<< SO MOVE THERE ~ MAIN ~ DO NOT DENOUNCE THEM >>
ASSEMBLE THE TREBUCHET
Geophysics professor Klaus Lackner pinpoints 2042 as the year of doom:
On current trends, the earth is only 35 years away from the point at which global warming would be impossible to reverse, Lackner said, and “we need to throw everything we can at the problem."
I suggest we throw Klaus Lackner at it. Add 2042 to your Doom Lotto board, which already includes 2012 (“Our planet is just five years away from climate change catastrophe …”) and 2016 (“ ... if the scientists turn out to be right and we only have 10 years ...”). Make your own insane Death Year guesses in comments; correct answer wins your weight in carbon credits.
UPDATE. In other future-gazing news, how much will a Toyota Prius be worth in 2043?
Death Year? I’m backing 2016 (the last year of the second Hillary Clinton administration). Of course, it won’t have anything to do with global warming - at least , not the kind of global warming Al Gore’s talking about. Death-loving Muslims, armed with nuclear weapons, will finally succeed in turning the whole world into a desert. Hillary’s last official act (before being vaporized along with the rest of us) will be to appear at the UN, where she will equate female genital mutilation with zionism.
The wuwu crowd is pushing 2012, the last year of the Mayan calendar.
Posted by Harry Bergeron on 2007 06 03 at 01:29 PM • permalinkUnless someone counted wrong ...
Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 06 03 at 01:30 PM • permalink...how much will a Toyota Prius be worth in 2043?
How much is a 1955 Chevrolet worth in Cuba these days? Might be a good thesis for some up-and-coming environmental studies graduate.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 06 03 at 01:38 PM • permalinkLawrence Solomon reviews the ‘Deniers’.
Now, after profiling more than 20 deniers, I do not know when I will stop—the list of distinguished scientists who question the IPCC grows daily, as does the number of emails I receive, many from scientists who express gratitude for my series.
Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 06 03 at 01:38 PM • permalinkAs for my Death Year™ of choice, I vote 2012, since it has been endorsed by at least one US Federal agency!
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 06 03 at 01:41 PM • permalink#4 J.M.
Were the Mayans correct?
Unless someone counted wrong ...
I’m quite certain bar-hopping, time-traveling, Tardis-joyriders paco and wronwright may have something to say about that.
;^)
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 06 03 at 01:50 PM • permalinkThat $750,000 Falcon is a four-door? Egad!
In other muscle-car news, an Aussie friend of my dad’s buys 1960s Ford Mustangs here in the US and ships them back to Australia where he restores them, converting them to right-hand drive in the process (that’s not exactly original, of course, but perfectly fine for the car club guys). If the bodywork is straight and without much rust, he wants ‘em. (He doesn’t get “drivers”, as the sellers usually want too much for them.) His work is good enough that he was a fairly long customer waiting list. He’s here this week to pick up a half-dozen or so (including one ‘65 fastback, which is virtually impossible to find in restorable condition nowadays). Brought some Tooheys, too… ;^)
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 06 03 at 02:19 PM • permalinkI’m going with The Year 2525 for the obvious reasons: (1) It’s the only one with a really cool theme song and, as a bonus, (2) I’ll be long dead so why bother.
The value of a Prius, at any point in history, can only be determined by the smug sense of self righteousness felt by the owner while being seen in one.
Posted by Hucklebuck on 2007 06 03 at 02:25 PM • permalink"On current trends, the earth is only 35 years away from the point at which global warming would be impossible to reverse...”
Why would you want to reverse it?
Global atmospheric temperatures have been fluctuating for hundreds of millions of years, as have atmospheric co2 levels, and right now we’re at the absolute bottom of the range for both, according to the best available data. If the planet warms up 10 to 20 degrees centigrade, then we’ll be approaching the normal state of affairs.
Why would you want to reverse the process? Are you an ice skating fanatic, or something?
Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 06 03 at 02:42 PM • permalink100 years too early!
