Today’s links to interesting news and analysis. If you find this useful, pass it to a friend or colleague.
- Important article for anyone interested in the coming energy transition: “21st century energy: Some sobering thought“, Vaclav Smil (Prof Environmental Science, U of Manitoba, Winnipeg), OECD Observer, December 2006 — “Transition to new energy sources is unavoidable, but here are five sobering first principles to remember along the way.”
- More vital information: “Moore’s Curse and the Great Energy Delusion“, Vaclav Smil, The American, 19 November 2008
- I don’t know what this means, but I believe it’s important: “The Steady Erosion of Women’s Rights in Egypt: A Photographic Story“, Phyllis Chesler, PajamasMedia, 28 January 2010
- Not yet, but they’re coming: “Is a Sovereign Debt Crisis Looming?“, Uri Dadush and Bennett Stancil, International Economic Bulletin, 2 February 2010
- Food for thought, but he gives little evidence: “Tea Party Profiteers: How Republican Operatives Are Exploiting Economic Anxiety For Power, Cash“, Lee Fang, ThinkProgress, 2 February 2010
- They’re confident we’re stupid, so they can lie with impunity: “Luntz, Meet Foucault“, Jonathan Chait, The New Republic, 3 February 2010 — Frank Luntz advises the Republicans just to lie to defeat vital banking reforms.
- More alarmism: “NASA Still Spreading Antarctic Worries“, Steve Goddard, Watts Up with That, 3 February 2010 — The Antarctic data suggests these fears are without foundation (unlike the Arctic, where there are signs of warming).
- The good news is the bad news is wrong: “Misconception About Environmental Degradation“, Roger Pielke Sr, 3 February 2010 — Certainly a myth about the developed world. Might be true for the emerging nations in the future, as it is today.
- If not stopped, this trend could destroy our banks: “No Help in Sight, More Homeowners Walk Away“, New York Times, 3 February 2010 — It was known in 2007 that home equity was the primary driver of defaults. Folks laughed back then when I wrote about the posibility of mass voluntary defaults. They’re not laughing now.
Book recommendation: The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire by Edward Luttwak. Excellent subscription-only analysis at the London Review of Books.
Today’s feature articles:
(A) Graphic for today: update on Solar Cycle 24
(B) Quote of the Day — IPCC again lies about its process
Update: Glenn Beck reported about the IPCC quote on 1 February 2010: Exclusive: Yet another climategate?” It’s not gotten the press it deserves.
(A) Graphic for today: update on Solar Cycle 24
“Solar Cycle 24 Update“, David Archibald, Watts Up with That, 2 February 2010 — “Solar Cycle 24 is now over a year old, so it is appropriate to see how it is ramping up.” This cycle has been slow to start. Slow and small cycles have accompanied cold periods. We don’t know enough to say more at this time.
For more information see these FM reference pages (listed on the right):
- Science & Nature – my articles — section 2 “About the solar cycle”
- Science & nature – studies & reports — sections 4 and 5
(B) Quote of the Day — IPCC again lies about its process
There might be an innocent explanation for this, but I doubt it. Esp given the revelations during the past few weeks. Red emphasis added
“Statement on news reports regarding hacking of the East Anglia University email communications, R. K. Pachauri (IPCC Chairman), undated (the URL ends in “4Dec09”). Excerpt:
IPCC relies mainly on peer reviewed literature in carrying out its assessment and follows a process that renders it unlikely that any peer reviewed piece of literature, however contrary to the views of any individual author, would be left out.
A copy of the statement in the New York Times, 26 November 2009:
“IPCC relies entirely on peer reviewed literature in carrying out its assessment and follows a process that renders it unlikely that any peer reviewed piece of literature, however contrary to the views of any individual author, would be left out.”
Afterword
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