Science Perspective: News, Essays, Comment

Chesapeake Bay And What is Being Done About It

2011-05-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Chesapeake is the largest estuary in North America. It is dying an unnatural death. It was there to welcome the first explorers and settlers of this land. Give the Chesapeake its due. The runoff from farms and developments is putting so much nitrogen and potassium in the water thast it causes blooms of algae which then take all the oxygen out of the water and kill anything there. The book I have listed and is here complete, is a catch-up on what is being done to ameliorate the damage...Jeff Darling

Water Bottle Story- Please get your water from the tap!

2011-04-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Story of Bottled Water is a story about how we, in order to save all the terrible problems with filling a stainless steel bottle from the tap, are creating 70 % of the plastic waste in the world. It is about enough fuel for one million cars- per year. It is not necessary, and it isn't healthy. The worst way to drink water is from plastic. Watch the film, if you don't agree. Tell me and tell me why. thanks...Jeff Darling (Oh if you noticed I wasn't around for a few days, my Hard Drive crashed)

What Happens in the Karoo: Happens to Us All

2011-04-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

For my friends in the Karoo, and as a warning for all of us that this travesty against Nature is coming to every door. In America, there are more shale deposits in the US than anywheree and they are virtually everywhere. I have noted before that a break in the law was given so that no studies on damage are required and no information on the chemicals used is required to be issued.Wake Up.

The Karoo is one of the last untouched places in South Africa.
Film makers Johann Vorster and Theart Korsten from Happy Handgrenade Productions recently returned from the Karoo, filming a documentary exploring the threats of Hydraulic Fracturing and the concerns of the local residents.
To learn more about Hydraulic Fracturing visit treasurethekaroo.blogspot.com and add your voice.
We thank you!

Stop Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo. from Happy Handgrenade on Vimeo.

History of the World-TED-for the next generation

2011-04-16T12:56:00.001-07:00

I thank and hope to honor Dr. David Christianfor his work in making "the big History" Project possible.This is a TD presentation meant to be shared...Jeff Darling

Fracking Blues

2011-04-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Please take a look and support this important cause. We can make a difference for these people trying to save the Karoo.
Iam
trying
to see
something
and I
can't quite.

Libuse Binder-4-4-2011 -Review

2011-04-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

10 Ways to Change the World in Your 20s

Have you ever had the feeling you had just seen the next big thing? I was at an author speech this week and believe I watched something very unusual. A crowd of Young people(18-22) who were paying rapt attention as someone urged them to take responsibility. It was amazing and gratifying. After years of feeling pressured by the Status Quo environmentalists, this young woman Libuse Binder, showed them the need in a way that made them want to sign up now.

Her Book, 10 Ways to Change the World in Your 20s is a refreshing “lead the horse to water” approach that gets these kids’ attention. I have written a short review of the event to use. If I should need to make it longer or shorter, or if it would be better to include the book in the review, let me know. I have run some articles in The Rapidian, and a couple of events.
Jeff Darling
Website: Science Perspectives

Libuse Binder visited Grand Rapids April4&5 Lecturing at GVSU and GRCC campuses about her message of “Making a Change in the World in Your Twenties”
10 Ways to Change the World in your 20s-Tour

“10 Ways to Change the World in your 20s” is a pretty lengthy title, and a pretty strong claim. The author, Libuse Binder, acknowledges this in her opening statement. In fact she makes a bit of a clumsy joke about it. I think that it is perhaps her artistry with the apparently clumsy joke that makes this woman the artist of the year when it comes to penetrating the armor of apathy that has plagued this “generation of the electronic idol.”

Having attended the lecture, I think there was a fair enough sample of the book’s contents to review both in a reasonable light. The fact that most pertinent tables, list and facts were shown at least in brief gives a fair first representation. The fact that we had the author expressing what things about these tables and lists were pertinent to her mission (Her word) should put us in a position of advantage over those who only read the words.

Libuse’s mission, she makes it clear, is to empower, not preach. She has gone to great lengths to avoid imitating what she feels are the errors of the past. “In dealing with this generation, I avoid the word ‘should’,” she says with a smile.

A typical entry in Libuse’s “lists of things” with appropriate verb, (to empower, to resource, to change,) etc, would be:

Bring your values extend life of useful items
Vote with your dollar educate yourself
Eat real food speak up
Every word on the lists meant to be a guide to action, without a should. Libuse is banking on the "Don't say should" plan as an effective Vaccine against the Tree-Hugger finger-pointing of the past. I hope the strategy proves to be a helpful as it is hopeful.

At the talk I attended, Libuse was careful to make eye contact with every person in the room, and for those representing her target, she stayed in eye contact mode a lot. It is clear the idea of gathering the best information, presenting it in steps, then guiding gently to where the ball is so they can go “find” it, has resonated with a generation.

The book and the author offer a simple method, beginning with the smaller steps, interlaced with accomplishments by those who have followed that path, to larger. Each step has its own prices and rewards, and she is quite honest about it all. I did not sense any sugar coating about the realities of the commitments she was endorsing. It also was clear that each possibility had other coaches farther down the road to show the next way. It played like a big community of pathfinders operating together.

The young people I was watching were mesmerized, by the way .All in all I see a bright future for this book, its author and its concepts. I have listened for years as every manager, educator, sociologist and NGO has thrashed about, seeking the “golden ring” of a method of getting through to this generation. I believe a Guru is upon us, and her name is Libuse Binder.

Future Climate Change - Conversations from Penn State

2011-04-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Truth About Global Warming, or climate change if you prefer. It is time for the Universities and NSF to finally quit placating Climate Deniers. I applaud Dr Richard Alley for taking the lead and making these things undeniable. We need to do this because even if we let it go there would only be inaction at a time when action is needed more than ever before. In times when the money men are willing to go to the extremes they have don't people see that it is your children that are going to pay for this inaction? Please get on board so we can get together and figure out what to do. This is way past the Tree-Huggers. All of us need to find out what we will do....Jeff Darling

Biodiversity/ Benefits to Clean Water/ University of Michigan

2011-04-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

The University of Michigan's Bradley Cardinale has made a comprehensive study indicating that increased biodiversity does in fact actively promote water quality. This seems like a no-brainer, but it is solid science. Climate deniers and those who would rope the EPA, for instance, can be effectively neutralized by fact....Jeff Darling

Tools of the Wheel Wright- background of Tom Cutter

2011-04-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

In a review of Tom Cutter's life, visualize what things looked like and how the world was in the 1840's of the Michigan Frontier. I am doing this piece from my growing and continuing story 'The Challenge of Tom Cutter.' The story is taking place in the 1840-50's, as events unfolded. In the coming chapters:

Tom has more trouble than he can handle as someone comes calling on the Yankee Springs Trail.

Tom has a time of it when he runs into someone who has some making up to do;

Jubal was a handful from the word go, but Tom's firm hand and Open heart show the way.

Available by going to http:// writing.com click on authors then goto j_darling, the Challenge of Tom Cutter

I can see this place as the shop of Tom's cousin,George.

Here is a collection fit to open Tom's shop in Brownsville.

A nice wheelwright's Lathe (like George ultimately gave Tom)

The building of a good Hub insured that the wheel would be as solid as could be hoped for.

Join me in my exploration of another time as I continue and broaden the story of Tom Cutter. I have gotten him started in frontier Michigan. He has had some genuine adventures and will be having more as he gets to know his new, frontier life, and the people who are waiting to be part of his future. Go to writing.com, look up Author-j_darling- small j then underscore, then, darling, all small letters. they may ask you to sign up, but it is free, and there is no obligation to write, although it is nice to have if you ever want to. There is a wonderful community of folks at writing.com, come in and look around. (and read about Tom)

The Challenge of Tom Cutter

2011-04-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a short story I have been working on at writing.com I have a couple others there and will likely have more as time goes by. Go to writing.com, and go to authors, or fill the author space with j_darling as that is my name there. Here is a preview, but go and read it. It is only a few pages long at this point, but complete.

THE GREAT CHALLENGE OF TOM CUTTER-by Jeff Darling

My name is Tom Cutter. I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1829, 25 years ago. I later moved to Detroit, where I lived for several years. I entered an Apprenticeship with George Cunningham, a cousin to my Mother, as a Wheelwright. One thing I must admit: I had a family relationship with Cousin George. He treated me like I was his own son. My cousin beat me, worked me like a slave from dawn to dusk and then stole my money just like my own dear old father.

My cousin also taught me how to solve a problem, and I have one. I haven’t the tools I need to open shop in a livery. I had planned on my fee for serving my cousin for an extra two years. It could take another two years to save enough for the start of our Homestead. Captain Townsend the steamboat Captain told me He had taken 2,000 immigrants to St. Joseph and Grand Rapids himself last year Sweeney at the Port Authority told me: If I don’t go now for the land, with 12,000 immigrants coming this year alone, the pickings were going to be slim. I knew I had to put first things first and get my property, but I really didn’t know what I was going to do afterwards.

It started six months ago, in early spring. I knew it was time to leave George’s shop; I had been a Journeyman for two years. I worked some jobs on the side so I had a little money put away in a place where George wouldn’t find it. I also had a fee coming from George for staying two years extra after completing my Journeyman card. I had decided to start in a new place, and Brownsville, outside Grand Rapids, seemed like a good choice. I went to the Land Office in Kalamazoo and looked the offering (Over 5oo tracts) over well. I found three tracts of land I thought might be nice, according to surveyor's notes, then I went to have a look.

