This Is Earth, Not Venus

In my last post I referred to the work of Dr. A Neil Hutton writing in the The Reservoir, published by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, who refutes the findings of the politically motivated, heavily funded organization fronted by Al Gore et al who cleaned up on awards a couple of years ago while touting the findings of The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  This bunch claimed that it is human beings who are causing a warming of Earth’s climate through carbon emissions in the form of CO2 gas and turning our atmosphere into a furnace which would, if not stopped, turn us into spent bar-b-cue coals.  This characterization of humanity on a skewer is known as the Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) hypothesis. Stated differently, if we don’t quit with the CO2 build-up we and all the animals will die.

 

I quoted Hutton who points out that CO2 levels aren’t large enough to make the slightest difference in the temperature of our climate.  The truth is that while part of the Earth is getting a bit warmer, the average temperature has actually become fractionally cooler in recent years. 

 

There is nothing strange about the Roman warm period, the Dark Ages cold period, the Medieval Warm period, the Little Ice Age and the present warming trend. Four distinct periods which were not all that noticeable really unless you are a scientist measuring sea temperatures which brings up the salient point, up until this present warming period the technology to measure the temperature in the troposphere or on the surface of the oceans or several feet under the surface of the oceans simply did not exist.  Our knowledge was derived from ice core samples and tree rings.

 

Something else pointed out by Dr Hutton, (whose list of references covers pages), La Nina and El Nino were unknown until recently and such a thing as Global Climate Change was not necessarily all that Global but more of a world-wide average condition meaning the over-all climatic condition is not fool-proof. The average temperature of Europe may be offset by the average temperature of China which could vary be several degrees over a period of time.  As an example, during the Dark Ages Cold period Europe was chilly while China was less so. We know this by studying core samples and tree rings.

 

While debunking the AGW hypothesis by dispensing with the severity of CO2 as the culprit it should be noted that the IPCC claims that we are experiencing warming through greenhouse gasses which they also attribute to man-made CO2 emission.  Well greenhouse gasses is a term that is not only incorrect, it is just plain silly.  The Earth’s atmosphere does not in any way resemble the atmosphere inside a greenhouse.  Just think about it.  A greenhouse is a glass enclosed cubicle in which any air that is circulated is blown around by a fan.  The Earth’s atmosphere is not an enclosed space, it is, in fact, the opposite of a greenhouse.  The reason we call a greenhouse, a greenhouse is because it is enclosed.  

 

The air that circulates around our globe does so at the behest of the wind, the jet streams, the ocean currents – something known as the Coriolis force.  Air is driven North where it is cooled and then circulates back towards the tropics.  The reverse occurs in the Southern hemisphere. Water vapour, which makes up approximately 95 percent of the gaseous atmosphere of our planet is controlled by convection.  Warm surface water in the oceans evaporates until it reaches a certain height where it cools and falls back to earth as precipitation.  This is going on all over the globe and keeps the planet in what scientist term as equilibrium.  Now compare that to a greenhouse where one grows orchids or tomatoes. A six year old child can see the difference.  Greenhouse gasses when applied to the earth’s atmosphere is like comparing a hot air balloon to a 747… they work on an entirely different principal.  Hot air is trapped within the balloon, which has absolutely nothing to do with jet propulsion.

 

(While I’m talking about water I should withdraw something I said last post when I mentioned hydrogen-powered vehicles.  Stan has pointed out that quote: “It takes more energy to dissociate a molecule of water … than you will get out of recombining it to water” quoting a fundamental law of thermodynamics.  He was referring to the fact that electrical energy to perform such recombining comes from coal fired plants. Let me add to that by saying while such plants produce carbon emissions, they are far more deadly when it comes to contributing to the pollution in the air around the world’s industrial centers than they are at causing Global Warming.) 

 

Greenhouse effect insinuates the conditions on other objects in our solar system  If one wishes to speak of a such an effect, look to the planet Venus which is completely shrouded in thick sulphuric acid clouds and has an atmosphere which is over 95 percent carbon dioxide. This beautiful “star” which is seen as a diamond alternating between late morning and evening after, and in some cases before, sunset is a fake.  Atmospheric conditions on Venus are as extreme as anywhere in the solar system, it has a surface temperature of over 460 degrees C.  The CO2 is trapped under the reflective brilliant cloud cover as air is trapped in a greenhouse on Earth.  

