Comments on: Skeptics Handbook spreads en masse: 150,000 copies! http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/ Sword of logic -- fighting stone-age brains. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:40:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: danappaloupe http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-14034 danappaloupe Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:07:45 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-14034 As far as I can tell this site is not a not-for-profit, or non-profit venture. Maybe the structure is different in Australia, but in the US any organization that is set up as nonprofit identifies themselves as some form of a 501(c) organization. This website is a .com. I am only asking because the financial and legal classification of this site is not explained. As far as I can tell this site is not a not-for-profit, or non-profit venture. Maybe the structure is different in Australia, but in the US any organization that is set up as nonprofit identifies themselves as some form of a 501(c) organization. This website is a .com.
I am only asking because the financial and legal classification of this site is not explained.

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]]> By: Tel http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-14032 Tel Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:40:53 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-14032 http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/ <blockquote> For those who are wondering, I will not, and have not received any payment for my work or costs. I did not ask for any, nor was any offered. Heartland approached me with a request for permission to print the Handbook, which I was happy to give. </blockquote> May I recommend a research tool? http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/about.html http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/

For those who are wondering, I will not, and have not received any payment for my work or costs. I did not ask for any, nor was any offered. Heartland approached me with a request for permission to print the Handbook, which I was happy to give.

May I recommend a research tool?

http://www.google.com.au/intl/en/about.html

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]]> By: danappaloupe http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-14030 danappaloupe Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:24:17 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-14030 The Heartland Institute receives money from the tobacco industry, employs former tobacco execs, and has denied the harm caused by second hand smoke. The tobacco industry is the most shameless group of people in existence when it comes to intentionally suppressing and denying research that is bad for business. Not that I blame them, selling cancer is not easy. Similar conflicts of interest exist with Exxon Mobile. Call it an ad hominem criticism, etc, but it is a serious conflict of interest. You have sold 160,000 copies of your handbook, 150,000 to The Heartland Institute. ExxonMobile has been donating around $100,000 every year... how much did they (Heartland) pay you? I don't see how you are not indirectly getting money from big oil. And kudos for that.. I wish I could cash in on big oil also. I notice you conveniently left out Heartland's record of support from and for the interests of large corporations in your "About" section. The Heartland Institute receives money from the tobacco industry, employs former tobacco execs, and has denied the harm caused by second hand smoke. The tobacco industry is the most shameless group of people in existence when it comes to intentionally suppressing and denying research that is bad for business. Not that I blame them, selling cancer is not easy.
Similar conflicts of interest exist with Exxon Mobile. Call it an ad hominem criticism, etc, but it is a serious conflict of interest. You have sold 160,000 copies of your handbook, 150,000 to The Heartland Institute. ExxonMobile has been donating around $100,000 every year… how much did they (Heartland) pay you? I don’t see how you are not indirectly getting money from big oil. And kudos for that.. I wish I could cash in on big oil also.

I notice you conveniently left out Heartland’s record of support from and for the interests of large corporations in your “About” section.

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]]> By: Tel http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-13974 Tel Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:13:19 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-13974 Probably totally off topic, but it forms the basis of comparison with the Skeptics Handbook so here it is... I found the "Climate Change Literacy brochure" at this address: http://climate.noaa.gov/education/pdfs/ClimateLiteracyPoster-8.5x11-March09FinalLR.pdf It is the result of a Bill Clinton presidential initiative with the support of US Congress and their website claims that they have the support of 13 US government departments. More about the initiative here: http://globalchange.gov/about When I open page 2 of the "Climate Change Literacy brochure" I read the following: <blockquote> For at least the last million years, our world has experienced cycles of warming and cooling that take approximately 100,000 years to complete. Over the course of each cycle, global average temperatures have fallen and then risen again by about 9°F (5°C), each time taking Earth into an ice age and then warming it again. This cycle is believed associated with regular changes in Earth's orbit that alter the intensity of solar energy the planet receives. </blockquote> The document does not make it easy to track the source of this information, and quite possibly they have multiple sources. However the ice core data shows a peak-to-peak temperature range of closer to 11°C making the above figure seem small by half. Possibly they have evidence of zero temperature swing at the equator so it averages out with the poles, or possibly they measure temperature range in a different manner to the way most people do (the biggest value less the smallest value is the range). You can see the ice core data here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ice_Age_Temperature.png (with annoying backwards time axis) or see Joanne's graph on this blog. On page 11 of the "Climate Change Literacy brochure", I see: <blockquote> Natural processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere operate slowly when compared to the processes that are now adding it to the atmosphere. Thus, carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere today may remain there for a century or more. Other greenhouse gases, including some created by humans, may remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years. </blockquote> As has been pointed out elsewhere in this blog (will search for exact reference if anyone has trouble finding it), the actual measurements of the lifespan of human created CO2 in Earth's atmosphere tend to be around 10 to 20 years. Two very suspicious numbers in a relatively short document, and neither of them provides any reference or source (so even Wikipedia would not accept research of this poor calibre). It took 13 government departments to make this! I shudder at how much money was spent :-( Probably totally off topic, but it forms the basis of comparison with the Skeptics Handbook so here it is…

I found the “Climate Change Literacy brochure” at this address:

http://climate.noaa.gov/education/pdfs/ClimateLiteracyPoster-8.5×11-March09FinalLR.pdf

It is the result of a Bill Clinton presidential initiative with the support of US Congress and their website claims that they have the support of 13 US government departments. More about the initiative here:

http://globalchange.gov/about

When I open page 2 of the “Climate Change Literacy brochure” I read the following:

For at least the last million years, our world has experienced cycles of warming and cooling that take approximately 100,000 years to complete. Over the course of each cycle, global average temperatures have fallen and then risen again by about 9°F (5°C), each time taking Earth into an ice age and then warming it again. This cycle is believed associated with regular changes in Earth’s orbit that alter the intensity of solar energy the planet receives.

