The Week That Was: 2014-02-08 (February 8, 2014) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project
Quote of the Week: “When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” ― Socrates Number of the Week: 0.60 miles per day
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Un-Science or Non-Science? Writing in Bishop Hill, Andrew Montford observes that once climatologists get a new generation of climate models into the open, as may occur with the Assessment Reports of UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the climatologists spend the next few years writing papers on their analyses of the outputs of the models. They do not attempt to validate the models against actual observations, which those engaged in empirical research and model testing would do.
The publication of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) was accompanied by a new round of climate models – the CMIP5 climate models. CMIP stands for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, under the World Climate Research Programme. “The Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison (PCMDI) archives much of the CMIP data and provides other support for CMIP. PCMDI’s CMIP effort is funded by the Regional and Global Climate Modeling (RGCM) Program of the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division of the U.S. Department of Energy‘s Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program.” http://cmip-pcmdi.llnl.gov/
On his blog, Roy Spencer presents his updated analysis of 90 CMIP5 Climate Models. Over 95% of these models over-estimate the observed warming, the surface warming as measured by HadCRUT4 and the atmospheric warming as measured by the University of Alabama in Huntsville. These models that overestimate global warming since 1983 are being used to justify many environmental and energy policies in the US. As Spencer reports, these models should not be used to force expensive and property-destroying energy policies down our throats.
In August 2013, the White House reported to Congress that Federal Climate Change Expenditures in FY 2013 amounted to $22.6 billion. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) share amounted to $4.572 billion. By far, the largest single category was Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ($1.8 billion). As the major funder of the PCMDI-CMIP effort, the DOE has the responsibility to the US taxpayer of insisting that the CMIP models be rigorously tested and validated (only one model can be valid). DOE has failed to do so, and it is clear that DOE has a financial incentive not to do so. See links under Challenging the Orthodoxy, Un-Science or Non-Science?, and http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/legislative_reports/fcce-report-to-congress.pdf
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Funding Failure: Last week, TWTW reported that the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean array of buoys is failing for lack of maintenance. These buoys monitor the warming and cooling events in the equatorial Pacific, known respectively as El Niño and La Niña, which are important natural for climate change. About 50% of the NOAA-maintained buoys are not reporting. The budget for maintaining the buoys fell from about $10-$12 million to $2-3 million. Somehow Washington can spend $22.6 billion in 2013 on climate change but not maintain critical instruments on understanding weather and climate change. The amount for buoys is tiny compared to DOE spending on renewables.
TWTW Reader Timothy Wise reminded us of a GAO report last February, which stated that there is a significant timing gap between the end of scheduled life existing satellites, and replacement with new satellites. The US has two complementary sets of satellites, polar-orbiting ones, and geostationary ones. They are used by weather forecasters, climatologists, the military, etc. According to the GAO report, the timing gap between end of scheduled life and replacement with new satellites could span from 17 to 53 months or more, depending on how long the current satellite lasts and any delays in launching or operating the new one. As reported in past TWTWs, based on three separate, but somewhat overlapping government reports, the US has spent some $165 billion on climate change since 1993, but the US cannot spend the money needed to maintain critical instrumentation. Another source for funds is the $8 Billion in “Energy Payments in Lieu of Tax Provisions in the FY 2013 Federal Climate Change Expenditures. A new report will not come out until early 2015. See link under Measurement Issues.
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Plateau: NOAA, and other entities that report annual temperatures, are becoming desperate on how to report a no trend in global warming. They mislead the public by stating that last year was the X — warmest on record rather than stating bluntly that there has been no surface warming trend for 16 or 17 years. It is somewhat similar to Fridjof Nansen’s small team crossing southern Greenland in 1888. After finally climbing the mountains in the southeast they came to a huge plateau. For days they crossed it, not knowing if they would come to a mountain range or a warm valley as some had speculated. Finally, they came to the mountains in the southwest that also ring the plateau. The crossing took 49 days, including the time spent climbing and descending the mountains. Are we on a similar plateau about temperatures?
Some scientists predict temperatures trends will rise, other predict they will fall. Regardless if the temperature trends rise, or fall, the failure of the models to predict the plateau is all too evident. The models are unsuitable for establishing government policies on climate and energy use. See links under Defending the Orthodoxy and Measurement Issues.
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New Hot Spot: The old hot spot cannot be found. The falsely claimed human fingerprint to global warming (actually whatever the cause) of a distinct warming trend centered about 10 km (33,000 feet) above the tropics does not appear on satellite or weather balloon measurements.
An article in the Wall Street Journal brought up a warm area in the northeast Pacific off the coasts of Canada and Alaska. Bob Tisdale examined the hot spot and reported that the anomaly may be a great as 7 degrees F. But according to Tisdale, the ARGO buoys show no unusual warming (or cooling) event for the top 700 meters, “so the warming event appears to be surface related.” In a personal communication, Joe D’Aleo writes it has survived there for six months. Simply, the cause of this hot spot is not known at this time. See link under Changing Weather and Article #2.
