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Paul's Journal

paul
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02/03/2007 12:33 #37979

Humans do cause global warming?
Category: environment
That is so hard to believe. I mean pumping billions of gallons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere can't hurt right? It's just those crazy left wing, nut job scientists trying to ruin business for the good companies of america, right?

According to time.com

According to drafts and participants, the document says it is "very likely" - which means at least 90% certain - that climate change is caused by humans burning fossil fuels, and will result in a temperature increase of between 2.5 and 10.4 Fahrenheit by the year 2100.

Some participants apparently want to change that wording to "virtually certain," which connotes a 99% likelihood. "People seem to be feeling, let's make sure that the text actually means something and makes sense to the people it's intended for," Catherine Pearce of Friends of the Earth, who is observing the talks, said Wednesday night. "Some are saying there's no point in having texts that ... don't say anything, that are so watered down," she said.



On a side note I think it is ridiculous that the French turned off the Eifel tower lights for five minutes to call attention to energy conservation. I think it is way past the time when symbolic gesture liek that even matter. Five minutes, couldn't it at least have been an hour, a day or a week. Five minutes almost seems like a joke. Okay, now back to the story.

So what do all you nah-sayers have to say about humans causing global warming now (e:ejtower,31)or (e:joshua,1717)

Sir Nicholas Stern, author of a major report on the economic impact of global warming, says the latest review of the scientific evidence by United Nations' experts has demolished the chief argument of so-called climate sceptics. . . You can read the whole article here .http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/we've-wrecked-the-weather/2007/02/03/1169919583022.html

At this point a huge majority of the worlds climate scientists agree. Humans are greatly accelerating global warming and unfortunately, we are waiting too long to really do much about it. In fact they stated, "Global warming is "unequivocal" and "very likely" - to a 90 percent or more certainty - caused by human activity. "

I tend to believe them. I grabbed this data from an article about the summit

According to an article,

The United States emits the most greenhouse gases of any country - more than 6.5 billion tons per year, or about 22 percent of the world's total. But it will be surpassed in coming decades by fast-growing China, which is now building on average one coal power plant per week. India isn't far behind; like China, its population has surpassed 1 billion and keeps rising at a fast clip.



The scientists suggest the US develop environmentally energy production methods as soon as possible and share those technologies with developing nations. I would liek to see something along the lines of Open Source energy production technologies but you know it will most likely not be like that and devloping nations will not be able to afford the technology resulting in more coal burnig power plants.

FInding in the report
The cause
Global warming is "unequivocal" and "very likely" - to a 90 percent or more certainty - caused by human activity. Fossil fuel consumption has generated much of the global rise in temperatures over the past half-century.

Temperature changes
Average global temperatures could increase by 2 to 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. By comparison, temperatures have risen 1.5 degrees over the past century.

Sea levels
Ocean levels are projected to rise 7 to 23 inches by 2100, and will continue to rise for 1,000 years or more. Projections do not include contributions from melting polar ice.

Water shortages
Heat waves, droughts and other kinds of extreme weather will become more frequent. In California, warmer weather will shrink spring snowpacks in the Sierra, reducing a major source of water in the summer and fall.

We should start making making greenhouse gas emission laws stricter. Liek who the fuck needs an escalade. Maybe we should just illegalize huge SUVs, non-energy efficient light bulbs, and promote forms of cleaners energy. It seems to me like cars must be a huge part of it. All it takes is one visit to LA to see what cars do to the atmosphere.

Imagine how much worse it will get when everywhere is as capable of being as wasteful as we are.

According to fox news

Present Bush has acknowledged concerns about global warming but strongly opposes mandatory caps of greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that approach would be too costly.



I ask too costly for who?
zobar - 02/03/07 15:24
Many people say that the transition to cleaner technologies will be bad for business. Whose business? Think of all the new, high-paying, highly-skilled positions that will be needed for R&D, conversion, and training - not to mention the workforce required for all the new manufacturing and specialized disposal that will be needed. It will be a huge economic boon and competative advantage to anyone who takes the initiative, and I believe it will likewise be economically devastating to those who drag their feet. The oil companies may not like this, but this doesn't have to destroy their business either. They place all these ads about how they're researching alternative fuels - now is the perfect time for them to reinvest their unusually high profits in all this research they say their doing, so that they can be the first to market, buck obsolescence, and stop spending so much money influencing government - because they won't care anymore.

That doesn't even mention moral necessity, because I don't think it has to. This is a huge business opportunity for anyone who sees it, regardless of whether they care about the Greater Good, or even if they still think global warming is hogwash. Money talks and I am telling you that environmental engineering is where the smart money is at.

