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Want to argue about Global Warming? There's an app for that

I'm not sympathetic to the Global Warming skeptics. There's plenty of scientific evidence to contradict them. The trouble is, when you get into arguments about the subject, you're likely to be without facts and the arguments become emotional rather than rational.

Now, at least, you'll have some science to buttress your arguments. All you have to do is whip out your iPhone or iPod touch and tap a free app called Skeptical Science, and from there you can quickly navigate to the various arguments that are offered by the skeptics. 'It's the sun', or 'it's cooling', or 'there is no consensus.'

You tap on the argument, and up comes some scientific info along with links to more information, graphs, definitions and more. No matter what side you take on this subject, there is a lot of useful information. The app is updated on a regular basis to reflect new data as it's available.

Now the truth is, apps like this aren't likely to change minds. They reinforce your own beliefs, and the skeptics will just remain skeptics. They can drag out their own scientists and graphs and quotes, so nothing really gets settled.

On the other hand, this is a really good idea, and I learned some things reading the assembled material. The app is free, and worth a look if you spend a bit of time arguing about this subject. Actually, it would be nice to see apps dealing with other topics people argue about, like the death penalty, legalizing drugs, or UFOs. Now excuse me while I turn up the thermostat.

Here's a look at some of the screens the app offers:




I'm not sympathetic to the Global Warming skeptics. There's plenty of scientific evidence to contradict them. The trouble is, when you get...
 

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ashok_kj02

great post, u can also find the great post in this site:http://globalwarmingfact.com

February 24 2010 at 3:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
carrespondent

It's pretty sad to read anti-science comment-screeds on a tech blog.

And, by the by, weather is not the same thing as climate. Even if it was:

http://climateprogress.org/2010/02/16/noaa-warmest-january-on-record-in-both-satellite-records/

February 16 2010 at 2:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom Smale

>> I'm sorry that the Daily Mail isn't an acceptable source for you

Don't feel sorry for ME.

An overwhelming majority of the most accomplished and brilliant scientific minds on the planet support my side of this "debate" (which is a debate in the same way that a geocentric universe, creationism, and a flat earth are a debate, which is to say only in the minds of the uneducated and dim).

Feel sorry for the rabble who have to cast back to the anonymous doctor from Louisiana, the panties-and-playmates Daily Mail, Ben Stein, and Glenn Beck as their sources. The deniers roll up in a clown-filled jalopy and there's still sorrow left over for me?

Oh my.

I wish you people could see yourselves clearly. If only for a moment.

February 15 2010 at 11:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250872/Climategate-U-turn-Astonishment-scientist-centre-global-warming-email-row-admits-data-organised.html

World hasn't seen "warming" in 15 years and the "scientist" at the heart of most of this GW nonsense now says temperatures were probably warmer in Medieval Times.

February 14 2010 at 9:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jeff's comment
BIll

But...But..>Tom Smale (Whom we have found works in LA parking cars), says the Daily mail is a sham, and that the BBC lies.

Sigh, these kids are going to feel so silly in 5 or 10 years if they have any introspection at all.

(Note out to Sheryl Crow, go ahead and use two sheets, the world will be fine!)

February 15 2010 at 1:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
todd

Gotta love the increased push for "climate change" now that the "science" is unraveling. See the latest news?

Climategate U-turn as scientist at centre of row admits: There has been no global warming since 1995
* Data for vital 'hockey stick graph' has gone missing
* There has been no global warming since 1995
* Warming periods have happened before - but NOT due to man-made changes

Read the article here from Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250872/Climategate-U-turn-Astonishment-scientist-centre-global-warming-email-row-admits-data-organised.html

February 14 2010 at 7:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to todd's comment
Corey Frey

Does anyone have the guts to read this article? The end has begun.

http://tiny.cc/He83Y

February 14 2010 at 7:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Corey Frey's comment
Tom Smale

I do not have the guts to read that article.

February 14 2010 at 11:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Howard

It's amusing. Two groups of scientists arguing each is right and the others are loonies without credibility.

It's always been that way in science.

The world might just be better off without scientists.

And politicians.

Politicians need fear. It used to be the nuclear threat, then Y2K, and now climate change. Politicians need a good apocalypse to keep us in fear.

And people seem to need it too. The terrorist threat promoted by the previous western governments wasn't scary enough, so they got voted out in favour of those who support the much more scary catastrophic climate change.

Yep, the world would be better off without politicians and scientists. And if we must have them, they should never be allowed to talk to each other.

February 14 2010 at 7:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Chris Howard's comment
Craig Stanton

The politicians were afraid of Y2K? I just thought they were pissed that their digital watches might fail. If it was supposed to be a fear campaign they did a terrible job of it. Maybe we mac users were isolated because we're safe until the dreaded Y2k38

February 15 2010 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BIll

JD, I don;t know if you are old enough, but go back to the early 70's, and be amused at the exact same hysteria campaign, with pretty much the same data, except it was Global Cooling which was going to kill us. I do believe it was NewsWeek that printed that particular article, check it out here (the link has a link to the original in PDF form) http://www.denisdutton.com/cooling_world.htm

It is not about Climate Change, as the worlds temperature has always fluctuated, it is about control. They are controlling you through fear. Why let them?

February 14 2010 at 6:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brad

Anthropogenic global warming is a hoax.

February 14 2010 at 5:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom Smale

>> I am a Physicist, I work for the government.

To put it politely, I am... skeptical about your claim. I doubt you are a physicist any more than Dr. Robert is a doctor. Or at the very least, I suspect your educational background (as with "Dr. Robert") and professional history would shed a great deal of light on your credibility as a competent scientist.

If one takes the time to scrutinize the quality of skeptics who refute global climate change, one is confronted with apparatchiks, shills, pseudo-scientists, and just a general inferior level of water carriers for a political point of view. There's a lot of duck-and-cover. Sniping from the hedges and then running back into the bush.

You may be a peripheral figure who labors in some limited capacity in and around some physics-related discipline, but I think referring to yourself as a "physicist" is a sham, a title enhancement.

Further, I think your loyalty to the scientific process is false. I don't think you respect any sort of empirical process. I don't think you're a reasoned critic. I think you have a political point of view and this compels you to stake out a position of ongoing opposition. You are no scientist, Bill.

February 14 2010 at 2:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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