Happy New Year!

     I want to send out a heartfelt and humungous thank you to all of my readers out there. I had reserved expectations for this site when I threw myself into it last July and have been overwhelmed by number of readers that have showed up. December looks like it will end with almost 3500 page views, which would be the most viewed month ever! (November was higher, but due to some of my own site maintenance, that months numbers are a bit skewed.)

    So, before the New Year begins and I hit the keyboard with renewed vigor next Monday, January 5th, I want to thank you all for stopping in. I hope you learned something, had a laugh, nodded your head in understanding or went out and tried to learn something new about the Climate Crisis and the world changing work we could achieve if we try.

     To you and yours, Happy New Year! Let's make 2015 the year we turned a corner and started really making the world a better place.

Climate Guy
(John)

Holiday Break

I will be taking a few days off for the holidays. This is a great time to go peruse the Archives and catch up on all things Climate Guy. You may be surprised and find something entertaining.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and here's wishing you a great New Year!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Happy Holidays! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanza! All of it!

May your holidays be filled with love and joy and family moments that last a lifetime.

Climate Guy

Gas Problems

This a video from one of my favorite sites. Gotta love NASA! Isn't it about time we set a goal for space and hold them to it? I pine for the days of  the Apollo Program. (Can one pine for something they didn't live through?) Anyway, I love these videos. So I thought I'd share.

As a person with gas, I can relate.

Quotes

An Off Day...Sorta

     Hey all! Sorry but the next two days I will be a little out of touch. My wife and I are visiting with our home builder to pick out the different things for the new house. Very exciting! For us anyway. We are stuck in a two bedroom flat with 3 animals and lots of mold right now, so the new house will be our Mecca. Schwörer Haus is our builder, and they practice sustainable forestry, offer a wide array of recycled and sustainable materials, operate under a fair trade policy and are a market leader of homes equipped with renewable energy.

     The new house will have a 5kw Solar array on a south facing roof, a Solar Thermal system for hot water, 30cm insulted walls, an air exchange system that keeps the humidity and air quality at peak levels. a hybrid geo-thermal system that uses pipes and outside air to heat or cool saline to regulate the temperature no matter what time of year and space for a back-up battery system to store excess solar power to be used in off-production hours. Not to mention, we will also install a green roof on the garage to filter rainfall and will run pipes for a future cistern to store rainwater so we can utilize it to wash clothes and flush the toilets. All of those, along with passive solar and energy saving appliances and LED lightbulbs, we will reduce our CO2 footprint (when compared with our home in America) by over 70% while conserving water!

     I will post pics tomorrow of all the cool stuff we see. Check out Schwörer Haus on their home site. I can't find it in English right now, but if you speak French, Spanish or Italian, your in luck. You can at least look at the pictures.

     So, when you hear or read that someone said renewables and energy efficiency won't work, send them to Southern Germany. They can see for themselves that homes at a higher altitude and higher latitude can be powered just fine without fossil fuels.

   



   

Questions for Deniers

     I read a lot. Its my job. Whether it's articles about the environment, hockey or Batman V. Superman, I'm always reading. I proof read my blog posts (most of the time), I reread and rewrite my short stories and when I'm not working I am reading a book. (Right now, I'm reading "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer...awesome. Read it.) Anyway, I came across this gem yesterday in my usual sweep of the internet for all things Climate Change.

     I have developed a process, which I have refined over the past year or so, to help me keep up to date on all things Climate Change and Environment. Not everything out there you read is fact (which many people don't realize). So I do my best to weed out the crazy (I'm looking at you Newsmaxx) and the vague and unsupported (Wochit, get your act together!) in order to get some concrete and logical information to share. There is a lot of unreliable sites with unsubstantiated bullshit out there. I hunt down the accredited and reliable outlets, the ones that use real data and cite their sources, and share what I think is relevant and what is supported with real research and studies. Although, sometimes I share the humorous and head slapping things because you have to laugh sometimes, right?

Courtesy: http://chris-sabos-goggles.com/2012/03/13/sinking-friendships/kid-head-slap/

     Here is a list of 10 questions to ask Climate Change Deniers from Moron Watch. Don't let the Moron Watch name detract from the direct and valid questions they provide. While some of these questions are just mean spirited and sarcastic, some are effective when faced with someone who accuses you of being an alarmist. If you frequently engage or are engaged by Climate Change Deniers and get bogged down in there circle-talk meant to confuse, these questions may come in handy. There is nothing like being blunt and asking someone to logically and effectively support their argument. Getting them to realize that they can't do it may jog some of them into questioning what they have been force fed.

Here are the most effective ones, in my opinion:

• If there is a "scientific debate", why do only 24 out of 13,950 peer-reviewed papers dispute man-made climate change?

• If there is "science on both sides", why do billionaires secretly have to throw hundreds of millions of dollars into denials propaganda? 

• Why are there no climate scientists as spokesmen for the denial side? (Have them name one to prove this assertion wrong.)

• Why do you not believe climate scientists about present warming, but believe them when they say the climate changed in the past?

• Who knows more about climate? a) Climate scientists, b) Economists, c) Oil Companies, d0 Michele Bachman?

     

From the Pope...

Clean Coal Breakthrough

What's An Expert Anyway?

