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Science Museum Declines To Show Climate Change Film

sciencehabit writes "A premier science museum in North Carolina has sparked controversy by refusing to show an hour long film about climate change and rising sea levels. The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position. It is part of a state agency, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The state government has been perceived as hostile to action on climate change; last year, the legislature passed a bill forbidding the state coastal commission from defining rates of sea-level rise for regulation before 2016."

398 comments

  1. Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "A premier science museum in North Carolina has sparked controversy by refusing to show an hour long film about climate change and rising sea levels and 'mocks North Carolina politicians'. The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position because residents of a state don't enjoy having their state made fun of."

    1. Re:Fixed summary for you by FriendlyLurker · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position because residents of a state don't enjoy having their state made fun of."

      Oh, because the politicians are "the state"? We shouldn't question our elites? Nice servitude attitude you got going on there.

      Maybe it being banned has something to do with those same politicians having their hand in the till of the yearly multi-million dollar campaign to sell climate science denial. Forget facts. Forget science. Yay for forum shills, newspaper and television paid climate science denial.

      At least we will know who to persecute with extreme prejudice if (when?) climate chaos ends up killing millions.

    2. Re:Fixed summary for you by Pseudonym+Authority · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      It's not being banned you stupid fuck, a single museum is deciding not to show what would appear to be a political movie masquerading as a scientific documentary.

    3. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      what would appear to be a political movie masquerading as a scientific documentary.

      Anything related to climate change is labeled "political" by the large well funded anti-science, pro climate science denial lobbies.

    4. Re:Fixed summary for you by KeensMustard · · Score: 2

      It's not being banned you stupid fuck,

      That's a little discourteous. My suggestion is that if you want yourself and your ideas to be treated with respect, that you likewise treat others with respect.

      a single museum is deciding not to show what would appear to be a political movie masquerading as a scientific documentary.

      Calling stupid legislation stupid is merely accurate labelling. To withhold saying that someone's stupid ideas are stupid on the grounds that that person is a legislator is to engage in politicing.

    5. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "A premier science museum in North Carolina has sparked controversy by refusing to show an hour long film about climate change and rising sea levels and 'mocks North Carolina politicians'. The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position because residents of a state don't enjoy having their state made fun of."

      Yeah, unless you're in one of the self-deprecating states like Minnesota where we love to mock ourselves (the movie Fargo, A Prairie Home Companion, How to Talk Minnesotan, etc). Being able to handle criticism instead of censoring it sounds like something North Cackalacky needs to work on.

    6. Re:Fixed summary for you by MightyYar · · Score: 0

      Didn't you just tell him not to call people names if you want to be treated with respect? I haven't seen the film, but it is entirely possible that it runs afoul of this same advice.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    7. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position because residents of a state don't enjoy having their state made fun of."

      Oh, because the politicians are "the state"? We shouldn't question our elites? Nice servitude attitude you got going on there.

      Americans seem to use the word "elite" to mean something very strange. I have not met any Americans that act in any form that would suggest that they think that American politicians are "elite".

    8. Re:Fixed summary for you by usuallylost · · Score: 3, Insightful

      We should question our elites and we should feel free to mock our politicians. Expecting them to pay the costs and provide the venue for us to do it is a bit much. Nobody is saying that they can't play the film in a private venue. They are only saying that the state owned and operated museum isn't going to do it.

      State run institutions have a very treacherous tightrope to walk on things like this. If they play the movie and offend a bunch of office holders they could find their funding in jeopardy or invite office holders to start actively attacking the institution. I don't blame the administrators for wanting no part of this. Biting the hand that feeds you is a dangerous game.

    9. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Calling stupid legislation stupid is merely accurate labelling.

      You've clearly been a tautology club member since the time you joined the tautology club.

    10. Re:Fixed summary for you by Charliemopps · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      I'm pretty sure that climate change was labeled "political" when Al Gore used it as a platform in an attempt to re-launch his political career.

    11. Re:Fixed summary for you by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 2

      Didn't you just tell him not to call people names if you want to be treated with respect? I haven't seen the film, but it is entirely possible that it runs afoul of this same advice.

      He didn't call anyone names. He said that something proposed (in this case, legislation) is stupid. Otherwise intelligent people can (and do) make stupid decisions. Assuming that the film does run afoul of the same advice, it is still Academia's place to put it forward so that it is up to debate on the state and taxpayers' dime. That's what state-sponsored academic institutions in the free world are supposed to do.

    12. Re:Fixed summary for you by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      "A premier science museum in North Carolina has sparked controversy by refusing to show an hour long film about climate change and rising sea levels and 'mocks North Carolina politicians'. The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position because residents of a state don't enjoy having their state made fun of."

      Yeah, unless you're in one of the self-deprecating states like Minnesota where we love to mock ourselves (the movie Fargo, A Prairie Home Companion, How to Talk Minnesotan, etc). Being able to handle criticism instead of censoring it sounds like something North Cackalacky needs to work on.

      That's one awesome thing about Minnesotans. The rest of the country, in particular places like NC should do well to learn from that.

    13. Re:Fixed summary for you by liamevo · · Score: 1

      americans + politics = whole new lexicon.

      Nothing means what you think it means.

    14. Re:Fixed summary for you by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2

      Nothing means what you think it means.

      Ain't that the truth.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    15. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Okay. Well since:

      The state government has been perceived as hostile to action on climate change; last year, the legislature passed a bill forbidding the state coastal commission from defining rates of sea-level rise for regulation before 2016.

      We should pass a bill that forbids the federal government from bailing out the state the next time the sea causes extensive damage to their overbuilt coastline. If they chose to bury their collective heads in the sand and not consider the rate of sea-level rise then why should the rest of us pay for their ignorance?

    16. Re:Fixed summary for you by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

      Oh, yeah, all those elections he ran in after that movie. How many was that?

    17. Re:Fixed summary for you by h4rr4r · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yeah, that is why everyone in Somalia is so free and happy.

      That sort of braindead ideology deserves to be mocked.

    18. Re:Fixed summary for you by L.+J.+Beauregard · · Score: 1

      Al Gore

      DRINK!

      --
      Ooh, moderator points! Five more idjits go to Minus One Hell!
      Delendae sunt RIAA, MPAA et Windoze
    19. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position because residents of a state don't enjoy having their state made fun of.

      Sorry but North Carolina was being made fun of way before the climate change debate.

    20. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Americans seem to use the word "elite" to mean something very strange.

      The full term is "ruling elites" which includes our multi million dollar earning politicians (vast majority of them are very wealthy even before post office golden parachute contracts).

    21. Re:Fixed summary for you by thaylin · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Except the politicians are not paying for it, Me and other residents of NC are paying for it, so yes I do expect it to be covered by my taxes. It is better than the other stupid shit they waste our money on, such as stealing the airport from Charlotte, or the water plants from Asheville because they could unregulated it if it was in the right hands.

      --
      When you cant win, ad hominem.
    22. Re:Fixed summary for you by operagost · · Score: 2

      Or, the film could otherwise be garbage. I mean, would many of us, if given a choice, choose "The Day After Tomorrow" to introduce climate change to kids? Or "The Land Before Time" to teach them about dinosaurs?

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    23. Re:Fixed summary for you by Baloroth · · Score: 0

      He never said it was a successful attempt.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    24. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 0

      Yeah, that is why everyone in Somalia is so free and happy.

      Somalia has no government at all. The simple rules — that the freedom of one's fist ends, where the other's nose begins, need to be enforced — and the modicum of taxes required to pay for this enforcement are Ok. Unfortunately, Somalia does not have anything like that.

      We do — but we've overdone it in the last 100 years — grossly so — the portion of the GDP spent by the various governments in the US (Federal, State, municipal, etc.) is about 50%...

      That sort of braindead ideology deserves to be mocked.

      Name-calling strawmen are not mocking...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    25. Re:Fixed summary for you by i+kan+reed · · Score: 2

      That would be no elections won, that would reflect a failure. He never so much as set foot in a primary.

    26. Re:Fixed summary for you by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

      True since the 1700s.

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    27. Re:Fixed summary for you by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

      They'd need decent schools to learn anything.

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    28. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it's safe to say that morons who constantly bring up Somalia when the subject of limited government is raised should be thrown in with the morons who start calling people Nazis.

      Godwin, are you listening?

    29. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Name-calling strawmen are not mocking..."

      This sentence is not ....

    30. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, that is why everyone in Somalia is so free and happy.

      That sort of braindead ideology deserves to be mocked.

      Nothing more braindead than being a stupid jackass.

      Because you really feel (N.B. I didn't use "think"...) the same government that gives us the TSA, NSA, warranteless wiretaps, drone surveillance, and "extrajudicial killings" of US citizens really needs MORE tax revenue?

      Who's brain dead? You or the GP?

      I'm thinking YOU are the brain dead one.

    31. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Americans seem to use the word "elite" to mean something very strange. I have not met any Americans that act in any form that would suggest that they think that American politicians are "elite".

      Americans don't think that their politicians are elite, but they do recognize that American politicians think of themselves as elite and therefore see themselves as entitled to run everyone else's lives. This may be difficult for you to grasp since you are from a culture with centuries of history in which the bulk of the population has been conditioned to grovel before their leaders. Psychologically, Eurpeans are born slaves.

    32. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That and Global Climate Trauma is becoming more of a junk science every day. It all started to fall apart for me when they started blaming earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on Climate Change. Or was it Global Warming back then? They keep rebranding it.

    33. Re:Fixed summary for you by freezin+fat+guy · · Score: 1

      Imagine if someone were to tell a young person learning to drive that the only way to get to their destination was to turn right at every possible opportunity? (or left, depending on the source of instruction)

      The idea would be rejected outright - the idea that not only is all problem solving binary, but that only one of the two is the correct answer to every conceivable problem, completely regardless of destination, and completely regardless of starting point. (student: But sir there is a cliff on the right. teacher: Trust me on this, turn right.)

      And yet, we have people who otherwise are mentally functional fighting viciously for exactly this fantastic level of ignorance every day. That has taken a lot of intentional work and media.

      In return for football, Nascar and Simpsons (or beads and hemp) we give them our life long vote.

    34. Re:Fixed summary for you by geekoid · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Well then, let me be clear:
      You are a fucking idiot. You have no knowledge of economics, you have no historical reference, and you show no evidence of being able to think in complex way.

      Was that clear?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    35. Re:Fixed summary for you by MadMartigan2001 · · Score: 1

      Biting the hand that feeds you is a dangerous game.

      And that dear sir, is what separates the servants from the masters.

    36. Re:Fixed summary for you by microbox · · Score: 2

      Expecting them to pay the costs and provide the venue for us to do it is a bit much.

      This isn't lords and ladies. The politicians don't pay out of pocket. That's YOUR money they are spending.

      --

      Like all pain, suffering is a signal that something isn't right
    37. Re:Fixed summary for you by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1

      By the same token, you must love North Korea where government decides everything, including how much you can eat.

      Easy to make false equivalences. And given the choice of Somalia and North Korea, I'll take Somalia. And you'd take which?

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    38. Re:Fixed summary for you by microbox · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The simple formula applies everywhere: the higher the taxes, the less freedom.

      Go look at wikipedia's list of countries by tax rate, and find all the countries where you have significant freedoms, and then look at their tax rates.

      --

      Like all pain, suffering is a signal that something isn't right
    39. Re:Fixed summary for you by Politburo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      More accurately, opponents saw the opportunity to label anything related to climate change as "political" because Al Gore.

    40. Re:Fixed summary for you by dryeo · · Score: 1

      Perhaps Saudi Arabia would be a better example? Zero taxes and a very conservative government.

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    41. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      AWWWWWWWW poor widdle North Carolinians get their feeeeeewings hurt?

    42. Re:Fixed summary for you by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Actually North Korea has far more market activity than it appears you know about. Their government is such a failure they have to allow it just to get their people fed, even if only some of the time.

      The point I was really trying to make was those kinds of bumper sticker ideologies are always crap. His claim was silly.

    43. Re:Fixed summary for you by Pino+Grigio · · Score: 0

      What a load of complete and utter bollocks. Activists and NGOs just making stuff up and calling it science is not Science, it's political activism. If you can't tell the difference, you're an idiot.

    44. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's not much money in climate change denial. There are vast, humungous amounts of money in climate change advocacy.

    45. Re:Fixed summary for you by 0racle · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I have no idea of the value of the content of the film in question, but if the residents of NC don't want to have the rest of the world point and laugh at them, perhaps they should stop doing things and stop electing people that cause the world to point and laugh at them.

      NC has earned all this derision.

      --
      "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
    46. Re:Fixed summary for you by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      My understanding is that the film includes a clip of Stephen Colbert making fun of the NC legislators. I'm just saying that the film may not have made the proper choice in how to convey it's argument. Ignorance is rarely addressed by belittling the people you hope to educate.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    47. Re:Fixed summary for you by stdarg · · Score: 1

      What state hasn't earned derision? Singling out NC is just stupid.. perhaps you're not singling them out, but it sounds like it.

    48. Re:Fixed summary for you by sysrammer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      After WWII, taxes were very high for decades to pay it off. So I guess we didn't get free again 'til, what, the 80's? Ah, yes, Reagan's tax-busting. My taxes and my friends taxes went up, but we were young and just starting out, so we didn't count. Millionaires did well, and that's what counts.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    49. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But you are not the tax controller!

    50. Re:Fixed summary for you by Barsteward · · Score: 1

      its only a small clip from the Colbert show mocking the politicians

      --
      "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
    51. Re:Fixed summary for you by theArtificial · · Score: 1

      Thank you for the laugh!

      --
      Man blir trött av att gå och göra ingenting.
    52. Re:Fixed summary for you by Mister+Liberty · · Score: 1

      If that is so, we have the Streisand effect to fix that.
      Thanks!

    53. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually North Korea has far more market activity than it appears you know about. Their government is such a failure they have to allow it just to get their people fed, even if only some of the time.

      How the fuck do you know?

      The point I was really trying to make was those kinds of bumper sticker ideologies are always crap. His claim was silly.

      And you replied with a useless strawman then engaged in not-so-veiled ad hominem jackassery.

      With such low standards, you must be proud of yourself.

    54. Re:Fixed summary for you by Charliemopps · · Score: 3, Informative

      How entrenched in your ideological nonsense are you? He tried to re-launch his political carer, and almost did it. But he only attracted democrats a leftist independents. The only reason he didn't run was because his attempt failed. The movie itself was actually full of inaccurate data which didn't help him at all.

      Republicans jumped at the chance to make him and other democrats look like idiots. They continue to do so as the climate change debate has gotten so political at this point the Left is willing to publish any data they can find to support their case without vetting, while the right does the same. So rather than science, we now have the media publishing false claim after false claim and the general public just throwing up their hands in disgust. Either Global warming is the doom of the world and the only thing that can save us is Solar power... Or it's a made up fantasy.

      And lastly, we have a solution to the problem! Nuclear power! We even have groups of climate change scientists asking the governments of the world to replace coal with nuclear power. Yet not a single democrat or republican will touch it. They like it the way it is, a black and white political issue. It's either real or not. There's no possibility that global warming is real, but just not quite as bad as Al Gore made it out to be... because that would be way to hard to describe in a 30sec political ad.

      The only thing black and white about global warming is the fact that if you continue to vote for these 2 parties, you are dooming this country. Plain and simple.

    55. Re:Fixed summary for you by i+kan+reed · · Score: 0

      None of that is even remotely close answering the question of exactly what "political career" he was participating in, the only point I raised. I didn't even watch the stupid movie.

      I can't help you with your anger issues.

    56. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      You are a fucking idiot

      Oh, the insightful — and so moderated too — arguments of the Illiberals. So convincing, I'll be sure to bookmark and come back to reread regularly. Thank you!

      Was that clear?

      Yes, dear, it is clear, that the entire topic of discussion was memy ignorance, various flaws of my character, and, finally, my idiocy.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    57. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 2

      Go look at wikipedia's list of countries by tax rate, and find all the countries where you have significant freedoms, and then look at their tax rates.

      Chech Republic seems fine. Cyprus, probably, Ok too — never been there. Hong Kong may be Ok — one acquittance from there complained of Chinese government doing stupid things there (but not oppressive). I don't see a trend in that list...

      But... The main (if not the only) freedom that counts, is the freedom to spend the fruits of one's labor the way one pleases — the freedoms to smoke marijuana, to have sex outside of marriage (or via the unusual orifices) are all secondary.

      Imagine 100% taxation — with everything (entertainment, healthcare, education, shelter, food) provided free of charge by the government. And then compare such a dis/utopia with the deal, that the slaves on plantations had...

      With 50% of the GDP being spent by the government already, we are half-way there...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    58. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      After WWII, taxes were very high for decades to pay it off. So I guess we didn't get free again 'til, what, the 80's?

      We were less free, than when the taxes lowered.

      My taxes and my friends taxes went up [...] Millionaires did well, and that's what counts.

      The source of the revenue (you and your friends or the millionaires) is not germane to my argument. What counts — in my measure of freedom — is the share of the GDP, that's spent by the government.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    59. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      student: But sir there is a cliff on the right. teacher: Trust me on this, turn right

      This alone seems to invalidate your analogy...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    60. Re:Fixed summary for you by freezin+fat+guy · · Score: 1

      student: But sir there is a cliff on the right. teacher: Trust me on this, turn right

      This alone seems to invalidate your analogy...

      True.

      I now accept that the only way to reach any destination from any point of reference is to turn right at every opportunity.

    61. Re:Fixed summary for you by JabberWokky · · Score: 2

      Anything related to climate change is labeled "political" by the large well funded anti-science, pro climate science denial lobbies.

      Having not seen it, I can't really be certain, but it would appear from other comments that have not been disputed that part of the movie mocks politicians. That would generally be considered political. It is said to include footage of "Stephen Colbert making fun of the NC legislators", which would seem, as it is a clip from a political comedy show, a fairly clear cut case of it being political.

      Just because there are global warming documentaries that are falsely accused of being political does not mean that no movie about the subject can ever be made that is not political.

      Of course, not having seen it, it could also be legitimate commentary on the news coverage. Or even a anti-global warming movie mocking Steven Colbert's style as typifying coverage. I have no idea -- and am comfortable saying that I don't know. But it is silly to say that no movie on the subject can be political in nature just because some are falsely accused, and from the clips that have been discussed, it does seem to, at least in part, lean toward that more political side of things.

