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James Hamilton, M. D.

With Jack Maxwell's comments about the Autumn time of year (loved those, Jack) and all our bantering about the enviornment, I thought this comic which was in our paper today might supply some levity!

John Jackson

Jim, old friend, the vast majority of climate scientists accept the reality of global warming and the number of honest skeptics (those not on the payroll of fossil fuel interests) drops each year as evidence is added.  

And you’re right that our planet has recovered from other enormous natural events (such as volcanic eruptions), but the effect of even the largest of these isolated events on our atmosphere is tiny compared to the continuous and cumulative release of carbon and other greenhouse gases by six billion of us over decades.

Many Americans, especially those who don’t live in coastal areas, think that they have little to worry about a rising sea level  -  that the Miamis and other coastal cities of the world will adjust by pulling back from their current exposed positions.  And why should we worry if all the low-lying islands in the world are lost?  Is this really our problem?  Do we really care about these people and the loss of their way of life?

But the scenario that should worry us all is that we reach the point where even if humans don’t add another molecule of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, the earth continues to warm as huge amounts of carbon are released from soil and the oceans and temperatures continue to rise until human life is extinguished.  Many climate scientists think we have either reached this point or are close.  

In an earlier post you implied that the U.S got a bad deal in the Paris accords.  China has now overtaken us as the leading greenhouse gas emitter, but among major nations, the U.S. is the largest per capita emitter (more than twice as much as China).  And the pattern is generally true - on a per capita basis, wealthy developed nations emit much more per capita than less developed nations.  Given that fact, it doesn’t seem unreasonable that wealthier nations, who have much more low-hanging fruit, be expected to contribute more to the solution than poorer nations.

I don’t think all wisdom resides in the U.S. and that we do have something to learn from other nations and as an American this makes me ashamed that the party that controls both houses of Congress and the presidency is pretty much the only organization in the world that doesn’t accept the reality of serious climate change.  

Jim, if I had a serious medical condition, I’d much rather consult you rather than a lawyer or a used car dealer or a bartender.  The scientists who study climate change are every bit as trained and devoted to the ethics of their profession as you are to medicine and I think we need to take them seriously.

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

I would have to agree with Mary Ann about Bobby Kennedy. I don`t think he would be GOP. He was  much more committed to the poor than I think Jack was. Bobby really wanted to change things.  And he was fearless. I think Jack should have waited until Bobby had some more experience before making him Attorney General, however. I seriously think Jack was taken out basically to call off Bobby. Kathy Wintering

Michael McLeod

I do remember the film project mark.

whatta hoot.

yeah jack "coming up" is southern, maybe african american southern. who knows, my editor may take it out. i use as much regional stuff as i can get away with. keepin' it real.

thought everybody would get a kick out of lawrence welk. 

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Kathy, I also say today’s White House is everything Bobby Kennedy was not.

Mark Schweickart

I agree completely with Mary Ann, and partially with Kathy about Robert Kennedy. I have always thought Bobby was absolutely essential to Jack's efforts in the White House, so I do not agree with Kathy's comment that it was a mistake making him the Attorney General. In that position he certainly was absolutely fearless in his pursuit of Jimmy Hoffa and the Mafia, despite the fact that the ultra-corrupt J.Edgar refused to acknowledge there was such a thing as the Mafia, while having no problem seeing Communists lurking beneath every rock, and standing in every shadow. Bobby was also crucial in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis. If he had not opened up a back-channel negotiation with the Russians, in which the U.S. offered to dismantle (soon to be obsolete) nuclear Missiles in Turkey in excange for the removal of the missiles in Cuba, who knows what would have happened?  Would Jack, alone, been able to withstand the fire-breathing demands of Curtis, Bombs-Away, LeMay without Bobby as an ally. (And good lord, can you imagine what would have happened if Nixon had been in charge at that time?) It is also true that there seems to have been two Bobby Kennedys. The hard charging personality of the pre-assassination days, gave way to a far more post-assassination persona, who became the compassionate, anti-Vietnam war, champion of the poor. He now was reaching out to poor whites, blacks, native Americans, and Hispanic-Americans. He lent his support to Cesar Chavez, both during the crucial grape boycott, and being with him later when Chavez ended his famous hunger strike. His ever-growing connection to the poor clearly removed the silver spoon he was born with, and humbled him. His campaign advisors during the '68 run for the Democratic nomination were continually frustrated by his insisting to visit American Indian reservations. There were no significant votes to be gathered there, they argued. He was wasting precious time. But he insisted. There was much for him to learn there, and so he went.