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Fraying Solidarity: The problems with the 95% certainty of the climate science and surveys that 97% of scientists agree that [fill in the blank], are creating problems in the climate establishment. The general public is becoming increasing skeptical. In his article “Science can’t settle what should be done about climate change,” Mike Hulme, Professor of Climate Change in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and of Climategate note, argues for a more politicized atmosphere for addressing global warming/climate change. TWTW suggests the science has long been political. It is set up in a manner that does not produce a scientific solution. There is no effort to attempt to validate the models, on which the entire climate establishment depends. It is clear the climate establishment cannot model natural climate change, which is a necessary step to successfully modeling the human influence. See links under Problems in the Orthodoxy
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More Fraying Solidarity: The long-delayed approval process for the northern leg of the Keystone Pipeline to bring oil from Canada to Nebraska, and then to the Gulf Coast, is producing discord in the environmental industry and in organizations that support them. Some leaders of the environmental industry are questioning if the fight against Keystone is an issue they should continue. Even the Washington Post has editorialized in favor of Keystone. The oil will move whether or not Washington approves it. The question is who will benefit the most.
The White House had the audacity to announce the decision will not be a political one. For over 5 years it has been little else but political. No doubt, the administration will delay the decision until it becomes clear it can no longer use an impending decision for political advantage, such as fund raising. See links under: Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up, Questioning Green Elsewhere, and Washington’s Control of Energy.
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Drilling in Britain: The opposition to smart drilling for natural gas in deep shale is now proposing to stop the drilling by bringing up property trespass – can a drill pass under their lands, no matter how deep underground, without the property owners permission. Andrew Montford suggests a simple way of averting the issue. Repeal the Petroleum (Production) Act 1934, which nationalizes ownership of onshore oil and gas resources. He states that shale gas development will take place on a voluntary basis.
Writing in Master Resource, Robert Bradley makes a similar argument for private mineral rights in South America. One difficulty may be size of land holdings and acquiring rights of way. It remains to be seen if such actions are forthcoming. See links under Energy Issues – Non-US.
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Number of the Week: 0.60 miles per day. The Wall Street Journal reports that as of January 31, 2014, the application for the northern leg of the Keystone pipeline has been under approval review for 1960 days. The leg is 1179 miles long. This works out to 0.60 miles per day, or 0.025 miles per hour (mph).
According to the Guinness Book of Records, “in a speed test carried out in the Seychelles, a male giant tortoise could only cover 15 feet in 43.5 sec (0.23 mph) despite the enticement of a female.” So there you have it. A male, giant tortoise of the Seychelles can be enticed to move about 10 times faster than the Washington bureaucracy in considering the Keystone pipeline. http://hypertextbook.com/facts/1999/RachelShweky.shtml
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ARTICLES:
For the numbered articles below please see this week’s TWTW at: www.sepp.org. The articles are at the end of the pdf.
1. The Stealth Carbon Tax
By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Feb 3, 2014
http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/02/the_stealth_carbon_tax.html
2. Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent
Weather Experts Blame Oceanic Quirk for Extreme Cold and Unusual Warmth Across U.S.
By Robeert Lee Hotz, WSJ, Jan 31, 2014
3. Robert Bryce: The Real Climate ‘Deniers’ Are the Greens
While renewables subsidies have punished Europe, shale gas has cut U.S. emissions
By Robert Bryce, WSJ, Feb 2, 2014
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304007504579346774109467020?mod=ITP_opinion_0
4. Rising Coal Use Clouds Europe’s Future
Turn Away From Gas Seen Impacting Continent’s Industrial Base
By Stephen Fidler, WSJ, Feb 6, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Striking graphic on difference for natural-gas prices for selected countries.]
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NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Challenging the Orthodoxy
95% of Climate Models Agree: The Observations Must be Wrong
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Feb 7, 2014
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/02/95-of-climate-models-agree-the-observations-must-be-wrong/
Climate Scientist Who Got It Right Predicts 20 More Years of Global Cooling
By Barbara Hollingsworth, CNSNews, Jan 28, 2014
Obama Misled on Climate Change Facts
By H. Leighton Steward, Politix, No Date
http://politix.topix.com/story/10271-obama-misled-on-climate-change-facts
2013: The NASA/Hansen Climate Model Prediction of Global Warming Vs. Climate Reality
By Editor, C3 Headlines, Jan 31, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
Looking at the last refuges of AGW theory that fails data scrutiny
By Joseph D’Aleo, ICECAP, Feb 3, 2014
Defending the Orthodoxy
2013 sixth-hottest year, confirms long-term warming: UN
By Staff Writers, Geneva (AFP), Feb 05, 2014
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/2013_sixth-hottest_year_confirms_long-term_warming_UN_999.html
Questioning the Orthodoxy
Fighting the Wrong Battle: Public Persuaded About CO2 As Pollutant – Not As Cause of Warming
By Tim Ball, WUWT, Feb 5, 2014
The Polar Vortex: Climate Alarmism Blows Hot And Cold
By Larry Bell, Forbes, Feb 2, 2014
It’s time to get rid of the EPA
By Bill Wilson, Fox News, Feb 5, 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/02/05/it-time-to-get-rid-epa/
Global Warming’s Tree Ring Circus Brings Us The Costliest Show On Earth
By Larry Bell, Forbes, Feb 2, 2014
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2014/02/04/global-warmings-tree-ring-circus/
Social Benefits of Carbon
Evolution in Natural Vegetation: The Role of C02
By Staff Writers, SPPI, Feb 6, 2014
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/evolution_in_natural_vegetation_the_role_of_c02.html
Link to paper: Evolution in Natural Vegetation: The Role of C02
By Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change, Feb 5, 2014
http://www.co2science.org/subject/e/summaries/evolutionnaturalco2.php
Health-Promoting Effects of Elevated C02 on Medical Plants
By Staff Writers, SPPI, Feb 5, 2014
Modern Transportation and Food: How Carbon-based Fuel Kept the ‘Third Horseman’ in Check
By Pierre Desrochers, Master Resource, Feb 3, 2014
http://www.masterresource.org/2014/02/modern-transportation-vs-famine/
Problems in the Orthodoxy
Science can’t settle what should be done about climate change
By Mike Hulme, The Conversation, Feb 4, 2014
http://theconversation.com/science-cant-settle-what-should-be-done-about-climate-change-22727
Hulme tries to throw all scientists under a bus. It’s just “the debate is over”. Cook, consensus take collateral hit.
