G’day Everyone,
I’m away today (doing research for a new article) but I’ll be leaving you in the very capable hands of some of LibertyGibbert’s finest talents…
Following last week’s explosive revelations in these pages, which have reverberated around the world, our own China correspondent, Locusts, offers us more fascinating insights into the everyday life of that country, in two latest instalments of his China Blog: A Day In The Life, and New Horizons. They paint a remarkable and very human picture of a country we are so often shown in only a negative, stylized, news-headline light. Once again, a sincere thanks to Locusts.
And the Lincolnshire Sniffer Dog strikes again! LibertyGibbert’s resident artistic merry-maker par excellence, Fenbeagle, aims his rapier wit at the week’s hot topic. This one’s so good I’ve got to put it right at the top:
Be Responsible - Be Free! 
Well that would be my revenge on London wind turbines everywhere.
Having already read and commented on Locust’s offerings here some weeks ago, I’ll move on to Fenbeagle’s vision of a London resonating to the harmonics of a forest of wind turbines.
The water storage aspect is a new one and it’s good to see the wee beagle pup in the thick of the action. Great work Fen.
Having read of historic Sydney Australia as “The City of Windmills”, I found the following link which may be of interest……
“In 1836, Charles Darwin sailed up the Sydney harbour and saw ‘in the distance, stone houses, two and three storeys high, and windmills standing on the edge of a bank’. Many people today would be surprised to hear of windmills in Sydney. Yet windmills feature in many of the early paintings and drawings of Sydney Town. They were strung out along the ridges and provided the colony with both distinctive landmarks and a source of renewable energy.”
http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/windmills
This is obviously the vision of our major cities so beloved of Green Politicians which is how they want to see us all live again. Perhaps the following….
“Between 1790 and 1793, a Sydney convict, James Wilkinson, experimented with ‘man mills’. They consisted of nine convicts walking in a circle around a capstan. But this was slow, tedious, and also prone to failure.”
……is finally a useful purpose for the AGW Foot-soldiers. Let them put the sweat of their brows behind their renewable energy policies and “their shoulders to the wheel” – literally.
But, like everything they do, it’ll be “slow, tedious, and also prone to failure.”
A response to Crown’s weather report from Memphis in the previous thread…..
In Hobart today since 3 am, with a forecast max of 9 degsC;
It’s blustery wind gusts – no it’s calm.
It’s bright sunshine – no it’s cloudy.
A dusting of snow on the ranges – no, an hour of sunshine and it’s gone.
Drizzling showers – no it’s dry again.
The sun’s back here – snow clouds on the mountains down to 900 metres.
This is not a work of fiction. Moral of the story – if you don’t like the weather, come back in half an hour.
Blackswan we just sun humidity more sun did I mention humidity except at night where we get no sun. We are just having a heatwave and looking at the jetstream map looks like we have a stalled high pressure system.
http://www.intellicast.com/National/Wind/JetStream.aspx
G’Day,
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out today’s WUWT offerings. The top story is about a new study that destroys the Michael Mann Hockey stick (again). The comment thread alone is entertaining. More than mildly amusing is the story of the backwards walking Australian AGW protest.
Enjoy,
Dave
Dr. Dave says:
August 16, 2010 at 11:03 am
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the tip on WUWT. The following march was in Sydney, 30,000 down on 2006 numbers……
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/fewer-turn-out-to-let-off-steam-over-global-warming-20100815-1257f.html
Well there was a program on telly here about the EPA wanting to regulate coal ash residue as apparently it is as bad a radioactive waste contains lots of nasties and think of the children as they interviewed concerned mothers concerned EPA officials concerned environmentalists and not one sodding scientist or engineer and lots of lawyers representing the people smelling money like the blood suckers they are.
If these loonies win no more coal plants and blackouts everywhere f***ing nutters.
This all stems from p*ss poor management of TVA coal ash pond and a collapse of the holding dam caused a lot of damage to one valley, thanks TVA get your act together.
Although I’m sure the good capt’n will tell us someone set off ultra super secret explosives for carbon bonds for the bullingdon club.
Fantastic pictures Fen, I envy your skill with the pen!
somegreybloke on about Facebook…
OO
fenbeagle…. for you
OK…I’ll wander into the realm of the completely off topic…what the heck. MANY years ago, before I went off to college to be trained as an official smarty pants, I was a bluegrass musician of sorts. I grew up in a small town (population < 20,000) in SW Michigan. When disco was really popular my friends and I discovered bluegrass. In recent years years I have discovered that bluegrass enjoys quite a following in Australia (go figure). Back in those days we played rather raunchy bluegrass or what we termed, "punk grass". We had lyrics that would make a sailor blush. I, of course, left for college, but a steady stream of local talent filled the void…and the boys got better and better.
