Why do the eco-skeptics get so much traction by claiming the the current warming trend is a "natural" process? Regardless of whether you think global warming is a man-made problem or just part of a predictable cycle that also gave us such great time periods as the ice ages, the effect of the change in temperature doesn't seem to be in great dispute. Why is it that calling global warming a "natural" process is at all an argument against doing somethign about it?

We certainly don't think of other "natural" processes this way. Death is a "natural" process, for example. We certainly don't let its "naturalness" keep us from spending 16% of our GDP on trying to delay it as long as possible.

Comments: 11 Posted by david on 22 January 2008 at 11:51 AM

So far, so good. They closed I-64 here in St. Louis sometime this morning, but the post-holiday commute was pretty easy. I was concerned that crossing Hanley (I-64 Westbound traffic is being diverted onto Hanley) would be difficult, but it was as easy to cross as it always is (which isn't great). Everyone seems to think the true test will be next Monday morning, so I'll reserve final judgement until then.

And now, because I haven't seen this widely reported anywhere else, is some information on closures related to bridge demolition. All of this info comes from the I-64 website.

• Lindbergh will be closed in both directions at I-64 from 10:00 pm on 1/4 until 5:30 am on 1/7. Once demolition is complete it will reopen with two lanes in each direction.
  
• Brentwood will be closed on both directions at I-64 from 10:00 pm on 1/11 until 5:30 am on 1/13. It will also be closed from 10:00 pm on 1/18 until 5:30 am on 1/20. Once demolition is complete it will reopen with two lanes in each direction.
  
• McKnight will close at 7:00 am on 1/14. Use McCutcheon as an alternate route until reconstruction of the bridge is complete, which should take 4-6 months.
  

Comments: 0 Posted by david on 2 January 2008 at 10:54 AM