     "I'm not a scientist, but..." I have heard that so much in the past year it make me want to pull my nose hair out with a pair of salad tongs. If you hear someone say that, chances are you are about to hear something extremely ignorant and incredibly stupid. If I hear one more politician weigh in on scientific debate with that opening line of bullshit, without actually consulting a scientist, I think I'll get an aneurysm.

     People go around saying things like "I'm no expert, but I think physics is a bunch of shit," all the time these days. It continues a long tradition of ridiculing new ideas in order to maintain the status quo. The Earth is round? Off with his head! The Earth is NOT the center of the Universe? Take away that man's telescope! Jesus died for our sins? Cool! Let's live like there are no consequences! Humans have a unique talent to ignore the obvious and make up the most farcical arguments out of fear.

     What else could we say to show our ignorance in the face of fact? Imagine what our world would be like if we could just dismiss logic and reason? Here you go...feel free to share the ones you think of in the comments.

     "I'm not a teacher, but math isn't important."
     "I'm not an auto mechanic, but black smoke pouring out from under the hood is normal."
     "I'm not a rocket scientist, but it isn't that hard to fly to Mars."
     "I'm not a doctor, but AIDS isn't that dangerous."
     "I'm not a pilot, but flying a fighter jet is simple."
     "I'm not a soldier, but combat isn't dangerous."
     "I'm not an architect, but I don't see why buildings need a foundation."
     "I'm not a woman, but birthing a child is a piece of cake."
     "I'm not a writer, but punctuation doesn't really matter."
     "I'm not a computer programmer, but binary isn't necessary."
     "I'm not a musician, but writing your own music is a waste of time."
     "I'm not a psychiatrist, but bi-polar isn't a real thing."
     "I'm not a farmer, but that's an easy job."
     "I'm not an Ice Road Trucker, but driving across a frozen lake is the safest job in the world."
     "I'm not an engineer, but how hard can it be to design a bridge?"
     "I'm not a lawyer, but killing unarmed black men isn't illegal."


   

Climate Reality Monday

     Watch this video with Climate Reality Leader Diwkar Reddy, where he details the steps he has taken with sustainability to fight Climate Change. Happy Monday!

Friday's Review

     Hope you have all enjoyed your week. I decided for today I would share some articles that I read over the past few days. Feel free to peruse them while you work hard at not working on this 5th day of December.

     First up is the article from Business Insider that details how the US could cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by up to 80% by 2050 with little or no effect on the economy. Yes, its true. The science and the dollars work on this. So plant a tree, by a Volt and read this article.

     Second up is an article from the Washington Post that outlines the major differences between traditional Republicans and Tea Partiers when it comes to science. Very interesting and telling, if you ask me. If you're a Tea Partier, accept the latest scientific theories, acknowledge the existence of Climate Change and like my blog...you're in the wrong political party. Just saying'. Its a pretty eye opening piece, which you can read here.

     The last one I want to share comes from the Mother Nature Network. Apparently, graphene membranes are so awesome, they can be used to line Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Which would make it possible, if not practical, to suck the free hydrogen out of the air to power your car. Oi? What Oil? Graphene membranes are the future. 

     This whole Climate Conversation is always so dour and dark. So today I am sharing some positives. Enjoy your weekend.

Inhofe Found the Culprit

     All this time, we were told it was the oil. The burning of fossil fuels was supposed to be the main culprit for our rising global temperatures and the changes in climate we have witnessed over the past 100 years. The extra carbon dioxide was supposed to be to blame for trapping extra heat in the atmosphere and causing warmer days, wilder weather and rising seas. But, according to Senator James Inhofe, global warming and climate change are a farce. Its made up! It is a vast conspiracy to take down the honest champions of the environment, those honorable oil companies. And it has all been perpetrated by that evil mastermind...Barbara Streisand.

     Yes, Greg Focker's mom is lying to us all. Inhofe was quoted back in 2009 at the Copenhagen Climate Summit, saying that liberal Hollywood types were responsible for pushing their environmental "alarmist" agenda. When asked for a name of one of these so-called alarmists, he responds by saying, "Barbara Streisand." So there you go. Now we have a name. Why no one

In Case You Were Wondering What We are Up Against

Courtesy of: MoveOn.org

Short Film Goosebumps

     Perusing the internet the other day, I happened across an incredible short film entitled Wanderers. If you love space, the solar system, science fiction or anything of the sort, you have to watch this. Like I said, incredible! Like the author of the article in the link above, turn the lights out, turn on the HD and put your head phones on.

Happy Thanksgiving

     Remember while you are out there standing in line in the cold, still full of Thanksgiving Turkey, hoping to be one of the first 200 people into Best Buy so you can win a 80" LED 4D Smart TV, why we celebrate Thanksgiving in the first place. It's not about football or mashed potatoes. Its about the people you love and the things you have that make your life special and complete. Keep that in mind before you slug someone for grabbing the sweatshirt you wanted to buy at Ross. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Quotes

Climate Change Humor

     Other than a few one liners from the late night talk shows, there really isn't much Climate Change humor out there. I searched the net and found a few things here and there, but its only a handful of jokes, and most just aren't that funny. I have been racking my brain, trying to come up with some, but I'm just not that funny (you can read my past columns for evidence of that). So, why am I looking for jokes about something that I keep insisting is a serious issue that has dire consequences if we fail to get our act together and stop damaging our Biosphere? Because something so serious and important HAS to have some humor in it somewhere. In order to get people to open up, we have to relieve the tension. After all, Comic Relief used comedy to raise awareness and funds for the homeless.

