Angus Rodgers wrote:
On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 08:14:22 +0100, "For example: John Smith"
wrote:

Paul Hyett wrote:
Am I the only one who instantly changes channel as soon as they start
wittering on about man-made global warming being responsible for every
little climate fluctuation?

IMO, the warming trend, if it is in fact real rather than a
statistical artefact, is overwhelming natural.

If you're so uninterested in the topic that you instantly switch
channel when it is discussed, then why express an opinion on it?

According to Occam (.... the simplest explanation is the most likely), it IS
most likely to be natural.

However, even the scientific sceptics admit that after about 1970 it
impossible to balance the Earth's energy budget without incorporating
AGW greenhouse gas forcing into the models. They say something different
when they are acting as mouthpieces for the ultra-right wing American
think tanks and oil companies that sponsor denialist propaganda.

Roughly half the warming over the past century is natural in origin and
the other half which occurred in the last four decades is attributed to
AGW. Note that during this period we have accurate solar flux
measurements from satellites so you cannot magic it away with hand
waving arguments about the sun getting brighter.


Just supposing that I can bear to actually try to learn anything
about this important subject, does anyone have any book and/or
website recommendations? (But don't waste too much effort trying
to educate me, while I'm still so unwilling to educate myself!)

The IPCC science case from WG1 is available online for free (or as a
book you have to pay for). The summary for policymakers is easier to
read if you don't have a scientific background.

http://www.ipcc.ch/

And a very good introduction to the policy and practical implications of
trying to save and find alternative energy sources written by David
MacKay of Cambridge University is available to buy as a book or free
online at

http://www.withouthotair.com/

You might also find it interesting to attach an OWL energy monitor to
your household electricity supply. Knowing how much you are using in
real time should knock at 10-25% of your base load electricity bill.

http://www.electricity-monitor.com/w...l-c-37_30.html

LCD TVs with the internal DTV decoder running continuously waste 20W for
instance even in standby (and many do that by default).

My worst offending appliance is a computer 5+1 amplifier which draws 19W
when physically switched off at the front panel and 20W when on!

The wasteful devices are now automatically powered down when not in use.
The pay back is in well under a year if you can shave 40W off your
continuous usage.

Regards,
Martin Brown