Sorry if this little ramble is a bit off topic. As you can tell I am a bit of a fan.  A few years ago I even wrote a song about him. Here's the link to my song site, if you care to check it out.  It's the sixth song down from the top. It's called "On the Shouder of Giants."

www.marqmusic.com

Note: Google Chrome no longer supports QuickTime files, so you have to use either Safari or Firefox as a browser. And with FireFox, at the top of the page it will ask you if you want to enable Quicktime, so you have to click on that as well. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

At least we share some views on RFK.

Democrats seem to think, or at least want to make America think, that they are the only ones who want to help the poor. Republicans want to help the poor by getting them out of poverty. The Democratic plans have not been able to do that. It seems like the old ploy of giving a man a fish or teaching him how to fish might apply here.

Getting back to Climate Change/Global Warming:

If you read my prior posts I do not deny the existence of CC/GW nor do I deny that man plays a role nor that CO2 plays a role. My position is the degree of role that every aspect plays. Being in an interglacial age means that our climate was warming before man and industry arrived and, yes, man is likely adding to that in terms of an accelerated time frame.

What I really question is many things. How much of our modern life is the human race willing to sacrifice? How many jobs will be lost? Will those 196 or so countries who signed the Paris Accords actually comply with them? Will we, a country who is 20 trillion dollars in debt, end up supporting (as we always do) much of the rest of the world just like we do in the UN? As good as science is, will this really change things? Of course, no one can be sure of the answer to that last question. My years in medicine have made me skeptical of claims of medicines, procedures and treatments that look great in studies but do not always work once they are on the market and may have severe side effects. Also is the technology available or will be availabe in time to comply with restrictions that are put on carbon emissions? And will that technology work?

I am a big fan of nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power and geothermal energy. These obviously can also have an effect on the enviornment but I think they can be better managed, at least I hope so.

Who among us wants to take a step backward to times when power was not readily available? Look at what happens to life when there is a blackout or a natural disater that affects our electric or gas supplies. Are we also willing to substitute a 6 hour flight to Europe on a modern plane with a month long trip on a wind powered sailing vessel?

By the way, even though I live about ~6500 feet above sea level, I do care about islands and coastal areas and dangers from rising ocean levels, But I also care about Appalachian familes and others who will see - and have seen -  immediate hardships from some of the policies of the prior administration.

O.K., got to "fall back" and go change some clocks to comply with the transition back to Standard Time. And that's another policy with which I totally disagree!

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

Well, I won`t argue against that, Mary Ann. This IS a unique  White House! I still  think he never really wanted or expected to be elected. I think he just wanted the free publicity  so they would give him anothe tv show!  Kathy

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

Mark. That is probably why their father wanted Bobby in there! He was fearless. Dropping Carlos Marcello in South America was a pretty bold move! Kathy

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Question…and I ask to simply understand why one should not consider the personal lifestyles of high profile climate change activists when questioning the validity of their promotion of man-caused climate change.

If all of those who are out in the forefront of promoting the catastrophic dangers to our planet from man-caused CO2, such as Al Gore, really believed what they preach about the horrors of climate change, why do they not alter their own personal lifestyles to reflect that belief?  After all, actions speak louder than words.  Al Gore, for example, lives in a 10,000 sq. ft. mansion with a heated swimming pool and jet sets constantly around the world in airplanes that guzzle up tons of fuel.  I do not begrudge him that luxury lifestyle at all, however, I do seriously question his "Inconvenient Truth" when he apparently sees no need for he, himself, to tear down his mansion, drain his pool and stay put in order to keep his carbon footprint as small as he wants me and everyone else in the industrialized world to keep ours. 

Joseph Gentilini

While I still believe climate change is happening and that humans contribute to it, Mary Margaret, you make valid points in questioning Al Gore own issues.  I still drive my gas car and have air conditioning, etc.  I can't throw stones to people who deny climate change.  Joe

Thomas Swain

Hi folks,

Hope all is well.  I rarely look at the site, but the Climate Change issue is a hot button.

It's not CO2, as we have been peppered constantly to believe. They called it Global Warming at first. When none of those predictions came true, the topic was changed to Climate Change.