     If anything, humor is needed to break the ice (pardon the pun) and get people to be receptive to an idea. I could walk around for the rest of my life (or at least until my home in the foothills of the Alps 1000 meters above sea level becomes water front property) spouting alarmist doom, but I would probably be taken as seriously as the homeless guy in Times Square with the sign that reads, "The End Is Near!" It is already happening. I get labeled a climate zealot and part of the liberal conspiracy to prop up the LED lightbulb industry. Forget that I have valid points and scientific data to support what I preach. I'm an alarmist! Back away before I put solar panels on your house!

    Think about it. What would

Here it is, in a Nutshell

     Leonardo DiCaprio recently appeared before the UN during the climate change summit and delivered this succinct and direct message. Say what you want about Leo. Like him or don't. What he said was spot on and everyone should hear it.

     We should get to decide if we want to live in a clean environment. We should not be forced to do so against our will. 

Streamlining How We Do It

     The House passed a new law last week that limits the number of scientists that can serve on the Science Advisory Board, the group that advises the EPA on all things science. So, that basically means that in order to protect the environment, the EPA will have to listen to the industries that are doing the polluting instead of the people who study the effects the pollution has on the environment and the public health. Its about time, if you ask me. I was getting tired of those poor corporations and industries getting picked on all the time. Thank God someone finally stood up for their rights to pollute. Now that that action was taken, it should open the door to take other just as important actions in order to fix our government.

     Expanding on the EPA ruling, a new bill being put together now in the House would remove all atmospheric scientists and oceanographers from being able to advice the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Those pesky oceanographers think they know so much. Well, its about time we took them down a notch, don't you think? And the atmospheric "experts"? Please. Anyone can claim to be an expert. I'm not even sure what those guys do. So its good they can't slow down real progress anymore. Besides, all those models and charts, it's too confusing.

     There's another bill that will also address the Department of Education and all of its issues. The bill proposes to eliminate any former teachers and administrators from advising the Executive Branch on Education. There is too much infighting in schools now as it is, with "No Child Left Behind" and the Core Lessons that no one understands. Teachers shouldn't have to handle classrooms full of 30 or 50 students. That's too many. Everyone knows that. But we don't need new teachers or more schools. Those are too difficult to come by, and super expensive. We need less students. Its about time we put someone in charge of education who has no idea what it is like to be in a classroom and who can cut off the withering appendage that is overcrowding.

     A proposal to revamp the a key branch of the Justice Department is gaining momentum as well. This idea would require that only non-lawyers are allowed to hold the office of Attorney General and it's deputies. Law is so complicated. Expecting one person to be able to understand it all is unrealistic. So why not put someone in a position of power who understands nothing? You want Justice? Let's hire big game hunters or mercenaries. Those guys know how to bring it. Besides, it's not like the Attorney General does anything anyway, right? I mean, in all my life I have never even seen the Attorney General wear his uniform. That's just disrespectful to all of our veterans.

     There are other burgeoning ideas that should be on the floor soon. Like the proposition to eliminate engineers from advising the Department of Transportation on things like bridge and tunnel projects or rail upgrades. (Have you ever talked to an engineer? Arrogant! Think they know everything like geometry and math. Good riddance.) Or the motion to eliminate the Securities and Exchange Commission completely so those victims that run Wall Street can get back to work without any interference. There is also swelling support to dismantle US Immigration Services and just closing off the borders completely. We can have gun owners man the border from then on, since we need the man power and those guys and gals will do it for free. Someone needs to protect our jobs.

Courtesy of: http://iliketowastemytime.com/great-wall-america 

     These are hard choices that we need to make, people. Letting things like science, logic or reason determine our direction into the future would be a terrible mistake. I for one think its about time we do everything we can to make this country great again even if that means poisoning every citizen, failing to educate those who deserve an education and ignoring all those so called scientific "experts" that work in the basement of the science building. No more egg-heads! They are too hard to follow, impossible to understand and make my brain hurt. And they are hypocrites, right? I mean, aren't pocket protectors bad for the environment?

JFK

I Wish...

...and I don't think God created the Earth so we could use it as our Frat House.

If You're Gonna Bring It, Be Prepared

     I had a comment on my Facebook page Climate Guy '73 that continued the onslaught of the misinformed. This person told me that CO2 was good for the environment, that it was beneficial. Which, of course, it can be. But just like red wine, too much can kill you. The right amount of CO2 in the atmosphere drives the plant and animal symbiotic relationship on this planet. Too much CO2 in your lungs and a person will suffocate.  We have surpassed "what's good for nature" long ago when it comes to CO2 levels on this planet. This person was determined to point out how wrong I was and sent me a link to the CO2 Science, a website claiming to "disseminate factual reports and sound commentary" to understand the effects of CO2 on the planet's atmosphere.

     I looked up the chairman Craig D. Idso. Idso used to be the Director of Environmental Science at Peabody Energy (the largest private sector Coal Company), is an editor for the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change and is associated with the Heartland Institute, which is funded by Oil companies and the Koch brothers. I know I for one would rather get my scientific information about the environment from organizations with close ties to the very industries that are polluting the environment rather than from independent and unbiased scientists that study the natural as it is, not as they want to present it. Doesn't everyone? I mean, why try to determine the reality of the science when you can make up your own reality instead?

