Not by any stretch of the imagination is Co2 a pollutant! It is a basic nutrient of all life on Earth, it’s plant food- it is literally what makes our planet green.
The vast majority released into the atmosphere each year is through natural respiration- as was said earlier about 440 gigatons natural v. a handul from humans. The total amount of extra Co2 accumulated in the atmosphere after 100 years of industry and progress is around 70 parts per million.

If you drive an SUV- plants and Earth would be thanking you. Check out the shrubs next time you go through a BK drive through that are exposed to tail pipes 24/7- very healthy! Co2 is what you pump into a greenhouse- not to make it hotter- but to nourish your plants.

Any small warming achieved by the tiny added greenhouse effect would be an overwhelming benefit to nearly all life on the planet- you would really have to go out of your way to find a niche animal that actually prefers frozen wasteland to warmth and green plants- like a Polar bear!

Also would like to say that i never thought or said that people who support global warming were stupid and dumb for believing that. Its not as if i am out there driving a monster truck, polluting when ever i get a chance. If i can help out, i do. Picking up liter in front of the office, always throwing out my cig. butts instead of just flicking them.

It is the policies and thoughts of the world on global warming that i do not care for. IE: Cap and trade. Any new taxes that may be invoked in the name of global warming, which will be plenty!

When it comes down to it, it will be countries like the US and England that will be hit the hardest. Now i am somewhat going to be talking out of my butt. so don’t quote me. From what i can put together in my head, the US isn’t even that large of a polluter any more. You know the problem we have with no jobs and stuff. The majority of our “industry” business’s that pollute the most, have been moved over seas to countries like China, Taiwan. and from what i have read, places like china do not and will probably not conform to any new environmental standards set. So were already going to get hit with ridiculous taxes and then will probably be hit again for the same thing because that product i bought came from china, so we have to pay for that pollution as well because they “china”, as a country aren’t doing any thing about it. Am i right about this? That the majority of where are goods come from now a days don’t even follow internationally set environmental laws? Well im sorry if business wants to move our jobs away to where they can use slave labor, then they should float the bill and not pass it on to us. Other wise bring industry back to us.

Crystals are really really easy

You get a group of people with whatever range of ailments or beliefs you like, give half real crystals and the other half identical plastic placebos- compare the difference- there is none. Anyone can repeat this simple experiment as many times as they like and get the same results- no problem, that’s why no real doctor/hospital ever uses them- it’s not even controversial. But still people believe they work, they are not stupid, they are just persuaded by something other than science, and you can’t blame them if they or their families or friends are suffering.

Now look at the climate- come up with a system of algorithms that not only models the entire planet’s poorly understood systems of atmosphere/ cloud formation/ocean chemistry/ currents/ eco-systems/cosmic rays, to produce a global average temperature accurate to within a few degrees over 100 s of years- BUT is also a system that everybody agrees and can verify is accurate?! A little more tricky- that’s why no real scientist has much confidence in global warming- In fact- less & less the more it’s studied. Again I don’t think believers are stupid, or don‘t deserve the air they breath, but they are quite often ideologically driven, scientifically illiterate, or the focus is more on the persuasive politics, or news shows/ TV documentaries which some consider constitutes scientific authority

As far as the insult part;

John, I don’t agree with everything you say, but you come across as reasonable, rational, open minded and willing to debate so I certainly never intended any personal insult. I think you’re right about people who pitch themselves as ‘open minded and tolerant’ ever listen to NPR? if ever anyone dares to call in with an opinion that differs from their strict rules of correct thought, they start frothing at the mouth!

So I don’t think there is anything to be gained here by insults… well maybe just this once… ‘Whoever‘, you are the kind of person we used to refer to in school as an ‘utter spastic!’

It is the best way we have of finding the truth in anything, not perfect or absolute, just the best way.

Kind of like Winston Churchill’s statement about democracy?- ‘it’s the worst form of government apart from all the others’

The key principles are
accurate measurement
repeatable experiments
reliable outcome prediction

These principles exist for some incredibly complex and conceptually mind blowing fields of science like Nano-technology, quantum physics, nuclear physics etc. And as bizarre as they seem- there is very little controversy among scientists all over the world because the science is self evident.

The same principles do not exist for Big Foot, UFos, ghosts, prayer, Global warming or alternative medicine like crystals. That is why there IS so much skepticism. Like the 3500 different versions of Christianity,
if God actually gave us full evidence of his own existence and principles etc, we’d have no debate, just 1 religion, like we have only 1 krebs cycle, or 1 theory of special relativity.

That does not even mean they may not (technically) exits/are real – but it DOES meant that they cannot be verified.

The only people who profess to be SURE of these unscientific things are politicians, religeous people, journalists, lay-people etc, not the scientists, or they are by definition, not real scientists.