The other two guys who formed the band are still with it and after 35 years they have only gotten better. Mind you, this is a "no name" band from a small town in SW Michigan. They recently released a CD of music written by a dear friend and close band member who met an untimely death. The music is what my friend (the guitar and banjo player) terms "wuss grass" but it's still pretty damn good. I invite you, my friends from a distant continent, to give it a listen (it's good "bar and grill" music). Keep in mind this is a small town band from a small town in SW Michigan. The following link will take you their website and a great sampling of their music:
http://www.artgomperz.com/
I decided to drop you this one in support of Jokes in general….
I do hope you like it….. tagged on to
”just fyi THAT program is still gone awol on iplodder
I wonder if it has anything to do with it being broadcast and recorded (maybe they missed the ‘record ready button’? shoddy lot at the bbc) on Friday the 13th?
Anyway listen…. There was a Scotsman, an Englishman and an Irishman captured by a bunch of Red Indians……..”
Dr. Dave says:
August 16, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the link to your old friends and familiar music. Country music is big in some parts here, especially the country (wonder why that is?)…lol
This link isn’t exactly bluegrass but it’s become something of an anthem..
Members of the Outback Club.
Blackswan,
DAMN!! That was excellent! If you wanted to fit it into an American genre you’d have to call it “honky tonk” (one of my very favorite genres of music!). Shucks, it even LOOKED like American honky tonk. I’ve listened to a lot of Australian bluegrass but it always seemed like it lacked an authentic “feel”. The stuff you sent would pass as 100% American honky tonk! Those guys were amazing!
I wish you could hear my old band before they became “pussified”. Man, they swatted out some of the most toe tappin’, raunchy bluegrass you ever heard. I spent over 10 years in Texas (yeah…with horses and cattle and all that) and I developed a deep love of good, heartfelt honky tonk. Now…15 years later…I’m back to speaking English as a first language (as opposed to “Texan”). But the “feel” still lives on in my heart. Mostly I wanted to showcase the superlative guitar and banjo work of my old mate, Dan Geib. This guy is a genius!
Good stuff! I’m always shocked at how well this stuff is received by foreign audiences. Keep it comin’, my brother!
Dave
Dave,
Let me introduce you to another Aussie country icon, Adam Harvey.
Love it, but I prefer Wild Turkey with Honey…lol
And a little something else….
friends come in all shapes and sizes.
Mornin’ Blackswan,
How about getting me one of these T shirts Swanny?
Aren’t they ripper?
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/08/15/australian-sceptics-crash-climate-change-rally-t-shirts-blamed/
BTW – Tassiestan weather……………… sounds just like ‘home’!
Ed.
Here’s some bluegrass to mes with peoples heads…
OO
More bluegrass…
OO
Hi all
It seems that disgust has finally goven up on the DT……oh well….probably yet another glitch.
Blackswan,
The first link you sent me was denied in the USA by Sony. So I just searched the artist’s name and played what turned out to be your next link. Great stuff! I used to think this music was uniquely American in style. I don’t know…maybe it is…but it sure seems to have an international appeal, particularly an Australian appeal. We may be quite literally a half a world apart, but we’re closer to one another than, say, we in the US are to France. We have more in common than our cousins in the UK. But ya’ll eat vegemite! To us this is like pond scum on toast. And ya’ll have been eating this stuff since WWII…willingly.
Oh well, I’m quite sure ya’ll would find various and sundry American habits disgusting. I grew up in the civilized midwest where we had extremely boring food. In the south and southwest they actually eat cattle stomach, pig guts, calf brains and various and sundry bits of animal tissue. Well…not me. I’m too big a sissy. The most disgusting thing I’ll willingly eat are raw oysters.
What astounds me is how similar our cultures are and yet we are about as far apart as you can get.
TheUnbrainwashed
Thank you for the Vincent clip…. Another unbrainwashed. He has become worthy of big investment. Is that deep, or shallow?
Locusts
Thank you for the use of your work……Try switching from the pen, to a pencil, these are pencil roughs. If your using a pen, the next stage would be to trace the sketch, and tidy up.
Dr Dave
You realise we have a whole tribe of Indigenous Elders whose sole job is to put curses on those who rubbish our Vegemite.
The next time at breakfast you find your bread is mouldy or your toast burns, you’ll know why.
And that will just be a warning.
Fen
Pillage away, just promise to correct my spelling mistakes next time!
Dr. Dave August 16, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Careful Dave. That crack about Vegemite raised their hackles and the hackles are pointing in your direction …
Pointman
Dr. Dave August 16, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I lived in Texas for a while and caught the C&W bug. Went deeper into the genre and found some diamonds. Have some Memphis Minnie.
