Hatching a Rotten Egg

Utah’s Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch maintains a web page called “Climate Change 101,” in which he gives some reasons why he doesn’t think anthropogenic climate change is likely to be a problem. The page is riddled with red herrings, references to studies that have since been refuted by other scientists, and the use of fraudulent data.

In his section on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate models, Hatch reproduces two graphs that were created by Christopher Monckton of the Science and Public Policy Institute, who has no scientific training. One graph purports to show that the IPCC climate models badly over-predicted the temperature evolution over the past decade. The other purports to show that IPCC carbon cycle models have badly over-predicted the evolution of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past decade.

The graphs seem very compelling, but the fields Monckton labels as IPCC predictions are actually outright fabrications. Check it out here: www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2010/08/monckton-makes-it-up/.

From an 11/29/10 article in the Salt Lake Tribune, by Barry Bickmore

Miss Julia sends me compliments of the day

From Miss. Julia George
14 bp cocody rue
05 koumassi
Abidjan / Cote D'Ivoire

Dearest friend,

Compliment of the day, I am so glad to write this letter to you. Having obtained your contact from the internet and after reading your profiles that you deserve trust, coupled with my deep interest to invest in your country, I decided to contact you for mutual assistance at all cost.

I am Miss Julia George Tammy the only daughter of Mr and Mrs George Tammy from Ivory-Coast. My father was a highly reputable cocoa merchant who operated in the capital of Ivory coast before his untimely death. It is sad to say that my father was sick mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad in the year 12th.February 2008. Though his sudden sickness was rather suspected to be poison and has been masterminded by an uncle of his who traveled with him at that time. But God knows the truth!

When my mother died on the 21st October 2006, My father took me so special because I am motherless. Before the death of my father on 6th April 2008 in a private hospital here in Abidjan . He secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a sum of $3.500.000 (three million, five hundred thousand dollars) deposited in one of the bank here in Abidjan, that he used my name as the only daughter for his next of kin in deposited of the funds.

He also explained to me that it was because of this money that he was poisoned. He also told me that I should seek for a God fearing foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money for investment purposes.

I am just 22 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. Please, I want an account where I can transfer this funds and after the transaction i will come and live with you as a partner and I'm ready to do anything of your choice. I am all alone right now.

The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life and i wished to invested under your care with your advise. Please, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.

I am ready to give you 20% of the total money after the money has been successfully transferred in to your bank account in your country for your assistance and for any expenses that you made during the process of the transfer. Again you will help me to secure a permanent residential permit in your country, for me to come over and continue my education while you will be taken care of the investment that will be set up by you.
The most important of all is for you to be a good partner when the money arrives in your country. Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immediately i confirmed your willingness then i will send to you my picture and i will need your own picture as well.

Thanks and remain blessed.
Your's Sincerely,
Miss Julia George Tammy

For more on Miss Julia's plight, check here.

Ignorantia Affectata

Bangladesh: Brackish water from the Bay of Bengal is encroaching, surging up Bangladesh's fresh-water rivers, percolating deep into the soil, fouling ponds and the underground water supply that millions depend on to drink and cultivate their farms.

The deniers first deceive themselves that they are sincere in their adherence to falsehoods. Thus they cannot be faulted for acting on genuinely held views. But in truth, they have cultivated an ignorance of the facts, what Thomas Aquinas called ignorantia affectata. An ignorance so useful that one protects it at all costs, in order to continue using it in one’s own self interest. This ignorance is not exculpatory, but inculpatory. Forgive them not, for they know full well what they do.