It was one of my favorite running jokes 'Studies show that our drinking water contains obscene amounts of dihydrogen monoxide' was always my favorite part, usually by then one of the people in the group had figured it out and looked like they were about to fall on the floor laughing, typically about the same time some know-it-all-wannabe said "It's true, I've heard about that"
Well, on to AGW.
Well, on to AGW.
Heh. Yes. I still wasn't a fan of Penn & Teller BS, though. That was just an example of the lack of education of the masses. The show only shows their point of view, and doesn't let the viewers see the other side of the argument, except when it's coming from somebody who looks/talks like a crackpot.
1/2. So, do you believe that humans are causing global warming? Or is it natural?
I believe that humans are currently capable, due to our numbers and industrialization, of having major impacts on the atmosphere and biosphere, intentional or otherwise. The exact nature of that effect is debatable, but CO2 acts as an insulator in our sort of atmosphere without significantly increasing Earth's albedo (reflectivity) - most of the other factors tend to generate feedback, positive, negative, or both and current models do not reliably link the various factors together for solid predicitions, but there are heavy indications that the net effect should be warming.
I like to think of all the various effects as coffee. If you add in creamer, it stays warmer longer, but the lighter color reflects away light whereas black coffee absorbs it, so if you stick it under a very bright light (sun) it becomes a contest as to which effect dominates, and that depends on shape of the coffee mug, brightness of the light, percentage of creamer, etc. Each of the feedback cycles represent different mugs of coffee. In many cases both effects will be dwarfed by other factors, like sticking the coffee out in the snow or on a coffee warming plate. Sort of like having a white car, theoretically a white car moves faster for less fuel when moving with the sun on it's rear than a different color car, but the effect is virtually nil, however if you've seen one of those little whirlie-gigs in a bell jar with one white panel and one black, you will notice that if you flip a light on it will begin spinnning, from that very same effect.
As one might guess, I like coffee. But whatever the net effect, I think one has to acknowledge that adding creamer to coffee significantly alters the dynamics of the system, creame rof course being CO2 in this analogy, which is why I try to think of myself not so much as a AGW supporter as a Artificial Climate Change supporter, which of course mankind has been doing for millenia to greater or lesser degree, a habit we share with beavers, we're just much better at it.
I believe that humans are currently capable, due to our numbers and industrialization, of having major impacts on the atmosphere and biosphere, intentional or otherwise. The exact nature of that effect is debatable, but CO2 acts as an insulator in our sort of atmosphere without significantly increasing Earth's albedo (reflectivity) - most of the other factors tend to generate feedback, positive, negative, or both and current models do not reliably link the various factors together for solid predicitions, but there are heavy indications that the net effect should be warming.
I like to think of all the various effects as coffee. If you add in creamer, it stays warmer longer, but the lighter color reflects away light whereas black coffee absorbs it, so if you stick it under a very bright light (sun) it becomes a contest as to which effect dominates, and that depends on shape of the coffee mug, brightness of the light, percentage of creamer, etc. Each of the feedback cycles represent different mugs of coffee. In many cases both effects will be dwarfed by other factors, like sticking the coffee out in the snow or on a coffee warming plate. Sort of like having a white car, theoretically a white car moves faster for less fuel when moving with the sun on it's rear than a different color car, but the effect is virtually nil, however if you've seen one of those little whirlie-gigs in a bell jar with one white panel and one black, you will notice that if you flip a light on it will begin spinnning, from that very same effect.
As one might guess, I like coffee. But whatever the net effect, I think one has to acknowledge that adding creamer to coffee significantly alters the dynamics of the system, creame rof course being CO2 in this analogy, which is why I try to think of myself not so much as a AGW supporter as a Artificial Climate Change supporter, which of course mankind has been doing for millenia to greater or lesser degree, a habit we share with beavers, we're just much better at it.
That was the best answer ever. I'm totally bookmarking this so I can pull it out the next time my cousin tries to convince me otherwise.
3. Do you believe in global warming at all?
Too simple or complex a question, the simple answer is 'yes, of course, we have ice ages and warm spells after all' the complex answer shifts back into AGW.
Too simple or complex a question, the simple answer is 'yes, of course, we have ice ages and warm spells after all' the complex answer shifts back into AGW.
