Today the rain fell

by mwmwm

Today the rain fell
and the small barn roof
was the timpani
in the symphony of the rain

Today the rain fell
and the big barn roof
thrummed like a thousand
marching hobnail boots.

continued at Daily Kos....

Open thread for night owls: Arctic Report Card

by Meteor Blades

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its Arctic Report Card for 2010 [101-page pdf]. It's so simple and straightforward that even Sen. Jim Inhofe could get it. But then he would have to admit that his long-standing claims of climate change being a hoax are themselves a hoax, one perpetrated with the inherited money of billionaires and self-interested corporations who have spread lies and smeared scientists during a two-decade-long propaganda campaign.

Although Inhofe gets much of the press because of his aggressive stance in this matter, he's not alone in the informal caucus of climate-change deniers in Congress who have done all in their power to throw up obstacles against even the mildest ameliorative action, much less the tough legislation actually needed to make a difference.

Like the climate zombies they hope to join, plenty of candidates for Congress this year parrot the lies. Speaking Wednesday before a fund-raiser that Inhofe attended in Loveland, Colo., Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck said:

“Sen. Inhofe was the first person to stand up and say this global warming is the greatest hoax that has been perpetrated,” Buck said according to several reports. “The evidence just keeps supporting his view, and more and more people’s view, of what’s going on.”

Supporting their view if you ignore reports such as NOAA's:  

In 2010, the Arctic-wide warming seen in recent years is continuing, impacting every aspect of the Arctic environment and beyond. Sea-ice extent remains at record lows, which is opening northern shipping routes. Some wildlife populations are increasing, such as some sea birds and whales, while many others are in decline or negatively impacted. With more warmth, permafrost is melting in many places. Northern forest fires are occurring more frequently. Duration of snow cover is decreasing. And many glaciers are losing mass. Impacts on commercial fisheries are complex, depending on the species and location. What does all this mean? The Arctic is continuing to move into a new and different climate state. Loss of Greenland glacial ice impacts sea level. Arctic sea-ice coverage is shrinking, and the ice remaining is much thinner than it was in the past. Ice-free areas of the ocean are warmed by the sun during the summer, releasing that heat to the atmosphere in autumn. This weakens the winds that normally circle the North Pole, allowing outbreaks of cold, Arctic air to the south. Will this trend continue? As the Arctic becomes warmer, it is increasingly difficult to rebuild the thick, multi-year sea-ice cover seen in previous decades. Therefore, recent conditions seen throughout the Arctic environment are likely to persist into the future.

^{See DWG's diary for a discussion and many more details from the report.}

• • • • •

At Daily Kos on this date in 2002:

Jesus, it's about time the mainstream media woke up to the BS spewing from this administration. Given the fact that Gore got crucified for his half-truths and occasional lies, it's nice to see someone giving Bush a taste of that medicine: As Bush leads the nation toward a confrontation with Iraq and his party into battle in midterm elections, his rhetoric has taken some flights of fancy in recent weeks. Statements on subjects ranging from the economy to Iraq suggest that a president who won election underscoring Al Gore's knack for distortions and exaggerations has been guilty of a few himself. Read the article, it's a litany of lie, after half-truth, after obfuscation, after exaggeration. Hopefully other news outlets will follow suit.

continued at Daily Kos....

Mutualism and Global Change {eKos Earthship Friday}

by eKos

Welcome to the eKos Earthship, your one-stop-shop for green diaries and series.

Beneath the fold you will find news and notes, community announcements, and our eco-diary roundup.

Peruse the eKos Library to find previously listed diaries. You can also follow eKos on Twitter.

Tonight's editor: patrickz

All views expressed by today's editor do not necessarily represent those of eKos or eKos listed diarists.

Important announcement: Now you can receive a daily compilation of eKos diaries straight to your inbox! If you would like to sign up, please follow this link. This service is provided by Feedburner, and can be canceled at any time.

continued at Daily Kos....