     Idso even has gone on the record stating the reason he got into the Climate Change debate was because Al Gore skewered Idso's father's research years ago in the Senate, where Gore supposedly cobbled together a secret backroom committee just to take down Sherwood Idso. (The elder Idso believed that CO2 was beneficial to the planet, ignoring the age old statute that too much of any one thing is bad. Sherwood Idso also ignored the research that soundly refuted his, but I guess he believed that was being unfair.) The fact that Craig Idso has publicly stated that he has joined the fight because of a personal vendetta against Vice President Gore for attacking his father with sound science and hard data should be a warning sign to anyone with a sliver of impartiality. To base your research on getting back at someone? That sounds like the scientific method, right?

     If you are going to site sources, I highly recommend that you don't quote the Heartland Institute, Sherwood or Craig Idso, the NIPCC, Peabody Energy or any other organization that is supported, funded and, for lack of a better term, in bed with the Oil and Coal Industry. They are not impartial entities. Do your research. Find me independent unbiased scientists and science experts that refute what the majority of Climate Scientists have to say on the matter. If you bring the Idso's or Tom Luongo or Robert Balling to the table and expect me or anyone else to take you seriously, you are out of luck. Don't take my words as me being dismissive. Those guys are pro-industry and anti-science. I won't waste anyone's time debating scientific facts that are widely accepted and supported with mountains of data.

     Bring me someone who not only has sound data and information that doesn't have more holes than an empty bee hive, but that holds some standing in the scientific community. If you think Al Gore is a fake, than choose from the thousands of other people who developed their position on Climate Change based on the science, not on what Big Oil or Big Coal pays them to say. Because, that's what's happening. Just like the tobacco companies did to discredit hard evidence that smoking causes cancer, the Oil and Coal industries are doing the same with Climate Change. Except this time, we are not talking about millions of lives being endangered so some really powerful companies can continue to profit, we are talking about billions of people...including you and your kids.

I Think It's About Time...

The Next Generation Asks World Leaders at UN: Why Not Act on Climate Cha...

Climate Change and the Department of Defense

     Forbes published a great article about the military's position on Climate Change.  It was enlightening and reinforced everything that I have learned over the past 6 years as I have studied, researched and discussed Climate Change in school, with my peers and here on this blog. When I think back to my first political memories, I immediately think of 1981 when the hostages were released from Iran. My dad took us to Suitland Parkway in PG County near Andrews Air Force Base and we waved yellow ribbons as the buses drove by, bringing those people back home. I didn't understand it then, but there are many who believe that the hostages were released because Ronald Reagan took office. And, historically, Republicans were bigger supporters of the military then Democrats.

     Which is why what's happening now with the debate to address Climate Change is so dumbfounding. Congress, now controlled by the GOP, is in direct conflict with the military's recommendations about how to address Climate Change. The former political allies are not only not on the same page, they are reading from different books, in different schools, on totally different planets! Read the Military's report National Security and the Accelerating Risks of Climate Change to see where the military stands, if you read Lester Browns book "Plan B: 4.0", much of it will sound familiar. The report illustrates, without directly stating, that Congress is letting politics interfere with an environmental issue that has global repercussions and threatens National Security. General Gordon Sullivan was spot on when he said:

     "People are saying they want to be perfectly convinced about climate science projections...But speaking as a soldier, we never have 100 percent certainty. If you wait until you have 100 percent certainty, something bad is going to happen on the battlefield." (Conca, 2014)

     Science works under the same principles. There is never 100 percent certainty in scientific study. There are always factors and details and situations we can not address, understand or even predict. But 97 percent certainty in Science, and in Military evaluations, means its time to act. Not only will our eco-systems, our culture and society be affected, but our National Security is being threatened as well. The military sees this. But the newly elected Congress does not. Isn't National Security high on the GOP list of importance?

Source: United States Navy

     I have gone on record many times claiming that I have nothing against conservatives or Republicans. I may not agree with people's ideas and positions on certain issues, but thats what makes the world go around. Debate is healthy in a democracy. However, I do have an issue with the current leaders in Congress due to their blatant disregard for well supported and accepted science that will have major impacts on this country and the world. Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, John McCain... even Newt Gingrich!! All of them regarded Climate Change as a growing threat that needed to be addressed with Carbon limits and cap and trade. McCain and the rest of the GOP changed their tune after the 2008 elections and have taken up the opposite stance ever since. Why? Is it for Oil money? Is it to sabotage President Obama's presidency? Is it to get back at the Democrats, who failed to pass cap and trade legislation back in 2008 after it had passed the House? (Berman, 2014).

     Throughout my life, Republicans have backed the military and pushed other things aside in order to fund it. The two were in lock step, working together for what they thought was right, to protect America's interests and keep Americans safe, at home and abroad. But, since 2008 when the GOP flipped on the issue of Climate Change, the two are at opposite ends of the argument. One one side you have Big Oil and Big Coal and the GOP. On the other you have the Environmentalists, the Democrats and the Military. Does anyone else find this the least big surprising surprising? Does it concern you that the current congressional leaders have stuck their heads so far in the sand on this issue that they are now even ignoring the military brass that they used to rub elbows with? What reason could congressional leaders possibly have to suddenly take a 180 degree turn and pit themselves against the military that they once were so aligned with?

     Times certainly do change. Tree-huggers and soldiers fighting together. Who would have thunk it? I must admit, I like having the military on my side on this one. After all, they have a plan for what to do when things go to hell in a hand basket on this planet. Which is important, since we're gonna need one.