I went to Brownsville prepared. I had a wagon, which I would leave with a friend of mine from Pennsylvania. I had left most of the pots and pans and household things I would need back in Detroit with Molly, the girl I planned to wed. I had been close with Molly Duffy since I came to Michigan.
I got a room at the Oak Grove House, owned By Mr. Asahel Kent, right next to the Battle Creek Trail, at 100th. I could almost travel a straight line to anywhere and not get lost once.

The hotel where Tom might have stayed

Help TKAG Stop Fracking

2011-03-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

Help TKAG Stop Fracking.

This is a film from some friends of mine in the Karoo. This is a portion of South Africa. It is a beautiful place, which still contains wild lands and native people in some of it. They have seen the effects of Fracking. They are standing up. Shell Oil is the purveyor this time. WE need to stand with them and learn from them. I cannot be sure if there is a safe way to conduct this practice of Fracking.

I do know that the Oil Companies are determined to buffalo their way through without finding out. If they bully us into submission, they will do whatever they please, as the bill that has protected them so far says they don't have to test, report or take responsibility for the damages caused by the practice of Fracking. Bush and Cheney hid this free pass into other legislation. This is called Halliburton's bill. Look it up.

The Oil and gas companies who use this process(and it is nearly all of them) are pumping millions of gallons of Diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid and whatever they like, into the ground. Support the protectors of the Karoo. Stop Fracking here, until it is proven what it will take for this practice to be safe...Jeff Darling

A Few words from the leader of the "Save the Karoo"movement: my friend, Louise Maartens Venter:

This is something all South Africans should see. Please act against fracking now before it's

too late. It's about our health, our water, our landscape, our people, our economic

upliftment, our future and our children's heritage. Shell and others want to start with 24 wells. Gas is NOT a renewable or sustainable source of energy, it is NOT more ozone friendly. Please don't believe the propaganda. Read up and decide for yourself.

Not Just Polar Bears- Endangered species abound

2011-03-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

The day gets closer and closer. Global warming is a reality. Someone told me recently, God said He would not wipe out man with another flood, and that is how we know it is not real. I tell you- Global warming is not about a flood.It is about animals that cannot reproduce, that cannot feed their young, that cannot adapt anywhere near as quickly as we can corrupt. Man is the destroyer: of a million acres a week in each great Rain Forest, of the ice caps at the north an south poles, of the air we breathe. And those who "Forge Her Beauty Into Power" will do anything to keep us in their stranglehold.

The tortoise changes the sex of its offspring if the ambient temperature is 4 degrees over normal. What will they do if they can only produce females? The Salmon, such a wonder of nature(just ask the Bear) is helpless to decline without the cold stream water. Ocean dwellers have a little more chance to move and avoid the excess warmth. What about those who feed on them? The Puffin for example, cannot fly miles further offshore to gather the fish they eat and bring them home to the chicks.

Corals are going faster yet. 10 years ago 2% were endangered now there are 30% of coral endangered as the oceans change faster every year.

The freak weather associated with the climate changes continue to hold some of our most precious species hostage. Imagine a day without the Monarch Butterfly. Just recently 80% were wiped out by colder than normal storms, and the rain is predicted again this year. It isn't always the big change that causes the most impact. Bighorn Sheep, Pica, Snowy Owls are just some of the animals that need to move higher or further North, but what if they can't even find it? It is past time to act. Act, before it is too late.

The Wilderness Society

Mummified Trees Could Take Climate Scientists Back to the Future

2011-03-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Update of World Earthquake activity

For those tracking Japan Earthquake Aftershocks

And now tonight's story...
Mummified Trees Could Take Climate Scientists Back to the Future

It is clear that Joel Barker has found what is essentially fresh forest that is millions of years old. The trees and leaves were kept fresh by being sealed off from Oxygen immediately. The boon this has provided is amazing. Scientists will be able to extract data for a long time, and it will be interesting to seewhat else they find.

When in Quttinirpaaq National Park in the Canadian Arctic, Ohio State University Earth scientist Joel Barker initially spotted some pieces of dead trees scattered on the barren ground near a glacier. Immediately, he knew he had found something akin to a looking glass peering into the Arctic's ecological past.

Due to previous cores and recent discoveries,Barker's team can place the age of the discovery to between 2-12 million years ago.

Also because of the state of the trees and leaves(yes leaves) being so pristine, scientists are going to be able to extrapolate much information from them that would be relevant to what we need to know about the effects of Global Warming on similar species.

Due to the fact of having found only about five different species, Barker has stated that it is pretty clear "Probably living at the most northern extent of its range, this forest was probably living at the edge, just hanging on, just barely staying alive," said Barker."

for rest of story

The landscape of Quttinirpaaq National Park is dominated by glaciers and sparse high-arctic tundra vegetation.

Credit: Joel Barker, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University

The mummified trees have very narrow growth rings, indicating a very harsh environment during their lifetime.

Credit: Joel Barker, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University

Researchers have found mummified leaves in the sediment of the mummified forest deposit at the Quttinirpaaq National Park.

Credit: Joel Barker, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University

Common Sense to End Climate Change-Stop Climate Denial

2011-03-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

Please Help Me Find Common Sense Solutions!

The purpose of this showing of a NSF (National Science Foundation ) instructional piece on climate change is to educate. I am not here to tell you anything I do not find very good reason to believe. We need to begin to see the truth of each other, instead of letting others tell us why we should hate.

I had someone tell me the other day that people refuse to believe Climate Change is real because God promised He would never again end the Earth in Flood. This could be very true and still have nothing to do with it. If something were going to end life on Earth due to Climate Change, it would not be the flooding. The flooding is a bad thing, but certainly would not end life on Earth. If, later, the change got worse and reached a point of always feeding itself in a loop that made it worse and worse, the final result would be Oceans boiling away and heat causing our demise. My question is: Why on Earth, for the sake of our children and their children, would we let it get that far when we can make sensible changes and get things better every year? Why in the name of all that is Holy wouldn't we do that? Let's do that...Jeff Darling

The Story of Stuff- With a Science Perspective

2011-03-17T16:23:00.001-07:00

We have allowed a bunch of Corporations with a very vested interest to take over our country. They did this with a plan and a purpose; to get filthy rich to the point where the money could no longer even mean anything. Annie Leonard is going to explain the plan.

What I want you to get is that this is not a conspiracy theory, it is not self-aggrandizing from tree-huggers. This is how come we all notice that our lives are so different and lacking in purpose.It is why we cannot get off the merry-go-round. It is why we ruin the forest, the people of the third world countries, our jobs and everything we ever held dear. It is a crazy train out of control. America can't be the bad guy, serving our selfish fat asses. But you know what? We are.

We got snookered by a bunch of people who would do anything to be in charge. I am quite certain these were the kids who got their butts whooped on the way home from school. They are in Charge. We are on a spinning top and we need to remember who we are.

It has gotten so that people flock to churches because they are so afraid of these changes. STOP THESE CHANGES. GET OFF THE FERRIS WHEEL.Go back to church 'cause you like it, not to be sure you are on the right side.

It is time we demand more from our leaders. I knew something was funny when somehow, the Tea Party and the environmentalists were really on the same page. We all want the same thing. The Billionaires do not. They are not out to help us. This is the beginning of saying no to this and taking our lives and our country back. Join Me. ..Jeff Darling

_________________________________________________________________________________

By now a lot of you have seen 'The Story of Stuff, by Annie Leonard and the Story of Stuff Project. I firmly congratulate and appreciate the vision Annie Leonard and a handful of others show when they make these things to get through to us. Thank you...Jeff Darling

Update-Japan

2011-03-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

NASA Has view of Affected area of Japan

The ESA has overhead photos of the before and After of the earthquake.

Before After

Science Perspective: News, Essays, Comment: Japan suffers Mega-Quake, 8.9 and Tsunami,up to 10...

2011-03-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

Science Perspective: News, Essays, Comment: Japan suffers Mega-Quake, 8.9 and Tsunami,up to 10...: "Publish Post It seems like the end of WWII again. Japan has seen hard times lately. It has been ten years since the beginning of the Japan..."

Japan suffers Mega-Quake, 8.9 and Tsunami,up to 1000 dead

2011-03-11T07:52:00.000-08:00

Publish Post

From The Editor whatever your reason for being here, be it essay material or whatever, thank you. However, I would really appreciate comments as they are the only way I can tell what is bringing you here, so I can make it more or better...Thanks...Jeff Darling

It seems like the end of WWII again.Mass destruction on an untold scale, images that numb the soul. Japan has seen hard times lately. It has been ten years since the beginning of the Japanese Economic slump.It seemed for a while as though things might be picking up in the longest stagnant economy in recent memory. Unfortunately the deck just gets more and more rigged in a country that is considered doomed. With a population that is even older than the U.S. and Europe(overall) things could hardly look worse for this once economic superpower.

The problems for Japan are so many. Besides the number of elderly, which is growing daily, the population is shrinking so there is no growth to be seen anywhere, which would help to level the age problem.Japan has survived this long, at least twenty years , buy selling their debt to their own people. Their circumstance is the worst of the industrial western world.

After all this, Japan suffered its worst earthquake in recorded history today, along with over sixty aftershocks. It is a testament to human will how these people keep going under the circumstances they endure.

Reports have the death toll will be over 1000 dead, and there are thousands missing right now.

On top of this, several nuclear facilities were gaining pressure as they tried cool-down emergency procedures. The control rooms were reported to contain atmosphere with 100 times approved radiation levels. The auto industries were in the midst of their greatest change over in years, as they prepared to start most of their production in electric motor-vehicles as opposed to the traditional gas. It is going to be a" long climb for Japan" according to Naoto Kan, Prime Minister.