Pointman
Great Music this morning fella’s. It aint cool but I have to confess I love Country Music and the Aussie stuff was terrific! I’d forgotten about Don McLean – I’ve still got the “American Pie” LP stored somewhere in my son’s attic along with a couple of hundred LP’s.
Count me in on the T-shirt Black Swan.
“New Zealand’s NIWA sued over climate data adjustments”
“The country’s state-owned weather and atmospheric research body is being taken to court in a challenge over the accuracy of its data used to calculate global warming.”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/08/16/new-zealands-niwa-sued-over-climate-data-adjustments/#more-23506
I guess the world’s first fully carbon taxed country is really starting to hurt. I wonder how much prices and the cost of living has risen there?
Pointman
Looks like there’s a climate sceptics political party in Oz! Saves having to spoil your ballot paper under the compulsory voting system.
http://www.landshape.org/news/
Pointman
As a person that has experienced in your face racism I can talk from experience.
Back in the early 1960’s my first day at school resulted in a fist fight in front of the town Post Office. My grandfather was an an American,unknown to me at the time.My Grandfather had given me native American facial features,also unknown to me at the time.
In the subsequent years from then, to now, Australia has changed out of site.
Why do we have to have legislation to force people to accept things that they already have.
We now have racism in black letter law,where one ethnic group is favoured
over an other.
I have read everything P.J O’Rouke has ever written and I think he makes sense.
Garry, a very warm welcome to LibertyGibbert. I’ve got most of P.J.’s books on my shelf myself. Do drop by whenever the mood takes you – Oz
Pointman
I saw a TV ad for the Climate Sceptics party, originated in Mount Gambier South Australia, and went to their website.
I noted there was a Tasmanian Candidate for the Senate so I clicked on her name for more info. Her page told me she lived in the state of Victoria (how that works I’ll never know) and went on to tell me she was an actress, giving me her vital statistics. What her waist and bust measurement has to do with AGW is way beyond me. Then we got to see her husband’s profile.
Not a solitary word about the Climate or even politics for that matter.
I was pretty ticked off, some bimbo wanna-be using this issue to get a higher profile with never the merest comment about AGW.
The whole blurb on their website was amateurish, weak and without much merit, failing to cite any one of the myriad reasons we find on Libertygibbert to refute the Climate Scam.
I would have written these comments on the site’s Comment Section but it was “Closed”. Pathetic. It’ll be a long time before I refer to myself as a sceptic again.
Hi Garry,
Welcome to the Oz’s Bar & Grill. On the Racism front, I agree that if the attitude or laws of society do not leave an even playing field, then there’s scope to legislate against overt discrimination (whatever the ism).
The problem arises when it goes too far leading to tokenism and ghettoisation of minorities. We’ve been through the Multiculturism loop in the UK and it took 7/7 to finish it off. Incidentally, the ghettoisation crack was made by the Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality in the UK speaking of the net effect of Multiculturism.
Pointman
Garry Rogers says:
August 16, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Hello Garry,
I don’t think I’ve read your posts before. I’m having a little difficulty understanding the point you’re trying to make. Could you help me out?
Blackswan Tasmania August 16, 2010 at 8:17 pm
To be honest, I didn’t read anything more than the homepage at that site. Since you’re a Tassie resident and know something about climate change, why not prod them with an email telling them the effect their candidate selection has had on you. They may be piss poor but they’re all that’s there on the political landscape downunder.
Speaking of the political landscape, how come Climate Change is hardly being mentioned in the election. It was the big issue in the last one.
Pointman
Not surprisingly, you have a point Pointman…lol
I’ll probably do that. Labor’s deferring an ETS for a few years is being cited as another “broken promise” and used by the Greens to garner Labor votes for themselves.
I emailed a Sydney talk radio station today (I listen on-line) when they spoke about the Greens $27 a tonne carbon price, advising about the CCX 10c a ton carbon price, including a link, but the idiots were clueless and didn’t read the link or the email properly and it was useless. They just don’t get it.
Pointman
When MV was politcally active we had hundreds of thousands of people sending slow mail to politicians. MV was considered, by one of the leading political analysts of Oz, “as a theat to the very fibre of democracy in this country”.
And we keep fighting, albeit in a different forums.
Yes, we had our fun yesterday, but we are deadly serious, when it comes to liberty!
Mrs MV says:
August 16, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Isn’t this the day he’s heading home?
Pointman
Pointman
Actually Pointy, I think the best result we ever got – during the anti-ID Card campaign – was about 30,000 letters sent to our pollies.
And I was considered a threat, not a theat. Being a gentleman I at all times avoid being a theat.
I think Thumper has already started celebrating my return home – which isn’t actually until this time tomorrow night.
MV
Public participation in politics a threat to the stability of the hallowed system of rule by the demos… When they said that, did they mention who exactly they considered to be the demos? Looks like you ruffled some feathers anyhoo!
