Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Globe's coral reefs take second worst beating on record during 2010

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 04:50 PM GMT del 07 Gennaio 2011

Record warm ocean temperatures across much of Earth's tropical oceans during the summer of 2010 created the second worst year globally for coral-killing bleaching episodes. The warm waters, fueled in part by the El Niño phenomena, caused the most coral bleaching since 1998, when 16 percent of the world's reefs were killed off. "Clearly, we are on track for this to be the second worst (bleaching) on record," NOAA coral expert Mark Eakin in an interview last month. "All we're waiting on now is the body count." The summer 2010 bleaching episodes were worst in Southeast Asia, where El Niño warming of the tropical ocean waters during the first half of the year was significant. In Indonesia's Aceh province, 80% of the bleached corals died, and Malaysia closed several popular dive sites after nearly all the coral were damaged by bleaching. However, in the Caribbean's Virgin Islands, coral bleaching was not as severe as experienced in 2005, according to National Park Service fisheries biologist Jeff Miller. I'll discuss the reasons for this in a future blog post. In other portions of the Caribbean, such as Venezuela and Panama, coral bleaching was worse than that experienced in 2005.

Figure 1. An example of coral bleaching that occurred during the record-strength 1997-1998 El Niño event. Image credit: Craig Quirolo, Reef Relief/Marine Photobank, in Climate, Carbon and Coral Reefs

What is coral bleaching?
Coral bleaching is a whitening of the corals that occurs when stresses such as high water temperatures, increased water acidity, or pollution disturbs the symbiotic relationship between the corals and the algae that live inside them. Bleaching episodes occur when ocean temperatures rise above 85 - 87°F (29.5 - 30.5°C.) Peak warming events took place in the western Indian Ocean and north-western Pacific in 1997/98, in the north of Australia and central Pacific during 2003/04, and in the Caribbean in 2005. About half of the reefs affected by bleaching in these episodes have recovered, and one recent study cautions that non-lethal bleaching episodes and subsequent recovery of corals is often under-reported.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef at risk
With summer now in full swing in the Southern Hemisphere, coral bleaching concern now shifts to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Ocean temperatures along the reef are currently up to 1°C above average, due, in part, to the current moderate to strong La Niña event. NOAA's Coral Reef Watch has issued its highest level of coral bleaching alert for the northern 2/3 of the Great Barrier Reef, since the La Niña event is predicted to persist into at least April. Also of concern is the tremendous run-off occurring in the wake of the record flooding that has affected the neighboring Australian province of Queensland. While the floods have now peaked and the rivers of Queensland are now falling, the $5 billion disaster dumped a large amount of sediments, pollutants, fertilizers, and pesticides into the southern portion of the Great Barrier Reef, and this will act to increase the stress on the corals. However, the floods may end up indirectly benefiting some portions of the Great Barrier Reef. The cloud cover and strong winds that accompanied the flooding rain storms also acted to cool the waters along the reef. According to an analysis I did of the UK Met Office Hadley Centre global ocean temperature data, sea surface temperatures along the southern portion of the reef, between 15°S and 20°S latitude, were the warmest ever for September, 1.27°C above average. These waters cooled significantly, relative to average, during October and November, and were just 0.12°C warmer than average during November. Cooler waters will mean less potential for coral bleaching, though the pollution in the flood run-off water may end up killing some corals.

Figure 2. Forecast stress on coral due to warm ocean temperatures for Australia, Jan - Apr 2011. The northern 2/3 of the Great Barrier Reef are under the highest alert level for coral bleaching. Waters are cooler along the southern portion of the reef, due, in part, to the storms that have brought record flooding to portions of Queensland, Australia. Image credit: NOAA Coral Reef Watch.

