Earlier this week I claimed that scientists should take some responsibility for media misinterpretations of their work. Here is an example where scientists are wrongly blaming the media.

Today Science magazine published a paper on sea level rise by Tad Pfeffer (of the University of Colorado) and colleagues. the paper claims to have ruled out a sea level rise of more than 2 meters by 2100. The guys over at Real Climate have taken issue with the suggestion that 2 meters of sea level rise represents a step back from claims of higher potential increases. They write (emphasis added):

. . .we’ve just seen the initial media coverage where this result is being spun as a downgrading of predictions! (exemplified by this Reuters piece, drawing mainly from the U. Colorado press release). This is completely backwards. We stress that no-one (and we mean no-one) has published an informed estimate of more than 2 meters of sea level rise by 2100. Tellingly, the statement in the paper that suggests otherwise has no reference.

CNN had the following AP article on their website today. NOAA says that shorter-term pollutants from Asia may raise U.S. heartland temperatures by three degrees in about 50 years.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Smog, soot and other particles like the kind often seen hanging over Beijing add to global warming and may raise summer temperatures in the American heartland by three degrees in about 50 years, says a new federal science report released Thursday.

These overlooked, shorter-term pollutants — mostly from burning wood and kerosene and from driving trucks and cars — cause more localized warming than once thought, the authors of the report say.

They contend there should be a greater effort to attack this type of pollution for faster results.

CCF Note: There's an old expression that says you can hope in one hand and shit in the other, then see what fills up faster. Global warm-mongers hope the planet goes to hell with Gore laying down the bricks of good intentions, but science always seems to defeat their tired purposes. Our guide at The Daily Bayonet takes us down this road, showing the pitfalls and pratfalls of the environmental whackos. Enjoy.

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It's been an exciting week again, with the US political sphere dominated by the Republican National Convention while Canadians in turn will soon be off to the polls. 

Global warming is a topic that will raise it's ugly hoax-y head during the campaigns both north and south of the border, so here is this your weekly ration of denier ammo to take and use on the AGW believers in your life.  Have fun, say hi from me.

I'm not saying that today is an example of global warming, but it's pretty hot for September.

—Barack Obama, while visiting factory workers in Pennsylvania, implying a warm day in early September may be a sign of global warming. Summer officially ends Sept. 22.

Heard or read a quote you'd like to submit? Send it to CCF with a link for proper attribution and it will be considered.

Oil companies in Alaska are paying more money in taxes than ever before. The state's oil and gas tax revenues for its just-ended fiscal 2007 topped $10 billion. That's twice as much as fiscal 2006 and four times more than 2004.

Some supporters of Barack Obama see that money coming in and say that John McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, must have done what Sen. Obama wants to do -- sock those companies with a big fat windfall profit tax. This is a deeply misleading reading of her 2007 tax reform.

A few years ago, Alaska had a big problem. Despite high oil prices, the state's fiscal future was in peril because the state relies on only three aging oilfields for 80% of its oil and gas tax revenue.

In 2006, then Gov. Frank Murkowski, a Republican, proposed changing the state's tax on oil from a gross-revenue to a net-revenue basis. Instead of creaming 10% off the top -- which was how the mature oil fields were taxed -- Mr. Murkowski pushed to tax oil companies on their profits only, at a rate of 22.5%. The change in tax regime was meant to encourage investment in and development of new fields.

The Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has angered green campaigners by describing their view on climate change as a "hysterical psuedo-religion".

In an article in the News Letter, Mr Wilson said he believed it occurred naturally and was not man-made.

"Resources should be used to adapt to the consequences of climate change, rather than King Canute-style vainly trying to stop it," said the minister.

Peter Doran of the Green Party said it was a "deeply irresponsible message."

Mr Wilson said he refused to "blindly accept" the need to make significant changes to the economy to stop climate change.

This is a man [Obama] who has authored two memoirs but not a single piece of legislation.

—Governor Sarah Palin, during her speech at the RNC, refuting claims started by Obama's camp that she doesn't have enough experience to become vice president. According to NBC's Tom Brokaw, "She could not have been more winning or engaging."


Heard or read a quote you'd like to submit? Send it to CCF with a link for proper attribution and it will be considered.