Oh Pointman
His last hours at the salt mine finished 4 hours 23 minutes, and 42 seconds ago. Who’s counting. Anywho (which is a crazy word the next gen have started (in Oz anyway and we pinch anything good off anyone), if we can get away with it, and stuck with me. A bit like qwel.
Apart from that MV will be home tomorrow night. Lightening speed my love.
memoryvault says:
August 16, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Avoiding being a theat at all times seems a sensible policy. As to going home, if you guys slip off the radar for a few days, we’ll all understand.
Pointman
Pointman
We usually do –
and I agree entirely – being a non-theat is not just sensible, it is a noble calling.
Locusts
Actually, Thumper got the quote a bit wrong too. It was Keith Wright, Member for Capricornia QLD (and ex-Catholic priest) –
“Memory Vault is the most sinister, insidious, extremist threat to the delicate thread of democracy this country has ever seen”.
He went on to explain that I was also the secret head of pretty much every neo-Nazi, right ring extremist, fascist group in OZ, including the KU Klux Klan.
Which came as a bit of a surprise to just about everybody, including me and the Ku Klux Klan, since nobody was aware they were even here at the time, including them. They wrote me, asking what the hell was going on. I politely redirected their query to Mr Wright.
Still, got me featured on the front cover of Time Magazine that year.
Frankly, I thought it was all a bit of an overkill, since all I’d done at the time was write a few articles about CIA behind-the-scenes activities here in OZ.
Nonetheless, it gave me great pleasure, about five years later, to play a part in putting Mr Wright behind bars for 10 – 15 years (he actually served eight) for sexually abusing both his step-daughters, eight and eleven at the time.
If I have two outstanding qualities, Locust, they are patience and vindictiveness.
Another contribution to the bluegrass/country style….
Noidea might like their cover of Ace of Spades too –
They also do a cute version of Bohemian rapsody…..
MV
I have finally realized that I have a very poor imagination. Out of all the possible replies that I was vaguely expecting to my previous comment, your actual posting was not one of them! Belated congratulations for getting on to Time.
Coal-fired power stations win reprieve?
Guardian Exclusive: Government’s decision to put pollution standards ‘on hold’ raises possibility of dirtiest coal plants going ahead.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/15/coal-fired-power-stations-coalition
Perhaps coal is more acceptable to the Lib Dims than Nuclear!
Minor Louise Gray
articlecut-and-paste space filler:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7946613/Mankind-is-using-up-global-resources-faster-than-ever.html
The article is about fish, transitions, sustainability, rising global temperatures. She introduces “Earth Overshoot Day” and quotes Andrew Simms (boardmember on Greenpeace)
as saying “the earlier humans use up Earth’s resources,…..driving climate change…. ”
Probably derived from
http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/apachesolr_search/programmes/publications/interdependence
Suffolkboy
“Earth Overshoot Day?”
You mean we’re gonna MISS something??
Manonthemoor
The big advantage, for opposition to big wind. Is that the present two leaders, and Minister responsible, are fully, and vocally, in favour of it…… This clearly means they have no intention whatsoever of going ahead with it, and will actually do everything else but.
……Apart from, of course, any wind projects that they might be financially involved in themselves, (or members of their own families)
…They will at some stage fall out though, and then, will likely take up opposite positions, on this issue. Until only one of them remains.
REQUEST FOR ADVICE
Totally OT I know, but things seem a bit quiet anyhow, so Ozboy, please forgive me.
I’m looking for advice on cheap or free web-hosting, or a similar solution to a situation. I know there’s a lot of interest out there about OZ and the “outback”. I’ve taken a lot of pics over the years, but quite frankly, I’m about as artistic as an adjustable spanner.
However, a few years ago now a “professional photographer” – nobody seems to know who he was, where he came from, or what happened to him, went through the area and took photos – absolutely bloody amazing photos in my opinion – and then disappeared without a trace.
Over the last few years I’ve seen a couple of these pics – as has just about everyone else who lives and works in this neck of the woods. But this last week I managed to meet someone with what appears to be the complete collection, which I now have.
What I’d like to do is put them online so everybody else can see them. I don’t want to go the Facebook or similar route – the resolution gets reduced to buggery and these pics deserve better – most of them are 2 – 4 meg and even up to 7 meg, and they are worth the download effort.
So, I’m open to suggestions, and extremely grateful for whatever ideas anybody can offer.
It’s just about time for me to pull the pin for today, and I’ll be in transit all day tomorrow, so please don’t be offended if you respond, and I don’t get back to you for a couple of days. I will read all responses and ideas and get back as soon as I can.
So please – a bit of lateral thinking – what’s the best way for me to share these pics?