We wish you well, Japan...Jeff Darling

Japan has suffered a Mega-quake. 8.9 Richter and a follow-up of several severe aftershocks, along with a major Tsunami, seen here

Santa Rosa island of California :PaleoIndians -Stone-age -'Boat People' ?

2011-03-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

A new picture of stone age California?

1:52 PM

The Channel Islands are 10-12 miles off the coast of California, and since they are effectively isolated, it means some of the species there are only there. They are what we call unique to the area. Between ten and twelve thousand years ago the sea level over the entire Earth was much lower, which means islands are much larger, since the sea covers much less of the land. Even when the sea level was much lower, the people couldn't have swum there, so we know they used Boats. This was a long time before traditional Archeology and anthropology tell us people used boats, so this is a big deal. Rick Torben(credits) and his team published an article about this in the newest Science Magazine, the elite magazine of Science today.

The study conducted by Torben et.al, found material and evidence on three sites on the Channel islands. Together, there had been one large island, Santa Rosa. San Miguel and some of the others in the area only became islands again after the sea level rose and covered them with ocean. According to Torben, a lucky break in the whole investigation is due to the lack of burrowing animals on the islands. "They tend to dig through and mix up the layers we use to determine age", Torben indicated.

The most interesting things found have to do with differences between the human population 12,000 years ago and later layers of the record. Although on San Miguel Island "for instance, were found with a lot of pretty remarkable tools, but the animal materials(food) were largely shellfish" This indicates they were equipped to hunt Mammals, seals, many kinds of food. However," on Santa Rosa Island, they found fish and marine mammals," almost exclusively. Also in the 12'000 year range on the digs, they were surprised to find that the groups of Paleoindian s living there were using a small, very fine head for hunting.

It was clear the" Channel Island barbed points" they were using were very like Arrow Heads. Torben stopped short of saying the word Arrowheads . That technology that was not supposed to have been known in that part of the world for several thousand more years. Torben said "We haven’t pushed that envelope, we’re still trying to figure out technologically what that means, but we can say with certainty that these are extremely delicate, finely made tools that don’t occur later in time.

On a mission like this, a scientist has to be sure before He uses a term that breaks such ground as this would. Writers do not have as much a restriction. Interestingly, once again the Channel Island Indians seem to lose the technology they once had.

In the rest of the investigation, it came clear that as these groups settled in the islands for thousands there were surprises in what changed and what did not. Their tools really did not advance much, staying pretty much static, Torben indicated. On the other hand, rather than continue to advance in culture and food, they seem to have regressed to eating mostly shellfish, after having a varied diet when they arrived. It is a certainty that we have a lot to learn about the Channel Island Indians before it is done.

To Hear the Interview:

http://www.sciencemag.org/site/multimedia/index.xhtml

Thanks to U.S. Gov, Nat park service, for the photo.

Stop Hydraulic Fracturing Now!

2011-03-09T18:44:00.000-08:00

Stop Frakking...Period.

We have seen plenty of evidence to know by now that Hydraulic Fracturing is bad news. It is inexcusable to allow free rein and special exemptions for industry to take such advantage of our precious resources. To take advantage of US.The mixture of chemicals used for frakking needs to be made public. The law that gives these manufacturers free rein must be rescinded. If they are not in compliance with Federal law under the EPA, and they are not prosecuted only because they are excused from reporting, they are criminals, and should be dealt with accordingly. Write your Congressman or Senator today. We are asking for the basic rights we were accorded forty years ago to be upheld. Do not let a handful of greedy millionaires to commit these crimes without even having to show whether their practices are safe or not.Thank You...Jeff Darling

Stop Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo

We need to stop fracking in this area for the sake of our environment, our future, our livelihoods, our health, our quality of life and our children's heritage!

About

"Large parts of South Africa's beautiful, but water-poor and ecologically sensitive Karoo region are under threat of being devastated by mining operations to extract natural gas using a controversial technique called hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking'.

During fracking millions of litres of water, sand and numerous chemicals most of which are toxic, carcinogic as well as teratogenic (they include benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene, ethylene glycol (antifreeze), diesel fuel, naphthalene (moth ball) compounds, boric acid, arsenic, poly nuclear organic hydrocarbons, only to name a few of 500-odd chemicals used), are pumped into boreholes at high pressure to release natural gas (called shale gas) trapped in layers of underground rock.

In the USA, where fracking has been used extensively, there have been hundreds of documented cases of this process resulting in:

- catastrophic drinking water pollution;

- air pollution;

- health concerns for humans and animals; and

- general environmental degradation.

Right now, Shell and other international and local companies are preparing to explore tens of thousands of square kilometres of land in South Africa for natural gas exploration by fracking. Most of the area under threat is already extremely water-stressed and can not afford any water to be either wasted or contaminated by the fracking process which, once in full production, may involve tens of thousands of boreholes and billions of litres of water.

There is a growing groundswell of opposition to the use of fracking in South Africa by a broad coalition of farmers, environmental organisations and ordinary citizens.

(Quoted from www.care2.com on 21 February 2011)

Positions

Fracking may pose serious risks to our environment in terms of pollution.
Fracking will contaminate our vulnerable water supply.
Fracking poses serious health for humans and animals alike.
www.thepetitionsite.com/295/--if-gte-...
www.thepetitionsite.com/.../--if-gte-mso-9xml-wworddocument- wviewnormalwview-wzoom0wzoom-wpunctuationkerning/

The National Academies of Science -World's Coral Reefs Under Pressure

2011-03-08T20:39:00.000-08:00

The National Academies of Science has put out a new book. At first, I admit, I though, what the Hell, we already pay for everything they do. but, on reflection I guess it is a moderate price(most science books start at $80.00.) I think it is a pretty well done book, and will put in a concise clear context exactly what is going wrong, by way of acidity, climate change and CO2. It actually could be a pretty good model of how to do and promote a book which is valid and useful in the ongoing fight against Global Warming and the fight to have it clearly understood. In this book it goes through why global warming is hurting the food chain in the ocean. It also goes over things like overfishing, and why they are not a part of Global Warming. These should be kept separate so we keep straight who to fight and who to help. Anybody that buys the Book: I am doing this display because it was the only way to put out all of it's valuable information and not break laws. I am not affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences(although if they insist, they should get hold of me anytime, I mean it, anytime, through this site) I also make no money or discount for running this. I think you can switch on a lot of the pages and graphics for free so do that. I hope it is fun and a good idea.. Thanks...Jeff Darling

Print this

World's Coral Reefs Under Pressure

By Christopher White

March 1, 2011 - According to a new report by the World Resources Institute (WRI), about 75 percent of the world’s coral reefs will be highly threatened by 2050 due to climate change, change in ocean chemistry, and other pressures. The WRI report suggests that absorption of carbon dioxide emitted by human activities is increasing the acidity of the ocean and disrupting coral reef growth. Damage or growth disruption to coral reefs may adversely affect marine biodiversity creating short- and long-term consequences for marine life and people.

The National Research Council report Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean says that man-made carbon dioxide emissions are changing ocean chemistry at an unprecedented rate. Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been absorbed by the ocean, making sea water more acidic. To date, carbon dioxide from fossil fuel emissions and changes in land use have increased average ocean acidity by 30 percent. The report finds the federal government's National Ocean Acidification Program, currently in development, a positive move toward coordinating efforts to understand and respond to the problem and recommends six key elements to create a successful program.