- Z

01/31/2007 20:25 #37942

I hate humane traps
Category: housing
They just make no sense. Now I simply have a bunch of live mice I have to dispose of. They have two options, die under my boot or freeze to death in the trash can outside. (e:matthew) suggested feeding them the poison. The reason we didn't just use the poison in the first place is because we were afraid the squirrels would get poisoned.

I thought about building some sort of mass extermination chamber but it all seems so first stage of being a serial killer - don't you think? It seems liek putting them out in the blue bin is the best option for my personal sanity, they will freeze very fast.
zobar - 02/01/07 10:07
Donate them to Science?

- Z
joshua - 02/01/07 09:14
That is sort of like a rodent Auschwitz. In this case the irony is that the more humane way of killing them would have been to use the traditional traps. There's no good, clean way to take care of the problem now, so if you want to disassociate yourself from the problem I'd do the blue bin option.
oda - 01/31/07 21:43
paul, you would look hotter in your new user pic if you put a silver horse in the background.
paul - 01/31/07 21:35
I would rather die than spray the house with poison. The real problem is that for months there was food all over the house, especially after parties and we weren't doing anything to stop them. Like for my birthday , the pizza got left out for today. Which is ueber disgusting. Since then we have cracked down a lot. Yesterday, we started trapping them. Today we got four of them. I think between trapping and not leaving food out we can keep them out.
imk2 - 01/31/07 21:34
why dont you guys put an ad out on craigslist saying you have live mice for people who might need them to feed their snakes. it's still the whole circle of life thing.
theecarey - 01/31/07 20:54
Never used an exterminator before..maybe a company could come in and kick some tiny mouse ass? As long as the squirrels and Basra are safe, ofcourse.

seriously, those mice are desperate freaks. I dont see them as cute anymore. Maybe if they were just hungry and cold little field mice. But these ones.. are mutants! Little resourceful psychos were trying to get into my baking stuff. I didnt want to leave it in the kitchen, so I placed the goods on my desk; tapped, bagged, tapped again, bagged again, then wrapped in towels. I heard some rustling.. the brown blob saw me and flew through the air and disappeared. First they jump like kangaroos, now they fly like squirrels. crazy!!

they are gonna eat us next- and I am much more of a meal then you guys. oh shit.

time to call Mice Busters!
mrmike - 01/31/07 20:33
mousecicles!!
jenks - 01/31/07 20:32
Or do what I did... Take them to some park or something and find a "cozy" little spot that you can trick yourself into thinking would make a nice nest for them. And leave them there, and feel good about yourself for 'saving' them. Then turn around just in time to see a bird swoop down from a tree and eat them. Circle of life, I guess.

01/31/2007 01:21 #37936

Harry Potter is Hotter
Category: pop culture
The actor who played Harry Potter is playing a stable boy in an upcoming play where he does a nude scene that involves a horse? I read Harry Potter fan parents are all up in arms about this.

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metalpeter - 01/31/07 18:43
Well All I will say is that to bad all Those girls who had the vibrating witchs brooms still don't have them they could really have fun now. but what I wonder is if he and a horse are naked unless they are doing something dirty why would you notice him and not the horse when if it is male I'm guessing it is about the size of his arm. On a side note I'm sure it can't be as bad as that scene in Jackass 2.
pyrcedgrrl - 01/31/07 16:34
Well, it's better than lusting after him at 14. :-x
uncutsaniflush - 01/31/07 16:11
In all seriousness, why would anyone's parents be upset? Is it because he is all "nekkid" as they might say in the South. Or is it because he is nekkid with horse?

Or is he hung like a horse and millions of little girls lust will be broken when their future husbands don't measure?
imk2 - 01/31/07 11:39
wow, i feel reeeeeely, reeeely dirty right now.
ladycroft - 01/31/07 10:15
gasp! daniel radcliffe is growing up!
theecarey - 01/31/07 09:58
OH MY GAWD!

  • WhirlofdirtyHarryThoughts,butwillKeepmyMouthShutAsHeisjust17*



thanks, this was my first post viewing of the day
lilho - 01/31/07 09:19
so hot. fuck harry potter.

01/30/2007 14:14 #37922

The Beast Costs Money
Category: downtown
I am at Spot on Delaware for lunch at I saw the Beast is now $2. Will anyone pay that for the Beast?
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jenks - 01/31/07 19:46
Seriously. $2??!! fifty cents- maybe. but 2 bucks? I wouldn't pay that much for a sunday NYT.
libertad - 01/30/07 22:38
If the Beast had a coupon insert, I might buy it for two dollars. Otherwise, I wouldn't buy any local paper including the buffalo news and Artvoice for two dollars without being promised at least two dollars in usable coupons. I wonder just how many die hard beast fans there are? Actually maybe if I saw a good cover I would buy it for that. They have had some good ones.
zobar - 01/30/07 17:01
I've always maintained that in a market of our [small but respectable] size, there is only room for so many alt. weeklies. Even though Buffalo Rising is going after us, it's the Beast that's getting squeezed out.

