In the spring of this year I began to ask “what’s up with all these tornadoes?” I was assured that they were quite normal for those areas this time of year. Then our own weather radio stated to go off every week with it’s own pronouncements of Tornado warnings. Tornadoes in NJ? Is that normal? Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention. I looked up at our roof, still there, so no worries right?
However, then came the Mississippi floods and the flood of Minot North Dakota. I’ve been to Minot actually, it’s a long story but I know it well enough to know their marketing phrase was “Why not, Minot?” It’s taken me a couple of years but I have a reason now.
A year or so ago, I challenged one of the authors here to meet me at the North Pole in 2030 for a drink. I asked that he bring a sturdy boat and told him I would bring ice because there wouldn’t be any around. Looks like I can move up that date to 2013. Scientists are a bit like weathermen aren’t they? I guess the “model” was a little off.
With record droughts in Texas and Arizona, the biggest ever in recorded history, I started to wonder if all this was just weather. The difference between weather and climate is sustained effect. In other words, it might be raining but that doesn’t make it a monsoon. Checking with climatologists the reports are about split 50-50 between “I told you so, jerk!” and “Too early to tell, we need more data.” I guess that means I have to look up and find my roof gone at least 5 times before we are close to a conclusive theory.
Still this is all the United States, except maybe the North Pole, that’s hardly “world wide.” I suppose we could work in the drought and massive crop loss in Russia last year and possibly the strange movement of the seasonal monsoon rains in Pakistan. But still these are just events, unrelated weather oddities. Besides the U.S. House of Representatives took a vote defeating climate change as “man made,” And in February passed a stern resolution to de-fund the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change. So, if we are helping cause this, we don’t want to hear about it and Mother Nature doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Too bad Australia’s government hasn’t got the same congressional protection from floods, nor New Zealand. I’m sure the countries comprising the drying Amazon, having it’s second “100 year drought” in the past 5 years, are whipping up powerful governmental tools as I write this.
However, we should be able to expect more from Europe, being a far older society they should have had this kind protection a hundred years ago. However France and Germany will probably attempt to dither away their wheat crop failures this year. As will the folks in Texas who lost this year’s entire winter crop.
Just a bad year, that’s all, or maybe a tough streak of luck. Food prices are rising across europe but no worries, that’s what Twinkies are for. We already have the “food that can withstand nuclear winter,” a little bad weather shouldn’t bother us.
We should all remember this come the main part of hurricane season in August. Here’s a special shout out to Marino on Long Island, a terminal moraine (big sand bar), build up some pieces in July so we have plenty for the rest of the year At SWI. When the trees start to fly over your house, get some pictures.
I have a big Oak in the font yard, that’s just “up and died” this year. The aborists said the drought last year killed it. At over 100 feet tall it’s going to be in the neighborhood of 3 grand to get it taken out. I said “Wow,” and he may have heard me add “Yikes,” under my breath. I’m still planning to write the check for new boat windows though, at the rate the “model” is failing I’ll be able to tie up at the bottom of the hill in 20 years. That will be really convenient.
As long as “alarmists” continue to “appear to be right” and publish videos like the one below, I’ll continue to take precautions. Even though we all know Global Warming is a purely political movement, part of an evil plot to bring world government’s vicious yoke of oppression on us all, or at least the poor besieged “energy” companies, it never hurts to be prepared. Can you duct tape a roof on?
Copyright Prentiss Gray 2011
Prentiss Gray is a writer and columnist and currently writes the Domesti-Tech Blog for Gannett. He can be reached through his website at www.prentissgray.com
Prentiss Gray
Prentiss Gray is a writer/columnist/blogger from New Jersey. After 27 years as a Information Systems consultant and the death of his wife of 21 years, he returned to his roots as a writer, creating the national column Adventures of the Lone Dad/ Daddy chronicles. He now Blogs for Gannet on domestic technology, and writes feature pieces and stories for general publication. He is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and contributes to Bloomberg News, Daily Record, Gannett and the Tribune Syndicate.
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Sorry about the video disappearing, I forgot to check back after some changes
Prentiss it was so cold with so much snow in NYC this past winter that I kept saying. “Where is this global warming?” I guess if becomes a reality I won’t be such a wiseguy. Nahh I’ll probably have something smart to say then too.
Yeah, that’s hard to get your head around. Global warming actually means more snow for us, at least in the near term. But to look on the bright side NYC could easily become just like Venice with just a couple of feet difference in the water level. I think that’s more downtown though. Gondola to work?
I have always wondered what it was like to refer to a Gondola as an often mode of transportation.
Don– I know about the snow! I went to stay with my cousin in NY on Xmas night and I got stuck there for three days! At one point we were so desperate for food we traveled to Wendys and besides being the ONLY car on the road (in NY?!) there were no such thing as roads at that point!
So.. who knows?!
Prentiss I’ll probably wind up rowing one of these Gondolas. I’ve done everything else in the City. Christina, sorry we dumped so much snow on you. Best time to come to NYC is September. That is the best month weatherwise, little or no rain, temps in the 70′s and no humidity. No Rockerfeller Center Christmas tree but less tourists and you can get around easier.
Everyone has different tastes. My daughter and her husband went to New York City. She claimed she didn’t like it because there were not enough trees and too much concrete. Makes me think of the phrase, Concrete Jungle. I don’t plan on going there any time soon. I had enough snow and/or rain in Michigan.