Fracking is back – and the little thing the Government isn’t really mentioning

Fracking causes earthquakes. Fact.

No, I’m not starting an alarmist tome here or saying that peoples water is going to be full of gas and chemicals, although that surely can be an issue if the technology isn’t used safely. But the basic process of “fracking” is fracturing the rock in order to release the gas, and that causes small to tiny earthquakes.

Is it dangerous? Well, I guess that would all depend on how stable the tectonic plate is. In the UK we are lucky in that in “relative terms”, we are on a stable base. And by stable I mean we get lots of minor earthquakes all the time. Don’t believe me, check it out here. So you have to giggle when the UK’s fracking testing near Blackpool was halted due to a 1.5 magnitude quake. After all, in the last 50 days of this post being written we had;

• 1.6 Spean Bridege, Scotland (11th December)
• 1.6 Llanrtyd Wells, Wales (8th December)
• 1.7 Shieldaig, Scotland (8th December)
• 2.1 Pattersdate, Cumbria, England (28th November)
• 2.0 Islay Argyll and Bute, Scotland (22nd November)
• 2.7 Northwest of Ireland (21st November)

And so on.

I was in Manchester when the 3.9 hit in 2002 and IT WAS COOL! I also felt the December 2010 3.5 which was in Coniston, Cumbria all the way down in Manchester. That was cool also.

Sorry, back to the point.

There is a general hope being propagated by drilling companies and mass media that cheap gas will boost the UK economy in the same way it was affected the US.

This is a lie.

Why so? Due to environmental taxation, any increase in gas production will be met by an increase in CO2 tax. So the boost to the economy will assist the drilling companies, put more money into the tax system but Joe and Josephine Public will see NO decrease in their energy bills, as the BBC quietly announce here. So in case you thought it was going to be a benefit to you, think again. YOU don’t count. Only big business and the Government count.

The irony here is that the gas used to be a major hazard for coal mining within Lancashire and further afield. Now we are drilling past our still substantial coal reserves in order to tap into the hazardous gas.

Busuu interesting idea… but what?!

So I’ve signed up for a busuu account, have almost nothing on my profile and last week I got this from Celina224.

“hello, I visite your profile and I find out that you are the type that suit my heart, which am seeking for, I hope and believe we will walk it out”

Two things;

1. My profiles has NO information on it.

2. Celina224 is meant to speak English (US Citizen)

I suspect a rat here! He he he

I’ll let you know how busuu works out

 

 

Epitaphs never look good in hindsight

It must be something that prays on peoples minds, how they’ll be regarded after they have gone. Some people leave a graveside epitaph that’s amusing, such as Spike Milligan’s “I told you I was ill”. hopeful like Frank Sinatra’s “The best is yet to come.” or somewhat desperate like Al Capone’s “My Jesus, mercy”.

But what’s been highlighted recently is the rather disturbing and double meaning nature of Jimmy Savile‘s “It was good while it lasted”.

Remarkably, given the recent allegations against the sainted John Peel, nobody has bothered to mention his epitaph. It reads;

Teenage dreams so hard to beat

Make of that what you will. But hindsight does give otherwise innocuous Undertones lyrics a more sinister tone.

 

State sponsored murder – “Shoot to kill” to drone strikes in just 34 years

Over the past ten years the use of drones as a method of execution has increased to a disturbing level. Every other week the news quietly mentions an attack, whispering the phrase “suspected” whilst emphasizing the idea that the unnamed victims are “terrorists” or “insurgents”. Either way, bad guys to be taken care of.

Of course, the fact these people might have had families with them, that’s just a sad statistic under the collective term of “collateral damage”. And lets face it, there’s been quite a lot of “that” over the years. Wedding parties attacked in error (killing dozens), Pakistani soldiers fired upon “by mistake”.

But you don’t make the mistake, these are people killed outside the rule or law, without trial. These are remote murders, hidden under the cover of a “War of terrorism”. A “war” never signed by Congress or declared by UK Parliament. This is a secret war. Operated by covert agencies.

But we’ve had these before. Over 30 years ago, the UK was at “war” with the IRA (and vice-versa). In exactly the same way that we are now at war with Al Qaeda. The difference is that while the likelihood of an Al Qaeda attack on UK and US soil is now extremely unlikely, the number of attacks on the UK in the 70′s and 80′s and 90′s weren’t.

When Margaret Thatcher came to power she made it clear that the gloves were off. Intelligence Officers and SAS men flooded into Ireland and Northern Ireland to clamp down.