The book is under here



Read Report Summary Date: April 22, 2010 Contacts: Jennifer Walsh, Media Relations Officer Alison Burnette, Media Relations Assistant Office of News and Public Information 202-334-2138; e-mail FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CO₂ EMISSIONS CAUSING OCEAN ACIDIFICATION TO PROGRESS AT UNPRECEDENTED RATE WASHINGTON -- The changing chemistry of the world's oceans is a growing global problem, says the summary of a congressionally requested study by the National Research Council, which adds that unless man-made carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are substantially curbed, or atmospheric CO₂ is controlled by some other means, the ocean will continue to become more acidic. The long-term consequences of ocean acidification on marine life are unknown, but many ecosystem changes are expected to result. The federal government's National Ocean Acidification Program, currently in development, is a positive move toward coordinating efforts to understand and respond to the problem, said the study committee. The ocean absorbs approximately a third of man-made CO₂ emissions, including those from fossil-fuel use, cement production, and deforestation, the summary says. The CO₂ taken up by the ocean decreases the pH of the water and leads to a combination of chemical changes collectively known as ocean acidification. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the average pH of ocean surface waters has decreased approximately 0.1 unit -- from about 8.2 to 8.1 -- making them more acidic. Models project an additional 0.2 to 0.3 drop by the end of the century. This rate of change exceeds any known to have occurred in hundreds of thousands of years, the report says. The ocean will become more acidic on average as surface waters continue to absorb atmospheric CO₂, the committee said. Studies on a number of marine organisms have shown that lowering seawater pH with CO₂affects biological processes, such as photosynthesis, nutrient acquisition, growth, reproduction, and individual survival depending upon the amount of acidification and the species tested, the committee found. For example, some of the strongest evidence of the potential effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems comes from experiments on organisms with calcium carbonate shells and skeletons. The results showed decreases in shell and skeletal growth in a range of marine organisms, including reef-building corals, commercially important mollusks such as oysters and mussels, and several types of plankton at the base of marine food webs. The ability of various marine organisms to acclimate or adapt to ocean acidification is unknown, but existing data suggest that there will be ecological winners and losers, leading to shifts in the composition and functioning of many marine ecosystems, the committee said. Such ecosystem changes could threaten coral reefs, fisheries, protected species, and other natural resources. Although changes in ocean chemistry caused by increasing atmospheric CO₂ can be determined, not enough information exists to assess the social or economic effects of ocean acidification, much less develop plans to mitigate or adapt to them, the committee noted. The federal government has taken initial steps to respond to the nation's long-term needs with the development of the National Ocean Acidification Program. The committee found that legislation has laid the foundation for a program that will advance our understanding and improve our response to ocean acidification. The committee recommended six key elements of a successful National Ocean Acidification Program: · an integrated ocean acidification observation network that includes the development of new tools, methods, and techniques to improve measurements · research in eight broad areas to fulfill critical information gaps · assessments to identify stakeholder concerns and a process to provide relevant information for decision support · a data management office that would ensure data quality, access, and archiving, plus an information exchange that would provide research results, syntheses, and assessments to managers, policymakers, and the general public · facilities to support high-quality research and training of ocean acidification researchers · an effective 10-year strategic plan for the program that will identify key goals, set priorities, and allow for community input, in addition to a detailed implementation plan The study is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Science Foundation. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies. They are independent, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under an 1863 congressional charter. Committee members, who serve pro bono as volunteers, are chosen by the Academies for each study based on their expertise and experience and must satisfy the Academies' conflict-of-interest standards. The resulting consensus reports undergo external peer review before completion. For more information, visit http://national-academies.org/studycommitteprocess.pdf. A committee roster follows. Copies of the summary for the report OCEAN ACIDIFICATION: A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF A CHANGING OCEAN are available from the National Academies Press; tel. 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242 or on the Internet at HTTP://WWW.NAP.EDU. Reporters may obtain a copy from the Office of News and Public Information (contacts listed above). # # # [ This news release and summary of the study are available at HTTP://NATIONAL-ACADEMIES.ORG ] NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Division on Earth and Life Studies Ocean Studies Board COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED SCIENCE STRATEGY FOR OCEAN ACIDIFICATION MONITORING, RESEARCH, AND IMPACTS ASSESSMENT FRANCOIS M.M. MOREL * (CHAIR)Albert G. Blanke Jr. Professor of GeosciencesDirector, Center for Environment BioInorganic ChemistryPrinceton UniversityPrinceton, N.J. DAVID ARCHER Professor Department of Geophysical SciencesUniversity of ChicagoChicago JAMES P. BARRY Senior ScientistMonterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteMoss Landing, Calif. GARRY D. BREWER Frederick K. Weyerhauser Professor of Resource and Policy ManagementSchool of MangementYale UniversityNew Haven, Conn. JORGE E. CORREDOR ProfessorDepartment of Marine SciencesUniversity of Puerto Rico - MayaguezLajasPuerto Rico SCOTT C. DONEYSenior ScientistDepartment of Marine Chemistry and GeochemistryWoods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods Hole, Mass. VICTORIA J. FABRY Professor of BiologyDepartment of Biological SciencesCalifornia State UniversitySan Marcos GRETCHEN E. HOFMANN ProfessorDepartment of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara DANIEL S. HOLLAND Research ScientistGulf of Maine Research InstitutePortland JOAN A. KLEYPAS Scientist IINational Center for Atmospheric ResearchBoulder, Colo. FRANK J. MILLERO Professor of Marine and Physical ChemistryRosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiami ULF RIEBESELL Head of Biological OceanographyMarine Biogeochemistry/Biological OceanographyLeibniz Institute of Marine SciencesKielGermany RESEARCH COUNCIL STAFF SUSAN ROBERTS Study Director * Member, National Academy of Sciences

Volcanoes: Friend or Foe?- Help for global warming?

2011-03-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

Volcanic activity seems to be on the upswing. But then it always is, isn't it? One of the reasons it seems this way is the way these things get reported. What scientists do know ( and of course that means reporters do) is that whenever we see a series of earthquakes, we are going to see a series of eruptions before and afterward. The report linked below is a study that Oxford did two years ago that confirmed this correlation between earthquakes and volcanoes.

Large Earthquakes Trigger A Surge In Volcanic Eruptions (Science Daily, January 2009)

The graphic below should illustrate the principle fairly well:

Where you see the black lines, these are the Tectonic Plates.They float on top of the layer of the Earth right below the first 50-100 miles of land: the Magma.When these build up a lot of friction things heat up. When they slide to the point where the volcano is over an area of magma, the stage is set for an Eruption.

It looks as though we get eruptions most often when we have earthquakes, because they make the liquid Magma move around and find the path up to the volcano. The volcanoes do a lot of damage, but they really do harm to only a fairly small area. Of course, to the people who live there it doesn't seem so small an area, but in scientific terms it is.

One of the most interesting things scientists are studying about volcanoes is the fact that they put out a lot of very small particles called aerosols. The aerosols can get so thick they make the sun look dimmer. A few years ago, a volcano in the Phillipines, Pinatubo, caused theEarth to cool by two degrees for two years.The good thing about this, if scientists could create it on purpose, is that it could cool down the earth at the same time global Warming is warming it up. This might result in ameliorating the global warming-greenhouse effect.

So, the next time you see something about a volcano, remember, it could be that Mother nature is fighting back against Global Warming and trying to protect us. Have a good day...Jeff Darling

Are we witnessing the Sixth Mass Extinction?

2011-03-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

Will we stand by and DENY the truth of our climate?

The Sixth Extinction: Sounds so much like scare tactics that politicians use or something you see on late night TV. Unfortunately, some of the great minds of our times are suggesting just such a thing. Scientists like Richard Leakey, of the first family of paleontology Leakeys, teamed up with Roger Lewin on a book of the same name.Leakey's Book Or Niles Aldredge and his permanent Displayl. Karen Lips, in her shocking and eye opening Essay showed how a simple frog could point the way. It is time to listen. The warnings are clear, we are losing species daily. Many Paleoarcheologists and anthropologists tell of the horror and poignant sadness of finding a handful of wonderful new species in Borneo, South America or Madagascar, only to find we are too late, and they are gone. Please help to stop this Sixth Extinction. We have to listen and participate, before it is too late....Jeff Darling

The five Mass Extinctions

End of Cretaceous

5)The most recent of the Five mass extinctions of Earth's history is The end of the Cretaceous. The K/T boundary, as it is known in Geological/ Paleontological circles, is marked by a thin layer of Iridium(an element usually found in space) that is in the same strata of rock everywhere in the world. The iridium is what originally tipped off scientists to the Impact event that many think sealed the fate of the Dinosaurs. This boundary marks the end of the Dinosaurs in the Geologic record.

4)The end of the Triassic. (J/T boundary) This one is mostly a mystery. As in all of the Mass Extinction Events, many species were lost. The Earth lost about 40% of all genera, 20% of all families. There are clues, but they range on both sides. In all likelihood the climate was hot after cold in at least one succession, maybe many. In any event, there is little evidence of new life forms coming about with any regularity. Needless to say, it doesn't sound like a great time to be alive.

3)The Permian Extinction (The Great Dying). This was the granddaddy of them all .This was the closest life has ever come to completely ending. The Earth lost 83% of all species in the Permian extinction. The oceans lost 96% of all its species. The land lost 70%. It is almost certain an event of this magnitude had more than one cause. We know the creation of the enormous Siberian Traps probably put a huge inflow of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, enough to affect the stability of the climate. As the supercontinent Pangaea was just taking shape, it is a good bet that the changes in the ocean currents, with temperature changes and salinity events probably have their share in the causal event.

2)The Devonian Extinction Is thought to have more than one part to it. The marine die-offs and loss of coral-builders leads scientists to believe there was a cooling of the Ocean and coastal ares. The land plants had spread to most land areas by this time. This spread could have caused the opposite of what we see now. They could have put so much oxygen into the atmosphere and taken so much CO2 out, that they cooled the earth enough to have wreaked havoc before a balance was restored. Scientists think several things worked together to form this extinction. About Half of all species were still lost. We know that predators had emerged, along with the jawed fish. These forerunners to us all tell a lot of the story of life.

1)The Ordivician is the first Mass Extinction event, and as with all the Geologic Records , the farther back in the record the less to distinguish. There were no land animals yet. The extent of the Ordivician extinction, with over 100 Families extinguished, is probably due to the fact that when the ocean cooled, the tropical species had nowhere to run. Finding root causes is even harder. We know a great deal about how the plants and animals lived 445 Million Years Ago, and that is a lot.

Cast Your Vote for 10:10-No Pressure-Reduce Your Carbon Emissions

2011-03-03T07:32:00.000-08:00

10:10 -No Pressure, May only be viewed by those over the age of 18

This is a spoof, but sometimes, in the world of climate change denial, half of our government trying (unbelievably) to undermine the most beneficial change in the history of man, and the foolishness that we face everyday, it begs a break.. Jeff Darling

o to http://www.1010global.org/uk.

Climate campaign 10:10 teams up with legendary comic screenwriter Richard Curtis and Age of Stupid director Franny Armstrong to proudly present their explosive new mini-movie "No Pressure". The film stars X-Files' Gillian Anderson, together with Spurs players past and present - including Peter Crouch, Ledley King and David Ginola - with music donated by Radiohead. Shot on 35mm by a 40-strong professional film crew led by director Dougal Wilson, "No Pressure" celebrates everybody who is actively tackling climate change... by blowing up those are aren't.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

How do we Know? Climate deniers...This is how we know

2011-02-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

This is the newest installment from the The National Science Foundation. It is a series of videos, of which I hope to run all, which show, in step-by-step fashion, HOW WE KNOW> I am so pleased to be able to bring you a concise solid program, without all the usual lapses and gee...well... and maybe's in it. This time we will see how it really should have been done in the beginning. I realize a lot of people have never been looking for a fight. They get told so many things, from both sides, that it gets pretty murky. I really hope this time the wait proves to have been worth it.

