This is the five thousandth published post on WUWT, since this is a computer written blog, publishing the number in binary seemed appropos. 1388 for you hexadecimal fans.
I don’t have anything profound to say. It is just a number, and other blogs have reached and exceeded this number, so it is no biggie. But, I will share a few thoughts.
- I find myself running the most visited climate related website in the world. I never set out to do that, it just happened to turn out that way. WUWT has been a part of climate history, partly by skill, partly by persistence, partly by luck.
- I think of blogging much like I did my days of broadcast TV, it is a 24/7 occupation. I’m always “on”.
- I’m proud of what this blog has achieved. I’m proud of the reach we have.
- OTOH there are things I’m not proud of. I’ve made some stupid mistakes, said some things I regret, and sometimes I’ve let my emotions get the better of me. I’m human. That said, I’ve learned much too. I’d like to think I’ve learned from mistakes and that I’m better at this job now than when I started.
- I’m thankful for the supportive community we have here. I was stunned and gratified that you all came to my aid in getting funds to publish the surfacestations paper. Know that all of you have my sincere gratitude.
- Some days it is a struggle to post something new. From that I realize that I’m tired, probably I need a vacation. I haven’t really had one in several years where I can “disconnect”. Every business trip or even trips with the family inevitably turn into another station survey. My kids know what an MMTS and Stevenson Screen is. They shouldn’t.
- I get more email every day than I can respond to. For those of you that have sent inquires and never got an answer, know that I’m sorry for that. I have to choose what time I have.
- I’ve made thousands of friends, and probably an equal number of enemies. Some days it is a sobering thought. As a result, I have had to be more diligent with my home and business security than I did before.
- I wish I was thirty pounds lighter. I spend way too much time in front of a PC.
- I worry more than I used to. Life seems far more complex than it was 4.5 years ago when I first started doing this. Getting things done seems harder than it used to be.
- Living in California has become depressing. Owning a business in California even more so. The regulation and business climate here is insane. Just today I learned our electricity rates would be going up to pay for Smartmeters. Pissed I am.
- I thank Steve McIntyre, who has always been an inspiration. He set the standard. I’m sure he feels many of the same things I do.
- I’m doubly grateful to the volunteer moderators and guest authors. Without you, I’d be toastier than I am now.
- We live in interesting times, times get more interesting with each passing day.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
The later part of the twentieth century saw the decline of truth, honesty, integrity, common sense and logic in politics,science and our places of learning. Anthony and most people who post on this site seem to have escaped the rather unfortunate decline in manners and sensibilities. Thank you Anthony, I oft see you give people a quick lesson in manners. Science is a quest for the truth, the philosophers stone, the god particle. It is well that this endeavour to seek the truth is open and beyond the control of big brother, the internet it would seem is the final frontier, the last bastion of free thought and dissemination of ideas. Mr Watts sir, I feel you may be remembered in history as a beacon, shining a light of truth in a rather sad and dark period of science.
Thank you Anthony. It is a pitty that you do not have a $ for every post & comment on here, because you would be financially rich as well as rich in the human attributes that matter most.
Hey Anthony
As Bob Tisdale says:
May 10, 2011 at 5:11 pm
“thank you and the moderators for all of the work that goes into maintaining WUWT and keeping it a nice place to exchange information thoughts.”
Anthony and Mods, I bring my kids here.
Thanks, Jack
Well done Anthony, not to forget the mods and guest writers.
tonyb
Time for you and the family to take a get-a-way. Look into this:
http://www.clubmed.us/cm/all-inclusive-family-vacations_p-115-l-US-pa-FAMILY-ALL-INCLUSIVE-VACATION-DEAL-ac-od.html
And if you are really thinking about leaving Kalifornia may I again suggest the Gulf Coast of Florida. Beautiful warm waters, wonderful weather, no state income taxes, limited supply of left wing nut jobs. Nothing to worry about except an occasional hurricane, but as a meteorologist that should intrigue you.
You have made a substantial contribution Anthony to science. Your site is a place that allows a balanced view to get an airing, I for one am grateful to you and all your contributors and readers who add comments that enriches the experience of visiting here. This being the only site I visit nearly everyday. Thank you.