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Feb 5, 2014
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]
A methane mystery: Scientists probe unanswered questions about methane and climate change
By Roz Pidcock, The Carbon Brief, Jan 31, 2014
Seeking a Common Ground
The Overselling of Climate Modeling Predictability on Multi-Decadal time Scales in the 2013 IPCC WG1 Report – Annex 1 Is Not Scientifically Robust
By Roger Pielke Sr. WUWT, Feb 7, 2014
The global warmer’s dilemma
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Feb 7, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/2/7/the-global-warmers-dilemma.html
Link to press release: NERC signs MoU with multinational energy company Shell
By Staff Writers, Natural Environmental Research Council, Feb 7, 2014
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/press/releases/2014/03-shell.asp?cookieConsent=A
Will The Overselling Of Global Warming Lead To A New Scientific Dark Age?
By Patrick Michaels, Forbes Feb 3, 2014 [H/t Bud Bromely]
What scientific ideas are ready for retirement?
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Feb 2, 2014
http://judithcurry.com/2014/02/02/what-scientific-ideas-are-ready-for-retirement/
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org
Atmospheric CO2 Helps Oak Trees Recover from Natural Disasters
Reference: Day, F.P., Schroeder, R.E., Stover, D.B., Brown, A.L.P., Butnor, J.R., Dilustro, J., Hungate, B.A., Dijkstra, P., Duval, B.D., Seiler, T.J., Drake, B.G. and Hinkle, C.R. 2013. The effects of 11 years of CO2 enrichment on roots in a Florida scrub-oak ecosystem. New Phytologist 200: 778-787.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/feb/4feb2014a1.html
Modelling Decadal to Centennial Climate in the Equatorial Pacific
Reference: Ault, T.R., Deser, C., Newman, M. and Emile-Gray, J. 2013. Characterizing decadal to centennial variability in the equatorial Pacific during the last millennium. Geophysical Research Letters 40: 3450-3456.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/feb/4feb2014a2.html
Ault et al. write “these findings imply that the response of the tropical Pacific to future forcings may be even more uncertain than portrayed by state-of-the-art models because there are potentially important sources of century-scale variability that these models do not simulate.” Such uncertainty must be adequately addressed before model projections can be taken seriously.
Including the Stratosphere in Models of Global Climate Change
Reference: Marsh, D.R., Mills, M.J., Kinnison, D.E., Lamarque, J.-F., Calvo, N., and Polvani, L.M. 2013. Climate change from 1850 to 2005 simulated in CESM1(WACCM). Journal of Climate 26: 7372-7391.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/feb/5feb2014a1.html
[SEPP Comment: If “the models overestimate the short-term cooling following large volcanic eruptions,” the models may overestimate the cooling effect of aerosols, and the warming effect of carbon dioxide.]
Modelling the Asian Summer Monsoon: Another Revealing Analysis
Reference: Sperber, K.R., Annamalai, H., Kang, I.-S., Kitoh, A., Moise, A., Turner, A., Wang, B. and Zhou, T. 2013. The Asian summer monsoon: an intercomparison of CMIP5 vs. CMIP3 simulations of the late 20th century. Climate Dynamics 41: 2711-2744.
http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/feb/5feb2014a3.html
Models v. Observations
+++Government abandons temperature records+++
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Feb 4, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/2/4/government-abandons-temperature-records.html
Carbon dioxide is still a greenhouse gas of course, but it is startling to realise that the government has effectively abandoned the temperature records as evidence for global warming. Everything comes down to the climate models.
[SEPP Comment: If the data does not agree with the models, discard the data?]
Measurement Issues
Mitigating Gaps in Weather Satellite Data
By Staff Writers, GAO, Feb 14, 2013 http://www.gao.gov/highrisk/mitigating_gaps_in_weather_satellite_data/why_did_study#t=0
U.S. Dec/Jan Temperatures 3rd Coldest in 30 Years
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Feb 3, 2014
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/02/u-s-decjan-temperatures-3rd-coldest-in-30-years/
[SEPP Comment: Limited to 350 NOAA/NWS stations that report every 6 hours, not only the maximum and minimum. Many of the 350 stations are at airports.]
Satellites show no global warming for 17 years 5 months
By Christopher Monckton, WUWT, Feb 6, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/06/satellites-show-no-global-warming-for-17-years-5-months/
[SEPP Comment: Others may look at the entire satellite record and argue that it shows no warming trend for at least a decade.]
CRU produces something useful for a change
World temperature records available via Google Earth
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Feb 6, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/06/cru-produces-something-useful-for-a-change/
[SEPP Comment: The issue is how accurate are the measurements and the coverage?]
Changing Weather
The End of Snow? New York Times hypes yet another warmist lie that snow is disappearing
By Joseph D;Aleo, ICECAP, Feb 7, 2014
Most Great Lakes ice since the mid 1990s – 78.5% coverage
By Joe D’Aleo, ICECAP, Feb 8, 2014
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/in-the-news/most_great_lakes_ice_since_mid_1990s_785_coverage
Great Lakes ice cover spreading rapidly; see which lake set a new record
By Mark Torregrossa, Michigan Live, Feb 6, 2014
http://www.mlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2014/02/great_lakes_added_11_percent_i.html
It is going to be close, but we may be living in a historic winter with regards to amount of Great Lakes ice. .. We will see some fascinating ice sculptures if we get a big wind that breaks the ice, and piles it up.