Long term outlook for world's coral reefs: grim
The large amount of carbon dioxide humans have put into the air in recent decades has done more than just raise Earth's global temperature--it has also increased the acidity of the oceans, since carbon dioxide dissolves in sea water to form carbonic acid. Corals have trouble growing in acidic sea water, and the combined effects of increasing ocean temperatures, increasing acidity, pollution, and overfishing have reduced coral reefs globally by 19 percent since 1950. Another 35 percent could disappear in the next 40 years, even without the impact of climate change, according to a report released in October 2010 by the World Meteorological Organization and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Coral loss has been the most severe in Earth's hottest ocean, the Indian Ocean. Up to 90% of coral cover has been lost in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Tanzania and in the Seychelles. Global warming has heated up most of the tropical ocean surface waters by about 0.5°C (0.9°F) over the past 50 years, and the remarkable bleaching episodes of 1998 and 2010 both occurred when strong (natural) El Niño episodes heated up Pacific tropical waters to record levels. If the Earth continues to heat up this century as expected, coral bleaching episodes will grow more frequent and intense, particularly during strong El Niño episodes. The twin stresses of ocean acidification and increasing ocean temperatures will probably mean that by 2050, it will be difficult for any coral reefs to recover when subject to additional stresses posed by pollution or major storms, according to a talk presented by Stanford climate scientist Ken Caldeira at last month's American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting.

Figure 3. Departure of sea surface temperature in the Australian region over the past one hundred years, year-by-year (red line), and decade-by-decade (grey bars.) The 2010 value is preliminary and does not include data for December 2010. If ocean temperatures and ocean acidity continue to rise in Australian waters at the same pace as has occurred over the past 100 years, the Great Barrier Reef will be in significant danger by 2050. Image credit: Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Coral expert J.E.N. Veron, former chief scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, had this to say in an excellent interview he did with Yale Environment 360 last year: "the science is clear: Unless we change the way we live, the Earth's coral reefs will be utterly destroyed within our children's lifetimes.

"You may well feel that dire predictions about anything almost always turn out to be exaggerations. You may think there may be something in it to worry about, but it won't be as bad as doomsayers like me are predicting. This view is understandable given that only a few decades ago I, myself, would have thought it ridiculous to imagine that reefs might have a limited lifespan on Earth as a consequence of human actions. It would have seemed preposterous that, for example, the Great Barrier Reef--the biggest structure ever made by life on Earth--could be mortally threatened by any present or foreseeable environmental change. Yet here I am today, humbled to have spent the most productive scientific years of my life around the rich wonders of the underwater world, and utterly convinced that they will not be there for our children's children to enjoy unless we drastically change our priorities and the way we live."

Reefs are the ocean's canaries and we must hear their call. This call is not just for themselves, for the other great ecosystems of the ocean stand behind reefs like a row of dominoes. If coral reefs fail, the rest will follow in rapid succession, and the Sixth Mass Extinction will be upon us--and will be of our making.

I might add that not only are reefs the ocean's canaries, they are incredibly valuable in their own right. According to the World Meteorological Organization, coral reefs provide economic services--jobs, food and tourism--estimated to be worth $30 billion per year. NOAA put this figure at twelve times higher, $375 billion each year. Corals cover just 0.2% of the world's oceans, but contain about 25% of all marine species.

Next post
I'll be back with a new post on Tuesday at the latest.

Check out wunderground weather historian Christopher C. Burt's post on the notable weather extremes of December 2010. It was truly an extreme month!

Jeff Masters

Coral Bleaching. (Dawnlisa)

Since the end of April the coral in the Andaman sea has started bleaching due to the increase in sea water temperature. If things don't cool down soon the coral may die. You can see the white patches in the photo that are mainly table coral and normally a dark colour.

A parrot fish at the coral reef (BoazR)

as seen from the underwater observatory

coral reef (js64)

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701. presslord 03:28 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting muddertracker: I can't argue with your logic, Press. I grew up in a hunting family and I own a hunting rifle or two. I've never gone hunting with an automatic...but then again, I don't hunt humans. It's just a sad reality. I always carry a pistol in the woods...snakes, gators, etc...it's my Dad's old Marine Corp 45 auto...haven't shot a person yet Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

