tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post1600477254677427428..comments2023-11-03T11:32:01.540+00:00Comments on Thought Experiments : The Blog: For JimBryan Appleyardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-7007019515859230732009-03-03T12:59:00.000+00:002009-03-03T12:59:00.000+00:00Whilst we still demand unquestionable evidence and...Whilst we still demand unquestionable evidence and proof, whilst we still focus on the people behind the theories (in defense or in criticism) and not the theories themselves or the reality of our experience, we will not be able to effect any profound change in our habits. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, profound change will only happen through suffering, as is the nature of life and as determines the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-76082655384350102662009-03-02T22:58:00.000+00:002009-03-02T22:58:00.000+00:00Bryan, last week I dipped into Clive James' Cultur...Bryan, last week I dipped into Clive James' Cultural Amnesia, purely because of your article on it and the author back in 2007, prior to giving it to my brother on his rare appearance in the UK on Saturday. James gives fascinating examples of individuals who were hard-headed in every area but one. Can't quote them to you, the book is now in Hong Kong!<BR/><BR/>You're quite right that I don't knowRichard Drakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10005416556432927671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-84186364336441742162009-03-02T19:47:00.000+00:002009-03-02T19:47:00.000+00:00Richard, I so disagree with you I don't know where...Richard, I so disagree with you I don't know where to start. Le tme just say that to describe Jim as a mystic, as you did, is lunacy. You plainly now nothing of the man. He is the most hard-headed individual I have ever met.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-57217690293001598182009-03-02T19:08:00.000+00:002009-03-02T19:08:00.000+00:00David, agreed on the parallels. The difference of ...David, agreed on the parallels. The difference of course is in the risk management aspect. The 'precautionary principle' was very little practiced in banking, partly I fear because the big guys knew that governments were in their pockets and they would be bailed out if worst came to worst. But the precautionary principle was (or should have been) highly relevant to all of us entrusting their Richard Drakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10005416556432927671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-90218516141883537812009-03-02T14:27:00.000+00:002009-03-02T14:27:00.000+00:00What's most amusing, in that ironical sort of way ...What's most amusing, in that ironical sort of way that we so treasure in the British, is that all the things for which Bryan so rightly castigates the banks -- arguments from authority, reliance on complex models that the users don't fully understand, confirmation bias, etc. -- are exactly the failings of the agw crowd.<BR/><BR/>Three years ago, the bankers would have told us, with great Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902329503560660425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-71642351033963134832009-03-02T02:08:00.000+00:002009-03-02T02:08:00.000+00:00Bryan: I would question 'terrible time', 'actual a...Bryan: I would question 'terrible time', 'actual air temperature' and 'sea level rises'. It's complicated and I'd like to be brief.<BR/><BR/>Remarkably, the IPCC predicts very moderate problems in its latest report, even in the 100 year timescale. Nigel Lawson was astounded when he looked in detail into it, for his book <I>An Appeal to Reason</I>, given the fear factor that has grown up around Richard Drakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10005416556432927671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-91821639294303148302009-03-02T01:09:00.000+00:002009-03-02T01:09:00.000+00:00Nige: Thanks.Malty: Likewise. You might have said ...Nige: Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Malty: Likewise. You might have said f..k off to me in 1999 if we'd had the pleasure. I was following Ed Yourdon in being very concerned about the outcome of Y2K, until forty days exactly before the due date. A story for another time maybe. But becos Bryan entered Twitter I was spurred this weekend to add loads of people to follow there. One of those was Ed. He at once Richard Drakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10005416556432927671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-12805795490614511272009-03-01T22:42:00.000+00:002009-03-01T22:42:00.000+00:00Here we go again, a load of bleedin townies talkin...Here we go again, a load of bleedin townies talking country matters. Metrolichenlanders.<BR/>Let me straighten out their kinks with where it's at. Living as we do at approx 500 feet above sea level and have hills and Banded Galloways as neighbours we can observe nature at will.<BR/>Over the past decade there has been a marked increase in lichen coverage of our trees particularly those in the maltyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02936465848907794425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-40221546669647931562009-03-01T19:28:00.000+00:002009-03-01T19:28:00.000+00:00I don't even understand Richard's points. The IPCC...I don't even understand Richard's points. The IPCC forecasts say we'll have a terrible time in the medium term but their model forecasts have both undershot by a wide margin the actual air temperature and sea level rises. This probably means we'll have a terrible time sooner. End of point.