Sources:

Conca, James. "Does Our Military Know Something We Don't About Global Warming?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 14 Nov. 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/11/14/does-our-military-know-something-we-dont-about-global-warming/

CNA Military Advisory Board, National Security and the Accelerating Risks of Climate Change (Alexandria, VA: CNA Corporation, 2014) 

Berman, Russell. "The Angry GOP Backlash to Obama's Historic Climate Accord." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/the-angry-gop-backlash-to-obamas-historic-climate-accord/382676/     

Bill Nye...Gotta Love This Guy!

Bill Nye weighed in on the China-US Climate Deal and what he thinks of Senator Inhofe's position.



    You go, Bill Nye. I'm with you.

Musical Interlude

Woo ah, mercy mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east

Woo mercy, mercy me, mercy father
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas
Fish full of Mercury

- Marvin Gaye



Photo my Joel Sartore via National Geographic, October 2010

Only Nixon Can Go To China

     The big news out of the talks in China is the climate agreement President Obama reached with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. China and the USA agreed to lower CO2 emissions by 25-30% by 2030 and 2025, respectively. Senator Mitch McConnell jumped up on his bipartisan soapbox soon after and offered up this gem.

     "...this unrealistic plan, that the President would dump on his successor, would ensure higher utility costs and far fewer jobs."  Mitch McConnell (R)-KY  Washington Post November 12th, pg A1

     Man! I guess the GOP wasn't kidding about rolling back progress to force their agenda on the world. Not only did President Obama get China to come to the table on reducing pollution, they agreed! Anytime China agrees to something, its big fucking news! Everyone knows that! Leave it to our new Congressional leaders to shit on such an historical event. I imagine if a Republican president was in office, they would be touting him as all powerful. A Republican President would be idolized and worshipped regardless of whether he was ineffective, corrupt and paranoid in reality. If you don;t believe me, look up Richard Nixon.

If It's Not Scottish, IT'S CRAP!

     God I love the old SNL. That Mike Myers bit when he's the Scottish dude? Too Funny. Which is why I couldn't help think back to that skit when I heard what Scotland did in October. No, they did not secede from the UK, but they did make enough wind energy last month to power over 3,000,000 homes. Think of all the haggis you could serve at night!

     Now imagine wind turbines dotting the American Mid-west, complete with battery storage facilities and transmission lines. That could power more than a few homes. Think of all the Apple Pie we could bake at night, in the winter, when its 5 degrees out. If you're doing the math, you'll realize its a crap-ton.

     I love stories like these because they cast doubt on those who claim that Wind and Solar are unreliable, ineffective and cannot power our needs. Countries like Germany, The Netherlands, the UK and Scotland have been proving that line of thinking incorrect for awhile now, but especially in 2014. Its hard to watch America fall behind. But, that is what it seems is happening. Politicians and Oil execs put down the Renewable sector, and then a country goes and shows the reality is in stark contrast to their proclamations.

     Call it my inner scoffer. Anytime I can see some blowhard say something ridiculous and self-serving, only to get shot to pieces by tree-huggers like me, well...I just get all giddy. If they had their way, we'd still be dumping poisonous chemicals in New Jersey and spraying DDT all over the place in the name of "progress". I like my progress without endocrine disruptors and heavy metals, thank you. I'll substitute those for vitamin D and fresh air. And, hold the carcinogens.

Did You Know?

It seems like the people who completely freak out about the very natural act of a woman breast feeding where she has to...

... are the same people who don't give two shits about the unnatural acts that pollute the environment when we don't have to. 

Am I the only one who thinks that's backwards? 

That's One Way To Look At It

Courtesy of: https://artcarcass.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/an-earth-day-remix/

Quotes

“The world is getting warmer because of human activity—that’s a fact. If you have somebody who really strongly believes the Earth was flat, you wouldn’t have to have that person on a television show with the people who believe the earth is round. It’s not one person vs the other person. It’s 97 people vs. three people... To have a generation of science students brought up without awareness of climate change is just a formula for disaster.”

- Bill Nye 

Translate Climate Guy Page!

     Blogger has this nifty little gadget that can translate this blog into many different languages. How cool is that?! I am not sure how much of my humor, insight and hard work actually come across in the translations, but I figure it may attract more people. (I know a few people here in Germany would like to read it in their native tongue.)

     If English is not your first language, check out the Google Translator on the right side bar. Feedback on how well it translates would be greatly appreciated.

     Have a great day!

     Climate Guy

It's a Sad Day

     I am six hours ahead of the East Coast since I moved to Germany last May. So I get the news before most people wake up (or in the case of those in the restaurant biz, before you pass out). I bet there's a lot of drinking going on right now. The Republicans took over Congress yesterday. While I do not hate Republicans and have many conservative friends, the Republicans that reside or will reside on Capitol Hill are the ones that worry me. I don't like leaders who put money, power and their own needs before those they represent.

     You see, politicians are not like us. They want people to like them and vote for them, so they promise some outlandish shit in order to get elected. Congressmen only have to serve six years before they receive life long pensions and retirement funds. In a country reeling from a huge national debt, environmental issues like Climate Change and rising sea levels, racial tensions the likes we haven't seen on this scale since the 1960's and the cost of living escalating faster than people can add a third job, political office should be an honor, not a position of status. Democrats and Republicans both are failing the American People by putting themselves before the country.