Now, every time there is anything unusual, i.e. hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, excessive rain, etc., it was caused by, you guessed it, Climate Change. How convenient. Like these things never happened prior to fossil fuel use.

Yes, we should pursue all the alternatives: solar, wind, hydrogen fuel cells, etc etc. As technolgy changes the market place will elminate most and eventually all fossil fuels.

If you want to see and/or hear some real concrete information, read this book or look at some of the video presentations. If you can't read the book, just look at the reviews on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Winter-Causing-30-Year-Spell/dp/1630060356

John Casey is a scientist, who has been studying subject for decades.

Don't expect the media to run with this, it doesn't fit their narrative.

Joseph D. McCarthy

I hope everyone in the midwest is safe from the storms yesterday.  The late news here showed a tremendous storm, with devastating hurricanes, marching across the midwest headed for Columbus.  Be safe.

Joe

Frank Ganley

Tom swain how are you? On the subject of climate warming I must laugh. All of those in front fly in their giant planes into as big a limo and proceed to tell us we all are sinners against the world but them. Everything in this world is cyclical. 50000 years ago the United States was covered in ice mile and miles thick. It extended from the North Pole to Mexico. Gifts of this the Great Lakes and the great wide plains in the mid west. As it stated to melt not one Indian was concerned with the ice receding as it still is. At that time no fossil fuels were burned unless you want to start calling whale oil a fossil fuel but it wasn’t   As we were annilating whales faster than they could reproduce and we worried about running out of whales so exploration for an alternative fuel and when drake discovered oil in Pennsylvania problem solved. Now with these supplies only can last a few thousand years we need to discover alternatives such as batteries , hydrogen, and other things we are not even aware of yet to take oils place. Yes we need to control emissions on these fuels and clean our air but other than shutting down everything, impossible, or change fuels. As joe said he still drives his car and has air conditioning, try living without that, ride our bikes? Too many cars and we live to far apart or away from work or play. Wind wagons, cool but not very manageable in the city turn off all electricity nah that won’t happen. Stop deforestation , a start but we need wood for too much. As citizens not much we can do but factories et al are the main culprits but what can they do as their products are so needed. It’s the future that holds solution but what they are I wish I knew so I could invest before it hits big . 

David Mitchell

Wow, been hoping to get Tommy Swain on this page for over a year. Where were you when we were talking about all the fun stuff buddy?

But still no Keith,,,hmmmmm

David Mitchell

Man this is gettin" good!

You people have no idea how many plates of crackers and cheese, bags of pretzels, or peanut butter and jelly sadwichces I've had to munch down these last few days to keep my lips from flapping in the direction of,,,,of,,,,, well, damn,,,,,, kinda forgot what it was that I am against here. (They say the first thing to go is the memory) I know I must have an opinion on all this. Just can't rememeber what it might be. 

Or could it be that like so many arguments (as in my earlier arguement about gun contol) there may be some truths on both sides?  And compromise (partial soliutions) may be better than arguing till we're blue in the face, and then "resolving' to do nothing at all. With all that great school learnin' we got from those devoted Dominican Sisters, you'd think we could use our powers of reason to work something out. I think the whole world should be reading to our Forum page. (maybe Janie could figure out how we could monetize admission to the page and let that pay for our parties)

Everybody's got an opinion - especially if you are a guy!  Somebody called that "Man Answer Syndrome". I mean like we guys got an answer to everything - I mean EVERYTHING! (even if your wife didn't need one more blinking answer - we've got one anyway)

Most of us are good at being idealogues. WE are all definately RIGHT and the rest of you are wrong "fer shure!" Got that?

And this may be the hardest thing to swallow for us members of the iluminatti (Nina, spelling?) - somewhere betwixt all this idealogy and dogma, there are often thousands of little facts that might fall somewhere in between - God forbid!  I havent' run into many things in life that fit what I call the "all of none" syndrome. Outside of Sister Norbertine's algebra class, I can't think of too many solutions to life's problems that are either 100% right or wrong. 

Now see there - My "vocal chords" seem to have recovered. Here'a a taste of that "give and take".

It is considered that the "methane gas" from the mamouth sheep herds in New Zealand do as much or more harm to the ozone layer than any other single source. If you don't beleive air pollution is a health hazard, you should have lived in Denver in the 70's and 80's. We called it "the Brown Cloud" and it was an amazing thing to see as you drove back down into it from up in the mountians. And it got so bad at times it annoyed your breathing. We once had more registered automobiles than licensed drivers. And try telling folks from Norfolk Virginia that the seas aren't rising - you may get laughed out of the local Diner - if high tide hasn't closed it for the day -  again. 

