Rants and Ravings from Cogwheel’s Workshop
Definition courtesy of Bones. Word courtesy of me.
Thank you for proving my point about you. Have a nice day! =)
PS: Look at me hiding here all alone in my intertubes!
PPS: The best part of it all, Spencer Hughes (Sarah's husband) is the person who introduced me to WoW.
This is a follow-up to my earlier posts.
In Part 3, Spencer posted a link to a video he wanted me to watch. Subsequently, he posted that video directly to his wall. Here’s the final thread.
Aside: it looks like this thread just won’t die. I’ll edit with any future discussion if it’s worthwhile.
Spencer Hughes - For the Reality Challenged folks out there who are still drinking the EARTH IS ENDING nonsense...THESE are the people who should get an Oscar, not Gore.
David - gore does deserve an oscar, but it should be for acting like he cares about the world
Spencer Hughes - NICE one, David! HAHA.
John - A liberal that loves Al Gore is a liberal that loves censoring rock and rap music lyrics ala his wife Tipper.
Sarah - I did a report on Tipper and censorship in high school. Not a lot of people remember her rampage on the music industry.
Mario - Good one David. Sarah, I remember how the likes of Frank Zappa and Dee Snyder made a monkey out of Tipper in the hallowed halls of Congress when the censorship trial was going on.
Sarah - I do too. *sigh* Those were the days.
Matthew Orlando - So, just finished watching the video as promised.
A large portion of it was devoted to the political issues which, as I've said in other threads, should be addressed entirely separately from the science. Treating them as the same issue only confuses matters and makes it harder for people to differentiate rhetoric from reality.
However, the video did make some specific claims. If you aren't averse to exposing yourself to an opposing point of view, there are several resources which attempt to refute the claims. E.g. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=seven-answers-to-climate-contrarian-nonsense
Sarah - *yawn* I ALREADY READ THAT. So now what? I still don't agree with you and??? Let it go, dude.
Matthew Orlando - So now i can't even respond to the video that I was urged to watch, without getting a snide remark? And you wonder why I got defensive earlier? Why are you taking this so personally?
I get that you've read it. I get that you don't agree. I don't get why you would try to keep me from sharing my opinion with others... I haven't made a single comment to this particular post. This post might be something someone sees without ever looking at the other ones. It was a more appropriate place to put my direct response to the video, which you and Spencer insisted I watch.
Sarah - Hey Matthew...you are so missing the point. No one is trying to keep you from sharing your opinion. What I am saying is that, much like if you were a guest at our house for dinner, I would expect that you would have manners enough to recognize that once you start name calling, the argument is over. (If you were at my dinner table and called my husband and me "denialists" you would be asked to leave.) Spout your opinions on YOUR facebook page. Healthy debate is welcome, but when you reach a stalemate, the appropriate thing to do is zip your lip, not whine about how you are being censored.
And Matthew...the two posts go hand in hand. It is completely irrelevant WHERE you respond. It is the same discussion.
Matthew Orlando - I'm sorry for insulting him/you with my "denialists" remark. I honestly didn't think it was any worse than the swarm of "kook-aid" comments that were directed at me. If that's what this was about, then yes I did miss the point and I'm certainly happy moving on
Aside: At this point, Sarah (who happens to be Spencer’s Wife) responded to the above message with a snide remark. She completely missed the fact that I was apologizing for doing the thing that originally upset her.
In the same post, she also stated that none of the “kook-aid” comments were directed towards me personally. Part 1 would beg to differ. As I was writing my next post below, she deleted the post. I assume she realized just how wrong she was. In fairness, I removed the parts of my response which shot her down for that transgression.
Sarah - OMG you are from Sebastopol. I should have read your profile and saved myself a lot of aggravation. Do you stand on the street corner on Main St and 116 on Friday too?
Matthew Orlando - I don't understand where you're coming from. I was being totally sincere when I apologized for insulting you. I really did miss the point.
And that Sebastopol comment? Talk about prejudice... Who's the one not moving on now? I don't even live there. In fact, my job isn't even "in" sebastopol. It's about 10 minutes north, but the Post office still calls it that.
Sarah - Matthew. I was raised in Sebastopol. I am a fifth generation Sonoma County resident. Berkeley transplants and moral fascists drove me out of my home town. I couldn't take living there anymore because of the mental illness being spewed at my children in a SCHOOL I ATTENDED as a child. My 10 year old came home crying because some ponytailed granola chomper told him that if I didn't stop driving my Expedition, he wouldn't live to see 20 years of age. Make peace? HELL NO. Take your Sky is falling crap somewhere else. It is CERTAINLY not welcome here.
Matthew Orlando - I agree about sebastopol. It's full of kooks. Did you know sebastopol schools have the lowest rates of childhood vaccination in the country?
"Make peace? HELL NO. Take your Sky is falling crap somewhere else. It is CERTAINLY not welcome here."
Wow... just . wow...
Elie - I became a Prince fan because of Tipper. It was because of the Dirty Mind album that we now have those stickers she fought for.
Sarah - Beat it, dude.
John - I forgot another reason why "Global Warming", "Global Climate Change" etc has been grasped on either side by both Conservatives and Liberals (from as high up as the parties and leaders themselves by way of their respective lobbyists) is to make sure that the people of the USA remain divided. Why is it in their parties best interest? Votes. But most importantly - diversion. If we are attacking each other over science (which I am willing to bet about 99% of us here REALLY understand) then the bad guys win. Trust me, this is diversion from noticing what is really going on in the background. So I plead with both Sarah and Matthew - agree to disagree! We are all here because Spencer runs one of the best radio shows out there and fosters great debate! (By the way - I think both Sarah and Matthew are great.)
