Graph Of The Day: Earth Temps Visualized

(click to enlarge)

From the scientists at Berkeley Earth, a non-profit organization of earth scientists, a representation of the Earth's temperature starting from 1850 to the present year. The steady morphing from blue/cool to orange/hot is clear to see, as the industrial age and reliance on fossil fuels worldwide have steadily warmed the Earth to alarming proportions.

BONUS: As if on cue, teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg speaks at Davos to plutocrats:

'I don't want your hope. I don't want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic.'
— Teen climate activist#ClimateChangeIsReal #TimeForAction #NoPlanetB pic.twitter.com/yTkf1T5HkS

— Tris Resists (@TrisResists) January 28, 2019

(image: Berkley Earth)

Extreme Weather - The New Normal?

We have more indications that extreme weather in recent weeks may be another harbinger of global climate change, and force us to alter what we consider to be "normal":

-- Heavy rains caused flooding in southern Russia, where some regions got 2 to 5 months worth of rain in 24 hours, and claimed at least 150 lives.

-- Monsoon flooding in India has claimed more than 120 lives and devastated over a half million acres of crop land.

-- In Colorado and many other Western states, fires blazing in the dry, hot conditions have resulted in death and extensive property damage.

-- Across the eastern two-thirds of America, record heat is entering its 11th day, with 30 weather-related deaths in states from Illinois and Tennessee to Maryland and Pennsylvania. The heat follows recurrent, violent storms across the upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

(Photo: Krymsky in southern Russia)

Whole Foods' Mackey a Global Warming Denier, Too

Whole Foods CEO and extreme right-wing libtard John "Galt" Mackey is already known to be an anti-union, anti-health care reform advocate. You can now add "global warming denier" to that list. Mackey claims, in a New Yorker interview, that there's "no scientific consensus" on global climate change. Mackey would be on safer ground arguing against evolution, with himself as a case in point.

Whether or not one wishes to shop at Whole Foods, given Mackey's radical views, is an individual choice. As for this individual, Costco, Trader Joe's and good ol' Safeway are good enough for me.

(Photo: It's ass-Whole Mackey again)

Time We Didn't Have To Waste

The WaPo has an article, "Warming Is Major Threat To Humans, EPA Warns," that is simply one more confirmation of the Bush Assministration's criminal negligence when it comes to acting on global warming. Just days after EPA (under pressure from the White House) decided it would not issue regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, the EPA reported "it is very likely" that more will die from heat waves, hurricanes and pathogens resulting from warming. Every section of the country would be affected. Meanwhile every day that is lost means more greenhouse gas emissions as we get closer to the tipping point (if it hasn't already been reached). Another "legacy" for Chimpy.

Senate Rethugs Block Climate Change Bill

Senate Democratic leaders fell a dozen votes short of stopping a threatened Rethuglican filibuster on a bill that would have set limits on greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming. Trotting out a familiar - - and untruthful - - claim, Rethug leader Sen. Mitch "Rhymes with B___" McConnell said that the bill would be equivalent to a tax increase. Democrats disputed McConnell's claims. The bill would have required power plants, refineries and factories to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 71 percent by mid-century.

Remember that when you look at your children and grandchildren and wonder what kind of a world we're going to give them.

Bush: Carbon Dioxide Does Exist!

In this season of miracles, Dumbya has a revelation! God bless us, everyone!

Denial

Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum has a nice rejoinder to the reich wing's constant focus on supposed "liberal" hypocrisy on global warming. Shorter version: it's not about how much carbon dioxide was used in the manufacture of Al Gore's suit, it's the environmental policies of the most industrialized nation on earth, the United States, that matters most. Not that the reich wing cares. . .

Enjoy This Picture While It Lasts

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is working on the final pages of its voluminous report on global warming, which is expected to be issued in a few days. The IPCC is composed of scientists from 120 nations. In February, the IPCC's assessment of the human factor in global warming set off a furor with the carbon industry and their political bag men (Sen. "Ass" Inhofe, R-OK). They mounted a furious attack on the assessment, repeating the discredited mantra "there's no consensus." The 20 chapter, 1572 page report is awaiting completion of a 21-page summary for policymakers.

For the Decider, a comic book version is also in preparation.

Bush "Stratergery" on Car Pollution Rebuked

Yesterday the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, rebuked the Bush Assministration's jaw-dropping claim that the Clean Air Act did not authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate tailpipe emissions from new cars and trucks. The majority found that the Clean Air Act does, in fact, give the EPA that authority, and also found that states have the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decisions. The dissenters were the "Flat Earth Four," Rebunglecan troglodytes Roberts, Scalia, Thomas and Alito, who believe the government has no power to intrude, unless it's in a recount, in the bedroom, or between a doctor and patient.

As David Doniger of the Natural Resouces Defense Council said, "this administration's legal strategy for doing nothing has been repudiated." As a result, automakers are now clamoring for national standards rather than facing the prospect of state-by-state regulations. The decision also raises the likelihood of comprehensive legislation on global warming that would provide an economy-wide approach to the problem.

Political "Environment" Trumps Science

A study by the Government Accountability Project indicates that the Bush Assministration stifled, delayed or otherwise obstructed data and findings from Federal agencies that conflicted with the Rethugs' political slant on climate change. Hundreds of pages of evidence collected point to a general effort to dismiss any evidence that contradicted the corporate, carbon industry view that global warming is a natural, recurring phenomenon. Then again, watching Senator "Ass" Inhofe's recent performance at Al Gore's testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee says all you need to know about the Rethug talking points: deny, lie, and ridicule. Assing off indeed.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, Crackpot Hero

Oklahoma Sen. Jim "I Got My Head" Inhofe, who is the most notable face of the oil and gas lobby in the Senate, isn't showing that face so much after his crackpot performance at yesterday's Senate hearing, starring Al Gore (see also Glenn "What I Don't Know" Beck piece below). In fact, as this exclusive Hackwhackers photo demonstrates, Sen. Jim is having a hard time extracting his head -- face and all-- from his ass. In his current situation, it's likely that something else will overcome Sen. Jim before the greenhouse gases do.

By the way, Sen. Jim is a favorite of the Rebunglecan corporate apologist Club for Growth, a group ostensibly supporting "traditional conservative economic values" (judging from the Club's positions, those would be rape and pillage, rather than social responsibility and corporate accountability).

What He Doesn't Know, Indeed

Over-exposed wingnut dimbulb Glenn Beck (here seen manfully gripping his... er, "mike") likes to tell us "what I know" and "what I don't know." Remember his role in the Obama madrassas "story?" Or his referring to Hillary Clinton as a "stereotypical bitch?" Or Rosie O'Donnell as a "fat witch?" Merely a few recent examples of his reading from the hard right's talking points.

After seeing his CNN gas fest last night -- predictably bashing Al Gore's global warming testimony on the Hill-- it's clearer than ever that what doughboy doesn't know far, far outweighs what he does. Beck, you know, is of the "global warming is over-hyped and under-studied" school of flat earth wingnuts. He fears dealing with it would result in raising taxes! Waaaaaah! Poor Glenny's taxes might go up to help stave off a global catastrophe! We wouldn't want him to sacrifice, no, no!!

What Hackwhackers knows is that Glenn Beck would be over-compensated if he was doing this as volunteer work. What we don't know is why he continues to be employed by CNN and ABC.