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John Maxwell

James Hamilton, M. D.

Linda,

You are correct in that cows (and other plant and grass grazers) contribute methane to the enviornment. A "polite" cow passes approximately 600 liters* of flatus per day. I think it was back in the '70's that some were talking about that being a major cause of global warming. So some would probably recommend vegitarian diets to help solve the problem. Of course, then we would become grazers and pass more flatulance.

* Who the heck was given the job to measure this??!!

Jack,

Yep, Janet and I always vote! It gives us the right to complain.

David Mitchell

Jim and Linda,

That is what I meant with my comment about sheep "gas" in New Zealand. (and I'm afraid I fall into your "beloved's" category - we should look into that idea)

I agree ther may be some debate about the cause. I am one who places stock in both natural and mandmade warming theories. But I can't grasp how anyone could argue that warming itself is not happening - and that man made air pollution is not even a factor. We hear the word Hoax used often by friends in (my own) GOP, but it begs the question - what hoax? Why does it have to be a hoax? Why do I have to beleive in a Hoax just becaue some on the same "Right" (as I am - sort of) claim it to be for some politically mandated agenda. I must be ignorant - prey, tell me, what purpose is served by a hoax - on either side? Debate, yes. But Hoax?

How much of a Hoax do we think it must be for millions of Island peoples, or for Bangladesh Dash, or for the entire Newport Virginia area? (or for the nervous hazard insurance industry as they ponder the next "Irene" with all that expensive air condtioning equipmet residing in the basements of large office buildings in NYC, Boston, Baltimore, etc.?) 

And just how many "studies" do we need? Are we not permitted to use our own God-given senses?

I am able to observe with my own eyes that many (if not most) snow capped peaks have lost much of their snowcover over the last century - (coincidentally, a century in which the automobile came into use). Snowcaps that feed agriculture and hydro power - as in "The Snows of Kilamanjaro". I don't need a "study" to learn that ocean temperatures have risen, and that coral reefs are dying. I already know enough people who live travel and work in such areas to hear it first hand. I don't need a "study" to read the news about the problems facing the Norfolk and Newport News areas of Virginia. Who needs another study to add to the countless photos and articles of polar ice cap shrinkage? And thank you, but I was able to SEE and SMELL with my own eyes and nose - (and without all the studies) - our "brown cloud" in Denver. 

This line of "reasoning" reminds me of the many studies in our lifetime about the effects of Television on children. Does TV affect children? Does TV advertising affect children? Does TV advertising of sugar coated serial affect children? Does TV advertisisng of music, toys, food, and violence affect children?  

How about a study on the bad influences on us (or our children) by the wrong kind of kids we ran with? Did that take a "study"? REALLY? 

More studies?  More experts? Are you kidding me? 

*(this goes right back to my earlier post about "ideologies" and dogmatic thinking. Why as a conservative thinker, am I not permitted, no, expected to use my own powers of observation?) 

David Mitchell

Larry,

I loved your litle story. Sounds so much like a book we were all reading in my Scout Platoon in Vinh Long. I think it was titled, "The Lafayette Escadrille" about those sonderful WW1 bi-plane pilots - including Eddie Rickenbacker (from Columbius Ohio) named in your article. We even nick-named our platoon the "Flying Circus" after Von Richtoven's group of pilots - from the same book. 

Mark,

That just gave me an idea. Another book, or play. Rickenbacker's life is quite interesting - from his early days prooving his german accent didn't make him a suspect - through those heroic years flying (as gifted a pilot and leader as ever) in France, to the years after teh war, when he becane the owner of the Indianapolis Speedway. I think they cast Fred MacMurray as Rickenbacker in the hollywood movie and held the wrold premier at the Ohio Theater in Columbus back in August 1945 (what a week?), and in attendance were Mayor James Rhodes, and Governor Frank Lausche.

David Mitchell

Right Jack!

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Onward to 2018! What a night. The people spoke and stood in the rain to do so. 