John - Whoops! I should have said 99% of us REALLY DON'T understand! haha
John - By the way this whole topic proves again that party or "Conservative vs. Liberal" loyalty decides what people's opinions are. The last conspiracy that proved this was the Iraq war. Time to think outside of the boxes that have been set up for us all to think inside of.
Elie - Well said John.
Sarah - My being here has relatively little to do with Spencer's show, actually. I have been telling Matthew that he isn't going to convince me in seeing things "his way." He doesn't like that answer. I am not asking him to change his mind like he is asking everyone else here to do.
Sarah - John-I TOTALLY disagree. My stance on global warming has nothing to do with my political affiliation. If that were the case, then by definition I would be against gay marriage and pro-life. Who is thinking inside the box?
Matthew Orlando - "My being here has relatively little to do with Spencer's show, actually. I have been telling Matthew that he isn't going to convince me in seeing things "his way." He doesn't like that answer. I am not asking him to change his mind like he is asking everyone else here to do."
Wow... just . wow...
Obviously you haven't read even half of the posts I've written on the topic.
" So I plead with both Sarah and Matthew - agree to disagree! "
Tried that. Here's what happened:
"Make peace? HELL NO. Take your Sky is falling crap somewhere else. It is CERTAINLY not welcome here."
Sarah - Matthew...I have only read your posts in this thread and the other one from today. Have you not been trying to change our minds? Or was that just something I read into your words? I could spend time quoting you, but I only have 2 minutes between contracts at work...and I would rather grab a cup of coffee.
Wow just wow? FAR OUT, MAN... Hey, I hear that they are having a wicked folk song jam in the square by Whole Foods. I can't even drive through Sebastopol anymore because of you...so yeah. I am hostile.
Matthew Orlando - Hmm, let's see... Quoting myself:
"I really don't care if you come away from it with a changed mind, but it's always better to expose yourself to more information whether you agree with it or not. This is why I read blogs and listen to radio shows from all different political persuasions. I'm confident that the decisions I make and the conclusions I reach are based on the broadest set of facts at my disposal. If you do the same, and reach different conclusions, then I'm perfectly happy to agree to disagree."
And that's a sentiment I've repeated several times over the past few hours.
"Wow just wow? FAR OUT, MAN... Hey, I hear that they are having a wicked folk song jam in the square by Whole Foods. I can't even drive through Sebastopol anymore because of you...so yeah. I am hostile."
Oh goodie! An ad hominem! Haven't seen one of those in a while. *rolleyes*
Lora - Sarah, you're a hoot! You go girl! Bet you keep Spencer on his toes... :) I have never believed in the global warming stuff... I'm glad Climategate is happening, in fact. I love when the truth comes out. I am a conservative traditionalist but I don't need a government party to tell me how or what I think. I read all sides and come up with conclusions on my own. Mr. Gore has found a way to make a lot of money. Interesting that he cancelled his appearance in Copenhagen - the man who won an oscar for "An Inconvenient Truth". "Climategate" is the inconvenient truth now, isn't it...
Sarah - Oh deep, man...you know Latin, man....Far out.
Matthew Orlando - I love how you keep avoiding the fact that you've displayed absolutely no willingness to reach some sort of middle ground, even if it's making peace with the fact that we disagree. This is making great blog fodder. Keep up the good work =)
Matthew Orlando - Republicans and peace just don't mix, i guess.
Sarah - I am no republican. And who says we HAVE to reach a middle ground? Sometimes there ISN'T a middle ground. Why are you HERE? I am not avoiding anything. I have stated PLAINLY that I don't want to make peace with you. Let me get as CLEAR as I can: VAPORIZE.
Sarah - Wait...before you say it...WOW. JUST WOW. Right?
Matthew Orlando - How'd you guess? ;)
Sarah - Because I am smart. I will turn this over to my husband now.
Spencer Hughes - Matthew, dude...why are you here? HONESTLY. Why? You ridicule my view on ghosts (although they ARE real...I have several sharing my house with us)...you think I am a misinformed on global warming (although YOU apparently don't watch anything but the mainstream channels, who are NOT reporting what people are calling THE BIGGEST shame on the scientific community perhaps EVER). If my page is BLOG FODDER for you, you can take a hike. My page is not a punching bag for you. Do you see why I have always said my page is for like minded people I would probably hang out with in real life, over a pizza and a beer? Am I really someone who you'd want to have dinner with? Other than to ARGUE with? You are snarky and self righteous and I am frankly getting bored of it all.
Sarah - I didn't know about the ridicule of the ghost stuff. His profile says Ignostic...is that a cross between agnostic and ignorant? What exactly does this yahoo offer people here exactly? What contribution does he make? Maybe he should focus on making this a good day for the Alliance instead of buzzing like an obnoxious mosquito around everyone's heads.
Sarah - I GET IT! WOW just WOW means World of Warcraft just World of Warcraft. God I am slow.
Matthew Orlando - Feel free to unfriend me if you feel that way. I've always enjoyed your show, and I know we agree on a lot of issues. I also thought your followers would have a bit more class than to begin throwing rampant insults around when someone disagrees with them.
As I've said before, any hostility in my responses is only a reaction. Where I've misunderstood things, I've apologized. I've attempted to make peace, but certain people in the discussion can't seem to get over petty squabbles. I have no hostility towards the opposing view, I have hostility towards the assumptions made about me, the gross prejudice, and the dismissiveness.
None of this discussion has centered around the science, which is all I wanted to put forward in the first place. If you really can't be bothered to see the differences among science (pro- or anti-global warming), politics (pro- or anti-regulation), and personal interaction (pro- or anti-agree-to-disagree), then I have nothing more to say.
