ClimateGate debunked

E-mails stolen from climate scientists show they stonewalled skeptics and discussed hiding data — but the messages don’t support claims that the science of global warming was faked, according to an exhaustive review by The Associated Press. The 1,073 e-mails examined by the AP show that scientists harbored private doubts, however slight and fleeting, even… Continue reading ClimateGate debunked

Henry Blodget explains how to make a billion dollars

So here’s how to make the world’s easiest $1 billion: STEP 1: Form a bank. STEP 2: Round up a bunch of unemployed friends to be “bankers.” STEP 3: Raise $1 billion of equity. (This is the only tricky step. And it’s not that tricky. See below.*) STEP 4: Borrow $9 billion from the Fed… Continue reading Henry Blodget explains how to make a billion dollars

No evidence of illegal actions by ACORN

After media outlets and figures have repeatedly claimed that videos released by conservative activists James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles revealed a pattern of ACORN aiding efforts to evade taxes on a fictitious child-prostitution ring, an investigation by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger (D) found that “there is no evidence that action, illegal or otherwise,… Continue reading No evidence of illegal actions by ACORN

An Affordable Truth

Why should you believe that cutting emissions is affordable? First, because financial incentives work. Action on climate, if it happens, will take the form of “cap and trade”: businesses won’t be told what to produce or how, but they will have to buy permits to cover their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.… Continue reading An Affordable Truth

British Researcher Steps Down During E-Mail-Leak Inquiry

The head of the British research unit at the center of a controversy over the disclosure of thousands of e-mail messages among climate-change scientists has stepped down pending the outcome of an investigation. From British Researcher Steps Down During E-Mail-Leak Inquiry – NYTimes.com While embarrassing, this incident does nothing to change the physics of carbon… Continue reading British Researcher Steps Down During E-Mail-Leak Inquiry

Somali Pirates Open Up a “Stock Exchange”

‘Four months ago, during the monsoon rains, we decided to set up this stock exchange. We started with 15 “maritime companies” and now we are hosting 72. Ten of them have so far been successful at hijacking,’ Mohammed [a wealthy former pirate who took a Reuters reporter to the facility] said Somali Pirates Open Up… Continue reading Somali Pirates Open Up a “Stock Exchange”

The limits of good vs. evil thinking

Take Climategate.  One response is: 1. “These people behaved dishonorably.  I will lower my trust in their opinions.” Another response, not entirely out of the ballpark, is: 2. “These people behaved dishonorably.  They must have thought this issue was really important, worth risking their scientific reputations for.  I will revise upward my estimate of the… Continue reading The limits of good vs. evil thinking

The Nation of Futurity

The Chinese now have lavish faith in their scientific and technological potential. Newsweek and Intel just reported the results of their Global Innovation Survey. Only 22 percent of the Chinese believe their country is an innovation leader now, but 63 percent are confident that their country will be the global technology leader within 30 years.… Continue reading The Nation of Futurity