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-62702832978373909112009-03-01T19:05:00.000+00:002009-03-01T19:05:00.000+00:00Scientists should just ignore the facts and blame ...Scientists should just ignore the facts and blame global warming on muslims- they'd have Mad Mel & co convinced in no time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-74667606144176594162009-03-01T16:59:00.000+00:002009-03-01T16:59:00.000+00:00Meanwhile, March has come in like a lion. Well, o...Meanwhile, March has come in like a lion. Well, okay, maybe a white barn cat. Snow on the ground hereabouts, but not much. Meow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-64194572433214463192009-03-01T16:51:00.000+00:002009-03-01T16:51:00.000+00:00Its a bit like the credit crunch, you did not need...Its a bit like the credit crunch, you did not need to understand where the money was to understand we were over borrowing.<BR/><BR/>We actually dont have to agree if all this is real or not, or what we really know or not, all we have to do is take a good moral position.<BR/><BR/>Is it a good idea to try and move away from fossil fuels?<BR/><BR/>Is it a good idea to chop down forest and rain Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04362169593902131947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-83866915216294345782009-03-01T16:48:00.000+00:002009-03-01T16:48:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04362169593902131947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-70905449111778039632009-03-01T16:41:00.000+00:002009-03-01T16:41:00.000+00:00I do not believe in climate change, Bryan. I know ...I do not <I>believe</I> in climate change, Bryan. I <I>know</I> that climate is continuously changing. I remain agnostic as to whether one can accurately predict the long-term direction that change is taking. Nige is on to something when he says the warmists often "don't know much of what used to be called natural history." A few years ago, in this neck of the woods, a warm spell in winter had Frank Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18410473158808750903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-38436220064863187632009-03-01T16:01:00.000+00:002009-03-01T16:01:00.000+00:00Is the book all doom and gloom, Mr. A? I'm looking...Is the book all doom and gloom, Mr. A? I'm looking for a good read right now but I can't abide pessimism.<BR/>Also, when you (he) says ''greens'', do you mean the political greens or the lifestyle greens?Ian russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106519805045337505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-3900975767990259592009-03-01T15:46:00.000+00:002009-03-01T15:46:00.000+00:00Hear hear - very good points all, Richard.Hear hear - very good points all, Richard.Nigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314891387515045404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-48644787510785890032009-03-01T15:13:00.000+00:002009-03-01T15:13:00.000+00:00Woah, so the models, central to the IPCC case not ...Woah, so the models, central to the IPCC case not just for warming as minor scientific curiosity but as rock solid foundation for all the ridiculous and drastic global policy steps well under way to reduce CO2 emissions that will be (or already are) totally disastrous for those unfortunate enough not to have electricity ... those almost universally touted models are totally worthless?<BR/><BR/>Richard Drakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10005416556432927671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-56394836109601539862009-03-01T14:16:00.000+00:002009-03-01T14:16:00.000+00:00I agree and I love greens. Spinach, watercress, a...I agree and I love greens. Spinach, watercress, arugula, chard... I would hate to see them go!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-72389385956156885132009-03-01T13:59:00.000+00:002009-03-01T13:59:00.000+00:00Well he's wearing it very lightly there. Yes I con...Well he's wearing it very lightly there. Yes I confess what I was looking at would be the false oxlip (a hybrid), but wild thyme? Violet? Sunny banks? Why would he expect someone not to have experienced those for years? I mean, Lovelock strikes me as a charming fellow, a good egg etc, but that doesn't mean he's right - and if he can ask a question like that, wishing perfectly common plants out Nigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314891387515045404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-20038463600834032712009-03-01T13:55:00.000+00:002009-03-01T13:55:00.000+00:00There has been abundant empirical evidence outside...There has been abundant empirical evidence outside your very window all winter and each of the last two summers. <BR/><BR/>The problem for the faithful, is their addiction to predictions. The world's climate has always been unstable - this is undeniable. But the concerned insist that the warming they believe is currently underway will have dire repercussions. But if these dire repercussions don'tAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-63853696992368229282009-03-01T13:43:00.000+00:002009-03-01T13:43:00.000+00:00You cannot possibly be talking about Jim, Nige, he...You cannot possibly be talking about Jim, Nige, he knows more about the English countryside than any man alive.Bryan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08276787058430388582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-20992597264490236502009-03-01T13:41:00.000+00:002009-03-01T13:41:00.000+00:00Well since you ask - all of those last year. Admit...Well since you ask - all of those last year. Admittedly oxlips are not common now, but wild thyme grows like a weed on the North Downs, among many other places, and violets I can see any day on the roadside verges, even in suburbia. Sunny banks too are remarkably abundant - all you need is a bit of sloping ground facing vaguely south. The trouble with warmists (well one of the troubles) is that Nigehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314891387515045404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23400750.post-45249233195321200912009-03-01T13:36:00.000+00:002009-03-01T13:36:00.000+00:00Hemlock is doing very well, maybe the old girl is ...Hemlock is doing very well, maybe the old girl is giving us a hint?Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04362169593902131947noreply@blogger.com