The year is 2142
and the dawn of a new Ice age has thrown the world into a panic. The soil not covered by ice can only feed a fraction of the Earth’s population. The math is simple and brutal: some will live, most will die.In Battlefield 2142™, players choose to fight for one of two military superpowers - the European Union or the newly formed Pan Asian Coalition -in an epic battle for survival.
Armed with a devastating arsenal of hi-tech weaponry, including assault rifles, cloaking devices and sentry guns, players will also take control of the most lethal vehicles known to man. Massive Battle Walkers wage fierce combat on the ground, while futuristic aircraft rule the skies. When taking on this futuristic armor players will need to use their wits and an arsenal of new hi-tech countermeasures like EMP grenades and smart mines to level the playing field.
It was 2006. Y’all are just imagining things since then.
Posted by Harry Eagar on 2007 06 03 at 02:53 PM • permalink2069, just because I like the number. However, if the Yurpeen Union has its way and switches to biofuels, gerbil worming will occur even more rapidly, so it’ll be 2020 at best.
EU: Green fuel targets will make the baby Gaia cry
Posted by Blue State Sil on 2007 06 03 at 02:58 PM • permalink2666, for obvious reasons.
Oops. That was upside down. I mean 9995. Again, for obvious reasons.
Posted by andycanuck on 2007 06 03 at 03:14 PM • permalink’I do wonder what would happen if you told Al Bore and his ilk that it’s already too late to avoid “catastrophic climate change”.’
Guys like Al Gore are going to say the same thing they say no matter what the situation is:
We need socialism.
Their global warming claptrap is just their latest excuse for why socialism must be imposed...for our own good.
Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 06 03 at 03:45 PM • permalinkBack in the good old days “liberal” Democrats were singing the same tune they’re singing now as a justification for slavery.
They claimed that black folks were too irresponsible to manage their own affairs, and that society would collapse unless they had wise masters to direct every aspect of their lives, and that slavery was necessary and beneficial both for the society at large and for the slaves themselves.
It’s basically the same thing they’re saying now, re: global warming.
Same old “liberal:/Democrat/socialist crap...different day.
Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 06 03 at 03:52 PM • permalinkThis up-close Al Gore story is good (courtesy of J.M. Heinrichs).
#8 Spiny: I think we’ve got the missing piece of the calendar back in place. As you’ll recall, I originally tried to patch it up with this . But Wronwright said it wouldn’t do (although he did keep the replacement calendar, come to think of it; kinda like to get that back, Wron).
But now everything’s in order, and we can confirm with confidence that the Mayans predicted that the world would end in 2012. Er, we think. You see, we’re not sure whether the calendar reflects actual days or business days, and it’s not entirely clear if Mayan federal holidays are included (you know, “Burn Columbus in Effigy Day”, “Veteran’s of Foreign Tribal Raids Day”, “Salute to Corn Day”, and so on). So, it’s 2012, give or take a few years.
Ever wondered why doubling of CO2 from pre-industrial levels (which is where I assume he gets his 35 years from) is the magic amount that will cause catastrophy?
The reason is that as CO2 levels increase, more and more radiation is blocked, leaving progressively less to be blocked by future increases in CO2.
When CO2 levels double from pre-industrial levels approximately 95% of the radiation CO2 can block will be blocked and CO2 increases beyond that point will have a negligable effect.
So when we reach a doubling of CO2 whatever warming we have will be it, and it’s game over for the AGW alarmists.
I think we should do all we can to get there as soon as possible.
Toyota Prius - the Trabant of 2025
Posted by Willmott Fribbish on 2007 06 03 at 04:52 PM • permalinkApparently a Trabant will set you back 6000US. link
Posted by dean martin on 2007 06 03 at 06:26 PM • permalink#24. Nah, RebeccaH. Close, but not close enough.
I’m betting on 2067, because when I was 14 I decided I was going to live to be 100. I’m still on track for that.
Come late 2067, however, it’s Game On!