The Hotspot in the North Pacific
By Bob Tisdale, Climate Observations, Feb 5, 2014
http://bobtisdale.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/the-hotspot-in-the-north-pacific/
January Rainfall Stats [UK]
By Paul Homewood Not a Lot of People Know That, Feb 3, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/january-rainfall-stats/
Changing Climate
California Dreamin’ Of Wetter Times
By Doug Hoffman, The Resilient Earth, Feb 5, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://theresilientearth.com/?q=content/california-dreamin-wetter-times
California drought: Past dry periods have lasted more than 200 years, scientists say
By Paul Rogers, San Jose Mercury News, Jan 25, 2014 [H/t Climate Change Weekly]
http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24993601/california-drought-past-dry-periods-have-lasted-
A ‘smoking gun’ on the Ice Age megafauna extinctions
By Staff Writers, Copenhagen, Denmark (SPX)¸ Feb 06, 2014
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/A_smoking_gun_on_the_Ice_Age_megafauna_extinctions_999.html
When winter really was winter: the last of the London Frost Fairs
By Cahal Milmo, Independent, UK, Jan 31, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice
Why is there so much Antarctic sea ice?
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Feb 3, 2014
http://judithcurry.com/2014/02/03/why-is-there-so-much-antarctic-sea-ice/
CryoSat shows Arctic sea ice volume up 50% from last year
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Feb 5, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/05/cryosat-shows-arctic-sea-ice-volume-up-50-from-last-year/
[SEPP Comment: Does thick ice cause extreme cold in Washington by shifting the circumpolar vortex?]
Greenland’s fastest glacier reaches record speeds
By Staff Writers, Munich, Germany (SPX) Feb 05, 2014
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Greenlands_fastest_glacier_reaches_record_speeds_999.html
Link to paper: Brief Communication: Further summer speedup of Jakobshavn Isbræ
By Joughin, Smith, Shean, and Floricioiu, The Cryosphere, Feb 3, 2014
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/209/2014/tc-8-209-2014-metrics.html
Arctic lakes show climate on thin ice
By Staff Writers, Paris (ESA), Feb 05, 2014
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Arctic_lakes_show_climate_on_thin_ice_999.html
Link to study: Response of ice cover on shallow lakes of the North Slope of Alaska to contemporary climate conditions (1950–2011): radar remote-sensing and numerical modeling data analysis
By Surdu, et al. The Cryosphere, No Date
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/167/2014/tc-8-167-2014.html
[SEPP Comment: Generalizing from the North Slope of Alaska to the entire Arctic. Model simulations are used to estimate values prior to 1991.]
Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine
Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack: Climate change wreaking havoc on farmers
By Brian Hughes, Washington Examiner, Feb 5, 2014
[SEPP Comment: A Secretary of Agriculture who fails to recognize the benefits of carbon dioxide to agriculture.]
Un-Science or Non-Science?
What to do with a hot model
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Feb 2, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/2/2/what-to-do-with-a-hot-model.html
Link to paper: Decline of Arctic sea ice: Evaluation and weighting of CMIP5 projections
By Snape & Forster, Journal of Geophysical Research, Jan 29, 2014
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013JD020593/abstract
Link to second paper: Arctic amplification dominated by temperature feedbacks in contemporary climate models
By Pithan & Mauritsen, Nature Geoscience, Feb 2, 2014
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/ngeo2071.html
Oh my! Climate change threatens to cause ‘trillions’ in damage to world’s coastal regions
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Feb 4, 2014
Link to study: Coastal flood damage and adaptation costs under 21st century sea-level rise
By Jochen Hinkel, et al. PNAS, Jan 29, 2014
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/01/29/1222469111.abstract
[SEPP Comment: According to the abstract: The global costs of protecting the coast with dikes are significant with annual investment and maintenance costs of US$ 12–71 billion in 2100. The press release is overblown.]
Forest emissions, wildfires explain why ancient Earth was so hot
By Kevin Dennehy for Yale News, New Haven CT (SPX), Feb 06, 2014
The modeling calculations were performed on Yale University’s omega supercomputer, a 704-node cluster capable of processing more than 52 trillion calculations per second.
[SEPP Comment: The definitive word?]
Lowering Standards
Parliamentary feedback
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Feb 3, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/2/3/parliamentary-feedback.html
Compared to existing model estimates, it is likely that climate feedbacks will result in additional carbon in the atmosphere and additional warming. This is because the majority of poorly represented climate feedbacks are likely to be amplifying feedbacks.
[SEPP Comment: Unreal!]
State of the Union
Breaking Down Obama’s Energy and Environment Plans in the #SOTU
By Ken Haapala, Somewhat Reasonable, Feb 4, 2014
http://blog.heartland.org/2014/02/breaking-down-obamas-energy-and-environment-plans-in-the-sotu/
Opinion: Climate rhetoric undermines rational decision-making
Obama’s State of the Union address employed language tricks to bolster global warming scare
By Tom Harris, Vancouver Sun, Feb 4, 2014
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?
Veteran German Journalist On Met Office Global Temperature Forecasts: “It Is Stunning, But Some Never Learn”!