Frank Ganley

Jim to answer your driverless car question, I am all for it. With all of the advance gps, auto correct sustems I think it would be great. I love to drive, and I like to drive cars that have two seats, eight cyclenders, high test gas, and semi loud exhaust system. I my 50 plus years odf driving I have have had serveral cars that fit that discription, from a 64 barricuda,  66 malibu supersport , a 76 sl450 , a jag and a couple of vetts. No tickets and resonable insurance even for Florida the land of the free and hair of grey. Sppeed never thrilled me but power and torque are addictive. But as the years go on ah not so much anymore. My wife hates my driving and in the past 30 years I have only driven with her in the car no more that 5 times. I love it! I sit in the right seat and ride! I watch out the window, have a cocktail on the way to dinner or a party. Deb doesn't drink! My mind goes where it wants. I'm not sure of city driving but on the road , sit back turn aroiund, its like riding the train. Wish that was cheaper! When its ready I'm all in. If no one has driven a tesla yet , do it, what a thrill and talk about power , wow. I don't know how many accident free miles they have driven but so few accident to speak of. One death on the highway in a weird set of circustances with refelcting light but that has been rectifies. So on with alternative fuels, driverless cars and world peace. Better living through technology.

David Mitchell

Jim,

There is a piece in USATODAY about this very topic. With a cool little video. (in the TECH section)

Joseph Gentilini

I have enjoyed the conversation on global climate change - If I had to make a desition I would accept the research of most science and say it is real and made worse with our human print on it.

On the issue of driverless vehicles - I don't know how this would work.  Would I only be a passenger in the car and not worry about the stupidity of the other car drivers?  And what would they cost?  Probably a lot more than what I pay for my Toyota Corolla.  But, if I had one, maybe I would not be involved in as many accidents from my stupidity sometimes.

Michael McLeod

I know the Paris agreement is largely touchy-feely, Jim, Call me sentimental, call me idealistic, but there's a place for touchy-feely on the world stage. Touchy-feely can translate into action. The Civil Rights crusaders spoke of love amongst themselves, love, even, for those who hated them. Then they went out and used it, turned it into action, risked their lives, changed the country. Whenever the subject of Martin Luther King Jr. comes up in my classes I tell my students that the brilliance of his accomplishments rival the greatest insights and discoveries of the most brilliant scientists in history.

So harrumph touchy feely if you want to. I never will.. 

.

Timothy Lavelle

Larry...great short story. The peanut hook at the end was neat.

Frank...nominating you for "Drunk Uncle" award. Or maybe "Third time's the charm" award. Keep it coming you anarchist.

As an Independant voter I am so happy to see the Dems have been able to put up some wins.

Jim:  Driverless cars will come about, similar to robotic assembly and welding machines on production lines. The software will be far more complex but "if it is a profitable idea, it will move forward". Truck drivers of 'Murica are going to be the next species of worker forced to go to Mexico to find employment.

I have loved reading all you guys and gals and the passion. I especially love John Jackson and his "Jim, my good friend" because it reminds me so much of Danny Achroyd turning to Jane Curtain during an SNL news report and addressing her as "Jane, you ignorant slut"....which at the time made us howl. I'm sure John meant it literally but everything echoes of something else is my muddled brain.

James Hamilton, M. D.

John Maxwell

Linda Weiner (Bennett)

Look what I found:  Good ol Jerry Brown!

California Bans Cow Farts To Combat Global Warming - Your News Wire

California Bans Cow Farts To Combat Global Warming - Your News Wire

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

I am as ashamed as you are, Mike. Kathy Wintering

James Hamilton, M. D.

Jack is right on target that today's vehicles promote distracted driving! What with ever enlarging computer screens for GPS, text messages, bluetooth and other visual and audio distractions they have outpaced shaving and sipping hot coffee as dangers on the highways. We have two older SUV's which we keep in top shape and get us to wherever we want to go. When I need a GPS I take Janet and a Garmin or plan my trip the old fashoned way - with an AAA Road Atlas.

One medical fact here is important. As we age our eyes become slower at accomodation. That is when one looks at a close object - like a screen - and then switches to distant objects - like the road - or vice versa. Same principal as reading the newspaper or a book and quickly looking up at a television. In our youth our eyes focused quickly. At our age it now takes longer to do that. Think of it like the auto focus function on a camera; some are slower than others. When your car is travelling at 75 mph that extra second or two translates to about 100-200 feet. By the way, accomodation is independent of whether one wears glasses or not.

