OK, so I haven't seen it. But.....
The former Vice President of the United States of America has a film out. Albert Arnold Gore, Junior, of Washington, D.C., has spread his environmental campaign to the big screen with "An Inconvenient Truth" this past weekend.
Gore once again warns us about global warming. I am not really that interested in this film. It is not because I think that global warming is not an important concern. I actually think that it is very important.
I think we need to be responsible with out continued use of fossil fuels. I think we need to be careful with our water supply. Over population of the planet worries me a bit as well. I never litter and I admit that I should recycle. But, I have a problem PAYING to recycle. If it is "free" like trash pickup (meaning part of the services I pay taxes to get) or offered by a recycling company who profits from the stuff I leave at the curb, then I will do it more often. I do place cans and bottle in recycling bins when I am out.
So, being environmentally aware is a good idea.
The problem is Albert Arnold Gore, Junior, of Washington, D.C. does not get it. Global warming as we know it today is not caused only by our actions here on Earth. In fact, most of the problem with global warming is beyond the control of humans.
You see, there is this thing that many of us see on a daily basis. I like to call it, THE SUN!!! It is a big ball sitting about 93 million miles away from me here in Knoxville. And if you measure the same way as I do, you will find that it is 93 million miles from where ever you are. It produces a lot of light and heat. We know this as energy.
It is a case of scientific fact that the Sun, a star in case you did not know, runs its energy in cycles. At least it does relative to us here on Earth. How do I know this? I learned some basic principles of geology during my education. Fossil records, sedimentary rocks, etc. You know pretty dry stuff. I'll get back to that after a brief side track.
Now some of you may want to argue the age of the Earth on religious reasons. All I can say is a couple of philosophical things to think about. First, God created the heavens and the earth in six days, rested on the seventh, right? How long is a day to God? Second, you may think that evolution is bunk. To which I respond, wouldn't God want to "cover his tracks" in order to insure FAITH?
Back to what we learned in Geology Class. The Earth has had periods of great cooling, known as Ice Ages, and great heat. Guess what we may be going through right now? It may not be great heat, but if the recent history, the last couple of thousand years, were cold it would make things seem warmer. Right?
But Jay, but Jay, but Jay, this has gotten really bad since the widespread use of the automobile. OK, so this may be true. And, it may NOT. Now, the pollution created by the internal combustion engine running in your SUV may cause of lot of things. And the coal burning plants that make electricity may cause acid rain. I will give you all of that argument. But not global warming.
Now you are asking, Jay, how can you be so sure? Simple.
Explain to me the global warming on Mars? On Venus? Other planets? Remember the polar ice caps we saw on Mars back in the 1970's? And now? Gone....or almost gone.
Many film critics have taken Albert Arnold Gore, Junior, of Washington, D.C.'s bait. Roger Ebert for one. Here is my response to them.
It is just like "The Da Vinci Code"......a nice piece of fiction. I doubt it is as entertaining. Tom Hanks or Albert Arnold Gore, Junior, of Washington, D.C.??? Hmmmm......