     People like Ted Cruz believe that they are doing the country a service by throwing a temper tantrum on the Senate floor in order to shut down a government run by hard working Americans. How many people were not paid during that shut down? Thousands were not, but Ted Cruz was. People like Mitch McConnell want to close the EPA, ignore the dire warnings from the Climate experts of the world and revert us back to environmental standards reminiscent of the meat packing industry of the early 20th Century. People like John Boehner want to approve the Keystone Pipeline, dismantle the Affordable Care Act and continue to take money from the Oil Industry because with money comes power.

     I worry about the state of the country. I worry that with decreased environmental protections, relaxed environmental standards and with affordable healthcare off the table, the country is going to fall behind the rest of the world. Increased pollution means a higher frequency of sick people, which means more money needed for medical bills. How are Americans expected to pay for the increased cost of living...across the board!... when oil rebounds and the minimum wage drops? How do we look to the rest of the world, with our military might but refusal to join in discussion about global threats that cannot be addressed with military might?

     The world faces its greatest threat: Inaction. The seas are rising, the world is getting warmer. It doesn't matter what Rick Scott or Lamar Smith have to say about Climate Change. They are supposed to listen to the experts and act in the interests of their constituents. Not listen to their campaign contributors and pocket the spoils. We face a global threat in Climate Change and how we, the human race, are damaging our planet. This election showed how out of touch people are and how they fail to see the seriousness of our situation. Which means things are going to get much much worse before they get better. By then, it may very well be too late.

Is This Who You Really Want Speaking For You?

"Similar to previous reports, the latest findings appear more political than scientific. People are tired of the re-packaged rhetoric. It's time to stop fear mongering and focus on an honest dialogue about real options."

- Rep. Lamar Smith (TEX-R), Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee
from MSNBC article on-line: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/science-committee-chair-shrugs-terrifying-new-climate-data

     It boggles the mind. That a person with very little understanding of science would be allowed to head a committee that exists to understand and pass legislation about it. As I read the polls and the articles about the election today, to think that the Republican will most likely win is devastating. No offense to my Republican friends, but the GOP plans to dismantle pretty much all of the environmental standards, laws, committees and Agencies. Many of these proposed moves will be in direct violation of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the recent global protocols on CO2 emissions.

     The rest of the world (and the United States Military) recognize, accept and are planning for Climate Change effects, and trying to reduce our impact on the planet as a species. Yet, the United States continues to banter this topic around like its unclear, inconclusive and unimportant. The US Government is doing all of us a dis-service. How can the rest of the world be so wrong?

      The House and Senate are a disgrace to humanity. They are paid by Big Oil and the other fossil fuels industries. If you don't believe it, go dig around and see who the biggest donors are for these idiots. The words I type now in know way can express my anger and frustration with the likes of Congressman Smith and others like him. If these people are re-elected and what they carry out their plan to revert back to the days of Upton Sinclair and the railroad barons, then the American People should be ashamed of themselves.

     Go vote today and save the world. To do anything less would be a travesty to all of mankind.

Climate Reality Monday

     The UN IPCC released a new report, and it ain't good. Well, not all good, I should say. Our addiction to oil is destroying our planet. Its not just the air, with all the pollutants and CO2 we are pumping into it, its the oceans as well. Many people say that the oceans absorb most of the CO2 emissions we release, which is actually true. But they miss a very important point: A HEALTHY OCEAN would absorb that much CO2. And our oceans are not healthy.

     The IPCC warns that if we don't end out reliance on oil by the end of the Century, we will be faced with unavoidable effects of Climate Change. Some effects already seen are irreversible. I'm sure some Deniers will say that the oceans will take care of the excess CO2, but they are talking out of their asses. Those types cherry pick data to discredit and dismiss these reports. They fail to make the connection that by polluting our oceans with...wait for it... Oil and Oil-based byproducts reduces the ocean's ability to absorb CO2. Corral reefs are dying, aquatic vegetation is shrinking, and that means less chlorophyll-filled-CO2-loving organisms to convert all that carbon dioxide into oxygen. Its very similar to when those types say that CO2 is good for plants, and then cut down half the forests on the planet.    
   
    You can read the report on the IPCC site. It is translated into dozens of languages. Before you believe the pundits, I suggest you read it over. You know, because it does in fact come from some pretty smart people.

     For those of you who are looking to learn more about Climate Change and are looking to become more involved, take a look at this Webinar from the Climate Reality Project. I trained with Al Gore in Chicago in the summer of 2013. It was a life altering experience that I will never forget. It inspired me to create this blog and influence thousands of people! (Okay, maybe not thousands, but I can dream, can't I?)

     Ask me any questions about my experiences or leave a comment in the comments section. My experience with the Climate Reality Project was a defining moment in my life. Maybe it could be for you as well!

Record Site Visits!

     Thanks to everyone who dropped in to check out the blog. The month of October was my most prolific month, with over 4000 page views! Wow! Every month since June has seen a significant increase. Now, the site has over 10,800 views all time and I cannot be happier.

     I hope you continue to stop in and see what I post. If you would like to follow me via email or Subscribe, you can do so on the side bar and at the bottom of the page. Be a follower! It makes you a happier person and your friends will think you are cool. Share what you like from the site with your friends. They will thanks you.

Thanks again!