Anthony, you may not have set out to run the No.1 climate blog, but by keeping the mind open and the discussion polite you’ve ensured it anyhow. And do make time for that vacation – with a bit of advance notice, I’m sure the “usual suspect” guest posters could keep thinks ticking over for a while, and the rest of us can keep an eye on the “Tips and Notes” until you return. Make it a cycling holiday and you can deal with that 30 lbs at the same time! 🙂
Thank you for restoring my faith that there is science in climate.
Many thanks Anthony and the moderators. Running a civil and informative web blog is a significant achievement.
Anthony, I check your blog almost every day.
I deeply appreciate that the discours is civil and always comes back to the facts.
The reference pages are just great.
You have enabled the interested layman – me – to get a real idea of the debate and the facts.
Thanks a lot.
Antony,
I visit your site every day and much appreciate it. If you have time to think about the weight issue there is a good possibility I can help you lose it ‘cos I do some amateur research on diabetes and obesity.
Diabetes (2) is soley caused by trans-fats. Most (90%+) of obesity is caused by trans-fats in the UK/USA. While diabetes (which is caused by the poisoning of something called the modifies electron transport chain in pancreatic beta cells by trans-fatty acids) is mostly incurable (but is curable in some genetic sub-types), obesity caused by trans-fats is always curable. This is for the simple reason than most body cells (except beta cells and CNS cells etc.) die off on average every two years and you grow replacements. When the new cell and mitochondrial wall’s fat component is made up from natural cis-isomer form fatty acids then glucose transport is restored to normal and metabolism is restored to normal also, There is a repair element to the improvement as well. Anyway – and this is all too brief – the idea is that replacing trans fats in your diet by natural fats your metabolism is restored and the weight peels off without effort. I lost eight stones in two years down to a normal BMI without any effort. Most of the weight loss comes in the first year peak rate of loss being between months 3-5 typically. Diabetes 2 will improve slightly or be fully cured in about 20% of cases.
All you do is ban the trans-fats, I don’t know what the labelling system is where you live but in the UK there is no labelling required. The most dangerous trans-fats can only be inferred from the “polyunsatrurates” labelling. As a minimum remove all non cold pressed oils from your diet and take a minimum of 1 tablespoonful of either cold-pressed hemp oil or cold-pressed flax (linseed) oil a day for a year or two thereafter maintain a couple of teaspoonsful a week. Take off the spoon or integrate into food. Roast and fry only with animal fat or olive oil.
Obesity, diabetes, CV disease and Alzheimers are largely manufactured by the medical profession, the pharmaceutical industry and the food industry all of whom are mad-keen on killing people for money. They make the AGW scammers seem like innocent children.
Anthony,
Discovering WUWT has: set me on a road to enlightenment (scepticism); brought many friends and acquaintances; increased my knowledge about many things and led to my discovery of others; entertained me; inspired me to greater things. Thank you.
Do plan a vacation. When you come back you will feel invigorated and work and life will seem easier. There are plently here to hold the fort for you and keep WUWT busy and thriving.
I’ve long wanted to write something like the following and this is the perfect post.
infrequent commenter bit long, long time reader.
Not sure when my interest in climate science started but I started to read more and more articles in the press and magazines that quoted scientific studies that just didn’t sit right with me. I remember thinking that claims about C)2, its behaviour and it’s properties just were not as I recalled from my earliest physics lessons. That eventually led me, as it should everyone interested, to here.
I can’t thank Anthony enough for the job he has done and continues to do despite how difficult it surely is to take a stance that is, well, I hesitate to use the word ‘opposite’, but opts to at least promote open discussion on why claims made in the support of anthropogenic global warming ( and its subsequent re-named and re-hashed progeny) might not always be as they seem and could well have motives other than the laudable ‘saving the planet’
The articles here are always informative, well attributed, always cited and more importantly, fair and balanced.