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 06 03 at 06:35 PM • permalink#9
The Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III was claimed at the time to be the World’s fastest 4-door production car [c. 380 bhp].Other Oz claims at the time (c. 1971):
World’s fastest accelerating production 6 cylinder car:
Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E-49 (2-door): 6-pack carburettors (3 x Weber dual-throat side draft, tuned in Italy) on a 265 cid (4.3L) Hemi L6 engine [c. 300 bhp]. Oz fastest accelerating car at the time, c. 0.5 sec faster 1/4 mi than GTHO.c. 1971 Oz V8 2-doors:
• Holden Monaro HT: 350 cid Chevrolet V8
• Chrysler Valiant Charger E55*: 340 cid V8*Chrysler were believed to be developing an R/T version of the E55 Charger, which would most likely have made it the Oz muscle car of the era.
Despite a 3-speed automatic transmission and 4-barrel downdraft carburetor in the ‘770’ version, its 1/4 mi time was only c. 0.5 sec behind the GTHO, and so potentially our quickest beast; at the time the Fed govt halted the horsepower war, the fuel crisis arrived, etc.NB:
The Holden Torana GTR XU-1 [2-door, 202 cid L6 6-pack carbs] was the most successful on the race tracks of the era.Corrections welcome.
My prediction? The year 1999. The Earth will explode, catapulting the moon and its small moonbase across the galaxy, where the jumpsuit-wearing crew will have increasingly surreal experiences.
Posted by Rob Crawford on 2007 06 03 at 07:06 PM • permalinkI vote for 2525, too. And keep a good thought, Hucklebuck. You just might live that long. Who knows?
Yo, Crawford. The Earth won’t explode, the nuclear waste dump on the dark side will have a chain-reaction fission event. The crew with the odd British accents will eventually be, er, “cancelled”.
Posted by Spectre765 on 2007 06 03 at 07:38 PM • permalinkPick a year, any year, but make it at no less than 90 years hence.
That’s the transcendental beauty of climate “science”. Adherents and researchers can make earnest and wonderfully accurate predictions that not even their grandchildren will be alive to verify.
It has surely replaced pure mathematics as the Queen of the Sciences.
Posted by Whale Spinor on 2007 06 03 at 07:40 PM • permalinkIt’s good to see Aussies and Canucks prominent in support of NASA boss Griffins.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 06 03 at 07:47 PM • permalinkRob,
You were saying that in the neocon pub Saturday. I can assure you that Moonbase Alpha is safe. And the nuclear dump is being carefully managed by trusted minions, MarkL, Grimmy, and that Scottish guy who checks in every now and then. You know, the guy who drinks a few pints and gets up on the bar and shouts “FREEEEEEDOM” and “come and get me Longshanks”.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 06 03 at 07:56 PM • permalinkI was going to say year 5,000,000,000 but Paco is much more astute.
However, I think Hillary’s last gesture will be to wave a piece of paper in hand, saying” “See! I told you a treaty with the representatives of the religion of peace was possible”.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 06 03 at 08:09 PM • permalink#18 Dave, astute of you to notice, but there is one slight correction:
socialism must be imposed...for
ourtheir own good.Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 06 03 at 08:18 PM • permalinkNostradamus says the world, according to those who interpret the great man’s writings, will end in 2012, which meets the 5-year prediction. However, these same experts on the seer have previously predicted 1994, 1998 and 2000. 2000 had the support of the Y2K doomsayers, so like climate change there was a consensus among leading experts on doom.
Some say Nostie is also predicting annihilation in 3797, which is well outside the predictions of other prophets such as 100m swimming champion Robyn Williams or that battery of climate experts known as The Age newsroom.
But what do I think? The world will vanish on July 17, 2122 just after 7pm Greenwich time. But it won’t be climate change. It will be the Vogon constructor fleet building another intergalactic bypass.
#33 LOL.
It reminds me of a beautiful moment I had in a bar some time back.
I was chatting with some nice people, several of them female who had just seen the movie Braveheart. Such as sad ending, sighed one. No, a right excellent ending, said the Englishman
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 06 03 at 08:34 PM • permalinkAs far as the Mayan calendar is concerned ...