If anyone here can offer incontrovertible evidence of crystals healing power, or global warming, or ESP or whatever, that is good enough to win over the entire scientific community,
good luck! I have been honored to correspond with such brilliant and soon to be famous scientists!

But convincing scientists like the ones on John’s list will not be simple,

Convincing CNN or a special interest group or Al Gore may be alot easier, you just have to write a good enough story,hit the right ideology, or offer him enough cash!

Regarding this statement you made whoever
“Right now I’m absolutely convinced from all that I hear, see, read and experience that global warming is real! Am I wrong? You say I am. Many scientists say I’m right.”

I cannot blame you for feeling that way. We have been constantly bombarded with global warming over the years. Almost every where you look now, like u say above shows/talks about how global warming is real. You beat your kid enough and he will do what ever you ask sooner or later. Same idea but a lot more subtle FLOOD the media with global warming, get a bunch of scientist on board to help as well, get some business to because theres money in being green if you know how to work it and sooner or later that becomes the hot topic and most people start buying into the idea of global warming, it is not short of brainwashing. Over and over, Fear, fear, fear, terror, global warming, its not hard to just give in and go with the mob. Its easy just to go with the flow. thats the way it was set up to be. Its a lot harder to be on the opposite side of the “Mainstream” then it is to be with the “Mainstream” because most of the time it comes down to ridicule, name calling, attacking the “questioners” because its a lot easier to call some one a nut job then it is to do the work. Let alone for some people to admit some of these things, would shatter their whole way of life. So its just easier to attack.

First off i WAS NOT insulted by Steve, i actually agree with what he was saying.

second i never said any thing about scientist in my previous post
Whoever said..
“Where’s your scientific data to back it up?
Where are the scientists to back that up?”
NOT ONCE! did i even mention the word science. All i was trying to do was say ” Hey, not all alternative meds are goofy.”
You are the one bringing up scientist and pharma in your post i never did. That whole post was what i personally believe how alot of big pharma possibly work.

NOT ONCE DID I SAY I HAD SCIENCE TO BACK UP MY IDEAS ON CURES, TREATMENTS AND BIG PHARMA. That was all personal stated opinion. If i found a cure for something personally where i was making millions of dollars a year, I WOULD SWEEP it under the rug because im a greedy bastard and if i cure the disease my high profits are gone because i cannot provide treatment for people when they are cured.

You say u have scientific proof of global warming, then lets see it?

whoever says
“climate changes dried their rivers, destroyed their crops, flooded their land, etc”

yes, because in the whole history of our plant earth, rivers have never dried, there have never been floods, or other dramatic climate changes before the 1900′s. Man i would hate to be a caveman living next door to you because you’d probably come over and beat me on the head with your club because you think i caused your dodo bird farm to die because of the sudden drying up of the river that ran between us.

You are trying to twist my words and thoughts to say well if he believes that about big pharma then he is crazy, so his views on global warming must be wrong.

Whoever said
“The difference between both of you and I is that I have an open mind and am willing to admit I’m wrong when I realize that ‘other people’s truth’ is more ‘truthful’ than mine!”

In my experience people who say those type of things like
” Im open minded” or “I tolerate all types of people” Are usually the exact opposite of what they say they are, not open minded and very intolerant. And my point can be very easily proved as to see how you may react towards the bottom of the page towards what i wrote there. I’d say it would become an outright attack, but you may do the opposite now just to prove me wrong.

Really i think your statement above is totally false. I do not think you have an open mind and u are probably the last to admit you are wrong. I just had to admit to one of my co-workers that i was wrong about some computer stuff today and on top of that i had to call the I.T. person whos position i took over for help today because i just didn’t know how to resolve the problem i was having.

Myself and Richard have provided many of links to look at, that question global warming, have you even looked at them? Yeah, i know “why don’t i look at the links u provided” but i wont look at your CNN links or your 2 UN links and thats because i don’t consider CNN to be a worthy source of info, and the UN is the main perpetrator of global warming to gain more control over the world population. That would be like me asking you to follow FOX links that go against global warming. Would u look at those, id bet not. I have no liking for fox either so don’t get the wrong idea, except for simpsons and family guy i don’t care for FOX.

OH but what about the comment i just made above there “UN is the main perpetrator of global warming to gain more control over the world population”

Do u have enough of an open mind to look more deeply into the roots of the UN, global warming and need i say, “Conspiracy Theories”

Do you have enough of an open mind to look at the following site…
http://www.ae911truth.org/wtc7.php

Or should i prepare myself for the wave of nutty attacks because most people really don’t have an open mind. You say your mind is open so try responding next time with less attitude and more “science”

Sorry i got to know this as well.
You have got to be even like 20 or 21 years old or 35-40. My bet though is you’re on the younger side. Truthfully Am i right? I’m 30, turned it on Cinco De Mayo.

