Thursday, March 1, 2012

Washed Out

THE tucker box is full, several chickens and a leg of lamb are frozen solid and packed in the Esky, sleeping bags are clean, the gas bottle full and the Bunyipmobile sits in the driveway with rod holder strapped to the pack rack. And unfortunately that is where it is going to stay. Once again, this global warming business is playing havoc with a weary angler’s ambitions to get away from it all, this season’s tally standing at two trips cancelled before they could begin and one aborted after a soggy, leech-plagued sojourn in a forest wetter even than Malcolm Turnbull.

It is very annoying, and someone should be made to pay for raising so many false expectations. As the Flanneries pelt down and all thought of getting away evaporates, this prediction in particular gets a Bunyip’s goat:
Victoria is likely to come under the influence of another El Nino within the next three years, exacerbating the drought and the likelihood of bushfires, a senior Bureau of Meteorology climate scientist says. David Jones, the head of the bureau's National Climate Centre, said there was some risk of a worsening El Nino event this year, but it was more likely to arrive in 2010 or 2011. – Adam Morton of The Age reports the settled science in February, 2009
If there is any satisfaction to be drawn from this moment of contemplating frustrated travel plans it is this: when the next drought comes, the Age will no longer be around to witness it.  

19 comments:

  1. Elizabeth (Lizzie) B.March 1, 2012 at 10:41 AM

    Best I've heard recently for the state of our current knowledge on weather and such is that it is all settled now by 'climate seance'.

    Given the new age proclivities of much of the Fairfax enterprise, they are no doubt right up on this new methodology.

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  2. It's hard to tell who is the more comical, whoopin', hollerin', hillbilly zombie - Jones or Morton, who have not wasted a single opportunity in the past five years, to put a gun to the head of the infidel congregation to demand even more in the collection plate to appease Gaia. Fundraisers without peer both, to which end the Ironing Lady plans to plough ahead with our urgently needed Air Tax, which will prevent the heat waves we haven't seen since the 1960s, but which are due any decade now. Come to think of it: with a few props, she could pass for Grandma in the Beverley Hillbillies.

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    Replies
    1. Elizabeth (Lizzie) B.March 1, 2012 at 6:41 PM

      Ah, Tom, so she's the Ironing Lady? I'll pay that one.

      Delete
  3. Watch it and weep, Flanners.

    Warragamba Dam

    ETA is some time tomorrow at the current rate of inflow.

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    Replies
    1. (Duncan, that link does not work for me.)
      I am not one to wish a flood on anyone but it does give me a warm glow to know that Flim-Flan lives in a riverside house downstream from Warragamba Dam.

      Delete
    2. skeeter.

      it's odd. The Warragamba level chart seems to go on and off line at random.

      No matter.. it'll be in the news when it fills... hopefully with flanners strapped to a lilo at the top of the spillway.

      duncan

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    3. She's open.

      0.12m above full -- so the spillways are now operating.

      duncan

      Delete
  4. If you were a climate scientist you could just tweak your computer to get rid of all that inconvenient rain.

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  5. "Victoria is likely to come under the influence of another El Nino within the next three years..."

    Given we can't tell whether El Nino or La Nina will form until about six months beforehand it seems a bit of a stretch to say that one or the other is likely to happen three years out.

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  6. Never mind Prof . Jump on a plane and come over West. sS Con the Fruiterer would say "beeyoudiful"
    No rain, great temperatures, great fishing....come on down!

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  7. Watch our for floods in Queensland Professor, it could mean a bushfire is nearby!

    http://tinyurl.com/75f8moh
    (unimelb)

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  8. "David Jones, the head of the bureau's National Climate Centre, said there was some risk of a worsening El Nino event this year, but it was more likely to arrive in 2010 or 2011".

    Dr Jones should never have boasted (in Climategate I emails) that he was rejecting Steve McIntyre's FOI requests on spurious grounds. H emight have been able to save some of his professional reputation if he had listened to advice from a real expert like Steve.

    M Ryutin Sydney

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  9. The Old, Unimproved, and Distinctly Soggy DaveMarch 1, 2012 at 5:46 PM

    I move that we initiate a class action against Tim Flannery on the premise that his predictions have more arse than class.

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  10. I don't think we will have long to wait for the catastrophic anthropogenic global warming cretins to be rounded up and placed against the wall for a deserved execution. (I have no hesitation in stepping forward to be one of the executioners!)

    The damage they have done, globally, can never be forgotten or excused.

    Science and the reputation of the scientist has been critically wounded because of the CAGWers. Science is unlikely to ever recoup lost ground as a result.

    I ask you. When you hear a scientist say something these days, what's your reaction? Do you immediately check your Bullshit Meter? Or do you simply switch channels or switch off because you perceive the scientist delivering the message as either incompetent or is peddling a vested interest, thereby ruling themselves out as being worthy of your attention?

    Can the science profession ever recover? I have my doubts! The crap has been fairly thickly flowing over several disciplines for a number of years. the CAGW rubbish is just the public catalyst.

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    Replies
    1. I urge all interested citizens to petition Directors of Public Prosecutions to investigate Prof. Flannery and other miscreants, as I have done.

      Delete
  11. Don't fret!

    If this keeps up you'll be able to fish off your front porch (if you have one), without having to put up a tent.

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  12. Whilst I'm disappointed for you Prof - as I too, would prefer to be fishing that engaging in my current professional activity - the devil on my shoulder rejoices in the daily posts at the Billabong which would have been sadly missed in your absence.
    The fun to be had, the daily inspiration you bring to your many devoted readers (which I'm sure there are thousands) - you are now captive to your popularity.

    As they say, no good deed goes unpunished... and the musings that eminate from the Billabong, are certainly good deeds!

    Many thanks from a long time reader - stay put!

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  13. We have el Nino.
    We have la Nina.

    Can we have a la Flano (pronounced lar flanyo),specifically relating to weather or climate, to describe the situation when we predict something is going to happen and the actual result is diametrically opposed to the prediction.

    The Irish Lion

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