702. StormJunkie 03:28 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Morning all and Happy New Year. Was about time for my mid-winter fly by. Quoting nash28: Winter Storm Watch. Lovely. Yep Nash, have a feeling this will be another very close call for us. Definitely will have some freezing precip imo, but it's so hard to get it to stick around here. Also questioning if the cold air is going to hang around long enough for it to be much. Seems the system is a little slower than predicted to be a couple days ago...and unless I misread the kchs discussion yesterday, the faster NAM solution would have produced more winter weather. We are also sitting right on that border line between where the cold air looks to be just to our N/W by 10-20 miles. Any thoughts from the winter wx experts? Member Since: Agosto 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15240

703. presslord 03:29 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting muddertracker: There has been a mighty push in Texas to amend the conceal and carry law that would allow college students to carry on campus. Same reasoning. After VT, I was all for it; I just don't know if I'd want my kids to go to school with a bunch of armed, hung-over, over-pressured college kids. It's a conundrum. my 22 year old daughter carries a Charter Arms snub nose 5 shot in her purse...and she knows how to use it...which fact gives me great peace... Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

704. presslord 03:30 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting PensacolaDoug: Holy Cow! Press and I see eye on at leat one issue! ; ) Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

705. IKE 03:30 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Special Weather Statement SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 830 AM CST SUN JAN 9 2011 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074- 091630- ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND- MADISON LA-FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-BOLIVAR- SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES- CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ATTALA-WINSTON- NOXUBEE-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO-MADISON MS-LEAKE-NESHOBA-KEMPER- WARREN-HINDS-RANKIN-SCOTT-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH- SIMPSON-SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE-JEFFERSON-ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN- LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON-JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CROSSETT...NORTH CROSSETT...HAMBURG... WEST CROSSETT...DERMOTT...LAKE VILLAGE...EUDORA...BASTROP... OAK GROVE...EPPS...LAKE PROVIDENCE...RAYVILLE...DELHI... TALLULAH...WINNSBORO...JONESVILLE...HARRISONBURG...NEWELLTON... ST. JOSEPH...WATERPROOF...VIDALIA...FERRIDAY...WEST FERRIDAY... CLEVELAND...INDIANOLA...RULEVILLE...GREENWOOD...GRENADA... VAIDEN...NORTH CARROLLTON...CARROLLTON...WINONA...EUPORA... MABEN...MATHISTON...WEST POINT...COLUMBUS...ACKERMAN...WEIR... STARKVILLE...GREENVILLE...BELZONI...ISOLA...DURANT...TCHULA... LEXINGTON...PICKENS...GOODMAN...KOSCIUSKO...LOUISVILLE...MACON... BROOKSVILLE...MAYERSVILLE...ROLLING FORK...ANGUILLA... YAZOO CITY...RIDGELAND...MADISON...CANTON...CARTHAGE... PHILADELPHIA...PEARL RIVER...DE KALB...SCOOBA...VICKSBURG... JACKSON...PEARL...BRANDON...RICHLAND...FOREST...MORTON...NEWTON... UNION...DECATUR...CONEHATTA...MERIDIAN...PORT GIBSON... CRYSTAL SPRINGS...HAZLEHURST...WESSON...MAGEE...MENDENHALL... TAYLORSVILLE...RALEIGH...BAY SPRINGS...HEIDELBERG...QUITMAN... STONEWALL...SHUBUTA...FAYETTE...NATCHEZ...BUDE...ROXIE... MEADVILLE...BROOKHAVEN...MONTICELLO...NEW HEBRON...PRENTISS... BASSFIELD...COLLINS...MOUNT OLIVE...LAUREL...COLUMBIA... WEST HATTIESBURG...LUMBERTON...PURVIS...HATTIESBURG 830 AM CST SUN JAN 9 2011 ...DETERIORATING TRAVEL CONDITIONS ACROSS NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING... AT 830 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF SLEET...SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN...ALONG INTERSTATE 20 FROM MONROE THROUGH VICKSBURG...TO THE JACKSON METRO AREA TO MERIDIAN. THIS BAND OF MIXED WINTRY PRECIPITATION WAS LIFTING SLOWLY NORTH. ROAD CONDITIONS ARE DETERIORATING FROM JACKSON WEST THROUGH NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. TEMPERATURES ARE NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING...AND REPORTS INDICATE THAT BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES ARE BECOMING ICY. ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE VICKSBURG AREA. THIS BAND WILL LIKELY LIFT JUST NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR BY LATE MORNING...PROVIDING A BREAK IN THE WINTRY PRECIPITATION BEFORE MORE MOVES IN THIS AFTERNOON. FOR AREAS JUST NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 TO THE US HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE THROUGH THE MORNING...AND WILL LIKELY NOT SHOW ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ONCE THEY BECOME POOR. OVER SOUTH MISSISSIPPI...TEMPERATURES ARE CURRENTLY ABOVE FREEZING AND ANY PRECIPITATION IS VERY LIGHT. WINTRY PRECIPITATION COULD BECOME A CONCERN AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. $$ AEG Member Since: Giugno 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070