 

The members of the International Panel on Climate Change would have you think that Earth suffers from a greenhouse effect by stating that Earth sends thermal (infrared) radiation from the surface out to be absorbed by the cooler, higher atmosphere, (clouds) and re-radiated back to Earth.  Well another of the laws of thermodynamics states: it is impossible for a body of low temperature to pass naturally to a body of high temperature without work (an engine such as air currents), meaning that the cool upper atmosphere cannot radiate heat back to Earth’s surface thereby creating a greenhouse effect.  The term is over-used and was at one time thought to play a factor in warming our planet but this idea has since been debunked.  However old ideas are hard to break — as are old terms. 

 

One more item on the reading of the planet’s temperature.  It was found when studying various temperature gauges throughout the world that many were positioned in what can, in layman’s terms be referred to as “unscientific places” such as on rooftops of heat absorbing cement and metal buildings, near vents which blew warm air, etc.  When the placement of these “thermometers” was studied in recent years a considerable percentage of them were found to be affected by circumstances that gave less than accurate readings — some as high as three degrees Fahrenheit.

 

The Sun plays a rule in all this and I’ll tackle that next time.  In the meantime please do not be concerned unduly about the change in climate, if indeed, there really is one and what warming there is, is beyond our control. It is a cyclical dynamic of this planet. .  Do, however be concerned about polluting the atmosphere. While it may not increase the global temperature, it poisons the air we breath and degrades the beauty of our planet.  

A Vast Lie

A VAST LIE
In January of this year, Dr. A. Neil Hutton writes in The Reservoir — the oracle of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists that many geologists did not appear to have a clear understanding of the range of current research, or were relying on the media which Hutton terms as “uncritical” and has done a remarkably poor job in reporting on global warming by simply — as he puts it, “regurgitating the spin produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change” (IPCC). This is the group that was formed in 1988 by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Association and has recently been fronted by former US Vice-President Al Gore, who a couple of years ago was dancing around the world picking up prizes; the Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar, awarded to the IPCC. Wrongly.

The use of the word “spin”, says Dr. Hutton, is used to describe how the IPCC does not always reflect the opinions of scientific geological reports. In fact, it actually contradicts the opinions of scientists. Why would they do that? One word: politics. And politics means money. Pork barrel in nature. The IPCC has made the statement; quote “There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed in the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.” Sorry, the scientists have other ideas: “The fact that the Global mean temperature has increased since the late 19th Century … does not necessarily mean that an anthropogenic (man-made) effect on the climate system has been identified. Climate has always varied on all time scales so the observed time change may be natural.”

The result of this media storm has led the public to assume that the Earth is warming; citing the melting of glaciers, the breakup of the Arctic and Antarctic ice packs and various other weather calamities, blaming it on the increase of man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) in our ecosystem. It is true there has been warming, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, but this is not attributable to CO2. To begin with there are only .037 parts per million in volume (PPMV) of CO2 in our atmosphere. That’s like one straw on the camels’ back. Most of us know that the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen and oxygen and a few trace gasses of which CO2 is one. It’s as if saying all the neon lights in Las Vegas are depleting the atmosphere of neon gas which will result in the “dire effect” of Las Vegas going dark..