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Feb 6, 2014
Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
Americans’ Mental Health is Latest Victim of Changing Climate (Op-Ed)
By Marlene Cimons, Live Science, Feb 3, 2014 [H/t Jo Nova]
http://news.yahoo.com/americans-39-mental-health-latest-victim-changing-climate-185245229.html
Members of Psychologists for Social Responsibility worry that continued inaction on climate change will only bring more of the same. The group recently wrote to Congress, urging lawmakers to address climate change to avoid a mental health catastrophe.
[SEPP Comment: Special pleading. No one has suffered from hurricanes, floods, droughts, heat waves, cold weather, etc. before? If there is mental health suffering, it is from two decades of alarmism – correctly called propaganda.]
Flat Temperatures, Still More Ills
By Robert Bradley Jr. Master Resource, Feb 5, 2014
http://www.masterresource.org/2014/02/flat-still-more-ill/
[SEPP Comment: More on the claimed ills from no global warming.]
How to convince your friends to believe in climate change. It’s not as hard as you think.
By Brian Palmer, Washington Post, Feb 3, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Tropical disease arguments work for those who are ignorant that in the 1800s diseases such as malaria broke out north of the Arctic Circle.]
Keystone: The Pipeline to Disaster
By Jeffrey Sachs, Huff Post, Feb 3, 2014
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-sachs/keystone-the-pipeline-to_b_4716229.html
Expanding the Orthodoxy
U.S. to launch ‘climate hubs’ to help farmers face climate change
By Jeff Mason, Reuters, Feb 5, 2013
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/02/05/usa-climate-hubs-idUKL2N0LA04N20140205
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the effects of climate change have led to a longer crop growing season in the Midwest, a fire season that is 60 days longer than it was three decades ago, and droughts that cost the United States $50 billion from 2011-2013.
[SEPP Comment: If the first assertion is true, it demonstrates the absurdity of the entire concept – longer growing seasons are harmful?]
Questioning European Green
Europe Starts To Run, Not Walk, Away From Green Economics
Editorial, IBD, Feb 5, 2014
German industry says energy reform plans threaten jobs
By Madeline Chambers, Reuters, Feb 2, 2014
http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCABREA110DU20140202
Renewable Energy’s Eroding Support: Former German Chancellor Schröder “Warns Of Revolt Due To High Electricity Prices”
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Feb 2, 2014
UK floods: Environment Agency accused of ‘putting birds before humans’
Peers say they were told by officials from the agency that it could not protect the railway line at Dawlish until it had considered the possible impact on local birdlife
By James Kirkup, and Sam Marsden, Telegraph, UK, Feb 6, 2014
Questioning Green Elsewhere
Keystone report from State Dept. puts common sense back in the pipeline
Editorial, Washington Post, Feb 5, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
Keystone Pipeline to Be Built Because There’s No Reason Not To
By Jonathan Chait, Ney York Magazine, Jan 31, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/01/keystone-pipeline-to-be-built.html
Green Jobs
Terence Corcoran: Poo, power, profits and the cult of green investment
By Terence Corcoran, Financial Post, Via GWPF, Feb 6 2014
http://www.thegwpf.org/terence-corcoran-poo-power-profits-cult-green-investment/
[SEPP Comment: GWPF shows the striking drop in the Renewable Energy Industrial Index, the stock index of the world’s 30 largest renewable energy companies. From a peak of over 1800 in 2008 to a low of below 200 in 2013. So much for the promise of sustainable green jobs and prosperity.]
Funding Issues
Inspector General: Global Climate Change Program Data May Be Unreliable
By Alissa Tabirian, The Foundry, Feb 7, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
UK Gov’t Spends £ Millions Lobbying Itself for Bigger, More Intrusive State.
By Raheem Kassam, BreiTbart, Feb 5, 2014
Link to the report: The Sock Doctrine – What can be done about state-funded political activism?
By Christopher Snowdon, IEA, Feb 5, 2014
There is strong evidence of similar funding patterns in the USA and Australia. In earlier papers it was argued that state-funding of politically active organisations subverts the democratic process and squanders taxpayers’ money.
The Political Games Continue
‘Secret science’ must end, Republicans declare
By Ben Goad, The Hill, Feb 6, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Long needed – the EPA is less than transparent.]
Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes
$7b paid in carbon tax to reduce CO2 by 0.3% and cool us by zero degrees
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Feb 6, 2104
Australia’s environment minister denounces carbon tax
By Staff Writers, Canberra, Australia (UPI), Feb 5, 2013
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Australias_environment_minister_denounces_carbon_tax_999.html
Exporting greenhouse gas emissions
By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Feb 6, 2014
http://scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/exporting-greenhouse-gas-emissions
[SEPP Comment: Exposing the folly of imposing duties on the importation of goods that require large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions to manufacture.]
A Meat Tax? Seriously?
By Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, Feb 7, 2014
http://www.forbes.com/sites/taxanalysts/2014/02/07/a-meat-tax-seriously/
Link to the paper: Ruminants, climate change and climate policy
By Ripple, et al. Nature Climate Change, Dec 20, 2013
http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v4/n1/full/nclimate2081.html
[SEPP Comment: Addressing arguments for sin taxes to stop global warming/climate change. Human breathing increases CO2 concentration of the air used by about 100 times, is breathing a sin?]
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
Spain prepares curbs for renewable energy subsidies
By Staff Writers, Bloomberg, Feb 4, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
[SEPP Comment: Spain is discovering that “free” wind power is unaffordable.]
