Anthony Watts: ‘Don’t bother me with the sarcastic facts’

Somebody needs to come up with new corollaries of Poe’s Law to cover climate skeptics.

Anthony Watts posts a series on polar bears, with Grandpa Bear kvetching about what his grandson is learning in public polar bear school about climate change.

I commented, posting a link to the press release of the Polar Bear Study Group, the world’s longest-established and most-respected organization on polar bear populations and population health.  It’s a rather dull press release, really, on the last meeting of the group last summer:

The PBSG renewed the conclusion from previous meetings that the greatest challenge to conservation of polar bears is ecological change in the Arctic resulting from climatic warming.  Declines in the extent of the sea ice have accelerated since the last meeting of the group in 2005, with unprecedented sea ice retreats in 2007 and 2008. The PBSG confirmed its earlier conclusion that unabated global warming will ultimately threaten polar bears everywhere.

The PBSG also recognized that threats to polar bears will occur at different rates and times across their range although warming induced habitat degradation and loss are already negatively affecting polar bears in some parts of their range. Subpopulations of polar bears face different combinations of human threats.  The PBSG recommends that jurisdictions take into account the variation in threats facing polar bears.

The PBSG noted polar bears suffer health effects from persistent pollutants.  At the same time, climate change appears to be altering the pathways by which such pollutants enter ecosystems. The PBSG encourages international efforts to evaluate interactions between climate change and pollutants.

The PBSG endorses efforts to develop non-invasive means of population assessment, and continues to encourage jurisdictions to incorporate capture and radio tracking programs into their national monitoring efforts. The members also recognized that aboriginal people are both uniquely positioned to observe wildlife and changes in the environment, and their knowledge is essential for effective management.

All I posted was the link.

The response at Watts’ What’s Up With That?

Censored:

Ed Darrell (20:50:48) :

[snip – pointless sarcasm]

Is that emblematic of the state climate “skeptics” are in these days, that a dull recitation of the facts is “sarcasm?” “Don’t confuse us with the facts,” they seem to be saying.  And, if they really think they’re making headway with stolen e-mails, why are they so crabby?

More politics than science, more bluster than discussion.

This cartoon scares them, too.  Maybe they know something’s up:

Chris Riddell cartoon, December 20, 2009, The Observer

Follow up: Gail Zawacki at Wit’s End neatly captures the tell-tale signs of denialism at work.  Carol Kane had a great line in Annie Hall: “I love being reduced to a cultural stereotype.”  Denialists everywhere appear to share that emotion.

Typewriter of the moment: Santa Claus, Indiana’s Post Office

maybe a little late for Christmas:  Here’s the typewriter used to answer letters to Santa Claus, at the U.S. Post Office of Santa Claus, Indiana:

Typewriter used to answer letters to Santa Claus, from the U.S. Post Office in Santa Claus, Indiana - Roadside America photo

For 30 years, kids letters to Santa Claus were answered, with the responses typed on this Corona at the Post Office.  The machine rests on display at the Santa Claus Museum in Kris Kringle Plaza in Santa Claus, Indiana, about 40 miles east northeast from Evansville (south of Interstate 64).

Answers to letters to Santa Claus are answered from the museum today.

You can see the typewriter; Roadside America’s website says the museum is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily — but you may want to call ahead to confirm:

Santa Claus Museum

Address:

41 N. Kringle Place, Santa Claus, IN

Directions:

On the north side of Hwy 162/Christmas Blvd just west of Holiday World. In Kringle Plaza. Look for the Holiday Foods and the Post Office.

Admission:

Donations.

Hours:

9 am-5 pm daily. (Call to verify)

Phone:

812-937-2687

Spread Santa’s cheer!