Hi MV Hope this helps
My entry on moorthoughts.wordpress took less than 2 hours mainly cut and paste of documents.
Use this line……..as below!
https://libertygibbert.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/the-china-syndrome/
By editing the line above which appears in the browser address box to read
http://ozvault.wordpress.com/
and that will take you straight to a sign on screen since I have checked and this is available. Clearly other names may be desired so experiment to find a suitable unused name.
WordPress will allow pictures and of course lots of other stuff…….LOL
There is a WordPress for Dummies book here for download
http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/90402625/wordpress?tab=summary
Let me know how you get on, I found it very easy ……..rgds
Knock me down wiv a fevah!
Wonders will never cease!
Is this, the cold wind of pragmatic realisation blowing through the Westminster corridors of ‘power’ in good old Blighty?
Don’t hold your breath, I’m sure Huhney wont let this ever ‘leave the ground’.
But politicians can be made to disappear……… .
And in the grauniad, how ironic is that?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/15/coal-fired-power-stations-coalition
Great cartoon Fenbeagle, the EUSSR flag on Tower Bridge really made me laugh.
It’s been a good weekend in general for AGW debunking. Let’s hope that the winds of pragmatic realism keep blowing and cool heads prevail. (pun most definitely intended)
Things may well be about to heat-up, but not in the way we might think.
Luboš Motl discuses why Israel should and probably will strike Iran…
http://motls.blogspot.com/2010/08/israel-should-and-probably-will-strike.html
” Based on 2000–08 data, extreme weather events are responsible for about 0.05% of all global deaths (31,700 deaths vs. 58.8 million, annually). That is, despite the media attention to such events, extreme weather events have a minor impact on global public health.
Long term (1900–2008) data show that average annual deaths and death rates from all such events declined by 93% and 98%, respectively, since cresting in the 1920s (Figure 1). These declines occurred despite a vast increase in the populations at risk and more complete coverage of extreme weather events (Figure 2).”
Can’t say fairer than that can you?
But here’s the kicker;
“Reducing these emissions through efforts to make fossil fuel energy scarcer and more expensive could, therefore, be counterproductive in humanity’s efforts to limit death and disease from not only such events but also other, far more significant sources of adversity.”
http://www.thegwpf.org/the-observatory/1378-indur-m-goklany-global-death-toll-from-extreme-weather-events-declining.html
In one – I’d say.
Climate disasters getting worse/bigger/wetter/hotter/dryer/colder/more frequent, all hot air in the end.
Ed.
They’ve already got the air corridors agreed some time ago. Now, it’s only a matter of time.
Pointman
News item mentions possible privatisation of the UK Met Office.
I imagine that any potential investors would be looking to break it up, CAGW and volcanic dust scares being well past their sell-by dates.
Back on the national stage, the Met Office, which comes under the Ministry of Defence, was identified as a possible candidate for privatisation by defence secretary Liam Fox before the election. Tonight a ministry spokesman said: “Everything, including the Met Office, is being looked at under the strategic defence and security review which will report after the summer”.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/18/conservatives-defence
Correction: news quote is actually from this link.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/13/crown-jewels-britains-landscape-sold
Richard North has a good analysis on how scare stories end.
And that’s the way scares usually end – with a whimper rather than a bang. The public gets bored with it and moves on, leaving the scare promoters or “pushers” to soldier on by themselves. It moves from being a participatory to a spectator sport, and then it dies.
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/
It will be interesting to see how the BBC and warmist MSM in general manage to wiggle out of this meme. (Why did I type wiggle and why am I now thinking of Amanda -Pointman!)
Morning all,
Thought this may be of interest, considering the Chinese theme of the last couple of threads……..
It called for the activation of China’s 1.3 billion people via a militia-type diplomatic force ”through which the US will really feel pain”.
”If we held this kind of military drill on the west coast of the US, or the coast of Australia, how would your side respond?”
http://www.smh.com.au/business/pulling-the-strings-on-public-opinion-20100816-126xa.html
It is instructive that the US government has never actually said it would send the USS George Washington to the Yellow Sea.
If “pulling the strings on public opinion” (as in Climate Change) can result in public demand for “Action”, what would be the outcome when public opinion in China is influenced against the West? What “Action” could 1.3 billion people demand in response?
Huge rise in sea levels forecast if global warming ignored
Sea levels could rise by up to seven metres if greenhouse gas emissions were not scaled back, a panel of leading geoscientists has told the US Congress.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/huge-rise-in-sea-levels-forecast-if-global-warming-ignored-20100811-11zqc.html?autostart=1
The Australian government is currently planning for a sea level rise of 90 centimetres by the end of the century.
Aha, so that’s why local councils in Oz are refusing building permits in some coastal properties. People who have bought such land in good faith over the years, to build their “dream home” or for their later retirement, are now being told they can build nothing due to Global Warming and sea level rises.