      --
      "$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien
    62. Re: Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Excellent trolling my man! "O'er the Land of TV, and the home of the slaves!" FTFY.

    63. Re:Fixed summary for you by KeensMustard · · Score: 1

      Didn't you just tell him not to call people names if you want to be treated with respect?

      Well let me see. Here's what I said:

      That's a little discourteous. My suggestion is that if you want yourself and your ideas to be treated with respect, that you likewise treat others with respect.

      Yes. Yes I did.

      I haven't seen the film, but it is entirely possible that it runs afoul of this same advice.

      It seems unlikely that the film called someone a stupid f*ck based on zero evidence.

      It seems more likely that the film makes reference to the stupid and dangerous legislation in force in North Carolina by suggesting that it is stupid and/or dangerous, which is simply an accurate annotation, something you yourself apparently do not dispute.

      Hopefully you are smart enough to see the difference.

    64. Re:Fixed summary for you by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Apparently the film includes a clip of Stephen Colbert making fun of the legislature. IMHO, they should probably have taken your advice and just stuck to the science.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    65. Re:Fixed summary for you by microbox · · Score: 1

      Then you might be more interested in adjusted mean/median household income after tax, by country.

      Note that US is #1, but that the figures don't include the amount of money spent on private health insurance. Cyprus and Czech are not on the list.

      Also, countries like Australia and Canada aren't creating as much government debt.

      So the relationship between higher taxes and higher disposable income is definitely there, but not completely straight-forward.

      Art Laffer wrote about this in a way that suggested that taxes are too high. But if you take the Laffer Curve seriously, from an intellectual point of view, then you would be open to the idea that paying more taxes will also results in more disposable income.

      But you got to be interested in figuring stuff out.

      --

      Like all pain, suffering is a signal that something isn't right
    66. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      did you seriously link to dummocracynow?

      What about the multibillion dollar industry in climate change? I'm told by Prince Charles that global warming is causing Middle Eastern terrorism.

    67. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anything bad, from acne to terrorism, is labeled "effects of climate change" by the large. well-funded, anti-science, pro climate change lobbies.

    68. Re:Fixed summary for you by Tamerlin · · Score: 1

      Oh, because the politicians are "the state"? We shouldn't question our elites? Nice servitude attitude you got going on there.

      Don't forget, someone VOTED for the same idiots who are now denying climate change, even while their own state is experiencing first hand the effects of the rising seas, yet they're so incredibly stupid that they refuse to account for the rising seas even when planning new development.

    69. Re:Fixed summary for you by KeensMustard · · Score: 1
      Satire is a legitimate form of argument.

      If you find that satire is offending you on par with baseless, personal insults as a form of rhetoric, you are missing the point.

    70. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of the definitions I've seen the one I prefer for the upper class that it consists of the wealthy, political, celebrity and athlete.

    71. Re:Fixed summary for you by MightyYar · · Score: 2

      Satire is great. Stephen Colbert is great. But it blunts any outrage I might have had over the state-funded science museum not showing the film. I still think they are being ridiculous, but I'm not at all surprised and have a hard time building any outrage.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    72. Re:Fixed summary for you by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Except the politicians are not paying for it, Me and other residents of NC are paying for it, so yes I do expect it to be covered by my taxes.

      The problem is that you and the other residents of NC are the ones who happily voted for these politicians to lead you. NC residents are not going to be up in arms and protesting at the state capitol if the science museum thumbs its nose at the NC state government and gets its funding yanked; instead, NC residents would agree with the politicians, since NC residents are climate change deniers.

    73. Re:Fixed summary for you by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      The main (if not the only) freedom that counts, is the freedom to spend the fruits of one's labor the way one pleases

      It's easy to win the argument by rewriting the dictionary. But only if you get your opponent to accept that. I think that vast majority of people will strongly disagree with you that economic freedom is more important than, say, freedom of speech, or the right to vote.

    74. Re:Fixed summary for you by Stuarticus · · Score: 1

      All I'm reading is that you haven't been anywhere.

      --
      If you think someone isn't free to have a different definition of "freedom" you may be a tyrant.
    75. Re:Fixed summary for you by KeensMustard · · Score: 1

      Satire is great. Stephen Colbert is great. But it blunts any outrage I might have had over the state-funded science museum not showing the film.

      I'm struggling to see why. Satire is not offensive, or least, not nearly as offensive as the kind of untruths we hear from politicians day in and day out. It is a legitimate way to convey a message that sticks in the mind. Should public institutions be forced to convey important public announcements without the aid of any rhetorical device? What of loudspeakers? Some people find them "offensive".

      It would be unfortunate indeed if we accepted the right of the anti-science brigade to engage in rhetoric, up to and including very offensive remarks (threats of physical and sexual violence, allegations of pedophillia lagainst leading climate scientists and the like) and denied the right of science to engage in satire to convey facts.

    76. Re:Fixed summary for you by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      It is a legitimate way to convey a message that sticks in the mind.

      But it is decidedly on the side of arguing policy and not just a scientific discussion. I'm not surprised at all that a public institution would choose not to advocate for a policy that runs counter to their funding interests. It's one thing to present facts that leave very little room for defense of the state policy. It's quite another to poke fun at the guys paying the bills.

      To bring it all back, playing the film (or at least that part of the film) is a lot like calling the legislators "stupid fucks" - just in an intellectual way. Same message.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    77. Re:Fixed summary for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Taxes actually went up under Reagan, not down. The tax rate went down, but he closed a lot of loopholes, meaning the end result was a lot of people and businesses saw the taxes paid rise. But all people remember 30 years later is that Reagan lowered taxes.

      Smoke and mirrors, baby! That'll get the rubes every time.

    78. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      I think that vast majority of people will strongly disagree with you that economic freedom is more important than, say, freedom of speech, or the right to vote.

      The freedom of speech, while important, is not particularly useful, if you can't afford to publish your opinions to reach your audience (or a substantial portion thereof). Or, worse, if you can't afford the legal defense, when the government chips away at the freedom — such as by outlawing certain jokes in certain places (like airports), or "hate speech", or confining freedom of expression to "free speech zones".

      As for the right to vote... Well, all Soviet citizens had it — and encouraged by the government to use it. But there was only a single candidate on the ballot for each position. See, what I mean?

      No, I'm not "rewriting the dictionary" — I'm just stating the wisdom, that comes (to some people?) with age:there is no meaningful freedom, if one can not afford the disagreement with people, who'd seek to (for whatever reasons) restrict one's exercising it.

      And, going back to my original point, each dollar taxed from me, reduces my freedom to spend it, while empowering the people, bent on imposing their will on me — for my own good, of course...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    79. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      All I'm reading is that you haven't been anywhere.

      Oh, so it is about me, huh? Alright. Having been born and raised in Ukraine (then part of the USSR), I moved to the US at the age of 20 — but not after visiting other parts of the Evil Empire: Lithuania, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Since moving to a free(er) country, I've traveled every year for pleasure and visited — and I mean spending at least several days in each, not an airport stop-over — the following countries, some of them more than once (in no particular order):

      • Czech Republic
      • Germany
      • France
      • Spain
      • Israel
      • Australia (including Tasmania)
      • Costa Rica
      • Brazil
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • St. Lucia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Netherlands
      • Austria
      • Switzerland
      • Thailand
      • Japan
      • Botswana
      • Kenya
      • Hungary
      • Ecuador

      In other words, I do think, I've been around more than an average human being alive today — even if I'm still missing chunks like China and India, as well as the Arab world from my personal map.

      I do hope, you shall find the list satisfactory and accept my credentials and qualifications to hold an opinion. Can we go back to the topic?

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    80. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      from an intellectual point of view [...] paying more taxes will also results in more disposable income.

      Perhaps, "intellectual point of view" means something else where you live. The only way this is possible is for the tax-spending government to spend the taxes both wiser and with higher efficiency, than the majority of taxpayers would've spent them on their own. Although this is possible in theory — and may even have happened a few times in history — usually whatever a government does (from running a railroad to building a web-site), is done poorly. This is not a "partisan" statement — it is a widely accepted wisdom. The expression "not bad for government job" is part of vernacular. Heck, Harry Truman pointed out decades ago: "Whenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship."

      Some things — like waging war — can not be done safely by non-government entities, because non-governmental customers ordering such services may get too tempted. But for most things, it is both fairer and more efficient to let people decide, how to spend their monies.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    81. Re:Fixed summary for you by microbox · · Score: 1

      This is not a "partisan" statement — it is a widely accepted wisdom

      An acadmic would be open to exploring the possibility that this is wrong. Most economists disagree with your economics, but what do they know...

      --

      Like all pain, suffering is a signal that something isn't right
    82. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      Most economists disagree with your economics, but what do they know...

      This was a good opportunity to offer some citations, but what do I know...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    83. Re:Fixed summary for you by microbox · · Score: 1

      Heard of google?

      Or you could just take a 1st year course on macro-economics.

      --

      Like all pain, suffering is a signal that something isn't right
    84. Re:Fixed summary for you by mi · · Score: 1

      Heard of google?

      That's not, how it works, dear. You make a statement, you provide proof. Sending your opponent to do the research in support of your own point is a wrong way to conduct a discussion -- whatever I find and manage to debunk, you can always claim, you had something else in mind. No, the burden of proof is on you.

      Or you could just take a 1st year course on macro-economics.

      That most of the academics are erring on the side of the bigger government is a known fact — themselves being paid by the government (either directly or via college), most of them sincerely appreciate it. Fortunately, economic professors don't make most economists.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    85. Re:Fixed summary for you by microbox · · Score: 1

      That's not, how it works, dear. You make a statement, you provide proof.

      I don't care what you think. It's up to you if you want to learn something. I already did my intro economics course.

      That most of the academics are erring on the side of the bigger government is a known fact

      Yep, all that learning and study, and trying to figures stuff out leads to a well known liberal bias.

      --

      Like all pain, suffering is a signal that something isn't right
  2. In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Climate change being real or not is completely irrevelant. We're NOT going to do anything about it. No way no how. Until it's a major serious problem that might impact someones cashflow. Until then. And it can be proven that it will cost some rich people some money... Until then. We're not going to do shit except scream 'it's not real i cant hear you'. So just stop with the storys about it. You're causing global warming with the wasted energy it took to type the story in.

    Willful ignorance. We haz it. It's standard policy too.

    1. Re:In the USA by narcc · · Score: 4, Funny

      Willfully ignorant? That's not fair. Have you considered that perhaps they're simply global warming supporters?

      Progressive climate advocates aren't afraid of change, unlike you right-wing climate conservatives. Change is good.

      "But ... But Florida will be under water!" cry the anti-climate change zealots. I can live with that. There's nothing but retirees, crazies, and scientologists down there anyway.

      Bring on the heat!

    2. Re:In the USA by Kythe · · Score: 2

      Not just Florida.

      Climate Change and Ocean Levels Ironic that North Carolina has a lot to look forward to.

      --

      Kythe
    3. Re:In the USA by Joce640k · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "But ... But Florida will be under water!" cry the anti-climate change zealots. I can live with that. There's nothing but retirees, crazies, and scientologists down there anyway.

      Um, won't they all leave Florida and go to live near you...?

      --
      No sig today...
    4. Re:In the USA by gmuslera · · Score: 1

      We won't change our direction going toward that cliff until we are actually falling. Won't be too late, we will have already enough money to buy me a parachute.

    5. Re:In the USA by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Interesting

      In a complex system like the world, rising temperature just a few degrees won't be an isolated event. Extreme weather is becoming more prevalent, you seen the storms that happened over asia, europe and america in the last year.. Also, more moisture in air, so more rain, and more floods. Extreme weather and floods will make it difficult to succeed some "long term" investments like crops,

      You are right in one thing, change is good, life adapts with time, or die. And you could end being in the second group, or at least not liking at all what adaptation will mean.

    6. Re:In the USA by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but he'll be dead by then.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    7. Re:In the USA by ElectricTurtle · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I love how when anti-global warming types point at a big snow storm or what-have-you and say 'look, global warming can't be real!' and the pro-global warming crowd points out, rightly, 'weather isn't climate' ... but then when there is a big wind storm or what-have-you the pro-global warming types start crying 'look what global warming is doing! waaaaa!'

      Weather isn't climate.

      That being said, any fantasy about humanity being at risk for significant biological hardship is ludicrous considering that we can eat almost anything, live almost anywhere, are more resistant and adaptive to toxins and pathogens than most other large animals, and we have this thing called "technology" that allows us to move anything anywhere, radically adjust our environments, etc. etc.

      We really need to get over the conceit that we developed in the one true immutable biosphere. 99% of previously extant species are extinct, and that's going to keep happening regardless of what we do because the environment has never been static. Without mass extinctions like what occurred during the Oxygen Catastrophe, animal life wouldn't even exist.

      --
      I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
    8. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      By my estimate Human made global warming makes up about 1% of the warming. And I trust my calculation more than I trust the governments. End of Story.

    9. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That being said, any fantasy about humanity being at risk for significant biological hardship is ludicrous considering that we can eat almost anything, live almost anywhere, are more resistant and adaptive to toxins and pathogens than most other large animals, and we have this thing called "technology" that allows us to move anything anywhere, radically adjust our environments, etc. etc.

      Indeed, but outside ideal conditions, the maximum sustainable life decreases. It would be very hard to exterminate humanity entirely, that does not mean that the population cannot be driven down by several billion due to famine, disease or resource exhaustion.

      In other words, "humanity" will probably live but there's a decent chance that you personally will not.

    10. Re:In the USA by tbannist · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I love how when anti-global warming types point at a big snow storm or what-have-you and say 'look, global warming can't be real!' and the pro-global warming crowd points out, rightly, 'weather isn't climate' ... but then when there is a big wind storm or what-have-you the pro-global warming types start crying 'look what global warming is doing! waaaaa!'

      It's called Loading the Dice. Big snowstorms acn actually be evidence for global warming (if it's warmer but still below freezing that means more snow in wet areas and less snow in dry areas). But when we start seeing events which probably could not have occurred under previous climate conditions, those individual extreme events may be actually evidence that the baseline has shifted due to global warming. Hot days aren't evidence for global warming, but record-breaking heatwaves and droughts? They probably are.

      That being said, any fantasy about humanity being at risk for significant biological hardship is ludicrous considering that we can eat almost anything, live almost anywhere, are more resistant and adaptive to toxins and pathogens than most other large animals, and we have this thing called "technology" that allows us to move anything anywhere, radically adjust our environments, etc. etc.

      Actually, the list of domesticated plants and domesticated animals isn't actually that long. If we had significant reductions in the production of just a few staple crops, we could face famine at a level the modern world has never seen. For example, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, maize and wheat alone make up close to two-thirds of the world’s food energy intake. One of the long term consequences of global warming is expected to be reductions in our crop production. Which may leave us dependent on bio-engineering firms like Monsanto to provide us with newly engineered versions of our crops that are adapated to the new climate. Knowing Monsanto, that could get very expensive.

      --
      Fanatically anti-fanatical
    11. Re:In the USA by Lord+Lemur · · Score: 1, Funny

      We need a +1 Troll mod. Well done.

    12. Re:In the USA by ElectricTurtle · · Score: 2

      Predictions have been made in every generation about the human population collapsing under its own weight, and those predictions have always been wrong.

      --
      I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
    13. Re:In the USA by Infiniti2000 · · Score: 1

      Um, won't they all leave Florida and go to live near you...?

      I'm not sure about "all," because I'm not the one going to live next to that turd burglar.

    14. Re:In the USA by mi · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Extreme weather is becoming more prevalent

      Citation needed. Actually, don't bother — I'll offer evidence to the contrary. In 2005 US was hit with 14 hurricanes, 10 in 2012. The average for period between 1944 and 2005 is 6. Is there a rise? Hardly — between 1885 and 1889 there were 26...

      Though attempts are made regularly to tie a particular weather-event to the evil human-caused climate change, they are routinely debunked and never repeated — until the next such event.

      None of the dire predictions made 40, 30, 20, or 10 years ago came to life. Over the years, we moved from the threat of "Global Cooling" (temperatures, supposedly, falling), to "Global Warming" (temperatures, supposedly, rising) to "Climate Change" (direction-neutral term finally, so brochures don't need to reprinted as often) to, indeed, "Extreme Weather".

      The label may be different, but the proposed "action" is always the same — citizens are urged to surrender more and more control over their lives to their governments, while the governments in turn are asked to surrender to the United Nations — because those omniscient and benevolent bureaucrats just know better than the poor little people, bless their little hearts.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    15. Re:In the USA by lowen · · Score: 1

      They already do.

    16. Re:In the USA by MisterSquid · · Score: 1

      I love how when anti-global warming types point at a big snow storm or what-have-you and say 'look, global warming can't be real!' and the pro-global warming crowd points out, rightly, 'weather isn't climate' ... but then when there is a big wind storm or what-have-you the pro-global warming types start crying 'look what global warming is doing! waaaaa!'

      Weather isn't climate.

      Agreed.

      You keep calling it "global warming" but the term of science presently in use is "climate change". Carbon emissions into the atmosphere, among other heat-trapping pollutants, are causing a slow oscillating rise to the global temperature and this change is causing weather patterns to shift, which shifting patterns includes storms that are more severe, including hurricanes, blizzards, typhoons, and droughts.

      In other words, the scientists and the science-informed know quite well the difference between climate and weather and these people don't talk about "global warming" as the symptom of heat-trapping pollutants. They talk about climate change which covers severe snow storms as well as blistering droughts.

      --
      blog
    17. Re:In the USA by JeffAtl · · Score: 1

      Hot days aren't evidence for global warming, but record-breaking heatwaves and droughts? They probably are.

      But then you run into the problem of explaining away the previous record - was it evidence for global warming as well? This is especially problematic if the previous record was decades ago.

    18. Re:In the USA by smaddox · · Score: 2

      And therefor they must always be wrong in the future?

      During the last ice age the world-wide population of Homo sapiens dropped down to a few thousand. We are desperately dependent on a stable climate for our survival.

    19. Re:In the USA by geekoid · · Score: 1

      You don't explain them away.
      Frequency and longevity are changing. The amount of energy trap at the lower atmosphere is increasing.