706. Neapolitan 03:31 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
@calusa: Daily Kos had a rant by someone called BlueBoy, someone definitely not Loughner. That pair of posts were removed, and I'm sure we'll find out why. Free Republic, OTOH, took its entire website offline yesterday so they could remove the "many" comments Loughner made there over the past three months. I'm also certain we'll find out why. ATampaFLUSA: So far as "the former classmates and friends" of Loughners calling him a leftist, there is a single Twitter user ("caitieparker") claiming that. Based on everything else Loughner did--his anti-government posts on Free Republic, his possible (via FoxNews) affiliation with the "American Renaissance" movement, his rambling YouTube videos decrying federalism and Arizona's 8th District and the gold standard (that last a Beck obsession), his unhappiness with those Arizonans that don't speak and write English well, the fact that he targeted a Democrat--the consensus seems to be that he's just a confused kid possibly motivated by some of the heated political rhetoric out there. @presslord: I'm a gun owner, and have been for decades. I'm for responsible gun ownership by sane people. I don't think it's good to make guns and ammos available to those who probably aren't of the proper temperament to have them. Neither do I think arming everyone is the way to stop violence. There are numerous areas around the globe in which everyone has a rifle or a pistol, and violence is rampant. For every person who behaves himself because he knows his neighbor is carrying, there's another who thinks the answer is to carry more and shoot first. At any rate, I, for one, don't think a shootout between Loughner and several armed but unprofessional gunmen is preferable to Loughner acting alone. @jwh250: "Wrong again, Nea" isn't substantive enough to comment on; please come back when you have more. Thanks. ;-) Member Since: novembre 8, 2009 Posts: 4 Comments: 11308

707. presslord 03:31 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting presslord: my 22 year old daughter carries a Charter Arms snub nose 5 shot in her purse...and she knows how to use it...which fact gives me great peace... and it's precisely because of guys like Stormjunkie that I make her carry Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

708. nash28 03:32 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting StormJunkie: Morning all and Happy New Year. Was about time for my mid-winter fly by. Yep Nash, have a feeling this will be another very close call for us. Definitely will have some freezing precip imo, but it's so hard to get it to stick around here. Also questioning if the cold air is going to hang around long enough for it to be much. Seems the system is a little slower than predicted to be a couple days ago...and unless I misread the kchs discussion yesterday, the faster NAM solution would have produced more winter weather. We are also sitting right on that border line between where the cold air looks to be just to our N/W by 10-20 miles. Any thoughts from the winter wx experts? My concern is the early morning hours. It is supposed to change to rain by mid morning. The daybreak timeframe may be ugly though. Member Since: Luglio 11, 2005 Posts: 190 Comments: 16972

709. muddertracker 03:34 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting presslord: I always carry a pistol in the woods...snakes, gators, etc...it's my Dad's old Marine Corp 45 auto...haven't shot a person yet Deadly snakes and gators? Yikes! I might encounter a rabbid squirrell..lol Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 2169

710. presslord 03:34 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
". At any rate, I, for one, don't think a shootout between Loughner and several armed but unprofessional gunmen is preferable to Loughner acting alone." I was with you right up to that line...regardless of what motivated him...turning him into a giant slice of Swiss cheese would have been better than what happened... Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