Sarah - Sweetheart, I am not a listener. I am his wife. YOU are making good blog fodder. Please continue...and I do believe you cast the first insult? Am I wrong? Why don't you save Spencer the trouble of unfriending you and just disappear?
Sarah - Sorry...I am not a "follower." My mistake.
Matthew Orlando - I HAD disappeared two hours ago and then you brought me back into the discussion with
"My being here has relatively little to do with Spencer's show, actually. I have been telling Matthew that he isn't going to convince me in seeing things "his way." He doesn't like that answer. I am not asking him to change his mind like he is asking everyone else here to do"
And yes, I know you're his wife. You're taking all of this way to personally for anyone without an emotional attachment.
Trucker - YEEEAAAAAA... I KNEW IT WAS ALLLL B.S.
Sarah - I have a very emotional attachment to the decay of my hometown brought on by the "green party" transplants and propagandists. It used to be a quiet, tranquil apple farming community until it became the mecca of liberalist mental illness. You are one of the people I blame for not being able to give my children the beautiful childhood I had growing up there. It is VERY personal. How long have you lived there, Matthew? I mean, 10 miles NORTH of there? Let me guess. Occidental? Graton? I am the first generation in my family NOT to live there... I would not allow my children to be exposed to your fear mongering and misinformation any more that I would let them play with fire.
I visit often. Let's meet over some organic free trade chai at Hardcore Coffee on Bloomfield and Hwy 116...which used to be FRANK'S CORNER...I knew Frank. Did you? My treat.
Sarah - P.S. My mom is calling me from Sebastopol. She asks if you have been outside today...cuz she is freezing her ass off. Global warming indeed.
Matthew Orlando - Quoting myself:
"I have no hostility towards the opposing view, I have hostility towards the assumptions made about me, the gross prejudice, and the dismissiveness."
Here you go again on another one of your prejudicial rants about Sebastopolians.
First off, as I said, I don't live in sebastopol, I WORK near sebastopol. If you absolutely must know, I live in Santa Rosa (not that it should matter).
Second, sebastopol has been that way my entire life. I certainly wasn't a contributing factor.
So, what exactly is your point?
Matthew Orlando - "P.S. My mom is calling me from Sebastopol. She asks if you have been outside today...cuz she is freezing her ass off. Global warming indeed."
You've heard of Winter, haven't you?
Global warming isn't about "OMG Its soooooo hot today!!!!." It's about "The average surface temperature over the last hundred years has experienced a statistically significant increase."
Spencer Hughes - Of about ONE degree, Matthew. OH NO!!!! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!! Matthew. I am officially DONE with this thread.
Yamasaki - Matt, just a question........Why is global warming such an issue to you? Your profile says you are a member of the "Come Out as an Atheist Group" as an atheist dont you also believe that the world ends in 1103 days? And no I'm not an Atheist, I'm a proud and practicing Christian who studies religion.
Sarah - My point is you would not be welcome in our home, so I don't believe you are welcome here. I have a funny feeling you are about to go bye bye, Matthew. And um...yeah. Heard of winter...it's like...when things get all COLD and stuff, right, man? Far out. Say goodnight, Matthew.
Matthew Orlando - Yamasaki: you do realize all the word "atheist" means is that I don't believe in god, right? It says absolutely nothing about whatever else I may or may not believe...
Matthew Orlando - Goodnight, Matthew.
This is a follow-up to my earlier post. See also: Part 2, Part 4.
Spencer’s next pots was a link to an article about Arnold Schwarzenegger. This time I was prepared for a first strike. =)
Spencer Hughes - Even Arnold is guzzling the Kook-Aid on climate change. He is a Kennedy through and through.
Arnold Schwarzenegger unveils dramatic climate change map which shows flooded San Francisco of the f www.dailymail.co.uk The map, which demonstrates the devastating effects of global warming in just a century, shows how San Francisco Airport would be completely underwater if sea levels were to rise by 150cm (60in).
Matthew Orlando - http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=seven-answers-to-climate-contrarian-nonsense
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69TOuqaqXI
Spencer Hughes - Matthew, Matthew. The SCIENTISTS THEMSELVES ARE ADMITTING THEIR DISTORTIONS AND LIES!! They were CAUGHT in their lies!! Are you just not listening to the news?? Oh that's right. The networks are refusing to cover the story, so it's really not your fault that you are misinformed about Climategate!
Kay - It's snowing in Texas, cold in California....if the oceans rise that much maybe they will put in a desalinization plant, Lord knows they need the water and then maybe the farmers will get their fair share for the crops....Wait until they realize the earth is cooling and a mini ice age is coming.
Matthew Orlando - Spencer, Spencer. SOME scientists are admitting distortions of SOME data. That proves absolutely nothing but that those particular scientists were fraudulent about their particular data. That doesn't mean you can throw out everything else that has come before.
Spencer Hughes - For YOU, Matthew...They were right THEN and they are right NOW. THESE are the people worthy of an OSCAR, not that blowhard Gore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzSzItt6h-s
The Great Global Warming Swindle......
Matthew Orlando - Unlike you denialists, i'm actually going to take the time and visit the link you posted. I'm not afraid to consider views that are different from mine.
Sarah - Look out, Matthew! The SKY is falling the SKY is falling!
Amy - OMG! That's exactly what my husband and I were talking about last nite! Well more like I was schooling him! lol He married a Kennedy...what do u expect?!
Spencer Hughes - Matthew, the only thing that is falling is the FRAUD. Honestly, if you watch only the alphabet networks, you AREN'T reading or hearing about the THOUSANDS of docs and e-mails revealing this FRAUD. Are you NOT watching FOX, Matthew??