The wealth of knowledge I have gained since visiting here the first time is priceless. I know more about areas that I’d previously had little interest in and for that I am grateful. So much so that I am considering a PhD in this area (probably paleo-climatology) just so that I can speak with a little authority on so much that I believe is wrong and underhand by many already in the field. (long story and I’ll need more stats-based credit first)
It’s sad that this blog is attacked by many already entrenched in their views who would better serve science by having a debate than a slanging-match.
But the blog is here and it’s evident how grateful we all are for the work that Anthony, the contributors and blog moderators continue to do for what can only be intellectual reward.
One other thing that I must mention is that despite the wealth of knowledge gained from the posted articles and various off-shoot pages here there is also a treasure-trove of education to be had from the commentators. It would be crass to point out any individuals amongst so many fantastic posters but suffice to say that the community is incredibly knowledgeable and on the whole, honest, open and willing to debate based upon fact. It’s a shame that such does not exist in many other places purporting to ‘teach’ us of the causes and ‘dangers’ of climate change.
I just want to thank you all. You make a good part of my day worth looking forward to.
I’m not a numerologist; but I occasionally hear a lunatic lady numerologist on late night radio, and she can explain and predict anything just from a few random numbers.
Would she predict the exact same events, if all the numbers were in binary; or would the whole of history be changed ??
How about heaxadecimal.
Why don’t they cut off everybody’s big toes and thumbs at birth, so that hexadecimal became our normal counting mode automatically. Hey if they can cut off other important body parts at birth; why not big toes and thumbs. Some people are all thumbs anyway, so they could benefit from losing a couple.
Well anyway Anthony, somehow by sheer random HS luck and accident; you have created a monster here, and the greens, don’t quite know how to control it. Don’t believe those who say you can only do this by hard work. You know better than I do , that isn’t so. That’s why you fall asleep in front of the T&V in the evenings; plain boredom is what does it.
In any case Anthony, now you kow that when you need to rattle the tin can for a good purpose; there’s a good supply of equally crazy people out here willing to help.
Just based on the stuff you manage to find, and post here, I can’t wait to see the paper in print. Does Joe Romm have to pay real money for all the guff he writes ?
It remains to be seen whether the Feds, finally wise up, and decide to do something to rectify the pestilence that you and your gang of volunteers have dug up, to shine a light on.
Congratulations.
“”””” Geoff Sherrington says:
May 10, 2011 at 6:19 pm
If you could derive the information and tell us a wants list like “More people needed in 20-30 age group with qualifications in earth sciences” or “political activists we see on other blogs” or “media reporters”, to pluck 3 categories from the air, it would help us recruit.
Anthony already attracts readers, and commenters, from the most varied backgrounds. I haven’t been able to leave the flat (apartment) since 2009. Still waiting for a reply to my job application. (Sorry to copy it all, but I haven’t worked out how to link to individual comments.)
from:George Will: The Green Bubble Has Burst
Posted on June 4, 2009 by Anthony Watts
Allan M says:
June 6, 2009 at 3:09 am
This blog is becoming obsessed with pianos. They have been mentioned twice in one week now.
At this point , I would like to offer myself for the post of:
Honorary Emeritus Resident Pianist, Ex Symposium to WUWT
As a great-great-great-grandpupil of Beethoven (true), I feel I am excellently qualified for the post (but please, not the acronym). “””””
Well Geoff, I couldn’t play the piano, if my life depended on it; but I do have a two cylinder Yamaha, which sadly nobody plays. I am, however, an accomplished gramophone player; and do it regularly when I have the house to myself. But despite that complete lack of talent, I did take some organ lessons, from a very accomplished University music Student. She started me out at about F A C E and whatever the hell goes in between, along with some kindergarten instant piano books. Now I am taking my lessons on this giant 4-manual pipe organ in a local Church, and I bought myself a two manual electronic (Allen) church organ. So for about my fifth lesson, I arrived at the Church with the score for the Cesar Franck Fantasy in C- Major, Opus 16, perhaps the easiest of those 12 giant works of the French Organ Literature. She thought I was stark raving mad. So I kept plugging away at it, until one day, sitting at that magnificent 4-manual, I played the entire fantasy through without a single mistake. So her French teacher was a pupil of Cesar Franck, which makes me just three generations disconnected from Franck, and I think it is only about five more generations back to JS Bach.