Despite this minimal amount of CO2 the “Anthropogenic, Global Warming, Hypotheses” has been ballyhooed on television, in the press, in countless periodicals, frightened people and played into the pockets of politicians, none of whom know what the hell they are talking about. Furthermore the media blitz has been adopted as “proof” by the Green Movement who have pounded their ploughshares into swords and attacked the scientific community for daring to express credibility and integrity in real studies of our planet’s equilibrium with the result that it is now difficult for scientists to obtain funding to research these climactic changes that are evident.
United States President George W. Bush dispersed more than 35 billion dollars during his term in office on climate research. Much of the money used unnecessarily. And there is no let-up in sight as current President Barack Obama has placed Global Warming near the top of his detailed programs while in office.
In his report, Dr. Hutton has belittled the IPCC’s global warming hypothesis, which the panel equates to some kind of universal hibachi, by relegating carbon dioxide to where it belongs; unwarranted. There is simply no scientific evidence that human activity has had any effect on global warming since records were kept 260 years ago.
The IPCC claims that the increase in warmth during the last half century is unusual and “very likely” caused by increases in anthropogenic greenhouse gasses. It is recorded history (prior to the more sophisticated equipment used in the last two and a half centuries) that there have been many warm and cool eras such as the Little Ice age, the Medieval Warm Period and the Roman Warm Period. Both the Medieval and the Roman warm periods had temperatures higher than our present warming. It should be noted that during those two periods there were a distinct lack of motor vehicles, industrial complexes and other carbon emitting entities.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted that catastrophe sits like a spider in the cupboard ready to pounce on humankind in less than a century — unless of course man-made emissions are not set right by the expenditure of great sums of money to avoid the oncoming upheaval. Government agencies should point the way, big business should find answers — after all is it not politicians and the CEO’s of the business world who have saved us in the past? Or is it possible they are the culprits?
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Look, nobody is saying that we do not need to clean up the air in our urban areas; cut down on pollution of all kinds; return as much of the barren lands on the planet to a more productive surface. In many parts of the world our cities stink with foul gasses coupled with the reek of uncontrolled industrial run-off and air-born pollutants. This is harmful and it is ugly and it causes disease and unmentionable problems that affect the inhabitants. So it is in the interests of world leadership to go about righting what is wrong with our 21st century life-style. Hydrogen run vehicles, a lesser reliance on coal fired industry, a push towards cleaner air is needed. Only a fool would advocate otherwise.
But have we as human beings caused a real and detrimental change to the climate of our planet? No. We have fouled the air but we have not, emphatically not, caused the melting of the polar ice and glaciers. I have only touched on but a few of the basic reasons, a mere snippet of the platter of garbage handed out by agencies like the IPCC and its mouthpiece, the media. The result being miss-spent currency and the lining of political pockets coupled with the outspoken blather of award-collecting, high profile icons as they flutter about with their pet “causes”.
The work of Dr. Hutton and of hundreds of other honest, investigative, learned research scientists from through-out the world is slipping out of sight and their funding is drying up due to the claptrap of extroverts like Gore as he presides over his club of ill-informed, ignorant Evangelists of Puff. And if we haven’t heard much from the former VP lately, the media will soon find another point man or golden girl just waiting to present more “proof” of why things are the way they are and they will blame us … not nature. Stay tuned.

Who’s Next … Floyd?

The Philippines, as has been noted many times in this column is a poor country, depressed and ruled by an inept and allegedly corrupt government headed by a detested Presidential first family it’s matriarch a dismal failure which became evident only months after taking office following the people’s ouster – mid-term – of a common criminal.  After more than eight years in office President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is thought less of than the Filipino Grand Master of fraud, hypocrisy and deceit:  the deposed Ferdinand Marcos and his equally despised wife, Imelda.

The gore of Philippine politics also burdened the country’s shining star not long ago. But forget that for now. Study the Sky News Photo that’s circulating.  Call up Ring Magazine or Sports Illustrated on the internet.  Look at the picture.  Look at the determination on Manny Pacquiao’s face; look at the instantly unconscious boxer, former Light-Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton as he begins his fall to the canvas after absorbing a left hook that promptly ended all thought.  Even the look of astonishment on referee Kenny Bayless’ face after he had warned Hatton to “keep ‘em up” helps bring the whole spectacle home. 

A moment in time that has likely changed the lives of hundreds of people; managers, promoters, fans and of course two boxers – one re-confirmed as the best “pound-for- pound” boxer in the world, and one with a career that had proven successful and promised future glory and wealth, now seriously impaired by the left arm of a determined individual from one of the poorest areas on earth.