Video #1 Why study climate change? Follow link for the whole series.

http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/degree/downloads.jsp#we_know

Fracking - An American Crisis

2011-02-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

Kristal Alexander

So , they came to my Mountains and ripped all the trees out and ran all the wildlife out to place there loud ass drills all over the place. If your neighbor says go for it they have the right to drill your land....right of passage law. Everybody has to say no to the drilling or we're screwed. Say goodby to your trees and your peaceful yard.

Try having YOUR tap water do this!

Cause Bulletin

Fracking may ignite Karoo water conflict

Posted by Louise Maartens Venter on Feb 25

http://www.savingwater.co.za/2010/09/...

by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) – partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 05 September 2010

A battle is brewing between local people and major energy companies looking to exploit possible sources of shale gas in the Karoo.

Shale gas is natural gas stored in rocks that are rich in organic material such as dark colored shale
And at the heart of the conflict will be the one thing that is really scarce in the Karoo – water.

Five companies… Read More

Support the cause. Be counted:

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about 2 weeks ago · Report

Pasted from <http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=189228284432113&topic=399>

are still those people out there who still don't get it. I was told by a friend to stop my protests as companies like Shell, Bundu, Falcon and even Sasol exist so that I may gallavant in my car. Denial! Denial! Denial! Join the cause Stop Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo and sign the petition people. We don't want to end up like Pensyllvania.
Tuesday at 5:29pm · 1 person

Bianca E.A. Prinsloo
Gideon, Its sooo ridiculous, 15 years and then what? We spend millions (billions more like) for the next 100 trying to clean it all up? It just doesn't make sense. Lousie, gallivant in your car? OH PLEASE! Unless you're driving to Durban J...See More
Tuesday at 6:40pm

Pasted from <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Fracking-Save-the-Karoo/127935643945365

I have to admit, I kept seeing the term FRACKING, and wondered what it meant, like most people,it went on my mental list. " I need to find out what all the fuss is" I told myself. It gets harder and harder to absorb just how quickly these things get developed and overpoweringly huge. Before you have had a chance to leisurely look it up and get a grip on whether it is something that is totally scary. Then I read who developed it...Halliburton!. No wonder it got so big so fast. It is getting to be a full-time job just watching those guys.
Of course, it didn't take long to read about special rights and 'Freebies'(no need to disclose chemicals used, etc) that their good buddy Dick Cheney had included in the last round of EPA legislation just for this process...before we had even heard of it. Here are some folks that have felt the pain. I think I've included all the links. See what you think...Jeff Darling

Fracking is getting too big and nobody who is paying the price now knew what they were getting into.

Week 3 - Great Decisions- Germany Rising

2011-02-24T14:42:00.000-08:00

The third in our Great Decisions series, hosted by the World Affairs Council of West Michigan: Introduced by Ellen Estrada

Dr.Gunther Hega, Department of Political Science, Western Michigan University, was the speaker. Originally Dr.Jackson Janes had been scheduled to speak, but flight problems due to weather made this impossible. In a greatly appreciated surprise showing, Dr. Hega, who is Dr. Janes friend and colleague, stepped in and offered to give his own lecture. In another bit of serendipity, Dr. Hega’s prepared PowerPoint presentation, is almost identical in content to what was scheduled and is also fittingly titled, ‘Germany Rising’.Dr. Gunther Hega is an Associate Professor, Comparative and European Politics Department of Political Science, Western Michigan University. "I was born in the German Province of Swabia, home of the Poets Schiller and Hoelderlin, on All Saints Day, in the year the Berlin Wall was built.Hega has been with Political Science Department at Western Michigan University since 1994. He got his degree in Germany at Tubingen and his PH.D at washington University. He was honored in 2004 by the Political Science Honor Society for "Outstanding Teaching." Dr. Hega also has a recent Book on "Consensus Democracy", and has written for many journals and publications concerning this field.

Dr. Hega also conducts several research projects in this fieldhttp://homepages.wmich.edu/~hega/research.html .

The lecture Germany Rising is a summary of the recent rise in fortune of Germany.

The world has undergone significant pain in the last three years in conjunction with the housing market derivative crisis in the U.S.

Record setting unemployment, currency devaluation, countries on the brink of bankruptcy in nearly every country in the world, especially those categorized as ‘The West’ have been a long, heartbreaking tale. Germany has been no exception. However, in 2010, something radically changed, it is being hailed as : "Germany's Economic Miracle." It was a bleak picture for everyone in the EU, Greece and Ireland having fallen hardest,and the 2008-9 economic outlook, (GDP) was -4.7% . Then, in 2010 the same GDP had moved to +3.6% so, in one year the Deutschland rocketed from 4.7% Shrinking economy to 3.6% Growth. Coming out of virtual depression, it is a miracle. with figures now showing unemployment of 7.2 % and a trade SURPLUS 11.2%. So, how does one country change from depression to economic Miracle overnight? Dr. Hega has put together a rational explanation. Much has to do with trade with China, much with how they have dealt with their unions.(Contrary to business as usual), In fact the unions have been a central partner in this great comeback. Here is how it works; the government, business and the Unions all sit in on negotiations. There is never a question that employees have a right to get paid, or businesses to make a profit. The stake of the Government is legislated. In this way, no one has had an unfair advantage, which is what gets messy. It was not a matter of getting in to a problem, all currencies are currently anchored to the dollar. When the dollar fell apart everybody did.Germany, however, could respond more quickly, and did. The other thing Germany did was sell technology to make products, instead of products. It gave them an advantage in a down market. This is Hega says "a matter of many small things, that happened over time." The Professor is also quick to point out that it isn't easily mimicked.

I Highly Recommend the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygPXIMbf0qc

Please join us for next week's Great Decisions lecture:Payback Time? The Global Financial Crisis (Panel Discussion)All Star Panel with Jack Lessenbury as Moderator

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About: Jeff Darling (jeffcrafter)

I like to write about the things I am surrounded by every day. For me it is science, education, nature, and environment.writing done in ways that bring those together and deliver greater understanding to people. These are things I like, and expect to write about.

Reports on: Science, news, events

Breaking; Governor Scott Walker- allegedly talking to sponsor-he thinks

2011-02-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

Breaking Story

A New York underground newspaper, The Buffalo Beast, called Governor Walker and pranked him . Allegedly, while talking to an editor, the Governor was led to believe that he was talking to one of the Koch brothers. These are the billionaire brothers who are Walker's primary sponsors, according to CNN.The politics are getting ugly. It is because this has gotten to be such a circus that I decided to bring this to you. - Jeff Darling

"In a direct assault on the First Amendment, Scott Walker's administration is blocking access in the Wisconsin Capitol to opposition websites," Wisconsin Democratic Party press secretary Graeme Zielinski told CNN.

Part One

Part Two

Climate Deniers celebrate Record Temps

2011-02-22T20:22:00.000-08:00

Record year for Greenland Ice Sheet...Melting

It has been quite a winter.I know many people here who have been raising all kinds of crazy ideas that they were going to prove against global warming because of record cold along the Southern U.S. parts of Europe,all over the place. Every place but where we needed it. Greenland and the Arctic. There we had record High temps. It goes without saying that this is another example. NASA is carrying the story.

2010 was an exceptional year for Greenland’s ice cap. Melting started early and stretched later in the year than usual. Little snow fell to replenish the losses. By the end of the season, much of southern Greenland had set a new record, with melting that lasted 50 days longer than average.

This image was assembled from microwave data from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) of the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program. Snow and ice emit microwaves, but the signal is different for wet, melting snow than for dry. Marco Tedesco, a professor at the City College of New York, uses this difference to chart the number of days that snow is melting every year. This image above shows 2010 compared to the average number of melt days per year between 1979 and 2009.

The long melt season primarily affected southern and western Greenland, where communities experienced their warmest year on record. After a warm, dry winter, temperatures were particularly high in the spring, getting the melt season off to a strong start. The early melting set the tone for the rest of the season, leading to more melting all the way into mid-September.

When snow melts, the fine, bright powder turns to larger-grained, gravely snow. These large grains reflect less light, which means that they can absorb more energy and melt even faster. When the annual snow is melted away, parts of the ice cap are exposed. The surface of the ice is also darker than snow. Since dark ice was exposed earlier and longer in 2010, it absorbed more energy, leading to a longer melt season. A fresh coat of summer snow would have protected the ice sheet, but little snow fell.

Melting ice in Greenland freshens the seas near the Arctic and contributes to rising sea levels around the world. It is unclear just how much melting ice from Greenland will push sea levels up, largely because the melting is occurring much more quickly than scientists predicted. Current estimates call for an increase of up to 0.6 meters by 2100.NASA story here

New Zealand Earthquake!!

2011-02-21T19:16:00.000-08:00

New!!! New Zealand Earthquake!!

At a little before 1;00 pm New Zealand time a 6.3 earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand. There are reported to be fatalities. The Earthquake registered 6.3 on the Richter and was reported to have come from 2.5 miles deep

Climate Deniers Want the Facts- I Give you the Truth as Best I Can

2011-02-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

Konza Prairie Site: Rainfall manipulation plots allow observations of precipitation patterns.

One of many test and research sites of NSF

I give the climate deniers the best truth I can. I often utilize sources such as Universities, Government (Like the NSF, always reliable), and various scientists that I think can be considered reliable. I recently found, for instance, that Ladies and Gentlemen of the U.S. Congress and Senate had been referring regularly to a "list of 100" which referred to a list of scientists of the highest repute who "Deny Climate Change Exists." I am in the middle of running down the facts on this as yet, but I can assure you, I intend to give you better vetting of my facts than this.

