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The Atlantic Ocean is cooling at record speed

By
Alan
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The Atlantic Ocean is cooling at record speed

The Atlantic Ocean has indeed been observed cooling at a record speed in certain areas, particularly in a patch of the central equatorial Atlantic. This phenomenon has been noted by scientists and has led to discussions about a potential Atlantic Niña event, which is less commonly discussed than its Pacific counterpart, La Niña.

Here’s what’s been happening:

Over the past few months leading up to September 2024, there’s been a significant and rapid cooling in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. This cooling has been described as happening at a record speed, which is unusual given the trends of global ocean warming.

This cooling could signify the onset of an Atlantic Niña, which is characterized by cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Atlantic. This event can influence weather patterns, potentially leading to increased rainfall over western Africa and reduced rainfall in parts of South America.

The rapid shift from record warmth to cooling has left scientists searching for explanations. Typically, such changes might be linked to wind patterns or ocean currents, but the current situation doesn’t fully align with known mechanisms, making it a topic of ongoing research.

The rapid cooling and potential Atlantic Niña could have various global weather implications, including altering hurricane formation patterns, affecting rainfall distribution, and possibly impacting climate systems like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Pacific.

Recent discussions in the scientific community reflect both public curiosity and scientific debate over this cooling trend. Some discussions highlight skepticism about climate models, while others discuss the broader implications for global climate systems.

While this cooling event is significant, it’s essential to view it within the larger context of climate variability rather than as a counterargument to long-term global warming trends. Climate phenomena like these illustrate the complexity of oceanic and atmospheric systems where both warming and cooling can occur regionally and temporarily due to natural variability.

Remember, while the Atlantic Ocean is cooling at record speed, this rapid cooling is noteworthy, it’s part of the natural variability within the climate system, which can include both record warming and cooling events over different timescales and regions.




 

150 years from now

By
Alan
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150 years from now

150 years from now, none of us reading this post today will be alive. 70 percent to 100 percent of everything we are fighting over right now will be totally forgotten.

If we go back memory lane to 150 years before us, that will be 1874, none of those that carried the world on their heads then are alive today. Almost all of us reading this will find it difficult to picture anybody’s face of that era.

Pause for a while and imagine how some of them betrayed their relatives and sold them as slaves for a piece of mirror. Some killed family members just for a piece of land or tubers of yam or cowries or for a pinch of salt. Where is the yam, cowries, mirror, or salt that they were using to brag? It may sound funny to us now, but that is how silly we humans are sometimes, especially when it comes to money, power or trying to be relevant.

Even when you claim the internet age will preserve your memory, take Michael Jackson as an example. Michael Jackson died in 2009, just 15 years ago. Imagine the influence Michael Jackson had all over the world when he was alive. How many young people of today remember him with awe, that is if they even know him? In 150 years to come, his name, when mentioned, will not ring any bell to a lot of people.

Let’s take life easy, nobody will get out of this world alive. The land you are fighting and ready to kill for, somebody left that land, the person is dead and forgotten. That will also be your fate. In 150 years to come, none of the vehicles or phones we are using today to brag will be relevant.

Let love lead. Let’s be genuinely happy for each other. No malice, no backbiting. No jealousy. No comparison. Life is not a competition. 150 years from now and at the end of the day, we will all transit to the other side. It is just a question of who gets there first, but surely we will all go there someday.

sourced – Unknown
 




 

New misinformation bill cited as chilling assault on free speech

By
Alan
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New misinformation bill

New misinformation bill cited as chilling assault on free speech. The Australian government has recently introduced the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024, aiming to address the spread of misinformation and disinformation online.

“The Albanese government was forced to abandon a previous draft version of the laws after they were widely condemned by everyone from media organisations and tech companies to civil liberties groups and even the Australian Human Rights Commission.” — Sky News

Read the entire bill

The primary purpose of the bill seeks to empower the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with new capabilities to combat seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation online. This includes the ability to require digital platforms to keep records, enforce industry codes, or set standards for managing misinformation.

Under the bill, if passed, it says that social media platforms could face significant fines, up to 5% of their global revenue, if they fail to comply with the regulations set forth by ACMA regarding the removal or management of misinformation.

This particular legislation includes a broad definition of what might constitute harm, including harm to public health, the economy, or public confidence in institutions like the banking system, and it has raised some serious concerns about what could be labeled as misinformation.

Freedom of speech advocates, including some politicians argue that the bill represents an attack on free speech. They fear it could be used to censor legitimate opinions or discussions, particularly those critical of government policies or actions. There’s concern over the bill’s potential to create a scenario akin to a Ministry of Truth.

What’s interesting about the bill is that it seems to exclude professional news content, and there’s criticism that it might not hold mainstream media to the same standards. There’s also a mention that the bill could impact discussions around significant public issues, like referendum proposals, by potentially classifying certain viewpoints as misinformation.