711. PensacolaDoug 03:35 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting McBill: Michael Bloomberg has been called lots of things but you may be the first to call him silly. I hate to break it to you but there's lots of reasonable people that disagree with you here. Your blithe dismissal of their concerns actually makes you look pretty silly. Hypothetical Situation here. And hope to God it never happens to you but...... You hear a loud crash downstrairs at 3AM and you know your wife is asleep next to you and your 2 year old as well in the room next to yours. What are you going to reach for 1st? Your Glock or your phone? Member Since: Luglio 25, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 4831

712. muddertracker 03:39 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting tramp96: The gun laws have nothing to do with the redcoats. The second amendment was ratified along with the Bill of Rights. The thinking behind the second amendment was to extend the "malitia for the purpose of defense" of the country. It has been debated whether or not "defense" extends to the individual homestead, etc. It's complicated, and I'm no expert, but... Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 2169

713. TampaFLUSA 03:43 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
I know we can all agree that if he did have a political agenda, it ended when he killed the 9 year old girl point blank. Member Since: Giugno 21, 2007 Posts: 10 Comments: 1657

714. presslord 03:46 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
I am actually a huge Bloomberg fan...wish to God he'd run for President...but the gun control argument is specious to me...and besides, it's totally impractical at this point...again..this analogy works: stop drunk drivers...not Camaros... Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

715. Skyepony (Mod) 03:47 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
93P Member Since: Agosto 10, 2005 Posts: 145 Comments: 29988

716. PcolaDan 03:49 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting PensacolaDoug: Holy Cow! Press and I see eye on at leat one issue! Just checked, hell just froze over. LOL j/k Member Since: Agosto 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

717. Skyepony (Mod) 03:49 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Member Since: Agosto 10, 2005 Posts: 145 Comments: 29988

718. Neapolitan 03:51 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting presslord: ". At any rate, I, for one, don't think a shootout between Loughner and several armed but unprofessional gunmen is preferable to Loughner acting alone." I was with you right up to that line...regardless of what motivated him...turning him into a giant slice of Swiss cheese would have been better than what happened... The problem is, though, Loughner apparently emptied his clip in under ten seconds; it's hard at this time to envision someone--aside from a constantly-trained, always-vigilant law enforcement officer--being able to a) understand what's happening; b) seek cover; c) remove his sidearm; d) take it off safety; e) jack a shell into the chamber; f) identify the shooter; g) aim; h) steady his hand; and i) fire--all while his body is being flooded with adrenalin. I've seen many videos of police shootouts, and the amount of chaos and confusion and panic and wild firing that happens when even a lawman is surprised by a gunshot is enough to convince me that I don't want to fear a shootout at the OK Corral every time I run to the supermarket. @PensacolaDoug: I understand your comment (#711) about hearing someone downstairs at night. But keeping a safe gun in your nightstand to protect you and your family is one thing; everyone at the grocery store or post office or Little League game being always armed and prepped for a running gun battle is something else entirely, isn't it? Member Since: novembre 8, 2009 Posts: 4 Comments: 11308

719. CybrTeddy 03:51 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Looks a lot like the early stages of Omeka.. Member Since: Luglio 8, 2005 Posts: 255 Comments: 20654

720. muddertracker 03:51 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
. Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 2169

721. OctaviaStreet 03:52 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting nash28: My concern is the early morning hours. It is supposed to change to rain by mid morning. The daybreak timeframe may be ugly though. Hi, Nash, I'm in Otranto (far northern Hanahan). Looking at the hourly report for Goose Creek, it shows ice pellets starting sometime before 1 a.m. Monday (70% chance), still going at 1 p.m. (100% chance) and turning to rain sometime before 4 p.m. There are times when working on an island where quickly-iced over bridges are necessary to get to work, can be A Good Thing. Mr. Street is very happy at the prospect of a day off. Of course, we know how things can quickly change with a storm like this. Member Since: Luglio 16, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 41

