An Inconvenient Freedom of Information

I was just going to leave well enough alone on the climate debate and An Inconvenient Truth's win at the Oscars, but after reading so many people praising the work, despite its flaws, and after hearing people run on in general conversation like experts, spawned by having seen the movie, I thought maybe I should say something. Then a buddy of mine sent me a link to this account of Al Gore's own energy consumption. True to political form, every coin has its flip side.

Now I really don't see much fault in the overall increase in consumption over a year, as 2006 was the warmest on record according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and even Mr. Gore needs some A/C in the summertime (although one has to wonder how often Tipper and Al are actually at ye old homestead). I do however find fault in that a figure like this has a consumption 20 times greater than the average household, and lets not forget all those other rich folk out there who similarly skew that average. Its been proven time and again that leading is best done from the front, not from behind, and yet there's still some hypocrisy to be found in someone who is self proclaimed as passionate about his work.

How could one forget those dramatic closeups and personal accounts of a concerned Al Gore interweaved within the actual documentary material. That said, its not even the not so subtle political commentary in those sequences that irked me most about the movie, but the fact that such a directed approach was presented in what has shown time and time again to be a much larger problem. The fact of the matter is that while carbon dioxide is infact an important greenhouse gas, so are a number of other things, including most dominantly water vapour. The media in general has a tendency to gloss over this fact.

In addition there are a number of feedback mechanisms that are not as well understood as they need be, and evidence exists for historical (that is in geologic context, not human) dramatic climate changes on the order of decades to a century that are entirely natural. The movie glosses over these ideas, and others in presenting our contribution of carbon dioxide in particular as the be all and end all in causing global warming. The warming concept in itself is shortsighted, as some evidence suggests that a small period of warming may infact lead to a strong subsequent cooling effect.

Now I don't fault Al Gore for getting the message out there. I do believe it is very important to stir common debate about the subject and for people to be more aware. I just wish it could have been done in a more level manner, and not glossed over, or outright misrepresented key concepts of the situation (for instance the claim that 'no scientist believes global warming isn't occurring') creating similar bias in the newfound experts.

I myself can't claim to be an expert in the matter either, just perhaps more familiar than most. And I'm certainly not saying that global warming or climate change definitively isn't occurring, and believe it is truly important to pursue alternative energies and improve efficiency, even if only from a health perspective, or a concern over global resource consumption (one need only begin to bitch about gas prices to see that much). Kyoto and similar agreements are important enough in those considerations alone, as well as somewhat leveling the global economic playing field. All I ask is for a less biased presentation to the general concerned public, before too many people are rushing around in a panic with their single perspective.

Mid Degree Crisis?

As I've expressed here frequently of late, I'm not a fan of my honours thesis project. A week off that should have seen me focus on it saw me look at it for maybe 3 hours in making some simple plots to keep supervisors happy and responding to a few e-mails. I was supposed to go in one day this week to learn how to prepare some of my samples for yet another set of analyses, but didn't get an e-mail telling me when that would happen.

Apparently the next tests will take the better part of 3 weeks to finish, while I am supposed to have a rough draft of a thesis written for next week. I could write the thesis around the data I am still waiting on, but instead I'm using it as an excuse to string things out even further. So long as I have things in order for my presentation near the end of March, there shouldn't be any issues. In the mean time I just cannot bring myself to sit down and put things together.

At first I thought I was just sick of schooling in general, but I am taking other courses this term, and aside from the typical gripes, am enjoying them. Infact, having saved some arts electives til the end of my degree and now taking the same style introductory courses I took 4 years ago, I've found a bit more interest than I had of late. I'm certainly not about to switch into a 4 year Psychology degree or anything ridiculous like that, but it holds interest well enough.

Instead, its the self directed thesis portion of things that's dragging me down right now. I am hoping that its simply the fact that I was never enthusiastic (to say the least) about my topic to begin with that is most of the reason for my dragging my ass. If its the self directed research side of things, then perhaps going on to get my Masters won't be the best idea. The problem with stopping now of course would be that I don't like most of the jobs I could go fill with my Bachelors degree. In truth, I've had the feeling lately that I'd be most happy doing under the table computer repairs, or at worst registering as a small business and doing the same.

