Saturday, March 22, 2008

From Popular Mechanics, August 1953 p119...


Growing Blanket of Carbon Dioxide Raises Earth’s Temperature
Earth’s ground temperature is rising 1-1/2 degrees a century as a result of carbon dioxide discharged from the burning of about 2,000,000,000 tons of coal and oil yearly. According to Dr. Gilbert N. Plass of the Johns Hopkins University, this discharge augments a blanket of gas around the world which is raising the temperature in the same manner glass heats a greenhouse. By 2080, he predicts the air’s carbon-dioxide content will double, resulting in an average temperature rise of at least four percent. If most of man’s industrial growth were over a period of several thousand years, instead of being crowded within the last century, oceans would have absorbed most of the excess carbon dioxide. But because of the slow circulation of the seas, they have had little effect in reducing the amount of the gas as man’s smoke-making abilities have multiplied over the past hundred years.

Yes, 1953. This issue, if you have it... or see it laying around your parents basement, or on ebay, or whatever.

Now if even 1/10,000th of GDP had been spent on this since 1953, where would we be today?

Friday, March 21, 2008

James of Hickory


James of Hickory, originally uploaded by Bill in Ash Vegas.

James says he used to be a "big-time" drug dealer, but Jesus set him on a better path. Today that path led from Lenoir to Hickory and back carrying a cross. This is the third year James has done this, he says it is his "way to remind people to turn straight."