Don’t Expect Electric Cars To Save The Environment
Editorial, IBD, Jan 31, 2014
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/013114-688535-electric-cars-wont-save-the-earth.htm
[SEPP Comment: Subsidies for status symbols do not necessarily help the environment.]
EPA and other Regulators on the March
EPA pushes new pollution standards for military ships
By Tim Devaney, The Hill, Jan 31, 2014
EPA piles up billions
By Ben Goad, The Hill, Feb 7, 2014
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/197839-epa-touts-billions-in-fines
Link to report: Enforcement Annual Results for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013
By Staff Writers, EPA, Feb 7, 2014
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcement-annual-results-fiscal-year-fy-2013
[SEPP Comment: How much of this goes to actual protection of public health?]
EPA Overreach Hits the Poor
By Larry Belll, Newsmax, Feb 3, 2014
http://www.newsmax.com/LarryBell/EPA-Poor-wood-stoves/2014/02/03/id/550551
Energy regs come with $70M price tag
By Tim Devaney, The Hill, Feb 7, 2014
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/197856-energy-regs-comes-with-70m-price-tag
[SEPP Comment: The new regulations are to be published on Monday. The claimed $400 billion in energy savings to the public by 2030 is unlikely to be substantiated.]
EPA Reports Toxic Air Releases Down Due in Part to Coal Plants
By Aaron Larson, Power News, Feb 5, 2014
Link to the report: 2012 Toxics Release Inventory – National Analysis Overview
By Staff Writers, EPA, February 2014
[SEPP Comment: Carbon dioxide is not listed as a toxin, why is called a pollutant?]
Energy Issues – Non-US
My 2014 Energy Predictions
By: Robert Rapier, Energy Tribune, Jan 24, 2014
http://www.energytribune.com/79931/my-2014-energy-predictions#sthash.jKLLH7Mf.dpbs
[SEPP Comment: Barring war or similar, relatively safe predictions.]
Britain’s energy crisis is about to boil over
Shale gas can power our future, but not if we get bogged down in battles over trespass
By Philip Johnston, Telegraph, UK, Feb 3, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
A voluntary approach to shale gas
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Feb 4, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/2/4/a-voluntary-approach-to-shale-gas.html
‘Theft of the Subsoil’ (Guillermo Yeatts on Latin/South America mineral-rights reform)
By Robert Bradley, Master Resource, Feb 6, 2014
http://www.masterresource.org/2014/02/theft-subsoil-preface-yeatts/#more-29239
Gas Prices Force Switch To Coal For Power Stations Down Under
By Annabel Hepworth, The Australian, Via GWPF, Feb 6, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.org/gas-prices-force-switch-coal-power-stations/
Spain’s Endesa launches large-scale energy storage project
By Staff Writers, La Aldea De San Nicolas, Spain (UPI) Feb 5, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Not truly large scale, but experimenting with three different electricity storage concepts: electro chemical storage in the form of lithium-ion batteries, a flywheel system, and an ultracondenser system.]
Energy Issues — US
Revisiting the Charter of the U.S. Department of Energy (reasons to abolish the agency)
By Robert Bradley Jr, Master Resource, Feb 4, 2014
http://www.masterresource.org/2014/02/charter-doe-1977/#more-29490
[SEPP Comment: Does it serve the stated public interest and promote the general welfare?]
Deroy Murdock: Fracked natural gas should be Left’s fuel of choice
By Deroy Murdock, New Hampshire Union Leader, Feb 2, 2014 [H/t ACSH]
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20140203/OPINION02/140209872
[SEPP Comment: Without double-checking the numbers, ethanol and soy biodiesel come off extremely poorly for water use.]
Drought threatens US fracking industry: study
By Staff Writers, Washington (AFP), Feb 05, 2014
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Drought_threatens_US_fracking_industry_study_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Rubbish! According to the US drought monitor the most severe drought is in southern California, where smart drilling is not yet permitted.]
Inhofe warns EPA regulations could cause winter blackouts
By Ramsey Cox, The Hill, Feb 4, 2014
Washington’s Control of Energy
White House: No politics in Keystone decision
By Justin Sink, The Hill, Feb 5, 2014
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/197552-white-house-no-politics-in-keystone-decision
[SEPP Comment: A Washington joke!]
Build the Keystone pipeline, already!
By Paul Driessen, WUWT, Feb 3, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/03/build-the-keystone-pipeline-already/
[SEPP Comment: The Acronym translator is precious. Do many in Washington really understand the acronyms they use?]
Fellow Democrats press Obama to approve Keystone, following environmental report
By Staff Writers, Fox News, Feb 1, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
Obama’s Keystone follies
By Lorrie Goldstein, Sun New, CA, Feb 3, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/straighttalk/archives/2014/02/20140202-091955.html
Dems warn of drilling on ‘treasured landscapes’
By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Feb 4, 2014
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/197459-house-dems-call-for-hearing-on-crude-oil-export-ban
[SEPP Comment: How many objectors would prefer to put wind farms on the treasured landscapes?]
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
Cuadrilla’s fancy new toy
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Feb 6, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/2/6/cuadrillas-fancy-new-toy.html
[SEPP Comment: Showing the landscape before, during, and after drilling work. Unlike wind farms and solar arrays, deep underground smart drilling of shale has little permanent impact on the landscape.]
Fracking – Clean and green
Fracking UnitHatred of hydrocarbons should not excuse frackophobes from learning facts or speaking factually
By Deroy Murdock, The Moral Liberal, Feb 5, 2014
http://www.themoralliberal.com/2014/02/05/fracking-clean-and-greeen/
Return of King Coal?