Matthew Orlando - If you'd take the time and actually read my posts I made in the other "thread" for content rather than assuming I'm part of the liberal conspiracy, you might find out that I'm not of the sky is falling variety... Reality > ideology.
Sarah - Matthew. Now you are just being rude. Spencer is not a denialist because he feels strongly about something you don't agree with. Be nice or leave.
Matthew Orlando - I'm not offended by being called a kook-aid drinker, I'd hope my similar attitude isn't being considered offensive. I have no hard feelings save for frustration at having the things I say completely ignored.
Amy - That's very diplomaric of you Sarah-:)
Sarah - The difference is, Matthey, we are not on YOUR facebook page. If you want the things you say listened to, go somewhere that people are open to it. Most of the people here can see through the crap. We can't help it if you can't.
Matthew Orlando - Now who's being insulting?
Sarah - AGAIN...this is not your page. Go pick a fight somewhere else.
Matthew Orlando - You're not "seeing through the crap" you're summarily dismissing everything i say as already settled. I on the other hand am actually taking the time to think out responses and look at the materials (articles, videos, etc.) that have been presented to me.
Matthew Orlando - Trust me, I didn't come here to pick a fight. I came to give another side to the story. Any hostility you detect in my writing is entirely a reaction.
Sarah - Then go check out the video and THEN get back to us. I don't detect hostility. Just arrogance.
Matthew Orlando - I am, and I appreciate Spencer for posting the links. My frustration is that I've posted similar (opposing) information which has been consistently ignored. Obviously, you're free to do so, but it seems a tad disingenuous.
Sarah - Why disingenuous? I have educated myself VERY thoroughly on this topic and have been screaming from the rooftops that it was crap for years. It is nice to watch all of the HYPE unravel.
Christopher - just an idea. maybe Matthew should read Telling the Truth About Damned Lies and Statistics. By Joel Best, Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/4/2001, Vol. 47, Issue 34
Matthew Orlando - It's disingenuous (and I'm not speaking directly about you, but the general trend in this and other thread) because the link I specifically posted to this specific thread specifically addresses the claims made in the video with citations to research.
Like I've said multiple times, if you take the time to look at the actual evidence and you come to a different conclusion, that's fine with me. I just want your conclusions to be based on the maximum amount of information.
Is that arrogant of me?
I'll respond more directly to the video in spencers actual post of the video.
Sarah - Matthew...you keep saying how no one is listening to you. You are not listening to me. I HAVE seen the so-called actual evidence. I am VERY well versed in this topic and my opinion on this, as in everything else, is a very educated one. Why do you feel threatened by someone disagreeing with you?
Sarah - Specifically, I mean. Heh.
Matthew Orlando - I say no one is listening because no one has bothered to say they've even read the information I linked, let alone respond to any of the points specifically. Political rhetoric about fascist conspiracies and hypocritical morons like Al Gore does not a scientific discussion make.
Sarah - Matthew. I read it. Get over it.
Matthew Orlando - Thanks =) will do.
Elaine - doesn't arnie have enough to keep him busy already?????
This is a follow-up to my earlier post. See also: Part 3, Part 4.
After the discussion got underway on Spencer’s status, he posted the following link on his wall:
Spencer Hughes Losing his LAME Oscar would be the least of Gore's problems as this global warming FRAUD continues to unravel. He deserves to go down with this filthy ship.
FOXNews.com - Hollywood Conservatives Say Gore Should Lose Oscar Over Climate-Gate www.foxnews.com Two conservative screenwriters say Al Gore should be stripped of his Oscar in light of the global warming questions raised by leaked e-mails out of a British research center.
Matt - AG is such a clown...
Matthew Orlando - Agreed. Doesn't make global warming any less true.
Susan - Al Gore is a fraud. If he were living the "green" life and truly believed and practiced what he preaches - but we all know he drives SUVs and lives in a mansion. So stop telling us we need to be green.Even his Hollywood counterparts... they fly all over the world to give their global-warming concerts are are leaving a horrific carbon footprint.
David - thatll take him down a few pegs. frickin smug clown
Spencer Hughes - Matthew, INFORM YOURSELF FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. This is NOT the calamity that it's been made out to be!! THEY HAD TO LIE AND DISTORT TO SHOW WARMING to the degree they insisted it was happening. So WHAT the earth is WARMING?? It has melted over and frozen over and melted over again for MILLIONS OF YEARS, Matthew. It's called earth CYCLES.
Matthew Orlando - Like i said, even if everything you say is true about one particular group of scientists, you are committing a logical fallacy by applying it to the whole. Science isn't about people, it's about research. Just because some people do bad research doesn't mean that all the other research is bad.
Oh and, btw, the earth does go through cycles of warming and cooling. Have you ever actually heard a global warming supporter say otherwise?
Sarah - Matthew, the issue isn't whether or not there is global warming. The issue is whether or not it is caused by PEOPLE. Al Gore has made obscene amounts of money by fear mongering. He SHOULD go to prison.
Spencer Hughes - Matthew...the earth MIGHT JUST MELT OVER SOMEDAY. It probably WILL, based on the past cycles. Have you ever considered that since it happened BEFORE WITHOUT OUR HELP, it could NOT BE our fault?? WHO was to blame when the earth melted over the last several times?? WHO, Matthew?? Honestly?
Matthew Orlando - I don't understand why you're all so caught up on Gore. As I've said multiple times, I think he's a hypocritical douche. Luckily he's not THE voice of global warming scientists. At least not to the same extent as the republicans would like to claim.
