Crichton's A Gas

"Crichton Debates Global Warming Advocates Live. Wins. The Global Warming skeptics team led by Michael Crichton defeated the Global Warming advocates led by Brenda Ekwurzel in a debate moderated by Brian Lehrer before a live audience in New York City. Before the debate the organizers polled 57.32% to 29.88% in favor of Global Warming, but after the debate the numbers flipped to 46.22% to 42.22% in favor of the skeptics." [ The Global Warming Alarmists team didn't seem to lack for credentials either. And after reading the transcript, I really don't think -- even with how good they were -- Crichton's skeptics actually pulled together all the best arguments possible. For instance, only part of this argument about solar cycles and cosmic rays impacts on cloud formation was referenced and only lightly. They also failed to point out that China is about to overtake the U.S. for the #1 spot in emissions this year or next (making all of this posturing into so much dancing on the head of a pin unless China buys in; did I hear a chorus of "not a chance in aich ee double hockey sticks"?), the U.S. while still growing emissions is doing so at a rate substantially less than Europe in spite of all their moralizing about Kyoto signings (!), or that the meat industry in toto is actually the #1 producer of greenhouse gases by the alarmist's definition of them (interesting how PETA is marginalized by the alarmists when PETA points this out; could it be the alarmists don't want the hopelessly bad P.R. wide knowledge of this would entail -- ya think?). But the hugely negative impact on the Third world and even a well aimed shot at eugenics made for great scores. And Crichton's proposal to ban private jets was a nose crusher for the hypocrites... -ed. ]

UPDATE: Here's an older article where they were just starting to understand the cosmic ray effect clarified in the article above.