For the people of Britain the action was a necessary evil; until the 6 March 1988. Because on this day in Gibraltar the SAS did something that had, until then, been only a muted whisper of reality. In the quiet enclave of the old British Empire, they executed three IRA terrorist cell members in the middle of a street without any opportunity to surrender; and there were reliable witnesses. All of a sudden the reality of the “shoot to kill” policy was making front page news.

But what was all the fuss about? After all, these were terrorists. Well, back in 1988 we still cared about the idea that people should get a trial and that Governments didn’t have the right to kill people they didn’t like.

Jonathan Dimbleby put it best in the seminal “Death on the Rock” episode of This Week.

I suggest you watch the entire episode containing all the evidence of the intelligence known on these individuals before being moved to comment. From the information gained in the show, it is clear that they could have been arrested at any time without the need to kill them. There entire terrorist plot was known, almost from the start. Like the sinking of the Belgrano as it was heading away from the Falklands, this was one policy decision the UK public felt very uneasy with.

As for the mysterious forth member, who was he and how did he escape justice (or death more like)?

Move on 34 years and, as this Reuters special report shows, people have another opinion on the use of death without trial.

First, did you realise that Obama had used five times more drone strikes than Bush? Neither did I.

Just to clarify the point that these are CIA drones, not US military ones.

So how does sophisticated, Democratic, liberal minded, constitutional lawyer Obama, justify it? And what is a “Signature Strike”.

You heard it. Apparently the CIA has won him over, short term gains appear to be the order of the day. Plus, here’s you definition of “signature strike”. Basically, if you “look like” a terrorist, you ARE a terrorist. That’s less intelligence than was previously required, not more.

What’s changed in 34 years is that while the world has opened up with the internet, we are now more in the dark than ever before.

The CIA can strike at ground targets with total impunity from prosecution, under the guise of a phony war, against individuals we are never meant to know and for crimes we cannot be told. And we are to be OK with this because Reuters tells us that these guys weren’t “girl scouts”.

Sailing to New York, or not as the case may be

I always wondered why it was so expansive to sail to New York versus flying. So I decided to look into the costs of a DIY cruise to New York… and now I know why.

To save time, and as it’s mainly for fun, I’ve made quite a few approximations. None of which had a major consequence to the outcome as you’ll no doubt see.

First I found a boat on eBay that would “OK” for the journey. Obviously it would require to be big enough to carry enough fuel/water, yet not cost so much as it’s already on a downward spiral. So we’re not talking about the Queen Mary here.

65ft Italian Versilcraft Superphantom Motor Cruiser

I found a 65ft Italian Versilcraft Superphantom Motor Cruiser for £80,000. Not the best Ocean going liner, but given it’s limited range, this was always going to be series of 500 mile hops anyway.

It does 20kts (23mph) and consumes 190ltrs of diesel per hour.

With it’s 5,000 litre tank it’s range is approx 550-600 miles. But in a headwind or against the tidal forces, that could mean 1/2 that.

Worse for the Leather families dreams of the open sea is the reality that it chugs down the equivalent of £250 per hour! And you only move about 23 miles in that hour…. IF THAT. For a car, that would be equivalent of 7 gallons to the mile. That’s GALLONS to the MILE, not the other way around.

Any UK port to New York is approximately 4,000 miles. Of course, that’s via Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland; the hops I mentioned before.

So that’s 175 hours travel time (at 23 miles per hour). Sailing for a sensible 10 hours a day that’s the equivalent of 17.5 days. Or to think of it in other terms, that’s over a month in travel time to New York and back. Current Atlantic cruises get to travel the direct route, not stop for fuel and travel 24 hours a day.

The total approximate fuel use would be the equivalent of 33,320litres of diesel. In terms of this boat, that’s nearly 7 full tanks full.

So what would that be on today’s prices?

£47,315.00

Of course, fuel wise, that doesn’t include the fuel used to

• Heat the cabin
• Generate electricity (when the engines are off) and so forth.

And the price, that doesn’t include minor sundries like;

• Ocean seamanship training
• Certificates
• Licenses
• Travel visas
• Cost of exchange rate charges
• Water
• Food
• Oh, AND THE £80,000 BOAT!

SO really, it’s more like

£175,000

That’s £35,000 each.

All of which makes a P&O / Cunard / ? cruise look REALLY cheap and flying is like getting the bus!

Any further prices are only just going to prove my point.

 

Think we’ll stick to flying

Guardian gives criminal environmentalist Paul Watson a free pass

Given the vitriol that’s been poured out in recent weeks regarding Julian Assange, so it will come as no surprise that the Guardian will offer the same wagging finger towards criminal fugitive Paul Watson. Oh, my mistake. They love his ass.