      Yes there had been droughts, and floods, and snowstorms, and so on.
      The impact of increased trapped energy is on top of those cycles. Changing those cycles.

      You ever notice that deniers never talk about the actual science? only cherry pick things and use those as an attack?

      That's becasue the science itself is rock solid.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    20. Re:In the USA by Politburo · · Score: 2

      "Actually, don't bother — I'll offer evidence to the contrary. In 2005 US was hit with 14 hurricanes, 10 in 2012. The average for period between 1944 and 2005 is 6 [weatherstreet.com]. Is there a rise? Hardly — between 1885 and 1889 there were 26..."

      This does not seem to disprove GP. Let's accept all of your factual assertions as correct.

      Average # of hurricanes/yr 1885-1889*: 5.2

      Average # of hurricanes/yr 1944-2005: 6

      Average # of hurricanes/yr (2005, 2012): 12

      * I think you meant 1886-1888 which makes this number almost correct (27 hurricanes for those three years), which makes the average 9/yr still below the 2005, 2012 average.

      (Yes I understand 2005, 2012 is not a real average, but it is the 'evidence to the contrary' that OP chose to include)

    21. Re:In the USA by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      During the last ice-age, we were pretty much not beyond "pointy sticks" in terms of technology. Now we can build houses that in the coldest environments can be heated by the body heat of the occupants alone.

    22. Re:In the USA by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      I'm skipping straight to "Climate change - or not"

    23. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, you are saying that they'll always be wrong? Or that you'll always have an end-of-the-world group for every topic? Or, are you saying it is bunk? If the latter, we'd be happy to scrutinize your data and findings... give em a post and link it here.

    24. Re:In the USA by geekoid · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Wow, that was a long way of saying you don't know what climate change is.
      Let me try to boil it down for your simple mind.

      Climate change is about trapped energy. That mean these event will have more energy in them; which we see.

      That means more, and/or bigger and bigger wind speeds. All of which we are seeing. In short, the amount of energy these storms express through a year is trending upwards.

      IN order to keep it simple for you and you ilk, I am going to use a number which is SOLELY used as in example. That actual numbers are far too big for you.

      Lets say 100 unit of energy are spent through storms a year, 100 years ago.
      no there is 110 until of energy spent through storms every year.
      An it keep increasing. It is a fact that the amount of energy released in storms is increasing.

      "Though attempts are made regularly to tie a particular weather-event to the evil human-caused climate change"
      by the media, not the scientist. IN fact, this year is the first year where actual scientists who are experts in this field say 'yes, there are some indicators the amount of energy is caused by global warming.'

      All you information seems to be coming from media headlines. Stop it. Media very seldom gets science information correct. Media is written for simpletons who want to feel informed with out actual spending the effort to be informed.

      "None of the dire predictions made 40, 30, 20, or 10 years ago came to life. "
      Yes, they are. the scientific one that is, not the media headline one. See above.

      "ver the years, we moved from the threat of "Global Cooling" [wikipedia.org] (temperatures, supposedly, falling), to "Global Warming" (temperatures, supposedly, rising)
      see there oyu go, showing the world you don't understand the science or the history.

      There are two effect. You can keep track of things up to 2, right?
      Particulate in the air blocking sunlight. This is happening, and in fact measurably less sunlight is hitting the earth now then 100 years ago. This has the effect of less energy hitting the surface, and thus less IR being created. This is happening, but its effect is dwarfed by global warming.

      These thing are not opposite, they are two effects that aren't weight equally. Meaning more energy is trapped than sunlight blocked. And no, the don't cancel each other out, they make things worse. It's only simpleton who cant understand this.

      Let me explain to you, at a high level, the science of gloabl warming. Let me know if you disagree wiht any of thise scienctific facts, then we can have an actual discussion.
      1) The vast majority of visible light hitting the earth comes form our sun. disagree? please explain and show your work
      2) Visible light passe through CO2. disagree? please explain and show your work
      3) Visible light hits something and IR is expressed. disagree? please explain and show your work
      4) CO2 absorbs IR. disagree? please explain and show your work

      SO, the onerous is on YOU to explain where that energy is going if it isn't stating close to the Earth.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    25. Re:In the USA by Ksevio · · Score: 2

      The climate isn't a consistent thing, there will be outliers - the period in the 1880's is one of them. The issue is the average is going up, while the standard deviation is going down, so we're getting a higher number of storms, but we're getting them every year, not just once every 25/50 years. Note the density in recent years compared to historic in the graph of hurricanes per year.

      NOAA recently released a report detailing 12 major weather events we've been having (droughts, floods, storms) and their link to climate. There's yet to be a "debunking" of this that uses science instead of conspiracy theories.

      The great thing about science is that it corrects itself when it's wrong - hence why the global cooling theories were overturned and replaced with the more accurate global warming. Now, while global warming is happening , it confuses some because it causes more shifts in climate often resulting in colder temperatures (or more snow), so even though the global temperature on average is rising, there are pockets of cold. The models also show this to produce more extreme weather events as shown in the NOAA report above.

      The labels may vary, but the proposed action is the same - citizens are urged to change to cleaner energy sources. The libertarians should love this idea, because renewables mean they can be completely independent from utilities or governments and provide their own sources of power with solar or wind. The ones that get hurt are the poor little guy strip-mining a mountain or running a factory.

      It's not about control, it's about moving to better energy sources. The first step is education, but there have always been greedy people that don't care what they're doing to everyone else - the same type that output poison into the river killing everything. Then the big government has to come in and tell them that it's not OK to be killing everything.

    26. Re:In the USA by Xyrus · · Score: 2, Informative

      I love how when anti-global warming types point at a big snow storm or what-have-you and say 'look, global warming can't be real!' and the pro-global warming crowd points out, rightly, 'weather isn't climate' ... but then when there is a big wind storm or what-have-you the pro-global warming types start crying 'look what global warming is doing! waaaaa!'

      Why are you listening to the general public? The SCIENTISTS and the SCIENCE make no such claims. They have repeatedly stated that it is very difficult to attribute any single weather event to climate change. Greenpeace or the Heartland Institute or CNN or Fox News are TERRIBLE sources for scientific information. If you want the science, go to the source. Or get a summarized version of the IPCC if slogging through pages of dense science isn't your thing.

      Weather isn't climate.

      Correct.

      That being said, any fantasy about humanity being at risk for significant biological hardship is ludicrous considering that we can eat almost anything, live almost anywhere, are more resistant and adaptive to toxins and pathogens than most other large animals, and we have this thing called "technology" that allows us to move anything anywhere, radically adjust our environments, etc. etc.

      Your the one living in a fantasy. Despite all our advanced technology, the world's population depends on a stable climate. Regional climate changes in the past have caused civilizations to die off. From a paleoclimate standpoint, every time a major rapid climate shift occurs there is a major extinction event. In fact, one almost wiped out modern humans not all that long ago.

      All it takes is a little shift in climate patterns to cause massive problems for us. For example, if the midwest were subjected to a severe ongoing drought for a couple of years, things would get pretty ugly. What do think will happen to social stability when the price of basic food items go up 100-200%? We had a small preview of that when major agricultural production regions in Russia experienced a severe drought to the point where Russia stopped exports. This is why organizations like the DoD have been doing climate based analysis to determine the impacts of climate change on global stability. They take it very seriously.

      That being said, it's unlikely climate change will end up wiping us out. There's just going to be a lot suffering for those who don't have the financial resources to deal with it.

      We really need to get over the conceit that we developed in the one true immutable biosphere. 99% of previously extant species are extinct, and that's going to keep happening regardless of what we do because the environment has never been static. Without mass extinctions like what occurred during the Oxygen Catastrophe, animal life wouldn't even exist.

      No climate scientist believes that the climate has always been this way. That isn't the issue. The issue i that our civilization has come to thrive in a certain climate. Now we are changing that climate. To think that this won't have significant impacts on us is very naive.

      --
      ~X~
    27. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. Way to completely miss the point.

    28. Re:In the USA by tbannist · · Score: 1

      But then you run into the problem of explaining away the previous record - was it evidence for global warming as well?

      It may have been. In a relatively stable climate, we would expect the number of record breaking weather events to become less frequent over time. Instead we've seen a trend of increased record breaking events. This in itself is an indication that the probabilities have shifted. This not only means more frequent record breaking weather events, but it also makes it possible to have events that would have been effectively impossible without the underlying changes. Think about rolling a standard die with six sides numbered 1 through 6. If you add one to the number on each side, you can now get a seven, and can't get a 1.

      Imagine for a moment that we can't actually look at the die, except the side that shows face up. If we start getting 7s when rolling the die, we can be pretty sure someone has changed the numbers on the die. So, if we're getting the equivalent of that metaphorical 7 from our weather then that would be evidence of the underlying change in the distribution. To torture the metaphor a bit more, whether the previous record was also evidence of global warming would require determining whether it was a 6 or a 7.

      --
      Fanatically anti-fanatical
    29. Re:In the USA by danbert8 · · Score: 1

      Point number 0) in your list should be: The amount of light coming from the sun is not constant and cannot be predicted nor affected. Disagree? Please explain and show your work.

      --
      Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
    30. Re:In the USA by DarKnyht · · Score: 1

      Actually they are just really good at land speculation. Today's swamp will be tomorrows beachfront haven.

      --
      Voting them all out of office, now that's change I can believe in.
    31. Re:In the USA by camperdave · · Score: 1

      So 1885-1889 sees 26 hurricanes, or 5.2 on average. Then between 1944, and 2005 the average was 6. Now we're hitting 10 and 14 a year. And in your mind, this somehow shows that extreme weather is *not* becoming more prevalent?

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    32. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Weather isn't climate.

      You'll never get irrational people to understand that. You have to get them to compare things. Like,

      1. Earth @ 12C == Glaciers in Texas
      2. Earth @ 15C == Earth Today
      3a. Earth @ 18-20C == Earth in 100 years if we stop all emissions by 2050 with major reductions by 2020.
      3b. Earth @ 25C == Earth in 100 years if nothing changes

      So, if 3 degree change in temperature is the difference between severe glaciation and days that can be "hot as hell" in Texas, how do they think another 3 degrees increase will be? How about 6 degrees? 10 degrees?

      And that's only that - food for thought, because no one can really map what that increase will be like in today's world. All we know is that there will be such an increase.

    33. Re:In the USA by khallow · · Score: 1

      In other words, "humanity" will probably live but there's a decent chance that you personally will not.

      Seriously, what's going to off the previous poster that is remotely climate related?

    34. Re:In the USA by Barsteward · · Score: 1

      yes but most of our food is grown outside whether it be meat or vegetables

      --
      "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
    35. Re:In the USA by micahraleigh · · Score: 1

      But what about the prospect of (other) people working for free?

    36. Re:In the USA by Quila · · Score: 1

      During the last ice age the world-wide population of Homo sapiens dropped down to a few thousand. We are desperately dependent on a stable climate for our survival.

      With the level of technology and ease of transportation of thousands of years ago, I could see how that would be a problem.

    37. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ooh, Global cooling! I'll cite another article for you: False equivalence.

      Global cooling never had wide scientific support, it was just popular in the press. Certainly nowhere near the level of support for global warming. Which you'd know if you'd actually read the article you linked to.

    38. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The irony being that AGW loonies are actually the ones implying that saddling an already daunting consumer-base with more taxes will somehow reverse climate change, as it obviously has done over the last 4 billion years. The funny part is that a man at the top of the advocacy pile for this simply uses his ill-gotten money to finance a lavish lifestyle inherited from his corrupt father, who laundered Soviet blood monies. Well I'm sure that Al Gore III continues to need bribe money to keep him out of jail for his continued drug abuse adventures. That certainly justifies Cap and Trade.

    39. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's becasue the science itself is rock solid.

      Are you discussing a church or a discipline? Apparently, you've not the vocabulary to quantify what the science is as clearly "rock solid" is discussing your fantasy.

    40. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This could be changed tomorrow. The only thing preventing cheap nutritious food for everyone is Monsanto.

    41. Re:In the USA by doom · · Score: 1

      That being said, any fantasy about humanity being at risk for significant biological hardship is ludicrous considering that we can eat almost anything, live almost anywhere, are more resistant and adaptive to toxins and pathogens than most other large animals, and we have this thing called "technology" that allows us to move anything anywhere, radically adjust our environments, etc.

      Mm, mmm... jellyfish burgers, my favorite.

      And when the guys next door are bombing each other for their oil reserves, you can just get in your SUV and drive away from them.

    42. Re:In the USA by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1

      Other species have come and gone, that is true. But do you really care about them, don't you care a lot more about the homo sapien species? They've evolved to get along very well in the climate as it is today. I'd quite like to the homo sapiens to stay around, so let's try and keep the climate the way that's best for them.

    43. Re:In the USA by mi · · Score: 1

      The great thing about science is that it corrects itself when it's wrong

      Unless there are government grants to be had for not correcting oneself. Hence the infamous "hide the decline".

      In any case, the sole measure of science quality is the reliability of its predictions, and in the case of Global Warming, err., pardon me, Climate Change the passionately-made predictions stubbornly fail to materialize: icebergs fail to melt, waters fail to rise, etc.

      hence why the global cooling theories were overturned and replaced with the more accurate global warming

      This one sentence (or part of it) is so hilarious, it made my day!

      The labels may vary, but the proposed action is the same - citizens are urged to change to cleaner energy sources.

      Urged? That would've been fine. How about coerced — and outright forced? No, you silly, you can't have a toilet, that flushes in one go — it uses too much water. You must buy one with a smaller tank — and be forced to flush twice. Sure, sure, unlike those evil KKKonservatives, we are going to keep the government out of bedrooms — as long as you are using an approved light-bulb in the room. And never you mind the mercury in it — if your child needs special education after exposure to the toxin, we'll take care of him.

      The ones that get hurt are the poor little guy strip-mining a mountain or running a factory.

      Neither of these two activities has anything to do with global warming directly. I think, you messed up your "climate change" talking points with the more general anti-Capitalism ones...

      Then the big government has to come in and tell them that it's not OK to be killing everything

      Yep, exactly, what I'm talking about — coercion and forcing. Meanwhile, that same government is causing exactly that — "killing everything" — to happen, while still pretending, it "knows better". Oh, those silly Libertarians!

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    44. Re:In the USA by mi · · Score: 1

      Average # of hurricanes/yr 1885-1889*: 5.2

      26/4 = 6.25, not 5.2.

      Yes I understand 2005, 2012 is not a real average, but it is the 'evidence to the contrary' that OP chose to include

      My evidence to the contrary was in comparing 19th-century averages with those of the 20th. Pointing to a particular year is not any more useful, than pointing to a particularly warm or cold day.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    45. Re:In the USA by mi · · Score: 1

      Let me try to boil it down for your simple mind.

      Don't bother, darling. As long as you maintain this sort of contempt to your audience, you'll never convince anybody of anything — other than of your own arrogance.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    46. Re:In the USA by Ksevio · · Score: 1

      Unless there are government grants to be had for not correcting oneself. Hence the infamous "hide the decline".

      In that case, the science was still accurate, but the politicians would get confused. Multiple reviews have shown there to be nothing to be corrected.

      In any case, the sole measure of science quality is the reliability of its predictions, and in the case of Global Warming, err., pardon me, Climate Change the passionately-made predictions stubbornly fail to materialize: icebergs fail to melt, waters fail to rise, etc.

      "Global Warming" is still an accurate description. You can check my previous post to see the graph showing global temperatures rising. Those predictions have actually materialized. The Arctic (and icebergs) are melting, sea levels rise, etc. Just because you ignore global warming and its effects, doesn't mean it's not happening.

      Urged? That would've been fine. How about coerced — and outright forced?

      You missed the "urge" stage - things have been getting a bit more urgent so you're not being allowed to destroy the world anymore. No one's forcing you to use bulbs with mercury in them - there are plenty of alternatives.

      Neither of these two activities has anything to do with global warming directly. I think, you messed up your "climate change" talking points with the more general anti-Capitalism ones...

      By mining, I was referring to mining for coal/natural gas (large sources of global warming) . By factories I was referring to the boilers and machinery used in large factories the emit gases contributing to global warming. Didn't think I'd have to be that specific...

      Things like corn ethanol aren't about helping global warming - they're about subsidizing farmers and energy independence.

      Sure it may be a little inconvenient that your light bulb costs $1.20 instead of $0.60, but you know what's even more inconvenient? Superstorms, flooding, excessive heat, the list goes on... When members of our society think that their savings on lightbulbs are worth destroying the world over, sometimes we have to coerce them to do the right thing.

      It's obvious you would never do anything to prevent global warming. You don't believe in it despite the overwhelming evidence and it looks like you'd be the type to burn tires just to spite people that like the environment.

    47. Re:In the USA by mi · · Score: 1

      The Arctic (and icebergs) are melting

      Yeah, if you believe United Nations' reports on the matter. I don't — because United Nations has a conflict of interest — as do many of the politicians and the scientists funded by them. Sure, if you try hard enough — measuring what supports your agenda, while ignoring, what does not, you can "prove" a lot of things. Heck, those very icebergs were reportedly melting dangerously in 1922!

      sea levels rise

      Yeah, right. Wake me up, when Al Gore sells his — recently purchased — ocean front villa and moves to the hills.

      Truth is, even where predictions are, sort of, materializing, it mostly happens at drastically lower rates than predicted.

      Things like corn ethanol aren't about helping global warming

      Bzzz! Wrong... Revising history again.

      When members of our society think that their savings on lightbulbs are worth destroying the world over

      Oh, another wonderful quote... The world-destroying lightbulbs — Edison (and Tesla) laughing sadly.

      sometimes we have to coerce them to do the right thing.

      Thanks for confirming the maxim: "Scratch a Global Warming alarmist, and you'll find a Che Guevara T-shirt underneath."

      It's obvious you would never do anything to prevent global warming.

      This is not about me — you'd do better next time, if you refrain from outright ad-hominems...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    48. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That being said, any fantasy about humanity being at risk for significant biological hardship is ludicrous

      Humanity being at risk for significant financial hardship, is a different question...

