A photo essay. What follows are a series of photos and comments that catalog my impressions of today.
As you may know, I’m attending the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting. After some hassle a couple of months ago, I was able to finally get a press pass:
![IMG_20131209_162335[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1623351.jpg?quality=83)
It took me three weeks, but I persevered.
First, my video gear case and tripod:
![IMG_20131209_122932[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1229321.jpg?quality=83)
During registration while waiting in line, some people recognized “WUWT” and I got a couple of dirty looks.
On my way to my first exhibit hall, I encountered this fellow:
![IMG_20131209_122143[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1221431.jpg?quality=83)
I suppose his method works just as well as some of the geoengineering ideas to stop climate change being floated here.
This was the first sign I saw walking into Moscone West:
![IMG_20131209_122342[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1223421.jpg?quality=83)
Sometimes climate scientist Richard Alley and an Open Mic at a Bar? I’d call that an Alley Ooops.
I assume he’ll be studying tipping points with James Hansen there? Maybe there will be dancing too.
Signs are big at this show, so is blogging apparently, though I’ve never heard of any of these.
![IMG_20131209_122711[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1227111.jpg?quality=83)
Apparently they need sign ups.
![IMG_20131209_130857[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1308571.jpg?quality=83)
My first session was the Ethics Workshop.
It addressed the lack of ethics in several hypothetical situations. But addressing the lack of people interested in ethical issues of science research might have been a better topic:
WUWT regular John Whitman was there and reports:
I was at this ethics session. The audience was divided into 4 groups. Each group was given Mickey Mouse (in my view) ethicaly hypothetical scenarios to evaluate and present to the other groups. My group had a plagiarism case.
Overall, it did give me the opportunity to see that the audience was not generally subjective in ethics.
If there is another ethics workshop like this one, I would decline attending on the basis that it did not deal with actual critique of ethic controversies in climate science.
Right after the ethics session, I ran into Kevin Trenberth in the hall, but he was too busy to talk, he ran off to the authors prep room to prep for his presentation. No chance for an interview.
Both Hansen and Trenberth are big this year:
![IMG_20131209_131005[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1310051.jpg?quality=83)
![IMG_20131209_151710[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1517101.jpg?quality=83)
Trenberth gets an award for climate communications? Nobody can explain this and it is a travesty that we can’t.
I hear plain English works best for communicating science.
![IMG_20131209_131350[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1313501.jpg?quality=83)
This looks like a billboard that you’d see for ambulance chasing attorneys along the highway:
![IMG_20131209_131354[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1313541.jpg?quality=83)
Some people protest against fossil fuels with their electric fossil fuel powered laptops. Irony impaired I suppose.
![IMG_20131209_145107[1]](http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_20131209_1451071.jpg?quality=83)
The thing that struck me most was the sheer size of this convention and the number of people attending…and almost everyone of them is doing it on the taxpayer’s dime.
Up next, the descent into poster normal science.
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Reg at 11:00 am.
– – – – – – – –
dbstealey,
Thanks for your response.
In my bold emphasized statement above I imply McNutt said other ways than traveling to attend conferences will need to be used more.
Indeed, McNutt listed the same kinds of resources you listed that scientists will need to use more of instead of conference attendance.
John
Reg Nelson@11:00am:
LO-freakn-L!!!
Janice Moore, you need to show more enthusiasm. 😉
UPDATE => Featured AGU talk by James Hansen
After the audience was assembled and it came time for James Hansen to take the podium, the leader of the AGU announced that Hansen was indisposed (her word) and could not speak. No other info was given as to why he could not speak. I sincerely hope he well.
John
When the leader of the AGU announced that James Hansen could not make a speech she went on to ask of there were any IPCC representative who would speak instead. There were no takers as I exited the room with a very large portion of the audience.
As I went out the door I heard her say, “well I tried ” or something like that.
Again I express my sincere hope that James Hansen is well.
John
What? Really? Why did Hanson not speak? It would have been VERY interesting to hear him try to out do himself!
Mario Lento says:
“What? Really? Why did Hanson not speak?”
It was probably too cold for him to go out.
Louise says:
December 10, 2013 at 3:58 am
I’m wondering if “Louise” is one in the same as “Chandra” who infests Bishop Hill?
The resemblance is uncanny.
Follow up.
