Judith Curry has a very interesting discussion on the scale of clean energy that would be required to decarbonize the world to save it from the carbonic apocalypse while making green investors filthy rich.

judithcurry.com/2011/02/11/scale-of-the-clean-energy-challenge/#more-2326

Are the BBC trying to redress the balance? Brian Cox and Graham Norton

BH

Re O'Donnell vs Steig.

The email from O'Donnell quoted in the comment by Lucia is important, I think:

http://rankexploits.com/musings/2011/odonnell-apologizes-to-steig/

lucia (Comment#69195) February 11th, 2011 at 2:40 pm

bugs–

We couldn’t see a copy of those emails, could we?

This morning I wrote to Ryan asking a question I thought Rabett was addressing to me in his post. (Rabett used the word “Lucia”.) Ryan responded, and I would assume on that basis, added me to a list of people to whom he sent this;

Everyone,

I am going to take a break from this for awhile. I thank all of you for your kind worse, suggestions, and help. And just in case, while I’m gone, you get stuck in a corner, I will reprint below verbatim what I guaranteed to Eric. Revkin was copied on this as well:

“I explicitly stated that part of my problem with Eric’s post is that he twice misrepresented the references and selectively used the portion of my response that fit his argument. However, since he was not given our third response, he is unarguably owed both a public correction and an apology with respect to this part of my post. In addition to this, based on the above, I do not feel that my public characterization of “duplicity” with respect to the iRidge criticism is supportable enough for me to stand on the sidelines while it travels around the internet, and this term (along with other uses of “dishonesty”) will be striken. While some of you may disagree, as I was the one who made the original accusation, I feel that I should be allowed to withdraw it. I request that everyone run the correction and apology (both of which I will supply).”

I have apologized for exactly what I told him I would apologize for.

I apologized in a stand-alone post exactly as I told him I would do.

I have requested exactly the edits I told him I would request.

Ryan

This is my basis for believing that Ryan and Eric discussed this. I assume they discussed by email, though for all I know they discussed by phone, snail mail or what not.

I'm in danger of agreeing with George Monbiot and the Guardian 3-4 times in a week..!!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/feb/10/bristol-biofuels-plant-planning-permission

"Even – God help us – coal burning is a lot less damaging than this idiocy. Yet somehow the government still classes burning edible oils to make electricity as green, and issues renewables obligations certificates for it – which is the only reason why it's happening."

Ie the technological sceptical arguments are coming to the for, instead of green utopian vision.

Over at GWPF there is a report of a new unbiased temperature record covering 39,000 weather stations. It is going to be released in one month! Knowing what Anthony Watts discovered about the dodgy locations for some weather measurements, they are going to have to get a move on to visit them all to check their suitability!

Bish

Do you happen to know why Haunting the Library has gone quiet?

Your Grace,

Remember that question that the barber used to ask on a Saturday morning. " A little something for the weekend sir?" That raised joyous expectations for the allotted free time before starting to think about the return to work on Monday morning. Only those of a certain age group will, and for those of the youthful generation the barbers used to be the place for a gentleman's haircut.

Well expectations change as you, erhm mature, and raise a family which also provides moments of joy and thought stimulation which lift your spirits, one of which led me to think of raising a general question here for yourself and others to ponder over the weekend if I may.

It started when taking my young son to bed last night who instead of asking for a story was quizzical about a program, probably a cartoon, that he had watched earlier in the evening.
The program involved an extra terrestrial being landing and offering advanced technology and an unlimited source of energy to mankind (my embellishment) and included that age old phrase 'Take me to your leader'.
Now the question that my son asked and, if you fancy a little lateral thinking and a bit of fun this weekend, I will ask this of you all:

If an extra terrestrial being with advanced technology and an unlimited source of energy said to you 'Take me to your leader'. Who would you take them to?

Here is a list of some options but feel free to embellish or provide alternatives.
1. The government, DECC, Chris Huhne.
2. The Royal Society
3. The Army.
4. The CBI.
5. An environmental group, Greenpeace, WWF, Friends of the Earth.
6. The Monarchy, Prince Charles.
7. The Americans, the White House
8. The Chinese, the National Peoples Congress.
9. The European Union, Brussels.
10. Your missus, she knows everyone on Facebook.

Obviously there will be opinions for and against each of the above and probably more that I haven't mentioned but I wonder if a consensus will emerge?

Dread0

Let's be optimistic and hope that this is a bellwether.

Your Grace, El Reg is carrying a story about the Dutch Govt throwing "renewables" under the bus:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/10/holland_energy_switch/

It'll be interesting to see how long it takes our own Enviro-Hoons to catch on.