Friday, February 9, 2007

Why Do Humans like Doom and Gloom?

                       

Why is it we are so enamored with doom and gloom prophecies?  For every politician and scientist warning us about global warming there are an equal amount or even more that tell us it is blown way out of proportion.  Why aren't they being given equal time?  Because their's is not a news worthy belief.  We want the giant oil companies to be at fault.  We want the deadly SUV to be the bad guy.  You have all see or heard the news headlines.  Deadly SUV jumps curb and mows down innocent bystanders.  Deadly SUV kills 4.  Its like they don't have a driver!

   These figures show a regular trend and remember when I was talking about how they were all predicting a new ice age in the 50's and 60's?  The data shows why.

http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20011027heatisland.html,

From 1900 to 1940, the data showed the world warmed. "That warming may be in part a response to released greenhouse gases and in part natural climate variability," Imhoff said.

Between 1940 and 1965, the globe cooled by about 0.18 degree F (a change of 0.1 degree C), which some scientists attribute to the increased aerosols (fine particles in the air) during this time. Aerosol forcing can lead to more cloud cover and block incoming radiation. Aerosol increases are related to the rate of growth of fossil fuel use, which peaked in this period. Hansen noted fluctuations in ocean heat-transport may also contribute to such climate swings over decades.

GLOBAL TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES FOR 2000 AND/OR FOR 2001

Image 5

 

The third period, from 1965 to 2000, showed a large and widespread warming around the world. During this time warming intensified in the El Niño region of the (eastern) Pacific Ocean, and the Indian, Atlantic and Arctic oceans also warmed.

This research was conducted as part of NASA's Earth Sciences Enterprise, a long-term research effort dedicated to understanding how natural and human-induced changes affect our global

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  However instead of these reports reassuring us they get attacked.  Some scientists are getting firm pressure to keep these findings quiet and since so much of there work depends on grants they are doing just that, keeping quiet for the most part.

  What is it in human nature that prefers the bad news over the good?  The drama of it all?

   It doesn't however hold true to everything.  The remote danger most people are up in arms about but the real dangers are ignored especially if they interfere with peoples basic pleasures and day to day living.  They are downplayed.

   Do I believe the earth is warming?  Yes...... for now.  Do I believe it will continue?   Well, not if history runs true.  It will probably have a cool down period again.  Well we all die, yes, that is a given.  How or When.  Well, I really don't want to know.  But I don't think the earth will be cooking us for a long long long long time to come.

   Now these are my views and I realize not everyone believes the same way, we are after all human.  But....... I just think they must have some hidden agenda for scaring us all.  What taxes are they going to raise once they convince it is for our own good.  Am I cynical.....Yup and its a good thing.

   I know I know, I AM in a weird mood today.  Sorry. 

    I am getting ready to go to PT.  Since he was twisting my leg all over checking out my ligaments it is swollen to an all time high.  Hope this doesn't get it even worse.

  Tomorrow we are getting around 4" of snow.  So our beer tasting trip is off.  No reason to die just to taste a beer.  Now that would be a dumb reason to die.  So I am going to talk my man into going to Buffalo's tonight.

   I have to mail my granddaughters gift for her birthday which is Valentines day.  I have to get new chap stick as mine fell onto the autopsy cart the other day ( don't ask) and no way was it going anywhere near my lips after that, YICK. and I am addicted to lip chap so must have that.  Then last we are watching the Soprano's.  We rented the series.  When I say I don't have TV I should clarify.  I have a TV hooked up to a DVD.  No cable or even local stations but I like watching movies occasionally.  Since I had heard so much about the Soprano's we thought we would watch some.  I hear season 4 was really bloody though so probably won't watch that one.  So thats my boring day.  Take care all.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are so smart and put things into such good perspective for me.  
Hope PT goes well.  I'm addicted to chapstick too.  It's everywhere in my house.
Enjoy your TV show.
Pam

Anonymous said...

Amen, Sister!  I still say God's in control, not the gloom and doomers!!   Well said.
~Meg

Anonymous said...

Well!  I'm glad you got that off your chest...I hope you are too?  Lol!
My mother always said...."It's better out than in."  Way to go Julie!
I am cynical about it all too.
What a shame you are missing out on your weekend trip.  Hope you get some reief from your swollen knee soon.
Have a good time tonight.   Jeanie

Anonymous said...

I switched from Chapstick to Burt's BeesWax.  It comes in colors, so now I wear healthy "lipstick".

Anonymous said...

Only doom and gloom makes the news, one reason I got rid of the TV! I hope your knee doesn't swell any more and the PT helps you. Have a good weekend! Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/  

Anonymous said...

did you get your heater fixed? have a good weekend

Deb

Anonymous said...

I hear yah. I go through phases where I want to face it all and then hide. Not because I cant deal with it but because its healthy if I dont. When I miss "hope" I know i need a break, which is what I am doing right now. Just another phase that is right for me today. ~Raven

Anonymous said...

My oldest daughter is pursuing a Ph.d in microbiology; lives and breathes science.  My son is fascinated with history.  The global warming debate continues between them.  My daughter pulls out the scientific theories of global warming.  My son will pull out the meteorologists reports of actual weather that has been tracked for a hundred and some years showing that weather patterns repeat themselves in cycles.  I tend to believe that weather does run in cycles and that the govt. using this to its advantage.  Chris

Anonymous said...

So much doom and gloom on the news...where's the good news...so sad.  Hope your knee is feeling better...rest...hope your weekend is the best...hugs and love,
Joyce