Pondering the global warming debate in a paddock.....

I have been following the global warming debate with interest since being a farmer it will impact on me; I may have to fit phart retarders to all the cows for one thing since methane has been identified as a major greenhouse gas.

There are a few questions I would like answered to help me understand what is going on.

What should the temperature of the earth be?
Since the climate is a dynamic system and there have been many variations in temperature, ocean levels and the like over the last couple of million years - how do we definitely know that this change is not another natural change?

Do the models that are used to show global warming, when run backwards show the climate we know has been recorded?
This is important in that the models should be based in what is known and work to the unknown. Once you put in the variables and run the models forward to predict global warming, if you add the same variables and run the model backwards do the models show the climate that we have records for?

The Earth's climate is a very complex system - do we have enough knowledge of these systems and how they interrelate to identify specific global warming causes?
Even if the final out come is that global warming theory is fault ridden and sloppy science, I have come to the conclusion that the development of sustainable energy should be encouraged.

It is not wise to be so reliant on fossil and mineral resources for our major energy needs.

That old farmyard saying comes to mind, “don’t put all your eggs in the same basket.”

Cartoon credit: Vincent Chow dot Net

APN Media threatens ABC with possible future ACCC complaints. Plans to put NSW North Coast newspapers behind paywalls?

There is little truly independent mainstream media when it comes to daily local newspapers on the NSW North Coast, with the print media dominated as it is by the APN News and Media corporation.

In recent times APN has begun to lift its game with regard to its one-size-fits-all online media presence and, it was noted by alert local residents that the sudden interest in providing more timely (if limited) online news co-incided with the Rupert Murdoch and News Ltd push to introduce paywalls for news on the Internet.

Now we see that APN is definitely aligning itself with both the effort to monetise news and perhaps even with the attack on public broadcasting providing free online news and current events.

Here is an excerpt from ABC TV Media Watch on 19 October 2009:

In fact, the funds are flowing the ABC's way. In the last budget, it received 15 million dollars to create whiz-bang multi-media websites serving regional Australia.

But media company APN, which owns fourteen regional daily newspapers in New South Wales and Queensland, argues that it's risked a lot of its shareholders' money already, trying to do the same thing.

Brendan Hopkins: Of course we're looking to monetise those sites going forward but we've taken, I think, a very brave decision on behalf of our board and behalf of our shareholders that we want to invest ahead of that curve.

Jonathan Holmes: So when you see the government giving the ABC tens of millions of dollars...

Brendan Hopkins: I think it's got to be questioned... I can't believe that the government itself wants to pursue a business model for the ABC, or a model - there's no business involved - a model for the ABC where the cost of the ABC goes up and up and up and up, with all of the public outcry that that will bring, when bona fide commercial operators like ourselves have been investing ahead of the curve in those centres... and if we feel the ABC are competing or trying to compete with us unfairly then we'll go and talk to Mr Samuels at the ACCC and we'll maybe hold them to account.

Jonathan Holmes: In this world of media plenty, that's so different from what it was seventy years ago, is there really a reason for the ABC to exist at all?

Brendan Hopkins: I think now is a good time to have that debate.

— Media Watch interview with Brendan Hopkins (CEO, APN), 16th October, 2009

Once more the APN business model shows just how far removed it is from the idea of a just and fair society with equality of information access which public broadcasting in Australia represents.

Visit the Media Watch video page to watch the extended version of Media Watch's interview with Brendan Hopkins

Centuries old celestial dust trails to produce Orionid meteors visible in both hemispheres 21-23 October 2009 [links to sky maps]

Orionid 2008 from NCDCR

In the International Year of Astronomy Australians will be able to see what is predicted to be a splendid celestial night show from 21 to 23 October 2009 peaking on Thursday night.

Radiating out across the sky from a point between the constellations Gemini and Orion and just below Betelgeuse (Orion's red star) will be meteors caused by ancient debris from Halley's Comet.

On average the Orionid shower produces 20 meteors every hour at its peak (less seen with the naked eye in Australia) and 2am to 4am looking east to north-east is probably the best time for viewing from the Southern Hemisphere.

NASA information page
Sydney Observatory night sky map for October 2009 This star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth for October 2009 at about 8.30 pm (summer time). For Darwin and similar locations the chart will still apply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be visible to the north. Stars down to a brightness or magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown on the star chart. To use this star chart, rotate the chart so that the direction you are facing (north, south, east or west) is shown at the bottom. The centre of the chart represents the point directly above your head, called the zenith point, and the outer circular edge represents the horizon.
Orionid Sky Map 1
Orionid Sky Map 2

Byron Lighthouse Run on Sunday 25 October 2009

Want to have a great time this weekend? Go to Byron Bay for the fun run.

Byron Lighthouse Run to benefit the NSW Cancer Council

25 October 2009 - Start time 7am

Choose between a 10k run or an 8 k walk.

To enter click here cost is $40

Entry from 24 October or on the day of the run is $70

To enter by mail the entry form and details is here

Team entry is possible. A team is 5 members entered and paid for in one transaction. Team members enter at $5 discount. The team leader needs to know each full name, address, phone number and date of birth of team members. To enter click here. Aged 17 and under entry fee is $15 per entry. To enter click here.

Major prizes include luxury accommodation packages in Byron Bay.

Further details at http://byronrun.com/