722. Skyepony (Mod) 03:52 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Member Since: Agosto 10, 2005 Posts: 145 Comments: 29988

723. PcolaDan 03:54 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting presslord: I am actually a huge Bloomberg fan...wish to God he'd run for President...but the gun control argument is specious to me...and besides, it's totally impractical at this point...again..this analogy works: stop drunk drivers...not Camaros... Up until they redesigned it, I would have disagreed. The Camaro should have been stopped also. But now I agree. :) Member Since: Agosto 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

724. presslord 03:55 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting PcolaDan: Up until they redesigned it, I would have disagreed. The Camaro should have been stopped also. But now I agree. :) yup...they 'fixed' it to death... Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

725. presslord 04:01 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting presslord: yup...they 'fixed' it to death... oh...you were referring to the recent redisign, weren't you? it's kinda cool Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

726. calusakat 04:08 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting Neapolitan: @calusa: Daily Kos had a rant by someone called BlueBoy, someone definitely not Loughner. That pair of posts were removed, and I'm sure we'll find out why. Free Republic, OTOH, took its entire website offline yesterday so they could remove the "many" comments Loughner made there over the past three months. I'm also certain we'll find out why. ATampaFLUSA: So far as "the former classmates and friends" of Loughners calling him a leftist, there is a single Twitter user ("caitieparker") claiming that. Based on everything else Loughner did--his anti-government posts on Free Republic, his possible (via FoxNews) affiliation with the "American Renaissance" movement, his rambling YouTube videos decrying federalism and Arizona's 8th District and the gold standard (that last a Beck obsession), his unhappiness with those Arizonans that don't speak and write English well, the fact that he targeted a Democrat--the consensus seems to be that he's just a confused kid possibly motivated by some of the heated political rhetoric out there. @presslord: I'm a gun owner, and have been for decades. I'm for responsible gun ownership by sane people. I don't think it's good to make guns and ammos available to those who probably aren't of the proper temperament to have them. Neither do I think arming everyone is the way to stop violence. There are numerous areas around the globe in which everyone has a rifle or a pistol, and violence is rampant. For every person who behaves himself because he knows his neighbor is carrying, there's another who thinks the answer is to carry more and shoot first. At any rate, I, for one, don't think a shootout between Loughner and several armed but unprofessional gunmen is preferable to Loughner acting alone. @jwh250: "Wrong again, Nea" isn't substantive enough to comment on; please come back when you have more. Thanks. ;-) Look carefully folks and you will see the re-direction attempts beginning by our friend Neo. Folks, as stated before, for most people who would be carrying a gun, the fact that it was a gathering with a Congresswoman would have caused most, if not all of them, to leave their guns in the car. Why? Well, regardless of your concealed permit or the laws in your state, you don't take a gun to the airport and expect to be given nothing but grief and possibly be arrested. It would be logical that most people would expect a Congresswoman to be protected by some sort of security detail. Which would mean pat downs etc. Jared the moron, was operating under the influence of 'absolute power'. At the very least, the lack of security was totally disgraceful. It empowers the 'Jared the Moron' types of the world to feel 'in control'. For 'Jared the Moron', the gun was simply a tool. Heck, he could have attacked her with a kitchen knife and not been stopped. The death toll might have been much less; but, she would have been stabbed all the same. I repeat, there was no security. BTW What is the current drought level for south Florida? When will the fire danger notices begin surfacing? Member Since: Ottobre 10, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 716

727. PcolaDan 04:10 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting presslord: oh...you were referring to the recent redisign, weren't you? it's kinda cool yup on both counts they "redesigned it to death" but have come up with a competitor again, at least visually. Don't know about the performance though. Member Since: Agosto 22, 2008 Posts: 12 Comments: 6008