    49. Re:In the USA by quantaman · · Score: 1

      I love how when anti-global warming types point at a big snow storm or what-have-you and say 'look, global warming can't be real!' and the pro-global warming crowd points out, rightly, 'weather isn't climate' ... but then when there is a big wind storm or what-have-you the pro-global warming types start crying 'look what global warming is doing! waaaaa!'

      Weather isn't climate.

      Scientists very rarely claim a big weather event is due to global warming, at most they might say extreme weather events will be more likely, but by the nature of extreme events it's hard to get good evidence so they tend to hold back. As for the people who do make those claims, so what? Why should the scientifically unsupported claims of a supporter cast doubt on the scientific claims by researchers?

      That being said, any fantasy about humanity being at risk for significant biological hardship is ludicrous considering that we can eat almost anything, live almost anywhere, are more resistant and adaptive to toxins and pathogens than most other large animals, and we have this thing called "technology" that allows us to move anything anywhere, radically adjust our environments, etc. etc.

      We really need to get over the conceit that we developed in the one true immutable biosphere. 99% of previously extant species are extinct, and that's going to keep happening regardless of what we do because the environment has never been static. Without mass extinctions like what occurred during the Oxygen Catastrophe, animal life wouldn't even exist.

      Technology isn't magic and we're still biological organisms. What happens if the combination of overfishing, temperature, pollution, and acidification cause mass extinctions in the oceans? Do we understand the ecosystem well enough to know that at some point there won't be a collapse of fisheries causing us to lose 90+% of the productivity? What happens if we have to double or triple the percentage of GDP we have to contribute to agriculture because the growing conditions are so much more hostile. In the west that's a pain, in India or China you suddenly have two massive countries with a lot of starving people and Nukes.

      The Romans had really good tech for their time, roads, sanitation, agriculture, semi-elected governments (pre-imperial). Then they collapsed and it took a millennium for Western civilization to fully recover. Look how much havoc the meltdown caused with just one year of mild negative GDP growth. What do you think happens if the entire planet endures a decade or two of negative GDP growth due to the effects of global warming? I think we'd probably manage, but I'm sure the banks also thought they could manage the sub-prime crises in '08. I don't want to walk into an avoidable massive crisis just because I think we can probably handle it.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    50. Re:In the USA by Ksevio · · Score: 1

      Yeah, if you believe United Nations' reports on the matter.

      Why believe the UN? Just look at satellite images of the North Pole. Plenty of non-UN come to the same conclusion.

      Yeah, right. Wake me up, when Al Gore sells his — recently purchased — ocean front villa and moves to the hills.

      He's got a few years before he should be worried - the places in trouble are those only a few feet above sea level.

      Bzzz! Wrong ... Revising history again.

      Did you read the article you linked or just picked the first google result? Even that article agrees corn isn't a great choice for fuel. There might be something to be said for other types of ethanol as fuel, but you'll find the majority of scientists (or those that have done research into the matter - yourself included) agree that corn isn't helping. If it weren't for the money going to farmers (and the promise of energy independence) do you think we'd really have these subsidies?

      Oh, another wonderful quote... The world-destroying lightbulbs — Edison (and Tesla) laughing sadly.

      I didn't think I'd have to spell out everything so much - the lightbulbs are just one example of something that uses electricity. We have better ones now that use less electricity and save you money! Using lots of electricity is bad because our electricity comes from sources that release a lot of gases that lead to global warming. Global warming is bad. The lightbulbs themselves are OK.
      This might frighten you, but the government is coercing you to do lots of stuff you probably don't like. Did you know that they are COERCING you not to run over pedestrians at crosswalks? Crazy right! When will this tyranny end!

      This is not about me — you'd do better next time, if you refrain from outright ad-hominems...

      It's about everyone, you included. Saying you're not going to do anything about global warming was an observation based on your posts, not an attack on your person. Are you going to do something? Seems you won't accept even basic facts about the planet (ice/sea levels, temperature, CO2, etc) and assume that if you don't like the ones you read, then they must be false, without doing any research on your own.

    51. Re:In the USA by mdielmann · · Score: 1

      They've evolved to get along very well in the climate as it is today.

      You mean the ones who evolved to be used to below-freezing temperatures 9 months of the year, and find 10 degrees Celsius to be rather warm? Or the ones who evolved to be used to temperature swings from below freezing to over 35 degrees Celsius in a single day, with very low relative humidity? Or do you mean the ones who evolved to be used to average temperatures ranging from 18 to 50 degrees Celsius and typically getting 2 meters of rain per year (most of that in a 6-month span)?

      Something tells me that a simple climate change isn't going to spell the end for homo sapiens. It might spell the end of a lot of humans, but I suspect the species will survive that particular event. (The social unrest associated with a die-off event will doubtless cause many problems, too.)

      ...don't you care a lot more about the homo sapien species?

      Or were you trying to say that there are certain groups that you care about more than the average (non-human) species?

      --
      Sure I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?
    52. Re:In the USA by bane2571 · · Score: 1

      Actually, the last ice age's results showed that we are dependant on a WARM climate for our survival.

    53. Re:In the USA by ShoulderOfOrion · · Score: 1

      Excellent response. Wish I had mod points.

    54. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In 2005 US was hit with 14 hurricanes, 10 in 2012.

      What difference does it make how many hurricanes hit the US? That's just an artificial political distinction. Rather you should be looking at the total number of storms in the Atlantic basin. That is something that is meaningful. dfw

    55. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Counter to point number 0) The output of the Sun is well measured since the 1950's and particularly well measured since around 1980 when the satellites went up. The variance in solar radiation is not enough to explain more than about 5% of the variance in temperatures on Earth. Disagree? Please explain and show your work. dfw

    56. Re:In the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In 1913 the concentration of CO2 was around 0.03%. In 2013 the concentration of CO2 is around 0.04%. If you're trying to impress us with how small the numbers are consider that a concentration of cyanide of only 0.025% is enough to kill you in a few minutes. The size of a number is important only in relation its meaning in the larger scope of things. dfw

    57. Re:In the USA by volmtech · · Score: 1

      Stopping climate change will make most people poorer. Some will get richer (Solyndra). At some point when global warming becomes undeniable those who are going to lose money by changing will spend the most to keep things the way they are. With most people easily swayed by campaign spending, and most people greatly inconvenienced by going green, fossil fuel burning will continue for many years to come.

    58. Re:In the USA by volmtech · · Score: 1

      1940, one farmer feeds 10 people, 1990, one farmer feeds 100. We can declare war on energy usage but very few are going to volunteer to serve.

    59. Re:In the USA by Stuarticus · · Score: 1

      1885-1889 is a period of five years if it's inclusive, which generally it is...

      --
      If you think someone isn't free to have a different definition of "freedom" you may be a tyrant.
    60. Re:In the USA by Stuarticus · · Score: 1

      Why not just pop yourself onto wikipedia:

      Variations in total solar irradiance were too small to detect with technology available before the satellite era

      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_variation

      --
      If you think someone isn't free to have a different definition of "freedom" you may be a tyrant.
    61. Re:In the USA by danbert8 · · Score: 1

      Changes in CO2 concentration were also too small to detect in early history too. Are you saying that because it's too small to measure that it's insignificant?

      --
      Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
  3. Is it science? by Silverhammer · · Score: 4, Informative

    From TFA:

    Director Ben Kalina says he hoped that an event at the museum would spark dialogue, especially because the museum is across the street from the state Capitol. “I thought this would be a great opportunity to invite people from state legislature, people working on issues in the state, and the public to discuss these issues.” Kalina says he made a balanced film that is not a polemic, although it does contain a scene from The Colbert Report, in which the comedian mocks North Carolina politicians for the bill. “I’m sure some people wouldn’t appreciate that,” he admits.

    That's not science.

    1. Re:Is it science? by Sockatume · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That's why it's a Science Cafe - which is about outreach and discussion - and not a university lecture.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    2. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and not a university lecture.

      You have a strange idea of what a university lecture is.

    3. Re:Is it science? by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      Well, I've given them. Maybe I'm doing them wrong.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    4. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I've given them. Maybe I'm doing them wrong.

      You certainly wouldn't be the first.

    5. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nor the last

    6. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      From TFA:

      Director Ben Kalina says he hoped that an event at the museum would spark dialogue, especially because the museum is across the street from the state Capitol. “I thought this would be a great opportunity to invite people from state legislature, people working on issues in the state, and the public to discuss these issues.” Kalina says he made a balanced film that is not a polemic, although it does contain a scene from The Colbert Report, in which the comedian mocks North Carolina politicians for the bill. “I’m sure some people wouldn’t appreciate that,” he admits.

      That's not science.

      Are you being sarcastic? Colbert Report is suppose to be a right wing mockery, for him to say that the law is wrong makes it laughable. If you get people talking that is what science is about. To come up with one sided theories without dialog would be anti-science.

      On the other hand f**k em, if Florida and the other southern states get wipe off the map it would be a win, win. If you think the Federal government is bad imagine if the south would won the war.. To me it is the same BS propaganda that the Feds pull off, use religion as a basis for humanity that has seemed to work through out human history. Or in the case of politicians, talk out your ass about fighting for the little guy, while you are taking bribes from every industry that pretty much runs government to begin with.

    7. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      If you get people talking that is what science is about.

      No, that's what people with an agenda say when they want their agenda acted upon politically. See: 40 yrs. of "America needs to talk more about race" as a prime example.

      imagine if the south would [sic] won the war

      If the south had won, then the US would have split into several countries and there would not have been a United States to directly combat the Soviet Union. The communists would probably have defeated the West and there would not have had to be a climate change hoax perpetrated in order to implement worldwide centralized economic planning, i.e. you would have gotten what you really want with much less fuss.

      use religion as a basis for humanity that has seemed to work through out human history

      Please don't post when you are drunk. The alcohol makes your writing hard to decipher. I assume you are complaining about religion somehow?

      in the case of politicians, talk out your ass about fighting for the little guy, while you are taking bribes from every industry that pretty much runs government to begin with

      You do realize that govt itself is an industry that, unlike private businesses, mostly produces nothing of any value?

    8. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And, sadly, not in a minority

    9. Re:Is it science? by Truth_Quark · · Score: 1

      If science has a role in developing policy, then legislation requiring unscientific calculations of sea level rise should be responded to by the scientific community.

      And such propositions policy is not constructed from reason, and so a reasoned response is no response. Ridicule really is the only response in this case.

      I agree it shouldn't appear in a scholarly paper, but I think that science should include science outreach.

    10. Re:Is it science? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That's why it's a Science Cafe - which is about outreach and discussion - and not a university lecture.

      OK, so rule #1 of outreach - don't mock the people you're trying to reach. Check out an IMAX film for an idea of how to do entertainment and science at the same time. There's a reason they're so popular at science centers (I mean real IMAX...).

      Sounds like the museum director made the right call here.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    11. Re:Is it science? by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      Blocking the whole movie because it includes footage of someone else making one joke about that particular state, a joke pertinent to the issue that the entire movie is about? Baby. Bathwater.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    12. Re:Is it science? by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      They wouldn't even have been the first museum in North Carolina to have shown it.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    13. Re:Is it science? by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      I've given them too. University lectures can be about any damned thing at all and with any (university approved) message at all. Referring to a "university lecture" as some form or authority is absurd.

    14. Re:Is it science? by JeffAtl · · Score: 1

      If the filmmaker wants to be taken seriously, he needs to work on staying on topic. Unfortunately, there is a fine line between educating and indoctrinating. By going off topic and blurring the lines, the filmmaker made a poor choice.

    15. Re:Is it science? by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      Were you not paying attention? The Communists lost because Communism (particularly as practiced by the Soviet Union) is an utterly shitty political system and results in a weak state. Eventually they just couldn't fake anymore and collapsed under their own weight. A divided US would not have been appreciably less strong than a united one (possibly stronger) as both/all parts would likely have continued with a similar amount of economic freedom.

    16. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only because you assume that we would have continued to waste money on lofty goals like rebuilding our enemies. As much as liberals love to fantasize about living in Roman or Greek history, it's always so funny to make them see what worked and what didn't from a military standpoint.

    17. Re:Is it science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the other hand f**k em, if Florida and the other southern states get wipe off the map it would be a win, win.

      The problem with that is it's not going to happen fast enough to drown them all which means they'll be moving to a neighborhood near you eventually. dfw

  4. Die spinnen die by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Amerikaner

  5. understandable by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3, Informative

    the problem is with the message in the video, not science.

    Shored Up is a convincing call for action along our coasts. As the oceans rise and storms flood our towns and cities, we have a choice to make: do we continue to develop as we have in the past, ignoring clear risks and danger?

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They should show this video instead

    2. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends on Saturday, Nov. 30, had the fewest number of hurricanes since 1982" (source: NOAA).

      But hey, don't let facts get in the way of a good movie - right?

    3. Re:understandable by Kythe · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There are STILL people who think a single season, storm, or record defines climate?

      Thankfully, they seem to be fewer and farther between than ever. Hard to deny the evidence for global warming right in front of you, developing year after year.

      --

      Kythe
    4. Re:understandable by kenai_alpenglow · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yep, sure are. . Look at all the folks (& politicians) who were claiming that typhoon in the Philippines is proof of AGW. With the solution being a transfer of wealth from 1st world countries to "the poor" countries.

    5. Re:understandable by Vanderhoth · · Score: 1

      I think it might be partly due to all the Albertans who lost their computers in last years big flood. Don't worry once they dry out they'll be back on.

      For anyone that can't see I'm being facetious, one flood isn't proof of global warming, but this was an extreme event, which we seem to be getting more and more of lately.

    6. Re:understandable by erikkemperman · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      So.. AGW is not real because you don't like the proposed courses of action that might help counter it. Got it.

      --
      Gosh, thanks. That must be why the other ships call me Meatfucker -- GCU Grey Area (Eccentric)
    7. Re:understandable by KeensMustard · · Score: 2
      I looked around - didn't find any.

      I found a few who said that the increasing severity of these sorts of storms in specific regions is linked to changing climate - but that is completely different statement and to collate the two as one would indeed be disingenuous. And nobody would want to be regarded as disingenuous.

      Would they?

    8. Re:understandable by Uberbah · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There are STILL people who think a single season, storm, or record defines climate?

      There are STILL people pushing this butthurt deflection? Warmer more humid air makes for more powerful storms, and warmer, drier air makes for record drought conditions. So yeah, denialists, record tornado seasons, massive forest fires months before fire season, record heat waves of months of 100+ degree heat and the most powerful hurricanes/typhoons in a century/of all time are evidence of global warming.

    9. Re:understandable by theM_xl · · Score: 2

      Not particularly. The cost of natural disasters as a percentage of global production is remarkably stable. We're mostly taking notice more because increased populations means the absolute number of people getting hit at once goes up, which makes for great television.

    10. Re:understandable by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So.. AGW is not real because you don't like the proposed courses of action that might help counter it. Got it.

      Everybody can see that you're twisting his meaning, which just gives more ammo to those who do not believe the AGW models. "See, they can't even engage in honest debate!".

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    11. Re:understandable by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      I looked around - didn't find any.

      Holy cow - you need to listen to some of the audio coming out of Poland right now. Start with the Phillipines rep who is on hunger strike.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    12. Re:understandable by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 2

      So yeah, denialists, record tornado seasons

      2013 was the quietest tornado season on record. Don't make shit up to try to win an argument. Try instead explaining how the heat in the climate shifts around from one region of the plant to another from year to year. You do have an accurate model for that, right?

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    13. Re:understandable by erikkemperman · · Score: 0

      Um, okay. I thought I just paraphrased what he had said, no twists intended. Guess I misunderstood his post, then. Out of curiosity, though, how did you read it?

      --
      Gosh, thanks. That must be why the other ships call me Meatfucker -- GCU Grey Area (Eccentric)
    14. Re:understandable by teg · · Score: 0

      So.. AGW is not real because you don't like the proposed courses of action that might help counter it. Got it.

      Or don't see that this course of action actually will fix the problem, for a variety of reasons - even though they recognize that the evidence of AGW is overwhelming.

      Speaking of evidence - it's always seemed rather odd to me that the ones most opposed to AGW, "because of lack of evidence", are the same people that are most likely to be passionately religious. These two positions are at the complete opposite ends of the "proven" scale.

    15. Re:understandable by gmuslera · · Score: 1

      Also people that think that global climate is exactly the same as weather. This list don't seem to go in the direction of "nothing happened".

    16. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The global cyclone energy index is on a downward trend since several decades. I'm not sure why you believe otherwise - there's no support for such a viewpoint in the actual data.

      http://policlimate.com/tropical/global_running_ace.png

      There's not a single "extreme weather" index that's currently on the rise (besides media headlines). There are plenty of models claiming that there will be, in the future, but so far it's not visible in the observations.

      (But hey, why let the scientific method stand in the way for activist arguments?)

    17. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the most powerful hurricanes ... of all time

      Please send me your hurricane measurements from 33,241 BC. TIA.

    18. Re:understandable by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

      Aren't the people getting hit more important than the effects of a major disaster on global economic production? Basic morality, codified in numerous legal codes, artistic works, and centuries of human behavior says that lives matter more than stuff.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    19. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've looked at "the evidence" more than any AWG supporter I've yet to meet. It doesn't exist, period. The stuff that does exist was not peer reviewed and was deleted because of risk of peer review, every prediction has been wrong, every claim has been wrong.

      Former members of the IPCC panel are now saying it has become a joke with how badly they are ignoring evidence and how poor their predictions have been. In science you make a prediction test it and it fails you change your theory. In AWG they made predictions that have failed and they ignore that and double down on idiocy.

      People who claim to have "looked at the evidence" and say AWG is fact are lying to you, this include you teg. You make fun of religious people for having faith, but you do the same thing listening to people lying to you and you don't bother looking for yourself.

      Check the rest of the posts. We have one guy, supporting AWG saying 2013 was biggest tornado year every, next post, with citation, directly refutes that. It is a pattern of AWG supporters making stuff up and name calling and "deniers" linking facts and evidence.

    20. Re:understandable by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      You sir, do not understand the word paraphrase. He very plainly pointed out AGW proponents using the same ploy as opponents and made a presumption as to their underlying reasons.

    21. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are STILL people who will jump on any single weather event and use it to preach doom and gloom?

