1st Swallow's yesterday, 19th April. Last year I first heard them on the 28th and the year before the 22nd. No idea what it means but the geese turning up last autumn 9 days quicker than the previous year seemed to say something.

Hi Andrew,
I like your blog and check it out most days. Thanks for all the time and effort you put in. I know your links list doesn't aim to be comprehensive, but some of your scientifically inclined readers might not know about www.CO2science.org. It is particularly strong on MWP and on ocean acidification, and also has a handy subject index. It is of course operated by the infamous Idsos, who are hated and reviled (or just ignored) by the climate establishment on account of their insistence on preferring observations to models.
Best wishes,
Coldish.

This was an Ad on the Independents website, I had a look and cannot find any educational content in this course, just brain washing. After a year you get an MSc Master in Global Environmental Change.

http://www.mgec.ie.edu/?gclid=COLbk-WRqagCFcod4QodBwirHg

The times they are a changin'

Interesting read at the Guardian Environment Blog penned by:-

Luciana Berger MP is shadow minister for energy and climate change.

“Threat to Climate Change Act is final nail in coalition's green credentials”

“That David Cameron is considering abandoning legally binding emissions targets is just another environmental failure”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2011/apr/19/climate-change-act-green-coalition

“The prime minister says that the process is about scrapping legislation that is a burden to industry.”

“Cameron says the responsibility will be on ministers to fight to save individual legislation. This is extremely worrying. There are already grave concerns that energy secretary Chris Huhne is becoming the most ineffective minister in Whitehall. Why hasn't he already made a public statement in support of the act and given the low-carbon sector the reassurance it needs?”

'It is technically and economically feasible for the world to be meeting all of its energy needs from sustainable renewable sources by 2050. We need to get on with it - and the UK, with its massive renewable energy resources, should be at the forefront of the green energy revolution,' says WWF head of climate change Keith Allot.

This guy is living in cloud cuckoo land.

"Rings reveal extensive yearly climate record"

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-reveal-extensive-yearly-climate.html

Dendro's back ... wonder if the analysis is any cop.

JoNova has an interesting take on the Australian government's attempt to usher in a carbon tax.

In the last month I’ve met a dozen mining and business leaders, 6 elected members of parliament, and I’ve spoken to 450 pastoralists in remote Australia. Each time the theme is the same: businesses are afraid of the tax, but they are also afraid to speak against it. The phrases I’ve heard specifically are “it’s a vindictive government”, and “they have long memories”. At least one of these business leaders was CEO of a household-name multi-billion dollar company... the most common answer to a question from one of our two major media outlets on the largest piece of legislation proffered for years, is “No Comment”.

This is quite astounding. I always thought it was only state employees who were afraid to speak out.

One for J4R's collection of oddballs who believe in global warming - this time it's Charles Manson:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1378178/Charles-Manson-breaks-20-year-silence-40th-anniversary-gruesome-Sharon-Tate-murders.html

I can see many things wrong with this story...including a possible re-boot of The Snowman, where after a night of walking in the air, he wraps his new found friend up in bubble wrap until the next year...can't have a sad ending these days.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-13114094

Crazy times.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/met-office-boss-received-death-threats-2269424.html

Could an FOI request cover the text of these claimed *death* threats?