728. IKE 04:11 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting calusakat: Look carefully folks and you will see the re-direction attempts beginning by our friend Neo. Folks, as stated before, for most people who would be carrying a gun, the fact that it was a gathering with a Congresswoman would have caused most, if not all of them, to leave their guns in the car. Why? Well, regardless of your concealed permit or the laws in your state, you don't take a gun to the airport and expect to be given nothing but grief and possibly be arrested. It would be logical that most people would expect a Congresswoman to be protected by some sort of security detail. Which would mean pat downs etc. Jared the moron, was operating under the influence of 'absolute power'. At the very least, the lack of security was totally disgraceful. It empowers the 'Jared the Moron' of the world to feel 'in control'. That I will agree with. ................................... Buoy 42035 22NM east of Galveston....pressure rising rapidly... Wind Direction (WDIR): N ( 10 deg true ) Wind Speed (WSPD): 23.3 kts Wind Gust (GST): 31.1 kts Wave Height (WVHT): 8.9 ft Dominant Wave Period (DPD): 7 sec Average Period (APD): 5.6 sec Mean Wave Direction (MWD): E ( 100 deg true ) Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): 29.88 in Pressure Tendency (PTDY): 0.23 in ( Rising Rapidly ) Air Temperature (ATMP): 52.7 �F Water Temperature (WTMP): 56.3 �F Dew Point (DEWP): 52.2 �F Wind Chill (CHILL): 46.0 �F Member Since: Giugno 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070

729. atmoaggie 04:16 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting Neapolitan: @jwh250: "Wrong again, Nea" isn't substantive enough to comment on; please come back when you have more. Thanks. ;-) While it isn't one of your War and Peace comments, that, alone, doesn't make it any more or less accurate. ----------------------------------------------- Changed over to snow in east TX...well south of many other areas of rain. http://forecast.weather.gov/obslocal.php?warnzone=TXZ181&local_place=Mount Union TX&zoneid=CST&offset=21600 Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 6 Comments: 12461

730. Neapolitan 04:19 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting calusakat: At the very least, the lack of security was totally disgraceful. It empowers the 'Jared the Moron' of the world to feel 'in control'. Maybe you're right, calusa; maybe the best method to make this a safer, better world isn't to cut down on the rampant political rhetoric or to make it harder for crazy, violence-minded people to get access to weapons, but to simply make sure everyone is armed at all times, and for no elected official--not even, say, a local county judge--to ever leave home again without being accompanied by a gun-equipped security detail. Yep, that sounds exactly like the America the Founding Fathers envisioned... :-\ Member Since: novembre 8, 2009 Posts: 4 Comments: 11308

731. Neapolitan 04:20 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting atmoaggie: While it isn't one of your War and Peace comments, that, alone, doesn't make it any more or less accurate. Ah, now you're comparing my writing abilities to those of Tolstoy's? I'm honored, but, seriously, he was far better than I will ever be. Thank you, though. ;-) Member Since: novembre 8, 2009 Posts: 4 Comments: 11308

732. calusakat 04:20 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting Neapolitan: Maybe you're right, calusa; maybe the best method to make this a safer, better world isn't to cut down on the rampant political rhetoric or to make it harder for crazy, violence-minded people to get access to weapons, but to simply make sure everyone is armed at all times, and for no elected official--not even, say, a local county judge--to ever leave home again without being accompanied by a gun-equipped security detail. Yep, that sounds exactly like the America the Founding Fathers envisioned... :-\ Like I said folks, look for the re-direction to begin. Time to put on your boots. Neo is a master in Re-Direction I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Neo has a degree in Re-Direction. His comments here are right out of Re-Direction 101. Member Since: Ottobre 10, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 716

733. IKE 04:24 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
(CNN) -- Two people -- an officer and a civilian -- were fatally shot Sunday morning after a fight at a Baltimore club, police said. Police responded to a report of a disturbance at the Select Lounge in downtown Baltimore about 1:15 a.m., said Anthony Guglielmi, spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department. A fight spilled out of the club and into the parking lot, police said. The deceased officer was an 11-year veteran who was in his early 30s, Guglielmi said. The civilian who was killed was in his early 20s, according to police. Their names were not released pending notification of family members. Four others -- including another officer -- were injured from gunshot wounds but are expected to survive, Guglielmi said. Member Since: Giugno 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070