So long as I could make enough money to roughly maintain the same lifestyle I have now for the long term I'd be satisfied. I've never carried illusions of leaving a major mark on society, or making myself a rich man. A few extravagancies (my beer, my music, my computer, my home theatre and my steak) are all I really need. Beyond that, making contributions where I can; being an intelligent person and passing on any wisdom possible when possible are all I motivate myself with.

We'll see what waking up in the morning for the next few months brings in terms of new motivation, or job opportunity. In the mean time, I'd be happy to fix your computer problems at minimum wage + parts and travel!

Reading Week

It had to come eventually. After such a mild December and January, the snowfall was due, and mother nature took a big white dump on us this week. On the plus side, the first big hurrah, may also have been the last big hurrah of the season, as the long term outlook is looking at weather getting up above freezing again soon. It will be nice to not creak when I go outside in the mornings.

Its officially reading week now, which for some people means flying off to nice white sand beaches in the tropics. For others it means trying to put together a Bachelors thesis in a week, while also playing catchup in actual reading and assignments. Its what I signed up for ultimately.

I also signed up years ago for the NIN mailing list, and unlike other bands whose mailing lists I've also been on at one time or another, there is very little garbage advertising that gets pumped into the account from NIN.com. So yesterday when I got an e-mail I was obliged to open it, and found that there is already a new full length album coming out in 2 months, and that two of the songs are posted on the NIN myspace page.

Of course for the slightly more initiated, the songs are available out there for download, though not in spectacular quality. The first single, Survivalism, follows a political tone more apparent in Trent's latest work, while still replete with biting sarcasm and enough variation in sound again to make it a decent single.

I'll admit I was slightly shocked to see the songs available a full two months before the album release date, but then Trent Reznor is known for embracing technology and inviting fan remixes, as well as providing various forms of media under the NIN name. And when there is invariably a leak of material before the official release of an album these days anyways, why not embrace the opportunity. I'm looking forward to the release.

I also heard on the radio in the lab yesterday that Chris Cornell has once again decided to fly solo, leaving Audioslave. I think Audioslave was getting tired anyways, and this just opens the door for a more permanent reunion of Rage Against the Machine, should their gig at Coachella in the spring inspire them.

Now about inspiring myself.

Lost in the Fog

I'm not dead, despite the best combined efforts of my thesis, course load and procrastination. The days seem to dissolve into one another and another week sneaks up almost completely unnoticed. The unfortunate part of it all is that none of the blur has been due to anything particularly exciting, just the mundane and monotonous assignments and reading, and requests for more and more lab work.

The mindless rushing around late this week lead to me tripping over my own books and putting a hand through a window pane in supporting my weight. Yet another item on the home reno 'to-do' list. That same list, combined with the sad state of my van, and lack of much of a bankroll right now has me thinking of resigning myself to a week long camping trip within a 5 hour drive, instead of a month long road trip out west in the spring. Its about time to start thinking about putting away money to buy out the house and get in some renters to help pay it off.

I've really nothing more productive to say. If you are/were ever a Police fan, I'll offer a reminder that they're reuniting for tonight's Grammys, and that you might want to watch that. If not, football's over and there should be some great TV on competing with said Grammys, so it should be a great night for channel surfing.

Playing Nostradamus

Colts 27 - Bears 13. You heard it here first.

Also, in the year 2104, a global peril will lead to much agonizing in government. The fortune teller/miraculous prophet game isn't all that hard to play.

With that said its time to settle in for an afternoon of sports. First to watch the born again Raptors take on the Clippers, and then later to watch the one sporting event that men and women everywhere are forced to come together for every year in the name of celebration: competitive ice dancing.

Really, the Superbowl should be a competitive game this year, particularly given the windy and rainy forecast which will likely pull the teams closer together than what I feel their actual talent should predict. As long as the zebras don't go and blow it like last year, it should be a good game. Though I don't particularly care who wins, I think Peyton Manning deserves a ring, especially after finally showing he has what it takes to put the team on his back when it really counts, as he did to the Patriots 2 weeks ago.

The smell of chili is already drifting through the house, and the beer is stocked. No matter the outcome (which is never really the concern of millions of Superbowl parties anyways) it will be a glorious Sunday.