Climate Guy

Book Review: Cradle to Cradle

     The book sat on my shelf for a few years before I finally got around to cracking it open. (I've been busy). I have a known bookstore-addiction, where I must go into any book store I happen to pass regardless of what I am doing at the time. It is my greatest guilty pleasure. I walk the aisles, looking thru sections that promise to reveal a hidden treasure I was meant to hold in my hands. And I always buy a book. One of those times, I picked up "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things" by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. I wish I had read it the day I brought it home, but I have accumulated quite a stack of unread books from my bookstore dalliances.

(Click image to visit the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute)

     McDonough and Braungart...

Computer Trouble

     Its going to be a short entry today, folks. I have been having computer issues and needed to get things worked out. They still are not. But the good people at Apple are working with me to get my MacBook Pro running smoothly again. They have been patient, helpful and nice, (which is more than I  can say for most of the other customer service experiences I have had in my life. ).

     So, stop by again for tomorrow's book review and words of wisdom. There are plenty of other features, pages and things you might like if you hang around and peruse the site. Take a look, check out the the Previous and Popular Posts to see what I am all about, vote on This Weeks Poll or watch some Youtube Videos about Climate and the Environment. (I promise, I only let the entertaining and funny ones on here.) Let me know what you like. Let me know what you think would be cool to add.

     Sign Up to Follow me via email, Facebook or Twitter, Google Plus or become a Follower.

     Thanks for stopping by and see you tomorrow!

     Climate Guy

Does of Reality

This cartoon is from 1978. I found it online and was struck by how it was completely relevant to what we see today. So I thought I would share, in the interests of measuring our progress.

Cartoon by Mike Peters
Originally printed in: Dayton Daily News, May 5th, 1978

Two Can Play At That Game

     There is a whole group of people that think Climate Change and global warming is a hoax, a liberal conspiracy. I won't get into it again, since I rant about this incessantly. My last post talked about a site that let people vote on whether Global Warming was real or not, with the hashtag #youdecide.  It got me thinking.

     If we can just vote to dismiss scientific evidence, then here are some suggestions I thought of:

CFACT: Dumbing the World Down for a Better Tomorrow

     I love internet polls. I think I have an addiction to them. I can't see one online without participating. I think it matters to everyone where I stand on the greatest Washington Capital in history, or whether the original Star Wars Trilogy was better than the prequels. Don't people want to know where I stand on Coke vs Pepsi? Or Marvel vs DC? Or whether Global Warming is real or not?

     As you know, the results of online polls are taken as gospel and rolled out to the greater public to resolve any debate about social issues that exist. Like with Climate Change. The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)'s site "Newsmax" recently posted an online poll, asking readers if they thought Global Warming was a hoax. The poll consisted of two questions:

That Can't Be Good

Books: Plan B 4.0 by Lester Brown

      If you want to save the world and don't know where to start, I recommend "Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing To Save Civilization". Written by Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, "Plan B" is an unswerving examination of the state our of our global society, our harmful activities to the world that sustains us, the ramifications of those actions and what we can do to provide ourselves and our descendants with a better, cleaner future. It's straight forward assessment of where we are as a global society and where we are headed paints a stark and frightening picture of our possible future. But it also gives us the blueprint for addressing the issues we face before its too late.

    "Plan B" outlines...

Quotes

God and Climate Change

     Some say you should never discuss certain things for fear of starting and argument: politics, religion, the Twilight Series. But, where's the fun in that? Life would be pretty boring. I mean, who doesn't like a good old-fashioned argument with a friend over the merits of Carbon Taxes, drilling for Oil off the East Coast of the USA or whether God gave us the Earth to treat like our frat house? Rarely do I weigh in on religious debate, but when I do I do not hold back. (You can read one of my rare pieces on the environment and religion here.)  I consider myself a Christian and do my best to be a good person and help others in need. My religious views are my own and my relationship with God is between Him and me. But, when it comes to the environment, I think many of us avoid the religious and political arguments so they don't have to talk about it or how it affects more than just one person or group.

     I recently read an article recently concerning Climate Change, Global Warming and the damage the human race is doing to the Earth from a more religious perspective. Written by Mark Strauss, it introduced me more intimately to the schism

Climate Reality Monday

     With mountains of evidence and the majority of the world's scientists agreeing that human beings are having a massive negative impact on the worlds climate. Yet, the world's leaders have yet to act definitively. Watch what the future leaders of the planet have to say about it.

Contact Your Local Civic Leaders to Voice Your Concerns. 

The Small Things in Life

John Oliver's Representative Climate Debate

     If you missed it, John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight, discussed the so-called debate about Climate Change a few months back. What followed was absolutely brilliant! Watch the video below and please share.

     Have a great weekend!

Quotes

Anonymous Comment

     I received an email that notified me that I had a new comment on the post Fox News: Missing the Point Again. The comments on this blog come in a trickle, so new comments get me all excited. (After all, this blog is here so we all can have a conversation about Climate Change and the role the human race has on it.) But, I suppose "Anonymous" had second thoughts on publishing his comment because when I went to reply, the comment was not published on my site. (Based on the content, I don't blame him or her.) Luckily, the comment is emailed to me even if the author deletes it after it is posted. Since the author was...

Climate Reality Monday - Mark Ruffalo

     The Hulk has weighed in. And if I were you, I would listen.

     Actor Mark Ruffalo sat down with the Climate Reality Project for a One-On-One interview on Climate Change and how it is our responsibility to act. You don't have to be Bruce Banner too see that humans have disrupted the normal Climate Cycle and are wreaking havoc on the planet.

