Sunday, June 17, 2012

The Summer Of Our Discontent

We are so going to pay for the mild winter we recently experienced. I fear that it's a grim foreboding of things to come and that this summer in Memphis is going to resemble Pirtle's Fried Chicken; hot, greasy and extra-crispy. There are other such Biblical signs. Melody and I were sitting on the deck enjoying the balmy weather when a mosquito the size of a sparrow landed on my arm. I swatted it before it could bite, but the splatter looked like it just flew in from the blood bank. I thought we were going to have to call in the CSI to analyze it, or at least Dr. Henry Lee. Until now, it's been a relatively mild June, so you might ask; "What other scientific methods do you use to reach your doomsday predictions?" Easy. We made it through the Beale Street Music Festival, the International Bar-B-Que Festival, and the Sunset Symphony without a single drop of rain.  It must be decades since the Memphis in May celebration went three for three. I don't remember that happening ever. That's great for the folks at MIM, but it's like one of the plagues of ancient Egypt for the citizenry. I mean, what's a Beale Street Festival without a sea of mud, or a cookout on the bluff without a torrential downpour? Do you even imagine that we're going to celebrate a sunny, dry, and hugely successful Memphis in May without somehow paying for it? If there's to be a forthcoming equal and opposite reaction, I fear the ides of August.

There's nothing like a good old Bluff City summer, where the temperature is 100 degrees at noon and 90 at midnight, and you live in a perpetual state of damp and discomfort until the simple act of breathing burns your lungs. You walk outside and it feels like the air itself is sweating. Then it goes on for three straight weeks until irritability spreads like prickly-heat and you're snapping at your co-workers like a giant turtle on his back with red, swollen eyes that will not close. Then whiskey and beer sales skyrocket along with firearms purchases and incidents of domestic altercations until long-time partners can no longer stand the sight of one another, and the next thing you know there's a zombie apocalypse and some crackhead is trying to chew on your face. And that's during a normal summer. I can still recall years at the Bar-B-Que Fest when I was cooking faster than the pork. Imagine ultra-violet rays penetrated by new, atomic sunbeams while "Tan Moms" fry like bacon in a skillet. They'll have to move the burn units closer to the beaches. The thought of lying in the sun, oiled up like a Caesar salad, is horrific to me in every way, but the mutated solar flares may cause even the most devout sun-worshipper to seek extended periods of shelter. This may be difficult for some, but not for a great indoorsman like me. I've been practicing for years.

In case you haven't noticed, this year's weather extremes are breaking records all over the world. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that last month was the second hottest May since they began keeping records in 1880, exceeded only by 2010. March was the hottest on record with over 15,000 temperature records broken across the country. This was the warmest spring in history for the continental United States. Greenhouse gas emissions from industry, transportation, and land usage are cited as reasons that the first decade of this century was the warmest ever recorded. Currently the states of Texas, Colorado, and California are on fire. Arizona and New Mexico are suffering the largest wildfires in their respective state's char-broiled histories. There have been killer tornadoes and historic floods dotting the map this past year, and hurricane season just started. The good news is that NOAA is predicting fewer storms than usual this summer. The bad news is that, because May produced the highest temperatures ever recorded for both land and ocean surfaces in North America, the hurricanes will be of greater intensity and destructive power. As a nation, we've spewed enough fluorocarbons, vehicle exhaust, radioactive waste, and other gasses into the atmosphere to have severely damaged the ozone layer, and there are five decades worth of space trash orbiting the Earth like the rings of Saturn. I'd say this is "reaping the whirlwind."