Well with my bad eyesight, I simply can’t read the music well enough, to keep it up, and some circuit board in my Allen crapped out, so I don’t have the instrument available to keep up the practice. Well my former teacher, can instantly play anything written on paper, on the piano, or organ or cello, totally sight unseen, and never heard before starting to play. That’s real talent. And yes I’m sure she still thinks I’m stark raving mad.
So do keep up your piano skills Geoff, and give a shout when you can play his Opus 106, and Opus 110. I envy you.
“My kids know what an MMTS and Stevenson Screen is. They shouldn’t.”
—————————————————
Au contraire, Anthony. You have given them the greatest gift a parent can – you have shared your life, and passions, and knowledge, with them.
WUWT and Climate Audit have triumphed because they combine commitment to integrity with a demand for civil discourse. One or both is generally lacking in most sites (on either side) that roam over this territory.
I dips my lid to your work ethic. It is an astonishing achievement to keep this up, and keep improving, over the years. Wrangling guest authors, volunteers, your own research, plus family and business, makes your average mega-entrepreneur look like a wimp. Sustaining quality control over it all is even more impressive.
Like other posters, I implore you to look after your health and family, and maybe think about how WUWT could be reconstituted so that you don’t have to expend so much personal energy on it. People will complain about any change, but it is clearly nothing like the original enterprise.
Very best wishes to you and yours.
Thanks for all you do and for the list of the real reasons why this blog is, by far, the best climate blog and probably the best science blog.
Your wife and kids need to contact Willis, tell him he’s taking over the site for a week, and then kidnap you. Leaving anything with internet capability home. 😉
After that you can move to Texas or some other rational state.
In a world full of chicken littles you are an oasis of common sense. Congrats Anthony!
I see no reason why you cannot grow this good thing even further! I see it as an investment opportunity for many, including myself.
Let us know if that opportunity exists.
As always, thanks for helping us see through the fog out there. 🙂
Thank you for an Island of sanity in Bedlam.
Bedlams latest:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13335683
I would like to hear your comments on YOU TUBE “THE MAGIC OF MR ROSSI”
Tom in Florida says:
May 11, 2011 at 5:25 am
Though I agree with everything Tom said, check out Sebastian and Sebastian Inlet on the East Coast of Florida. The big difference: waves! The East Coast has them. Surprisingly, most of the Florida coast is not overbuilt. Sebastian Inlet looks virginal. Of course, it is a tad lonely at times.
Thank you Anthony, mods and guests.
A short verse, in appreciation, by that well known wordsmith – anon
Work like you dont need the money,
Love like you’ve never been hurt,
Dance like there’s nobody watching,
Sing like there’s nobody listening, and
Live like it’s Heaven on Earth.
I was a very early visitor to this site, and have had a WUWT fix daily since. I don’t now know why, but I was investigating Stevenson screens, and came across Anthony’s whitewash versus paint versus nothing scheme and was hooked. The site transformed the study of ‘climate’ for me, some of it is way over my head, but most is so well presented, that even an old surveyor like me can ‘get it’.
I have also been so impressed with Anthony’s good manners and willingness to hear all comments, yes even the trolls, provided only that they are not foul or insulting. You won’t get that with the other side of the argument, because they lost the argument once and for all with Climategate, yet another WUWT ‘tour de force’
Well done Sir, you must be exhausted, but if you come to England, or should I say when you come to England, give us plenty of notice so that we can give you the same support that the cousins ‘down under’ have done for you.
May I suggest a schedule for blogging? Say, the first 25 days of each month, then nothing for the remainder? That would give everybody (Anthony, mods, contributors, guests, me, etc.) a common schedule and every month from 3 to 6 days of R&R–we could affectionately call it WUWT25.
Just a silly suggestion, but a common break would put us all on the same schedule and optimize our work and our “off” periods. I’m guessing we’d still get the same amount of content and discussion.
Congratulations Mr. Watts
There was a time when I thought Nigel Calder, Michael Crichton, and I were the only skeptics alive. It’s been good to chance upon the eagle’s nest. –AGF