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Re: [Phys-l] global temperatures



As has become all too common, this note is a dismissal of the content by dismissing the writers. The original question was--what has been the global temperature change over the last decade? This 'op-ed' piece answers that question--as do other (more scientific?) references, one of which was included in my original note. This dismissal of ideas on the basis of 'who are they' or 'look who is funding this work' is every bit as ideological as what is being accused below. If the facts are wrong, if the science is wrong, then attack that. Stop attacking the messengers--it is unworthy of 'respectable' science to do so.

Rick

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Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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Free Physics Software
PC & Mac
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
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----- Original Message ----- From: "David Appell" <appell@nasw.org>
To: <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 2:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] global temperatures


Rick Tarara wrote:
> I would suggest two quick looks....
>
>
www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/01/06/br_r_r_where_did_global_warming_go/

This is frustrating.... one can no more trust Jeff Jacoby's opinion on
climate change than you can that of Greenpeace's or the Sierra Club.
They all repeat their party's position without nuance, details, or
qualifications, and appear to seek mostly ideological advantage.

As physicists we have learned, if nothing else, that every question -- *every* one -- is complex and sophisticated and has layers and layers of
qualifications and uncertainites and questions within it. There are no
simple answers to anything. Nonetheless, scientific truth can and does
emerge, though it always has a hundred post-it notes attached to the
conclusions. You're, sadly and alas, unlikely to find such humble
thinking in the op-ed writings of dedicated ideologues, or in the
brochures of an organization asking you for money.

David

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