The international scientific data about man-made causes of climate change is in. The only ones left disputing it are a few hucksters who make their money selling snake oil to the yokels, and the entire congressional delegation of the Republican party. John Boehner once blamed climate change on cow farts. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, whose state is burning, called global warming "a hoax." Iowa's Senator Chuck Grassley said, "Climate legislation is a scheme by coastal liberals to take your money." And the GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, wants to eliminate the EPA, founded in 1970 by Richard Nixon. Since the Republican Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the oil and gas industry, they will not consider alternative means of energy until they have sucked the last Stegosaurus stain from the bowels of the Earth. They claim that tougher regulations will make it harder to compete with the lax Chinese, but even in big old Communist Red China, the government has released a 710 page report saying, "China faces extremely grim ecological conditions under the impact of continued global warming." A recently published report by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research states "The link with human caused global warming is clear..(concerning) extreme rainfall and heat waves." Still, almost presidential candidate Rick Santorum said, "It is one thing for ideologically driven science to indoctrinate children in classrooms. It is another for politicians to use science to destroy national economies and redistribute global wealth. I refer, of course, to the latest scientific non-controversy, man-made global warming."

I suppose by the time anyone reads this, the thermometer will have reached 100 degrees or close to it. The only people looking forward to this summer's temperatures are the executives at Memphis Light Gas & Water and Baskin-Robbins. Over here, we're investing in dark curtains and stocking up on air filters, hoping another "Hurricane Elvis" doesn't pass this was anytime soon. If this is to be the hottest summer on record, I would also be investing in iced tea futures if I had any money left. As for the idiotic pseudo-debate over whether or not climate change is affected by humans, we may have already reached the tipping point. If that's the case, the argument is irrelevant, despite the tsunami of cash flowing into Republican coffers from fossil fuel consortiums, like oil onto the pristine beaches of the Gulf Coast. President Carter tried to warn us, but he was such a downer. We were too busy disco dancing to pay attention to a buzz-kill like Jimmy. That's why we're at the mercy of severe and unpredictable weather and continual "Code Orange" air alerts. It's been thirty-five years since Jimmy Carter's "heads-up" to the country, but we scorned him, so by now there may be nothing left to do but sit back and watch the show. At least until the New Madrid fault ruptures, then I imagine the power might be out for awhile.

17 comments:

billy reed said...

ytgnmway to go rando!

knocked it out of the park one more time !!

Rob said...

Sad but true. As is the fact that so few Americans give a sh!t, so many others are in denial and many others might feel differently if the facts were reported in relation to the severity of the problem. But everywhere, as in everything, denial rules. Even big Al Gore couldn't include the J curve in his INCONVENIENT TRUTH. Where are all the radicals now? On antidepressants? Dead? Somewhere else other than here?

Alan said...

In the late 70’s the weather at the BBQ contest was in the high 90’s. I watched C-Span House Hearing on the $16,000,000,000 loan guarantee program for green jobs. It came out in testimony that the projected number of jobs that would be created was 5,000,000. Actual jobs created 2,783. I rest my case on the government’s ability to estimate anything.

Alan said...

One of the best comments on Man Made Global warming. If you don't expand your thinking process to analyze all points of view you are sucked into a void of intellectual thought.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/06/global_warmings_killer_critical_thinking.html

Tommie McKee said...

For any of you hippies who still read fiction, I recommend Kim Stanely Robinson's '40 Signs of Rain', '50 Degrees Below' and '60 Days and Counting'. Fact based fictional account of abrupt climate change, presented as a trilogy. Not his best prose, but truly visionary. We indeed might have already reached the tipping point. Keep your eye out for news of a stall in the Gulf Stream.

Anonymous said...

How do you explain the Medieval Warm Period which pre-dated the Industrial Revolution? Scientists have found that there have been warm and cool periods throughout the Earth's history. There are other explanations for the causes of these temperature fluctuations than man-made gases. Are you aware that a single large volcanic eruption can emit more greenhouse gases than years of man-made gas production? Don't be so cock-sure about a complex phenomenon that is still in dispute. Especially when politicians like Al Gore can make billions off of the carbon exchange scam. The solution being profferd by a cabal of communists is the U.N. Agenda 21/Sustainable Development Treaty of 1992. America and 178 other countries have signed on to it (maybe more by now). It is a draconian solution to a problem that may not exist...you should look into it. It calls for centralized global governance in which the global government would control all of the Earth's resources, and what is worse is that it would control practically every human behavior. It is a Trojan Horse for Communism on steroids. Dick Durbin's Livable Communities Act is part of it. This act would eventually force everyone to live in concentrated habitation zones in beehive cities. The Smart Meters that are being installed all over the country are being passed off as an economical measure. What they haven't told you yet is that Smart Thermostats will follow which will eventually allow utility companies to control the energy consumption in each home. The governemnt will mandate how much energy can be used and the utility companies will have the legal authority to set your thermostat, etc. This and much more is being instituted beneath the radar. This is not 'black helicopter' crap. All you have to do is to do a little research. A good place to start is with Brian Sussman's book "Eco-Tyranny' and he is not known for being a conservative, but he is a damn good investigative reporter. Before you swallow the bait that will take away all of our freedoms and private property, look at the bigger picture. Don't join the mindless herd that is stampeding off of the cliff.