Obviously their land, purchased at premium prices, is now worth virtually nothing and, unless they just want to spread a picnic rug on the ground for the occasional outdoor lunch, is of no use to them.
“Somebody” has to be held accountable for this criminal fraud.
Swanny – perhaps all Members of Parliament who belong to political parties with a warmist platform should be constitutionally barred from purchasing any property within 10 kilometres of the coast.
Do we even KNOW how many warmist politicians own waterfront properties, or have acquired them since the council regulations you refer to have been enacted? – Oz
And today’s topic is China
I have to admit my closest association with China is Chinese Restaurants, I like Chinese food or at least the Anglicised version, but China has had an influence over the western world for a very long time in terms of trade and style.
My China list
China Clay, Bone China, China Garden, China Town, China Doll, China Vase, China Sea, Great Wall of China, China Tea, Chinaman.
My Chinese List
Chinese Food, Chinese Silk, Chinese Tapestry, Chinese Laundry, Chinese Whispers, Chinese Water Torture, Chinese Lantern, Chinese Students, Chinese New Year, Chinese Fortune Cookies, Mandarin Chinese, Chinese Medicine, Chinese Acupuncture, Chinese Burn, Chinese Dragon, Chinese Gunpowder Chinese Junk (the boat) and Chinese Ginseng.
First we had fish and chips and then we had Chinese take aways in the mid fifties, which opened the door to all forms of fast food, which has revolutionised our eating habits.
The Chinese revolution has however been a quiet revolution and those living in the UK seem to have successfully adapted to our way of life without any problems, indeed we still have many Chinese students which attend our universities without any problems at all.
So the UK experience of the Chinese has been largely harmonious, however with the latest AGW information provided by Locusts one wonders whether our politicians in particular may have such a benign attitude to the Chinese Republic.
The Chinese AGW translation by Locusts followed the article by James Delingpole has echoed round the anti AGW circles of the internet and it remains to be seen whether such revelations will have any lasting effects upon the AGW arguments.
Perhaps one day the China revelations will be seen as a tipping point in the AGW arguments, the future however remains part of lifes unique challenge.
As amerloque would say NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP
G’day Oz,
It occurred to me – what are the odds that Councillors involved in this crap (or members of their families) will sidle up to the affected landowners and offer to “take it off their hands” for a “good price”, obviously far below that of its original value?
Nah, couldn’t happen. I’m just such a cynical swan.
Weather in Russia & Pakistan…….
“a “blocking event” has brought the jet stream to a halt”
“Climate change has been cited as one possibility, but scientist Gerald Meehl of the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado told the New Scientist magazine there was no way to test the theory, as the resolution in climate change models was too low to replicate weather patterns such as blocking events.”
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/weather-blocker–jet-stream-stops-and-causes-disasters-20100812-120th.html
“the resolution in climate change models was too low to replicate weather patterns” and yet they claim they can predict disasters like hurricanes, cyclones, floods, droughts and earthquakes. Will one of these idiot “scientists” PLEASE make up their minds?
“The planet has never been as hot as it has been in the first half of this year, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a July report.”
Now forgive my “you couldn’t make it up” attitude, but isn’t the aforementioned NOAA the same lot that just retrieved ALL satellite temperature data from the internet because of insanely stupid temps factored into their models of 600 to 700 degs C?
And they STILL have the temerity to claim “The planet has never been as hot as it has been in the first half of this year” and be quoted around the world?
Now I’m getting REALLY cranky………
My latest…
http://knottedprop.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/daily-telegraph-your-favourite-most-hated-trolls-and-assorted-unhinged-types/
Pointman:
Have you ever read any work by Eugene Genovese? You might possibly be interested, I thought.
http://www.amazon.com/Roll-Jordan-World-Slaves-Made/dp/0394716523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282037262&sr=8-1
ee
He was the one from whom I learned (I think) that the original or proper term is ‘hoodoo’ not ‘voodoo’, and he has some interesting things to say about mojo roots etc. It’s not really a very nice subject, actually — not shall we say romantic.
I was pleased to see a return to the subject of China as I don’t think the full implications of the passage translated by Locust has been fully explored.
So despite (or because!) of the poor reception my excursions in the murky indeterminatism of civic governance and ideology I have pulled on the wellies, dug out the PPe and dabbled again in the toxic shallows of political pontification….
The emphasis on the response to AGW that has inevitably been the focus here has resulted in larger issues of resource use that are raised by the Chinese essay being relgated to the background.
The article/book chapter identifies the potential risks Of AGW as being a tool for rich western governments to constrain the use of fossil fuels by developing nations. It opposes this not so much because of any objection to the science of the AGW theory but because of the inherent injustice it identifies with the richest, and most polluting nations being reluctant to act on thier own emissions to the same extent that they are eager to control the emissions of others.