(wronwright wrings hands)
... paco is correct that we patched up the calendar. We took it over to The Real JeffS, who’s been remodeling his house. He has some spare mortar and we reattached the chunk that had somehow, unknowingly, through some unknown cause, broke off.
But um, we did reaffix the chunk. And we returned it, on the altar in the sun pyramid, in the Yucatan Peninsula.
So far it seems to be working well.
(wronwright tugs at his shirt collar)
I think the thought that 2012 might be a bad year is just a case of pessimistic thinking. Ok, yes, it’s true that there is a reddish glow on the heiroglyph that corresponds to that year. But I think it’s the stupid red Texas clay that The Real JeffS mixed in the mortar. [Thanks a lot Jeff]
So, let’s all be positive on this so-called apocolypse thing, okay?
Posted by wronwright on 2007 06 03 at 08:40 PM • permalinkOkay, now what have you done, wron?
Just tell me, I promise not to hurt you too much this time.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 06 03 at 09:03 PM • permalink#40
Robert Conquest, in his book The Ravaged Century , tells of the son of a Scottish friend who was studying in Texas. Some American students asked him what he thought about Braveheart, apparently expecting a diatribe against the Sassenachs. “Terrible,” said the Scot, “it’s nought but a haggis Western.”Posted by Michael Lonie on 2007 06 03 at 09:18 PM • permalinkThe Mayan calendar is good as new, I’ll have you all know. That broken piece was affixed with Perfect Adhesion Coagulant Ooze. Better than super-glue, when used according to instructions.
Er, Wronwright. You did remember to heat the surface of the stone to 210 degrees F and add sand to the bonding material, didn’t you? It’s right there on page 7 of the instructions, and please don’t tell me you don’t read Korean.
#46
Garrett accuses PM of scaremongering?
Check this from Garrett’s website, including:
What a 3 degree rise in temperature means for Australia
80% of Kakadu wetlands lost to sea level rise.
Destruction of the Great Barrier Reef through coral bleaching.
Up to a 70% increase in the number of extreme and very high fire danger days in the southeast.
Up to 5 000 more heatwave deaths a year.
Up to a 30% reduction in Murray-Darling river flows.Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 06 03 at 10:58 PM • permalinkFurther scaremongering here.
Our river systems are sick, salted up and stressed, used beyond their environmental limits. Majestic river redgums on the Murray River are dying, literally, for a drink of water. The scourge of salinity is spreading across the land, eating away at rural communities. I know that statistics rain down like confetti on this place, but the fact that in South Australia nearly half the flora and fauna face extinction in the next 50 years ought to give real pause for thought. After all, that is only my lifetime up to now—and that has seemed like a pretty short period. This is the rollcall of evolution happening in the space of a few generations, the greatest loss of living things that make up our biodiversity since the disappearance of the dinosaurs. And there is no sign that we are adequately responding to the unfolding tragedy. As we continue to draw down on our natural capital at a far greater rate than it is being replenished, as oil supplies dwindle and populations increase, as each single threat—whether to wetland, forest or ocean—coalesces and collides, so the task of reconfiguring our economy to harness instead of degrading nature becomes more important.
(More, BTW, on our salinity crisis featuring the gun quote by Dr Marohasy, “We don’t have a salinity crisis. We have an honesty crisis...")
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 06 03 at 11:27 PM • permalink#28 egg.I had a HG 350 which I acquired for the princely sum of $2400 at University Motor Auctions,from memory the new price was about $4000.This weapon had done less than 3000 miles.Dealers were clearing their demos as the HQ was due to be released and on any auction day at least two or three HG’s were available although most had the 307 engine.The engine was rated at just under 300bhp,just about the same as a 5.7 GEN111.So much for progress.In those more enlightened times speed limits were much more user friendly and the Monaro would cruise happily at 120mph,however one always had to be aware that at that speed the brakes really ran out of retardation after a couple of applications in quick succession.Fuel consumption was less than my current SS Commodore.