There’s been considerable backlash on social media platforms cross the board with regard to this bill, with users and some politicians highlighting the risks to freedom of expression. Critics argue that the definitions within the bill are too vague or broad, potentially allowing for overreach by the regulatory body.

The Australian government, through statements by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, emphasizes that the bill aims to keep Australians safe from seriously harmful content without intending to stifle free speech. They argue it’s about ensuring digital platforms take responsibility for the content they host.

This bill reflects a global trend where governments are grappling with how to manage misinformation while balancing freedom of speech, with Australia’s approach being one of the more contentious examples due to its potential implications for online discourse.

The initial bill received so much backlash that Australian lawmakers had to table it … for now.

Eric Arthur Blair under the pen name George Orwell summed the society of today up quite nicely when he wrote “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”

Eric Arthur Blair wasn’t a prophet by any stretch. He couldn’t see into the future any more than we can see. What Eric Arthur Blair did know was his history.

All of this misinformation nonsense has been tried before. In Roman times you could be fed to the lions for saying the wrong thing. In Nazi Germany you could be sent to the camps for saying the wrong thing.

If you think that this just might be an Australian problem, then I might suggest you watch the video below where Vice President Harris gives her views on the matter:

video
play-sharp-fill

 
 




 

Grizzly bears removed for livestock depredations

By
Alan
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Grizzly bears removed for livestock depredations

Grizzly bears removed for livestock depredations. Two grizzly bears were removed last month due to cattle depredations in southwestern Montana.

One bear was killed in the Gravelly Mountains after several instances of sheep depredation. These conflicts happened despite multiple attempts to avoid them, including guard dogs, moving sheep to new areas, and hazing the bear.

The second bear was killed on private land in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston after chronic cattle depredations. The landowner moved cows twice, but conflicts continued.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services removed both bears on Aug. 21 in consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Specialists with FWP and Wildlife Services work to help landowners, producers and communities avoid bear conflicts. Promptly reporting bear conflicts can make a difference for the health of the bear and the safety of communities. Some corrective management efforts, when applied early, can be effective in discouraging bears from being close to humans and livestock and reduce future conflicts.

To report bear conflicts, contact your local bear specialist at the phone number listed on FWP’s website: https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/contact.

FWP Guidance for Livestock Owners, Homeowners and the General Public

“Grizzly bears are listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As such, harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting grizzly bears is not permitted except for self-defense or in defense of others, as authorized by the grizzly bear 4(d) rule. Harass in the definition of “take” in the ESA means an intentional or negligent act or omission which creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering.”

“Grizzly bears can pose a threat to human safety and should be discouraged from using areas near homes and other human-occupied areas. Hazing discourages undesirable behavior in wildlife, and when properly conducted, does not create a likelihood of injury to grizzly bears to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns.” — FWP Guidance Report

sourced – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks – Sep 11, 2024




 

Why do Heat Index and Wind Chill temperatures exist?

By
Alan
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Why do Heat Index and Wind Chill temperatures exist

Why do Heat Index and Wind Chill temperatures exist? Heat index and wind chill temperatures exist to provide a more accurate representation of how weather conditions feel to the human body, rather than just the actual air temperature.

Here’s why each is important:

Heat Index:

The heat index, also known as the “apparent temperature” or “feels like” temperature, measures how hot it really feels when humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.

High humidity reduces the rate at which sweat evaporates from the skin, which is the body’s primary cooling mechanism. When sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly, the body retains more heat, making the environment feel hotter than it actually is. This can lead to heat-related illnesses like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.

The heat index also helps in predicting the risk of heat stress, especially for outdoor workers, athletes, and anyone spending time outside in hot, humid conditions.

Wind Chill:

Wind chill temperature indicates how cold it feels on exposed skin due to the wind. It’s based on the rate of heat loss from the body surface.

Wind speeds up heat loss from the body. When the wind blows, it can carry away the thin layer of warmed air around your body, making you feel colder much quicker than the actual air temperature would suggest. This can lead to frostbite or hypothermia in extreme conditions.

Wind chill is crucial for warning people about the dangers of cold weather, particularly in winter sports, outdoor activities, or emergency situations. It helps in deciding appropriate clothing and precautions to prevent cold-related injuries.

Both indices are essential for public health and safety, providing a more realistic assessment of environmental conditions that affect human comfort and health.

These indices also help in informing people to take necessary precautions like hydration, appropriate clothing, or seeking shelter, also in assisting in scheduling outdoor activities or events at safer times.

Heat index and wind chill also assist with helping to prepare for and to respond to weather-related emergencies more effectively.

By understanding these indices, individuals and authorities can better prepare for and mitigate the risks associated with extreme weather conditions.

The next time you find yourself asking “Why do Heat Index and Wind Chill temperatures exist?” just remember what you’ve read here.

Thanks for the read.

Happy Trails
 




 

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