No Laughing Matter
January 30th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
We may now understand why ignorance is so blissful. Recently, as you may recall, Rep. Phil King stated that global warming is “bad science” based on “highly speculative arguments.”
That explains why the chairman of the House Regulated Industries Committee — which purportedly rides herd on utilities and the like — sees no reason for legislation limiting Texas’s enormous output of carbon dioxide.
But, according to a press release from King’s office, the state does need to get cracking down on emissions of nitrous oxide. “I would like to clarify that I strongly support the state regulating the emission of nitrous oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SOx) from power generation facilities in Texas,” King’s statement said.
Nitrous oxide, of course, is laughing gas. The stuff dentists use. A few huffs and not only doesn’t that drill hurt, but the whole world looks pretty damn rosy. Melting ice caps take on a whimsical charm.
We assume King meant “nitrogen oxides,” which are bad stuff. If there is a particular problem with wayward clouds of laughing gas in King’s district, however, that might explain his fuzzy grasp of science.
January 30th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Frequent Alternate Response Therapy
My flatulence chronic
Had me seeking the proper tonic.
It was sooo demonic.
I seemed to be hypersonic!
My diet was purged of any legume,
Otherwise, I would clear the room!
I was in such a state of gloom
Because of the odorous perfume!
My family relations
Suffered because of the vibrations.
The police even issued citations!
Imagine the frustrations!
I sought the power of prayer,
But it was still there!
For permanent isolation I started to prepare.
I declare, such despair!
I was about to move to the remote Hindu Kush.
For such drastic action others did push!
Then, I discovered the cause of my micro burst tush.
I was listening too much to Phil King and George W. Bush!
For the two greatest sources of global warming and air pollution as they alternate between Austin and Washington.
Hubert Wilson
January 31st, 2007 at 2:49 pm
You should have read a little further down on wikipedia.
“Unlike other nitrogen oxides, nitrous oxide is a major greenhouse gas; per unit of weight, nitrous oxide has 296 times the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) for producing global warming [1]. Nitrous oxide is thus part of efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, such as the Kyoto Protocol. Behind carbon dioxide and methane, which has 23 times the greenhouse warming potential of carbon dioxide (over 100 years), nitrous oxide is the third most important gas that contributes to global warming. (The other nitrogen oxides contribute to global warming indirectly, by contributing to tropospheric ozone production during smog formation).”
February 1st, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Perhaps King is related to Bush and his isms.