Immediately following Manny Pacquiao’s KO one second from the end of the 2^nd round, I went out to the terrace of our home in this small town 100 kilometers north of Manila and I could hear the screaming and the cheering, distant because we are isolated but nevertheless evident as one hears a distant, approaching train.  Then the ever-present Filipino show of celebration: firecrackers loud and rapid. In Manila … well I wasn’t there, I only heard and saw on TV… joyous mayhem.      

This was a fight that Pacquiao had to win.  This was not a beauty contest like Manny’s defeat of Oscar De La Hoya a few months ago with no title at stake; this was for the International Boxing Federation Light-Welterweight Championship and Ring Magazine belt.  This was pay dirt.  A packed MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas; pay-per-view contracts; worldwide television and radio contracts, tens of millions of dollars involved.

And a million tears.  The Filipino people have so little to cheer about, so little to be proud of that this 31-year old patriots KO punch brought tears streaming down faces and caused grown men to hug each other, children to scream and those who had bet on their man to instantly stop shaking.  I won a few Euros from a dear old friend in England who thought, as many people did that Pacquiao had finally met his match.  Sorry Rupert, you never even had a chance.  Gee all those Euros which I will probably never see being as we are seperated by 12-thousand miles.  More importantly the mess of locals who are up to their backsides in illegal gambling may be able to eat a duck dinner this week.   

Filipinos can be the most lovable people anywhere and because they have long given up the fruitless effort to dream of a blithe end to their travails — their constant hope about how their country is run and presided over — they are just the kind of folk who fit the rags-to-riches cliche that the world loves.  Manny has, because of his humble nature and tough athleticism gained fans all over the world and they all became Filipinos for a little while Saturday night as they watched one of the greatest moments boxing has ever produced.  

For a minute or so in Round One it looked like this may be the title fight promoters had promised but that all went up in a cloud of imagination as The Pacman sunk Hatton to his knees for knockdown number one and moments later for knockdown number two.  The fight was really already over. Hatton knew it, Manny knew it, the judges knew it and the crowd knew it.  It was just a matter of time.  And the greatest thing was that when the end came, it was so clean, so perfect, so “boxing”.  Bam.  Over.

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Manny Pacquiao may now have to contend with defending his new title against a former ring magician, a former “pound-for-pound” best in the world: undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., an American who has been there, enjoyed the belts and the praise and the glory. He gave it up awhile back only to announce that he was officially coming out of retirement co-inciding with the Pacquiao — Hatton fight.  Mayweather has beaten Ricky Hatton, a bruising thrashing of the Englishman, called in ten rounds on a TKO.  His first bout will likely be against Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez who, incidentally, fought Pacquiao to a draw albeit spoiled by a judges card mis-marked.  Manny beat the Mexican in the re-match, a hard fought decision hyped as “Unfinished Business”    

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If we just saw the title fight of the year, wait till Mayweather gets in the ring against the Philippine hero. At a time when the heavier classes can’t produce the charisma, the glamour or even the ability of the lighter classes, a Pacquiao – Mayweather maych will generate more than 100 million and take boxing into an era that hasn’t been seen since the days when Muhammad Ali fought Sonny Liston and George Foreman.  Mayweather says he’s “The Man” now.  He pays homage to the earlier heavyweights but he’s cocky and confident while the Filipino shows humility and is deeply religious.  It matters little because those aren’t assets that will win fights; there’s only one way to win fights.   

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Manny Pacquiao ran for public office in the Philippines and was soundly beaten.  There were skirmishes between the politicians involved.  Some said he was running illegally in a district closed to him, others argued that his sports career would get in the way, many were glad when he was trounced at the polls, some were glad because he had been an Arroyo supporter, others because he wouldn’t have to give up the ring. 

He also saw how filthy Philippine politics can get when campaign workers stole millions of pesos from his election expenses;l expenses he paid for from his own pocket.  He still claims he can help his country politically.  Time Magazine calls him influential in it’s Heros and Icons bracket.  But boxing and elective politics go together like fish and ice cream.  How long he has to keep proving himself can’t be envisioned by winning public office. It will happen in Las Vegas, Nevada where his most important fight is yet to come.  Odds are good that it will be the greatest fight so far in this young century.  That is if Floyd Mayweather gets to step in the ring.