Wind Energy has brough a lot of good jobs to Iowa. And "Sodium" batteries may end up putting lithium batteries back in the closet. Change may be our only Constant!

Joe Kennedy raised his boys in his own image. He was an Irish Catholic "Southie" thug just like my dad's great uncles, and they all learned to fight dirty, steal, and cheat. He brought his "Lady Friends" home to the house in front of Rose and the children. (ha, and I used to think Gary Hart was arrogant). Talk about giving an example?  What's so different from Hollywood sexual assault culture?

General Curtis Lemay was not cut out for politics. But he was the genius who made the change in altitude for bombing runs over Japan that changed the outcome of the war in the Pacific. His own commanders thought he was nuts, until the results quickly began to improve.

But if it please the court, my final two absolute truths are as follows:

A)  Any friend of Zorro's was a freind of mine. 

B)  Annette Funicello made me dread going to confession more than any other temptation in my life. I would have offered my left thing-a-ma-jig to be either Spin, or Marty. 

Oh, I think I need anothr peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

John Jackson

Tom,  I checked out your book on Amazon but I confess I don’t have the background to decide its validity.  I don’t know the author, I have no idea of the credentials of the reviewers, and to be completely honest, I know next to nothing about the esoteric field of climate science.  But that’s why I trust the overwhelming majority of trained climate scientists from around the world who have worked in this area for decades. 

As to Mary Margaret’s point, Al Gore is a major public figure and I might cut him a break on the fact that he needs to travel.  The charge that the energy footprint of his home is way larger than that of the average American does seem to be valid (at least in 2007, the last year I could find any articles on this topic).  But even though he may be a hypocrite and needs to practice better what he preaches, that doesn’t reverse the scientific near-consensus on climate change.

And Jim,  the cost of reducing our carbon footprint is substantial, but certainly doable for a nation as rich as ours. It is unfortunate that jobs will be lost in the fossil fuel sector, but others will be added in the renewable sector.  And no one is suggesting we go back to a pre-industrial society – electricity from renewable sources can power our homes, cars and factories.  Wind is already competitive in many places and solar is reaching parity with conventional power costs (and I agree with you that we shouldn’t rule out nuclear).

The costs are much more significant for developing nations but, they will also disproportionately feel the effects of climate change so they have a strong incentive to participate in the solution.  And some, like India and China, have horrendous air pollution, which further motivates them to move toward cleaner energy.  And if we, as the richest large nation and second leading emitter of greenhouse gases, refuse to join in the effort, how can we expect poorer nations to do their share?

Ok, I’ve said my piece – of course, anyone who wants to respond should do so, but I’m going to take a break and maybe the forum will move on…

David Mitchell

Since it keeps coming up, I have to share this. Forgive the off-topic I just thought you'd find it intersting.

My best friend here in Bluffton, a guy who is such a recluse he is not in the phone book (neither am I) and has avoided photographs in certain publications, is currently the lead contractor for the building of Al Gore's new $30 million home in a little town east of Nashville. I visited the site on my way home from our reunion in Columbus last year and he would not even allow me to take a photograph of the hosue. I think he has a confidentiallity agreement he must honor.

In addition to the house, my friend designed from scratch and built a completely organic farm on the property, and is building a huge and expensive horse barn for the girlfriend Al has not yet married. (my buddy warned me never to fall in love with women who love horses). The farm, I must say, is unique and fascinating - producing beef, lamb and hogs, fruits, vegetables, and wonderful sweet potatoes, most of which are sold in local markets. The trees and grasses are special species and all organic. The natural aquifer my friend built is all organic. They even slaughter their cattle in that new way designed by the weird little autisitic woman from Kansas or Oklahoma.

The house is one of the ugliest I have ever seen, or that my friend has ever built. The roofline extends from the "old" house across what is now a covered patio to the new house, about 30 feet to the side. But the features inside the new house are amazing - as are all of the houses my friend has built down here on Hilton Head. His last one here was a $52 million house that is odd and ugly, but not as ugly as Al's house in TENN. (He has also built some gorgeous houses - not garrish, but truly beautiful and tasteful)  

* Here is the interesting part. They have built a whole "solar farm" in a field near the house, so they can claim a zero carbon footprint. But my buddy explains that nobody could ever afford this "solar farm", so that it makes no financial sense whatever.