#53: I rise in the House to speak for the first time as the new member for Kingsford Smith
Well, I don’t know who this guy Kingsford is, and I’m sorry to hear about him losing his original member (domestic dispute?), and I fully appreciate the fact that this guy Garrett is a dick, but I fail to “see the connection”, so to speak. Just sayin’ . . .
#46
ScaremongeringOur Aunty is complicit in continually repeating Garrett’s exaggeration soundbites re ‘Howard’s had 11 years to address Climate Change’.
Aunty is also very disappointed to report that Howard has halved the gap in recent polls, boo hoo ...
Wonder how Kevni’s sphincter is travelling?
But I think it’s the stupid red Texas clay that The Real JeffS mixed in the mortar. [Thanks a lot Jeff]
wronwright, it wasn’t Texas clay, I used Mount St Helen’s ash.....I thought it a nice artistic touch. But maybe I shouldn’t have dug it up from here?
Anywho, I’m quite satisfied that the model is valid, and 2012 is the Death Year™. I did some digital modeling on my computer (the one that occupies the entire basement, not the dinky desktop you saw), and the Mayans had their act togther. At in predicting the end of the world; too bad they couldn’t keep their civilization going.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 06 03 at 11:56 PM • permalinkI predict 3:17pm, July 9, 2007 for total Earth destruction, which makes me more scientific than any warmening acolyte because it’s at least verifiable and I’ll freely admit it’s a random date.
Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 06 04 at 12:03 AM • permalinkWell, if it’s a choice between Lackner, Nostradamus and the Heavens Gate Cult, gee - which shall I pick? They all seem to have the same level of believability.
eenie, meenie, minie, moe… the winnder is Heavens Gate.
Oops, missed the deadline by 10 years. Better go kill myself now. Bye.
Posted by mr creosote on 2007 06 04 at 12:37 AM • permalinkOh, before I go, just thought I’d mention that the nice thing about most doomsday cults is that they insist that all the believers kill themselves before the day of doom arrives.
Do you think it might be possible for us to turn global warming into a doomsday cult? And then convince them that the world will end in say 2010? I don’t think I can put up with more than 3 more years of this hysteria.
Posted by mr creosote on 2007 06 04 at 12:40 AM • permalinkDo you think it might be possible for us to turn global warming into a doomsday cult? And then convince them that the world will end in say 2010?
Now you’re thinking!
Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 06 04 at 12:52 AM • permalink#54 Lew
Current drive is an early GenIII LS1 in a WH (nice n tight, no oil consumption issues that a later batch allegedly have).
Family were Chrysler fans and so have owned 245 & 265 Hemi 6’s and a 360 (wedge head) V8.
Relo’s had a few 225 slant 6’s and the OM had a 273 (wedge) V8.Haven’t been directly involved in motorsport, but understand that the E49 R/T Charger had a factory ‘Bathurst cam’ option giving it c. 325 bhp stock (reviews of the era seemed to cover cars without this option) and with blueprinting for race trim prolly had an output similar to the (already highly developed) GTHO Phase III, as the claimed power output was at a modest 5,000 rpm.
In NZ, where there was less factory backing by the ‘Big 3’, Chargers won the 500-mile annual race ‘72-’78 and Ford even sent the factory driver, Alan Moffat, over twice but he couldn’t catch the Chargers in a GTHO.
The_Real_Jeff, a mate of mine installed one of those obselete basement filling computers in said basement, a few years ago in Toronto.
Next thing, the cops are breaking down his door with a search warrant looking for his hydroponics dope growing operation.
So a word of advice, don’t turn it on too often those things suck up a lot of Gaia juice.
No, a right excellent ending, said the Englishman - I liked that.
Also over at Bolt’s blog. He is exposing the ‘AGW Scientific Consensus’ Big Lie. Expect lots of exploding Lefty heads.
