Yesterday, I made several posts via Twitter (which end up my Facebook page) making fun of those who were observing "Earth Hour," in which those who are concerned about climate change were encouraged to turn off their lights for an hour starting at 8:30 pm local time.

A relative of mine called me on it. "Why do you hate the liberals so much?" she asked.

Er... um.. well... OK, I apologize for being harsh with my criticism and slinging ad hominems. I really don't hate liberals, but I do think that the causes they pursue are often misguided. I should express that by engaging the issues themselves and not by ridicule.

Now, let me explain what I think is wrong with "Earth Hour."

As far as I can see, participation in Earth Hour really does nothing of value. It serves solely as a symbolic attempt to get everybody on board to "do something" about wasteful energy usage. But what's wrong with energy usage?

According to the EarthHour.org website, this is about getting people to act together to combat climate change. And energy usage, it is claimed, is what drives climate change. "It felt good to vote for action with a light switch," declares the website today.

It feels good to deny ourselves in support of the cause, apparently. Turning off the lights en masse at a specific time shows that we are with one accord and united in our concern for what threatens us.

Well, as long as people's voting for action is limited to flipping their light switches, I guess I'm OK with that. If you want to deny yourselves the blessings of modern technology, go right ahead. I fear though, that the voting for action won't be limited to voluntarily flipping light switches. It's quite clear that many who are concerned about climate change aren't averse to government regulation to coerce the proper behavior. They've shown this to us over and over again.

Now, if it were an incontrovertible fact that climate change was going to doom us all, I might be on board with with my support for regulation. I sure as heck would be doing something other than just turning off my lights for an hour once a year in a symbolic, but otherwise ineffectual display.

But is climate change going to doom us all if we don't do something about it? Is significant climate change even happening? Are we causing it? If it is, is it really something we should worry about? If so, can we do anything about it? And is doing what we can about climate change worth the cost?

I'm not so sure. Some claim "the science is settled." I'm skeptical. If the science were really settled on climate change, why is there so much controversy surrounding the issue, including among scientists? What about those leaked emails from the CRU that show that the "settled science" is mostly fudged?

What did turning off our lights for an hour actually accomplish, other than, "it felt good?"

I welcome your comments or criticisms.

1. Kill a few Flies
2. Put them in the sun to dry for one hour.
3. Once they are dry, pick a pencil and paper... Let your imagination flow.

Here are a few examples...

Those of you who think that we shouldn't complain about our property tax burden because we don't pay as high a rate as others in the state and around the country will be happy to learn that starting in November, Los Alamos County property taxes will be increased by 36%.

I don't wanna hear any complainin' from the rest of y'all, if you voted for the latest school bond that caused this outrageous increase.

Read it and weep.

Louis Rosen, one of the great ones of Los Alamos, passed away last Thursday, August 20 2009. Rosen was the father of the 800 MeV linear accelerator where I work here in Los Alamos. He came to Los Alamos way back in 1944 for the Manhattan Project, and remained employed here up until his death at 91 years of age. He was well respected by the students and scientists here at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, and he will be greatly missed.

Read more about this.

This is supposedly attributed to Bill Gates. I dunno. They're good rules, though.

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Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up,it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So, before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

I guess I'm feeling like a Concord grape.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

1. O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss, till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

2. Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee And flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish That once was bright as morn!

3. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished Their color, once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished The splendor that was there.
Grim Death, with cruel rigor, Hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou has lost Thy vigor, Thy strength, in this sad strife.

4. My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression Which brought this woe on thee.
I cast me down before Thee, Wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

5. My Shepherd, now receive me; My Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O Source of gifts divine!
Thy lips have often fed me With words of truth and love,
Thy Spirit oft hath led me To heavenly joys above.

6. Here I will stand beside Thee, From Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish In death's cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.

7. The joy can ne'er be spoken, Above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I'd breathe my soul to Thee.

8. What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever! And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for Thee.

9. My Savior, be Thou near me When death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, Forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, Oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish By virtue of Thine own!

10. Be Thou my Consolation, My Shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy Passion When my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, Upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfold Thee. Who dieth thus dies well!

Amen.