     Watch the video and explore the Climate Reality Project site to learn about their mission and how you can join. Climate Change is real, it is happening, and we are major contributors.

Thanks Bob Vila

     You can always rely on Bob Vila. I just read an article from the House Guru that explains why you don't have to rake leaves every Fall. You can turn them into nutrient rich compost, mulch them with a mower and return the nutrients they contain right back to the soil. Its cheaper, its better for the environment and its easier on your back.

     Back in 2013, I did a project with the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy. Our goal was to get people to keep their leaves out of their driveway, off the sidewalks so they did not blow into the streets. Leaves contain nitrogen and phosphorus, which are released into open waters when they wash into storm drains or blow down the street into the rivers. Many people were just blowing their leaves into the street and forgetting about them. That can have a not-so-good effect on water quality, where the water column gets overloaded with nutrients it can't handle.

     One of our points to local residents in Annapolis, MD was that they could bag their leaves, compost them and put them back into their gardens as fertilizer. Or they could mulch them with the lawnmower, putting those vital nutrients back into the lawn. Before humans came around, trees dropped their leaves and the ground used those nutrients. Then, humans started worrying about how ugly their lawns looked with all those leaves strewn about. In order to show more green grass, we disrupted the cycle.

     Now, I'm not saying leaves are the reason water quality is so bad in many places, like where I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay. But, decomposing leaves certainly contribute. Humans have cleared forests and built homes, cut roads through the woods, eliminated riparian buffers along streams and rivers, which has allowed the leaves to get blown out of the forest. Instead of putting those vital minerals and elements back in the ground for the trees and animals and bacteria and other decomposers to break them down, they blow into the water.

     You can help by reusing your leaves on your lawn, and save some money on fertilizer and broken rake handles. Who would have thought that not raking leaves actually helps your lawn look great? Your back will thank you.

     To learn more about how human activities affect water quality, or to learn how to become a Master Watershed Steward, visit www.aawsa.org

...and the Lord said...

http://io9.com/heres-what-happens-when-evangelical-christians-debate-s-1642528491

Wochit Drops the Ball

     The Washington Post is my childhood newspaper. It is my longest and most dearest friend. It is the paper that was thrown down on my driveway everyday of my life as a kid, and continued well into adulthood. It was the first paper I read as a kid, when every Sunday I fought with my sisters over the Funny Pages. It was where I developed my deep love for all Washington Sports. It was what fueled and fed my passion for the Washington Capitals and the Game of hockey. Every Monday, on page A2, there was the Science Section, with one feature article and a handful of shorter articles about the recent discoveries, arguments or theories happening in the world of Science. The Washington Post was my life line and informer, and remains a part of my morning reading to this day.

http://www.safety4sea.com/why-is-antarctica-ice-melting--10898

     So you will have to excuse me...

Quotes

Plastic, Plastic...Everywhere

     I recently watched the documentary "Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch", directed by Angela Sun. It examines the environmental impact of the plastics industry over the past sixty years, focusing mainly on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Northern Pacific. Having done a research paper on the Garbage Patch a few years ago for my undergraduate degree, I was familiar with what it is. I also read the book "Plastic Ocean" (by Captain Charles Moore with Cassandra Phillips) last spring. But there is a huge difference with reading about environmental damage and seeing it with your own eyes.

     The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located within the Northern Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a collection of spinning ocean currents that surround an area of approximately 20 millions square kilometers. The center of the Gyre is usually very calm, so as debris and trash are carried into the currents and dispersed throughout the Patch, they settle in and persist throughout the entire water column (NatGeo, 2014). It is not the only one in the world; there are these types of Gyres in every ocean of the world. And they all are collecting plastic at accelerated rates.

Map by NOAA

     In "Plastic Paradise", I watched as they cut open dead

It's the Important Things

http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/S/i/I/5/save-earth-planet-with-chocolate.jpg

Did You Know...?

...That's a mere 5 years and 3 months from now. My new house will have a solar array and have a drastically reduced Carbon Footprint (no oil, no gas, recycled materials, PV, Solar Thermal, all LED Lighting, 30cm insulated walls, Green Roof). It is all more feasible then you think. And affordable, with a much better return on investment.

   

September Numbers

     Thanks to everyone who stopped by and checked out the blog last month. We added two new followers, had half a dozen new comments and had 2612 total page views for the month! That beat August's record views by 700.

     Now, I have to step up my game. Look for more pieces this month on the more difficult science, why peer review is important in the scientific community and what are some of the biggest myths out there from the side that believes the way we treat this planet is just fine despite all that is obviously going wrong.

     If you aren't following, please sign up. If you have some feedback, its welcome. I look forward to seeing even more of you this month!

Halving the Worlds Populations

     The World Wildlife Fund released a statistic that everyone needs to see. Since 1970, the majority of the world's vertebrate populations have been cut in half. That's 50% gone. The main cause? Over fishing, hunting and poaching and habitat destruction are the reasons. And what, do you ask, is causing all of this? Do you really have to ask that?

Courtesy of and Copyright: WWF International

     Biodiversity is...

Climate Reality Monday

"We can believe in the future and work to achieve it and preserve it, or we can whirl blindly on, behaving as if one day there will be no children to inherit our legacy. The choice is ours; the earth is in the balance." 

- Al Gore, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit

    Join the conversation. Visit climaterealityproject.org to learn more about how you can help change the way we live on this planet and create a better future.