bore me to tears

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged christianity, environment, holidays, loss, memes, politics, religion, science, separation of church and state, skepticism, woo | 12 Comments

12 Responses

1. on December 20, 2009 at 11:46 am Rolfe Schmidt

   I hate to say it, but that interview seemed pretty softball to me. Some of the things in those emails seemed pretty embarrassing and they should be confronted, not written off dismissively.

   I believe that there is plenty of evidence that we are seeing anthropogenic global warming — no matter how skeptical you are you should at least concede a great risk that should be mitigated. We should be able to throw out some of the data and discredit scientists who behave questionably, then turn around and point to the mountain of other, untainted, evidence.

   The researchers involved were living off of politically motivated research budgets — which is fine — but they need to understand that the same political environment that gave them their budgets demands that they act impeccably or it will undermine the cause they claim to support.

   In other words, those emails pissed me off, and the reaction seems to be a bunch of preaching to the choir on both sides.

   I am also ticked that all of the talk is about CO2, as if nothing else in the environment matters any more. We can’t just cap and trade, let the rich buy their carbon offsets, and go on our merry way. We must consume less, and it isn’t that hard.

   Sorry, that was long. Maybe I should write my own blog :)

   
   
2. on December 20, 2009 at 2:21 pm Lynn

   Rolfe:

   We should be able to throw out some of the data and discredit scientists who behave questionably, then turn around and point to the mountain of other, untainted, evidence.

   You’re 100% right. :)

   Actually, I was saying the same thing, at first. Now, after seeing how the email story has emboldened so-called “skeptics,” change seems so unlikely. I’ve lost hope. I think Chris Matthews’ angry, slash-and-burn tone just resonates with me now. Maybe I’ve spent too much time following evolution v. creationism “debates” – and the smug “reasoning” of ignorant demagogues like Ray Comfort and Rick Warren – to ignore parallels.

   I’m tired.

   On the bright side: It’s always great to hear from you, Rolfe! :)

   
   
3. on December 20, 2009 at 2:59 pm Lynn

   btw, have you seen the latest from climate expert / hip twit, Sarah Palin?

   Earth saw clmate chnge4 ions;will cont 2 c chnges.R duty2responsbly devlop resorces4humankind/not pollute&destroy;but cant alter naturl chng

   11:57 PM Dec 18th from TwitterBerry

   
   
4. on December 20, 2009 at 9:11 pm Audrey

   Lynn, please stop doing that. Not only is it terribly painful, but if I have to read too much Palin ecriture, I’m going to run out of red pencils.

   
   
5. on December 20, 2009 at 9:53 pm Lynn

   k, Aud; i c & will rembr yur XLNT pt & 86 kewl SP twts in futr;

   
   
6. on December 21, 2009 at 11:34 pm Rolfe Schmidt

   The parallel with the evolution “debate” is a good one: the evidence for evolution is unambiguous, a good portion of people refuse to look at it, and most people on both sides are pretty much uninformed, allowing debate to continue.

   The climate change debate is different because we don’t know exactly what is happening, and we don’t know what to do about it. This is a situation where debate and scientific criticism are good things that should be embraced. Deniers will be around, and if they deny evolution we can’t hope to convince them on this issue. We need to find a way to work around them.

   With that said, if we win the climate change fight the way we are winning health care reform, we’ll be doomed. Corporate handouts masquerading as good intentions may placate voters but it will not placate nature.

   And PLEASE stop reminding me that I live in a Sarah Palin’s world. If she is elected to high office I’m taking my family and moving to Mexico!

   
   
7. on December 22, 2009 at 6:44 am JJ

   ROLFE! Merry Christmas Rolfe! [holiday hugs to your family]

   
   
8. on December 22, 2009 at 7:15 am JJ

   Also ’tis the season to reason that our meta-disputes over climate change and evolution, parallel in basic belief structure how we differ over Santa and Jesus.

   See Dale e.g.:
   The Passion of the Frost

   
   
9. on December 22, 2009 at 9:48 pm Lynn

   Rolfe:

   … if we win the climate change fight the way we are winning health care reform, we’ll be doomed. Corporate handouts masquerading as good intentions may placate voters but it will not placate nature.

   Good point. There’s more than one way to run down the clock.

   Ooops on the Sarah Palin thing. So, you didn’t move north to be closer to her? To see her from your house? My mistake. ;)

   And, Mexico is a good choice. Now that Mexico City has redefined marriage as the “free uniting of two people” (legalizing gay marriage), that would make the country more progressive than ours, wouldn’t it? :)

   
   
10. on December 22, 2009 at 9:50 pm Lynn

    JJ,

    LMAO at Frosty and Jesus parallels in “Passion of the Frost.” Very funny. Thanks for that. :)

    
    
11. on December 22, 2009 at 9:59 pm Lynn

    btw,

    Rolfe:

    Maybe I should write my own blog :)

    Yes, lots of us would like to see you blogging again.

    And, if JJ comes back, she’ll say so, too. :)

    
    
12. on December 22, 2009 at 10:13 pm JJ

    Yep. What she said. ;-)