      Seriously, I've been paying insane insurance premiums because of the scary story portrayed by the media that hurricane Katrina is just one of many hurricanes that would decimate the coast. In reality, Katrina was just one of those once in a 10-to-20 year hurricane that are known to hit the Gulf Coast.

    22. Re:understandable by erikkemperman · · Score: 1

      You sir, do not understand the word paraphrase. He very plainly pointed out AGW proponents using the same ploy as opponents and made a presumption as to their underlying reasons.

      Paraphrase: to say the same thing in different words. That's not the problem here, I think. The problem is that I apparently misunderstood the original poster, and thus ended up saying something that did not reflect his meaning. I stand corrected. And moderated.

      In fact, it seems that even my own admission of having blundered is deemed trollworthy by some moderator or other. Oh well, karma to burn, as they say.

      --
      Gosh, thanks. That must be why the other ships call me Meatfucker -- GCU Grey Area (Eccentric)
    23. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please send me your hurricane measurements from 33,241 BC"

      Of course there weren't any hurricanes in 33,241 BC - God hadn't created the world yet.

    24. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you have Karma to burn, that just means you are a pussy saying what people want to hear. That, or you are a willing participant in Group Think.

    25. Re:understandable by Boronx · · Score: 1

      If your mind is tilted one way or another on GW because some jackhole said something to some other jackhole on a web board, then, my good sir, you have problems.

    26. Re:understandable by JeffAtl · · Score: 1

      There are STILL people who think a single season, storm, or record defines climate?

      Thankfully, they seem to be fewer and farther between than ever. Hard to deny the evidence for global warming right in front of you, developing year after year.

      Sure there are. Ask around about hurricanes Sandy or Katrina. Those storms are routinely touted as absolute proof of global warming.

    27. Re:understandable by JeffAtl · · Score: 1

      You're confusing the term "paraphrase" with "creating a strawman".

    28. Re:understandable by Falconhell · · Score: 1

      Those that don't believe the climate models use the same arguments as creationists, anti vaxxers and Birchers, no amount of reasonable discussion or facts make the slightest difference to those who deliberately propound ignorance.

    29. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow... what a HUGE subset you have found. I'm blown away by all the people saying/doing that. >_> /me is still giggling about the Poland comment.

    30. Re:understandable by geekoid · · Score: 1

      How about we stick to what experts in the fields are saying, shall we?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    31. Re:understandable by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      Increasing population also means people starting to live in areas that were previously avoided. Y'know, cause of the floods and mudslides and shit.

    32. Re:understandable by geekoid · · Score: 1

      we do, and you are only gathering one data point, which si lame, stupid, and frankly, beneath you.

        930 tornadoes in 2012, 903 in 2013. So I'm not sure whose ass you are pulling numbers out of.
      FYI: the US isn't the only place on the globe.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    33. Re:understandable by stdarg · · Score: 1

      There were 775 (about 912 raw count... the data was adjusted down by 15% on the presumption of overcounting) in the US alone through November 19 according to GP's link. Wikipedia says Europe has about 700 tornadoes per year. What is your 903 referring to? You're implying it's from "the globe" but that's impossible.

    34. Re:understandable by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Out of curiosity, though, how did you read it?

      The important part of what he said was the assertion that climate change believers cite individual weather events to (incorrectly) bolster their argument just like climate change deniers do.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    35. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the problem is the director refusing to show the film, denying people the right to make up their own minds. He could also show another video with an anti-warming sentiment and let the masses decide. Instead, he has set himself up as judge and jury and squelched any mention of climate change. Why? Is he afraid that there might be something to it, and the populace might embrace its message if he shows the video? I think the real problem is that the director serves "at the pleasure of" our Republican governor, and he doesn't want to rock the boat. But that does the people of North Carolina a tremendous disservice. Trying to stamp out theories you don't like is not only anti-science, it's a dick move.

    36. Re:understandable by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Warmer more humid air makes for more powerful storms, and warmer, drier air makes for record drought conditions.

      That's still not quite right. "Global warming" means you're increasing the total energy of the system. As a consequence, all the extremes become more so. For example, warmer-than-usual temperatures in the southwest might push the jetstream northward, causing it to catch arctic air and then meander back southward, causing a record-cold blizzard in the northeast (or something like that).

      As an analogy, if you imagine the climate as a glass of water (with the surface level representing temperature), global warming is more like shaking it than it is pouring more water in.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    37. Re:understandable by Quila · · Score: 1

      You probably don't trust when the oil companies run studies that disagree with AGW theory. That's because there's a profit motive, and that makes their results inherently suspect.

      Now apply that sentiment equally.

    38. Re:understandable by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1

      kenai_alpenglow twisted meanings beyond anything that even resembles reason. erikkemperman was just trying to keep up. Who suggested transferring wealth to poor countries as a means of controlling climate anyway?

    39. Re:understandable by KeensMustard · · Score: 1
      I heard them. You (and the OP) obviously didn't. The OP said: Look at all the folks (& politicians) who were claiming that typhoon in the Philippines is proof of AGW.

      Whereas the filipinos said was that climate change made typhoon Haiyan worse, and that climate change would continue to make such storms worse into the future.

      These two statements are completely different. Typhon Haiyan is not proof of AGW. Tyndall, Fourier and Arrhenius finished 'proving' AGW 100 years ago. Typhoon Haiyan is a visceral reminder of the kinds of things that will happen as the troposphere and oceans warm.

    40. Re:understandable by Uberbah · · Score: 2

      That's still not quite right. "Global warming" means you're increasing the total energy of the system. As a consequence, all the extremes become more so. For example, warmer-than-usual temperatures in the southwest might push the jetstream northward, causing it to catch arctic air and then meander back southward, causing a record-cold blizzard in the northeast (or something like that).

      No, it's still right, because "global warming" means an overall warming of the planet. As for blizzards, that's where the warm air comes in again, because it can carry more moisture than cold air. One of the common denialist canards is that climate change is a myth because some parts of the poles have increasing ice - but leave out the part where that's due to increased precipitation from warmer air.

    41. Re:understandable by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      Please send me your hurricane measurements from 33,241 BC. TIA.

      Touche. I should have said "most powerful ever recorded".

    42. Re:understandable by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      2013 was the quietest tornado season on record. Don't make shit up to try to win an argument.

      Making up shit - like pretending that weather has to be getting worse everywhere all the time before we can say climate change is happening? That's a tired denailist canard, and the only one going on about 2013 is you.

      You want to talk about recorded tornadoes though, the list is dominated by a single set of twisters in 1917, and the rest come in the last few years. Greatest pressure drops, widest path, longest thunderstorm cells, most tornadoes in a day. As for most tornadoes in a year, that was in 2004.

    43. Re:understandable by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      Everybody can see that you're twisting his meaning,...

      "Everybody" who?

      My reading of kenai_alpenglow's post was the same as erikkemperman's reading, and I fail to see how it could be read any other way.

      So... What's your proposed alternative reading?

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    44. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a geologist I have a hard time understanding how anyone can believe the 50 or 150 years of climate means anything. So how do you justify using a short term data set to define a long term change?

    45. Re:understandable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      50 or 150 years may be pretty meaningless in geological terms but it's pretty meaningful on a human scale. dfw

  6. How are we going to hold off the sea? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Funny

    the legislature passed a bill forbidding the state coastal commission from defining rates of sea-level rise for regulation before 2016.

    They really ought to keep the sea in check right now. Without regulation, it's free to rise however fast it damn well pleases until 2016.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    1. Re:How are we going to hold off the sea? by marcroelofs · · Score: 1

      It's about time for a law regulating that the earth is flat.

    2. Re:How are we going to hold off the sea? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More like a mandate preventing any information about Petraus, Benghazi, or IRS scandals from leaking to the press until after an election. Or fudging unemployment numbers because you got your ass handed to you in the first debate. Or neglecting to even start designing healthcare.gov before the election because you know it's going to prove controversial, and then act surprised when you couldn't deliver in 10 months...

    3. Re:How are we going to hold off the sea? by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      More like a mandate preventing any information about Petraus, Benghazi, or IRS scandals from leaking to the press until after an election. Or fudging unemployment numbers because you got your ass handed to you in the first debate. Or neglecting to even start designing healthcare.gov before the election because you know it's going to prove controversial, and then act surprised when you couldn't deliver in 10 months...

      Nice non sequitur marinated in red herring sauce.

  7. Rate of Sea Level Rise by relisher · · Score: 2

    How's the beachfront property in Atlanta?

    1. Re:Rate of Sea Level Rise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lousy, plain lousy! But that's normal for Atlanta, we'll be better off when the sea completely claims Atlanta.

    2. Re:Rate of Sea Level Rise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Expensive! There's only the industrial park at the moment. Anyone you know have the money to buy out 3M?

    3. Re:Rate of Sea Level Rise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Invest now for your house on the beach in a few centuries. Leave something useful for your descendants - buy in Atlanta!

    4. Re:Rate of Sea Level Rise by captainpanic · · Score: 1

      Atlanta, Atlantis... what's in a name?

  8. Complex topics? by Sockatume · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The museum's statement reads, in part:

    It would be a disservice to the people of North Carolina who generously funded the construction of the Museum, and who are joined by other visitors from all other US states and numerous other countries, if we were to maintain that showing one organization’s film constituted a comprehensive approach to an issue as significant and complex as sea level science.

    Science cafe events are all about providing a quick, accessible, but by no means comprehensive view of an topic. Most of the ones I've been to have involved a single academic pontificating on their area of expertise and their own ideas for an hour. It seems rather odd to me that a Cafe Sci would restrict itself in this way. They can't have a very rich slate.

    --
    No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    1. Re:Complex topics? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If they show a film on AGW, it would be a disservice to the public if they didn't also show a film about all the opposing science that proves the sun, sun spots, solar cycles and ocean cycles are the real cause of climate change, and that the earth has been through warmer periods in the past (like when the Vikings ruled) and it wasn't a catastrophe. CO2 is a nutrient and creates life. You can't honestly claim that showing an AGW film is supposed to create debate without showing the other side. Look at the NIPCC for real climate science.

    2. Re:Complex topics? by berbo · · Score: 1

      There is no "other side", scientifically speaking. Sun spots? give me a break.

    3. Re:Complex topics? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or maybe their goal for Science Cafes is to stimulate interest in non-controversial science topics - there is a large enough scientific community in the area that they may be able to fill it without controversial presentations and have decided that it isn't worth dealing with protests from politicians/anti-global warming folks.

    4. Re:Complex topics? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      thje change in energy from the sun in no way accounts for the amount of energy being trapped. It would be a tiny, tiny percentage,AND the weather would return to pr- sun spot activity when the sun spot activity change, and it doesn't.
      Also, if it was the sun, the the upper most atmosphere would also be warming, it is not.
      Also, every body in the planet would be warming in accordance to the inverse square law. They are not.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    5. Re:Complex topics? by danbert8 · · Score: 1

      Yep, that's the real attitude that sparks debate. The science is settled. Sit down and eat it you deniers you!

      --
      Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
    6. Re: Complex topics? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please don't say things like "CO2 creates life." Someone might believe you.

    7. Re:Complex topics? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Science Cafes used to be held in restaurants and bars around Raleigh, where there was generally plenty of room and good sightlnes for everyone. When the new wing of the museum opened along with the cafe, they were moved there, and it is probably the worst place in town to host science discussions. The room is cramped, with too many tables and chairs, and is L-shaped so that people in the dogleg portion can't see the presenter. OTOH, the museum has a huge auditorium with a great A/V system, so his contention that they don't have a large enough venue holds no water. As far as a disservice to the people of NC, I think limiting their access to both sides of a scientific issue fits that definition perfectly.

  9. What happens when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    National Historical sites such as 'Kill Devil Hills'** are submerged?
    Those outer islands in NC are really low lying. They could easily become uninhabitable.

    People who refuse to admit to climate change are as bad as the proverbial with their head stuck in the sand. Beware the tide is coming in rapidly.

    ** for those who don't know this is where the Wright Bros actually flew their aircraft. (and I'm a darned foreigner to boot)

    1. Re:What happens when... by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      Yes, what happens when...? Do all the airplanes suddenly disappear?

  10. Re:Let me guess by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    At least you know who you've been trained to hate ... good for you.

  11. Sea levels used to be much higher by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    About 7000 years ago:

    "The Older Peron... throughout the period, global sea levels were 2.5 to 4 meters (8 to 13 feet) higher than the twentieth-century average."

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Older_Peron

    1. Re:Sea levels used to be much higher by Sockatume · · Score: 2

      If we're going to wind the clock back 7000 years I'd rather start with re-establishing bears and coyotes as the dominant predators in the National Mall.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    2. Re:Sea levels used to be much higher by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, the Younger Peron is only about 5700 years old. If the sea level keeps rising by 3mm/yr, then it will take 1000 years to reach 3m and "wind the clock back" 5700 years.

    3. Re:Sea levels used to be much higher by teg · · Score: 1

      About 7000 years ago:

      "The Older Peron... throughout the period, global sea levels were 2.5 to 4 meters (8 to 13 feet) higher than the twentieth-century average."

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Older_Peron

      True, but infrastructure(there wasn't any) and populations were a lot more flexible then. Right now, with the concepts of property, cities, countries the impact of a 4 m rise in sea level would be catastrophic.

    4. Re:Sea levels used to be much higher by geekoid · · Score: 1

      This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2009)

      Do you have any actual references?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    5. Re:Sea levels used to be much higher by stdarg · · Score: 1

      It would definitely be disruptive but we wouldn't know how catastrophic it would be (economically) until it happened. Long term it might do a lot of good to rebuild cities and infrastructure with a modern eye.

      Outside of economics I don't think it would be catastrophic at all. I mean not many lives would be lost except in occasional freak storms.

  12. Science museum declines alarmist propaganda by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Is this the same science museum that refused to show "The population Bomb: The Movie", "Ice Age: Year 2010" and all the other variations of were all going to be dead 30 years from now unless we are all forced to adopt whatever leftist ideology is popular at the time? The environmentalists have taken a page from Harold Camping and all other doomsday cults. Make a prediction that mankind will all be dead, or facing an apocalyptic scenario 30 years from now, and when that 30 years have passed and nothing terrible has happened still insist you are still right and make another prediction for the apocalypse 30 years from now, but this time its real!

    1. Re:Science museum declines alarmist propaganda by Sockatume · · Score: 2

      No, this is the one where the same Director demoted the head of its Natural Research Centre to a figurehead position and reassigned her as "at risk" staff.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    2. Re:Science museum declines alarmist propaganda by KeensMustard · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Is this the same science museum that refused to show "The population Bomb: The Movie", "Ice Age: Year 2010" and all the other variations of were all going to be dead 30 years from now unless we are all forced to adopt whatever leftist ideology is popular at the time?

      Why are you asking us? Surely if you want to understand the films content, you could look at TFA yourself, and study the history of the museum.

      The environmentalists have taken a page from Harold Camping and all other doomsday cults. Make a prediction that mankind will all be dead, or facing an apocalyptic scenario 30 years from now, and when that 30 years have passed and nothing terrible has happened still insist you are still right and make another prediction for the apocalypse 30 years from now, but this time its real!

      Your understanding of the predictions made by climate models is completely off the wall insane, and laughably wrong. You need to get a handle on the basic facts before presuming to criticise either the science of the actions of others in response to that science.

    3. Re:Science museum declines alarmist propaganda by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should write for the Onion, or the Colbert Report.

    4. Re:Science museum declines alarmist propaganda by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      Neither of those movies have ever been scheduled to appear at the museum.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    5. Re:Science museum declines alarmist propaganda by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      Your understanding of the predictions made by climate models is completely off the wall insane, and laughably wrong.

      Perhaps you could at least link to some predictions that have actually come about? Or, in SlashDotese... cite please.

    6. Re:Science museum declines alarmist propaganda by KeensMustard · · Score: 1

      Your ignorance is not my problem, but your own, Google it yourself.

  13. Corrupt Religious Luddites by some+old+guy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Whether it is corporate shills in climate change denial or religionists diluting science with creationism and imaginary divinity, the inescapable conclusion is that the willful ignorance and in-grained avarice of politicians will surely be the death of us all.

    --
    Scruting the inscrutable for over 50 years.
    1. Re:Corrupt Religious Luddites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      In this case it's mainly the former. The majority of North Carolina's hostility towards climate change research in this case is based on the development of coastal areas. Anything that threatens development may cause a loss of valuation on these areas, so apart from the devaluing of assets of certain wealthy members of the states there would also be a corresponding loss in property taxes for the larger municipalities.

    2. Re:Corrupt Religious Luddites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One hundred years from I won't care.

  14. No such thing as 'man made global warming' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Still, nice to see they've conveniently renamed it 'climate change'. LOL.

    www.climatedepot.com

    1. Re:No such thing as 'man made global warming' by L.+J.+Beauregard · · Score: 2

      www.climatedepot.com

      www.rense.com
      www.infowars.com
      www.whale.to
      www.timecube.com
      www.junkscience.com
      www.foxnews.com ...

      --
      Ooh, moderator points! Five more idjits go to Minus One Hell!
      Delendae sunt RIAA, MPAA et Windoze
  15. Tantrums, much? by bradley13 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Poor baby, he didn't get his way.

    The musuem director said that the "Science Cafe" was the wrong forum, but that they would consider showing the film as part of a larger project.

    This film is an advocacy film for one particular viewpoint, being pushed by one particular organization. The musuem rightly sees that showing this film alone, with no context or alternative viewpoints, may not be the best way to present a balanced viewpoint on a difficult and controversion subject.

    --
    Enjoy life! This is not a dress rehearsal.
    1. Re:Tantrums, much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's sad that, your assessment while correct and apt, is the way things are. I find it extremely sad that a single film, showing a single viewpoint, on a hotly debated and apparently endlessly confusing subject, no thanks to the media, can cause this much of a broohaha.

      Taken to extrapolation, and that IS what is happening here, anything regarding climate change and publicly funded institutions is on par with that of discussing the beneficial merits of genocide. YUP! Went there!

      I'd say we should just drop our heads a little and shrug it off, but I know there is a camp of morons who wish to stamp out any and all material that validates climate change is occuring for the worse. And that's before we even get into root causes! This is disturbing and sad if not downright infuriating.