The document does not make it easy to track the source of this information, and quite possibly they have multiple sources. However the ice core data shows a peak-to-peak temperature range of closer to 11°C making the above figure seem small by half. Possibly they have evidence of zero temperature swing at the equator so it averages out with the poles, or possibly they measure temperature range in a different manner to the way most people do (the biggest value less the smallest value is the range).

You can see the ice core data here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ice_Age_Temperature.png

(with annoying backwards time axis) or see Joanne’s graph on this blog.

On page 11 of the “Climate Change Literacy brochure”, I see:

Natural processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere operate slowly when compared to the processes that are now adding it to the atmosphere. Thus, carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere today may remain there for a century or more. Other greenhouse gases, including some created by humans, may remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years.

As has been pointed out elsewhere in this blog (will search for exact reference if anyone has trouble finding it), the actual measurements of the lifespan of human created CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere tend to be around 10 to 20 years.

Two very suspicious numbers in a relatively short document, and neither of them provides any reference or source (so even Wikipedia would not accept research of this poor calibre).

It took 13 government departments to make this! I shudder at how much money was spent :-(

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]]> By: danappaloupe http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-13973 danappaloupe Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:46:42 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-13973 How much money did you receive from the Heartland Institute for those 150,000 copies? Is it considered income? How much money did you receive from the Heartland Institute for those 150,000 copies? Is it considered income?

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]]> By: KazzJazz http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-10242 KazzJazz Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:24:27 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-10242 Keep up the great work Joanne. I found out about your great work from Dr. Jay Lehr who was speaking in Sydney with Prof. Bob Carter. It was very interesting and informative. I now have the tools and knowledge to speak intelligently about the debate to my warm friends who never give me straight answers to my sceptical questions. Keep up the great work Joanne. I found out about your great work from Dr. Jay Lehr who was speaking in Sydney with Prof. Bob Carter. It was very interesting and informative. I now have the tools and knowledge to speak intelligently about the debate to my warm friends who never give me straight answers to my sceptical questions.

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]]> By: RoyHogue http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-5911 RoyHogue Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:47:55 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-5911 My own field is Computer Science, but before that I was an Engineering major and have some knowledge in chemistry, physics and math so I have no trouble understanding the basic arguments, pro and con. I received your, "The Skeptic's Handbook," courtesy of the Heartland Institute and it's a breath of fresh air. It will help me make the argument against AGW as I do at every chance I can get. However, I became an AGW skeptic immediately upon hearing that the matter was decided and no more debate was possible. Quite simply, science is not like that. Such a position is evidence of a closed mind at the very best. Their own attitude shoots them down to any honest scientist in any field. My own field is Computer Science, but before that I was an Engineering major and have some knowledge in chemistry, physics and math so I have no trouble understanding the basic arguments, pro and con. I received your, “The Skeptic’s Handbook,” courtesy of the Heartland Institute and it’s a breath of fresh air. It will help me make the argument against AGW as I do at every chance I can get.

However, I became an AGW skeptic immediately upon hearing that the matter was decided and no more debate was possible. Quite simply, science is not like that. Such a position is evidence of a closed mind at the very best. Their own attitude shoots them down to any honest scientist in any field.

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]]> By: ------ THE SKY IS FALLING ------ - Page 655 - The Environment Site Forums http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-5547 ------ THE SKY IS FALLING ------ - Page 655 - The Environment Site Forums Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:00:15 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-5547 [...] Skeptics Handbook spreads en masse: 150,000 copies! Quote: [...] [...] Skeptics Handbook spreads en masse: 150,000 copies! Quote: [...]

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]]> By: Friedrich http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-4629 Friedrich Wed, 20 May 2009 06:35:17 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-4629 You are so damn right, science should be put under the political correct umbrella. That nearly all evil comes from politicians, who cares? I guess we just do not have to wait for "goodspeack" to be there it is. Isn't that double plus ungood? You are so damn right, science should be put under the political correct umbrella. That nearly all evil comes from politicians, who cares? I guess we just do not have to wait for “goodspeack” to be there it is. Isn’t that double plus ungood?

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]]> By: Qohel - Australia's Leading Independent Conservative Blog http://joannenova.com.au/2009/03/skeptics-handbook-spreads-en-masse-150000-copies/comment-page-1/#comment-3511 Qohel - Australia's Leading Independent Conservative Blog Fri, 01 May 2009 02:31:54 +0000 http://joannenova.com.au/?p=1554#comment-3511 [...] my ‘Profits of Doom’ is the best simple introduction to global warming science. But Joanne Nova’s Skeptics’ Handbook is entertaining reading, and a very useful guide to debate with Chicken Littles. var addthis_pub [...] [...] my ‘Profits of Doom’ is the best simple introduction to global warming science. But Joanne Nova’s Skeptics’ Handbook is entertaining reading, and a very useful guide to debate with Chicken Littles. var addthis_pub [...]

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