Enzi: GAO report proves coal helps the economy
By Ramsey Cox, The Hill, Feb 5, 2014
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/197567-enzi-gao-report-proves-coal-helps-the-economy
[SEPP Comments: The royalty payments to the US government are significant. Anti-coal politicians claim they are not enough. No doubt, these politicians would prefer no coal and no payments.]
Nuclear Energy and Fears
NRC Commissioners Grilled on Nuclear Rules, Security, and Efficiency
By Aaron Larson, Power Magazine, Feb 6, 2014
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind
As Investments Turn Sour, Wind Energy Sector in Germany Begins To Crumble In Wake of Solar Industry Collapse
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Feb 4, 2014
Solar Thermal Technology Poses Challenges for Drought-Stricken California
Reducing water consumption at solar thermal plants raises costs and decreases power production.
By Kevin Bullis, MIT Technology Review, Feb 3, 2014
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other
Craven Kramer
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Feb 6, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/2/6/craven-kramer.html
[SEPP Comment: UK’s Transport Minister misleading the public about biofuel requirements.]
Companies could make the switch to wood power
By Staff Writers, Philadelphia PA(SPX), Dec 06, 2013
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Companies_could_make_the_switch_to_wood_power_999.html
[SEPP Comment: In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin wrote that the disappearance of forests for firewood around Philadelphia motivated him to invent the Franklin stove; to assure its wide use, he did not seek a patent.]
Warning Not to Use E15 Gas in Your Car: FOX Business
By Lauren Fix, Fox News, Dec 6, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceW9Nc1hVHU
[SEPP Comment: Year-old video explaining the problems of high ethanol fuel blends.]
Drivers face £200 bill to fill up with EU eco-fuel: Tests find new unleaded blend makes cars less efficient, ruins engines on older models and increases emissions
By Ray Massey, Daily Mail, UK, Feb 5, 2014 [H/t Bishop Hill]
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2552657/Drivers-face-200-bill-EU-eco-fuel.html
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Vehicles
Hidden Costs of EVs and PHEVs – Part I
By Donn Dears, Power For USA, Feb 4, 2014
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/hidden-costs-of-evs-and-phevs-part-i/
[SEPP Comment: The second part is linked in the first part.]
California Dreaming
California Fights Two Droughts, One Of Them Man-Made
By Victor Davis Hanson, IBD, Feb 6, 2014
Environmental Industry
Greens warn base will sit out election
By Ben Goad and Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Feb 4, 2014
Have Environmentalists Blundered On Keystone
By Steven Hayward, Power Line, Feb 6, 2014
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/02/have-environmentalists-blundered-on-keystone.php
The Sierra Club Hates Energy
By Alan Caruba, Canada Free Press, Feb 3, 2014
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/60908
Examiner Editorial: Big Green lawyers have hijacked the Endangered Species Act
Editorial, Washington Examiner, Feb 4, 2014
From Occupy to Climate Justice
There’s a growing effort to merge economic-justice and climate activism. Call it climate democracy.
By Wen Stephenson, The Nation, Feb 24, 2014 edition [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://www.thenation.com/article/178242/occupy-climate-justice
He points to what happened recently in Boulder, Colorado, where voters approved a grassroots energy initiative, by a two-thirds landslide, to move the city from a big, corporate, coal-dominated utility, Xcel Energy, to a publicly owned municipal utility that will expand renewables at the same or lower rates.
[SEPP Comment: Long essay describing those who demand climate justice, climate democracy and other inane concepts. The voters in Boulder are unlikely to have renewable power at the same or lower rates as coal.]
Other Scientific News
To Bee or Not to Bee? What is behind the bee colony collapse? Or is there one?
By Staff Writers, ACSH, Feb 6, 2014
http://acsh.org/2014/02/bee-bee-behind-bee-colony-collapse-one/
Greenhouse “Time Machine” Sheds Light on Corn Domestication
By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX), Feb 05, 2014
Link to paper: Teosinte before domestication: Experimental study of growth and phenotypic variability in Late Pleistocene and early Holocene environments
By Piperno, Holst, Winter, & McMillan, Quaternary International, Jan 31, 2014
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104061821300983X
[SEPP Comment: Highly question the temperature assumed: “We grew teosinte in the conditions that it encountered 10,000 years ago during the early Holocene period: temperatures 2-3 degrees Celsius cooler than today’s with atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at around 260 parts per million,”]
Other News that May Be of Interest
A Historical Perspective on Hysterical Rhetoric
By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Feb 4, 2014
http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2014/02/04/a-historical-perspective-on-hysterical-rhetoric/
Can workshops on household water use impact consumer behavior?
By Staff Writers, Gainesville FL (SPX), Feb 05, 2014
Link to the paper: Exploring the Effects of Extension Workshops on Household Water-use Behavior
By Tatiana Borisova1 and Pilar Useche, HortTechnology, October 2013
http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/23/5/668.abstract
[SEPP Comment: Is the failure of workshops an example of scientists failing to communicate?]
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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
Climate craziness of the week: climate change> bigger waves> fish have to swim harder
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Feb 5, 2014
If smoke falls in a closet, does anybody hear it? Mice do, apparently.
By Staff Writers, ACSH, Feb 4, 2014
http://acsh.org/2014/02/smoke-falls-closet-anybody-hear-mice-apparently/
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There is a “yes-and-no” in here:
There will be a flurry of papers describing the implications of the latest model before there are any about testing it, but that is more a practical matter than a political one. You need the implications and predictions to exist before you can test them, and through them, the model. Some broad features can probably be checked almost immediately and others could likely be checked long before they will be, but those implication-analyses have to dominate first.