While this applies to fossil fuel use, there are wider implications for the use of ALL finite resources. It is clear China does not see that the present distribution of resource use as a ‘natural’ or automatic right for nations to continue using resources in the present unequal way. It seems in the passage that the writer not only asserts the right of China to expand its use of finite resources to achieve the standard of living enjoyed by the rich west, but is also championing the right of other poor nations, in Asia and Africa, to have the same unfettered access to resources.
This seems to be presented as an ideological stance, defending the right of all nations to have a just share in the gl;obal wealth without the rich nations imposing restrains because of the finite nature of those resources.
This is a matter not just of fossil fuel, but of many other resources, the WUWT thread on the implications of the full population of China using resources at the level of consumption of the US was a facet of this.
There may be some that see no problem with China and the rest of the globes fuel-poor nations increasing their usage of energy. The potential danger of AGW is rejected, and the belief is that there is sufficient fossil fuel – in one for or another – for the global populatiopn to use it at European rates of 10tons/person/year if not at US/Australian rates of 20tons/p/yr.
But while it is true that there are enormous reserves of coal and oil shale/tar sands, it is also a fact that there is a finite rate at which such resources can be exploited. Oil shale is also close to the break-even point in energy gained with present technology, that is for every 10 barrels of oil extracted from shale, you use up ~7 barrels in the extraction process.
My impression of the China piece is that it is not arguing against restrictions on the use of fossil fuels because of any disbelief in the science of AGW theory, but from the ethical stance that access to wealth is the right of ALL peoples and should not be constrained by the already wealthy who would deny the results of a level of energy consumption that they enjoy without making any effort to significantly curtail their own consumption.
Its the fattest man in the room telling others with malnutrition to eat less to avoid obesity.
Izen
I’m sure all of what you say is true. I never doubted it. But what I noticed about the China piece, is they don’t think much of ‘Wind power’ or our ability to save energy produced in unreliable ways.
And yet that is what Chris Huhne is wishing on us in this country, at great expense.
It will not work.
….And so, who’s cause will it serve?
If CO2 is an alarming problem. It will not be solved by carpeting Britain with large industrial wind turbines. But it will cost money that could be spent better. It will lose the hearts and minds, of very many people who might otherwise have been concerned about green issues. It is, in short counter productive.
If CO2 is not an alarming problem…….Then why build ‘Big wind?’
@- Blackswan –
“Now forgive my “you couldn’t make it up” attitude, but isn’t the aforementioned NOAA the same lot that just retrieved ALL satellite temperature data from the internet because of insanely stupid temps factored into their models of 600 to 700 degs C?
And they STILL have the temerity to claim “The planet has never been as hot as it has been in the first half of this year” and be quoted around the world?”
I think it is made clear that the context of the “never been as hot…” comment is the instrumental record since the 1880s.
But I am curious about the recall of data you mention, I must have missed this, and cannot find any mention of it on a cursury search on the NOAA site.
Perhaps you have a link to the full story ?
fenbeagle
August 17, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Fen, I agree entirely with your conclusions, but the same applies equally with solar panels, very energy intensive to produce and involving nasty chemicals. Yet our governments is pursuing this technology regardless of the impact on China using resources and resulting pollution.
The facts just do not support the brave new world our stupid, non technical government seems to be chasing like headless chickens.
We must hope one day this madness is going to end, and the sooner the better.
izen
August 17, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Izen here is a link to the NOAA scam …… enjoy
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/26603
@ Fenbeagle.
“If CO2 is an alarming problem. It will not be solved by carpeting Britain with large industrial wind turbines. But it will cost money that could be spent better. It will lose the hearts and minds, of very many people who might otherwise have been concerned about green issues. It is, in short counter productive.”
I don’t think that large-scale wind-farm projects are intended to solve the CO2 problem, they are intended to solve a POLITICAL problem rather than a physical one. They are a matter of expediencey and I suspect there is a very accurate calculation by those NOT ideologicaly blinded that they are the least-worst option politicaly.
Consider, there is a general concensus that AGW is a problem that requires a response at the political/government level.
However the effective responses, building nuclear to replace all fossil fuel electrical generation as France did in the 1970s, or constraining energy use by cost or overt rationing would be LESS acceptable than building wind-farms. Wind-farms have the advantage that they are very visible ‘symbols’ of action in response to this problem. Those with the knowledge that they are rather ineffective and can be no more than a minor contributer to carbon-free electricity generation are a small interested minority. The vast majority who are more interested in the mating habits of the rich and famous will see the proliferation of wind-farms as a credible effort to deal with the AGW problem by their government.