*nod*
4. Do you like iced tea?
It's okay, I need some mint, lemon, or rasberry in it to really enjoy it, and a bit of sugar.
It's okay, I need some mint, lemon, or rasberry in it to really enjoy it, and a bit of sugar.
Sugar is a must.
soilent brad is PEOPLE!
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = EM2C <-- Define it!
"Uh...we don't support the Hannah Montana empire."
- My 6 year old niece
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = EM2C <-- Define it!
"Uh...we don't support the Hannah Montana empire."
- My 6 year old niece
Do you believe in man-made global warming?
02/12/2009 06:36:46 PM
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less and less these days
02/12/2009 06:47:17 PM
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Why is that?
02/12/2009 06:49:13 PM
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I believe that we are contributing. But I do not believe that global warming is entirely man-made.
02/12/2009 06:49:54 PM
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LOL, I used to screw with people about dihydrogen monoxide poisoning
02/12/2009 07:13:33 PM
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Awesome
02/12/2009 07:46:55 PM
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This is an excellent post. Except for the bit on iced tea. Iced tea is delicious in any form. *NM*
02/12/2009 07:48:23 PM
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I must respectfully disagree
02/12/2009 09:14:37 PM
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You must seek a nobler tea, grasshopper.
02/12/2009 09:31:30 PM
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Re: You must seek a nobler tea, grasshopper.
02/12/2009 09:44:41 PM
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Re: You must seek a nobler tea, grasshopper.
02/12/2009 10:11:29 PM
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Re: You must seek a nobler tea, grasshopper.
02/12/2009 10:17:00 PM
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Re: You must seek a nobler tea, grasshopper.
03/12/2009 12:34:49 AM
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Re: You must seek a nobler tea, grasshopper.
03/12/2009 03:14:04 AM
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Re: You must seek a nobler tea, grasshopper.
03/12/2009 04:18:22 AM
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I surrender! No more Haikus
03/12/2009 05:00:37 AM
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weakling!!
03/12/2009 05:15:31 AM
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Re: weakling!!
03/12/2009 05:38:11 AM
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because that's how the actual name is spelled?
03/12/2009 01:09:36 PM
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I certainly would guess my spelling is correct - it is my name after all *NM*
04/12/2009 06:22:29 AM
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It was awesome, though! A Haiku Hijack *NM*
03/12/2009 05:32:58 AM
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What Ghavey Said.
02/12/2009 09:36:06 PM
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This raises the whole sweet tea vs iced tea thingy
02/12/2009 09:49:46 PM
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one can use crap tea for sweet tea
02/12/2009 09:54:00 PM
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Valid point
02/12/2009 10:07:04 PM
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The problem is that you're one state too far east.
02/12/2009 10:09:19 PM
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Not exactly a fan of Louisiana or Akansas either *NM*
02/12/2009 10:17:48 PM
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once you start adding mint or rasberry it really isn't tea anymore *NM*
02/12/2009 10:15:16 PM
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1 Doubt it, 2 Suspect it if true (sunspots anyone? ) 3 Indifferent either way 4 No.
02/12/2009 07:16:05 PM
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Sunspots are actually colder than the surrounding area, which is why they appear black
02/12/2009 07:26:26 PM
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I meant using them as an indicator of solar activity - the REAL cause of climate change
03/12/2009 11:33:25 AM
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1., 2. yes, both but it's mostly us. 3. of course. 4. yes but only sweet, you are welcome *NM*
02/12/2009 08:08:17 PM
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Re: Do you believe in man-made global warming?
02/12/2009 08:15:43 PM
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I like this answer, too
02/12/2009 08:42:16 PM
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Also, I love tea!
02/12/2009 10:56:59 PM
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Tea is awesome
03/12/2009 02:50:23 AM
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I think there is both natural global warming and man-made global warming. And thank goodness!
02/12/2009 08:53:35 PM
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Isn't it about every 15,000 years that ice ages come back?
02/12/2009 08:57:30 PM
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They vary.
02/12/2009 09:02:49 PM
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1. Definate contributors but not entirely 2. yes 3. still yes 4. Very much *NM*
02/12/2009 11:20:40 PM
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I'm really in this for the ice tea question, but I'll answer all of it.
03/12/2009 02:38:13 AM
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Yes, I believe humans are largely responsible for global warming. And iced tea sucks *NM*
03/12/2009 05:12:28 AM
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