    2. Re:Tantrums, much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This film is an advocacy film for one particular viewpoint, being pushed by one particular organization. The musuem rightly sees that showing this film alone, with no context or alternative viewpoints, may not be the best way to present a balanced viewpoint on a difficult and controversion subject.

      That's why I insist my children's school teaches alternatives to the theory of gravity. You have to show context! And after all, it's entirely possible that maleficent demons are pulling things downwards.

      In the 21st Century, you can't have good science unless you arbitrarily pick one of the tens of thousands of unlikely possible alternatives to a rational hypothesis and conceptually elevate that alternative to the level of "controversy" in your presentation. You have to propagandize against reason itself, instead of merely presenting the view you've found through your research and defending it, the way scientists used to.

    3. Re:Tantrums, much? by geekoid · · Score: 2

      Science isn't a view point. When will you get that?
      There is NO scientific alternate viewpoint of the increased energy in the atmosphere.

      " present a balanced viewpoint "
      False equivalency.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_equivalence

      Which you probably believe becasue of:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_balance

      Facts:
      1) Visible light comes from the sun
      2) visible light hits the earth an IR is expressed.
      3) CO2 is transparent to visible light
      4) CO2 absorb IR energy

      Please explain why increasing CO2 would not result in an increase of trapped energy.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    4. Re:Tantrums, much? by stdarg · · Score: 1

      You're replying to something that wasn't stated. What exactly do you think the film is about? Science? Just science?

      From TFA:

      The hourlong movie looks at the impact of sea-level rise in New Jersey and North Carolina, as well as various political responses to dealing with the threat.

      Clearly "various political responses to dealing with the threat" is not science unless you hold a far higher opinion of politics than most people.

  16. I love NC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    And this is one of the many reasons I love living in NC. It doesn't always bow to what is falsely called science.

    You can call me an idiot, or any other name you like, but if you don't at least question some of global warming/climate change, then you are no better than me. Case in point ... ALL climate modeling programs showed continued increased warming for the last decade, but instead there has been a lull in global warming. If these models are wrong, then what else have climate scientist gotten wrong? I'm just saying ...

    1. Re:I love NC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We'll just call you "a North-Carolinan (m/f)", all right?

    2. Re:I love NC by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      I'll just call you blind to the facts, if that's okay. I'd say, based on the linked information below, that warming is continuing.

      http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/decadaltemp.php

      And, let's face it: you can argue that the cause is somewhat irrelevant. What is hard to argue with is that a change in the environment will destabilize the existing geopolitical conditions, which are relatively constrained at the moment. If you believe in the free market and capitalism, you know that change in market conditions is mostly bad for the vast majority of people. If we identify those things which will minimize the change, that will maximize overall stability as well as returns.

      Unless, of course, you believe - like much of the human population - that you are part of some chosen, elite subset (or will be very, very soon). In which case you don't understand statistics, and hence can't even comprehend why everything I've said above should apply to you. And you never will.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    3. Re:I love NC by stdarg · · Score: 1

      What is hard to argue with is that a change in the environment will destabilize the existing geopolitical conditions, which are relatively constrained at the moment.

      That's an easy one. If you want peace, prepare for war. Been true for a long time now.

      If we have $1 trillion to spend, and we spend it trying to "fight climate change" or some crap, that's not going to accomplish anything worthwhile. It would be much better spending the $1 trillion on some split of weapons and adapting to inevitable climate change.

      If you believe in the free market and capitalism, you know that change in market conditions is mostly bad for the vast majority of people.

      Wait, I believe in free market and capitalism and I disagree with what you said. What's wrong with me?

      To take an example, can you explain how a very disruptive change in market conditions like the banning of slavery in the US resulted in things being mostly bad for the vast majority of people?

      This is the weird thing about climate changers. It's like they're terrified of change. They want the climate the stop changing, which is of course impossible. They want markets to stop changing, apparently, which is also impossible.

    4. Re:I love NC by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      You must be one of the reasons that I'm glad I left North Carolina.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  17. Oh FFS... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think I'm spending too much time on Slashdot. Nothing but fucking depressing stories about how pathetic humans are all the fucking time. It's hard to remain interested in life when Governements and organizations with a lot more money than sense seek to dumb us down, deny us progress and doom our future.

  18. Win win situation... by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 1, Interesting

    If these bozos are forced to show that documentary chalk up a win for environmenalism because the film may make a few more people think abut climate change, if they put up a fight chalk up an even bigger win for environmentalims because the publicity raises awareness about global warming. If we get really lucky Fox News will contribute to that publicity by reporting on this before they realize they may actually have caused a few of their viewers to watch the film to see what all the hullablaloo is about (irony, irony...).

    --
    Only to idiots, are orders laws.
    -- Henning von Tresckow
    1. Re:Win win situation... by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      I thought it was literally a documentary about how you should sell your seafront properties?

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:Win win situation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you look at polls, you see that Americans are increasingly reaching the conclusions that (1) AGW is real, and (2) that threats from AGW are vastly exaggerated. In short, they are reaching the scientifically correct conclusions. They'll likely recognize this firm for what it is: a political hack piece.

    3. Re:Win win situation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's actually a documentary about how the US tax payer should foot the bill for people who own nice beachfront property, plus send billions in the direction of the corporations they own.

    4. Re:Win win situation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, Al Gore isn't selling his anytime soon for some strange reason, but there's oddly timeshare folks hanging outside of the museum selling seafront resorts to unsuspecting people.

    5. Re:Win win situation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you look at polls by Mark Dice you'll see that Americans are dumb and will sign any poll. Funding holocaust celebrations, bring communism to America, create an Orwellian police state, etc. are some examples of things people have signed.

      I think everyone who believes AGW has not seen any information from the other viewpoint. Go read the NIPCC report (not IPCC) which is pure science, or watch "Global Warming - Emerging Science & Understanding" DVD.

    6. Re:Win win situation... by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

      if they put up a fight chalk up an even bigger win for environmentalims because the publicity raises awareness about global warming.

      Raising awareness is pointless when the general public is already aware of the problem. That's the big reason I don't get involved in most walkathons.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    7. Re:Win win situation... by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      Yes. Cause almost nobody's heard of global warming...

  19. Challege Accepted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    OK, you're an idiot. And so are the rest of the hillbilly nutjobs who incorrectly view "science" as a realm of absolute immutable facts rather than a world of observations that serve to prove or disprove theories.

    1. Re:Challege Accepted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, and that film doesn't rely on facts but on hysteria. Hence, the science museum is keeping it out. Makes sense, right?

    2. Re:Challege Accepted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK, you're an idiot. And so are the rest of the hillbilly nutjobs who incorrectly view "science" as a realm of absolute immutable facts rather than a world of observations that serve to prove or disprove theories.

      So what do you call people who start with a theory and twist and distort their explanations every time observations contradict their theory rather than re-examining their original assertions? Who jump from one doomsday future (coming ice age, global warming, climate change, extreme weather) to another whenever observations don't seem to be helping them out? Who declare that opposition to their theory doesn't exist and, when that no longer works, declare that the opposition is either tainted by funding from (evil) corporations or is incapable of scientific reasoning? Who insist that they themselves are immune to bias due to self-interest? Who demand that massive wealth transfers and extraordinary taxation and regulatory burdens be imposed on the clean producers of the West while giving the filthy producers in China and India a pass? Who are not transparent about their work and respond to requests for their datasets and computer code with excuses not much different from "the dog ate my homework"? Who have been revealed in emails to have conspired to prevent the critics of their theories from publishing and to try to punish journals who would dare to publish dissenting views? Who explicitly excluded media coverage of the meetings at the UN in which the latest IPCC report was created? (<-- If that doesn't scream "political process" rather than "scientific process" to you, then you are hopeless.) Whose most common response to criticism is to call their critics names? I wouldn't call such people objective scientists.

    3. Re:Challege Accepted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "So what do you call people who start with a theory and twist and distort their explanations every time observations contradict their theory"

      Deniers.

      1998 has the hottest ever record breaking year. Deniers: "This means nothing: it's a hot La Nina!".
      2003 "Cooling since 1998!"
      2007: By 2012 it will be back to within 0.1C of the 20C average!
      2012: WE NEVER SAID THAT!!!

      And so on.

      "Who jump from one doomsday future (coming ice age,"

      Nope, 1970's myth promulgated by someone who merely heard a whine about it on a blogroll. No such event. out of 70 papers, how many were about a global cooling scare by the end of the century?

      7.

      "global warming, climate change, extreme weather"

      All three the same thing.

      If it gets globally warmer, the climate for every area on the world changes and as it changes you get what, under the old climate, was an extreme event. Thinking isn't something you do, is it?

      "Who declare that opposition to their theory doesn't exist"

      Yeeerrrs.

      Never happened.

      "declare that the opposition is either tainted by funding from (evil) corporations or is incapable of scientific reasoning?"

      Yup, both are true. Or is your contention that the mere claim is proof the claim is wrong? Doesn't that work for your claims too? No? Why?

      "Who insist that they themselves are immune to bias due to self-interest?"

      Yeeerrrrs.

      Never happened.

      But feel free to look at the evidence and show the bias. THAT is what has no bias or self interest.

      "Who are not transparent about their work"

      Just because you haven't looked doesn't mean you're right.

      Plus let me ask you about Monsato, GSK, Heartland Institute, AFP, et al.

      "Who demand that massive wealth transfers and extraordinary taxation and regulatory burdens be imposed"

      So you hate the solutions necessary, not the evidence.

      "Who are not transparent about their work and respond to requests for their datasets and computer code with excuses not much different from "the dog ate my homework"?"

      See above. Why double dip? And what about Heartland?

      PS you can get the code from here:

      http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/modelE

      And you have had access to the entire dataset for that. What you didn't have access to is stuff handed to CRU under license that was not theirs to give away.

      Why do you hate copyright so much???

      "Who have been revealed in emails to have conspired to prevent the critics of their theories from publishing"

      Woah? You mean people have said that stuff was so shit it shouldn't be published? When did THAT become illegal?

      Bit of a statist, aren't you.

      "and to try to punish journals who would dare to publish dissenting views?"

      Yeah, like the fact that someone makes shit up should be sacrosanct because it's "dissenting", but if you make a website like monsatochildkillers, you'll be smacked down with a restraining order and you're A-OK with that, right?

      "Who explicitly excluded media coverage of the meetings at the UN in which the latest IPCC report was created"

      Yup. And the meetings of the OPEC were closed to media too. OUTRAGE!!!!! Oh, hang on, you're OK with that. Why?

      "Whose most common response to criticism is to call their critics names?"

      You mean like you just did, denier moron?

    4. Re:Challege Accepted by Oligonicella · · Score: 0

      Well, oh AC living in his mom's basement in his underwear, science doesn't call things theories that are still hotly debated - those are called hypotheses. It also requires full disclosure of your data and how one can go about proving/disproving the hypothesis. AGW proponents provide neither.

    5. Re:Challege Accepted by BenfromMO · · Score: 1

      "So what do you call people who start with a theory and twist and distort their explanations every time observations contradict their theory" Deniers.

      1998 has the hottest ever record breaking year. Deniers: "This means nothing: it's a hot La Nina!". 2003 "Cooling since 1998!" 2007: By 2012 it will be back to within 0.1C of the 20C average! 2012: WE NEVER SAID THAT!!!

      Seems like both sides do it. Its called an "argument" or disagreement. I realize you do not see the other position as tenable, but just because you can not see their point, does not mean the point does not exist. The largest problem with "believers" as I call them is that they are unable to differentiate what reality says. The hottest year ever does not tell you that the planet is warming up for one. Its nothing but a record that could have been set regardless of whether the planet is warming or cooling. (Hint: that 1998 statistic tells you nothing about the direction of the climate, just that you had the hottest year ever, and considering that its been 15 years since 1998 and we have not broken that old record yet kind of hints that perhaps the planet is not warming after all. But than again, most scientists use this complicated technique called linear regression to find out whether we are heating up or cooling, because a record does not tell you whether that is happening. To give you an illustration, every year of my last 15 years has been the tallest year of my life, but does this mean I am still growing? And there is your problem, your side engages in sophistry with arguments that have no bearing to what we are discussing. That entire 1998 argument is a bunch of BS that unthinking automatons sprout off and yes, they are like you claim "deniers" are: unable to think about what a fact actually means. So in other words, what is your point for saying 1998 was the hottest year ever? Yesterday Pittsburg set a record low, so does that mean anything? Probably not, some stupid worthless fact that tells you nothing of value. And so the primary function of even mentioning the year 1998 is typically to obfuscate the argument with irrelevant information that gives you no data and nothing to base facts upon. If you want to prove the the planet is warming up faster than ever before, there are scientific ways to do that such as linear regression. There are numerous data-sets including a few not run by NASA. And NASA provides code for some of the science and some of the data. In your logical universe, if NASA provides some of the data, this means that all of the data in the scientific world is open, and sorry, but that is another bad logical construct. I could go on for hours, because most of your arguments are using bad logic, sophistry, or even outright insults, and so in the end you come off as no better than a monkey who can repeat political sound bites that seem to apply to every argument, and those which he does not have a canned response for he just substitutes outright denial or insults. Yea, you are smart.

    6. Re:Challege Accepted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "So what do you call people who start with a theory and twist and distort their explanations every time observations contradict their theory"

      Deniers.

      (blah, blah, blah).

      The skeptics aren't presenting a theory, merely questioning the theory of ACC. There is noise in annual temperature measurements. I have no idea who these "deniers" are who you claim are making year-to-year temperature predictions. I also don't see how any person doing so has anything to do with being skeptical about ACC. On-the-other-hand, some proponents of ACC have claimed that lower global temperatures are actually an indication of global warming and that the warming that computer models predict is not observed because the extra energy is hiding in the deep oceans. Sneaky energy. Sneaky "settled science", it always seems to be so unsettled.

      "Who jump from one doomsday future (coming ice age,"

      Nope, 1970's myth promulgated by someone who merely heard a whine about it on a blogroll.

      I was alive during the 70s, blogs didn't exist then and the coming ice age was being hyped back then just as AGW was being hyped until recently when changing observations, revelations about systemic data bias, etc. forced the hysterics to switch to "climate change" and then "extreme weather".

      "global warming, climate change, extreme weather" ... All three the same thing.

      I shouldn't have to respond to this bit of illogic, but I will. "Climate change" is more general than "global warming" since it encompasses cooling as well as warming. "extreme weather" can refer to either "weather events" such as hurricanes, their frequency or severity or to the local deviation from a temperature norm, unlike "warming" and "cooling" which imply a changing mean, but imply nothing about changes in the magnitude of a deviation. So, no, they don't all mean the same thing. It is telling that the progression from global warming to climate change to extreme weather represents a progression towards vagueness, conveniently allowing the hysterics to more easily duck the consequences of plainly inaccurate predictions.

      "Who declare that opposition to their theory doesn't exist"

      Yeeerrrs.

      Never happened.

      "declare that the opposition is either tainted by funding from (evil) corporations or is incapable of scientific reasoning?"

      Yup, both are true.

      Thanks for proving my point. The existence of real opposition is denied by dismissing critics rather than answering them. By the way, just because Michael Mann declares that all his critics are funded by energy corporations doesn't make it true and the fact that a critic might be funded by an energy company doesn't mean that their criticisms are invalid.

      "Who insist that they themselves are immune to bias due to self-interest?"

      Yeeerrrrs.

      Never happened.

      The mere dismissal of critics because they work in the private sector and the demand that the "science is settled" because academics and people working in govt agencies declare that the science is settled implicitly insists that being paid with tax dollars somehow inoculates a person from bias. Certainly the supporters of the climate change narrative aren't at all reluctant to imbue academics with the mantle of impartiality.

      But feel free to look at the evidence and show the bias.

      The proponents of the ACC narrative are welfare queens in lab coats. They directly profit from salaries included in grant money. Climate scientists earn money from honoraria and from selling books. They build personal empires based on selling the climate change narrative and attracting tax dollars to pay for staff and equipment. The personal reputations and self-esteem of those calling themselves "climate scientists" are wrapped up in promoting the idea that their chosen field of study is important.

      The int

    7. Re:Challege Accepted by micahraleigh · · Score: 1

      I also moved to NC for the same reason (Raleigh whoop whoop!).

      Having worked with government R&D scientists for 7 years, I can tell you first-hand I'd rather work with hill billies.

  20. Reading from the Book of Eugenie Harvey.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Climate Change Denier to Live...

  21. Time for some empirical work! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Let's get one continent, say Europe, to behave as if human climate change were real and another one, say North America, to behave as if it were fake. Let's compare results in a century or so.

  22. There's a reason they "declined" to show it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's a science museum, and climate change is not science.

  23. More discrimination! by Lucky_Pierre · · Score: 1

    The museum isn't showing films advocating Lysenko biology either.

    --
    "Whenever the cause of the people is entrusted to professors, it is lost." ~ V.I. Lenin
    1. Re:More discrimination! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They also refused to show my film about women dealing with global warming by removing their clothes. It's just so unfair.

  24. Wrong approach by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Environmentalists are tackling this topic in the wrong way. The approach has to be more tangible to the lay person. There is no need to attract flack by invoking climate change. Focus on where it hurts most: the taxpayers' wallet. The discussion could have been centered around how much money it costs to repair damaged areas after a huge hurricane like Katrina and Sandy. On top of that, show how the "nanny" state subsidizes flood insurance. I think the discussion could be flipped on its head and it can be approached in a way that attracts a conservative audience.

    1. Re:Wrong approach by ledow · · Score: 1

      Providing, of course, that the cost of the solutions (of which there are, basically, none) is also presented.

      What's the point of going all-out to solve this problem if it'll cripple the economy of the world MORE than not doing anything?

      Nobody even has a solution anyway. All we have is a lot of people shouting about who's right, and nobody has sat down and said "Okay, so let's assume this side is right... what the fuck can we do about it?" and then approach the problem from the opposite angle.

      Fact is, any "global" problem needs a global-scale solution, of which there are none, and which will cost global-scale amounts of money, which we're not going to spend until we have a viable solution, and may end up costing more than if we DID have, say, a 10m sea rise.