I’m back at my hotel now after being given the boot at one of the sessions where I was recording it because they had no ADA hearing assistance. I find when I can record the session and play back later on headphones, I can understand what is being said. Ironically the session I was booted from was on”communicating science to the public in plain English”.
Right as the Hansen meeting was clearing out I went up to an AGU official, identified myself as member of the press, and asked if Hansen was ill. She said no. I asked if it was a travel or weather delay, again she said no, saying only it was a “last minute scheduling conflict” and would not elaborate.
I’m back at my hotel now after being given the boot at one of the sessions where I was recording it because they had no ADA hearing assistance
—-
What sad lot these people are. I don’t think I’ve ever run across more despicable group of people in my life.
And aren’t these sessions being streamed for free anyway?
dbstealey says:
December 10, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Mario Lento says:
“What? Really? Why did Hanson not speak?”
It was probably too cold for him to go out.
+++++++++++
Always an honor to have you respond to me! So far you answer could be true. Hanson must be disappointed that the weather is not following his mandate!
Louise says:
December 10, 2013 at 3:58 am
Anthony – when are you going to start reporting on the contents of the AGU sessions/meetings? That is what the blog sponsors who have paid for you to attend expect (rather than just posting some snaps).
+++++++
Louise: You’re not representing those of us who did help with fees. Anthony is incredibly adroit with communications – and we always get way more than we expect, hence WUWT is the best most visited science blog site in the world. I know it’s asking a lot, but please have a modicum of respect.
Perhaps they refused Hansen’s request to turn the thermostat up to 85F prior to him making his grand entrance.
John Whitman says:
December 10, 2013 at 12:04 pm
My guess is that she is concerned about increasing costs of travel. Maybe the government has begun to restrict tax deductions for travel to conferences or lectures and for accommodations at the conference or lecture. Maybe they have begun to restrict use of government grants for travel and accommodations.
Darn: I got moderated presumably by responding to Louise… ?
[Ask not from whom the mods toll, lest they mod for you. .. Mod]
@ur momisugly Can Man — THANKS!!! #(;))
**************************
Re: Refusing a hearing impaired member use of A.D.A. aids or reasonable substitutes
[AGU], what a class act that outfit is. Oh, I would really want to be a member of THAT group — NOT!
Disgusting.
********************
My dear A-th-y,
We are, indeed, so proud of you. Way to hang in there. A lot of people would have just gotten out of that cesspool and gone home. Here are some other guys who were treated like crap — and just look what they accomplished!
In the end, TRUTH WINS!
AGW is so over.
You go, A-th-y Watts!
Your devoted fan,
Janice
@ur momisugly Mario — you probably used one of the magic words. And, yeah, maybe Looowheeze has become one of them. Looking forward to reading your scathing post, heh!
I mean AGU! lol, Freudian, no doubt.
What if?
http://www.amazon.com/Chandra-B.-Louise/e/B001KCAAFM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Hi Janice: I wrote (minus looeez’ name): You’re not representing those of us who did help with fees. Anthony is incredibly adroit with communications – and we always get way more than we expect, hence WUWT is the best most visited science blog site in the world. I know it’s asking a lot, but please have a modicum of respect.
And I do not CARE if James Hansen (or any of those other l1ars) are on that AGW train when it crashes into the ravine. They have b1ood on their hands.
I got moderated again. Perhaps is was using the word “adroit” when referencing Anthony?
[Nope. 8<) mod]
Janice: The common word that is getting me moderated is using the “owner of WUWT’s”. I posted in response to Loo-eeze:
Louise says:
December 10, 2013 at 3:58 am
[Owner of WUWT’s site] – when are you going to start reporting on the contents of the AGU sessions/meetings? That is what the blog sponsors who have paid for you to attend expect (rather than just posting some snaps).
+++++++
You’re not representing those of us who did help with fees. [Owner of WUWT’s site] is incredibly adroit with communications – and we always get way more than we expect, hence WUWT is the best most visited science blog site in the world. I know it’s asking a lot, but please have a modicum of respect.
I bet that many of them think you are “just a child” while they are “emperors”….
(:<))
We might agree! Because you have clear vision…
============================================================
… and they have no clothes!
Dear Mario,
Just a little note to tell you that the word you used was… (A-th-y).
#(:))
Thank you, I enjoyed reading your post every time. Right on!
Your WUWT pal,
Janice