The Problem with Climate Change Science
So many of the studies I’ve read that establish new theories begin with researchers working to disprove their hypothesis. Not so with climate change. Rather supporters are predisposed to assume that data should be interpreted to fit the hypothesis. Consider the following headline from phys.org for a story over changes in densities of ocean water.
“Antarctic waters changing due to climate: study”
Sounds pretty authoritative. So does this,
“This is a response to changes that are happening to climate in the polar regions, both natural and human causes,” lead researcher Steve Rintoul,…
and this.
“it’s not driving changes in climate, it’s responding to changes in climate”
Then why on earth does the reader find “Scientists are not sure what is causing the phenomenon” further into the article? How can people interested in truth deal with the incongruence between these statements? How can one say “I don’t know what causes X” and also “X is a result of Y” and actually be taken seriously?
Another WMNWR Visit
I returned to the Wichita Mountains for a quick evening trip the other day. I wanted to try out the HDR function on my new camera and see how the land was recovering from the fires. Unfortunately, it still looked a bit like a Martian landscape in much of the refuge. The below album link contains a few pictures from this trip and one in October.
At least the water level in Jed Johnson is rising. Hopefully when spring arrives it will bring much needed renewal to the entire region, the refuge included.
The Dojo Loach
By far the most entertaining fish I’ve ever had in one of my aquariums is the one pictured below.
I was convinced this fish was going to die shortly after I released him into the tank. He was thrashing about violently. He stopped as quickly as he started. I’ve since learned they are also known as the “weather loach” for their antics during weather changes.
His appeal is not limited to humans either. Cats have a difficult time doing anything other than watching while he thrashes about. The dojo is also an easy fish to keep. I’ve not had to do anything special for this guy and he seems to be thriving.
So, if you need an entertaining bottom-dwelling fish for a freshwater tank, you ight give one of these a shot.
Occupy Wall Street
The same group that said this about the TEA Party:
Now, for all you right-wing, reactionary, CON-servatives out there, who are once again putting your faith behind these PHONY "Tea-Party" scams - let me mention just "WHOM" is BEHIND … (link)
had this to say about the Occupy Wall Street protests:
I urgently URGE all of you to TAKE PART and JOIN IN when these protests hit your neck of the woods.
…
YOU can DO - ONE of TWO THINGS - SUBMIT to the uncaring GREED of these CORORATE, WALL STREET THUGS and their SOCK-PUPPETS in GOVERNMENT. OR, - YOU can RESIST! I CHOOSE RESISTANCE for MY FAMILY and MYSELF (link)
Of course, the American Nazi Party (ANP) isn’t a group I’d choose to align myself with. While this is not evidence that the OWS is organized by, or supportive of, ANP, it would certainly make me reconsider my position if I had supported OWS previously. Honestly, it is probably a perfect example of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Either way, those who want to align themselves with a cause the ANP supports are free to do so in this wonderful country we live in.
Wichita Mountains Again
Not long after getting home from church this morning, we decided to take a short trip up to the Wichita Mountains. Although they can hardly compare to the Rocky or Smoky Mountains, they represent a wonderful little diversion from the flat land we see around here.
On the drive up we had talked about whether or not Mt. Scott would be shrouded in cloud and whether they would have it open or not. It was a pleasant surprise to enter the reserve and see a couple of white shapes moving up the side of the mountain and disappearing into a grey mist.
Once we got to the top, the rain let up to a light rain but is was pretty cool. A damp t-shirt, in 59° weather, makes you quite cool in even the lightest breeze. The moisture was clinging to everything and collecting where it could. The few plants that were around seemed to be enjoying life in the cloud.
Even though it’s been over a month since 20 square miles of the area burned, the damage was still very apparent. The smell still lingers in the air and in your clothes if you get out to take a closer look at anything in the burned areas. I took a few pictures while we were there and put a few online in a public album.
Of course, no day trip too the Wichita Mountains would be complete without a stop in Medicine Park to eat at The Old Plantation restaurant. If you want my in-depth thoughts on this place, they’re available. Suffice it to say that the chicken fried steak was great as always, and after tasting the brisket sandwich my wife nibbled on, I had to finish that off. Strange I wanted no dinner.
On top of the ever changing interface, Facebook brings the routine privacy leaks, a few of which I’ve linked to below. I feel I have certain responsibilities to the people in my life to maintain a modicum of privacy. As a result, I’ve deactivated my facebook account as of today. I probably ought to do that anyway until this semester is finished.