Whether people will pay for it when they can get it online for free largely depends on whether their editorial gets any better.

- Z
uncutsaniflush - 01/30/07 16:57
For anyone that actually wants to read the Beast without paying for it, the lastest issue is available at :::link::: in pdf format. It also looks like most of the content is available in html format at :::link:::

vycious - 01/30/07 16:34
ahh, the death rattle of yet another independent buffalo rag....
joshua - 01/30/07 14:19
After some considerable thought (aka a split second) I've decided that I won't be paying for The Beast.

My dad, on the other hand, is going to be heartbroken... whenever he visits us he walks over to New World to get copies of Artvoice and The Beast for him and his friends. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't pay for it.

02/02/2007 22:13 #37974

Dear Journal I am sorry
Category: life
It seems after years of daily dedication to my journal I am at some weird point in my life where I have nothing to say. Okay that is not true as I am still writing. I used to write in my journal multiple time every day for years but really who wants to see more pictures of inside roswell or at my house. Don't worry there are pictures at the end of this.

The truth is I never go anywhere or do anything interesting much anymore. I don't barely leave the 5 minute radius around my house. As soon as the weather gets warmer I am sure things will change so drastically. I remember what it was like occupying my life with housing building tasks. There is lots of stripping and building to do. I am sure I can occupy much of my time with making my house sweeter.

In the mean time everything exciting seems kind of at a standstill. I think I just might have settled or something. I have everything I ever wanted now and I am bored with it a bit. Who complains about that? I should really look on the bright side. Maybe it is just season disorder or the fact that I worked way too many hours this week. Maybe if I owned a projector. That's what I keep telling myself. I really need a projector to expand my horizons.

On the programming front I am bored too. I think I am burned out with content management. I am more interested in data mining, social networking and visualization. I am tired of other people making web design/programming decisions based on bullshit. Someone actually, I am not joking, asked me for a website with a scrolling marquee today. It felt so 1997.

I hope I am not at one of the moments where I change career paths again. I doubt it only because I am so comfortable and complacent doing what I do, I am well compensated and I have little interest in leaving the city.

Unlike everyone else, I am definately not trying to escape to a bigger city with more to do. I mean even if there were more exciting things to do, like in another larger, warmer city - I would not do them. I don't even like going out much. I frankly, just want to feel like I am part of something slightly more exiciting content management, even if it is for a good cause. I suppose working with (e:enknot) makes content management seem fun.

So here are some things going on.

1. I miss twisted. I just wish we lived together. think I might be going back to San Francisco in march for another conference. Let's hope that works out. Next time it is her turn to come here. PErhaps on the way back from italy?

2. I love linux. I am never going back to windows ever on my personal computers and seeing as they will be on vista for the next 20 years or so, it won't be that hard to just say no, if I make it past this month.

3. Tomorrow, Josephine Anstey and some students are coming by to talk about web programming and online pervasive games. This is something I am very interested in. Sometimes I am still angry that I did not become a professor. I guess there is always the future and there are many other careers I would rather have.

4. Speaking of which I miss jesse, jesse.org jesse. What ever happend to him. Did he get eaten by China? Maybe Josephine will know.

5. On closing, here are some pictures from my phone, I was cleaning it out in hopes of starting to take new pictures and going back to journaling.

Mike getting hammered, lol
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Eating haddock today at Roswell. I have eaten so much fish recently, this one almost killed me. I had three isnatnces of almsot swalling a bone followed by one really sharp one stabbing through my gums. That is a really unpleasant feeling. I wonder if the fish are trying to just say no.
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Here is one left over pic from the ice storm. It is not the pretty kindwith the fancy camera but the low res kind with the cell phone. It still was pretty neat.
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The mice that were makign us all crazy and doing things like this seems to be gone. The "humane" traps worked really good to trap them so we could kill them. Ironic as it may be, it beats having to spray or put poison everywhere. I would rather die from the mice and the poison.
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Like at this place on elmwood. Are they going to knock it down soon. It seems liek such a health hazzard and it is on some of the most prime real estate in the city. I just don't get how it exists there empty and abondoned.
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Salmon tastes really good. I like it.
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The wig is still out there. I saw it the other day.
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lilho - 02/03/07 12:39
i want to go to san fran too! olease?
mike - 02/03/07 12:11
you can't stop posting pictures. I love the random pictures. Don't the the winter duldrums get you down.
twisted - 02/02/07 23:24
re: 1997 flashback. was it that same crazy person who wanted you to build a site counting down police suicides in a scrolling marquee? do you remember that?

p.s. -- I miss you so much. I can't wait for you to come out here again. bring terry & matt. I need help making house decisions, and it would be fun. I promise!