Nicole - Ok Matthew... listen to yourself! The earth will warm and cool naturally, we all know this. The question is what makes this "warming" cycle different than any of the previous and are we at fault? I don't really think so... actually I'm watching it snow right this very second in Houston. Damn this global warming!
Matthew Orlando - What makes it different? It's the greatest increase in thousands of years.
Are we at fault? While the science isn't as certain as in the previous question, it's certainly not as weak as the republicans would like to claim.
Sarah - If you ask Maryann on the street who they think the father of the Global Warming movement is, they WILL say Al Gore. He won the nobel prize and an Oscar and made gazillions of dollars peddling bull$hit. That is why I, personally, am caught up on him.
Spencer Hughes - Matthew, Gore is perhaps THE MOST INFLUENTIAL speaker on this FRAUD!! The average American who believes the sky is falling got it from the likes of GORE, not some nameless scientist in a lab. He IS the voice of global warming, Matthew.
Heidi - Matthew, unfortunately majority of americans listen to these celebrity types of people than actual real professionals.
Matthew Orlando - Heidi: agreed wholeheartedly!
Spencer & Sarah, while I agree joe on the street is most familiar with gore, I'd sincerely hope that the people in charge of the future of this country aren't so easily swayed. Gore is just a messenger, and a horrible one at that.
if you really want to further your cause, you should convince people to ignore him and look at the science. If reality is truly on your side, it will eventually win out. As resistant as science is to changing its mind, it WILL change its mind if the facts are against it.
Sarah - How sad is it that Al Gore is a "celebrity?" Excuse me while I vomit.
Nicole - Bahaha Sarah...
Nicole - "It's the greatest increase in thousands of years." So your point is the earth HAS warmed significantly before and without the help of the destructive human beings? Uh, Matthew, by earth time thousands of years isn't that long, so... the point is this has HAPPENED BEFORE and it will happen again, even if every human being is dead and gone the earth's climate will warm significantly and cool significantly. Should we treat the earth better? YES, but we can't take the blame for this warming period.
Sarah - Well said, Nicole.
Nicole - Why thank you, Sarah ;-)
Trucker - LET ME DO IT... I would be glad to RIP it out of his hands, and give it to a REAL humanitarian.
TRUCKERS... STOP STAYING BROKE http://wallymartguide.com
I probably should’ve known what I was getting myself into when I left an opposing opinion on Spencer Hughes’ Facebook status, but it was 6:45 am at the time and I hadn’t had my coffee. Anyway, it sparked a discussion spanning four posts on Spencer’s wall. Below is the initial status I responded to. See also: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 (the last two are the “best”).
Spencer Hughes :You know we're in trouble when your liberal friends applaud that unemployment is down to 10%. What the frig are we doing in this country?!?! The bigger picture is that this Administration is implementing programs that will CRIPPLE America. And so far they refuse to believe that the global warming hysteria is based on FRAUD. What a MESS.
Alison - Amen Spencer. You tell it like it is and we appreciate that! Have a great FRIDAY!
Jim - I went through the list of wrongs last night - AAAAAHHHH! I mean, these republicans are arguing about AMENDMENTS to healthcare. Amendments???
Diana - I think they counted that number over Thanksgiving break, when the unemployment offices were closed.
Lee - Spencer, we know we will never get through to the thick headed liberals........especially now that they are in denial.......pretty sad our Constitution is being torn apart
Gil - Remember the NY Times top fold HUGE PRINT that said 6% UNEMPLOYMENT under GWB? Weird how suddenly 10% is a good number...
Mike - You're surprised!?!?! God forbid we had a couple of nuclear explosions in popular cities in this country & you would still have these far left radicals like Pelosi & Reid with nothing on their mind but using the opportunity to push these government control programs through while the countryl is distracted!
Kevin - i hope they will have a good answer to the LORD,because they F---up this great country and the people that live here.there will be close mouths and hell to pay.i would love,to see the LORD,tell nancy and her friends to shut-up and bow before me,because now it will be time to see how you live your life and how you treated other people.COME LORD,SOON.
Greg - It's 17+ percent. It's bogus smoke and mirrors that people are removed from the list when they stop looking for work. All Obama can do is hold photo ops at the White House and go to Allentown. Someone should tell him he won the election. Time to stop campaigning, and get down to work. Only one good thing will come of his Health Care Reform, Cap & Tax and his huge deficits... a Republican president in 2012.
Jim - Spencer this is a huge mess. The Administration setting up programs for people so they don't have to find work so they all can suck off the government nipple. This feel good, touchy feelly let's all hug and let's have the government take care of your needs will kill America as we know it today. Climategate is another mess of lies and slight of hand to make a one world government just scares the hell out of me. Having Barbra Boxer wanting to sweep it under the carpet and have the whistle blowers hung for coming forward is a just a peek into the future how they will control information to the masses and if you speakout??? Send you to a gulag ???This is a scary world we live in today. People, We need to vote these people out of office or our freedoms will be gone in a blink of an eye.
Matthew Orlando - I'm with you on the programs, but Global Warming? Seriously? I'm sorry to see you've fully drunk the Republican Kool-Aid since leaving KSRO.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=seven-answers-to-climate-contrarian-nonsense
Matthew Orlando - BTW: "believing" in global warming is not synonymous with the desire to increase government regulations. Global Warming is a fact. The politics is another story entirely.
If you believe that Global Warming is just a liberal conspiracy to implement tougher regulations on business then you're just as deluded as the people who think more government is the only viable solution.
Sally - Yes... What a mess....!
Jim - Matthew, Matthew Who has drank the kook-aid????
