Science Mag - Climate Change Stuff

This report on the BBC website looks interesting:

Global temperatures could be less sensitive to changing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels than previously thought, a study suggests.

The abstract of the paper detailing the research appears to confirm the BBC's story but it's difficult to say more because the paper itself is behind Science Mag's paywall. Not exactly spreading the knowledge, chaps, and it's not as if this isn't an important story with genuine public interest.

The BBC journalists managed to find a couple of dissenting scientists but it would be nice to see a more detailed analysis (possibly even a critique) of the original paper and it's possible implications, particularly as the article's conclusion appears to suggest that the paper doesn't tell the whole story:

Climatologist Andrey Ganopolski, from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany, said (amongst other things reported by the BBC):
"One should be very careful about using cold climates to [construct] the future".

Hmm. Science Mag and BBC Science - could do better. 

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Apple iTV - Really?

Talk about overreaction. The long-rumoured Apple iTV is an obvious next step for a company focussed on delivering innovative media consumption devices but when has Apple ever done anything just because it was obvious? It may well be that they've solved all the problems (see my earlier post on the subject) but speculating about release dates is just daft, as is trying to work out how far behind any new product might leave competitors. Get the (utterly non-existent) facts here: Sydney Morning Herald.

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iPad Solar Charger - SunLeaf Pro

A solar charger for my iPad sounds like a great idea but I don't see how it would fit into my current lifestyle. I suppose if I spent holidays camping in the wilderness or trekking across moors then I might find a use for a solar charger but even then I'm not convinced. That said, if I did have a sudden requirement for a solar panel to charge my iPad (or, more likely, my iPhone), this one (http://thesunleaf.com/products/sunleaf-solar-charger) looks ideal.

Save Our Souls - on the NHS

Here's a question for you:

Should the National Health Service be tending to our spiritual health and if so, how far should it go?

No. Spending money on unproven interventions is a bad idea. More here: http://tessera2009.blogspot.com/2011/11/save-our-souls-on-nhs.html

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The Endless Effort to Smear Climate Scientists

This article is worth reading if you have any doubt about climate change in the wake of recent "scandals" involving eminent scientists.

The Real Scandal: The Endless Effort to Smear Climate Scientists
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/11/25/375696/the-real-scandal-effort-to-smear-climate-scientists/

Teach evolution, not creationism!

There really shouldn't be any need to campaign on this issue but as there are still religious fundamentalists willing to lie to our children to further their own agendas we need to keep pushing for statutory regulation of the subjects taught in our schools. After all, if we don't, we'll keep having the same arguments with these idiots about whether or not Intelligent Design or Creationism are appropriate fields of scientific study (they are not).

Can you imagine what life would be like if these bigots get their way? We'll have a generation of scientists and doctors who have been taught that evolution is a lie and that God did it all, making it impossible to combat disease (not believing in evolution won't prevent bacteria from evolving) or solve our problems (God's promise not to destroy the Earth again won't protect us from climate change, pollution, nuclear fallout or rising sea levels).

The solution is to ban the teaching of Creationism and it's inaccurately named sibling Intelligent Design (except, possibly, as an example of the stupid things people will believe when poorly educated) and remove all religious influence from our schools (and I do mean from all schools - I don't see why some children should be forced to accept sub-standard teaching just because their parents can afford to send them to private schools run by ill-educated morons).

Creationism and ‘intelligent design’ are not scientific theories, but they are portrayed as scientific theories by some religious fundamentalists who attempt to have their views promoted in publicly-funded schools. There should be enforceable statutory guidance that they may not be presented as scientific theories in any publicly-funded school of whatever type.

Full story here: http://evolutionnotcreationism.org.uk/position-statement/?utm_source=e-bulletin+subscribers&utm_campaign=22989406a2-BHA_e_bulletin_2011_11_21&utm_medium=email

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Android Malware Up 472% Since July,

No way to verify this but it sounds pretty bad:

Juniper says there has been a 472% rise in Android malware samples since July 2011.

Another advantage of being open, I guess. 

http://m.readwriteweb.com/archives/android_malware_up_472_since_july_juniper_says_inf.php

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BBC News - UK air pollution 'puts lives at risk'

The air pollution in London is pretty awful - try walking down Oxford Street on a Saturday afternoon - but this is ridiculous:

"In 2008, 4,000 people died in London from air pollution and 30,000 died across the whole of the UK."

Time for the Government to do something about this. Details in the BBC report:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15693627

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Perry's gaffe has him down, maybe not out

Rick Perry wants to close the US Government's Departments of Education, Commerce and Energy. This policy is almost certainly extremely damaging to the medium and long term interests of the US but the thing that seems to be upsetting people is that he suffered a minor (and completely uninteresting, if slightly embarrassing) memory lapse on stage. He wants to dismantle three major US Government departments, including Education, and it's his memory that people wow wry about? Incredible. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/13/us-usa-campaign-poll-perry-idUSTRE7...

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Italy and the euro zone: No good news

I may have to stop reading The Economist for a while. All the news from Europe is bad and only the politicians, who have performed appallingly so far, can sort things out. Grim, very grim.

Italy and the euro zone: That’s all, folks
http://www.economist.com/node/21538161

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While we're talking about cocktails: Bloody Mary

I'm looking for a simple, high-quality recipe for a Bloody Mary. I've found this one on BBC Food; anyone got anything better?

Ingredients

2 ice cubes

vodka, double shot

½ lemon, juice only

6 dashes Worcestershire sauce

3 dashes Tabasco sauce

150ml/5fl oz tomato juice

pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/bloodymary_84135

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Thurso

It turns out (who would have thought it) that I quite like single malt and cocktails thereof. This one, a variant of a Manhattan, sounds rather good.

Thur­so 
2 oz The Macallan 12 
1 demarara sugar cube 
3/4 oz cin­na­mon syrup 
2 dash­es Jerry Thomas' bit­ters 
3 dash­es Jamaican jerk bit­ters 
Stir/strain over High­land Springs ball/shaved nut­meg

Thurso
http://www.coolhunting.com/food-drink/thurso.php

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Adobe Discontinues Development of Flash Player on Mobile Devices - MacRumors.com

Another Android "feature" bites the dust...

> Adobe has "discontinued development on Flash Player for mobile browsers"

http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/09/adobe-discontinues-development-on-mobile-...

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BBC News - NoW placed hacking lawyers under surveillance

The News of the World (NoW) hired an ex-police officer early last year to carry out surveillance on two prominent lawyers representing victims of phone hacking, BBC Newsnight has learned.

via bbc.co.uk

I can't help feeling that there might be something seriously wrong at News International.

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Another boring lunch

The wife is away so I can eat whatever I like for lunch. East Dulwich is stuffed with delicatessens and other high-quality eateries. Northcross Road market also has a fine selection of takeaway grub from roast pig sandwiches to gourmet pies with mash. I couldn't make up my mind so I ended up at home with nothing. Beans on toast again.

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Is the 'peak consumption' hypothesis correct?

Interesting stuff.

Is the 'peak consumption' hypothesis correct?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/nov/03/peak-consumption-hypothesis-correct?CMP=twt_fd

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Climate Change Controversy? What Controversy?

via bbc.co.uk

It simply shows that if you allow yourself to use the non-scientific process of picking your starting point in order to get the result you want, you can do that.

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