Writing papers on models that don’t validate them against observational data is of even less value that writing papers on the inner workings of World of Warcraft. Both may be computer based and have a vague resemblance with reality but at least massive multiplayer games are of some interest to economists, anthropologists and sociologists while the appeal of skill-less climate models is limited to forensic statisticians.
“Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said Tuesday that he plans to introduce a bill that would allow states to opt-out of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on power plants.
Inhofe said his Electricity Reliability and Affordability Act would allow states to determine which old power plants should be shutdown rather than the federal government.
In an effort to combat carbon emissions, the administration announced that it would limit how much new coal power plants can emit and slowly close older plants that aren’t efficient. Inhofe said states would have a better idea than the federal government of what consumers want and need.”
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/197390-inhofe-warns-epa-regulations-could-cause-winter-blackouts#ixzz2swWNRQGQ
The states are still able to protect their citizens from federal overreach. However, if the adoption of Common Core educational curricula is any indicator, denial of funding or offers of federal dollars will result in many states accepting the Federal Golden Handcuffs.
Let’s support this Act. Sen Inhofe is a man among men.
“In an effort to combat carbon emissions, the administration announced that it would limit how much new coal power plants can emit and slowly close older plants that aren’t efficient. Inhofe said states would have a better idea than the federal government of what consumers want and need.
Inhofe also pointed out that January has been one of the coldest months on record, disproving claiming that there is global warming and climate change. He warned that if this cold weather persists and some power plants are shutdown, there might not be enough energy to meet demand during winter months.”
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/197390-inhofe-warns-epa-regulations-could-cause-winter-blackouts#ixzz2swZtsEDx
“Older coal plants that aren’t efficient” are thousands of times more efficient that worthless wind turbines that do not provide energy when there is no wind or when their is too much wind. Don’t forget that worthless wind turbines also add instability and price volatility to the power supply, and the system of “constraint payments” is totally unaccountable. Rates paid to wind turbines to keep the supply off when not needed has been found to be four times going electricity rates, and would require a new bureaucracy to audit who got payments and why. We should not be forced to buy electricity from this pathetic, worthless source.
Put pressure on Reps and Senators now, supporting Inhofe, or they will claim that they need to implement a government solution (new grid) for a government solution (black outs from shutting down coal plants).
a 95% consensus of climate models agree, they have overstated the amount of warming.
“The record low temperatures our country has experienced recently has served as a reminder of the importance of reliable, cost-effective energy required to heat our homes and businesses during extended winter weather,” said Inhofe. “American Electric Power reported that during the recent cold weather, they were running 89 percent of the coal generation it must retire by 2015. AEP said that this has caused them to ‘question the reliability impacts’ of federal regulation. The President’s war on fossil fuels is unsustainable for future energy costs. What happens after 2015 when we can’t use the coal resources AEP relied on this winter, and what regulation on affordable energy is coming next? For this reason, I am introducing the Electricity Reliability and Affordability Act give states the ability to pull the reigns back on big government regulations and ensure accessible, affordable energy for their citizens.” emph added
Computer software that cannot be validated would not be allowed to go into an aircraft’s flight/engine control systems.
An article in the Wall Street Journal brought up a warm area in the northeast Pacific off the coasts of Canada and Alaska. Bob Tisdale examined the hot spot and reported that the anomaly may be a great as 7 degrees F.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Probably not, but could this measured “hot spot” be a result of the plastic in the Pacific Gyre?? Reflectivity, real temperature or an error due to garbage on the surface?
Concerning the establishment of climate hubs in the US to help farmers deal with climate change, one location is in El Reno OK. I suggest that they forget that location and just people to check the Oklahoma Mesonet. If you check out the main page, you can see there are sections for ag, fire safety, public safety, k-12 education. I usually go to the site several times a day to check the weather in the state. If you go to a specific location in the state, there is a button to navigate to site information. You can see pictures of where the instruments are located, which is usually in a field. Proper site locations should make Anthony happy!
http://www.mesonet.org/index.php
Here is an article concerning the 20th anniversary of the Mesonet.
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-mesonet-celebrates-20-years-of-providing-weather-information/article/3932047
There was a sidebar in the newspaper that is not mentioned in the online version. The state legislature awarded the Mesonet $1.2 million to replace all of the equipment on the120 towers located throughout the state. It is the first major replacement in the 20 years. It seems that a better investment of our dollars would be to duplicate this system in each state.
Wayne Debelke asked:
” … could this measured “hot spot” be a result of the plastic in the Pacific Gyre?? Reflectivity, real temperature or an error due to garbage on the surface?”
What plastic in the Pacific Gyre? We keep hearing about this massive island of plastic, but no-one has ever been able to produce a single verified photo of it.
It’s like Bigfoot and Nessie.
Johanna
NOAA agree with you
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html
Tonyb
Re: more fraying of solidarity. ~~>
Michael Mann’s death trains:
I didn’t realize it until a few weeks ago when I saw some “protestors” arguing against allowing coal trains fom the US coming in to Canada to ship power grade coal from Robert’s Bank coal port in British Columbia. Canadian coal shipped is mostly metallurgical grade coal. It seems that the US does not have any coal shipping facilities on the west coast, so all of the “death trains” of coal that Obama’s buddy, Warren Buffet ships west is going to a Canadian coal port. At the same time he is shipping oil by rail south while Obama prognosticate over the KXL pipeline. Delicious irony. / sarc off?