Matthew Orlando - Let's see... The majority of scientists from independent fields of study including climatology, meteorology, biology, geology, paleontology......... Or right-wing politicians who are simply reacting to left-wing politicians' push for more government regulation...
Lee - Hey Matt Global warming is a part of mother nature and guess what mother nature always wins..........keep drinking the koolaid
Matthew Orlando - There are two reasons Republicans are so opposed to the scientific truth (besides just parroting what they're told by their leaders):
1) If the liberals believe it's true, it must not be. This is absurd. You should spend less time denying reality and more time trying to convince the libbies that there are better solutions than increased regulation.
2) Belief that since God gave us this world to look over, He wouldn't let anything disastrous happen until the Rapture. I'm not touching this one with a 10 foot pole ;)
Gil - Think we found a Global Warming believer, the whole thing appears to be a fraud, the top scientists were fudging data, were destroying data (that was to be given due to a Freedom of Information order in England).
Global warming is a hoax, its a con, complete and total con. Anytime you have someone say "the science is settled" then turns and refuses to show their data or "science", wake up.
There was this guy, he found moons going around Jupiter, the zealots of his day said "shut up get in that tower and never speak again." Weird, it is almost like he pointed out that Global Warming wasn't real and the politically correct machine ran him over... Nah, that never happens anymore, or does it?
Matthew Orlando - And have any of you who are still calling it a con even bothered to read through the link I posted above? No. Would you even be able to comprehend it if you did? probably not. But it's not your fault. It's a failure of your education. Your entire world view is based on eating up whatever your leaders tell you without an independent thought to speak of.
I'm done here because I know I'm not going to win any minds. Just know that if you go through life never questioning, you're bound to be deluded about something at some point. If you care to come back with any rational, reason-based responses, I might play along. But if you're going to keep up with the emotional rhetoric, I'm not playing.
Gil - Pot meet kettle, his name is mathew.
Matthew Orlando - BTW: what I just said is equally true for liberals.
VOTE LIBERTARIAN!!! :P
Matthew Orlando - Gil: have you actually looked at the claims of the scientists? Or do you just eat what you're fed by news outlets?
Gil - You're horribly confused if you think Global Warming is a Libertarian cause, its all about huge business and limiting freedoms to the public. It is, quite Fascist in nature actually.
Jim - Matthew needs to go play out in the snow. Vote Libertarian!!!!
Matthew Orlando - Ok. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt because it's early and I'm probably not making myself very clear.
Global warming is science, not politics. The problem in the politics is how we should move forward given the science. Liberals want to move forward by implementing fascist regulations. Conservatives, on the other hand, don't want to move forward at all. They just want to deny there's a problem in the first place.
I'm on your side as far as opposing anti-capitalistic regulations from the left. But that's not mutually exclusive with acceptance of the claims of scientists. If the Republicans want to win back some favor, they should accept the fact of global warming and try to find ways to deal with it in line with free market principles.
Jim - Matthew, There are many other Scienctist from all walks of studies that agree the opposite. You are getting the left-wing liberal push view. I feel so sorry for you buying into this crap. The world has always had climate change it's a fact. (where did the ice age come from??? Oh the Dino's did it driving Suv's I'm sorry. And what about the mini-ice age during the dark ages in Europe? Oh the monk's building chemical plants and driving Hummers) Do your reaserch and look at all sides.... Wow, you have been sucked in.
Matthew Orlando - jim: science is about the preponderance of evidence. The evidence comes from many different fields of study, as I mentioned above. In EVERY scientific matter, there will be squabbles about the details. But the truth isn't in the details. The truth is incorporated in the entire body of knowledge. At this point in time, the vast majority of peer-reviewed research supports the claims that our current period of global warming is caused by us.
Sure you can find scientists who agree with your point of view, but just because they exist doesn't mean they're right. And in fact, they may be right about particular claims they're making, but that doesn't somehow invalidate the mountains of other research that has gone into the matter.
Matthew Orlando - I invite you all to read the link I posted earlier (here it is again: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=seven-answers-to-climate-contrarian-nonsense )
I really don't care if you come away from it with a changed mind, but it's always better to expose yourself to more information whether you agree with it or not. This is why I read blogs and listen to radio shows from all different political persuasions. I'm confident that the decisions I make and the conclusions I reach are based on the broadest set of facts at my disposal. If you do the same, and reach different conclusions, then I'm perfectly happy to agree to disagree.
Jim - I did read it before I commented
Jim - Matt!!! Global Warming=Liberal Politics Bottom Line (Welcome to the real world and stay off the pipe)
Jim - Spencer??? See what you started...HaHaHa
Jim - GLobal warming is questionable at best. I've had the official class from the wx service and saw where the Gore-ites have played with the data. The truth is that when the sun is at solar max, there's appreciable rising in temperature. Currently the sun is in an astoundingly near dormant pattern and my friend tells me we haven't had sunspot activity now for something like 79 days and when we did, it was minimal. The sun seems be putting us in a cooling period so if mankind could warm the earth by a degree, it might actually compensate for this natural phenom. But that is all debatable and we've documented temperatures for such a short period of time relative to the total age of the earth, the mankind causes global warming theory is more religion than science.
Jim - I know Al said "the debate is over" but he's full of co2 on that. Real science is always open for debate.
Spencer Hughes - Matthew, these "scientists" are stepping down in disgrace. This idea that we are destroying the earth IS a FRAUD. God, Matthew, you know better than that! You DO sound like you've been more than sipping the Kook-Aid.
John - I think Matthew is right on. Questions everything.
As far as Obama still pushing through for government regulations etc after this internal conspiracy has been exposed? Reminds me of Bush and Cheney still pushing for Iraq so hard once that conspiracy was exposed.
