blip. That’s too bad, because here’s some of what he said: I can’t see the Kyoto protocol making any headway – there are enough blocks…Continue Reading…