What's gotten into New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman lately? In the last month the mustachioed globe-hopper has praised Communist China for getting things done and seen a looming assassination threat to Barack Obama based on tea party rallies and some stray "Birthers."
His Wednesday column was on the three bombs allegedly hanging over all of our heads, two of them of the metaphorical variety: Debt and climate change. To make his case that climate change is some kind of imminent and deadly threat, Friedman conjured up a wildly implausible scenario out of a dystopian science fiction movie.
Today's youth are growing up in the shadow of three bombs -- any one of which could go off at any time and set in motion a truly nonlinear, radical change in the trajectory of their lives.
The first, of course, is still the nuclear threat, which, for my generation, basically came from just one seemingly rational enemy, the Soviet Union, with which we shared a doctrine of mutual assured destruction. Today, the nuclear threat can be delivered by all kinds of states or terrorists, including suicidal jihadists for whom mutual assured destruction is a delight, not a deterrent.
But there are now two other bombs our children have hanging over them: the debt bomb and the climate bomb.
As we continue to build up carbon in the atmosphere to unprecedented levels, we never know when the next emitted carbon molecule will tip over some ecosystem and trigger a nonlinear climate event -- like melting the Siberian tundra and releasing all of its methane, or drying up the Amazon or melting all the sea ice in the North Pole in summer. And when one ecosystem collapses, it can trigger unpredictable changes in others that could alter our whole world.
Does Friedman know that "The Day After Tomorrow" is, you know, just a movie? In Roland Emmerich's 2004 dystopian thriller, the world plunges into instant climate change when an ice shelf breaks away in Antarctica. But Friedman has gone even further; he's worked out our doomsday down to the molecular level.
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
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Thomas "Chicken Little" Friedman
October 7, 2009 - 13:48 ET by FeynmanFanThomas really needs to see a doctor. There's medicine available that can help control that kind of irrational anxiety.
"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson
molecule matters
October 7, 2009 - 13:50 ET by jon_torlinFunny how people are so concerned about something that takes up 0.03% of our atmospheric composition. Why aren't they raising a stink about the 0.97% argon instead? Or 78% Nitrogen? Or 21% Oxygen?
There's a reason Disaster movies are what they are, disaster movies based on things that could NEVER happen in real life.
-Jon
Water vapor
October 7, 2009 - 14:07 ET by CobraManHow come they never mention a REAL "greenhouse gas," water vapor? As anyone who lives in the northern climate can tell you, it gets a LOT colder on cloudless winter nights than cloudy ones, some times as much as a 20 to 30 degree difference in a single night. Since CO2 levels can't change that much in one day, it can't be CO2 that's holding in the heat.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
you're right
October 7, 2009 - 15:31 ET by jon_torlinYou're right, water vapor is by far the largest amount of any kind of greenhouse gas in the air. Anyone who's been in a real greenhouse knows those things are HUMID. Air smells real good (depending on the plants) though, real fresh, sometimes you might even get a bit light-headed if you're not used to it. It'll almost seem kinda stuffy because the air's thick.
But you are correct, it's definitely the clouds that act as a blanket on some cold nights. Even the desert is like that, it might get to 100 degrees but in a desert at night time, it could get 40-50 degrees colder, depending on location and radiational factors(for those in Rio Linda, that's heat radiation, not alpha/beta/gamma radiation).
Do they still teach this in science class? I seriously doubt it.
-Jon
What's the problem?
October 7, 2009 - 13:50 ET by superconIf all the ice caps melt we will have millions of square miles of brand new usable land. Excuse me for asking a dumb question but wasn't the earth some sort of hot steamy tropical climate for the majority of it's existence...? I don't believe the dinosaurs ever had to contend with blizzards and glaciers.
" if Republicans are able to stop Barack Obama on health care, 'it will be his Waterloo, it will break him...." -Sen. Jim DeMint
Another liberal hypocrite.
October 7, 2009 - 13:52 ET by Dave in TexasYeah, Thomas Friedman just cares soooooo much about our environment. Just not enough to not live in this house though. It's a nice house, but I wonder what his response would be if you asked him if he would like to see every household in the world living in a house that big.
A little advice to Friedman from the Kinks
October 7, 2009 - 13:58 ET by DaleMcCParanoia may destroy ya.
"...we never know when the
October 7, 2009 - 13:59 ET by saw the light"...we never know when the next emitted carbon molecule will tip over some ecosystem and trigger a nonlinear climate event..."
I'm trying my hardest. I ran on the treadmill to increase my exhalation of carbon dioxide, drove my SUV quite a bit today, and am taking a plane trip on Friday [without voiding my bladder before boarding (see Al Nippon Airlines)]. Heck, I may even put on a pot of chili for the family. You know, get everyone involved!