As a part of this ongoing proofing of information, I ran across a very good article on an NSF (National Science Foundation) site that showed a series of the verification and data collection sites they use. I thought it would be a good use of a Sunday morning to show you the article and some of the research areas.

It is my intention to always deal with the facts and the truth in every bit of this, no matter where they lead.

I give you the article in part and tell you I intend to give a summary. n March 2, view a webcastof the Long-Term Ecological Research symposium of the webcast that the NSF will have ...Jeff Darling

Now from the NSF:

NSF Forum: Understanding Climate Change Through Long-Term Ecological Research

Human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and land use change have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by 40 percent since the start of the industrial revolution, researchers have found.
The result is a hotter Earth, with warmer average temperatures around the globe and a future climate system that will be more variable, and with more extreme events, says Scott Collins, a scientist at the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Site in N.M.
Sevilleta is one of a network of 26 such NSF LTER sites around the world.
This winter's historic snows may be but one harbinger of what lies ahead.
Regionally severe winter weather may be linked to a planet whose temperature is going up, scientists say, not down. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture and, as large land masses like North America cool over winter months, increased snowfall results.
On Wednesday, March 2, 2011, NSF will host a symposium titled, "Understanding Climate Change: Perspectives from Long-Term Ecological Research."

to see rest of story

BioCon4 is an LTER experiment to study how plants will respond to climate change.

Scientists conduct night-time warming experiments to document climate change.

Hits and Messes II

2011-02-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

Week two of my Class/Lecture Series on "Great Decisions" in which the four Grand Rapids area colleges participate. You can view a different take, one which I work on with my editor at the Rapidian. Find it at www.rapidian.org.rapidian. Great Decisions is put on by the World Affairs Council of West Michigan, and I thank them. Enjoy

Hits and Messes > Part ii

Dr. Stewart Patrick, Senior Fellow and Director, Program on International Institutions and Global Governance, at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C., was the speaker at tonight’s lecture. Host of the event, Ellen Levey, Chairperson of the Great Decisions program for World Affairs Council of West Michigan, introduced Paul Carrier, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, who spoke briefly on the system of support the Great Decisions series enjoys. The speaker was then introduced. Needed: a New World Order was based primarily on the speaker’s book: The Origins of American Multilateralism and the Dawn of the Cold War*. ‘The Great Decisions Study Guide”, available at the door, is also helpful.

Needed: a New World Order, quickly defined its meaning, in that it is NOT a one world Government, but a reckoning of the parts played by the actors in world Governance. These actors are The U.N., the World Health Organization and the World Monetary fund to name a few. The place they occupy, and the power they wield have undergone major change since the post-World War II world in which they were conceived. That the U.S. is no longer willing or able to be the sole benefactor in a world of “China Rising” and ever increasing numbers of countries joining the World Stage, are the message of the talk.

Germany Rising: February 21, 6P.M.:Great Decisions next lecture will be given by

Dr. Jackson Janes, Executive Director, American Institute for Contemporary German studies at Johns Hopkins University. This lecture will explore the role of the new, United, Germany in the European Union. Much has been made of the economic powerhouse Germany has become in the new Europe, financing the saving of Greece and Ireland. The Speaker’s Essay :’ The Need for a Narrative, will explain this, the need for networks and answers, and much more.

Caltech Makes New Link to Ancient Climate Change

2011-02-17T20:20:00.000-08:00

A new paper by a Caltech team headed by John Eiler has made some rather remarkable discoveries about our world 450 million years ago. By using a new Isotope cantered technique, Eiler has shown the Ordovician mass extinction to have been caused by climate change.The new science involved shows promise along a range of time periods. The truth about climate science is that it is science, and that means the answer you get is what you get. That is what science is.

PASADENA, Calif.—About 450 million years ago, Earth suffered the second-largest mass extinction in its history—the Late Ordovician mass extinction, during which more than 75 percent of marine species died. Exactly what caused this tremendous loss in biodiversity remains a mystery, but now a team led by researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has discovered new details supporting the idea that the mass extinction was linked to a cooling climate.

"While it’s been known for a long time that the mass extinction is intimately tied to climate change, the precise mechanism is unclear," says Seth Finnegan, a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech and the first author of the paper published online in Science on January 27. The mass extinction coincided with a glacial period, during which global temperatures cooled and the planet saw a marked increase in glaciers. At this time, North America was on the equator, while most of the other continents formed a supercontinent known as Gondwana that stretched from the equator to the South Pole.

To follow the rest of the story, please follow this link; http://media.caltech.edu/press_releases/13400

For a taped interview, expressing this news in the author's own voice and words;
Paper's Author Eiler speaks

Amid charges of global warming hoax, new warning on climate change

2011-02-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

Amid charges of global warming hoax, new warning on climate change

Photo, courtesy pixomar

A report Tuesday on the latest climate-change research shows emissions rising quickly and ice caps melting faster than projected. The report comes amid a controversy over hacked scientists’ e-mails that some say point to a global warming hoax.

By Peter N. Spotts, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor / November 25, 2009

Global carbon-dioxide emissions are rising fast, global temperatures continue to climb at a pace in line with projections, and polar regions are losing ice faster than climate models have projected.

These are some of the recent research findings highlighted by a group of 26 climate scientists in a report released Tuesday dubbed The Copenhagen Diagnosis.

The purpose of the effort, say researchers from eight countries, including the US, is to update policymakers and the public about the pulse of the planet ahead of the climate-treaty negotiations scheduled to begin in the Danish capital Dec. 7. The assessment comes amid a controversy over hacked e-mails of climate scientists – including a few who contributed to this effort – that global warming skeptics are using to question climate science.

www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/1125/p02s01-usgn.html

In the United States, climate deniers are at an all-time high. They feel that by talking loudly, and talking enough, they can somehow change the truth. I have to admit I am unable to understand it. I can do nothing more than report . This is, yet again, more evidence of the real picture, as science sees it.This announcement, made today, is another in a long string of moves by the United Nations, to put this issue to rest so we can get on with the necessary moves to ameliorate the results as much as possible.
Unfortunately, there are vested interests who stand to gain vast sums of money by delaying the necessary actions. This is done at the risk of every man woman and child in the United States and the world.
Please help us to act...Jeff Darling: Editor

Authors of the landmark 2009 climate report "The Copenhagen Diagnosis" estimate that by 2020 industrial nations must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by around 40% below 1990 levels to secure a decent chance of avoiding dangerous human interference with the climate system.

The Copenhagen Diagnosis authors used IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) projections as well as post-AR4 analysis to estimate that emissions reductions of around 40% from industrial nations are needed to make it likely to keep global warming below 2°C.

In their report released 25 November of this year, the authors noted that many nations had publically recognized the importance of this 2°C limit. Yet the authors said today that this 2°C warming threshold could be crossed as early as 2040 unless significant mitigation measures were taken urgently.

The report also noted that global warming continues to track early IPCC projections based on greenhouse gas increases. Without significant mitigation, the report concluded that global mean warming could reach as high as 7 degrees Celsius by 2100.

The report found that:

Both the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are losing mass and contributing to sea-level rise at an increasing rate.
The area of summer sea ice remaining during 2007-2009 was about 40% less than the average projection from the 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report.
Global sea-level rise may exceed 1 meter by 2100. Without significant mitigation, sea-level rise of several meters is to be expected over the next few centuries.

If long-term global warming is to be limited to a maximum of 2°Celsius above preindustrial values, average annual per-capita emissions in industrialized nations will have to be reduced. Since the landmark 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted and ratified by virtually all nations including the US, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels have risen by more than 40%, said the authors.

"The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change pledged to avoid dangerous human interference with the climate system. Yet recent emissions growth sets us on a pathway toward significant climate change, unless deep emission cuts are secured urgently", said Professor Matthew England, an author of the report.

The Copenhagen Diagnosis, a year in the making, was released worldwide last month.

The report concluded that several important aspects of climate change are already occurring at the high end, or even beyond, the expectations of just a few years ago.

The report found that global ice sheets are melting at an increased rate; Arctic sea ice is thinning and melting much faster than recently projected, and future sea-level rise is now by around 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The Harvest of Knowledge-and The Ability to Make a Difference

2011-02-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

Press Release 11-028
A Scientific Gold Rush: Electronic Mining of Published Research

The journal Science publishes an important paper on harvesting vast amounts of "metaknowledge"

Perspective article argues that electronically-mined research may lead to future breakthroughs.
Credit and Larger Version

February 10, 2011

The knowledge of knowledge. The science of science. Riddles? No. A burgeoning and important field of scientific research that examines research itself, say University of Chicago Sociology Assistant Professor James Evans and Post-doctoral Scholar Jacob Foster. Their analysis, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is published in a perspective piece to appear in the Feb. 11 issue of the journal Science.

The Harvest of Knowledge:by Jeff Darling
Take a look at the future: the knowledge of knowledge, Metaknowledge.
Here is the way, for many of those souls who, having the background, ability and desire to find their way to produce the scientific paper or write the article of a lifetime. They do it without spending millions in research money or setting up a fantastic laboratory. No need for anything but a sharp mind and a clear understanding.

There are many of us who wish to contribute to the growing body of science. There are countless of us who blog, do our own study, join groups that work on things together, We learn, of course and we sometimes gather some pretty good info. With these techniques, we can do more than help NASA look at pieces of the Moon, or small patches of the Galaxy in the infra-red. With the correct tools, we can make real discoveries of our own. Maybe instead, we find we really hate that kind of work, but at least we find out before we pour tens of thousands into the verdict. I see this methodology as invaluable.