734. muddertracker 04:25 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Who knew that a bunch of hurricane nuts could be so political? Anyone want to take a gander at what next season will bring? (classic redirection..) Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 2169

736. presslord 04:29 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting McBill: Let's see. I don't have a child and would never allow a handgun into my home (except in the possession of a law enforcement officer) so your hypothetical is actually an absurdity. But still, the crash downstairs was probably the cat knocking something over. My first reaction would involve neither a phone nor a weapon. I'd go downstairs, find the source of the crash and take it from there. Personally, I can't imagine living with such fear that I feel the need to be armed in my own home. Maybe you should think of losing the gun and moving to a better neighborhood. yea...because there are NEVER breakins, rapes, assaults and burglaries in 'nice' neighborhoods... Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

737. AllyBama 04:29 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
oops! wrong blog. I was looking for weather...lol Member Since: Agosto 3, 2006 Posts: 131 Comments: 20504

739. muddertracker 04:31 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting AllyBama: oops! wrong blog. I was looking for weather...lol June 1st is a very long time away...:) Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 2169

741. Grecojdw 04:33 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting AllyBama: oops! wrong blog. I was looking for weather...lol +1,000,000,000,000:) Member Since: Gennaio 6, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 339

742. muddertracker 04:34 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Pack or Eagles? Hell, no weather talk today, so I thought I'd throw out some football. Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 2169

743. presslord 04:35 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting McBill: How many times have those things happened in your home? well...10 years ago I heard a noise outside...two goons were trying to break into one of my cars...I walked outside with my friend Mr. Browning (a 12 guage automatic shotgun) ...I must exclude the profanity I used here...but the message I conveyed was "If you so much as twitch, I will blow you into so many pieces they will never find them all..." and we developed an understanding and remained in that posture until the police arrived and took them into custody... Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

745. largeeyes 04:37 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Winter storm warnings up to the west.....just west of here, still watches, still nothing here in the coastal NC counties.... Member Since: Agosto 22, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 1383

746. presslord 04:47 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
btw...at that time I lived in a gated waterfront community... Member Since: Agosto 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10407

748. Skyepony (Mod) 04:50 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Link to mapping tool of what's burning in FL.. Looks like the fires in South Florida are out. Central & North end still a fire. Smelled it yesterday with the SW wind stirring the muck fire.. Orange county had 3 fires yesterday. I think a boat & a fence was lost, homes were threatened. Member Since: Agosto 10, 2005 Posts: 145 Comments: 29988

749. ShenValleyFlyFish 04:50 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
726. calusakat 11:08 AM EST on January 09, 2011 At the very least, the lack of security was totally disgraceful. It empowers the 'Jared the Moron' types of the world to feel 'in control'. So t it has come too this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." except they be required to be armed or have a security detail present. Damn, I knew hanging out with Quakers, Mennonites, Amish, Brethren and pacifists was dangerous, just not how dangerous. Guess only answer is to get a Glock with a 30 round clip. Think Monday night storm is going to trend north of me but my brother disagrees. Wonder how he's going to take it when I tell him he's got to add security detail to the church budget. I thought getting away from this was why my 7x Great-Grandfather left Switzerland. Guess he should have gone to Pakistan. Member Since: Settembre 9, 2007 Posts: 36 Comments: 4684

750. Neapolitan 04:51 PM GMT del 09 Gennaio 2011
Quoting Cochise111: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/01/09/monckton-skewers-steketee/#more-31240 A great read for all of the AGW proponents out there. Do you have any idea when contrarians will be able to post anything from a climate change skeptic that is written by an actual climate scientist (Monckton's degree is in classics) and/or contains actual peer-reviewed climate science and/or doesn't appear only on WattsUpWithThat and/or hasn't been thoroughly discredited? No, Steketee isn't a climate scientist, either. However, he's a journalist who has gathered basic and well-known facts from climate scientists; if contrarians want to tear them apart one by one, they should produce a climate scientist to do it, and not a liar like Monckton... Member Since: novembre 8, 2009 Posts: 4 Comments: 11308

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