    2. Re:Wrong approach by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are assuming that if we have a 10m sea level rise then all that will happen is just a loss of dry land. It is quite possible that all that extra water pressing down on the tectonic plates could trigger geological events like volcanoes and earthquakes. Perhaps all that extra weight could pop the super volcano under Yellowstone national park like a boil. Last time something like that happened, 95% of life on earth was killed (late Permian era iirc)

    3. Re:Wrong approach by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is no need to attract flack by invoking climate change. Focus on where it hurts most: the taxpayers' wallet. ... I think the discussion could be flipped on its head and it can be approached in a way that attracts a conservative audience.

      Given that every "solution" to "climate change" involves massive economic disruption and gigantic wealth confiscation in one way or another, I doubt your dynamic new approach to persuasion will be effective. Incidentally, how can you possibly justify extracting money out of people's pockets for singular weather events? "Climate change" is a necessary part of the con since it generalizes the alleged threat.

      after a huge hurricane like Katrina and Sandy.

      A couple of small points: hurricane Katrina was a big hurricane, but not really "huge" and the most highly publicized impact, namely the plight of the 9th ward of New Orleans, was a result of flooding due to years and years of corruption diverting money away from levee construction. Sandy, of course, wasn't even a hurricane and has received an inordinate amount of media coverage because it impacted the politically powerful NE and because of the incompetence of the Obama admin's response.

      the "nanny" state subsidizes flood insurance.

      Conservatives already know about that, but Florida has a lot of electoral votes and so neither party wants to yank the subsidies.

  25. My thoughts on the subject. by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

    Nice Museum from the outside, not many places you can place a large
    globe of the Earth and it look good. - yet I may be pushing it.

    I scanned the articles, No, a museum or library isn't a place for taking sides on such
    a subject, how soon many forget, Global warming is of major concern, then not a
    month ago were told it's been a farce, (sorry Gore I like you). Temps were ignored
    the unseen heat placed in the ocean currents that take can take a thousand years to complete
    a cycle, (good hiding spot).

    Yet it continues, like nothing happened, with the same importance of stopping it or more than before.

    I was taught that the 1940's were the end of the warm cycle, and part of a 100,000 year cycle
    personally I look forward to anything that will keep it warmer. but what were being bombarded
    with isn't fact, but predetermined results to sway a world.

    I applaud a Museum / library for not taking part in this or any debate, they should be (remain) neutral.

    1. Re:My thoughts on the subject. by geekoid · · Score: 1

      A science museum should present actual science.
      There is no scientific debate about this subject. In fact by not showing it that have chose the side of ignorance. The exact opposite a museum is suppose to do.

      "Global warming is of major concern, then not a
      month ago were told it's been a farce, (sorry Gore I like you). "
      WTF are you talking about?

      Facts:
      1) Visible light comes from the sun
      2) visible light hits the earth an IR is expressed.
      3) CO2 is transparent to visible light
      4) CO2 absorb IR energy

      Please explain why increasing CO2 would not result in an increase of trapped energy.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  26. In the USA, the climate changes you! by captainpanic · · Score: 2

    In the USA, the climate changes you!

    1. Re:In the USA, the climate changes you! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When does that change occur? How many Americans live in hurricane alley? How many live on the coasts, susceptible to hurricanes and tidal waves? Earthquakes?

      You guys are born stupid, and you wonder why 'not enough' of you care about climate change....lol.

  27. Re:Let me guess by dreamchaser · · Score: 1, Insightful

    No, that would imply an equal hatred of democrats. They are just as bad, just in slightly different ways. It would be more accurate and appropriate to hate all politicians.

  28. Canute knew he was not God by dbIII · · Score: 0

    Canute knew he was not God and couldn't stop the waves - why do these Creationist losers ignore reality to pretend to be better than God? They've got a pretty old lesson there about how you cannot legislate for forces of nature to do what they are told.
    They want to frame science is a religion to try to shift the argument so why not go with it and not point out the weakness in their own "Lite" and dumbed down version of religion. If reality challenges it and they can tell their personal God what to do then it's really not worth much is it?
    Remember that Jesuits are just as much the perceived enemy of these types as biologists, geologists and now climate scientists.

    1. Re:Canute knew he was not God by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      You know, I get really fucking tired of seeing people yank Creationists (a distinct minority) into the argument as if that were an intellectual feat.

  29. Brother & Sister State. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    North Carolina, the other white meat.

  30. Re:Let me guess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    a bit of world knowledge.

    But just "a bit". Fear not. If you are like most people, you will eventually learn enough about the world to understand that lefty policies cause problems rather than solve them. With a little more effort you will realize that the leadership of the left isn't really trying to do what's best for society anyway.

    If you are not a socialist before age 30, then you have no heart. If you are still a socialist after age 30, then you have no brain.
    - Winston Churchill

  31. In the Soviet USA, the climate changes you! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Corrected that for you.
    Nothing reminds Soviet Era of 80s like today's USA

  32. The Free Market by bmo · · Score: 4, Informative

    "The state government has been perceived as hostile to action on climate change;"

    It's all fun and games until the insurance companies believe that climate change is a threat.

    And they do.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/business/insurers-stray-from-the-conservative-line-on-climate-change.html?_r=0

    Even if you don't believe the scientists, you'll have to believe your insurance company, especially when you get the bill.

    Perhaps the so-called "Fiscal Conservatives" of NC should be, you know, fiscal.

    --
    BMO

    1. Re:The Free Market by Bill_the_Engineer · · Score: 1

      We got the bill years ago. We not only got the high premiums but we also have unbelievably high deductibles which makes insurance payout much less likely. Insurance companies looking for a reason to cancel policies or raise premiums is old news. Where have you been?

      --
      These comments are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of my employer or colleagues...
    2. Re:The Free Market by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's all fun and games until the insurance companies believe that climate change is a threat.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/business/insurers-stray-from-the-conservative-line-on-climate-change.html?_r=0

      Even if you don't believe the scientists, you'll have to believe your insurance company

      You mean insurance companies found a reason to increase rates?
      I for one am shocked, just shocked.

    3. Re:The Free Market by bmo · · Score: 1

      Where, exactly, did I say that they haven't had a history of raising rates?

      Hurr.

      --
      BMO

    4. Re:The Free Market by Bill_the_Engineer · · Score: 1

      You implied that the insurance companies don't take climate change into consideration yet. I pointed out that they've been doing that for years (actually over a decade).

      --
      These comments are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of my employer or colleagues...
    5. Re:The Free Market by bmo · · Score: 1

      >You implied that the insurance companies don't take climate change into consideration yet.

      No, you read that into my message.

      --
      BMO

    6. Re:The Free Market by Pino+Grigio · · Score: 0

      What the insurance companies are frightened of are idiots like you and your supporting politicians framing absolutely every natural event as "climate change". When you look at the actual facts, you'll see that the truth is the absolute opposite of what your tiny little brain perceives it to be, conditioned as it is through the lens of your favourite "liberal" (not classical liberal) news source, which itself is informed by activist scientists and NGOs who's budgets are mostly acquired through lobbying the very governments they claim to be trying to influence.

    7. Re:The Free Market by bmo · · Score: 2, Funny

      Go. Fuck. Yourself.

      --
      BMO

    8. Re:The Free Market by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      you'll see that the truth is the absolute opposite of what your tiny little brain perceives... activist scientists and NGOs who's budgets

      Who is budgets? I notice that you deniers are the ones with tiny little brains and less education. The word you're looking for is whose.

      Read a few books and educate yourself, because it looks from here that you've never read one you weren't forced to or you'd know the difference between who's and whose.

      A GED might not be a bad idea, either.

    9. Re:The Free Market by Pino+Grigio · · Score: 1

      Thanks for your concern but I have a BSc. (Hons) 1st Class in Computer Science. But what's more interesting is that you didn't actually argue against my main point. Rather, you preferred to go grammar-bully, which in my experience is fairly typical of climate Nazis.

    10. Re:The Free Market by bmo · · Score: 1

      (Hons) 1st Class in Computer Science.

      And I am Eleanor Roosevelt.

      bully,

      HOLDS UP MIRROR

      my main point.

      Was pure content-free Ad-Hom.

      If he's a bully, you're a douchebag. Go away.

      --
      BMO

    11. Re:The Free Market by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Thanks for your concern but I have a BSc. (Hons) 1st Class in Computer Science.

      Sorry, but I simply don't believe you. You can't get through college not knowing the difference between whose and who's.

    12. Re:The Free Market by Pino+Grigio · · Score: 1

      Sorry, but I simply don't believe you.

      I couldn't give a flying fuck whether you believe me or not. I don't need a degree to see the problem with the OP, which you have singularly failed to refute, or even argue about.

      For your information.

  33. Heads we win, tails you lose by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 0

    There is no right-wing conspiracy against anthropogenic global warming because none is necessary, since this is the issue that will sink the left.They have invested so much in the most apocalyptic outcome on this issue that if AGW turns out to be exaggerated, they lose all credibility and nobody will ever listen to them again. If AGW really is happening, and to an extent that would require us to stop emitting carbon in one generation, the only way to do so is to go nuclear, massively. Yucca Mountain opens immediately, and a waste recycling complex will have to be built around it. The most cherished chunk of leftish theology vanishes into the political ooze.

    1. Re:Heads we win, tails you lose by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Facts:
      1) Visible light comes from the sun
      2) visible light hits the earth an IR is expressed.
      3) CO2 is transparent to visible light
      4) CO2 absorb IR energy

      Please explain why increasing CO2 would not result in an increase of trapped energy.

      And the IPCC reports have been very conservative.

      The vast majority of alarmist you see is the media.

      "The most cherished chunk of leftish"
      no. Most people on the left are pro nuclear. Also, using current technology, yucca mountain may not be needed, see we can use that 'waste'.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  34. More detail on the decision: by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 1

    N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences director puts kibosh on documentary about sea-level rise

    This wasn't the simple-minded decision that partisans on both sides are trying to make it. But in the wake of the high-profile departure of the Nature Research Center's top scientist, it does seem a bit chilling.

    1. Re:More detail on the decision: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A high-profile departure to a more prestigious position - it's chilling when your top people are lured away by more attractive offers?

    2. Re:More detail on the decision: by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 1

      Yes, the new position was more prestigious, because the scientist had been demoted by the NC museum director. It's easier to lure people away when they've received an ill-justified demotion.

      Getting a demotion out of the blue is chilling for an employee. Watching well-respected and highly competent employees leave in the wake of such actions is chilling for the rest of us.

  35. alteration =/= correction by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "A premier science museum in North Carolina has sparked controversy by refusing to show an hour long film about climate change and rising sea levels and 'mocks North Carolina politicians'. The museum may be in a bit of a delicate position because residents of a state don't enjoy having their state made fun of."

    In that case, so much for an academic center's freedom to purport controversy and satire independent of the state's political POVs and the current temperament of the plebe.

    You bold that part out as if that was a valid reason for the museum to decline the exhibition of said film. How much more stupid could that statement get? You are equating the state with the residents whereas I can assure you a substantial number of NC's residents would disagree with you.

    And if the state, and academia for that matter, were completely subject to whatever the popular mood might be (which in this case, your statement is completely debatable to begin with), then we would still be living with segregation laws.

    The whole point of state-sponsored academic institutions in the developed free world is to present information, examine controversy, and why not, satirize and challenge the status quo independently of what state officials, and even residents think.

    I could see how the Nazis sponsored Aryan science as opposed to "corrupted Jewish thinking" proposed by the likes of Einstein.

    I could understand Soviet academies forced to abandon research deemed counter-revolutionary which brought us stuff like Lynsenkoism... and even then the Soviets were wise enough to give Soviet intelligentsia a great degree of freedom.

    But to whiff the smell of such thinking in a developed, free/capitalist country, in America of all places, man, that is a sad day for humanity.

    1. Re:alteration =/= correction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a science museum, not an 'academic institution'.

    2. Re:alteration =/= correction by SleazyRidr · · Score: 2

      I could see how you'd have a point if the film in question was the only material available about climate change, or even the best material available. As it stands the people who run the museum think that the film is needlessly provocative and does not further the debate. The museum does address climate change. Those 3 links are what I found from a single search, I'm not sure how much you'd see if you actually visited the museum.

    3. Re:alteration =/= correction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Freedom divided by capitalism is a number that rapidly approaches zero.

      AC

    4. Re:alteration =/= correction by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      It's a science museum, not an 'academic institution'.

      Because the difference is so fundamental </yougottabekiddingme>

  36. Ambiguous reasoning by Tar-Alcarin · · Score: 1

    FTFA:
    "The problem, Koster says, is that the Science Café venue was not the right format for a complicated and controversial topic, because events are only an hour long and the Café only has small screens."

    And yet, later in the article:
    "The Science Café has addressed climate change in its Café programs as well. “This is by no means a new issue,” Koster says."

    So, which is it?

    1. Re:Ambiguous reasoning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps it addressed the topic with multiple experts from different areas? Perhaps with a forum rather than a film? One of the other reasons for the rejection is that the venue is not really set up for showing films.

  37. Re:Let me guess by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Informative

    The republicans are more of a driving force behind the climate change denial movement than the Democrats.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_denial#Public_sector

    In fact if you type "democrat climate change denial" into google you get articles about Republican climate change denial.

    So...hardly "training" or "hatred". Just simple research.

    --
    No sig today...
  38. About 100% wrong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All other forcings we would have been operating under would have a slightly cooling effect, therefore out of the warming, more than 100% is due to AGW-initiated climate change.

    PS since your government saw to your education, how do you know you can trust it?

    1. Re:About 100% wrong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except we're cooling just now, so...

  39. Global Warming - Emerging Science & Understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you're a true AGW believer then it will do you no harm to at least watch a DVD on the other viewpoin to see we're not simply "climate change deniers" and it's not about profit. The IPCC completely ignores and suppresses the science discussed in here:
    http://www.amazon.com/Global-Warming-Emerging-Science-Understanding/dp/B0052WW4J6

    This science is thoroughly documented by the NIPCC and signed by over 37000 scientists who agree.
    http://nipccreport.com/

  40. Which would be worth 10 minutes tops. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Of which 9 minutes would be "IT'S A TRAP!!!!", no more to the deniers' science than that, really.

    But go ahead, show how much more than the 24 our of nearly 35,000 papers which describe the evidence that intuit that AGW isn't happening you have seen.

    Let me guess: blogroll papers, right?

  41. Re:Let me guess by liamevo · · Score: 1

    Just as bad in general, maybe, but on science denial? Are you just ignoring reality there?

  42. Re:Let me guess by liamevo · · Score: 1

    Or you could accept that problems have a variety of solutions all with cons and pros, some could be described as lefty, some as right, some as authoritarian, some as libertarian, and all of the spectrum in between. To suggest "lefty policies cause problems rather then solve them" is just as disingenuous as ascribing the same to right leaning policies and only furthers the tribal break down of politics in contemporary America.

  43. Wilco by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    hurricane measurements from 33,241 BC: None recorded.

    You're welcome.

    1. Re:Wilco by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      Measurements from 33,231 BC: None recorded.

      That's a doubling every decade.

  44. Do tell me.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is the State Bird of North Carolina the Ostrich?
    --
    AC

  45. Yay for [climate denier] forum shills by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those forum shill accounts have enough points to mod the PP to oblivion... thats what the multi million dollar budget allows...

  46. You don't care today. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So why the inference you won't care in a hundred years time?

  47. Politics and Science by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Politics in NC are complicated, especially within state agencies. Doubly so in agencies that take outside contributions like NCMNH. Internal politics often don't have anything to do with ideology, but with career advancement or defending fiefdoms. It's no secret that some very wealthy figures in the state regularly use their wealth to push what could be considered a politically conservative agenda. Unfortunately it is also a fact that rank corruption among the natural allies of environmental causes has considerably weakened the other side, causing the loss of both the legislature and executive over as many election cycles. As for the Museum program itself, I have experienced at least one episode where an audience member began going all ideological on a presenting scientist (it was a talk on GMOs, which the scientist was generally in favor of, and the guy thought he was helping by going off about over regulation by the government -- someone else in the audience spoke up and asked about what recourse there'd be for farmers negatively impacted by GMO contamination once the "genii was out of the bottle", ironically it was only a short time later that it was revealed that contamination had in fact occurred during early, apparently loosely regulated, GMO testing), but in all my visits to NCMNH I've found that a lot of real science does get shared and that people are respectful and reasonable. My family will continue to support the Museum program with our membership dollars and attendance because overall it delivers so much value for us.

  48. Re:Let me guess by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

    Wikipedia is not research. This is especially true on politically hot topics. Freeform editing and all.

  49. Re:Let me guess by mi · · Score: 0

    Just as bad in general, maybe, but on science denial? Are you just ignoring reality there?

    I'll be happy to admit, that Republicans are denying the sciences like "Womyn Studies" and, indeed, "Climate Change".

    This alone means, they are paying more attention to the real sciences. If your "reality" is different, I wonder, what color the grass is in it...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  50. Re:Let me guess by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    And ...with a simple wave of your hand you dismiss your responsibility to provide cites to back up your claim that "Wikipedia is not research"?

    --
    No sig today...
  51. Re:Let me guess by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

    On the other hand, even the most casual of observation of American politics will reveal this particular mechanic works exactly as described. The number of republicans in any official capacity who even acknowledge the existence of a preponderance of evidence can be counted on your fingers.

  52. Re:Let me guess by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    I don't think "more religion" is an answer to any of society's problems.

    (Take a glance at Conservapedia before replying).

    --
    No sig today...
  53. Do you actially understand what science is? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The "equal weight to different viewpoints" argument is the favoured tactic of the ignorant anti-science brigade in the US.

    So, disregarding the bookshelves worth of data that the science is based on, you simply declare a subject "controversial", which means that suddenly "alternative viewpoints" are needed whiich are presumably not backed up with decades worth of data but in this case generally derive from the "I don't (want to) believe it" brigade, and hey presto! That means both are needed for a "balanced viewpoint"!

    Exactly the same tactic is used to get creationism into science textbooks, but remember folks, if enough people voted for politicians who didn't believe in the law of gravity, and those politicians passed a bill repealing that law, it would still be unwise to jump off tall buildings.

    1. Re:Do you actially understand what science is? by Richy_T · · Score: 1

      And yet it is the left pushing for "equal time" legislation for the media.

      Funny that.

  54. Elite by rossdee · · Score: 2

    "I have not met any Americans that act in any form that would suggest that they think that American politicians are "elite"."