Lets be very clear about what Paul Watson was charged with. In 2002 when Watson was taking part in the filming of “Sharkwater” (a documentary) he was involved in an altercation with another ship in Guatemalan waters. Watch the trailer…

Given the levels of bravado and machismo on display here, I can very easily see this happening. What’s more disturbing is that the other vessel claim Watson tried to kill them.

Lack of evidence results in Watson being charged with violating navigation regulations. But he legged it, Asange style, and was only caught after Costa Rica requested Germany detain him. So he had to pay EURO 250,000 bail and report to a police station every week. Guess what! He’s done a runner.

But then this isn’t the only thing he’s wanted for. In fact Watson makes a habit of breaking the law, putting people’s lives in danger and then running away. All of which the Guardian is quite happy to not mention.

My point is this. If you’re going to have journalistic standards, make them the same for everybody. Does Watson’s environmental stance really out way his actions. When somebody dies as a result of Watson, what will the Guardian say then? They probably won’t report it.

Organic food myth takes a knock – And are organic pesticides really safe?

Over the last fifteen years or so there has been a number of studies that have rendered the idea that “Organic” food is best. Lets be clear, all food is “organic”. But we are talking about the stuff that is sold (at higher cost) as being somehow better for the environment or better for you.

So it comes as no surprise that another study has come out that knocks that whole idea. The one line from the Guardian report that really did get on my nerves though, was the suggestion that Organic meant no pesticides.

WRONG!

In fact the only idea is that such pesticides should be “natural” in source. Well, can I remind you that arsenic and hemlock are “natural” and they’ll put a downer on your day.

In fact, because “natural” pesticides are so poor versus man-made ones, they have to be used more frequently and in greater quantities.

The idea that a field of organic lettuce is planted and left to it’s own devices is, sadly, very misguided.

So what sort of pesticides are used in “Organic” farming?

Well, how about this lot;

• Rotenone – Which is listed as moderately hazardous by the WHO. It has been shown in studies to cause Parkinson’s Disease like conditions in mammals.
• Pyrethrum – Which as Caroline Cox‘s 2002 study shows, is a carcinogenic compound.
• Sabadilla – Which is highly toxic to honey bees. The very insects needed for cross pollination and a species in decline. Is there a connection perhaps?
• Ryania – Which in high doses affects muscles, preventing contractions and result in paralysis
  .

And that’s just the ones I’ve tracked down in 15 minutes. You in order to be a pesticide they have, by their very nature, have to be toxic.

Legislation against man-made pesticides is very high. It must be able to bio-degrade without trace. Such legislation ISN’T applied to organic pesticides.

Just remember that when chomping down on your next organic carrot.

OKC Roller Derby Shout out! Tornado Alley Roller Girls vs Como Derby Dames and Lightening Broads vs Tall City Roller Betties

Tonight is the final bout for the OKC Tornado Alley Roller Girls and the Lightening Broads who are taking on the Como Derby Dames and the Tall City Roller Betties respectively, starting at 5.30 OKC time.

As is traditional in Roller Derby, each team member has a “Derby” name.

Check out the Tornado Alley Roller Girls here.

My favorites names being Kitty VonKlobber, Scarla O’Teara, Sucka Tash and one of the coaches who’s called Outlaw Josey Whales.

Whole the Lightening Broads can be found here.

With name highlights being Cast Iron Cassy, Lil’ Kate Asphyxiate, Taryn Bonesapart and Thunderella.

They are all very sexy, tough looking women. I’m saying that, because

a) it’s true and

b) because there’s over twenty of them and they have roller skates!

They remind me of the female Rugby team back in my days at University and…. moving on

Sadly missing out on a game due to injury is Kandie Skorn who hurt her ankle off the field. Which annoys the hell out of her!

Good luck ladies and remember my old school “unofficial” Rugby moto. “If you’re not bleeding, make sure they are.” (Figuratively speaking… I imagine).

Nom Nom – Earth’s Oceans and other Ecosystems continue absorbing about half the Greenhouse Gases emitted by people, despite the increases

According to a study by University of Colorado and NOAA scientists Earth’s oceans, forests and other ecosystems continue to soak up about half the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by human activities, despite those emissions having increased.

The 50 year study into global CO2 absorption really has thrown up a number of problematic questions. Not least for scare mongers is the idea that, despite rhetoric to the contrary, the amount of carbon sink available has yet to be reached. In fact, according to the study.