------off topic,  sorry

But this is as compicated as our discussion on the Forum. My buddy is my polar opposite. He is a foul-mouthed, rough edged, anti-everything, non-voting, angry Budist. And a self-taught eccentric mechanical genuis - with an incrdible temper! He is as liberal as you can get, and is a big fan of Al's world program. (I am somewhere in between on it). But my friend is continuously annoyed and compromised by the excess of the house and the property. He has almost quit several times. And yet he is good friends with (and morning coffee buddies with) All and his architect, when they are in town. 

I am asked ocasionally how he and I could possible be friends? I explain that we are "surgically attached" at the heart. We were, at 20, the third and second youngest pilots in our Company in Vinh Long (when we first arrived). We met and became best friends immediately. He flew my cover (my protection at 1,500 feet above us waiting for our call, "receiving fire") as the single best Cobra gunship pilot we ever had. We can argue like cats and dogs and we can see right through one another when something is not right. He is also the singlle most generous guy I have ever known.

And we laugh a lot - at ourselves. I think we have taught one another important things.  Like; life is passing - let's figure a way through this.

-------------------------

If I seem irreverant at times - as in one day after another gun tragedy - forgive me. I'm no less saddened than any of you. 

Mark Schweickart

Dave-- I don't think not being in the phone book says much about one's personality anymore, because as my millenial acquaintances might ask, "What's a phone book?"

Michael McLeod

We are now the only country in the world that refuses to sign the Paris Agreement.

Does that not give you pause?

Is that not a clue that there is something wrong in a country that once saw itself as the leader in addressing global issues is now the only country ignoring it?

I'm just astounded. And ashamed.

Lawrence Foster

I want to thank those of you who sent me responses and comments about my two Halloween stories that I posted on the User Forum last month. 

Even when I wrote them I felt they were a bit creepy.  I am glad that many of you caught the "hidden Da Vinci Code-like stuff I put in them.

Here is another story that is not creepy.  In my writing group the prompt was to create a definition for the made-up word "Flangiprop" and use it in a story.  A couple months later another prompt was to write an introduction to a story that we had already written. 

I used a lot name variations of real and fictional characters and twisted them around a bit for the fun of it.  While it was my desire to have last month's story give you a fright I hope this story gives you a laugh!   

To see the story click on the User Forum link on the left column.

Frank Ganley

As for the Paris Accord it is my understanding that the USA is subsidizing the entire Accord. China will not be entering it for several years as does India. These two countries are the worst in adding pollution to the atmosphere. When all these treaties are both fair and equal it will be the time we signed.  ps Mike in you article on taste you used one of my father favorite idioms,De gustibus non est disputandum, though he used a more literal translation, " one can not argue taste. Which is somewhat of a thought we all should be observing. Because of one's idea or thought should not be so easily thrown out as it is someone thought or concept. We should accept these thoughts of each of us and not be so quick to discount it .. When growing up my dad would make sure we all, his children, understood as he put it" this house is not a democracy, whatever he said was law. No argument allowed. Even if your point was valid or true. Which left me with no other reaction to him was " thanks dad I never looked at it that way". That would leave him wordless as if he won, all of us as thinking caring citizens all thought and ideas should be thought about, discussed but never dismissed. This includes having a less than favorable opinion of those running the country or to those who wished they were in the white house. But with your opinion must come with reasons and proof. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

Donna,

The news from Barcelona (and Madrid) doesn't look good at all today.

I have to confess, I have been reading bits and pieces about this dispute for years and never dreamed it would get this far.  

Linda Weiner (Bennett)

The few times I started to reply to some political comments, I discovered someone beat me to it. It's a strange feeling to read something that you were about to write, as though your mind is being read (heaven help me if that ever really happens). As a Constitutionalist and fiscal conservative, since my beliefs seem just like Dr Jim's, I thought I could just copy/paste his posts, but if course that would be wrong for so many reasons.

So then I thought he could instead just sign my name along with his, until he stated his knowledge about global warming. Not that I disagree with him I must add. I'm certainly no scientist, but what I read is that there are lots, many, numerous, hundreds, thousands of scientists who are skeptical. Some even say it us a hoax. I try to weigh "evidence" from both sides, but I admit it is confusing.