Of course, raising building standards in the UK to match those of most of Europe would do far more to reduce CO2 emissions, especially if the money for windmills was spent on retro-fitting properties to those environmental standards. But it is not as politically acceptable, either to the building industry or the public who would be required to make a direct contribution to the cost of such work on their own properties.
All in all wind-farms are a very good political stratergy for dealing with AGW, they are very visible, relatively cheap (compared with real, effective responses) and don’t disrupt any existing industry, either by encouraging conservation or imposing constraints/regulations on building codes or generation sales.
It may be counter-productive for the small minority who are informed enough to know its limitations, and of course it is going to be rejected by the small minority of the delusional who think no response to AGW is nessecary, but for the majority I think it is the BEST response in terms of most obvious action for least impact, always the politcally favoured tactic.
Brewster
This link was first posted by NoIdea on 14th August…..
http://www.climatechangefraud.com/climate-reports/7491-official-satellite-failure-means-decade-of-global-warming-data-doubtful
As you have repeatedly cited such data as measurable proof of your contention that AGW is a fact, take a big bite of that, masticate carefully, swallow it down and get back to us.
izen
August 17, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Regardless of the politics the equation
Windmills+Solar+ Tide = 20% of Domestic +Industry Needs
Will NEVER balance in my lifetime or yours, so the government be seen to do something is a totally false concept. Even if we fill all our landspace and seaspace with windmills and our spare! land and roofspace with solar the equation will still not balance, regardless of whether we have the manpower or materials to carry through such an exercise.
This equation does however balance politically, at present.
Renewables + large subsidies == insufficient electricity + high Prices + smart meters
Unfortunately this equation represents a total destruction of our current lifestyle and ignores completely common sense. There has to be a better way Izen, perhaps your plan ‘B’ is the solution
hi Izen
It is, as you say, a political problem.
And both sides of the CO2 debate (and the middle) are ill served by it. It would be well to solve this problem.
For anyone who has not noticed Oz has added a Donate button and and Extra thread
called “A Difficult Decision” ….. Please read
Liked this summary from scientificanomaly on the latest JD blog
Why conservatives shouldn’t believe in man made climate change
The ‘science’ doesn’t stand up to close inspection
The satellite data is flawed
Many temperature stations are badly sited (UHI)
The scientists have been shown to be devious (despite three thin coats of whitewash)
They won’t make all the temperature data public
They won’t make the climate model code open source
The so called scientific consensus is only a few dozen scientists
Many other scientists think the hypothesis is flawed
Too many opportunists view it as a gravy train
Governments won’t be able to resist using it as an excuse for punitive taxation
The only way to monitor carbon usage would be to make world an Orwellian nightmare
It leads to ludicrous energy policies
It demonises plant food
The last ten years show no warming trend
We have now seen two ‘brass monkey’ winters in a row
Chief AGW architect Maggie Thatcher now thinks it’s a load of BULLS**T
Too many grungy greenies believe in it
People who believe in it are ugly and they smell
Georgie ‘The Moonbat’ Monbiot believes in it
Caroline ‘watermelon, crimson, trotskyite’ Lucas believes in it
Rajendra ‘Casey Jones’ Pachauri believes in it
Chris “The Lhunne” Huhne believes in it
Gordon “scorched-earth” Brown believes in it
Al ‘Sex Poodle’ Gore doesn’t believe in it, but pretends he does
The Chinese don’t buy it
The Germans don’t buy it despite the fact they love green issues
Both my cats think it’s a load of rubbish
…. but by far and away the most important reason? ….
BECAUSE IT’S BOLOX!
@ Blackswan –
This seems to be a manufactured story, the converse of the warming alarmist type.
When the satellite record appeared to contradict the warming measured in situ the AGW rejectionists were only to happy to declare its relevence.
When it was realised that instrument degredation and satellite drift required correction, and that this correction made the satellite and ground data match… it became somewhat less popular with the skeptics.
The news that the data from the NOAA-16 satellite launched in 2000 is degraded is old news. The data is still being posted by automatic systems that do no error checking of that data, but any researcher would check the data, and check the satellite operating system record which is readily available.
Go to this link, select noaa-16 and the AMSU-A1 which is the main microwave sensor from which temperature is derived.
It had unresolved problems in 2002 and has been graded RED(inoperative) and out of spec since early 2008.
http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/filter.asp
Man on the moor: I noticed, and I donated.
Cheers, A.
Morning All,
MOTM –
Thanks for the heads-up on the DONATE button. Since I rarely ever go back to the homepage or read the header, but rather, just read posts until Oz posts a link to a new thread, I’d have probably never noticed.
MOTM
Thanks for the info re putting the pics on WORDPRESS. I will have a look into it, but I’m not sure it’s possible to do thumbnails to the pics, and dropping a few multi-megabyte pics onto a WORDPRESS page would make for very slow opening.