Neither side of this Republican/Democrat government is your friend. Those that believe so on either side are drinking the kook aid.
Joshua - Here's what gets me: there are top reseachers who faked weather data to strengthen global warming debate and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) is more concerned about HOW the faked data got out in the open. Amazing.
Lee - liberals always looking for that free meal..........without working for it...........keep drinking the Kool Aid Matt
Matthew Orlando - Jim: Okay, now I'm NOT going to give you the benefit of the doubt. You have clearly demonstrated that you have no interest in discussing this in a reasonable, rational manner.
If there's one thing I've learned in my 3^3 years on this planet, it's that "plain and simple" is rarely both and usually neither. If you're not going to take the time and actually consider opposing views, then I really don't have anything more to say. Your mind is closed and no amount of contradictory evidence will convince you.
Unlike politicians, scientists actually analyze credible, opposing viewpoints which is what they've done in that article I linked. That's exactly what science is about. Falsifying claims is how science functions. Unfortunately for the climate change denialists, the opposing scientific view has been found wanting.
One last comment before I depart.
Anyone who says global warming is nothing more than a liberal conspiracy to implement fascist programs is just as much of a nutjob as the people who say 9/11 was nothing more than a conservative conspiracy to start a war in the middle east.
In both cases the overwhelming evidence leads to the opposite conclusions. But humans want to see design and intent in everything they witness. In doing so, they latch onto every tiny detail, and end up missing the forest for the trees.
Matthew Orlando - Ok, make that two (well really just expanding on my 3rd paragraph above):
Science starts out with the "null hypothesis," essentially they believe a claim is not true until evidence suggests otherwise. The null hypothesis in the case of global warming is that it isn't happening and that it isn't anthropogenic. This was the state of science in the early part of last century.
Then along comes some empirical data or some intuition, and someone comes up with another hypothesis: that global warming exists and is caused by human activity. These are testable claims, so experiments are designed such that a negative result will falsify the hypothesis. So far, the experiments have not contradicted this hypothesis. After decades of research, scientists have reached a consensus. Global warming exists, and the most recent trend was caused by us.
Now, consensus doesn't mean it's over. If more experiments come along to falsify the claim, then they should be given just as much weight as any other. And they have. But their claims too are falsifiable. And that's what this article I've linked several times has done.
Lee - tell Gore to give his trophy back! To be rewarded by lying.......seems to be the liberal way........can't get by on their own merits
Matthew Orlando - Sure thing. Gore is a hypocritical douche. That doesn't say anything about whether global warming is true or not.
Your inability to separate science from politics is breathtaking. Although I really shouldn't be surprised. Republicans and Democrats both have a long-running track record of ignoring reality in favor of ideology.
Matthew Orlando - Are you even capable of coming back with a response that shows even the slightest hint that you've thought about the scientific claims, or are you just going to continue your mindless "ZOMG ITS AL GORE!!!11" "FASCIST CONSPIRACY" "DON"T DRINK THE KOOL-AID" drivel?
And before you call me a hypocrite, I've done exactly that. I've backed up my counterclaims with resources so you can see for yourself and evaluate the evidence on its own merits. Like i said, I don't care what conclusion you reach as long as it's based on reality.
Jim - Some live in their own reality. Matthew, awake, my friend. This planet's been here long time before you and it will be here after you're gone.
Matthew Orlando - "Matthew, these "scientists" are stepping down in disgrace."
If every scientist who has ever published a study that fits the global warming hypothesis was a fraudster, you might have a point. But even if your claims are true about one or two scientist, that makes absolutely no statement about the truth of the science.
"This idea that we are destroying the earth IS a FRAUD."
you've been more than sipping the Kook-Aid.
Matthew Orlando - Jim: of course the planet will be here. And that's why I'm trying to get you to separate politics from the science. Even if this global warming is entirely natural, it's still something human society will have to deal with. Global warming has the potential to ruin billions of lives through coastal flooding from melting surface ice, drought-induced famine from changing weather patterns, etc.
Will it be the end of the world? of course not. Is it something we want to happen? Well I can't speak for you, but I certainly have compassion for the people who it will affect.
Is it something we can fix? Maybe, maybe not. This last bit is the only place in the discussion where politics should come into play.
Lee - seriously...........in the end it will all come out and unravel, it is happening now..........liberals will stop spending when they run out of everyone elses money.....Does anyone know what hard work is about?
Patrick – ask southern tx about global warming
Carrie - All I have to say is... UGH
Matthew Orlando - In all fairness, there's no way to specifically attribute any particular weather incident to global warming. The statements by scientists about global warming deal with time spans of many decades. All we can really ever say is whether there is a statistically significant increase in the frequency of severe weather. Which there is.
John - Matthew - I wish people on both sides of this Liberal vs. Conservative, (Burger King vs. McDonalds, Ford vs. Chevy, Coke vs. Pepsi) brainwashing would understand that they are being soldiers of strategic marketing put in place to control us and keep career politicians in business as well as those that lobby them. The problem as you are witnessing here is that too many people live in that bubble. They believe that is all that exists is Conservative or Liberal thought. And as you can see here - Conservatives can be just as narrow minded as the Liberals they seem to despise. Politics is imposing itself on Science only as a way to get votes, control people, control businesses and make their lobbyists proud.
John - I think the Conservative argument of "Who do you want in charge of your healthcare - the government???" could be applied to all sorts of areas. Science, Finance, War. It has shown to be ineffective no matter if Pepsi or Coke is in charge this four years.