It Takes a Region: A Working Conference to Build Our Northeast Food System

by gmoke

IT TAKES A REGION - 2010:
A  WORKING CONFERENCE TO BUILD OUR NORTHEAST FOOD SYSTEM

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS TODAY!!  
WHEN:            November 12-13, 2010
                        Pre-conference trainings on November 11

WHERE:           Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Albany, NY (Lodging availability not guaranteed after 10-19)

CHECK OUT THE GREAT AGENDA along with CONFERENCE INFORMATION: Visit http://www.ittakesaregion.org.

REGISTRATION: EARLY DEADLINE is Friday, OCTOBER 22.
Limited scholarships  available. Link to online registration via http://www.ittakesaregion.org.

HOSTED BY: the NORTHEAST SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WORKING GROUP http://www.nefood.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

continued at Daily Kos....

Fired for telling the truth at FOX News

by Deep Harm

With FOX News on a tirade about free speech, the timing seems right to reach into the Wayback Machine for a story about the reporters FOX News fired when, they said, they tried to tell the truth about a public health issue--widespread use in Florida of Monsanto's recombinant bovine growth hormone, rBGH, for increasing milk production. rBGH had been banned in Canada and other countries based on multiple concerns, including a possible connection to cancer.

-From the documentary, "The Corporation."

continued at Daily Kos....

Climate hawks attack! Ken Buck cowers?

by RLMiller

As I work my way through tracking climate zombies -- Republicans who doubt, deny, or deride the science-based reality of climate change -- it's become obvious that sheer political expediency is a factor in their denialism.  They've made a crass calculation that it's better to pledge fealty to Koch-funded Americans For Prosperity and promise to oppose a chimerical "climate tax" than to listen to scientists.  They're far more interested in winning over the right wing tea party base, for whom climate change doubt is an act of faith, than they are in governing.  

But crass political calculation only goes so far.  Consider the case of Ken Buck, running for the Senate in Colorado.

continued at Daily Kos....

The grim Arctic Report Card

by DWG

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has just published its 2010 update on the Arctic environment. This report was produced in collaboration with scientists from the United States, Canada, Russia, and European Union. The bottom line in this report can be summarized in a single sentence:

Return to previous Arctic conditions is unlikely.

Warming of the atmosphere and sea water in the northern hemisphere are expected to produce long-term changes in the polar region, including the loss of summer sea ice, depletion of Greenland glacial ice, permafrost melt, and stress on many animal populations. Scientists first raised the possibility of an Arctic "death spiral" several years ago, which was dismissed as a passing fantasy by the ethically-challenged, half-term governor of Alaska. The possibility of an Arctic "death spiral" now looks highly likely.

continued at Daily Kos....

NOAA - Arctic Changes Profound

by greendem

Here's the latest science, folks.

continued at Daily Kos....

One More Thing to Worry About in Middle School - Energy Regulations?

by Bruce Nilles

Mary Anne Hitt, the new director of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign, is a new mom and has some words for those trying to greenwash schoolkids and college students:

As a new mom, I'm paying more attention these days to how big companies are trying to influence our kids. I just learned that one of the biggest blockers of climate action in the U.S. is now bringing its obstructionism to your kid's middle school classroom. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy just released an energy education guide for teachers of 5th - 8th grade.

continued at Daily Kos....

Gulf Watchers Morning Edition - BP Catastrophe AUV #412

by gchaucer2

You are in the current BP Catastrophe Morning Edition - AUV #412. ROV #411 is here.

Bookmark this link to find the latest Gulf Watchers diaries.

Please RECOMMEND THIS DIARY, the motherships have been discontinued.

The digest of diaries is here.

Please be kind to kossacks with bandwidth issues. Please do not post images or videos. Again, many thanks for this.

PLEASE visit Pam LaPier's diary to find out how you can help the Gulf now and in the future. We don't have to be idle! And thanks to Crashing Vor and Pam LaPier for working on this!

continued at Daily Kos....