performs said...

If we do not embrace and practice the discipline required to prevent, or at this point at least slow down, the contamination of our air, water, soil, food, minds and hearts, we will not need to fear our property and freedoms being taken from us, as we will be doing that to ourselves. They are called needs for good reason. This is mankind’s duty. Each one is free to embrace it or spurn it. Changing climate and weather patterns is a symptom.

performs said...

Anonymous, upon reading the following quote, I felt it had to shared with you others who may have read your commentary on this blog. The quote is from Aneurin Bevan, In Place of Fear, 1952.
"The issue...in a capitalist democracy resolves itself into this: either poverty will use democracy to win the struggle against property, or property, in fear of poverty, will destroy democracy."

To me, this clearly describes today's political struggle beyond the enormous amount of ignorance and apathy.

Robert Maynard Hutchins, 1954, says it well: "The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment."

Anonymous said...

Performs, no offense, but WTF do your comments have to do with the issue of global warming? How far have you looked into the matter? There seems to be a disconnect between your brain and your typing fingers. It appears to me that the New Age fluff that you are so fond of has undermined your rationality. A lot has been done over the past 40 years to improve the quality of our air, water, etc. Do you think that we are Poland? Regarding threats to democracy, the Left's fascination with a centralized command and control economy constitutes the greater threat. Do you know anything at all about the correlation between growing governement control and individual freedom as it expresses itself politically and democratically? Do you think that our move toward a totalitarian governing system is compatible with democracy? You really should put more into acquiring an education so that your responses will not be so shocking to educated people. You seem to me to be the educational equivalent of a baby playing with its toes. No offense, though.

performs said...

"No offense, though."
That's hilarious but also pathetic.
Bolstering your response with 75% offensiveness reveals to me that unconsciously you must have little faith that what you are arguing has any connection to reality.
You did, however, ask this, "Do you think that our move toward a totalitarian governing system is compatible with democracy? " My answer is: of course not, and neither is it compatible in the business sector which is sorely in need of a better system to serve the welfare of all citizens.

Anonymous said...

Performs, I resolved some time ago to leave you alone. Sorry, I slipped up. Forgive my insulting remarks.

performs said...

Forgiven and forgotten, A.
P

Anonymous said...

I will be shocked if the Supremes declare Obamacare to be unconstitutional. I have felt for some time that they were in the tank for the progressives and the globalists. Universal healthcare is an important element in Agenda 21. In 2006 they agreed that the natural and vital substance for life, CO2, is a pollutant which gives the EPA a carte blanche to shut down all industry. Of course the EPA has to exercise discretion in this matter to prevent a civil war. It will be done (actually is being done) in a creeping fashion. They also supported a vast change in eminent domain through the Kelo decision. Basically, this allows the government wide latitude in the acquisition of real estate and the re-development of cities when the Livable Communities Act (or something similar to it) is passed. Obamacare is just another part of the puzzle that needs to fall into place. If the Supremes strike it down, it just won't make sense in light of these recent ajudications which are tailor made for Agenda 21.

Anonymous said...

