James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
First Stephen Chu for energy secretary, then John Holdren for science adviser. Now Jane Lubchenco for NOAA chief. Wow. One of the country's top marine biologists and a hard-core climateer. It's hard to imagine a better science team. From the LA Times:
Lubchenco did not draw the same level of fire from conservative groups as Holdren on Thursday, but she represents just as radical a departure for NOAA, which oversees marine issues as well as much of the government's climate work. While NOAA has traditionally favored commercial fishing interests in policy disputes, Lubchenco has consistently called for conservation measures to safeguard ocean ecosystems in the face of industry opposition.
Environment
Comments
We seem to be off to a promising start.
Posted by: Sarah | December 19, 2008 4:23 PM
Hello! I've been following your blog for a while, and I used to work with the British Antarctic Survey. Excellent work you're doing here.
I just wanted to show you what we're dealing with here in Britain. I give you... Richard Littlejohn: The 1930s were the Warmest Decade, and Climate Fascists Need to Find God"
Posted by: Martin | December 19, 2008 6:04 PM
I'm thrilled, too - having a founding member of Project Steve and two past AAAS presidents in these positions is also some nice extra repudiation of the cdesign proponentsists. Question, though, since I haven't been paying as close attention: what do you think of the appointment of Ken Salazar as Secretary of the Interior?
Posted by: James F | December 19, 2008 7:29 PM
Re: Salazar appointment
One of several disappointing appointments. Not disastrous, but disappointing.
I suspect Obama is trying to assuage right-leaning Democrats and Republicans that he should be trusted, a strategy that should do him well if he's about to embark on a radical legislative agenda. Otherwise, why put centrists with corporate leanings in a position like sec of Interior while naming those with more progressive, science-oriented approaches closer to where the real action will be?
Posted by: James Hrynyshyn | December 20, 2008 7:13 AM
This is a good quality and good content video look at John Holdren from The American Response to Climate Change Conference held at The Wild Center in the Adirondacks.
http://usclimateaction.org/userfiles/flash/Holdren.html
It was closed door gathering but his presentation was taped and posted by the organizers.
Posted by: Howard | December 20, 2008 10:26 AM
All you AGW Parrots, be sure to remember to go to Global Warming church tomorrow. Reverend Al and company will teach you exactly how 3 ppm of CO2 plant food overwhelms the forces of water vapor and clouds. You will also learn that the power of the sun is just a puny tiny little thing that isn't even significant enough to be modelled. And don't forget, of course, that warming is the cause of any and all cooling (and is the cause of warming due to cooling and cooling due to warming and vice versa). Our prayers are with you as you seek a purpose in life via a made-up farce hoax joke crisis. Gore bless. p.s. squawk.
Posted by: Theres no E in Parrot | December 20, 2008 2:18 PM
The big question is: Does she wear "comfortable" shoes?
Posted by: FuzzyWuzzy | December 20, 2008 4:11 PM
Yay more propaganda from the Daily Mail. I so wish the British tabloids had to follow the same ethical code as the television networks do e.g. Littlejohn had to answer to Ofcom.
With regards to the blogpost, this is of course great news.
Meanwhile, John Tierney is stewing denialist (amongst other things) nonsense about John Holdren's appointment over at the New York Times of all places:
How then do we stop global warming? Let the magical climate fairy cart the CO2 away?
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/flawed-science-advice-for-obama/
Posted by: Alex Deam | December 20, 2008 7:43 PM
Why do stupid liberals always think they-we (and is "we" as in them not us) must save anyone from anything, and why must they fantasize about actually being capable. The vast majority of the world and its scientists clearly know that AGW is just the latest they-we made-up stupid crap to worry about so they-we can have something to do to fret about pace about and wring hands about. Once We-Us the common sensicals have watched the they-we arrogant eco fascists complete their implosion under actual observed data as is happening now and will continue over the next few years, I'm sure there's another crisis waiting in the wings to be made up and fretted over. I challenge you stupid hysterical quacking self-righteous liberals to stop using the word "we" in your posts and stop stating what YOU feel others must do in response to your ill-guided self-serving perceived moral superiority. State ONLY what YOU think and YOU will do without using we-they-them-others or imposing your stupidity on others, and further identify the specific members of your religious clan by always naming all those who are self-excluded anytime you use the word WE (or just qualify WE each time with and asterisk that states the "majority of the world is not included in my version of "WE" "), and stop acting like the majority of the world cares and isn't laughing at you. We-us the Majority don't believe in your religion and don't care. But it is fun and always entertaining to laugh at misguided eco religious zealots while they go down in flames. Enjoy your Global Warming Church services today. Meh Meh.
Posted by: Meh Meh | December 21, 2008 11:40 AM
I pretty ignorant in science but still find this blog fascinating in the topics it discusses and have learned a lot. With that, I read something in McClatchy today that is on this topic (loosely) and was curious if anyone here had seen it and what your educated minds had to say about it.
"A beneficial way to curb global warming and a resulting catastrophic ocean rise [is to] spray gigatons of seawater into the air, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, and let Mother Nature do the rest."
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/58124.html
Seems to be drawing some controversy and "cure-alls" tend to worry me. But it seems like a novel idea.
Posted by: Geoff | December 21, 2008 2:08 PM
brrr. someone whip out the "CO2 blanket" and cover the world. just get the skinny one out of the closet because it only needs to be a few ppm thick to warm things right back up. brrrrrrrrr.
Posted by: Polar Bear Clubber | December 22, 2008 2:36 PM