    I;d bet they couldn't dock at the space station without a docking computer (cue Blue Danube)

  55. Re:Let me guess by liamevo · · Score: 1

    What are you on about? Are you conflating right wing politics and the christian right? Stop doing that, makes you look dumb to the rest of the world.

  56. A premier science museum in North Carolina by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    Lies!

  57. Perhaps because the movie is not (yet) science? by Lawrence_Bird · · Score: 1

    The simple fact remains that this movie is predicting a distant future outcome which is not certain. In effect, it is speculation and not science. Science offers tests, data and error bars which give statistical credence to a theory. And the short history of future climate modelling has had a not so good track record with basics like global temperature.

    1. Re:Perhaps because the movie is not (yet) science? by Pino+Grigio · · Score: 1

      Error bars in Climate Science were abolished in 1988.

  58. "they" are not paying for it, "we" are by Chirs · · Score: 2

    Politicians are public servents. "We" pay "them", and I absolutely want some of my money supporting people that are critical of those in power.

    Here in Canada we have a long history of publicly funded shows (satire and serious) whose main goal is holding the people in power accountable.

  59. Re:Let me guess by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

    This alone means, they are paying more attention to the real sciences

    What the actual fuck are you on?

    They ignore all sciences, not just 'real' ones. See fracking & evolution for just a couple examples.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  60. article helped me a lot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    prompted me to go to the library & schedule some climate change presentations sans lonesome al gore. we have the technology just not much integrity or spirit whereas we are virtually bankrupted.

    but we can still render a presentable presentation

    free the innocent stem cells

    stop calling this 'weather' http://www.globalresearch.ca/weather-warfare-beware-the-us-military-s-experiments-with-climatic-warfare/7561

  61. Re:Let me guess by sycodon · · Score: 1

    And with a simple cite of wikipedia, you absolve yourself of the need to provide actual evidence of anything.

    When you can go online and edit a paper in Nature to say pretty much anything you want, then Wikipedia is "research".

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  62. Re:Let me guess by sycodon · · Score: 1

    Obamacare, anyone?

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  63. Re:North Carolina... by lowen · · Score: 1

    White trash, eh? I know a few high-tech companies that would disagree with you.

    You know, small companies that you've probably never heard of, like:
    Google ( the Lenoir NC data center is featured: https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/streetview/ )
    Apple (Their Maiden, NC, data center is a model for green data centers: https://www.apple.com/environment/renewable-energy/ )
    EMC (Not only do they have a huge datacenter/Center of Excellence in Durham, which earned LEED Gold status ( http://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2013/20130314-01.htm ) but they also manufacture storage arrays in their Apex plant ( http://www.emc.com/about/news/press/us/2006/08082006-4543.htm ) and have a significant R&D presence in RTP)
    Facebook ( The Forest City Data Center: https://www.facebook.com/ForestCityDataCenter ) Oh, and Rutherford County is very rural.

    Further, North Carolina has one of the world's premier research and education networks, NCREN ( http://ncren.net/ ), which just underwent significant expansion over the last two years.

    And the list of high-tech and higher education excellence goes on and on.

    North Carolinians even know about Slashdot. :-)

    Having read the actual article, and not the biased summary, it seems a reasonable decision for the director to make. There is a place for that type of documentary; and it would certainly be a good thing to show in the right venue. And I'm sure the director had a difficult time with the decision.

    But, then again, just exactly what does Slashdot commentary have to do with the scientific process anyway? (Yes, I do understand real science, and I also don't have any need to prove that to anyone).

  64. It only took Denmark until the 11th Century... by runeghost · · Score: 1

    The King of Denmark figured out you can't order the tide not to come in sometime in the early part of the 11th Century. I'm sure North Carolina will get there eventually.

  65. Government Decision Making by Stormy+Dragon · · Score: 2

    Ultimately, government entities only know how to make one type of decision: political decisions. If you want an organization to make decisions on any basis other than politics, make sure it is not part of the government.

  66. Re:Let me guess by geekoid · · Score: 1

    False equivalence.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  67. Re:Let me guess by geekoid · · Score: 1

    there are over 70 references. You're dismissive attitude shows you have no argument.
    You lose.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  68. Re:Let me guess by geekoid · · Score: 1

    Climatology is the science, climate change is an event that is happening, based on rock solid evidence. I would bet dollar to donuts you don' even know the science is. Hint, it's not rising temperature(increased amount of trapped energy, to e more precise.), rising temperature is the prediction(among others) of the science.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  69. How about some 'de-growth' for ya... (LOL) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.climatedepot.com/2013/11/25/a-planned-economic-recession-global-warming-prof-kevin-anderson-who-has-cut-back-on-showering-to-save-planet-asserts-economic-de-growth-is-needed-continuing-with-ec/

    THIS is what the nutcase alarmists want to force on us all, a descent into the Dark Ages...

  70. Re:Let me guess by jeffmflanagan · · Score: 1

    It's really obvious that mi is one of the low-info dittoheads who wrecked the Republican party for anyone with an IQ above room temperature.

  71. Re:Let me guess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's a cheap and childish cop-out. Wikipedia offers combined sources that can easily be referenced. Sure it isn't "research", but it perfectly valid for making a point in a /. discussion.

  72. Re:Let me guess by TangoMargarine · · Score: 1

    Well...Wikipedia hates 'original research', so technically it's articles summarizing other people talking about research.

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  73. And when it comes to shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Both Elephants and Mice do it.

    But one of them has a much bigger load of shit than the other, so it's rather disingenuous to claim "both shit".

    "but just because you can not see their point"

    No, I see their point: it is, however, factually false, ideologically bred bullshit.

    "The largest problem with "believers" as I call them is that they are unable to differentiate what reality says."

    Ready the ROFLcopter! No, you seem incapable of realising that merely because you deniers insist that reality cannot be so lefty hippy, that reality must be different. For example, you propose no "reality" to make this claim. An example: your "1970's ice age scare". Not factually correct in the least in science. 10% tops said "There may be a problem, but AGW may change that".

    "Hint: that 1998 statistic tells you nothing about the direction of the climate"

    Then why is that the year that's always used by you deniers to claim "AGW IS NOT HAPPENING!!!"? Hint: that's a cherry pick and only you deniers insist on using it.

    "and considering that its been 15 years since 1998 and we have not broken that old record yet"

    The record has been broken twice: 2005 and 2010.

    It seems you are not looking at any actual reality, doesn't it?

    "That entire 1998 argument is a bunch of BS that unthinking automatons sprout off and yes, they are like you claim "deniers" are: unable to think about what a fact actually means."

    Then think on your "1998 has never been beaten" and wonder what that fact actually means.

    "If you want to prove the the planet is warming up faster than ever before, there are scientific ways to do that such as linear regression"

    Which has been done: +0.15C to +0.17C per decade warming trend.

    "Yesterday Pittsburg set a record low, so does that mean anything?"

    Then why did you bring up "1998 has never been beaten" (which we've already shown is not reality)?

    "In your logical universe, if NASA provides some of the data"

    They provide all of THEIR data. They are not allowed to provide stuff that they don't own. This is called "copyright".

    "This means that all of the data in the scientific world is open"

    No, but this means that one global dataset is available, whereas the FACT of the GP (you?) claiming that NONE of the data is available is 100% false. All it takes to disprove a statement is one instance of it being false. For some reason this reality isn't noticed at all by you.

    Consider what that fact means wrt your assertions on "reality" that you claim I do not see.

    Maybe because that reality is fiction?

    Consider it.

    Then to end with concern trolling? ROFLCOPTER LIFTOFF!!!

    Tell me, if I were to swear and rant and rave and scream insults to the world, would that mean that your claim that 1998's record has never been beaten true?

    No?

    THEN WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING YOU DENIER MORON?

  74. So politics trumps science? by Limburgher · · Score: 1

    Color me shocked.

    --

    You are not the customer.

  75. Re:North Carolina... by geekoid · · Score: 1

    Wait, data centers is you link to technology? NC is the master of warehouses, well done.

    No, it was unreasonable to take and only goes to hide the science and the impact of the change. The in context and appropriates statement by Colbert is just an excuse.

    and no, I don't think NC is full if white trash, just people willing to remain ignorant with any facts that goes against a belief; which is far worse than white trash, now that I think about it.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  76. Except we're not. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Climate temperature trend is ~ +0.15C to +0.17C per decade

  77. Misleading Title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It should be "Science Museum Declines To Show (a Particular) Climate Change Film".

    This doesn't appear to be a case of a science museum suppressing information or ignoring facts, it's just a decision that this particular film isn't what they are looking for, for whatever reason. The sensationalism is just there to attract attention.

  78. geez by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the sea levels are not rising to any significant degree.
    the coastal cities and harbors they are taking there measurements from are sinking
    due to the weight of all the construction done there,and the influence of continental drift has
    an effect they never want to consider.

  79. The earth has not warmed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All of the Global Warming alarmism models have been PROVEN wrong. The earth hasn't warmed in 17 years according to the IPCC! The film should be banned because it is scientific fraud married to political corruption.

  80. What we should do isn't science by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 1

    When will you get that?

    If you propose solutions, if you advocate the need for change, if you cry warnings, that isn't science. Science is the process for knowing about the universe, nothing more. It is the only reliable method we have for separating what is likely correct for what is not.

    It does not, however, dictate what we as humans should do, what our politics or policies should be, what we should choose to do.

    So, if you produce a video that explains the observed changes in the environment (temperature measurements, atmospheric gas readings, etc), the theory of how those interact, that is science. If you start preaching what needs to be done about it, that is not.

    That isn't to say you shouldn't have opinions on it, and that you shouldn't express those, but don't try and pretend that it is science, don't try and pretend that your views are the One True Way(tm) and anyone who disagrees is "anti-science".

    One of the big problems with the whole AGW argument is there is multiple levels, but people like you conflate them:

    1) The fact of a global temperature change outside of known cycles. This is a measurement, and observation, and isn't really up for any kind of debate unless you can show said measurement is wrong (it is a complex measurement since we are talking long term global average).

    2) The theory that the prime or exclusive cause of this increase is an increase in atmospheric CO2, due to human activity. Like any theory, you can argue the conclusions, even if the data is sound, provided you can find a theory that better fits the available data.

    3) The conclusion that this is a net negative thing. This is where you start to leave the realm of science. For one, any conclusion like this is a judgement call. Even if you agree on all the data, you can reach a different conclusion as someone else. For example one of my coworkers believes that humanity is a bad thing, and anything that furthers it towards extinction is a good thing. I happen to disagree with that, rather forcefully. Also this judgement is based largely on computer models of what may happen. Fine, but models don't prove anything, they model, and they are only useful is they are accurate. There has been a lot of trouble in this area, since modeling the climate is an amazingly complex problem, the most complex modeling problem we've ever dealt with. So people can very well disagree with the models being used.

    4) The policy or politics of what to do about it. This is not science at all this is, well, politics and policy. Even if you agree on what is likely to happen, you can disagree on what to do about it. One person can say that the correct approach is to drastically reduce human CO2 output, another can say the correct approach is a massive geoengineering effort, and yet another can say the correct approach is not to try and stop the change, but simply to prepare ourselves to deal with it. None of these are "right" in any objective, scientific, sense.

    The problem is that you seem to be one of the many out there who thinks that it is all science. So that if you accept the data on warming, you them MUST accept the policy of what to do about it or you are anti-science, a denialist, etc, etc. You conflate the issues, and shout at people who disagree.

  81. Finally, enough of the hoax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Consensus is the stuff of politics and religion.

    Can we just get back to scientific observation and questioning what we observe?

  82. Re:Let me guess by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    What are you on about? Are you conflating right wing politics and the christian right?

    No. I'm conflating the US Democratic party with the Christian Religion. You're the one extrapolating the data.

    --
    No sig today...
  83. Germany refused to show films that told the truth by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    Same thing.

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  84. I'll pay your airfare. by publiclurker · · Score: 0

    If for no other reason than to see a self-important blowhard pounding on the aircraft door when he realizes what life is like without everything in life that he thinks that we should be privileged to pay for and then give him for free.

    1. Re:I'll pay your airfare. by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1

      I'll pay your way to North Korea. Seems legit way to support your false equivalences.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  85. Re:Let me guess by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    That wikipedia page has 77 citations.

    The one I picked out, ie. " Republican strategist Frank Luntz advised members of the Republican Party, with regard to climate change, that "you need to continue to make the lack of scientific certainty a primary issue" and "challenge the science" by "recruiting experts who are sympathetic to your view".

    That quote has a little number [10] next to it. If you hover the mouse over that you get a citation and source for that quote. You're free to check it out. You can also see the entire history of page edits and see if anybody has been "vandalizing" a page.

    (I hate to have to explain how Wikipedia works, but apparently there's people who don't know).

    What about the other claim I made about typing "democrat climate change denial" into google and it coming up with articles about Republicans? Is that just something google does to make the Republican party look bad?

    You can type stuff like "climate denial republicans vs democrats" into google, and guess what? Same thing.

    If you want to trash Wikipedia, do it by providing facts. Show us where the Wikipedia page is wrong. Waving hands, not providing any evidence, dismissing something because of something you once read on the Internet? That just makes you look foolish.

    --
    No sig today...
  86. Re:Let me guess by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    Feel free to show us where the Wikipedia page is wrong.

    (sound of crickets chirping)

    --
    No sig today...
  87. Re:Let me guess by TangoMargarine · · Score: 1

    I never said it was wrong. Actually, *you* didn't even challenge anyone to, either.

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  88. SHOW US THE EVIDENCE. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The climate change industry were caught lying for Copenhagen.

    Show us the data, the RAW data, Show us the models you are using to parse the data.

    Until we're provided with the raw facts, instead of a regurgitated version at the behest of those in position to profit $billions in a new carbon tax trade industry, I won't believe a damn thing I'm told in regards to climate change - there's too many people trying to make money out of it for blind belief we're being dealt with in good faith.

  89. I've got one for you Mr Link Guy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdqNds9pNuI

    The Rothschilds are the driving force behind the concept of 'man made climate change' so they can tax everyone in existence for their C02 footprint.

    You are so blind posting any 3rd or 2nd party link - but here it is from the most powerful banking family's mouth on Earth . Yes, you have been fooled, as a tool, thinking you as a human caused global warming lol.. out of billions of years yes we are such an arrogant species thinking we are so special.

    People like you who don't realize it's just another bankster scam make me want to vomit. It's pure fear-mongering. And you've bitten into their psy-op (just like the war on terror) hook line and sinker. Yes I'm comparing Man Made Global Warming to the War On Terror because they are very very similar in concept - enslaving humanity and taking their rights in the name of some stupid shit the powers that be can scare you with that is not true.

  90. Backwards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I live in the state because it is really cheap and the Raleigh area is a technical hub for the east coast. However, as soon as my kids are old enough to live on their own and I can live in a smaller place, I'll be on my way. I'm embarresed and ashamed to continue to support this ignorant / backwards state. For the love of "God" and all that is holy, they tried to make Christianity the official state religion... seriously.

  91. Re:Let me guess by mi · · Score: 1

    What the actual fuck are you on?

    Watch your language, young man, if you wish your questions, however rhetorical, answered.

    They [Republicans -mi] ignore all sciences, not just 'real' ones. See fracking & evolution for just a couple examples.

    The only "science" in dispute over fracking is whether or not the natural gas-extraction process is dangerous to the environment. Given that the only arguments against are either sponsored by OPEC or put forward by bona-fide anti-Capitalists, it is indeed most prudent to ignore them.

    As for evolution, the process is rejected by most major religions, which makes it hardly a Republican-only problem. Even among Christians Obama, for example, got a (slightly) higher share of votes, than McCain in 2008 and Romney in 2012.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  92. Re:Let me guess by mi · · Score: 1

    Climatology is the science, climate change is an event that is happening

    Behind the times, are we? Well, if you insist on hair-splitting and arguing semantics, here... In University of Montana, for just one example, you can already minor in Climate Change. A college in a more progressive state may be already offering to major in the same discipline, but I'm too lazy to keep searching...

    bet dollar to donuts you don' even know the science is [sic]

    Ad hominems... How sad.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  93. Re:Let me guess by sycodon · · Score: 1

    If you want to cite something from wikipedia, read the actual cite yourself. Then, use that cite to support your argument. Where wikipedia fails is that I can make a statement and throw any cite I want after it. No one will check it. No one will correct it unless they have a vested interest in it.

    The best that can be said of wikipedia is that it is a place to go and find references to authoritative sources for the most part. You are an idiot if you trust any of the text of the article.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  94. The issue is about their latest exploits by dbIII · · Score: 1

    The article is ABOUT them and the current branch of science they are picking on. The climate "debate" is just them railing against who they see as their current enemy. Darwin before, Hansen now. The place mentioned in the article has pulled something out to try to avoid upsetting them.

  95. Re:Let me guess by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    So...still no actual counter argument then? Just hand waving, name calling and ignoring the parts of posts that contain pesky facts.

    Yawn.

    It feels like I'm back in Usenet in the 1990s. All we need is a sock puppet to make it complete.

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    No sig today...
  96. Re:Let me guess by sycodon · · Score: 1

    Provide actual cites and not some mouth breathing, mother's basement dwelling loser's biased slant.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  97. climate cange in N. Carolina by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    gosgog:
      First, the majority of elected politicians, village, town, state & federal are not chosen for their brain power, and are elected by MONEY power, also from folks lacking in brain power a lot of the time.
    Second, there are still people who believe the earth is flat.
    Third, many of the religions still believe in "creation" & other fairy tales, so N. Carolina is not unique.
    EVOLUTION is scientific fact! & Our Industrial worlds', nowadays, contribute heavily to it!
    Unfortunately Humankind is busy ridding the world of many animals & if we keep going we will make the plantet earth totally uninhabitable, either by War (frequently religious) or by Environmental disaster.

  98. Re: Idiot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    One data point does not make a trend.

  99. Re: Solutions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Plenty of people have suggested a whole slate of solutions to the problem. The fact that you haven't seen any of them just demonstrates that you simply aren't looking and aren't receptive. In fact you contradict yourself in your own post. How do you know what the cost of solutions are if you don't even know what they are?

    You need to be more intelligent about the stupid things you write.