Mike - I think it could be debated that the earth could be in a natural warming trend even though it seems to be going the opposite way right now but, when it comes down to who would have more power over us & you follow the money to where it would all be going if these GW Bills of control pass, could there be lying & corruption possible......Oh yeah! IF it could be proven that GW is a natural phenomenon, these people that are so adamant about pushing this control & taxing us to death would then just blow away & not care less about GW.
Mario - As it is written, "There are none so blind as those who will not see. The Global warming hoax was started back in the 70's by the same U.C.Berkeley moron who couldn't sell us on the coming ice age, (easily verifiable). Cfc's, freon, fossil fuels, cow flatulence and now carbon dioxide. What next. they've outlawed everything and say there's still a problem. What gets me is that in several places on earth, including here in Cal, the temperature can fluctuate 60 to 70 degrees within a 24 hour period, yet idiots like Algore are screaming "The sky is falling" because the mean temperature of the ocean has risen 1/2 a degree in the last 1000 years. Ooooh! I don't know how we'll ever survive the heat. Also, the seas already rise by 12 to 15 feet, and the cities are still here. It's called high and low tide, look into it. Finally, there remains the biggest indesputable fact of all, every other planet in our solar system is experiencing the same degree of "Global warming" without the benefit or help of mankind, with all our cars and leaf blowers. Now we have the current administration on board with Algore and all this "Hopenhagen bullcr@p. It seems the "Kool-aid" has been replaced by Obalming fluid. If there was anything to this at all, then one would think that the Algores of the world would set example by not jetting around the world in a Gulfstream 2 or driving around in motorcades of bulletproof Hummers and Escalades. So far, of all the people in Gov't and all the Hollywood heavy hitters and all the scientists who are spouting this climate change cr@p, I've only seen one, Ed Begley Jr, who is walking the walk and talking the talk. I may not agree with the guy, but he has my respect. There are two absolute facts about global warming. 1. Algore has made over $100,000,000 since leaving office, won an oscar and the Nobel prize for perpetrating this garbage. 2. Algore is a partner in the company that sells the carbon credits and is the major benefactor of the money made off selling said credits.
Jim - After all the damn changes we have made (like getting up an hour earlier every spring and having our yards called wetlands so we can't add that extra room) It's about time we stop the nonsense. Take care of the earth and don't do unnecessary harm environmentally but really, when do we throw the party for all the stupid things we've done and put up with in the name of "saving the planet"?
This is an open letter to my ex-colleagues from WoW Programming, and will also give the addon community some insights into my “retirement.”
Hi everyone,
I owe all of you an apology, however belated it may be. I’m very sorry for all the added headaches, missed deadlines, and other ramifications of my departure. While no explanation would be fully satisfying, you all deserve at least some insight into where I was coming from. I don’t expect you to excuse my actions, but at the very least your frustration will be directed at my actual motivations rather than whatever impressions I left at the time.
In hindsight, I began burning out on WoW even before work began on the second edition. I wasn’t writing any new addons. I was only supporting my old addons enough to keep them running in new patches. I quit my position as forum MVP last December. I was tired of dealing with users, tired of feeling like what used to be my passion was now a chore. Again, this is all in hindsight; I don’t remember being conscious of this for the most part.
Given that last bit, I was totally gung ho about working on the book. I am very proud of what we accomplished in the first edition, and was deeply grateful to be a part of it. I had swarms of ideas rolling around in my head for my chapters. Then, for whatever reason, I procrastinated. Whether it was subconscious pressures from the difficulties I was having or plain irresponsibility I can’t say (nor would it really matter in the long run).
Of course, I spent plenty of time rationalizing to myself. “The best work I did on the last book was when I crammed for two weeks of near sleepless nights.” “I scheduled my submission dates toward the front end anyway, so I’ll have time to catch up.” “My wife just got laid off,” “The house needs work,” “My day job just became über busy and stressful.” All true, but certainly no genuine excuses among them.
So the beat went on, until March 18 when the reality of the situation began to sink in and I suggested we pull in some help for my part of the API docs. I also started experiencing some of the hindsight I mentioned above. To reduce my stress, I officially retired from addon development by releasing all my addons to the public domain.
Two days later the feces impacted the rotary air distribution device for me when Blizzard released their new addon policy. This was an extremely emotional time for me, for reasons I can’t discuss. Suffice it to say it goes far beyond my visible reaction on the forums and has little to do with my “legal theories” on the matter. Such is life that I’ll never be able to express my true feelings on the matter.
After the fallout from the policy announcement (culminating in Blizzard wiping every post I’ve ever made from the forums, a great loss to them no doubt) I entered a period of deep conflict. On the one hand, I felt profoundly betrayed by and wholly disillusioned with Blizzard and WoW. On the other hand I highly valued my commitment to WoW Programming. How did I deal with this? Denial.
For the first two weeks of April, I ignored everything going on in the wow community and focused all my energy on my chapters. At first, I even felt like I made it to the same “zone” I was in during my first edition cramming. I churned out three chapters in a week and was well on my way to the rest of them.
But then something clicked. Suddenly I became acutely aware of those troubles I mentioned in hindsight. From that point on, I could barely force myself to sit in front of the computer at all, let alone make any progress on my chapters. I started withdrawing from the community, I started procrastinating at work, I even started closing myself off to my wife. Eventually I realized I was sinking into a depression, something that has never characterized me (except maybe after 9/11). This is when I made the decision to quit.
I had to do it for my sanity. I had to do it for my love. I had to do it for my job. But it didn’t have to be. Much of this could have been prevented had I met my original deadlines. Perhaps I still would have gone through the same troubles, but it would’ve been at a stage in the project when the rest of you would have been better able to deal with it. For that, and everything else I’ve mentioned, you have my deepest apologies.
Sincerely,
Matthew Orlando