Told you so. The Supremes (along with most of the federal government, including the RINO's) are in the tank with the globalists. Here is what you can expect for the future. The Republicans will never be able to cope with the Democrat voter fraud machine. Obama will be re-elected. He and his regime will federalize energy next, followed by food and water. After four more years of the Obama regime, over half of the country will be on the dole and the Democrats will most likely be in perpetual power by the votes of the tens of millions of drones of our welfare society. America will eventually lose its sovereignty, probably through UN treaties, and become a full-blown Marxist state. What most of the ignorant citizenry is unaware of is the power of the global juggernaut that is driving the world toward world government. This power will not be stopped. Eventually, there will be world communism. Then the trusting progressive buffoons will relaize what they have done to themselves and the rest of humanity. Their much longed for utopia (by the way, you can't have a utopia without totalitarianism) will turn into a satanic nightmare. There WILL be a pervasive move toward de-population. This has always been an 'under the radar' element of the progressive agenda...check out history. Hitler's shenanigans caused this to go underground, though. Starvation will be the biggest tool and will be used to wipe out the 'useless eaters' (much of the Third World). All others who attempt to resist the new global order will be liquidated by other means. The world will become a Stalin-like nightmare for all of humanity. Excepting of course the small cadre of elite rulers who will live in opulent luxury. The worse element of capitalism will have finally won the day having used socialism as a ruse to eliminate the middle class... their only opposition. The reason that things will devolve into utter tyranny is because eventually the producers will become completely de-incentivized through collectivism, but someone must do the work. The work will eventually be effected under the treat of death...work camps, gulags, etc. Hopefully this will take a while to materialize, but something like this vision will be effected. Too bad for the young. Progressives just will not take a realistic view of human nature. Strip away the surface facade, remove the influence of God from his life and man is a mean mother. You know what they say about absolute power. It's coming to your neighborhood soon. Think of how the German people were suckered into raising the human equivalent to Satan to power. Some folks will never learn, except through pain, suffering and enslavement.

Steve in DC said...

Here's a recap of what happened today:

The SCOTUS Healthcare Ruling as told by The Simpsons

Anonymous said...

If Obamacare is going to deny the elderly expensive, life-saving medical procedures, then the least that they can do is to legalize voluntary euthanasia. Right now the plan is to refer them to hospice to die a slow agonizing death (in many cases). They should at least offer the elderly a choice between hospice or euthanasia. Can you imagine the anguish you would experience if you were 75 and needed a heart by-pass, but were turned down and referred to hospice where you would have to wait day-by-day for death to come to you? And, having to cope with the corresponding physical pain? If euthanasia is not offered as a choice, I'll bet that many of the elderly will be committing suicide. Euthanasia, besides being more humane, would also save a lot of money. The progressives found a way to get rid of souls entering the world through abortion (sold to the public under the ruse of women's choice), and with Obamacare they will get to eliminate old, non-producing people (useless eaters)...EEEHAW! Together, these amount to a backdoor way to effect de-population. It is a progressive win-win. So, why not provide cheap, humane euthanasia? My bet is that at the appropriate time euthanasia will be legalized. In fact, after the government has us sufficiently under its tyrannical thumb, I would be willing to bet that they will declare that an individual is not fully human till the age of two so that toddlers can be massacred. Who knows, maybe they will set the age even higher. Who's to stop them, the constitution has become butt-wipe and is all but ignored. The Supremes see all kinds of 'emanations' and 'penumbras' that allow them to make the constitution say anything that they want it to say. They might as well be using Mad magazine as their guide. In the end, the government will most likely decree by fiat that they can kill anyone they wish at their whim for the 'greater good' of the collective. Communists have a bad track record of that sort of thing.

Anonymous said...

The only problem with voluntary euthanasia is that once that door is opened, it is a small step for the governmnent to mandate it as a necessary measure for population control for the ultimate good of all. That day is not likely to come until the population gets much larger, though. When there are dangerous food, water, etc. shortages it will be a much easier sell to the public. By that time there will probably be no freedom at all so it won't make any difference if the public wants to go along or not. Eventually, something drastic will have to take place to avoid a massive die-off due to over-stressing the ecosystem. All ecosystems, small and large, have their own unique carrying capacity. So, a day of reckoning looms on the horizon. Unbridled immigration will hasten that day for America. The demographic clock is ticking.