Neat (no ice)

New reports from environment scientists conclude that the melting of the artic ice cap is accelerating. In addition to moderating temperature by absorbing and releasing heat (thereby melting and freezing), the fact that the ice cap is white reduces solar energy absorbed by the earth because a lot of solar energy is reflected (80%). As warmer temperatures melt more snow and ice, more of the sun's heat is absorbed, which melts more snow, and so on until there is no snow left.

Some want to fix the symptoms instead of the disease. They want to capture carbon dioxide from the air and store it, thereby reducing the greenhouse effect. How long until one of these dim bulbs suggests spreading white plastic at the equator, where it would reflect much more solar energy (because there is so much more there)? Their spinners will argue how these shades will help the poor in third world countries, likely adding something shady about freedom and democracy. Here's a "solution" that even the petrochemical-plastics industry can welcome.

Heck of a job, Brownie! You're fired.

Former FEMA chief Brown spent all day defending himself against an aggressive, almost entirely Republican Congressional panel grilling him on the failed response to Katrina. It looked a lot like a desparate effort to find a scapegoat. Brown has been helpful, accepting the role when he resigned shortly after the problems became apparent. Now it appears that either he is not willing to accept all the blame, or perhaps he believes there are additional problems. Oh really? How about the cronyism that led to an unqualified person being appointed in the first place?

Bush is looking tired. He's not used to these 8 hour days, day after day. After all, he hasn't had a vacation in about 3 weeks. First, he praised Brown, then gratefully accepted his resignation. Now he's musing about making the Pentagon the leader in domestic disaster relief. Some "solution"! After sending the state-controlled National Guard overseas, he wants to move the Army into the states. The Department of Defense is already responsible for the developing disaster in Iraq. Let's let them concentrate on that. Meanwhile, let's bring the National Guard, which has historically had a role in disaster relief, back home.

Heck of an idea, Bushie! Now show some character and resign.

NASA, then and now

There was a time when NASA sent out robots that did more than expected. NASA landed men on the moon and brought them safely home again. When accidents occurred, they got out their slide rules and figured out how to get the astronauts home. Now, NASA crashes probes into local planets because they mix metric and English measurements. Now, they can't launch or land safely. The engineers say "no" but the administrators hear "go".

What's changed? Here's a suggestion. Have a look at the old pictures of Mission Control. You'll note all the men with buzz cuts. These are not people concerned with appearances. I doubt if any of them ever trained to spin press conferences. They solved problems instead of addressing concerns or dealing with issues. And there is usually a pall of smoke obscuring the scene - cigarettes for working and cigars for celebration. Not many were worrying about their health.

Maybe, in this arena that demands precise and brutal force, we need renewed, absolute dedication to the job.

Fatso and Fatwa

Rush and Pat – one needs to get off drugs and the other needs his medication adjusted. Pat Robertson, who does business as a Christian minister, issued a fatwa encouraging the killing of an elected leader of a democratic country. Fortunately, Pat finally apologized. I'm not a professional, preacher, but may I suggest ministering or praying instead of killing? Rush Limbagh is supposed to have characterized Katrina's destruction of New Orleans as God's vengeance for sin – Sodom and Gemorrah updated. [In the Bible story, God agreed to spare S&G if Abraham could find even a handful of decent people in the city (Abe bargains respectfully with God: initially 50, finally only 10 innocents would have saved the city. Genesis 18).] I exposed myself to the big lies on his site for as long as I could take (although I happen to also think attributing Katrina to global warming is stupid - but not because there isn't global warming). However, I cannot find anything explicit in the transcripts. Plenty of pompous, arrogant, dangerous stupidity, but no explicit gloating.

Insensitive is insufficient to describe these two. Self absorbed stupidity is more accurate. Maybe they don't have any real friends left in their entourages - just a bunch of hangers-on, all dependent on the status quo. Hangers-on can help a famous person deny any problem, even if the problem is obvious to most independent observers. These people need their real friends or religious leaders or someone to tell them to take a breath - without expelling it through their vocal cords.