According to CoAssistant Professor James Evans and Post-doctoral Scholar Jacob Foster Mining the data that have already been gathered by others will be the future. It is pointless to continue grubbing for details for every piece of research. Many times the work of gathering has been done. Better to get to the model of a new truth by going over this research from a different perspective, or maybe combining two sets of work that together make a new set of figures. There
is the metaknowledge future. the future of mining is one I am eager to see.

To find the rest of this NSF story
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=118609&org=NSF&from=news

program ContactsJulia I. Lane, NSF (703) 292-5145 jlane@nsf.gov
Related WebsitesPowerful new ways to electronically mine published research may lead to new scientific breakthroughs:http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=2249
NSF's Science of Science and Innovation Policy program:http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501084
Examples of natural language processing awards:http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/stis1993/nsf93133/nsf93133.txt

Pale Blue Dot

2011-02-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

The Pale Blue Dot-21st Anniversary
(the dot in the small box is Earth, seen through the ring of Saturn, by the voyager spacecraft, on February 14, 1990)

It was twenty one years ago that the great astronomer and American Icon, Carl Sagan, made a suggestion to his friends at NASA. The Voyager spacecraft was in a position that would make for a rare opportunity. From the suggestion, they took a photo. Voyager took a photo. It showed our home Earth, in a way that nothing ever had. Carl called it 'The Pale Blue Dot'.

The idea was to show us in a real way. We are the most special bunch we have ever known. We are the best we have seen. It was in this spirit that we needed to see ourselves in perspective. To see ourselves through the ring of a much larger world. Tosee that we are, sometimes, in some ways, so delicate and fragile, and small. The fact of being able to see ourselves, as we are, is our greatness.

The only other photo I know of that has ever matched The Pale Blue Dot in its impact was the first one from space that captured the whole planet, alone in space, for the first time.
I looked around for a while, for this copy of the Pale Blue Dot, owned by us all. In one location, I found a hundred copies of this photo. These copies were all slightly different from this original, and so they must have all reflected someone's desire to take credit for the photo. Maybe they made a buck from it. Maybe they made a poster.Maybe they hoped someone would think they had taken a jaunt to the rings of Saturn, from which spot they could get a really cool picture of Earth as a pale blue dot, barely showing through the rings. Maybe they just wanted to express their own art. I am sure this is the most likely, although the one about having been to Saturn was funnier.
Oh well, thank you again Carl, for your vision, your wisdom. Happy twenty-first anniversary for another great, original idea.

Hits and messes

2011-02-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

I try to remember, when I get in a rush to get published. I am what I am and I will take some time to be able to write as well as I would like. Meanwhile, I make progress, I learn and grow. This is everything I can do. Oh, yeah, and enjoy the ride.

I finally have an article in the paper and I thought I should at least have a link to it.

This is a lecture series I take a class in. I have written a story for the local on-line paper(Rapidian.org) and the college tapes it. have a look

link to story

Amazon Drought; Is anyone else bothered by this?

2011-02-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else bothered by this?

In the last few years, more and more climate scientists warn us over and over not to confuse weather with climate. We all are well aware that the rain forest of the Amazon basin is the heart and lungs of the planet.My question is: do we observe the warning first, or think ahead and plan possible actions first? Twice in five years the Amazon is in drought. It seems to me this goes beyond weather. This article from Leeds seems not to have shown up on the radar. Why? I really would be interested in any ideas I could generate here. I am going to do my level best to get this story out if I can. Feel free to link to my site and spread it as far as you can.

Thanks

Jeff

Analyses of rainfall across 5.3 million square kilometres of Amazonia during the 2010 dry season, published in Science, shows that the drought was more widespread and severe than in 2005.Dr Lewis added: "Two unusual and extreme droughts occurring within a decade may largely offset the carbon absorbed by intact Amazon forests during that time...... New research shows that the 2010 Amazon drought may have been even more devastating to the region’s rainforests than the unusual 2005 drought, which was previously billed as a one-in-100 year event. Use link to view full story

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/1466/two_severe_amazon_droughts_in_five_years_alarms_scientists

Two severe Amazon droughts in five years alarms scientists

Helios 360

2011-02-07T06:10:00.000-08:00

The STEREO mission consists of two spacecraft orbiting the Sun, one moving a bit faster than Earth (A-ahead) and the other a bit slower (B-behind). In the time since the STEREO spacecraft entered these orbits near the beginning of 2007 they have been slowly separating. In Feb. 2011 they reach the point at which they are on opposite sides of the Sun and can observe the entire far side of the Sun.

Wow! After all these years, we have a complete picture of the sun. I find it a little breathtaking. I do hope the 2012'ers can now feel certain there are no planets hiding on the opposite side of the sun from Earth.The more important, of course, is the increase in ability.Take for instance the inability to continue broadcasting from the Mars orbiter last week. If we had used a system that reached the entire circumference, it would not have happened.
In case you missed it, by the way, the orbiter went behind the sun to us. When this happened, the communication had to be stilled because otherwise we would be taking a chance that interference from the Sun would interrupt a part of the signal from us to the orbiter. If it would have killed all instructions, no big deal. Obviously, if it didn't kill any signal, same thing. But, kill a part and anything could happen. Ergo, shut it down. I believe we will find innumerable ways to utilize this ability. (we always do).
Anyway, this is my first try at video, so, enjoy(all 1 or 2 of you)

Snow Days

2011-02-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

Snow Days

Remember what it was like to have a snow day when you were young? For one thing, I think I had three in my life. It was just never done. These days I see the kids and the way they handle this most magical of gifts, the snow day, and I wonder what alien universe I woke up in. From the fact that they get at least two or three every year, to how these things are decided. Last year they had one and the snow never came. That’s right; the Superintendent hadn’t actually seen snow before he called a day off.

I remember a serious snow storm in nineteen sixty seven. I lived three blocks from school, and of course I walked. Do you know how hard it was to get a snow day off from the school Superintendent? He was charge’ d’affaires of a system which in those days was only outdone by military prison in its ability to deny freedom to stout-hearted, adventurous and glory- seeking young men. Of course, by adventure and glory you do understand me to mean girls, right?

Whether it was to hang out talking with friends about them, committing outrageous acts to impress them, or simply walking in circles hour after hour in a public place, these matters were of great import. Working up the courage was so difficult. It was sheer triumph to finally spit out the bold and public “Hi”, which she had waited to see if you could summon the courage for. Having summoned the courage was never as important as it seemed it would be, but it put a guy on a new level. It made him a doer.

These times stay with us forever. They say a bit about who we are, where we came from. It is very similar to having been in the military in that It is recognizable. However the sixties, parenthood, Nixon or Vietnam changed us, guys who went through either can tell each other from fifty yards. I am glad.

2011-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

Birds Are Dying In Vast Numbers

There have been a few rather frightening incidents of late, concerning die offs of large numbers of birds.

Birds Died In Arkansas From 'Impact Trauma,' Pathologists Say

Link to NPR Article

'Thousands of birds die outside Beebe Arkansas', on New Years Eve.
Hundreds of birds die off in an incident in Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Even Sweden has recently had a problem keeping their birds aloft.In Falkoeping, Sweden, Christopher Olofsson,of rescue services reported 50-100 Jackdaws on the ground. "Most of them were dead", Olofsson said.

Now, as strange as this may sound, on the face of it, this kind of thing is reported to happen in the U.S. over a hundred times a year according to the Government. The National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis.has stated that there seems to be nothing of a nature of illness wrong with the birds, and they all seem to have died from mass trauma. In all, the government agencies are quite confident that these birds, although unfortunate, are not unusual.

Here in Caledonia, we have had a rash of our own this year. Ten or fifteen times, while out filling the bird feeders, or doing some chores in the garden,even once when we were just out there for the heck of it, my wife and I have been finding mysteriously dead birds. Now, mind you, these are not falling out of the sky like rain, but neither do they have any obvious marks, or show any signs of attack. These birds look for all the world like they should be able to get up and fly away, yet there they are, dead. Maybe we should collect one or two and ship them off to Madison, Wis, and see if there isn't a real mystery here....Maybe I will.

Pendulum Swings

2009-11-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

Pendulum Swings

History tells us again, the pendulum swings. Whatever the course of government, the reaction will come as sure as day or night. Whether it is a reaction to Health Care or the loss of jobs, people will react and the polls will swing.

The last three weeks have seen unprecedented coverage of every nuance of the Health Care reform Act(s). Every politico and pundit has weighed in, and Congress has responded. Hr3962 is a Bill on its way. Congress has also responded to public outcry with another extension of Unemployment. The economy has started growing again, with a respectable 3.2% growth rate. This seems to be a good sign that the Democrats have gotten some things right. However, two new Governors have also been elected. Far from the expected outcome, both are from the Republican Party.

Why?

The unemployment rate is up to 10.2%. A new extension has been enacted, but the dragging on of the arguments for and against universal Health Care, the failure to act quickly on another extension of Unemployment and the failure of the President to back either decisively has cost the Democrats dearly. It is a fact that constituents who cannot pay their bills will look where they see light.

In 1980, voters weary of being poor became the Reagan Democrats. In 2009 there is the greatest hue and cry of the modern age for politicians to listen.. After a time, even Congress has heard the call and answered, just not soon enough. The world moves very swiftly in 2009. Hours can see a major story become old, stale news. The politicians need to adapt to the new reality on the ground, or be buried in it. The rhetorical pendulum will swing back. The question is whether any of our leaders can catch it.