” The practice breaks Facebook’s rules, and renews questions about its
ability to keep identifiable information about its users’ activities
secure.”
~Wall Street Journal Oct. 2010
“Facebook source code has been leaked on the Web, and that’s raising some serious issues about the site’s security and data privacy.”
~Information Week Aug. 2007
“Vancouver man cracks Facebook to access private photos”
~Canada.com Mar 2008
“which gave the company “irrevocable,
perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid worldwide
license” to users’ information even after they deleted their
account,”
~Sydney Morning Herald Feb 2009
“Privacy advocates slammed revamped Facebook privacy controls on Thursday”
~NDTV Movies Dec 2009
“Facebook Violates Privacy Laws”
~BBC May 2008
On Being Too Stuck
I searched the internet for the origin of the phrase “stick to your guns” this morning. It appears that it originated as a term in the British military to encourage soldiers to maintain their position no matter the personal danger they faced. This makes perfect sense. It implies that one is not on the offensive, but rather one is being attacked. And under the conditions, not giving ground is essential. Maybe ones very way of life or existence being threatened.
However, sticking to your guns today is more commonly associated with maintaining ones position on a particular issue. It is generally viewed as a good thing. One anonymous writer wrote that “gun-sticking is the work of heroes, not villains.”
Unfortunately, while heroes are venerated by society, the reality of it is that all too often they are determined to be heroes after their death. Davey Crocket and Jim Bowie come to mind. Great men. Great men who died at the Alamo defending their freedom. An example of when sticking to your guns was the thing to do.
While sticking to your guns on a particular issue or way of doing things can be heroic, it can also be idiotic. It seems to me all too often that people stick to their guns when they shouldn’t. We, as humans, tend to become married to an idea of how things are best done and it prevents us from being open to potentially better ways suggested by those who we feel aren’t qualified to comment.
The worst part? The one sticking to his/her guns is usually the last to figure out they shouldn’t have worked so hard to hold their position. Instead of being hailed for sticking to their guns, they find they are stuck out.
The Federal Government Wants Your Medical Information
Not too sure I like this even one tiny bit. I read a story at the Washington Examiner about DHSH proposing new rules which would give the federal government, detailed records about the health information of every American. In that story they point out the Fed’s wonderful track record with keeping data secure. Surely if wikileaks can release thousands of super sensitive documents our health information is safe, right?
I thought, “I’ll see what they are talking about before I react” so I shot on over to the handy-dandy Government Printing Office to read for myself what the Federal Register had to say about these proposed rules.
……
Riiiight….. hmmmmm……
So, reading the FedReg is not really what I would call interesting. That’s coming from someone was thrilled when reading Public Policy Analysis. Anywho, I must admit I was dismayed to find that in an effort to manage risk, the Federally-Certified Risk Adjustment Methodology will require the use of data elements titled, “demographic factors, diagnostic factors, and utilization factors if any;” (pg 41938) to ensure that a specific person is eligible for a specific “factor” which I assume refers to treatment or procedure in general.
Apparently this will all be combined with your family size and whether or not you use tobacco in order to make sure people are being offered health incentives. How about we offer the federal government an incentive to stay out of our life, our business, and our pocket? Maybe some phone calls, emails, letter, or even ballots?
The Cure for Terrorism…
hatred, cruelty, and all other things that ail todays world is here. As a matter of fact, its been here for a while. Right here in Wichita Falls, TX.
Strangely enough it doesn’t come in hours of conversation with self-important diplomats sure they can make friends out of enemies. You can find it in a bow or a plate.
With being busy all the time and the way the economy is, I don’t go out to eat much. I did today. I went with a few guys from work who shall remain nameless. We ventured out to this little place out by Sheppard Air Force Base. Some of you have probably no doubt been to Opa’s Schnitzel Haus already. If you have, I want to know why you’ve been keeping the gateway to the heavens a secret.
Being one of my favorites, I ordered a Reuben sandwich. Boy oh boy oh boy. That was absolutely the best sandwich I’ve ever had. Sorry Market Street. The other guys chose some other items from the menu to include a Gulash and some onion soup with bread and cheese.
I can picture someone’s Großmutter writing these recipes down years ago and smuggling them into the country. If you haven’t tried Opa’s, you need to give it a try.
Bastrop Fires
I’ve seen several images of the fires in Bastrop, TX. This one, overlooking the Texas capitol, some thirty-three miles away from Bastrop really shows the size of the fire.
This thumbnail links to the high-resolution image at 979represent.com.