John Melone, you’re actually defending alternative medicines and claiming that big pharmaceuticals aren’t interested in finding cures but instead are only developing treatments so they can profit more?

Where’s your scientific data to back it up?
Where are the scientists to back that up?

I’m fairly sure that if those who defend that global warming is a hoax read your comment, they would say you’re a nut job!!

So you see, there’s no absolute truth. I’ve never heard any scientist say that about big pharmaceuticals or defend alternative medicines, so why is what you wrote true and what I wrote (when there are a lot of scientists who agree global warming is real) about global warming is not?
Or maybe that’s just ‘your truth’, like believing in global warming ‘is mine’!

Curiously, Steve didn’t insult you or doubted your word on those issues! Is it because maybe he previously agreed with you and therefore he sees you as an equal and is willing to accept what you’re saying?
Do you think he would even take that into consideration if I was the one writing what you claimed? Of course not!
You know, absolute truth is very subjective!

The difference between both of you and I is that I have an open mind and am willing to admit I’m wrong when I realize that ‘other people’s truth’ is more ‘truthful’ than mine!

In fact I believe that some alternative medicines help in certain cases. I’ve met amazing people who do some work in this area and from what I could see, hear, read and experience, it works.
I also believe big pharmaceuticals, just like oil companies, are only interested in making as much profit as possible regardless of the consequences!

Regarding crystals in specific, they work not because they are magical but because they conduct energy. Everything is made of energy and energy vibrates in numerous frequencies. I know for sure that those people don’t use rocks that don’t conduct energy. I apologize for not being very technical but I admit I’m no expert on energy…

Also, think about the following: have you ever felt sad and then decided to watch a funny film, go out for a walk or hear a song you love, to make you feel better? That’s not magic. It’s just that by doing something you enjoy doing, your body releases chemical substances that make you feel good. And therefore they can be considered therapies.

Ever heard of the Placebo Effect experiment? A sugar pill with no effect whatsoever was given to patients who were told it worked better than other drugs. What happened was that it actually helped them get better more effectively than when they took real pills! Magic? No! They ‘convinced their body’ that they were going to get better and so they did!

“I know how ‘Alternative Medicine’ got it’s name- it doesn’t work. If it did it wouldn’t be ‘alternative’ would it? it would be mainstream”

In fact alternative medicines are being successfully used in hospitals in Germany and many other countries (including he USA). One example of that is replacing anaesthesia with hypnosis during surgeries!

So you see, science still has a lot to learn and teach.

Right now I’m absolutely convinced from all that I hear, see, read and experience that global warming is real! Am I wrong? You say I am. Many scientists say I’m right.

Until I’m convinced otherwise, I will continue believing in it!

“for that matter why wouldn’t an energy company bypass all the hassle of sites/pollution/protesters/expensive coal/oil deliveries if they could buy up a dirt cheap field and fill it full of windmills for free power forever??”

20% of Denmark’s energy comes from wind.
An entire town in Germany is sustained with solar energy.
There are so many clean renewable energies…tidal, geothermal… Why should we remain stuck in fossil fuels, which by the way as you well know are finite?
Nigeria is one of the countries with more oil resources in the world but 70% of its population lives below the poverty line… What’s the advantage of oil?
Exxon had record profits in 2008; why should they invest in renewable energies when they’re profiting with oil? It’s like the big Pharmaceuticals’ example John gave.

However, even oil companies are realizing they need to change their strategy:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/145851
Ever heard of Boon Pickens, the oil magnate? Why do you think he wants to massively invest in wind energy?

20% of earth’s population uses 80% of the resources – one day the remaining 80% of the population will knock at your door and demand a share of those resources because climate changes dried their rivers, destroyed their crops, flooded their land, etc. Then maybe you’ll believe global warming isn’t such a hoax!! Just maybe…

McDonalds is always considered to be synonymous with obesity, bad eating etc-
Always the worst offender right? super-size me etc etc.

And (like global warming) I always accepted this ’till I thought it through-
those are the tiniest burgers and fries on the planet.

BK is way worse- so is Wendys, Arbies KFC?! Taco Bell, Sonic, Steak and Shake, White Castle, Dominoes…. just about any fast food you can think of is far more fattening, probably even Subway ( I’ve never seen anybody actually order the 6 inch- no cheese veggie sub on wheat bread!- more like 12” meatball with cheese and mayo)

What about sit in/family places- Big Boy, Cracker Barrel, Pizza Hut

How about any traditional American places- or Italian?, Chinese?

I think I am like most people- when I stop and get a Big-Mac and fries, it’s probably the healthiest thing I’ve had eating out all year- not to mention what most people eat at home,

The criticism doesn’t really have anything to do with McDonald’s food, it can only be that it is the most successful restaurant of any kind in the world?

Have good weekend!