Once thing that I didn’t mention in my post, Anthropogenic Climate Change Theory Versus Logic, is the over-the-top screaming that is going on in regards to climate change and alternative energy sources. This makes reasonable discussion almost impossible. In the attempt to (too) quickly get off of petroleum based fuels, ethanol has been getting a lot of attention. Too much attention, frankly, and the politicians are making out like bandits politically, because they can pander to the environmental and agricultural lobbies at the same time. This probably explains a lot of the energy (Pun unintended, but I’ll keep it anyways.) going into this, because rarely do politicians get to pander to two lobbies that are often at each others throats.

Palousitics, named Washington State’s Most Influential Political Blog for the week of Aug 26, did a post on what may be the best alternative fuel source so far, pond scum (no, I am not referring to politicians, but if we could harness their hot air…).

Apparently, some scientists at Utah State plan to create algae biodiesel factories. The post that seems to have started this is here: Algae Biodiesel May Soon Be Reality « Green Options.

However, the Palousitics post also contains some good information, too. I strongly recommend reading both.

Now, much of the emphasis on petroleum has been as gasoline and diesel. However, there is another use for petroleum that hasn’t been discussed much, and merits just as much attention…plastic. Look around your person, your home, your office. Look at the things you use everyday. Imagine your life without plastic: cell phones, computers, cars, toys, pens, aircraft…

There is also the lubricant class of petroleum products such as the always needed WD-40, the oil for your car, grease for most mechanical components. There is also the personal products used such as Vaseline®, Chapstick®, lotions, soaps, and some medications used petroleum products such as petroleum jelly (i.e., Vaseline®) as a carrier for the actual medicine.

While making cars, trucks, trains, and planes go is important, we must not forget the other products we use, for they too must be part of the equation.

Dr. S. Fred Singer (Professor Emeritus, Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia) recently outlined the logical flaws being espoused by those who speak of global warming (which is in error, as the recent snowfall in South Africa shows, and thus should be called, “global climate change”) as being caused by man (i.e., anthropogenic).

Part of the problem that these espousers have is the term “global warming”. By insisting on using that term they partially invalidate that which they espouse, because not all places are experiencing warming, but cooling (South Africa Dusted by Rare Snowstorm). If they stuck to “climate change”, they would put themselves on much sounder footing.

However, that being said, I did a report in high school (I wonder if I’ve mentioned this before. If I have, I’m sorry.) on the “Greenhouse Effect”. It was while preparing my report that I learned about the cycle that the earth regularly experiences regarding climate change. In fact, the primary book I used for my report (Let’s see, I believe that I did that report in 1987, so the book I used was older, therefore this has been known for awhile.) stated that we should soon be experiencing warming, as we were on the colder end of the cycle.

Have you ever seen stories on Greenland? Much of their energy is provided geothermally, and the majority of land is covered by snow and ice. Recently, there has been a decrease in the mass of ice on Greenland. However, have you ever wondered why it was called Greenland? Well, it seems as if some Viking warrior decided to cross the North Atlantic, and found a green land perfect for colonizing as it was green, and was the perfect place to grow crops. That means it was warmer 900+ years ago then it is now (or even projected to be based upon some current forecasts of climate change).

I freely admit that I am no climate changed expert, but Dr. S. Fred Singer is. I would also like to point out that neither he nor I are stating that climate change is not occurring. What he and I, and so many others, are saying is that there is no proof of climate change being anthropogenic, but a lot of evidence that this is a natural process.

The last few nights, while waiting for the dog to finish his last bit of business before going to bed, I’ve been looking up into the sky, staring at the starts. They’re beautiful. I grew up in the SF Bay Area, and the only time I saw a true plethora of stars, I was camping.

Now that I live in Moscow, ID, I can see so much more, but still, when camping I can see even more.

Today on Wired, with the requisite Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy reference, this exact issue was discussed. There is even an organization (of probably 5 people), who seek to reduce light pollution. A laudable goal, I think. It would be pretty cool if a city kid (like I once was, and probably still am to some degree) could look at the stars like I can now.