Unthreaded
I "subscribed" to Quadrant on line some time back and receive their newsletters occasionally.
This came in from them this morning...
THE TEST
This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test features a situation in which you will have to make a decision. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly and give due consideration to each line.
THE SITUATION
You are in Queensland , Brisbane to be specific.
There is chaos all around you caused by severe storms.
This is a flood of biblical proportions.
You are a photo-journalist working for the Courier Mail, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless.
You're trying to shoot career-making photos.
There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing into the water..
Nature is unleashing all its destructive fury.
THE TEST
Suddenly, you see a woman in the water.
She is fighting for her life, trying not to be taken down with the debris.
You move closer... Somehow, this woman looks familiar...
You suddenly realise who it is... It's Julia Gillard! You notice that the raging waters are about to take her under forever.
You have two options:
1. You can save the life of Prime Minister Gillard; or
2. You can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, documenting the death of one of the country's most powerful people!
THE QUESTION
Here's the question, and please give an honest answer...
Would you select high contrast colour film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?
peterwalsh
At the end of March the Met Office were forecasting a drier than average quarter ahead.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/p/i/A3-layout-precip-AMJ.pdf
At the end of April Richard was still hopeful that the forecast may be borne out (or was he hoping that April might yet turn out to be the driest of the three months?)
_________________________________________________________________________________
For the April-May-June forecast, we're only one month in, so let's see what happens... :-)
Cheers
Richard
Apr 28, 2012 at 11:27 PM | Richard Betts
__________________________________________________________________________________
Well, now we know: April to June has been the wettest since records began and more unsettled weather to come ... Sorry, Richard; still a fail (now on all counts!)
matthu
"Sir Mark Walport: ...Global Health Scientific Board and the Council of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise."
I am suspicious of any body that refers to itself as Global anything, starting with GLOBE and going on from there.
Messenger
I think things might be getting back to 'normal' He's big on science and says little on climate 'science'. From what I've read so far he's big on data...but not 'data' from computer models.
He may even take seriously the motto of the RS
confused
Walport Health impacts of climate change.
Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, responded to the series, saying: "Al Gore described climate change as 'An Inconvenient Truth', but the findings of this study offer a very convenient truth. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not only essential to help tackle climate change, it is also an important way to improve public health.
"We urge world leaders, when they meet in Copenhagen next month, to take account of the health impacts of different mitigation strategies, and to work towards a solution that improves both the health of our planet and its people."
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2009/News/WTX057672.htm
confused
Walport on transparency in science
'Sir Mark Walport, representing the Wellcome Trust, joined the common request for openness but argued that “transparency has limits”. Raw data can sometimes be useful for the public but if misinterpreted they can have the opposite result. That’s why he called for the implementation of certain rules that decide what information published and how information should be presented.'
http://requestinitiative.org/tag/sir-mark-walport/
confused
Prof Walport's first big test according to Bob Ward, who worked closely with a former chief scientist, Lord May, is to reverse the cutbacks in research spending.
If he's recommended by ward things look ominous...
confused
flout?
splitpin
Amazing the ability that governments have to flaunt their own legislation:-
"Federal Agencies Sued Over Failure to Disclose Correspondence with Wind Industry - Promise of Government Transparency Not Being Met"
"It’s ridiculous that Americans have to sue in order to find out what their government is saying to wind companies about our wildlife—a public trust,” said Kelly Fuller, Wind Campaign Coordinator"
http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/120626.html
Green Sand
CAGW Legacy
“In 2002, you could stand in 41 per cent of Scotland and see no visual impact from built development,” says Helen McDaid, of the John Muir Trust, which campaigns for wild land. “By 2009, it was down to 28 per cent, largely due to wind farms.” That figure, produced by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), will be even lower by now. It fell by 3 per cent in 2008 alone.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/9366706/Wind-farm-pylons-steel-giants-of-the-glens.html