This evening is for me the anniversary of an extraordinary night which had me just rivetted to my computer. I picked up the vibes of something really big happening around 10pm on 19th, and swapped from blog to blog to work out what was going on. After seeing a number of cautions of possible malware payloads in the 'hack' zip file, I finally downloaded it from the russian server at 01.20 on the 20th. (GMT). I think it was about 4am before I fell into bed. Extraordinary times.

It is also, (via WUWT I think) the anniversary of my finding the Bishop, and joining his congregation. I am tonight toasting his Grace, (and all the associated bloggers) with a healthy dram or three of good scotch, and thanking him for providing such an informative, entertaining and lively blog. I''ll also raise a glass to my fellow congregants (yes, even ZDB) for their wit, wisdom and companionship over the year.

Here's to the Bish.

Delingpole in the Express, for a change.

I found this Rupert Soames speech to Scottish Parliament 12th November 2010 via Pielke Jr rather brilliant and spot on.

http://www.aggreko.com/media-centre/press-releases/speech-to-scottish-parliament.aspx

It is a very sober piece of work, there are some points that really stick out, he starts by stating he isn't a denier, some highlights.

* I believe that it is a bad idea to keep on pumping billions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.
* I believe that doing so is likely to contribute to climate change. Since I own a house on the West Coast which is within a few feet of the High Water Mark, I declare a very personal interest in not seeing the ice cap melting and sea levels rising.
* I believe that Scotland is advantaged in terms of renewable resources and can use them to build long term competitive advantage.
* I believe that demand for electricity, far from declining in rich countries, will increase quite substantially as we move to de-carbonise transport.
* I believe that in an uncertain world, it makes sense to have diverse sources of energy.

So far, so impeccably politically correct.

...

I also believe that in many countries politicians have found that Energy Policy is an irresistible sand-pit in which to play. Talking about Energy and CO2 reduction allows them to project all sorts of appealing political characteristics; clean, caring, modern, technically-savvy, far-sighted, broad-minded; and all this could be achieved without any real consequences, no matter how bonkers the policy. So far, politicians have had the luxury of sounding good by setting targets which are so far out in time that whether they are sensible or achievable or not, nobody can possibly know.

...

First, as our ship heads towards the rocks, it is important that people who talk nonsense are not allowed on the bridge to distract the Captain and Navigator. Before anyone is allowed onto the bridge, they should be asked the following questions:

* Do you believe that we can de-carbonise power generation without significant amounts of nuclear power?
* Do you believe that we can cut domestic electricity consumption by over 30% by 2020?
* Do you believe that the first new nuclear power station can brought into full production by 2018?
* Do you believe that it is feasible that we could have more than 10% of our power generation coming from wind?
* Do you believe that tidal energy is going to make a meaningful contribution in the next fifteen years?
* Do you believe that the world is going to run short of gas in the next forty years?

If they answer yes to any of these questions, they should be banned from the bridge.

...

There is video of the speach on that link too.

Lord Stern with his 10 pence worth again.

A British climate change economist at the heart of international negotiations on a greenhouse gas deal says the United States faces a trade boycott if it fails to rein in its carbon emissions.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8144232/stern-warns-of-us-dirty-exports-risk

You there Josh?

There's a bunfight over at Lucia's Blackboard, and they're calling for you!

lucia (Comment#60682) November 17th, 2010 at 7:45 am

Roger Pielke Jr.

I will fight back against any efforts by Judy to take my title!! ;-)

Well watch! Would any cartoonists like to commemorate this epic battle between Judy and Roger?

http://rankexploits.com/musings/2010/most-debunked-x-in-y/

Very early days......

www.realclimategate.org

I thought I might as well jump into the blog debate first hand.
Lots to learn about Wordpress

Barry

Guess where the Grauniad has posted a report with a map and pictures of the Cornish floods?

That's right, under "Environment: Climate Change". http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2010/nov/17/cornwall-floods

Why am I not surprised?

James Delingpole column in the Telegraph via RealClearPolitics:

"Why the BBC cannot be trusted on 'Climate Change': the full story"

blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100063937/why-the-bbc-cannot-be-trusted-on-climate-change-the-full-story/

Just as we start winter, and the weather deteriorates, and with gas prices already set to rise significantly, our eminently sensible masters in Brussels decide we should shut an entire gas field down, so as not to upset the yanks who've taken agin the Iranians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-11773735

Guardian: "web users unite to power climate change project"
Home PC users invited to carry out pioneering research by tracking links between global warming and extreme weather
By running advanced climate models while their PCs are idle, participants will estimate how often heatwaves, floods and hurricanes will strike in the next few decades. The initiative will also indicate how much of the blame for these events can be attributed to greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/nov/17/weatherathome-climate-change-weather-project