Monday, August 19, 2013

Increased Coastal Flooding May Cost World $1 Trillion/Year by 2050 / A Denier's Declaration

They're talking about a cost of $1 trillion/year for increased coastal flooding in the world by 2050. I repeat, this is just for increased flooding of coastal areas, like New York, Miami and, of course, New Orleans, all up and down our coasts and coasts around the world. It doesn't include the additional costs for increased flooding we're already seeing in our inland areas and those elsewhere in the world.
 
I know, 2050 is out there 30-some years, but it's going to be increasing for those in-between years, too, as it works its way to something like that $1 trillion. And some experts quoted in the article linked below believe both the assumptions and the $1 trillion are too conservative. More, this is only the latest of several studies and articles I’ve seen on this.
 
To read the NBC News.com article (8.18.2013) discussing the study, click here, or on the link below:
 
But, like some of you, I’ve become frustrated at the lack of response by the U.S. public and government—not to mention the deniers. We’ve observed study after study, and natural event  after natural event, each more conclusively confirming the existence and increasing impact of climate change and global warming—and the significant role played by human choices in it. After reading the article linked above, I found myself uncontrollably writing this rather sarcastic “denier’s declaration” that represents to me what global warming deniers seem to consistently say, but  consolidated into a couple paragraphs. Let’s just put it under the heading of personal catharsis. Here it is:
Of course, all we folks with common sense know there is no such thing as climate change and global warming--after all, someone is always crying wolf about something. And naturally, we keep listening closely to the TV and radio people who keep telling us the truth about that. We know all the pointy-headed scientists are smoking something. I mean, they get the rocket-to-Mars stuff right, and all the medical and technology stuff, too, but they just refuse to tell the truth about this climate change stuff. They have their own agenda.
But even if there were such a thing, and even if it were getting worse, it's not our fault. We’re Americans, and we have a right to satisfy what we think our needs and wants are at a price we can afford. We’ve earned it. And ridiculous efforts and costs to reduce environmental risk--even to avoid catastrophe--are an unnecessary and unfair burden on us. Tax someone else. We are not responsible for what we do not foresee (or later choose to ignore if it becomes an unexpected reality). We have a right to deny it, or deny responsibility for it, when it doesn't seem right or fair. And this isn’t fair.  Am I right, or am I right?
 

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Doonesbury's Take: Republicans' Challenge With Women


This is the Doonesbury strip for Sunday, August 18, 2013. It can be found on the Slate site simply by Googling Doonesbury.

DOONESBURY

Doonesbury


Okay, right up front: apologies to my Republican and conservative male friends, especially my, "...white, straight--sometimes or often angry--well-armed, evangelical" male friends. Apologies, of course, because the most effective political humor incorporates a certain amount of exaggeration, sometimes a considerable amount. But there is also enough truth in it to make the folks in question very uncomfortable, even angry. Against those criteria, this is a very effective and funny strip.

Please, all hate mail should be directed to the Doonesbury comic strip, not to me.


Replacing Ben Bernanke: Summers or Yellen? - TIME

Next January, Chairman Ben Bernanke will end his long-held and effective stewardship of the Federal Reserve, having steered us away from a depression and to recovery. And however much the economy continues to struggle back through slow growth, he deserves our gratitude for doing what the Fed reasonably could do while the Congress could agree on nothing, and did nothing.

Now President Obama must choose a replacement worthy of the continuing challenge. The two most likely choices appear to be Larry Summers and Janet Yellen, both accomplished and well qualified. But, as Rana Foroohar, Time's economics commentator ("The Curious Capitalist") explains, each brings differing strengths and some questions with their candidacy.

The author argues for the very capable Ms. Yellen, so the article (linked below) is understandably a little short on the considerable service and list of accomplishments of the highly respected, but more controversial, Mr. Summers. As for me, I need to read and think about it all some more. You might, too. But this article is as good a starting place as any. And either choice will doubtless raise some controversy and opposition in one camp or another.

Link:
Why Yellen Is a Smarter Choice for Federal Reserve Chief Than Summers - TIME


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Taking Wing: Virtuosity & Vanity or Identity & Passion


I chanced upon a couple of my reflections from earlier but quite different times and circumstances. And, although they could appear conflicting, they nonetheless appeared to me to complement each other well--well enough that I placed them together among the information on my Face Book page. I thought I should do the same here.

  • Like Icarus, we would fly closer to the sun, but consumed by our virtuosity and vanity, we forget we have but waxen wings to carry us there. Better we should find peace and joy in who we are, and what we can do, in the light and the life the sun provides.

  • Yet, sometimes we just must do it (whatever it is), and do it with passion, because that is who we are, because it’s what we’re called to do, because it’s our journey. And we know it because it speaks to us from some unknown place at the core of our identity, and that is assurance enough. To ignore it is to become in some important way lost to who we are—and to leave a hole in the affairs of our time where we and our work were supposed to be.
Greg

Monday, August 12, 2013

"Rita" by Bebo Norman, A Favorite & Why

           
Greg Hudson has shared a video with you on YouTube.           
"Rita," is my favorite song by Bebo Norman--and that's saying something for me--with "The Hammer Holds" running a close second. It's a poignant song about the early passing of a sister in faith. Humanly, sadly touching, yet softly assured and assuring, this is a song worth listening to.

(Click on highlighted "Rita" or picture to hear song. Lyrics below.)
 


Lyrics:                  

Lay down softly in our sorrow
Lay down sister to die
And cover over, my sweet Father
Cover over her eyes

Your broken body, it cannot weather
The years your youth still longs to spend
So go down graceful, sleep with the angels
And wake up whole again

‘Cause it was not your time; that's a useless line
A fallen world took your life

But the God that sometimes can't be found
Will wrap Himself around you
So lay down, sister, lay down

Slower passing are the hours
To tell this tale that takes its time
But the finest moment, no man can measure
Is to look your Savior in the eyes

So take her tender to Your table
Take her from this killing floor
To taste the water that is forever
Let her be thirsty no more

It was not her time; that's a useless line
A fallen world took her life

But the God that sometimes can't be found
Will wrap Himself around you
So lay down, sister, lay down

And the God that sometimes can't be found
Will wrap Himself around you
So lay down, Rita, lay down
          
                      
©2013 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066