Good For The Goose

2009-10-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

Why should we demand leadership? It is clear our President has his mind made up on certain issues. He is not inclined to let us push him into making what HE considers to be one-sided legislation. He will not kowtow to the feeling among us, his supporters, that he needs to put a stop to Republican smear and disinformation campaigns, or put them in their place when they promote violence or intimidate the rest of us. He has his principles.

The real problem, Mr. President, is that, while you are willing to push back at, chide or openly deride our efforts, it seems to be a one way street. It seems you want to be a peacemaker, bipartisan, and unite instead of divide.

I am sure the lure of appeasement is strong. The only thing wrong with appeasement is: It Does Not Work. History is full of examples. England’s attempt with Hitler is the most famous. Anyone who has ever had to finally deal with a schoolyard bully is aware of this. No matter what you do, they are going to attempt to undermine you. The fact that you want a more united country is admirable. The fact that you're pursuing it at the cost of the country, while we need your actual leadership, is not.

The fact is, when you push at your support base, and bow to your opponents, you weaken us all. These acts of appeasement, however well-intended, are giving strength and encouragement to the enemy. The likes of Randall Terry are only brave enough to make the statements they do because they know full well you won’t lift a finger to stop them. The time to make steps toward greater unity between the parties is when the stakes are smaller, the political noise softer.The most important legislation of the century, Health Care Reform, is on the line.It is utterly irresponsible to put politics above this. It seriously makes me wonder whose side you are on.

The answer, and request, are simple. Make this your hallmark: When it is important enough, you will stand. No matter what your peaceful, unifying leaning might be, you will have to eventually take a stand. DO IT NOW!

The long trail of collateral damage from your seeming indecision and unwillingness to be strong must end now. Right now there are still enough of us behind you for it to matter. I ask you, no, We ask you, please take the stand for a strong public option and put this thing to bed, once and for the sake of us all.

Two Votes

2009-10-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Two votes and we win! Harry Reid tells us we are just a couple of votes shy on Health Care Reform.

Sounds too good to be true, you say? Well, that may be. Did you ever think, just for a second, that you had won the big prize in a contest, then find out about the "well, shucks?" The prize, and your winnings are all in great big print, and the part that tells you how to get that prize (well, shucks, there is a little something else first) is in the much smaller print? Then you find out, page after page, that there is a whole lot to this "little something", and you really didn't win anything.

Welcome to the American Way, the Senate, and Harry Reid's two votes. Well shucks, it's only Two votes to go. Harry Reid tells us we are two votes shy.

I was once a car salesman, and the way we were taught to do things was very simple. First you get them to love the car (don't talk about price) then you explain all the features, what it will do for them and get them to like you (do not talk about price). Repeat these steps and while you are at it say things about the dealer that will make them like him (I told you, no price!). All through this posturing, you and your manager are figuring out exactly what the person in question will like and hate about... the price. Any of this posturing and sleight of hand looking familiar? ...Harry, tell us the price.

The things to know about the last two votes that aren't true about any of the others is that we need those more, they stand out, and they also (the two voters) Know this.

Being one of those votes puts them in a powerful position. They can do a lot of neat stuff. They can hold us up as sure as two masked men with guns pointed at the stage coach driver. They may want special favors thrown in to the bill. They may want a guarantee on a bill they sponsor. They may want open blackmail. Makes it seem kind of silly to ever let it get to that, doesn't it?

It can seem to be a real game changer. But wait, there's more! After it starts to look like those guys are going to have all this weight to throw around, that starts to look pretty good to some of the others. So, what do you know, now we suddenly have a few 'undecided' votes start to show up. These guys were with the bill in the first place, and for all the right reasons, but it would be irresponsible to throw away the opportunity for a deal like that. Wouldn't it?

Now, here we are, wheels spinning and no traction. All kinds start to get ideas at a time like this. It's kind of like a two minute warning in football. It can really mean 'only an hour' left to go, because all the jockeying starts there.

Two votes to go. Good luck Harry, may the Gods be with you.

2009-10-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Forty seven million uninsured . America has forty seven million uninsured*. I can't even wrap my mind around that. That someone finds it acceptable to still allow billions of health care dollars, in a rigged game, to be siphoned off as though it were a public feeding trough is even more amazing to me. Yet here we are.

The senate bill on Health care is a joke (America's Healthy Future Act). HR3200 is a lot closer but no one even makes believe that it is anything but a starting point in negotiations**.

The problem with the attitude in Washington is always the same - they think we will forget.

Of course, they think we'll forget because we do.

The insurance companies act as though they are just another free enterprise, but they have eliminated any real competition (antitrust exemption, allowances to adjust premium and access any way they like). They feel free to reset the rules any time or way that they can agree (with each other, no need to worry about law) in their own best interest to do so. I say to you in the health care business, YOU do this:

1. By treating Drs. as though they were cattle (or chattel), holding the prod to them to accept ever smaller fees, ever-increasing patient loads and never-ending demands to "do more with less" (ref; any health policy you like). These beaureaucratic fools decide who or what gets treated at all. Doctors are constantly forced to abandon practices and policies decided for the good of the patient, simply to up the bonus for you crooks, upon whom we have no choice but to depend. These are the same crooks we have heard for years tell us it was in our own best interest.

2. By scalping the public, getting ever-higher premiums and returning ever-less coverage and service with each passing year. This, while paying millions in 'sick tribute' to politicians who have protected you against everything from anti-trust to even having to reveal how much of the 'blood money' you collect would ever be used for any actual health care. You have paid your way from even having to refrain from rigging standards and prices (for which people in any other business go to jail), because as long as you all deny coverage for a pre-existing condition or make actual sick people just do without, it will seem to be the norm. As long as everybody does it, it's OK, right?

And now you on the right have the unmitigated gall to try and make these plunderers of our country seem like some sea of saints, with jobs that need to be protected. You belong in jail.

*Census Bureau and CDC figures combined.
** Quote: Dingell(D)Mich in Huffington Post(10-15-09)

2009-10-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new world. I am a middle aged American with a pretty firm grip on reality, and a view to express. This being America and the internet, I can do that. I don't know that I can say where all this ability to say what I mean will lead right away, but it's time for a lot of us to stand up and be heard, and I by God intend to do just that. I suppose I should give a rough idea of who I am in that regard.
I like the idea of a public option and health insurance for all Americans, and I really think that expanding Medicare to age 0 would be a pretty good way to do that. I like a lot of what our new president espouses, but I think he needs to get a pair and stand up!
Mr. President, quit being so damn wishey-washy! The Republicans don't like you, they aren't ever going to do you any favors, this war between the parties being a knock-down-drag-out, all or nothing affair is at their insistence so put them where they belong. There is no middle ground when you are deciding whether Americans deserve medical care...they do! There also isn't any negotiating whether they deserve to unnecessarily die... they don't! All of you guys in Washington act as though you come right out of the funny papers. You get the idea that if people are sick of the fighting then every issue should be decided as buddies. This is nonsense. If an entire party is willing to go along with defending profits at the cost of our entire economy, it is no longer a matter of differing viewpoints. You are the new Sherriff and you have a job to do. Do it!
That all said I will have to go for tonight, but there is so much left to cover, discuss, discourse and get out the word about that I will see you later.

Science Perspective: News, Essays, Comment

Chesapeake Bay And What is Being Done About It

Water Bottle Story- Please get your water from the tap!

What Happens in the Karoo: Happens to Us All

History of the World-TED-for the next generation

Fracking Blues

Libuse Binder-4-4-2011 -Review

Future Climate Change - Conversations from Penn State

Biodiversity/ Benefits to Clean Water/ University of Michigan

Tools of the Wheel Wright- background of Tom Cutter

The Challenge of Tom Cutter

Help TKAG Stop Fracking

Not Just Polar Bears- Endangered species abound

Mummified Trees Could Take Climate Scientists Back to the Future

Common Sense to End Climate Change-Stop Climate Denial

The Story of Stuff- With a Science Perspective

Update-Japan

Science Perspective: News, Essays, Comment: Japan suffers Mega-Quake, 8.9 and Tsunami,up to 10...

Japan suffers Mega-Quake, 8.9 and Tsunami,up to 1000 dead

Santa Rosa island of California :PaleoIndians -Stone-age -'Boat People' ?

Stop Hydraulic Fracturing Now!

Stop Frakking...Period.

Stop Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo

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The National Academies of Science -World's Coral Reefs Under Pressure

Volcanoes: Friend or Foe?- Help for global warming?

Are we witnessing the Sixth Mass Extinction?

Cast Your Vote for 10:10-No Pressure-Reduce Your Carbon Emissions

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How do we Know? Climate deniers...This is how we know

Fracking - An American Crisis

Cause Bulletin

Fracking may ignite Karoo water conflict

Support the cause. Be counted:

Week 3 - Great Decisions- Germany Rising

Breaking; Governor Scott Walker- allegedly talking to sponsor-he thinks

Climate Deniers celebrate Record Temps

New Zealand Earthquake!!

Climate Deniers Want the Facts- I Give you the Truth as Best I Can

Hits and Messes II

Caltech Makes New Link to Ancient Climate Change

Amid charges of global warming hoax, new warning on climate change

The Harvest of Knowledge-and The Ability to Make a Difference

Pale Blue Dot

Hits and messes

Amazon Drought; Is anyone else bothered by this?

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/1466/two_severe_amazon_droughts_in_five_years_alarms_scientists

Two severe Amazon droughts in five years alarms scientists

Helios 360

Snow Days

Snow Days

Pendulum Swings

Good For The Goose

Two Votes