So I take it my triple carbed, 202 CI 1973 Torana isnt going to make much difference to the equation since the world is going to end anyway????? Sounds like it is time to blow the froth of a cold one and order that
head jobcombustion chamber enhancement for it.Posted by surfmaster on 2007 06 04 at 05:53 AM • permalink#40 Andrea - Okay, now what have you done, wron?
Nothing. Nothing at all. I’m just hanging out with the guys.
Cheez Its, that was close. I told you guys “low profile”, didn’t I? I’m getting tired of saving your sorry butts from “the Administrator”.
#48 paco - Er, Wronwright. You did remember to heat the surface of the stone to 210 degrees F and add sand to the bonding material, didn’t you? It’s right there on page 7 of the instructions, and please don’t tell me you don’t read Korean.
Korean? Is that what that was? I thought that was bar code. I didn’t do any of that. I sure hope the calendar works. (wrings hands some more)
#58 The_Real_JeffS - the Mayans had their act togther. At in predicting the end of the world; too bad they couldn’t keep their civilization going.
Well, it was doing pretty darn good until on one of, um, historical trips, paco decides it would be a good idea to filch the Mayan Calendar and hang it in Karl’s office. It went down hill from there for those poor people.
(wronwright sticks head outside)
Andrea, like I said, we’re just chilling. You can go home if you want.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 06 04 at 06:21 AM • permalinkWell, it was doing pretty darn good until on one of, um, historical trips, paco decides it would be a good idea to filch the Mayan Calendar and hang it in Karl’s office
Was this a “National Geographic” type trip???? Hmmmmmm????
Posted by surfmaster on 2007 06 04 at 06:32 AM • permalinkYou’re all optimists.
I read ten years ago that if we didn’t do something in the next ten years then we were DOOMED.
We haven’t done anything, so we’re doomed. It’s too late now.
So we might as well burn as much coal as we can.
Posted by Charles Murton on 2007 06 04 at 09:31 AM • permalinkI’m going with asteroids. Proven effective every time. Apophis is slated for a potential impact on April 13, 2036. Since I’ll be 82 years old by then, I won’t give a damn.
Unless wronwright and paco have changed the darned orbit AGAIN (takes keys to Tardis, stomps off into her office).
Elizabeth
Imperial KeeperPosted by Elizabeth Imperial Keeper on 2007 06 04 at 11:23 AM • permalink#71 surfmaster -
Was this a “National Geographic” type trip???? Hmmmmmm????
Yeah, that’s right. A National Geographic type trip.
(wronwright looks over shoulder, walks away from keyboard)
Posted by wronwright on 2007 06 04 at 12:13 PM • permalink2012: It’s the bicentennial of The War of 1812.
Posted by mythusmage on 2007 06 04 at 07:59 PM • permalinkHey—I had that asteroid all scheduled to hit before the next season of American Idol could start....WRONWRIGHT--!
You are so in trouble.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 06 04 at 09:42 PM • permalink#81: Asteroid? Wronwright was supposed to let an asteroid through? He told me to take charge of it, but I thought he said let Astrid Kumbernuss through. What the hell am I supposed to do now? She’s been staying with us for a week and she’s broken virtually every window in the neighborhood. People are starting to get steamed.
#9
That $750,000 Falcon is a four-door?AFAIK the only big block V8 factory option (ever) locally available in Oz was the 390 V8 option on the 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 ‘compact’ 2 door ... if any are still around, that would be a rare beast, indeed.
Never mind what a Prius will be worth in 2043. What’s it worth now? According to the Redbook, an October 2001 Prius which cost $39,990 new now fetches only $10,200 - $11,900 on a trade in for a new vehicle. WHEREAS the similarly priced ($39,240 new) 2.7 litre manual Landcruiser Prado from the same manufacturer is worth almost $13,000 to $14,800 on a trade in!
Astonishing really! With all the hype and rising fuel prices, you’d think they’d hold their value better.
A Prius
Posted by Alan Dungey on 2007 06 05 at 01:38 AM • permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages
Members:
Login | Register
| Member List
I expect that “throwing everything we can at the problem” will have results similar to this.