"I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." Barack Obama to "Joe the Plumber"
Perfect
October 7, 2009 - 14:02 ET by srqvetMay have had this link here but still worth a look. This explains a lot. Short video and the payoff is in the last few seconds.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=eaf_1175197416
We'll never know when the
October 7, 2009 - 14:03 ET by mattmWe'll also never know when the next Oxygen molecule (02) will tip some environmental trigger....blah, blah, blah....
If all of these IDIOTS who are so concerned about carbon dioxide emmissions would just quit breathing...
Once again the facts have refuted the prevaling wisdom, but yet the myth prevails....
So, basically, Thomas
October 7, 2009 - 14:15 ET by fitzfongSo, basically, Thomas Friedman proposes agitating one of his three "bombs" (debt) to diffuse a dud ("Climate Change"/"Global Warming").
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
No clouds or water vapor, in the Sun deiner's , twisted math.
October 7, 2009 - 14:20 ET by upcountrywaterEarliest opening in 64 years.
Friday will mark the earliest opening in Arapahoe Basin's 64-year history.
Where were all the hurricanes this year?
Sure enough this kook thinks we can fix the Sun...
While turning our energies away from the man made threats... typical.
islamo bomb.... We can deal with this...
debt bomb.....We can deal with this...
climate bomb. We CAN NOT do anything about this..
State controlled health care is Tort Reform.
TOM FREIDMAN - "EVERYONE CUT BACK - EXCEPT ME"
October 7, 2009 - 14:45 ET by SgthulkaI'll believe in global climate disaster when I see Freidman put his Virginia mansion up for sale.
Until then, I'll barbeque, burn wood and do burn-outs.
http://www.americant...
i view thomas friedman statements
October 7, 2009 - 14:44 ET by larry on LIas child like , quite simular to a child reaching out for attention, however far more in need. mr. friedman you need assistance.
Nonsense
October 7, 2009 - 15:16 ET by slickwillie2001There is zero evidence that any kind of catastrophic tipping point exists that man can initiate. Sure, asteroids and gamma ray bursts can cause sudden change, but we are like a few ants on Friedman's 7-1/2 acre Bethesda estate. If you accept his premise, then I can suggest that a few more CO2 molecules might save us from an ice age.
Friedman
October 7, 2009 - 15:20 ET by Joseph BrownWell, Friedman is an expert and experts become experts by reading books by other experts.
I stopped reading
October 7, 2009 - 15:28 ET by G. MayI stopped reading after:
Emphasis mine. This statement portends all the crap that is to follow.
"A seemingly rational
October 7, 2009 - 16:42 ET by eaglewingz08"A seemingly rational enemy" that murdered thirty millions of its citizens and enslaved hundreds of millions more. Boy, those were the good old days weren't they? Then some anti global warming hoax jerk like Pres. Reagan came along and the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact went kaput and commies were on the run all over the world. Bad times for statists like T.F. and his fellow libtard democraps.
This global warming hoax is really just idolatry of the world at the expense of God and is based upon such bad science that only a libtard or someone profiting from the hoax would believe it.
global what????
October 7, 2009 - 17:03 ET by LibertydudeWhat is wrong with these people. maybe the innoculations they recieved as children made them mindless libs. H1N1 shots making new libs.
Also what about the glaciers...was that man -made global warming that made them go away????? what about all the volcanoes putting out CO2...how the hell do you TAX a volcano...
I know...the volcano tax act of 2009
"What are you a wise guy"- Curley---the three stooges
No doubt about it
October 7, 2009 - 18:18 ET by MidAmericaNo doubt about it Friedman has to be crazy. If he believes what he is saying he is crazy. If he doesn't believe it but he thinks we'll believe it because he is saying it then he is crazy. Somebody needs to borrow one of obama's doctor coats and go pick this guy up.
"As we continue to build up
October 7, 2009 - 18:58 ET by ckc1227"As we continue to build up carbon in the atmosphere to unprecedented levels, we never know when the next emitted carbon molecule will tip over some ecosystem and trigger a nonlinear climate event"
We know exactly when it's going to happen, Tommy boy, and there's no escape.
what has this guy been smoking?
October 7, 2009 - 22:09 ET by Cho Yi Fan"we never know when the next emitted carbon molecule will tip over some ecosystem and trigger a nonlinear climate event"
If we listen to this dolt one would assume that the next time that I barbeque I might well trigger the end of all mankind. Liberals are so dramatic.Hey Tommy Get A Grip!!!!
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have".
Thomas Jefferson
The magic word 'COULD'
October 7, 2009 - 23:31 ET by Ciampino"The global recession revealed its first hint of a
silver lining on Tuesday when the International Energy Agency (IEA) revealed
that carbon emissions could fall in 2009 by as much as 3%"
A whole article seemingly reporting something that has happened (not) based on a supposition.
http://www.mg.co.za/...