This is another area where autonomous cars might be of use. Many cars today already have sensors to brake the car if it approaches an object such as another car. Jack is therefore, also correct that the more distractions on a car, the more it needs sensors to overcome the problems created by those distractions. Up goes the price!

Driving is a full time, albeit temporary, occupation. I wonder what the generation upcoming who will be "operating" autonomous vehicles will do if they have to take their cars off of "auto pilot"? Will they be experienced enough to handle a variety of situations?

Any thoughts?

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Really Linda? 

John Jackson

On the question of self-driving cars, sign me up.   Just hope it happens before the kids come to take away the keys...

Joseph D. McCarthy

I would like to add one little incite as to allowing driverless cars, Driving Under the Control (DUC), of GPS.  I would be for it IF there was a way to override the system.  Many of you may not have heard, or forgotten, about the family who relied on GPS while traveling in Oregon in winter weather.  They were from California and were probably to young to know how to read a road map.  GPS directed them down a "Closed in Winter" road where they became stuck.  After days the husband set out to find help.  The wife and children were rescued days later; then they found the husbands frozen body.  This is just one of a number of such incidents.  Also, like Jim, I would not want to allow a GPS system to drive me around mountain roads where all I can see out the window is a 3,000 foot drop.

Enough said.

David Mitchell

From the same guy who just argued -  "Studies? We don't need no stinkin' studies" -- I just read an interesting article (study) today in USA Today that claims scientiests have discovered that the "mantle plume" under Antarctica is at 1,800 degrees and is a major cause in the melting fo the ice cap. And yes, that heat under Yellowstone is gaining a lot of attention for the size of it's potential power.

Score a couple for the "natural cause" guys.

Then I read about how the city of Delhi, India is becoming like a gas chamber to breath in.

Score one for the "man-made" team.

(BTW, I was not being facetious earlier when I spoke about the "sheep gas" in New Zealand having a major effect on the depletion of the ozone layer. Met a guy some years back from down under there who new all about it.)

And now "La Nina" cometh.

Reminds me -- can any of you remember when the Olentangy or the Scioto used to freeze hard enough to ice skate on them for miles up in our north end of town? I can recall some winters when there would be hundreds (maybe a few thousand?) folks down behind Whetstone park on skates - for several miles down towards OSU. We'd have "skating parties" and take food, and build a fire on the bank - stayed for hours on a Saturday afternoon.

David Mitchell

Jack,

Ditto  (#2231) !

There is that slow steady creep of technology in our lives that seems to disengage us from our surroundings.

Our "push button" world with machines that think for us. Masses of humanity all staring at their phones or their  "backlit" dashboards. And more buttons to push. There are so many things to read on the new electronic "media" dash panels in cars that you have to take your eyes off the road to do almost anything.

Analogue - then digital - then face reccognition - soon augmented reality.

Our parents grew up with radio, and "aeroplanes" delivering the mail. We grew up with a piece of furniture with a 9 inch screen showing test patters and "snow" projecting Sally Flowers and Flash Gordon out at us from a studio transmitter tower on Olentangy River Road - all the way into our living room.

My grandkids will grow up without having to know how to parallel park.  

I say it was all because of those damn digital watches. We should crush the faces of each of those devices and get back to sundails and hour glasses. 

Luddites Arise!

James Hamilton, M. D.

Frank Ganley

perhaps I was misunderstood about my love of driving. I love to drive, not fast but go thru the gears and feeling the power of torque in the tires. I learned a valuble lesson with my first Corvette was that tires on vetts don't come cheap and a Z rated tire never goes on sale.I hate highway driving. Going the same boring spped with cruise control on and the mind off. This is where I would use auto drive, sit back relax have a cocktail, smoke a big fatty and rnjoy the scenery at a comfortable speed, nap if the mood is right and arrive in one piece. Give me American horsepower, 6 speed transmission and a self driving mode on the highway. .

Michael McLeod

Meeska, Moooska, Mousketeers!

Mouse cartoon time now is here!