“Globally, these carbon dioxide ‘sinks’ have roughly kept pace with emissions from human activities, continuing to draw about half of the emitted CO2 back out of the atmosphere.”

Obviously this cannot continue for ever, but it’s a real humdinger. Given how subjectively dodgy this paper is written, you do have to wonder just how much of an issue this really is for the authors.

Carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere mainly by fossil fuel combustion but also by forest fires and some natural processes.

“Some” natural processes?

Source of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide per year

Natural decay of organic material and the action of forest fires – 439 GIGAtonnes

Human activity – 29,000 megatonnes

But here’s a question that nobody wanted to ask, it’s more of an observation really.

If we are increasing the CO2 over the last 50 years, doubling it in fact AND we are deforesting the land AND the Ocean isn’t getting any bigger… WHERE IS THE CO2 going?

You MUST read this

I’m being funny, because the dirty little secret of climate research is that WE DON’T KNOW. Or as the report states.

This new global analysis makes it clear that scientists do not yet understand well enough the processes by which ecosystems of the world are removing CO2 from the atmosphere, or the relative importance of possible sinks: regrowing forests on different continents, for example, or changing absorption of carbon dioxide by various ocean regions.

“Since we don’t know why or where this process is happening, we cannot count on it,” Tans said. “We need to identify what’s going on here, so that we can improve our projections of future CO2 levels and how climate change will progress in the future.”

Which is the real problem. Because the whole of climate science’s reputation is anchored the idea that increasing CO2 causes global warming. And if you don’t even understand how CO2 is absorbed, then your credibility on the subject is more than a little suspect, don’t you think.

Imagine I say that ownership of red hats causes cancer, and create a model to demonstrate it. Red hat purchases continue and in some places increase, but the effects are not understood and the relationship between red hats, people and cancer aren’t known. How much of a crackpot do I sound? I guess if I had a whole bunch of politicians seeking power, scientists looking for financial sponsorship and companies looking to exploit new markets (and free money) I’d have a bigger “Anti red-hat following.”

Never read half the study: Tropical Climate in the Antarctic, palm trees 52 million years ago etc etc

I had the good fortune to catch this funny little story on Digg. It’s better represented here though. It’s a paleolithic study into the flora of the Antarctic region from the period 52 millions years ago. Actually, according to the “Business Insider” its’ actually the Arctic. Which is pretty funny.

Anyway, the story goes that 52 million years ago the CO2 concentrations of the atmosphere were just twice they are today and this is something to be very afraid of.

The study published in the journal Nature shows that tropical vegetation, including palms and relatives of today’s tropical Baobab trees, was growing on the coast of Antarctica 52 million years ago. These results highlight the extreme contrast between modern and past climatic conditions on Antarctica and the extent of global warmth during periods of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Around 52 million years ago, the concentration of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere was more than twice as high as today. “If the current CO2 emissions continue unabated due to the burning of fossil fuels, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, as they existed in the distant past, are likely to be achieved within a few hundred years”, explains Prof. Jörg Pross, a paleoclimatologist at the Goethe University and member of the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) in Frankfurt, Germany.

The message is quite clear. Double the CO2 and Western Antarctica is going to look like West Pal Beach.

There’s only one tiny problem with that concept, as admitted by the good Professor near the very bottom of the article. He says

“The CO2 content of the atmosphere as assumed for that time interval is not enough on its own to explain the almost tropical conditions in the Antarctic”

In other words, it’s all the other “feedback” mechanisms that caused the problem and/or something else we don’t really have a handle on.

Or to put it into layman’s terms…..

WE DON’T REALLY KNOW. Not really. He added.

“Another important factor was the transfer of heat via warm ocean currents that reached Antarctica.”Another important factor was the transfer of heat via warm ocean currents that reached Antarctica.”

 

Of course, that didn’t stop the following publications;

BBC – Who asset that higher CO2 levels will create a similar effect on today’s Earth. Despite the study clearly stating the CO2 cannot cause the effect.

Fox - Shockingly Fox appears to have got the correct details in this story. Who would have believed that!

The Times of India – Basically makes the same mistake as the BBC, never mentions ocean currents. Then it goes into a diatribe about how we shouldn’t exploit the natural resources of the area and global population density etc etc. It does mention the current temperatures in Antarctica, which are currently the coldest they’ve been in many years. In fact, so cold they’ve actually hit the freezing point of CO2!

At which point I got bored and moved in…..

Another important factor was the transfer of heat via warm ocean currents that reached Antarctica.”